Shields honored in NYC as Sportswoman of the Year |
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Salita Promotions wishes to congratulate undefeated two-division world champion Claressa Shields for being named the 2019 Individual Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation at their 40th Annual Salute to Women in Sports event hosted Wednesday evening. Considered the biggest night in women's sports and held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, the Salute to Women in Sports Awards honors the power of game-changing athletes and inspirational leaders in sports and life, who all collectively serve as role models to young girls and future generations. The 24-year-old Shields is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and the current undisputed middleweight champion of the world, as well as a tireless advocate and ambassador for her hometown of Flint, Michigan.
Shields was among a prestigious group of honorees that also included Team Sportswoman of the Year Award winner, two-time World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist and FIFA 2019 Player of the Year, Megan Rapinoe, as well as Wilma Rudolph Courage Award winner, two-time Olympic medalist and soccer player with the most World Cup goals ever, male or female, Marta Vieira da Silva.
"My sincerest congratulations to Claressa for collecting yet another well-deserved award," said Salita Promotions president Dmitriy Salita. "Claressa's story is a testament to hard work and dedication overcoming any obstacle. She is a superstar athlete and role model for women and girls worldwide. I am proud that she has allowed me to be part of her history-making career. This award is not only special for Claressa, but for the sport of boxing as a whole."
The Women's Sports Foundation was founded by women's tennis great Billie Jean King and exists to unlock the possibilities in every girl and woman through the power of sport, champion the causes of women's sports and advocate and recognize programs and people that are working to provide women and girls equal access to all sports.
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Shields honored in NYC as Sportswoman of the Year
Salita Promotions wishes to congratulate undefeated two-division world champion Claressa Shields for being named the 2019 Individual Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation at their 40th Annual Salute to Women in Sports event hosted Wednesday evening. Considered the biggest night in women's sports and held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, the Salute to Women in Sports Awards honors the power of game-changing athletes and inspirational leaders in sports and life, who all collectively serve as role models to young girls and future generations. The 24-year-old Shields is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and the current undisputed middleweight champion of the world, as well as a tireless advocate and ambassador for her hometown of Flint, Michigan.
Shields was among a prestigious group of honorees that also included Team Sportswoman of the Year Award winner, two-time World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist and FIFA 2019 Player of the Year, Megan Rapinoe, as well as Wilma Rudolph Courage Award winner, two-time Olympic medalist and soccer player with the most World Cup goals ever, male or female, Marta Vieira da Silva.
"My sincerest congratulations to Claressa for collecting yet another well-deserved award," said Salita Promotions president Dmitriy Salita. "Claressa's story is a testament to hard work and dedication overcoming any obstacle. She is a superstar athlete and role model for women and girls worldwide. I am proud that she has allowed me to be part of her history-making career. This award is not only special for Claressa, but for the sport of boxing as a whole."
The Women's Sports Foundation was founded by women's tennis great Billie Jean King and exists to unlock the possibilities in every girl and woman through the power of sport, champion the causes of women's sports and advocate and recognize programs and people that are working to provide women and girls equal access to all sports.
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WBA continues to fiddle around with ridiculous cruiserweight titles |
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The WBA just cant leave the cruiserweight division alone without creating paper titles that confuse the division. The WBA will sanction Belgium's Ryad Merhy (28-1) against Hungary's Imre Szello (24-0) for its vacant interim championship this Saturday in Charleroi, Belgium. Merhy already failed once against the previous interim champion, Arsen Goulamirian. With only one soft win since beating Merhy followed by a year of inactivity, Goulamirian somehow finds himself listed as the WBA super champion. Beibut Shumenov, inactive for 15 months, is listed as the regular champion. The WBA offers no explanation why it hasn't ordered a Goulamirian-Shumenov fight or Merhy vs. either guy before creating this third-tier interim title.
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WBA continues to fiddle around with ridiculous cruiserweight titles
The WBA just cant leave the cruiserweight division alone without creating paper titles that confuse the division. The WBA will sanction Belgium's Ryad Merhy (28-1) against Hungary's Imre Szello (24-0) for its vacant interim championship this Saturday in Charleroi, Belgium. Merhy already failed once against the previous interim champion, Arsen Goulamirian. With only one soft win since beating Merhy followed by a year of inactivity, Goulamirian somehow finds himself listed as the WBA super champion. Beibut Shumenov, inactive for 15 months, is listed as the regular champion. The WBA offers no explanation why it hasn't ordered a Goulamirian-Shumenov fight or Merhy vs. either guy before creating this third-tier interim title.
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Beterbiev-Gvozdyk final presser quotes |
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IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (pictured) and his WBC counterpart Oleksandr Gvozdyk ended their fight promotion obligations Wednesday at the office of Hall of Fame promoter Russell Peltz. They posed for pictures in front of the fight poster for the legendary 1962 light heavyweight championship fight between Doug Jones and Harold Johnson, which took place at the old Philadelphia Arena. Beterbiev and Gvozdyk will add to the city's light heavyweight legacy Friday evening at the Liacouras Center, a throwback battle befitting a storied fight city. Before the two combatants posed for photos and faced off at Peltz's office/museum, they participated in a media roundtable. This is what they had to say.
Oleksandr Gvozdyk
On working with Teddy Atlas: “Teddy demands a lot of his fighters, and I am fine with that. Training camp is supposed to be hard, and we worked together to come up with the necessary game plan to beat Beterbiev. Teddy is very picky, very particular, and this is what you need. Sometimes, you cannot right yourself. Sometimes, you think you're too tired, sometimes you want to work more, but Teddy knows exactly what you're supposed to do. And there is no place for argument. First of all, he is a good person because when I met him, I realized that. Like I've said a lot of times before, this type of person is already under extinction, probably even non-existent anymore. From his professional qualities, besides his qualities as a human being, he's very smart, he has over 40 years in this business, and he never loses any small details, which is really important."
"First of all, my dream is to become undisputed champion. This is the first step, and this is the necessary step. And the second thing is, this is what fans like to see. They don't want to see champions fight some opponents or journeymen. Tough fights, which fans like to see. For me, it's a big challenge."
"For now, only one challenge and one opponent exists for me. I'm not even thinking about any other opportunities. Everything is possible in the future. Maybe go up {in weight} or go down. I think it's possible, maybe hard, but possible. But again, right now, I'm not even thinking about it."
Teddy Atlas (Gvozdyk's trainer)
"Camp couldn't be better. We got to where we want to be. You gotta go in there Friday night and execute, but everything is in place. Couldn't ask for more."
On moving training camp to Philadelphia: First of all, we didn't have to acclimate to the time difference because we'd be in the same time zone, and being that the weather would still be good, there was no problem with training here on the East Coast. Sometimes, you have to worry about bad weather with training on the East Coast. We didn't have to worry about that. And not having to get on a plane and go across the country on the Sunday before the fight was a nice thing."
On fighting a big puncher like Beterbiev: "It's just, again, a reminder that there's no room for mistakes, that there's gotta be full concentration for 36 minutes. You have to fight one round at a time, one three-minute round at a time. Not two minutes and 59 seconds, no. Not when you're in there with a puncher who can change everything in a moment with one punch, as {Adonis} Stevenson almost did in the 10th round. The reason why he's a champion is because he was able to handle that and was able to survive that. That's why he's a champion. You could look at all the other rounds and say he's a champion because of this, he's a champion because of that, he gave angles, he used the jab, he punched at the right time. But he's a champion because, when the moment came, he behaved like a champion."
"If there are moments to take bigger bites in this fight, we're going to take them at whatever time that is. If it's early, it's early. If it's late, it's late. If it's middle, it's middle. He's got great judgment and instincts, and we've put that in place, and I know we can depend on that judgment and those instincts when it's time to take a bite, small or big. We never want to get greedy. You never want to get greedy, especially with a puncher."
"I think this fight's a little different than maybe some people envision it. It's not going to be exactly the same as the Stevenson fight because we have a guy where there's going to have to be moments... put it this way, there's going to have to be moments to take bigger bites with this guy. And that doesn't mean getting sloppy or careless or greedy, but it means what it means."
Artur Beterbiev
On the amateur fight he won against Gvozdyk: "I think it was two rounds. But I don't know, I heard Gvozdyk say I broke his nose. I don't know that. He said that. It was only two rounds."
Has Gvozdyk changed as a fighter since then?: "I think so. I changed. He changed. Everybody changed. His face changed, too. A little more hair."
On starting to train in Russia before moving camp to Montreal: "I went to Russia just for vacation, but I wanted to be, like, active. I went to altitude. I used to {train} there when I was an amateur boxer. I had a good camp there. It was like preparation for our camp {in Canada} for eight weeks."
On his past promotional difficulties and extended layoffs: "It was a difficult time, but I don't want to talk about the past. I think the future is more happy. It's hard when you have court and you have to train and be active. It's hard, but I did that. Now, I have 100 percent time to focus on my fight and my career."
Marc Ramsay (Beterbiev's trainer):
"I'm not going to expose my tactics for Friday night today, but the thing is, when you go into a big fight like this, it's important that you're not surprised by anything. This is what we prepared for in the gym, technically, tactically, all aspects of boxing, like speed {and} power. We're going to bring everything to the table on Friday."
"We asked our management if we could have {unification} fights right away. This is what Artur wants, what I want as a trainer, and everybody wanted to go in this direction. I don't know what happened behind the scenes, but I know it wasn't very difficult looking back with this fight on the table. We said 'yes' right away, first day {it was offered}."
BROADCAST SCHEDULE:
ESPN and ESPN Deportes, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Oleksandr Gvozdyk vs. Artur Beterbiev, 12 rounds, WBC/IBF light heavyweight world titles
Luis Collazo vs. Kudratillo Abdukakhorov, 10 rounds, welterweight
ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT
Michael Seals vs. Elio Trosch, 8 rounds, light heavyweight
Josue Vargas vs. Johnny Rodriguez, 8 rounds, super lightweight
John Bauza vs. Donald Ward, 8/6 rounds, super lightweight
Joseph Adorno vs. Damian Sosa 8 rounds, lightweight
Julian Rodriguez vs. Leonardo Doronio, 6 rounds, super lightweight
Jeremy Adorno vs. Misael Reyes, 4 rounds, super bantamweight
Sonny Conto vs. Steven Lyons, 4 rounds, heavyweight
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Beterbiev-Gvozdyk final presser quotes
IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (pictured) and his WBC counterpart Oleksandr Gvozdyk ended their fight promotion obligations Wednesday at the office of Hall of Fame promoter Russell Peltz. They posed for pictures in front of the fight poster for the legendary 1962 light heavyweight championship fight between Doug Jones and Harold Johnson, which took place at the old Philadelphia Arena. Beterbiev and Gvozdyk will add to the city's light heavyweight legacy Friday evening at the Liacouras Center, a throwback battle befitting a storied fight city. Before the two combatants posed for photos and faced off at Peltz's office/museum, they participated in a media roundtable. This is what they had to say.
Oleksandr Gvozdyk
On working with Teddy Atlas: “Teddy demands a lot of his fighters, and I am fine with that. Training camp is supposed to be hard, and we worked together to come up with the necessary game plan to beat Beterbiev. Teddy is very picky, very particular, and this is what you need. Sometimes, you cannot right yourself. Sometimes, you think you're too tired, sometimes you want to work more, but Teddy knows exactly what you're supposed to do. And there is no place for argument. First of all, he is a good person because when I met him, I realized that. Like I've said a lot of times before, this type of person is already under extinction, probably even non-existent anymore. From his professional qualities, besides his qualities as a human being, he's very smart, he has over 40 years in this business, and he never loses any small details, which is really important."
"First of all, my dream is to become undisputed champion. This is the first step, and this is the necessary step. And the second thing is, this is what fans like to see. They don't want to see champions fight some opponents or journeymen. Tough fights, which fans like to see. For me, it's a big challenge."
"For now, only one challenge and one opponent exists for me. I'm not even thinking about any other opportunities. Everything is possible in the future. Maybe go up {in weight} or go down. I think it's possible, maybe hard, but possible. But again, right now, I'm not even thinking about it."
Teddy Atlas (Gvozdyk's trainer)
"Camp couldn't be better. We got to where we want to be. You gotta go in there Friday night and execute, but everything is in place. Couldn't ask for more."
On moving training camp to Philadelphia: First of all, we didn't have to acclimate to the time difference because we'd be in the same time zone, and being that the weather would still be good, there was no problem with training here on the East Coast. Sometimes, you have to worry about bad weather with training on the East Coast. We didn't have to worry about that. And not having to get on a plane and go across the country on the Sunday before the fight was a nice thing."
On fighting a big puncher like Beterbiev: "It's just, again, a reminder that there's no room for mistakes, that there's gotta be full concentration for 36 minutes. You have to fight one round at a time, one three-minute round at a time. Not two minutes and 59 seconds, no. Not when you're in there with a puncher who can change everything in a moment with one punch, as {Adonis} Stevenson almost did in the 10th round. The reason why he's a champion is because he was able to handle that and was able to survive that. That's why he's a champion. You could look at all the other rounds and say he's a champion because of this, he's a champion because of that, he gave angles, he used the jab, he punched at the right time. But he's a champion because, when the moment came, he behaved like a champion."
"If there are moments to take bigger bites in this fight, we're going to take them at whatever time that is. If it's early, it's early. If it's late, it's late. If it's middle, it's middle. He's got great judgment and instincts, and we've put that in place, and I know we can depend on that judgment and those instincts when it's time to take a bite, small or big. We never want to get greedy. You never want to get greedy, especially with a puncher."
"I think this fight's a little different than maybe some people envision it. It's not going to be exactly the same as the Stevenson fight because we have a guy where there's going to have to be moments... put it this way, there's going to have to be moments to take bigger bites with this guy. And that doesn't mean getting sloppy or careless or greedy, but it means what it means."
Artur Beterbiev
On the amateur fight he won against Gvozdyk: "I think it was two rounds. But I don't know, I heard Gvozdyk say I broke his nose. I don't know that. He said that. It was only two rounds."
Has Gvozdyk changed as a fighter since then?: "I think so. I changed. He changed. Everybody changed. His face changed, too. A little more hair."
On starting to train in Russia before moving camp to Montreal: "I went to Russia just for vacation, but I wanted to be, like, active. I went to altitude. I used to {train} there when I was an amateur boxer. I had a good camp there. It was like preparation for our camp {in Canada} for eight weeks."
On his past promotional difficulties and extended layoffs: "It was a difficult time, but I don't want to talk about the past. I think the future is more happy. It's hard when you have court and you have to train and be active. It's hard, but I did that. Now, I have 100 percent time to focus on my fight and my career."
Marc Ramsay (Beterbiev's trainer):
"I'm not going to expose my tactics for Friday night today, but the thing is, when you go into a big fight like this, it's important that you're not surprised by anything. This is what we prepared for in the gym, technically, tactically, all aspects of boxing, like speed {and} power. We're going to bring everything to the table on Friday."
"We asked our management if we could have {unification} fights right away. This is what Artur wants, what I want as a trainer, and everybody wanted to go in this direction. I don't know what happened behind the scenes, but I know it wasn't very difficult looking back with this fight on the table. We said 'yes' right away, first day {it was offered}."
BROADCAST SCHEDULE:
ESPN and ESPN Deportes, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Oleksandr Gvozdyk vs. Artur Beterbiev, 12 rounds, WBC/IBF light heavyweight world titles
Luis Collazo vs. Kudratillo Abdukakhorov, 10 rounds, welterweight
ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT
Michael Seals vs. Elio Trosch, 8 rounds, light heavyweight
Josue Vargas vs. Johnny Rodriguez, 8 rounds, super lightweight
John Bauza vs. Donald Ward, 8/6 rounds, super lightweight
Joseph Adorno vs. Damian Sosa 8 rounds, lightweight
Julian Rodriguez vs. Leonardo Doronio, 6 rounds, super lightweight
Jeremy Adorno vs. Misael Reyes, 4 rounds, super bantamweight
Sonny Conto vs. Steven Lyons, 4 rounds, heavyweight
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Sergey Kovalev conference call transcript |
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Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev (34-3-1, 29 KOs), hosted an international media conference call yesterday to discuss his upcoming WBO light heavyweight title defense against world middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (51-1-2, 34 KOs). Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events and Kovalev's trainer Buddy McGirt also participated on the call. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2nd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live on DAZN.
The DAZN stream will include Ryan Garcia versus 'Ruthless' Romero Duno; Bakhram Murtazaliev versus Jorge Fortea in an IBF junior middleweight eliminator; Seniesa "Superbad" Estrada versus Marlen Esparza for the vacant interim WBA women's flyweight title; Evan Holyfield making his professional debut against Nick Winstead; Meiirim Nursultanov against Cristian Olivas in a ten-round middleweight battle; Blair "The Flair" Cobbs versus Carlos Ortiz at welterweight; Uzbekistan's Becktmir Melikuziev in a super middleweight bout, and 17 year-old Tristan Kalkreuth in a four-round cruiserweight fight.
Here is a transcript of the call:
BUDDY MCGIRT: Listen, I'm excited about the fight. I just think that they picked the wrong veteran to mess with when they picked Sergey. They should have found somebody else. The world will see on November 2nd that Sergey Kovalev is the real deal.
SERGEY KOVALEV: Hello, everybody. I want to say that I'm really excited about my next fight with Canelo Alvarez. I must show the world that I deserve to be the best in light heavyweight division.
This is huge goal in my boxing career from when I was a young guy. Canelo is really talented and really famous, so this is a lot of pressure to me, but believe me, I'm in boxing already since I was 11 years old and I should be fine. It's nothing for me. I should just get inside the ring and do my best job.
I'm really happy that I'm still in the business on the top level of boxing. I can't wait for November 2nd. Thank you.
KATHY DUVA: And I think I can amplify his comments only to say that I had a conversation with a Russian reporter the other day who has known Sergey, and he mentioned that Sergey, since this past summer, has changed. He's different. What's changed? What's different? I don't understand it. It's clearly the introduction of this fantastic team. Buddy McGirt being, if not the best, one of the best trainers in the sport, and Teddy Cruz, his physical trainer. Both made a huge impact.
I think Sergey's resurgence is a tribute to not only their efforts, but Sergey being a real champion showing what real champions do.
SERGEY KOVALEV: I want to say one more thing that right now I have a great team with great coaches - Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz - and right now I'm feeling really comfortable with my team. In our team I have good emotions, and right now all of us follow our dream and get victory over Canelo.
KATHY DUVA: Thank you. It really does show, speaking as a member of that team.
Q. Sergey just fought in August against Yarde, and, relatively speaking, it was a quick turnaround, particularly for a veteran fighter. I wonder if there were any accommodations that made for that fact as you train for this fight? Anything you had to change because of the quick turnaround?
BUDDY MCGIRT: All I can say is the only thing we had to change is not having to come to camp full force because he was already in shape. We just took it day-by-day, nice and easy, nice and slow. We didn't have to get in shape like we normally do. Didn't have to lose weight like normal. I think it's a blessing that it was a quick turnaround.
SERGEY KOVALEV: Yes, yes. For me yes, it's not enough rest between the fight, but I really like that I fight often, with a short rest. I don't like four, five months or more than four months rest. This is killing me. I am getting lazy. I am getting busy with my family.
But now just a small rest, like three weeks, three to four weeks, and I'm ready. I'm back again to training camp. Now it's really, really good under control with Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz. Right now, I'm feeling good.
Q. Just to make clear, you like the fact that there was a short turnaround as opposed to a much longer layoff?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I like it, yes. I like short rest between the fights. One month enough, you know.
Q. Just how surprised were you that a middleweight like Canelo Alvarez called your name? Because Oscar De La Hoya, his promoter, and Canelo, have said your name several times I think even before the Daniel Jacobs fight, that this would be a fight they would be interested in. I think a lot of the fans and reporters were like, 'he can't really be serious about that.' But he did call your name and now you're fighting him. How surprised were you compared to many others that thought this was not really a fight he was serious about?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I respect Canelo because he goes right now up two divisions, and this is a huge goal for him and also for myself. Canelo wants to try get title in light heavyweight division, and if he will not get the title nobody will say, 'Eh you lose.' He has nothing to lose. He is just trying.
But I should defend my title. I will defend my title. If I lose, I lose more than Canelo lose. Canelo, he is trying to make his history but I'm here. I'm in my position.
Q. You mentioned that he wants to make history, which he would if he is able to capture this belt. I know you don't know the answer because I don't think you've had the conversation, but what is your feeling? He took and called you for this fight because he genuinely wants to make the history, or he sees you as a big name who's vulnerable, but also somebody that his broadcaster would accept other than the third Gennadiy "GGG" Golovkin fight?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I don't think that he is avoiding the fight against GGG, but he now wants to make history. He wants to face me because I am the best in the light heavyweight division. His fights against GGG what happen, will happen. It doesn't matter. Canelo win the fight November 2nd or not. I think he just want to try to make history. But we will see on November 2nd. Like I will be in the ring and we will be ready for everything what he will bring.
Q. You've had so many big wins in your career. I'm thinking about Bernard Hopkins, the two fights against Jean Pascal, the revenge match against Eleider "Storm" Alvarez. In all the fights you've had - when you went overseas and won the title against Cleverly - would a victory against Canelo, even though he's a smaller fighter, but because he's such a huge name, would you think in the later stages of your career if you win this would be the biggest win of your career? I would like Kathy's opinion on this also.
SERGEY KOVALEV: You know, if Canelo go to 175 division, that means that his body is ready. Yes, he is a shorter height, but his weight will be on fight day more than 175, I'm sure.
Maybe he no longer like losing the weight, because he's tired long time, long boxing career, still losing the weight. But I know he would like fighting with a full stomach. (Laughter.)
Q. Would you consider it your biggest win?
SERGEY KOVALEV: Yeah, it's going to be my biggest win. Yes, of course. This is the biggest name I fought after Bernard Hopkins.
Q. Kathy? You promoted all those big fights.
KATHY DUVA: Yeah, I think Sergey said it exactly right. He's the biggest most marketable name on his record, and that, in the eyes of fans, makes it the biggest, of course.
Q. How is it working with Buddy McGirt and what does he bring to the table?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I'm really happy that I found this coach. I met with Buddy long time ago. I came in U.S. in 2009 and I met with Buddy 2011 or 2012 at some boxing fight, but I never thought that Buddy can be my coach. But right now, everything has happened for a reason, and I started working with Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz and I'm really happy.
I really like to work with them. We will see what will be on November 2nd, but I'm sure that this will be the great fight.
Q. Did he teach you more than you already knew?
SERGEY KOVALEV: Buddy gives me everything right - that I lost after losing control of the trainings. All my titles that I had, three title before my first loss and I had used all my amateur experience to get those titles. But then I would have big rest between the fights, and I lost all my technique, because I didn't have good coach in my training camp. Nobody controlled me. Nobody give me instruction what I should to do. I did everything by myself. When I lost the fight, I get to work, then another fight, another fight. I started looking for the right coach who can help me, and I found Buddy McGirt.
Q. Sergey, this is a question about your motivation in the fight and what the fight means to you. You're 36 and closer to the end of your career than the beginning. You also stand to make a career-high payday in this fight. A lot of people said you've already won simply by signing the contract. The question is: What would a win in this fight mean to you? How motivated are you to come away with a win on November 2nd?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I am really motivated for my future boxing career. I would like two more great years. I can fight easy, because right now I have a great team and great coaches like Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz who really help me.
Right now, really big motivation to get victory over Canelo, because after this victory there are more opportunities that will be in front of me.
Q. Same question to Buddy. If you can talk about the energy in the camp and what a win would mean for you and your team, if you guys come out on top.
BUDDY MCGIRT: Well, the camp is great because everybody gets along. Everybody trusts everybody. We have a relaxed mood and we know what we have to do, so it makes for a good camp.
As far as if we win, the statement should be when we win, because I believe in my heart that Sergey is going to win this. It's not going to be as hard as people think. As far as myself, it's not about me right now. It's about Sergey making history. It's not about me. It's about Sergey.
Q. Buddy, how open is Sergey to different styles, strategies? How coachable is he? I know you worked with Arturo Gatti, are you going to do the same thing with Sergey Kovalev?
BUDDY McGIRT: Sometimes when we're in the gym Sergey comes to me with ideas, and they make sense. Like he said earlier, he got away from what he did best in the amateurs. He showed me a video of the amateurs and I'm like, 'What happened to this guy?' He goes, 'Well, when I started knocking people, I got away from it.' I'm like, 'We've got to get back to this.' He goes, 'But I'm the Krusher.' I said, 'Well, now you're going to be Smart Krusher.' That's what I say, people underestimate his boxing IQ because he's always knocked everybody out. He's smarter than people give him credit for.
Q. Is he open to different strategies in case his forward pressure and his professional style that he adopted...
BUDDY McGIRT: Oh, yeah. We discuss it. If he feels something, he'll let me know when we get to the gym, and if I feel something, I let him know. We're on the same page at all times.
Q. How is it for you to be the underdog, a decided underdog in this fight? That hasn't been the case yet in your career where your opponent is viewed as big favorite. Does that motivate you? Paid any attention to that?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I don't worry about if I'm the underdog or not. I just feel like we will be in the same ring, and everybody will be in the same position one-on-one, one against one.
The end will show who's the best. Canelo is a very talented boxer and really experienced. And believe me, I'm right now getting really good instruction from my team and very good training camp. Everything goes very well.
We will show to the boxing world that Krusher is here. Krusher is back.
Q. Canelo obviously has a history in Las Vegas of winning close decisions or certainly getting the benefit of the doubt on scorecards more often than not. Does that make you feel any pressure to have to beat him by knockout, or are you okay with the fight going the distance? You've also lost a very close decision in Las Vegas yourself.
SERGEY KOVALEV: I will follow nstructions from Buddy McGirt, what's the plan? The plan will begin after the first round. Every minute I will follow his instruction after each round what he will be saying to me.
Q. So, you don't feel like you need to knock him out to win the fight I guess is my question?
SERGEY KOVALEV: Yes, but that's not my goal. My goal to get the victory, by any costs. By knockout is very well, yes, of course.
Q. Obviously there is another very meaningful light heavyweight title fight on Friday. Wondering your thoughts on the Beterbiev-Gvozdyk fight and of course I would assume you would like to fight the winner if you beat Canelo, correct?
SERGEY KOVALEV: Of course. I should beat Canelo, and the next fight I will be open for unification fight. Right now, I have a concentration and focus on Canelo fight.
I will watch this fight for sure this Friday, and we'll see who's the best of these two guys. I think like one of those guys will get victory. (Laughter.) Not like a draw. Somebody will win.
Q. When Canelo Alvarez spoke to us on his call last week, he was asked about his body attack. He's a tremendous body puncher, and you have shown that you have had some problems when guys attack you to the body. He said that will be a big part of what he plans to do in the fight. How do you make sure that doesn't become a factor in the fight? I'd like your opinion and Buddy's since you have to come up with a game plan to defend against the body shots.Buddy, do you have any thoughts about that particular part of Canelo Alvarez's game plan?
BUDDY MCGIRT: I mean, it's obvious that's his game plan, because that's one of his biggest tools, is body punching. And for the record, nobody likes to get hit in the body. I don't give a shit who you are.
What we did was we ordered these XXXL shorts for Sergey and we are going to pull the shorts up to his chest and then we'll be okay. (Laughter.)
The question is what's going to happen when Canelo gets hit to the body?
Q. Sergey has shown in the Yarde fight as well as many other fights in his career, he has a superb jab. It's very heavy. It's very much like a power shot as opposed to a jab. How significant do you believe that Sergey's jab is going to be in the fight against Canelo?
BUDDY MCGIRT: Well, the main thing is to avoid those type of instances where we get in there and let Canelo feel comfortable. No matter what he tries to do, the key is to make him uncomfortable in anything that he tries to do.
That only happened to him one time, and that was in the Mayweather fight. Mayweather made him uncomfortable and he really couldn't get in his groove. After that, he became a better fighter and he was able to dominate everybody.
Q. The jab is such a big punch for Sergey; it does so much damage. Just wondered how much emphasis is there for you in the camp to make sure he shoots that down the middle against a smaller guy who has probably never been hit with a shot like that from a guy as big as Sergey Kovalev?
BUDDY MCGIRT: Funny thing is since the Alvarez rematch I've never had to remind Sergey again about the jab.
Q. Very good. Sergey, maybe you could address that. How important is it to have a heavy jab against Canelo Alvarez?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I never punch really hard my jab. I just do my jab; that's it. It's hard because I have like heavy bones maybe. I don't know. But I not make it hard like that by myself.
Q. I mean, your last win was with a jab.
SERGEY KOVALEV: Yes, it was by jab. I don't know. But I didn't punch really hard. Maybe in the fight against Canelo I will make it more harder and we'll see. Just fight will show everything, who's the best.
Q. Sergey, you have bounced back now from some losses and are facing a very big fight. Do you think because of the journey you've had you appreciate this opportunity more now than you would have ten years ago? You think you have a different mental approach to it?
SERGEY KOVALEV: Ten years ago, I was younger and didn't have enough experience. But now I'm ten years older and more experienced. Ten years ago, I came in U.S. with the amateur experience only. Now, I'm getting day-by-day, fight-by-fight, professional experience with Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz.
I'm really excited to work with this team, and thanks to God that everything's happen for a reason. I'm happy.
Q. Do you think you're ten years wiser also? Is that just as important?
SERGEY KOVALEV: Yes, yes. Now I am more smarter, yes, right.
Q. And Kathy, do you think this is an important factor - you've seen Sergey a long time - in his road to getting here, that he is wiser, and his attitude reflects an approach that's going to serve him well now?
KATHY DUVA: I think that as the journey he has been through, as painful as it was, from time-to-time, as we all experience life, the pain is the thing that teaches us. It's the painful times that make us better in the long run. It's the hard knocks that make us more careful about what we say and do and think.
I think that's everybody's life experiences. Sergey has had some real obstacles in his way in recent years, and as painful as it was, as Sergey keeps saying, things happen for a reason. This is what led him to this particular team at this point in time in his corner. I think that it has all worked out exactly as well as it possibly could.
Now he will go into this fight knowing he has every chance that he could possibly have to win and feeling good about it. As he keeps saying, I'm happy, I'm happy. That's what is showing. That's what I'm seeing. I'm seeing the smile on his face that I saw leading up to the Cleverly fight. I hadn't seen it in a long time.
It's been a pleasure to watch this and be able to be in such a significant fight at this stage in his career is the reward for all of the work he's done and all he's been through to get there.
Q. In the negotiations for this, I know Sergey was unhappy with Vegas. I mean, I know this is a big fight and probably had to take it anywhere. Was there any talk about going anywhere other than Las Vegas?
KATHY DUVA: As a dynamic of this negotiation, just made that impossible. We got the fight we wanted; we got the money we wanted. The way to get that money is to go to a place where you can generate it. We're realists. We asked, as always, for judges who will be fair. We hope that the commission recognizes that we don't want the names of the judges or the referee to be the story.
We're going to be where the crowd is going to be very much pro-Canelo. We know that happens. We know judges are influenced by those crowds, and I can talk a lot simply to that.
But what Sergey needs to do is fight like the veteran that he is. He needs to win and dominate round by round. He needs to not go in there head hunting trying to get a knockout. He knows that now.
Again, the experience he's had has informed that. If you look at the scoring in the first six rounds of the first Ward fight, he was ahead. Clearly.
He let Ward back in the fight. He got tired and we've addressed those issues with this new training situation. I don't think that's an issue anymore.
He needs to get out there and win and dominate, just as he did with Alvarez the second time and frankly as he did with Yarde. We went and re-watched the fight, there was about 20 seconds during one round in which he was having a little bit of a hard time.
But he dominated that fight, and that's what he needs to do.
Q. Sergey, obviously Canelo is looking to do something not many people have even attempted moving up two weight classes. Do you feel like you, as the champion and someone who has fought in light heavyweight far longer than Canelo is more confident in knowing that you are the bigger guy against the smaller guy in Canelo going to be making his light heavyweight debut?
SERGEY KOVALEV: Every fight for me is very important, but this fight is the most important because there is now a guy who makes the move like two divisions and want to beat me, to get my title.
This is very important for me, more important to defend my title, because like now he is a guest in my division. My plans are different, and after the fight with Canelo I will follow for my dream.
With this fight very good for boxing fans. I'm ready. I'll be ready with my team to defend my WBO Title.
Q. The fight against Anthony Yarde back in August, after the fight, did you immediately think that physically you were ready already to face Canelo Alvarez? Did you need to take maybe a few days to sort of think about it and decide whether or not you were ready to face, or not ready to face, but at least hoping you're physically ready enough to face Canelo on such a quick turnaround?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I have great coach now and I believe them what they tell me. Teddy Cruz and Buddy McGirt is the best coaches in the world and I believe them 100%.
I think they can really help in the fight against Canelo.
Q. Kathy, obviously this has been a fight that's been in the works for sure several months. What sort of change in those initial pre-Yarde negotiations versus now that sort of allowed the fight to come together? Almost fairly quickly after the Anthony Yarde fight, was it the fact that Sergey really needed to get that mandatory out of the way and that kind of drove a wedge in the negotiations?
KATHY DUVA: Yes, prior to the Yarde fight, early on we weren't getting the kind of offers we needed to make the fight. By the time the offer came we were just too far down road with Yarde. As Sergey made very clear at the time, he felt an obligation to go and fight in his hometown. He didn't want local fans to think he would turn his back on them just because he was offered a lot of money. We had already gotten through that, the biggest issue, which was the money.
Just a week after that to get Golden Boy back to where they were in the summer. There was a lot less to talk about the second time around, and so it came together a lot more easily. And we didn't have the obstacles of having to fight the mandatory.
Thank you everyone, as always, for your interest. I think boxing thrives when we have these big fights. This is one of those nights when you can call your casual friends to make sure they watch because it is going to be a great one.
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Sergey Kovalev conference call transcript
Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev (34-3-1, 29 KOs), hosted an international media conference call yesterday to discuss his upcoming WBO light heavyweight title defense against world middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (51-1-2, 34 KOs). Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events and Kovalev's trainer Buddy McGirt also participated on the call. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2nd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live on DAZN.
The DAZN stream will include Ryan Garcia versus 'Ruthless' Romero Duno; Bakhram Murtazaliev versus Jorge Fortea in an IBF junior middleweight eliminator; Seniesa "Superbad" Estrada versus Marlen Esparza for the vacant interim WBA women's flyweight title; Evan Holyfield making his professional debut against Nick Winstead; Meiirim Nursultanov against Cristian Olivas in a ten-round middleweight battle; Blair "The Flair" Cobbs versus Carlos Ortiz at welterweight; Uzbekistan's Becktmir Melikuziev in a super middleweight bout, and 17 year-old Tristan Kalkreuth in a four-round cruiserweight fight.
Here is a transcript of the call:
BUDDY MCGIRT: Listen, I'm excited about the fight. I just think that they picked the wrong veteran to mess with when they picked Sergey. They should have found somebody else. The world will see on November 2nd that Sergey Kovalev is the real deal.
SERGEY KOVALEV: Hello, everybody. I want to say that I'm really excited about my next fight with Canelo Alvarez. I must show the world that I deserve to be the best in light heavyweight division.
This is huge goal in my boxing career from when I was a young guy. Canelo is really talented and really famous, so this is a lot of pressure to me, but believe me, I'm in boxing already since I was 11 years old and I should be fine. It's nothing for me. I should just get inside the ring and do my best job.
I'm really happy that I'm still in the business on the top level of boxing. I can't wait for November 2nd. Thank you.
KATHY DUVA: And I think I can amplify his comments only to say that I had a conversation with a Russian reporter the other day who has known Sergey, and he mentioned that Sergey, since this past summer, has changed. He's different. What's changed? What's different? I don't understand it. It's clearly the introduction of this fantastic team. Buddy McGirt being, if not the best, one of the best trainers in the sport, and Teddy Cruz, his physical trainer. Both made a huge impact.
I think Sergey's resurgence is a tribute to not only their efforts, but Sergey being a real champion showing what real champions do.
SERGEY KOVALEV: I want to say one more thing that right now I have a great team with great coaches - Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz - and right now I'm feeling really comfortable with my team. In our team I have good emotions, and right now all of us follow our dream and get victory over Canelo.
KATHY DUVA: Thank you. It really does show, speaking as a member of that team.
Q. Sergey just fought in August against Yarde, and, relatively speaking, it was a quick turnaround, particularly for a veteran fighter. I wonder if there were any accommodations that made for that fact as you train for this fight? Anything you had to change because of the quick turnaround?
BUDDY MCGIRT: All I can say is the only thing we had to change is not having to come to camp full force because he was already in shape. We just took it day-by-day, nice and easy, nice and slow. We didn't have to get in shape like we normally do. Didn't have to lose weight like normal. I think it's a blessing that it was a quick turnaround.
SERGEY KOVALEV: Yes, yes. For me yes, it's not enough rest between the fight, but I really like that I fight often, with a short rest. I don't like four, five months or more than four months rest. This is killing me. I am getting lazy. I am getting busy with my family.
But now just a small rest, like three weeks, three to four weeks, and I'm ready. I'm back again to training camp. Now it's really, really good under control with Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz. Right now, I'm feeling good.
Q. Just to make clear, you like the fact that there was a short turnaround as opposed to a much longer layoff?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I like it, yes. I like short rest between the fights. One month enough, you know.
Q. Just how surprised were you that a middleweight like Canelo Alvarez called your name? Because Oscar De La Hoya, his promoter, and Canelo, have said your name several times I think even before the Daniel Jacobs fight, that this would be a fight they would be interested in. I think a lot of the fans and reporters were like, 'he can't really be serious about that.' But he did call your name and now you're fighting him. How surprised were you compared to many others that thought this was not really a fight he was serious about?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I respect Canelo because he goes right now up two divisions, and this is a huge goal for him and also for myself. Canelo wants to try get title in light heavyweight division, and if he will not get the title nobody will say, 'Eh you lose.' He has nothing to lose. He is just trying.
But I should defend my title. I will defend my title. If I lose, I lose more than Canelo lose. Canelo, he is trying to make his history but I'm here. I'm in my position.
Q. You mentioned that he wants to make history, which he would if he is able to capture this belt. I know you don't know the answer because I don't think you've had the conversation, but what is your feeling? He took and called you for this fight because he genuinely wants to make the history, or he sees you as a big name who's vulnerable, but also somebody that his broadcaster would accept other than the third Gennadiy "GGG" Golovkin fight?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I don't think that he is avoiding the fight against GGG, but he now wants to make history. He wants to face me because I am the best in the light heavyweight division. His fights against GGG what happen, will happen. It doesn't matter. Canelo win the fight November 2nd or not. I think he just want to try to make history. But we will see on November 2nd. Like I will be in the ring and we will be ready for everything what he will bring.
Q. You've had so many big wins in your career. I'm thinking about Bernard Hopkins, the two fights against Jean Pascal, the revenge match against Eleider "Storm" Alvarez. In all the fights you've had - when you went overseas and won the title against Cleverly - would a victory against Canelo, even though he's a smaller fighter, but because he's such a huge name, would you think in the later stages of your career if you win this would be the biggest win of your career? I would like Kathy's opinion on this also.
SERGEY KOVALEV: You know, if Canelo go to 175 division, that means that his body is ready. Yes, he is a shorter height, but his weight will be on fight day more than 175, I'm sure.
Maybe he no longer like losing the weight, because he's tired long time, long boxing career, still losing the weight. But I know he would like fighting with a full stomach. (Laughter.)
Q. Would you consider it your biggest win?
SERGEY KOVALEV: Yeah, it's going to be my biggest win. Yes, of course. This is the biggest name I fought after Bernard Hopkins.
Q. Kathy? You promoted all those big fights.
KATHY DUVA: Yeah, I think Sergey said it exactly right. He's the biggest most marketable name on his record, and that, in the eyes of fans, makes it the biggest, of course.
Q. How is it working with Buddy McGirt and what does he bring to the table?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I'm really happy that I found this coach. I met with Buddy long time ago. I came in U.S. in 2009 and I met with Buddy 2011 or 2012 at some boxing fight, but I never thought that Buddy can be my coach. But right now, everything has happened for a reason, and I started working with Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz and I'm really happy.
I really like to work with them. We will see what will be on November 2nd, but I'm sure that this will be the great fight.
Q. Did he teach you more than you already knew?
SERGEY KOVALEV: Buddy gives me everything right - that I lost after losing control of the trainings. All my titles that I had, three title before my first loss and I had used all my amateur experience to get those titles. But then I would have big rest between the fights, and I lost all my technique, because I didn't have good coach in my training camp. Nobody controlled me. Nobody give me instruction what I should to do. I did everything by myself. When I lost the fight, I get to work, then another fight, another fight. I started looking for the right coach who can help me, and I found Buddy McGirt.
Q. Sergey, this is a question about your motivation in the fight and what the fight means to you. You're 36 and closer to the end of your career than the beginning. You also stand to make a career-high payday in this fight. A lot of people said you've already won simply by signing the contract. The question is: What would a win in this fight mean to you? How motivated are you to come away with a win on November 2nd?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I am really motivated for my future boxing career. I would like two more great years. I can fight easy, because right now I have a great team and great coaches like Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz who really help me.
Right now, really big motivation to get victory over Canelo, because after this victory there are more opportunities that will be in front of me.
Q. Same question to Buddy. If you can talk about the energy in the camp and what a win would mean for you and your team, if you guys come out on top.
BUDDY MCGIRT: Well, the camp is great because everybody gets along. Everybody trusts everybody. We have a relaxed mood and we know what we have to do, so it makes for a good camp.
As far as if we win, the statement should be when we win, because I believe in my heart that Sergey is going to win this. It's not going to be as hard as people think. As far as myself, it's not about me right now. It's about Sergey making history. It's not about me. It's about Sergey.
Q. Buddy, how open is Sergey to different styles, strategies? How coachable is he? I know you worked with Arturo Gatti, are you going to do the same thing with Sergey Kovalev?
BUDDY McGIRT: Sometimes when we're in the gym Sergey comes to me with ideas, and they make sense. Like he said earlier, he got away from what he did best in the amateurs. He showed me a video of the amateurs and I'm like, 'What happened to this guy?' He goes, 'Well, when I started knocking people, I got away from it.' I'm like, 'We've got to get back to this.' He goes, 'But I'm the Krusher.' I said, 'Well, now you're going to be Smart Krusher.' That's what I say, people underestimate his boxing IQ because he's always knocked everybody out. He's smarter than people give him credit for.
Q. Is he open to different strategies in case his forward pressure and his professional style that he adopted...
BUDDY McGIRT: Oh, yeah. We discuss it. If he feels something, he'll let me know when we get to the gym, and if I feel something, I let him know. We're on the same page at all times.
Q. How is it for you to be the underdog, a decided underdog in this fight? That hasn't been the case yet in your career where your opponent is viewed as big favorite. Does that motivate you? Paid any attention to that?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I don't worry about if I'm the underdog or not. I just feel like we will be in the same ring, and everybody will be in the same position one-on-one, one against one.
The end will show who's the best. Canelo is a very talented boxer and really experienced. And believe me, I'm right now getting really good instruction from my team and very good training camp. Everything goes very well.
We will show to the boxing world that Krusher is here. Krusher is back.
Q. Canelo obviously has a history in Las Vegas of winning close decisions or certainly getting the benefit of the doubt on scorecards more often than not. Does that make you feel any pressure to have to beat him by knockout, or are you okay with the fight going the distance? You've also lost a very close decision in Las Vegas yourself.
SERGEY KOVALEV: I will follow nstructions from Buddy McGirt, what's the plan? The plan will begin after the first round. Every minute I will follow his instruction after each round what he will be saying to me.
Q. So, you don't feel like you need to knock him out to win the fight I guess is my question?
SERGEY KOVALEV: Yes, but that's not my goal. My goal to get the victory, by any costs. By knockout is very well, yes, of course.
Q. Obviously there is another very meaningful light heavyweight title fight on Friday. Wondering your thoughts on the Beterbiev-Gvozdyk fight and of course I would assume you would like to fight the winner if you beat Canelo, correct?
SERGEY KOVALEV: Of course. I should beat Canelo, and the next fight I will be open for unification fight. Right now, I have a concentration and focus on Canelo fight.
I will watch this fight for sure this Friday, and we'll see who's the best of these two guys. I think like one of those guys will get victory. (Laughter.) Not like a draw. Somebody will win.
Q. When Canelo Alvarez spoke to us on his call last week, he was asked about his body attack. He's a tremendous body puncher, and you have shown that you have had some problems when guys attack you to the body. He said that will be a big part of what he plans to do in the fight. How do you make sure that doesn't become a factor in the fight? I'd like your opinion and Buddy's since you have to come up with a game plan to defend against the body shots.Buddy, do you have any thoughts about that particular part of Canelo Alvarez's game plan?
BUDDY MCGIRT: I mean, it's obvious that's his game plan, because that's one of his biggest tools, is body punching. And for the record, nobody likes to get hit in the body. I don't give a shit who you are.
What we did was we ordered these XXXL shorts for Sergey and we are going to pull the shorts up to his chest and then we'll be okay. (Laughter.)
The question is what's going to happen when Canelo gets hit to the body?
Q. Sergey has shown in the Yarde fight as well as many other fights in his career, he has a superb jab. It's very heavy. It's very much like a power shot as opposed to a jab. How significant do you believe that Sergey's jab is going to be in the fight against Canelo?
BUDDY MCGIRT: Well, the main thing is to avoid those type of instances where we get in there and let Canelo feel comfortable. No matter what he tries to do, the key is to make him uncomfortable in anything that he tries to do.
That only happened to him one time, and that was in the Mayweather fight. Mayweather made him uncomfortable and he really couldn't get in his groove. After that, he became a better fighter and he was able to dominate everybody.
Q. The jab is such a big punch for Sergey; it does so much damage. Just wondered how much emphasis is there for you in the camp to make sure he shoots that down the middle against a smaller guy who has probably never been hit with a shot like that from a guy as big as Sergey Kovalev?
BUDDY MCGIRT: Funny thing is since the Alvarez rematch I've never had to remind Sergey again about the jab.
Q. Very good. Sergey, maybe you could address that. How important is it to have a heavy jab against Canelo Alvarez?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I never punch really hard my jab. I just do my jab; that's it. It's hard because I have like heavy bones maybe. I don't know. But I not make it hard like that by myself.
Q. I mean, your last win was with a jab.
SERGEY KOVALEV: Yes, it was by jab. I don't know. But I didn't punch really hard. Maybe in the fight against Canelo I will make it more harder and we'll see. Just fight will show everything, who's the best.
Q. Sergey, you have bounced back now from some losses and are facing a very big fight. Do you think because of the journey you've had you appreciate this opportunity more now than you would have ten years ago? You think you have a different mental approach to it?
SERGEY KOVALEV: Ten years ago, I was younger and didn't have enough experience. But now I'm ten years older and more experienced. Ten years ago, I came in U.S. with the amateur experience only. Now, I'm getting day-by-day, fight-by-fight, professional experience with Buddy McGirt and Teddy Cruz.
I'm really excited to work with this team, and thanks to God that everything's happen for a reason. I'm happy.
Q. Do you think you're ten years wiser also? Is that just as important?
SERGEY KOVALEV: Yes, yes. Now I am more smarter, yes, right.
Q. And Kathy, do you think this is an important factor - you've seen Sergey a long time - in his road to getting here, that he is wiser, and his attitude reflects an approach that's going to serve him well now?
KATHY DUVA: I think that as the journey he has been through, as painful as it was, from time-to-time, as we all experience life, the pain is the thing that teaches us. It's the painful times that make us better in the long run. It's the hard knocks that make us more careful about what we say and do and think.
I think that's everybody's life experiences. Sergey has had some real obstacles in his way in recent years, and as painful as it was, as Sergey keeps saying, things happen for a reason. This is what led him to this particular team at this point in time in his corner. I think that it has all worked out exactly as well as it possibly could.
Now he will go into this fight knowing he has every chance that he could possibly have to win and feeling good about it. As he keeps saying, I'm happy, I'm happy. That's what is showing. That's what I'm seeing. I'm seeing the smile on his face that I saw leading up to the Cleverly fight. I hadn't seen it in a long time.
It's been a pleasure to watch this and be able to be in such a significant fight at this stage in his career is the reward for all of the work he's done and all he's been through to get there.
Q. In the negotiations for this, I know Sergey was unhappy with Vegas. I mean, I know this is a big fight and probably had to take it anywhere. Was there any talk about going anywhere other than Las Vegas?
KATHY DUVA: As a dynamic of this negotiation, just made that impossible. We got the fight we wanted; we got the money we wanted. The way to get that money is to go to a place where you can generate it. We're realists. We asked, as always, for judges who will be fair. We hope that the commission recognizes that we don't want the names of the judges or the referee to be the story.
We're going to be where the crowd is going to be very much pro-Canelo. We know that happens. We know judges are influenced by those crowds, and I can talk a lot simply to that.
But what Sergey needs to do is fight like the veteran that he is. He needs to win and dominate round by round. He needs to not go in there head hunting trying to get a knockout. He knows that now.
Again, the experience he's had has informed that. If you look at the scoring in the first six rounds of the first Ward fight, he was ahead. Clearly.
He let Ward back in the fight. He got tired and we've addressed those issues with this new training situation. I don't think that's an issue anymore.
He needs to get out there and win and dominate, just as he did with Alvarez the second time and frankly as he did with Yarde. We went and re-watched the fight, there was about 20 seconds during one round in which he was having a little bit of a hard time.
But he dominated that fight, and that's what he needs to do.
Q. Sergey, obviously Canelo is looking to do something not many people have even attempted moving up two weight classes. Do you feel like you, as the champion and someone who has fought in light heavyweight far longer than Canelo is more confident in knowing that you are the bigger guy against the smaller guy in Canelo going to be making his light heavyweight debut?
SERGEY KOVALEV: Every fight for me is very important, but this fight is the most important because there is now a guy who makes the move like two divisions and want to beat me, to get my title.
This is very important for me, more important to defend my title, because like now he is a guest in my division. My plans are different, and after the fight with Canelo I will follow for my dream.
With this fight very good for boxing fans. I'm ready. I'll be ready with my team to defend my WBO Title.
Q. The fight against Anthony Yarde back in August, after the fight, did you immediately think that physically you were ready already to face Canelo Alvarez? Did you need to take maybe a few days to sort of think about it and decide whether or not you were ready to face, or not ready to face, but at least hoping you're physically ready enough to face Canelo on such a quick turnaround?
SERGEY KOVALEV: I have great coach now and I believe them what they tell me. Teddy Cruz and Buddy McGirt is the best coaches in the world and I believe them 100%.
I think they can really help in the fight against Canelo.
Q. Kathy, obviously this has been a fight that's been in the works for sure several months. What sort of change in those initial pre-Yarde negotiations versus now that sort of allowed the fight to come together? Almost fairly quickly after the Anthony Yarde fight, was it the fact that Sergey really needed to get that mandatory out of the way and that kind of drove a wedge in the negotiations?
KATHY DUVA: Yes, prior to the Yarde fight, early on we weren't getting the kind of offers we needed to make the fight. By the time the offer came we were just too far down road with Yarde. As Sergey made very clear at the time, he felt an obligation to go and fight in his hometown. He didn't want local fans to think he would turn his back on them just because he was offered a lot of money. We had already gotten through that, the biggest issue, which was the money.
Just a week after that to get Golden Boy back to where they were in the summer. There was a lot less to talk about the second time around, and so it came together a lot more easily. And we didn't have the obstacles of having to fight the mandatory.
Thank you everyone, as always, for your interest. I think boxing thrives when we have these big fights. This is one of those nights when you can call your casual friends to make sure they watch because it is going to be a great one.
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Patrick Day, 1992-2019 |
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Patrick Day passed away today, October 16th, succumbing to the traumatic brain injury he suffered in his fight this past Saturday, October 12th, at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. He was surrounded by his family, close friends and members of his boxing team, including his mentor, friend and trainer Joe Higgins. On behalf of Patrick's family, team, and those closest to him, we are grateful for the prayers, expressions of support and outpouring of love for Pat that have been so obvious since his injury. Before establishing himself as a world class professional fighter, Pat was a highly decorated amateur. He won two Nationals titles, the New York Golden Gloves tournament and was an Olympic Team alternate, all in 2012. Day turned pro in 2013 and overcame early career struggles to become a world-rated super welterweight contender. He captured the WBC Continental Americas championship in 2017 and the IBF Intercontinental championship in 2019. In June 2019, he was rated in the top-10 by both the WBC and IBF. He was also a dedicated college student, having earned an Associate's degree in Food and Nutrition from Nassau Community College and, subsequently, a Bachelor's degree in Health and Wellness from Kaplan University. He was a son, brother, and good friend to many. Pat's kindness, positivity, and generosity of spirit made a lasting impression with everyone he met. During his short life, boxing allowed Patrick to impact many communities, both big and small. In his hometown of Freeport, Long Island, he was a beacon of light and the star pupil at the Freeport PAL, the gym he trained in from the moment he began boxing until the last bout of his career. He was recognized as one of Long Island's finest professional fighters for years. He was a fixture in the boxing community throughout New York City. Patrick was even known in Japan, which he visited to spar with his friend and colleague, world champion Ryota Murata. Patrick Day didn't need to box. He came from a good family, he was smart, educated, had good values and had other avenues available to him to earn a living. He chose to box, knowing the inherent risks that every fighter faces when he or she walks into a boxing ring. Boxing is what Pat loved to do. It's how he inspired people and it was something that made him feel alive. It becomes very difficult to explain away or justify the dangers of boxing at a time like this. This is not a time where edicts or pronouncements are appropriate, or the answers are readily available. It is, however, a time for a call to action. While we don't have the answers, we certainly know many of the questions, have the means to answer them, and have the opportunity to respond responsibly and accordingly and make boxing safer for all who participate. This is a way we can honor the legacy of Pat Day. Many people live much longer than Patrick's 27 years, wondering if they made a difference or positively affected their world. This was not the case for Patrick Day when he left us. Rest in peace and power, Pat, with the angels.
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Patrick Day, 1992-2019
Patrick Day passed away today, October 16th, succumbing to the traumatic brain injury he suffered in his fight this past Saturday, October 12th, at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. He was surrounded by his family, close friends and members of his boxing team, including his mentor, friend and trainer Joe Higgins. On behalf of Patrick's family, team, and those closest to him, we are grateful for the prayers, expressions of support and outpouring of love for Pat that have been so obvious since his injury. Before establishing himself as a world class professional fighter, Pat was a highly decorated amateur. He won two Nationals titles, the New York Golden Gloves tournament and was an Olympic Team alternate, all in 2012. Day turned pro in 2013 and overcame early career struggles to become a world-rated super welterweight contender. He captured the WBC Continental Americas championship in 2017 and the IBF Intercontinental championship in 2019. In June 2019, he was rated in the top-10 by both the WBC and IBF. He was also a dedicated college student, having earned an Associate's degree in Food and Nutrition from Nassau Community College and, subsequently, a Bachelor's degree in Health and Wellness from Kaplan University. He was a son, brother, and good friend to many. Pat's kindness, positivity, and generosity of spirit made a lasting impression with everyone he met. During his short life, boxing allowed Patrick to impact many communities, both big and small. In his hometown of Freeport, Long Island, he was a beacon of light and the star pupil at the Freeport PAL, the gym he trained in from the moment he began boxing until the last bout of his career. He was recognized as one of Long Island's finest professional fighters for years. He was a fixture in the boxing community throughout New York City. Patrick was even known in Japan, which he visited to spar with his friend and colleague, world champion Ryota Murata. Patrick Day didn't need to box. He came from a good family, he was smart, educated, had good values and had other avenues available to him to earn a living. He chose to box, knowing the inherent risks that every fighter faces when he or she walks into a boxing ring. Boxing is what Pat loved to do. It's how he inspired people and it was something that made him feel alive. It becomes very difficult to explain away or justify the dangers of boxing at a time like this. This is not a time where edicts or pronouncements are appropriate, or the answers are readily available. It is, however, a time for a call to action. While we don't have the answers, we certainly know many of the questions, have the means to answer them, and have the opportunity to respond responsibly and accordingly and make boxing safer for all who participate. This is a way we can honor the legacy of Pat Day. Many people live much longer than Patrick's 27 years, wondering if they made a difference or positively affected their world. This was not the case for Patrick Day when he left us. Rest in peace and power, Pat, with the angels.
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Artis Mack facing ten years for weigh-in attack |
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Flint, Michigan prosecutor David Leyton has charged Artis Jaquel Mack with assault for allegedly punching James Ali Bashir (known as Bashir Ali) at the weigh-in for a boxing match between Claressa Shields and Ivana Habazin. Mack is Shields' brother and Ali was Habazin's trainer. Ali was arguing with Shields' sister about access to a commission scale shortly before he was attacked. Mack is charged with one count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm. The charge carries a possible sentence of ten years in prison, and it has been reported that Mack was on parole from a prior crime, meaning there could be additional jail time for a parole violation. Ali had to undergo at least one and possibly two surgeries with a broken bone in his face. The Shields-Habazin fight was cancelled. According to a Genesee County press release, Mack was observed running from the weigh-in by a police officer who noticed Mack fit the description of a person descrbied on police radio reports of the assault. The officer followed Mack and arrested him shortly afterwards.
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Artis Mack facing ten years for weigh-in attack
Flint, Michigan prosecutor David Leyton has charged Artis Jaquel Mack with assault for allegedly punching James Ali Bashir (known as Bashir Ali) at the weigh-in for a boxing match between Claressa Shields and Ivana Habazin. Mack is Shields' brother and Ali was Habazin's trainer. Ali was arguing with Shields' sister about access to a commission scale shortly before he was attacked. Mack is charged with one count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm. The charge carries a possible sentence of ten years in prison, and it has been reported that Mack was on parole from a prior crime, meaning there could be additional jail time for a parole violation. Ali had to undergo at least one and possibly two surgeries with a broken bone in his face. The Shields-Habazin fight was cancelled. According to a Genesee County press release, Mack was observed running from the weigh-in by a police officer who noticed Mack fit the description of a person descrbied on police radio reports of the assault. The officer followed Mack and arrested him shortly afterwards.
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Potapov returns to action this month in Moscow |
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Salita Promotions announced that bantamweight Nikolai Potapov will return to action on Wednesday, October 30th in Moscow. Fighting in the ten-round main event of a card presented by Shamo Boxing at the Korston Club Hotel, Potapov (20-2-1, 11 KOs), of Podolsk, Russia now living in New York, will face Tanzanian southpaw Nasibu Ramadhani (29-14-2, 16 KOs). It will be the first fight back for Potapov since a controversial decision loss to Joshua Greer Jr. last July. On that night, Potapov believes he stopped Greer’s career momentum by winning clearly, only to watch Greer’s hand be raised via majority decision.
Potapov’s promoter Dmitriy Salita, who was incensed by the verdict of the fight (which was an IBF Elimination bout broadcast live on ESPN+), says he’s happy to see Potapov shaking off the disappointment and resuming his quest. “Nikolai was extremely upset in his last fight and so was I and so were most of the fans. I commend him for not becoming discouraged and being able to re-focus and return to the ring. He is one of the world’s best bantamweights and, with fair judging, a potential world champion. He is back, better than ever for this fight and ready to mount another climb to a world-title shot.”
Salita says Potapov will be back in another elimination bout in the not-so-distant future. “I commend the IBF for keeping Nikolai in the ratings despite the robbery. He will be looking to face another top contender and regain his position in line for a shot at the belt. He’s using his last fight as motivation to get there. He is determined to right the judges’ wrongs against Joshua Greer in a rematch.”
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Potapov returns to action this month in Moscow
Salita Promotions announced that bantamweight Nikolai Potapov will return to action on Wednesday, October 30th in Moscow. Fighting in the ten-round main event of a card presented by Shamo Boxing at the Korston Club Hotel, Potapov (20-2-1, 11 KOs), of Podolsk, Russia now living in New York, will face Tanzanian southpaw Nasibu Ramadhani (29-14-2, 16 KOs). It will be the first fight back for Potapov since a controversial decision loss to Joshua Greer Jr. last July. On that night, Potapov believes he stopped Greer’s career momentum by winning clearly, only to watch Greer’s hand be raised via majority decision.
Potapov’s promoter Dmitriy Salita, who was incensed by the verdict of the fight (which was an IBF Elimination bout broadcast live on ESPN+), says he’s happy to see Potapov shaking off the disappointment and resuming his quest. “Nikolai was extremely upset in his last fight and so was I and so were most of the fans. I commend him for not becoming discouraged and being able to re-focus and return to the ring. He is one of the world’s best bantamweights and, with fair judging, a potential world champion. He is back, better than ever for this fight and ready to mount another climb to a world-title shot.”
Salita says Potapov will be back in another elimination bout in the not-so-distant future. “I commend the IBF for keeping Nikolai in the ratings despite the robbery. He will be looking to face another top contender and regain his position in line for a shot at the belt. He’s using his last fight as motivation to get there. He is determined to right the judges’ wrongs against Joshua Greer in a rematch.”
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Spotlight on Cancio-Alvarado undercard |
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Here are the undercard details for Andrew Cancio's WBA super feaherweight title defense against Rene "Gemelo" Alvarado, which is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 23rd at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California: Xu Can (17-2, 3 KOs), China's third world title holder in boxing, will defend his WBA featherweight title against Manny Robles III (18-0, 8 KOs) of Los Angeles in a twelve-round fight. Rashidi "Speedy" Ellis (21-0, 14 KOs) of Boston will fight Eddie "Eboy" Gomez (23-3, 13 KOs) of the Bronx, N.Y. in a ten-round rematch. Ellis is very close to a welterweight title opportunity, while Gomez is eager to avenge his stunning first-round knockout loss to him in 2016.
Xu held the WBA's regular title and has apparently inherited the championship with former champion Leo Santa Cruz moving up in weight. Robles is a crafty fighter whose grandfather and father were renowned trainers. After victories against the likes of Edgar "Kid Neza" Valerio and Rigoberto Hermosillo, Robles steps up to the biggest challenge of his career against a man who has become a national hero in his home country.
"I'm ready to make the second defense of my world title," said Xu Can. "I defended it with honor in my home country of China, and now I'll come back to the United States to defend it against a tough fighter. Manny Robles III as earned his opportunity. He is smart and tough, but I plan to remain champion for a very long time."
"My time has come," said Manny Robles III. "All of my amateur experience, the hours spent in the gym, and the tough fights as a professional have prepared me for this challenge. I'm ready to bring a world title to Los Angeles and make everyone at home proud. Xu Can is a phenomenal fighter, but on Nov. 23, the Robles family will crown its very own world champion."
MORE BOUTS
Alberto "Impacto" Melian (5-1, 3 KOs) of Buenos Aires, Argentina will participate in an eight-round super bantamweight fight. Melian is a two-time Olympian who will return after his first loss against Leonardo "Leon" Baez...
Baishanbo Nasiyiwula (15-3-1, 6 KOs) of Urumqi, China will face Saul Corral (30-14, 20 KOs) of Sonora, Mexico in an eight-round junior welterweight bout...
Victor Morales Jr. (12-0, 7 KOs) of Vancouver, Wash. will return in an eight-round super featherweight bout. This will be Morales' first fight on a Golden Boy card after signing with Golden Boy...
Daniel Barrera will make his professional debut in a four-round super flyweight fight.
Alex Rincon (7-0, 6 KOs) of Dallas will return in a six-round light middleweight fight. Opponents for the last three bouts will be announced shortly.
Victor Morales Jr. (12-0, 7 KOs) of Vancouver, Wash. will return in an eight-round super featherweight bout. This will be Morales' first fight on a Golden Boy card after signing with the company.
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Spotlight on Cancio-Alvarado undercard
Here are the undercard details for Andrew Cancio's WBA super feaherweight title defense against Rene "Gemelo" Alvarado, which is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 23rd at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California: Xu Can (17-2, 3 KOs), China's third world title holder in boxing, will defend his WBA featherweight title against Manny Robles III (18-0, 8 KOs) of Los Angeles in a twelve-round fight. Rashidi "Speedy" Ellis (21-0, 14 KOs) of Boston will fight Eddie "Eboy" Gomez (23-3, 13 KOs) of the Bronx, N.Y. in a ten-round rematch. Ellis is very close to a welterweight title opportunity, while Gomez is eager to avenge his stunning first-round knockout loss to him in 2016.
Xu held the WBA's regular title and has apparently inherited the championship with former champion Leo Santa Cruz moving up in weight. Robles is a crafty fighter whose grandfather and father were renowned trainers. After victories against the likes of Edgar "Kid Neza" Valerio and Rigoberto Hermosillo, Robles steps up to the biggest challenge of his career against a man who has become a national hero in his home country.
"I'm ready to make the second defense of my world title," said Xu Can. "I defended it with honor in my home country of China, and now I'll come back to the United States to defend it against a tough fighter. Manny Robles III as earned his opportunity. He is smart and tough, but I plan to remain champion for a very long time."
"My time has come," said Manny Robles III. "All of my amateur experience, the hours spent in the gym, and the tough fights as a professional have prepared me for this challenge. I'm ready to bring a world title to Los Angeles and make everyone at home proud. Xu Can is a phenomenal fighter, but on Nov. 23, the Robles family will crown its very own world champion."
MORE BOUTS
Alberto "Impacto" Melian (5-1, 3 KOs) of Buenos Aires, Argentina will participate in an eight-round super bantamweight fight. Melian is a two-time Olympian who will return after his first loss against Leonardo "Leon" Baez...
Baishanbo Nasiyiwula (15-3-1, 6 KOs) of Urumqi, China will face Saul Corral (30-14, 20 KOs) of Sonora, Mexico in an eight-round junior welterweight bout...
Victor Morales Jr. (12-0, 7 KOs) of Vancouver, Wash. will return in an eight-round super featherweight bout. This will be Morales' first fight on a Golden Boy card after signing with Golden Boy...
Daniel Barrera will make his professional debut in a four-round super flyweight fight.
Alex Rincon (7-0, 6 KOs) of Dallas will return in a six-round light middleweight fight. Opponents for the last three bouts will be announced shortly.
Victor Morales Jr. (12-0, 7 KOs) of Vancouver, Wash. will return in an eight-round super featherweight bout. This will be Morales' first fight on a Golden Boy card after signing with the company.
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Crowley vs. Hussain is this Saturday in Peterborough |
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Cody "The Crippler" Crowley will headline this Saturday at Peterborough Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario. The event will be streamed worldwide on UFC Fight Pass. The 26 year-old Crowley (17-0, 9 KOs), who is also co-founder of CCC Promotions, will defend his Canadian junior middleweight title in his hometown over twelve rounds against "Super" Mian Hussain (16-1, 6 KOs) of Montreal. The co-feature showcases one of Canada's most popular boxers, lightweight Tony "The Lightning" Luis (28-3, 10 KOs), in an eight-round bout against Mexico's Ricardo "Riky" Lara (22-6, 10 KOs). A former Interim world title challenger, Luis is a blood-and-guts type fighter who has won his last nine fights.
Crowley is an Irish-Canadian who trains in Las Vegas. The entertaining southpaw's most recent fight was this past February in his initial title defense, when he won a 12-round unanimous decision versus Stuart McLellan (25-2-3).
"It's destiny," Crowley said about him headlining at home on UFC Fight Pass. "We've done this on our own. I plan to fight here at home once a year. I want to show local youths how to take advantage of opportunities, creating inspiration and motivation for these youths coming up. When I was 21, I gave myself a ten-year plan to be world champion. I'm obsessed with being world champion; I eat and sleep boxing. I gave boxing a decade of my life and I'm halfway there. 2020 is going to be huge for my career. Too many weird things have happened for me not to become world champion."
MORE BOUTS
A pair of undefeated heavyweights, Moses Johnson (4-0, 4 KOs) and Patrick "Magic" Mailata (2-0, 2 KOs), will compete in separate bouts. Johnson, fighting out of Huntington, NY, faces Jose Manuel Paredes (3-3-3, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder, while Samoa-native Mailata, who now lives in Las Vegas, takes on Mexico's Jorge Sevilla "Bombon" Acosta (2-0, 2 KOs). Mailata, whose fight will open the live stream, is a four-time New Zealand amateur champion who won a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Also fighting on the undercard, all in six-round fights, are undefeated Canadian Mazlum Akdeniz (9-0, 4 KOs), vs. Hungarian Adam "Bad Boy" Mate (28-15, 21 KOs), Montreal female junior welterweight Jessica "The Cobra" Camara (6-1) vs. Mexican Beatriz Jimenez (6-2, 1 KO), Canadian junior welterweight Lucas Bahdi (4-0, 4 KOs) vs. Mexican Victor Manuel "El Pimientas" Campos (6-8, 2 Kos), and United Kingdom junior welterweight Adam "Hitman" Hague (15-1-1, 2 KOs). vs. Alan "Superman" Ayala (7-0, 3 Kos), of Mexico.
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Crowley vs. Hussain is this Saturday in Peterborough
Cody "The Crippler" Crowley will headline this Saturday at Peterborough Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario. The event will be streamed worldwide on UFC Fight Pass. The 26 year-old Crowley (17-0, 9 KOs), who is also co-founder of CCC Promotions, will defend his Canadian junior middleweight title in his hometown over twelve rounds against "Super" Mian Hussain (16-1, 6 KOs) of Montreal. The co-feature showcases one of Canada's most popular boxers, lightweight Tony "The Lightning" Luis (28-3, 10 KOs), in an eight-round bout against Mexico's Ricardo "Riky" Lara (22-6, 10 KOs). A former Interim world title challenger, Luis is a blood-and-guts type fighter who has won his last nine fights.
Crowley is an Irish-Canadian who trains in Las Vegas. The entertaining southpaw's most recent fight was this past February in his initial title defense, when he won a 12-round unanimous decision versus Stuart McLellan (25-2-3).
"It's destiny," Crowley said about him headlining at home on UFC Fight Pass. "We've done this on our own. I plan to fight here at home once a year. I want to show local youths how to take advantage of opportunities, creating inspiration and motivation for these youths coming up. When I was 21, I gave myself a ten-year plan to be world champion. I'm obsessed with being world champion; I eat and sleep boxing. I gave boxing a decade of my life and I'm halfway there. 2020 is going to be huge for my career. Too many weird things have happened for me not to become world champion."
MORE BOUTS
A pair of undefeated heavyweights, Moses Johnson (4-0, 4 KOs) and Patrick "Magic" Mailata (2-0, 2 KOs), will compete in separate bouts. Johnson, fighting out of Huntington, NY, faces Jose Manuel Paredes (3-3-3, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder, while Samoa-native Mailata, who now lives in Las Vegas, takes on Mexico's Jorge Sevilla "Bombon" Acosta (2-0, 2 KOs). Mailata, whose fight will open the live stream, is a four-time New Zealand amateur champion who won a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Also fighting on the undercard, all in six-round fights, are undefeated Canadian Mazlum Akdeniz (9-0, 4 KOs), vs. Hungarian Adam "Bad Boy" Mate (28-15, 21 KOs), Montreal female junior welterweight Jessica "The Cobra" Camara (6-1) vs. Mexican Beatriz Jimenez (6-2, 1 KO), Canadian junior welterweight Lucas Bahdi (4-0, 4 KOs) vs. Mexican Victor Manuel "El Pimientas" Campos (6-8, 2 Kos), and United Kingdom junior welterweight Adam "Hitman" Hague (15-1-1, 2 KOs). vs. Alan "Superman" Ayala (7-0, 3 Kos), of Mexico.
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Germany's Denis Radovan added to big O2 show |
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German middleweight Denis Radovan (12-0-1, 5 KOs) will make his international debut on October 26th on the undercard of the Ali Trophy Final between Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis at The 02 in London. The 27 year-old will look to continue his climb against former Commonwealth champion Luke Blackledge (26-8-2, 9 KOs). Radovan returns to the ring having secured the IBF European title with a points win over domestic rival Ronny Mittag in Wolfsburg in April. Blackledge has lost his last two fights.
“It’s unbelievable to be boxing on such a big show,” said Radovan. “This is without a doubt the biggest show I have ever boxed on, and I have to thank my promoters Team Sauerland for this fantastic opportunity. I know Blackledge very well, we had some very tough sparring sessions in Germany so I know I’m in for a tough fight, but I also took a lot of confidence from these spars. I’ve had a great camp and preparations have been perfect.”
Blackledge, a seasoned contender, has faced the likes of Rocky Fielding and series one World Boxing Super Series victor, WBA 168-pound super champion Callum Smith. He is confident his experience will give him the edge against the unbeaten Radovan. “I’m excited to get another big chance. I want to make a statement and put on a show,” said Blackledge. “I’ve had a great camp, I’ve been over to Norway to spar, and now I’m fit and I’m ready to go. I was in Germany sparring Tyron Zeuge a few years ago and Radovan was in the same training camp, so I spent the whole month in camp with him sparring and training so I know what he’s about. I know I’m going to have to go through hell and I’m going to take him somewhere he’s never been before. With my experience, grit and determination to win it’s going to be a hard night for him. I won’t lie down for anyone - I’m going there to win 110%.”
Promoter Nisse Sauerland is anticipating an excellent night of action and is looking forward to watching rising star Radovan make his UK debut.
“Fighting on a card like this is a very special opportunity for Denis,” said Sauerland. “This will be his first fight abroad and with Blackledge he gets a very experienced opponent who has boxed plenty of big names. All in all Denis can take a lot out of this fight!”
World Boxing Super Series finalists Regis Prograis (24-0, 20 KOs) and Josh Taylor (15-0, 12 KOs) headline the huge show at The 02 as both fighters compete for the Ali Trophy and the IBF and WBA 140-pound titles... London’s Dereck Chisora (31-9, 22 KOs) takes on popular Liverpudlian David Price (25-6, 20 KOs) in a hotly anticipated British heavyweight duel... fellow Londoner Lawrence Okolie (13-0, 10 KOs) looks to add another belt to his collection as he challenges Yves Ngabu (20-0, 14 KOs) for the Belgian’s European Cruiserweight title.... former champions Ricky Burns (43-7-1, 16 KOs) and Lee Selby (27-2, 9 KOs) meet in an intriguing lightweight clash, whilst Team Sauerland’s Abass Baraou (7-0, 4 KOs) makes his UK debut against the resilient John O’Donnell (33-2, 11 KOs).
Also featuring on the stacked fight card are young stars Conor Benn (15-0, 10 KOs), Austin Williams (3-0, 3KOs) and Shannon Courtenay (3-0, 1 KO) who continue their education in the paid ranks. All the action from the 02 Arena is available to watch live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US. Tickets are available online via www.AXS.com.
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Germany's Denis Radovan added to big O2 show
German middleweight Denis Radovan (12-0-1, 5 KOs) will make his international debut on October 26th on the undercard of the Ali Trophy Final between Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis at The 02 in London. The 27 year-old will look to continue his climb against former Commonwealth champion Luke Blackledge (26-8-2, 9 KOs). Radovan returns to the ring having secured the IBF European title with a points win over domestic rival Ronny Mittag in Wolfsburg in April. Blackledge has lost his last two fights.
“It’s unbelievable to be boxing on such a big show,” said Radovan. “This is without a doubt the biggest show I have ever boxed on, and I have to thank my promoters Team Sauerland for this fantastic opportunity. I know Blackledge very well, we had some very tough sparring sessions in Germany so I know I’m in for a tough fight, but I also took a lot of confidence from these spars. I’ve had a great camp and preparations have been perfect.”
Blackledge, a seasoned contender, has faced the likes of Rocky Fielding and series one World Boxing Super Series victor, WBA 168-pound super champion Callum Smith. He is confident his experience will give him the edge against the unbeaten Radovan. “I’m excited to get another big chance. I want to make a statement and put on a show,” said Blackledge. “I’ve had a great camp, I’ve been over to Norway to spar, and now I’m fit and I’m ready to go. I was in Germany sparring Tyron Zeuge a few years ago and Radovan was in the same training camp, so I spent the whole month in camp with him sparring and training so I know what he’s about. I know I’m going to have to go through hell and I’m going to take him somewhere he’s never been before. With my experience, grit and determination to win it’s going to be a hard night for him. I won’t lie down for anyone - I’m going there to win 110%.”
Promoter Nisse Sauerland is anticipating an excellent night of action and is looking forward to watching rising star Radovan make his UK debut.
“Fighting on a card like this is a very special opportunity for Denis,” said Sauerland. “This will be his first fight abroad and with Blackledge he gets a very experienced opponent who has boxed plenty of big names. All in all Denis can take a lot out of this fight!”
World Boxing Super Series finalists Regis Prograis (24-0, 20 KOs) and Josh Taylor (15-0, 12 KOs) headline the huge show at The 02 as both fighters compete for the Ali Trophy and the IBF and WBA 140-pound titles... London’s Dereck Chisora (31-9, 22 KOs) takes on popular Liverpudlian David Price (25-6, 20 KOs) in a hotly anticipated British heavyweight duel... fellow Londoner Lawrence Okolie (13-0, 10 KOs) looks to add another belt to his collection as he challenges Yves Ngabu (20-0, 14 KOs) for the Belgian’s European Cruiserweight title.... former champions Ricky Burns (43-7-1, 16 KOs) and Lee Selby (27-2, 9 KOs) meet in an intriguing lightweight clash, whilst Team Sauerland’s Abass Baraou (7-0, 4 KOs) makes his UK debut against the resilient John O’Donnell (33-2, 11 KOs).
Also featuring on the stacked fight card are young stars Conor Benn (15-0, 10 KOs), Austin Williams (3-0, 3KOs) and Shannon Courtenay (3-0, 1 KO) who continue their education in the paid ranks. All the action from the 02 Arena is available to watch live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US. Tickets are available online via www.AXS.com.
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Q&A: Keith Thurman |
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Keith Thurman, the former WBA/WBC welterweight champion, vows to “come back stronger” and “better than ever” following surgery last month to fuse the metacarpal bones on his left hand. Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) eschewed a potential operation prior to January’s majority decision victory over Josesito Lopez, which ended a 22-month ring absence. In his next bout, last July, he dropped a split decision to Manny Pacquiao in a thrilling back-and-forth twelve rounder. Currently on the mend, Thurman is eager to get back into the 147-sweepstakes and reclaim his position.
Q: Keith, would you like to say anything regarding [IBF/WBC welterweight champion] Errol Spence Jr. and his recent car accident?
A: My thoughts and prayers are with Errol and his family at this time. My family and I are praying for a speedy recovery for him. Heal quickly, brother.
Q: You were an analyst on FOX’s Inside PBC Boxing and also were ringside for Errol’s tremendous win over Shawn Porter on September 28th.
A: It was great to be there for such a tremendous event, working alongside (former champion) Danny Garcia and the other personalities. I feel as if I was a part of history and that I was contributing to the fans’ interest in the action and the various story lines within the welterweight division. I have been receiving great feedback from the fans, I really enjoyed it and I had a lot of fun, and I welcome any more opportunities to work as a contributor to future PBC boxing broadcasts.
Q: Where do you rank yourself at 147?
A: I was #1 when I was the unified champion and I feel Errol Spence should be #1 right now. I’m definitely in the top five. Manny Pacquiao’s top three if not, #2. Terence Crawford’s another champion, and then there’s me and Shawn Porter.
Q: What would you do differently in a rematch with Pacquiao?
A: I’d have to commit to a game plan. The moment I decided to be conservative in the first round, he landed a punch while I was going backward at the right moment. That put me in the position I hadn’t been in, which was to not be winning the fight after round one. It came down to really going for the home run. Late in the fight, my trainer said I needed to win every round, and I felt like a knockdown would put me back in control or at least shift the tide toward a decision or the draw. Pacquiao fought a very smart fight, demonstrating he’s every ounce the legend that he is. I didn’t knock him out, so I have to accept the verdict. In a perfect world, I’d get my rematch with Pacquiao. If I don’t get it, then that’s obviously a sign of respect for the fact that he realizes he was in a dog fight the first time. Regardless of whether or not I get Pacquiao, I’d fight any of the champions and there’s a lot of other talent in the division.
Q: How does a Spence-Thurman fight break down?
A: Fighting Spence is a great option. There’s a lot of merit in fighting Errol, who has both titles. Errol is a trader, and once we start trading on the inside like he did with Shawn, getting caught by certain right hands, I’d be like, “Let’s fight.” Spence took shots from Kell Brook, but I still think there are punches he’s yet to take from a Danny Garcia or a Keith Thurman. I want to land that punch. I think Danny does, too. Errol will fight anybody, toe-to-toe, yet he’s not gotten hit first. I think Danny’s thinking, “Hey, Shawn hit him a lot, and Shawn doesn’t crack an egg.” Danny’s a real power puncher, and I think he can hurt Errol. So, he’s thinking, “Shawn hit him with a lot of rights, so let me hit that boy, and I’ll show him what’s up.”
Q: What was the nature of your surgery and its bearing on your decision to face Lopez and Pacquiao?
A: Before the Lopez fight, my doctor told me my hand was jacked up the way those bones were hitting and sitting on top of each other, at times, poking at the wrist and causing so much inflammation that I was always going to experience pain until and unless I got surgery. But there was also a part of me that was nervous thinking if I got the hand surgery, I might not be able to fight any more. The doctor was at my fight against Lopez, having said that as long as you can keep going, that’s on you. Win lose or draw against Pacquiao, I had an opportunity to climb back to the top, which really sparked the flame. I also had to go out and make some money this year, so I got back into the ring and had my best financial year so far. So, I wasn’t at 100 percent for either Lopez or Pacquiao, but after the surgery, my doctor said, “You’re going to be a lot better.” It’s been almost five weeks out, now, from the surgery, which required two staples in my left hand, fusing bones together. After the surgery, when I connect with a punch on the heavy bag or something, the small metacarpals that were colliding against each other will no longer collide. They’ll instead take the impact as one solid unit. So, I think we’re talking about six months of rehabilitation. I really believe that I’ll come back stronger with my left hand, using it, hopefully, to the fullest with more left hooks and jabs. I’m just looking forward to making myself better than ever so that I never lose again, which is just evidence that I’m a world class fighter.
Q: Do you imagine what might have been were it not for your injuries?
A: There would have been no 22-month layoff without the injuries. After the neck injury, I won the fight against Porter. I fought hard and finessed that victory over Garcia through bone spurs, still making him fight off his back foot. I would have probably stopped Josesito Lopez. I could have not taken the fight against Pacquiao, feeling some rust for the lack of activity over two years. I was one-handed against Pacquiao, otherwise, I would have found a way to beat him also.
Q: Would the Thurman who beat Porter and Garcia beat Pacquiao?
A: The Keith Thurman who fought Shawn Porter beats Pacquiao any day of the week. But the Thurman after the Garcia, having to have elbow surgery and then left-hand problems, had to give up a world title rather than hold those belts hostage. If you look at my Lopez fight, you’ll see that my jabs were touching jabs, setting up my right hand. I was only able to spar six rounds to prepare for a 12-round fight, otherwise going more than that, I’d hurt myself. So, I figured I’d save the action for the fight. You’ll notice the seventh round was the round that Lopez caught me in. I did train harder for the Pacquaio fight, and I gave it all of the effort that I could. I performed, grew my fan base and I’ll redeem myself in 2020. It’s Keith Thurman versus the world, baby. I believe I can still reach No. 1. There are two champions, Spence and Crawford, I’ve never fought. My legacy involves getting one, if not, two rematches among Pacquiao, Porter or Garcia. My fans enjoy watching Keith Thurman like a drug, action so intense it leaves you on the edge of your seat. I fought twice this year, and I want to fight twice more next year, if not, have a get-back fight at the end of this year. My hunger is re-sparked: I ain’t going nowhere.
PBC Press Release written by Lem Satterfield
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Q&A: Keith Thurman
Keith Thurman, the former WBA/WBC welterweight champion, vows to “come back stronger” and “better than ever” following surgery last month to fuse the metacarpal bones on his left hand. Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) eschewed a potential operation prior to January’s majority decision victory over Josesito Lopez, which ended a 22-month ring absence. In his next bout, last July, he dropped a split decision to Manny Pacquiao in a thrilling back-and-forth twelve rounder. Currently on the mend, Thurman is eager to get back into the 147-sweepstakes and reclaim his position.
Q: Keith, would you like to say anything regarding [IBF/WBC welterweight champion] Errol Spence Jr. and his recent car accident?
A: My thoughts and prayers are with Errol and his family at this time. My family and I are praying for a speedy recovery for him. Heal quickly, brother.
Q: You were an analyst on FOX’s Inside PBC Boxing and also were ringside for Errol’s tremendous win over Shawn Porter on September 28th.
A: It was great to be there for such a tremendous event, working alongside (former champion) Danny Garcia and the other personalities. I feel as if I was a part of history and that I was contributing to the fans’ interest in the action and the various story lines within the welterweight division. I have been receiving great feedback from the fans, I really enjoyed it and I had a lot of fun, and I welcome any more opportunities to work as a contributor to future PBC boxing broadcasts.
Q: Where do you rank yourself at 147?
A: I was #1 when I was the unified champion and I feel Errol Spence should be #1 right now. I’m definitely in the top five. Manny Pacquiao’s top three if not, #2. Terence Crawford’s another champion, and then there’s me and Shawn Porter.
Q: What would you do differently in a rematch with Pacquiao?
A: I’d have to commit to a game plan. The moment I decided to be conservative in the first round, he landed a punch while I was going backward at the right moment. That put me in the position I hadn’t been in, which was to not be winning the fight after round one. It came down to really going for the home run. Late in the fight, my trainer said I needed to win every round, and I felt like a knockdown would put me back in control or at least shift the tide toward a decision or the draw. Pacquiao fought a very smart fight, demonstrating he’s every ounce the legend that he is. I didn’t knock him out, so I have to accept the verdict. In a perfect world, I’d get my rematch with Pacquiao. If I don’t get it, then that’s obviously a sign of respect for the fact that he realizes he was in a dog fight the first time. Regardless of whether or not I get Pacquiao, I’d fight any of the champions and there’s a lot of other talent in the division.
Q: How does a Spence-Thurman fight break down?
A: Fighting Spence is a great option. There’s a lot of merit in fighting Errol, who has both titles. Errol is a trader, and once we start trading on the inside like he did with Shawn, getting caught by certain right hands, I’d be like, “Let’s fight.” Spence took shots from Kell Brook, but I still think there are punches he’s yet to take from a Danny Garcia or a Keith Thurman. I want to land that punch. I think Danny does, too. Errol will fight anybody, toe-to-toe, yet he’s not gotten hit first. I think Danny’s thinking, “Hey, Shawn hit him a lot, and Shawn doesn’t crack an egg.” Danny’s a real power puncher, and I think he can hurt Errol. So, he’s thinking, “Shawn hit him with a lot of rights, so let me hit that boy, and I’ll show him what’s up.”
Q: What was the nature of your surgery and its bearing on your decision to face Lopez and Pacquiao?
A: Before the Lopez fight, my doctor told me my hand was jacked up the way those bones were hitting and sitting on top of each other, at times, poking at the wrist and causing so much inflammation that I was always going to experience pain until and unless I got surgery. But there was also a part of me that was nervous thinking if I got the hand surgery, I might not be able to fight any more. The doctor was at my fight against Lopez, having said that as long as you can keep going, that’s on you. Win lose or draw against Pacquiao, I had an opportunity to climb back to the top, which really sparked the flame. I also had to go out and make some money this year, so I got back into the ring and had my best financial year so far. So, I wasn’t at 100 percent for either Lopez or Pacquiao, but after the surgery, my doctor said, “You’re going to be a lot better.” It’s been almost five weeks out, now, from the surgery, which required two staples in my left hand, fusing bones together. After the surgery, when I connect with a punch on the heavy bag or something, the small metacarpals that were colliding against each other will no longer collide. They’ll instead take the impact as one solid unit. So, I think we’re talking about six months of rehabilitation. I really believe that I’ll come back stronger with my left hand, using it, hopefully, to the fullest with more left hooks and jabs. I’m just looking forward to making myself better than ever so that I never lose again, which is just evidence that I’m a world class fighter.
Q: Do you imagine what might have been were it not for your injuries?
A: There would have been no 22-month layoff without the injuries. After the neck injury, I won the fight against Porter. I fought hard and finessed that victory over Garcia through bone spurs, still making him fight off his back foot. I would have probably stopped Josesito Lopez. I could have not taken the fight against Pacquiao, feeling some rust for the lack of activity over two years. I was one-handed against Pacquiao, otherwise, I would have found a way to beat him also.
Q: Would the Thurman who beat Porter and Garcia beat Pacquiao?
A: The Keith Thurman who fought Shawn Porter beats Pacquiao any day of the week. But the Thurman after the Garcia, having to have elbow surgery and then left-hand problems, had to give up a world title rather than hold those belts hostage. If you look at my Lopez fight, you’ll see that my jabs were touching jabs, setting up my right hand. I was only able to spar six rounds to prepare for a 12-round fight, otherwise going more than that, I’d hurt myself. So, I figured I’d save the action for the fight. You’ll notice the seventh round was the round that Lopez caught me in. I did train harder for the Pacquaio fight, and I gave it all of the effort that I could. I performed, grew my fan base and I’ll redeem myself in 2020. It’s Keith Thurman versus the world, baby. I believe I can still reach No. 1. There are two champions, Spence and Crawford, I’ve never fought. My legacy involves getting one, if not, two rematches among Pacquiao, Porter or Garcia. My fans enjoy watching Keith Thurman like a drug, action so intense it leaves you on the edge of your seat. I fought twice this year, and I want to fight twice more next year, if not, have a get-back fight at the end of this year. My hunger is re-sparked: I ain’t going nowhere.
PBC Press Release written by Lem Satterfield
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Heartfelt words from Charles Conwell to Patrick Day |
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Over the weekend, Patrick Day suffered a traumatic brain injury during his loss to Charles Conwell. He was rushed to Northwestern Memorial hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. As of last report, Day was in a coma and in extremely critical condition [Day passed away on Wednesday afternoon]. Conwell, who knocked Day out late in a tough fight, issued the following statement: “This is my last time speaking on the situation because of this being a sensitive topic not only for his family and friends but for myself and the sport of boxing.
“Dear Patrick Day: “I never meant for this to happen to you. All I ever wanted to do was win. If I could take it all back I would. No one deserves for this to happen to them. I replay the fight over and over in my head thinking what if this never happened and why did it happen to you. I can’t stop thinking about it myself. I prayed for you so many times and shed so many tears because I couldn’t even imagine how my family and friends would feel. I see you everywhere I go and all I hear are wonderful things about you. I thought about quitting boxing but I know that’s not what you would want. I know that you were a fighter at heart so I decided not to [retire] but to fight and win a world title because that’s what you wanted, and that’s what I want. I will use you as motivation every day and make sure I always leave it all in the ring every time. #ChampPatrickDay With Compassion, Charles Conwell”
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Heartfelt words from Charles Conwell to Patrick Day
Over the weekend, Patrick Day suffered a traumatic brain injury during his loss to Charles Conwell. He was rushed to Northwestern Memorial hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. As of last report, Day was in a coma and in extremely critical condition [Day passed away on Wednesday afternoon]. Conwell, who knocked Day out late in a tough fight, issued the following statement: “This is my last time speaking on the situation because of this being a sensitive topic not only for his family and friends but for myself and the sport of boxing.
“Dear Patrick Day: “I never meant for this to happen to you. All I ever wanted to do was win. If I could take it all back I would. No one deserves for this to happen to them. I replay the fight over and over in my head thinking what if this never happened and why did it happen to you. I can’t stop thinking about it myself. I prayed for you so many times and shed so many tears because I couldn’t even imagine how my family and friends would feel. I see you everywhere I go and all I hear are wonderful things about you. I thought about quitting boxing but I know that’s not what you would want. I know that you were a fighter at heart so I decided not to [retire] but to fight and win a world title because that’s what you wanted, and that’s what I want. I will use you as motivation every day and make sure I always leave it all in the ring every time. #ChampPatrickDay With Compassion, Charles Conwell”
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Frank Warren responds to Dereck Chisora trash talk |
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Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren and heavyweight contender Dereck Chisora traded barbs in recent days. According to Seconds Out, Chisora said at a press conferrence “Frank Warren, you need to retire and go hang out with your grandkids." Warren, who promoted some of Chisora’s big fights responded as follows:
"I see old Dellboy Chisora piped up last week with a few premature rumors of my demise, but I think I can confidently predict that his retirement from boxing will come long before mine. Dereck is a bit of an old relic of the division on about his tenth rebuilding job by now while, funnily enough, the present and future of the heavyweight operate under my guidance and promotion.
"Tyson Fury... twice comprehensively schooled old Dell and future world champions, Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce – who he flat out refuses to consider fighting – are the ones who will be dominating the division for a long time with me right behind them making the big fights that matter.
"So this old dinosaur has evolved is feeling quite sprightly and might even switch on the box in a couple of weeks’ time to watch the real Jurassic Park when Dereck steps in with David Price in what is a proper retirement fight."
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Frank Warren responds to Dereck Chisora trash talk
Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren and heavyweight contender Dereck Chisora traded barbs in recent days. According to Seconds Out, Chisora said at a press conferrence “Frank Warren, you need to retire and go hang out with your grandkids." Warren, who promoted some of Chisora’s big fights responded as follows:
"I see old Dellboy Chisora piped up last week with a few premature rumors of my demise, but I think I can confidently predict that his retirement from boxing will come long before mine. Dereck is a bit of an old relic of the division on about his tenth rebuilding job by now while, funnily enough, the present and future of the heavyweight operate under my guidance and promotion.
"Tyson Fury... twice comprehensively schooled old Dell and future world champions, Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce – who he flat out refuses to consider fighting – are the ones who will be dominating the division for a long time with me right behind them making the big fights that matter.
"So this old dinosaur has evolved is feeling quite sprightly and might even switch on the box in a couple of weeks’ time to watch the real Jurassic Park when Dereck steps in with David Price in what is a proper retirement fight."
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Cancio to defend vs. Alvarado on Nov. 23rd |
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WBA 130-pound champion Andrew "El Chango" Cancio (21-4-2, 16 KOs) will defend his title for a second time in a twelve-round rematch against Rene "Gemelo" Alvarado (31-8, 20 KOs). The event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 23rd at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. and will be streamed live on DAZN. [Now that Tank Davis has moved up to 135 pounds, Cancio is the WBA's only champion at 130].
Cancio is a 30-year-old who recently recorded back-to-back stoppage wins against npreiously unbeaten Alberto "Explosivo" Machado. The native of Blythe, Calif. has become a hero in his hometown, where he received a "Key to the City" after his first win against Machado. Cancio is managed by Ray Chaparro and recently re-signed with Golden Boy before his win against Dardan Zenunaj. Since his return to the sport after a two-year hiatus, he has become one of Golden Boy's most prominent and determined champions.
"I'm very excited to return to my second home, Fantasy Springs Casino on November 23 for the rematch with Rene Alvarado," said Cancio. "This is my 12th time fighting there, and I love the enthusiasm my fans bring to the venue in support of my fights. Rene Alvarado and I have fought before and now he's earned another opportunity to fight me. I know he'll be very well prepared to try and take my WBA world title. However, I plan on defending my championship in impressive style once again and show boxing fans in attendance and watching on DAZN that I'm the best 130-pound fighter in the world, period!"
Alvarado is a 30 year-old contender who has faced challenging opponents in his professional career including Robinson "Robin Hood" Castellanos, Rocky Juarez, Joseph "JoJo" Diaz, Manuel "Tino" Avila, Jayson Velez, Yuriokis "El Ciclon de Guantanamo"Gamboa, and Carlos "The Solution" Morales. From Nicaragua, Alvarado hopes to avenge his 2015 loss against Andrew Cancio.
"Nicaragua is known for its great world champions, and I'm one step away from becoming one," said Rene Alvarado. "I'm coming for the victory against Andrew Cancio on November 23rd. We know each other very well, and it's going to be a war."
"Andrew Cancio is a very resilient fighter and has proven himself with his raw talent and passion, showing his true potential to grow in this industry. Meanwhile, Rene Alvarado has also put in hard work during his tenure, with an impressive determination in the ring that has kept up his winning streak over the past couple of years," said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. "This year, we've put on many high-quality bouts at Fantasy Springs and are confident this event will be the best so far. We're also excited to add this card to this fall's action-packed fight season on DAZN. You don't want to miss this!"
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Cancio to defend vs. Alvarado on Nov. 23rd
WBA 130-pound champion Andrew "El Chango" Cancio (21-4-2, 16 KOs) will defend his title for a second time in a twelve-round rematch against Rene "Gemelo" Alvarado (31-8, 20 KOs). The event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 23rd at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. and will be streamed live on DAZN. [Now that Tank Davis has moved up to 135 pounds, Cancio is the WBA's only champion at 130].
Cancio is a 30-year-old who recently recorded back-to-back stoppage wins against npreiously unbeaten Alberto "Explosivo" Machado. The native of Blythe, Calif. has become a hero in his hometown, where he received a "Key to the City" after his first win against Machado. Cancio is managed by Ray Chaparro and recently re-signed with Golden Boy before his win against Dardan Zenunaj. Since his return to the sport after a two-year hiatus, he has become one of Golden Boy's most prominent and determined champions.
"I'm very excited to return to my second home, Fantasy Springs Casino on November 23 for the rematch with Rene Alvarado," said Cancio. "This is my 12th time fighting there, and I love the enthusiasm my fans bring to the venue in support of my fights. Rene Alvarado and I have fought before and now he's earned another opportunity to fight me. I know he'll be very well prepared to try and take my WBA world title. However, I plan on defending my championship in impressive style once again and show boxing fans in attendance and watching on DAZN that I'm the best 130-pound fighter in the world, period!"
Alvarado is a 30 year-old contender who has faced challenging opponents in his professional career including Robinson "Robin Hood" Castellanos, Rocky Juarez, Joseph "JoJo" Diaz, Manuel "Tino" Avila, Jayson Velez, Yuriokis "El Ciclon de Guantanamo"Gamboa, and Carlos "The Solution" Morales. From Nicaragua, Alvarado hopes to avenge his 2015 loss against Andrew Cancio.
"Nicaragua is known for its great world champions, and I'm one step away from becoming one," said Rene Alvarado. "I'm coming for the victory against Andrew Cancio on November 23rd. We know each other very well, and it's going to be a war."
"Andrew Cancio is a very resilient fighter and has proven himself with his raw talent and passion, showing his true potential to grow in this industry. Meanwhile, Rene Alvarado has also put in hard work during his tenure, with an impressive determination in the ring that has kept up his winning streak over the past couple of years," said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. "This year, we've put on many high-quality bouts at Fantasy Springs and are confident this event will be the best so far. We're also excited to add this card to this fall's action-packed fight season on DAZN. You don't want to miss this!"
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Sampson signs Mexican minimumweight Luis Angel Castillo |
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Sampson Lewkowicz has announced that his company, Sampson Boxing, has signed undefeated minimumweight Luis Angel “Flechito” Castillo to a promotional contract. The 22 year-old Castillo (16-0-1, 11 KOs), from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, is trained and managed by legendary trainer of champions Manuel Montiel at the Cochul Gym. He went 35-4 as an amateur and won some regional titles. As a professional, however, Castillo has scored a dominant ten-round decision over former IBF champion Mario “Dragoncito” Rodriguez in March 2018. In his last ring appearance, he needed just two rounds to stop 12-1 countryman Jose Alonso Nunez Lopez.
“I am very proud to have signed with Sampson,” said Castillo. “He has taken many boxers to world championships. I will work hard to live up to his faith in me and win another world title for Los Mochis.”
Montiel, brother of former champion Fernando Montiel and trainer of hall-of-fame candidate Jorge Arce among many others, says he’s happy to have brokered this deal for his young fighter. “Sampson and I have enjoyed a business partnership and friendship for many years and I know he will do a perfect job with this young fighter,” said Montiel. “I have the utmost faith he will be given the opportunities he needs to reach his dreams. Luis is a very hard worker and is very dedicated to his training. He now has everything he needs to win a championship.”
“I am looking forward to helping Luis Castillo, another outstanding fighter from Montiel’s Cochul Gym. Manuel and I have been friends almost since I started boxing and I know he will only work with fighters who live right and train right, so I know Luis will be perfectly prepared for his fights. It is my pleasure to be associated with such a talented young fighter and his coach and my dear friend Manuel Montiel.”
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Sampson signs Mexican minimumweight Luis Angel Castillo
Sampson Lewkowicz has announced that his company, Sampson Boxing, has signed undefeated minimumweight Luis Angel “Flechito” Castillo to a promotional contract. The 22 year-old Castillo (16-0-1, 11 KOs), from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, is trained and managed by legendary trainer of champions Manuel Montiel at the Cochul Gym. He went 35-4 as an amateur and won some regional titles. As a professional, however, Castillo has scored a dominant ten-round decision over former IBF champion Mario “Dragoncito” Rodriguez in March 2018. In his last ring appearance, he needed just two rounds to stop 12-1 countryman Jose Alonso Nunez Lopez.
“I am very proud to have signed with Sampson,” said Castillo. “He has taken many boxers to world championships. I will work hard to live up to his faith in me and win another world title for Los Mochis.”
Montiel, brother of former champion Fernando Montiel and trainer of hall-of-fame candidate Jorge Arce among many others, says he’s happy to have brokered this deal for his young fighter. “Sampson and I have enjoyed a business partnership and friendship for many years and I know he will do a perfect job with this young fighter,” said Montiel. “I have the utmost faith he will be given the opportunities he needs to reach his dreams. Luis is a very hard worker and is very dedicated to his training. He now has everything he needs to win a championship.”
“I am looking forward to helping Luis Castillo, another outstanding fighter from Montiel’s Cochul Gym. Manuel and I have been friends almost since I started boxing and I know he will only work with fighters who live right and train right, so I know Luis will be perfectly prepared for his fights. It is my pleasure to be associated with such a talented young fighter and his coach and my dear friend Manuel Montiel.”
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Two Argentineans to feature on Nov. 15th ShoBox |
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Six talented boxers with a combined overall record of 65-1 will make their ShoBox: The New Generation debuts on Friday, November 15th live on Showtime at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT from WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa. Welterweight Erik Vega Ortiz (16-0, 9 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico will face 2016 Argentine Olympian Alberto Palmetta (12-1, 8 KOs) in the ten-round main event. Hard-hitting Marcos Escudero (10-0, 9 KOs), also of Argentina, will take on Houston’s Joseph George (9-0, 6 KOs) in the ten-round light heavyweight co-feature. In the telecast opener, Uruguayan middleweight Amilcar Vidal (9-0, 8 KOs) will fight for the first time in the U.S. when he meets Zach Prieto (9-0, 7 KOs) of El Paso, Texas, in an eight rounder. The event is promoted by Sampson Boxing in association with Paco Presents. Tickets are on sale now and available at www.WinnaVegas.com.
“We can’t wait to see what these future champions show us in their debuts on ShoBox: The New Generation, a series that has built so many careers and champions,” said promoter Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “These are very important fights for all six of these boxers’ young careers and another step toward them graduating from prospects to contenders.”
In the main event, the 23-year-old Vega Ortiz will bring an all-out, pressure style similar to many of his fellow countrymen of Mexico. Ortiz started boxing at age seven and ended his career at an impressive 45-2 amateur record. He trains in Tijuana and graduated this year with honors in Business Administration from the university Autónoma de Baja California. The 24-year-old will make his U.S. debut in his first true test after building his undefeated record against mostly limited opposition in Mexico.
“Boxing fans will want to tune in November 15th to witness a classic rivalry between Mexico and Argentina,” Vega Ortiz said. “We know what we are facing in Alberto Palmetta. He is a well-rounded boxer with a great amateur career and an ex-Olympian. But, at the end of the day, that doesn't matter to me. These are the types of challenges I like and I am looking forward to pleasing my fans.”
Olympian Palmetta came out of the amateur ranks billed as one of the top prospects in Argentina’s boxing history. Palmetta started boxing at age 14 and competed in 112 amateur fights, winning numerous national and international distinctions including the bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada. He was the captain of the Argentinean national team and was considered a top-ten prospect in the world at his weight before he turned pro.
The 29-year-old southpaw’s only pro loss came against then-10-1 Argentinian Gonzalo Gaston Coria. His last two fights took place in Charlotte, N.C. Palmetta is co-promoted by former world champion Sergio Martinez of Maravillabox Promotions and Sampson Boxing.
“My fist goal in boxing was to be an Olympian boxer, and my second was to become champion of the world,” Palmetto said. “This is the first step on my way to realizing my dream of becoming a world champion. Great effort brings great achievements.”
The co-feature spotlights another Argentinean, 26 year-old Escudero from Cordoba, Argentina, who is riding a six-fight knockout streak. As an amateur, he competed nationally and internationally, including becoming a national champion in Argentina in 2014 and representing his country in the Pan-Am Games in 2015. He finished the unpaid ranks with a respectable 60-5 record. In just his second year as a professional, Escudero is currently living and training in Miami and managed by Gardner Payne of Payne Boxing.
“Throw me to the wolves and I’ll return leading the pack,” Escudero said. “The time has come for me to shine. Thank you to my team and my promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, for this opportunity. I will not disappoint.”
Escudero will have his hands full with Houston’s George, a former high school basketball star who started boxing at age 19. Managed by Washington Redskins Pro Bowl lineman Trent Williams and trained by former NFL All Pro running back Adrian Peterson and James Cooper, George went 76-5 as an amateur and was the National Golden Gloves champion in 2015 at 178 pounds. He also placed third in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.
The 6-foot-2 George will face his toughest test as a pro against Escudero. “I know very little about my opponent, except that he is a puncher against limited opposition,” George said. “Training is going great. I have been on weight for quite some time now because I really fight at 168 pounds, but I believe my skill set is enough that fighting at 175 is not a problem at all. I train with one of the best trainers in the world in James Cooper. Coop has gone over a game plan and I will execute it to a T.”
In the telecast opener, Uruguayan power-puncher Vidal is currently living and training in Coachella, Calif., and fighting for the first time in the U.S. As an amateur, he suffered just one loss in 59 fights. Vidal is trained by his brother Richard Vidal and Freddy Fundora in Coachella and spars with Freddy’s son Sebastian Fundora, a current undefeated 154-pounder who has appeared twice on ShoBox.
“I'm very focused and at the same time excited to be performing in the U.S. for the first time,” Vidal said. “Coming from my home country Uruguay, it was always a dream to fight in America. That’s now turning into a reality on November 15th.”
Prieto, who fought last on October 5 in Vado, N.M., had a reported 70 amateur fights going 50-20. He started boxing at age 11 and is known for his aggressive style and power. He fought current WBA 140-pound champion Regis Prograis to two split decisions in the amateurs. A 2011 New Mexico Golden Gloves silver medalist, Prieto has trained with former WBA 154-pound champion Austin Trout and was a Texas Junior Olympic State Champion.
“I have worked a long time hoping for an opportunity like this to come along,” Prieto said. “From what I have seen of my opponent, he is strong and it is going to take a lot of strategy to beat him. He is someone that is going to take more than overpowering to defeat. A victory would mean another step down the road for me in mastering my craft and being able to step up and fight anyone they put me against.”
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Two Argentineans to feature on Nov. 15th ShoBox
Six talented boxers with a combined overall record of 65-1 will make their ShoBox: The New Generation debuts on Friday, November 15th live on Showtime at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT from WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa. Welterweight Erik Vega Ortiz (16-0, 9 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico will face 2016 Argentine Olympian Alberto Palmetta (12-1, 8 KOs) in the ten-round main event. Hard-hitting Marcos Escudero (10-0, 9 KOs), also of Argentina, will take on Houston’s Joseph George (9-0, 6 KOs) in the ten-round light heavyweight co-feature. In the telecast opener, Uruguayan middleweight Amilcar Vidal (9-0, 8 KOs) will fight for the first time in the U.S. when he meets Zach Prieto (9-0, 7 KOs) of El Paso, Texas, in an eight rounder. The event is promoted by Sampson Boxing in association with Paco Presents. Tickets are on sale now and available at www.WinnaVegas.com.
“We can’t wait to see what these future champions show us in their debuts on ShoBox: The New Generation, a series that has built so many careers and champions,” said promoter Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “These are very important fights for all six of these boxers’ young careers and another step toward them graduating from prospects to contenders.”
In the main event, the 23-year-old Vega Ortiz will bring an all-out, pressure style similar to many of his fellow countrymen of Mexico. Ortiz started boxing at age seven and ended his career at an impressive 45-2 amateur record. He trains in Tijuana and graduated this year with honors in Business Administration from the university Autónoma de Baja California. The 24-year-old will make his U.S. debut in his first true test after building his undefeated record against mostly limited opposition in Mexico.
“Boxing fans will want to tune in November 15th to witness a classic rivalry between Mexico and Argentina,” Vega Ortiz said. “We know what we are facing in Alberto Palmetta. He is a well-rounded boxer with a great amateur career and an ex-Olympian. But, at the end of the day, that doesn't matter to me. These are the types of challenges I like and I am looking forward to pleasing my fans.”
Olympian Palmetta came out of the amateur ranks billed as one of the top prospects in Argentina’s boxing history. Palmetta started boxing at age 14 and competed in 112 amateur fights, winning numerous national and international distinctions including the bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada. He was the captain of the Argentinean national team and was considered a top-ten prospect in the world at his weight before he turned pro.
The 29-year-old southpaw’s only pro loss came against then-10-1 Argentinian Gonzalo Gaston Coria. His last two fights took place in Charlotte, N.C. Palmetta is co-promoted by former world champion Sergio Martinez of Maravillabox Promotions and Sampson Boxing.
“My fist goal in boxing was to be an Olympian boxer, and my second was to become champion of the world,” Palmetto said. “This is the first step on my way to realizing my dream of becoming a world champion. Great effort brings great achievements.”
The co-feature spotlights another Argentinean, 26 year-old Escudero from Cordoba, Argentina, who is riding a six-fight knockout streak. As an amateur, he competed nationally and internationally, including becoming a national champion in Argentina in 2014 and representing his country in the Pan-Am Games in 2015. He finished the unpaid ranks with a respectable 60-5 record. In just his second year as a professional, Escudero is currently living and training in Miami and managed by Gardner Payne of Payne Boxing.
“Throw me to the wolves and I’ll return leading the pack,” Escudero said. “The time has come for me to shine. Thank you to my team and my promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, for this opportunity. I will not disappoint.”
Escudero will have his hands full with Houston’s George, a former high school basketball star who started boxing at age 19. Managed by Washington Redskins Pro Bowl lineman Trent Williams and trained by former NFL All Pro running back Adrian Peterson and James Cooper, George went 76-5 as an amateur and was the National Golden Gloves champion in 2015 at 178 pounds. He also placed third in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.
The 6-foot-2 George will face his toughest test as a pro against Escudero. “I know very little about my opponent, except that he is a puncher against limited opposition,” George said. “Training is going great. I have been on weight for quite some time now because I really fight at 168 pounds, but I believe my skill set is enough that fighting at 175 is not a problem at all. I train with one of the best trainers in the world in James Cooper. Coop has gone over a game plan and I will execute it to a T.”
In the telecast opener, Uruguayan power-puncher Vidal is currently living and training in Coachella, Calif., and fighting for the first time in the U.S. As an amateur, he suffered just one loss in 59 fights. Vidal is trained by his brother Richard Vidal and Freddy Fundora in Coachella and spars with Freddy’s son Sebastian Fundora, a current undefeated 154-pounder who has appeared twice on ShoBox.
“I'm very focused and at the same time excited to be performing in the U.S. for the first time,” Vidal said. “Coming from my home country Uruguay, it was always a dream to fight in America. That’s now turning into a reality on November 15th.”
Prieto, who fought last on October 5 in Vado, N.M., had a reported 70 amateur fights going 50-20. He started boxing at age 11 and is known for his aggressive style and power. He fought current WBA 140-pound champion Regis Prograis to two split decisions in the amateurs. A 2011 New Mexico Golden Gloves silver medalist, Prieto has trained with former WBA 154-pound champion Austin Trout and was a Texas Junior Olympic State Champion.
“I have worked a long time hoping for an opportunity like this to come along,” Prieto said. “From what I have seen of my opponent, he is strong and it is going to take a lot of strategy to beat him. He is someone that is going to take more than overpowering to defeat. A victory would mean another step down the road for me in mastering my craft and being able to step up and fight anyone they put me against.”
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Introducing Maryland featherweight Ebrima "E Boy" Jawara |
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Jeter Promotions has announced the signing of featherweight Ebrima " E Boy" Jawara. The 27 year-old Jawara of Germantown, Maryland, has a record of 2-1 with one knockout. In his pro debut, Jawara dropped a split-decision to regarded Malik Loften. Since then, Jawara has won his last two bouts, with his most recent outing being a unanimous decision over Marquel Johns (7-1-2) on August 2, 2018. Jawara will return to the ring this Friday night when he takes on James Early (4-4) at the Maryland Live Casino in Hanover, Maryland.
Jawara has been boxing for five years after some friends brought him down to the gym. Jawara started in muay-thai and then switched over to boxing. He had a 35-fight amateur career, including reaching the finals of the Washington, D.C Golden Gloves on three occasions.
"I am excited to sign with Jeter Promotions. I grew up with Tony in the gym, and he has taken me under his wing. Jeter is a former pro boxer. [That] is important because he knows what the fighter is thinking and goes through," said Jawara.
As for his opponent, Jawara said, "I know Early is tough. If you look at his record, he fights a lot of undefeated guys, and has defeated two of them. He is no pushover. He likes to fight on the inside, so I see this being a tough and entertaining fight."
Jawara is a frequent sparring partner with the Russell brothers in Washington, D.C.(Gary Russell is WBC featherweight champion). When he is not boxing, Jawara works at the Infinite Fighting Concepts Gym in Gaithersburg, Maryland, where Jawara is a personal trainer and teaches a boxing class for kids.
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Introducing Maryland featherweight Ebrima "E Boy" Jawara
Jeter Promotions has announced the signing of featherweight Ebrima " E Boy" Jawara. The 27 year-old Jawara of Germantown, Maryland, has a record of 2-1 with one knockout. In his pro debut, Jawara dropped a split-decision to regarded Malik Loften. Since then, Jawara has won his last two bouts, with his most recent outing being a unanimous decision over Marquel Johns (7-1-2) on August 2, 2018. Jawara will return to the ring this Friday night when he takes on James Early (4-4) at the Maryland Live Casino in Hanover, Maryland.
Jawara has been boxing for five years after some friends brought him down to the gym. Jawara started in muay-thai and then switched over to boxing. He had a 35-fight amateur career, including reaching the finals of the Washington, D.C Golden Gloves on three occasions.
"I am excited to sign with Jeter Promotions. I grew up with Tony in the gym, and he has taken me under his wing. Jeter is a former pro boxer. [That] is important because he knows what the fighter is thinking and goes through," said Jawara.
As for his opponent, Jawara said, "I know Early is tough. If you look at his record, he fights a lot of undefeated guys, and has defeated two of them. He is no pushover. He likes to fight on the inside, so I see this being a tough and entertaining fight."
Jawara is a frequent sparring partner with the Russell brothers in Washington, D.C.(Gary Russell is WBC featherweight champion). When he is not boxing, Jawara works at the Infinite Fighting Concepts Gym in Gaithersburg, Maryland, where Jawara is a personal trainer and teaches a boxing class for kids.
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French update: Segolene Lefebvre books hometown date |
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Segolene “Majestic” Lefebvre takes on Venezuela's Ana Maria Lozano in a super bantamweight fight on Saturday October 26th at the Complexe Sportif Gayant in her hometown of Douai, France. Lefebvre, 12-0, is on a roll in her last four bouts, beating Simone Da Silva in March of 2017, followed by Naroyuki Koasicha, Gabriela Bouvier, Yesica Patricia Marcos and Laura Soledad Griffa. While she lacks devastating punching power, the excellent boxing skills of Lefebvre are firmly establishing her at the top of her division, and, at only twenty-six years of age, her ceiling appears to be very high. But in Lozano, 16-9-1, she will almost certainly get a tough test.
A perennial contender, the 33 year-old Lozano has competed at the absolute top level for the last six years. But, while she has won various regional titles, she has amazingly come up short in no less than seven challenges for various world titles at bantamweight, super bantamweight and featherweight.
Against Lefebvre she will be fighting outside Venezuela for the eleventh time, and, with a clear advantage in power, she has declared that she has no intention of leaving things in the hands of the judges. It remains to be seen if her persistence pays off.
Lefebvre vs. Lozano for the WBF super featherweight title is the main event of a show promoted by Robert Pantigny and the Douai Boxing Club.
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French update: Segolene Lefebvre books hometown date
Segolene “Majestic” Lefebvre takes on Venezuela's Ana Maria Lozano in a super bantamweight fight on Saturday October 26th at the Complexe Sportif Gayant in her hometown of Douai, France. Lefebvre, 12-0, is on a roll in her last four bouts, beating Simone Da Silva in March of 2017, followed by Naroyuki Koasicha, Gabriela Bouvier, Yesica Patricia Marcos and Laura Soledad Griffa. While she lacks devastating punching power, the excellent boxing skills of Lefebvre are firmly establishing her at the top of her division, and, at only twenty-six years of age, her ceiling appears to be very high. But in Lozano, 16-9-1, she will almost certainly get a tough test.
A perennial contender, the 33 year-old Lozano has competed at the absolute top level for the last six years. But, while she has won various regional titles, she has amazingly come up short in no less than seven challenges for various world titles at bantamweight, super bantamweight and featherweight.
Against Lefebvre she will be fighting outside Venezuela for the eleventh time, and, with a clear advantage in power, she has declared that she has no intention of leaving things in the hands of the judges. It remains to be seen if her persistence pays off.
Lefebvre vs. Lozano for the WBF super featherweight title is the main event of a show promoted by Robert Pantigny and the Douai Boxing Club.
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The Boxingtalk Scoreboard: Late results from Michigan |
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This past Friday night, four members of the Split-T Management stable scored big wins at DeCarlos Convention Center in Warren, Michigan. Michael Moore dominated Alex Hloros (18-8-2) by scoring a second-round stoppage in their scheduled eight-round super middleweight bout. Moore (18-3, 8 KOs) of Cleveland Ohio beat up Hloros until the corner threw in the towel at 2:47... Anthony Barnes (12-0) defeated tough Kenneth Council (10-3-1) via a six-round split-decision. Barnes of Huntington Woods, Michigan, pushed the action and won by scores of 60-54 and 58-56, which overruled a card that was awarded to Council by a 59-55 tally... Rolando Vargas needed just 59 seconds to take out Rashio Evans (0-2) in a lightweight bout. Vargas (4-0, 4 KOs) of Milwaukee landed a booming left that sent Evans down and out.... As previously reported, junior middleweight Ardreal Holmes (10-0) won a eight-round unanimous decision over Walter Wright (17-7). Holmes of Flint, Michigan, boxed his way to the victory by keeping the veteran at bay, and won by scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 77-75. source for all results: split-t management
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The Boxingtalk Scoreboard: Late results from Michigan
This past Friday night, four members of the Split-T Management stable scored big wins at DeCarlos Convention Center in Warren, Michigan. Michael Moore dominated Alex Hloros (18-8-2) by scoring a second-round stoppage in their scheduled eight-round super middleweight bout. Moore (18-3, 8 KOs) of Cleveland Ohio beat up Hloros until the corner threw in the towel at 2:47... Anthony Barnes (12-0) defeated tough Kenneth Council (10-3-1) via a six-round split-decision. Barnes of Huntington Woods, Michigan, pushed the action and won by scores of 60-54 and 58-56, which overruled a card that was awarded to Council by a 59-55 tally... Rolando Vargas needed just 59 seconds to take out Rashio Evans (0-2) in a lightweight bout. Vargas (4-0, 4 KOs) of Milwaukee landed a booming left that sent Evans down and out.... As previously reported, junior middleweight Ardreal Holmes (10-0) won a eight-round unanimous decision over Walter Wright (17-7). Holmes of Flint, Michigan, boxed his way to the victory by keeping the veteran at bay, and won by scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 77-75. source for all results: split-t management
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Gvozdyk takes center stage with Ukraine dominating the news |
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As Russia and Ukraine dominate the news, both countries have become inextricably linked to the current impeachment inquiry in Washington, DC. Up the road in Philadelphia, two champion boxers — one Russian, one Ukrainian — are preparing to meet in a light heavyweight unification bout. As their home countries wage war against each other, their thoughts are 5,000 miles away, focused not on the opponent’s country, but on the man he will meet in the center of the ring at Temple University’s Liacouras Center on Friday. The winner will leave the ring as WBC/ IBF light heavyweight world champion. Oleksandr Gvozdyk (17-0, 14 KOs) is the current WBC champion, having defeated Adonis Stevenson via knockout in December 2018. IBF champion Artur Beterbiev (14-0, 14 KOs) defeated Gvozdyk when the two met as amateurs, with Beterbiev representing Russia and Gvozdyk representing Ukraine.
Ukraine Arrives on the American Stage
In recent weeks, calls for President Donald Trump’s impeachment became deafening after Ukraine released the transcript of a phone call between its president, former comedian Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump, which included an exchange about former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s son, Hunter. Trump urged the newly elected leader to investigate the younger Biden.
The impeachment inquiry will examine whether Trump held up $400 million in aid to Ukraine with the intention of releasing it when the country began an investigation of Hunter Biden, and one into Ukraine’s role in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election — a conspiracy theory, which Trump and his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, have repeatedly pushed publicly. The premise is that CrowdStrike, a California-based company that was brought in to investigate the Russian hack of the Democratic party’s servers that election year, is owned by a Ukrainian.
Zelensky, who played the President of Ukraine in a television show called Servant of the People for four years, was elected in a landslide victory in April and began his term as Ukraine’s sixth president in May. He’s an unwitting participant in American politics, which was made clear during a 10-hour, informal question-and-answer session last week with reporters in Ukraine. He spoke dismissively about the potential that Ukraine interfered with the 2016 election, saying he would have to be shown a reason to proceed with any joint “theoretical” investigation.
Like the boxers training in Philadelphia, who are focused on their fight and not on war and politics, his mind is elsewhere — working to end the conflict with Russia on Ukraine’s Eastern border.
His constituents, the people of Ukraine, are not focused on American politics and elections. “The Trump phone call is being covered right now in Ukraine,” said Petro Shugurov, former Ring Magazine Ukraine writer and contributing editor who lives in the country. “Mostly just that Zelensky was involved. The Ukrainian people have enough to worry about with our own politics.”
The American and the Canadian
While the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has a complicated and lengthy history, the roads that led Beterbiev and Gvozdyk to Philadelphia are well-traveled. “The boxing federations of Russia and Ukraine are very similar,” said Shugurov. “They still operate like they did during the days of the USSR. The Russian Federation is like God Almighty to boxers in Russia. There are a lot of programs to support them, and they receive stipends.”
Both boxers were decorated amateurs. Beterbiev had more than 300 amateur fights and won gold medals at both the World Championships (2009, Milan) and European Championships (2006 and 2010). Gvozdyk had over 250 amateur bouts and won a bronze medal for Ukraine at the 2012 London Olympics.
Gvozdyk is followed closely by those in his home country of Ukraine and Ukrainians stateside, despite moving to California five years ago to focus on his career: “One month ago, we went to the Ukrainian Festival. There were a lot of Ukrainian people there and I was surprised that a lot of them knew me," Gvozdyk said. "We spent a couple hours there, signing autographs and taking photos.”
Gvozdyk, whose father had a brief career as an amateur boxer in Ukraine, is living out his dream in California. “When I asked my wife to come to California with me, to leave her home, she said the most important thing is that I’m going to go with you,” Gvozdyk said of his wife, Daria.
He acknowledges that it can sometimes be difficult to be away from family as the two raise a family, but the kids — two boys and one girl, ages 3-10 — have traveled the world with their parents. “Our kids are the most quiet kids on the plane when they travel. They don’t cry," Gvozdyk said. "They know it’s pointless."
Politics is not a topic that Gvozdyk is anxious to discuss, going so far as to say he doesn’t know what’s happening. “It doesn’t bother me,” he said. “I’m just an athlete. I don’t want to make any parallels to the fight. I am living in California, he is living in Montreal. I just don’t know anything about it.”
“Teddy Atlas, Gvozdyk’s trainer, runs a tight ship,” said J Russell Peltz, who is co-promoting the championship fight with Top Rank. “It doesn’t surprise me that he’s not focused on what’s happening on the other side of the world.”
“Any war is bad for people, but I really don’t want to talk about it,” said Beterbiev, who relocated to Montreal six years ago to further his career. “It’s far from me in Canada.”
Shugurov hints at other motives at why the boxers don’t want to talk about life in the former Soviet bloc: “They are high-profile athletes and they don’t want to upset anyone. They don’t want to have problems like those that have happened with other boxers. “Ukrainians and Russians are everywhere and they are like a network. Fighters as a whole don’t want to get involved. They want to make money and not have problems. Beterbiev, he’s Canadian now. Gvozdyk is American.”
Beterbiev’s family life nearly mirrors that of his opponent. Married with four children ages 2-8, Beterbiev lost his father to an accident when he was only 16. His father was just starting to enjoy his son’s career. “A couple days before he died, I won a bronze medal in a tournament," Beterbiev said. "He said to me, 'You won this fight. Now, go. I believe in you.’”
Raising a family away from home hasn’t been easy for Beterbiev and his wife, Medena, though Beterbiev’s mother has traveled to Canada to help.
Much Can Change in Ten Years
Ten years ago, Ukraine was led by Viktor Yushchenko, who had survived an assassination attempt by poison five years prior. There was political chaos and a gas dispute with Russia. Putin was not yet President of Russia, but it was understood that he was in charge of the country. There was tension between the two countries, but nothing that matched the war and hostility they are facing today.
“We had beat Germany together,” said Shugurov. “We fought Nazis together. A whole lot of people believed we should be one country. While Ukraine had a Western-friendly leader, there was a brotherhood between the people of the countries.”
The U.S. had a different president, one not embroiled in an impeachment inquiry permeated by Russian and Ukrainian ties.
Ten years ago, two fighters, one from Ukraine, one from Russia, met in a boxing ring with the Russian besting the Ukrainian. The two fighters, now husbands and fathers, undefeated world champion professionals, living away from home and seeking the glory that comes with unifying world titles, will meet in the most pivotal fight of their respective careers. It’s a fight that transcends politics and war, whose winner, at least in the boxing world, will be declared unified light heavyweight champion.
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Gvozdyk takes center stage with Ukraine dominating the news
As Russia and Ukraine dominate the news, both countries have become inextricably linked to the current impeachment inquiry in Washington, DC. Up the road in Philadelphia, two champion boxers — one Russian, one Ukrainian — are preparing to meet in a light heavyweight unification bout. As their home countries wage war against each other, their thoughts are 5,000 miles away, focused not on the opponent’s country, but on the man he will meet in the center of the ring at Temple University’s Liacouras Center on Friday. The winner will leave the ring as WBC/ IBF light heavyweight world champion. Oleksandr Gvozdyk (17-0, 14 KOs) is the current WBC champion, having defeated Adonis Stevenson via knockout in December 2018. IBF champion Artur Beterbiev (14-0, 14 KOs) defeated Gvozdyk when the two met as amateurs, with Beterbiev representing Russia and Gvozdyk representing Ukraine.
Ukraine Arrives on the American Stage
In recent weeks, calls for President Donald Trump’s impeachment became deafening after Ukraine released the transcript of a phone call between its president, former comedian Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump, which included an exchange about former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s son, Hunter. Trump urged the newly elected leader to investigate the younger Biden.
The impeachment inquiry will examine whether Trump held up $400 million in aid to Ukraine with the intention of releasing it when the country began an investigation of Hunter Biden, and one into Ukraine’s role in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election — a conspiracy theory, which Trump and his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, have repeatedly pushed publicly. The premise is that CrowdStrike, a California-based company that was brought in to investigate the Russian hack of the Democratic party’s servers that election year, is owned by a Ukrainian.
Zelensky, who played the President of Ukraine in a television show called Servant of the People for four years, was elected in a landslide victory in April and began his term as Ukraine’s sixth president in May. He’s an unwitting participant in American politics, which was made clear during a 10-hour, informal question-and-answer session last week with reporters in Ukraine. He spoke dismissively about the potential that Ukraine interfered with the 2016 election, saying he would have to be shown a reason to proceed with any joint “theoretical” investigation.
Like the boxers training in Philadelphia, who are focused on their fight and not on war and politics, his mind is elsewhere — working to end the conflict with Russia on Ukraine’s Eastern border.
His constituents, the people of Ukraine, are not focused on American politics and elections. “The Trump phone call is being covered right now in Ukraine,” said Petro Shugurov, former Ring Magazine Ukraine writer and contributing editor who lives in the country. “Mostly just that Zelensky was involved. The Ukrainian people have enough to worry about with our own politics.”
The American and the Canadian
While the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has a complicated and lengthy history, the roads that led Beterbiev and Gvozdyk to Philadelphia are well-traveled. “The boxing federations of Russia and Ukraine are very similar,” said Shugurov. “They still operate like they did during the days of the USSR. The Russian Federation is like God Almighty to boxers in Russia. There are a lot of programs to support them, and they receive stipends.”
Both boxers were decorated amateurs. Beterbiev had more than 300 amateur fights and won gold medals at both the World Championships (2009, Milan) and European Championships (2006 and 2010). Gvozdyk had over 250 amateur bouts and won a bronze medal for Ukraine at the 2012 London Olympics.
Gvozdyk is followed closely by those in his home country of Ukraine and Ukrainians stateside, despite moving to California five years ago to focus on his career: “One month ago, we went to the Ukrainian Festival. There were a lot of Ukrainian people there and I was surprised that a lot of them knew me," Gvozdyk said. "We spent a couple hours there, signing autographs and taking photos.”
Gvozdyk, whose father had a brief career as an amateur boxer in Ukraine, is living out his dream in California. “When I asked my wife to come to California with me, to leave her home, she said the most important thing is that I’m going to go with you,” Gvozdyk said of his wife, Daria.
He acknowledges that it can sometimes be difficult to be away from family as the two raise a family, but the kids — two boys and one girl, ages 3-10 — have traveled the world with their parents. “Our kids are the most quiet kids on the plane when they travel. They don’t cry," Gvozdyk said. "They know it’s pointless."
Politics is not a topic that Gvozdyk is anxious to discuss, going so far as to say he doesn’t know what’s happening. “It doesn’t bother me,” he said. “I’m just an athlete. I don’t want to make any parallels to the fight. I am living in California, he is living in Montreal. I just don’t know anything about it.”
“Teddy Atlas, Gvozdyk’s trainer, runs a tight ship,” said J Russell Peltz, who is co-promoting the championship fight with Top Rank. “It doesn’t surprise me that he’s not focused on what’s happening on the other side of the world.”
“Any war is bad for people, but I really don’t want to talk about it,” said Beterbiev, who relocated to Montreal six years ago to further his career. “It’s far from me in Canada.”
Shugurov hints at other motives at why the boxers don’t want to talk about life in the former Soviet bloc: “They are high-profile athletes and they don’t want to upset anyone. They don’t want to have problems like those that have happened with other boxers. “Ukrainians and Russians are everywhere and they are like a network. Fighters as a whole don’t want to get involved. They want to make money and not have problems. Beterbiev, he’s Canadian now. Gvozdyk is American.”
Beterbiev’s family life nearly mirrors that of his opponent. Married with four children ages 2-8, Beterbiev lost his father to an accident when he was only 16. His father was just starting to enjoy his son’s career. “A couple days before he died, I won a bronze medal in a tournament," Beterbiev said. "He said to me, 'You won this fight. Now, go. I believe in you.’”
Raising a family away from home hasn’t been easy for Beterbiev and his wife, Medena, though Beterbiev’s mother has traveled to Canada to help.
Much Can Change in Ten Years
Ten years ago, Ukraine was led by Viktor Yushchenko, who had survived an assassination attempt by poison five years prior. There was political chaos and a gas dispute with Russia. Putin was not yet President of Russia, but it was understood that he was in charge of the country. There was tension between the two countries, but nothing that matched the war and hostility they are facing today.
“We had beat Germany together,” said Shugurov. “We fought Nazis together. A whole lot of people believed we should be one country. While Ukraine had a Western-friendly leader, there was a brotherhood between the people of the countries.”
The U.S. had a different president, one not embroiled in an impeachment inquiry permeated by Russian and Ukrainian ties.
Ten years ago, two fighters, one from Ukraine, one from Russia, met in a boxing ring with the Russian besting the Ukrainian. The two fighters, now husbands and fathers, undefeated world champion professionals, living away from home and seeking the glory that comes with unifying world titles, will meet in the most pivotal fight of their respective careers. It’s a fight that transcends politics and war, whose winner, at least in the boxing world, will be declared unified light heavyweight champion.
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Valdez to make super featherweight debut on Nov. 30th |
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The super featherweight division is set to light up the Las Vegas Strip on Thanksgiving weekend (Saturday, November 30th) at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. In the main event, former WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez (pictured) will make his 130-pound debut in a ten-rounder against fellow Mexican Andres “Jaguarcito” Gutierrez (38-2-1). The co-feature will see the fighting pride of Belfast, former two-division champion Carl "The Jackal” Frampton, takes on Ohio's unbeaten Tyler “The Golden Child” McCreary at a 128-pound catchweight. Valdez-Gutierrez and Frampton-McCreary will stream live on ESPN+. The undercard will stream on ESPN+ beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.
Tickets go on sale Friday, October 18th, at 10 a.m. PT and are available online at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or through Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000.
“This a tremendous super featherweight doubleheader, and both Valdez and Frampton have their hands full against tough opponents,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, the show's lead promoter. “If Valdez and Frampton win, world title opportunities await them in 2020.”
‘I’m looking forward to November 30th, as it’s my first fight as a super featherweight,” Valdez said. “I know my opponent is tough, but I plan on putting on a show for the fans. This is my third camp with Eddy Reynoso, and it’s going great. This is an important first step towards another world title, and I plan to make the most of it. Don’t miss it!”
“I am going to take full advantage of this opportunity,” Gutierrez said. “I hope Valdez is prepared for a super featherweight war. I’m now training in Las Vegas with the professor, Ismael Salas, and ‘Memo’ Heredia. Boxing fans, get ready for a true Mexican-style battle!”
Valdez (26-0, 20 KOs) made six successful defenses of his WBO featherweight title, a reign highlighted by all-action brawls against Miguel Marriaga, Scott Quigg and Genesis Servania. A two-time Mexican Olympian, Valdez is seeking new challenges in a weight class loaded with premier talent. He closed out his featherweight world title reign with a pair of wins over then-unbeaten foes earlier this year, knocking out Carmine Tommasone in February and scoring a unanimous decision over Jason Sanchez in June. Valdez is 6-0 with six knockouts when fighting in Las Vegas and is looking for lucky number seven. Gutierrez (38-2-1, 25 KOs) has won three consecutive fights since dropping a technical decision to Abner Mares in October 2017 for the WBA featherweight world title. He last fought June 22 in San Juan del Río, Mexico, decisioning former world champion Tomas Rojas over 12 rounds.
Frampton (26-2, 15 KOs), a former super bantamweight and featherweight champion, is ready to make his 2019 debut. He last fought December 2018 in Manchester, England, losing by unanimous decision to IBF world champion Josh Warrington in a Fight of the Year contender. He was scheduled to fight August 10th in Philadelphia against Emmanuel Dominguez but was forced to drop out the week of the fight after a concrete pillar fell on his hand at the fight hotel. Frampton is making his first appearance in Las Vegas since January 2017, when thousands of Northern Irish fans made the trip across the pond for his rematch against Leo Santa Cruz. One of his nation’s most decorated fighters, Frampton holds victories over Santa Cruz, Quigg, Nonito Donaire and Kiko Martinez.
McCreary (16-0-1, 7 KOs), from Toledo, Ohio, is a five-year pro who, at 26 years of age, is entering the prime of his career. In his last fight, July 19th in Maryland, he overcame a stiff challenge from Jessie Cris Rosales to prevail via eight-round split decision. In search of a signature win, McCreary will take a quantum leap in class, but he is confident that his youth and athleticism will prevail.
"I'm delighted to be making a comeback after what has been a horrific year in my career,” Frampton said. “I didn't get the Top Rank deal off to an ideal start, but coming back in Vegas is great for me, especially against a really strong opponent. It needed to be someone who would test me. It's what I want, it's what ESPN wants, what MTK Global wants and what Top Rank wants, so I'm 100 percent confident it's the right move for me. McCreary is a quality opponent, but if I want to be competing against the top guys in the world, which I believe I can, then I need to be beating guys like him and doing it in style.”
“I’m delighted we’ve got Carl out again before the end of the year,” said Frank Warren, Frampton’s co-promoter. “He had a tough time of it in August with the freak injury, which meant he couldn’t fight as planned. In this fight against McCreary, I believe Carl will prove that he is still an elite fighter and will be fighting for world titles again before long.”
“It’s a big step up for me, but I feel that I’m ready for it,” McCreary said. “It’s an opportunity I couldn’t turn down, and I feel that every fight is a risk. This is one where, if anything, I would love to risk my undefeated record against a fighter like Frampton. A win here means a world title shot next.
“I was in the gym training for my October 26th fight and my trainer {Lamar Wright} said we got a call that Carl Frampton was looking for a fight. They didn’t have anyone, and I said, ‘I’ll take it.’ I didn’t hesitate.”
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Valdez to make super featherweight debut on Nov. 30th
The super featherweight division is set to light up the Las Vegas Strip on Thanksgiving weekend (Saturday, November 30th) at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. In the main event, former WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez (pictured) will make his 130-pound debut in a ten-rounder against fellow Mexican Andres “Jaguarcito” Gutierrez (38-2-1). The co-feature will see the fighting pride of Belfast, former two-division champion Carl "The Jackal” Frampton, takes on Ohio's unbeaten Tyler “The Golden Child” McCreary at a 128-pound catchweight. Valdez-Gutierrez and Frampton-McCreary will stream live on ESPN+. The undercard will stream on ESPN+ beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.
Tickets go on sale Friday, October 18th, at 10 a.m. PT and are available online at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or through Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000.
“This a tremendous super featherweight doubleheader, and both Valdez and Frampton have their hands full against tough opponents,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, the show's lead promoter. “If Valdez and Frampton win, world title opportunities await them in 2020.”
‘I’m looking forward to November 30th, as it’s my first fight as a super featherweight,” Valdez said. “I know my opponent is tough, but I plan on putting on a show for the fans. This is my third camp with Eddy Reynoso, and it’s going great. This is an important first step towards another world title, and I plan to make the most of it. Don’t miss it!”
“I am going to take full advantage of this opportunity,” Gutierrez said. “I hope Valdez is prepared for a super featherweight war. I’m now training in Las Vegas with the professor, Ismael Salas, and ‘Memo’ Heredia. Boxing fans, get ready for a true Mexican-style battle!”
Valdez (26-0, 20 KOs) made six successful defenses of his WBO featherweight title, a reign highlighted by all-action brawls against Miguel Marriaga, Scott Quigg and Genesis Servania. A two-time Mexican Olympian, Valdez is seeking new challenges in a weight class loaded with premier talent. He closed out his featherweight world title reign with a pair of wins over then-unbeaten foes earlier this year, knocking out Carmine Tommasone in February and scoring a unanimous decision over Jason Sanchez in June. Valdez is 6-0 with six knockouts when fighting in Las Vegas and is looking for lucky number seven. Gutierrez (38-2-1, 25 KOs) has won three consecutive fights since dropping a technical decision to Abner Mares in October 2017 for the WBA featherweight world title. He last fought June 22 in San Juan del Río, Mexico, decisioning former world champion Tomas Rojas over 12 rounds.
Frampton (26-2, 15 KOs), a former super bantamweight and featherweight champion, is ready to make his 2019 debut. He last fought December 2018 in Manchester, England, losing by unanimous decision to IBF world champion Josh Warrington in a Fight of the Year contender. He was scheduled to fight August 10th in Philadelphia against Emmanuel Dominguez but was forced to drop out the week of the fight after a concrete pillar fell on his hand at the fight hotel. Frampton is making his first appearance in Las Vegas since January 2017, when thousands of Northern Irish fans made the trip across the pond for his rematch against Leo Santa Cruz. One of his nation’s most decorated fighters, Frampton holds victories over Santa Cruz, Quigg, Nonito Donaire and Kiko Martinez.
McCreary (16-0-1, 7 KOs), from Toledo, Ohio, is a five-year pro who, at 26 years of age, is entering the prime of his career. In his last fight, July 19th in Maryland, he overcame a stiff challenge from Jessie Cris Rosales to prevail via eight-round split decision. In search of a signature win, McCreary will take a quantum leap in class, but he is confident that his youth and athleticism will prevail.
"I'm delighted to be making a comeback after what has been a horrific year in my career,” Frampton said. “I didn't get the Top Rank deal off to an ideal start, but coming back in Vegas is great for me, especially against a really strong opponent. It needed to be someone who would test me. It's what I want, it's what ESPN wants, what MTK Global wants and what Top Rank wants, so I'm 100 percent confident it's the right move for me. McCreary is a quality opponent, but if I want to be competing against the top guys in the world, which I believe I can, then I need to be beating guys like him and doing it in style.”
“I’m delighted we’ve got Carl out again before the end of the year,” said Frank Warren, Frampton’s co-promoter. “He had a tough time of it in August with the freak injury, which meant he couldn’t fight as planned. In this fight against McCreary, I believe Carl will prove that he is still an elite fighter and will be fighting for world titles again before long.”
“It’s a big step up for me, but I feel that I’m ready for it,” McCreary said. “It’s an opportunity I couldn’t turn down, and I feel that every fight is a risk. This is one where, if anything, I would love to risk my undefeated record against a fighter like Frampton. A win here means a world title shot next.
“I was in the gym training for my October 26th fight and my trainer {Lamar Wright} said we got a call that Carl Frampton was looking for a fight. They didn’t have anyone, and I said, ‘I’ll take it.’ I didn’t hesitate.”
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Mykquan Williams headlines Broadway Boxing next Friday in NYC |
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Greg Leon: How has everything gone in preparation for your October 24th Main Event in NYC? Mykquan Williams: "Everything has been going great. Camp has been going well, I'll be ready to go in a little bit less than two weeks. I got like one more sparring session this week and then it's press conference time this Thursday and fight week next week, so I'm going to be ready to go." Greg Leon: You'll be fighting Tre'Sean Wiggins. What do you know about this dude? Mykquan Williams: "Nothing really, just his record to be honest with you."
GL: How do you feel about your progress thus far? Do you feel like you're right where you need to be?
MW: "Yes. I can't lie, I would have loved to get one more fight in this year, but overall I think everything is moving very well."
GL: Was there a hiccup between May and now that's the reason for this layoff?
MW: "There was, but I'm not 100% sure what it was. I know my last fight was a ten rounder, and I know that when you get to the ten round level you don't fight as often, but I'm still young (21) and I want to fight as often as possible. I feel like I don't want to have five months in between fights, but overall everything is moving well."
GL: You're 21 years old and already in ten rounders is national TV time around the corner.
MW: "Definitely. I expect the next year to be a very big year for me. I expect to get alot more exposure, I expect the opposition to go up and it will go up and I definitely expect to be on Shobox and take it from there."
GL: Other than victory do you have any predictions for October 24th?
MW: "Not really. I'm looking to dominate, if the knockout comes it comes. I'm not going out there looking for it, I'm going out to win one round at a time."
GL: Does having Jackie (Kallen) and Lou DiBella on your team make it easier for you to just be the boxer and work on your craft?
MW: "Absolutely. It makes it a lot easier because I don't have to worry about too much. Fighters should have the least amount of worries when it comes to preparing for fights, because distractions can f**k you up so it makes it a lot easier."
GL: You've already been the full ten rounds, does that give you more confidence going into this fight with Wiggins, whom I consider a step up from Rickey Edwards?
MW: "It doesn't make anything easier for me, but I'm going to be prepared for anything he brings to the table. I know what to expect from him, and I got more time to work with in a ten rounder to get him out of there, so it's going to be a big night for me and then a big year for me in 2020."
GL: What part of your game do you feel needs the most sharpening going into this important year for you?
MW: "Everything, I'm always looking to improve all areas. I feel like I'm an all around good fighter, but I could improve on everything moving forward."
GL: Closing thoughts.
MW: "I appreciate the support, thank you for reaching out and talking to me. October 24th is going to be a great night. If you make it out, tune in on UFC fight pass. If you can come, come out and support, not only me but all of the talent on the card. It's going to be a really good show."
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Mykquan Williams headlines Broadway Boxing next Friday in NYC
Greg Leon: How has everything gone in preparation for your October 24th Main Event in NYC? Mykquan Williams: "Everything has been going great. Camp has been going well, I'll be ready to go in a little bit less than two weeks. I got like one more sparring session this week and then it's press conference time this Thursday and fight week next week, so I'm going to be ready to go." Greg Leon: You'll be fighting Tre'Sean Wiggins. What do you know about this dude? Mykquan Williams: "Nothing really, just his record to be honest with you."
GL: How do you feel about your progress thus far? Do you feel like you're right where you need to be?
MW: "Yes. I can't lie, I would have loved to get one more fight in this year, but overall I think everything is moving very well."
GL: Was there a hiccup between May and now that's the reason for this layoff?
MW: "There was, but I'm not 100% sure what it was. I know my last fight was a ten rounder, and I know that when you get to the ten round level you don't fight as often, but I'm still young (21) and I want to fight as often as possible. I feel like I don't want to have five months in between fights, but overall everything is moving well."
GL: You're 21 years old and already in ten rounders is national TV time around the corner.
MW: "Definitely. I expect the next year to be a very big year for me. I expect to get alot more exposure, I expect the opposition to go up and it will go up and I definitely expect to be on Shobox and take it from there."
GL: Other than victory do you have any predictions for October 24th?
MW: "Not really. I'm looking to dominate, if the knockout comes it comes. I'm not going out there looking for it, I'm going out to win one round at a time."
GL: Does having Jackie (Kallen) and Lou DiBella on your team make it easier for you to just be the boxer and work on your craft?
MW: "Absolutely. It makes it a lot easier because I don't have to worry about too much. Fighters should have the least amount of worries when it comes to preparing for fights, because distractions can f**k you up so it makes it a lot easier."
GL: You've already been the full ten rounds, does that give you more confidence going into this fight with Wiggins, whom I consider a step up from Rickey Edwards?
MW: "It doesn't make anything easier for me, but I'm going to be prepared for anything he brings to the table. I know what to expect from him, and I got more time to work with in a ten rounder to get him out of there, so it's going to be a big night for me and then a big year for me in 2020."
GL: What part of your game do you feel needs the most sharpening going into this important year for you?
MW: "Everything, I'm always looking to improve all areas. I feel like I'm an all around good fighter, but I could improve on everything moving forward."
GL: Closing thoughts.
MW: "I appreciate the support, thank you for reaching out and talking to me. October 24th is going to be a great night. If you make it out, tune in on UFC fight pass. If you can come, come out and support, not only me but all of the talent on the card. It's going to be a really good show."
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Top Rank books MSG for big Dec. 14th show |
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Terence “Bud” Crawford will defend his WBO welterweight title against undefeated mandatory challenger Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas Saturday, December 14th at Madison Square Garden as part of a special ESPN-televised tripleheader that will immediately follow the 2019 Heisman Trophy Presentation (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). The triple-header will also feature IBF lightweight world champion Richard “RC” Commey defending his title against human highlight film and Brooklyn native Teofimo Lopez. Additionally, in a ten-round featherweight contest, Ireland's Michael “Mick” Conlan will battle unbeaten Russian Vladimir Nikitin in a rematch of their controversial 2016 Olympic quarterfinal bout.
ESPN Deportes will provide the Spanish-language telecast. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment and MTK Global, tickets go on sale Friday, October 18 at 12 p.m. ET and can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.MSG.com.
The undercard, with fights to be announced in the coming weeks, will stream exclusively on ESPN+, the leading multi-sport streaming service, starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
“This is the best fight card of the year, and Madison Square Garden is a fitting venue for what will be a special night,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Terence Crawford is a generational talent, but he’ll have his hands full against the ‘Mean Machine.’ Teofimo Lopez is taking a giant step up against Commey, and it will be a tremendous fight. Mick Conlan has been asking for Nikitin since the day he signed with Top Rank. He finally gets his wish, and I know he wants to correct the tremendous injustice of the Rio Olympics.”
“Egidijus Kavaliauskas is a two-time Olympian and I can’t take him lightly,” Crawford said. “He’s got everything to gain and nothing to lose and that makes him dangerous. I never overlook any opponent, and this will be no exception. I’ll be ready for anything and everything he brings on December 14 when I return to my second home, Madison Square Garden, and live on ESPN.”
“I have prepared my whole boxing career for a fight of this magnitude,” Kavaliauskas said. “Terence Crawford is an excellent fighter, but I fear no man. Nobody has seen the best of the ‘Mean Machine’ yet. I am going to shock a lot of people on December 14th, but it won’t be a surprise to me. I earned this title shot. It is my time.”
Crawford (35-0, 26 KOs), the pride of Omaha, Nebraska, has been impeccable since turning professional, winning world titles in three weight classes and unifying all four major world titles at 140 pounds. He is 13-0 with 10 knockouts in world title bouts and has knocked out his last six opponents, including Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz, bitter rival Jose Benavidez Jr. and Manny Pacquiao conqueror Jeff “The Hornet” Horn. In his last bout, April 20 at Madison Square Garden, Crawford neutralized former unified super lightweight world champion Amir “King” Khan en route to a sixth-round TKO after Khan could not continue following a low blow. Kavaliauskas (21-0-1, 17 KOs) will be the fourth undefeated fighter Crawford has faced in his last five bouts.
A native of Kaunas, Lithuania, Kavaliauskas represented his homeland at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, rising the professional ranks with convincing victories over perennial contenders Juan Carlos Abreu and Roberto Arriaza. Kavaliauskas has a February 2018 TKO win over David Avanesyan, who is now the current European welterweight champion. He has never been knocked down as a pro or amateur and trains out of the famed Boxing Laboratory in Oxnard, California.
Commey (29-2, 24 KOs) has had a career year, winning the vacant IBF lightweight title February 2 in Frisco, Texas with a devastating second-round TKO over Isa Chaniev. He defended the belt June 29, knocking down former lightweight world champion Ray Beltran down four times before stopping him in the eighth round. A native of, Accra, Ghana, he has won four in a row by knockout.
Lopez (14-0, 11 KOs), at 22 years old, is one of boxing’s budding superstars a big-punching, big-talking fighter who has become the sport’s latest viral sensation. His post-fight Fortnite celebrations and backflips are the exclamation point to his highlight-reel knockouts. He fought last year on the post-Heisman Trophy celebration telecast, knocking out Mason Menard in 44 seconds and then putting on the jersey of Heisman winner Kyler Murray. Lopez is 3-0 in 2019, most recently prevailing via 12-round decision July 19 over Japanese veteran Masayoshi Nakatani in a title eliminator.
"I'm very excited to fight at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden, in my second world title defense against Teofimo Lopez,” Commey said. “My lifelong dream of becoming a world champion became a reality through many years of hard work in my homeland of Ghana through the UK, Europe and finally in the United States. I want to thank everyone on my team for making this possible. On December 14th, I will put on another spectacular performance in defending my world title for my fans in the arena and those watching on ESPN and around the world."
“Richard has fought all over the world for many years to achieve his lifelong dream of not only becoming a true world champion, but also becoming a boxing star, and on December 14 against Teofimo Lopez, I believe that he will successfully defend his title for the second time in spectacular fashion,” said Lou DiBella, Commey’s promoter.
“I’m finally back at Madison Square Garden, the place where I always wanted to win my first world title,” Lopez said. “I believe this fight will shut up all of the critics and prove to everyone that I back up my talking in the ring. I respect Commey as a champion, but when we’re in that ring, it’s going to be lights out for him. Come December 14th, I am officially taking over the lightweight division.”
Conlan (12-0, 7 KOs), who is ranked in the top 10 as a featherweight by three of the major sanctioning organizations, is looking to avenge the final, and most controversial loss, of his amateur career. With a semifinal berth — and a guaranteed Olympic medal — on the line, Nikitin was the beneficiary of a decision most experts believe Conlan deserved. The indelible image of the Rio Olympics was Conlan’s double middle-finger salute to the judges. Conlan’s disappointment motivated him for what has been a flawless professional campaign. A proven ticket-seller at Madison Square Garden thanks to his annual St. Patrick’s Day appearances, Conlan is coming off a rousing TKO win over Diego Alberto Ruiz on August 3 in front of 10,000 hometown fans at Belfast’s Falls Park.
Nikitin (3-0, 0 KOs) did not turn pro immediately following the 2016 Olympics, electing to fight as an amateur throughout 2017. He signed a professional contract in 2018 with Top Rank, in large part because he wanted to face Conlan as a pro. Nikitin’s come-forward style has translated to the pro ranks, as he’s won a trio of decisions. He has fought on the same card as Conlan twice as a professional. The message was clear: Conlan and Nikitin were destined to meet again. They were supposed to fight August 3rd at Falls Park, but Nikitin suffered a torn biceps in training.
"I'm beyond excited to fight for the sixth time in my favorite venue in the world, the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden,” Conlan said. “The boxing fans in New York City have been incredibly supportive of my career, and I look forward to putting on another great show for them, as well as my Irish fans coming over for this massive holiday event.
"Vladimir Nikitin and I have unfinished business from the 2016 Olympics, and I can't wait until December 14th to set the record straight."
“Michael Conlan has done a lot of talking about me and our Olympic fight over the last few years. The talking finally ends December 14th,” Nikitin said. “He’s bitter over our last fight and can’t accept the result. Well, my hand will be raised once again.”
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Top Rank books MSG for big Dec. 14th show
Terence “Bud” Crawford will defend his WBO welterweight title against undefeated mandatory challenger Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas Saturday, December 14th at Madison Square Garden as part of a special ESPN-televised tripleheader that will immediately follow the 2019 Heisman Trophy Presentation (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). The triple-header will also feature IBF lightweight world champion Richard “RC” Commey defending his title against human highlight film and Brooklyn native Teofimo Lopez. Additionally, in a ten-round featherweight contest, Ireland's Michael “Mick” Conlan will battle unbeaten Russian Vladimir Nikitin in a rematch of their controversial 2016 Olympic quarterfinal bout.
ESPN Deportes will provide the Spanish-language telecast. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella Entertainment and MTK Global, tickets go on sale Friday, October 18 at 12 p.m. ET and can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.MSG.com.
The undercard, with fights to be announced in the coming weeks, will stream exclusively on ESPN+, the leading multi-sport streaming service, starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
“This is the best fight card of the year, and Madison Square Garden is a fitting venue for what will be a special night,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Terence Crawford is a generational talent, but he’ll have his hands full against the ‘Mean Machine.’ Teofimo Lopez is taking a giant step up against Commey, and it will be a tremendous fight. Mick Conlan has been asking for Nikitin since the day he signed with Top Rank. He finally gets his wish, and I know he wants to correct the tremendous injustice of the Rio Olympics.”
“Egidijus Kavaliauskas is a two-time Olympian and I can’t take him lightly,” Crawford said. “He’s got everything to gain and nothing to lose and that makes him dangerous. I never overlook any opponent, and this will be no exception. I’ll be ready for anything and everything he brings on December 14 when I return to my second home, Madison Square Garden, and live on ESPN.”
“I have prepared my whole boxing career for a fight of this magnitude,” Kavaliauskas said. “Terence Crawford is an excellent fighter, but I fear no man. Nobody has seen the best of the ‘Mean Machine’ yet. I am going to shock a lot of people on December 14th, but it won’t be a surprise to me. I earned this title shot. It is my time.”
Crawford (35-0, 26 KOs), the pride of Omaha, Nebraska, has been impeccable since turning professional, winning world titles in three weight classes and unifying all four major world titles at 140 pounds. He is 13-0 with 10 knockouts in world title bouts and has knocked out his last six opponents, including Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz, bitter rival Jose Benavidez Jr. and Manny Pacquiao conqueror Jeff “The Hornet” Horn. In his last bout, April 20 at Madison Square Garden, Crawford neutralized former unified super lightweight world champion Amir “King” Khan en route to a sixth-round TKO after Khan could not continue following a low blow. Kavaliauskas (21-0-1, 17 KOs) will be the fourth undefeated fighter Crawford has faced in his last five bouts.
A native of Kaunas, Lithuania, Kavaliauskas represented his homeland at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, rising the professional ranks with convincing victories over perennial contenders Juan Carlos Abreu and Roberto Arriaza. Kavaliauskas has a February 2018 TKO win over David Avanesyan, who is now the current European welterweight champion. He has never been knocked down as a pro or amateur and trains out of the famed Boxing Laboratory in Oxnard, California.
Commey (29-2, 24 KOs) has had a career year, winning the vacant IBF lightweight title February 2 in Frisco, Texas with a devastating second-round TKO over Isa Chaniev. He defended the belt June 29, knocking down former lightweight world champion Ray Beltran down four times before stopping him in the eighth round. A native of, Accra, Ghana, he has won four in a row by knockout.
Lopez (14-0, 11 KOs), at 22 years old, is one of boxing’s budding superstars a big-punching, big-talking fighter who has become the sport’s latest viral sensation. His post-fight Fortnite celebrations and backflips are the exclamation point to his highlight-reel knockouts. He fought last year on the post-Heisman Trophy celebration telecast, knocking out Mason Menard in 44 seconds and then putting on the jersey of Heisman winner Kyler Murray. Lopez is 3-0 in 2019, most recently prevailing via 12-round decision July 19 over Japanese veteran Masayoshi Nakatani in a title eliminator.
"I'm very excited to fight at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden, in my second world title defense against Teofimo Lopez,” Commey said. “My lifelong dream of becoming a world champion became a reality through many years of hard work in my homeland of Ghana through the UK, Europe and finally in the United States. I want to thank everyone on my team for making this possible. On December 14th, I will put on another spectacular performance in defending my world title for my fans in the arena and those watching on ESPN and around the world."
“Richard has fought all over the world for many years to achieve his lifelong dream of not only becoming a true world champion, but also becoming a boxing star, and on December 14 against Teofimo Lopez, I believe that he will successfully defend his title for the second time in spectacular fashion,” said Lou DiBella, Commey’s promoter.
“I’m finally back at Madison Square Garden, the place where I always wanted to win my first world title,” Lopez said. “I believe this fight will shut up all of the critics and prove to everyone that I back up my talking in the ring. I respect Commey as a champion, but when we’re in that ring, it’s going to be lights out for him. Come December 14th, I am officially taking over the lightweight division.”
Conlan (12-0, 7 KOs), who is ranked in the top 10 as a featherweight by three of the major sanctioning organizations, is looking to avenge the final, and most controversial loss, of his amateur career. With a semifinal berth — and a guaranteed Olympic medal — on the line, Nikitin was the beneficiary of a decision most experts believe Conlan deserved. The indelible image of the Rio Olympics was Conlan’s double middle-finger salute to the judges. Conlan’s disappointment motivated him for what has been a flawless professional campaign. A proven ticket-seller at Madison Square Garden thanks to his annual St. Patrick’s Day appearances, Conlan is coming off a rousing TKO win over Diego Alberto Ruiz on August 3 in front of 10,000 hometown fans at Belfast’s Falls Park.
Nikitin (3-0, 0 KOs) did not turn pro immediately following the 2016 Olympics, electing to fight as an amateur throughout 2017. He signed a professional contract in 2018 with Top Rank, in large part because he wanted to face Conlan as a pro. Nikitin’s come-forward style has translated to the pro ranks, as he’s won a trio of decisions. He has fought on the same card as Conlan twice as a professional. The message was clear: Conlan and Nikitin were destined to meet again. They were supposed to fight August 3rd at Falls Park, but Nikitin suffered a torn biceps in training.
"I'm beyond excited to fight for the sixth time in my favorite venue in the world, the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden,” Conlan said. “The boxing fans in New York City have been incredibly supportive of my career, and I look forward to putting on another great show for them, as well as my Irish fans coming over for this massive holiday event.
"Vladimir Nikitin and I have unfinished business from the 2016 Olympics, and I can't wait until December 14th to set the record straight."
“Michael Conlan has done a lot of talking about me and our Olympic fight over the last few years. The talking finally ends December 14th,” Nikitin said. “He’s bitter over our last fight and can’t accept the result. Well, my hand will be raised once again.”
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Showtime's Sonny Liston documentary just one month away |
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Showtime announced a documentary entitled "Pariah: The Lives and Deaths of Sonny Liston" will premiere on Friday, November 15th at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Written and directed by Simon George and told through original conversations with luminaries, historians and some of Liston’s closest friends and family, Pariah chronicles the rise and precipitous fall of one of the most vilified and misunderstood sports champions of all time. Overcoming the seemingly insurmountable odds that life threw his way, Liston became the heavyweight champion of the world when he knocked out Floyd Patterson in 1962. Just eight years later, his wife would find Liston dead in their Las Vegas home from a supposed heroin overdose. Suspicion as to the cause of death pervaded among those that knew him. Pariah explores the many theories behind his untimely demise. The film features exclusive conversations with Mike Tyson, boxing historians Nigel Collins, Jerry Izenberg, Bob Lipsyte, Don Majeski and Shaun Assael, upon whose investigative work Pariah is based.
“Sonny Liston’s story is filled with tragedy and triumph, and goes far beyond boxing,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports and Event Programming for Showtime Networks Inc. “Pariah provides a raw examination of the public’s perception of Liston versus his reality. The film is powerful and compelling, and will reveal an authentic, inside perspective about Liston’s life that has never been told before.”
Liston’s boxing career took him to places he’d never imagined. From fighting for the most prestigious honor in sports to his association with notorious mobsters in America’s violent underbelly, Liston was a man who led many lives. Instead of being celebrated with the reverence reserved for the heavyweight champion of the world, Liston became a pariah, denigrated by white society as a violent criminal and rejected by the civil rights movement because he wasn’t the poster boy they needed. This realization caused Liston to spiral out of control. Expedited by back-to-back losses to Muhammad Ali, including perhaps the most controversial knockout of all time, Liston’s dramatic fall from grace would end tragically.
“To me, Sonny Liston was one of the greatest, yet most misunderstood and vilified sports figures of all time,” said director Simon George. “He was born into a time of great turmoil and upheaval in America, and became the scapegoat for a nation in flux. He was a man who aimed for the stars but instead got torn apart by the factions warring for their places in post-war America. His story is one of race, prejudice and injustice. It is a film about how America chooses its heroes and how it never lets anyone forget their past.”
Pariah: The Lives and Deaths of Sonny Liston is executive produced by Louise Norman, Adam Hawkins and Dimitri Doganis. It was developed from Shaun Assael’s investigative book The Murder of Sonny Liston: Las Vegas, Heroin, and Heavyweights.
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Showtime's Sonny Liston documentary just one month away
Showtime announced a documentary entitled "Pariah: The Lives and Deaths of Sonny Liston" will premiere on Friday, November 15th at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Written and directed by Simon George and told through original conversations with luminaries, historians and some of Liston’s closest friends and family, Pariah chronicles the rise and precipitous fall of one of the most vilified and misunderstood sports champions of all time. Overcoming the seemingly insurmountable odds that life threw his way, Liston became the heavyweight champion of the world when he knocked out Floyd Patterson in 1962. Just eight years later, his wife would find Liston dead in their Las Vegas home from a supposed heroin overdose. Suspicion as to the cause of death pervaded among those that knew him. Pariah explores the many theories behind his untimely demise. The film features exclusive conversations with Mike Tyson, boxing historians Nigel Collins, Jerry Izenberg, Bob Lipsyte, Don Majeski and Shaun Assael, upon whose investigative work Pariah is based.
“Sonny Liston’s story is filled with tragedy and triumph, and goes far beyond boxing,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports and Event Programming for Showtime Networks Inc. “Pariah provides a raw examination of the public’s perception of Liston versus his reality. The film is powerful and compelling, and will reveal an authentic, inside perspective about Liston’s life that has never been told before.”
Liston’s boxing career took him to places he’d never imagined. From fighting for the most prestigious honor in sports to his association with notorious mobsters in America’s violent underbelly, Liston was a man who led many lives. Instead of being celebrated with the reverence reserved for the heavyweight champion of the world, Liston became a pariah, denigrated by white society as a violent criminal and rejected by the civil rights movement because he wasn’t the poster boy they needed. This realization caused Liston to spiral out of control. Expedited by back-to-back losses to Muhammad Ali, including perhaps the most controversial knockout of all time, Liston’s dramatic fall from grace would end tragically.
“To me, Sonny Liston was one of the greatest, yet most misunderstood and vilified sports figures of all time,” said director Simon George. “He was born into a time of great turmoil and upheaval in America, and became the scapegoat for a nation in flux. He was a man who aimed for the stars but instead got torn apart by the factions warring for their places in post-war America. His story is one of race, prejudice and injustice. It is a film about how America chooses its heroes and how it never lets anyone forget their past.”
Pariah: The Lives and Deaths of Sonny Liston is executive produced by Louise Norman, Adam Hawkins and Dimitri Doganis. It was developed from Shaun Assael’s investigative book The Murder of Sonny Liston: Las Vegas, Heroin, and Heavyweights.
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Best mates Murray and Fielding to share a bill in November |
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Four-time world title challenger Martin Murray (38-5-1) of Great Britain is campaigning for a fifth title shot. The St. Helens hero takes on Sladan Janjanin (27-4) on a packed #MTKFightNight at Liverpool’s Olympia on Novmber 15th – live on ESPN+ in the US and on iFL TV worldwide. With his close friend and former trainer Oliver Harrison recently having passed away, Murray has been reminiscing about the cherished time they spent together while he continues to train harder than ever alongside Rocky Fielding under Jamie Moore. Fielding has a separate bout on the same card.
Murray said: “I’m back loving boxing. Maybe it’s because of Oliver Harrison… I’ve been watching a lot of old DVDs of the two of us working together and it’s got me fired up. “Nine years I’ve been training with Rocky and we’ve been absolutely everywhere together. We’ve been to places like Monaco, South Africa, Germany and Argentina together. I was there when he won his [WBA regular] title. It’s always good to be training alongside a world-class fighter like Rocky and as well as that, he’s a top mate. Rocky and I haven’t started sparring yet but we’ll use each other if it’s appropriate. There are no easy spars with him – he doesn’t know how to take it easy! It always ends up in a big humdinger… I’ve been mixing up my training and doing some Thai boxing. It’s a good new challenge and very interesting. I’m doing it purely for enjoyment at the moment but who knows; maybe I’ll end up having a Thai boxing fight one day.”
On the same card, Fielding (27-2, 15 KOs) returns against the big punching Abdallah Paziwapazi (26-6-1, 23 KOs) of Tanzania. The Tanzanian dangerman was last seen blasting his way to a third-round stoppage of Zulipikaer Maimaitiali in China.
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Best mates Murray and Fielding to share a bill in November
Four-time world title challenger Martin Murray (38-5-1) of Great Britain is campaigning for a fifth title shot. The St. Helens hero takes on Sladan Janjanin (27-4) on a packed #MTKFightNight at Liverpool’s Olympia on Novmber 15th – live on ESPN+ in the US and on iFL TV worldwide. With his close friend and former trainer Oliver Harrison recently having passed away, Murray has been reminiscing about the cherished time they spent together while he continues to train harder than ever alongside Rocky Fielding under Jamie Moore. Fielding has a separate bout on the same card.
Murray said: “I’m back loving boxing. Maybe it’s because of Oliver Harrison… I’ve been watching a lot of old DVDs of the two of us working together and it’s got me fired up. “Nine years I’ve been training with Rocky and we’ve been absolutely everywhere together. We’ve been to places like Monaco, South Africa, Germany and Argentina together. I was there when he won his [WBA regular] title. It’s always good to be training alongside a world-class fighter like Rocky and as well as that, he’s a top mate. Rocky and I haven’t started sparring yet but we’ll use each other if it’s appropriate. There are no easy spars with him – he doesn’t know how to take it easy! It always ends up in a big humdinger… I’ve been mixing up my training and doing some Thai boxing. It’s a good new challenge and very interesting. I’m doing it purely for enjoyment at the moment but who knows; maybe I’ll end up having a Thai boxing fight one day.”
On the same card, Fielding (27-2, 15 KOs) returns against the big punching Abdallah Paziwapazi (26-6-1, 23 KOs) of Tanzania. The Tanzanian dangerman was last seen blasting his way to a third-round stoppage of Zulipikaer Maimaitiali in China.
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Mexican-born Angel Ruiz gaining traction in Los Angeles |
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Welterweight Angel Ruiz (16-0, 12 KOs), coming off a first-round knockout win in June, steps back into the main event this Friday, Oct. 18th, on a Thompson Boxing shpw at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif. Ruiz, 22, faces fellow southpaw Javier Flores (14-2, 12 KOs) in the eight-round showcase fight. The Mexican-born Ruiz, who now lives in Los Angeles and trains out of the Maywood Boxing Gym, has recently began to gain exposure in the American market after breaking out from the Tijuana (Mexico) boxing scene. Five out of his last six fights have taken place from the greater Los Angeles area. He rides a five-fight knockout win streak into his scrap with Flores, who is perhaps the toughest test of his young career.
"It's a big fight for me," remarked Ruiz. "I know a lot of people are interested in seeing what I can do against a tough opponent and I'm ready to show everyone that I have what it takes to get to the top."
Ruiz shinned in his last fight by dispatching veteran Miguel Zamudio (44-14-1) in the first round. In that fight, he tagged Zamudio with a left hand from his southpaw stance. He quickly followed up with a bevy of punches that overwhelmed Zamudio. "I did what I came here to do," said Ruiz after the fight. "I'm just happy I was able to finish this early and give the fans something to talk about."
Ruiz came out fast as lightening, as his nickname, "Relampago," suggests. "He looked really sharp and in command right from the start," said Doug Fischer, TB Presents livestream color commentator. "I wanted to see more of him, but that's what happens when you end a fight early."
Tickets are available for purchase at ThompsonBoxing.com, or by calling 714-935-0900. All fights will be streamed live on TB Presents: Path to Glory via our Facebook page, YouTube channel and ThompsonBoxing.com. Beto Duran will handle blow-by-blow duties, while Doug Fischer provides expert, color commentary. The livestream starts at 8:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. ET.
MORE BOUTS
In the co-feature, lightweight George Acosta (7-1, 1 KO) of Whittier, Calif. faces Roberto Almazan (9-12, 4 KOs) of Brownsville, Tex. in a six-round fight...
Junior welterweight Alec Zavala (3-0, 2 KOs) of Fontana, Calif. meets Marquese Steward (1-1) Pflugerville, Tex. (six rounds)...
Junior lightweight Chris Crowley (1-0-1) of Santa Ana, Calif. fights Luis Alvarado (1-0) of Pasco, Wash. (four rounds)...
Canadian lightweight Golden Garcia (11-0-1, 6 KOs) meets Mexico's Hector Garcia (14-7-2, 8 KOs) in a fight scheduled for six...
Super bantamweight Ivan Zarate of San Pedro, Calif. makes his professional debut against an opponent to be named later (four rounds).
The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 N. Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA 91764 and can be reached at 909-937-0900.
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Mexican-born Angel Ruiz gaining traction in Los Angeles
Welterweight Angel Ruiz (16-0, 12 KOs), coming off a first-round knockout win in June, steps back into the main event this Friday, Oct. 18th, on a Thompson Boxing shpw at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif. Ruiz, 22, faces fellow southpaw Javier Flores (14-2, 12 KOs) in the eight-round showcase fight. The Mexican-born Ruiz, who now lives in Los Angeles and trains out of the Maywood Boxing Gym, has recently began to gain exposure in the American market after breaking out from the Tijuana (Mexico) boxing scene. Five out of his last six fights have taken place from the greater Los Angeles area. He rides a five-fight knockout win streak into his scrap with Flores, who is perhaps the toughest test of his young career.
"It's a big fight for me," remarked Ruiz. "I know a lot of people are interested in seeing what I can do against a tough opponent and I'm ready to show everyone that I have what it takes to get to the top."
Ruiz shinned in his last fight by dispatching veteran Miguel Zamudio (44-14-1) in the first round. In that fight, he tagged Zamudio with a left hand from his southpaw stance. He quickly followed up with a bevy of punches that overwhelmed Zamudio. "I did what I came here to do," said Ruiz after the fight. "I'm just happy I was able to finish this early and give the fans something to talk about."
Ruiz came out fast as lightening, as his nickname, "Relampago," suggests. "He looked really sharp and in command right from the start," said Doug Fischer, TB Presents livestream color commentator. "I wanted to see more of him, but that's what happens when you end a fight early."
Tickets are available for purchase at ThompsonBoxing.com, or by calling 714-935-0900. All fights will be streamed live on TB Presents: Path to Glory via our Facebook page, YouTube channel and ThompsonBoxing.com. Beto Duran will handle blow-by-blow duties, while Doug Fischer provides expert, color commentary. The livestream starts at 8:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. ET.
MORE BOUTS
In the co-feature, lightweight George Acosta (7-1, 1 KO) of Whittier, Calif. faces Roberto Almazan (9-12, 4 KOs) of Brownsville, Tex. in a six-round fight...
Junior welterweight Alec Zavala (3-0, 2 KOs) of Fontana, Calif. meets Marquese Steward (1-1) Pflugerville, Tex. (six rounds)...
Junior lightweight Chris Crowley (1-0-1) of Santa Ana, Calif. fights Luis Alvarado (1-0) of Pasco, Wash. (four rounds)...
Canadian lightweight Golden Garcia (11-0-1, 6 KOs) meets Mexico's Hector Garcia (14-7-2, 8 KOs) in a fight scheduled for six...
Super bantamweight Ivan Zarate of San Pedro, Calif. makes his professional debut against an opponent to be named later (four rounds).
The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 N. Vineyard Ave, Ontario, CA 91764 and can be reached at 909-937-0900.
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Introducing Maryland lightweight Brandon Chambers |
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Jeter Promotions has announced the signing of lightweight Brandon Chambers to a promotional deal. Chambers was born in Kentucky, but now resides in Baltimore, Maryland, and has a record of 1-0-1 with one knockout. Chambers turned pro on March 8th with a draw with Christopher Haney. On Friday night at Maryland Live Casino, Chambers will rematch the man who he had a draw with in pro debut, Christopher Haney. "This is a rematch. I thought that I won the 1st bout, so on Friday night alot of questions that remained from that fight will be answered.
Chambers attended Baltimore International College, which is now known as Strafford University. The 34 year-old Chambers is an eight-year veteran of the Baltimore Police,and he has become a popular ticket seller on the Maryland circuit.
Chambers began boxing at the age of 18, and he competed in 10 amateur bouts. "I always wanted to be a boxer after watching Mike Tyson fight, but my mom was very against it. She felt the same way when I became a Police Officer," said Chambers.
"I am pressure fighter, who likes to mix it up on the inside," Chambers said when describing his style.
"It makes me feel good that Jeter Promotions sees potential in me both as a fighter and as a role model in the community. Tony Jeter is a good person as well. It is extremely difficult to balance both being a police officer and being a boxer, but this is my dream and its my passion."
Chambers has two children: girls ages 11 and four. In his off-time, Chambers enjoys cooking and crab macaroni is his best dish.
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Introducing Maryland lightweight Brandon Chambers
Jeter Promotions has announced the signing of lightweight Brandon Chambers to a promotional deal. Chambers was born in Kentucky, but now resides in Baltimore, Maryland, and has a record of 1-0-1 with one knockout. Chambers turned pro on March 8th with a draw with Christopher Haney. On Friday night at Maryland Live Casino, Chambers will rematch the man who he had a draw with in pro debut, Christopher Haney. "This is a rematch. I thought that I won the 1st bout, so on Friday night alot of questions that remained from that fight will be answered.
Chambers attended Baltimore International College, which is now known as Strafford University. The 34 year-old Chambers is an eight-year veteran of the Baltimore Police,and he has become a popular ticket seller on the Maryland circuit.
Chambers began boxing at the age of 18, and he competed in 10 amateur bouts. "I always wanted to be a boxer after watching Mike Tyson fight, but my mom was very against it. She felt the same way when I became a Police Officer," said Chambers.
"I am pressure fighter, who likes to mix it up on the inside," Chambers said when describing his style.
"It makes me feel good that Jeter Promotions sees potential in me both as a fighter and as a role model in the community. Tony Jeter is a good person as well. It is extremely difficult to balance both being a police officer and being a boxer, but this is my dream and its my passion."
Chambers has two children: girls ages 11 and four. In his off-time, Chambers enjoys cooking and crab macaroni is his best dish.
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Colbert to return in December with an interim title fight |
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Greg Leon: Congrats on your recent destruction of Miguel Beltran Jr. Can you give us some thoughts on your performance? Chris Colbert: "My performance was my performance, I was doing what I do and I did what I had to do. I told you every time I get in there I'm going to be making a statement. I told y'all that I'm not no regular prospect, I deserve to be a champion." GL: You've already gone 4 times this year, will there be a fifth? Chris Colbert: "My next fight will take place before the end of the year and it will be for the WBA interim title."
GL: What would becoming interim champion mean to you?
CC: "You've got to pay your dues and this is just the next step to getting the world championship and I'm going to get mine."
GL: This is going to be your first twelve rounder, right?
CC: "If it goes twelve."
GL: Both of your ten rounders have gone two or less, would you like to go the ten round distance before taking part in a twelve rounder?
CC: "I haven't gone ten rounds, but I've gone eight a bunch of times and going twelve wouldn't be a problem for me at all. I do it all the time at the gym, so it's nothing. I don't mind not having gone the rounds because I'm going to get mine regardless. I'm going to do what I've got to do every time I get in there. It doesn't make what amount of rounds I'm scheduled for I'm dominating, I'm taking care of business and I'm getting mine and doing what I do best."
(Colbert's call dropped and we were unable to conclude the interview, there should be more to follow)
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Colbert to return in December with an interim title fight
Greg Leon: Congrats on your recent destruction of Miguel Beltran Jr. Can you give us some thoughts on your performance? Chris Colbert: "My performance was my performance, I was doing what I do and I did what I had to do. I told you every time I get in there I'm going to be making a statement. I told y'all that I'm not no regular prospect, I deserve to be a champion." GL: You've already gone 4 times this year, will there be a fifth? Chris Colbert: "My next fight will take place before the end of the year and it will be for the WBA interim title."
GL: What would becoming interim champion mean to you?
CC: "You've got to pay your dues and this is just the next step to getting the world championship and I'm going to get mine."
GL: This is going to be your first twelve rounder, right?
CC: "If it goes twelve."
GL: Both of your ten rounders have gone two or less, would you like to go the ten round distance before taking part in a twelve rounder?
CC: "I haven't gone ten rounds, but I've gone eight a bunch of times and going twelve wouldn't be a problem for me at all. I do it all the time at the gym, so it's nothing. I don't mind not having gone the rounds because I'm going to get mine regardless. I'm going to do what I've got to do every time I get in there. It doesn't make what amount of rounds I'm scheduled for I'm dominating, I'm taking care of business and I'm getting mine and doing what I do best."
(Colbert's call dropped and we were unable to conclude the interview, there should be more to follow)
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Boxingtalk Prospect Watch: Jude Franklin in action Next Friday |
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Greg Leon: How has everything gone in preparation for your October 24th return vs. Luis Fernando Molina (8-5-1)? What can we expect to see from you on fight night? Jude Franklin: "Everything has been going great, I just can't wait to get back in the ring in front of my hometown fans and put on a show. I didn't have the result I wanted in my last fight, I feel I did enough to win, but I kept it too close and I'm not going to allow that to happen again." Greg Leon: What do you know about your opponent? Jude Franklin: "Not too much, I know he comes to fight and he's never been knocked out so he knows how to survive."
GL: Are you looking to become the first guy to stop him?
JF: "That would be nice, but I'm not getting into the ring looking for the knockout. I'm going in there to win one round at a time and if the knockout comes it comes."
GL: Will this be your last six rounder?
JF: "100%. I think this was going to be an eight but they had to cut it back because there's too many fights on the show or something."
GL: What are your goals for 2020?
JF: "To take care whoever they put in front of me, keep learning, keep improving, and yeah, getting some national TV time at some point next year would be nice also."
GL: As long as you keep winning I'm sure that's coming.
JF: "Me too."
GL: Is there anybody you feel would be the perfect fight to springboard your career to the next level?
JF: "I leave that to my manager and trainer Elmo Serrano and promoter Lou DiBella. My job is to take care of business when the bell rings and that's all I'm focusing on right now."
GL: CLosing thoughts for the fans.
JF: "Come out to Generoso Pope Complex [in Brooklyn, NY] on October 24th. It's going to be a great night of New York boxing and I'm coming to put on a show for all my fans."
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Boxingtalk Prospect Watch: Jude Franklin in action Next Friday
Greg Leon: How has everything gone in preparation for your October 24th return vs. Luis Fernando Molina (8-5-1)? What can we expect to see from you on fight night? Jude Franklin: "Everything has been going great, I just can't wait to get back in the ring in front of my hometown fans and put on a show. I didn't have the result I wanted in my last fight, I feel I did enough to win, but I kept it too close and I'm not going to allow that to happen again." Greg Leon: What do you know about your opponent? Jude Franklin: "Not too much, I know he comes to fight and he's never been knocked out so he knows how to survive."
GL: Are you looking to become the first guy to stop him?
JF: "That would be nice, but I'm not getting into the ring looking for the knockout. I'm going in there to win one round at a time and if the knockout comes it comes."
GL: Will this be your last six rounder?
JF: "100%. I think this was going to be an eight but they had to cut it back because there's too many fights on the show or something."
GL: What are your goals for 2020?
JF: "To take care whoever they put in front of me, keep learning, keep improving, and yeah, getting some national TV time at some point next year would be nice also."
GL: As long as you keep winning I'm sure that's coming.
JF: "Me too."
GL: Is there anybody you feel would be the perfect fight to springboard your career to the next level?
JF: "I leave that to my manager and trainer Elmo Serrano and promoter Lou DiBella. My job is to take care of business when the bell rings and that's all I'm focusing on right now."
GL: CLosing thoughts for the fans.
JF: "Come out to Generoso Pope Complex [in Brooklyn, NY] on October 24th. It's going to be a great night of New York boxing and I'm coming to put on a show for all my fans."
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King's Promotions increases its roster |
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King's Promotions has announced the signing of featherweight Carlos Vidal (15-0) as well as the re-signing of heavyweight Michel Polite Coffie (6-0). Vidal was a two-time Puerto Rican National Champion with an amateur record of 104 wins against just 10 losses. "We at King's Promotions have high expectations for both of these undefeated fighters. We are extremely proud of these signings , and cannot wait for them to get back in the ring," said King's Promotions CEO, Marshall Kauffman.
Vidal of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and now resides in North Las Vegas, Nevada has a record of 15-0 with 14 knockouts. Since turning professional in 2016, Vidal has a win over Antonio Castro (5-1). In his last bout, Vidal stopped Jesus Ricardo Armenta (19-33-2) on May 25th in Mexico. Vidal has stopped his last four opponents.
Coffie won the 2017 New York Daily News Open Champion where he defeated the number-one ranked fighter in the United States, Nkosi Solomon. He was the number-one ranked amateur super heavyweight
Coffie turned professional on November 21, 2017 with a 1st round stoppage over Ralph Alexander. Coffie of Brooklyn, New York, has a record of 6-0 with five knockouts. He is coming off a second-round stoppage over Eduardo Vitela (3-4) on March 29th in Philadelphia.
Before boxing, Michael and his nine siblings were removed from care from their drug addicted mother, and awarded to the state of New York. At age two, he was put into foster care and bounced from family to family in each section of Brooklyn. One he reached his teenage years, Michael was placed in a stable family in Malverne, New York. Michael then relocated to Brooklyn and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Michael served for eight years, which included tours in Afghanistan.
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King's Promotions increases its roster
King's Promotions has announced the signing of featherweight Carlos Vidal (15-0) as well as the re-signing of heavyweight Michel Polite Coffie (6-0). Vidal was a two-time Puerto Rican National Champion with an amateur record of 104 wins against just 10 losses. "We at King's Promotions have high expectations for both of these undefeated fighters. We are extremely proud of these signings , and cannot wait for them to get back in the ring," said King's Promotions CEO, Marshall Kauffman.
Vidal of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and now resides in North Las Vegas, Nevada has a record of 15-0 with 14 knockouts. Since turning professional in 2016, Vidal has a win over Antonio Castro (5-1). In his last bout, Vidal stopped Jesus Ricardo Armenta (19-33-2) on May 25th in Mexico. Vidal has stopped his last four opponents.
Coffie won the 2017 New York Daily News Open Champion where he defeated the number-one ranked fighter in the United States, Nkosi Solomon. He was the number-one ranked amateur super heavyweight
Coffie turned professional on November 21, 2017 with a 1st round stoppage over Ralph Alexander. Coffie of Brooklyn, New York, has a record of 6-0 with five knockouts. He is coming off a second-round stoppage over Eduardo Vitela (3-4) on March 29th in Philadelphia.
Before boxing, Michael and his nine siblings were removed from care from their drug addicted mother, and awarded to the state of New York. At age two, he was put into foster care and bounced from family to family in each section of Brooklyn. One he reached his teenage years, Michael was placed in a stable family in Malverne, New York. Michael then relocated to Brooklyn and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Michael served for eight years, which included tours in Afghanistan.
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Patrick Day update |
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Statement issued by DiBella Entertainment on Sunday evening: "Patrick Day suffered a traumatic brain injury during his bout on Saturday night. He was rushed to Northwestern Memorial hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. As of Sunday evening, Patrick is in a coma caused by the injury and is in extremely critical condition. On behalf of Patrick’s team, we appreciate the outpouring of support, prayers, and offers of assistance from all corners of the boxing community. Updates will be provided as circumstances change. In the meantime, we ask that the privacy of Patrick and his family be respected during this difficult time."
Lou DiBella himself tweeted: "Pat Day makes any room he is in a better place. I’ve never met anyone who’s met Patrick and not liked him. Never heard him utter a mean word. Never saw him greet someone without a big smile. Life doesn’t seem fair sometimes. Please keep Pat in your prayers, thoughts, and hearts."
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Patrick Day update
Statement issued by DiBella Entertainment on Sunday evening: "Patrick Day suffered a traumatic brain injury during his bout on Saturday night. He was rushed to Northwestern Memorial hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. As of Sunday evening, Patrick is in a coma caused by the injury and is in extremely critical condition. On behalf of Patrick’s team, we appreciate the outpouring of support, prayers, and offers of assistance from all corners of the boxing community. Updates will be provided as circumstances change. In the meantime, we ask that the privacy of Patrick and his family be respected during this difficult time."
Lou DiBella himself tweeted: "Pat Day makes any room he is in a better place. I’ve never met anyone who’s met Patrick and not liked him. Never heard him utter a mean word. Never saw him greet someone without a big smile. Life doesn’t seem fair sometimes. Please keep Pat in your prayers, thoughts, and hearts."
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Warrington defeats French softie |
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Josh Warrington TKO2 Sofiane Takoucht... Josh Warrington retained his IBF world featherweight title in spectacular style in Leeds, England on Saturday night, demolishing [French softie] Sofiane Takoucht in the second round. Warrington was business-like right from the off in front of his home town masses and finished the first round in the complete ascendancy. The Leeds Warrior, now 30-0, landed a stiff right hand in round two that sunk his opponent in the corner, forcing the first count of the fight. A left-right combination floored the Frenchman again moments later before a final attack spun Takoucht around and forced referee Bob Williams to intervene with 2.54 of the second round completed. Takoucht (35-4-1) had never been stopped before.
Zelfa Barrett TKO9 Jordan McCorry... Zelfa Barrett made a first defense of his Commonwealth super featherweight title, defeating a tough Scot named Jordan McCorry (18-7-1). This encounter was something of a slow burner to begin with as McCorry, unusually, skipped around in retreat and forced Barrett to make most of the running, which is unfamiliar territory for the now 23-1 stylist. It wasn’t until the second round that Barrett began to whip in his hooks and lure McCorry into range. The third saw a sequence of body shots planted in, resulting in a knockdown that really brought the fight to life. By the sixth Barrett was fully in his smooth groove and his intensity levels were upped over the next three rounds. A shot to the body and then head in the eighth dropped the Scot once more leading to a vicious onslaught from a fired up champion. McCorry had a point deducted for a late blow before the start of ninth, which was the point in the fight that his challenge finally unravelled. A right uppercut sent McCorry south again and Steve Gray stepped into prevent further punishment being inflicted.
Lyndon Arthur W12 Emmanuel Anim... Lyndon Arthur joined his gym mate Barrett in going home with Commonwealth title honors, with the light heavyweight having to grind his way through a gruelling fight with the come-forward Emmanuel Anim from Ghana. Anim (14-3-1) going into the fight, was a bullish and ambitious co-challenger for the vacant title and perhaps took Arthur by surprise with his early work which had the Pat Barrett-trained man continually forced onto the back foot. Arthur did improve the quality of his punch output in the second but Anim would not be deterred and was firmly back in charge come the third. The turning point then arrived when a strike to the top of Anim’s jaw floored the man from Accra and Arthur began to establish authority in the battle. However, in the eighth, Anim proved he was far from done by rocking Arthur and forcing him towards crisis point with legs buckling. Arthur did well to recover his composure and emerged winner in the contest by 115-112, 117-110, 117-111 on the cards, which appeared a little harsh on Anim.
MORE RESULTS
Shabaz Masoud introduced himself to a television audience with a comprehensive six round victory over Yesner Talavera. The Stoke youngster, recently signed up by Frank Warren, was looking to impress with his flashy style. The 23 year-old went through his full repertoire of shots and slick movement, continually switching and generally bamboozling his opponent...
Reece Mould enjoyed his first win since becoming English featherweight champion last time out with a shutout victory over Bayardo Ramos, 60-53 on the card of referee Phil Edwards. The Doncaster man was pounding in body shots from the beginning, but it was a right hook that bludgeoned Ramos to the canvas 25 seconds from the end of round two. Ramos clung on to the end and avoided becoming another stoppage statistic for the now 13-0 Mould who is looking towards a British title challenge in the near future...
George Davey backed by a sizeable throng from York and Lanzarote, might well have imagined the toughest part of his opponent would be spelling his name, but Zygimantas Butkevicius did not come across from Hull to give the debut boy an easy night’s work. Davey impressed across the four rounds and recorded a 40-36 win according to Phil Edwards, but also absorbed some return fire whenever he tried to force the money shot. The Henry Wharton-trained Davey showed enough to indicate that he has a promising career in front of him...
Elsewhere on the card, Mark Heffron again illustrated why he should be thrust back in the big fights with a first round demolition of Manuel Pavanito, with the Lisbon man unable to continue due to a cut. Heffron moves to 24-1 and deserving of another British title shot at middleweight...
Shakiel Thompson went 5-0 and got six rounds under his belt against Lewis van Poetsch, again at middleweight...
Troy Williamson stopped Ben Douglas in round seven, with the junior middleweightt pushing on to 12-0-1...
There were points victories for John Joyce (2-0) over Jordan Grannum...
Callum Simpson (2-0) prevailed by decision against Kiril Psonko...
Jack Daniel (5-0) outpointed Jamie Speight and...
Evaldas Petrauskas (2-0) carried the scorecard against Johnson Tellez.
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Warrington defeats French softie
Josh Warrington TKO2 Sofiane Takoucht... Josh Warrington retained his IBF world featherweight title in spectacular style in Leeds, England on Saturday night, demolishing [French softie] Sofiane Takoucht in the second round. Warrington was business-like right from the off in front of his home town masses and finished the first round in the complete ascendancy. The Leeds Warrior, now 30-0, landed a stiff right hand in round two that sunk his opponent in the corner, forcing the first count of the fight. A left-right combination floored the Frenchman again moments later before a final attack spun Takoucht around and forced referee Bob Williams to intervene with 2.54 of the second round completed. Takoucht (35-4-1) had never been stopped before.
Zelfa Barrett TKO9 Jordan McCorry... Zelfa Barrett made a first defense of his Commonwealth super featherweight title, defeating a tough Scot named Jordan McCorry (18-7-1). This encounter was something of a slow burner to begin with as McCorry, unusually, skipped around in retreat and forced Barrett to make most of the running, which is unfamiliar territory for the now 23-1 stylist. It wasn’t until the second round that Barrett began to whip in his hooks and lure McCorry into range. The third saw a sequence of body shots planted in, resulting in a knockdown that really brought the fight to life. By the sixth Barrett was fully in his smooth groove and his intensity levels were upped over the next three rounds. A shot to the body and then head in the eighth dropped the Scot once more leading to a vicious onslaught from a fired up champion. McCorry had a point deducted for a late blow before the start of ninth, which was the point in the fight that his challenge finally unravelled. A right uppercut sent McCorry south again and Steve Gray stepped into prevent further punishment being inflicted.
Lyndon Arthur W12 Emmanuel Anim... Lyndon Arthur joined his gym mate Barrett in going home with Commonwealth title honors, with the light heavyweight having to grind his way through a gruelling fight with the come-forward Emmanuel Anim from Ghana. Anim (14-3-1) going into the fight, was a bullish and ambitious co-challenger for the vacant title and perhaps took Arthur by surprise with his early work which had the Pat Barrett-trained man continually forced onto the back foot. Arthur did improve the quality of his punch output in the second but Anim would not be deterred and was firmly back in charge come the third. The turning point then arrived when a strike to the top of Anim’s jaw floored the man from Accra and Arthur began to establish authority in the battle. However, in the eighth, Anim proved he was far from done by rocking Arthur and forcing him towards crisis point with legs buckling. Arthur did well to recover his composure and emerged winner in the contest by 115-112, 117-110, 117-111 on the cards, which appeared a little harsh on Anim.
MORE RESULTS
Shabaz Masoud introduced himself to a television audience with a comprehensive six round victory over Yesner Talavera. The Stoke youngster, recently signed up by Frank Warren, was looking to impress with his flashy style. The 23 year-old went through his full repertoire of shots and slick movement, continually switching and generally bamboozling his opponent...
Reece Mould enjoyed his first win since becoming English featherweight champion last time out with a shutout victory over Bayardo Ramos, 60-53 on the card of referee Phil Edwards. The Doncaster man was pounding in body shots from the beginning, but it was a right hook that bludgeoned Ramos to the canvas 25 seconds from the end of round two. Ramos clung on to the end and avoided becoming another stoppage statistic for the now 13-0 Mould who is looking towards a British title challenge in the near future...
George Davey backed by a sizeable throng from York and Lanzarote, might well have imagined the toughest part of his opponent would be spelling his name, but Zygimantas Butkevicius did not come across from Hull to give the debut boy an easy night’s work. Davey impressed across the four rounds and recorded a 40-36 win according to Phil Edwards, but also absorbed some return fire whenever he tried to force the money shot. The Henry Wharton-trained Davey showed enough to indicate that he has a promising career in front of him...
Elsewhere on the card, Mark Heffron again illustrated why he should be thrust back in the big fights with a first round demolition of Manuel Pavanito, with the Lisbon man unable to continue due to a cut. Heffron moves to 24-1 and deserving of another British title shot at middleweight...
Shakiel Thompson went 5-0 and got six rounds under his belt against Lewis van Poetsch, again at middleweight...
Troy Williamson stopped Ben Douglas in round seven, with the junior middleweightt pushing on to 12-0-1...
There were points victories for John Joyce (2-0) over Jordan Grannum...
Callum Simpson (2-0) prevailed by decision against Kiril Psonko...
Jack Daniel (5-0) outpointed Jamie Speight and...
Evaldas Petrauskas (2-0) carried the scorecard against Johnson Tellez.
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The Boxingtalk Scoreboard: Results from Kazakhstan |
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In Almaty, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan’s two-time Olympian Hurshid Tojibaev was in ruthless form as he halted Ivor Lastrilla (11-8-4) in round four. Tojibaev is listed at 3-0 but is more accurately 11-4... Kazakhstan's Nurtas Azhbenov (7-0) followed with a first-round technical knockout of his own – leaving his opponent Alvin Makiling (13-15-4) with no answer to some crunching body work... Junior middleweight Abilkhaiyr Shegaliyev (7-0) outclassed Sandro Jajanidze (5-20-1) aside over eight entertaining rounds. source for all results: mtk global management
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The Boxingtalk Scoreboard: Results from Kazakhstan
In Almaty, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan’s two-time Olympian Hurshid Tojibaev was in ruthless form as he halted Ivor Lastrilla (11-8-4) in round four. Tojibaev is listed at 3-0 but is more accurately 11-4... Kazakhstan's Nurtas Azhbenov (7-0) followed with a first-round technical knockout of his own – leaving his opponent Alvin Makiling (13-15-4) with no answer to some crunching body work... Junior middleweight Abilkhaiyr Shegaliyev (7-0) outclassed Sandro Jajanidze (5-20-1) aside over eight entertaining rounds. source for all results: mtk global management
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Patrick Day in medically induced coma after KO |
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Charles Conwell KO10 Patrick Day... Junior middleweight Patrick Day was rushed to the intensive care unit at a Chicago hospital after being knocked unconscious and suffering a subsequent seizure as he was getting wheeled into an ambulance. Day suffered a tenth-round knockout defeat to Charles Conwell on the Oleksandr Usyk-Chazz Witherspoon DAZN card Saturday night. A source close to the Day family confirmed to DAZN News that Day underwent emergency brain surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The same source said that Day was given a breathing tube and is in a medically induced coma. After sending Day to the canvas two times earlier in the fight, Conwell threw a right hand to the back of Day's ear followed by a left hook. When Day went down, his head bounced off the mat. Day was unconscious the moment he hit the canvas. Medical staff immediately rushed to the ring and put the 27-year-old onto a gurney and into the waiting ambulance.
Conwell tweeted: "Please pray for Pat!! Come home safe!" Boxingtalk joins Conwell and fans around the world in wishing Day a speedy and full recovery. source: dazn
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Patrick Day in medically induced coma after KO
Charles Conwell KO10 Patrick Day... Junior middleweight Patrick Day was rushed to the intensive care unit at a Chicago hospital after being knocked unconscious and suffering a subsequent seizure as he was getting wheeled into an ambulance. Day suffered a tenth-round knockout defeat to Charles Conwell on the Oleksandr Usyk-Chazz Witherspoon DAZN card Saturday night. A source close to the Day family confirmed to DAZN News that Day underwent emergency brain surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The same source said that Day was given a breathing tube and is in a medically induced coma. After sending Day to the canvas two times earlier in the fight, Conwell threw a right hand to the back of Day's ear followed by a left hook. When Day went down, his head bounced off the mat. Day was unconscious the moment he hit the canvas. Medical staff immediately rushed to the ring and put the 27-year-old onto a gurney and into the waiting ambulance.
Conwell tweeted: "Please pray for Pat!! Come home safe!" Boxingtalk joins Conwell and fans around the world in wishing Day a speedy and full recovery. source: dazn
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Usyk wins easy in heavyweight debut |
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Oleksandr Usyk TKO7 Chazz Witherspoon... In Chicago, former world cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk made a successful heavyweight debut against no-hoper Chazz Witherspoon. Coming off eleven months of inactivity, Usyk won all seven rounds under Witherspoon quit on his stool after seven rounds. In fairness to Witherspoon, he did not have an opportunity to train for the fight because he accepted it on Monday as a late replacement for Tyrone Spong, who did not pass his PED tests. Witherspoon (38-4) gave an honest effort against a highly skilled opponent and should not be criticized for remaining on his stool. Usyk is listed at 17-0 but he has a long and storied career as an Olympian .A more accurate record for him is 38-2 because he had many pro bouts in the World Series of Boxing. Hopefully, Usyk gets a quick turnaround and can fight again in January. source: dazn
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Usyk wins easy in heavyweight debut
Oleksandr Usyk TKO7 Chazz Witherspoon... In Chicago, former world cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk made a successful heavyweight debut against no-hoper Chazz Witherspoon. Coming off eleven months of inactivity, Usyk won all seven rounds under Witherspoon quit on his stool after seven rounds. In fairness to Witherspoon, he did not have an opportunity to train for the fight because he accepted it on Monday as a late replacement for Tyrone Spong, who did not pass his PED tests. Witherspoon (38-4) gave an honest effort against a highly skilled opponent and should not be criticized for remaining on his stool. Usyk is listed at 17-0 but he has a long and storied career as an Olympian .A more accurate record for him is 38-2 because he had many pro bouts in the World Series of Boxing. Hopefully, Usyk gets a quick turnaround and can fight again in January. source: dazn
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Bivol beats Castillo by decision |
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Dmitry Bivol W12 Lenin Castillo ... In his first fight after being promoted from WBA champion to WBA super champion, light heavyweight Dmitry Bivol won a mosty drama-free decision against Lenin Castillo of the Dominican Republic. The only excitement in the bout came in round six, when Bivol landed a nice counter punch that knocked Castilo down. Bivol kept it on cruise control the rest of the way and got a unanimous decision by scores of 120-107 (twice) and 119-108. Castillo (20-3-1) is a 2008 Olympian but really hadn't done anything as a pro to earn a world title opportunity. Bivol is listed at 17-0 but is more accurately 20-0 because he won three pro fights in the World Series of Boxing. source: sky sports
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Bivol beats Castillo by decision
Dmitry Bivol W12 Lenin Castillo ... In his first fight after being promoted from WBA champion to WBA super champion, light heavyweight Dmitry Bivol won a mosty drama-free decision against Lenin Castillo of the Dominican Republic. The only excitement in the bout came in round six, when Bivol landed a nice counter punch that knocked Castilo down. Bivol kept it on cruise control the rest of the way and got a unanimous decision by scores of 120-107 (twice) and 119-108. Castillo (20-3-1) is a 2008 Olympian but really hadn't done anything as a pro to earn a world title opportunity. Bivol is listed at 17-0 but is more accurately 20-0 because he won three pro fights in the World Series of Boxing. source: sky sports
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Bashir Ali home from the hospital |
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Mark Taffett, who manages Claressa Shields, tweeted: "I just spoke again with James Ali Bashir. Thank god he has been released from the hospital and is now at home resting and recovering. Bashir is a man of great strength of mind, body and spirit and all of that is helping him at this time. I pray for a full and speedy recovery!" Bashir was hospitalized with broken facial bones and a possible brain bleed from a devastating attack in Flint, Michigan. Bashir was training Ivana Habazin, who was going to fight Shields, but the fight was cancelled after the attack. The suspect appears to be Shields' brother.
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Bashir Ali home from the hospital
Mark Taffett, who manages Claressa Shields, tweeted: "I just spoke again with James Ali Bashir. Thank god he has been released from the hospital and is now at home resting and recovering. Bashir is a man of great strength of mind, body and spirit and all of that is helping him at this time. I pray for a full and speedy recovery!" Bashir was hospitalized with broken facial bones and a possible brain bleed from a devastating attack in Flint, Michigan. Bashir was training Ivana Habazin, who was going to fight Shields, but the fight was cancelled after the attack. The suspect appears to be Shields' brother.
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Terry Flanagan, Jay Harris win in Belfast |
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Terry Flanagan DQ4 Michael Ansah... Former WBO lightweight champion Terry Flanagan (35-2, 14 KOs), now a junior welterweight, dominated Michael Ansah (17-10-2, 11 KOs). After Ansah was disqualified in round four, Flanagan said: “Another routine win really. He was an awkward kid who didn’t offer much and he was a level or two below me so it’s hard to look good against people like that. When I started landing with body shots and finding a way through he was looking for a way out. I was happy to box out here and put on a show for all of the fans.”
Jay Harris TKO4 Paddy Barnes ... Jay Harris stopped three-time Olympian Paddy Barnes in the fourth round of a flyweight bout in Belfast Northern Ireland. Unbeaten Harris (17-0, 9 KOs) dropped Barnes (12-4 including the World Series of Boxing) after some powerful body shots, with Barnes initially showing bravery to get up and continue, before the damage then took its toll and Harris earned the stoppage win. Harris said: “I’m ecstatic. I thought my performance was really good and I’m on top of the world. We knew it would be a loud atmosphere and I had goosebumps as soon as I walked out. I’m chuffed with myself and now we’ll see what happens next year.”
Barnes said: “He hit me with a good shot to the body and I couldn’t get up. The first body shot hurt me and I went down, but the second one took me around 12 seconds to recover.
MORE RESULTS
Elsewhere on the card, Sean McComb (9-0, 4 KOs) extended his undefeated record after decisioning Emiliano Dominguez (23-6, 9 KOs) over eight rounds. McComb said: “I’m delighted with the win. Tough fight and a good one to overcome. I’m just beginning and he’s 24 fights in, and it was a massive learning curve. I stepped up a level again, and the crowd gave me life out there, it was like a second wind and the atmosphere was phenomenal.”
Pierce O'Leary won a four-round decision over Oscar Amador. O’Leary said: “I walked out and hearing all of the crowd was brilliant, but I couldn’t get carried away with myself so I stayed composed. I can’t thank everyone enough who travelled up from Dublin, and thank you to MTK Global for now allowing me to showcase my skills around the world, it’s a dream come true.”
Paddy Donovan stopped Arturo Lopez in the first round. Donovan said: “I trained hard for this fight and we had to do a job. The knockout came and I was glad. There was a lot of pressure on me and a lot of talk about me, so I was really happy with the way that I got the win. I loved every second of it.”
Conrad Cummings got a six-round points win over Adam Grabiec. Cummings said: “It was good to get the rust off. Getting six rounds in is exactly what I needed after the time out, and it’s onwards and upwards. There were a lot of personal issues over the last 18 months, so just to be back in the ring is great, and now we’ll take it one step at a time.”
Sean Duffy outpointed Edwin Tellez over four rounds. Duffy said: “I’ve had a good amateur career and now I want to jump straight in at the deep end in the professionals. I’m looking forward to stepping up to bigger and better things. Ulster Hall never fails, it was a brilliant atmosphere.”
Ruari Dalton topped Jose Hernandez via four-round decision. Dalton said: “I was happy to get the rounds in and I’d never fought in the Ulster Hall before, so it was a great place to box. I’ve got a great fan base and I’m very grateful to everybody who came to watch me, and I just need to stay active now.”
Gary Cully got the decision in six rounds over Danny Mendoza. Cully said: “I had six months out so I’m buzzing just to get back in the ring. I was a bit nervous but once I started getting the jabs off I felt fine. I really did enjoy it and started using my feet and working through the gears, and that’s what it’s all about.”
In six rounds, Lewis Crocker defeated Ohio Kain Iremien. Crocker said: “He was a tough opponent who kept coming forward and those are the fights I ideally want. We know what to work on for next time and now hopefully we can push for another fight before the end of the year.” source for all results: mtk global management
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Terry Flanagan, Jay Harris win in Belfast
Terry Flanagan DQ4 Michael Ansah... Former WBO lightweight champion Terry Flanagan (35-2, 14 KOs), now a junior welterweight, dominated Michael Ansah (17-10-2, 11 KOs). After Ansah was disqualified in round four, Flanagan said: “Another routine win really. He was an awkward kid who didn’t offer much and he was a level or two below me so it’s hard to look good against people like that. When I started landing with body shots and finding a way through he was looking for a way out. I was happy to box out here and put on a show for all of the fans.”
Jay Harris TKO4 Paddy Barnes ... Jay Harris stopped three-time Olympian Paddy Barnes in the fourth round of a flyweight bout in Belfast Northern Ireland. Unbeaten Harris (17-0, 9 KOs) dropped Barnes (12-4 including the World Series of Boxing) after some powerful body shots, with Barnes initially showing bravery to get up and continue, before the damage then took its toll and Harris earned the stoppage win. Harris said: “I’m ecstatic. I thought my performance was really good and I’m on top of the world. We knew it would be a loud atmosphere and I had goosebumps as soon as I walked out. I’m chuffed with myself and now we’ll see what happens next year.”
Barnes said: “He hit me with a good shot to the body and I couldn’t get up. The first body shot hurt me and I went down, but the second one took me around 12 seconds to recover.
MORE RESULTS
Elsewhere on the card, Sean McComb (9-0, 4 KOs) extended his undefeated record after decisioning Emiliano Dominguez (23-6, 9 KOs) over eight rounds. McComb said: “I’m delighted with the win. Tough fight and a good one to overcome. I’m just beginning and he’s 24 fights in, and it was a massive learning curve. I stepped up a level again, and the crowd gave me life out there, it was like a second wind and the atmosphere was phenomenal.”
Pierce O'Leary won a four-round decision over Oscar Amador. O’Leary said: “I walked out and hearing all of the crowd was brilliant, but I couldn’t get carried away with myself so I stayed composed. I can’t thank everyone enough who travelled up from Dublin, and thank you to MTK Global for now allowing me to showcase my skills around the world, it’s a dream come true.”
Paddy Donovan stopped Arturo Lopez in the first round. Donovan said: “I trained hard for this fight and we had to do a job. The knockout came and I was glad. There was a lot of pressure on me and a lot of talk about me, so I was really happy with the way that I got the win. I loved every second of it.”
Conrad Cummings got a six-round points win over Adam Grabiec. Cummings said: “It was good to get the rust off. Getting six rounds in is exactly what I needed after the time out, and it’s onwards and upwards. There were a lot of personal issues over the last 18 months, so just to be back in the ring is great, and now we’ll take it one step at a time.”
Sean Duffy outpointed Edwin Tellez over four rounds. Duffy said: “I’ve had a good amateur career and now I want to jump straight in at the deep end in the professionals. I’m looking forward to stepping up to bigger and better things. Ulster Hall never fails, it was a brilliant atmosphere.”
Ruari Dalton topped Jose Hernandez via four-round decision. Dalton said: “I was happy to get the rounds in and I’d never fought in the Ulster Hall before, so it was a great place to box. I’ve got a great fan base and I’m very grateful to everybody who came to watch me, and I just need to stay active now.”
Gary Cully got the decision in six rounds over Danny Mendoza. Cully said: “I had six months out so I’m buzzing just to get back in the ring. I was a bit nervous but once I started getting the jabs off I felt fine. I really did enjoy it and started using my feet and working through the gears, and that’s what it’s all about.”
In six rounds, Lewis Crocker defeated Ohio Kain Iremien. Crocker said: “He was a tough opponent who kept coming forward and those are the fights I ideally want. We know what to work on for next time and now hopefully we can push for another fight before the end of the year.” source for all results: mtk global management
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DAZN results: McCaskill wins ugly over Farias |
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Jessica McCaskill W10 Erica Farias... In a women's junior welterweight bout held in Chicago, WBC/WBA champion Jessica McCaskill defeated Erica Farias in a sloppy clutchfest. It was a majority decision via scores of 94-94, 96-92 and 97-91. McCaskill was credited with a knockdown when Farias' glove touched the canvas, and Farias also suffered a point deduction. Compubox had McCaskill outlanding Farias 151 punches to 127. After the fight, McCaskill (8-2) apologized to the crowd for the lack of action. Farias (26-4) had not fought since she lost her WBC title to McCaskill almost exactly a year ago. Otha Jones W4 Eric Manriquez... Lightweight hopeful Otha Jones III won a tougher-than-expected four-round majority decision over Eric Manriquez by scores of 40-36, 39-37 and 38-38. Manriquez is now 7-9-1 while Jones is 4-0. source: dazn
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DAZN results: McCaskill wins ugly over Farias
Jessica McCaskill W10 Erica Farias... In a women's junior welterweight bout held in Chicago, WBC/WBA champion Jessica McCaskill defeated Erica Farias in a sloppy clutchfest. It was a majority decision via scores of 94-94, 96-92 and 97-91. McCaskill was credited with a knockdown when Farias' glove touched the canvas, and Farias also suffered a point deduction. Compubox had McCaskill outlanding Farias 151 punches to 127. After the fight, McCaskill (8-2) apologized to the crowd for the lack of action. Farias (26-4) had not fought since she lost her WBC title to McCaskill almost exactly a year ago. Otha Jones W4 Eric Manriquez... Lightweight hopeful Otha Jones III won a tougher-than-expected four-round majority decision over Eric Manriquez by scores of 40-36, 39-37 and 38-38. Manriquez is now 7-9-1 while Jones is 4-0. source: dazn
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Spong posts clean VADA test results; still out of Usyk fight |
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Earlier this week, former kickboxing champion Tyrone Spong was pulled from the biggest bout of his boxing career, a shot vs. former world cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk that was scheduled for tonight. The bout's promoter, Eddie Hearn, tweeted a few days ago, "We have been contacted by VADA [the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency] to inform us that there has been an adverse finding in Tyrone Spong’s test. It has been sent to the State of Illinois commission." Spong was quickly replaced by Chazz Witherspoon in the Usyk fight, which will go ahead tonight in Chicago. This morning, Spong tweeted that he "just received word from VADA that my third and last urine sample taken on Oct 2nd was negative for all prohibited substances. As I’ve said all along, I’m a clean fighter and the previous results were inaccurate or manipulated. Who is responsible for this? It's shameful that I've been robbed of this opportunity... I've been wronged and I'm pissed off." Spong accompanied the social media post with a letter from VADA showing he tested negative with a sample collected on October 2nd..
Note that a negative test does not mean Spong (or any other athlete) never cheated. If the Ocotber 2nd clean test posted by Spong was the B sample of the original positive test, then Spong has a very strong argument for a false positive. But Spong said the negative result came on his "third and last urine sample" in which case there could have been a prohibited substance in his system at the time of the first two tests that had cycled out before the third test. In such a case there could be BOTH cheating by Spong and a negative third test result.
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Spong posts clean VADA test results; still out of Usyk fight
Earlier this week, former kickboxing champion Tyrone Spong was pulled from the biggest bout of his boxing career, a shot vs. former world cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk that was scheduled for tonight. The bout's promoter, Eddie Hearn, tweeted a few days ago, "We have been contacted by VADA [the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency] to inform us that there has been an adverse finding in Tyrone Spong’s test. It has been sent to the State of Illinois commission." Spong was quickly replaced by Chazz Witherspoon in the Usyk fight, which will go ahead tonight in Chicago. This morning, Spong tweeted that he "just received word from VADA that my third and last urine sample taken on Oct 2nd was negative for all prohibited substances. As I’ve said all along, I’m a clean fighter and the previous results were inaccurate or manipulated. Who is responsible for this? It's shameful that I've been robbed of this opportunity... I've been wronged and I'm pissed off." Spong accompanied the social media post with a letter from VADA showing he tested negative with a sample collected on October 2nd..
Note that a negative test does not mean Spong (or any other athlete) never cheated. If the Ocotber 2nd clean test posted by Spong was the B sample of the original positive test, then Spong has a very strong argument for a false positive. But Spong said the negative result came on his "third and last urine sample" in which case there could have been a prohibited substance in his system at the time of the first two tests that had cycled out before the third test. In such a case there could be BOTH cheating by Spong and a negative third test result.
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