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Canelo on GGG: ‘I hurt him in the first fight, and I’m going to hurt him even more in the second fight’
Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin both fought well in their first fight last September, but some believe Golovkin fought a little better. However, the match ended in a controversial draw, so now, we get to do it again.
The rematch will take place on Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.
In the first fight, both Alvarez and Golovkin landed some heavy shots, but both fighters were able to weather the storm. However, Alvarez thought he hurt Golovkin in that first fight, and expects to inflict more damage in the second fight:
“Like I’ve said many times, the first fight gave me the guideline for the second fight,” Alvarez said at a media workout on Sunday. “I know that I can do many things in the ring against him. I know that I can hurt him. I hurt him in the first fight, and I’m going to hurt him even more in the second fight. My objective is the knockout, and I’ll be looking for that from the opening round.”
“Golovkin knows who I am. He knows who I’m about. Let me put it even better–he still doesn’t know how much more I have left to show. I’m looking forward to showing him that on September 15. I have to win convincingly. It has to be a knockout to erase any doubts. I’m very motivated for this win. I’m confident, but not overconfident about my opponent because I know who he is, but I’m confident in my preparation.”
Keep in mind, Golovkin has never been dropped in his entire career, including amateurs, so it won’t be easy for Canelo to knock GGG out.
Photo Credit: Tom Hogan-Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions
GGG’s trainer: ‘I’m seriously considering asking the NSAC to install a 24-second clock to force Canelo to engage’
Trainer Abel Sanchez is putting his star pupil Gennady Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs), boxing’s longest-reigning world champion (since 2010), through his paces at The Summit, the high altitude training camp in Big Bear Lake, Calif., in preparation for Golovkin’s rematch against Canelo Alvarez(49-1-2, 34 KOs).
Canelo vs. Golovkin 2, takes place Saturday, September 15, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
Sanchez has done a lot of talking, and he continues to talk a lot leading up to the rematch.
“The last fight between Gennady and Canelo was a real contrast of styles,” said Sanchez. “Gennady had to chase Canelo, who boasted that he was the true Mexican warrior, around the ring. It reminded me of the four corners offense those old Dean Smith-coached basketball teams used to play. I’m seriously considering asking the Nevada Athletic Commission to install a 24-second clock to force Canelo to engage. Compare the activity between the fighters in their first fight. Gennady did everything in that fight. Gennady wasn’t the one who got booed by the fans when those crazy scorecards were announced. And Gennady is going to do even more in the rematch. I read that Canelo isn’t eating beef in this camp. Let’s just hope he stopped eating duck too.”
All the trash talk is good, but this will be settled in the ring by the fighters on September 15.
Porter: ‘They like me because I come to fight and I entertain’
‘Showtime’ Shawn Porter usually puts on a show every time he steps into the ring, and anytime you step in the ring with the Ohio native, expect a rough and tough night.
Now, the former IBF welterweight champion is looking to become a two-time champion as he will battle Danny Garcia for the vacant WBC welterweight title at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on September 8.
Not only does the 30-year-old Porter want to beat Garcia, but he also hopes to entertain the fans at Barclays Center.
“Brooklyn doesn’t like me because of what I wear or what I say, they like me because I come to fight and I entertain,” Porter said on Tuesday. “That’s all because of my dad and the tools he’s given me to be the very best that I could be.
“All of my abilities – power, quickness, the whole nine will help me get this victory. To beat Danny Garcia, you have to use your whole arsenal. Especially beating him in the fashion we want to beat him in. We want to look great.”
While Porter wants to put on a show for the fans, he does not want the crowd to dictate how he will fight. A lesson he said he learned in his last fight against Adrian Granados.
“At the end of the day, I learned a lesson in my last fight. My dad told me not to do anything for the crowd,” Porter said. “You have to do what you have to do to win. September 8 isn’t going to be about making the crowd yell and winning them over. That is already done. It is a matter of going in there with whatever game plan we go with and making it happen.”
No matter how exciting the fight will be against Garcia, Porter main focus is to walk out of the ring with the WBC belt.
“The belt is all I want. Winning a title is always special, but beating Danny Garcia for it will be icing on the cake,” Porter said. “He’s been a top fighter for a long time and this win will help solidify me. Once I have the belt, the sky’s the limit.”
Photos from Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME
Pacquiao-Matthysse to air on ESPN+
The next chapter in the storied career of former eight-division world champion and future first-ballot Hall of Famer, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, will stream live and exclusively in the United States on Saturday, July 14 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN+ — the recently-launched multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International segment in conjunction with ESPN. This will be Pacquiao’s first fight since headlining cable television’s highest-rated and most-watched boxing telecast since 2006, when he fought Jeff Horn in July of 2017 on ESPN.
Pacquiao will challenge Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse for the WBA welterweight title at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In addition, in the world championship co-feature, Filipino power puncher Jhack Tepora (21-0, 16 KOs) will face Edivaldo “Indio” Ortega (26-1-1, 12 KOs) for the vacant WBA featherweight title. Pacquiao and Matthysse are expected to enter the ring at roughly 11:30 p.m. ET. ESPN+ is available to all fans on the ESPN App and
Pacquiao-Matthysse will cap a full day of boxing on the ESPN family of networks, as Regis “Rougarou” Prograis will defend the WBC Diamond super lightweight title against Juan Jose Velasco, and lightweight sensation Teofimo Lopez will face William Silva, live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 7 p.m. ET and via streaming on the ESPN App from the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans. Undercard action from New Orleans will stream live on ESPN+ starting at 4:30 p.m. ET.
“I am very happy that all of my fans in America will have a chance to watch my next fight on ESPN+, and I am looking forward to putting on a show,” Pacquiao said. “Matthysse is a great opponent. I am training with all of my heart because I want to be champion again.”
“This extraordinary event only affirms ESPN’s commitment to providing boxing fans with the biggest and best fights in the sport,” said Bob Arum, Top Rank’s founder and CEO. “Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest champions in boxing history, and his fight against Matthysse promises to be a sensational one.”
“This matchup is a perfect example of the world-class caliber of events we envisioned for ESPN+ when we announced our agreement with Top Rank,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN Executive Vice President of Programming and Scheduling. “Pacquiao vs. Matthysse, which will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+, shows the commitment we have to delivering fans the best of boxing year-round on our direct-to-consumer platform.”
Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs), the living legend from General Santos City, Philippines, will look to score his first knockout victory since 2009. Before losing the WBO welterweight world championship to Jeff Horn via controversial unanimous decision last July, Pacquiao recaptured the title on November 5, 2016 by defeating then-champion Jessie Vargas at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. In a career that has spanned more than two decades, Pacquiao has victories against legendary fighters like Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Ricky Hatton.
Matthysse (39-4, 36 KOs) won the vacant WBA welterweight title Jan. 27 in Los Angeles with an eighth-round knockout over Thailand’s Tewa Kiram. One of boxing’s best punchers, pound-for-pound, he is an all-action brawler who has participated in multiple Fight of the Year contenders, including an 11th-round knockout win over John Molina in 2014 and a 12-round majority decision victory over Ruslan Provodnikov in 2015. Matthysse has won two straight since a 10th-round knockout loss to then-undefeated Viktor Postol on Oct. 3, 2015.
Upcoming exclusive boxing on ESPN+ includes the July 28 battle for the vacant World Boxing Organization 130-pound title as Puerto Rican star Christopher Diaz faces Masayuki Ito at the Kissimmee Civic Center. Diaz-Ito will stream live and exclusively in the United States at 9:30 p.m. ET with undercard action starting at 6:30 p.m. ET
Report: Lance Stephenson to join the Lakers
According to Yahoo Sports’ Shams Charania, Lance Stephenson has agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s a one-year deal worth $4.5 million, according to ESPN.
Now, Stephenson will join his arch nemesis LeBron James in Los Angeles.
This should be fun!
Sources: It’s a one-year, $4.5 million deal. https://t.co/DUcYC4EDNo
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 2, 2018
Lance Stephenson has agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2018
Highlights from Week 1 of the BIG3
In front of a sold-out crowd of 16,341 at the Toyota Center in Houston, players such as Nate Robinson, Baron Davis, Metta World Peace, Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis, Drew Gooden, Amar’e Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, and Chris ‘Birdman’ Andersen made their BIG3 debuts.
Also, Nancy Lieberman, the first female coach to lead an elite men’s professional team, earned a historic victory last night.
Here are highlights from all 4 games:
3 Headed Monsters (50; 1-0) vs. Ghost Ballers (48; 0-1)
In a rematch of the first ever BIG3 game, 3 Headed Monsters earned another two-point win over the Ghost Ballers. After a back-and-forth first half that saw nine lead changes, 3 Headed Monsters led for most of the second half before falling behind 44-43. The two teams traded the lead before new acquisition Reggie Evans collected his own rebound off a missed free throw for a layup, which he followed with a made two-point free throw to put the 3 Headed Monsters up by two. Following a Ricky Davis tying bucket, the sweet-shooting Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf re-entered the game to seal the win with a jumper from the elbow.
Highlights:
3’s Company (51; 1-0) vs. Killer 3s (30; 0-1)
The new-look 3’s Company dominated Killer 3s in the second game with a 21-point win that was never in doubt. 3’s Company opened the game on fire, racing out to a 20-4 lead. Co-captain Baron Davis led the way in his BIG3 debut with 13 points, topping a balanced scoring effort in which four players scored more than seven points. For the Killer 3s, BIG3 newcomer Metta World Peace lead the team with 12 points, while Co-Captain Stephen Jackson contributed 10.
With the win, Cooper became the first coach to win a game in the NBA, WNBA, D-League, NCAA and BIG3.
Highlights:
Power 51 (1-0) vs. Ball Hogs 31 (0-1)
Power rolled to an impressive victory over the Ball Hogs. New additions Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis and Chris ‘Birdman’ Andersen and a returning Corey Maggette gave Power a more dynamic attack than the 2017 team that finished third in the league. The game’s highlight came when Andersen made a thunderous block on an attempted Josh Childress tomahawk dunk. Following the block, the ball kicked out to Maggette who took advantage of the loose ball and finished with a jam.
The win earned basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman the first win by a female coach for a top-flight men’s professional team.
Highlights:
Tri-State 51 (1-0) vs Trilogy 34 (0-1)
Nate Robinson, dubbed “The Human Spark Plug” by new teammate Amar’e Stoudemire, lived up to his new nickname with an electric, highlight-reel performance. Robinson brought the night to a close with a show-stopping three-pointer over sparring partner for the night, Rashad McCants. The trio of Co-Captains, Robinson, Stoudemire and the returning Jermaine O’Neal, proved too much for Trilogy, who were missing Co-Captain Al Harrington.
Highlights:
Report: Leonard wants out of San Antonio; interested in Lakers
Not much of a surprise here, but according to ESPN, Kawhi Leonard no longer wants to play in San Antonio. Leonard is frustrated with how the organization handled his quad injury and feels the franchise turned on him once he sought a second opinion, according to the report.
The two-time All-Star’s preferred destination is the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
You wonder what type of impact this will have on free agency. Could this be a set up for a super team in Los Angeles with the Lakers? Should be interesting to see how this plays out.
The Spurs can offer Leonard a supermax contract at five-years, $219 million, so the Spurs have that working for them. Leonard has two years left on his contract, but he has a player option in the 2019-20 season.
Antoine Walker: ‘If I’m LeBron, I may think about retirement'(Audio)
After another NBA Finals loss, LeBron James has a big summer ahead of him. James is expected to opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent.
All eyes will be on LeBron. The best news for the NBA and everybody else is we will have “The Decision, Part III.”
However, if it were up to former NBA star Antoine Walker, the 33-year-old James should think about retirement.
“If I’m LeBron James, I may think about retirement,” Walker recently said on the SouthSide Heat podcast. “Right now, we’re sitting here scrambling trying to figure out what team he would best fit. It’s not really one team that we actually can say that’s going to really help him get over the hump.”
It’s an interesting thought by Walker, and beating the Golden State Warriors won’t be an easy task. However, LeBron is still playing at a high level in his 15th NBA season. He has proven that he has a lot of basketball left.
I think James could find a team that could get him over the hump. The 76ers would be a good fit with Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and the possibilities with Markelle Fultz. Also, the 76ers have the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Finally, he gets to stay in the Eastern Conference, which would keep him away from the Warriors until the Finals.
Listen to more of what Walker had to say about LeBron James below. Walker talks LeBron at the 29:11 mark:
Freddie Mitchell commends LeBron James; rips McNabb via Twitter
What J.R. Smith did last night was inexcusable. Late in the 4th quarter, with the game tied at 107. George Hill was at the free throw line with an opportunity to put the Cavs up by one, but he would miss the free throw. However, Smith would get the rebound, but because he thought the Cavs were in the lead, Smith decided to dribble out the clock.
Ultimately the game would go to OT, and the Warriors would win 124-114.
After the game, Cavs star LeBron James was supportive of Smith, which gave former Philadelphia Eagles WR Freddie Mitchell an opportunity to take a shot at his former teammate Donovan McNabb.
You remember Mitchell, who teamed up with McNabb to help the Eagles get to the NFC Championship Game back in the 2003 season by converting on 4th & 26 against the Green Bay Packers.
However, Mitchell is not a big fan of McNabb, and he went to Twitter on Friday to take a shot at his former QB:
I gotta respect @KingJames for standing up for his teammate. McNabb would never do that for me. @espn
— Freddie Mitchell (@FMitchell84) June 1, 2018
Maybe one of these days McNabb and Mitchell can work it out.