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Barrios: ‘My style is fan friendly and everyone tuning in is going to see the next superstar in boxing’

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Undefeated super lightweight contender Mario Barrios will look to continue his push toward a world title shot when he faces Mexico’s Richard Zamora (19-2, 12 KOs) live on SHOWTIME this Saturday, February 9 from Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly StubHub Center, in Carson, California and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The three-fight SHOWTIME telecast begins live at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and is headlined by super featherweight world champion Gervonta Davis defending his title against former world champion Hugo Ruiz.

The 23-year-old from San Antonio can increase his knockout streak to seven on February 9, all since he moved up to 140-pounds. Here is what Barrios (22-0, 14 KOs) had to say about his upcoming matchup and more from training camp in Oakland, Calif.:

On his matchup with Richard Zamora:

“Zamora is my toughest opponent to date in my opinion. He’s won his last five fights, so I know he’s coming into this fight with a lot of confidence. He has power in both hands and he’s very tough. But I’m going into this fight with a lot of confidence myself. This is going to be a war and one I’m looking forward to. I have no doubt in my mind that I’m going to come out on top.”

On his recent training camp:

“Camp started back home with my dad Martin and he really got me ready before I left for California. I’ve spent the last six weeks training in the Bay Area with Virgil Hunter. I’ve also been training with Victor Conte and Remi Korchemny at the SNAC facility. Right now, my body is in the best shape of my life. I got good sparring with Devin Haney and a few other top-level fighters. All the hard work is almost done. We have one week left and then its fight week. Virgil and I are working great together and I’m ready to go.”

On fighting in the co-main event on SHOWTIME:

“I’m very excited to be fighting on SHOWTIME on a big card once again, this time in the co-main event. I’m going to bring a lot of excitement to those watching on TV. My style is fan friendly and everyone tuning in is going to see the next superstar in boxing. I’m going to take full advantage of this opportunity fighting on the big stage.”

On when he’ll be fighting for a world title:

“I’m currently ranked #1 in the WBA, so I know a world title shot is very close. Right now, my main focus is defeating Zamora. I must get past this fight and then it’s time to face all the top guys in the super lightweight division. I’m looking to be in a world title fight sometime this year.”

Photos from Brett Ostrowski/Team Barrios

Bills’ Alexander on SB 53: ‘It’s hard for me to go against Brady, Belichick and those Pats’

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Super Bowl 53 will mark the ninth time that the duo of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have made it to the big game. The two have won five Super Bowls together and are hoping to get number six on Sunday against the Rams in Atlanta.

The Rams have a lot of talent, but the Patriots have two legends, and according to Bills LB Lorenzo Alexander, that could be the difference in the game.

“My heart tells me I want the Rams to win. Jared Goff, C.J. Anderson; Cal love,” Alexander recently told the Go4it podcast. “I actually played for Sean McVay when he was in Washington as a coach, but it’s hard for me to go against Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and those Patriots. 

‘The way they come out each and every week; I think they do a great job of coming up with schemes, especially defensively to confuse a young quarterback. And maybe keep them at bay for awhile like they did last week(against Mahomes in AFC title game), and it will give them just enough time to put up enough points, and put themselves in the position to win it at the end. So, reluctantly, I’m going to go with the Patriots.”

While Alexander believes the Patriots will win on Sunday, he thinks the Rams can pull it off if Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh create havoc around Brady.

“But if they(Rams) do win, I’ll tell you who is going to have a big game; it’s going to be Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh in the middle,” Alexander said. “Being able to stuff the run, and really affect Tom Brady. Whether that’s sacking him, hitting him, maybe getting some hands on some deflections, but those are the two guys that I think will help win the game if the Rams come out victorious.”

Last season, I thought the Eagles had more talent than the Patriots, which is why I picked Philly to beat the Patriots in Super Bowl 52, but Brady almost pulled it off for New England.  This season, I think the Rams are the more talented team, but will that matter? We’ll find out on Super Bowl Sunday.

Listen to the interview below:

Farmer-Carroll, Rosado-Sulecki set for March 15 in Philadelphia

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Tevin Farmer will defend his IBF World Super-Featherweight title against Jono Carroll at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia on Friday March 15, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.

Farmer (28-4-1 6KOs) makes the third defense of his crown in his first fight on home turf as a World champion, following a wide points win over Francisco Fonseca in New York in December, a win that followed a dominant fifth round stoppage over Northern Irishman James Tennyson in his first defense in Boston in October.

The 28 year old returns to the Temple University venue having boxed there in April 2017 against Arturo Reyes – the fight before his first World title showdown with Kenichi Ogawa in Las Vegas in December, where his controversial split decision loss was turned into a no-contest after the Japanese failed a drug test. Farmer would claim the vacant IBF title in August in Australia with a comprehensive points win over seasoned Aussie Billy Dib.

Unbeaten Dubliner Carroll (16-0-1 3KOs) fights for his first World title on St Patrick’s weekend against Farmer, with his shot at the title following a closely fought split draw in a final eliminator with Guillaume Frenois in Sheffield, England in December.

Farmer and Carroll have been involved in bitter social media spats and will finally come face-to-face for the first time at a press conference to launch the fight in Philly next Tuesday, and both fighters believe the fight will be as fiery as the build-up.

“He’s got a World title shot on St Patrick’s weekend, he should be thanking me,” said Farmer. “He’s trying to get under my skin but it’s impossible to get under my skin. He’s making himself look bad and he’s stepping up to a whole different level with me. I’m A-level and he’s going to pay.

“He says we both come from tough backgrounds, the hood, that boy hasn’t come from any struggle, no hood. I’m going to show him when he comes to Philly, he’s going to eat his words. He’s trying to get his buzz up but there’s certain things that you don’t say. He’s made this personal and you don’t want to get personal with a Philly guy like me.

“This is big for me, fighting as a World champion in Philly. When does Philly hold big World championship shows? This is big – it’s a boxing town but this is as big a show as there’s been here for a long time. I have to thank Eddie, Lou and DAZN for making this a reality, because often World champions don’t always get the chance to fight in their home city. It doesn’t happen, but it’s happening for me and that shows the level of respect that Eddie, Lou and I have for each other. It’s going to be a great night.

“I don’t care about these other champions. You never know what is going to happen with politics and people making excuses, but I’m here, I defended the title twice in three months last year and I’m headlining at home. If people really want to fight, it’s simple to do – sign the contract and turn up and fight.

“The only thing I care about is my career, keep lining them up and I’m going to keep smoking them and keep getting paid. With or without them, my career will be the best of all those guys. I’m on a high right now. Everything is good right now, I’m doing everything I’ve dreamed of.”

“I’ll do what I want with Tevin, he’s a tiny little child and I’m not afraid of him,” said Carroll. “When we meet, if he’s respectful of me, I’ll be respectful back as that’s how I’ve been brought up – but if comes talking rubbish then I’ll put him in his place.

“I see a fakeness in him when I see him interviewed, I see a fake person. My thoughts on him are that he wants to be liked, but he’s not. I reckon he’s arrogant, that’s the man I think he is and I know he’s that sort of flashy person saying stupid things on Twitter.

“Tevin is a man that wants to be liked but he plays like he’s Floyd Mayweather, but he’s not half as good as him. He has serious holes in his armory, and I am going to poke every single one of them, I’ll break him up and stop him.

“He’s never met a man like me in his life. He came from a rough background yes, but so did I. We’re both from crazy places but we’re in the limelight now, so we have to be grown-up and responsible as we’re going to have cameras around us.”

Irish sensation Katie Taylor can take a giant step towards her goal of becoming the undisputed World Lightweight champion when she aims to unify her WBA and IBF titles against WBO ruler Rose Volante.

Taylor (12-0 5KOs) added the IBF strap to her WBA title in April against Victoria Bustos in Brooklyn, New York, and has since defended the titles three times, stopping Kimberly Connor in three rounds in London in July before shutouts against Cindy Serrano in Boston in October and ending a stunning 2018 by beating Eva Wahlstrom in New York in December.

Volante (14-0 8KOs) has defended her WBO crown twice since winning the vacant title in December 2017 and the Argentine won both her defenses in Brazil 2018 by the halfway point, with Lourdes Borbua retiring after five rounds in April and Yolis Marrugo Franco stopped in three in September.

The champions put titles and unbeaten records on the line in Philadelphia, and the winner will target Belgian WBC ruler Delfine Persoon for all the belts later in the year.

“Ever since I won my first World title as a pro my goal has been to unify the Lightweight titles so this is obviously a massive step towards that,” said Taylor. “Volante is unbeaten so I’m expecting a tough fight but that’s exactly the kind of challenge I want. I think the better the opponent and the bigger the challenge the better I will perform.

“It’s a great card to be on especially with so many Irish fighters on the bill on St. Patrick’s weekend in Philadelphia so I’m sure it will be a special occasion.

“For now my focus is on Volante but of course after that fight I would love to have all the belts as soon as possible. Hopefully the Persoon fight can finally be made for the summer and then there are some other huge fights out there as well for the rest of the year.”

A stacked card in support of the two World title blockbusters is led by a crunch Middleweight clash between Philadelphia’s Gabriel Rosado and Pole Maciej Sulecki and an all-Philadelphia Lightweight clash between Hank Lundy and Avery Sparrow.

Rosado (24-11-1 14KOs) is back in action after a controversial all-action fight in Kansas with Luis Arias in November, the former World title challenger drawing with the Milwaukee man. The 33 year old will be desperate to get his name back into contention for major honors with the 160lbs division red hot right now, but Sulecki (27-1 11KOs) will have the same designs on those title shots having bounced back from a loss against Daniel Jacobs in April with a second round KO win in Poland in November.

“I’m excited to start the year back home in Philly,” said Rosado. “This is the second half of my career and the goal is to win a World title. It’s only right that it starts here in Philly.”

Photo: Matchroom Boxing

Spence: ‘If Harrison and Hurd fight, I’ll fight the winner of them two'(VIDEO)

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IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. has a big matchup in March against WBC lightweight champion Mikey Garcia in a fight that will feature two of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport of boxing, and if he gets past Garcia, Spence might have even bigger goals.

Spence and Jermell Charlo share the same trainer, Derrick James, and after Charlo was upset by Tony Harrison last Saturday night in Brooklyn, Spence was asked if he would be interested in fighting Harrison to avenge Charlo’s lost.

‘If Harrison and Hurd fight, I’ll fight the winner of them two,” Spence said.

Whether that happens, who knows. We will probably see Charlo-Harrison 2 before we see anything because according to Charlo, there was a rematch clause in the contract.

Spence has big fish to fry at 147, but he is a big welterweight who might want to move up at some point in time. So, anything is possible.

Listen to what Spence had to say below

 

Broner on training in South Florida: ‘I’m not focused on the clubbing and stuff, and all that stuff will be here after the fight’

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Four-division world champion and must-see attraction Adrien “The Problem” Broner hosted a media workout at Miami Beach’s famed 5th Street Gym on Tuesday as he prepares to face Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world champion, for his World Boxing Association Welterweight World Title on SHOWTIME PPV® Saturday, January 19 from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

In undercard action on the SHOWTIME PPV, two-division world champion Badou Jack will battle unbeaten top-rated contender Marcus Browne for the WBA Interim Light Heavyweight Title and former world champion Rau’shee Warren will take on France’s Nordine Oubaali for the vacant WBC Bantamweight World Championship in a rematch of their 2012 Olympic matchup that was edged by Oubaali.  In the opening bout of the four-fight PPV telecast, unbeaten Jhack Tepora will take on former world champion Hugo Ruiz in a 12-round featherweight clash.

Cincinnati’s Broner, one of boxing’s most popular and colorful personalities, is training under the tutelage of Kevin Cunningham in nearby West Palm Beach, Fla.

Here is what Broner had to say on Tuesday:

ADRIEN BRONER:

“This fight is real important. This is a hell of a fight not only for me but for the sport. This is a fight that needed to happen for the sport and we are going to put on a hell of a show.

“I always knew that one day I would be having fights like this. Honestly I thought he [Pacquiao] would be done with boxing by now but I always knew I would have a fight of this magnitude on this platform, pay-per-view and all and now I’m here.

“I knew what to expect. I knew he [Kevin] was going to be real strict and I just came prepared. Ready to put it all in and put it all on the line.”

On what he does in his down time:

“I try to rest as much as possible. I’m training so much and training real hard. This will be my second workout of the day and then after this I have another workout at 8:30 p.m. so that will be the third workout for the day so you know all my off time I try to eat properly, stay hydrated and stay focused.”

On how it feels to train in a gym that hosted greats like Muhammad Ali:

“It’s lovely. I never knew this gym existed and this is my first time ever being here or ever hearing about this gym being legendary. Muhammad Ali paved the way for guys like me and Sugar Ray Leonard and everyone else so, its legendary.

“I always tell other fighters and other people it takes more to be a star than just boxing. I just have everything it takes to be a mega star.”

On Pacquiao’s last fight against Lucas Matthysse:

“I didn’t see it but I heard he looked good. I don’t know what to expect. I’m just training for the best Pacquiao. And I’m going to go out there and do what I have to do to get the victory.”

 How do you feel training in South Florida?

“I’m not focused on the clubbing and stuff and all that stuff will be here after the fight. I’m 110 percent focused on this fight.”

What he will do after the Pacquiao Fight?

“Boxing you have to take it one fight at a time. My main focus is getting past Manny Pacquiao first and then we can talk about other things.”

On whether or not Pacquiao has a weakness:

“It’s not a mystery. He has seven losses. It’s not a mystery that he can lose but anyone can lose on any given day. It’s whoever prepares the best and I’m preparing myself to do what I need to do. I don’t care about stopping him or whether it’s a unanimous decision, as long as I’m victorious.”

On whether or not this is the biggest fight of his career:

“This is definitely my biggest fight, biggest magnitude, biggest platform I’ve ever been on but you never know. I could probably go in there and make this look like the easiest fight of my career you just never know.”

Photo from Robby Illanes/SHOWTIME

Henry: ‘We were in the huddle, they were like, ‘You got to break a 99-yard’

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Titans RB Derrick Henry is one of the unlikeliest players to have a 99-yard TD run, but Thursday night in Tennessee, Henry used his stiff-arm to rumble 99 yards to pay dirt as the Titans routed the Jaguars 30-9.

The third-year RB matched Tony Dorsett’s 99-yarder against the Vikings in 1983. Henry would finish the night with 238 yards and four touchdowns.

After the game, Henry, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, and Titans QB Marcus Mariota described what they saw on that 99-yard TD run:

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel:

(on what he saw specifically on the 99-yard run by Derrick Henry)

“He just ran out of guys to stiff arm. Just be careful getting too close to him, because I think I saw three of them from the 30 on. He’s been great, because it hasn’t been perfect. I think his attitude has been great. I think when you’re not doing things well as a team, or as an offense, or defense, or special teams, you know, there’s an opportunity to get frustrated with what’s going on. But, I think you just keep working and staying the course, and I think that’s what we did tonight. We had a good week of practice. These guys were focused. This isn’t easy to come back a few days later, felt like you slept twice, and it was time for the game.”

Titans QB Marcus Mariota:

(on the stiff arms Derrick Henry delivered to the Jaguars defense on his 99-yard touchdown)

“It was incredible. There is nothing like it. To be honest with you, it looked like it got bottled up and then he found his way out of it. Once that guy gets in the open field, he’s so hard to bring down. It is, it’s a treat to watch.”

Titans RB Derrick Henry:

(on how he felt on the 99-yard touchdown run)

“Trying to catch my breath. No, I’m just kidding. It’s so crazy, because before when we were in the huddle, they were like, ‘You got to break a 99-yard.’ My main focus is to get positive yards, but when I had the ball and I got it, I just saw it and I just hit it. My stiff arm was working, so that’s all about that. But, like I said, it started upfront with those guys. All of us, 11 of us, executing that play for that to happen.”

 (on what he heard on the Titans sideline after he scored a 99-yard touchdown)

“Everybody was just going crazy. I’m trying to hit helmets with everybody, dap everybody up. It was a crazy play. Like I said, us as a whole, we executed that.”

(on what he did with the ball from the 99-yard run)

“I’m definitely going to keep mine. When I see Tony (Dorsett) again, you know, I got to spend a lot of time with him when I was at the Heisman. You know, he’s a legend. It’s cool to be in that company with Tony (Dorsett).”

Tevin Farmer: ‘I’m on another level and people are starting to realize’

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Tevin Farmer will defend his IBF World Super-Featherweight title against Francisco Fonseca at Madison Square Garden in New York on December 15, on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez challenging Rocky Fielding for the WBA World Super-Middleweight title, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.

Farmer (27 – 4 – 1 6KOs) makes the second defense of his crown under two months in his third fight in just over four months after he first put the belt on the line in Boston, where he blasted hard-hitting Northern Irishman James Tennyson away inside five rounds in a fantastic performance on DAZN.

The Philadelphia ace looks to crown a great year in his career in style at the Manhattan boxing mecca with a third huge win, having landed the vacant title in Australia in August with a landslide points win over local favorite Billy Dib in Sydney – erasing the disappointment of his controversial loss to Kenichi Ogawa in Las Vegas in December, with the hotly-contested split decision reversal changed to a no contest following the Japanese failing a drug test.

Farmer has set his sights on a unification clash with WBA champion Gervonta Davis in 2019 as he aims to stamp his name as the premier fighter at 130lbs, but Fonseca (22 – 1 – 1 16KOs), whose sole blemish on his career was in a clash for the IBF crown with Davis in August 2017, is confident of ruining those plans and enters the bout on the back of three stoppage wins inside five rounds.

“Another day, another big night,” said Farmer. “I’m looking to do the same thing that I did to Tennyson – but much faster.

“I’m on another level and people are starting to realize. Right now, I’m just trying to make history with every fight. December 15 I will show everyone once again that I am one of the best in the world.”

“I’d like to thanks Tevin Farmer for the opportunity,” said Fonseca. “I see his focus is on Gervonta Davis, not on me – but you have no idea the opponent that you will clash with on December 15.

“I hope you’re prepared so we can give the public a great fight. In the name of God, I’ll be the new IBF World Champion. I’ll guarantee my name will never be forgotten by the people that watch us fight and I’m ready to make history.”

“Tevin Farmer is one of the most inspirational stories in boxing,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “He’s won 20 fights in a row and is one of the fastest improving young stars in boxing. I’m pleased that, with Eddie Hearn and DAZN, he is now the most active champion in the ring. It’s a tremendous opportunity to be on the Canelo-Fielding bill.”

“It’s brilliant to Tevin straight back out after his big win in Boston,” said Eddie Hearn. “We are keeping our guys nice and active and Tevin gets his chance to go again on the biggest stage at Madison Square Garden against Fonseca.

“2019 is going to be a monster for Tevin but he must get the job done next Saturday – I can’t wait to see him light up the Garden live on DAZN.”

Canelo vs. Rocky is a 12-round fight for the WBA Super Middleweight World Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Matchroom Boxing. Lemieux vs. Johnson is a 12-round middleweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Eye of The Tiger Management. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” and Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The event will take place Saturday, December 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City and will be streamed live on DAZN.

Photo: Matchroom Boxing

Seahawks reenact Allen Iverson stepping over Ty Lue(VIDEO)

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There are a lot of great celebrations going on around the NFL, including what we saw today. After scoring a touchdown against the Panthers, Seahawks’ Tyler Lockett and David Moore did a reenactment of Allen Iverson stepping over Tyron Lue in the 2001 NBA Finals.

Take a look:

Texans QB Deshaun Watson talks bus ride to Jacksonville

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Texans QB Deshaun Watson had a longer than usual trip to Jacksonville. Due to a bruised lung and injured ribs, the team had concerns about Watson flying, so he had to take a private bus from Houston to Jacksonville, and after what happened today, Watson should have a great bus trip back as the Texans defeated the Jaguars 20-7 on Sunday.

With the victory, Houston is in sole possession of first place in the AFC South.

After the game, Watson(12/24, 139 yards, 1 TD) discussed his bus ride to Jacksonville:

(On J.J. Watt wanting to travel back with him by bus)

“I have plenty of room. I have a little studio in the back. We’ll make an album or something. Tell him, ‘All good.’”

(On what the trip from Houston to Jacksonville by bus was like)

“It was smooth. We just kind of hung out, watched the film, recovery stuff, played a game, watched TV, slept, stopped and got something to eat. That was pretty much it.”

(On who traveled by bus with him)

“Just me, [Senior Director of Sports Performance] Luke [Richesson], [Assistant Athletic Trainer] Uriah [Myrie] and [inaudible].”

(On his reaction to traveling by bus)

“I was cool with it, you know. Whatever it takes to get me down here to be able to be with my teammates and be able to play and do what I do and help this team win, I’m up for it.”

Twitter reacts to Canelo’s victory over Golovkin

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It was a much closer fight this time around; however, this time someone walked out of the ring a winner and someone walked out a loser. On Saturday night, Canelo Alvarez(50-1-2, 34 KOs) defeated Gennady Golovkin(38-1-1, 34 KOs) by majority decision at T-Moblie Arena in Las Vegas to capture the WBC and WBA middleweight titles, while handing Golovkin his first loss. Golovkin’s streak of middleweight title defenses ends at 20, which leaves Golovkin tied with Bernard Hopkins for the division record.

Should be interesting to see if we get a third fight between these two foes.

Here is how Twitter reacted: