Tag: Boxing
Ramos: ‘I would like a rematch with Lubin’
Hard-hitting super welterweight contender Jesus “Mono” Ramos talked training camp, rebounding from defeat and more as he nears his showdown against Johan Gonzalez topping PBC on Prime Video action this Saturday, May 4 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The live streaming presentation begins at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT and also features rising contender Vito Mielnicki Jr. battling L.A.’s Ronald Cruz in a 10-round fight kicking off the stream.
These bouts will lead into a four-fight PBC Pay-Per-View/DAZN PPV on Prime Video beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, which is headlined by Canelo Álvarez putting his undisputed super middleweight world title on the line against unbeaten all-action former world champion Jaime Munguía in the main event.
Here is what Ramos had to say ahead of Saturday’s matchup:
On his training camp for Gonzalez:
“I feel really good. I feel strong. We made the necessary adjustments to improve from my last fight. I feel strong and just excited to be back. We are handling things differently this camp and implementing new elements into my game that we weren’t doing last camp. We are still working hard, but also preparing mentally and adding strategic pieces and I’m just excited to put it all together on fight night.”
On bouncing back from a close decision loss to Erickson Lubin in his last fight:
“I don’t think it was my best night, but I still felt like I did enough to pull it off. Obviously, it wasn’t my best performance and I’m aware of that, but I felt like it was enough to win. I was the one in control the whole fight, pushing him back, landing more punches. Some of the rounds that I felt I did the most effective work; they gave it to him. I was disappointed obviously, but I’m going to show in this fight that it was just a bump in the road. The journey continues and I’m not going to stop until I’m a world champion.”
On earning a Lubin rematch:
“Yes, I would like a rematch with Lubin. Against Gonzalez, I have to show that there’s levels to this sport, and he’s not at my level. I have to prove myself and show that I don’t need a tune up fight or an easier fight. I just need to just keep progressing. I shouldn’t be taking steps back; I should keep moving forward.”
On his May 4 opponent Johan Gonzalez:
“I know he hits hard. He has 33 knockouts in his 34 wins, so he has some pop. I know he’s going to come forward and he’s going to try to pressure me. I expect that. I expect a fun fight while it lasts. We both have power, so don’t expect it to go the distance.”
On fighting on a blockbuster Cinco de Mayo weekend event:
“I’m really motivated to be fighting on Cinco de Mayo weekend and really blessed to be back on a Canelo undercard. I’m just excited. I feel like the same people that were at my last fight on the Canelo-Charlo undercard are going to be there and watching on May 4. I have to demonstrate that my last performance wasn’t who I am. It wasn’t my best performance and I’m kind of in debt with them in that aspect.”
Paul-Tyson sanctioned by Texas Department of Licensing
On Monday, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Holden Boxing confirmed that the heavyweight boxing match between Jake Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) and Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) will officially be a sanctioned, professional fight by Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR).
The heavyweight matchup will be contested over eight two-minute rounds with 14oz. gloves.
Tyson last fought in a sanctioned bout in 2005, when he was stopped by journeyman heavyweight Kevin McBride.
“Mike Tyson and Jake Paul signed on to fight each other with the desire to do so in a sanctioned professional fight that would have a definitive outcome,” said Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian. “Over the past six weeks MVP has worked with its partners to satisfy the requirements of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) to sanction Paul Vs Tyson and we are grateful that we have gotten to this point. MVP has championed fighter choice since its inception, including advocating for women’s boxing to be contested with two or three-minute rounds based on the particular fight matchup.”
In the co-main event, undisputed super lightweight world champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) will step back in the ring for the most anticipated rematch in women’s boxing history against boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs).
The event will stream live globally, exclusively on Netflix, on Saturday, July 20, 2024, from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Adrien Broner-Blair Cobbs set for June 7 in Florida
Hall of Fame boxing promoter Don King and Kris Lawrence’s The Heavyweight Factory present an exciting evening of first-class boxing featuring Adrien “The Problem” Broner (35-4-1, 24 KOs) and Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (16-1-1, 10 KOs) on Friday, June 7th at the beautiful Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
The long anticipated featured fight of the night will see Cincinnati’s Adrien Broner stepping into the ring against former NABF Welterweight Champion Blair Cobbs. This high-stakes matchup marks Cobbs’ return to the ring for the first time in nearly two years, facing off against the highly decorated Broner as they fight for the WBC “People’s Championship”.
On the heels of an impressive knockout victory, newly crowned WBC Cruiserweight Champion Norair “The Dark Horse” Mikaeljan (27-2, 12 KOs) aims to defend his title for the first time against Canada’s hard-hitting Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1, 19 KOs).
In addition, Paterson, NJ’s Ian “The Young General” Green (18-2, 12 KOs) will be defending his WBA Continental USA Middleweight title. The fan-favorite Green enters this bout on the strength of six straight victories.
n addition to the above three championship fights, heavyweight feature fight is set as Cassius Chaney (23-1, 16 KOs) of New London, CT takes on Michael “The Bounty” Hunter (22-1-2, 16 KOs) of Las Vegas, NV.
“This spectacular fighting event is dedicated to the honor of the life and legacy of the late great Jose Sulaiman in the spirit of world peace,” said promoter Don King. “Jose was at the forefront of always putting on great fights and we plan to honor him with this great card.”
WBA NABA Light Heavyweight Champion Ahmed “The American Pharoah” Elbiali (23-1, 18 KOs) will defend his title and Michael “The Brazilian Rocky” Oliveira (21-2, 16 KOs) of Miami, FL will be featured in a super middleweight attraction. NABA Welterweight Champion Tresean “Trigger” Wiggins (16-5-3, 9 KOs) of Newburgh, New York will defend his title. All opponents are to be announced.
Cruiserweight Yuniel “The KO Doctor” Dorticos (26-2, 24 KOs) from Cuba and young Cuban middleweight rising star Yoenlis Feliciano “Yoyo” Hernandez (3-0) will also be featured on the boxing card. Rising star, hometown sensation De’von Williams (4-0, 4 KOs) of Ft. Lauderdale, FL will meet Travis Floyd of Douglasville, GA.
Terence Crawford to battle Israil Madrimov on huge card in Los Angeles
Far too often, promoters have not worked together in the sport of boxing, but on August 3 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, many of the major promoters in the sport will come together for a big card headlined by former two-division undisputed champion Terence Crawford challenging Israil Madrimov for his WBA and WBO interim1 154-pound title.
Riyadh Season Card, Sela, League 1, and Matchroom Boxing will promote the event in association with World Of Boxing, TGB Promotions, Golden Boy, Goldstar, Queensberry, Salita Promotions, and Warriors Boxing Promotions.
Crawford (40-0 31 KOs) is gunning to become a Four-Weight World champion as he moves up to 154 pounds. He conquered the Welterweight division with a stunning KO win over Errol Spence to be crowned the undisputed champion at welterweight in Las Vegas in July. The Omaha star has already ruled the roost at Super-Lightweight and Lightweight, and now the pound-for-pound great is arrowing in on cementing greatness by claiming honors at a fourth weight.
Madrimov (10-0-1 7 KOs) is the man who stands in Crawford’s way, and the Uzbek champion makes his first defense of his title against the toughest opposition possible after spectacularly winning the belt in his last outing in Saudi Arabia. The 29-year-old took on Magomed Kurbanov for the vacant title in Riyadh in March and stopped the Russian in five rounds with a dominant performance to continue his impressive unbeaten run in the paid ranks following a glittering amateur career.
“I’m proud to partner with Riyadh Season and HE Turki Alalshikh on their first boxing event in the United States. I cannot wait to get back in the ring in my fourth weight class and remind the world why I’m the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world,” said Terence Crawford. “Israil Madrimov is a tremendous and entertaining fighter, but on August 3, he will be my next victim. This is the “Terence Crawford era.”
“Terence Crawford is one of my favorite boxers and one of the best boxers in the world,” said Israil Madrimov. “I am very excited to get this opportunity to make a statement, and I will Inshallah.”
The main event is complemented by an undercard that is set to captivate fight fans.
Recently crowned WBA Super-Lightweight champion Isaac Cruz defends his title for the first time against United States southpaw Jose Valenzuela.
Two of the United States’ most fearsome boxing Heavyweights will do battle with former unified Heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz, returning to the ring for the first time since a unanimous decision win against Luis Ortiz in September 2022, to face Jarrell Miller, who will be going all out to produce a winning outcome after losing his undefeated record in Riyadh in December last year.
Former Super-Welterweight World champion Tim Tszyu awaits Vergil Ortiz Jr., subject to the outcome of his fight against Thomas Dulorme this weekend. Meanwhile, David Morrell of Cuba will seek to preserve his unbeaten record in a Light-Heavyweight contest against US fighter Radivoje Kalajdzic.
Andy Cruz, the Olympic Lightweight gold medalist, continues his Lightweight campaign when he takes on Mexico’s Antonio Moran.
Nery: ‘I will win by knockout’
Mexican former two-division world champion Luis Nery is aware that the odds are stacked against him, but a major upset in Tokyo wouldn’t be the first of its kind.
Nery will challenge pound-for-pound king Naoya “Monster” Inoue for the undisputed junior featherweight world championship on Monday, May 6 at the Tokyo Dome.
This will be the first boxing event at “The Big Egg” since February 1990, when James “Buster” Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson in the 10th round to capture the undisputed heavyweight crown in one of the sport’s biggest upsets.
Inoue-Nery and three additional world title showdowns will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 4 a.m. ET/1 a.m. PT.
In the co-feature, Australia’s Jason “Mayhem” Moloney (27-2, 19 KOs) will defend his WBO bantamweight world title against former kickboxing world champion Yoshiki Takei (8-0, 8 KOs).
Takuma Inoue (19-1, 5 KOs), Naoya’s younger brother, will put his WBA bantamweight crown on the line against former world title challenger Sho Ishida (34-3, 17 KOs), and Seigo Yuri Akui (19-2-1, 11 KOs) will risk his WBA flyweight world title against Taku Kuwahara (13-1, 8 KOs) in a rematch of their 2021 encounter.
Nery (35-1, 27 KOs) captured the WBC bantamweight world title by beating Shinsuke Yamanaka in August 2017, but lost it the following year after failing to make weight for their rematch. He moved up to junior featherweight, where he earned the WBC strap against Aaron Alameda in September 2020. The 29-year-old suffered his first loss in a unification showdown against WBA champ Brandon Figueroa in May 2021. Since that defeat, Nery has gone 4-0 with three knockouts, including a dramatic 11th-round stoppage of Azat Hovhannisyan last February in a Fight of the Year contender. Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs), a four-division world champion, looks to defend his undisputed crown after last year’s demolitions of unified world champions Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales.
Following a recent training session in El Paso, Texas, this is what Nery had to say:
“This is the highest stage one can reach as a fighter. It’s like soccer players who prepare their entire lives for a World Cup. It’s the same. This is bigger than being a world champion. It’s four belts. It’s undisputed.”
“I’ve been wanting to fight him for about three years now. Fortunately, the opportunity has come, and we are taking it seriously. He is an elite fighter. He’s among the best fighters. He is fast. He is strong. But he has weaknesses, and he does take some punches.”
“I’m the only one who can beat Inoue because I have good power, I can take punches, I have heart, and I’m willing to die in the ring. I’m a fighter who, above all, is a brawler. I like to brawl in the ring. But, I like to counter as well. If the fight allows for it, and if the fighter and the style allow for it, then I do it. I adapt to whatever style of fight I’m in to get the victory.”
“I think that Inoue shouldn’t have taken this fight. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t have taken it. He has nothing to win by beating me. In fact, he has everything to lose. I have nothing to lose. I’m not a champion. I’m not at the top like him. I’m going for all the marbles. I’m coming with everything. I will take risks, and I’m willing to die in the ring.
“This is an important fight. It deserves to be in an arena that is just as important like the Tokyo Dome. And I think it’s a sign. If Mike Tyson can lose his unbeaten record there, then so can Naoya Inoue. Now, Mike Tyson was actually a monster. He for sure was an assassin. So, I’m happy that they made the fight at Tokyo Dome.”
“I will win by knockout. There’s no other way. I know that either he or I will be stopped. But I’m sure that he will be stopped.”
Photo: Gabriel Acosta/Zanfer Promotions
Muhsin Cason talks big fight in Philly
This Friday, undefeated cruiserweight prospect Muhsin “The Muslim Boxer” Cason (12-0, 9 KOs) will put his undefeated record on the line against DeShon Webster (12-7-3, 6 KOs) on Saturday, April 27.
The five-round fight will take place at the Liacouras Center on the campus of Temple University in Philadelphia.
Here is what Cason had to say about his recent training camp, his upcoming fight with DeShawn Webster, goals for 2024, and more:
On his recent training camp:
“My recent training camp was amazing. Most of my camp during Ramadan was a new accomplishment for me. I think my mindset has reached a new level.”
On his upcoming matchup with DeShawn Webster:
“DeShawn Webster is a formidable opponent. I think he’s going to come in tough and I think the world is going to see what I’ve been working on for the last year and a half with my coach Rasheem Jefferson. I plan to show skills in this fight so far and continue my journey to become a world champion.”
On what a win will do for his career:
“I think a win for me will solidify my standings in the prospect rankings of becoming the world champion”
On what his goals are for 2024:
“To keep winning and to keep persevering, no matter what the obstacle”
Garcia on Haney: ‘I should’ve knocked him out that seventh round’
Ryan Garcia was crazy like a fox.
Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) dropped Davin Haney (31-1, 15 KOs) three times, and pulled off the upset win by majority decision on Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn(DAZN PPV).
One judge had it on 112-112, which was overruled by two other judges, who scored the fight 115-109 and 114-110.
Garcia, who missed weight and was not eligible to win Haney’s WBC 140-pound belt, appeared to have Haney hurt in the first round with a left hook, but Haney did not hit the canvas and survived.
However, Haney would hit the deck for the first time in his career with another left hook in Round 7, which hurt Haney bad, but he was able to get up and get through the round. However, Garcia was docked a point by referee Harvey Dock for hitting Haney on the break.
[Regarding the point being deducted in the seventh round] “The guy was holding me for dear life, and I felt the opportunity to keep swinging while my hands were free,” Garcia said.
Garcia believes he could have stopped Haney in Round 7.
“I should’ve knocked him out that seventh round,” he said. “They stole that from me. I’m surprised he has so much heart and recovery. He got wobbled bad in the first round. I thought it was over. He even hurt me with a hook. At the end of the day, I’m going to fight him, win or lose.”
“King Ry” dropped Haney again in Round 10, but again, Haney got up and survived. Finally, Garcia knocked down the WBC 140-pound champion in Round 11.
After 12 rounds, the upset was complete.
Photo: Golden Boy / Cris Esqueda
“I shouldn’t have put too much pressure on myself to stop him, because every time I hurt him, I went crazy and I couldn’t stop him,” said Garcia. “I think the ref should’ve stopped the fight. He (Haney) was really hurt. I felt bad; I even looked at Bill(Haney) to stop the fight.”
Golden Boy Promotions Chairman Oscar De La Hoya believes Garcia is the face of boxing.
“Ryan just shocked the world and proved once and for all that he is the face of boxing and a pound-for-pound athlete in our sport,” De La Hoya said. “Despite all of the talk from armchair psychologists and so-called boxing pundits, Ryan clearly had a plan and executed it.”
No one thought this fight would happen. Many thought Garcia’s erratic behavior would derail everything, but it didn’t, and Garcia proved all the doubters wrong. What a night!!
Devin Haney believes Garcia’s antics will come back to haunt him
Throughout the promotion for his fight against WBC 140-pound champion Devin Handey, Ryan Garcia has been a whirlwind of unpredictability. His erratic behavior has left some doubting whether this fight would ever come to fruition. Yet, despite the turbulence, the fight will still happen.
Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs), who drank what he said was beer at the ceremonial weigh-in on Friday, weighed in at 143.2 pounds, which is 3.2 pounds over the junior welterweight division, but both sides were able to negotiate new terms, and the fight was saved, and the two will face off on Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn(DAZN PPV).
According to Dan Rafael, Bill Haney(Haney’s father/manager) made a deal with Team Garcia, which will earn Devin Haney $600k and 2% of Garcia’s PPV upside (if it reaches the upside threshold)
However, it’s important to note that Garcia won’t be in line to capture Haney’s belt.
“Ryan has weighed in over his contractual weight,” Golden Boy Promotion said in a statement. “He will honor the handshake made at the final press conference yesterday.”
Haney (31-0, 15 KOs), who weighed in at 140 pounds even, made a bet with Garcia at Thursday’s press conference that Garcia would not make weight, and he was right.
“He’s Ryan: he’s unique,” Garcia’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya told DAZN. “He’s his own person; he does what he does. Everybody tells me, ‘Can’t you control him?’ I’m not his babysitter, I’m not his manager, I’m his promoter – we put the events together. When Ryan tells me, ‘I’m trolling,’ I don’t know if I should believe him or not.”
Throughout the promotion, Haney has made it clear that he believes Garcia’s actions will come back to haunt him.
“The time is very close,” Haney said on Thursday. “It’s been a long time coming. The talking is almost done. This not an easy fight but it’s a fight that ill make look easy. I have tunnel vision and all his antics will betray him com Saturday night.”
It should be very interesting to see what happens on Saturday night. Garcia appears to be slightly off right now, or maybe he’s trolling all of us. Who knows? If you had to pick a winner, you would go with Haney. He just seems more focused and locked in. However, don’t dismiss Garcia. He has the ability, but none of that matters if he’s not right mentally.
Prediction: Haney by wide unanimous decision.
Photo/Courtesy: Golden Boy Promotions / Cris Esqueda
Zayas-Teixeira, Carrington-Enrique set for June 8 at MSG
Junior middleweight phenom Xander Zayas is poised to kick off Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend by facing his stiffest challenge yet.
Zayas will take on Brazilian former world champion Patrick Teixeira in a 10-round clash on Saturday, June 8 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Zayas will look to secure his 19th pro win 19 years after Top Rank initiated its parade weekend tradition when Miguel Cotto defended his junior welterweight crown against Muhammad Abdullaev.
In the 10-round featherweight co-feature, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, the latest fistic prodigy from Brownsville, Brooklyn, aims to extend his knockout streak against Mexico’s Jose Enrique Vivas.
Zayas-Teixeira and Carrington-Vivas will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.
Zayas (18-0, 12 KOs) has been on the path to stardom after signing with Top Rank at 16 and debuting as a pro in October 2019. He captured his first regional title with a TKO win against Elias Espadas in August 2022 and followed up with an eight-round decision against Alexis Salazar that December. In 2023, he decisioned Ronald Cruz during Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend and stopped Roberto Valenzuela Jr. in September. The 21-year-old concluded the year in December with a scintillating fifth-round TKO against Spanish contender Jorge Fortea as the co-feature to the Robeisy Ramirez-Rafael Espinoza main event.
Zayas said, “Representing Puerto Rico on a date in which Boricua culture is celebrated and honored represents a sacred commitment that I have with my people. On June 8, I won’t just be fighting for myself. I’ll be fighting for each and every Puerto Rican who always perseveres when the going gets tough. This is my first main event and my first fight against a former world champion. And I plan on carrying my flag and making it shine on one of the world’s biggest stages, ‘The Mecca of Boxing.’”
Teixeira (34-4, 25 KOs) stunned the boxing world by upsetting Carlos Adames to capture the interim WBO junior middleweight world title in November 2019. After being elevated to full champion, the 33-year-old southpaw faced multiple setbacks, losing the title to Argentine powerhouse Brian Castaño in February 2021. In his subsequent bouts, he was controversially disqualified against Paul Valenzuela in April 2022 and suffered a decision loss against then-unbeaten Russian Magomed Kurbanov that July. Undeterred, Teixeira bounced back with a first-round knockout win against Adrian Perez in November 2022, a second-round stoppage over Carlos Rivero last August and a fourth-round TKO against Edisson Saltarin in March.
Teixeira said, “It took longer than expected, but this fight is finally here. I can’t wait to get in the ring and put the division on notice. I did it once before when I won my world title against Adames on a Top Rank show, and I’m going to do it again with one of their rising stars. Zayas is a great talent, and everyone there will be supporting him during that important weekend. But my experience will make the difference, and I’ll show that on June 8.”
Carrington (11-0, 7 KOs), a 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials champion, has rapidly ascended the ranks since turning pro in October 2021. The 27-year-old secured five victories in 2023, including a second-round TKO against former world title challenger Jason Sanchez. In his last outing, he blasted out Bernard Torres with a right hook at The Theater in February. The stoppage went viral and was a SportsCenter Top 10 highlight.
Carrington said, “Vivas should be my toughest opponent to date, but as I do every time I fight in Shu York City, I’m going to put on a crowd-pleasing performance. It’s special to fight in front of the great Puerto Rican fans. I can’t wait for June 8.”
Vivas (23-3, 12 KOs), a tenacious 29-year-old Mexican, enjoyed an undefeated 17-0 run before encountering his first pro defeat at the hands of Ruben Villa in September 2019. He bounced back with a four-fight winning spree, including a 10-round decision over then-unbeaten Carlos Jackson in July 2020 and an eight-round triumph against Louie Coria the following May. Despite a majority points loss to eventual title challenger Eduardo Baez in March 2022, Vivas rebounded with a win over Edy Valencia before losing to Joet Gonzalez last April. In February, he scored a first-round TKO against Jonathan Aguilar.
The ESPN+-streamed undercard will showcase a selection of some of the best rising talents from the East Coast.
Junior middleweight Jahi Tucker (10-1-1, 5 KOs), from Deer Park, New York, looks to respond following a string of setbacks in an eight-rounder versus Quincy LaVallais (17-4-1, 12 KOs). Tucker overcame a tough out in Nikoloz Sekhniashvili last April, dropped a decision to Nicklaus Flaz in July, and fought to a majority draw against Francisco Daniel Veron in December.
U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (12-0, 6 KOs) will see action in an eight-rounder against once-beaten Tarik Zaina (13-1-1, 8 KOs). After going 4-0 in 2023, the Cleveland native made his 2024 debut with a first-round stoppage victory against Paulo Galdino in February.
Unbeaten welterweight Elijah Flores (8-0, 3 KOs) will lock horns against Derrick Whitley Jr. (7-4-1) in a six-rounder. Flores, a Bronx native, returns following a fourth-round TKO against Alejandro Munera in March.
Junior lightweight prospect Ofacio Falcon (10-0, 6 KOs) heads to The Theater for a third time to take on Antonio Dunton El Jr. (5-2-2, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder. Falcon, also a Bronx native, decisioned Edward Ceballos in February.
Team USA heavyweight hopeful Ali Feliz (1-0, 1 KO), from Danbury, Connecticut, makes his second appearance in the paid ranks in a four-round tilt versus Lemir Isom-Riley (4-2, 2 KOs). Feliz dispatched Anthony Woodson III in only two rounds last Saturday in Corpus Christi, Texas. Isom-Riley last fought on the Teofimo Lopez-Jamaine Ortiz bill in February, stopping Antonio Zepeda in three rounds.
Nisa Rodriguez (1-0), a Golden Gloves champion and NYPD officer, will square off against Jordanne Garcia ( 4-3-3) in a four-round middleweight fight.
Rising flyweight Andy Dominguez (10-1, 6 KOs), who was born in Mexico and raised in The Bronx, will face Cristopher Rios (10-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-rounder.