Tag: oscar de la hoya
Garcia on fight with Davis: ‘This is the biggest moment in sports right now’
The biggest fight in boxing is finally here! Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia will battle in a 12-round bout at a catchweight of 136 pounds on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas(Showtime PPV).
Davis(28-0, 26 KOs) and Garcia(23-0, 19 KOs) are two of the biggest names in boxing, and a lot is on the line. A win for Garcia or Davis could make one of them the face of the sport.
“This is the biggest moment in sports right now,” Garcia said at the final press conference on Thursday. “It means a lot. The magnitude of this fight is huge. Everything is already on the line. I’m just ready to go as deep as I have to. This moment is everything to me. I’ve envisioned this for years, and it’s finally here.”
Davis added: “He’s gonna feel me for sure. I am what I say I am. I’m that guy. I didn’t get all the way here for no reason. I put the work in, and I got those guys out of there. He’s gonna see it come Saturday night for sure.”
This fight is simple. If the 24-year-old Garcia can stand up to Davis’ power, he has a shot at winning. Davis can be outworked because he has a low work rate.
According to CompuBox, in his last 12 fights, Davis averages just over 34.2 punches thrown per round(fewest among fighters), but his power connect percentage is 47.8%(best among fighters), so when he lands, he lands hard.
“Don’t forget I’m the most accurate puncher out there,” Davis said. “Make sure you’ve been practicing on putting your hands up.”
According to CompuBox, in his last five fights, Garcia averages 41.1 punches thrown per round. Both are below the lightweight average of 57.5 punches per round.
Both land at about the same rate(Davis/12 per round, Garcia/12.8 per round).
Garcia discussed Davis’ punch output.
“This man has never punished anyone in his life,” Garcia said. “He’s always losing in these fights. Get that out of your mind. You’re gonna get punished. You(Davis) got the lowest punch output in boxing.”
Here’s the bottom line. To date, since the 28-year-old Davis has been at the top of the sport, one guy has stood up to his power, and that’s Isaac Cruz, who lost to Davis in a very competitive bout; so again, if Garcia, who has the height and reach advantage(5-10, 70; Davis 5-5, 67 1/2) and the speed advantage, can avoid Tank’s power shot, he can get the win.
Plus, Garcia has a beautiful left hook, and he has power. Not Davis’s power, but Garcia can punch, so let’s not sleep on that. Some say the catchweight(136 pounds) and 10-pound rehydration clause could hurt Garcia. The last time Garcia fought at 135, he was dropped for the first time in career by Luke Campbell, so that’s something to think about.
Something else to think about, in February, Davis pled guilty to leaving the scene of an accident involving bodily injury, failing to notify an owner of property damage, driving on a suspended license, and running a red light. The car accident happened in 2020 in Baltimore; he may do jail time, which could be a distraction.
Prediction:
Davis gets the KO in the 10th round in a fun fight.
Vergil Ortiz withdraws from fight against Stanionis
For the second time in his career, welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz, Jr. has had to pull out of a fight due to rhabdomyolysis.
Ortiz’s fight with WBA “Regular Champion” welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis, scheduled on April 29 in Arlington, Texas, has been postponed, Golden Boy Promotions announced on Wednesday.
According to Golden Boy Promotions, he is expected to recover and return to the ring later this year fully.
Ortiz, 25, was diagnosed in March 2022 with rhabdomyolysis, and his fight with Michael McKinson had to be postponed. Rhabdomyolysis can cause permanent and potentially fatal organ damage.
“Vergil works tirelessly to prepare for his fights, and this is, of course, a huge disappointment for Golden Boy, him and his family,” Golden Boy Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “Despite this setback, I truly believe Vergil remains focused and will accomplish his goal of becoming a world champion this year and going on to become the top welterweight in the division.”
According to Golden Boy, more information on the April 29 event will be announced shortly.
Ortiz-Stanionis set for April 29 in Arlington
Undefeated knockout sensation Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (19-0, 19 KOs) of Grand Prairie, Texas has kicked opened the door to challenge for a world title as he is set to fight undefeated World Champion Eimantas Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs) of Kaunas, Lithuania for Stanionis’s WBA Regular Welterweight Title. The 12-round championship showdown is set to take place on Saturday, April 29 at College Park Center at The University of Texas at Arlington campus. The exclusive fight night will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.
“I am beyond happy, knowing that we’re finally here, fighting for a world title,” said Vergil Ortiz, Jr. “The work that we’ve done inside and outside of the ring and the obstacles we’ve overcome has led to this moment. Stanionis is a great fighter with massive power and I know we are going to put on a good show for everyone. I want to thank my promoter, Golden Boy, the WBA, and my manager, Rick Mirigian for getting this across the finish line.”
“Vergil asked for this fight, so here we are,” said Eimantas Stanionis. “I feel like this is going to be a special fight. We have mutual respect as competitors but make no mistake it’s going to be an absolute war.”
“There will be war inside the ring on April 29 as these two dangerous fighters clash to be at the top of the welterweight division,” said Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya. “Ortiz and Stanionis are elite level fighters who will be unafraid to unleash treacherous power and pressure to be crowned World Champion.”
With a 100 percent knockout ratio, Vergil Ortiz, Jr. sits near the top of the stacked welterweight division. His most recent fight in August of 2022 was an entertaining scramble in front of a hometown Texan crowd against Michael McKinson that added rounds to his boxing portfolio and a seventh-round KO. The 24-year-old has had an exciting career since his 2016 debut, knocking out contenders like Antonio “Relentless” Orozco, Brad “King” Solomon, and Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker. Ortiz is currently ranked No. 1 by the WBA and WBO, No.2 by the WBA, and No. 3 by the IBF. This will be the first time he will be fighting for a world championship.
Currently the WBA Regular Welterweight World Champion, Eimantas Stanionis secured his title belt with a split-decision victory against Radzhab Butaev in a toe-to-toe match-up last April 2022. The 28-year-old former Lithuanian Olympian turned pro in 2017 after an impressive amateur career that amassed a number of accolades, including representing his country at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Since turning pro, the undefeated fighter quickly went from prospect to contender after beating the likes of Justin DeLoach, Janer Gonzalez, and Thomas Dulorme.
Information on tickets and the undercard will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
Golden Boy Promotions sign super welterweight prospect Eric Tudor
Golden Boy Promotions announced Friday the signing of super welterweight prospect Eric Tudor (7-0, 6 KOs) to its coveted promotional banner.
Tudor,21, is a boxer-puncher who’s foundational arsenal makes him a well-rounded pugilist. With over 200 amateur fights, the Romanian-born combatant was part of the Romanian National Team. Raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the 21-year-old also won the Silver Gloves and National PAL Boxing Championships here in the U.S. He has fought a number of times on Golden Boy Fight Night Series cards, impressing fans with his quick, knockout stoppages.
“I’m excited to be a part of a great promotional company like Golden Boy and showcase my talent to the world on such a great platform,” Tudor said. “I want to use this opportunity to show that I’m one of the best prospects in boxing.
“Like many other fighters, my goal is to fight for a world title. Activity was a key factor for me when signing with a promotional company. I want to be in the ring as many times as possible and Golden Boy will make it happen.”
“We have been impressed by the raw talent we see in Eric Tudor,” said Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “His skillset mixed with the Golden Boy tools to make a star, we expect for him to thrive under our promotional banner and one day become champion if he continues his steadfast commitment to be the best. No one can build fighters like we do, and we are excited to welcome Tudor to the Golden Boy Family.”
Zurdo: ‘I expect the very best Dmitry Bivol for this fight’
With a fired up Mexican band setting up a festive tone, media and boxing fans alike rallied together for a special Los Angeles media workout event hosted by undefeated, former WBO Super Middleweight World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs) at Brickhouse Boxing Club.
Ramirez discussed his upcoming 12-round championship fight against Dmitry Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) for the WBA Light Heavyweight World Title on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The fight will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN.
Here is what Ramirez and Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya had to say:
Ramirez:
Photo: Golden Boy Promotions
“Camp has been going very well. I am happy to be here, I am happy to be doing this. Man, this is just exciting.
“I am taking back the belt on November 5! I am very proud to not only represent Mazatlán, Sinaloa, but all of Mexico and all Latinos. I can’t wait to prove to everyone and to myself that I can do this. Bivol is a tough guy. He’s a really good challenge. But, I am going to avenge the Mexican population since he beat Canelo.
“When I heard the fight would be in Abu Dhabi, I thought ‘Wow, that’s cool – I have never been there before.’ After the press conference, I was blown away and I am even more excited to fight there.
“I expect the very best Dmitry Bivol for this fight. I expect this to be an exciting fight. It will be a war.”
De La Hoya:
Photo: Golden Boy Promotions
“This fight was forced on Bivol. Zurdo always wanted to fight for the world title, he wanted to fight the very best. We did our job as a promoter to make this fight happen. We forced this fight to happen through the WBA, through the rankings.
“We established Zurdo as the number one contender. He’s fought back-to-back eliminators, so he deserved this shot. We did a very good job in positioning Zurdo, and now it’s Zurdo’s job to bring the belt back.
“The fact that he [Zurdo] has that killer instinct, and that he wants this so bad, you can see it oozing from out of his eyes. He’s piercing through everything. He wants that big prize against Bivol. Zurdo is calm, cool, and collected – and that’s what you want from a fighter stepping up in competition against someone like Bivol.”
Ortiz-McKinson set for August 6
Knockout sensation and the pride of Grand Prairie, Texas, Vergil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18 KOs), will make his grand return to the ring on Saturday, August 6, taking on top 10 ranked, undefeated welterweight contender Michael “The Problem” McKinson (22-0, 2 KOs) of Portsmouth, Great Britain. The 12-round welterweight fight will take place at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and will stream live worldwide, exclusively on DAZN.
Ortiz-McKinson was originally scheduled to fight on March 19, but Ortiz was forced to pull out after being diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis.
“I am very happy to be stepping back into the ring again,” said Vergil Ortiz, Jr. “I’m ready to show the world once again why I’m ready for a world title.”
“I’m getting what I deserve,” said Michael McKinson. “I was prepared to fight Ortiz, Jr. before; now, I have been given the opportunity again to prove I am the best in this division.”
“Vergil Ortiz, Jr. is the most exciting welterweight in the world,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO. “We are happy that he is back, healthy, and feels 100%. Fighting in his home state, I can’t think of a better way for him to make his comeback and put on another great performance for his fans. He is one step away from challenging any world champion and he will prove it on August 6.”
Vergil Ortiz Jr. boasts a perfect knockout undefeated record and is considered one of the most exciting fighters in the welterweight division. Originally scheduled to return to the ring on March 19 in Los Angeles against Michael “The Problem” McKinson, Ortiz, Jr. suffered a medical emergency that forced him to pull out of that fight. Fortunately, the fighter is now 100% healthy to return and is looking to make an impressive comeback in front of his hometown when he faces McKinson at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, TX. Ortiz, Jr. was last seen in the ring in a fantastic TKO victory against world title contender Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas in August 2021. In addition, he has faced and won against some of the toughest fighters in the division, knocking out contenders like Antonio “Relentless” Orozco, Brad “King” Solomon, and Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker.
Ranked as one of the top 10 best welterweights in the world, Michael McKinson is an undefeated fighter ready to face any contender in the division. Hailing from Portsmouth, Great Britain, the 27-year-old made his US debut on March 19, defeating Alex “Chi-Town Heat” Martin after a last minute change due to the cancellation of Ortiz, Jr. vs. McKinson. Now a notable name in the boxing scene, McKinson has enjoyed an accomplished career capturing titles including the WBC International Silver Welter Title and the WBO European and Global Welter titles. Now, the UK fighter will be looking to show that he has what it takes to defeat Ortiz, Jr. in his home turf and prove he belongs among the division’s elite.
De La Hoya: ‘One thing about Charlo and the whole PBC stable is that they hide behind Haymon’
Jaime Munguia (39-0, 31 KOs) will return on Saturday night as he battler former world title challenger Jimmy Kelly (26-2, 10 KOs) in a 12-round super middleweight fight on Saturday at Anaheim’s Honda Center.
Recently, Munguia was in talks to battle WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo, but those discussions broke down as the two sides could not come to an agreement.
At the final press conference for Munguia-Kelly on Thursday, Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya talked Charlo-Munguia. According to De La Hoya, Munguia’s side is still ready to make the fight.
“In terms of Charlo, we were ready to make the fight,” De La Hoya said. “We were ready to do whatever it took to give Jaime Munguia the fight he wants and everybody has been asking for. One thing about Charlo and the whole PBC stable is that they hide behind Al Haymon; that’s the bottom line. We don’t want to make ordinary fights; we want to make the best fights. I hope Charlo grows some balls and tells his promoter to fight the very best. These are the fights boxing needs and the fights the fans deserve.”
“I’m not going to exclude our partner DAZN from any type of negotiation. There’s always room for negotiation. Meet us halfway; we can walk across the street; we can meet in the middle of the street. There is no protection; Munguia is ready for anyone. They’re hiding behind Al Haymon, and that’s the bottom line. If the fighters really want to fight, they have to stop saying, ‘talk to my promoter/manager.’ The fighters have a voice, and they need to use it.”
Every story has two sides, so who knows what is true. According to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, Charlo-Munguia talks broke down due to a dispute over U.S. broadcast rights.
Many would love to see Charlo-Munguia and other fights in boxing, but too often, the business of boxing gets in the way.
Let’s hope they can make the fight.
Photo: Tom Hogan / Golden Boy
De La Hoya on Garcia: ‘It’s time to show the world Ryan Garcia as an elite level fighter’
Undefeated, lightweight superstar Ryan Garcia (22-0, 18KOs) of Victorville, CA, will face former two-time world champion Javier Fortuna (37-3-1, 26 KOs) of La Romana, DR.
The 12-round lightweight fight will take place on Saturday, July 16 and will stream live worldwide, exclusively on DAZN.
“If there is any doubt I was hesitant to fight Fortuna a year ago, that will all be made clear after our fight,” said Ryan Garcia. “This was the fight I wanted and now it’s time. I am so grateful to my friends, family, and especially my fans for their support. I have never felt better, stronger, and more motivated. It’s time to silence all the doubters and it starts on July 16.”
“This is going to be a very exciting fight. I know it didn’t take place last year like originally announced but I hope that this time it will be real so that I can offer a good show to the public,” said Javier Fortuna. “I feel very happy with the work that I have been doing with my promoter, Sampson who has been trusting me since the beginning of my career. I will prepare 100% to win my fight. I trust my team now more than ever and have full confidence in my coach Belvin García, who I consider my family. Together, and with God on our side, I know we will hold up our hands high in victory on fight night.”
“It’s time to show the world Ryan Garcia as an elite level fighter,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO, Golden Boy. “This fight against Javier Fortuna will not only be a tough fight, it will show the world how talented he is.”
After a spectacular performance against top-ten lightweight contender Emmanuel Tagoe in April 2022, Ryan Garcia proved he still is a force to be reckoned with in the lightweight division. Originally scheduled to face Fortuna in July 2021, Garcia was forced to bow out of the event due to mental health struggles. However, he has defeated almost every top contender via knockout, including a seventh-round stoppage of 2012 Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell in 2021. His amazing undefeated career with 18 knock-outs inside the ring, including his spectacular shutout performance against Emmanuel Tagoe has earned him a spot as one of the lightweight divisions top stars of our time. Now, the 23-year-old, undefeated lightweight sensation is on a mission to prove he has what it takes to defeat the division’s elite.
Ranked in the top 10 of the lightweight division by ESPN.com, the WBC, and The Ring Magazine, Javier Fortuna is a dangerous lightweight contender with a lot to prove on July 16. The 33-year-old southpaw is a former two-time world champion who previously held the WBA Interim Featherweight World Championship and the WBA Super Featherweight World Championship. Fortuna was last seen in a spectacular first round stoppage of Rafael Hernandez in Santo Domingo, DR this past February and will be looking to have another spectacular performance when he faces Ryan Garcia on July 16.
