Articles

TUESDAY UPDATE: Andrade Vs. Lara

Published

9 years ago

March 3, 2015

Demetrius Andrade put out a press release Monday which poked at Cuban slickster Erislandy Lara. You can see that, below, then a response from Lara, and at bottom, a response to the response from the father of Andrade.

Here it is:

Providence, RI (March 2, 2015)–After WBO number-one ranked Jr. Middleweight Jermell Charlo decided to not fight fight WBO Jr. Middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, Andrade's father/trainer Paul then turned his attention to a fight with WBA belt holder Erislandy Lara.

“We signed a contract to fight Charlo a month ago,” said Paul Andrade. “He opted to fight a guy that we beat already in Vanes Martiroysan. I don't even think Charlo will beat him. I can see Vanes out bullying him and win a decision about eight rounds to four. That's in the past and now we have to look towards the future.”

That future hopefully includes Lara. “The real fight for us is with Lara. Fighting Charlo would not have done much for us anyway. That would have been like a man fighting a boy. We are calling Lara out but he has had no response. He doesn't have a dance partner, so the time is right for both of us.”

Andrade believes turn about is fair play for the Cuban as he talked his way into a fight with Canelo Alvarez last year and now it's time for him to be on the receiving end of somebody ready, willing and able to fight him.

“Lara thought he was cute by calling out Canelo by going to his press conference. He and trying to embarrass him and goad Canelo into a fight. Lara is now in that position. We would go to one of your press conferences and embarrass you but you don't even have a fight on the table, so there is no press conference for you. Why don't you step up like Canelo and be a man and accept our challenge like Canelo did for you.

“I guess it's not so cute for him anymore. And if you do step to the plate, you can bring your running shoes because you are a better runner then boxer.”

Said Arthur Pelullo of Banner Promotions, co-promoter of Andrade, “This is a fight that Demetrius wants. Last year he wanted wanted a fight with Canelo. Canelo had and has other plans now so why not fight the man who some people believe beat him in Lara. We feel Demetrius is the best jr. middleweight in the world and the way to prove that is to fight the best. “Erislandy Lara has proven to be at the top of the division. This is the type of fight that will show the boxing world that Demetrius is a star,” said co-promoter, Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing.

Team Lara then countered with their own release:

HOUSTON, TX (March 2, 2015) – WBA Champion, Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara, responds to WBO Champion Demetrius Andrade's claims that he's not interested in a unification fight with him.

“I'll fight him anytime! My resume speaks for itself. I'm willing to fight Cotto or GGG next…you think I'm worried about this little spoiled brat? Look at my resume of great fighters I've fought, Williams, Molina, Vanes, Trout, Canelo, Angulo and now Smith. In 24 fights, who has he fought?”

Lara went on to say about Andrade latest drama about pulling out of his last scheduled fight…

“I'm the best in the division. If I put my name to a contract I show up and fight, unlike him when he pulled out of the biggest fight of his career against Charlo. Not to mention, he turned down a fight with me on ESPN2 years ago when I was willing to whoop to put a beating on him for $15.000. And don't forget, I already whooped that ass for free in the amateurs!!! His nickname serves him right…He's Poo Poo!”

Here is Mr. Andrade's counter:

Providence, RI (March 3, 2015)–The following is a response to WBA Super Welterweight champion Erislandy Lara from Paul Andrade, the father/trainer of undefeated WBO Jr. Middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade:

Dear Mr. Erislandy Lara:

In response to your comments, whoever wrote your response should get their facts correct.

When we listen to you, we see the final triumph of stupidity in this world. You are the only boxer that successfully brainwashed himself with false facts.We were never in our life offered a fight on ESPN 2 to fight you. In fact, when I met you in that restaurant in New York, we even said that Demetrius would let his career develop and fight you for much more meaningful amount than $15,000. When was the last time you fought for $15,000? And you agreed with me.

Now the time is here for us to get together but all you talk about is a meaningless fight in a foreign country that you by just four points when Demetrius was just 17 and you were 21. On top of that, you know when an American goes to a foreign country his opponent always gets an extra five points. We saw it at the Pan Am Games, in the Olympics and whenever we have fought on foreign soil. After seeing Demetrius' talent level, you decided going to the Olympics would have been a failed effort and decided to turn pro.

As we all know, many times guys who have been beaten by an individual in the amateurs come back and open up a can of whoop ass when they fight as professionals.

I see you posted your long list of accomplishments, we all are fighters in development when we start but you claim we have not fought anybody and you have.The only opponent that we have in common is Vanes Martirosyan. We have the utmost respect for him and the best you can do was pull out a draw. I guess you were happy that headbutt occurred because Vanes was on his way to knocking you out. Then comes Angulo. The moment he trapped you, he dropped you twice and again then you escaped because of a lucky thumb that swelled up Angulo's eye. How many times will luck be on your side?

Now it is time for you to man up and take the challenge. Forget the cheap talk, do you want to get it on? Yes or No? A real man and a real champion would answer yes.

Sincerely,

Paul Andrade

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The Sweet Science

Articles

2015 Fight of the Year – Francisco Vargas vs Takashi Miura

Published

8 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

The WBC World Super Featherweight title bout between Francisco Vargas and Takashi Miura came on one of the biggest boxing stages of 2015, as the bout served as the HBO pay-per-view’s co-main event on November 21st, in support of Miguel Cotto vs Saul Alvarez.

Miura entered the fight with a (29-2-2) record and he was making the fifth defense of his world title, while Vargas entered the fight with an undefeated mark of (22-0-1) in what was his first world title fight. Both men had a reputation for all-out fighting, with Miura especially earning high praise for his title defense in Mexico where he defeated Sergio Thompson in a fiercely contested battle.

The fight started out hotly contested, and the intensity never let up. Vargas seemed to win the first two rounds, but by the fourth round, Miura seemed to pull ahead, scoring a knock-down and fighting with a lot of confidence. After brawling the first four rounds, Miura appeared to settle into a more technical approach. Rounds 5 and 6 saw the pendulum swing back towards Vargas, as he withstood Miura’s rush to open the fifth round and the sixth round saw both men exchanging hard punches.

The big swinging continued, and though Vargas likely edged Miura in rounds 5 and 6, Vargas’ face was cut in at least two spots and Miura started to assert himself again in rounds 7 and 8. Miura was beginning to grow in confidence while it appeared that Vargas was beginning to slow down, and Miura appeared to hurt Vargas at the end of the 8th round.

Vargas turned the tide again at the start of the ninth round, scoring a knock down with an uppercut and a straight right hand that took Miura’s legs and sent him to the canvas. Purely on instinct, Miura got back up and continued to fight, but Vargas was landing frequently and with force. Referee Tony Weeks stepped in to stop the fight at the halfway point of round 9 as Miura was sustaining a barrage of punches.

Miura still had a minute and a half to survive if he was going to get out of the round, and it was clear that he was not going to stop fighting.

A back and forth battle of wills between two world championship level fighters, Takashi Miura versus “El Bandido” Vargas wins the 2015 Fight of the Year.

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Articles

Jan 9 in Germany – Feigenbutz and De Carolis To Settle Score

Published

8 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

This coming Saturday, January 9th, the stage is set at the Baden Arena in Offenburg, Germany for a re-match between Vincent Feigenbutz and Giovanni De Carolis. The highly anticipated re-match is set to air on SAT.1 in Germany, and Feigenbutz will once again be defending his GBU and interim WBA World titles at Super Middleweight.

The first meeting between the two was less than three months ago, on October 17th and that meeting saw Feigenbutz controversially edge De Carolis on the judge’s cards by scores of (115-113, 114-113 and 115-113). De Carolis scored a flash knock down in the opening round, and he appeared to outbox Feigenbutz in the early going, but the 20 year old German champion came on in the later rounds.

The first bout is described as one of the most crowd-pleasing bouts of the year in Germany, and De Carolis and many observers felt that the Italian had done enough to win.

De Carolis told German language website RAN.DE that he was more prepared for the re-match, and that due to the arrogance Feigenbutz displayed in the aftermath of the first fight, he was confident that he had won over some of the audience. Though De Carolis fell short of predicting victory, he promised a re-vamped strategy tailored to what he has learned about Feigenbutz, whom he termed immature and inexperienced.

The stage is set for Feigenbutz vs De Carolis 2, this Saturday January 9th in Offenburg, Germany. If you can get to the live event do it, if not you have SAT.1 in Germany airing the fights, and The Boxing Channel right back here for full results.

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Articles

2015 Knock Out of the Year – Saul Alvarez KO’s James Kirkland

Published

8 years ago

December 29, 2015

The Sweet Science

On May 9th of 2015, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez delivered a resonant knock-out of James Kirkland on HBO that wins the 2015 KO of the Year.

The knock-out itself came in the third round, after slightly more than two minutes of action. The end came when Alvarez delivered a single, big right hand that caught Kirkland on the jaw and left him flat on his back after spinning to the canvas.Alvarez was clearly the big star heading into the fight. The fight was telecast by HBO for free just one week after the controversial and disappointing Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao fight, and Alvarez was under pressure to deliver the type of finish that people were going to talk about. Kirkland was happy to oblige Alvarez, taking it right to Alvarez from the start. Kirkland’s aggression saw him appear to land blows that troubled the young Mexican in the early going. Alvarez played good defense, and he floored Kirkland in the first round, displaying his power and his technique in knocking down an aggressive opponent.

However, Kirkland kept coming at Alvarez and the fight entered the third round with both men working hard and the feeling that the fight would not go the distance. Kirkland continued to move forward, keeping “Canelo” against the ropes and scoring points with a barrage of punches while looking for an opening.

At around the two minute mark, Alvarez landed an uppercut that sent Kirkland to the canvas again. Kirkland got up, but it was clear that he did not have his legs under him. Kirkland was going to try to survive the round, but Alvarez had an opportunity to close out the fight. The question was would he take it?

Alvarez closed in on Kirkland, putting his opponent’s back to the ropes. Kirkland was hurt, but he was still dangerous, pawing with punches and loading up for one big shot.

But it was the big shot “Canelo” threw that ended the night. Kirkland never saw it coming, as he was loading up with a huge right hand of his own. The right Alvarez threw cracked Kirkland in the jaw, and his eyes went blank. His big right hand whizzed harmlessly over the head of a ducking Alvarez, providing the momentum for the spin that left Kirkland prone on the canvas.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez went on to defeat Miguel Cotto in his second fight of 2015 and he is clearly one of boxing’s biggest stars heading into 2016. On May 9th Alvarez added another reel to his highlight film when he knocked out James Kirkland with the 2015 “Knock Out of the Year”.

Photo by naoki fukuda

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