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Galarza vs. Hurd ShoBox: The New Generation Final Weights, Quotes

Published

9 years ago

November 14, 2015

The Sweet Science

SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION FINAL WEIGHTS, QUOTES

“The Brooklyn Rocky” Frank Galarza Faces

Fellow Undefeated Jarrett Hurd; Plus, BlueChip Prospects

Sergiy Derevyanchenko & Unbeaten Light Heavyweight David Benavidez Featured in ShoBox Tripleheader

Tomorrow/Saturday, Nov. 14 At 10:45 p.m. ET/PT

From Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Live On SHOWTIME^®

Photo From Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 13, 2015) – A ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader, highlighted by a super welterweight matchup between undefeated prospects Frank Galarza and Jarret Hurd, blue chip prospect Sergiy Derevyanchenko and undefeated light heavyweight David Benavidez is set for tomorrow/Saturday, Nov. 14 live on SHOWTIME (10:45 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas.

Featured in the main event, Frank “Notorious” Galarza (17-0-2, 11 KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y., will make his fourthShoBox appearance as he faces fellow undefeated Jarrett Hurd (16-0, 10 KOs), of Accokeek, Md., in a 10-round super welterweight bout.

Former Ukrainian Olympian and undefeated prospect Sergiy Derevyanchenko (6-0, 4 KOs, WSOB: 23-1, 7 KOs) faces veteran Jessie Nicklow (25-7-3, 8 KOs) in the eight-round super middleweight co-feature. In the opening bout of the tripleheader, David Benavidez (10-0, 9 KOs), of Phoenix, Ariz., makes his ShoBox debut against veteran Felipe Romero (15-9-1, 9 KOs), of La Paz, Mexico, in an eight-round light heavyweight matchup.

Galarza and Hurd, both tipped the scales at 154 ½ pounds each. Derevyanchenko measured at 164 ¾ pounds, while his opponent, Nicklow, weighted 165 ½. Benavidez measured at 171 ¼ pounds while his counterpart, Romero, weighed-in at 173 ½ pounds.

In non-televised action, Bermane Stiverne weighed-in at 254 ½ pounds, while Derric Rossy measured at 230 ¾ pounds. Charvis Holifield weighed 142 ¾ pounds, and Dwain Victorian weighed-in at 140 ¼ pounds. Sanjarbek Rahkmannov measured at 143 ½ pounds, while his opponent Somner Martin weighed-in at 143 ¼ pounds andTrakwon Pettis tip the scale at 138 ¾ pounds, while his opponent, Marquis Hawthorne weighted at 140 pounds even.

Here’s what the fighters had to say prior to Friday’s weigh-in:

Fank Galarza

“I don’t mind challenging fights. You put me in with a tough opponent and you’re going to see a tough Frank Galarza.

“We’ve been here already. We know what it takes to put my undefeated record on the line. I’ve faced the tougher fighters. I know I can swing, but is he ready to swing? I’ve been the [under] dog and been in with the sharks before. And I swam with them.

“I don’t think he’s ready for what I bring to the table. He hasn’t been in with someone like me.

“He’s going to try to come forward and bully me, but that’s not going to happen.

“It takes a tough guy to go in that ring. Anything can happen. At the end of the day, it comes down to who wants it more.

“I’m ready for a 10 rounder. I’ve been looking for one for a while.

“No matter how much video we watch, no one knows what it’s going to happen in the ring. We have to capitalize on his mistakes. Boxing is about adapting and I adapt very well.”

Jarrett Hurd

“It’s a great opportunity for us. We’ve been thinking about fighting [Frank] Galarza since last December.

“Frank might be confident, but he doesn’t intimidate me. My confidence is skyrocketing. My style matches up perfect for him.

“I know what I can do. I sparred with guys that are elite fighters –Lamont Peterson, Antoine Douglas, Dominic Wade, Austin Trout, Jerry Odom. We’ve been sparring with some of the best in [Washington] D.C. and Maryland.

“This is a huge fight for me. It could open the doors that I’ve been waiting for.”

Sergiy Derevyanchenko

“He [Jessie Nicklow] doesn’t have anything I haven’t seen before. He has experience, but I’m ready to show off what I’ve been working on at the gym.

“I can always get better. I’m learning in every fight. There’s a big difference between the amateurs and the pros. I’m leaning new combinations, new techniques. I learn from my sparring partners every day.

“I was preparing for a fight in December, so that’s why the weight is contacted at 166. But I’m a middleweight – the future is 160.

“I’m ready to take the next step. [Gennady] Golovkin is the champion of the world, of course I’d like to fight him.

“Fighters from the Ukraine, we work hard because we know where we come from. Life wasn’t easy for us growing up.”

Jessie Nicklow

“I can back this guy up. The guy [Sergiy Derevyanchenko] is 30 years old and he has six pro fights. They think this is an easy fight, but I’m going to beat the crap out of him. I’m really excited.

“I think these people are stupid –I can’t believe they’re flying me in to fight this guy who’s got six fights. He’s got a big amateur background, but he’s only got six pro fights. I cannot wait to get in the ring Saturday night.

“I’ve fought an [Ryota Murata] Olympic Gold Medalist before. This guy doesn’t have anything I haven’t seen before. I’m not coming to lose. He’s on my soil and I’m coming to beat him.

“I’m 100 percent. This guy is smaller than me. I’m used to fighting big guys.”

David Benavidez

“[Fernando] Romero is better than most of the opponents I’ve faced, so this is definitely a step-up for me.

“I’ve knocked down every fighter I’ve faced. I’m looking forward to putting this guy down.

“We sparred with southpaws in camp, so we’re ready if he switches on us.

“He likes to throw a lot of wild punches. We know there will be a lot of open opportunities for me.

“I sparred with Kelly Pavlik, Gennady Golovkin, Peter Quillin, Julius Jackson. I’m 18 and I’ve been sparring with some of the best fighters in the world.

“I’m focusing on fighting at 168. I don’t have any problem making the weight. I contracted higher for this fight [173], but 168 is the future for us. I’m very excited to fight on national TV for the first time.

“I used to be a lot bigger than I am now. I was 5-foot-4, 250 pounds when I was 13-years-old. I lost the weight and I started to grow.

“I don’t regret not fighting much in the amateurs. I’m happy I turned pro at 16. I had to move to Mexico to do it, but it was the right move for my career.”

Felipe Romero

“This is the best weight for me. I’m a natural light heavyweight.

“I’m working with a new trainer and we’ve been working on some new things. I’m focused full time on fighting.

“I know he’s good, he’s strong, he’s young, but he’s been fighting guys who aren’t very good. He hasn’t faced anyone with my experience. I’ve faced tougher guys and I’m coming to beat him.

“I need to be smart and use my experience. He hasn’t fought many rounds so we’re going to push him. He’s not going to knock me out.

“I’ve fought all over the world. Fighting as an underdog is nothing new to me.”

Bermane Stiverne

“Training has been excellent and I’m ready to fight tomorrow night.

“I’m excited to be fighting again. I’ve been off too long.

“I’ve climbed the mountain to become a world champion and I’m prepared to do it again. I want to get my title back.”

# # #

Tickets for the live event are priced at $155, $105, $80, $55 and $30, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased at Hard Rock Hotel box office, by calling 888-9-AXS-TIX, or online atwww.axs.com.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @Notorious_FG, @Swift_JHurd, @SHOSports, @TGBPromotions, @HardRockHotelLV and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SHOSports.

Galarza vs. Hurd, 10-round super welterweight main event of ShoBox: The New Generation taking place on Saturday, Nov. 14 at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas and promoted by TGB Promotions. In the co-feature, Sergiy Derevyanchenko faces Jessie Nicklow in an eight-round middleweight bout and in the telecast opener, David Benavidez measures against Felipe Romero in an eight-round light heavyweight matchup.

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2015 Fight of the Year – Francisco Vargas vs Takashi Miura

Published

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

Published

9 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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2015 Knock Out of the Year – Saul Alvarez KO’s James Kirkland

Published

9 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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