Featured Articles
“Fight Game” Recap: Lampley Talks With Arum, Schaefer On Lively Debut
Jim Lampley's half-hour boxing news show “The Fight Game” debuted at midnight on HBO Saturday.
In the first segment, Lampley, seated at a news desk, told viewers that the show would look at the game's strengths, and delve in to the sports' weaknesses. He got right into the flow, saying, “In recent years, Floyd Mayweathers' fights have tended to be noncompetitive exhibitions, as he carefully selected opponents who were either too inexperienced, too old or too undersized to compete with his immaculate skills. Not so Miguel Cotto…,” the host said, as we saw highlights from the May 5 Mayweather-Cotto clash.
Richard Schaefer, in a remote spot, was the first guest of the show. The Golden Boy exec started off by asserting that he disagreed with Lampley's take that Floyd has handpicked his past foes. He said the list of potential matchups for Floyd is getting larger, a contrast to what Floyd said post-fight, that the list is dwindling. Schaefer mentioned Canelo Alvarez, Robert Guerrero, Devon Alexander, and the Victor Ortiz-Andre Berto rematch. Manny Pacquiao he did not mention. Lampley asked if fans, long suffering, sad afterthoughts too often as the dealmakers do their thing, were any closer to seeing the dream fight, Mayweather-Pacquiao.
“It seems to be clear, Floyd Mayweather wants the fight, Manny Pacquiao wants the fight,” but Top Rank, Pacquiao's promoter, does not, Schaefer said. If Top Rank wants to get it done, they can call Schaefer, he stated.
Lampley asked about the split, wondering if Floyd wanting more than 50% of the take could kill the deal. Schaefer said, “I think Mayweather should get the lion's share.” He called for an accounting firm to pore over the Mayweather and Pacquiao fights since 2007, compare PPV numbers, gate revenue and such, and base the split on past earning history for each man.
Schaefer said Canelo is calling him almost every day, asking for a Floyd fight. The Mexican phenom will fight Sept. 15, at the MGM, the promoter said.
Schaefer said he's talked longer-term contract with Miguel Cotto, and said Cotto-Canelo is a possibility. What if Cotto goes back to Top Rank? He said he does not have a problem working with Bob Arum.
He left, and then Bob Arum appeared, from the Top Rank Gym. Lampley asked about Floyd's stance that Arum is holding up the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout. “It's the same mantra that we've been hearing, 'take the test,' of course Pacquiao agreed two years ago to take full drug testing. And then the other mantra is identify a scapegoat, and the scapegoat became me. Floyd Mayweather is the school of propaganda that Joseph Goebbels came from.”
“Never without a colorful quote,” Lampley drily responded, and switched gears. (Goebbels, a vicious ant-Semite, ran Adolph Hitler's propaganda campaign from 1933-1945. He briefly took over as Chancellor when Hitler killed himself
Is Tim Bradley a tough out for Manny? Arum said he poses a tremendous challenge. The promoter wonders what Pacquiao we will see. He has become a wholly different person, and does bible study every night. “Sometimes I get the impression that I'm promoting Rick Santorum, and not Manny Pacquiao,” he said.
What about Cotto returning to Top Rank? Arum said he has always been a friend of Top Rank. Cotto trained at the Top Rank Gym for the last fight, and he said he'd be happy to have Cotto back in the fold. Could Arum work with GB for Canelo-Cotto? “Jim, enough of this nonsense,” he said. If the fighters want to fight, the promoters don't have final say, he said.
Lampley asked about The Split. Would Manny do less than 50-50? Pacman and Arum both think they should do a 45-45 split, with the extra ten percent to the winner, Arum answered. “But we got to have parity here,” Arum said. “It's up to Floyd.” Floyd, I believe, sees parity as charity, and will never succumb to an equal split.
Lampley then shifted to the Lamont Peterson positive drug test issue. Peterson tested positive for synthetic testosterone, word dropped last Monday. Amir Khan and Freddie Roach chatted with Lampley. Khan said he was quite disappointed that the rematch was off. Roach said he didn't see the positive test coming. He thought Lamont seemed clean. Peterson has admitted he took testosterone, supplied by a physician to treat a deficit of naturally occurring testosterone in his body, before the first fight with Khan. Does that invalidate his win, Roach was asked. He said he thinks the result should be overturned, the trainer said.
Khan said he still wants one more fight at 140, and wants to add more mass before going to 147. Roach said Floyd looked beatable against Cotto. He said he thinks Pacman and Khan could both beat Floyd. “If we can get him in the ring, we'll be happy,” he said.
Max Kellerman joined Lampley in studio. He said he likes the idea of one fighter getting more of the prize, this being prizefighting, when asked about The Fight. The accountant assessment is smart, though he wonders if Mayweather would dig it if the process determined Manny should get 52%. Max said he thinks we might be closer to getting the fight made because Arum and Schaefer are talking split. I respectfully disagree, sadly; Arum bringing in the Goebbels comparison indicates he is in “loathing Floyd” mode instead of “loving Floyd” mode, or, at least, “tolerating Floyd,” which is the mode he generally snaps into in the few times this fight has been getting closer to being made. You can add “anytime Nazi comparisons are being made” to “as long as the Pacquiao defamation suit versus Floyd is in play” to the list of items that present as hurdles and symbols of failure in regards to The Fight reaching fruition.
Lampley asked Max about Canelo. The host said Schaefer laid out to him a tentative plan to fight James Kirkland in September, and then Miguel Cotto in December at MSG, followed by Mayweather in May 2013. “Let's do it,” Kellerman cracked. “If there are great fights be made, let's make 'em!”
Max said he's surprised a Mayweather-Cotto rematch hasn't been mentioned more.
Max talked the Peterson-Khan issue. He said he was impressed that Khan has sought out tough gigs, like Bradley and Peterson in DC. His career is stalled out because he's sought out tough challenges. He can go to 147 now if he has to. Max said he was shocked at the Peterson scenario and that the boxer has some damage control and rebuilding to do.
Roy Jones, in a segment called “Trick of the Trade,” talked Tim Bradley's head butts. He said Bradley is skilled at using the head as a weapon. In the studio, he talked us through Bradley's butting of Devon Alexander. He said it wasn't intentional but it wasn't unintentional. Bernard Hopkins also uses the head as a weapon, Jones said. The legend said a bad cut, such as when Manny was cut against Erik Morales, can really take a guy out of his game.
Can Pacman avoid head contact? He can, but not if he jumps straight in. Angles, Lampley said, are key.
Lampley then went into “The Gatti List.” He said that risk is central to the success of the fight game, and we saw highlights from Arturo Gatti-Micky Ward I. The list is of ten boxers who give every ounce of themselves, and renounce their instinct of self preservation, making them special to fight fans.
Jorge Arce was first on the list, then Abner Mares, Mike Alvarado, Orlando Salido, Cris Arreola, Canelo Alvarez, Sergio Martinez, Miguel Cotto, Manny Pacquiao and finally, Floyd Mayweather. The list will change, the host said, and losing will not automatically dump you off the Gatti list.
It was a fast-paced, informative program, and I look forward to the second edition, out in June.
How good is Bakhodir Jalolov? Some would argue that in terms of pure talent, the six-foot-seven southpaw from Uzbekistan who has knocked out all 14 of his opponents since turning pro, is better than any heavyweight you can name. Others say that this can’t possibly be true or his braintrust wouldn’t keep feeding him junk food. Jalolov has been brought along as gingerly as Christopher Lovejoy who was exposed as a fraud after running up a skein of 19 straight fast knockouts,
One thing that’s indisputable is that Jalolov was one of the best amateurs to come down the pike in recent memory. A three-time Olympian and two-time gold medalist, Jalolov won 58 of his last 59 amateur bouts. The exception was a match in which he did not compete which translated into a win by walkover for his opponent, countryman Lazizbek Mullojonov.
The circumstances are vague. Was Jalolov a no-show because of an injury or illness or a technicality? Amateur boxing, save in a few places or in an Olympic year, is the quintessential niche sport. The mainstream media does not cover it.
What we do know, thanks to boxrec, is that Jalolov caught up with Mullojonov in May of last year in the Russian Far East city of Khabarovsk and won a split decision. And Mollojonov was no slouch. He too won a gold medal at the Paris Games, winning the heavyweight division to give the powerful Uzbekistan contingent the championship in the two heaviest weight classes.
Jalolov, whose late father was a champion free-style wrestler, has answered the bell as a pro for only 35 rounds. The Belgian-Congolese campaigner Jack Mulowayi came closest to taking the big Uzbek the distance, lasting into the eighth round of an 8-round fight. But when Jalolov closed the show, he did it with a highlight reel knockout, knocking Mulowayi into dreamland with a vicious left hook.
The KO was reminiscent of Jalolov’s most talked-about win as an amateur, his first-round blast-out of Richard Torrez Jr at a tournament in Ekaterinburg, Russia, in 2019. Torrez, knocked out cold with a left hook, left the ring on a stretcher and was removed to a hospital for evaluation.
This was the first AIBA-sanctioned international tournament in which pros were allowed to compete and WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman was incensed, calling the match-up “criminal” in a tweet that was widely circulated. (Jalolov then had six pro fights under his belt.) They would meet again in the finals of the Tokyo Olympiad with the Uzbek winning a unanimous decision.
Perhaps there will be a third meeting down the road. When Jared Anderson was roughed-up and stopped by Martin Bakole, Torrez Jr (currently 12-0, 11 KOs) vaulted ahead of him on the list of the top home-grown American heavyweights. But Torrez Jr, a short-armed heavyweight who overcomes his physical limitations with a windmill offense, would be a heavy underdog should they ever meet again.
Bakhodir Jalolov’s last bout before heading off to Paris was against the obscure South African Chris Thompson. His match on Thursday at the Montreal Casino in Montreal pits him against an obscure 33-year-old Frenchman, David Spilmont.
Spilmont’s last two opponents were the same guy, an undersized Lithuanian slug who has lost 36 of his 41 documented fights. It seems almost inevitable that Spilmont will suffer the same fate as Thompson who was KOed in the first round.
There’s talk that Jalolov doesn’t really care how far he advances at the professional level; that he has his sights set on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles where he would have an opportunity to become only the fourth boxer to win three Olympic gold medals, joining the immortal Teofilo Stevenson, Hungarian legend Laszlo Papp, and Cuban standout Felix Savon. Were he to accomplish the hat trick, they would build monuments to him in Uzbekistan. But, if that is his mindset, he’s skating on thin ice. There’s no guarantee that boxing will be on the docket at the Los Angeles Games and, if so, the powers-that-be may choose to roll back the calendar to the days when the competition was off-limits to anyone with professional experience.
While it’s true that Jalolov needs to work off some rust, a pox on promoter Camille Estephan and his enabler, the Quebec Boxing Commission, for not dredging up a more credible opponent than the grossly overmatched David Spilmont.
—
Jalolov vs. Spilmont is ostensibly the co-feature. The main event is a 10-round junior welterweight clash between Movladdin “Arthur” Biyarslanov (17-0, 14 KOs) and Spilmont stablemate Mohamed Mimoune (24-6, 5 KOs). Undefeated light heavyweights Albert Ramirez and Mehmet Unal will appear in separate bouts on the undercard. The Feb. 6 event, currently consisting of seven bouts, will air in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT.
To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE
Claressa Shields blasted her way to the undisputed heavyweight championship and nearly knocked out challenger Danielle Perkins in the final seconds, but settled for a win by unanimous decision on Sunday.
Yes, she can punch.
“I just feel overwhelmed and so happy.” Shields said.
Shields (16-0, 3 KOs) proved that even the super athletic Perkins (5-1, 2 KOs), a true heavyweight, could not stop her from becoming an undisputed world champion in a third weight division at Dort Arena in Flint, Michigan, her home town.
In the opening round it was easy to see the size difference. Shields calmly measured Perkins long right jabs then countered with rocket rights through the guard. The speed was evident in Shield’s punches. Perkins used jabs to work her way in but was caught with counters.
“That girl was strong as hell,” said Shields describing Perkins.
Perkins, a southpaw, was somewhat confident that she was the stronger puncher and the stronger fighter overall. But when Shields connected with 10 rocket overhand rights in the third round the power moved Perkins several feet backward.
Suddenly, Perkins realized that indeed Shields has power.
Perkins became more cautious with her approaches. Though the true heavyweight was not frozen in fear, she was wary about getting caught flush with Shields rights. But bullet jabs and lightning combinations still rained on Perkins.
Finding a way to nullify Shields speed was crucial for Perkins.
The former basketball player Perkins continually proved her athleticism with agile moves here and there, but Shields just was superior in every way.
When Perkins became focused too much on the right, a Shields left hook caught the New York native flush. Suddenly there was another Shields weapon to worry about.
Many critics of Shields had focused on her lack of knockouts. But in her previous fight against another heavyweight, the two-time Olympic gold medalist surprised Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse with knockout power. It’s the same power Shields showed Perkins as if firing a fast ball by powering her right with leverage by using her left leg to produce momentum and an explosive punch.
In the 10th and final round Shields and Perkins exchanged blows. Perkins was looking to connect with one of her power shots when suddenly Shields countered with a perfectly timed right to the chin and down went Perkins with about 10 seconds remaining. She beat the count to finish the round.
“I showed I was the bigger puncher and better boxer,” said Shields. “I knew I could do it because I’m really strong at heavyweight.”
All three judges favored Shields 100-89, 99-90 and 97-92.
It was another convincing performance by Shields. So what is next for the best female fighter pound for pound?
“I want to fight Franchon Crews, Hanna Gabriels,” said Shields also naming a few others. “Flint, (Michigan) I love you all so much.”
Other Bouts
A heavyweight clash saw why there is a rule against holding. Brandon Moore (17-1) and Skylar Lacy (8-1-2) punched and held throughout their eight rounds. Referee Steve Willis finally disqualified Lacy when he tackled Moore and took him through the ropes and on to table below.
No, holding and clinching is not part of the fight game. Now you know why.
Moore was ruled the winner by disqualification due to unsportsmanlike conduct by Lacy at 1:35 of the eighth. No need to describe the fight.
A battle between undefeated welterweights saw Joseph Hicks (12-0, 8 KOs) stop Keon Papillon (10-1-1, 7 KOs) at 1:35 of the seventh round. Hicks stunned Papillon at the end of the sixth, then unloaded in the seventh round to force a stoppage.
Joshua Pagan (12-0) out-battled Ronal Ron (16-8) over eight rounds to win the lightweight match by unanimous decision.
Samantha Worthington (11-0) defeated Vaida Masiokaite (10-27-6) by decision after eight rounds in a super lightweight bout.
Featherweight Caroline Veyre (9-1) out-boxed the shorter Carmen Vargas (5-3-1) to win by decision after six rounds.
Super bantamweight Asheleyann Lozada (1-0) won her pro debut by unanimous decision over Denise Moran (3-1) in a four-round fight.
To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE
David Benavidez showed fans why they call him “El Monstro” as he plowed through Cuba’s heavy-punching David Morrell to retain a number one ranking in the light heavyweight division by unanimous decision on Saturday.
Not even a flash knockdown for Morrell could make a difference.
Phoenix native Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) gave Morrell (11-1, 9 KOs) his first loss as a professional in front of more than 15,000 fans at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. No one needed to hear the judge’s decision.
“I prepared for everything. I know he’s a great fighter,” said Benavidez. “I thought he was going to hit harder, but he didn’t.”
Before the fight, Morrell was almost an even bet according to oddsmakers, but that was not the case once the fight commenced.
Immediately Benavidez pounded the body and exposed the weaknesses of Morrell’s peek-a-boo defense by using his own left glove to push down the Cuban’s guard. Then immediately firing a crushing right to the jaw.
For the first four rounds Benavidez pounded away on the left and right side of Morrell’s body. And when the openings came the uppercuts caught Morrell’s chin. But he absorbed the blows.
Morrell didn’t waver in trying to find a solution. Though Benavidez connected often to the body and head, the Cuban fighter who moved up from super middleweight displayed a very solid chin.
In the fourth round during a furious exchange Morrell beat Benavidez to the punch that stunned him momentarily. But the blow seemed to spark outrage and a storm of blows followed from Benavidez.
It must have seemed like a nightmare for Morrell.
At times the Cuban fighter would connect perfectly with a right hook and pause. Then Benavidez would return fire with massive blows.
The look on Morrell’s face bore traces of disappointment.
As the rounds continued Benavidez became emboldened by his success. Soon the Mexican Monster began launching lead right uppercuts through Morrell’s guard especially in the sixth round.
“He was easier to hit than I expected,” Benavidez said.
During the breaks Morrell’s corner asked him to pressure Benavidez. It was a fruitless suggestion. How do you corner a Monster?
Benavidez continued to stalk Morrell who never stopped swinging but could not seem to hurt the Monster. In the 11th round Morrell managed to catch Benavidez perfectly with a right hook and down went Benavidez. He immediately got up and the two fighters unloaded on each other. Morrell fired one punch after the bell and was deducted a point by referee Thomas Taylor. That negated the extra point gained from the knockdown.
“I wasn’t really hurt,” said Benavidez. “That bullshit knockdown caught me off-balance.”
The final round saw both resume their efforts to knock the other out. Both showed great chins and the ability to trade. Benavidez was simply better. Even Morrell didn’t wait for the decision to be read as he raised the arm of the Monster at the final bell. All three judges scored in favor of Benavidez 115-111 twice and 118-108.
“He knows this is Monstro’s world. Big shout out for Morrell, he’s a tough fighter,” Benavidez said.
Other Bouts
In a fight dedicated to honor the late Israel Vazquez, the ultimate Aztec warrior, super lightweights Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (27-3-1) and Angel Fierro (23-3-2) battled like demons for 10 nonstop rounds. Cruz was ruled the winner by unanimous decision.
With little resemblance of defense, Cruz and Fierro whacked each other relentlessly with shots that might have stopped a moving car. Cruz was tagged by a right cross on the top of the head that staggered him momentarily. Fierro was driven back four feet by an overhand right to the chin early in the fight.
Both fighters took cruel and unusual punishment and never wavered more than a few seconds. It was brutal war and fans were the winners after 10 rounds of violent and savage action.
All three judges saw Cruz the winner 96-94, 97-93, 98-92.
“I’m so happy I gave the fans a great fight,” Cruz said.
Fulton Wins
Stephen Fulton (23-1, 8 KOs) defeated Brandon Figueroa (23-2-1, 19 KOs) again and took the WBC featherweight title by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. He had previously defeated Figueroa in 2021 for the WBC and WBO super bantamweight titles.
Most of the action took place in nose-to-nose fashion where Fulton landed the cleaner shots especially with uppercuts. Figueroa had his moments but was unable to hurt the challenger who lost to Naoya Inoue by knockout 17 months ago.
Fulton landed clean shots but as his record shows he lacks the power with only eight knockouts on his record. But Figueroa was unable to hurt or knock down Fulton. After 12 rounds all three judges saw Fulton win by scores of 116-112 twice and 117-111,
“It feels good. I’m champion again,” said Fulton.
Ramos Wins
Jesus Ramos (22-1, 18 KOs) won by technical knockout over former world champion Jeison Rosario (24-5-2) in the eighth round of a middleweight fight. Both fighters attacked the body but by the sixth round Ramos was the busier fighter and began to dominate the fight. At 2:18 of the eighth round referee Robert Hoyle stopped the fight.
“I like to throw a lot of body punches. It’s kind of my style,” said Ramos.
Photos credit: Al Applerose
Ro comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE
R.I.P. Paul Bamba (1989-2024): The Story Behind the Story
Skylar Lacy Blocked for Lamar Jackson before Making his Mark in Boxing
Jai Opetaia Brutally KOs David Nyika, Cementing his Status as the World’s Top Cruiserweight
Bygone Days: The Largest Crowd Ever at Madison Square Garden Sees Zivic TKO Armstrong
Mizuki Hiruta Dominates in her U.S. Debut and Omar Trinidad Wins Too at Commerce
Avila Perspective, Chap. 309: 360 Promotions Opens with Trinidad, Mizuki and More
Hall of Fame Boxing Writer Michael Katz (1939-2025) Could Wield His Pen like a Stiletto
Boxing Trainer Bob Santos Paid his Dues and is Reaping the Rewards
Najee Lopez Steps up in Class and Wins Impressively at Plant City
Ringside at the Cosmo: Pacheco Outpoints Nelson plus Undercard Results
Boxing Odds and Ends: Ernesto Mercado, Marcel Cerdan and More
Claressa Shields Powers to Undisputed Heavyweight Championship
Avila Perspective, Chap. 311: Jim Lampley Adds Class to the Benavidez-Morrell Rumble
Avila Perspective, Chap. 310: Japanese Superstar Naoya Inoue and More
Japanese Superstar Naoya Inoue is Headed to Vegas after KOing Ye Joon Kim
Benavidez Defeats Morrell; Cruz, Fulton, and Ramos also Victorious at Las Vegas
Eric Priest Wins Handily on Thursday’s Golden Boy card at the Commerce Casino
Undercard Results from Las Vegas where Mirco Cuello Saved his Best for Last
Bakhodir Jalolov Returns on Thursday in Another Disgraceful Mismatch
Bakhodir Jalolov Returns on Thursday in Another Disgraceful Mismatch
Claressa Shields Powers to Undisputed Heavyweight Championship
Benavidez Defeats Morrell; Cruz, Fulton, and Ramos also Victorious at Las Vegas
Undercard Results from Las Vegas where Mirco Cuello Saved his Best for Last
Avila Perspective, Chap. 311: Jim Lampley Adds Class to the Benavidez-Morrell Rumble
Hall of Fame Boxing Writer Michael Katz (1939-2025) Could Wield His Pen like a Stiletto
Boxing Odds and Ends: Ernesto Mercado, Marcel Cerdan and More
Ringside at the Cosmo: Pacheco Outpoints Nelson plus Undercard Results
Najee Lopez Steps up in Class and Wins Impressively at Plant City
Japanese Superstar Naoya Inoue is Headed to Vegas after KOing Ye Joon Kim
Eric Priest Wins Handily on Thursday’s Golden Boy card at the Commerce Casino
Avila Perspective, Chap. 310: Japanese Superstar Naoya Inoue and More
Skylar Lacy Blocked for Lamar Jackson before Making his Mark in Boxing
Mizuki Hiruta Dominates in her U.S. Debut and Omar Trinidad Wins Too at Commerce
Avila Perspective, Chap. 309: 360 Promotions Opens with Trinidad, Mizuki and More
Boxing Trainer Bob Santos Paid his Dues and is Reaping the Rewards
Bygone Days: The Largest Crowd Ever at Madison Square Garden Sees Zivic TKO Armstrong
Jai Opetaia Brutally KOs David Nyika, Cementing his Status as the World’s Top Cruiserweight
R.I.P. Paul Bamba (1989-2024): The Story Behind the Story
Don’t Underestimate Gloria Alvarado, an Unconventional Boxing Coach
-
Featured Articles4 weeks agoR.I.P. Paul Bamba (1989-2024): The Story Behind the Story
-
Featured Articles2 weeks agoSkylar Lacy Blocked for Lamar Jackson before Making his Mark in Boxing
-
Featured Articles4 weeks agoJai Opetaia Brutally KOs David Nyika, Cementing his Status as the World’s Top Cruiserweight
-
Featured Articles4 weeks agoBygone Days: The Largest Crowd Ever at Madison Square Garden Sees Zivic TKO Armstrong
-
Featured Articles3 weeks agoMizuki Hiruta Dominates in her U.S. Debut and Omar Trinidad Wins Too at Commerce
-
Featured Articles3 weeks agoAvila Perspective, Chap. 309: 360 Promotions Opens with Trinidad, Mizuki and More
-
Featured Articles5 days agoHall of Fame Boxing Writer Michael Katz (1939-2025) Could Wield His Pen like a Stiletto
-
Featured Articles3 weeks agoBoxing Trainer Bob Santos Paid his Dues and is Reaping the Rewards