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Fights We'd Like To See
Hochberger has some nice ideas for next for Canelo. Readers, please put on your matchmaker caps, and toss in some matches you'd like to see in the near future. (Hogan)
I have a dream… that some no-brainer boxing matches get made. The below fights would either sort out who’s the man to beat at various weight classes or provide fireworks for fight fans around the globe. See below for fights I’d like to see because… wait for it… they make sense.
Victor Ortiz-Amir Khan: This is a classic crossroads fight as both guys would absolutely need a win to continue drawing major network fights/title shots. The winner would remain relevant to his weight class, and the loser would have to reconsider his career. Neither guy wants to be a gatekeeper. On top of the logical sense this fight makes, it would be an instant fight-of-the-year candidate. Both fighters were blessed with explosive offensive tools that other championship-caliber fighters may only dream of. However, they both have an aura of vulnerability that would make this even more interesting. This would absolutely be a firefight, and I’d love to see who the last man standing would be, because one of these guys would get knocked out. As Michael Woods once pointed out to me, the most salient part might well be that they’re both with Golden Boy. Serve it up, Oscar.
Canelo-Carlos Molina: In short, the poor guy deserves it. All Carlos Molina has done over the past few years is beat the top fighters in his weight class. He’s certainly not the most exciting fighter out there, but he poses a real threat to Canelo based on his experience, toughness, and style. Beating Molina gives Canelo’s resume significantly more credibility than any previous opponent. Plus, Miguel Cotto is tied up with Austin Trout (which I just don’t get).
Sidebar: For all of those complaining about Canelo’s choice to fight Josesito Lopez in a clear mismatch need to back off the kid. He originally was set to face Paul Williams (as tough an opponent out there based on skills/style), and then agreed to fight the massively powerful James Kirkland who is a big fella. It’s not Canelo’s fault that those didn’t work out.
Sergio Martinez-Canelo Alvarez: Why the hell not? Sergio can absolutely make 154 lbs, so weight is not an issue. Assuming Sergio’s injuries from the Chavez, Jr fight are not too serious, I would love to see him fight Canelo. Frankly, I would expect a more competitive version of the Chavez fight. Martinez would dominate in spurts with movement, accuracy, combinations, and strategy, but Canelo is a more tactful boxer than Chavez. Canelo would definitely land more than Chavez did, and he’d have the sense to actually cut the ring off from Martinez. Perhaps most importantly, Canelo is faster than Chavez. Let’s get it on and see what Canelo’s really made of!
Sergio- GGG: I’ve already stated my case for this fight. Gennady Golovkin exploded on the HBO scene with his dominant stoppage a few weeks back, and in my opinion, he’s the most dangerous opponent out there for Martinez. His power is for real. But what’s most important about GGG as far as being a threat is his experience and ring acumen. Whereas Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. tried to walk Martinez down, GGG would box with him. GGG has crippling power, sure, but his stellar amateur background and professional career have allowed him to learn how to use that power extremely effectively. I cannot name another fighter that makes a more compelling matchup with the Champ.
Robert Guerrero-Timothy Bradley: You just have to know this fight won’t come off. Not so much because it’s Top Rank and Golden Boy, but moreso because it makes so much sense. I’ve never fully bought into Robert Guerrero as a truly elite fighter (major titleholder in a loaded division), but beating Bradley would definitely convince me that he’s at least right on the cusp. Tim Bradley needs a win against a top contender (which Guerrero undoubtedly is) to remain at the top of the list for big fights in this division, and this would be perfect proving ground for both fighters. Bradley would be favored, and I’d pick him to win, for the record.
Leo Santa Cruz-ANYONE: I’m so in on this guy. How can you not love an immense volume puncher who throws with bad intentions and attacks the body? Well, I guess if you’re not a boxing fan. Hopefully he gets some meaningful fights in a suddenly loaded division. Would love to see him get the Mares-Moreno winner.
Broner-Gamboa: I’ve called for this one in the past, and I want to call for it again. I don’t think weights would be a sticking point (assuming Broner can still make 135), and this would be a defining fight for both fighters. If Broner can make it look easy against a fighter with the offensive prowess of Yuriorkis Gamboa (even though he also has some defensive woes), then we know he’s the real deal.vThis would set Broner up for a run of significant fights from 135-147 lbs over the next few years (Danny Garcia seems like the most logical follow-up fight if Broner gets past DeMarco/Gamboa)
GuillermoRigondeaux-Nonito Donaire: Despite being little guys, these are two of the finest P4P guys we have for exactly opposite reasons (technical brilliance for the former, explosive power for the latter). It’s always great to see explosive offensive athletes (like Donaire) fight calculated ring generals with outstanding technical wits like Rigo. The wildcard in this fight would be Rigo’s power. He’s not just a great technical boxer, but he can really punch, too. This would be a great lesson in the sweet science.
Paulie Malignaggi- Kell Brook. This fight would also answer some serious questions. I absolutely love Paulie Malignaggi’s game. He talks a lot, but he typically backs it up in the ring. He’s got a ton of heart, and when he’s going right, he’s a tough out for any fighter. That said, I think he’s in the upper-echelon of gatekeeper status at this point in his career. While typical gatekeepers don’t hold title belts, I don’t think anyone would pick Malignaggi to beat the elite fighters of his division. Kell Brook is in need of a fight against a real American gatekeeper if he has plans on being relevant in the US. Malignaggi is just what the doctor ordered.
Marcos Maidana-Lucas Matthyse: Duh. If Maidana can’t make 140 anymore (which I doubt), find a catchweight. These are two of the heaviest hitters we have in the entire sport pound-for-pound, and they are never in dull fights. I would pay PPV prices just to watch these two fight. Someone is getting knocked out, and it’s going to be highlight-reel material. And there’s gravy on top: they’re both Argentinian. Let them fight in Argentina (possibly on a card headlined by Sergio Martinez) so the nationalistic fervor plays a role. What are we waiting for? Both fighters are on the verge of major title shots. I will say that Maidana has gotten much better under Robert Garcia. But once he gets into an exchange, his instincts take over. I just start salivating at the idea of their first true exchange. Matthyse’s straight right probably gets their first and ends the fight early.
Danny Garcia-Tim Bradley: What I really would like to see is Danny Garcia vs. Juan Manuel Marquez. But since that ain’t happening, Timothy Bradley is the next best choice. I’d guess Bradley can still make 140, so weight shouldn’t play a major factor. I think their styles would actually make for a very fan-friendly fight, and a win for either would cement their status atop their respective weight classes. Why Danny Garcia is fighting Erik Morales again is mind-boggling to me. It’s a lose-lose situation. He gains nothing by beating him a second time (other than some deserved criticism for taking the fight), and he loses everything by losing to El Terible. Makes even less sense than Cotto-Trout since Cotto has little to prove at this point.
Edwin Rodriguez-Kelly Pavlik: Edwin is ready for a major step up. I’ve seen him fight inside with great power and effectiveness, and I’ve seen him fight on the outside with great accuracy, jabs, and ring generalship. What I haven’t seen him do is fight a top-10 fighter at any weight class. Kelly Pavlik is also ready for a meaningful fight. He’s yet to face someone (since his comeback began) of any significance. A win against Rodriguez would validate a matchup against Andre Ward or Chad Dawson. Similarly, a win over Pavlik would catapult Rodriguez into the top tier of 168-175 lb fighters where there are plenty of marquee matchups and big paydays (Bute, Froch, Ward, Kessler, etc.). You could say it’s a crossroads fight where the winner is thrust into the big time, and the loser is relegated to gatekeeper/contender status for the foreseeable future.
Andre Ward- ???: Is there really anyone who can give this guy a run for his money? I don’t know the name. Could Floyd make his legacy in tact as he has alluded to by stepping up? This would be the final stamp on an illustrious career if Floyd would go up in weight (by a lot) to fight another guy who can reasonably be considered the best fighter on the planet (who happens to be in his prime). A win against Ward would be way bigger (literally) and more impressive than a win against Manny Pacquaio.
The lack of solid opponents is less indicative of crap opposition (like Roy Jones’ remarkable career) and more about his dominance. Carl Froch’s a world class fighter and seeing their rematch is of no interest due to Ward’s utter domination in the first encounter. Sergio Martinez is too small (and frankly would get beaten badly in my opinion), but maybe Pavlik? Even Pavlik has only a puncher’s chance to beat Ward. I simply don’t know how you beat that guy, and I certainly don’t know anyone built to do it. Another option is Golovkin just due to his explosive power… but even that may be a stretch.
I am pleased to see sensible fights being made to sort through contenders recently (such as Lara-Matirosyan, Berto-Bradley, etc.), but I don’t fully understand what’s holding up some of the above. Perhaps HBO or Showtime has the cahones to open up fan voting through twitter as to who the fans want to see fight next, but I’d say that’s a dream.
Readers—What fights do you want to see?
Let me know @Blakehoc
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Canelo vs Berlanga Battles the UFC: Hopefully No Repeat of the 2019 Fiasco
If one happens to be fan of both traditional boxing and MMA, then one has a choice to make this Saturday. Canelo Alvarez will be in action at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas defending his lineal 168-pound world title against Edgar Berlanga and two miles away in a competing Pay-Per-View card, the first-ever sporting event will be staged inside The Sphere, a UFC card bearing the title Riyadh Season Noche 306.
This won’t be the first time that a boxing card featuring the red-headed Mexican superstar went head-to-head with a UFC event. On Nov. 2, 2019, Canelo Alvarez fought Sergey Kovalev at the T-Mobile and 2,500 miles away, MMA stars Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal locked horns at Madison Square Garden. Both cards were PPV. Alvarez vs Kovalev was live-streamed on DAZN; Diaz vs Masvidal on ESPN+.
We don’t know which event generated the most profit, but the way things played out, this was a symbolic win for the UFC. On this night, the venerable sport of boxing and its adherents were reduced to a second-class citizen.
The fault lay with the nitwits at DAZN. They thought it prudent to postpone the start of Alvarez-Kovalev until the Diaz-Masdival fight was finished. What resulted was an interlude that dragged on for a good 90 minutes after Ryan Garcia knocked out Romero Duno in 98 seconds in the semi-wind-up. Then came the ring walks, the National Anthems (there were three), and the long-winded introduction of the combatants. When the bell finally sounded to signify the start of the bout, it was 10:18 inside the arena and 1:18 am for the bleary-eyed folks tuning in back in the Eastern Time Zone. The backlash was fierce.
The competing shows this coming Saturday coincide with Mexican Independence Day Weekend. One might assume that this will give the PBC promotion at the T-Mobile a leg up as Canelo Alvarez is a must-see attraction within the Mexican and Mexican-American communities. However, the UFC card has something going for it that T-Mobile lacks. The venue is itself an allurement. The newest addition to the Las Vegas skyline, The Sphere has the WOW factor. Even long-time Las Vegas locals, supposedly jaded by a surfeit of architectural wonders, are mesmerized by the constantly changing light show on the exterior of the big globe. Inside, visitors will find the world’s highest resolution LED display.
Customizing the interior for UFC 306 was an expensive proposition. UFC honcho Dana White has pegged the cost at $20 million and concedes that without Saudi money it would not have been feasible. He says that Saturday’s show will be “one-off,” not merely the first combat sports event at The Sphere, but also the last because it would be too expensive to replicate. If that be true, attendees are advised to keep their ticket stubs. Years from now, they might command a nice price in the sports memorabilia marketplace.
The T-Mobile has Canelo, but The Sphere has Alexa Grasso who, akin to Canelo, hails from Guadalajara. Ms. Grasso, 31, just may be the second-most-well-known fighter in Mexico. In addition to holding the UFC flyweight title, she is an analyst for the UFC’s Spanish-language broadcasts.
Grasso will be defending her belts against Russia’s Valentina Shevshenko in the co-main. In the featured bout, bantamweight belt-holder Sean O’Malley will defend his title against Merab Dvalishvili.
The T-Mobile card on Prime Video comes with a suggested list price of $89.99 for U.S. buyers without a Prime Video account. That tab has been widely assailed as a rip-off. “It’s gouging fight fans, plain and simple,” says Kevin Iole who covered both boxing and MMA for Yahoo. (For the record, the UFC show on ESPN+ comes with a list price of $79.99, $10 cheaper if bundled with an ESPN+ subscription. The UFC folks are holding their breath that the event can be translated to the small screen without compromising the clarity of the picture. The logistics are daunting.)
The main bouts on the UFC card will be far more competitive based on the prevailing odds, but when it comes to combat sports, this reporter is a traditionalist. Agreed, that can be interpreted as an old fuddy-duddy stuck in his ways, but in my eyes boxing, a sport that rests on a far more arresting historic foundation, trumps the Johnny-come-lately that is the UFC.
Check back later this week as TSS West Coast Bureau Chief David A. Avila offers up a closer look at Alvarez vs Berlanga and some of the supporting bouts.
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Niyomtrong Proves a Bridge Too Far for Alex Winwood in Australia
Today in Perth, Australia, Alex Winwood stepped up in class in his fifth pro fight with the aim of becoming the fastest world title-holder in Australian boxing history. But Winwood (4-0, 2 KOs heading in) wasn’t ready for WBA strawweight champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong, aka Knockout CP Freshmart, who by some accounts is the longest reigning champion in the sport.
Niyomtrong (25-0, 9 KOs) prevailed by a slim margin to retain his title. “At least the right guy won,” said prominent Australian boxing writer Anthony Cocks who thought the scores (114-112, 114-112, 113-113) gave the hometown fighter all the best of it.
Winwood, who represented Australia in the Tokyo Olympics, trained for the match in Thailand (as do many foreign boxers in his weight class). He is trained by Angelo Hyder who also worked with Danny Green and the Moloney twins. Had he prevailed, he would have broken the record of Australian boxing icon Jeff Fenech who won a world title in his seventh pro fight. A member of the Noongar tribe, Winwood, 27, also hoped to etch on his name on the list of notable Australian aboriginal boxers alongside Dave Sands, Lionel Rose and the Mundines, Tony and Anthony, father and son.
What Winwood, 27, hoped to capitalize on was Niyomtrong’s theoretical ring rust. The Thai was making his first start since July 20 of 2022 when he won a comfortable decision over Wanheng Menayothin in one of the most ballyhooed domestic showdowns in Thai boxing history. But the Noongar needed more edges than that to overcome the Thai who won his first major title in his ninth pro fight with a hard-fought decision over Nicaragua’s Carlos Buitrago who was 27-0-1 heading in.
A former Muai Thai champion, Niyomtrong/Freshmart turns 34 later this month, an advanced age for a boxer in the sport’s smallest weight class. Although he remains undefeated, he may have passed his prime. How good was he in his heyday? Prominent boxing historian Matt McGrain has written that he was the most accomplished strawweight in the world in the decade 2010-2019: “It is not close, it is not debatable, there is no argument.”
Against the intrepid Winwood, Niyomtrong started slowly. In round seven, he cranked up the juice, putting the local fighter down hard with a left hook. He added another knockdown in round nine. The game Winwood stayed the course, but was well-beaten at the finish, no matter that the scorecards suggested otherwise, creating the impression of a very close fight.
P.S. – Because boxrec refused to name this a title fight, it fell under the radar screen until the result was made known. In case you hadn’t noticed, boxrec is at loggerheads with the World Boxing Association and has decided to “de-certify” the oldest of the world sanctioning bodies. While this reporter would be happy to see the WBA disappear – it is clearly the most corrupt of the four major organizations – the view from here is that boxrec is being petty. Moreover, if this practice continues, it will be much harder for boxing historians of future generations to sort through the rubble.
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Avila Perspective, Chap. 295: Callum Walsh, Pechanga Casino Fights and More
Super welterweight contender Callum Walsh worked out for reporters and videographers at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Calif. on Thursday,
The native of Ireland Walsh (11-0, 9 KOs) has a fight date against Poland’s Przemyslaw Runowski (22-2-1, 6 KOs) on Friday, Sept. 20 at the city of Dublin. It’s a homecoming for the undefeated southpaw from Cork. UFC Fight Pass will stream the 360 Promotions card.
Mark down the date.
Walsh is the latest prodigy of promoter Tom Loeffler who has a history of developing European boxers in America and propelling them forward on the global boxing scene. Think Gennady “Triple G” Golovkin and you know what I mean.
Golovkin was a middleweight monster for years.
From Kevin Kelley to Oba Carr to Vitaly Klitschko to Serhii Bohachuk and many more in-between, the trail of elite boxers promoted by Loeffler continues to grow. Will Walsh be the newest success?
Add to the mix Dana White, the maestro of UFC, who is also involved with Walsh and you get a clearer picture of what the Irish lad brings to the table.
Walsh has speed, power and a glint of meanness that champions need to navigate the prizefighting world. He also has one of the best trainers in the world in Freddie Roach who needs no further introduction.
Perhaps the final measure of Walsh will be when he’s been tested with the most important challenge of all:
Can he take a punch from a big hitter?
That’s the final challenge
It always comes down to the chin. It’s what separates the Golovkins from the rest of the pack. At the top of the food chain they all can hit, have incredible speed and skill, but the fighters with the rock hard chins are those that prevail.
So far, the chin test is the only examination remaining for Walsh.
“King’ Callum Walsh is ready for his Irish homecoming and promises some fireworks for the Irish fans. This will be an entertaining show for the fans and we are excited to bring world class boxing back to the 3Arena in Dublin,” said Loeffler.
Pechanga Fights
MarvNation Promotions presents a battle between welterweight contenders Jose “Chon” Zepeda (37-5, 28 KOs) and Ivan Redkach (24-7-1, 19 KOs) on Friday, Sept. 6, at Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula. DAZN will stream the fight card.
Both have fought many of the best welterweights in the world and now face each other. It should be an interesting clash between the veterans.
Also on the card, featherweights Nathan Rodriguez (15-0) and Bryan Mercado (11-5-1) meet in an eight-round fight.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. First bout at 7 p.m.
Monster Inoue
Once again Japan’s Naoya Inoue dispatched another super bantamweight contender with ease as TJ Doheny was unable to continue in the seventh round after battered by a combination on Tuesday in Tokyo.
Inoue continues to brush away whoever is placed in front of him like a glint of dust.
Is the “Monster” the best fighter pound-for-pound on the planet or is it Terence Crawford? Both are dynamic punchers with skill, speed, power and great chins.
Munguia in Big Bear
Super middleweight contender Jaime Munguia is two weeks away from his match with Erik Bazinyan at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. ESPN will show the Top Rank card.
“Erik Bazinyan is a good fighter. He’s undefeated. He switches stances. We need to be careful with that. He’s taller and has a longer reach than me. He has a good jab. He can punch well on the inside. He’s a fighter who comes with all the desire to excel,” said Munguia.
Bazinyan has victories over Ronald Ellis and Alantez Fox.
In case you didn’t know, Munguia moved over to Top Rank but still has ties with Golden Boy Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. Bazinyan is promoted by Eye of the Tiger.
This is the Tijuana fighter’s first match with Top Rank since losing to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez last May in Las Vegas. He is back with trainer Erik Morales.
Callum Walsh photo credit: Lina Baker
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