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PREDICTION PAGE: Who Do Ya Like, Hopkins or Cloud?

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BERNARD “THE EXECUTIONER” HOPKINS, Six-Time And Two-Division World Champion & Oldest Fighter In History To Win A World Title

“Any athlete who goes in there and knows they are 100 percent ready physically has an advantage. Athletes deal with aches and pains, but I was able to rest for the whole summer of 2012 and I had a chance to heal my body 100 percent.

“Tavoris Cloud might actually be hungrier than me. How often do you hear a fighter say that his opponent is hungrier than he is? I don’t need hunger. I’m motivated by my desire to prove that I’m different and that I can still silence the critics.

“You will have reason to be surprised on March 9.

“You’re not going to see a new Bernard Hopkins. I’m too old for that crap. I think what you will see is something different that I know I am capable of doing.

“There’s always a chance you will see something new in a fight. Especially in boxing.

“I’m going to avoid Cloud’s strengths and expose his weaknesses.

“I have the philosophy that I’m different. I have the body, the well-being and the experience. Now the teacher gets to show the student that he’s worthy of the lesson. Let me show him through experience.

“I don’t know what being a 48-year-old feels like. There are a lot of 48 year olds that aren’t in good shape. The pharmacy is making a killing off of them.

“I’m 100 percent clean. I’m doing this off of nuts and bananas.

“The media here know that there’s the possibility that I can pull this off. I’m confident. Confidence comes with work. When you prepare yourself and you know you’re going into combat with all of your bullets, you have the confidence to go into battle.

“I want to be the poster child for taking care of yourself after 40. Obesity is an epidemic in this country and I’m a living, breathing example of what it means to stay healthy.

“I’m not going to give up. If you pay attention to my plan and the way I live and the way I eat, then you have a chance to extend your life a few more years.”

TAVORIS “THUNDER” CLOUD, Undefeated IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion

“Whatever comes with the fight, I’m ready. He [Bernard Hopkins] called me out. I’m just going in to win the fight.

“I’m going to give the people their money’s worth…true sports entertainment for their dollar. I’m the undefeated IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion making my fifth title defense. The crowd will be with me because everybody wants to be with a winner.

“I’d be a fool to get caught up in Bernard Hopkins’ mind games. That’s a fool’s game buying into those traps. When the bell rings on Saturday night, we’re both equals. I’ve got to go in there and hit him to show his tactics will not work against me.

“I switched to my new trainer Abel Sanchez to add versatility to my game. I’m coming to fight a serious fight. If I knock him [Hopkins] out, it will just put another feather in my cap. I’m predicting a win, but I never look for the knockout because that’s not my game plan. If my punches result in a knockout, so be it.

[On his high-altitude training camp known as “The Summit” in Big Bear Lake, Calif.] “The first day of training in Big Bear, it felt like somebody put a plastic bag over my head. After eight weeks up there, I feel very strong.

“In this fight I want to show people who are in poverty, downtrodden or denied that you can succeed. I want my performance to be an inspiration to people. You have to stay in the moment and keep moving ahead. I just want to show everyone that you can find answers to your problems and afflictions with hard work and perseverance.

“I came from nothing out in the woods near Tallahassee, Florida. My mom was a single mom raising five of us. It wasn’t easy but she found a way to raise us to adulthood. We made it somehow.”

“You have to go in there and hit him. Show him that his tactics don’t work. Bernard Hopkins is a fighter that you have to get straight to the point with. You can’t lollygag and bullsh*t because that’s his game. Being serious and doing my job throwing punches in the ring, that’s my game. I don’t come to put on a show for the people. I come to give the people a fight and give them their money’s worth; give them real entertainment.”

“He [Hopkins] is a good fighter. He’s earned his keep, but I just don’t think he can hit me. I think he trains hard and he lives his life right. He’s made sacrifices to increase his longevity, but you know it’s been too long.

“I was hungry and I was looking for a way to better my life. With boxing, I didn’t have to make a team. It wasn’t like baseball or football. I could just walk in the gym and start doing something that I liked.

“The word ‘snooze fest’ comes to mind [when talking about Hopkins’ fighting style], that’s what a lot of people say. He’s a boring fighter.

“Fighting a fighter like Bernard Hopkins, who’s supposed to be a legend, puts me in a different frame of mind. It puts me on my toes. I know this Saturday I’m going to be victorious because I’m going to put on a great show.

“I want to thank my amateur trainer. We started at the bottom together. Just because you were born at the bottom doesn’t mean you have to stay at the bottom. After Saturday night, we’re going to put that bologna away and go get a steak.

“I’m ready. I feel like I can’t be beat. You have to feel like that being a fighter. I just feel like this is a bigger type of energy. I feel like I’ve beaten so many odds. I feel kind of invincible. It’s going to be a good fight.

“Saturday we’ll see it all come to fruition. God brought me out of nowhere. I know he isn’t going to turn his back on me now.”

NAAZIM RICHARDSON, Hopkins’ Trainer

“You hear people talk about how Bernard Hopkins is tricky and crafty. They make it sound like the man can’t fight.

“The truth is, he hasn’t gotten in anyone’s head. It’s not mental games or smoke and mirrors. This man can fight. I’m tired of people judging him a different way. When people say there’s no action in one of his fights, that it’s his fault.

“People call him a dirty fighter. They need to understand what they are watching. It’s a throw back style of boxing. If you want fighting, there’s another sport out there that does that. Boxing is an art. In boxing you have to swim without getting wet.

“I hate to tell you all, but Bernard Hopkins has already left the building, but don’t worry, The Executioner is still here. The Executioner will be here Saturday.

“I think Tavoris Cloud is underrated. You are going to see the best Cloud you’ve ever seen against The Executioner.

“Saturday you will see the return of The Executioner.”

ABEL SANCHEZ, Cloud’s Trainer

“We had a great eight week training camp. Bernard Hopkins is a difficult challenge that we are going to conquer.

“Twenty-two-years ago I brought a young man here to fight named Terry Norris. If you remember the fight, it was a terrible beating for Ray Leonard. Saturday night, the legend is going to retire and the new star is going to be born.”

RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions

“I know that Bernard Hopkins is going to make history again.

“I’m going to ask Brett Yormark [CEO of Barclays Center] to hang a banner of Bernard Hopkins [in the rafters of Barclays Center].

“History doesn’t usually come cheap, but ticket prices are starting at 25 dollars.

“There is great young local talent on the undercard as well.

“Everyone should go back and listen to what Jean Pascal said [about beating Hopkins] and then think back when Hopkins got down on the canvas and started doing push-ups [between rounds during their fight].

“Make sure you are here Saturday night. This is a once in a life lifetime opportunity to see this world champion [Hopkins] once again.”

DON KING, Renowned Promoter & President of Don King Productions

“I’m here to help Richard Schaefer because he is doing a tremendous job.

“Bernard Hopkins’ accomplishments and achievements are far beyond that of the norm.

“I am so happy to be at Barclays Center. When I saw Brett Yormark [CEO of Barclays Center], I thought to myself that he and his brother Michael are doing an amazing job.

“I think it’s wonderful that we have all of these people here to bear witness to greatness in the making. Richard said that Bernard will be making an attempt to break his own record [as the oldest fighter to win a world title]. The mere fact that he can make this attempt, everyone here should bow their heads and be grateful that they can bear witness to this history-making event.

“I think it would be a crowning achievement for Tavoris to beat him [Hopkins] and make his record 25-0.

“Abel Sanchez is the new trainer we have for Tavoris. Tavrois left Florida [his home] and North Carolina [his previous training camp] and went to the mountains of Big Bear.

“We want the poor, the privileged, the men, the women, the children, the young, the old, the black, the white – we do not discriminate – to come to Barclays Center to pay homage to this great building which is an edifice in Brooklyn. I want everyone to be there to see Richard Schaefer get teary when Bernard Hopkins loses.

“You can see the clouds rolling in and thunder is imminent.

“Cloud is hungry. He needs the money. He wants the fame and acclaim. This is his opportunity in the land of opportunity.

“You have a genius sitting beside me here [Hopkins]. He doesn’t just work with his fists, he works with his brain.

“I once promoted a fighter from Brownsville, not too far from here. His name is Michael Tyson, one of the greatest knockout artists of all time. We’re going to have a young Tyson here.

“When you meet this young man [Cloud], you’ll fall in love with him. He’ll fight for the people. He doesn’t want to be a champion for himself. He wants to be a champion for the people.”

BRETT YORMARK, CEO of Barclays Center

“We’re thrilled to host our second night of world championship boxing at Barclays Center in Brooklyn this Saturday night.

“The sports’ elder statesman will be fighting at the world’s newest venue.

“I had the opportunity to run the Brooklyn Bridge yesterday with Brooklyn-born fighter Frank Galarza. Brooklyn has great talent and we are happy to be hosting some of that talent on Saturday night.

“Thank you to Golden Boy Promotions for their vision of making Barclays Center a venue for boxing in the United States.”

KEITH THURMAN, Undefeated Welterweight Rising Star

“I feel good. I’m mentally ready. I’m mentally prepared.

“I’m confident that I can steal rounds by getting inside and throwing punches.

“He wants to be champion again, but I want to be a champion too. He is bringing experience, but I am bringing my talent and ability.

“Zaveck has gone 12 rounds many times in his career. This is one of the only times I have been required to go 12 rounds, but I know I am prepared. I am going to outclass him.

“This is the first time I’ve ever been to Brooklyn. Everyone knows that New York City is one of the greatest cities in the United States and in the world.

“I look up to Bernard Hopkins as a fighter. I’m honored to be his co-main event and to be able to give a great performance.

“Zaveck is a tough guy. He has never been knocked down and I love putting people to sleep. Knowing that he has never been knocked down is a true test for me

“You’ve got a legend over here trying to make history once again by going up against a young puncher. You come to Brooklyn. You tune in. You knock on your neighbor’s door. You do what you have to do to watch this fight.

“I’m in love with boxing. It fell into my lap and I have been in love with it ever since.”

JAN ZAVECK, Former World Champion

“There have been many times that I’ve been stuck in the ring with bigger, stronger guys and in the end I came out victorious. I believe Saturday night is going to be the same way.

“I’m prepared for 12 rounds. I’ll be very happy with anything else, but I’m prepared for 12 or 15 rounds.

“It’s my pleasure and honor to be here fighting on HBO and in the United States.

“I put in the work to hand Keith Thurman his first loss.

“Experience means everything and I know I am prepared.”

MARCUS BROWNE, 2012 U.S. Olympian

“It is an honor to fight on a Bernard Hopkins undercard. I’m happy to fight in New York City. I wouldn’t want to fight anywhere else but Barclays Center. I am here to get things started and lay the platform for the main events.”

# # #

Hopkins vs. Cloud, a 12-round fight for Cloud’s IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship will take place Saturday, March 9 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Don King Productions and sponsored by Corona, AT&T, Ford and Rocawear. The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. The co-main event will be a 12-round fight between top rated undefeated contender Keith Thurman and former World Champion Jan Zaveck for Zaveck’s WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Championship.

Tickets, priced at $200, $100, $85, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are available for purchase at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800-745-3000.

 

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 304: A Year of Transformation in Boxing and More

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A subtle transformation in professional boxing is taking place with the biggest fights no longer placed in Las Vegas, New York or Los Angeles. Instead, they are heading to the Middle East.

Golden Boy Promotions joined the crowd last week with one of their stronger fight cards taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main attractions were new unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez of Mexico along with Puerto Rico’s diminutive Oscar Collazo unifying the minimumweight division.

And there is more to come.

Matchroom Boxing seemed to lead the way in this rerouting of major boxing events. It goes as far back as December 2019 when Anthony Joshua fought Andy Ruiz in a rematch for the heavyweight championship in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

Little by little major fights are being rerouted to Saudi Arabia.

Is it a good thing or not?

For promoters looking to cut costs it’s definitely welcomed. But what does it do for the fan base accustomed to saving their money to buy tickets for one or two major events?

Now there is talk of Shakur Stevenson, Devin Haney and Terence Crawford heading to the Middle East to fight on major cards sponsored by “Riyad Spring.” It’s a new avenue for the sport of pro boxing.

This past week Golden Boy and its roster of Latino fighters took its turn and showed off their brand of aggressive fights. Some like Collazo and Arnold Barboza made the best of their moments. And, of course, Zurdo proved he should have moved up in weight years ago. He could be the Comeback Fighter of the Year.

Benavidez vs Morrell

Interim light heavyweight champion David Benavidez accepted a challenge from WBA light heavyweight titlist David Morrell to meet on Feb. 1 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Bad blood between the two tall fighters already exists.

Morrell claims Benavidez is over-rated.

“I’m getting the knockout. 100%. He’s all talk and no bite. He can’t do what he thinks he’s gonna do,” said Morrell. “He has no idea what he’s talking about, but he’s provoking me and now I want to go out there and beat the crap out of him. I’m here now and none of that talk matters.”

Benavidez begs to differ.

“Here we are again. I told you that I was going to give you the fights you want to see, and now we’re here,” Benavidez said while in Los Angeles. “Morrell has been talking about me for a while and disrespecting me. He wanted to make it personal with me, so I’m personally going to break his mouth. That’ll give him something to remember me by.”

Also scheduled to fight on the fight card are Isaac Cruz, Stephen Fulton, Brandon Figueroa and Jesus Ramos Jr.

Netflix

No surprise for me with the massive success of the Jake Paul and Mike Tyson event on the Most Valuable Promotions boxing card last week.

According to Netflix there were 108 million people tuned into the event last Friday that also featured the incredible Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor rematch. Another exciting card was the men’s welterweight clash between Mario Barrios and Abel Ramos that ended in a draw.

If fans weren’t satisfied with the Paul fight, they certainly got their fulfillment with the world title fights, especially Serrano and Taylor who were estimated to be viewed by more than 72 million people. No female fight in history can touch those numbers.

So, what’s next for Netflix in terms of boxing?

West Coast Blues

Southern California is usually a hotbed for boxing events no matter what time of the year. But this year only a few boxing cards are taking place within a driving distance until the end of the year.

Las Vegas is in slumber and Southern California has a few smaller boxing cards still on schedule. Arizona has a significant Top Rank fight card in a few weeks as does Golden Boy Promotions in the Inland Empire.

Here are some upcoming fight events worth noting:

Dec. 5 – at OC Hangar in Costa Mesa, Calif. Vlad Panin vs Sal Briceno by SOCA Fights.

Dec. 7 – at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Rafael Espinoza vs Robeisy Ramirez and Oscar Valdez vs Emanuel Navarrete by Top Rank.

Dec. 13, at Chumash Casino 360 in Santa Ynez, Calif. Carlos Balderas vs Cesar Villarraga by 360 Promotions.

Dec. 14 at Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif. Alexis Rocha vs Raul Curiel by Golden Boy Promotions.

Turkeys in East L.A.

The 25th annual Turkey Giveaway by Golden Boy takes place on Saturday Nov. 23, at Oscar De La Hoya Animo High School starting at 11 a.m.

It’s incredible that 25 years have passed since the inception of this yearly event. Many current and past fighters for the promotion company will be passing out turkeys and meeting fans. Among those expected to appear are Alexis Rocha, Victor Morales, Joel Iriarte, Bryan Lua and others.

Photo: Eddie Hearn, Frank Warren, and HE Turki Alalshikh at the Joshua-Dubois fight

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Philly’s Jesse Hart Continues His Quest plus Thoughts on Tyson-Paul and ‘Boots’ Ennis

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Jesse Hart (31-3, 25 KOs) returns to the ring tomorrow night (Friday, Nov. 22) on a Teflon Promotions card at the Liacouras Center on the campus of Temple University. During a recent media workout for the show, which will feature five other local fighters in separate bouts, Hart was adamant that fighting for the second time this year at home will only help in his continuing quest to push towards a second chance at a world championship. “Fighting at home is always great and it just makes sense from a business standpoint since I already have a name in the sport and in the city,” said Hart (pictured on the left).

Hart’s view of where his career currently resides in relation to the landscape in the light heavyweight division leads you to believe that, at the age of 35, Hart is realistic about how far he can go before his career is over.

“Make good fights, win those fights, fight as much as I can and stay busy, that’s the way the light heavyweight division won’t be able to ignore me,” he says. Aside from two losses back in 2017 and 2018 to current unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez at super middleweight, Hart’s only other defeat was to Joe Smith during Smith’s most successful portion of his career.

When attempts to make fights with (at the time) up-and-coming prospects like Edgar Berlanga and David Benavidez were denied with Hart being viewed as the typical high risk-low reward opponent, it was time to find another way.  So, Hart decided to stay local after splitting with Top Rank Promotions post-surgery to repair his longtime right-hand issues and hooked up with Teflon Promotions, an upstart company that is the latest to take on the noble endeavor of trying to return North Broad Street and Atlantic City to boxing prominence.

In essence, it is a calculated move that is potentially a win-win situation for all parties. Continued success for Hart along with some of the titles at light heavyweight eventually being released from Artur Beterbiev’s grasp due to outside politics, and Jesse Hart just may lift up Teflon Promotions into a major player on the regional scene.

Tickets for Friday’s show are available on Ticketmaster platforms.

**

As we entered November, a glance at the boxing schedule made me wonder if it was possible for the sport to have a memorable month — one that could shine a light forward in boxing’s ongoing quest to regain relevance in today’s sports landscape. Having consecutive weekends with events that could spark interest in the pugilistic artform and its wonderful characters was what I was hoping for, but what we got instead was more evidence that boxing isn’t immune to modern business practices landing a one-two punch on the action both inside and outside of the ring.

Jaron “Boots” Ennis was expected to make a statement in his rematch with Karen Chukhadzian on Nov. 9, a statement to put the elite level champions around his weight class on notice. What we witnessed, however, was more evidence of how current champions in their prime can be hampered by having to navigate a business that functions through the cooperation of independent contractors. Ennis got the job done – he won – but it was a lackluster performance.

It’s time for Ennis to fight the fighters we already thought we would have seen him fight by now and I do believe there is some truth to Ennis rising to the occasion if there was a more noteworthy name across the ring.

Some positives emerged from the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul event the following week. Amanda Serrano, Katie Taylor, and women’s boxing are finally getting the public recognition they deserve. Mario Barrios’s draw against the tough Abel Ramos, also on the Netflix broadcast, was an action-packed firefight. So, mainstream America and beyond got to witness actual fights before being subjected to Paul’s latest circus.

Unfortunately for fans, but fortunately for Paul, the lone true boxing star in the main event dimmed out from an athletic standpoint decades ago. In this instance modern business practices allowed for a social media influencer to stage his largest money grab from a completely unnuanced public.

As Paul rose to the ring apron from the steps and looked around “Jerry’s World,” taking in the moment, it reminded me of an actual fighter when they’re about to enter the ring taking in the atmosphere before they risk their lives after a lifetime of dedication to try and realize a childhood dream. In this case though, this was a natural-born hustler realizing as he made it to the ring apron that his hustle was likely having its moment of glory.

In boxing circles, Jake Paul is viewed as a “necessary evil.”  What occurs in his fights are merely an afterthought to the spectacle that is at the core of the social media realm that birthed him. Hopefully the public learned from the atrocity that occurred once the exhibition started that smoke and mirrors last for only so long. Hopefully Paul’s moment of being a boxing performer and acting like a true fighter comes to its conclusion. But he isn’t going away anytime soon, especially since his promotional company is now in bed with Netflix.

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Boxing Odds and Ends: Oscar Collazo, Reimagining ‘The Ring’ Magazine and More

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With little boxing activity over the next two weekends, there’s no reason to hold off anointing Oscar Collazo the Fighter of the Month for November. In his eleventh pro fight, Collazo turned heads with a masterful performance against previously undefeated Thammanoon Niyamtrong, grabbing a second piece of the title in boxing’s smallest weight class while ending the reign of the sport’s longest-reigning world title-holder. The match was on the undercard of the Nov. 16 “Latino Night” show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia headlined by the cruiserweight tiff between Mexico’s Zurdo Ramirez and England’s Chris Billam-Smith.

Collazo was a solid favorite, but no one expected the fight would be as one-sided. Collazo put on a clinic, as the saying goes. He took the starch out of Niyamtrong with wicked body punches before ending matters in the seventh. A left uppercut sent the Thai to the canvas for the third time and the referee immediately stepped in and stopped it.

Collazo, wrote Tris Dixon, “dissected and destroyed a very good fighter.” Indeed. A former Muay Thai champion, Niyamtrong (aka Knockout CP Freshmart) brought a 25-0 record and was making the thirteenth defense of his WBA strap.

A Puerto Rican born in Newark, Jersey, Oscar Collazo turned pro after winning a gold medal in the 2019 Pan American games in Lima, Peru. He was reportedly named after Oscar De La Hoya (we will take that info with a grain of salt), names Hall of Famer Ivan Calderon as a mentor and is co-promoted by Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto.

Collazo, 27, won the WBO version of the 105-pound title in his seventh pro fight with a seven-round beatdown of Melvin Jerusalem. He won a world title faster than any Puerto Rican boxer before him.

His goal now, he says, is to become a unified champion. He would be the first from the island in the modern era.  Although Puerto Rico has a distinguished boxing history – twelve Boricua boxers are enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame — there hasn’t been a fully unified champion from Puerto Rico since the WBO came along in 1988.

The other belt-holders at 105 are the aforementioned Jerusalem (WBC) and his Filipino countryman Melvin Taduran (IBF). Both won their belts in Japan with upsets of the Shigeoka brothers, respectively Yudai (Jerusalem) and Ginjiro (Taduran). Collazo would be a massive favorite over either.

A far more attractive fight would pit Collazo against two-time Olympic gold medalist Hasanboy Dusmatov. In theory, this would be an easy fight to make as the undefeated Uzbek trains in Indio, California, a frequent stomping ground of Collazo’s co-promoter Oscar De La Hoya who had a piece of the action when Dusmatov made his pro debut in Mexico. However, it’s doubtful that Dusmatov’s influential advisor Vadim Kornilov would let him take such a treacherous fight until the match-up had been properly “marinated,” by which time they both may be competing in a higher weight class. The Puerto Rican, who began his pro career at 110, is big for the 105-pound division notes the noted boxing historian Matt McGrain who is partial to the little guys.

Outside the ropes, the big news in boxing in November was the news that The Ring magazine had been sold to Turki Alalshikh. The self-acclaimed Bible of Boxing, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022, was previously owned by a subsidiary of Oscar De La Hoya’s company, Golden Boy Enterprises, which acquired the venerable publication in 2007. Alalshikh purportedly paid $10 million dollars.

Alalshikh, the head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, confirmed the sale on social media on Monday, Nov. 11.

“Earlier this week, I finalized a deal to acquire 100% of The Ring Magazine, and I want to make a few things clear,” he said. “The print version of the magazine will return immediately after a two year hiatus and it will be available in the US and UK markets. The magazine will be fully independent, with brilliant writers and focusing on every aspect in the sport of boxing. We will continue to raise the prestige of The Ring Titles, and plans are already underway to have a yearly extravagant awards ceremony to celebrate the very best in the boxing industry.”

Alalshikh, blessed with an apparently unlimited budget, is already the most powerful man in the sport and more than a few concerns have been raised about his latest venture, especially in light of an incident involving prominent British scribe Oliver Brown.

Brown, the chief sports writer for the Telegraph who had previously covered three of Tyson Fury’s fights in Saudi Arabia, had his credential pulled for the Joshua-Dubois show at Wembley Stadium after calling the event “a grisly conduit for glorifying the Saudi regime.”

“I frankly do not trust Alalshikh to keep his personal aims from influencing the publication’s content,” says boxing writer Patrick Stumberg. One thing is certain: So long as the publication remains in the hands of the Saudis, the word “sportswashing” will never appear in the pages of The Ring magazine.

The Ring is the second major online boxing magazine to change hands this year. In February, Boxing Scene, one of the most heavily-trafficked sites in the ecosystem, was sold to Canadian-American entrepreneur Garry Jonas, best known as the founder of ProBox, a promotional entity headquartered in Plant City, Florida.

Mike Tyson’s showing against Jake Paul was mindful of something that Jimmy Cannon once wrote: “…the flesh was corrupted by time. The mind operated as if it was in another man’s head…the talent has been contaminated by age.”

Cannon was describing Joe Louis in Louis’s farewell fight against Rocky Marciano.

True, Jake Paul is no Rocky Marciano. To include their names in the same sentence borders on sacrilege. But the fabled Brown Bomber was 37 years old when he was rucked into retirement by Marciano on that October night at Madison Square Garden. At age 58, Mike Tyson was old enough to be Joe Louis’s father and yet human lemmings by the thousands couldn’t resist betting on him.

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