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Pacquiao Will Not Be Glove Shy Against Rios, That’s A Sure Bet
Ever since welterweight and former eight division title holder Manny Pacquiao 54-5-2 (38) was knocked out face-first in his fourth bout versus Juan Manuel Marquez last December in the sixth round, there’s been a plethora of questions regarding what Pacquiao has left as a fighter both physically and psychologically. Most of the doubts cast over Manny regarding his upcoming bout against the tough and talented but pretty wild and undisciplined Brandon Rios 31-1-1 (23) ask the following: A) is Pacquiao (looking calm and ready to rock in Chris Farina-Top Rank photo) still hungry and focused enough to compete with today’s elite welterweights; B) has he eroded physically and is he on a rapid decline as a fighter and: C) how much, if at all, will he be scarred and damaged by the devastating defeat he suffered at the hands of Marquez in his last fight almost a year ago?
The answer to A). In regards to Manny’s hunger and focus it is pretty easy to deduce. Brandon Rios will go after him like no other fighter he’s ever faced. Rios will carry the fight and be looking to get Pacquiao out of there with everything he launches at him. Having seen Pacquiao on the canvas face first and being counted out the last time he was in the ring no doubt escalates Brandon’s confidence and belief that he can put him in the same predicament as Marquez did. On top of that Rios throws more punches than Marquez and hits harder. Pacquiao knows that however long he is in the ring with Rios, it’ll be a very hard fight physically, and he’ll need to be laser focused and in supreme shape. I’m willing to bet that Pacquiao shows up in great condition and is desperate to get a win and once again be thought of as one of the elite fighters in professional boxing. If two consecutive losses hasn’t ignited his hunger for this fight, it’s all over but the shouting for him.
In order to glean the answer to B),as to whether or not Pacquiao still posses the physical tools to dominate at the championship level,one only has to go back and watch him against Marquez in his last fight. Manny came out fast throwing some buzzing left hands and exhibited a little more head and upper body movement and feints than he had in their previous fight. For the first two rounds he had Marquez fighting in retreat as Juan was trying to figure out how to stabilize Pacquiao’s early momentum. A fighter must be in great condition to apply constant head movement and feints as they’re pushing the fight, and Pacquiao was doing that beautifully when he got caught and knocked down with a terrific right hand high on the head by Marquez in the third round. Pacquiao recovered quickly from the knockdown both physically and psychologically.
In round five Manny dropped Marquez with a straight left and by the end of the round Marquez was hurt and looked like a beaten fighter. By the end of the sixth Pacquiao was in complete control and was freezing Marquez in his tracks with his head feints before getting caught and knocked out by Marquez’s desperation right hand seconds before the bell rang to end the round. The reason he got knocked out by a punch he didn’t see was that he was so committed to finally getting the emphatic knockout win over Marquez that would erase the question of who was the better fighter that he got careless. Nine times out of 10 that would never happen with Pacquiao. Maybe 99 times out of 100 it wouldn’t. It was the warrior in him that got him knocked out that way.
Other than getting hit with two big right hands over the course of six rounds, Pacquiao did not look like a fighter on the decline. He just got caught, it’s boxing and that happens. Had time stopped half way into the sixth round, there isn’t a single person who was watching the fight who would’ve taken Marquez to pull it out even if you gave them 10-1 odds. That’s how convincingly Manny was in control. So the answer as to whether or not Pacquiao still has it as a fighter physically is yes. Granted, he may have eroded during the past year but that’s something no one can say with certainty until after the fight. Heading into the bout with Rios this Saturday night, it’s safe to assume Pacquiao lost because he got caught with a punch he didn’t see, more so than him being finished as a fighter.
Lastly, in part C),will Pacquiao be glove shy versus Rios this Saturday night? Will he fight more measured and cautious than he would’ve had he stopped Marquez in the sixth round instead of the opposite last December? The answer to this is an emphatic no! Pacquiao will go after Rios with the same intensity, vigor and confidence that he would as if he was coming off his stoppage win over Miguel Cotto. I think Pacquiao is fearless and believe he never doubts that he’ll win any fight he’s in. I’d be willing to bet that Pacquiao will be affected just as Roberto Duran was by being knocked out by Thomas Hearns, in other words he wasn’t and was the same tenacious fighter he’d always been in his subsequent bouts.
Recently Pacquiao was asked if he was under extra pressure to win coming off consecutive losses in high profile fights. He said there was “no added pressure on him because if you don’t wanna lose, don’t fight!” That tells me he’s fine psychologically and will harbor no trepidation once the bout with Rios starts.
His statement “if you don’t wanna lose, don’t fight” may seem innocuous to some but it’s telling to me. That’s because losing destroys some fighters mentally, so much so that they become paralyzed by the thought of getting beat. There are fighters who run and train everyday that you’ll see in the gym sparring but they never fight. They’ll always have an excuse like they hurt their ankle or they’re just getting over a cold and couldn’t run. And the best is the one where they say their opponent pulled out so they are not fighting. Those guys want to fight and say that they are a fighter but the thought of losing or having to tell their friends or girlfriend that they lost causes them to become a deer in front of headlights when it comes time to step up and actually fight. Manny Pacquiao got over the fear of losing a long time ago. He’s mature and self confident in who he is, so that winning or losing doesn’t really define him.
To anyone who is the least bit concerned about whether Pacquiao will show up as a damaged fighter when he confronts Brandon Rios, rest assured, that will not be the case. If Manny was concerned about how he’ll react under fire during the heat of battle, he wouldn’t have agreed to take on perhaps the roughest and toughest fighter out there weighing between 140 and 147 pounds. Rios will be on top of Manny like a wet t-shirt from the moment the fight starts. Pacquiao will have a fighter in front of him that will make him answer to himself inside if he really wants to fight, if he minds getting hit and if he’s willing to walk through hell in a gasoline suit in order to win. Manny knows this and more than that, he asked for this kind of a fight being that he could’ve signed to fight any marquee fighter in the world between 140 and 147 not named Mayweather.
Manny Pacquiao will fight and rumble with Brandon Rios as if he were coming off the best and most impressive showing of his stellar career. If he loses to Rios, it’s not because he’s psychologically damaged and harbors trepidation as a fighter because he was knocked out in a devastating fashion in his last fight, it’ll be more so because he doesn’t have it anymore as a world class fighter at almost 35 years old after 20 plus years fighting as a pro.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
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Women’s Prizefighting Year End Review: The Best of the Best in 2024
Women’s Prizefighting Year End Review: The Best of the Best in 2024
It’s the end of the year.
Here are our awards for the best in women’s boxing. But first, a rundown on the state of the sport.
Maybe its my imagination but it seems that fewer female fights of magnitude took place in 2024 than in previous years.
A few promoters like 360 Promotions increased their involvement in women’s boxing while others such as Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions seem stagnant. They are still staging female bouts but are not signing new additions.
American-based promotion company Top Rank, actually lost 50 percent of their female fighter roster when Seniesa Estrada, the undisputed minimumweight champion, retired recently. They still have Mikaela Mayer.
A promotion company making headlines and creating sparks in the boxing world is Most Valuable Promotions led by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian. They signed Amanda Serrano and have invested in staging other female fights
This year, the top streaming company Netflix gambled on sponsoring Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson, along with Amanda Serrano versus Katie Taylor and hit a monster home run. According to Netflix metrics an estimated 74 million viewers watched the event that took place on Nov. 16 at Arlington, Texas.
“Breaking records like this is exactly what MVP was built to do – bring the biggest, most electrifying events to fans worldwide,” said Nakisa Bidarian co-founder of MVP.
History was made in viewership and at the gate where more than 70,000 fans packed AT&T Stadium for a record-setting $17.8 million in ticket sales outside of Las Vegas. It was the grand finale moment of the year.
Here are the major contributors to women’s boxing in 2024.
Fighter of the Year: Amanda Serrano
Other candidates: Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields, Franchon Crews, Dina Thorslund, and Yesica Nery Plata.
Amanda Serrano was chosen for not only taking part in the most viewed female title fight in history, but also for willingly sacrificing the health of her eye after suffering a massive cut during her brutal war with Taylor. She could have quit, walked away with tons of money and be given the technical decision after four rounds. She was ahead on the scorecards at that moment.
Instead, Serrano took more punches, more head butts and slugged her way through 10 magnificent and brilliant rounds against the great Taylor. Fans worldwide were captivated by their performance. Many women who had never watched a female fight were mesmerized and inspired.
Serrano once again proved that she would die in the ring rather than quit. Women and men were awed by her performance and grit. It was a moment blazed in the memories of millions.
Amanda Serrano is the Fighter of the Year.
Best Fight of the Year – Amanda Serrano versus Katie Taylor 2
Their first fight that took place two years ago in Madison Square Garden was the greatest female fight I had ever witnessed. The second fight surpassed it.
When you have two of the best warriors in the world willing to showcase their talent for entertainment regardless of the outcome, it’s like rubbing two sticks of dynamite together.
Serrano jumped on Taylor immediately and for about 20 seconds it looked like the Irish fighter would not make the end of the first round. Not quite. Taylor rallied behind her stubborn determination and pulled out every tool in her possession: elbows, head butts, low blows, whatever was needed to survive, Taylor used.
It reminded me of an old world title fight in 2005 between Jose Luis Castillo a master of fighting dirty and Julio Diaz. I asked about the dirty tactics by Castillo and Diaz simply said, “It’s a fight. It’s not chess. You do what you have to do.”
Taylor did what she had to do to win and the world saw a magnificent fight.
Other candidates: Seniesa Estrada versus Yokasta Valle, Mikaela Mayer versus Sandy Ryan, and Ginny Fuchs vs Adelaida Ruiz.
KO of the Year – Lauren Price KO3 Bexcy Mateus.
Dec. 14, in Liverpool, England.
The IBO welterweight titlist lowered the boom on Bexcy Mateus sending her to the floor thrice. She ended the fight with a one-two combination that left Mateus frozen while standing along the ropes. Another left cross rocket blasted her to the ground. Devastating.
Other candidates: Claressa Shields KO of Vanessa LePage-Joanisse, Gabriela Fundora KO of Gabriela Alaniz, Dina Thorslund vs Mary Romero, Amanda Serrano KO of Stevie Morgan.
Pro’s Pro Award – Jessica Camara
Jessica Camara defeated Hyun Mi Choi in South Korea to win the WBA gold title on April 27, 2024. The match took place in Suwon where Canada’s Camara defeated Choi by split decision after 10 rounds.
Camara, who is managed by Brian Cohen, has fought numerous champions including Kali Reis, Heather Hardy and Melissa St. Vil. She has become a pro fighter that you know will be involved in a good and entertaining fight and is always in search of elite competition. She eagerly accepted the fight in South Korea against Choi. Few fighters are willing to do that.
Next up for Camara is WBC titlist Caroline Dubois set for Jan. 11, in Sheffield, England.
Electric Fighters Club
These are women who never fail to provide excitement and drama when they step in the prize ring. When you only have two-minute rounds there’s no time to run around the boxing ring.
Here are some of the fighters that take advantage of every second and they do it with skill:
Gabriela Fundora, Mizuki Hiruta, Ellie Scotney, Lauren Price, Clara Lescurat, Adelaida Ruiz, Ginny Fuchs, Mikaela Mayer, Yokasta Valle, Sandy Ryan, Chantelle Cameron, Ebanie Bridges, Tsunami Tenkai, Dina Thorslund, Evelin Bermudez, Gabriela Alaniz, Caroline Dubois, Beatriz Ferreira, and LeAnna Cruz.
Claressa Shields Movie and More
A motion picture based on Claressa Shields titled “The Fire Inside” debuts on Wednesday, Dec. 25, nationwide. Most boxing fans know that Shields has world titles in various weight divisions. But they don’t know about her childhood and how she rose to fame.
Also, Shields (15-0, 3 KOs) will be fighting Danielle Perkins (5-0, 2 KOs) for the undisputed heavyweight world championship on Sunday Feb. 2, at Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan. DAZN will stream the Salita Promotions fight card.
“Claressa Shields is shining a spotlight on Flint – first on the big screen and then in the ring on Sunday, February 2,” said event promoter Dmitriy Salita, president of Salita Promotions. “Claressa leads by example. She is a trailblazer and has been an advocate for equality since she was a young lady. This event promises to be one of the most significant sporting and cultural events of the year. You don’t want to miss it, either live, in person or live on DAZN.”
Shields is only 29 years old and turns 30 next March. What more can she accomplish?
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Lucas Bahdi Forged the TSS 2024 Knockout of the Year
A Knockout of the Year doesn’t have to be a one-punch knockout, but it must arrive with the suddenness of a thunderclap on a clear day and the punch or punches must be so harsh as to obviate the need for a “10-count.” And, if rendered by an underdog, that makes the KO resonate more loudly.
Within these parameters, Lucas Bahdi’s knockout of Ashton “H2O” Sylva still jumped off the page. The thunderclap happened on July 20 in Tampa, Florida, on a show promoted by Jake Paul with Paul and the great Amanda Serrano sharing the bill against soft opponents in the featured bouts.
The 30-year-old Bahdi (16-0, 14 KOs) and the 20-year-old Sylva (11-0, 9 KOs) were both undefeated, but Bahdi was accorded scant chance of defeating Jake Paul’s house fighter.
Sylva was 18 years old and had seven pro fights under his belt, winning all inside the distance, when he signed with Paul’s company, Most Valuable Promotions, in 2022. “We believe that Ashton has that talent, that flashiness, that style, that knockout power, that charisma to really be a massive, massive, superstar…” said the “Problem Child” when announcing that Sylva had signed with his company.
Jake Paul was so confident that his protege would accomplish big things that he matched Sylva with Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield. Currently 18-0 and ranked #2 by the WBA, Schofield was further along than Sylva in the pantheon of hot lightweight prospects. But Schofield backed out, alleging an injury, opening the door to a substitute.
Enter Lucas Bahdi who despite his eye-catching record was a virtual unknown. This would be his first outing on U.S. soil. All of his previous bouts were staged in Mexico or in Canada, mostly in his native Ontario province. “My opponent may have changed,” said Sylva who hails from Long Beach, California, “but the result will be the same, I will get the W and continue my path to greatness.”
The first five rounds were all Sylva. The Canadian had no antidote for Sylva’s speed and quickness. He was outclassed.
Then, in round six, it all came unglued for the precocious California. Out of the blue, Bahdi stiffened him with a hard right hand. Another right quickly followed, knocking Sylva unconscious. A third punch, a sweeping left, was superfluous. Jake Paul’s phenom was already out cold.
Sylva landed face-first on the canvas. He lay still as his handlers and medics rushed to his aid. It was scarifying. “May God restore him,” said ring announcer Joe Martinez as he was being stretchered out of the ring.
The good news is that Ashton “H2O” Silva will be able to resume his career. He is expected back in the ring as early as February. As for Lucas Bahdi, architect of the Knockout of the Year, he has added one more win to his ledger, winning a 10-round decision on the undercard of the Paul vs Tyson spectacle, and we will presumably be hearing a lot more about him.
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Usyk Outpoints Fury and Itauma has the “Wow Factor” in Riyadh
Usyk Outpoints Fury and Itauma has the “Wow Factor” in Riyadh
Oleksandr Usyk left no doubt that he is the best heavyweight of his generation and one of the greatest boxers of all time with a unanimous decision over Tyson Fury tonight at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. But although the Ukrainian won eight rounds on all three scorecards, this was no runaway. To pirate a line from one of the DAZN talking heads, Fury had his moments in every round but Usyk had more moments.
The early rounds were fought at a faster pace than the first meeting back in May. At the mid-point, the fight was even. The next three rounds – the next five to some observers – were all Usyk who threw more punches and landed the cleaner shots.
Fury won the final round in the eyes of this reporter scoring at home, but by then he needed a knockout to pull the match out of the fire.
The last round was an outstanding climax to an entertaining chess match during which both fighters took turns being the pursuer and the pursued.
An Olympic gold medalist and a unified world champion at cruiserweight and heavyweight, the amazing Usyk improved his ledger to 23-0 (14). His next fight, more than likely, will come against the winner of the Feb. 22 match in Ridayh between Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker which will share the bill with the rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
Fury (34-2-1) may fight Anthony Joshua next. Regardless, no one wants a piece of Moses Itauma right now although the kid is only 19 years old.
Moses Itauma
Raised in London by a Nigerian father and a Slovakian mother, Itauma turned heads once again with another “wow” performance. None of his last seven opponents lasted beyond the second round.
His opponent tonight, 34-year-old Australian Demsey McKean, lasted less than two minutes. Itauma, a southpaw with blazing fast hands, had the Aussie on the deck twice during the 117-second skirmish. The first knockdown was the result of a cuffing punch that landed high on the head; the second knockdown was produced by an overhand left. McKean went down hard as his chief cornerman bounded on to the ring apron to halt the massacre.
Itauma (12-0, 10 KOs after going 20-0 as an amateur) is the real deal. It was the second straight loss for McKean (22-2) who lasted into the 10th round against Filip Hrgovic in his last start.
Bohachuk-Davis
In a fight billed as the co-main although it preceded Itauma-McKean, Serhii Bohachuk, an LA-based Ukrainian, stopped Ishmael Davis whose corner pulled him out after six frames.
Both fighters were coming off a loss in fights that were close on the scorecards, Bohachuk falling to Vergil Ortiz Jr in a Las Vegas barnburner and Davis losing to Josh Kelly.
Davis, who took the fight on short notice, subbing for Ismail Madrimov, declined to 13-2. He landed a few good shots but was on the canvas in the second round, compliments of a short left hook, and the relentless Bohachuk (25-2, 24 KOs) eventually wore him down.
Fisher-Allen
In a messy, 10-round bar brawl masquerading as a boxing match, Johnny Fisher, the Romford Bull, won a split decision over British countryman David Allen. Two judges favored Fisher by 95-94 tallies with the dissenter favoring Allen 96-93. When the scores were announced, there was a chorus of boos and those watching at home were outraged.
Allen was a step up in class for Fisher. The Doncaster man had a decent record (23-5-2 heading in) and had been routinely matched tough (his former opponents included Dillian Whyte, Luis “King Kong” Ortiz and three former Olympians). But Allen was fairly considered no more than a journeyman and Fisher (12-0 with 11 KOs, eight in the opening round) was a huge favorite.
In round five, Allen had Fisher on the canvas twice although only one was ruled a true knockdown. From that point, he landed the harder shots and, at the final bell, he fell to canvas shedding tears of joy, convinced that he had won.
He did not win, but he exposed Johnny Fisher as a fighter too slow to compete with elite heavyweights, a British version of the ponderous Russian-Canadian campaigner Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Other Bouts of Note
In a spirited 10-round featherweight match, Scotland’s Lee McGregor, a former European bantamweight champion and stablemate of former unified 140-pound title-holder Josh Taylor, advanced to 15-1-1 (11) with a unanimous decision over Isaac Lowe (25-3-3). The judges had it 96-92 and 97-91 twice.
A cousin and regular houseguest of Tyson Fury, Lowe fought most of the fight with cuts around both eyes and was twice deducted a point for losing his gumshield.
In a fight between super featherweights that could have gone either way, Liverpool southpaw Peter McGrail improved to 11-1 (6) with a 10-round unanimous decision over late sub Rhys Edwards. The judges had it 96-95 and 96-94 twice.
McGrail, a Tokyo Olympian and 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, fought from the third round on with a cut above his right eye, the result of an accidental clash of heads. It was the first loss for Edwards (16-1), a 24-year-old Welshman who has another fight booked in three weeks.
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