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WHO DO YA LIKE? Broner vs. Maidana?

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SAN ANTONIO (Dec. 12, 2013) -San Antonio solidified itself as a boxing powerhouse in 2013, so it’s only fitting that the home of the Alamo will host the final blockbuster boxing event of the year when Adrien “The Problem” Broner faces Marcos “El Chino” Maidana this Saturday, Dec. 14, live on SHOWTIME® (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

“I put San Antonio with New York City, Las Vegas and Los Angeles as one of the top boxing cities in the country,” Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer said during Thursday’s final press conference for “DANGER ZONE: Broner vs. Maidana.”

And the third SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING event to emanate from San Antonio this year might be the best yet. Saturday’s telecast features four can’t-miss world championship fights with each fighter facing potentially the toughest test of their respective careers.

Here’s what the fighters, trainers and promoters had to say during Thursday’s final press conference:

ADRIEN BRONER, WBA Welterweight World Champion

“If he makes a mistake and I have a chance to get him out of there I’m going to get him out of there. If I just beat him to death, then I beat him to death.

“Who doesn’t want to see a young star on the rise like Adrien Broner fight a guy like Marcos Maidana, a hard puncher, a knockout artist with 31 knockouts? Who doesn’t want to see that? There’s always that ‘what if?’

“It’s going to be a hell of a fight. I don’t go for knockouts but I really feel I’m going to knock this guy out; I’m going to be his first stoppage. I’m going to stop this guy and we’re going to move on to the next one.

“Maidana is a good fighter, a hell of a fighter, but he’s not on my level. My career is going to the rooftop. It’s going to skyrocket. But this is just the beginning. It starts here.

“I don’t even think I’ve showed all of my abilities yet. Maidana is a different type of fighter and he might bring something else out of Adrien Broner that the world hasn’t seen yet. Or he might be a regular fighter after I make him look the way I make him look.

“Every boxer wants to be where I am right now. I am the person who is going to take over boxing after Floyd Mayweather. Everybody wants this position. So I don’t get mad when I hear that Keith Thurman wants to fight me – he’s supposed to. Who doesn’t want to be where I am.

“On Dec. 14 we’re worried about Maidana. I respect his coach; I respect him as a fighter. People say I’m being bashful, I’m being respectful. I can’t talk trash to someone who doesn’t speak English. He’s looking at me crazy right now and I don’t know if he’s faking or not. He’s a very respectful guy so I have to respect him, but on Dec. 14 I’m going to beat his ass. I’m going to beat his ass for sure. We can be friends after that.

“I’m not coming to play. It’s going to be the AB show and I’m going to be victorious. We don’t think about losing.

“I don’t watch tape but I’ve seen him a couple of times. Everybody knows Maidana makes a lot of mistakes and you can’t make mistakes with Broner.

“You never know. Maybe I have to sit in there and brawl it out with this guy for 12 rounds. Maybe I mess him up in two. Maybe one.”

MARCOS MAIDANA, Former WBA Super Lightweight World Champion

“I want to thank my team for working hand-in-hand with me, for all their help and support and for working so close with me. Thank you to Sebastian Contursi, Robert Garcia, Cecilio Flores and my right hand, my cousin “Pileta,” that’s been with me all the way.

“I’m ready for this fight; I’ve trained hard and I’m certain I have what it takes to come out victorious on Saturday.

“They might say Broner is one of the best, but I don’ think he is. He’s definitely different to any other opponents I’ve fought, but I’m prepared. I’m ready for him.

“I’m going to hit him hard, very hard, with all I have and I’ll get busy with him. I hope he’s ready, because I am.

“This is the hardest fight of my life. I respect Broner, but I don’t underestimate him. On Saturday, I’ll do my part; I’ll do what I came here for – to fight with my heart and do my best.

“I’m not a trash talker. I’m not that kind of guy and I’m not going to get into that. It’s just not my thing.”

KEITH THURMAN, WBA Interim Welterweight World Champion

“I’m just trying to bring the excitement. This card is called the “Danger Zone” and it’s a guaranteed fact that every time you come into the ring with Keith “One Time” Thurman you’re automatically stepping into the Danger Zone.

“This is the last fight of the year and the last fight of the year is my favorite fight of the year. I like to call it the icing on the cake. I’ve been training really hard for this fight. Soto is a real tough opponent. He gave (Andre) Berto his all. He claims he has a new passion for the sport. I believe the man. I saw it when he fought. I saw his passion and I’m truly looking forward to this fight.

“Christmas came early and I have two presents for Soto right here-my right and my left-two real nice packages. Like I said, this is going to be the icing on the cake.

“Last year I ended with a tremendous victory and I don’t think this fight is going to go the distance. I’m looking forward to putting him down on that blue canvas and make sure he gets to sleep real nice. “One Time,” every time.

“My promoters have been testing me and I’ve been passing every test with flying colors. So I’m ready for the world of boxing. I’m not afraid to lose, I’m not afraid to get beat. I want go out old school and fight the best of the best.

“My KO ratio is phenomenal, but, as a matter of fact, I’m disappointed that I didn’t knock out everybody. I’m the kind of guy that wants to knockout everybody. I’m “One Time,” every time. And that’s what I’m bringing Saturday night.

“I’m on the up and up. I’m on my way to the top. So this fight is important to get not just a victory but a KO victory so I can keep representing “One Time” Thurman.”

“I’m not afraid to put it all on the line. I’ve got “O” and I’m not afraid to let it go.

JESUS SOTO KARASS, Welterweight Contender

“It’s a very important fight for me, especially with the holidays coming up. I’d like to go enjoy the time off with a win.

“My promoters and manager put me against the best. I fight the best and the best comes out of me.

A lot of people don’t believe in me and they don’t think I have what it takes to beat Keith Thurman. But I’ve proven them wrong before and the people will respect me after the fight.

“I’ve been on big cards before. But my job is to go out and win and give the fans what they want. I’m coming to knock him out. If he wants to box I’m going to take him to school. My heart is in this fight.

“I’ve worked really, really hard for this fight. I’ve trained at the Ponce De Leon Gym in Monterrey, Calif., and this Saturday I’m going to show it in the ring.

“There’s not much to say, other than to those that don’t believe I’m worthy to be here, just wait to see me on the ring on December 14.

“For all the people that don’t believe in me, for all those that think I shouldn’t be in this position, I’m going to show everybody on Saturday night what I’m made off and I’m going to do it well.

“I want to thank Keith Thurman and his team for giving me the opportunity to fight for a world title again.”

LEO SANTA CRUZ, WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion

“I’m just excited to be on a great undercard with Maidana and Broner. I’ve trained really hard to be on these guys’ level and I want to defend my title. I know Cesar is a great fighter and that he has everything it takes to become a champion. And I’ve trained hard to give him a great war. We’re going to leave it all in the ring. May the best man win.

“I closed out 2012 with a great win on CBS and I’m excited to do the same this year on SHOWTIME.”

CESAR SEDA, Super Bantamweight Title Challenger

“I want to let you know that you are going to witness a great show on Dec. 14

“From my part, I’ve prepared very well and I assure you, you are going to see a great fight on Saturday night. I hope to see you all there.”

BEIBUT SHUMENOV, WBA Super Light Heavyweight World Champion

“It’s great to be involved in an event like this, one of boxing’s best of the year. I had a great training camp and can’t wait to show the American boxing fans what I am all about.

“I know Tamas is undefeated, he’s very ambitious and he came here to take what’s mine. But I’m not going to let him take my title. I’m going to fight hard for what’s mine. And I’m going to show the world that I’m the best light heavyweight champion of the world.”

TAMAS KOVACS, Light Heavyweight Contender

“This is a very big opportunity for me. This is the fight of my life.

“I’ve been training and preparing for this fight since September. On Saturday, I’m coming out with all I have.

“It took me forty hours to get to San Antonio. It was a difficult trip, but it was worth it. This is the fight of

my life. This is my chance and I’m going to take it.

“I know Shumenov is a good boxer, but I’m good and also clever. So, he better watch out.”

ROBERT GARCIA, Maidana’s Trainer

“Maidana is very happy to be here. We know we are facing a great champion, but Chino [Maidana] knows what he has to do, and he’s ready to do it. Come Saturday night, we are going to give the fans a great fight.

MIKE STAFFORD, Broner’s Trainer

“For this fight Adrien is going to show you something special. He’s going to give you a Christmas present. He had a great camp and this kid is something special. I want to thank Team Maidana for signing the contract. I know it is not easy to commit to fighting a guy like this [looking at Adrien Broner], he’s truly the best.”

RICARDO “DINAMITA” ALVAREZ

“I’m thankful for this fight, this is my first time fighting here. I’m thankful for my promoters, my camp, my friends and my family for all their support.

“December 14 at the Alamodome is going to be a good night for me, it’s my debut in United States and I’m really excited. ”

RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions

“It’s been a great year in boxing and a great year for boxing in San Antonio with spectacular events here in San Antonio. Thanks to the fans for embracing these fights. We promise to keep bringing the big fights and price the big fights appropriately starting at $10. This is our Christmas gift to the great fans in San Antonio.

“We would not be here without Mike Battah and James Leija, a very enthusiastic team to work with.

“Big thank you to Matt Black and Les Moonves along with Stephen Espinoza and their entire team for all their hard work in this incredible year for Golden Boy Promotions. ”

MIKE BATTAH, President of Leija-Battah Promotions

“Welcome everyone to San Antonio from all over the world, very much appreciate your help in building up our business. I made a commitment to San Antonio to build boxing here. Our commitment will continue, it’s great to work with Richard and Golden Boy. Our commitment will stay and continue to grow.

“We have the will to build boxing; we have the skills the structure and the organization.

“One of the biggest cards in Texas in many years, fans will see a terrific night of boxing.

“JESSE” JAMES LEIJA, Texas Boxing Legend, Leija-Battah Promotions

“Want to thanks GBP for giving us this opportunity to prove ourselves. Mike Battah is an incredible businessman and a great partner. Also want to thank the fans of San Antonio, best fans in the world. This is truly an early Christmas gift for the fans to come out and enjoy the fights. We have the top fighters from Golden Boy Promotions on this card.

“Leo Santa Cruz, one of my favorite fighters is in a very tough fight against Cesar Seda.

“Continue to support these events and we will continue to bring the biggest events here to one of the greatest cities in the world.

NICHOLS LANGELLA, General Manager of the Alamodome

“We’re very proud to host this event. It takes a terrific passion and enthusiasm to put on this show. Thanks to James Leija, Mike Battah and Golden Boy for putting this tremendous event together.”

“DANGER ZONE: Broner vs. Maidana,a 12-round fight for Broner’s WBA Welterweight World Championship taking place on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Leija*Battah Promotions and sponsored by Corona, AT&T, Grudge Match and Casamigos Tequila. In the 12-round co-featured attraction, Keith Thurman will defend his interim WBA Welterweight World Championship against Jesus Soto Karass. Leo Santa Cruz will put his WBC Super Bantamweight World title on the line against Cesar Seda in a 12-round bout and Beibut Shumenov faces Tamas Kovacs in a 12-round clash for Shumenov’s WBA Super & IBA Light Heavyweight World titles. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast will air live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

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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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