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Give Credit to Team Wilder for Being Patient

Deontay Wilder captured the hearts and imaginations of many in the boxing public on Saturday night by becoming the first American to hold a portion of the heavyweight championship of the world since Shannon Briggs held the WBO title back in 2006.
Wilder earned a clear decision win over Bermane Stiverne at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas by being just about everything he and his handlers hoped he could be when the 6â7â former football player from Alabama turned pro in 2008 after stunningly capturing the bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics.
When I talked to Wilderâs manager, Jay Deas, back in 2011, Wilder was three years into his prizefighting career but still lacked the necessary tutelage to move past anything tougher than the local show circuit, something that had begun to frustrate many boxing fans and media alike.
To Wilderâs credit, the late starter knew what he was up against. When he turned professional in 2008, he told ESPN.com he knew he still had a lot to learn about the sweet science. After all, he had just walked into a boxing gym for the first time back in 2005 when he was 20 years old.
âMy game plan right now is take it slow,â Wilder said. âIâm just turning pro. âŠIâll learn some different things.â
Despite being as green as he was back then, Wilder showed promise at the 2008 Olympics. He earned a bronze medal in the super heavyweight division, and remains the last American male to earn boxing hardware at the Olympic Games.
There was a lot to like about Wilder. He was tall, had long arms and ridiculous power. Maybe even more importantly, Wilder was legitimately a great athlete. He wasnât just a chiseled frame. He possessed superb reflexes and hand-eye coordination, the kind which any boxing trainer would salivate over.
Itâd be easy to put such a natural physical specimen, especially one who managed to do so well on the world stage as an amateur after such a short period of time, into deep waters too early. But Deas and company, including co-manager Shelly Finkel and trainer Mark Breland, knew better than that. They knew they didnât just have a decent heavyweight who could earn a few bucks here and there. No, they knew they had a fighter who could one day become heavyweight champion of the world.
So they got him rounds, and they did it anyway they could. It was a difficult task. Wilder knocked out every opponent he faced before defeating Stiverne, and all within four rounds. But they didnât let his success make their plan a failure. They sent him packing whenever and wherever to be a sparring partner for world-class fighters such as Wladimir Klitschko, David Haye and Tomas Adamek.
It wasnât just something they wanted him to do. Itâs something they needed him to do. Back in 2011, Deas told me Wilderâs total time inside a boxing ring overall was a paltry four hours.
âHeâs only had about 30 amateur bouts, and his amateur and professional actual ring time total is about four hours,â said Deas.
So Deas and company were patient. They built Wilder up. They had him fight often and while his competition wasnât stellar, it allowed them to mold Wilder into a legitimate heavyweight contender. The work of Breland in particular seems to have paid huge dividends. Wilder went from barely having a jab at all to using what appears to be one of the better jabs in the division to sting Stiverne all 12 rounds on his way to becoming WBC heavyweight champion. Moreover, he went from looking like a clumsy, newborn baby dear to a swift-footed boxer who knew his way around a boxing ring.
Of course, Wilder is a champion now, but heâs not THE champion. Wladimir Klitschko is the WBA, WBO, IBO and IBF titleholder, as well as The Ring Magazine and Transnational Rankings champion. That makes him âThe Manâ at heavyweight, and the latter belt distinguishes him as the divisionâs lineal champion.
And despite his exceptional progress, Wilder isnât quite ready to take on Klitschko yet. While his win over Stiverne was impressive and important to his development, it was the 29-year-oldâs first tussle with world-class opposition.
With the belt secure now, and advisor Al Haymonâs recent inroads over at NBC, Team Wilder would be wise to remain patient with their fighter. When I talked to the new champion last week, he told me he would target a defense against Tyson Fury next, possibly in the UK. Fury is exactly the kind of competition Wilder needs now. Heâs accomplished, world-class but also appears flawed. The division is rife with the types: good but not great fighters, the likes of which has made Klitschkoâs reign long and easy.
Bouts against heavyweights like Fury, Dereck Chisora, Steve Cunningham, Mike Perez, Vyacheslav Glazkov and Tony Thompson, would further Wilderâs cause. The competition would make him a better fighter, and give him the experience he needs to really give Klitschko a run for his money. And having some or all of the bouts on Haymonâs NBC cards would make Wilder Americaâs heavyweight darling.
If youâre the impatient type, think about his: how big would a Klitschko-Wilder unification bout be in 2016 if Wilder came into the bout with wins over Stiverne, Fury, Thompson and Glazkov, the latter three featured in primetime on NBC?
History tells me Team Wilder will be patient moving forward with their fighter. It also tells me itâs probably the right move, because Wilderâs talent and ability would only have gotten him so far. He needed a great team for the rest of it, a smart and patient one who really had his best interests at heart. So give credit to Wilder for being Americaâs legitimate heavyweight hope, and the rest of Team Wilder for helping make it possible.
Photo Credit: Tom Hogan/Hogan Photos
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The Murder of Samuel Teah Calls to Mind Other Boxers Who Were Homicide Victims

There will be a boxing show this Friday at Philadelphiaâs 2300 Arena, a low-budget card featuring the return of former IBF 130-pound world title-holder Tevin Farmer. During the event, there will assuredly be a somber moment when those in attendance stand and silently pay homage to Samuel Teah as the timekeeper tolls the traditional 10-bell farewell. Teah passed away last week on Black Friday, Nov. 24, another victim of Americaâs epidemic of gun violence. He was 36 years old.
Teah was shot in the mid-afternoon during an altercation that spilled onto the sidewalk of a street in Wilmington, Delaware, and died at a Wilmington hospital. As of this writing, thereâs been no arrest, but the shooting was apparently not random. A bus driver for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority, Teah was purportedly in Wilmington (roughly 35 miles from his home in Philadelphia) to visit the mother of his child.
Samuel Teah fought as recently as this past May when he suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of journeyman Andrew Rodgers at a show in Pennsylvaniaâs Newton Township, reducing his record to 19-5-1. Two months earlier he had spoiled the undefeated record of Enriko Gogokhia, an Egis Klimas fighter (think Oleksandr Usyk and Vasily Lomachenko) on a card in Ontario, California. This embellished his reputation as a spoiler. Earlier in his career, he had spoiled the undefeated record of OâShaquie Foster, winning an 8-round unanimous decision over the man that currently reigns as the WBC world super featherweight champion.
What made Teahâs death more tragic, if that were possible, were all the tragedies that he had overcome. He was born in Liberia when that country was embroiled in a civil war. The family escaped to a refugee camp in Ghana and eventually reached the United States, settling first in New York and then Philadelphia. On the day after Christmas in 2008, when Teah was 21 and working at a Home Depot, he lost six members of his family in a fire that swept his motherâs West Philadelphia duplex after a kerosene heater exploded.
For some, Teahâs violent death may call to mind the murder of another Philadelphia boxer, Tyrone Everett.
Thatâs an awkward comparison.
Tyrone Everett was a world-class fighter. Six months before he was shot dead by his girlfriend in May of 1977, Everett, then 34-0, lost a 15-round split decision to Puerto Ricoâs Alfredo Escalera in a failed bid to win Escaleraâs WBC junior lightweight title, a decision so rancid that it stands among the worst decisions of all time. Moreover, the circumstances of Everettâs murder were sordid. His girlfriend, no stranger to the police, fatally shot him after finding him with a transvestite and there was heroin in the apartment they shared. (Editorâs note: For more on this incident, check out the new book by TSS contributor Sean Nam: âMurder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, Fixed Fights, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxingâ available on Amazon).
Samuel Teah was no Tyrone Everett. A man of deep faith, Samâs positive attitude, despite all his tribulations, was infectious. âEveryone liked Teah,â said prominent Philadelphia sports journalist Joe Santoliquito who, upon hearing of Teahâs death, tweeted, âhe will always have a special place in my heart.â
While the circumstances are different in every case, Teah joins a long list of boxers who met a violent death. If we limit the list to fighters who were still active at the time of their passing, here are four that jump immediately to mind.
Stanley Ketchel
The fabled Michigan Assassin, Ketchel met his maker on Oct. 15, 1910, at a ranch in Conway, Missouri. In the immortal words of John Lardner, âStanley Ketchel was twenty-four years old when he was fatally shot in the back by the common-law husband of the lady who was cooking his breakfast.â
Battling Siki
Famed for knocking out Georges Carpentier when the âOrchid Manâ held the world light heavyweight title, Siki was only 28 years old when he was gunned down in the Hellâs Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan on Dec. 15, 1925, but by then the Senegal-born Frenchman had already degenerated into a trial horse. Sikiâs body was found in the middle of the street with two bullets in his back fired at close range by an assailant, never identified, who was thought to be avenging a beating he suffered at one of the speakeasies that Siki was known to frequent.
Oscar Bonavena
At age 33, Oscar Bonavena was still an active boxer when he was gunned down on May 22, 1976, on the outskirts of Reno, Nevada, at the front gate of the infamous Mustang Ranch, a legal brothel. Bonavena had come up short in his biggest fights, losing a 15-round decision to Joe Frazier and losing by TKO in the 15th round to Muhammad Ali, but the rugged Argentine was still a major player in the heavyweight division.
The shooter was a bodyguard for the brothelâs owner Joe Conforte, and rumor has that Conforte was the de facto triggerman, having Bonavena assassinated because the boxer was having an affair with Conforteâs 59-year-old wife Sally who was also Bonavenaâs manager of record at this point in the boxerâs career. The story about it spawned âLove Shack,â a 2010 movie that despite a seemingly canât-miss storyline and a formidable cast (Joe Pesci played Joe and Helen Mirren played Sally) proved to be a box-office dud.
Vernon Forrest
While all homicides are tragic, some are more distressing than others and the death of Vernon Forrest on July 25, 2009, was particularly gut-wrenching. Forrest was shot twice in the back by would-be robbers with whom he exchanged gunfire on July 25, 2009 at a gas station in Atlanta.
Forget the fact that Forrest was a two-division title-holder who had regained the WBC world super welterweight title in his most recent fight with a lopsided decision over Sergio Mora. Few in the sport were as widely admired. His philanthropic work included establishing group homes in Atlanta for the mentally disabled. His death came just two weeks after the death of Arturo Gatti who left the sport following a loss by TKO to Alfonso Gomez in July of 2007 and died under suspicious circumstances at age 37 at a hotel in Brazil.
We here at The Sweet Science send our condolences to Samuel Teahâs family and loved ones. May he rest in peace.
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Benavidez Dismantles Andrade: Will Canelo Be Next?

SHOWTIME aired its final pay-per-view event tonight with a show that aired from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The four-fight PPV card included world title fights in the 140 and 130-pound divisions, plus an interim title fight at 168 and the return of former two-division title-holder Jarmall Charlo. The interim title fight was a battle of unbeatens between David Benavidez and Demetrius âBoo Booâ Andrade and that was the featured attraction.
Benavidez, 26, is big for the weight class and lived up to his new nickname, âEl Monstro.â He had too much firepower for the 35-year-old Andrade, a 2008 Beijing Olympian who began his pro career at 154 and had won world titles in two lower weight classes. His big moment came in the waning seconds of round four when he knocked Andrade to his knees with a sweeping right hand. The fight turned brutally one-sided at that point although one of the judges had Benavidez ahead by only one point when the sixth round ended. But there would be no seventh round. Andradeâs corner wisely stopped the fight.
A consensus 7/2 favorite in man-to-man betting, Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) began his pro career in Mexico at age 16. In his post-fight interview, he called out Canelo Alvarez while brashly predicting that he would be a legend before he left the sport (and you’ll get no argument from this corner). It was the first pro loss for Andrade (32-1).
Co-Feature
Jermall Charlo returned to the ring after a 29-month absence and scored a lopsided 10-round decision over Jose Benavidez Jr. The judges had it 100-90, 99-91, and 98-92.
This bout was slated for the catch-weight of 163 pounds. Charlo came in overweight (166.4) but the match went ahead. Benavides Jr, a world title challenger during his days as a welterweight, had his moments, but was outclassed by Charlo who advanced his record to 33-0 (22). Benavidez falls to 28-3-1.
Matias-Ergashev
In what shaped up as the most action-packed fight of the night, 31-year-old Puerto Rican Subriel Matias retained his IBF 140-pound title, battering Shohjahon Ergashev into submission in a match that was halted by Ergashevâs corner two seconds into the sixth round. The heavy-handed Ergashev, who was undefeated heading in, dominated the first round-and-a-half, but Matias (20-1, 20 KOs) gradually wore him down.
Matias, who avenged his lone defeat to Petros Ananyan with a dominant showing in the rematch, had become something of a forgotten man in the talent-rich 140-pound weight class, but tonight he showed that he belongs among the elite in the division. It was the first pro loss for Egrashev (23-1, 20 KOs), a southpaw from Uzbekistan who fights out of Detroit and had SugarHill Steward (formally Javan “Sugar” Hill) in his corner.
Garcia-Roach
In the pay-per-view opener, Lamont Roach (24-1-1, 9 KOs) wrested the WBA 130-pound title from Hector Garcia (16-2) with a well-earned split decision. The judges had it 116-111 and 144-113 for Roach with the dissenter favoring Garcia 114-113.
A 32-year-old Dominican southpaw, Garcia was making the first defense of the title he won from Roger Gutierrez, a belt he was allowed to keep after moving up to lightweight to challenge Gervonta Davis, a bout he lost on a ninth-round stoppage. Roach, an underdog in the betting making his first start in 16 months, had come up short in a previous world title fight, losing a decision to Jamel Herring in 2019.
Roach was trailing on two of the scorecards through 10 rounds in what had been a ho-hum fight. But he cranked up the juice in the homestretch, rocking Garcia in the 11th and flooring him with a right hook in the final stanza. Take away that knockdown (an illegal punch as it landed behind Roachâs head), and Garcia would have retained his belt with a draw.
Non-PPV
In his first start at 140 pounds, Puerto Ricoâs Michel Rivera rebounded from his first pro loss (a wide decision at the hands of Frank Martin) with a unanimous 10-round decision over Sergey Lipinets. The judges had it 96-94 and 97-93 twice. Rivera, who improved to 25-1 (14) patterns his style and his persona after Muhammad Ali with whom he bears a strong facial resemblance.
It was the first fight in 16 months for the 34-year-old Lipinets (17-3-1), from SoCal via Kazakhstan. He rarely took a backward step but it wasnât effective aggression.
In the opener on Showtimeâs YouTube channel. 21-year-old super welterweight Vito Mielnicki Jr, now trained by Ronnie Shields, scored the best win of his career, advancing to 16-1 (11 KOs). The pride of Vineland, NJ, Mielnicki had Alexis Salazar on the canvas three times before the match was halted at the 2:27 mark of the opening stanza. Guadalajaraâs Salazar (25-6) had been stopped only once previously.
Photo credit: Amanda Westcott / SHOWTIME
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Katie Taylor Turns the Tables on Chantelle Cameron in a Dublin Blockbuster

Katie Taylor Turns the Tables on Chantelle Cameron in a Dublin Blockbuster
Underdogs win too.
Katie Taylor changed tactics and changed the outcome to defeat her conqueror Chantelle Cameron by majority decision and become undisputed super lightweight champion on Saturday.
âTwo weight undisputed champion, that sounds great,â said Taylor.
It took six months but the sold-out crowd in Dublin, Ireland saw Taylor (23-1) avenge a loss to Cameron (18-1) and re-assume her position as one of the leaders of the female fight world.
It was a different Taylor who returned to Ireland and this time she brought changes against the younger, stronger Cameron that proved effective.
At first it looked grim for Taylor who resumed her style of speed combinations and was met with jolting left jabs from Cameron. One jab actually delivered Taylor to the canvas but a slip of the foot was caught by the referee.
In the second round Taylor showed her cards.
Using her speed and agility, Taylor used her own jabs and movement to score and then would suddenly clinch both arms. And in between clinches, quick uppercuts and rights scored.
It was the recipe used by the Irish fighter for the remainder of the fight.
The change in tactics by Taylor took away Cameronâs most effective weapon, her strong left jab. Unable to use that weapon, she dove in looking to use her strength and was butted by Taylor in the third round. A deep bloody gash on the forehead of Cameron formed quickly.
Cameron never quit attacking and finally found success in the fourth and fifth rounds with pounding body shots. It seemed to slow her opponent down, who had been busier until the body attack slowed her volume.
Both tried their best to control the rounds. Taylor used her hit-and-clinch recipe while Cameron pounded the body and used her strength inside. The best round erupted in the seventh as both unleashed wicked combinations and uppercuts.
The crowd roared its approval.
All that furious action seemed to drain Taylor and allowed Cameron to overpower her with body shots in the eighth. It also forced Taylor to grab Cameron every time she got close. It became so obvious that the referee warned Taylor to stop holding.
A tired Taylor seemed ready to be taken over, but somehow she mustered enough energy to sling quick combos and clinch. Cameron tried avoiding the clinches but was not able to find a solution.
Taylor closed out the fight with speed combinations as Cameron looked to end the fight with one big blow that never arrived. A spent Taylor looked relieved at the final bell as Cameron could not land the big one.
After 10 rounds one judge scored it 95-95 while two others saw it 98-92 and 96-94 for Taylor who becomes undisputed super lightweight champion.
âWhoever wrote me off you donât know me very well,â said Taylor. âTonight, you saw the real me. When Iâm boxing no one can beat me.â
The win by Taylor sets up a trilogy with Cameron.
âI donât think there has ever been a trilogy in womenâs boxing. This would be the first,â said Taylor.
2024 look out.
Nicolson Wins
Australiaâs Skye Nicolson (9-0) controlled every round over Swedenâs Lucy Wildheart (10-3) by hitting and moving against the slow-moving fighter and eventually won by stoppage in the ninth round to retain an interim featherweight title.
Nicolson proved too fast and agile for Wildheart who seemed a second slower and was punished by counter shots. Eventually a bloody nose forced Wildheartâs corner to stop the fight at 1:11 of the ninth round.
The speedy featherweight Nicolson is the number one contender for undisputed champion Amanda Serrano.
Other Bouts
Irelandâs Gary Cully (17-1, 10 KOs) won by split decision over Reece Mould (18-2, 6 KOs) to return to the victory column after suffering a knockout loss six months ago in the same arena.
Cully, a tall lightweight, started slowly but soon found his rhythm and used uppercuts and movement to offset the hard-charging Mould. There were no knockdowns in the back-and-forth battle with two judges favoring Cully 97-93, 96-93 and one for Mould 97-93.
âIâm back baby and it feels good,â said Cully who was stopped by Mexicoâs Jose Felix six months ago.
Speed southpaw Paddy Donovan (12-0, 9 KOs) knocked out Danny Ball (13-2-1) in their welterweight clash with a left to the body in the fourth round. He first dropped Ball with an overhand left during an exchange.
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