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Adonis Stevenson & Sakio Bika Conference Call Spoiled By Media Arrogance

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The verdict may not fully be decided but the jury isn’t likely to stay out much longer in regard to the overall success and crossover appeal of “Premier Boxing Champions” as it moves into its second month of exposure on American television. Next weekend, a new telecast of the boxing program will be shown live on CBS (3PM ET / 12PM PT) from the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, Canada as WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (25-1, 21 KO’s) faces Sakio Bika (32-6-3, 21 KO’s). The Haitian born Stevenson, who now fights out of Montreal and goes by the moniker of “Superman” is clearly an amiable and pleasantly cheerful individual who usually conducts his walk to the ring accompanied by a big smile. It’s a refreshing sight for many, however the newest criticism which has been leveled at one of Montreal’s most endeared residents is a valid one that simply won’t make way for the present.

For whatever reason and it’s likely one of which none of us are completely sure, Adonis has thus far taken the less popular fork in the pugilistic road and elected not to fight the one man who many feel is the true and legitimate champion of the division, the unbeaten Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev. It remains to be seen as to whether or not a unification battle between Stevenson and Kovalev is indeed on the immediate horizon.

Such was a sentiment that Adonis Stevenson was eager to put to bed when he and Bika took part in an international media conference call on Wednesday afternooon. “I know there’s so much talk about that fight, but I’m focused on Bika”, said “Superman.”

“He’s in my face and I can only think about that person. I’ll be ready for him April 4. I know there’s so many people talking about the other fights, but I’m just focused on this guy.”

After such an honest, clear and concise answer, one would possibly be led to think that any similar queries would be quashed in the dirt, at least for now. Slam the brakes, because many, but not all of the media members who chose to ask away after the media call had opened with that exact question chose to effectively parrot it incessantly to the point of aggravation from the Bika camp. The mood hardly changed and many questions almost seemed intended to make Sakio Bika feel like nothing less than a proverbial doormat. The fifteen year professional originally from Cameroon elaborated on this when he commented, “I’ve been in this business for a long time. I don’t need to say too much. I’ll just ask for everyone to be prepared. Just watch. This is not about a fight with Kovalev. People think I’m coming into this to get knocked out.”

On and on the call went, sometimes in English and at other times in French. Just a few sought information on anything less than a Stevenson vs Kovalev mega bout. It’s neither professional nor civil to name the temporarily oblivious fight scribblers who are the guilty parties. No one’s throwing anyone under the bus here, but the most memorable part of the call was yet to come. Bika’s trainer, Kevin Cunningham eventually chimed in over the phone conference and declared, “You guys have done it for me. This is getting my fighter fired up. This call has been about Stevenson fighting Kovalev. I don’t know why Sakio is even on the call because everyone keeps asking about Kovalev versus Stevenson.”

Eventually, Stevenson simply chimed in and said, “After Bika, we can fight Kovalev and unify the titles in the division.” He seemed delighted to share his talents via the television airways not only on a national stage, but one which would be showcased on free TV as well. Still, amidst the few requests of Stevenson and even fewer of Bika that didn’t involve a Kovalev bout, the interrogation continued. Finally, Cunningham had clearly heard enough.

His final comments ended up as the last ones of the call on Wednesday. “What the (expletive) are we even doing here?” exclaimed Bika’s trainer. “Why are we here? This call is over for us.” The moderator of the call signaled that the call was at an end. One would be led to wonder if that would have been a sufficient warning had the call continued. It didn’t seem likely.

There are times when even someone like Floyd Mayweather, Jr. may actually have a point when he clarifies his opinions about various members of the media who have never actually laced up a pair of boxing gloves. Maybe some of them need to take a deep breath and look at their chosen profession, whether it’s truly one or just a hobby and ask themselves if they consider the press as a given or a gift.

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Argentina’s Fernando Martinez Wins His Rematch with Kazuto Ioka

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In an excellent fight climaxed by a furious 12th round, Argentina’s Fernando Daniel Martinez came off the deck to win his rematch with Kazuto Ioka and retain his piece of the world 115-pound title. The match was staged at Ioka’s familiar stomping grounds, the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.

In their first meeting on July 7 of last year in Tokyo, Martinez was returned the winner on scores of 117-111, 116-112, and a bizarre 120-108. The rematch was slated for late December, but Martinez took ill a few hours before the weigh-in and the bout was postponed.

The 33-year-old Martinez, who came in sporting a 17-0 (9) record, was a 7-2 favorite to win the sequel, but there were plenty of reasons to favor Ioka, 36, aside from his home field advantage. The first Japanese male fighter to win world titles in four weight classes, Ioka was 3-0 in rematches and his long-time trainer Ismael Salas was on a nice roll. Salas was 2-0 last weekend in Times Square, having handled upset-maker Rolly Romero and Reito Tsutsumi who was making his pro debut.

But the fourth time was not a charm for Ioka (31-4-1) who seemingly pulled the fight out of the fire in round 10 when he pitched the Argentine to the canvas with a pair of left hooks, but then wasn’t able to capitalize on the momentum swing.

Martinez set a fast pace and had Ioka fighting off his back foot for much of the fight. Beginning in round seven, Martinez looked fatigued, but the Argentine was conserving his energy for the championship rounds. In the end, he won the bout on all three cards: 114-113, 116-112, 117-110.

Up next for Fernando Martinez may be a date with fellow unbeaten Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, the lineal champion at 115. San Antonio’s Rodriguez is a huge favorite to keep his title when he defends against South Africa’s obscure Phumelela Cafu on July 19 in Frisco, Texas.

As for Ioka, had he won today’s rematch, that may have gotten him over the hump in so far as making it into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. True, winning titles in four weight classes is no great shakes when the bookends are only 10 pounds apart, but Ioka is still a worthy candidate.

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Emanuel Navarrete Survives a Bloody Battle with Charly Suarez in San Diego

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In a torrid battle Mexico’s Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete and his staccato attack staved off the herky-jerky non-stop assaults of Philippine’s Charly Suarez to win by technical decision and retain the WBO super feather world title on Saturday.

What do they feed these guys?

Navarrete (40-2-1, 32 KOs) and his elongated arms managed to connect enough to compensate against the surprising Suarez (18-1, 10 KOs) who wowed the crowd at Pechanga Arena in San Diego.

An accidental clash of heads opened a cut on the side of Navarrete’s left eye and forced a stoppage midway through the fight.

From the opening round Navarrete used his windmill style of attack with punches from different angles that caught Suarez multiple times early. It did not matter. Suarez fired back with impunity and was just as hungry to punch it out with the Mexican fighter.

It was savage.

Every time Navarrete connected solidly, he seemed to pause and check out the damage. Bad idea. Suarez would immediately counter with bombs of his own and surprise the champion with his resilience and tenacity.

Wherever they found Suarez they should look for more, because the Filipino fighter from Manila was ferocious and never out of his depth.

Around the sixth round the Mexican fighter seemed a little drained and puzzled at the tireless attacks coming from Suarez. During an exchange of blows a cut opened up on Navarrete and it was ruled an accidental clash of heads by the referee. Blood streamed down the side of Navarrete’s face and it was cleared by the ringside physician.

But at the opening of the eighth round, the fight was stopped and the ringside physician ruled the cut was too bad to continue. The California State Athletic Commission looked at tape of the round when the cut opened to decipher if it was an accidental butt or a punch that caused the cut. It was unclear so the referee’s call of accidental clash of heads stood as the final ruling.

Score cards from the judges saw Navarrete the winner by scores of 78-75, 77-76 twice. He retains the WBO title.

Interim IBF Lightweight Title

The sharp-shooting Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (23-0, 17 KOs) maneuvered past Russia’s Zaur Abdullaev (20-2, 12 KOs) by unanimous decision to win the interim IBF lightweight title after 12 rounds.

Both fighters were strategic in their approach with Muratalla switching from orthodox to southpaw at various times of the fight. Neither fighter was ever able to dominant any round.

Defense proved the difference between the two lightweights. Muratalla was able to slip more blows than Abdullaev and that proved the difference. The fighter from Fontana, California was able to pierce Abdullaev’s guard more often than not, especially with counter punches.

Abdullaev was never out of the fight. The Russian fighter was able to change tactics and counter the counters midway through the fight. It proved effective especially to the body. But it was not enough to offset Muratalla’s accuracy.

There were no knockdowns and after 12 rounds the judges scored it 118-110, 119-109 twice for Muratalla who now becomes the mandatory for the IBF lightweight title should Vasyl Lomachenko return to defend it.

Muratalla was brief.

“He was a tough fighter,” said Muratalla. “My defense is something I work on a lot.”

Perla Wins

Super flyweight Perla Bazaldua (2-0) eased past Mona Ward (0-2) with a polished display of fighting at length and inside.

Combination punching and defense allowed Bazaldua to punch in-between Ward’s attacks and force the St. Louis fighter to clinch repeatedly. But Ward hung in there despite taking a lot of blows. After four rounds the Los Angeles-based Bazaldua was scored the winner 40-36 on all three cards. Bazaldua signed a long term contract with Top Rank in March.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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Late Bloomer Anthony Cacace TKOs Hometown Favorite Leigh Wood in Nottingham

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Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions was at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England, tonight with a card featuring hometown favorite Leigh Wood against Ireland’s Anthony “Apache” Cacace.

Wood, a former two-time WBA featherweight champion, known for dramatic comebacks in bouts he was losing, may have reached the end of the road at age 36. He had his moments tonight, rocking Cacace on several occasions and winning the eighth round, but he paid the price, returning to his corner after round eight with swelling around both of his eyes.

In the ninth, Cacace, an 11/5 favorite, hurt Wood twice with left hands, the second of which knocked Wood into the ropes, dictating a standing 8-count by referee John Latham. When the bout resumed, Cacace went for the kill and battered Wood around the ring, forcing Wood’s trainer Ben Davison to throw in the towel. The official time was 2:15 of round nine.

Akin to Wood, Northern Ireland’s Cacace (24-1, 9 KOs) is also 36 years old and known as a late bloomer. This was his ninth straight win going back to 2017 (he missed all of 2018 and 2020). He formerly held the IBF 130-pound world title, a diadem he won with a stoppage of then-undefeated and heavily favored Joe Cordina, but that belt wasn’t at stake tonight as Cacace abandoned it rather than fulfill his less-lucrative mandatory. Wood falls to 28-4.

Semi-Wind-Up

Nottingham light heavyweight Ezra Taylor, fighting in his hometown for the first time since pro debut, delighted his fan base with a comprehensive 10-round decision over previously undefeated Troy Jones. Taylor, who improved to 12-0 (9) won by scores of 100-90, 99-91, and 98-92.

This was Taylor’s first fight with new trainer Malik Scott, best known for his work with Deontay Wilder. The victory may have earned him a match with Commonwealth title-holder Lewis Edmondson. Jones was 12-0 heading in.

Other Bouts of Note

In his first fight as a featherweight, Liam Davies rebounded from his first defeat with a 12-round unanimous decision over Northern Ireland’s previously undefeated Kurt Walker. Davies, who improved to 17-1 (8), staved off a late rally to prevail on scores of 115-113, 116-112, and 117-111. It was the first pro loss for the 30-year-old Walker (12-1), a Tokyo Olympian.

In a mild upset, Owen Cooper, a saucy Worcestershire man, won a 10-round decision over former Josh Taylor stablemate Chris Kongo. The referee’s scorecard read 96-94.

Cooper improved to 11-1 (4). It was the third loss in 20 starts for Kongo.

A non-televised 8-rounder featured junior welterweight Sam Noakes in a stay-busy fight. A roofer by trade and the brother of British welterweight title-holder Sean Noakes, Sam improved to 17-0 (15 KOs) with a third-round stoppage of overmatched Czech import Patrik Balez (13-5-1).

Photo credit: Leigh Dawney / Queensberry

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