The Avila Perspective, Chapter 16: The Unconventional Devin Haney and More

Published

6 years ago

September 28, 2018

Raised for part of his youth among the neon lights of Las Vegas, teenage sensation Devin “The Dream” Haney races toward world title aspirations and the first road stop is Juan Carlos Burgos, a Mexican fighter who knows that road very well.

Undefeated Haney (19-0, 13 KOs) meets Tijuana veteran Burgos (33-2-2, 21 KOs) at Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula CA, on Friday, Sept. 29. The regional lightweight title fight will be televised by Showtime and is co-promoted by Devin Haney Promotions.

Though only 19, Haney is not your conventional teen.

Three years ago the articulate Las Vegas resident was happily racking up national titles in the amateur boxing world. Convention dictates that an amateur boxer with his talent should wait his turn and plan for participation in the Olympic Games.

Haney took a different tack.

“When I was in the amateurs I was too young to go to the Olympics. And once they took the head gear off I decided to turn pro,” said Haney, about the decision by amateur boxing to eliminate head gear during international competition in 2015.

But a big obstacle was the age limit for pro fighters in the U.S. Haney was only 17 and in Nevada and California the minimum age to become a professional is 18.

Haney took the unconventional route and headed toward Mexico where virtually no age limit exists.

“It made no sense. I was competing with top guys with no head gear and working for free,” said Haney who made his pro debut in December 2015 in Tijuana.

Mexico

Fighting across the border can be risky business. You never know what kind of fighter stands in front of you.

“A lot of people underrate the fighters in Mexico. They helped make me the fighter I am today. If a guy even gets close to punching me the crowd over there is going bananas. A lot of people don’t know,” said Haney who fought his first four professional bouts in the border city of Tijuana. “I fought in Tijuana twice in one week. Their fighters are not going to lay down. Their families and everyone are on their backs. If you get grazed, it’s a stoppage.”

Haney has crossed the border and fought a total of 10 times on boxing cards against fighters who have no hesitation about illegally hitting you behind the head, on the kneecaps, or follow up a left hook with the end of an elbow across the face.

It’s warfare.

Now Haney faces Burgos who grew up in the streets of Tijuana and has been toughened in sparring wars that took place in the many gyms sprouting up in Mexico’s second biggest city.

“It inspires me and motivates me because I know he’s the toughest guy I’ve fought today. He fought Mikey Garcia and he won rounds,” said Haney about Burgos fighting Riverside’s Garcia for the featherweight world title in 2014. “I know he’s going to bring the best out of me.”

Garcia has won world titles in the featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight and super lightweight divisions. Burgos fought him competitively and lost by decision in New York and now he gets a very young Haney.

“He’s (Haney) fought in Tijuana a bunch of times so I’ve seen him in person. I didn’t really pay that much attention to him at the time,” said Burgos. “He has ability. He’s hungry with good skills, but I don’t think he’s ready for a fighter like me. He’s too young and I’m an experienced fighter that knows how to win.”

Burgos, 31, is familiar to Southern California fans. He fought under the Thompson Boxing Promotions banner and has engaged in eight pro bouts in the area. He’s also fought three times for the world title including a draw against then super featherweight world champion Roman Martinez in 2013.

“It’s exciting to fight someone like Burgos with all of his experience,” said Haney.

Is it too soon for the Las Vegas speedster to face Burgos?

Riverside’s Henry Ramirez, who trains several local boxers, views Haney as a high caliber prizefighter.

“Haney has awesome talent,” said Ramirez. “Fighting all the time has sharpened his skills.”

Sharp or dull Haney won’t turn 20 until November but he’s in a hurry.

“I want to be a pound for pound, multi-division world champ and at the top of the game,” said Haney.

It all starts on Friday.

Top Rank in Oakland

A pretty good boxing card features world champions in Oakland on Friday, Sept. 28, at the Oracle Arena, home of the Golden State Warriors.

Jose Uzcategui (27-2, 23 KOs) holds the interim IBF super middleweight title and faces Ezequiel Maderna in a non-title fight set for 10 rounds.

If you remember Uzcategui, he fought Andre Dirrell twice but in their first confrontation in May 2017, he knocked out the Michigan fighter at the bell and was erroneously ruled to have hit him after the bell. He was given the loss by the Maryland boxing commission though replays show that the knockout blow was delivered at the bell. Immediately after the knockout, Dirrell’s uncle jumped in the ring and attacked Uzcategui. Instead of banning the uncle, he was given a slap on the wrist.

Uzcategui and Dirrell had a rematch this past March in Brooklyn and once again the Venezuelan stopped the Michigan fighter in the eighth round. He’s getting a shot at the title eventually but first he has to face Argentina’s Maderna.

On the same Top Rank fight card IBF super flyweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas (30-1-1, 20 KOs) of the Philippines defends against Mexico’s Alejandro Barrios (16-2-4, 7 KOs). This is the southpaw Ancajas sixth world title defense. He’s an exciting fighter and Tijuana’s Barrios gives everyone problems.

Another interesting bout features Rico Ramos the former super bantamweight world champion. The Southern Californian signed to fight recent former world titlist Jessie Magdaleno but the Las Vegas fighter pulled out.

Ramos (29-5, 14 KOs) now trains with master trainer Ben Lira and it will be interesting to see what new tricks they bring to the table. A new opponent, Daniel Olea (13-5-2), was brought in for Ramos and he’s ready to go. Meanwhile, Magdaleno, who departed from trainer Manny Robles Jr. and Southern California and returned to his home in Las Vegas, was apparently overweight. He pulled out last week.

Golden Boy in Indio

Former lightweight world champion Jorge Linares, whose last fight was a knockout loss to Vasyl Lomachenko, has moved up in weight and will fight as a super lightweight. He’s seeking a fourth division world title.

Linares (44-4, 27 KOs) faces Abner Cotto (23-3, 12 KOs) the relative of Puerto Rican great Miguel Cotto who promotes him. They’ll face each other in the main event set for 12 rounds at the Fantasy Springs Casino on Saturday Sept. 29. The Golden Boy Promotions fight card will be streamed on Facebook Watch.

The Venezuelan great was doing well against Lomachenko and knocked down the Ukrainian fighter in their clash in New York. He was stopped a few rounds later and quickly dispatched and forgotten. Meanwhile Lomachenko has been tabbed by many as the pound for pound king. For me it’s too early. Is Lomachenko among the best? Yes. Is he the absolute best? One major fight is not enough.

Also on the Golden Boy fight card is Oscar Duarte.

Mexico’s Duarte (14-0-1, 9 KOs) fights Venezuela’s Roger Gutierrez (19-2-1,16 KOs) in a lightweight clash set for eight rounds.

Duarte, 22, first arrived in Southern California in 2015 and fought at Belasco Theater. He showed brute strength but looked like he was stuck in cement. But the Golden Boy staff saw something in him and he was placed with Joel Diaz in Indio.

Under the brothers Diaz, the Mexican fighter from Parral, Chihuahua, has been transformed into a polished and deadly prizefighter. In his last bout at the same Fantasy Springs he took apart Filipino slugger Rey Perez, a very good fighter.

It’s always a thrill to see a young boxer with rudimentary abilities be molded and sculptured into a finely tuned fighting machine. That’s what has happened with Duarte under brothers Joel and Antonio Diaz.

Danny Roman

Speaking of finely tuned fighting machines, another great example of a good prospect sculpted into a world champion is Los Angeles-based Danny Roman, the WBA super bantamweight world champion.

When I first saw Roman he was a solid prospect but I never would have predicted him to be a world champion with two defenses in Japan.

The journey of Roman has been one of the highlights of my writing career. It’s a pleasure to see a boxer from the beginning and watch him slowly rise to the level of world champion.

Roman (25-2-1, 9 KOs) defends the WBA title against England’s Gavin McDonnell (20-1-2, 5 KOs) on Sat. Oct. 6, in the main event at Chicago, Illinois. It’s the first time he fights under the Matchroom Boxing banner alongside Thompson Boxing Promotions. The fight will be streamed live on DAZN.

Once again Roman will be facing an opponent who has five or more inches in height advantage. That makes four-in-a-row for the champion Roman.

He recently signed a contract with Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn and this will be his debut. Look for more on Roman next week.

Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel

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David A. Avila

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Floyd Schofield Wins a Banger and Gabriela Fundora Wins by KO

Published

2 days ago

November 3, 2024

David A. Avila

Floyd-Schofield-Wins-a-Banger-and Gabriella-Fundora-Wins-by-KO

Floyd Schofield Wins a Banger and Gabriela Fundora Wins by KO

LAS VEGAS-Shades of Henry Armstrong and Baby Arizmendi. If you don’t know those names, look them up.

Floyd Schofield battled his way past Mexico’s super tough Rene Tellez Giron who walked through every blow the Texan could fire but lost by decision on Saturday.

It was a severe test and perfect matchmaking for Schofield who yearns for the big bouts against the lightweight giants roaming the world.

Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs) remains undefeated and won the war over thick-necked Mexican Tellez Giron (20-4, 13 KOs) who has never been knocked out and proved to be immune to big punches.

In the opening rounds, the Texas fighter came out firing rapid combinations from the southpaw and orthodox stances. Meanwhile the shorter Tellez Giron studied and fired back an occasional counter for two rounds.

Tellez Giron had seen enough and took his stand in the third stanza. Both unleashed blazing bombs with Schofield turning his back to the Mexican. At that moment referee Tom Taylor could have waved the fight over.

You never turn your back.

The fight resumed and Schofield was damaged. He tried to open up with even more deadly fire but was rebuked by the strong chin of Tellez Giron who fired back in the mad frenzy.

For the remainder of the fight Schofield tried every trick in his arsenal to inflict damage on the thick-necked Mexican. He could not be wobbled. In the 11^th round both opened up with serious swing-from-the-heels combinations and suddenly Schofield was looking up. He beat the count easily and the two remained slugging it out.

“He hit me with a good shot,” Schofield said of the knockdown. “I just had to get up. I’m not going to quit.”

In the final round Schofield moved around looking for the proper moment to engage. The Mexican looked like a cat ready to pounce and the two fired furious blows. Neither was hit with the big bombs in the last seconds.

There was Tellez Giron standing defiantly like Baby Arizmendi must have stood in those five ferocious meetings against the incomparable Henry Armstrong. Three of their wars took place in Los Angeles, two at the Olympic Auditorium in the late 1930s as the U.S. was emerging from the Great Depression.

In this fight, Schofield took the win by unanimous decision by scores 118-109 twice and 116-111. It was well-deserved.

“I tried to bang it out,” said Schofield. “Today I learned you can’t always get the knockout.”

Fundora

IBF flyweight titlist Gabriela Fundora needed seven rounds to figure out the darting style of Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz before firing a laser left cross down the middle to end the battle and become the undisputed flyweight world champion.

Fundora now holds all four titles including the WBO, WBA and WBC titles that Alaniz brought in the ring.

Fundora knocked down Alaniz midway through the seventh round. She complained it was due to a tangle of the legs. Several seconds later Fundora blasted the Argentine to the floor again with a single left blast. This time there was no doubt. Her corner wisely waved a white towel to stop the fight at 1:40 of the seventh round.

No one argued the stoppage.

Other Bouts

Bektemir Melikuziev (15-1, 10 KOs) didn’t make weight in a title bout but managed to out-fight David Stevens (14-2, 10 KOs) in a super middleweight fight held at 12 rounds.

Melikuziev used his movement and southpaw stance to keep Pennsylvania’s Stevens from being able to connect with combinations. But Stevens did show he could handle “The Bully’s” punching power over the 12-round fight.

After 12 rounds one judge favored Stevens 116-112, while two others saw Melikuziev the winner by split decision 118-110 and 117-111.

Super middleweight WBA titlist Darius Fulghum (13-0, 11 KOs) pummeled his way to a technical knockout win over southpaw veteran Chris Pearson (17-5-1, 12 KOs) who attempted the rope-a-dope strategy to no avail.

Fulghum floored Pearson in the first round with a four-punch combination and after that just belted Pearson who covered up and fired an occasional blow. Referee Mike Perez stopped the fight at 1:02 of the third round when Pearson did not fire back after a blazing combination.

Young welterweight prospect Joel Iriarte (5-0, 5 KOs) blasted away at the three-inch shorter Xavier Madrid (5-6, 2 KOs) who hung tough for as long as possible. At 2:50 of the first round a one-two delivered Madrid to the floor and referee Thomas Taylor called off the beating.

Iriarte, from Bakersfield, Calif., could not miss with left uppercuts and short rights as New Mexico’s Madrid absorbed every blow but would not quit. It was just too much firepower from Iriarte that forced the stoppage.

Photos credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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Results and Recaps from Turning Stone where O’Shaquie Foster Nipped Robson Conceicao

Published

2 days ago

November 2, 2024

Arne K. Lang

Results-and-Recaps-from-Turning-Stone-where-O'Shaquie-Foster-Nipped-Robson-Conceicao

Top Rank was at the Turning Stone casino-resort in Verona, New York, tonight with an 8-bout card topped by a rematch between Robson Conceicao and O’Shaquie Foster with the victor retaining or recapturing his IBF world junior lightweight title. When the smoke cleared, the operative word was “recapturing” as Foster became a two-time title-holder, avenging his controversial setback to the Brazilian in Newark on July 6.

This was a somewhat better fight than their initial encounter and once again the verdict was split. Foster prevailed by 115-113 on two of the cards with the dissenting judge favoring Conceicao by the same margin. Conceicao seemingly had the edge after nine frames, but Foster, a 4/1 favorite, landed the harder shots in the championship rounds.

It was the thirteenth victory in the last 14 starts for Foster who fights out of Houston. A two-time Olympian and 2016 gold medalist, the 36-year-old Conceicao is 19-3-1 overall and 1-3-1 in world title fights.

Semi-wind-up

SoCal lightweight Raymond Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs) made a big jump in public esteem and moved one step closer to a world title fight with a second-round blast-out of Jose Antonio Perez who was on the canvas twice but on his feet when the fight was stopped at the 1:24 mark of round two. Muratalla, a product of Robert Garcia’s boxing academy, is ranked #2 by the WBC and WBO. A Tijuana native, Perez (25-6) earned this assignment with an upset of former Olympian and former 130-pound world titlist Jojo Diaz,

Other Bouts

Syracuse junior welterweight Bryce Mills, a high-pressure fighter with a strong local following, stopped scrawny Mike O’Han Jr whose trainer Mark DeLuca pulled him out after five one-sided rounds. Mills improved to 17-1 (6 KOs). It was another rough day at the office for Massachusetts house painting contractor O’’Han (19-4) who had the misfortune of meeting Abdullah Mason in his previous bout.

In a junior lightweight fight that didn’t heat up until late in the final round, Albany’s Abraham Nova (23-3-1) and Tijuana native Humberto Galindo (14-3-3) fought to a 10-round draw. It was another close-but-no- cigar for the likeable Nova who at least stemmed a two-fight losing streak. The judges had it 97-93 (Galindo), 96-94 (Nova) and 95-95.

Twenty-one-year-old Long Island middleweight Jahi Tucker advanced to 13-1-1 (6 KOs) with an eighth-round stoppage of Stockton’s teak-tough but outclassed Quilisto Madera (14-6). Madera was on a short leash after five rounds, but almost took it to the final bell with the referee intervening with barely a minute remaining in the contest. Madera was on his feet when the match was halted. Earlier in the round, Tucker had a point deducted for hitting on the break.

Danbury, Connecticut heavyweight Ali Feliz, one of two fighting sons of journeyman heavyweight Fernely Feliz, improved to 4-0 (3) with a second-round stoppage of beefy Rashad Coulter (5-5). Feliz had Coulter pinned against the ropes and was flailing away when the bout was halted at the 1:34 mark. The 42-year-old Coulter, a competitor in all manner of combat sports, hadn’t previously been stopped when competing as a boxer.

Featherweight Yan Santana dominated and stopped Mexico’s Eduardo Baez who was rescued by referee Charlie Fitch at the 1:57 mark of round four. It was the 12^th knockout in 13 starts for Santana, a 24-year-old Dominican father of three A former world title challenger, Mexicali’s Baez declines to 23-7-2 but has lost six of his last eight.

In his most impressive showing to date, Damian Knyba, a six-foot-seven Pole, knocked out paunchy Richard Lartey at the 2:10 mark of round three. A right-left combination knocked Lartey into dreamland, but it was the right did the damage and this was of the nature of a one-punch knockout. Referee Ricky Gonzalez waived the fight off without starting a count.

Knyba, 28, improved to 14-0 (8 KOs). A native of Ghana coming off his career-best win, a fourth-round stoppage of Polish veteran Andrzej Wawrzyk, Lartey declined to 16-7 with his sixth loss inside the distance.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 303: Spotlights on Lightweights and More

Published

3 days ago

November 1, 2024

David A. Avila

Avila-Perspective-Chap-303-Spotlights-on-Lightweights-and-More

Those lightweights.

Whether junior lights, super lights or lightweights, it’s the 130-140 divisions where most of boxing’s young stars are found now or in the past.

Think Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather.

Floyd Schofield (17-0, 12 KOs) a Texas product, hungers to be a star and takes on Mexico’s Rene Tellez Giron (20-3, 13 KOs) in a 12-round lightweight bout on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada.

DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotion card that includes a female undisputed flyweight championship match pitting Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz and Gabriela Fundora.

Like a young lion looking to flex, Schofield (pictured on the left) is eager to meet all the other young lions and prove they’re not equal.

“I’ve been in the room with Shakur, Tank. I want to give everyone a good fight. I feel like my preparation is getting better, I work hard, I’ve dedicated my whole life to this sport,” said Schofield naming fellow lightweights Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta “Tank” Davis.

Now he meets Mexico’s Tellez who has never been stopped.

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” said Tellez.

Even in Las Vegas.

Verona, New York

Meanwhile, in upstate New York, a WBC junior lightweight title rematch finds Robson Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) looking to prove superior to former titlist O’Shaquie Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, N.Y. ESPN+ will stream the Top Rank fight card.

Last July, Conceicao and Foster clashed and after 12 rounds the title changed hands from Foster to the Brazilian by split decision.

“I feel that a champion is a fighter who goes out there and doesn’t run around, who looks for the fight, who tries to win, and doesn’t just throw one or two punches and then moves away,” said Conceicao.

Foster disagrees.

“I hope he knows the name of the game is to hit and not get hit. That’s the name of the game,” said Foster.

Also on the same card is lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla (21-0, 16 KOs) who fights Mexico’s Jesus Perez Campos (25-5, 18 KOs).

Perez recently defeated former world champion Jojo Diaz last February in California.

“We’re made for challenges. I like challenges,” said Perez.

Muratalla likes challenges too.

“I think these fights are the types of fights I need to show my skills and to prove I deserve those title fights,” said Fontana’s Muratalla.

Female Undisputed Flyweight Championship

WBA, WBC and WBO flyweight titlist Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz (15-1, 6 KOs meets IBF titlist Gabriela Fundora (14-0, 6 KOs) on Saturday Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. DAZN will stream the clash for the undisputed flyweight championship.

Argentina’s Alaniz clashed twice against former WBA, WBC champ Marlen Esparza with their first encounter ending in a dubious win for the Texas fighter. In fact, three of Esparza’s last title fights were scored controversially.

But against Alaniz, though they fought on equal terms, Esparza was given a 99-91 score by one of the judges though the world saw a much closer contest. So, they fought again, but the rematch took place in California. Two judges deemed Alaniz the winner and one Esparza for a split-decision win.

“I’m really happy to be here representing Argentina. We are ready to fight. Nothing about this fight has to do with Marlen. So, I hope she (Fundora) is ready. I am ready to prepare myself for the great fight of my life,” said Alaniz.

In the case of Fundora, the extremely tall American fighter at 5’9” in height defeated decent competition including Maria Santizo. She was awarded a match with IBF flyweight titlist Arely Mucino who opted for the tall youngster over the dangerous Kenia Enriquez of Mexico.

Bad choice for Mucino.

Fundora pummeled the champion incessantly for five rounds at the Inglewood Forum a year ago. Twice she battered her down and the fight was mercifully stopped. Fundora’s arm was raised as the new champion.

Since that win Fundora has defeated Christina Cruz and Chile’s Daniela Asenjo in defense of the IBF title. In an interesting side bit: Asenjo was ranked as a flyweight contender though she had not fought in that weight class for seven years.

Still, Fundora used her reach and power to easily handle the rugged fighter from Chile.

Immediately after the fight she clamored for a chance to become undisputed.

“It doesn’t get better than this, especially being in Las Vegas. This is the greatest opportunity that we can have,” said Fundora.

It should be exciting.

Fights to Watch

Sat. ESPN+ 2:50 p.m. Robson Conceicao (19-2-1) vs O’Shaquie Foster (22-3).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Floyd Schofield (17-0) vs Rene Tellez Giron (20-3); Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) vs Gabriela Fundora (14-0).

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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