Featured Articles
The Avila Perspective, Chapter 23: Heavyweight Thunder
When WBC heavyweight world titlist Deontay Wilder and lineal champion Tyson Fury step in between the ropes with their monstrously long legs those fans in attendance will be witnessing a rare and scintillating event.
Heavyweights are a different breed.
As the late great Muhammad Ali once described the division he once reigned over: heavyweights are like massive and destructive dinosaurs.
Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) and Fury (27-0, 19 KOs) meet for the true heavyweight championship on Saturday Dec. 1, at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. The winner truly is the real heavyweight world champion.
In this day of fractured titles and multiple belts the boxing fans finally get to see the real heavyweight champion emerge from the atomic blast that takes place in Los Angeles. This will be a treat for boxing fans.
I’ve been lucky enough to cover hundreds of world title fights over the years but only a few dozen heavyweight world title bouts. Each and every time heavyweight championship fights take place, expect thunder and lightning.
Though I never got a chance to see the great Ali fight in person I did get to talk to him many times over the years. I also sat next to Joe Frazier during a fight card and spoke to him as well. Heavyweight champions have a mythical aura about them.
Back in June 2000, Oscar De La Hoya and Sugar Shane Mosley met in the very first boxing card ever held at the Staples Center. Both Ali and Frazier were in attendance that special night. After the fight a celebration party for Mosley took place at the Whiskey A-Go-Go in West Hollywood. Overcrowding took place and L.A. County Sheriffs were called to break it up. One person trying to get in was Frazier and deputies would not allow him to go further. I told the deputy “hey, that’s Joe Frazier.”
The deputy sheriff took a look at Frazier who was wearing a hat and said “oh yeah, you are Joe Frazier” and guided him through the ruckus.
Heavyweight champions leave an indelible impression.
The best heavyweight world title fight I ever witnessed in person also took place at the Staples Center in 2003 when Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko met. That was a fight.
Two massive heavyweights battered each other for only six rounds but there was enough action to spread out over 20 rounds. Southern California fans are accustomed to great boxing, but not very familiar with heavyweight fights. That night fans discovered the true magic of a heavyweight world title fight.
Lewis won the fight by technical knockout because Klitschko suffered a bad cut that forced the referee to call the fight. That turned out to be the last fight ever for Lewis who retired.
Fans left the arena excited about what they had just seen. Back then LA Live did not exist so the throng of people after the fight was forced to drive long distances to find dining establishments. We walked a couple of blocks to the Pantry where knowledgeable people of the area talked about the heavyweight fight they had witnessed. L.A. fans have not seen a fight like that since.
Don’t overlook the fact that the fight can end early.
Years earlier I covered Mike Tyson against Orlin Norris at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Tyson knocked Norris to the canvas as the bell sounded ending the first round, Norris injured his knee as he fell and the fight ended after only one round. Some fans were upset at the quick ending. But that’s always a danger with heavyweights. They can all punch.
Hurd and Others
Super welterweight titlist Jarret Hurd leads the undercard of past notables and current prospects on the Staples Center boxing matches.
Hurd (22-0) is an extremely tall 154-pounder with neither extraordinary speed or boxing skills, but his overall strength and grittiness poses problems to everyone he faces. Ask Cuba’s Erislandy Lara who was floored and lost by split decision.
The Maryland native meets Jason Welborn (24-6) in the semi-main event and most expect Hurd to run over his foe. He reminds many of another tall strong super welterweight with similar traits named Jaime Munguia.
Hurd versus Munguia would be a very interesting clash.
A bevy of other heavyweights are included on the boxing card including Cuba’s Luis Ortiz (29-1) meeting Travis Kauffman (32-2) in a 10 round bout. Ortiz has been clamoring for another shot at Wilder or the winner of the main event. Kauffman, who stands six-foot-three and weighed in at 229 pounds, always gives his best. He’s improved over the years and if Ortiz takes him lightly he will get lit up.
British heavyweight prospect Joe Joyce (6-0, 6 KOs) with only a handful of fights meets heavyweight slugger Joe Hanks (23-2, 15 KOs) in another heavyweight clash. Joyce won the Olympic silver medal in the Rio Olympics in 2016 and is expected to run over Hanks.
Tickets are still available. Saturday’s card in Los Angeles can also be seen at local theaters and on Showtime pay-per-view for $74.99.
Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel
To comment on this article at The Fight Forum, CLICK HERE
Featured Articles
Ringside at the Cosmo: Pacheco Outpoints Nelson plus Undercard Results
LAS VEGAS, NV – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Promotions was at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas tonight for the second half of a DAZN doubleheader that began in Nottingham, England. In the main event, Diego Pacheco, ranked #1 by the WBO at super middleweight, continued his ascent toward a world title with a unanimous decision over Steven Nelson.
Pacheco glides round the ring smoothly whereas Nelson wastes a lot energy with something of a herky-jerky style. However, although Nelson figured to slow down as the fight progressed, he did some of his best work in rounds 11 and 12. Fighting with a cut over his left eye from round four, a cut that periodically reopened, the gritty Nelson fulfilled his promise that he would a fight as if he had everything to lose if he failed to win, but it just wasn’t enough, even after his Omaha homie Terence “Bud” Crawford entered his corner before the last round to give him a pep talk (back home in North Omaha, Nelson runs the B&B (Bud and Bomac) Sports Academy.
All three judges had it 117-111 for Pacheco who mostly fought off his back foot but landed the cleaner punches throughout. A stablemate of David Benavidez and trained by David’s father Jose Benevidez Sr, Pacheco improved to 23-0 (18). It was the first pro loss for the 36-year-old Nelson (20-1).
Semi wind-up
Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz, who as a pro has never fought a match slated for fewer than 10 rounds, had too much class for Hermosillo, Mexico’s rugged Omar Salcido who returned to his corner with a puffy face after the fourth stanza, but won the next round and never stopped trying. The outcome was inevitable even before the final round when Salcido barely made it to the final gun, but the Mexican was far more competitive than many expected.
The Cuban, who was 4-0 vs. Keyshawn Davis in closely-contested bouts as an amateur, advanced his pro record to 5-0 (2), winning by scores by 99-91 and 98-92 twice. Salido, coming off his career-best win, a 9th-round stoppage of former WBA super featherweight title-holder Chris Colbert, falls to 20-2.
Other TV bouts
Ernesto “Tito” Mercado, a 23-year-old super lightweight, aims to become the next world champion from Pomona, California, following in the footsteps of the late Richie Sandoval and Sugar Shane Mosely, and based on his showing tonight against former Beijing Olympian and former two-division title-holder Jose Pedraza, he is well on his way.
After three rounds after what had been a technical fight, Mercado (17-0, 16 KOs) knocked Pedraza off his pins with an overhand right followed by short left hand. Pedraza bounced back and fell on his backside. When he rose on unsteady legs, the bout was waived off. The official time was 2:08 of round four and the fading, 25-year-old Pedraza (29-7-1) was saddled with his third loss in his last four outings.
The 8-round super lightweight clash between Israel Mercado (no relation to “Tito”) and Leonardo Rubalcava was fan-friendly skirmish with many robust exchanges. When the smoke cleared, the verdict was a majority draw. Mercado got the nod on one card (76-74), but was overruled by a pair of 75-75 scores.
Mercado came out strong in the opening round, but suffered a flash knockdown before the round ended. The referee ruled it a slip but was overruled by replay operator Jay Nady and what would have been a 10-9 round for Mercado became a 10-8 round for Rubalcava. Mercado lost another point in round seven when he was penalized for low blows.
The scores were 76-74 for Mercado (11-1-2) and 75-75 twice. The verdict was mildly unpopular with most thinking that Mercado deserved the nod. Reportedly a four-time Mexican amateur champion, Rubalcava (9-0-1) is trained by Robert Garcia.
Also
New Matchroom signee Nishant Dev, a 24-year-old southpaw from India, had an auspicious pro debut (pardon the cliché). Before a beaming Eddie Hearn, Dev stopped Oakland’s Alton Wiggins (1-1-1) in the opening round. The referee waived it off after the second knockdown.
Boxers from India have made large gains at the amateur level in recent years and Matchroom honcho Eddie Hearn anticipates that Dev, a Paris Olympian, will be the first fighter from India to make his mark as a pro.
Undefeated Brooklyn lightweight Harley Mederos, managed by the influential Keith Connolly, scored his seventh knockout in eight tries with a brutal third-round KO of Mexico’s Arturo de Isla.
A left-right combination knocked de Isla (5-3-1) flat on his back. Referee Raul Caiz did not bother to count and several minutes elapsed before the stricken fighter was fit to leave the ring. The official time was 1:27 of round three.
In the opener, Newark junior lightweight Zaquin Moses, a cousin of Shakur Stevenson, improved to 2-0 when his opponent retired on his stool after the opening round.
Photo credit: Melina Pizano / Matchroom
To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE
Featured Articles
Najee Lopez Steps up in Class and Wins Impressively at Plant City
Garry Jonas’ ProBox series returned to its regular home in Plant City, Florida, tonight with a card topped by a 10-round light heavyweight match between fast-rising Najee Lopez and former world title challenger Lenin Castillo. This was considered a step-up fight for the 25-year-old Lopez, an Atlanta-born-fighter of Puerto Rican heritage. Although the 36-year-old Castillo had lost two of his last three heading in, he had gone the distance with Dimitry Bivol and Marcus Browne and been stopped only once (by Callum Smith).
Lopez landed the cleaner punches throughout. Although Castillo seemed unfazed during the first half of the fight, he returned to his corner at the end of round five exhibiting signs of a fractured jaw.
In the next round, Lopez cornered him against the ropes and knocked him through the ropes with a left-right combination. Referee Emil Lombardo could have stopped the fight right there, but he allowed the courageous Castillo to carry on for a bit longer, finally stopping the fight as Castillo’s corner and a Florida commissioner were signaling that it was over.
The official time was 2:36 of round six. Bigger fights await the talented Lopez who improved to 13-0 with his tenth win inside the distance. Castillo declined to 25-7-1.
Co-Feature
In a stinker of a heavyweight fight, Stanley Wright, a paunchy, 34-year-old North Carolina journeyman, scored a big upset with a 10-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Jeremiah Milton.
Wright carried 280 pounds, 100 pounds more than in his pro debut 11 years ago. Although he was undefeated (13-0, 11 KOs), he had never defeated an opponent with a winning record and his last four opponents were a miserable 19-48-2. Moreover, he took the fight on short notice.
What Wright had going for him was fast hands and, in the opening round, he put Milton on the canvas with a straight right hand. From that point, Milton fought tentatively and Wright, looking fatigued as early as the fourth round, fought only in spurts. It seemed doubtful that he could last the distance, but Milton, the subject of a 2021 profile in these pages, was wary of Wright’s power and unable to capitalize. “It’s almost as if Milton is afraid to win,” said ringside commentator Chris Algieri during the ninth stanza when the bout had devolved into a hugfest.
The judges had it 96-93 and 97-92 twice for the victorious Wright who boosted his record to 14-0 without improving his stature.
Also
In the TV opener, a 10-round contest in the junior middleweight division, Najee Lopez stablemate Darrelle Valsaint (12-0, 10 KOs) scored his career-best win with a second-round knockout of 35-year-old Dutch globetrotter Stephen Danyo (23-7-3).
A native Floridian of Haitian descent, the 22-year-old Valsaint was making his eighth start in Plant City. He rocked Danyo with a chopping right hand high on the temple and then, as Danyo slumped forward, applied the exclamation point, a short left uppercut. The official time was 2:17 of round two.
To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE
Featured Articles
Japanese Superstar Naoya Inoue is Headed to Vegas after KOing Ye Joon Kim
Japan’s magnificent Naoya Inoue, appearing in his twenty-fourth title fight, scored his 11th straight stoppage tonight while successfully defending his unified super bantamweight title, advancing his record to 29-0 (26 KOs) at the expense of Ye Joon Kim. The match at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena came to an end at the 2:25 mark of round four when U.S. referee Mark Nelson tolled “10” over the brave but overmatched Korean.
Kim, raised in a Seoul orphanage, had a few good moments, but the “Monster” found his rhythm in the third round, leaving Kim with a purplish welt under his left eye. In the next frame, he brought the match to a conclusion, staggering the Korean with a left and then finishing matters with an overhand right that put Kim on the seat of his pants, dazed and wincing in pain.
Kim, who brought a 21-2-2 record, took the fight on 10 days’ notice, replacing Australia’s Sam Goodman who suffered an eye injury in sparring that never healed properly, forcing him to withdraw twice.
Co-promoter Bob Arum, who was in the building, announced that Inoue’s next fight would happen in Las Vegas in the Spring. Speculation centers on Mexico City’s Alan Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs) who is ranked #1 by the WBC. However, there’s also speculation that the 31-year-old Inoue may move up to featherweight and seek to win a title in a fifth weight class, in which case a potential opponent is Brandon Figueroa should he defeat former Inoue foe Stephen Fulton next weekend. In “olden days,” this notion would have been dismissed as the Japanese superstar and Figueroa have different promoters, but the arrival of Turki Alalshikh, the sport’s Daddy Warbucks, has changed the dynamic. Tonight, Naoya Inoue made his first start as a brand ambassador for Riyadh Season.
Simmering on the backburner is a megafight with countryman Junto Nakatani, an easy fight to make as Arum has ties to both. However, the powers-that-be would prefer more “marination.”
Inoue has appeared twice in Las Vegas, scoring a seventh-round stoppage of Jason Moloney in October of 2020 at the MGM Bubble and a third-round stoppage of Michael Dasmarinas at the Virgin Hotels in June of 2021.
Semi-wind-up
In a 12-round bout for a regional welterweight title, Jin Sasaki improved to 19-1-1 (17) with a unanimous decision over Shoki Sakai (29-15-3). The scores were 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112.
Also
In a bout in which both contestants were on the canvas, Toshiki Shimomachi (20-1-3) edged out Misaki Hirano (11-2), winning a majority decision. A 28-year-old Osaka southpaw with a fan-friendly style, the lanky Shimomachi, unbeaten in his last 22 starts, competes as a super bantamweight. A match with Inoue may be in his future.
To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE
-
Featured Articles3 weeks ago
R.I.P. Paul Bamba (1989-2024): The Story Behind the Story
-
Featured Articles4 weeks ago
For Whom the Bell Tolled: 2024 Boxing Obituaries PART ONE (Jan.-June)
-
Featured Articles4 weeks ago
For Whom the Bell Tolled: 2024 Boxing Obituaries PART TWO: (July-Dec.)
-
Featured Articles4 weeks ago
Oleksandr Usyk is the TSS 2024 Fighter of the Year
-
Featured Articles3 weeks ago
Jai Opetaia Brutally KOs David Nyika, Cementing his Status as the World’s Top Cruiserweight
-
Featured Articles6 days ago
Skylar Lacy Blocked for Lamar Jackson before Making his Mark in Boxing
-
Featured Articles2 weeks ago
Bygone Days: The Largest Crowd Ever at Madison Square Garden Sees Zivic TKO Armstrong
-
Featured Articles1 week ago
Mizuki Hiruta Dominates in her U.S. Debut and Omar Trinidad Wins Too at Commerce