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Avila Perspective, Chap. 60: Celebrity Sightings at Dueling Press Conferences

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LOS ANGELES-If you stand in certain places in Los Angeles long enough, a celebrity or two will cross your path.

On Tuesday, if you were standing in downtown Los Angeles, a stampede of world champions, singers and multi-millionaires were running amok like elephants at a Serengeti watering hole.

TGB Promotions opened up the stampede in front of Staples Center with the announcement that welterweight world titlists Errol Spence Jr. and Shawn Porter will be clashing in a unification battle on September 28.

“You’ve seen my growth over the years to where I’m fighting in bigger and bigger stadiums and headlining the pay-per-views. Now I’m in a unification fight, which is what I’ve wanted for a long time,” said Spence the IBF titlist. “My whole thing is that I’m looking for the stoppage. I want to make a statement that I’m clearing out the division. I want Manny Pacquiao and all of the top names in this division.”

Porter wants what Spence wants. It’s not a coincidence.

“When I beat Errol Spence Jr., it doesn’t mean he’s going away. He’s still elite. But I’m going to take care of him September 28 and go after Manny Pacquiao. That’s the plan,” said Porter the WBC kingpin.

They’ll have plenty of company too.

Super Middles

A WBC super middleweight title fight pits titleholder Anthony Dirrell against former titleholder David Benavidez in the co-main event, and welterweights Josesito Lopez, John Molina Jr., Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Joey Spencer will also on the Staples Center boxing card. It will be shown on FOX pay-per-view.

“Benavidez is a come forward fighter who throws a lot of punches. You can frustrate him and do what you need to do to counteract that though,” said Dirrell who holds the title that was stripped away from Benavidez for testing positive for a banned substance in September 2018. He regained active status this past February.

Now without a title, Benavidez hungers for championship status once again.

“There’s a lot of motivation for me because he has my title. We have respect outside the ring, but none of that will be in the ring. We’re both going for the knockout and it’s going to be a war from round one,” said Benavidez.

Other fights included on the same card are Mario Barrios and Batyr Akhmedov who will battle each other for the WBA super lightweight title. But perhaps a hidden gem will be the welterweight clash featuring local sluggers Josesito Lopez and John Molina Jr.

Riverside’s Lopez and Covina’s Molina Jr. have known each other for all of their careers, yet surprisingly, they never fought each other. Both are known for their crazed tenacity and warrior spirit.

“Here we go again. It’s going to be another exciting fight. This is a long time coming for the both of us. We both have a never say die attitude and that’s what you’re going to get on fight night,” said Molina whose last fight was a loss that looked a lot closer than the judge’s cards last February.

Lopez has fond memories of Staples Center and raised eyebrows against Keith Thurman last January. He was recently suspended by New York State Athletic Commission but that governing group strangely does not reveal their reasons. Lopez is ready.

“It’s been seven years since I had that great showing at Staples Center against Victor Ortiz, and it’s a great feeling to be back,” said Lopez. “I’m going to put on a show, just like I did my last time fighting at Staples Center. I’m going to deliver another great performance.”

Golden Boy

Several blocks north at the Golden Boy Promotions building, another press conference took place on Tuesday afternoon to announce a super welterweight world title fight and a super lightweight clash on Mexican Independence Day weekend.

Standing in front were Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya and gold medal recording artist Usher.

Tijuana’s Jaime Munguia will defend the WBO super welterweight world title against Patrick Alottey on Sept. 14, at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. DAZN will stream the fight card.

Erik Morales Beltran Mungia and Oscar

Erik Morales, manager Fernando Beltran, Jaime Mungia and Oscar De La Hoya

Whether or not Munguia passes the challenge, he plans to move up in weight.

“This is my last fight in this weight division,” said Munguia. “But I’m happy to be fighting on this day. It’s very important for Mexicans.”

Munguia faces Alottey a veteran from Ghana with more than 40 pro fights who has not lost in three years.

“We both have a lot of knockouts,” said Munguia about his next foe.

Now training Munguia will be Tijuana’s most successful fighter of all time Erik “El Terrible” Morales.

“I’m just grateful to be working with Jaime Munguia,” said Morales. “He has a lot of gifts.”

Also on the card will be Ryan “the Flash” Garcia who has an extremely large fan base. He will be opposing Philadelphia’s Avery Sparrow who defeated veteran gatekeeper Henry Lundy this past March by unanimous decision.

Usher accompanied Sparrow to the press conference.

“Everybody knows I’m a good fighter,” said Sparrow. “Ryan Garcia has a lot of fans and a lot of support. I definitely feel I’m at a different level.”

Garcia was unshaken by his next adversary’s comments.

“I got offered three fights and I definitely feel Avery is the toughest,” said Garcia whose last fight was a second round knockout win over Jose Lopez. “He’s fast, he’s got skills.”

Burbank Fights

Welterweights lead a boxing card on Friday, Aug. 16, at the Burbank Marriott in Burbank, Calif. Among those on the Bash Boxing card are undefeated super welter Jessy Martinez (12-0) against the very awkward and rugged Luis Norambuena (3-3-1) in a six round bout. Also, undefeated super lightweight Jose Rodriguez (7-0) meets Gonzalo Dallera (5-4) in another six round co-main event.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information call (626) 388-8888 or go to this link: https://www.bashboxing.com/

Fights to watch

Sat. ESPN   Emanuel Navarrete (27-1) vs Francisco De Vaca (20-0); Jessie Magdaleno (26-1) vs Rafael Rivera (27-3-2); Arnold Barboza (21-0) vs Ricky Sismundo (35-14-3).

Photo credit: Al Applerose

Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel  

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The IBHOF Unveils its Newest Inductees: Manny Pacquiao is the Icing on the Cake

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The IBHOF Unveils its Newest Inductees: Manny Pacquiao is the Icing on the Cake

PRESS RELEASE —   CANASTOTA, NY – DECEMBER 5, 2024 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum is thrilled to announce the newest class of inductees to be honored during the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend June 5-8, 2025 in “Boxing’s Hometown” Canastota, NY.

The Class of 2025 includes Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao, “The Pazmanian Devil” Vinny Paz and Michael “Second To” Nunn in the Men’s Modern category; Yessica “Kika” Chavez, Anne Sophie Mathis and Mary Jo Sanders in the Women’s Modern category; Cathy “Cat” Davis in the Women’s Trailblazer category; referee Kenny Bayless, cut man Al Gavin (posthumous) and referee Harry Gibbs (posthumous) in the Non-Participant category; broadcaster / journalist Randy Gordon and television producer Ross Greenburg in the Observer category; Rodrigo Valdez (posthumous) in the Old Timer category and Owen Swift (posthumous) in the Pioneer category.

Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and a panel of international boxing historians. 

“We’re extremely excited about the Class of 2025 and are very much looking forward to honoring the newest class of inductees to earn boxing’s highest honor,” said Executive Director Edward Brophy.

The 2025 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend is scheduled for June 5-8th in “Boxing’s Hometown.” Many events will take place in Canastota and nearby Turning Stone Resort Casino throughout the four-day celebration including ringside talks, fist casting, fight night, 5K race / fun run, boxing autograph card show, banquet, parade and induction ceremony. 

For more information on the 2025 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, please call (315) 697-7095.

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Navarrete-Valdez and Espinoza-Ramirez Rematches Headline Phoenix Fight Fiesta 

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The annals of boxing abound with iconic rematches, and there’s a good chance that list will get longer after this Saturday in Phoenix’s Footprint Center with Top Rank’s ESPN card featuring Emanuel Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) versus Oscar Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) and Rafael Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs, against Robeisy Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs).

Valdez’s ties to the local area and multiple Arizona appearances give his bout against Navarrete top billing, but WBO featherweight titlist Espinoza’s initial encounter with Ramirez was the better bout the first time around, deemed Fight and Upset of the Year by many observers.

That’s not to say Navarrete-Valdez 1 didn’t hold plenty of drama as Navarrete captured the WBO junior lightweight belt with a relatively widespread unanimous decision. Valdez got himself into an immediate bind in the first fight by walking into Navarrete’s jab, enabling Navarrete to score early with looping right leads from his six-inch reach advantage. Valdez’s corner implored him to stay patient but it seemed there was no avoiding a firefight that played into Navarette’s always busy hands.

By round 3 Valdez’s face was heavily marked and often on the defensive, waiting to establish an offense that never fully arrived. Though he scored with some big shots down the stretch, his swollen right eye closed by the 9th frame and the eventual outcome seemed obvious.

“I know there’s a lot of pride at stake in a Mexico versus Mexico battle,” said Navarrete. “I believe this will be an even better fight than before because we’re familiar with each other. I know I have to push Valdez to his limits.”

“I made mistakes the first time, the biggest one was trying to knock him out,” reflected Valdez. “I still have a few fights left in me, not everyone gets a second chance. I know what I needed to train for (this time) and I’ll make the most of it.”

Offense was never a problem for either Espinoza or Ramirez, who traded knockdowns in a give-and-take affair that might have gone either way. It was the gloved-up version of mongoose versus cobra as two time Olympic gold medalist Ramirez charged in behind blurring punches up the middle while the much taller Espinoza fired shoulder level combinations. In this case, it was the underdog cobra who triumphed.

Three days from first bell an unofficial consensus of online odds listed the previous winners as favorites, Espinoza by a hair and Navarrete by a solid margin. While the initial winners may still have an edge, that all disappears after the bell, and previous action indicates a pair of pick-em contests isn’t unlikely.

Boxing history is also full of tie-breaking trilogies, too. It wouldn’t be a big surprise if that’s what we’re looking at again in both these cases.

Adding to the electric atmosphere in Phoenix are a solid batch of undercard extras featuring multiple first-rate performers that should get the audience more than ready for the night’s headliners.

Top Rank junior welterweight prospect Lindolfo Delgado, 21-0 (15) from Nuevo Leon, meets skilled Dominican Jackson Marinez, 22-3 (10) in a contest that could qualify as main event worthy in many locales.

Undefeated southpaw heavyweight Richard Torrez, Jr, who earned the silver medal in that division for the USA at the 2020 Olympics faces off against Mexican big boy Issac Munoz Gutierrez, 18-1-1 (15) who reportedly packs a respectable wallop. None of Torrez’s pro opponents have made it to the final bell.

San Diego’s highly ranked welterweight title challenger Giovani Santillan, 31-1 (17) faces Fredrick Lawson of Ghana, 30-5 (22). Lawson has dropped his last two outings but that was against good opposition and he won’t be an easy test.

21 year-old DJ Zamora, a hot prospect at 13-0 (9) from Las Vegas meets experienced Roman Reynoso, 22-5-2 (10), from Argentina and emerging new stablemate Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez, 11-0 (7), who recently signed a long term Top Rank contract faces Gerardo Antonio Perez, 12-6-1 (3).

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R.I.P Israel Vazquez who has Passed Away at age 46

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Israel Vazquez, a three-time world champion at 122 pounds and one of the most crowd-pleasing prizefighters of any era, has passed away at the age of 46. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman revealed the bad news today (Dec. 3) on his social media platform.

Born on Christmas Day 1977, Vazquez began his pro career in his native Mexico City at age 17. He was 16 fights into his pro career when he made his U.S. debut in El Cajon, California, under the management of Frank Espinoza.

Vazquez is most remembered for his four-fight rivalry with fellow Mexico City native Rafael Marquez.

The first two meetings were contested before small crowds in Carson, California, and Hidalgo, Texas.

Marquez won the first meeting thanks to a left hook that broke Vazquez’s nose in the opening round. The nose swelled to the point that Vazquez, who was making the fourth defense of his WBC super bantamweight title,  could no longer breathe and he was all done after seven rounds.

Vazquez won the rematch (TKO 6), setting the stage for a rubber match that would be a fight for the ages. The bout, contested on March 1, 2008 at the soccer stadium in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, was a shoo-in for Fight of the Year, earning that accolade from the BWAA, The Ring magazine and others.

Vazquez pulled that fight out of the fire in the final round, knocking Marquez to the canvas to win a split decision. Ron Borges, writing for this publication, wrote, “they knocked pieces off each other that could never be fully reattached.”

That was true of the detached retina in Vazquez’s right eye. It would require multiple surgeries before Vazquez, nicknamed “El Magnifico,” fought again and the eye would eventually be replaced by a prosthetic.

Their fourth meeting, contested before a celebrity-studded crowd at LA’s Staples Center, was anticlimactic. Vazquez, damaged goods, was stopped in the third round and never fought again.

All four meetings were televised on Showtime which celebrated the rivalry in 2015, airing highlights from all four fights on March 7 of that year. TSS West Coast Bureau Chief David A. Avila, looking back at the series, wrote, “[It was] 28 rounds of the most scientifically brutal and awe-inspiring prizefighting at an elite level.” Avila would also call Israel Vazquez one of the sport’s greatest gentlemen, a class act, as evinced in his energetic handshake whenever meeting a new fan.

Vazquez used his ring earnings to open a boxing gym in the Greater Los Angeles City of South Gate.

Vazquez’s passing wasn’t unexpected. Mauricio Sulaiman announced last month that Vazquez had been diagnosed with Stage IV Sarcoma, a particularly virulent strain of cancer and along with Oscar Valdez and Top Rank, established a GoFundMe account to defray his medical expenses. Today, Sulaiman wrote, “Israel Vazquez is finally resting in peace. May God give strength and support to his wife Laura, their children, family and friends during these difficult times.”

We here at TSS share that sentiment and send our condolences.

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