Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez KOs Krusher to Win Fourth Division World Title

Published

5 years ago

November 3, 2019

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Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez KOs Krusher to Win Fourth Division World Title

LAS VEGAS-If you dare to be great, sometimes you can achieve it.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez knocked out Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev in the championship rounds to snatch the WBO light heavyweight world title in eye blinking fashion on Saturday. It was his fourth division world title.

“This is just a step in my career to make history,” said Alvarez.

The Mexican redhead Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) added his name to the honored rolls of boxing history’s best by defeating Russia’s Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs) before a delirious audience of more than 14,000 expecting to watch history be made or not at the MGM Grand.

Alvarez accomplished what Sugar Ray Leonard achieved more than 30 years ago. It was something Sugar Ray Robinson could not do 60 years ago.

It was also a fight set at a deliberate pace as both worked slowly with Kovalev using his long reaching jab to keep the shorter Alvarez at a safe distance. All the time the Mexican fighter moved in closer and closer with each round.

Kovalev was the busier fighter for the first two rounds. Then, Alvarez began finding the timing to deliver counter shots and work around the taller Russian fighter’s guard. Still it was a slow pace.

“The plan overall was to have patience, that it was going to take some time,” said Alvarez, 29. “He’s a great fighter. We stuck to our game plan.”

Both fighters had their moments with Kovalev using his stiff left jab effectively at moments. Other times he tried using his favorite weapon the right cross and was reminded of Alvarez’s superior counter punching skills.

“It opened up my body,” said Kovalev on why he rarely used his vaunted right cross.

Alvarez had moments when he traded blows with Kovalev and got the upper hand. But he never opened up completely as if worried about the Russian’s right hand missile.

“It was a very close fight because he was defensive. He was trying to get points and he was coming,” said Alvarez. “But everything worked out according our game plan.”

In the 11^th round Alvarez emerged from his corner with extra pep and Kovalev tried to match intensity. A right cross from Alvarez found the mark and Kovalev shook slightly. Alvarez quickly moved in and delivered a left hook that staggered Kovalev and the Mexican immediately followed with a right cross to the chin that sent the Russian crumbling into the ropes. Referee Russell Mora immediately stopped the fight at 2:15 of the 11^th round giving Alvarez the WBO light heavyweight title by knockout. He also adds a fourth division world title to his impressive resume.

Canelo became the second prizefighter of Mexican origin to win a fourth division world title and joins Tijuana’s Erik “El Terrible” Morales. He had already conquered the super welterweight, middleweight and super middleweight weight classes and was looking to separate himself from the other Mexican legends Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Julio Cesar Chavez. A win over Kovalev made him only the second Mexican to win a light heavyweight title. The late Julio Gonzalez had captured a light heavyweight title back in 2003 against Dariusz Michalczewski in Germany.

Kovalev, 36, sought to further cement his legacy in the light heavyweight division, a division dominated by others from Eastern European nations like Dimitry Bivol, Artur Beterbiev, and Oleksandr Gvozdyk. A win by the veteran Russian fighter would establish his name as a prominent champion who could win the big fight after losing three times in his last seven fights. One of those losses was avenged when Kovalev out-smarted Eleider Alvarez in the rematch after losing by knockout. The lanky Russian slugger showed that his ring intelligence was overlooked.

“Canelo is a really great champion,” said Kovalev graciously after the knockout loss. “Thanks for the fight. It’s ok. It’s good experience for me.”

After 10 rounds one judge had it even at 95-95 and two others saw Alvarez winning 96-94.

Alvarez eradicated any mystery with that final sizzling combination for the knockout win.

“It’s a great day for all of us in Mexico,” said Alvarez.

It’s also a great day for those who dare to be great.

Ryan Garcia KO win

It was supposed to be Ryan Garcia’s (19-0, 16 KOs) toughest foe yet. Instead, the 21-year-old from Victorville, California dispatched knockout puncher Romero Duno (21-2, 16 KOs) in the first round of their WBC Silver and NABO lightweight title fight.

It was shockingly easy for the speedy and popular Southern California fighter.

At the opening bell Duno moved in quickly to pressure the taller Garcia and immediately sneaked in an overhand right. It had no effect.

“Everybody knows he (Duno) has a good overhand right,” said Garcia. “I took it.”

After that, Garcia began unloading his own power shots especially the long right cross. It was like target practice and Duno was out of bullets. A right cross, followed by another right cross and a left hook sent the Filipino fighter down in sections. He could not get up and the fight was ruled over by referee Tony Weeks at 1:38 of the first round.

“When I took his best shot, I knew alright, I got him,” Garcia said. “Bang bang, and it’s over-temple shot.”

WBA Female Title Fight

A flyweight feud saw East L.A.’s Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada slip, slide and batter her way to victory over a gutsy Marlen Esparza to win the vacant interim WBA flyweight title by unanimous decision.

The fast moving flyweight fight got bloody during a clash of heads when both attempted to move inside and work the body. Esparza emerged from the head clash with a major gash on her forehead that looked more than two inches across. It was an ugly sight but the fight continued.

“Head butt or not, I still whipped her butt,” said Estrada who now holds the interim WBA flyweight title.

Esparza had been finding success with her right cross and seemed to be zeroing in for combinations. But Estrada started working inside and firing body shots that slowed the former Olympian.

After nine bloody rounds the referee Robert Byrd went to Esparza’s corner and asked if she could see. Esparza responded she could not and the fight was stopped and the judges gave their score cards. Estrada was deemed the winner by unanimous decision.

And what about the feud?

“No, the beef is not settled. Respect to her team, but I still don’t like her,” said East L.A.’s Estrada.

Cobbs

Las Vegas-based Blair Cobbs (13-0-1, 9 KOs) survived an early knockdown by Carlos Ortiz (11-5, 11 KOs) and figured out how to avoid the left cross in a battle of southpaws to eventually win by knockout in a welterweight clash.

Cobbs was dropped in the first round by an overhand left from Mexico’s Ortiz, but figured out how to avoid further lefts by circling to his left. Ortiz was unable to connect with another big power shot after that. Soon, Cobbs began finding the proper distance and then came a rain of body shots that opened up the firing lanes.

It was clear that Cobbs was in control and Ortiz tried to exchange but was caught with the southpaw’s enemy, a right hook, and down went the tough Mexican fighter. He got up to fight again and was met with more power shots from Cobbs. The fight was stopped at the end of the sixth round giving Cobbs the win by knockout.

Other Bouts

Russia’s Bakhram Murtazaliev (17-0, 13 KOs) and Spain’s Jorge Fortea (20-2-1, 6 KOs) put on a spirited 10 round fight that showcased all that boxing entrails, except for a knockout. Both could take a punch, but only Murtazaliev could give a punch and that proved the difference in winning by unanimous decision.

Evan Holyfield (1-0), the son of boxing great Evander Holyfield, needed only 16 seconds to knock out Nick Winstead (0-2) in a super middleweight first round knockout.

Bektemir Melikuziev (3-0) knocked out Cristian Olivas (16-6) in the fourth round of their light heavyweight fight.

Teen cruiserweight Tristan Kalkreuth (3-0) took some shots but out-worked Twon Smith (3-4) to win by decision after four rounds.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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David A. Avila

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Jorge Garcia is the TSS Fighter of the Month for April

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2025

Arne K. Lang

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Jorge Garcia has a lot in common with Mexican countrymen Emanuel Navarrete and Rafael Espinoza. In common with those two, both reigning world title-holders, Garcia is big for his weight class and bubbled out of obscurity with a triumph forged as a heavy underdog in a match contested on American soil.

Garcia had his “coming of age party” on April 19 in the first boxing event at the new Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California (roughly 35 miles north of San Diego), a 7,500-seat facility whose primary tenant is an indoor soccer team. It was a Golden Boy Promotions event and in the opposite corner was a Golden Boy fighter, Charles Conwell.

A former U.S. Olympian, Conwell was undefeated (21-0, 16 KOs) and had won three straight inside the distance since hooking up with Golden Boy whose PR department ballyhooed him as the most avoided fighter in the super welterweight division. At prominent betting sites, Conwell was as high as a 12/1 favorite.

The lanky Garcia was 32-4 (26 KOs) heading in, but it was easy to underestimate him as he had fought extensively in Tijuana where the boxing commission is notoriously docile and in his home state of Sinaloa. This would be only his second fight in the U.S. However, it was noteworthy in hindsight that three of his four losses were by split decision.

Garcia vs. Conwell was a robust affair. He and Conwell were credited with throwing 1451 punches combined. In terms of punches landed, there was little to choose between them but the CompuBox operator saw Garcia landing more power punches in eight of the 12 rounds. At the end, the verdict was split but there was no controversy.

An interested observer was Sebastian Fundora who was there to see his sister Gabriela defend her world flyweight titles. Sebastian owns two pieces of the 154-pound world title where the #1 contender per the WBO is Xander Zayas who keeps winning, but not with the verve of his earlier triumphs.

With his upset of Charles Conwell, Jorge Garcia has been bumped into the WBO’s #2 slot. Regardless of who he fights next, Garcia will earn the biggest payday of his career.

Honorable mention: Aaron McKenna

McKenna was favored to beat veteran campaigner Liam Smith in the co-feature to the Eubank-Benn battle this past Saturday in London, but he was stepping up in class against a former world title-holder who had competed against some of the top dogs in the middleweight division and who had famously stopped Chris Eubank Jr in the first of their two encounters. Moreover, the venue, Tottenham Hotspur, the third-largest soccer stadium in England, favored the 36-year-old Liverpudlian who was accustomed to a big fight atmosphere having fought Canelo Alvarez before 50,000-plus at Arlington Stadium in Texas.

McKenna, from the small town of Monaghan, Ireland, wasn’t overwhelmed by the occasion. With his dad Feargal in his corner and his fighting brother Stephen McKenna cheering him on from ringside, Aaron won a wide decision in his first 12-round fight, punctuating his victory by knocking Smith to his knees with a body punch in the 12^th round. In fact, if he hadn’t had a point deducted for using his elbow, the Irishman would have pitched a shutout on one of the scorecards.

“There might not be a more impressive example of a fighter moving up in class,” wrote Tris Dixon of the 25-year-old “Silencer” who improved his ledger to 20-0 (10).

Photo credits: Garcia/Conwell photo compliments of Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy; McKenna-Smith provided by Mark Robinson/Matchroom

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Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Published

3 days ago

April 27, 2025

David A. Avila

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Feudal bragging rights belong to Chris Eubank Jr. who out-lasted Conor Benn to
emerge victorious by unanimous decision in a non-title middleweight match held in
London on Saturday.

Fighting for their family heritage Eubank (35-3, 26 KOs) and Benn (23-1, 14 KOs)
continued the battle between families started 35 years ago by their fathers at Tottenham
Hotspur Stadium.

More than 65,000 fans attended.

Though Eubank Jr. had a weight and height advantage and a record of smashing his
way to victory via knockout, he had problems hurting the quicker and more agile Benn.
And though Benn had the advantage of moving up two weight divisions and forcing
Eubank to fight under a catch weight, the move did not weaken him much.

Instead, British fans and boxing fans across the world saw the two family rivals pummel
each other for all 12 rounds. Neither was able to gain separation.

Eubank looked physically bigger and used a ramming left jab to connect early in the
fight. Benn immediately showed off his speed advantage and surprised many with his
ability to absorb a big blow.Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Benn scrambled around with his quickness and agility and scored often with bigcounters.

It took him a few rounds to stop overextending himself while delivering power shots.

In the third round Benn staggered Eubank with a left hook but was unable to follow up
against the dangerous middleweight who roared back with flurries of blows.

Eubank was methodic in his approach always moving forward, always using his weight
advantage via the shoulder to force Benn backward. The smaller Benn rocketed
overhand rights and was partly successful but not enough to force Eubank to retreat.
In the seventh round a right uppercut snapped Benn’s head violently but he was
undeterred from firing back. Benn’s chin stood firm despite Eubank’s vaunted power and
size advantage.

“I didn’t know he had that in him,” Eubank said.

Benn opened strong in the eighth round with furious blows. And though he connected
he was unable to seriously hurt Eubank. And despite being drained by the weight loss,
the middleweight fighter remained strong all 12 rounds.

There were surprises from both fighters.

Benn was effective targeting the body. Perhaps if he had worked the body earlier he
would have found a better result.

With only two rounds remaining Eubank snapped off a right uppercut again and followed
up with body shots. In the final stanza Eubank pressed forward and exchanged with the
smaller Benn until the final bell. He simply out-landed the fighter and impressed all three
judges who scored it 116-112 for Eubank.

Eubank admitted he expected a knockout win but was satisfied with the victory.
“I under-estimated him,” Eubank said.

Benn was upset by the loss but recognized the reasons.

“He worked harder toward the end,” said Benn.

McKenna Wins

In his first test in the elite level Aaron McKenna (20-0, 10 KOs) showed his ability to fight
inside or out in soundly defeating former world champion Liam Smith (33-5-1, 20 KOs)
by unanimous decision to win a regional WBA middleweight title.

Smith has made a career out of upsetting young upstarts but discovered the Irish fighter
more than capable of mixing it up with the veteran. It was a rough fight throughout the
12 rounds but McKenna showed off his abilities to fight as a southpaw or right-hander
with nary a hiccup.

McKenna had trained in Southern California early in his career and since that time he’s
accrued a variety of ways to fight. He was smooth and relentless in using his longer
arms and agility against Smith on the outside or in close.

In the 12 th round, McKenna landed a perfectly timed left hook to the ribs and down went
Smith. The former champion got up and attempted to knock out the tall
Irish fighter but could not.

All three judges scored in favor of McKenna 119-108, 117-109, 118-108.

Other Bouts
Anthony Yarde (27-3) defeated Lyndon Arthur (24-3) by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. in a light heavyweight match. It was the third time they met. Yarde won the last two fights.

Chris Billam-Smith (21-2) defeated Brandon Glanton (20-3) by decision. It was his first
fight since losing the WBO cruiserweight world title to Gilberto Ramirez last November.

Viddal Riley (13-0) out-worked Cheavon Clarke (10-2) in a 12-round back-and-forth-contest to win a unanimous decision.

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 323: Benn vs Eubank Family Feud and More

Published

5 days ago

April 24, 2025

David A. Avila

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Next generation rivals Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. carry on the family legacy of feudal warring in the prize ring on Saturday.

This is huge in British boxing.

Eubank (34-3, 25 KOs) holds the fringe IBO middleweight title but won’t be defending it against the smaller welterweight Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) on Saturday, April 26, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.

This is about family pride.

The parents of Eubank and Benn actually began the feud in the 1990s.

Papa Nigel Benn fought Papa Chris Eubank twice. Losing as a middleweight in November 1990 at Birmingham, England, then fighting to a draw as a super middleweight in October 1993 in Manchester. Both were world title fights.

Eubank was undefeated and won the WBO middleweight world title in 1990 against Nigel Benn by knockout. He defended it three times before moving up and winning the vacant WBO super middleweight title in September 1991. He defended the super middleweight title 14 times before suffering his first pro defeat in March 1995 against Steve Collins.

Benn won the WBO middleweight title in April 1990 against Doug DeWitt and defended it once before losing to Eubank in November 1990. He moved up in weight and took the WBC super middleweight title from Mauro Galvano in Italy by technical knockout in October 1992. He defended the title nine times until losing in March 1996. His last fight was in November 1996, a loss to Steve Collins.

Animosity between the two families continues this weekend in the boxing ring.

Conor Benn, the son of Nigel, has fought mostly as a welterweight but lately has participated in the super welterweight division. He is several inches shorter in height than Eubank but has power and speed. Kind of a British version of Gervonta “Tank” Davis.

“It’s always personal, every opponent I fight is personal. People want to say it’s strictly business, but it’s never business. If someone is trying to put their hands on me, trying to render me unconscious, it’s never business,” said Benn.

This fight was scheduled twice before and cut short twice due to failed PED tests by Benn. The weight limit agreed upon is 160 pounds.

Eubank, a natural middleweight, has exchanged taunts with Benn for years. He recently avenged a loss to Liam Smith with a knockout victory in September 2023.

“This fight isn’t about size or weight. It’s about skill. It’s about dedication. It’s about expertise and all those areas in which I excel in,” said Eubank. “I have many, many more years of experience over Conor Benn, and that will be the deciding factor of the night.”

Because this fight was postponed twice, the animosity between the two feuding fighters has increased the attention of their fans. Both fighters are anxious to flatten each other.

“He’s another opponent in my way trying to crush my dreams. trying to take food off my plate and trying to render me unconscious. That’s how I look at him,” said Benn.

Eubank smiles.

“Whether it’s boxing, whether it’s a gun fight. Defense, offense, foot movement, speed, power. I am the superior boxer in each of those departments and so many more – which is why I’m so confident,” he said.

Supporting Bout

Former world champion Liam Smith (33-4-1, 20 KOs) tangles with Ireland’s Aaron McKenna (19-0, 10 KOs) in a middleweight fight set for 12 rounds on the Benn-Eubank undercard in London.

“Beefy” Smith has long been known as one of the fighting Smith brothers and recently lost to Eubank a year and a half ago. It was only the second time in 38 bouts he had been stopped. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez did it several years ago.

McKenna is a familiar name in Southern California. The Irish fighter fought numerous times on Golden Boy Promotion cards between 2017 and 2019 before returning to the United Kingdom and his assault on continuing the middleweight division. This is a big step for the tall Irish fighter.

It’s youth versus experience.

“I’ve been calling for big fights like this for the last two or three years, and it’s a fight I’m really excited for. I plan to make the most of it and make a statement win on Saturday night,” said McKenna, one of two fighting brothers.

Monster in L.A.

Japan’s super star Naoya “Monster” Inoue arrived in Los Angeles for last day workouts before his Las Vegas showdown against Ramon Cardenas on Sunday May 4, at T-Mobile Arena. ESPN will televise and stream the Top Rank card.

It’s been four years since the super bantamweight world champion performed in the US and during that time Naoya (29-0, 26 KOs) gathered world titles in different weight divisions. The Japanese slugger has also gained fame as perhaps the best fighter on the planet. Cardenas is 26-1 with 14 KOs.

Pomona Fights

Super featherweights Mathias Radcliffe (9-0-1) and Ezequiel Flores (6-4) lead a boxing card called “DMG Night of Champions” on Saturday April 26, at the historic Fox Theater in downtown Pomona, Calif.

Michaela Bracamontes (11-2-1) and Jesus Torres Beltran (8-4-1) will be fighting for a regional WBC super featherweight title. More than eight bouts are scheduled.

Doors open at 6 p.m. For ticket information go to: www.tix.com/dmgnightofchampions

Fights to Watch

Sat. DAZN 9 a.m. Conor Benn (23-0) vs Chris Eubank Jr. (34-3); Liam Smith (33-4-1) vs Aaron McKenna (19-0).

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