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Avila Perspective, Chap 118: Seven Nation Army, Canelo and Fights Galore
A glut of top shelf championship fights is causing promoters to cram.
Big time revenue earners Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez take their last swings of the year but not against each other.
First, Los Angeles showcases two televised fight cards on back-to-back days beginning on Wednesday and Thursday, then things move to Florida and Texas.
PBC on Fox opens the week featuring welterweight prospects Eimantas Stanionis (11-0) and Janer Gonzalez in the main event from the historic Shrine Auditorium on Wednesday, Dec. 16, in Los Angeles. No fans will be allowed, but it will be televised on FS1 and Fox Deportes.
Thursday’s fights emanate from the Wild Card Gym and feature a female world title fight as the opening act on the Ring City USA fight card. It will be televised on NBC Sports Network. No fans allowed.
So far, this new boxing series has been a success.
Canada’s Jelena Mrdjenovich (40-10-2) meets Paola Torres (12-4-1) for the WBA featherweight world title in a co-main event. Sadly, the 10-round fight will be held at two-minute rounds and not three-minute rounds.
The other main event pits undefeated super welterweights Charles Conwell (13-0) and Madiyar Ashkeyev (14-0) in another 10-round affair. It should be brutal while it lasts.
Big Dogs
Recently we saw Anthony Joshua, Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford and Teofimo Lopez take their swings. Now it’s time for two of the remaining big dogs.
Golovkin (40-1-1, 35 KOs) and his “Seven Nation Army” theme song will march into the boxing ring on Friday to face Poland’s Kamil Szeremeta (21-0, 5 KOs) at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
It feels weird to say Hollywood, Florida. Everyone knows there is truly only one real Hollywood and that’s in California. It’s home for the motion picture industry and also near home to Golovkin.
Matchroom Boxing now promotes both Golovkin and Alvarez and hopes to match them up for a third encounter.
Good luck.
Arguments erupt whenever someone brings up Canelo and Golovkin’s fights. Some say Golovkin won and others Canelo. I truly believe a clear winner will never emerge; they are just too closely matched in talent.
Mexico’s Canelo Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) left Golden Boy Promotions and now is aligned with Matchroom Boxing and will be facing Great Britain’s Callum Smith (27-0,19 KOs) for the WBA and WBC super middleweight world titles on Saturday Dec. 19, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Fans will be allowed and it will be streamed live on DAZN.
Canelo has a severe height disadvantage of about seven inches and probably even more in reach. Sure, he dismantled Rocky Fielding two years ago, but Smith defeated Fielding in the first round when they fought. Canelo needed three.
It’s going to look strange to see a midget redhead Mexican trying to get inside the reach of the gangly looking Smith. Anything can happen.
Little Dogs
Former super middleweight world titlist Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (40-0, 26 KOs) moves up to light heavyweight and fights Alfonso “Tigre”Lopez (32-3, 25 KOs) on Friday on www.Fite.TV. The pay-per-view card called “Battle of the Rio Grande” begins at 5 p.m. from Galveston, Texas.
Ramirez and Golovkin both trained in the same gym and now fight on opposing boxing cards.
“It really doesn’t matter. We can both fight on the same day and people will still tune in. Boxing is what people want and they are getting it. And GGG, it’s a good thing because the fans want to see boxing. It’s been needed and like I said, the fans will be watching all three fights that weekend,” said Ramirez referencing Golovkin’s fight on Friday and Alvarez’s fight on Saturday.
Another Saturday boxing card features undefeated prospect Jaron Ennis (26-0, 24 KOs) meeting veteran Chris Van Heerden (28-2-1, 12 KOs) in a 12-round welterweight clash. Showtime will televise the PBC boxing card at 6 p.m.
“I’m ready to rock and roll and keep my knockout streak going with No. 17 on December 19,” said Ennis.
On Sunday, Thompson Boxing Promotions stages its last show at Omega Products International in Corona, Calif. A small but potent fight card features Richard Brewart (7-0) and Louis Hernandez (8-0-1) in a middleweight fight. Ruben Torres (13-0) fights Jose Rodriguez (23-13-1) in a super lightweight fight. And Saul Sanchez (14-1) battles Mario Hernandez (10-1-1) in a super flyweight bout.
It’s cramming time.
Fights to Watch
Wed. FS1 6 p.m. Eimantas Stanionis (11-0) vs Janer Gonzalez (19-3-1).
Thurs. NBC SN 6 p.m. Jelena Mrdjenovich (40-10-2) vs Paola Torres (12-4-1).
Fri. DAZN 2 p.m. Gennady Golovkin (40-1-1) vs Kamil Szeremeta (21-0).
Fri. Fite.TV. ppv 5 p.m Gilberto Ramirez (40-0) vs Alfonso Lopez (32-3).
Sat. DAZN, 5 p.m. Canelo Alvarez (53-1-2) vs Callum Smith (27-0).
Sat. Showtime 6 p.m. Jaron Ennis (26-0) vs Chris Van Heerden (28-2-1).
Photo credit: Al Applerose
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Canelo-Berlanga Postscript
By TSS Special Correspondent Raymundo Dioses — There was a palpable buzz in the air befitting a mega fight in Las Vegas on a Mexican holiday weekend. Canelo Alvarez retained his unified super middleweight titles against Edgar Berlanga via unanimous decision at the T-Mobile Arena in front of a sold-out crowd who were treated to a one-sided, yet never boring contest.
Although Canelo, (62-2-2, 39 KOs) remains devoid of a knockout win dating back to November 2021 against Caleb Plant, there was plenty to like about his performance and enough offense being thrown his way by Berlanga to produce an entertaining fight.
It was about as jovial a crowd as any for a fight night and despite the wide scores (118-109, 118-109, 117-110) as well as Berlanga getting a “caught with his lead hand down’ moment” which enabled Canelo to score an early knockdown, the young Puerto Rican made a positive impression in his first title fight, his first main event pay-per-view, and his first Sin City atmosphere which can make or break a fighter.
“My experience, my talent, my hard work (was the difference). Everything together, because if you have a talent and you don’t have discipline you have nothing. If you have discipline and you don’t have talent you have nothing. So you need to combine both and hard work,” Canelo would say in the post-fight in-ring interview with Jim Gray. Canelo would go on to relay that message to Berlanga and tell his most recent adversary that he sees him as a future champion.
There was talk around town and the sports world that the Spherical ‘Noche UFC’ event a few miles down the road would take some of the flair away from the PBC on Prime Video event which featured a $90 price with the B-side fighter Berlanga gloving up against an 18/1 favorite in Canelo.
Yet when all was said and done, 20,312 boxing fans were provided a good show with a decent undercard that saw Erislandy Lara retaining his WBA middleweight title against Danny Garcia via stoppage, plus an entertaining Caleb Plant-Trevor McCumby match won by Plant via TKO, and a first- time title challenger in Berlanga who didn’t show up to lay down against a top pound-for-pound fighter despite having literally all the odds stacked against him.
The post-fight press conference was held following T-Mobile Arena staff impressively breaking down the ring and transforming the canvas into a stage for fighters and their camps to react to the night’s proceedings. Up to the dais first were Plant and Lara, two veterans of the sport. Plant has made himself into a fan favorite with impressive performances throughout the years including solid showings in his only defeats in bouts with Canelo and David Benavidez. Lara spoke through an interpreter and thanked everyone involved in the win that solidifies him as the sport’s oldest title-holder at 41 years of age.
Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs) preceded Canelo to the mic and had Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn and his team alongside him. The press showed great respect to Berlanga who said that he felt 50/50 towards the event and its outcome, knowing that while his first career loss was registered, he knows that the performance that he delivered was of the type that often propels the B-side fighter into more big fights and lucrative paydays (see Caleb Plant).
Reminiscent of a champion-last ring walk, Canelo arrived with his team and after the obligatory “thank you” to all involved, spoke briefly on a next possible opponent and was asked about the UFC fight that that took place the same night.
A media member brought up ‘Noche UFC’ sponsor Turki Alalshikh’s comments about a matchup between Canelo and fellow top pound-for-pound fighter Terence Crawford.
After once again filling up the T-Mobile Arena while headlining a pay-per-view event and securing a payday perhaps upwards of $50 million, Canelo’s response to Alalshikh was perhaps his best punch of the night:
“No comment.”
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Canelo Proves Too Canny and Tough for Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas
Canelo Proves Too Canny and Tough for Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas
Never underestimate a Puerto Rico versus Mexico fight.
Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez needed all 12 rounds to defeat Puerto Rico’s super strong Edgar Berlanga and retain the unified super middleweight championship on Saturday.
Berlanga never quit.
“He’s very strong,” Canelo said.
Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) showed that championship fighting is like high-speed chess and Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs) did not have enough moves to out-wit the Mexican redhead at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Especially on Mexican Independence Day weekend.
Despite an early knockdown by a Canelo left hook, Berlanga was able to survive the Mexican fighter’s onslaught and withstand punishment that could have felled a rhinoceros.
“I got a little bit of Mexican in me,” Berlanga joked.
During an exchange in the third round Alvarez snapped a quick left hook that timed the Puerto Rican perfectly. Down he went for only the second time in his career. But he got up quickly and rallied a bit in the round.
It was the theme of the fight.
Every time Alvarez scored heavy with combinations to the head and body, Berlanga responded back as much as possible. He never wilted though he had plenty of opportunities.
It was a methodical attack by the Mexican champion that kept Berlanga guessing in every round. The Puerto Rican tried firing back and using his height and reach but Alvarez was always a step ahead.
Berlanga managed to score, but he never could mount a long rally. In the fifth round Berlanga used rough tactics including a head butt that angered Alvarez. It was the first time the Boricua was able to connect heavily.
But Alvarez proved too canny for Berlanga. The Mexican redhead who has won world titles as a super welterweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight, showed off his experience. The Puerto Rican could only absorb the blows and retaliate. But his strength was impressive.
“He will be a champion,” said Alvarez.
After 12 back-and-forth rounds, both hugged like old friends. It was exactly the type of fight Alvarez wanted for the thousands of Mexican and Puerto Rican fans at the arena and worldwide.
Alvarez was deemed the winner by unanimous decision 117-110, 118-109 twice and retains the world titles.
“I did good,” said Alvarez. “I’m the best fighter in the world.”
Berlanga was gracious in defeat.
“I could have done a lot more, but I was fighting a legend,” Berlanga said.
Other Fights
After nine rounds of whistles and boos by a disgruntled crowd due to inactivity, Erislandy Lara (31-3-3, 19 KOs) fired a lead left cross to drop Danny “Swift” Garcia (37-4). Lara was making the third defense of the WBA middleweight world title he won with a one-punch knockout of Thomas La Manna.
The battle between counter-punchers did not please the fans, but slowly Lara kept Garcia at bay with his sharp right jabs. The Cuban southpaw caught Garcia moving with his hands down with a single strafing left. Down he went for the first time in his career and the fight was ended at the end of the ninth round.
It was the first loss by knockout for Garcia, the former super lightweight and welterweight world titlist.
Plant
Once again Caleb Plant (23-2, 15 KOs) made the fight personal and found Trevor McCumby (28-1, 21 KOs) a worthy challenge for the interim super middleweight title for most of the fight.
It was thoroughly entertaining.
McCumby battered Plant early and put him to the canvas twice, although only the second was ruled a knockdown. A strong left hook to the shoulder caught Plant perfectly and down he went.
That seemed to wake up Plant.
The former super middleweight world titlist who lives in Las Vegas took the fight inside and pinned McCumby to the ropes. Plant went to work from that point on and did not allow his foe another big opportunity.
In the ninth round Plant pinned McCumby against the ropes once again and unloaded a dozen blows that ravaged the Arizona fighter. Referee Allen Huggins stopped the fight at 2:59 of the ninth round.
“Word on the street is I cant fight inside,” said Plant sarcastically.
Rolly Wins
Former lightweight champion Rolly Romero (16-2) proved too experienced for the rugged Manuel Jaimes (16-2-1) who resembles slightly Antonio Margarito. The only problem is he doesn’t punch enough like the Tijuana tornado.
Romero hit and held through much of the fight until the referee warned him repeatedly. Still, Romero was busier and far more accurate than Jaimes. All three judges scored in favor of Romero 99-91.
Photo credit: German Villasenor
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Stephen Fulton Nips Carlos Castro in a Prelude to Canelo vs Berlanga
In his first fight back after being dominated and stopped by pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue in a fight for super bantamweight supremacy in July of last year, Stephen Fulton nipped upset-minded Carlos Castro, improving to 22-1 (8) in his first start as a featherweight. The verdict was split, with Fulton prevailing by 96-93 and 95-94 with the dissenter favoring Castro 95-94. The decision seemed fair although not in eyes of the predominantly Mexican crowd which booed the decision.
This was an entertaining 10-round fight between two evenly-matched 30-year-old campaigners. Long-time Phoenix resident Castro (30-3) put Fulton on the deck in round five with a counter right hand and Fulton rode his bicycle to shed the cobwebs as the round played out. But the Philadelphian, with new trainer Bozy Ennis in his corner, recuperated well and had a strong sixth round.
In round eight, Castro buckled Fulton’s knees with another straight right, but was unable to press his advantage. The bout served as the “main” prelim to the four-fight PPV card.
—
In a welterweight contest slated for “10,” Mexico City’s Ricardo Salas, a 6/1 underdog, scored a second-round stoppage of Roiman Villa. The end in this slam-bang and all-too-brief skirmish came at the 2:06 mark of round three when Salas, fighting off the ropes, nailed Villa with a perfectly-placed, short right hand. Villa went down for the count.
Salas, whose de facto manager is the ubiquitous Sean Gibbons, improved to 20-2-2 with his 15th win inside the distance. From Colombia by way of Venezuela, Villa (26-3) was making his first start since being stopped by Boots Ennis in July of last year.
—
In the opener on the PBC YouTube channel, super featherweight Jonathan “Geo” Lopez, a 21-year-old Pennsylvania-born southpaw, won a wide 8-round decision over rugged San Antonio campaigner Richard Medina. Lopez pitched a shutout, winning 80-71 on all three cards, but this was hardly a stroll in the park for him.
Lopez, who improved to 17-0 (12), simply had too much class for Medina. A 20/1 favorite, the Eddy Reynoso-trained boxer hurt Medina at the end of round seven and put him on the canvas in the final round with a straight left hand, but Medina (15-3) kept on plugging away and maintained his distinction of never being stopped.
Also
In an off-TV fight, super middleweight Bek Nurmaganbet, a 26-year-old Kazakh, won his eighth straight inside the distance, improving to 12-0 (10) with a second-round stoppage of SoCal’s Joshua Conley (17-7-1).
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