Connect with us

Featured Articles

Should a Boxer be Forced to Retire When He Reaches a Certain Age?: A New TSS Survey

Published

on

Should-a-Boxer-be-Forced-to-Retire-When-He-Reaches-a-Certain-Age-A-New-TSS-Survey

Tris Dixon’s new book, “Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing,” has stirred up considerable conversation among boxing people. In this vein, the survey question this time was whether a professional boxer should be forced to retire when he or she reaches a certain age? Here is what over 40 respondents said. They are listed in alphabetical order.

Jeff Bumpus — former fighter; writer: No. It’s the only thing that some people have. It’s a way of making a living in a dishonest game. Take that away from a person who can do nothing else and you create a problem where none existed before. He probably will be dead before brain injuries do their work.

Steve Canton — writer, author and head of Florida Boxing Hall of Fame: I don’t believe a boxer should be forced to retire at a certain age because each fighter is different and ages differently. The rigors of the sport affect each fighter differently. Rather than a certain age, perhaps medical testing should be the deciding factor.

Michael Culbert — former boxer: Every fighter is different. If a fighter can pass the proper physical exams, he or she should be allowed to box. Especially important are CAT scans and MRI’s on the brain for older boxers.

Jill Diamond — WBC International Secretary and Global Chair, WBC Cares:  Physiology differs. A person can be young and sustain enough punches to cause TBI years down the road, or be the kind of fighter that rarely gets hit, has fewer fights, or has a stronger neck and skull, etc. Until there are accurate tests to determine long term damage, I would rather see consistent, uniform and thorough testing rather than age.

Matt Farrago — former boxer and founder of Ring 10: Forced to retire? Absolutely not unless he or she is showing clear signs of serious or permanent damage. No two people are the same. Each fighter handles punches and damage differently. Plus, this is their livelihood. This is how they make a living or hope to. Who gets to make that call and how can the fighter be compensated for by a forced early retirement? A UNION has to formed.

Rick Farris — writer, former fighter, and head of West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame: I have strong feelings about “over age” boxers being licensed to fight. Those for it cite a few examples such as George Foreman to support their theory. Those against bring more credible evidence to support the risks involved. Trying to pick a specific age for mandatory retirement is difficult because all boxers age differently. I’m not going to get involved in this because it will not change one thing.

Bernard Fernandez – journalist, author, 2020 IBHOF inductee: Setting an arbitrary retirement age for boxers is not the answer to eliminating or even significantly reducing the possibility of traumatic brain injuries. Meldrick Taylor’s cognitive decline was beginning to be evident at 26; Bernard Hopkins still was mentally sharp after his final bout, when he was nearly 52. Not all fighters, or their brains, fit easy categorization. State commissions and physicians can only go so far in making assessments of any individual’s fitness for continuing in a hard profession.

Michael Finn — former fighter and president of RING 4: A boxer’s right to participate in the sport should be terminated when mental or physical defects are noticed in the person in question. The decision should be rendered by an independent medical staff.

Jeffrey Freeman (aka KO Digest), TSS writer: Of course not. Stop the sanctimonious wailing. Boxing is the hurt business. Under a proposal such as this it’s hard to see how George Foreman would ever get his triumphant last laugh at 45. Unless the age limit is 65, no.

Clarence George – writer, boxing historian: Wear and tear trumps age. Medical exams should be more regular and rigorous, and the doctor’s determination should be universally accepted by boxing commissions. It’s not unreasonable for the boxer to request a second opinion. If there’s medical agreement, however, that should be the end of the matter. If there isn’t, a third doctor’s opinion should be sought, in which case it would come down to a split decision one way or the other.

Dr. Margaret Goodman: — neurologist, author, former ringside physician, chairperson of VADA, 2021 IBHOF inductee:  “Age is just a number” and cannot be the sole factor. The timing of a fighter’s retirement should be multifactorial. “Ring age” is much more important—number of rounds a fighter has endured–including in the amateurs, stoppage losses and most importantly a yearly evaluation. Too few commissions are willing to deny a fighter a license and so they rely upon passing tests. It’s frustrating, often expensive and time consuming when determining if a fighter’s license should be denied, but to me, the most important role a commission has is determining fitness to box.  More often than not a commission doesn’t need costly testing to make that determination, but legal challenges often weigh in their determination. If we look at CTE autopsies–some of those individuals only had exposure when they were teens or college age….and may have had subconcussive blows–which may be of more significance than concussion itself. I agree that boxing is a young person’s sport, but that doesn’t mean we don’t include it—it means we have to look at the entire picture.

Randy Gordon — former New York Athletic Commission chairman, host of “At the Fights” on Sirius Radio, historian, writer: Part of me says there should be a mandatory retirement while another part says everyone is as different as a fingerprint. If the retirement age in boxing was, say  38, that would eliminate such men as Mayweather, Foreman,  Holyfield, Luis “King Kong” Ortiz, etc from competing. Some fighters are damaged goods in their early 30’s, while others (like Mayweather and Pacquiao) are still going strong in their early 40’s. With some fighters, obvious physical deterioration is noticeable in their 20’s. There should not be a mandatory retirement age, but rather, a commission or medical review board to handle each case individually

Allan Green — multiple world title challenger: No, as long as his or her health is intact they should be allowed to compete.

Lee Groves — historian, writer, author, CompuBox wizard and podcast panelist:  I don’t agree with a mandatory blanket age. We all are built differently and we all have different capabilities. Some fighters burn out by their mid-20s while others, like Foreman, Hopkins, Pacquiao, Mayweather, GGG and many more, can still compete well at a high level at an advanced age. What if Eder Jofre retired for good after his second fight with Harada? We then wouldn’t have seen one of the most remarkable comebacks in history — 25 fights, 25 wins and a second world title in a higher weight class at the age of 37. Medical and ring results and not an arbitrarily determined age should determine when a fighter should retire.

Henry Hascup — president of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, RING 8 official, and noted historian: No! Fighters grow old at different times. Fighters like George Foreman, Bernard Hopkins and Archie Moore were still competing at a high level well into their 40’s. While others like Terry McGovern, Tami Mauriello and Artie Levine were done by their mid-20’s! Styles play a big part as well; boxers usually last longer than sluggers.

Bruce Kielty — professional boxing booking agent:  Federal laws would prevail if an arbitrary age was chosen. The Chief Ringside Inspector should be qualified enough to determine if a boxer is unable to safely compete and his/her license be revoked. The boxer could then challenge the matter in a court of law, if desired.

*********

I am an old man. I just happen to be an old man that can fight. — Bernard Hopkins

*********

Dr. Stuart Kirschenbaum – former head of the Michigan Boxing Commission: Age is not the problem…it is how many miles are on the car. Boxers start too young as amateurs when the brain and skull is not fully developed. Professionals can be placed on medical suspensions but be allowed in unregulated gyms to spar. In baseball a manager counts pitches not to ruin an arm, but in boxing it’s not the number of fights but the number of rounds in the gym and bouts that accumulatively cook in the crock pot for a serving of brain trauma.

Jim Lampley – linchpin of the legendary HBO Boxing announcing team, 2015 IBHOF inductee: Age is the wrong criterion for evaluation of a fighter’s pathology because just as styles make fights, styles identify careers. A gifted 37-year-old defender/counterpuncher is one thing, a gifted 37-year-old puncher/warrior is something entirely different. I am not sure what criterion I would suggest for this other than age, but I know for sure that age isn’t it.

Arne Lang — TSS editor-in-chief, author, historian: If I ran a state boxing commission, I would convene a panel and charge them with developing a formula for establishing a line in the sand — a boundary beyond which no boxer would be licensed in my jurisdiction. Yes, I know that’s just passing the buck, but so be it. And by the way, Evander Holyfield doesn’t need to be taking any more punches to the head, not even punches from oversized gloves in a glorified sparring session, and shame on anyone that would abet it.

Ron Lipton — former police official, veteran pro referee, former fighter, boxing writer and historian, inducted into both the NJ and NY State Boxing Halls of Fame: The sole determining factor is the physical and medical determination by the respective Boxing Commission’s medical staff once they have been  provided with the results of an MRI, cat scan, thorough blood workup, physical tests and exams involving reflexes, eye sight, hearing, cardio vascular fitness and the history of the individual applying for the boxing license. When approaching 50 years of age, prudent judgment is required. Some boxers are too old at 35, others can still fight at 50.

Paul Magno — boxing writer, author: No mandatory retirement age. All fighters are different and travel different career paths. Forcing retirement would’ve robbed us of Bernard Hopkins’ post-40 run as well as the late career exploits of Pacquiao, Mayweather, Marquez, etc. There should be, however, an oversight committee of experts and fight-knowledgeable physicians deciding, on a case by case basis, whether fighters should still be competing. But that opens up the question of how we could do something like that and enforce the committee’s decisions. As long as boxing continues to be a regulatory mess, fighters will continue to box under varying degrees of risk.

Don Majewski — historian and official of RING 8: I suppose a question of an individual’s right comes into play here. Different people age in different ways. On the whole humans are growing larger and living longer as to boxing; Wilfredo Benitez was finished at 25 and is near catatonic today at age 63 while Archie Moore did not win his world title until he was 36 – and held it for nine years and lived, relatively healthy, to 82 years of age. On the whole — as we are talking about a commercial enterprise (professional boxing) where the person (the boxer) is the commodity — I do not believe that any boxer who has not made it by age 40 should continue to fight. I would say that 90% of the professional boxers I’ve known past the age of 65 have had brain damage

Adeyinka Makinde – U.K. barrister, author, and contributor to the Cambridge Companion to Boxing: Boxers should not be forced to retire at a particular age. But boxing commissions should strictly enforce retirement based on comprehensive physical surveys with particular emphasis on the condition of a boxer’s brain and eyes. There would need to be a determined level of national and international co-operation over this. The quality of the fighter’s life after what is a limited time span of a career should be paramount notwithstanding the romantic tales of the likes of Joe Frazier and Gypsy Joe Harris, both of whom apparently fought half-blinded.

Robert Mladinich — former NYC police official, boxer, writer, author, actor, commentator, and God only knows what else: In the early 1980s, heavyweight Dave Zyglewicz sued the NYS Athletic Commission to be allowed to make a comeback at 38. Today he would be considered a spring chicken. To protect fighters from themselves, there could be individual medical evaluations after a certain age or amount of fights with strict criteria. One size does not fit all in life or in sports so putting an age limit on boxers would be well-intentioned but unfair.

************

                     Retirement should be multifactorial — Dr. Margaret Goodman

                                                  ************

Gordon Marino – philosophy professor emeritus, Wall Street Journal boxing writer, trainer: Seems like a good idea to me despite the exceptions. My wife is a neuroscientist and work some with the professional fighters brain health study. The fact is as we age our brains shrink and there’s more room for them to be slammed against our skull or at least that’s how I understand part of the problem. Still, so many people who fight on into middle age are just doing it because they’re broke and they’re getting hurt.

David Martinez — writer and historian: I have always contended that NOBODY beats father time. I would be in favor of a specific age limit for professional boxers to retire, that has nothing to do with the amount of fights in one’s career. These days we are subject to retired boxers in participation with something called an “exhibition” … as said in a circus “ladies and gentlemen – let the show begin” and I can’t wait – what’s next – dancing elephants?

Layla McCarter – active boxer, world champion in multiple weight divisions: Definitely not. Age is not the factor unless they have slowed considerably and are taking damage. Everyone is different.

Diego Morilla — The Ring en Español/RingTV.co: The issue of  forcing retirement due to age or neurological damage is touchy and goes straight to the heart of boxing as a viable human activity. But the debate, to me, can be summarized in a simple question: are the proponents of this forceful ban or retirement willing to do the same for every human activity that implies irreparable physical or neurological damage? Are they rallying people in coal mines, chemical plants, virus-infested intensive care units or risky demolition or construction sites to leave those life-threatening, low-paying jobs because of the danger they face each day? As long as a person is free to earn a living legally and honestly, he or she is free to put his body at risk. And no other human activity exposes the hypocrisy of those who pretend to know how to judge other people’s exposure to harm better than boxing. Hence the occasional (and always futile) calls for its demise.

Joe Pasquale – elite boxing judge: As in any sport it is about condition, not age. Too many stoppages, injuries and concussions would make it a licensing issue for the Boxing Commission. Otherwise, retirement would be a personal choice.

Russell Peltz – legendary Philadelphia boxing promoter, 2004 IBHOF inductee: Not at all. Look at Hopkins. If they can pass all required post-40 medicals, why not let them fight?

Cliff Rold — writer, editor: No. Mandatory retirement age has never made sense. Fighters age differently.

Fred Romano — historian, author: I am not in favor of mandatory retirement. What we need are state commissions which are not unduly influenced by political or financial factors and that are supported by a sound medical review of potential participants.

Dana Rosenblatt — former middleweight champion of the world, motivational speaker, commentator: All fighters have physical differences that make them more or less susceptible to brain injury. Arbitrary age restrictions will not hurt a fighter’s chance of living a quality life after boxing. However, tell George Foreman that he can’t fight anymore at the moment he knocked out Michael Moorer and you not only rob him but also the world of true greatness and inspiration.

Ted Sares: TSS writer and historian:  For me, Dr. Bennet Omalu made the CTE breakthrough in football and Dr. Ann McKee connected football to boxing with her study of Paul Pender. Faced with massive legal action, football started to take responsibility. Boxing, however, continues to largely ignore the issues. One way (and there are others) to break through this denial is to establish a zero-tolerance age limit. Make it 40 or 42 or 45, but just do it.

Iceman John Scully — former fighter, elite trainer: Every fighter is completely different. Literally completely different biological forms. You have to go on an individual basis. If forced retirement was in effect, Bernard Hopkins would never have added to his legacy as he did and would never have been a world champion at a seriously advanced age for a boxer and Willie Pep wouldn’t have 229 professional victories. Fighters are all completely different physically and biologically and must be treated and dealt with accordingly.

Peter Silkov – British boxing writer, artist, founder of The Boxing Glove: Boxers should not be retired due to biological age but on a performance and health related system. We all know the fighters who have carried on fighting when they are already slurring or showing stark decline in the ring. Often it has nothing to do with biological age, more the mileage travelled inside the ring. Benitez should have been retired at 24 while Archie Moore and Bernard Hopkins were winning world titles in their late 30s and 40s. We have to stop fighters like Danny Williams. It’s all too obvious who needs to be retired for their own safety.

Mike Silver — author, writer and eminent boxing historian: Glad you are bringing attention to this important book. Focusing on age misses the point and diverts attention away from the main problem. There are some fighters who should be retired at 19 or 20. There are too many other factors to consider. No one should be allowed near a ring until they’ve read this book.

Alan Swyer — associated with the West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame, movie producer (Boxeo, etc): Though age is certainly a factor, in a period when boxers have far fewer fights than before, imposing retirement at a certain age seems like a half-hearted solution. Think about the great Sugar Ray Robinson, who had thirteen fights in 1965 alone — and fought until he was 44 had no brain trauma. In contrast, Ferdie Pacheco told me that in Ali’s case the issue was not age, but the early signs of Parkinson’s. What we need is better coaching plus far better medical attention.

Bruce Trampler – Top Rank matchmaker, screenwriter, blogger, 2010 IBHOF inductee: It was considered remarkable that Jersey Joe Walcott was heavyweight champ at 38. Athletes age better today (Brady, Foreman, Hopkins,  Pujols, etc.) so there should be no age limit in boxing. However, fighters should be analyzed on an individual basis, from amateurs who have been getting hit in the head since age 10 to the sport’s senior citizens. I once asked a neurologist when brain damage showed during an exam, and his reply was “When it’s too late.” Kelcie Banks, a U.S. Olympian in 1988 at age 23, seemed damaged goods neurologically just four years later. He was a beautiful kid and was sadly allowed to fight on, struggling against very low-level opposition. Many top boxers now fight safely and competitively well into their late 30s and even beyond. We would never automatically say anyone over 75 should not drive, and boxers of any age should be examined separately before being licensed. I saw Jerry Quarry and Terry Norris pass physicals well past their “sell by” date, yet they were rejected for a license, as Kelcie Banks finally was, too. Amen.

Harold Weston Jr. — popular middleweight contender of the 1970s and member of NY State Boxing Hall of Fame: I have discussed this with many doctors and I have been in the ring with great boxers who are not doing well today. Some have passed. Boxing and football are sports in which anything can happen. If you engage with the best, you will get hit “hard.”

Gary “Digital” Williams — voice of Boxing on the Beltway: I’m not sure if it should be a certain age more than a certain condition. There is a boxer I know in his 40’s who is still competing well. But if the condition is bad, that boxer shouldn’t be competing.

Tim Witherspoon — former two-time heavyweight champion of the world: Yes, boxers should be forced to retire if they get too old. It’s just too much for the brain to handle. I also think there should be some test-taking to see if a boxer has brain damage. Safety should be the number one priority and also a boxing Union.

Peter Wood — former fighter, writer and author: No, he or she should not be forced to retire. Boxing should remain what it is—an outlaw sport for rugged individuals and risky iconoclasts. Good question.

Observations: Only four respondents (including yours truly) went for an age restriction. The overwhelming consensus can be summed up in three words: “everyone is different.” Clarence George’s response is especially well-stated and covers the bases nicely.

In summary and based on this survey, the issue is not age. It’s the punishment a fighter has taken and the damage it has done.

What do you think?

Pictured: The Quarry brothers, Jerry and Mike.

Ted Sares enjoys researching and writing about boxing. He also competes as a powerlifter in the 80-85-class. He can be reached at tedsares@roadrunner.com

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Featured Articles

The Murder of Samuel Teah Calls to Mind Other Boxers Who Were Homicide Victims

Published

on

The-Murder-of-Samuel-Teah-Calls-to-Mind-Other-Boxers-Who-Were-Homicide-Victims

There will be a boxing show this Friday at Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena, a low-budget card featuring the return of former IBF 130-pound world title-holder Tevin Farmer. During the event, there will assuredly be a somber moment when those in attendance stand and silently pay homage to Samuel Teah as the timekeeper tolls the traditional 10-bell farewell. Teah passed away last week on Black Friday, Nov. 24, another victim of America’s epidemic of gun violence. He was 36 years old.

Teah was shot in the mid-afternoon during an altercation that spilled onto the sidewalk of a street in Wilmington, Delaware, and died at a Wilmington hospital. As of this writing, there’s been no arrest, but the shooting was apparently not random. A bus driver for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority, Teah was purportedly in Wilmington (roughly 35 miles from his home in Philadelphia) to visit the mother of his child.

Samuel Teah fought as recently as this past May when he suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of journeyman Andrew Rodgers at a show in Pennsylvania’s Newton Township, reducing his record to 19-5-1. Two months earlier he had spoiled the undefeated record of Enriko Gogokhia, an Egis Klimas fighter (think Oleksandr Usyk and Vasily Lomachenko) on a card in Ontario, California. This embellished his reputation as a spoiler. Earlier in his career, he had spoiled the undefeated record of O’Shaquie Foster, winning an 8-round unanimous decision over the man that currently reigns as the WBC world super featherweight champion.

What made Teah’s death more tragic, if that were possible, were all the tragedies that he had overcome. He was born in Liberia when that country was embroiled in a civil war. The family escaped to a refugee camp in Ghana and eventually reached the United States, settling first in New York and then Philadelphia. On the day after Christmas in 2008, when Teah was 21 and working at a Home Depot, he lost six members of his family in a fire that swept his mother’s West Philadelphia duplex after a kerosene heater exploded.

For some, Teah’s violent death may call to mind the murder of another Philadelphia boxer, Tyrone Everett.

That’s an awkward comparison.

Tyrone Everett was a world-class fighter. Six months before he was shot dead by his girlfriend in May of 1977, Everett, then 36-0, lost a 15-round split decision to Puerto Rico’s Alfredo Escalera in a failed bid to win Escalera’s WBC junior lightweight title, a decision so rancid that it stands among the worst decisions of all time. Moreover, the circumstances of Everett’s murder were sordid. His girlfriend, no stranger to the police, fatally shot him after finding him with a transvestite and there was heroin in the apartment they shared. (Editor’s note: For more on this incident, check out the new book by TSS contributor Sean Nam: “Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, Fixed Fights, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing” available on Amazon).

Samuel Teah was no Tyrone Everett. A man of deep faith, Sam’s positive attitude, despite all his tribulations, was infectious. “Everyone liked Teah,” said prominent Philadelphia sports journalist Joe Santoliquito who, upon hearing of Teah’s death, tweeted, “he will always have a special place in my heart.”

While the circumstances are different in every case, Teah joins a long list of boxers who met a violent death. If we limit the list to fighters who were still active at the time of their passing, here are four that jump immediately to mind.

Stanley Ketchel

The fabled Michigan Assassin, Ketchel met his maker on Oct. 15, 1910, at a ranch in Conway, Missouri. In the immortal words of John Lardner, “Stanley Ketchel was twenty-four years old when he was fatally shot in the back by the common-law husband of the lady who was cooking his breakfast.”

Battling Siki

Famed for knocking out Georges Carpentier when the “Orchid Man” held the world light heavyweight title, Siki was only 28 years old when he was gunned down in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan on Dec. 15, 1925, but by then the Senegal-born Frenchman had already degenerated into a trial horse. Siki’s body was found in the middle of the street with two bullets in his back fired at close range by an assailant, never identified, who was thought to be avenging a beating he suffered at one of the speakeasies that Siki was known to frequent.

Oscar Bonavena

At age 33, Oscar Bonavena was still an active boxer when he was gunned down on May 22, 1976, on the outskirts of Reno, Nevada, at the front gate of the infamous Mustang Ranch, a legal brothel. Bonavena had come up short in his biggest fights, losing a 15-round decision to Joe Frazier and losing by TKO in the 15th round to Muhammad Ali, but the rugged Argentine was still a major player in the heavyweight division.

The shooter was a bodyguard for the brothel’s owner Joe Conforte, and rumor has that Conforte was the de facto triggerman, having Bonavena assassinated because the boxer was having an affair with Conforte’s 59-year-old wife Sally who was also Bonavena’s manager of record at this point in the boxer’s career. The story about it spawned “Love Shack,” a 2010 movie that despite a seemingly can’t-miss storyline and a formidable cast (Joe Pesci played Joe and Helen Mirren played Sally) proved to be a box-office dud.

Vernon Forrest

While all homicides are tragic, some are more distressing than others and the death of Vernon Forrest on July 25, 2009, was particularly gut-wrenching. Forrest was shot twice in the back by would-be robbers with whom he exchanged gunfire on July 25, 2009 at a gas station in Atlanta.

Forget the fact that Forrest was a two-division title-holder who had regained the WBC world super welterweight title in his most recent fight with a lopsided decision over Sergio Mora. Few in the sport were as widely admired. His philanthropic work included establishing group homes in Atlanta for the mentally disabled. His death came just two weeks after the death of Arturo Gatti who left the sport following a loss by TKO to Alfonso Gomez in July of 2007 and died under suspicious circumstances at age 37 at a hotel in Brazil.

We here at The Sweet Science send our condolences to Samuel Teah’s family and loved ones. May he rest in peace.

Continue Reading

Featured Articles

Benavidez Dismantles Andrade: Will Canelo Be Next?

Published

on

Benavidez-Dismantles-Andrade-Will-Canelo-Be-Next?

SHOWTIME aired its final pay-per-view event tonight with a show that aired from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The four-fight PPV card included world title fights in the 140 and 130-pound divisions, plus an interim title fight at 168 and the return of former two-division title-holder Jarmall Charlo. The interim title fight was a battle of unbeatens between David Benavidez and Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade and that was the featured attraction.

Benavidez, 26, is big for the weight class and lived up to his new nickname, “El Monstro.” He had too much firepower for the 35-year-old Andrade, a 2008 Beijing Olympian who began his pro career at 154 and had won world titles in two lower weight classes. His big moment came in the waning seconds of round four when he knocked Andrade to his knees with a sweeping right hand. The fight turned brutally one-sided at that point although one of the judges had Benavidez ahead by only one point when the sixth round ended. But there would be no seventh round. Andrade’s corner wisely stopped the fight.

A consensus 7/2 favorite in man-to-man betting, Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) began his pro career in Mexico at age 16. In his post-fight interview, he called out Canelo Alvarez while brashly predicting that he would be a legend before he left the sport (and you’ll get no argument from this corner). It was the first pro loss for Andrade (32-1).

Co-Feature

Jermall Charlo returned to the ring after a 29-month absence and scored a lopsided 10-round decision over Jose Benavidez Jr. The judges had it 100-90, 99-91, and 98-92.

This bout was slated for the catch-weight of 163 pounds. Charlo came in overweight (166.4) but the match went ahead. Benavides Jr, a world title challenger during his days as a welterweight, had his moments, but was outclassed by Charlo who advanced his record to 33-0 (22). Benavidez falls to 28-3-1.

Matias-Ergashev

In what shaped up as the most action-packed fight of the night, 31-year-old Puerto Rican Subriel Matias retained his IBF 140-pound title, battering Shohjahon Ergashev into submission in a match that was halted by Ergashev’s corner two seconds into the sixth round. The heavy-handed Ergashev, who was undefeated heading in, dominated the first round-and-a-half, but Matias (20-1, 20 KOs) gradually wore him down.

Matias, who avenged his lone defeat to Petros Ananyan with a dominant showing in the rematch, had become something of a forgotten man in the talent-rich 140-pound weight class, but tonight he showed that he belongs among the elite in the division. It was the first pro loss for Egrashev (23-1, 20 KOs), a southpaw from Uzbekistan who fights out of Detroit and had SugarHill Steward (formally Javan “Sugar” Hill) in his corner.

Garcia-Roach

In the pay-per-view opener, Lamont Roach (24-1-1, 9 KOs) wrested the WBA 130-pound title from Hector Garcia (16-2) with a well-earned split decision. The judges had it 116-111 and 144-113 for Roach with the dissenter favoring Garcia 114-113.

A 32-year-old Dominican southpaw, Garcia was making the first defense of the title he won from Roger Gutierrez, a belt he was allowed to keep after moving up to lightweight to challenge Gervonta Davis, a bout he lost on a ninth-round stoppage. Roach, an underdog in the betting making his first start in 16 months, had come up short in a previous world title fight, losing a decision to Jamel Herring in 2019.

Roach was trailing on two of the scorecards through 10 rounds in what had been a ho-hum fight. But he cranked up the juice in the homestretch, rocking Garcia in the 11th and flooring him with a right hook in the final stanza. Take away that knockdown (an illegal punch as it landed behind Roach’s head), and Garcia would have retained his belt with a draw.

Non-PPV

In his first start at 140 pounds, Puerto Rico’s Michel Rivera rebounded from his first pro loss (a wide decision at the hands of Frank Martin) with a unanimous 10-round decision over Sergey Lipinets. The judges had it 96-94 and 97-93 twice. Rivera, who improved to 25-1 (14) patterns his style and his persona after Muhammad Ali with whom he bears a strong facial resemblance.

It was the first fight in 16 months for the 34-year-old Lipinets (17-3-1), from SoCal via Kazakhstan. He rarely took a backward step but it wasn’t effective aggression.

In the opener on Showtime’s YouTube channel. 21-year-old super welterweight Vito Mielnicki Jr, now trained by Ronnie Shields, scored the best win of his career, advancing to 16-1 (11 KOs). The pride of Vineland, NJ, Mielnicki had Alexis Salazar on the canvas three times before the match was halted at the 2:27 mark of the opening stanza. Guadalajara’s Salazar (25-6) had been stopped only once previously.

Photo credit: Amanda Westcott / SHOWTIME

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

 

Continue Reading

Featured Articles

Katie Taylor Turns the Tables on Chantelle Cameron in a Dublin Blockbuster

Published

on

Katie-Taylor-Turns-the-Tables-on-Chantelle-Cameron-in-a-Dublin-Blockbuster

Katie Taylor Turns the Tables on Chantelle Cameron in a Dublin Blockbuster

Underdogs win too.

Katie Taylor changed tactics and changed the outcome to defeat her conqueror Chantelle Cameron by majority decision and become undisputed super lightweight champion on Saturday.

“Two weight undisputed champion, that sounds great,” said Taylor.

It took six months but the sold-out crowd in Dublin, Ireland saw Taylor (23-1) avenge a loss to Cameron (18-1) and re-assume her position as one of the leaders of the female fight world.

It was a different Taylor who returned to Ireland and this time she brought changes against the younger, stronger Cameron that proved effective.

At first it looked grim for Taylor who resumed her style of speed combinations and was met with jolting left jabs from Cameron. One jab actually delivered Taylor to the canvas but a slip of the foot was caught by the referee.

In the second round Taylor showed her cards.

Using her speed and agility, Taylor used her own jabs and movement to score and then would suddenly clinch both arms. And in between clinches, quick uppercuts and rights scored.

It was the recipe used by the Irish fighter for the remainder of the fight.

The change in tactics by Taylor took away Cameron’s most effective weapon, her strong left jab. Unable to use that weapon, she dove in looking to use her strength and was butted by Taylor in the third round. A deep bloody gash on the forehead of Cameron formed quickly.

Cameron never quit attacking and finally found success in the fourth and fifth rounds with pounding body shots. It seemed to slow her opponent down, who had been busier until the body attack slowed her volume.

Both tried their best to control the rounds. Taylor used her hit-and-clinch recipe while Cameron pounded the body and used her strength inside. The best round erupted in the seventh as both unleashed wicked combinations and uppercuts.

The crowd roared its approval.

All that furious action seemed to drain Taylor and allowed Cameron to overpower her with body shots in the eighth. It also forced Taylor to grab Cameron every time she got close. It became so obvious that the referee warned Taylor to stop holding.

A tired Taylor seemed ready to be taken over, but somehow she mustered enough energy to sling quick combos and clinch. Cameron tried avoiding the clinches but was not able to find a solution.

Taylor closed out the fight with speed combinations as Cameron looked to end the fight with one big blow that never arrived. A spent Taylor looked relieved at the final bell as Cameron could not land the big one.

After 10 rounds one judge scored it 95-95 while two others saw it 98-92 and 96-94 for Taylor who becomes undisputed super lightweight champion.

“Whoever wrote me off you don’t know me very well,” said Taylor. “Tonight, you saw the real me. When I’m boxing no one can beat me.”

The win by Taylor sets up a trilogy with Cameron.

“I don’t think there has ever been a trilogy in women’s boxing. This would be the first,” said Taylor.

2024 look out.

Nicolson Wins

Australia’s Skye Nicolson (9-0) controlled every round over Sweden’s Lucy Wildheart (10-3) by hitting and moving against the slow-moving fighter and eventually won by stoppage in the ninth round to retain an interim featherweight title.

Nicolson proved too fast and agile for Wildheart who seemed a second slower and was punished by counter shots. Eventually a bloody nose forced Wildheart’s corner to stop the fight at 1:11 of the ninth round.

The speedy featherweight Nicolson is the number one contender for undisputed champion Amanda Serrano.

Other Bouts

Ireland’s Gary Cully (17-1, 10 KOs) won by split decision over Reece Mould (18-2, 6 KOs) to return to the victory column after suffering a knockout loss six months ago in the same arena.

Cully, a tall lightweight, started slowly but soon found his rhythm and used uppercuts and movement to offset the hard-charging Mould. There were no knockdowns in the back-and-forth battle with two judges favoring Cully 97-93, 96-93 and one for Mould 97-93.

“I’m back baby and it feels good,” said Cully who was stopped by Mexico’s Jose Felix six months ago.

Speed southpaw Paddy Donovan (12-0, 9 KOs) knocked out Danny Ball (13-2-1) in their welterweight clash with a left to the body in the fourth round. He first dropped Ball with an overhand left during an exchange.

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Harlem-Eubank-and-Roman-Fury-Win-With-Panache-in-Brighton
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Harlem Eubank and Roman Fury Win With Panache in Brighton

Fury-vs-Usyk-is-OFF-Following-Tyson-Fury's-Bad-Day-at-the-Office
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Fury vs Usyk is OFF following Tyson Fury’s ‘Bad Day at the Office’

Holiday-Reading-2023-Best-Books-About-Boxng
Book Review6 days ago

Holiday Reading 2023: Best Books About Boxing

B-Hop's-Latest-Hall-of-Fame-Extends-Beyond-the-Ring
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

B-Hop’s Latest Hall of Fame Extends Beyond the Ring

Fernando-Vargas-Jt-Improves-to-13-0-and-Irma-Garcia-Wins-a-World-Title-in-Long-Beach
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Fernando Vargas Jr Improves to 13-0 and Irma Garcia Wins a World Title in Long Beach

Efe-Ajagba-Raymond-Muratalla-and-Lindolfo-Delgado-Win-Big-at-Lake-Tahoe
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Efe Ajagba, Raymond Muratalla, and Lindolfo Delgado Win Big at Lake Tahoe

Talking-Boxing-with-Renowned-New-York-Sports-Journalist-Wally-Matthews
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Talking Boxing with Renowned New York Sports Journalist Wally Matthews

Boxing-Odds-and-Ends-Heavyweights-Collide-at-Lake-Tahoe-and-More
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Boxing Odds and Ends: Heavyweights Collide at Lake Tahoe and More

Jamel-Herring-KO1-and-Shurretta-Metcalf-UD10-Victorious-in-NYC
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Jamel Herring (KO 1) and Shurretta Metcalf (UD 10) Victorious in NYC

Jared-Anderson-Released-on-Bond-Following-His-Arrest-in-a-Toledo-Suburb
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Jared Anderson Released on Bond Following His Arrest in a Toledo Suburb

Avila-Perspective-Chap-259-MarvNation-Boxing-in-SoCal-and-More
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 259: MarvNation Boxing in SoCal and More

Avila-Perspective-Chap-258-A-Title-Fight-in-Monaco-Buoys-a-Busy-Boxing-Weeknd
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 258: A Title Fight in Monaco Buoys a Busy Boxing Weekend

Thomas-Hauser's-Notes-and-Nuggets-Boxing-on-UFC-Fight-Pass-Callum-Walsh-and-More
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Thomas Hauser’s Notes and Nuggets: Boxing on UFC Fight Pass, Callum Walsh, and More

A-Closer-look-at-Mikaela-Mayer-on-the-Hunt-for-a-World Title-in-Liverpool
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Closer Look at Mikaela Mayer on the Hunt for a World Title in Liverpool

Joe-Cordina-Retains-His-Title-in-a-Monte-Carlo-Squeaker
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Joe Cordina Retains His Title in a Monte Carlo Squeaker

Avila-Perspective-Chap-260-Boxing-from-Las-Vegas-to-Los-Angeles-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 260: Boxing in Las Vegas and Los Angeles and More

Shakur-Stevenson-Wins-a-Tedious-Fight-from-Edwin-De-Los-Santos-in-Las-Vegas
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Shakur Stevenson Wins a Tedious Fight from Edwin De Los Santos in Las Vegas

Thimas-Hauser's-Notes-and-Nuggets-Malcolm-X-Muhammad-Ali-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Thomas Hauser’s Notes and Nuggets: Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and More

Benavidez-Dismantles-Andrade-Will-Canelo-Be-Next?
Featured Articles2 days ago

Benavidez Dismantles Andrade: Will Canelo Be Next?

Tristan-Kalkreuth-A-Tall-Texan-Making-Waves-in-the-Squared-Circle
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Tristan Kalkreuth: A Tall Texan Making Waves in the Squared Circle

The-Murder-of-Samuel-Teah-Calls-to-Mind-Other-Boxers-Who-Were-Homicide-Victims
Featured Articles14 hours ago

The Murder of Samuel Teah Calls to Mind Other Boxers Who Were Homicide Victims

Benavidez-Dismantles-Andrade-Will-Canelo-Be-Next?
Featured Articles2 days ago

Benavidez Dismantles Andrade: Will Canelo Be Next?

Katie-Taylor-Turns-the-Tables-on-Chantelle-Cameron-in-a-Dublin-Blockbuster
Featured Articles3 days ago

Katie Taylor Turns the Tables on Chantelle Cameron in a Dublin Blockbuster

Avila-Perspective-Chap-261-Boxing-From-Ireland-to-Las-Vegas
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 261: Boxing From Ireland to Las Vegas

Holiday-Reading-2023-Best-Books-About-Boxng
Book Review6 days ago

Holiday Reading 2023: Best Books About Boxing

Nikita-Tszyu-Preps-for-Las-Vegas-With-a-Five-Round-Blast-Out-of-Dylan-Biggs
Featured Articles6 days ago

Nikita Tszyu Preps for Las Vegas With a Five-Round Blast-Out of Dylan Biggs

A-Closer-look-at-Mikaela-Mayer-on-the-Hunt-for-a-World Title-in-Liverpool
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Closer Look at Mikaela Mayer on the Hunt for a World Title in Liverpool

Diego-Pacheco-Wins-Homecoming-Fight-by-Knockout-in-LA
Featured Articles1 week ago

Diego Pacheco Wins Homecoming Fight by Knockout in LA

Heaney-Upsets-Bentley-and-Nicj-Ball-outpoints-Isaac-Dogboe-in-Manchester
Featured Articles1 week ago

Heaney Upsets Bentley and Nick Ball out-points Isaac Dogboe in Manchester

Shakur-Stevenson-Wins-a-Tedious-Fight-from-Edwin-De-Los-Santos-in-Las-Vegas
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Shakur Stevenson Wins a Tedious Fight from Edwin De Los Santos in Las Vegas

For-Rival-Boxing-Promoters-Saudi-Money-is-the-Salve-of-Appeasement
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

For Rival Boxing Promoters, Saudi Money is the Salve of Appeasement

Avila-Perspective-Chap-260-Boxing-from-Las-Vegas-to-Los-Angeles-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 260: Boxing in Las Vegas and Los Angeles and More

Thimas-Hauser's-Notes-and-Nuggets-Malcolm-X-Muhammad-Ali-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Thomas Hauser’s Notes and Nuggets: Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and More

Steve-Claggett-Continues-His-Late-Career-Surge-Dominates-Miguel-Madueno-in-Montreal
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Steve Claggett Continues His Late Career Surge; Dominates Miguel Madueno in Montreal

Title-Fights-for-Shakur-and-Navarrete-Cap-a-Hectic-Three-Day-Midweek-Slate
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Title Fights for Shakur and Navarrete Cap a Hectic Three-Day Midweek Slate

Fernando-Vargas-Jt-Improves-to-13-0-and-Irma-Garcia-Wins-a-World-Title-in-Long-Beach
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Fernando Vargas Jr Improves to 13-0 and Irma Garcia Wins a World Title in Long Beach

Talking-Boxing-with-Renowned-New-York-Sports-Journalist-Wally-Matthews
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Talking Boxing with Renowned New York Sports Journalist Wally Matthews

Harlem-Eubank-and-Roman-Fury-Win-With-Panache-in-Brighton
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Harlem Eubank and Roman Fury Win With Panache in Brighton

Avila-Perspective-Chap-259-MarvNation-Boxing-in-SoCal-and-More
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 259: MarvNation Boxing in SoCal and More

Thomas-Hauser's-Notes-and-Nuggets-Boxing-on-UFC-Fight-Pass-Callum-Walsh-and-More
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Thomas Hauser’s Notes and Nuggets: Boxing on UFC Fight Pass, Callum Walsh, and More

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending

Advertisement