Boxing Odds and Ends: Richard Schaefer Returns and a Bare-Knuckle Fatality

Published

3 years ago

October 5, 2021

Boxing-Odds-ans-Ends-Richard-Schaefer-Returns-and-a-Bare-Knuckle-Fatality

Richard Schaefer, the former CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, doesn’t think small. Several weeks ago, Schaefer announced that he had formed a new company named Probellum. In a conversation with ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, Schaefer stated that Probellum planned on promoting one hundred boxing shows in its first year of operation and that the long-range goal was to have a “performance institute” on every continent (Antarctica?).

Schaefer, the son of a wealthy Swiss banker, headed up the western United States operations of the largest bank in Switzerland when he switched gears in 2002, co-founding Golden Boy Promotions. He named himself the CEO with Oscar De La Hoya the President.

Their friendship eventually soured. Schaefer (pictured with Oscar in happier days) left the company in 2014 and De La Hoya sued him for breach of fiduciary duty. The settlement included a non-compete clause and when it expired Schaefer formed Ringstar Sports and partnered with Germany’s powerful Universum Gym in the World Boxing Super Series, a series of single elimination tournaments featuring eight boxers in selected weight classes.

Although messy from a scheduling standpoint (par for the course for a boxing tournament), the WBSS was a very successful endeavor, perhaps not from a commercial standpoint, but certainly from a fan’s perspective. It produced a four-belt champion in the form of cruiserweight Oleksandr Usyk. In 2019-20, the finals in the 140-pound and in the bantamweight tourneys produced the two leading candidates for Fight of the Year (Josh Taylor vs Regis Prograis and Naoya Inoue vs Nonito Donaire). Schaefer and his partner, Universum’s Kalle Sauerland, were named the TSS Promoter(s) of the Year.

The World Boxing Super Series did not resume in 2020, a victim of the pandemic. There was talk this summer of starting a tournament for women in the super bantamweight division but nothing has come of it. One suspects that the WBSS has fallen into the dustbin of history.

Richard Schaefer has been busy this week bringing fighters into the Probellum fold. Yesterday (Oct. 4), he signed up unbeaten welterweight Eimantas Stanionis (13-0, 1 ND, 9 KOs). A 2016 Olympian for Lithuania, Stanionis is ranked #1 by the WBA which has two 147-pound title-holders in Yordenis Ugas and Jamal James. Today he announced the signings of Badou Jack and Regis Prograis, both of whom recently fought in the shadow of the Paul brothers.

Badou Jack, a former world champion at 168 and 175, currently fights as a cruiserweight. He appeared on the Nov. 28, 2020 show in Los Angeles that featured the bout between Jake Paul and Nate Robinson and on the June 6 show in Miami topped by the exhibition between Logan Paul and Floyd Mayweather Jr. On both occasions he was matched very soft.

At age 37, Jack’s career is winding down. Schaefer reportedly promised him a fight in Dubai which Jack considers his second home. A proud Muslim who is admired by his peers for his business savvy and his philanthropic work, Jack was born and raised in Sweden but never felt an emotional attachment to that country.

Regis Prograis, ranked in the top seven at 140 pounds by all four of the major sanctioning bodies, last fought on the April 17 show in Atlanta topped by Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren. Prograis was matched against Ivan Redkach who didn’t bring his “A” game (a big understatement).

Prograis, now 32 years old, still has only that one blemish on his record and Josh Taylor had to dig deep to apply it. Heading into that match in Scotland, many felt that he belonged on the pound-for-pound list. He’s become something of a forgotten man in recent months and hooking up with a new promoter would seem to be a smart idea.

It may well turn out that Richard Schaefer’s aim will have exceeded his reach, but having him back gung-ho in the boxing game is good for the sport.

Ring Fatality

Justin Thornton, a combat sports fighter from Natchez, Mississippi, died yesterday, Oct. 4, from injuries suffered in a match six weeks ago on a bare-knuckle boxing card in Biloxi, Mississippi. Thornton was 38 years old.

bkb

Thornton was knocked out in 19 seconds by 39-year-old Dillon Cleckler. The knockout punch, a right hook, pitched him face first to the canvas and left him partially paralyzed. He was removed to a hospital where his health gradually deteriorated.

There were 12 fights on the Aug. 20 show that cost Thornton his life. Only one of the 24 boxers was under the age of 30. Four of the competitors were in their mid-40s. The mean was 35.6.

Thornton and Cleckler were MMA veterans at the regional level. Thornton was reportedly 8-16; Cleckler reportedly 11-1. They had fought once before, back in 2013 in Pensacola, Florida, which is Cleckler’s hometown. On that occasion, Cleckler put Thornton away in 65 seconds.

Thornton had one conventional boxing match according to BoxRec. In September of 2017 he was knocked out in the opening round at a rec center in Gretna, Louisiana by Frank Sanchez who, like Thornton, was making his pro boxing debut. This is the same Frank Sanchez who will take an 18-0 record into Saturday’s fight against fellow unbeaten Efe Ajagba at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Veteran New York boxing promoter Lou DiBella, noting that the fatal fight was Thornton’s sixth consecutive fight in which he was stopped in the opening round, expressed his outrage on his twitter platform. “The state of combat sports regulation in America is atrocious,” wrote DiBella.

The Aug. 20 Biloxi grotesquerie was brought to you by David Feldman who is the Dana White of bare-knuckle boxing. Feldman promoted the first state-sanctioned bare-knuckle show in June of 2018 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Prior to that he had staged a bare-knuckle show at a Native American casino on an Arizona Indian reservation. David Feldman is the brother of Celebrity Boxing huckster Damon Feldman.

Someday someone will write a movie about bare-knuckle boxing. The inspiration for the man hired to write the script will be the 1969 film “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?”, starring Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, and Gig Young.

Feldman’s next show is scheduled for this Saturday, Oct. 9, in Billings, Montana. He has shows arranged for Oct. 23 in Wichita, Kansas, and Nov. 6 in Seneca, New York. Promotional blurbs for Feldman’s firm identify bare-knuckle boxing as the fastest growing combat sport in the world.

Check out more boxing news on video at the Boxing Channel

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 817

Arne K. Lang

Up Next

Wayne McCullough Remembers Eddie Futch Who Passed Away 20 Years Ago This Sunday

Don't Miss

Triller Fight Club: Boxing’s Keystone Kops

Ramirez Outpoints Barthelemy and Vergil Ortiz Scores Another Fast KO in Fresno

Published

3 hours ago

April 27, 2024

David A. Avila

Ramirez-Outpoints-Barthelemy-and-Vergil-Ortiz-Scores-Another-Fast-KO-in-Fresno

Northern California favorite Jose Ramirez avoided an upset and knockout artist Vergil Ortiz destroyed his opponent on Saturday to set up a showdown with Australia’s power-punching Tim Tszyu.

After a 13-month layoff Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs) shook off ring rust and avoided an upset by Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy (30-3-1, 15 KOs) in a battle between former world champions at Save Mart Center in Fresno.

It was Ramirez’s first bout under Golden Boy Promotions and he was nearly derailed by the slick counter-punching southpaw in the third and six rounds with laser left counters that connected every time. Though he was floored in the third round it was ruled a push down by referee Jack Reiss.

Fans gasped.

“He throws that left hand and I got hit with it in one round,” Ramirez said. “It motivated him.”

Once Ramirez figured out the remedy, he kept the fight inside and attacked the body and head. Barthelemy was unable to uncork one of his long lefts at close distance.

From the seventh round on the former super lightweight champion took control and kept the Cuban fighter against the ropes and unloaded shots to the body and head. He nearly forced a stoppage in the 11^th round.

Barthelemy survived but all three judges scored it big for Ramirez after 12 rounds: 119-109 twice and 118-110.

Vergil KOs Number 21

Knowing a win sets up a massive showdown against Aussie slugger Tim Tszyu, the Texas slugger Vergil Ortiz (21-0, 21 KOs) wasted no time in blasting out Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme (26-7-1, 17 KOs) with a perfectly placed left hook to the body. Dulorme collapsed to the ground in agony.

Referee Tom Taylor stopped counting at 2:39 of the first round.

“It was a very calculated punch,” Ortiz said.

It was a commanding one round performance that sets up the showdown against the equally powerful Tszyu who despite losing a split decision to Sebastian Fundora last month by split decision, retains his reputation as a dangerous puncher.

Ortiz, who has 21 knockouts in 21 fights, will probably be fighting Tszyu in Los Angeles on June 1 if all negotiations go smoothly.

“Tim (Tszyu) I know you are watching the fight,” said Ortiz. “I’m ready. Let’s put on a great performance.”

Other Bouts

Oscar Duarte (27-2-1, 22 KOs) proved his knockout loss against Ryan Garcia would not stop him from improving as he defeated Jojo Diaz (33-6-1) by knockout at 2:32 of the ninth round in a super lightweight match. Referee Michael Margado wisely stopped the bludgeoning as a towel came flying in almost simultaneously.

It was the first time Diaz was ever defeated by knockout, though he never touched the canvas. It was also the first time Duarte trained with Robert Garcia and the difference was notable as he repeatedly walked through incoming fire and attacked the smaller fighter continuously.

“I want to fight the best in the world,” Duarte said.

Female Title Fight

A rematch battle for the flyweight championship saw Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) defeat Marlen Esparza (14-2) this time with a two-fisted attack to win by split decision after 10 rounds.

Esparza failed to make weight and walked in three pounds overweight and Alaniz took advantage to win the WBA, WBC, and WBO flyweight titles in the rematch. Once again the scores were puzzling but this time in favor of Alaniz 97-93, 96-94, and 92-98.

Alaniz now holds the WBO, WBA, WBC flyweight world titles.

Welterweights

Mexico’s Raul Curiel (15-0, 13 KOs) busted body shots on Jorge Marron Jr. (20-5-2) and floored him twice in the first round. The second body blow left Marron paralyzed and unable to continue at 1:31 of the first round as referee Thomas Taylor counted him out.

Curiel, who is managed by Frank Espinoza and son, proved he’s ready for the upper levels of the welterweight division.

“I think I’m ready for the bigger names,” Curiel said. “You see the results.”

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 159

Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryan’s Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

David A. Avila

Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryan’s Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More

Don’t call it an upset.

Days after Ryan Garcia proved the experts wrong, those same experts are re-tooling their evaluation processes.

It’s mind-boggling to me that 95 percent thought Garcia had no chance. Hear me out.

First, Garcia and Haney fought six times as amateurs with each winning three. But this time with no head gear and smaller gloves, Garcia had to have at least a 50/50 chance of winning. He is faster and a more powerful puncher.

Facts.

Haney is a wonderful boxer with smooth, almost artistic movements. But history has taught us power and speed like Garcia’s can’t be discounted. Think way back to legendary fighters like Willie Pep and Sandy Sadler. All that excellent defensive skill could not prevent Sadler from beating Pep in three of their four meetings.

Power has always been an equalizer against boxing skill.

Ben Lira, one of the wisest and most experienced trainers in Southern California, always professed knockout power was the greatest equalizer in a fight. “You can be behind for nine rounds and one punch can change the outcome,” he said.

Another weird theory spreading before the fight was that Garcia would quit in the fight. That was a puzzling one. Getting stopped by a perfect body shot is not quitting. And that punch came from Gervonta “Tank” Davis who can really crack.

So how did Garcia do it?

In the opening round Ryan Garcia timed Devin Haney’s jab and countered with a snapping left hook that rattled and wobbled the super lightweight champion. After that, Garcia forced Haney to find another game plan.

Garcia and trainer Derrick James must have worked hours on that move.

I must confess that I first saw Garcia’s ability many years ago when he was around 11 or 12. So I do have an advantage regarding his talent. A few things I noticed even back then were his speed and power. Also, that others resented his talent but respected him. He was the guy with everything: talent and looks.

And that brings resentment.

Recently I saw him and his crew rapping a song on social media. Now he’s got a song. Next thing you know Hollywood will be calling and he’ll be in the movies. It’s happened before with fighters such as Art Aragon, the first Golden Boy in the 50s. He was dating movie stars and getting involved with starlets all over Hollywood.

Is history repeating itself or is Garcia creating a new era for boxing?

Since 2016 people claimed he was just a social media creation. Now, after his win over Devin Haney a former undisputed lightweight champion and the WBC super lightweight titleholder, the boxer from the high desert area of Victorville has become one of the highest paid fighters in the world.

Ryan Garcia has entered a new dimension.

Golden Boy Season

After several down years the Los Angeles-based company Golden Boy Promotions suddenly is cracking the whip in 2024.

Avila

Vergil Ortiz Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs) returns to the ring and faces Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1, 17 KOs) a welterweight gatekeeper who lost to Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis. They meet as super welterweights in the co-main event at Save Mart Arena in Fresno, Calif. on Saturday, April 27. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions card live.

It’s a quick return to action for Ortiz who is still adjusting to the new weight division. His last fight three months ago ended in less than one round in Las Vegas. It was cut short by an antsy referee and left Ortiz wanting more after more than a year of inactivity in the prize ring.

Ortiz has all the weapons.

Also, Northern California’s Jose Carlos Ramirez (28-1, 18 KOs) meets Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1, 15 KOs) in a welterweight affair set for 12 rounds.

It’s difficult to believe that former super lightweight titlist Ramirez has been written off by fans after only one loss. That was several years ago against Scotland’s Josh Taylor. One loss does not mean the end of a career.

“My goal is to get back on top and to get all those belts back. I still feel like I am one of the best 140-pounders in the division,” said Ramirez who lives in nearby Avenal, Calif.

An added major attraction features Marlen Esparza in a unification rematch against Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz for the WBA, WBC, WBO flyweight titles. Their first fight was

a controversial win by Esparza that saw one judge give her nine of 10 rounds in a very close fight. Those Texas judges.

In a match that could steal the show, Oscar Duarte (26-2-1, 21 KOs) faces former world champion Jojo Diaz (33-5-1, 15 KOs) in a lightweight match.

Munguia and Canelo

Don’t sleep on this match.

Its current Golden Boy fighter Jaime Munguia facing former Golden Boy fighter Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a battle between Mexico’s greatest sluggers next week at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 4.

“I think Jaime Munguia is going to do something special in the ring,” said Oscar De La Hoya, the CEO for Golden Boy.

Tijuana’s Munguia showed up at the Wild Card Boxing gym in Hollywood where a throng of media from Mexico and the US met him.

Munguia looked confident and happy about his opportunity to fight great Canelo.

“It’s a hard fight,” said Munguia. “Truth is, its big for Mexico and not only for Mexicans but for boxing.”

Fights to Watch

Fri. DAZN 6 p.m. Yoeniz Tellez (7-0) vs Joseph Jackson (19-0).

Sat. DAZN 9:30 a.m. Peter McGrail (8-1) vs Marc Leach (18-3-1); Beatriz Ferreira (4-0) vs Yanina Del Carmen 14-3).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Vergil Ortiz (20-0) vs Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1); Jose Carlos Ramirez (28-1) vs Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1); Marlen Esparza (14-1) vs Gabriela Alaniz (14-1).

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy Promotions

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 582

Ramon Cardenas Channels Micky Ward and KOs Eduardo Ramirez on ProBox

Published

3 days ago

April 24, 2024

Arne K. Lang

Ramon-Cardenas-Channels-Micky-Ward-and-KOs-Eduardo-Ramirez-on-ProBox

The Wednesday night bi-monthly series of fights on the ProBox TV platform is the best deal in boxing; the livestream is free with no strings attached! Tonight’s episode was headlined by a super bantamweight match between San Antonio’s Ramon Cardenas and Eduardo Ramirez who brought a caravan of rooters from his hometown in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico.

Cardenas, coached by Joel Diaz, entered the contest ranked #4 by the WBA. He was expected to handle Ramirez with little difficulty, but this was a close, tactical fight through eight frames when lightning struck in the form of a left hook to the liver from Cardenas. Ramirez went down on one knee and wasn’t able to beat the count. It was as if Cardenas summoned the ghost of Micky Ward who had a penchant for terminating fights with the same punch that arrived out of the blue.

The official time was 1:37 of round nine. Cardenas improved to 25-1 with his14th win inside the distance. Ramirez, who was stopped in the opening round by Nick “Wrecking” Ball in London in his lone previous fight outside Mexico, falls to 23-3-3.

Co-Feature

In an upset, Tijuana super welterweight Damian Sosa won a split decision over previously undefeated Marques Valle, a local area fighter who was stepping up in class in his first 10-round go. Sosa was the aggressor, repeatedly backing his taller opponent into the ropes where Valle was unable to get good leverage behind his punches.

The 25-year-old Valle, managed by the influential David McWater, was the house fighter. This was his 10^th appearance in this building. He brought a 10-0 (7) record and was hoping to emulate the success of his younger brother Dominic Valle who scored a second-round stoppage of his opponent in this ring two weeks ago, improving to 9-0. But Sosa, who brought a 24-2 record, proved to be a bridge too high.

The judges had it 97-93 and 96-94 for the Tijuana invader and a disgraceful 98-92 for the house fighter.

Also

In a fight whose abrupt ending would be echoed by the main event, 34-year-old SoCal featherweight Ronny Rios, now training in Las Vegas, returned to the ring after a 22-month hiatus and scored a fifth-round stoppage over Nicolas Polanco of the Dominican Republic.

A three-punch combo climaxed by a left hook to the liver took the breath out of Polanco who slumped to his knees and was counted out. A two-time world title challenger, Rios advanced to 34-4 (17 KOs). Polanco, 34, declined to 21-6-1. The official time was 0:54 of round five.

—

The next ProBox show (Wednesday, May 8) will have an international cast with fighters from Kazakhstan, Japan, Mongolia, and the United Kingdom. In the main event, Liverpool’s Robbie Davies Jr will make his U.S. debut against the California-based Kazakh Sergey Lipinets.

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 654