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2021 Year in Review: The Best of the Worst Boxing Headlines

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My first order of business when I get up in the morning — and I’m sure this is true of most boxing writers – is to go on the internet and check the aggregator site to see if anything important happened while I was asleep. This exercise often starts my day off on the wrong foot.

In the Wild West of cyberspace, where anyone with a computer can have a platform, the pressure to produce fresh content has led to a trivialization of news, which is to say that most of what passes for combat sports journalism today is an affront to journalism.

On Jan. 1, 2021, the very first day of a new year, this headline made me wish I had stayed in bed: Boxer Ryan Garcia Wears Designer Brand Underwear for Weigh-in Ahead of Lightweight Title Fight.

I can’t tell you what brand he wore because I didn’t bother to read the story. But I made note of the headline because it struck me that a compilation of ludicrous headlines might make good filler on a slow news day. So here are five others from 2021 that made me dolefully wonder if my life was as trivial as some of the tripe that pops up daily on some of the web sites under the guise of boxing news:

Headline: Sean O’Malley Says he was Masturbating During Fury vs. Wilder 3

I confess that I did click on this story which first appeared on Oct. 12 on MMA News and made the rounds on other MMA portals. I thought it prudent to read it on the off-chance that I might find myself seated next to Mr. O’Malley at a future boxing show. I would want to give him a wide berth.

Sean O’Malley, I would come to learn, is an MMA fighter of some repute who also has a podcast. On one of his podcasts, he referenced the third Fury-Wilder fight and said he liked it so much that he was “J-ing off in every round.” The author of the MMA News story, Derek Hall, took him literally, writing “he liked it so much he felt the need to pleasure himself in every round.”

In defense of Hall, O’Malley said on his podcast that Fury knocked Wilder down eight times (no, it was only three) so, yes, he was distracted.

Headline — OPINION: Fans Won’t Be Storming the Gates for David Haye vs. Joe Fournier

David Haye’s last legitimate prizefight came in May of 2018 when he was battered into retirement by Tony Bellow. Joe Fournier is a 38-year-old London businessman who dabbles in boxing and has scored nine wins over hapless opponents. As widely reported, Haye and Fournier are close friends.

These two actually did meet in the ring, an 8-round exhibition on Sept. 11 in Hollywood, Florida, in a supporting bout to the deplorable Holyfield-Belfort affair. And yes, as surmised by Phil Jay in this story that ran in World Boxing News on Aug. 30, fans did not storm the gates.

Kudos to the headline-maker who exhibited admirable restraint. On certain boxing web sites, writers are never credited with venturing a plain ol’ ordinary opinion; it’s always a BOLD OPINION, the word “bold,” similar to the ubiquitous word “sensational,” having currency as click-bait.

Headline: Mike Tyson Has Been Sensationally Accused of Ducking Fight With Former Heavyweight Champion

This headline surfaced on July 15 on the Daily Advent over a story that first ran on givemesport.com and was attributed to Thomas Ward. The sensational accusation leveled at Mike Tyson was that he ignored Shannon Briggs’ defi.

Discounting his exhibition with Roy Jones Jr, Tyson, 55, last fought in 2005. Shannon Briggs, 49, hasn’t fought a fighter with a pulse since June of 2014 when he wheezed to a 12-round decision over Raphael Zumbano, a boxer who would win only five of his next 14 fights.

I wish that scribblers like Thomas Ward would stick to the Kardashians and leave Iron Mike alone.

Headline: Jake Paul Would Fight Tyson Fury If He Makes 35kg Drop to Cruiserweight

This ditty appeared on Dec. 7 in the Mirror over a story written by Harry Davies whose byline includes the notation that he is an accredited sports journalist. The impetus for the story was an interview that Jake Paul did with talksports.com

Tyson Fury weighed 277 for his trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder. A kilogram equals approximately 2.2 pounds, so a drop of 35 kg would place Fury right at the cruiserweight limit of 200. At that weight, the six-foot-nine Gypsy King would look as gaunt as a scarecrow — and yet, for what it’s worth, he would still have the means to beat up on Jake Paul.

I’m surprised that when Paul volunteered to fight Fury at cruiserweight that he wasn’t heralded for his bold provocation.

Headline: EXCLUSIVE: 7 Ft. Heavyweight Giant Nikolai Valuev Rules Out Comeback

Another contribution from the indefatigable Phil Jay at WBN, a web site that beats the pants off the competition when it comes to exclusives.

Nikolai Valuev, who twice held the WBA version of the world heavyweight title, was 47 years old when this story ran on Feb. 17. Back in 2010, he underwent two operations for serious “bone and joint problems” and in 2011 he had a small, benign tumor removed from his brain.

Asked about the possibility of a comeback, Valuev, who retired in 2009, had this to say: “I have never announced my return to the ring, even for exhibition fights. I do not consider this possibility.”

From the standpoint of a story idea, this is genius. If the boss ever gets on my case for not being sufficiently productive, I will reach out to an old, retired fighter and feel him out regarding the possibility of a comeback. Larry Holmes comes quickly to mind.

“Hey Larry, this is Arne. You probably don’t remember me, but I once asked you a question at a post-fight press conference. Anyway, the reason I am calling is to inquire whether you are plotting another comeback.”

Larry: “Nope. Been there, done that. I’m 72 years old now and my fighting days are done. As far as another comeback, I never give it any thought.”

And presto, there’s my story: “Larry Holmes Says He Won’t Be Returning to the Ring.” If I ever get around to writing it, remember that you read it here first.

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Najee Lopez Steps up in Class and Wins Impressively at Plant City

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Garry Jonas’ ProBox series returned to its regular home in Plant City, Florida, tonight with a card topped by a 10-round light heavyweight match between fast-rising Najee Lopez and former world title challenger Lenin Castillo. This was considered a step-up fight for the 25-year-old Lopez, an Atlanta-born-fighter of Puerto Rican heritage. Although the 36-year-old Castillo had lost two of his least three heading in, he had gone the distance with Dimitry Bivol and Marcus Browne and been stopped only once (by Callum Smith).

Lopez landed the cleaner punches throughout. Although Castillo seemed unfazed during the first half of the fight, he returned to his corner at the end of round five exhibiting signs of a fractured jaw.

In the next round, Lopez cornered him against the ropes and knocked him through the ropes with a left-right combination. Referee Emil Lombardo could have stopped the fight right there, but he allowed the courageous Castillo to carry on for a bit longer, finally stopping the fight as Castillo’s corner and a Florida commissioner were signaling that it was over.

The official time was 2:36 of round six. Bigger fights await the talented Lopez who improved to 13-0 with his tenth win inside the distance. Castillo declined to 25-7-1.

Co-Feature

In a stinker of a heavyweight fight, Stanley Wright, a paunchy, 34-year-old North Carolina journeyman, scored a big upset with a 10-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Jeremiah Milton.

Wright carried 280 pounds, 100 pounds more than in his pro debut 11 years ago. Although he was undefeated (13-0, 11 KOs), he had never defeated an opponent with a winning record and his last four opponents were a miserable 19-48-2. Moreover, he took the fight on short notice.

What Wright had going for him was fast hands and, in the opening round, he put Milton on the canvas with a straight right hand. From that point, Milton fought tentatively and Wright, looking fatigued as early as the fourth round, fought only in spurts. It seemed doubtful that he could last the distance, but Milton, the subject of a 2021 profile in these pages, was wary of Wright’s power and unable to capitalize. “It’s almost as if Milton is afraid to win,” said ringside commentator Chris Algieri during the ninth stanza when the bout had devolved into a hugfest.

The judges had it 96-93 and 97-92 twice for the victorious Wright who boosted his record to 14-0 without improving his stature.

Also

In the TV opener, a 10-round contest in the junior middleweight division, Najee Lopez stablemate Darrelle Valsaint (12-0, 10 KOs) scored his career-best win with a second-round knockout of 35-year-old Dutch globetrotter Stephen Danyo (23-7-3).

A native Floridian of Haitian descent, the 22-year-old Valsaint was making his eighth start in Plant City. He rocked Danyo with a chopping right hand high on the temple and then, as Danyo slumped forward, delivered the coup-de-gras, a short left uppercut. The official time was 2:17 of round two.

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Japanese Superstar Naoya Inoue is Headed to Vegas after KOing Ye Joon Kim

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Japan’s magnificent Naoya Inoue, appearing in his twenty-fourth title fight, scored his 11th straight stoppage tonight while successfully defending his unified super bantamweight title, advancing his record to 29-0 (26 KOs) at the expense of Ye Joon Kim. The match at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena came to an end at the 2:25 mark of round four when U.S. referee Mark Nelson tolled “10” over the brave but overmatched Korean.

Kim, raised in a Seoul orphanage, had a few good moments, but the “Monster” found his rhythm in the third round, leaving Kim with a purplish welt under his left eye. In the next frame, he brought the match to a conclusion, staggering the Korean with a left and then finishing matters with an overhand right that put Kim on the seat of his pants, dazed and wincing in pain.

Kim, who brought a 21-2-2 record, took the fight on 10 days’ notice, replacing Australia’s Sam Goodman who suffered an eye injury in sparring that never healed properly, forcing him to withdraw twice.

Co-promoter Bob Arum, who was in the building, announced that Inoue’s next fight would happen in Las Vegas in the Spring. Speculation centers on Mexico City’s Alan Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs) who is ranked #1 by the WBC. However, there’s also speculation that the 31-year-old Inoue may move up to featherweight and seek to win a title in a fifth weight class, in which case a potential opponent is the winner of the Feb. 2 match between Brandon Figueroa and Stephen Fulton. In “olden days,” this notion would have been dismissed as the Japanese superstar and Figueroa/Fulton have different promoters, but the arrival of Turki Alalshikh, the sport’s Daddy Warbucks, has changed the dynamic. Tonight, Naoya Inoue made his first start as a brand ambassador for Riyadh Season.

Simmering on the backburner is a megafight with countryman Junto Nakatani, an easy fight to make as Arum has ties to both. However, the powers-that-be would prefer more “marination.”

Inoue has appeared twice in Las Vegas, scoring a seventh-round stoppage of Jason Moloney in October of 2020 at the MGM Bubble and a third-round stoppage of Michael Dasmarinas at the Virgin Hotels in June of 2021.

Semi-wind-up

In a 12-round bout for a regional welterweight title, Jin Sasaki improved to 19-1-1 (17) with a unanimous decision over Shoki Sakai (29-15-3). The scores were 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112.

Also

In a bout in which both contestants were on the canvas, Toshiki Shimomachi (20-1-3) edged out Misaki Hirano (11-2), winning a majority decision. A 28-year-old Osaka southpaw with a fan-friendly style, the lanky Shimomachi, unbeaten in his last 22 starts, competes as a super bantamweight. A match with Inoue may be in his future.

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Eric Priest Wins Handily on Thursday’s Golden Boy card at the Commerce Casino

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Model turned fighter Eric Priest jabbed and jolted his way into the super middleweight rankings with a shutout decision win over veteran Tyler Howard on Thursday.

In his first main event Priest (15-0, 8 KOs) proved ready for contender status by defusing every attack Tennessee’s Howard (20-3, 11 KOs) could muster at Commerce Casino, the second fight in six days at the LA County venue.

All ticket monies collected on the Folden Boy Promotions card were contributed to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation as they battle wildfires sprouting all over Los Angeles County due to high winds.

Priest, 26, had never fought anyone near Howard’s caliber but used a ramrod jab to keep the veteran off-balance and unable to muster a forceful counter-attack. Round after round the Korean-American fighter pumped left jabs while circling his opposition.

Though hit with power shots, none seemed to faze Howard but his own blows were unable to put a dent in Priest. After 10 rounds of the same repetitive action all three judges scored the fight 100-90 for Priest who now wins a regional super middleweight title.

Priest also joins the top 15 rankings of the WBA organization.

In a fight between evenly matched middleweights, Jordan Panthen (11-0, 9 KOs) remained undefeated after 10 rounds versus DeAundre Pettus (12-4, 7 KOs). Though equally skilled, Panthen simply out-worked the South Caroliina fighter to win by unanimous decision. No knockdowns were scored.

Other Bouts

Grant Flores (8-0, 6 KOs) knocked out Costa Rica’s David Lobo Ramirez (17-4, 12 KOs) with two successive right uppercuts at 2:59 of the second round of the super welterweight fight.

Cayden Griffith (3-0, 3 KOs) used a left hook to the body to stop Mark Misiura at 1:43 of the second round in a super welterweight bout.

Jordan Fuentes (3-0) floored Brandon Badillo (0-3-1) in the third round and proceeded to win by decision after four rounds in a super bantamweight fight.

A super featherweight match saw Leonardo Sanchez (8-0) win by decision over Joseph Cruz Brown (10-12) after six rounds.

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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