Connect with us

Featured Articles

Boxing Odds and Ends: Canelo-Bivol Undercard Notes and More

Published

on

Boxing-Odds-and-Ends-Canelo-Bivol-Undercard-Notes-and-More

Boxing Odds and Ends: Canelo-Bivol Undercard Notes and More

In the lexicon of boxing promoters, the word “stacked” invariably precedes the word “undercard.” Matchroom honcho Eddie Hearn summoned forth the word “stacked” once again today while plugging Saturday’s show at the MGM Grand.  In this instance, however, it wasn’t false advertising. Several of the eight bouts preceding the big wind-up give promise of being very entertaining.

Guadalajara will be well-represented. In addition to Canelo Alvarez, three others from that metropolis in Western Mexico will appear on the card – and two of them are matched very tough.

Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (25-2-1, 15 KOs) is matched against Cleveland southpaw Montana Love (17-0-1, 9 KO) in the chief undercard bout, a 10-round junior welterweight affair. Valenzuela is promoted by Canelo’s renowned trainer Eddy Reynoso and he comes in riding a 20-fight unbeaten streak but, nonetheless, he’s a big underdog vs. the eccentric Love (pictured with the French bulldog that he brings to his pre-fight functions).

Guadalajara’s Christian Gomez, another Eddy Reynoso disciple, would seem to have a more difficult test. His opponent, Shakhram Giyasov, a stablemate of Dmitry Bivol, is unbeaten (12-0, 9 KOs) after a distinguished amateur career.

A 28-year-old Uzbek, Giyasov has been fighting at 140 but is moving up in weight for this 10-round welterweight tilt. In Gomez, he is meeting a fighter who has knocked out 20 of his 25 opponents while forging a 22-2-1 record. His opponents, to put it mildly, have been less than stellar, but Gomez must be accorded a puncher’s chance and he will certainly have the crowd in his corner on Cinco de Mayo weekend.

The inclination is to bet both underdogs. Asking both Valenzuela and Gomez to win would seem to be asking too much, but if we can get one of them home, we will turn a nice little profit.

Don King Promotions has announced the date and venue for Trevor Bryan’s heavyweight title defense against Daniel Dubois. They will meet on June 11 in Miami, Florida at Casino Miami Jai-Alai, a refurbished fronton whose arena can hold 6,500.

Also appearing on the card will be Trevor Bryan’s most recent opponent Jonathan Guidry who confounded the experts by lasting 12 rounds with Bryan, losing a split decision. Guidry (17-1-2, 10 KOs) meets DaCarree Scott (7-0, 6 KOs) for something called the NABA Gold heavyweight title. The rotund Scott is the belt-holder, having won this trinket in his first 10-round fight by dint of a split decision over Ahmed Henry.

As recounted on these pages and in other reports, Jonathan Guidry resides in Louisiana’s Cajun Country in the town of Dulac and like many men in this part of South Louisiana, he earns his living from the water, harvesting shellfish. The 32-year-old father of four, a fill-in for Mahmoud Charr, could have easily mailed it in against Bryan but he had too much pride.

Guidry got no respect heading into that fight and he continues to get no respect. The release for the June 11 show says that Scott will be defending his title against “another Georgia slugger” in Jonathan Guidry from Dulac, GA.

It says something about the current state of Don King’s finances that he employs a publicist that flunked geography.

Tommy Morrison’s two fighting sons, Trey Derek Lippe, aka Trey Lippe Morrison, and James McKenzie Witt, aka James McKenzie Morrison, born 10 months apart to different mothers, both turned pro in 2014.

Of the two, Trey Lippe Morrison was considered to have the higher ceiling. Veteran Oklahoma fight facilitator Tony Holden, who nurtured Tommy “The Duke” Morrison into a world heavyweight title-holder, invested more of his resources in Trey Lippe, sending him to Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym in Hollywood to smooth out his wrinkles. “Trey has more raw power than his father,” Holden proclaimed, a bold statement considering that Tommy the Duke had one of the sport’s most fearsome left hooks.

Trey Lippe’s progress was retarded by a succession of injuries and it all came crashing down for him on Dec. 2 of last year when he was stopped in the opening round by former NFL linebacker Mike Balogun on a TrillerVerz card at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Lippe/Morrison was 18-0 with 17 knockouts heading in, but his opposition had been so poor that it would be written that the 38-year-old Balogun exposed him.

But don’t be too quick to write off the Morrison brothers. James McKenzie Morrison, supposedly the least talented of the two, rose to the occasion last week, scoring a fifth-round stoppage of previously undefeated (12-0) Hasim Rahman Jr. at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. That elevated Morrison’s record to 20-0 (18 KOs).

That record needs to be put into context. Like his sibling, James McKenzie Morrison has been matched very carefully, thrust against a succession of palookas on the Midwest circuit.

But against Rahman Jr, he looked like a legitimate heavyweight contender. Unfortunately for James McKenzie Morrison, who bears an uncanny physical resemblance to his late father, the event was poorly promoted and attracted very little buzz.

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Advertisement
Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Results-and-Recaps-from-New-York-Where-Taylor-edged-Serrano-Once-Again
Featured Articles4 days ago

Results and Recaps from New York Where Taylor Edged Serrano Once Again

From-a-Sympathetic-Figure-to-a-Pariah-The Travails-of-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr
Featured Articles1 week ago

From a Sympathetic Figure to a Pariah: The Travails of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

Results-and-Recaps-from-NYC-where-Hamzah-Sheeraz-was-Spectacular
Featured Articles3 days ago

Results and Recaps from NYC where Hamzah Sheeraz was Spectacular

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Catterall-vs-Eubank-Ends-Prematurely-Catterall-Wins-a-Technical-Decision
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catterall vs Eubank Ends Prematurely; Catterall Wins a Technical Decision

Philadelphia-Welterweight-Gil-Turner-a-Phenom-Now-Rests-in-an-Unmarked-Grave
Featured Articles4 days ago

Philadelphia Welterweight Gil Turner, a Phenom, Now Rests in an Unmarked Grave

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

Avila-Perspecrive-Chap-334-Back-to-Back-Boxing-Cards-in-the-Big-Apple
Featured Articles5 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 334: Back-to-Back Boxing Cards in the Big Apple

Paro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Gibbons
Featured Articles22 hours ago

From the Boondocks to the Big Time, The Wild Saga of Manny Pacquiao’s Sidekick Sean Gibbons

Results-and-Recaps-from-NYC-where-Hamzah-Sheeraz-was-Spectacular
Featured Articles3 days ago

Results and Recaps from NYC where Hamzah Sheeraz was Spectacular

Results-and-Recaps-from-New-York-Where-Taylor-edged-Serrano-Once-Again
Featured Articles4 days ago

Results and Recaps from New York Where Taylor Edged Serrano Once Again

Philadelphia-Welterweight-Gil-Turner-a-Phenom-Now-Rests-in-an-Unmarked-Grave
Featured Articles4 days ago

Philadelphia Welterweight Gil Turner, a Phenom, Now Rests in an Unmarked Grave

Avila-Perspecrive-Chap-334-Back-to-Back-Boxing-Cards-in-the-Big-Apple
Featured Articles5 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 334: Back-to-Back Boxing Cards in the Big Apple

From-a-Sympathetic-Figure-to-a-Pariah-The Travails-of-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr
Featured Articles1 week ago

From a Sympathetic Figure to a Pariah: The Travails of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

Catterall-vs-Eubank-Ends-Prematurely-Catterall-Wins-a-Technical-Decision
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catterall vs Eubank Ends Prematurely; Catterall Wins a Technical Decision

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mexico's-Francisco-Rodriguez-Jr-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-June
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr is the TSS Fighter of the Month for June

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Paro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending