Connect with us

Featured Articles

Deontay Wilder: “Robert has a warrior’s heart, like mine”

Published

on

Deontay-Wilder-Robert-has-a-warrior's heart-like-me

Deontay Wilder, the strong American puncher, and the also devastating Finn Robert Helenius are aware that their future in boxing depends on the result of their confrontation on Oct. 15th at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The elimination fight gives the winner the opportunity to fight for the WBC title.

In his previous fight last October, Deontay Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) was defeated in the 11th round by Tyson Fury (32-0-1, 23 KOs) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It was the third fight between them.

Two years earlier, Fury “The Gypsy King” snatched the WBC belt from Wilder by spectacular seventh-round knockout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas where Wilder was making his tenth defense of the belt.

Wilder, born 36 years ago in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, says that after the loss he walked away from boxing completely and even stopped watching other fights for a long time. During that stage of denial, in some interviews he hinted that perhaps the third fight against Fury would be the last of his professional career.

In an interview with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), Wilder said, “I didn’t at all [keep up with anything in the sport]. My wife goes to fights and watches way more than I do. When I’m away, I’m away. I go missing in action on purpose. I’m a renaissance man. I’m more than just boxing. I’m more than just an athlete.”

But as time heals all wounds, even mental ones, the “Bronze Bomber” opened the doors to a new confrontation. On May 25th, with the inauguration of a full-size statue in his honor in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, there was a ray of hope for his return. Pertaining to his retirement, Wilder said, “Not at this moment in time. You know, I’ve been highly requested … So many people were telling me ‘Come back, come back.’ So, I’d say I’m back by popular demand. The business of boxing needs me. I can’t stop right here. But I must continue my journey. I have to, I have to.”

Wilder’s fans welcomed his statements and quickly the list of possible rivals emerged on different websites and on social networks. Then it was revealed that on October 15th, Wilder will face Robert Helenius, ranked second by the WBA and fourth by the WBC. Ranked number one by the WBC, Wilder is anxious to beat Helenius (31-3, 20 KOs) to maintain that privileged place and have the option of fighting for the crown that Fury owns, or perhaps an elimination bout against either Andy “El Destructor” Ruiz (35-0, 22 KOs) or the Cuban, Frank “El Relampago” Sanchez, ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively by the WBC.

Wilder recently stated, “I have three, maybe four years left, and then I’m completely done. I’ve done great with my finances. I make more money outside of the ring than inside of the ring. To even get in the ring, I need to have a certain minimum. It feels good to make a decision about when and what you want to do. I’m not coming back to the sport because I need to. And it’s a great feeling to be on the opposite side because most of the time [other boxers] need money.”

Commenting on the match-up against the “Nordic Nightmare Helenius which will be broadcast on FOX pay-per-view, Wilder noted, “I always want a good match-up. Robert has been on a winning streak, and he’s here. With Robert, I think he’s gotten even more confident because he’s been sparring with me for many years. And I’m sure he’s trying to do some things that I’ve never seen before. And the one thing I like about Robert is that he has a warrior’s heart, just like me.”

The 38-year-old Helenius was born in Stockholm, Sweden and settled in Finland. His last three victories were all by TKO. He lost prior to that to American Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington by KO in the eighth round.

Wilder feels rejuvenated and expressed that his training has been different from previous ones. “We’ve been doing 30 or 40 rounds nonstop. Only time I get water is during the break. I’ve just been doing things like that to challenge myself, doing things that have never been done before, or that you don’t really do in boxing. I wanted to see how my body adjusts to the long length of time without a break. When you can go a long time without taking a break, you’re in shape.”

To comment in this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Article submitted by Jorge Juan Alvarez in Spanish.

Please note that any errors in translation were unintentional.

Share The Sweet Science experience!

Featured Articles

High Drama in Japan as ‘Amazing Boy’ Kenshiro Teraji Overcomes Seigo Yuri Akui

Published

on

High-Drama-in-Japan-as-'Amazing-Boy'Kenshiro-Teraji-Overcomes-Seigo-Yuri-Akui

Overshadowed by countrymen Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani, Kenshiro Teraji embossed his Hall of Fame credentials in Tokyo tonight with a dramatic 12th-round stoppage of Seigo Yuri Akui. At stake were two pieces of the world flyweight title. A two-time world title-holder a division below (108), Teraji (25-1, 16 KOs) was appearing in his 16th world title fight.

This Japan vs. Japan matchup will go down in Japanese boxing lore as one of the best title fights ever on Japanese soil. Through the 11 completed rounds, Akui was up 105-104 on two of the cards with Teraji up 106-103 on the third. However, judging by his appearance, Akui was more damaged. The stoppage by Japanese referee Katsuhiko Nakamura, which came at the 1:31 mark of the final round with Akui still standing, struck some as premature but the gallant Akui was well-beaten.

A second-generation prizefighter, Kenshiro Teraji, 33, came bearing the WBC 112-pound belt which he acquired this past October with an 11th round TKO of Nicaraguan veteran Cristofer Rosales. The 29-year-old Akui (21-3-1) was making the second defense of the WBA strap he won with a wide decision over previously undefeated Artem Dalakian.

Although Teraji keeps on rolling – this was his seventh straight win which began with a third-round blast-out of Masamichi Yabuki, avenging his lone defeat – things aren’t getting any easier for the so-called “Amazing Boy.” In his last three fights, which include a hard-earned majority decision over Carlos Canizales, he answered the bell for 35 rounds.

By and large, fighters in his weight class don’t age well. While Teraji is starting to slip, he has no intention of retiring any time soon. His goal, he says is to unify the title and eventually move up a notch to pursue a world title in a third weight class. The other pieces of the 112-pound title are currently the property of Mexico’s Angel Ayala who defends his IBF diadem against Yabuki later this month and LA’s Anthony Olascuaga who was in action on tonight’s undercard.

Other Bouts of Note

Olascuaga, a stablemate of Junto Nakatani, trained by 2024 TSS Trainer of the Year Rudy Hernandez, advanced to 9-1 (6) with a hard-earned unanimous decision over Hiroto Kyoguchi. The judges had it 118-110 and 117-111 (scores condemned as too wide) with the third judge having it 6-6 in rounds but scoring it 114-113 in acknowledgement of the knockdown credited to Olascuaga in round 11, the result of a short left that produced a delayed reaction.

Olascuaga was making the second defense of his WBO belt in his fifth straight trip to Japan. In his lone defeat, he was thrust against the formidable Teraji as a late sub, acquitting himself well in defeat (L TKO 9) despite having only five pro fights under his belt and having only 10 days to prepare. Kyoguchi (19-3) had previously held titles in the sport’s two smallest weight classes.

In a big upset, Puerto Rico’s Rene Santiago, thought to be well past his prime at age 32, wrested the WBO light flyweight title with a unanimous decision over Shokichi Iwata who was making the first defense of the title he won with a third-round stoppage of Spain’s previously undefeated Jairo Noriega. Tokyo’s Iwata was a consensus 9/1 favorite.

Santiago, who advanced to 14-4 (9), won by scores of 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112. It was the second loss for Iwata who had knocked out 11 of his first 15 opponents.

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading

Featured Articles

Keith Thurman Returns with a Bang; KOs Brock Jarvis in Sydney

Published

on

Keith-Thurman-Returns-with-a-Bang-KOs-Brock-Jarvis-in-Sydney

The combination of age and ring rust made Keith Thurman a tricky proposition against Brock Jarvis, but the 36-year-old Floridian, a former WBA and WBC world welterweight champion, had too much firepower for the overmatched Aussie, knocking out Jarvis in the third round tonight in Sydney and setting up a massive fight with Tim Tszyu.

Thurman’s career has been repeatedly interrupted with injuries. He missed all of 2023 and 2024 and this was only his second fight back since being out-pointed by Manny Pacquiao in 2019. He was slated to fight Tszyu in March of last year in Las Vegas with two 154-pound straps on the line, but pulled out with a biceps injury and was replaced by Sebastian Fundora who saddled the snakebit Tszyu with his first defeat.

Against Brock Jarvis, Thurman started slowly. The TV commentating team, which included Tszyu and Shawn Porter, had the busier Jarvis winning the first two rounds. But the savvy Thurman was simply “processing data” and found his grove in the third frame, smashing Jarvis to the canvas with a combination climaxed by a wicked uppercut. Jarvis staggered to his feet but was a cooked goose and the referee waived it off immediately when Jarvis hit the deck again after absorbing a harsh left hook. The official time was 2:19 of round three.

It was the second bad loss for Jarvis (22-2), a noted knockout puncher who had previously been stopped in the opening round by countryman Liam Paro. He hails from the Sydney suburb of Merrickville which also spawned Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech, Jarvis’s former trainer.

Thurman advanced to 37-1 with his twenty-third win inside the distance. According to Tszyu’s promoter George Rose, the match between Thurman and Tszyu will finally come to fruition on July 6, likely at the Gold Coast Convention Center in Broadbeach. That’s predicated on the assumption that Tszyu wins his next fight without complications which comes on April 6 against Minnesota’s 19-1 Joey Spencer at Newcastle, Australia.

Other Bouts of Note

Melbourne Middleweight Michael Zerafa, who also covets a match with Tim Tszyu, improved to 33-5 (21 KOs) with a seventh-round stoppage of Germany’s obscure Besir Ay (19-2) who was on the deck twice before the referee waived it off. This was the second fight back for Zerafa after getting pulverized by Erislandy Lara who stopped him in the second round in March of last year. Ay, 35, is recognized as the middleweight champion of Germany.

In a middleweight match slated for 10, Tim Tszyu’s longtime sparring partner Cesar Mateo bombed out Sergei Vorobev in the fifth round, ending the match with a spectacular one-punch KO. The 26-year-old Mateo (18-0-1, 11 KOs) is a native of Tijuana. Vorobev (20-3-2) is a 30-year-old Sydneysider born in Russia.

Thurman vs. Jarvis, a pay-per-view event in Australia, aired in the U.S. on a tape-delay on the PBC youtube channel.

Photo credit: Grant Trouville / No Limit Boxing

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

 

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading

Featured Articles

Friday Boxing Recaps: Observations on Conlan, Eubank, Bahdi, and David Jimenez

Published

on

Friday-Boxing-Recaps-Observations-on-Conlan-Eubank-Bahdi-and-David-Jimenez

Friday Boxing Recaps: Observations on Conlan, Eubank, Bahdi, and David Jimenez

March 7 was an unusually heavy Friday for professional boxing. The show that warranted the most ink was the all-female card in London, a tour-de-force for the super-talented Lauren Price, but there were important fights on other continents.

Brighton

Michael Conlan, who sat out all of 2024 on the heels of being stopped in three of his previous five, returned to the ring in the British seaside resort city of Brighton in a shake-off-the-rust, 8-rounder against Asad Asif Khan, a 31-year-old Indian from Calcutta making his first appearance in a British ring.

Conlan, a 2016 Olympic silver medalist who famously signed with Top Rank coming out of the amateur ranks, is now 33 years old.  Against Khan, he was far from impressive, but did enough to win by a 78-74 score and lock in a match with Spain’s Cristobal Lorente, the European featherweight champion.

Conlan, who improved to 19-3 (9), absorbed a lot of punishment in those three matches that he lost. With his deep amateur background, Michael has a lot of mileage on him and he would have been smart to call it quits after his embarrassingly one-sided defeat to Luis Alberto Lopez. His frayed reflexes speak to something more than ring rust. Heading in, Khan brought a 19-5-1 record but had scored only five wins inside the distance.

Conlan vs Khan was the co-feature. In the main event, Brighton welterweight Harlem Eubank, the cousin of Chris Eubank Jr, improved to 21-0 (9 KOs) with a dominant performance over Conlan’s Belfast homie Tyrone McKenna. Eubank was credited with three knockdowns, all the result of body punches, before referee John Latham had seen enough and pulled the plug at the 2:09 mark of round 10. It was the fourth loss in his last six outings for the 35-year-old McKenna (24-6-1).

Harlem Eubank wants to fight Conor Benn next and says he is willing to wait until after his cousin “wipes Benn out.” Chris Eubank Jr vs Benn is slated for April 26 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The North London facility, which has a retractable roof, is the third-largest soccer stadium in England.

Toronto

Local fan favorite Lucas Bahdi and his stablemate Sara Bailey were the headliners on last night’s card at the Great Canadian Casino Resort in Toronto. The event marked the first incursion of Jake Paul’s MVP Promotions into Canada.

Bahdi, who is from Niagara Falls but trains in Toronto, burst out of obscurity in July of last year in Tampa, Florida, with a spectacular one-punch knockout of heavily-hyped Ashton “H2O” Sylva. His next fight, on the undercard of Jake Paul’s match with Mike Tyson, was less “noisy” and the same could be said of his homecoming fight with Ryan James Racaza, an undefeated (15-0) but obscure southpaw from the Philippines who was making his North American debut.

Bahdi vs Racaza was a technical fight that didn’t warm up until Bahdi produced a knockdown in round seven with a sweeping left hook, a glancing blow that appeared to land behind Racaza’s ear. The Filipino was up in a jiff, looking at the referee as if to say, “this dude just hit me with a rabbit punch.”

The judges had it 99-90, 97-92, and 96-93 for the victorious Bahdi (19-0) who was the subject of a recent profile on these pages.

Sara Bailey, a decorated amateur who competed around the world under her maiden name Sara Haghighat Joo and now holds the WBA light flyweight title, successfully defended that trinket with a lopsided decision over Cristina Navarro (6-3), a 35-year-old Spaniard who “earned” this assignment by winning a 6-round decision over an opponent with a 1-4-3 record. The judges scored the monotonous fight 99-91 across the board for Bailey who improved to 6-0 and then returned to the ring to assist her husband in Lucas Bahdi’s corner.

Also

Twenty-two-year-old super bantamweight Angel Barrientes, a Las Vegas-based Hawaii native, delivered the best performance of the night with a one-sided beatdown of Alexander Castellano whose corner mercifully stopped the contest after the seventh round as the ring doctor stood in a neutral corner chatting with the referee.

The gritty Castellano, who hails from Tonawanda, New York, brought an 11-1-2 record and hadn’t previously been stopped. A glutton for punishment, he appeared to suffer a broken orbital bone. Barrientes improved to 13-1 (8 KOs).

The show was marred by an excessive amount of fluffy gobbledygook by the TV talking heads which slowed down the action and made the promotion almost unwatchable.

Cartago, Costa Rica

Fighting in his hometown, super flyweight David Jimenez scored a lopsided 12-round decision over Nicaragua’s Keyvin Lara. The judges had it 120-108, 119-109, and 116-112.

Jimenez, now 17-1, came to the fore in July of 2022 when he upset Ricardo Sandoval in Los Angeles, winning a well-earned majority decision over a 20/1 favorite riding a 16-fight winning streak. That boosted him into a title fight with the formidable Artem Dalakian who saddled him with his lone defeat.

Jimenez’s victory over Lara was his fifth since that setback. It sets up the Costa Rican for another title fight, this time against Argentina’s Fernando Martinez who acquired the WBA 115-pound title in July with an upset of Kazuto Ioka in Japan. Lara, who unsuccessfully challenged Ioka for a belt in 2016, falls to 32-7-1.

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

 

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Results-and-Recaps-from-Madison-Square-Garden-where-Keyshawn-Davis-KOed-Berinchyk
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Madison Square Garden where Keyshawn Davis KO’d Berinchyk

Lamont-Roach-Holds-Tank-Davis-to-a-Draw-in-Brooklyn
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Lamont Roach holds Tank Davis to a Draw in Brooklyn

Vito-Mielnicki-Hopes-to-Steal-the-Show-on-Froday-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Hopes to Steal the Show on Friday at Madison Square Garden

Greg-Haugen-1960-2025-was-Tougher-then-the-Toughest-Tijuana-Taxi-Driver
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Greg Haugen (1960-2025) was Tougher than the Toughest Tijuana Taxi Driver

Gene-Hackman's-Involvement-in-Boxing-Went-Deeper-than-that-of-a-Casual-Fan
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Gene Hackman’s Involvement in Boxing Went Deeper than that of a Casual Fan

The-Hauser-Report-Keyshawn-Davis-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

The Hauser Report: Keyshawn Davis at Madison Square Garden

The-Hauser-Report-Riyadh-Season-and-Sony-Hall-Very-Big-and-Very-Small
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Hauser Report — Riyadh Season and Sony Hall: Very Big and Very Small

Friday-Boxing-Recaps-Observations-on-Conlan-Eubank-Bahdi-and-David-Jimenez
Featured Articles5 days ago

Friday Boxing Recaps: Observations on Conlan, Eubank, Bahdi, and David Jimenez

Lucas-Bahdi-Paid-His-Dues-Quite-Literally-and-Now-his-Career-is-Flourishing
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Lucas Bahdi Paid His Dues, Quite Literally, and Now his Boxing Career is Flourishing

Arnold-Barboza-Edges-Past-Jack-Catterall-in-Manchester
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Arnold Barboza Edges Past Jack Catterall in Manchester

Avila-Perspective-Chap-313-Global-Cooperation-Golden-Boy-and-Matchroom-Boxing
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 313: Global Cooperation — Golden Boy and Matchroom Boxing

Boxing-Odds-and-Ends-Mikaela-Mayer-on-Jonas-vs-Price-and-More
Featured Articles1 week ago

Boxing Odds and Ends: Mikaela Mayer on Jonas vs. Price and More

Avila-Perspective-Chap-315-Tank-Davis-Hackman-Ortiz-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 315: Tank Davis, Hackman, Ortiz and More

Oscar-Duarte-KOs-Miguel-Madueno-in-a-Battle-of-Mexicans-at-Anaheim
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Oscar Duarte KOs Miguel Madueno in a Battle of Mexicans at Anaheim

Early-Results-from-Riyadh-where-Hamza-Sheeraz-was-Awarded-a-Gift-Draw
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Early Results from Riyadh where Hamzah Sheeraz was Awarded a Gift Draw

Two-Candidates-for-the-Greatest-Fight-Card-in-Boxing-History
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Two Candidates for the Greatest Fight Card in Boxing History

Bivol-Evens-the-Score-with-Beterbiev-Parker-and-Stevenson-Win-Handily
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Bivol Evens the Score with Beterbiev; Parker and Stevenson Win Handily

Cain-Sandoval-KOs-Mark-Bernaldez-in-the-Featured-Bout-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Cain Sandoval KOs Mark Bernaldez in the Featured Bout at Santa Ynez

Price-Conquers-Jonas-on-an-All-Female-Card-at-Royal-Albert-Hall
Featured Articles6 days ago

Price Conquers Jonas on an All-Female Card at Royal Albert Hall

Avila-Perspective-Chap-314-A-Really-Big-Boxing-Show-in-Riyadh-and-More
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 314: A Really Big Boxing Show in Riyadh and More

High-Drama-in-Japan-as-'Amazing-Boy'Kenshiro-Teraji-Overcomes-Seigo-Yuri-Akui
Featured Articles6 hours ago

High Drama in Japan as ‘Amazing Boy’ Kenshiro Teraji Overcomes Seigo Yuri Akui

Keith-Thurman-Returns-with-a-Bang-KOs-Brock-Jarvis-in-Sydney
Featured Articles1 day ago

Keith Thurman Returns with a Bang; KOs Brock Jarvis in Sydney

Friday-Boxing-Recaps-Observations-on-Conlan-Eubank-Bahdi-and-David-Jimenez
Featured Articles5 days ago

Friday Boxing Recaps: Observations on Conlan, Eubank, Bahdi, and David Jimenez

Price-Conquers-Jonas-on-an-All-Female-Card-at-Royal-Albert-Hall
Featured Articles6 days ago

Price Conquers Jonas on an All-Female Card at Royal Albert Hall

Avila-Perspective-Chap-316-Art-of-the-Deal-in-Boxing-and-More
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 316: Art of the Deal in Boxing and More

A-Wide-Ranging-Conversation-on-the-Ills-of-Boxing-with-Author/Journalist-Sean-Nam
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Wide-Ranging Conversation on the Ills of Boxing with Author/Journalist Sean Nam

Boxing-Odds-and-Ends-Mikaela-Mayer-on-Jonas-vs-Price-and-More
Featured Articles1 week ago

Boxing Odds and Ends: Mikaela Mayer on Jonas vs. Price and More

Lamont-Roach-Holds-Tank-Davis-to-a-Draw-in-Brooklyn
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Lamont Roach holds Tank Davis to a Draw in Brooklyn

Dueling-Cards-in-the-UK-where-Crocker-Upended-Donovan-Controversially-in-Belfast
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Dueling Cards in the U.K. where Crocker Controversially Upended Donovan in Belfast

Avila-Perspective-Chap-315-Tank-Davis-Hackman-Ortiz-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 315: Tank Davis, Hackman, Ortiz and More

Gene-Hackman's-Involvement-in-Boxing-Went-Deeper-than-that-of-a-Casual-Fan
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Gene Hackman’s Involvement in Boxing Went Deeper than that of a Casual Fan

Greg-Haugen-1960-2025-was-Tougher-then-the-Toughest-Tijuana-Taxi-Driver
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Greg Haugen (1960-2025) was Tougher than the Toughest Tijuana Taxi Driver

Nakatani-Japan's-Other-Superstar-Blows-Away-Cuellar-in-the-Third-Frame
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Nakatani, Japan’s Other Superstar, Blows Away Cuellar in the Third Frame

The-Hauser-Report-Riyadh-Season-and-Sony-Hall-Very-Big-and-Very-Small
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Hauser Report — Riyadh Season and Sony Hall: Very Big and Very Small

Bivol-Evens-the-Score-with-Beterbiev-Parker-and-Stevenson-Win-Handily
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Bivol Evens the Score with Beterbiev; Parker and Stevenson Win Handily

Early-Results-from-Riyadh-where-Hamza-Sheeraz-was-Awarded-a-Gift-Draw
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Early Results from Riyadh where Hamzah Sheeraz was Awarded a Gift Draw

Cain-Sandoval-KOs-Mark-Bernaldez-in-the-Featured-Bout-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Cain Sandoval KOs Mark Bernaldez in the Featured Bout at Santa Ynez

The-Return-of-David-Alaverdian
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Return of David Alaverdian

Two-Candidates-for-the-Greatest-Fight-Card-in-Boxing-History
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Two Candidates for the Greatest Fight Card in Boxing History

Avila-Perspective-Chap-314-A-Really-Big-Boxing-Show-in-Riyadh-and-More
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 314: A Really Big Boxing Show in Riyadh and More

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending

Advertisement