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Avila Perspective, Chap. 215: Warrington, Teofimo, Crawford and More

Avila Perspective, Chap. 215: Warrington, Teofimo, Crawford and More
Must get those fights in before the end of the year.
All day on Saturday from Southern California to Leeds, England the boxing world battles for attention with marquee fights on overload.
England’s Josh Warrington (31-1-1, 8 KOs) opens up the day with an IBF featherweight title defense against Mexico’s Luis Alberto Lopez (26-2, 15 KOs) on Saturday, Dec. 10, at First Direct Arena in Leeds. The Matchroom Boxing card will be streamed by DAZN.
“Sometimes my name doesn’t get the respect it deserves. I’m not asking for it but I’ve been in with challengers all throughout my career. I’ve just got to concentrate on what I do best and I believe it will be enough to get me a win on Saturday night,” said Warrington.
Warrington walks in with a three-inch height advantage over Lopez. Too bad he’s not fighting the other Mexican, Mauricio Lara, who is the only fighter with a win over the Leeds fighter. Lopez is known to Southern California boxing fans.
“It’s great to be here once again, and this time to be facing a champion. I always come here as a warrior for war and I won’t be going home without that world title,” said Lopez who hails from Mexicali, home of Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo.
If Warrington defeats Lopez it sets up a rematch with the heavy-hitting Mauricio Lara of Mexico who has a win and draw against the Leeds fighter.
Spicing up the Matchroom Boxing card will be female IBF bantamweight titlist Ebanie “Blonde Bomber” Bridges warring against Shannon “Shotgun” O’Connell in the co-main. These fellow Aussies do not like each other.
“I’m really happy that we’re finally here. It’s been a long time coming, a lot of dodging and trying to get around the fight but we’re here now and there’s no hiding,” said O’Connell.
Bridges shrugs at the words.
“All that matters is what happens in the ring on Saturday night. That’s when she’ll find out how serious I take this sport,” said Bridges at the press conference. “I think Shannon O’Connell is my hardest fight and I’m taking it very seriously. I’m not underestimating her at all.”
It’s a sterling fight card to open up the day.
Terence Crawford vs David Avanesyan
After years of back-and-forth verbal tussling Terence Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) abandoned hope of luring any fellow American welterweights. Instead, he’s fighting Russia’s David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska. BLK Prime pay-per-view will telecast the Next Gen Boxing, Bash Boxing Promotion event.
“I’m still really excited about this one in my hometown. I’m sure there will be a lot of first-time boxing fans who haven’t been able to see me live, and they’ll get the opportunity to see me right in their backyards,” said Crawford who lives and trains in Omaha.
Crawford, a three-division world titlist, last fought a year ago when he stopped and retired Shawn Porter in the 10th round in Las Vegas. Since then, he was unable to finalize a deal with PBC to lure Errol Spence Jr. into the ring.
Avanesyan is ranked high in the welterweights and was the fighter who retired Hall of Fame boxer Sugar Shane Mosley in 2015. He always fights hard and is best described as a grinder. He just battles and battles unspectacularly like a Sherman tank.
“A win against the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in boxing, will make me one of the biggest names in the sport. I would become a household name and a top-5 pound-for-pound fighter,” said Avanesyan. “Beating Terence Crawford will change my life forever. I am better than ever, and I am about to be the one that everyone in boxing talks about.”
Both are roughly the same size. The advantage comes with Crawford’s speed.
The rest of the boxing card is not spectacular, but showcases some good talent.
Teofimo vs Martin
Just when he was on the verge of busting out as a superstar, Teofimo Lopez lost to George Kambosos and you know the rest. Still, he possesses eye-popping talent.
“The only surprise that I think everyone will see is how much better I got since my first career loss. What I would like to tell everyone here is that you never really lose. The only time you ever really lose is when you quit,” said Lopez.
Lopez (17-1, 13 KOs) meets Spain’s Sandor Martin (40-2, 13 KOs) a hit and run southpaw fighter with little pop but on who can take a punch on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City. ESPN+ will show the Top Rank card.
Martin (pictured on the right) was the last man to defeat Southern California’s Mikey Garcia. That, in itself, is an accomplishment. No need to say more.
“It’s very difficult to be a boxer and come out of Spain. It’s taken a professional career of 42 professional fights across 11 years to have an opportunity like this. As soon as I got the opportunity, I couldn’t reject it,” said Martin making his second appearance on American shores.
Lopez last fought this past summer at super lightweight and exploded on Mexico’s Pedro Campa to win various regional super lightweight titles. Now he battles legend-beater Martin to decide who moves on to a world title challenge.
“It’s all about giving the fans what they really want,” said Lopez.
Elite Boxing Promotions at Commerce
A dozen Southern California prospects headline an Elite Boxing Promotions card at Commerce Casino on Saturday Dec. 10. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Among those entering the prize ring are Adrian Alvarado, Francisco Casillas, Jose Elias, Joshua Anton, and Osvaldo Lopez.
For more information call (323) 455-9763.
The Commerce Casino is located at 6131 Telegraph Rd. Commerce, Calif. 90040.
Infuencer Fight League
Influencer Fight League presents its Holiday Edition fight card on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Famecast Studio in Santa Monica, California. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.
A slew of social media influencers fight each other including KC Fantastic LA versus Julio Lopez. So far this year the IFL has staged several shows and have gained a wide-ranging audience in the Los Angeles area.
For tickets go to www.fittvnetwork.com
Fights to Watch
Sat. DAZN 11 a.m. Josh Warrington (31-1-1) vs Luis Lopez (26-2); Ebanie Bridges (8-1) vs Shannon O’Connell (23-6-1).
Sat. ESPN+ 10:15 a.m. Michael Conlan (17-1) vs Karim Guerfi (31-6).
Sat. ESPN 6 p.m. Teofimo Lopez (17-1) vs Sandor Martin (40-2).
Sat. BLK pay-per-view 6 p.m. Terence Crawford (38-0) vs David Avanesyan (29-3-1).
Teofimo-Martin Photo Credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank via Getty Images
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Ever-Improving Callum Walsh KOs Dean Sutherland at Madison Square Garden

Irish luck was not involved as Callum Walsh won the battle of hard-hitting southpaws over Dean Sutherland by knockout on Sunday.
One right hook was all it took.
“You’re never going to beat the Irish,” said Walsh.
In a contest between Celtic super welterweights Walsh (13-0, 11 KOs) retained the WBC Continental America’s title against Sutherland (19-2, 7 KOs) in quick fashion at the Madison Square Garden Theater in Manhattan.
Usually fights between southpaws can be confusing to both contestants. But Walsh had expressed a fondness for fighting lefthanders then vividly exhibited the reasons why.
Walsh, 24, a native of Cork, Ireland, now living and training in Los Angeles, quickly demonstrated why he likes fighting lefties with a steady flow of combinations from the opening bell.
He did not hesitate.
Sutherland, 26, had only lost once before and that was more than two years ago. Against Walsh the Scottish fighter was not hesitant to advance forward but was caught with lefts and right hooks.
After two minutes of scattered blows, Sutherland fought back valiantly and when cornered, Walsh tapped two jabs then unleashed a right hook through the Scottish fighter’s gloves that floored the Aberdeen fighter for the count at 2:45 of the first round.
“I’m feeling very good. Dean Sutherland is a very good opponent. I knew he was going to be dangerous. That was my best opponent,” said Walsh.
It was the fourth consecutive knockout win for Walsh who seems to improve with every single combat.
“I’m looking forward to the future. I’m getting stronger and stronger,” said Walsh who is trained by Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach. “Anyone that comes to me I will take him out.”
Other Bouts
Super featherweight Feargal McCrory (17-1, 9 KOs) survived a knockdown in the fourth to out-muscle Keenan Carbajal (25-5-1, 17 KOs) and batter down the Arizona fighter in the seventh and again in the eighth with volume punching.
Carbajal was deducted a point early for holding in round two, but regained that point when he floored the Irish southpaw during an exchange in the fourth.
Despite suffering a knockdown, McCrory continued stalking Carbajal and floored him in the seventh and eighth with battering blows. Referee Arthur Mercante Jr. stopped the fight without a count.
A rematch between two Irish super middleweights saw Emmet Brennan (6-0) remain undefeated by unanimous decision over Kevin Cronin (9-3-1).
Cronin started quickly with a pressure style and punches flowing against Brennan who resorted to covering and countering. Though it looked like Cronin was building up a lead with a busier style, the judges preferred Brennan’s judicious counters. No knockdowns were scored as all three judges saw Brennan the winner 98-92 after 10 rounds.
Dajuan Calloway (11-3, 9 KOs) emerged the winner by technical knockout over Thomas Carty (10-1) who was unable to continue after two rounds when his leg tangled and thereafter was unable to stand. Because he could not continue the fight was ruled a technical knockout win for Calloway in the heavyweight match.
Also
Cletus “Hebrew Hammer” Seldin (29-1, 23 Kos) defeated Yeis Solano (15-5) by majority decision after eight rounds in a super lightweight contest.
Donagh Keary (1-0) defeated Geral Alicea-Romero (0-1-1) by decision after four.
Light heavyweights Sean O’Bradaigh (0-0-1) and Jefferson Almeida (0-1-1) fought to a majority draw after four.
Photo credit: JP Yim
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Nick Ball Wears Down and Stops TJ Doheny Before the Home Folks in Liverpool

Fighting in his hometown, Liverpool’s five-foot-two fireplug Nick “The Wrecking” Ball stopped TJ Doheny after 10 progressively more one-sided rounds to retain his WBA belt in the second defense of the featherweight title he won with a hard-earned decision over Raymond Ford in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Referee Michael Alexander, with the assent of Doheny’s corner, waived it off following the bell ending Round 10, much to the chagrin of the brave but mildewed Doheny who burst into tears. But then, Doheny’s right eye was closed shut and he was plainly exhausted. This may be the end of the line for the 38-year-old campaigner from Perth, Australia via Portlaois, Ireland who was 26-5 heading in following his first loss inside the distance which came against pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue.
There were no knockdowns, but Ball (22-0-1, 13 KOs) was docked a point in round nine for throwing Doheny to the canvas after having previously been warned for this infraction. Earlier, both he and Doheny were warned for an incident that could have ended the bout prematurely. At the end of the first round, Ball extricated himself from a headlock by kicking Doheny in the back of his knee. The challenger’s leg appeared to buckle as he returned to his stool.
Going forward, Ball has many options. The 28-year-old Liverpudlian purportedly relishes a unification fight with WBC belt-holder Stephen Fulton, but the decision ultimately rests with Ball’s promoter Frank Warren.
Other Bouts of Note
In a 12-round bantamweight contest that was close on the scorecards but yet a monotonous affair, Liverpool’s Andrew Cain won a split decision over former WBC flyweight title-holder Charlie Edwards. The scores were 116-112 and 115-114 favoring Cain with judge Steve Gray submitting a disreputable 115-113 tally for Edwards. At stake were a trio of regional titles.
The science of boxing, they say, is about hitting without getting hit. Charlie Edwards is adept at the latter but the hitting part is not in his DNA. He was on his bicycle from the get-go, a style that periodically brought forth a cascade of boos. Cain, who trains in the same gym with Nick Ball, was never able to corner him – Edwards was too elusive – but Cain, to his credit, never lost his composure.
In improving to 14-1 (12), Cain achieved a measure of revenge, in a sense. In his last documented amateur bout, in 2014, Cain was defeated by Charlie’s brother Sunny Edwards, also a former world title-holder at the professional level. Heading in, Charlie Edwards (20-2, 1 NC) was unbeaten in his last 13 which included a comfortable decision over Cristofer Rosales in his flyweight title fight. Charlie relinquished that belt when he could no longer make the weight.
Showboating Cuban lightweight Jadier Herrera, who fought 13 of his first 14 pro fights in his adopted home of Dubai, advanced to 17-0 (15 KOs) with a seventh-round stoppage of spunky but outclassed Mexican import Jose Macias (21-4-2). The official time was 2:31 of round seven.
An all-Liverpool affair between super flyweights Jack Turner (11-0, 10 KOs) and Ryan Farrag (23-6) was over in a jiff. The match, which went next-to-last in the bout order, ended at the 42-second mark of round two. A barrage of punches climaxed by a left hook sent Farrag down hard and the referee waived it off.
The noted spoiler Ionut Baluta, whose former victims include Andrew Cain, forged another upset with a 10-round split decision over local fan favorite Brad Strand. The judges favored Baluta 98-91 and 96-94, out-voting the Italian judge whose 97-93 tally for Strand was deemed the most accurate by the TV pundits.
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Avila Perspective, Chap. 317: Callum Walsh, Dana White and More

As Callum Walsh stood on the observation deck at the top of the Empire State Building with fists clenched, it harked back to actor Jimmy Cagney, an actor of Irish descent, yelling “Top of the world, ma,” in the 1949 motion picture White Heat.
The Irish-born Walsh brings that kind of attitude.
Once again Walsh (12-0, 10 KOs) returns to New York City and this time faces Scottish warrior Dean Sutherland (19-1, 7 KOs) in a super welterweight match set for 10 rounds on Sunday, March 16, at Madison Garden Theater.
UFC Fight Pass will stream the 360 Promotions event.
Flanked by master trainer Freddie Roach and managed by Dana White it brings questions as to the direction that Walsh will be steered. It was just revealed that White will head a new boxing promotion outfit with big plans to make a more UFC type of organization.
Is Walsh part of the plans?
It’s a lot to digest as the hot prospect from Cork, Ireland proceeds toward world championship dreams. Can he cleanse his mind of this major distraction?
Walsh and Sutherland are both southpaws who are meeting at the crossroads in the heart of New York City. At this point of their careers a loss can mean rebooting and taking a few steps backward. The winner moves on to the next crucial step.
Sutherland, 26, hails from Aberdeen and has never fought outside of his native Scotland. It’s a lot to ask of someone whose country’s population of 5 million is dwarfed by New York City’s 8.2 million inhabitants all packed together.
Ireland’s population is also 5 million. So basically, both Walsh and Sutherland are on even terms when they enter the prize ring on Sunday.
Who knows what kind of competition Sutherland faced in Scotland. He beat two undefeated fighters and also conquered two foes who each had more than 100 losses on their resumes.
Meanwhile, Walsh has faced only one undefeated fighter but handled veterans like Benjamin Whitaker, Ismael Villareal and Carlos Ortiz Cervantes. But you never know until they meet face to face. Anything can happen in a prize ring.
Walsh has a three-fight knockout streak. Sutherland has slept two out of his last three foes. They will be joined by several Irish fighters on the card plus Cletus “The Hebrew Hammer” Seldin.
Dana, Turk and TKO
The announcement earlier in the week that Turki Alalshikh together with TKO Group Holdings that include Dana White and Nick Khan formed a new boxing promotion company.
White, who does not own UFC but guides the MMA ship, works for Endeavor, the parent company of UFC and WWE. Their events are all shown on ESPN, the powerful sports network (albeit WWE’s flagship weekly show “Raw” recently moved to Netflix). It seems Endeavor has decided to allow White to guide its boxing program too.
Where does that leave Top Rank?
It seems the partnership plans to rid boxing of the many sanctioning organizations and have only one champion per division. The champion will be given a Ring Magazine belt. Recently, Turki Alalshikh purchased The Ring magazine from Golden Boy Promotions. This seems to have been the plan all along.
Is this good for boxing?
Mark Shapiro, the president of TKO Group Holdings, said:
“This is a strategic opportunity to re-imagine the sport of boxing globally. TKO has the deep expertise, promotional prowess, and longstanding relationships. HE Turki Alalshikh and Sela share our passion and vision for evolving the current model. Together, we can bring the sweet science back to its rightful place in the forefront of the global sports ecosystem.”
DAZN all day
Three boxing cards take place on Saturday beginning with WBA featherweight titlist Nick Ball (21-0-1) the human cannonball, defending against former champion TJ Doheny from Liverpool, England. The first bout begins around 9:30 a.m. (Pacific Coast Time). Ball likes to charge forward and punch. Doheny is no slouch and has experience.
Later, Matchroom Boxing presents a show from Florida that features Edgar Berlanga (22-1) fresh off a solid contest against Canelo Alvarez. He fights undefeated Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz (20-0-1) in a super middleweight match. Also, Ammo Williams (17-1) returns to face dangerous Patrice Volny (19-1) in a middleweight clash. The card starts at 3:30 p.m. (Pacific Coast Time.
Saturday evening MarvNation presents Amado Vargas (11-0) meeting Eduardo Hernandez (8-2) in a super lightweight contest at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California. Start time is set for 8 p.m. (Pacific Coast Time). The son of the great Fernando Vargas remains undefeated.
Fights to Watch
Sat. DAZN 11:30 a.m. Nick Ball (21-0-1) vs TJ Doheny (26-5).
Sat. DAZN 3:30 p.m. Edgar Berlanga (22-1) vs Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz (20-0-1) ; Ammo Williams (17-1) vs Patrice Volny (19-1).
Sat. DAZN 8 p.m. Amado Vargas (11-0) vs Eduardo Hernandez (8-2).
Sun. UFC Fight Pass 3 p.m. Callum Walsh (12-0) vs Dean Sutherland (19-1).
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