Thomas Hauser’s Notes and Nuggets: Boxing on UFC Fight Pass, Callum Walsh, and More

Published

1 year ago

November 10, 2023

Thomas-Hauser's-Notes-and-Nuggets-Boxing-on-UFC-Fight-Pass-Callum-Walsh-and-More

Dana White has talked about expanding UFC’s role in boxing. But for the most part, his involvement with the sweet science has been limited to club-fight cards on UFC Fight pass.

UFC Fight Pass is a streaming service that was launched in 2013 and offers combat-sports-related content on a worldwide basis. The cost in the United States is $9.99 per month (or $95.99 for a one-year subscription). Subscribers have access inter alia to the early preliminary bouts on UFC pay-per-view cards but not the chief supporting fights or main event.

The first boxing match on UFC Fight Pass featured a past-his-prime Roy Jones vs. Scott Sigmon on February 8, 2018. 360 Promotions (run by Tom Loeffler) is now its boxing promoter of choice. On Thursday, November 9, Loeffler promoted a seven-bout card in the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. The event (seen live on UFC Fight Pass) was timed to feed off the attention being generated by UFC 295, which will take place in the main arena on Saturday night.

The Thursday card was a showcase for Callum Walsh, a 22-year-old native of Cork, Ireland who now lives in California. Walsh (pictured) entered the ring with an 8-0 (7 KOs) ring record and was matched against Ismael Villarreal (13-1, 9 KOs) in a ten-round junior-middleweight bout.

White hopes that Walsh will tap into the Conor McGregor fan base and become the next face of Irish boxing. With that in mind, he has put the UFC publicity machine behind him.

“Callum is getting a lot of support from UFC social media,” Loeffler noted at the final pre-fight press conference. “That gives him exposure to a wide audience.” The promoter then went into overdrive, declaring, “Callum has the makings of a global superstar.”

Talk like that is fine with Walsh, who says, “I’ve never wanted to do anything with my life but box. I’ve imagined myself in the spotlight for so long that the attention I’m getting now seems normal to me. I feel like I’m destined for greatness. I’m on the road to where I want to be.”

When fight night arrived, the seven fighters in the red (designated winners) corner had a composite 83-1-1 ring record built largely against suspect opposition The assumption (which proved correct) was that the numbers would be 90-1-1 when the night was over.

Cain Sandoval (now 11-0 with 11 KOs) looked like the most promising prospect on the card en route to a fifth-round stoppage of a game but overmatched Wesley Ferrer.

Eric Dali (who worked two of the bouts) showed again why he should be one of the go-to referees for big fights on the east coast.

Freddie Roach (who trains Walsh and two other fighters on the card) ennobled the proceedings with his presence.

Walsh is a southpaw with fast hands and reasonable power. Against Villarreal, he was the aggressor early. Then Ismael began letting his hands go. And after getting whacked a few times, Callum grew more cautious.

It was a good fight. Villarreal came to win. But so did Walsh. Callum was tested and he passed the test. Ismael tired in the late rounds and Walsh regained control (although he was dropped in the final stanza). The judges’ scores (97-92, 97-92, 96-93) were a bit wide of the mark. But the right guy won.

The current plan is for Walsh to return to Madison Square Garden next year on St. Patrick’s Day Weekend. At the moment, his press clippings have outstretched his accomplishments. But Callum has skills. He can punch. UFC has the infrastructure to promote fighters from ground level to major pay-per-view events. And as Jake Paul has taught us, this is a new age in boxing. The marketing of a fighter can now take precedence over his ring exploits.

*****

On November 7, DiBella Entertainment promoted a pro-am card at the Edison Ballroom in New York. “Heroes On The Hudson” was sponsored by Morgan Stanley and Cavu Securities with a portion of the proceeds going to charities that support wounded veterans. The action in the ring was typical club fight fare. And as the evening progressed, my mind wandered to Cedric Kushner.

Kushner died eight years ago and would have been seventy-five this year. He had a variety of nicknames. But the one that stuck among his friends was “Uncle Ced.”

Cedric Kushner

Cedric loved a night out with the boys. He was known for doing business with women of the night. And there was a memorable telephone call that he received from heavyweight contender Ike Ibeabuchi at three o’clock one morning. Ibeabuchi (who had significant mental health issues) called to tell Cedric (his promoter) that he was seeing demons. Cedric, in turn, told virtually everyone he spoke with the next day, “Knowing Ike, I understand why he was seeing demons. What I don’t understand is why he called me.”

When I began writing about boxing on a regular basis, I was dismissed by many of the sport’s power brokers as a fringe internet writer so I was accustomed to slights. Often, I found myself in conversation with a promoter or other insider who was looking over my shoulder for someone better to talk with. That never happened with Cedric. He always treated me with the same respect that he accorded major media figures. I was grateful for that. His memorial service (at which I spoke) was held at the Edison Ballroom with Lou DiBella presiding.

Everyone has their own favorite Cedric Kushner story, whether it’s about the hooker with knockout drops on her nipples or the duffel bag full of cash that Don King used to lure Hasim Rahman away from Cedric. Mine involves a drive from Atlantic City to New York that I shared with Cedric and Lou DiBella on the morning after a fight.

Lou was driving. There were three of us in his SUV. At various times, Cedric unfavorably critiqued Lou’s driving skills and complained about the music that Lou was playing. At one point, we stopped at a turnpike plaza for gas and a bite to eat. Most of the food lines were short. The exception was the line for Burger King (which looked to have a half-hour wait). So, of course, Cedric made his way toward the line for Burger King.

“Cedric,” Lou cautioned, “don’t get on that line.”

“I want a Whopper.”

“I’m not staying here for two hours so you can eat a Whopper.”

Needless to say, Cedric got on the line for Burger King.

“Cedric, I’m warning you. I’ll leave you on the f****** turnpike.”

Lou could be loud. And Cedric, who weighed more than 350 pounds at the time, was wearing shorts. So their exchange (which was growing increasingly animated) attracted considerable attention.

Cedric emphatically repeated his declaration. “I want a Whopper!”

“Cedric, so help me, God!” Lou was shrieking now. “I will f****** leave you here on the f****** turnpike and you’ll have to f****** find another way to get back to New York.”

Assessing the situation, Cedric concluded that, yes, Lou might actually leave him on the turnpike. So he joined me on the line for Sbarro to get a slice of pizza.

Slicing pizza is an inexact science. The young man behind the counter (he was about sixteen) gave me my slice and then gave a slice to Cedric. My slice was noticeably larger than Cedric’s.

Cedric looked at my slice and then at his . . . Looked at my slice and then at his.

“Excuse me,” Cedric said to the server. “Could you explain to me why his slice (gesturing toward my plate) is so much larger than mine?”

You could see the wheels in the young man’s head turning as he weighed how much of a wise-ass he should be. Finally, he said simply, “Hey! That’s life.”

Cedric contemplated the remark; decided that, yes, this was another one of life’s indignities; and paid for his slice. Then, as we were walking away from the counter, he turned to me and said, “I’m not a vengeful person. But I hope that young man is slicing pizza for the rest of his f****** life.”

Thomas Hauser’s email address is thomashauserwriter@gmail.com. His most recent book – The Universal Sport: Two Years Inside Boxing – was published by the University of Arkansas Press. In 2004, the Boxing Writers Association of America honored Hauser with the Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence in boxing journalism. In 2019, Hauser was selected for boxing’s highest honor – induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

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Thomas Hauser

Thomas Hauser is the author of 52 books. In 2005, he was honored by the Boxing Writers Association of America, which bestowed the Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence in boxing journalism upon him. He was the first Internet writer ever to receive that award. In 2019, Hauser was chosen for boxing's highest honor: induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Lennox Lewis has observed, “A hundred years from now, if people want to learn about boxing in this era, they’ll read Thomas Hauser.”

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Skylar Lacy Blocked for Lamar Jackson before Making his Mark in Boxing

Published

2 days ago

January 19, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Skylar-Lacy-Blocked-for-Lamar-Jackson-Before-Making-his-Mark-in-Boxing

Skylar Lacy, a six-foot-seven heavyweight, returns to the ring on Sunday, Feb. 2, opposing Brandon Moore on a card in Flint, Michigan, airing worldwide on DAZN.

As this is being written, the bookmakers hadn’t yet posted a line on the bout, but one couldn’t be accused of false coloring by calling the 10-round contest a 50/50 fight. And if his frustrating history is any guide, Lacy will have another draw appended to his record or come out on the wrong side of a split decision.

This should not be construed as a tip to wager on Moore. “Close fights just don’t seem to go my way,” says the boxer who played alongside future multi-year NFL MVP Lamar Jackson at the University of Louisville.

A 2021 National Golden Gloves champion, Skylar Lacy came up short in his final amateur bout, losing a split decision to future U.S. Olympian Joshua Edwards. His last Team Combat League assignment resulted in another loss by split decision and he was held to a draw in both instances when stepping up in class as a pro. “In my mind, I’m still undefeated,” says Lacy (8-0-2, 6 KOs). “No one has ever kicked my ass.”

Lacy was the B-side in both of those draws, the first coming in a 6-rounder against Top Rank fighter Antonio Mireles on a Top Rank show in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and the second in an 8-rounder against George Arias, a Lou DiBella fighter on a DiBella-promoted card in Philadelphia.

Lacy had the Mireles fight in hand when he faded in the homestretch. The altitude was a factor. Lake Tahoe, Nevada (officially Stateline) sits 6,225 feet above sea level. The fight with Arias took an opposite tack. Lacy came on strong after a slow start to stave off defeat.

Skylar will be the B-side once again in Michigan. The card’s promoter, former world title challenger Dmitriy Salita, inked Brandon Moore (16-1, 10 KOs) in January. “A capable American heavyweight with charisma, athleticism and skills is rare in today’s day and age. Brandon has got all these ingredients…”, said Salita in the press release announcing the signing. (Salita has an option on Skylar Lacy’s next pro fight in the event that Skylar should win, but the promoter has a larger investment in Moore who was previously signed to Top Rank, a multi-fight deal that evaporated after only one fight.)

Both Lacy and Moore excelled in other sports. The six-foot-six Moore was an outstanding basketball player in high school in Fort Lauderdale and at the NAIA level in college. Lacy was an all-state football lineman in Indiana before going on to the University of Louisville where he started as an offensive guard as a redshirt sophomore, blocking for freshman phenom Lamar Jackson. “Lamar was hard-working and humble,” says Lacy about the player who is now one of the world’s highest-paid professional athletes.

When Lacy committed to Louisville, the head coach was Charlie Strong who went on to become the head coach at the University of Texas. Lacy was never comfortable with Strong’s successor Bobby Petrino and transferred to San Jose State. Having earned his degree in only three years (a BA in communications) he was eligible immediately but never played a down because of injuries.

Returning to Indianapolis where he was raised by his truck dispatcher father, a single parent, Lacy gravitated to Pat McPherson’s IBG (Indy Boxing and Grappling) Gym on the city’s east side where he was the rare college graduate pounding the bags alongside at-risk kids from the city’s poorer neighborhoods.

Lacy built a 12-6 record across his two seasons in Team Combat League while representing the Las Vegas Hustle (2023) and the Boston Butchers (2024).

For the uninitiated, a Team Combat League (TCL) event typically consists of 24 fights, each consisting of one three-minute round. The concept finds no favor with traditionalists, but Lacy is a fan. It’s an incentive for professional boxers to keep in shape between bouts without disturbing their professional record and, notes Lacy, it’s useful in exposing a competitor to different styles.

“It paid the bills and kept me from just sitting around the house,” says Lacy whose 12-6 record was forged against 13 different opponents.

As a sparring partner, Lacy has shared the ring with some of the top heavyweights of his generation, e.g., Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte. He was one of Fury’s regular sparring partners during the Gypsy King’s trilogy with Deontay Wilder. He worked with Joshua at Derrick James’ gym in Dallas and at Ben Davison’s gym in England, helping Joshua prepare for his date in Saudi Arabia with Francis Ngannou and had previously sparred with Ngannou at the UFC Performance Center in Las Vegas. Skylar names traveling to new places as one of his hobbies and he got to scratch that itch when he joined Whyte’s camp in Portugal.

As to the hardest puncher he ever faced, he has no hesitation: “Ngannou,” he says. “I negotiated a nice price to spend a week in his camp and the first time he hit me I knew I should have asked for more.”

Lacy is confident that having shared the ring with some of the sport’s elite heavyweights will get him over the hump in what will be his first 10-rounder (Brandon Moore has never had to fight beyond eight rounds, having won his three 10-rounders inside the distance). Lacy vs. Moore is the co-feature to Claressa Shields’ homecoming fight with Danielle Perkins. Shields, basking in the favorable reviews accorded the big-screen biopic based on her first Olympic journey (“The Fire Inside”) will attempt to capture a title in yet another weight class at the expense of the 42-year-old Perkins, a former professional basketball player.

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Mizuki Hiruta Dominates in her U.S. Debut and Omar Trinidad Wins Too at Commerce

Published

4 days ago

January 18, 2025

David A. Avila

Mizuki-Hiruta-Dominates-in-her-U.S.-Debut-and-Trinidad-Wins-Too-at-Commerce

Japan’s Mizuki Hiruta smashed through Mexico’s Maribel Ramirez with ease in winning by technical decision and local hero Omar Trinidad continued his assault on the featherweight division on Friday.

Hiruta (7-0, 2 KOs), who prefers to be called “Mimi,” made her American debut with an impressive performance against Mexican veteran Maribel Ramirez (15-11-4) and retained the WBO super flyweight world title by unanimous decision at Commerce Casino in Commerce, Calif.

The pink-haired Japanese southpaw champion quickly proved to be quicker, stronger and even better than advertised. In the opening round Ramirez landed on the floor twice after throwing errant blows. On one instance, it could have been ruled a knockdown but it was not a convincing blow.

In the second round, Ramirez again attacked and again was met with a Hiruta check right hook and down went the Mexican. This time referee Ray Corona gave the eight-count and the fight resumed.

It was Hiruta’s third title defense but this time it was on American soil. She seemed nervous by the prospect of getting a favorable review from the more than 700 fans inside the casino tent.

For more than a year Hiruta has been training off and on with Manny Robles in the L.A. area. Now that she has a visa, she has spent considerable time this year learning the tricks of the trade. They proved explosively effective.

Though Mexico City’s Ramirez has considerable experience against world champions, she discovered that Hiruta was not easy to hit. Often, the Japanese champion would slip and counter with precision.

It was an impressive American debut, though the fight was stopped in the eighth round after a collision of heads. The scores were tallied and all three saw Hiruta the winner by scores of 80-71 twice and 79-72.

“I’m so happy. I could have done much more,” said Hiruta through interpreter Yuriko Miyata. “I wanted to do more things that Manny Robles taught me.”

Trinidad Wins Too

Omar Trinidad (18-0-1, 13 KOs) discovered that challenger Mike Plania (31-5, 18 KOs) has a very good chin and staying power. But over 10 rounds Trinidad proved to be too fast and too busy for the Filipino challenger.

Immediately it was evident that the East L.A. featherweight was too quick and too busy for Plania who preferred a counter-puncher attack that never worked.

“He was strong,” said Trinidad. “He took everything.”

After 10 redundant rounds all three judges scored for Trinidad 100-90 twice and 99-91. He retains the WBC Continental Americas title.

Other Bouts

Ali Akhmedov (23-1, 17 KOs) blasted out Malcolm Jones (17-5-1) in less than two rounds. A dozen punches by Akhmedov forced referee Thomas Taylor to stop the super middleweight fight.

Iyana “Roxy” Verduzco (3-0) bloodied Lindsey Ellis in the first round and continued the speedy assault in the next two rounds. Referee Ray Corona saw enough and stopped the fight in favor of Verduzco at 1:34 of the third round.

Gloria Munguilla (7-1) and Brook Sibrian (5-2) lit up the boxing ring with a nonstop clash for eight rounds in their light flyweight fight. Munguilla proved effective with a slip-and-counter attack. Sibrian adjusted and made the fight closer in the last four rounds but all three judges favored Munguilla.

More Winners

Joshua Anton, Tayden Beltran, Adan Palma, and Alexander Gueche all won their bouts.

Photos credit: Al Applerose

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 309: 360 Promotions Opens with Trinidad, Mizuki and More

Published

5 days ago

January 16, 2025

David A. Avila

Avila Perspective, Chap. 309: 360 Promotions Opens with Trinidad, Mizuki and More

Best wishes to the survivors of the Los Angeles wildfires that took place last week and are still ongoing in small locales.

Most of the heavy damage took place in the western part of L.A. near the ocean due to Santa Ana winds. Another very hot spot was in Altadena just north of the Rose Bowl. It was a horrific tragedy.

Hopefully the worst is over.

Pro boxing returns with 360 Boxing Promotions spotlighting East L.A.’s Omar Trinidad (17-0-1, 13 KOs) defending a regional featherweight title against Mike Plania (31-4, 18 KOs) on Friday, Jan. 17, at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, Calif.

“I’m the king of L.A. boxing and I’ll be ready to put on a show headlining again in the main event. This is my year, I’m ready to challenge and defeat any of the featherweight world champions,” said Trinidad.

UFC Fight Pass will stream the Hollywood Night fight card that includes a female world championship fight and other intriguing match-ups.

Tom Loeffler heads 360 Promotions and once again comes full force with a hot prospect in Trinidad. If you’re not familiar with Loeffler’s history of success, he introduced America to Oleksandr Usyk, Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and the brothers Wladimir and Vitaly Kltischko.

“We’ve got a wealth of international talent and local favorites to kick off our 2025 in grand style,” said Loeffler.

He knows talent.

Trinidad hails from the Boyle Heights area of East L.A. near the Los Angeles riverbed. Several fighters from the past came from that exact area including the first Golden Boy, Art Aragon.

Aragon was a huge gate attraction during the late 1940s until 1960. He was known as a lady’s man and dated several Hollywood starlets in his time. Though he never won a world title he did fight world champions Carmen Basilio, Jimmy Carter and Lauro Salas. He was more or less the king of the Olympic Auditorium and Los Angeles boxing during his career.

Other famous boxers from the Boyle Heights area were notorious gangster Mickey Cohen and former world champion Joey Olivo.

Can Trinidad reach world title status?

Facing Trinidad will be Filipino fighter Plania who’s knocked off a couple of prospects during his career including Joshua “Don’t Blink” Greer and Giovanni Gutierrez. The fighter from General Santos in the Philippines can crack and hold his own in the boxing ring.

It’s a very strong fight card and includes WBO world titlist Mizuki Hiruta of Japan who defends the super flyweight title against Mexican veteran Maribel Ramirez. It’s a tough matchup for Hiruta who makes her American debut. You can’t miss her with that pink hair and she has all the physical tools to make a splash in this country.

Mizukii Hiruta

Two other female bouts are also planned, including light flyweight banger L.A.’s Gloria Munguilla (6-1) against Coachella’s Brook Sibrian (5-1) in a match set for six rounds. Both are talented fighters. Another female fight includes super featherweights Iyana “Right Hook Roxy” Verduzco (2-0) versus Lindsey Ellis (2-1) in another six-rounder. Ellis can crack with all her wins coming via knockout. Verduzco is a multi-national titlist as an amateur.

Others scheduled to perform are Ali Akhmedov, Joshua Anton, Adan Palma and more.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

Boxing and the Media

The sport of professional boxing is currently in flux. It’s always in flux but no matter what people may say or write, boxing will survive.

Whether you like Jake Paul or not, he proved boxing has worldwide appeal with monstrous success in his last show. He has media companies looking at the numbers and imagining what they can do with the sport.

Sure, UFC is negotiating a massive billion dollar deal with media companies, as is WWE, both are very similar in that they provide combat entertainment. You don’t need to know the champions because they really don’t matter. Its about the attractions.

Boxing is different. The good champions last and build a following that endures even beyond their careers a la Mike Tyson.

MMA can’t provide that longevity, but it does provide entertainment.

Currently, there is talk of establishing a boxing league again. It’s been done over and over but we shall see if it sticks this time.

Pro boxing is the true warrior’s path and that means a solo adventure. It’s a one-on-one sport and that appeals to people everywhere. It’s the oldest sport that can be traced to prehistoric times. You don’t need classes in Brazilian Jiujitsu, judo, kick boxing or wrestling. Just show up in a boxing gym and they can put you to work.

It’s a poor person’s path that can lead to better things and most importantly discipline.

Photos credit: Lina Baker

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