Saturday, June 29, 2019

PLANIA RETURNS WITH U.S. FIGHT ON JULY 29TH

Credit: Sanman Promotions
Press Release: June 29, 2019 By Sanman Promotions – Sanman rising super bantamweight protégé “Magic” Mike Plania (W20 KO11 L1 D0) will be back in action as he fights in the US on July 26 against a yet to be announced opponent. Plania was last seen knocking out Nicong Calamba in the second round and dominating Juan Antonio Lopez in eight rounds.

For Sanman CEO Jim Claude Manangquil, “a win for Plania would mean he is ripe enough for a world title shot. He needs to win this onein order to get closer to becoming a world champion. I believe in the kid’s potential. He works so hard in the gym is always focused. I am grateful to our partners in the Us especially to MR Promotions.”

For Plania, this is another golden opportunity not to be missed. “I am always thankful to my manager and promoters. My eyes are only focused on one goal and that is to add my name to the Filipino world champions. I am always grinding in the gym and will do everything to bring pride to my country and my team”, Plania stated.

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Sanman Promotions Used with permission.

For more information about Sanman Promotions and to watch the Sanman Live Boxing series please visit Sanman Promotions’ official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/sanmanpromotions.

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Friday, June 28, 2019

Andrade-Sulecki Weights




Press Release: By DAZN – PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, June 28, 2019 –  WBO Middleweight World Champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (27-0, 17 KOs) and dangerous challenger Maciej Sulecki (28-1, 11 KOs), along with all of the undercard fighters, successfully tipped the scales at Waterplace Park in Providence, Rhode Island, ahead of their highly-anticipated title fight tomorrow night, which will stream live exclusively on DAZN.

Andrade’s title defense against Sulecki is part of a blockbuster night of action as unbeaten Kal Yafai defends his WBA Super Flyweight title against mandatory challenger Norbelto Jimenez and former Heavyweight king Joseph Parker takes on Australian challenger Alex Leapai in a scheduled 12-round heavyweight fight. All three fights will be featured on the evening’s main card, which kicks off at 9 p.m. ET.

Undercard action begins at 7 p.m. ET on DAZN with three fights, highlighted by a 10-round scrap between Mark Deluca and Brandon Brewer.

WBO Middleweight World Title Fight – 12 Rounds
Demetrius Andrade: 159.9 lbs.
Maciej Sulecki: 159.5 lbs.

Heavyweight Fight – 12 Rounds
Joseph Parker: 241.5 lbs.
Alex Leapai: 254.2 lbs.

WBA Super Flyweight Title Fight – 12 Rounds
Kal Yafai: 114.5 lbs.
Norbelto Jimenez: 114.5 lbs.

Super Welterweight Fight (158 lb. catchweight) – 10 Rounds
Mark Deluca: 157.8 lbs.
Brandon Brewer: 157.4 lbs.
###

Download DAZN on your TV or connected devices and catch all DAZN live events, including this weekend’s middleweight title showdown in Rhode Island. You can create an account directly through the app or on your browser at www.DAZN.com. It’s quick and easy to sign up with your credit or debit card.

About DAZN:
DAZN is the largest global sports streaming platform in the world. Since launching in 2016, DAZN had expanded across four continents with the service available in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Japan and Brazil. DAZN guarantees no long-term contract, no bundles, just affordable access to all the service's sports on connected devices including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, games consoles and PCs. In the U.S., DAZN has made its mark as an attractive alternative to pay-per-view within the combat sports industry. The platform features more than 100 fight nights per year from Matchroom Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions, GGG Promotions, Bellator MMA, the World Boxing Super Series and Combate Americas. DAZN also features live MLB action each day of the season with its new daily show, ChangeUp.



Material Courtesy of: DAZN/ Photo Courtesy of: Ed Mulholland Matchroom Boxing USA Used with permission. 

For more information about DAZN, schedules, list of available streaming devices, availability around the world, and to subscribe, please visit: www.DAZN.com.

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.


Scardina, Patera Victorious In Milan, Italy




Undefeated Super-Middleweight prospect Daniele Scardina scored a hard-fought ten round unanimous decision over Alessandro Goddi on Friday night at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy. In what was a competitive fight from start to finish, Scardina’s naturally bigger size and cleaner punches were able to secure the unanimous decision victory. Although Goddi, who was moving in the Super-Middleweight division for the second time after spending the majority of his career in the 160lb. Middleweight division, was able to have his share of moments throughout the fight, he was unable to land a significant punch to discourage the natural 168lb. Super-Middleweight Scardina as the Italian-born, Miami, FL based Scardina outworked him over the ten round fight. Daniele Scardina advances to 17-0, with 14 Knockouts. Alessandro Goddi falls to 35-5-1, with 17 Knockouts.

Also on this card:

European Lightweight champion Francesco Patera successfully made the second defense of his European championship by scoring an impressive sixth round stoppage of Paul Hyland, Jr. Hyland was extremely aggressive and applied pressure on Petera from the outset. Both fighters were cut in round one as a result of an accidental clash of heads. In the second round a counter right hand to the head from the champion forced Hyland’s gloves to touch the canvas resulting in a knockdown. Patera would be warned three times for accidental low blows throughout the bout as he attempted to work the challenger’s body. The champion’s body attack however, gradually broke Hyland down as he was sent to the canvas a second time late in round five. Patera sensing the end was near continued the body attack in round six, knocking Hyland down two more times resulting in a total of four knockdowns and a stoppage of the fight by Referee Jean Laine. Official time of the stoppage was 1:50 of round six.

Francesco Patera advances to 22-3, with 8 Knockouts. Paul Hyland, Jr. falls to 20-2, with 7 Knockouts.

In the Welterweight division unbeaten Dario Morello scored an underwhelming ten round unanimous decision over Ahmed El Hamwi. Morello appeared to be the only one forcing the action throughout the fight against the defensive-oriented El Hamwi. Although at times the bout frankly resembled a sparring session, Morello simply did what he needed to do to secure the win. Dario Morello advances to 15-0, with 2 Knockouts. Ahmed El Hamwi falls to 19-9-2, with 1 Knockout.

Also in the Welterweight division unbeaten prospect Maxim Prodan scored a workmanlike six round unanimous decision over Nika Nakashidze. Despite Nakashidze having a 7-7 record and having lost four of his last five bouts giving the impression that it might be a a short fight, he proved to be durable and hung in against Prodan over six rounds. Maxim Prodan advances to 17-0-1, with 14 Knockouts. Nika Nakashidze falls to 7-8-1, with 2 Knockouts.

Undefeated Super-Middleweight prospect Ivan Zucco scored a third round stoppage over a “Game”, but overmatched Borislav Zankov. Zucco battered Zankov over the three rounds with near non-stop offense before the bout was stopped at 1:16 of the third round. Ivan Zucco advances to 8-0, with 7 Knockouts. Borislav Zankov falls to 10-26-1, 4 Knockouts.

Also in the Welterweight division, undefeated prospect Nicholas Esposito scored a hard fought six round unanimous decision over Jonny Zeze-Sigheh. After some difficulty early on due to the aggression of Zeze-Sigheh, the unbeaten Italian’s sharper punches and combination punching were the difference in what should be viewed as a development fight for the twenty-five year old Esposito. Nicholas Esposito advances to 10-0, with 5 Knockouts. Jonny Zeze-Sigheh falls to 2-2, with 1 Knockout.

This card provided a look at fighters ranging from rising prospects, prospects, and those who may be approaching world title contention. Similar to various regional championships like the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) and the North American Boxing Association (NABA), two regional governing bodies with world sanctioning affiliation, Fighters in Europe who compete for and are able to win a European championship (EBU) are often approaching an opportunity to fight for a world championship in the near future.

With two successful title defenses of his European Lightweight championship, Francesco Patera appears to be the next European champion who could be fighting for a world championship in the next year or so. Patera is currently rated number ten in the world by the World Boxing Council (WBC). The WBC world championship in the 135lb. Lightweight division is currently vacant and it will be interesting to see if Patera will be able to work his way up those rankings before the end of 2019.


For Daniele Scardina, who currently holds the International championship in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) in the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division, which is a title meant to elevate a fighter’s ranking in the hope of challenging for a world championship, some might feel disappointed with his performance against Alessandro Goddi. Although a fighter with a career knockout percentage of over 85% might give the impression that they will be able to get most fighters out of there, that simply wasn’t the case in this fight. It should be said however, that a win is a win and for Scardina, this victory will likely benefit him more than a quick knockout might have. It was after all the second time in consecutive fights that Scardina has had to go a full ten round distance and being able to go deep into fights is a necessary attribute for any fighter that wants to compete on the world level of the sport.

While Scardina is not rated currently in the top fifteen in any of the respective world sanctioning organizations at 168lbs., if he can continue to win and gradually increase the level of his opposition it will only be a matter of time before he is viewed as a top contender. At twenty-seven years old and with much of the top of the Super-Middleweight division currently centered around the division’s currently world champions Callum Smith, Caleb Plant, Anthony Dirrell, and Billy Joe Saunders, there is time for Scardina to continue to develop and gradually move up the ladder. As one of the fighters that is being showcased as part of Matchroom Boxing’s Italian promotional branch, he has plenty of time and should not be rushed into a world title fight or a fight against a top contender at this point.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison



Thursday, June 27, 2019

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE VS. MACIEJ SULECKI FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES


Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA

Press Release: By DAZN – PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, June 27, 2019 – On Saturday night, WBO Middleweight World Champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (27-0, 17 KOs) will make his second middleweight title defense against dangerous challenger Maciej Sulecki (28-1, 11 KOs) at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, and live exclusively on DAZN. Two-division world champion Andrade, 31, will fight for the first time as a professional in his hometown of Providence where he is largely considered the top amateur in Rhode Island history. The winner of Saturday night’s scrap on DAZN could catapult themselves into consideration for a huge middleweight title unification fight. 

Andrade’s defense against Sulecki is part of a blockbuster night of action as unbeaten Briton Kal Yafai defends his WBA Super Flyweight title against mandatory challenger Norbelto Jimenez and former Heavyweight king Joseph Parker takes on Australian challenger Alex Leapai in a scheduled 12-round heavyweight fight.

Undercard action begins at 7 p.m. ET on DAZN with three fights, including bouts featuring two rising prospects, Otha Jones, Jr. and Alexis Espino. The evening’s main card kicks off at 9 p.m. ET.

Below is what the fighters had to say at today’s press conference:

Eddie Hearn

“It is a pleasure to be in Providence, Rhode Island. One thing that we have set out to do with Matchroom USA is to build fighters in their hometowns. I am still in disbelief that Demetrius has never fought in his hometown.

“Everyone keeps talking about Canelo-GGG for September. I understand that people are interested in seeing that fight again but what about Canelo against the winner of this fight for the undisputed status? That’s the biggest fight to make at middleweight.

“One thing that we have promised Andrade and his team is activity. This is his third fight in eight months, and I believe we will see a very special performance from him.  In Sulecki, he brings it every single time. He is in great fights. He has a chance to thrust himself into life changing, legacy fights with a win here. He will do everything he can to beat Demetrius on Saturday night because he understands those odds.

“We have a stacked undercard here in Providence. I want to thank DAZN for making an investment in the young, promising fighters of tomorrow. They have given a platform to these young stars to build them up the right way and get the best prospects exposure early in their careers. Without DAZN, none of this is possible. They are building stars and putting on the biggest events without PPV. Joshua vs. Ruiz, Canelo vs. Jacobs – those were two great PPV level events and they deliver that to fans everywhere for a low price and in a new way.”

Demetrius Andrade

“It’s me again. Tall, black and handsome. On Saturday, I am going to do what I have been doing. No disrespect to Sulecki, he’s been in there with my boy Danny Jacobs and other guys I have fought. I heard Sulecki went into the hotel and put a drawing of me and it shows my head knocked off. But the last guy that did something like that, he got his ass whooped and he will get his ass whooped, too. Best of luck to all of the great fighters on the card this weekend. DAZN continues to do a great job keeping me active and getting these kids shine.

“I had my first few weeks of training out in California with Victor Conte. That went great. But hey, it’s me again and this is my show. Good luck to Sulecki, I hope he puts on a good performance then gets his ass whooped.”

Maciej Sulecki

“Thanks to Matchroom, Eddie Hearn, DAZN, my team, my trainer. Everyone who made this opportunity possible. It was a very good training camp. Three weeks in Poland and then seven more weeks in New York. I am ready for a very tough fight with Andrade. Before I came to the U.S., I had great respect for Andrade. But when I came here, I lost all respect for him. He just talks too much. He thinks he is as good as the other great fighters like GGG but he is not. I know one thing about him, and it’s that he doesn’t respect anyone. He is disrespectful.”

Joseph Parker

“It’s great to be in Providence with my team. The last six weeks in Vegas were great, we had a great training camp. I stayed in great shape when I was back home. Usually I blow up between camps but this time I surprised my coach a bit when I showed up in shape. I have a lot to prove and a lot to show people in the heavyweight division. I know he will come out swinging so it should be a really fun fight. But I expect to come out on top in what will be a great fight on Saturday night.”

Alex Leapai

“Thank you to Matchroom Boxing, Eddie Hearn and DAZN. I am from Australia. Joseph Parker is from New Zealand. But we are both from Samoa. That doesn’t happen every day, it doesn’t happen very often at all that two great fighters from where we are from meet in big-time fight. It will be great for us to get in the ring together. I am thrilled for this fight on Saturday night.”

Kal Yafai

“Thanks to everyone who made this possible. I had a great training camp, I am going to put my life on the line for this fight. He has never boxed anyone as quick, powerful and talented as me. He is in for a rude awakening on Saturday night.”

Norbelto Jimenez

“I want to thank Eddie Hearn, DAZN and Matchroom Boxing. This is a long overdue title shot for me. I am coming for the title on Saturday night. I owe the Dominican Republic a title, I am not going to be robbed this time like I was in my last title shot. I am going to make this one count.”

Otha Jones, Jr.

“This is a great opportunity. I fought last weekend in London and now I am back in Providence to put on another show. It is great to share this platform with two of my buddies from the amateurs, Ray Ford and Alexis Espino, and my idol, Demetrius Andrade. My dad used to make me do homework on ‘Boo Boo’ and now I am sharing a card with him. It’s crazy and I am humbled to be here. I am excited to put on a show on Saturday night.”

###

Download DAZN on your TV or connected devices and catch all DAZN live events, including this weekend’s middleweight title showdown in Rhode Island. You can create an account directly through the app or on your browser at www.DAZN.com. It’s quick and easy to sign up with your credit or debit card.

About DAZN:
DAZN is the largest global sports streaming platform in the world. Since launching in 2016, DAZN had expanded across four continents with the service available in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Japan and Brazil. DAZN guarantees no long-term contract, no bundles, just affordable access to all the service's sports on connected devices including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, games consoles and PCs. In the U.S., DAZN has made its mark as an attractive alternative to pay-per-view within the combat sports industry. The platform features more than 100 fight nights per year from Matchroom Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions, GGG Promotions, Bellator MMA, the World Boxing Super Series and Combate Americas. DAZN also features live MLB action each day of the season with its new daily show, ChangeUp.

Material Courtesy of: DAZN/ Photo Courtesy of: Ed Mulholland Matchroom Boxing USA Used with permission. 

For more information about DAZN, schedules, list of available streaming devices, availability around the world, and to subscribe, please visit: www.DAZN.com.

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.



Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Schedule Update

We would like to let our readers know that we will be resuming our regular schedule on Friday, June 28th with coverage of a card from Milan, Italy featuring a bout for the European Lightweight championship between Francesco Patera and Paul Hyland. Stay tuned. "And That's The Boxing Truth.

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

Friday, June 21, 2019

Two Former World Champions To Test Bareknuckle Waters At BKFC 6



Over the last several years, there have been several attempts made and variations to bring Boxing back to its bareknuckled roots. These variations have included a modernized form of Bareknuckle Boxing including the implementation of knuckle-exposed Boxing gloves as we saw in the now inactive BKB format, which is owned by satellite television provider DirecTV and it’s current parent company AT&T. It did not take long for the format of DirecTV’s BKB to be reformatted. Gone were the knuckle-exposed gloves and eventually the format seemed similar to that of traditional Professional Boxing, with standard gloves. The area known as the “BKB Pit” where fights were contested that differed significantly from that of a traditional Boxing ring however, remained the same.

As readers may recall in this observer’s coverage of those BKB events now several years ago, I noted that a potential reason for the format change to what ultimately became known as BKB:Big-Knockout Boxing was likely to eliminate the potential hurdles with regard to licensing and regulation in several states here in the United States as well as internationally. With DirecTV’s BKB now inactive, there have been several bareknuckle promotions that have surfaced in their absence.

While I will save a more thorough run through of these respective promotions for a later time, one of the more notable groups has been the Bareknuckle Fighting Championship or BKFC for short. As is the case with other Bareknuckle Boxing promotions that have emerged in recent years, the BKFC is about as close to what one thinks of when they think of Boxing in a bareknuckle format as it can get with a modernized presentation. A format where fights are fought in a circular ring where rounds are under two minutes in duration ensures bouts are quick paced and more often than not fights tend to end inside a scheduled distance.

As the continued rebirth of Bareknuckle Boxing has continued, the question some fans have asked is will a fighter or fighters who have made their name competing under traditional Boxing rules be willing to compete under a bareknuckle format with no gloves. Those who have read this observer’s previous coverage of several bare knuckle cards will likely remember how I have said Bareknuckle Boxing does open a new avenue for fighters in all combat sports to compete outside of their primary discipline and also would provide an opportunity for fighters to stay active if there are not opportunities to compete in their primary combat sport.

In regard to traditional Boxing, I will be honest when I say that I have had my doubts as to whether or not boxers who are household names or the sport’s respective governing bodies would be open to competing in a bareknuckle fight and in the case of sanctioning organizations, willing to sanction world title bouts fought under a bareknuckle format. We will get at least part of those questions answered with BKFC’s sixth event BKFC 6 on Saturday night.

BKFC 6 will take place at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL, signaling the first time a Bareknuckle Boxing event will be sanctioned in the state of Florida. The card, which will be broadcast both on cable/satellite pay-per-view as was as digital streaming via Fite TV pay-per-view will feature several bouts, but will be highlighted by two fights where two former world champions in traditional Boxing will test the waters of fighting with no gloves.

In the main event former two-division world champion Paulie Malignaggi will return to the ring for the first time in over two years to face Artem Lobov. Malignaggi, who won world championships in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight and 147lb. Welterweight divisions in his forty-four professional fight career has established himself outside the ring as one of Boxing’s top analysts regularly serving as an expert commentator for Showtime Spots in the United States and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom.

What concerns me about Malignaggi attempting to compete in a slightly different form of Professional Boxing as compared to what he is used to is he has dealt with several hand injuries throughout his career. It is important to keep in mind that even though fights that are fought under a bareknuckle format are professional bouts, they are not currently regarded as professional fights by official Boxing record keeping sources such as BoxRec and FightFax. More importantly in regard to Malignaggi is perhaps due to the hand injuries he has had throughout his career, he has only scored seven knockouts in his thirty-six career wins under traditional professional Boxing rules.

We will likely find out early on how Malignaggi will respond to being hit bare fisted. At his best, Malignaggi was one of the most defensively sound and elusive fighters in the sport. It will be interesting to see how competing in a circular ring, which is about half the length of a traditional Boxing ring will effect Malignaggi’s ability to move and be elusive. The difference in his punches are also likely to show early on in this fight. Whether or not Malignaggi’s hands will hold up to the strain of fighting under bareknuckle rules remains to be seen.

Malignaggi will face a former UFC veteran in Artem Lobov. Although Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) bouts are not necessarily comparable to Boxing in that more often than not, more disciplines are required for success in MMA, an argument can be made that Lobov is more experienced in a format similar to that of bareknuckle rules due to MMA gloves only requiring one ounce of padding, which essentially makes fists as close to bareknuckled without actually being bareknuckled as possible.

Lobov will enter this fight having lost his previous three MMA bouts in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Lobov has scored knockouts in four of his fifteen career wins, but has only been stopped once in his career. Although Lobov’s MMA record of 15-14 may give the impression of a journeyman, the majority of his losses have come by decision. This suggests that if he can withstand Malignaggi’s punches that he will likely be in the fight for however long it lasts.

On the undercard of Malignaggi-Lobov, former two-division world champion Randall Bailey will return to the ring for the first time in three years to make his Bareknuckle Boxing debut. Bailey will face Daniel Santos. Like Paulie Malignaggi, Randall Bailey won world titles in the Jr. Welterweight and Welterweight divisions in his career. Bailey however, scored knockouts in thirty-nine of his forty-six career wins registering a career knockout percentage of 70%.

Similar to Malignaggi, Bailey will be competing under bareknuckle rules for the first time and will be coming off of a significant layoff. Though the same scenario exists for Bailey in it being interesting to see how he responds to being hit by a bare fist, Bailey has almost always been in an entertaining fight and at his best has the type of punching power that can end a fight with one punch. Under a bareknuckle format, one might assume that Bailey’s power will be even more dangerous than under traditional Boxing rules.

With Bareknuckle Boxing events having taken place in Wyoming, Mississippi, Mexico, and now entering Florida for the first time, the resurgence of Boxing in bareknuckle form is growing and does not appear to be facing some of the same struggle that numerous MMA promotions faced during the early stages of the sport of MMA in the early 1990’s here in the United States. For the BKFC, their sixth card will feature a total of nine bouts for its first event in the state of Florida.
We will see what happens and how the resurgence of Bareknuckle Boxing will continue to evolve on Saturday night.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

BKFC 6:Malignaggi vs. Lobov takes place on Saturday, June 22nd at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL. The card can be seen on a pay-per-view basis across cable/satellite providers and digital streaming pay-per-view worldwide on Fite.TV for $39.99 beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT (U.S. Time). Contact your cable/satellite provider for ordering information. Fite TV is available on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices. To order BKFC 6 on Fite TV and for a list of compatible streaming devices please visit: www.Fite.TV.

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison


Monday, June 17, 2019

Tyson Fury Maintains His Position In The Heavyweight Division



The recent history of Boxing's Heavyweight division has revolved around three fighters that were regarded as the best in the division. Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua, and Tyson Fury. All three fighters undefeated and each holding a claim to the World Heavyweight championship. Coincidentally, all three had bouts scheduled to take place in a little more than a month's time against separate opposition. The two world champions of the division Wilder and Joshua were the first of this trio of top Heavyweights to compete and defend their respective portions of the World Heavyweight championship.

As most Boxing fans know, Wilder scored a first round knockout over Dominic Breazeale on May 18th in Brooklyn, NY. Wilder simply made quick work of Breazeale in what was a statement making performance in defense of his WBC world championship. While some may have expected the outcome of Wilder scoring a knockout to retain his position atop the division, what would happen next was the definition of “Unexpected.”

This of course, is in reference to Anthony Joshua's defense of his unified IBF/WBA/IBO/WBO world championship on June 1st at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY against top contender Andy Ruiz, who had taken the fight on short notice. Ruiz made Boxing history getting off the canvas in the third round to score four knockdowns of Joshua to become the first Mexican-born fighter to win a World Heavyweight championship.

While Ruiz' victory over Joshua was not expected by some, it did become one of the biggest stories in Boxing in 2019. With Ruiz and Joshua heading toward a rematch later this year and with Joshua no longer among the top three fighters in the division, it was time for the third fighter in the trio of Heavyweights to return to the ring. Tyson Fury would do that on June 15th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV against undefeated German Heavyweight champion Tom Swarz.

Although Schwarz, who entered the fight unbeaten in twenty-four previous professional fights, the consensus was that the German Heavyweight champion was making a significant step up in caliber of opposition against the former World Heavyweight champion Fury. In previewing this fight,  I stated that it would come down to what Schwarz would bring to the table to combat the 6’9 Fury.

What can be overlooked due to his size is that Fury is a very skilled boxer who can be very elusive and difficult to hit cleanly. These traits would be on full display in this fight as Fury dictated the combat from the opening bell fighting behind a consistent jab and being able to make Schwarz be ineffective with the offense he did throw. This was demonstrated in the second round when Fury dropped his hands, but managed to slip and avoid four punches to the head that Schwarz attempted to land.

Moments later, Fury would knock Schwarz down with a combination to the head. Schwarz managed to beat the count, but had no answer for Fury’s follow-up barrage resulting in the fight being stopped. The fight could be summed up as Fury simply doing what he had to do against a “Game”, but ultimately overmatched opponent.

For Fury the twenty-eighth victory of his career allows him to maintain his position in this observer’s view as the best Heavyweight currently in the division that does not hold a recognized world championship. While some recognize Fury as a “Lineal” champion due to the fact that he won the unified portion of the World Heavyweight championship with his 2015 victory over Wladimir Klitschko and was not defeated for the championship, Fury relinquished his crown and walked away from the sport to deal with several personal issues. Although yours truly does not regard the term “Lineal” highly due to it’s subjective nature and how such labels are used more as a marketing tool, Fury remains the top fighter in the division not holding a world championship.

While a potential rematch for Fury with Deontay Wilder exists as a possibility for next year, this observer would like to see Fury face the winner of the upcoming rematch between Andy Ruiz and Anthony Joshua. In all truth and honesty, both fights are viable economically for Fury, I believe an encounter between him and the Ruiz-Joshua rematch winner might be the more viable of the two at the present time.

There are two primary reasons in my view. If Joshua were to regain the championship by beating Ruiz, both he and Fury are major stars in the UK Boxing scene and a fight between the two would likely fill one of England’s major stadiums. A win for Ruiz in the rematch against Joshua to retain his unified world championship would solidify his status as a world champion in the division and silence any and all skeptics who believe, despite Ruiz’ solid record and status as a top contender and former world title challenger prior to that fight, that he benefited from a world champion in Joshua having an off night. If Ruiz were to defeat Joshua a second time, that then opens a possibility for him to do something that has only been done once before in Boxing history. To stage a World Heavyweight championship fight in Mexico for only the second time following Sam Peter’s 2008 victory to win the WBC world championship over Oleg Maskaev.

A fight with Fury for Ruiz would further establish him as one of the stars in Boxing and if he were successful against Fury, it would then open the possibility for what the Boxing world has been waiting for. A fight to determine an Undisputed World Heavyweight champion.  Obviously, the two scenarios I have laid out in this column are for the time being hypothetical and not anything set in stone. If however, some of it were to come to fruition it would further cement the belief of many that the Heavyweight division is back at the forefront of the sport. There is a lot of intrigue in these potential fights and definitely a lot of money to be made.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison




Sunday, June 16, 2019

Update

We would like to let our readers know that material discussing the recent Heavyweight fight between undefeated former Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury and undefeated contender Tom Schwarz is in the works and will be released on Monday, June 17th during the evening hours. Stay tuned. "And That's The Boxing Truth."

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

Saturday, June 15, 2019

BoxingMania 6 Results From Australia


Former Bantamweight world title challenger Jason Moloney scored a one punch knockout over Goodluck Mrema to retain his WBA Oceania Bantamweight championship in the main event of Dragon Fire Boxing’s popular BoxingMania series on Saturday night at the Seagulls Ruby Club in New South Wales, Australia. In what was the sixth installment of the BoxingMania series, Moloney along with his twin brother Andrew were the featured attractions on the card.

After some difficulty in being able to land cleanly on the elusive Mrema early in the fight, Moloney brought the fight to a sudden conclusion landing a flush left hook to the jaw of Mrema sending him down on his knees. Mrema did attempt to beat the count, but was unable to get up before the court of ten concluded. Official time of the stoppage was 2:23 of round three.

Jason Moloney advances to 19-1, with 16 Knockouts. Goodluck Mrema falls to 23-5, with 13 Knockouts.

In a bout for the vacant Australian Light-Heavyweight championship Reagan Dessaix scored an impressive seventh round stoppage over Mitchell Whitelaw. Want was a workmanlike performance for Dessaix ended in the seventh round with a right hand to the head of Whiehead that sent him to the canvas forcing a referee stoppage at 2:34 of round seven.

Reagan Dessaix advances to 17-2, with 12 Knockouts. Mitchell Whitehead falls to 5-2-1, with 2 Knockouts.

Undefeated Jr. Bantamweight contender Andrew Moloney scored a second round stoppage of an overmatched Selemani Bangaiza. Moloney implemented a systematic approach with an emphasis on body punches. Bangaiza was sent to the canvas in round two by what was ruled to be a push.

Bangaiza raised his arm and spit out his mouthpiece moments later appearing to surrender. Official time of the stoppage was 1:57 of round two.

Andrew Moloney advances to 20-0, with 13 Knockouts. Selemani Bangaiza falls to 15-6, with 5 Knockouts.

In a bout for the OPBF Super-Middleweight championship Mose Auimatagi scored a sixth round knockout over Kerry Foley. Auimatagi scored a knockdown of Foley in the second round with a right hand that caused Foley’s glove to touch the canvas. Auimatagi’s ability to get his punches off first and land the harder punches throughout was the story of the fight. A right hand ti the body followed by a left hook to the head sent Foley down for the count in round six.

Official time of the stoppage was 1:23 of round six.  Mose Auimatagi advances to 13-1-2, with 9 Knockouts. Kerry Foley falls to 19-5-1, with 16 Knockouts.

Beyond this card featuring the Moloney brothers in separate bouts as they continue their respective climbs towards shots at world championships in their respective careers, this card also represented a significant step forward in the growth of the Australian Boxing scene as it was televised here in the  United States on ESPN’s digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+.

With the Moloney brothers recently signing with promoter Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. and the Australian Boxing scene receiving more exposure here in America than ever before thanks to sports streaming platforms as well as the inception of digital networks ESPN+ and DAZN in the last year, the future for Australian Boxing is bright. After many years of Australian Boxing not receiving the type of international exposure that other countries including the United States have been able to benefit from, a good amount of credit should be given to the various promoters throughout Australia and New Zealand including Dragon Fire Boxing’s Tony Tolj, who have all continued to bang the drum to increase attention, exposure, and recognition for Australian Boxing.

There has never been a better time for boxers who fight out of the Australia and New Zealand region of the world on every level of the sport to be able to gain valuable international exposure. Something that has been long overdue that should be seen as progress for the overall global growth of Boxing.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison 

Friday, June 14, 2019

BoxingMania 6 Weights



The official weigh-in for Dragon Fire Boxing’s Boxing Mania 6 event took place earlier today in Australia. The weights for the card featuring brothers Jason and Andrew Moloney competing in separate bouts are as follows.

Main Event: WBA Oceania Bantamweight championship – 10Rds.

Jason Moloney (Champion) 117 3/4lbs. vs. Goodluck Mrema 117 1/4lbs.

Jr. Bantamweight – 10Rds.

Andrew Moloney 114 3/4lbs. vs. Selemani Bangaiza 113 1/2lbs.

Vacant Oriental Professional Boxing Federation (OPBF) Super-Middleweight championship – 12Rds.

Kerry Foley 168lbs. vs. Mose Auimatagi 167 1/2lbs.

Vacant Australian Light-Heavyweight championship – 10Rds.

Reagan Dessaix 175lbs. vs. Mitchell Whitelaw 174 1/2lbs.

Vacant New South Wales (NSW Australia) Super-Middleweight championship – 8Rds.

Adam Stowe 159 1/4lbs. vs. Maks Chylewski 158 1/4lbs.

*Vacant Australian Women’s Lightweight championship – 8Rds.

Rachel Loder 133 1/2lbs. vs. Rebekah Radley 134 1/4lbs.

(*Radley will be making her professional debut on this card.)

Cruiserweight – 4Rds.

Liam Callanan 186 3/4lbs. vs. Daniel White 198lbs.

Cruiserweight – 4Rds.

Joel Trotman 198 3/4lbs. vs. Dwayne Boyd 196lbs.

BoxingMania 6 takes place tomorrow (Saturday, June 15th at Seagulls Ruby Club in New South Wales Australia. The card can be seen in the United States on digital sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 6AM ET/3AM PT. ESPN+ is available through the ESPN app on mobile, tablet, streaming players, and smart TVs for $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. For more information, lists of available devices, and to subscribe please visit: plus.espn.com.

Outside of the United States, the card can be seen on Epicentre.TV for $14.95. To order, visit: www.epicentre.TV for more information.

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison



June 7-8th 2019 Thoughts And A Look Ahead To Fury-Schwarz


The weekend of June 8, 2019 was a significant one in the sport of Boxing. Firstly because it was the weekend of the annual International Boxing Hall of Fame induction ceremony. In addition to the IBHOF 2019 class being enshrined in Canastota, NY including inductees Donald Curry, James “Buddy” McGirt, Teddy Atlas, Julian Jackson, Tony DeMarco, Lee Samuels, Guy Jutras, and Don Elbaum, there were some interesting events that took place inside the Boxing ring. Of course, several Boxing cards take place over the course of just about any weekend during a calendar year. This column will discuss cards that took place during IBHOF weekend that took place in New York, NY. We will also take a look ahead to an interesting Heavyweight encounter.

On Friday, June 7th a card took place at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY that was held as part of the IBHOF weekend. Headlining this card was an intriguing encounter between former two-division world champion Zab Judah and Cletus Seldin. What this fight represented was a classic example of youth versus experience. Judah is a fighter who has held world titles in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight and 147 lb. Welterweight divisions. At forty-one years old and with some believing his best days as a fighter were behind him, the former world champion returned to the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division after spending many years fighting in the 147lb. Welterweight division.

The obvious question that is asked whenever a fighter moves down in weight after spending much of their career in a higher weight class is how they will adapt to the change. It was also worth asking the question of whether Judah would show signs of ring rust after only fighting twice in nearly five years. For Cletus Seldin, a man nearly ten years younger than Judah, has been a rising contender in the Jr. Welterweight division, and had established himself as a fighter known for an ability to knock an opponent out with either hand registering a near 77% career knockout percentage prior to the fight. Seldin’s only career loss in twenty-four previous bouts prior to the Judah bout was a ten round unanimous decision loss to Yves Ulysse in December 2017.

Although Judah appeared to get the better of the action in the first round of this fight, the main story would become Seldin’s consistent pressure and near non-stop attack to Judah’s body. Sometimes when watching a fight you can see a pattern develop as it progresses. The pattern in this bout consisted of Seldin pressing forward, throwing punches to Judah’s body, and mixing in offense to the head. Seldin had particular success in landing his right hand to Judah’s head throughout. In contrast to his opponent, Judah threw one punch at a time, which was not reminiscent of the fighter he was in his prime as he was known for his quick hands.

Whether this was due to his age, Seldin’s constant pressure and offense, or a combination of all the above is a matter of opinion. It was clear as the fight progressed however, that the combat was being dictated by the younger and perhaps stronger Seldin. As the rounds went on, it was also clear that Judah was suffering a beating in a fight that was scheduled for twelve rounds with the vacant North American Boxing Association (NABA) Jr. Welterweight championship at stake. Despite the action in the fight becoming increasingly one-sided, I did not get the sense that the bout would end inside the distance. This fight had the look and feel of one that would end in a unanimous decision win for Seldin.  Seldin would take advantage of an opening later in the fight that would ultimately change the appearance of a one-sided decision win to a stoppage inside the distance.

In round eleven, Seldin staggered Judah with a right hand. A follow-up barrage with the former world champion against the ropes seconds later forced Referee Charlie Fitch to stop the fight. Although given what had happened in the fight prior to that point the stoppage was the appropriate call, Judah immediately left the ring following the stoppage appearing to be upset over Fitch’s decision.

What would occur after the fight would appear to indicate that Fitch made the right call as reports began to surface that Judah had been hospitalized for what was described as a brain bleed. While reports ranged from mild to indicating that Judah was in a coma, Star Boxing, the promotional company that promoted the fight released a statement two days after the fight noting that though Judah was hospitalized, he was awake and communicating. This was followed by a further statement on Monday of this week by Star Boxing saying that Judah had been released from the hospital noting that while the former world champion needs rest, his prognosis was promising.

It is worth noting that there was a brutal knockout that took place on the undercard of Judah-Seldin in the Cruiserweight division where Alex Vanasse suffered a knockout in his fight against Eric Abraham. Though Vanasse was alert and communicating, he left the ring on a stretcher.There is no word regarding Vanasse’s condition as of this writing. Some Boxing fans may be aware of the bout between Jr. Flyweights Felipe Orucuta and Johnathan Rodriguez that took place in Mexico on the same night as those where Orucuta collapsed in the ring following being stopped by Rodriguez. Orucuta was placed in a medically induced coma and underwent emergency surgery in the days following the fight to remove a blood clot in his brain. It has been reported by BoxingScene.com’s  Jake Donovan that Orucuta is showing signs of improvement following surgery and is currently under evaluation.

What the knockouts in these three bouts should remind all of us is just how dangerous combat sports can be and underscore the risks fighters take each time they enter the ring to compete. It is something that even the most opinionated of fans should respect.

Outside of the three separate scary moments that occurred on June 7th, the weekend also marked the return of former Middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin on June 8th at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY as he took on undefeated Steve Rolls in a bout fought in the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division.

The primary question going into this bout in my mind surrounded the change in Golovkin’s corner following his well-publicized split with longtime trainer Abel Sanchez. The change in bringing in new trainer Johnathon Banks was as much a part of the story of this fight as the bout itself.

In previewing this fight, this observer noted that while Rolls, who was unbeaten in nineteen professional fights prior to meeting Golovkin was  unknown to some, he had won regional titles in both the Jr. Middleweight and Middleweight divisions. It was crucial however, that Rolls get the respect of Golovkin early in my eyes.

It was a bit surprising to see a tactical Boxing match develop between the two as I thought Golovkin might opt to be a bit more aggressive from the outset. What was impressive however, was Rolls’ lateral movement and combination punching early. Clearly Rolls came to fight and was determined to give the former world champion a test that most would not expect. The lack of head movement from Golovkin in the early stages of the bout was also noticeable.

The two fighters were more than willing to engage and more often than not whenever Golovkin would land something significant, Rolls would answer with offense of his own. While some may have expected a quick knockout win and a statement making performance by Golovkin in his first fight since losing his unified Middleweight world championship in his second encounter with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in September of last year, it was a competitive fight and Rolls showed that he intended to make the most of the opportunity he was given in what was the biggest fight of his career.

Golovkin’s reputation as one of Boxing’s feared power punchers and “Knockout Artists” would show itself in round four. A short left hook to the head appeared to buckle the legs of Rolls. Golovkin would follow this with an overhand right that sent Rolls against the ropes. A short left hook to the head moments later would send Rolls down and out on the canvas.

At the end of the day, this was another knockout that will be added to Gennady Golovkin’s highlight reel. There will be some however, that will question whether the success Rolls was able to have prior to the knockout was a sign of decline for the thirty-six year old Golovkin. Yours truly will not make assumptions or elude to Golovkin being in possible decline.

While some might be critical of Golovkin’s performance, it is important to remember that this was his first fight with a new trainer in his corner. Although it is not an excuse and Golovkin did take some solid punches throughout from Rolls, it can take time for a fighter and a new coach to gel. Golovkin did accomplish what was the intended goal, getting back in the win column while also continuing to keep interest in a third fight between himself and Saul Alvarez at a high.

Whether or not that fight will take place later this year remains to be seen. With both fighters signed to and competing under the DAZN banner and with the digital sports streaming network looking to continue to provide a more economically reasonable alternative to the pay-per-view model while also looking to continue to build their global subscriber-base, I do not see a third encounter between the two being put off for too long.

Now we come to a look ahead to this Saturday and the return of former Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury as he returns to the ring following his draw last December with current WBC world champion Deontay Wilder. The undefeated Fury will face fellow unbeaten Heavyweight Tom Schwarz in a twelve round bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV in the main event of a card televised by ESPN+ here in the United States.

As some might recall Fury appeared to be on his way to regaining a portion of the World Heavyweight championship in his fight against Wilder, but two knockdowns late in the fight that the champion was able to score resulted in a disputed draw. Fury showed his mettle in the twelfth round of that fight by getting up from what was the second knockdown Wilder was able to score when it appeared he had been knocked out in a scenario that could best be described as miraculous.

Fury will now turn his attention to the unbeaten Tom Schwarz.Schwarz, the German Heavyweight champion will enter the fight undefeated in twenty-four professional fights having scored knockouts in sixteen of those fights. While the 6’5 Schwarz has an impressive resume, he has faced limited competition thus far in his career and it is understandable how some might view him as an underdog going into this encounter with Fury.

In this observer’s eyes this fight will come down to what Schwarz will be able to bring to the table against the 6’9 Fury. Fury has nineteen knockouts in his twenty-seven career wins, but is more known for his ability to be elusive and awkward. It was his elusiveness and awkward style that frustrated Deontay Wilder into missing a significant portion of his offense in their fight last December. One could make the argument however, that once Wilder was able to shorten his punches and land on Fury, that it became a different fight.

It is indisputable that the two knockdowns Wilder was able to score late in the fight allowed him to earn a draw on the scorecards and retain his world championship. Although Schwarz is an underdog in this fight, it will be interesting to see if there is something that he saw from Fury’s fight with Wilder that he can implement into his strategy for this fight.

  The Heavyweight division is still reeling from Andy Ruiz’ upset two weeks ago over previously undefeated unified Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua. With Deontay Wilder’s recent victory over Dominic Breazeale and Ruiz and Joshua headed towards a contractually mandated rematch later this year, this fight between Fury and Schwarz has the underlying question of whether the landscape of the division will continue to change. After all, anything can happen.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison





Tuesday, June 11, 2019

The 2019 FBHOF Weekend Approaches

Boxing is a sport with no shortage of interest, debate, and opinions regarding just about every aspect of the sport. At times the debates and opinions can surround subjects that can be described as negative that can unfortunately create a bad impression of the sport. There are occasions however, where the good the sport has to offer and those who have devoted their lives to Boxing should receive recognition. Such an occasion will take place on June 21st-June 23rd in Tampa, FL as the 2019 Florida Boxing Hall of Fame weekend will take place at the Westshore Grand Hotel.

The weekend of events will kick off on Friday June 21st with the annual amateur fight night event, which will feature some of the up and coming amateur boxers the state of Florida has to offer.  On Saturday, June 22nd, the weekend will continue with an all day event featuring fist castings, a memorabilia sale, radio show, a referee/judge seminar with 2009 FBHOF inductee Brian Garry, the basic fundamentals of Boxing with 2011 FBHOF inductee Dwaine Simpson and Guy Simpson, book signings, and autographs. The festivities will continue later that evening with a banquet dinner. The weekend will conclude on Sunday, June 23rd with a breakfast with the inductees followed by the official induction ceremony of the 2019 Florida Boxing Hall of Fame class.

This year’s class includes:

 Boxers: Jr. Middleweight and Middleweight  Eromosele Albert, Jr. Welterweight Juan Arroyo, Former Lightweight world champion Nate Campbell, Former Light-Heavyweight and Cruiserweight  Richard Hall, Jr. Featherweight  Jimmy Navarro, Heavyweight Lou Esa, Lightweight Lamar Murphy, Light-Heavyweight James Scott.

Official/Commission: Telis Assimenios, Frank Gentile, Dr. Mel Jurado, Dr. Rodolfo Eichberg,

Trainer/Manager: Mike Birmingham, Pete Brodsky

Promoter: Nelson Lopez, Sr.

Media: Damon Gonzalez, Sean O’Grady

Participant: Henry Grooms, Chico Rivas, Pete Baleunas

Boxing Achievement Award: Emil Lombardi Jr., Mitchell Cypress



In addition to the annual Hall of Fame weekend of events, the FBHOF is committed to furthering the youth in the community with the establishment of the Don Hazelton Scholarship as well as supporting an ongoing book donation program and assisting ill or disabled veteran boxers.  The Florida Boxing Hall of Fame weekend is a must for any fan of the sport of Boxing. This observer was honored to attend the FBHOF Amateur fight night event back in 2017 and one of the aspects of evening I really enjoyed beyond the atmosphere of the event was simply listening to the various inductees and other Boxing personalities share stories of their respective careers and involvement in the sport.

While the sport may never have a shortage of detractors and/or critics who will always look to point out the sport’s flaws, the Boxing fan should embrace the good the sport has to offer, take time to recognize and honor those who have dedicated their lives to the sport, as well as supporting the future of Boxing. The Florida Boxing Hall of Fame weekend is a truly great atmosphere for the Boxing community and its fans in the state of Florida. It is an experience that any Boxing enthusiast should enjoy.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

For more information about the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame and to purchase tickets, please visit: www.floridaboxinghalloffame.com. The full schedule of events can be found below.

Friday, June 21st- Annual FBHOF Amateur Fight Night Event 7:30PM Bell time, Doors open at 7PM

Saturday, June 22nd Day Event: 11AM-4PM Featuring Fist Casting, Memorabilia Sale, Book Signings and Autograph Signings.

11AM-1PM: Radio show

1:30PM: Referee/Judge Seminar with 2009 FBHOF Inductee: Brian Garry

2:30PM: The Fundamentals of Boxing with 2011 FBHOF Inductee: Dwaine Simpson and Guy Simpson

Evening Event:

Saturday Night Banquet:

Registration: 6:30PM- Dinner: 7:15PM cash bar

Sunday June 23rd

Breakfast with the inductees: 8:30AM-9:30AM

Official Induction Ceremony: 11AM



The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison