Saturday, October 31, 2020

Usyk Defeats Chisora In London

 

Undefeated former Undisputed Cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk scored a hard-fought twelve round unanimous decision over longtime Heavyweight contender and former world title challenger Dereck Chisora on Saturday night at the Wembley Arena in London, England. In what was Usyk’s second fight as a Heavyweight, Chisora was able to give the former Cruiserweight world champion a legitimate test by applying pressure on Usyk from the outset, making him miss and landing hard hooks and right hands early in the fight. Although Chisora was head hunting early on and neglected going to Usyk’s body consistently, he did succeed in being able to make him uncomfortable for a time.

 

Perhaps due to a fight plan with an emphasis on trying to impose his will on the shorter fighter early with the intention of ending the fight early, Chisora began to tire as the halfway point approached.  It was at this stage that his pressure of Usyk began to decline and allowed Usyk to take over the tempo of combat using lateral movement and combination punching to get his punches off first and making Chisora follow him around the ring as opposed to Chisora attempting to cut the ring off that would have theoretically limited Usyk’s ability to move.

 

As the late rounds in the scheduled twelve round bout approached Chisora looking to be fighting the effects of fatigue. Despite this, the longtime contender continued to put forth one of the best efforts of his career and did manage to do some effective work to Usyk’s body in rounds ten through twelve. It was Usyk’s surge in the middle rounds, strategic lateral movement, and quicker hands that ultimately proved to be the difference as Usyk would earn a unanimous decision victory in what was a very competitive fight. Official scores were: 115-113 (On two scorecards), and 117-112 in favor of Usyk Oleksandr Usyk advances to 18-0, with 13 Knockouts. Dereck Chisora falls to 32-10, with 23 Knockouts.

 

Also on this card:

 

In an IBF Lightweight elimination bout undefeated top contender George Kambosos scored a major upset in scoring a twelve round split decision over former IBF Featherweight world champion Lee Selby. It was the former world champion that appeared to be consistently busier throughout the fight and seemed to carry the tempo of combat through many of the rounds. Kambosos however, was quite effective in spots throughout in landing flush counter hooks to the head and seemed to land the harder punches of the two fighters. This proved to be the deciding factor as two officials judges felt Kambosos’ counter shots and power punches were more effective than Selby’s greater activity and ring generalship. Official scores were: 115-114 (Selby), and 118-110, 116-112 in favor of Kambosos. George Kambosos advances to 19-0, with 10 Knockouts. Lee Selby falls to 28-3, with 9 Knockouts.

 

 

An encounter for the vacant Women’s WBO Middleweight world championship saw undefeated contender Savannah Marshall successfully make the transition from contender to world champion by scoring a dominant seventh round stoppage of former IBO Jr. Middleweight world champion Hannah Rankin. For seven rounds, Marshall dominated the action landing offense to the body and head of Rankin. Although Rankin never gave up and continued to sustain punishment from Marshall’s offensive arsenal, the one-sided bout reached the end in round seven when a hurt Rankin under a barrage of offense took a knee. Rankin was able to beat the count, but after sustaining significant punishment, Referee Phil Edwards made the decision that she had taken enough punishment and stopped the fight with one second remaining in the round. Official time of the stoppage was 1:59 of round seven. Savannah Marshall advances to 9-0, with 7 Knockouts. Hannah Rankin falls to 9-5, with 2 Knockouts. 

 

 

In a battle for the vacant European Cruiserweight championship Tommy McCarthy scored a hard-fought twelve round majority decision over Bilal Laggoune. What was a grinding and grueling fight for both men, McCarthy was able to land the cleaner, more effective punches over the course of the fight and that proved to be the difference in earning the nod of two of three official judges giving him the victory and the European championship. Official scores were: 114-114 (Even), and 116-113, 116-112 in favor of McCarthy. Tommy McCarthy advances to 17-2, with 8 Knockouts. Bilal Laggoune falls to 25-2-2, with 14 Knockouts.

 

Women’s Lightweight Ramla Ali successfully made her professional debut by scoring a six round decision over a very “Game” previously unbeaten Eva Hubmayer. Ali demonstrated a complete skill set in this encounter by both Boxing at distance and also showing some punching power and hand speed as she controlled the fight over late substitute Hubmayer from the opening bell. As all non-title bouts in the United Kingdom are scored by the referee officiating a fight, Referee Robert Williams scored the fight 60-54 in Ali’s favor. Ramla Ali advances 1-0, with 0 Knockouts. Eva Hubmayer falls to 1-1, with 1 Knockout.

 

In a battle for the vacant Women’s Commonwealth Jr. Featherweight championship that opened the evening, undefeated contenders Amy Timlin and Carly Skelly fought to a ten round split decision draw. The ebb and flow of this fight went back and fought throughout with Timlin seeming to get the upper hand in the first half and Skelly coming on in the middle and late rounds. Several of the rounds saw heated exchanges of offense between the two fighters and by the end of the ten round championship bout, there was simply no way to distinguish, which fighter got the better of the action. Official scores were: 96-95 (Timlin), 97-96 (Skelly), and 95-95 (Even) resulting in a split draw. Amy Timlin advances to 4-0-1, with 0 Knockouts. Carly Skelly advances to 3-0-1, with 0 Knockouts.

 

A scheduled Heavyweight bout between Dave Allen and undefeated prospect Christopher Lovejoy was cancelled earlier in the week due to a contractual issue. There is no word as of this writing as as to whether there will be an attempt to reschedule the bout for a later date.

 

 

Ever since Evander Holyfield, the first fighter to successfully unify Boxing’s Cruiserweight division thirty-two years ago in 1988, set his sights on the Heavyweight division later that year and ultimately becoming the only fighter in Boxing history to win versions of the World Heavyweight championship on four separate occasions, other former Cruiserweight champions including a few men that Holyfield fought before moving to Heavyweight, followed his lead to embark on Heavyweight glory of their own. All of the above including Holyfield had to deal with questions and even criticism regarding whether they had the punching power to be effective and hurt fighters who are natural Heavyweights.

 

Much like Holyfield and several other Cruiserweight world champions, many of those same questions are now being asked of Oleksandr Usyk. The current number one Heavyweight contender in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) ratings ultimately did what he had to do against a determined longtime Heavyweight contender, was able to get the win, and thus was able to maintain his position as the WBO’s mandatory challenger for current unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua. 

 

As most know, Joshua is currently scheduled to defend his unified crown against the International Boxing Federation’s (IBF) top contender Kubrat Pulev in December also in England. What some may not know as of this writing however, was it was revealed during the Usyk-Chisora card via various media outlets around the world including The Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) and NBC News here in the United States, that British Prime Minister Bois Johnson has ordered a new lockdown in the country due to the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic and confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus passed one million. While the order of  a lockdown is for thirty days beginning on Thursday, November 5th and would not appear to have implications as of this moment on the scheduled December 12th bout between Joshua and Pulev, the status of the fight as well as other sports throughout the United Kingdom could well be uncertain as the epidemic worsens around the world including here in the United States.

 

What makes this pertain to Oleksandr Usyk is he is next in line in the succession of current mandatory challengers for Joshua’s unified world championship. If the Joshua-Pulev fight were to be postponed until 2021 due to the ongoing epidemic, it could mean that Usyk might not get his opportunity to fight for the Heavyweight world championship until late in 2021 or perhaps 2022. There is also the likelihood that if Joshua is successful against Kubrat Pulev that public demand for an all British showdown between Joshua and undefeated WBC world champion Tyson Fury would be such that Usyk’s challenge may be delayed further.

 

For now, Usyk has continued to make his case as being the next challenger for the winner of the scheduled Joshua-Pulev bout. The more important issue however, not just in the United Kingdom, but the world is the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic and it is clear that should be and needs to be addressed before any scheduled fights or issues on the business side of Boxing should take place and be addressed.

 

“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, October 30, 2020

Munguia Stops Johnson In 6

 

Undefeated former WBO Jr. Middleweight champion and current Middleweight contender Jaime Munguia scored a hard fought sixth round stoppage of fellow contender Tureano Johnson on Friday night at the Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino in Indio, CA.  In what was his second fight in the Middleweight division, Munguia, a fighter who has established himself as a “Knockout Artist”, was put to the test by Johnson early. Johnson immediately looked to pin himself to Munguia’s chest and make it difficult for him to get any space to throw his punches or room to move. Johnson had success in landing hard right hands to the head of the former world champion and mixing in hooks throughout. 

 

As the fight progressed, Munguia began trying to catch Johnson as he came forward to try to get on the inside and gradually found a home for his own hooks and uppercuts. The climatic moment in what was a very competitive fight came late in round six when a flush right uppercut to the head of Johnson ripped open a deep gash on Johnson’s upper lip. Although Johnson was allowed to finish the round, the fight was halted immediately after the sixth round giving Munguia a knockout victory. Jaime Munguia advances to 36-0, with 29 Knockouts. Tureano Johnson falls to 21-3-1, with 15 Knockouts.

 

Also on this card:

 

In a battle for the WBO Light-Flyweight world championship, champion Elwin Soto successfully made the second defense of his world title by scoring a convincing twelve round unanimous decision over multi-time world title challenger Carlos Buitrago. The one constant throughout the entire fight was the champion consistently coming forward, making Buitrago miss by crouching down, slipping the challenger’s offense and frequently landing hard hooks with both hands to the head. Buitrago, who was making his sixth attempt at a world championship was able to have moments periodically throughout, but was unable to let his hands go frequently enough or land the type of attention-grabbing punches that may have swayed the official judges in some close rounds to score in his favor allowing the champion to earn a convincing unanimous decision. Official scores were: 119-109, 117-111, and 115-113 in favor of Soto. Elwin Soto advances to 18-1, with 12 Knockouts. Carlos Buitrago falls to 32-6-1, with 18 Knockouts.

.

In a clash of undefeated Welterweight prospects, Rashidi Ellis outworked previously unbeaten Alexis Rocha over twelve rounds to earn a convincing unanimous decision victory. Ellis used lateral movement to make himself an elusive target from the consistent pressure of Rocha. As Rocha came forward, Ellis consistently landed counter punches and beat Rocha to the punch. Although Rocha’s best moments came during periods where he was able to get Ellis on the ropes and land body punches, he was inconsistent in his attack and that proved to be his downfall in this encounter. Official scores were: 116-112 (On two scorecards), and 115-113 in favor of Rashidi Ellis. Rashidi Ellis advances to 23-0, with 14 Knockouts. Alexis Rocha falls to 16-1, with 10 Knockouts.

 

In a WBC world title eliminator in the Women’s Flyweight division, top contender Marlen Esparza scored a hard-fought eight round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Sulem Urbina. This fight featured several compact exchanges between the two fighters, which made it difficult to distinguish which fighter had the advantage, but it was Esparza’s ability to generally get her punches off first and hand speed that ultimately carried her to the unanimous decision victory. Official scores were: 80-72 (On two scorecards) and 78-74 in favor of Esparza. Marlen Esparza advances to 8-1, with 1 Knockout. Sulem Urbina falls to 12-1, with 2 Knockouts.

 

 

Jr. Lightweight contender Lamont Roach needed one body punch to  knockdown veteran Neil Tabanao to score a third round knockout. Official time of the stoppage was :34 of round three. Lamont Roach advances to 20-1-1, with 8 Knockouts. Neil Tabanao falls to 17-8, with 11 Knockouts.

 

Unbeaten Super-Middleweight Bektemir Melikuziev scored a third round knockout of Alan Campa to remain undefeated. Melikuziev scored two knockdowns of Campa in the second round and a third knockdown in round three before the bout was stopped. Official time of the stoppage was :21 of round three. Bektemir Melikuziev advances to 6-0, with 5 Knockouts. Alan Campa falls to 17-6, with 11 Knockouts.

 

 

Undefeated Cruiserweight Tristan Kalkreuth scored a six round unanimous decision over Tyler Vogel. Official scores were 59-55 (On all three scorecards) in favor of Kalkreuth. Tristan Kalkreuth advances to 6-0, with 4 Knockouts. Tyler Vogel falls to 3-4, with 2 Knockouts.

 

The second chapter of Jaime Munguia’s career as a Middleweight ultimately proved successful as he will likely remain on a short list of potential opponents for current unified Middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, when Alvarez resumes his career. Although he was successful against Tureano Johnson, Johnson was able to have more success against him than most previous opponents and with Alvarez sidelined for the time being due to a well publicized legal dispute between he, his promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who also promotes Munguia and digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN, it may not be a bad idea to consider a rematch with Johnson as an argument can be made that if it weren’t for the gash Munguia was able to open that the outcome of this fight was not conclusive at the point where the fight was stopped. 

 

Nevertheless, a win is still a win and Jaime Munguia did what he had to do to make sure his name remains in the discussion of potential opponents for Alvarez. Alternatively, if a rematch with Johnson is not in the cards at least for the immediate future, this victory over Johnson might convince Alvarez, De La Hoya, and DAZN to return to the negotiating table and resolve their impasse, which would hopefully, result in Alvarez getting back in the ring sooner rather than later even as the global COVID-19 epidemic continues to worsen.

 

“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

 

 

GARCIA VS. CAMPBELL HEADS TO FANTASY SPRINGS RESORT CASINO

 

Press Release By DAZN –   INDIO, CALIF. (Oct. 30, 2020): Golden Boy is proud to announce that the highly anticipated Garcia vs. Campbell matchup is headed to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. The event will feature a stacked undercard of world class action, including a 12-round rematch between WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Rene Alvarado (32-8, 21 KOs) and Roger “The Kid” Gutierrez (24-3-1, 20 KOs) in the co-main event. 

Credit: DAZN 

 

The fights will take place on Saturday, Dec. 5 and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN

 

“More than three years after Rene began his own title run by derailing Roger’s highly touted American debut, the tables have been turned and ‘The Kid’ is now gunning for Gemelo’s world title,” said Eric Gomez, President of Golden Boy. “Both of these guys know what it’s like to come back from defeat, and fans will be treated to them leaving it all in the ring.”

 

Alvarado is a 31-year-old world champion who has earned everything the hard way, facing some of the toughest featherweights and super featherweight of the last few years. The native of Managua, Nicaragua has a resume that includes wins against Robinson “Robin Hood" Castellanos, Jayson “La Maravilla” VelezDanis “Djingis Khan ShafikovCarlos “The Solution” Morales and Andrew “El Chango” Cancio, the man he beat to become a world champion. Alvarado hopes to retain his title in a rematch of his 2017 bout against Gutierrez. 

 

“I’m ready to defend my title on December 5,” said Rene Alvarado. “I’ll be prepared to deliver a tremendous combat to all fans so they can enjoy a bit of distraction during these difficult times. And although the crisis we all currently face is something that will be different in this rematch, the end result will be the same. We will get the victory at any cost to retain the title.”

 

In 2017, Gutierrez was on the fast track to a world title challenge until running into Alvarado, who gave him his first defeat. Since then, the Venezuelan boxer has had to learn on the job in tough bouts against Hector “El Finito” Tanajara Jr. and Oscar Duarte. However, 2019 changed everything for him when he stopped then-undefeated contender Rocky Hernandez. Now, after two additional wins, the 25-year-old is finally having his first world title shot and against the man who first derailed his efforts.

 

“I want to thank God above all else,” said Roger Gutierrez. “I also want to thank the World Boxing Association and Golden Boy Promotions. I will dedicate this fight to my mom who is currently battling cancer. This victory will be for her. I am ready to avenge my first loss in this world title challenge. From Maracaibo [Venezuela] to the world—let’s do it!”

 

Before the co-main event, Franchon “The Heavy-Hitting Diva” Crews-Dezurn (6-1, 2 KOs) of Baltimore, Md. will defend her unified WBO and WBC Super Middleweight World Titles in a 10-round clash.

 

Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (14-0-1, 9 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada will defend his NABF Welterweight Title in a scheduled 10-round fight.

 

2016 Olympian Raul “Cougar” Curiel (8-0, 6 KOs) of Tampico, Mexico and Ferdinand “Lucky Boy” Kerobyan (14-1, 9 KOs) of North Hollywood, Calif. will clash in a 10-round battle between two Golden Boy welterweights.

 

Sean Garcia (5-0, 2 KOs) of Victorville, Calif. will open the night in a six-round lightweight fight. 

 

Opponents for Crews-Dezurn, Cobbs and Garcia will be announced shortly.

 

Garcia vs. Campbell is a 12-round fight for the interim WBC Lightweight World Championship presented by Golden Boy in association with Matchroom Boxing. The event is sponsored by Hennessy "Never Stop. Never Settle" and BetOnline - Your Online Sportsbook Experts." The fight will take place on Dec. 5 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.

 

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #GarciaCampbell.

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: DAZN Used with permission.

 

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming/platforms/Smart TVs, 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.

 

 

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Clary Stops Perez For Second Time In Rematch

 

Jr. Lightweight contender Toka Kahn Clary was able to go 2 for 2 by scoring his second stoppage of veteran Jonathan Perez on Thursday night at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, RI. In what was a rematch from a bout in June 2015, an encounter where Clary scored a sixth round knockout of Perez, in a bout in the 126lb. Featherweight division, the current North American Boxing Association (NABA) Jr. Lightweight champion was able to end Perez’ night in a shorter period this time around. 

 

After a relatively quiet opening round in a fight where his regional championship was not at stake, Clary brought the fight to a sudden conclusion in round two when he connected with what appeared to be a short left uppercut that split the guard of Perez and sent him down on his knees in a neutral corner. Perez made an attempt to beat the count, but could not get his leg underneath him and the bout was stopped by Referee Danny Schiavone at the count of eight. Official time of the stoppage was 1:49 of round two. Toka Kahn Clary advances to 28-2, with 19 Knockouts. Jonathan Perez falls to 38-26, with 30 Knockouts.

 

Also on this card:

 

In a Welterweight bout, undefeated prospect James Perella scored a workmanlike four round unanimous decision over Antonio Castillo. A fight that was fought at a tactical pace from the start, Perella was able to keep Castillo at distance with his jab and mixing in combinations. Castillo was able to have occasional moments throughout using angles to keep Perella honest, but was simply not able to do enough to make up ground on the scorecards as all three judges scored the fight in Perella’s favor. Official scores were: 40-36 (On all three scorecards) in favor of Perella. James Perella advances to 6-0, with 4 Knockouts. Antonio Castillo falls to 1-2, with 1 Knockout. 

 

 

Unbeaten Middleweight Francis Hogan scored a fourth round stoppage of Charon Spain. Hogan used his height and range to control the bout from the opening bell. The former New England Golden Gloves champion found success in hitting Spain with right hands to the head throughout. It was a right hand to the head in round four that staggered Spain into the ropes resulting in a knockdown being credited to Hogan as the ropes prevented Spain from going down. Hogan closed the show with a follow up barrage along the ropes that forced a stoppage of the fight. Official time of the stoppage was 2:39 of round four. Francis Hogan advances to 3-0, with 3 Knockouts. Charon Spain falls to 2-14-2, with 1 Knockout.

 

 

Undefeated Jr. Welterweight Elijah Peixoto opened the evening by scoring a first round stoppage of a “Game” Kristopher Berberich. Peixoto implemented an attack to the body of Berberich from the outset. Peixoto applied pressure on Berberich quickly forcing him backward and targeting his body. Although Berberich attempted to halt that pressure and did land a few wide hooks, he was unable to keep Peixoto off of him. A combination of hooks with both hands sent Berberich down and through the ropes as the fight was immediately stopped at 2:42 of round one. Elijah Peixoto advances to 3-0, with 2 Knockouts. Kristopher Berberich falls to 0-2, with 0 Knockouts.

 

A scheduled six round Welterweight bout between Khiry Todd and Ryan Pino was cancelled earlier in the day due to an undisclosed illness Todd is said to have been sidelined by. There is no word as of this writing as to what Todd’s condition is or if the fight is intended to be rescheduled for a later date.

 

As much of the coverage of not just the sport of Boxing, but of general news and information in 2020 has been and will continue to be dominated by the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, the consistent theme that will be front and center for Boxing and by extension all combat sports as long as sports are able to remain active will be promoters at all levels of combat sports looking to resume activity. For promoter Jimmy Burchfield’s CES Boxing, a mainstay of the sport and particularly the New England Boxing scene, this card represented the first step in resuming their schedule following a return of the promotional company’s mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion CES MMA on October 14th at the same Crowne Plaza Hotel. One can only hope that the circumstances of COVID-19 improve globally and as things improve it will reopen the doors for promoters at every level to not only resume business where hopefully they will be able to sell tickets to spectators in time, but also provide opportunities to fighters who have been severely impacted by the epidemic. 

 

“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

 

 

 

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

DAZN To Expand Global Platform On December 1st


Press Release: By DAZN – NEW YORK and LONDON, (Oct. 28, 2020) – DAZN, the leading global sports streaming service, will expand to more than 200 countries and territories beginning Dec. 1. The platform will debut with back-to-back weekends featuring boxing events with international appeal.  

Credit:DAZN 

 

On Saturday, Dec. 5, budding lightweight American star Ryan Garcia takes on the battle-tested Brit and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell. On Saturday, Dec. 12, unified heavyweight champion of the world Anthony Joshua OBE will defend his world titles against Bulgarian mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev.  

 

To maximize the international audience across North America and Europe*, the main events for both fights will start around midnight GMT/7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST.

 

The initial monthly price point for new markets will be £1.99 or less.

 

“From the UK to Mexico to Australia, we’ve seen an encouraging level of interest in our key events since first launching in 2016,” said DAZN EVP Joseph Markowski. “We’re looking forward to introducing the DAZN platform around the world this December with an exciting schedule of fights.”

 

At launch, DAZN’s global platform will feature world championship boxing events, as well as an ever-growing archive of classic fights, athlete features and a slate of original programming including 40 DAYSSaturday Fight Live and ONE NIGHT. Additional sports and programming will be added beginning in 2021.

 

The DAZN app will be available globally on most internet-connected devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, PCs, and living room devices such as smart TVs, streaming sticks and game consoles. 

 

For more information, visit www.DAZN.com

 

*Garcia vs. Campbell not available on DAZN in Poland. Joshua vs. Pulev not available on DAZN in the UK or Ireland. 

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: DAZN Used with permission.

 

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, 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.

 

Davis-Santa Cruz Preview

 

As the sport of Boxing looks to continue adapting to the changing environment and landscape caused by the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic, some anticipated encounters are starting to occur even as some of the sport’s biggest stars continue to sit out due to both health concerns in the potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus as well as financial reasons in not wanting to sacrifice a portion of revenue by competing in a fan-less environment. One such encounter will take place on October 31st at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX as Gervonta Davis will square off against Leo Santa Cruz.

 

The fight, which is being promoted by the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters and will be broadcast here in the United States and Canada on cable-satellite pay-per-view on Showtime pay-per-view, was originally scheduled to take place on October 24th in one of two fan-less environments that the PBC have used for their events since the sport began attempting to resume in June, in this case the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. As sports across the board are attempting to gradually incorporate fans into their respective events at limited capacity due to safety concerns caused by COVID-19, the decision was made to push the Davis-Santa Cruz bout back one week and move it from Uncasville, CT to San Antonio, TX where the venue, the Alamodome can hold 10,000 spectators while also complying with both state and federal social distancing guidelines.

 

While the number of COVID-19 cases here in the United States continues to increase and it remains to be seen whether the decision of not just Boxing promoters, but other sports and more specifically public officials to seek allowing spectators in any measurable number to attend events while the epidemic continues proves to be a wise decision, the fight between Gervonta Davis and Leo Santa Cruz nevertheless does bring together two of the top stars in the sport. This fight will also have a unique distinction in that two championship belts in two separate weight classes will be at stake.

 

This observer is referring to the WBA Jr. Lightweight and a WBA interim designation in the 135lb. Lightweight division. Although this does have some similarities in following a historic battle that took place in November 1988 when WBC Light-Heavyweight world champion Donny Lalonde met Sugar Ray Leonard for not only his world championship, but also the then newly created WBC Super-Middleweight world championship, this is not a fight of that historical significance. The reason for that is because when Lalonde and Leonard met nearly thirty-two years to the day of this encounter between Davis and Santa Cruz, the sport did not have interim championship designations much less designations where multiple fighters can be designated as having interim/regular champion status in an organization’s respective ratings in a given weight class at any time. Although such structures and designations can create confusion amongst Boxing fans and to be more specific those fans for whom the sport is of casual interest, it does not diminish what is likely to be one of the best fights of the turbulent year 2020.

 

In some ways, this fight resembles the recent unification clash for the Undisputed Lightweight championship of the world between Vasyl Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez in that on paper this appears to be an encounter that pits a puncher in Davis against a boxer in Santa Cruz. As we saw nearly two weeks ago when Lopez defeated Lomachenko by a convincing twelve round unanimous decision, sometimes no matter how a fight might look on paper, it does not always translate into what occurs when two fighters are squaring off in the ring. While the strategy implemented by Teofimo Lopez, a fighter known for his ability to score quick knockouts, in choosing a tactical Boxing strategy to both out box and outwork Vasyl Lomachenko over the course of twelve rounds was unexpected, that does not necessarily mean that something similar could happen in this fight.

 

Gervonta Davis will enter this fight against Leo Santa Cruz unbeaten in twenty-three professional fights and having scored knockouts in twenty-two of those bouts. Much like Lopez, Davis is known for having devastating knockout power and can end a fight with one punch should the opportunity arise. In his last fight in December of last year, Davis scored a twelve round stoppage over a very “Game” Yuriorkis Gamboa. Although Davis was able to knockdown Gamboa three times throughout the fight, Gamboa was able to provide Davis with a significant test, despite being injured early in the fight in suffering a torn right Achilles before being stopped in the twelfth round.

 

What was impressive about Davis’ performance in that fight was how he was able to keep his composure and wait for the knockout to develop rather than to be reckless and head hunt where so many fighters who have built reputations as “Knockout Artists” have fallen into a sense of complacency when they are able to score knockdowns early in a fight and in some cases end up losing a fight. Although that fight will forever be known for the courage Yuriorkis Gamboa displayed in fighting under what had to be excruciating pain, it also cannot be overlooked the performance that Davis put forth in that encounter.

 

In this fight Davis is likely to be tested again against Leo Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz, who will enter the fight having won thirty-seven of thirty-nine professional fights, is currently on a five fight winning streak since suffering his lone career defeat to Carl Frampton in July 2016. Although much like Davis Santa Cruz has also demonstrated that he can score a knockout should the opportunity present itself, he is more of a boxer/puncher having scored knockouts in nineteen of his thirty-seven career wins.

 

What this fight comes down to in my eyes is whether or not Santa Cruz will be able to extend Davis, nullify his power, and win rounds. Even though no one can dispute the courage Yuriorkis Gamboa showed when he fought Davis last December, he suffered three knockdowns over the course of the fight and, despite having periodic success throughout the fight, he was not able to really nullify Davis’ punching power. The challenge for Leo Santa Cruz will be to avoid Davis, who has shown an ability to knockout an opponent with either hand, for twelve rounds.

 

Although as we saw with the Lomachenko-Lopez fight that no one can really say for certain what will happen when two fighters enter the ring to do battle, it is logical to assume that Santa Cruz’ strategy will be to out box Davis and try to win a decision. Nevertheless, whenever there are two fighters with contrasting styles going against each other, it is always intriguing to see what will happen.

 

This fight like the recent doubleheader featuring twin brothers Jermall and Jermell Charlo will headline a pay-per-view card with a rather expensive price tag. Although much like it was when the Charlo brothers defeated Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Jeison Rosario respectively last month, the criticism directed towards both the PBC group of promoters as well as the television network producing the pay-per-view broadcast, Showtime, should not be directed the fighters, one does have to wonder how successful this card will be given the state of the ongoing global epidemic, the economic recession that it has caused here in the United States, as well as the financial hardships that many are going through.

 

In contrast, the decision by sports cable network ESPN as well as promoter Bob Arum and his company Top Rank, Inc. to put the Lomachenko-Lopez bout on the main ESPN network on cable and satellite as well as making it available on the network’s direct to consumer digital subscription streaming network ESPN+ for those who do not have access to the linear ESPN networks via traditional cable-satellite providers or live TV streaming providers, proved to be a wise decision as over three million viewers tuned in to see the fight as well as its full undercard across both ESPN’s main linear network as well as via ESPN’s streaming apps.

 

It is rare to see any Boxing event achieve that kind of number in terms of live viewership for a card such as Lomachenko-Lopez, but the number does indicate the increasing trend that the traditional pay-per-view model not only no longer serves Boxing’s best interest, but also that consumers may no longer be willing to pay an increasingly expensive price tag to watch the sport on a per card basis regardless of who might be on the card and why networks and promoters who to date have been resistant to the changing landscape and thus far are unwilling to adapt a digital subscription model at a reasonable price point much like networks such as ESPN+ and DAZN, should rethink their strategy.

 

With not only this card headlined by Gervonta Davis and Leo Santa Cruz as well as the upcoming Welterweight world championship bout between undefeated unified IBF/WBC world champion Errol Spence and former two-division world champion Danny Garcia both slated to be broadcast on pay-per-view, and also factoring in that the Charlo brothers doubleheader only did an estimated 100,000 buys on pay-per-view at a $74.99 price point, one can only imagine the audience both here in the United States as well as globally that the PBC group of promoters as well as networks like Showtime, who broadcast the Charlo doubleheader, who will also be broadcasting the Davis-Santa Cruz pay-per-view card as well as Fox Sports who will be producing the Spence-Garcia pay-per-view event are missing out on by continuing to rely on outdated and overpriced model. The true shame is the fighters themselves are being denied the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of as many eyes as possible, especially in the midst of an ongoing epidemic that does not appear to be improving.

 

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

Davis vs. Santa Cruz takes place on October 31st at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. The fight as well as its undercard can be seen in the United States on a pay-per-view basis beginning at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT (U.S. time on Showtime pay-per-view across cable and satellite providers as well as through the Showtime app across mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices/platforms/smart TVs for $74.99. Contact your local cable or satellite provider for ordering information or visit: www.SHO.com/PPV to order the event and information how to download  and access the Showtime app on compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs. Check your local listings internationally. For more information about Premier Boxing Champions please visit: www.PremierBoxingChampions.com.

 

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