Thursday, September 30, 2021

Usyk Pulls Off The Upset, Should Joshua Invoke Rematch Clause?

All the ingredients that often make up a special night in the sport of Boxing were present in London, England on September 25th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the World Heavyweight championship bout between two-time unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua and undefeated former Undisputed World Cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk before an enthusiastic crowd of over 70,000 spectators. The latter, a welcome sign of normalcy during the ongoing circumstances of the global COVID-19 epidemic. While there are times where “The Big Fight Atmosphere” exists in terms of the build up and anticipation before two fighters enter the ring to do battle where the actual fight does not match such an atmosphere, there was something unique about this particular night.

Perhaps it was because of the circumstances in which we are all living in that the mere sight of a major Boxing event like a battle for a unified World Heavyweight champion before a crowd of that size makes one appreciate it more than prior to the ongoing circumstances, but for this observer, there was something else. All too often in Boxing fans and those of us in the media that cover the sport are accustomed to seeing elements in the prelude to a fight that more often than not, for better or worse, is aimed at hyping an event up with scenes that include, but are not limited to verbal sparring between two fighters, their respective teams, and unfortunately at times even physical altercations. While some dismiss this as merely tactics of “Hype,” more often than not, it does not paint the sport in a favorable light.

This was a rare instance however, where the circumstances of the fight itself did not need any “Hype” as a way to draw interest, nor was there a need to try and sell “Bad Blood” between the combatants.  An encounter between two highly skilled boxers, each at the top of their respective game, with respect for each other meeting to see who was the better fighter was all that was needed. In this case, the challenger Oleksandr Usyk was attempting something that only two previous world champions in the Cruiserweight division had done, to successfully challenge for a portion of the Heavyweight world championship.

Only Evander Holyfield and David Haye could hold claim to accomplishing such a goal, but like Holyfield, Usyk had tested the waters at Heavyweight before challenging for a Heavyweight world championship. Even though his fight against Dereck Chisora proved to be more difficult than some had anticipated for him, Usyk’s campaign at Heavyweight though brief, had been successful going into this encounter. In previewing this bout, this observer stated that it was crucial in my view that Usyk get the champion’s respect early. While almost all challengers who fight for a world championship against a defending champion have a similar task, Usyk was the theoretical smaller fighter who was challenging a theoretically bigger man for his title. Although yours truly does not necessarily like to use the distinction of big versus small or vice versa, this is precisely what we had here. 

Particularly because Anthony Joshua has long been established as a fighter with fight ending punching power in either hand that could bring a fight to a sudden conclusion if he connects cleanly, I felt Usyk needed to establish not only the tempo of the combat from the outset, but also needed to show the champion that he was not going to be able to simply walk through his opposition, despite the physics of being the naturally bigger fighter being in his favor.  The way Oleksandr Usyk approached this task was in a word “Brilliant.”

Using a tactical strategy that had an emphasis on using faints and attacking at angles in spurts, Usyk established a home for his left hand from the outset of the fight. What stood out to me about the challenger’s approach was not only his use of faints and frankly immaculate foot work/movement, but how he used those attributes to disrupt Joshua from finding anything that would resemble a consistent rhythm. Despite being the taller and longer fighter in terms of reach, an aspect of Joshua’s offense that was largely absent was his jab. Although the champion would use the jab sporadically throughout, he was never really able to use the jab in such a way as to limit Usyk’s movement, or ability to get his punches off.

As I watched the first few rounds of this fight play itself out, I had thoughts that a fighter who knew how to combat an opponent that used faints as frequently as Usyk was doing here in this fight and do so with the use of a jab as both an offensive weapon as well as a defensive one in using it in such a way as to stop an opponent’s punches in motion, one fighter came to mind immediately. Larry Holmes. 

Although Anthony Joshua is three inches taller than Holmes and has one inch in terms of reach compared to Holmes’ 81” reach, Holmes was the type of fighter especially in his prime years that would have tried to faint with Usyk as a way to disrupt the rhythm he was trying to establish. Even if this would not result necessarily in increased offense, Holmes had a way of nullifying fighter’s offense in such a way that it made what offense he was able to execute stand out. As this fight progressed, I continued to think of how Holmes would combat a fighter such as one with Usyk’s skillset. Sometimes it is not necessarily the most offensive fighter that wins fights, but the fighter who is able to make the most out of what offense they put forth. 

For a significant portion of this fight in addition to the sporadic use of his jab, Joshua also did not control the distance between himself and Usyk. This allowed the challenger to not only fight at a distance where he could get his punches off regularly, but also gave Usyk the ability to lead the tempo of the combat. Simply put, when Usyk threw his left hand, more often than not he connected with it. As the fight progressed, Usyk began to change the levels of his attack mixing between the head and body of the champion. While this can be described as simply avoiding falling into a pattern that would be easier for an opponent to predict, it prevented Joshua from being able to make necessary adjustments to his plan.

An aspect that can at times be overlooked by some is the difference when a southpaw fights an orthodox fighter. It is not simply a change in stances between the two fighters as well as a difference in which hand a fighter leads with, but also the tactical approach. If you are an orthodox boxer an obvious key component to your offense will be your jab with your left hand, but when going against a southpaw opponent, it is key that you also find a way to land your right hand frequently.  While obviously tactics will depend on both the fighter as well as their trainer in terms of drawing up a fight plan, one thing became increasingly clear even as Joshua gradually found sporadic success as the fight progressed. He did not have the ability to time Usyk, which can be attributed to the challenger’s fight plan and tactical movement, but also Joshua was inconsistent in his approach.

It seemed as though he did not know or at least did not have a solid plan in terms of a method in which to attack Usyk with consistency. Whether this was because Joshua felt he had the punching power that once he was able to land cleaning on Usyk with flush power shots that he would not need to approach his attack as strategically is only a question he could answer, but was simply not consistent that that worked against him in this fight.

How could Joshua have turned this fight around?  One thing I noticed was when he was able to land offense to Usyk’s body those punches did have an effect, but the champion did not or could not form a consistent body attack throughout and instead seemed to land punches sporadically rather than focus on one specific area to land offense.  This in addition to perhaps failing to lead with his right hand from time to time played into Usyk’s hands. What would a consistent body attack have done? The general rule is that when a fighter uses a lot of lateral movement in the form of faints and/or head movement as Usyk did in this fight, the opposing fighter should focus on the portion of their opponent’s body that does not move, the body. The theory, which at times is easier said than done is that if a fighter focuses on an opponent’s body there is always a possibility that a punch could land that will stop a fighter in their tracks and bring a sudden end to the fight, but more conventionally, a consistent body attack over time if executed successfully limits a fighter’s ability to both move laterally as well as get out of striking distance with their legs. In general terms if you hit a tree at its base enough times, eventually the head will fall. As far as Boxing is concerned, a consistent body attack will at minimum over time slow a fighter’s movement and present some opportunities to land to the head that may not have otherwise been available when that fighter was able to move frequently. At most, it may also present an opportunity to end a fight.

As this fight progressed, one thing that the challenger also was able to accomplish was that whenever Joshua landed a hard punch, Usyk almost immediately returned offense and over time, he also showed that he could stun Joshua more than occasionally with his left hand. Usyk’s consistency throughout as well as his ability to land the more telling blows including giving the appearance as though he had Joshua in trouble at certain stages in the latter rounds, left the impression on me that he had done more than enough to win the fight, having done so in my eyes in convincing fashion. 

At the conclusion of the twelve round world championship bout, unofficially, I had Oleksandr Usyk winning this fight eight rounds to four or 116-112 in points, but I had a sense both due to the location in which this bout took place as well as the sporadic success that Joshua was able to have throughout that perhaps the official scoring would be closer, despite the view of this observer that Usyk had won the fight clearly and with little question as to who was the more effective fighter. In short, no matter how much experience one might have in covering the sport, which this observer has plenty, no matter how many fights on every possible level of the sport, amateur or professional that one sees, you never know what three individuals might be seeing or thinking in their task of being the only three people whose opinions matter. This observer is referring to the three official judges.

Ultimately, my unofficial scoring was reflected in one of the official scorecards in that of Judge Steve Weisfeld, a judge who has officiated over 2,100 professional bouts in his career who saw the bout the same as yours truly, 116-112. What ended up happening as judges Howard Foster, who scored the fight 115-113, (Seven rounds to five) and Viktor Fesechko, who scored it 117-112 (Eight rounds to three, with one round, the eighth round scored even 10-10) was what amounts to a full spectrum of scoring in what was a unanimous decision. A decision in favor of Oleksandr Usyk making him only the third Cruiserweight world champion to have successfully moved up to capture a Heavyweight world championship. In the process, Usyk has turned what for a period of time appeared to be a relatively simple path towards full unification of the World Heavyweight championship into the unknown.

First there is the issue of the WBC world championship. As some may recall, the year 2021 began with an agreement in principle for Joshua to meet Tyson Fury, the undefeated two-time Heavyweight world champion, who currently holds the WBC crown. Despite the agreement qnd ramblings of the bout being staged in the Saudi Arabia, all plans for what would have been an undisputed world championship bout were put to a halt when former WBC champion Deontay Wilder, who lost his crown in February 2020 in his second bout with Fury, was granted via court order a contractually obligated third bout with Fury. 

This third encounter was originally supposed to take place in July, but was pushed back to October 9th due to Fury testing positive for the COVID-19 virus. If this all sounds confusing for the reader and if you as the reader of this column might be confused, you are not alone. Furthermore, it would be understandable if you have doubts not only as to whether or not the scheduled Fury-Wilder III bout will indeed take place on October 9th and how this will all play into the equation that now has a new twist with Usyk defeating Joshua for his unified portion of the World Heavyweight championship.

One of the things that yours truly takes pride in beyond providing unbiased, objective coverage of the sport of Boxing, the sport that I have always had a lifelong love and passion for and have spent most of my life covering, is that the reader can always be assured that I will call it as I see it. As such, it would be dishonest of me to say that I do not have doubts. Doubts regarding both whether the third Fury-Wilder bout, which is still scheduled for October 9th as of this writing, will in fact take place and if in fact it does, whether the result will lead to an undisputed world championship fight.

The fact is I do have doubts. Not only because of the constant element of uncertainty that we have all been dealing with for nearly two years since the COVID-19 crisis began, which if nothing else should have taught us the lesson that even the best plans can change in an instant as you simply cannot predict what might happen due to the ongoing situation regarding the virus. In addition to the ongoing and unpredictability of the ongoing circumstances, perhaps what is triggering that doubtful impulse in this observer has to do with the business/political elements that for better or worse surround the sport that for one reason or another not only seems to halt the progress that can be made like a concept of full unification of a division, but more importantly, tends to give the impression that Boxing and to be more specific the people involved in running the sport will not get out of their own way even if doing so is in the best interest of the sport. While the subject of the political/business elements that surround Boxing is one that I have covered extensively when appropriate and by it’s nature is a broad subject that covers a lot of ground.

For the purposes of this column and out of respect for the reader all I can say in regard to the Fury-Wilder saga is we will have to wait and see if chapter three of the story between the two fighters does indeed occur and who knows if there might be another chapter after that. At least in terms of the immediate future, the more likely scenario at least as far as Usyk and Joshua are concerned is to see a rematch, which coincidentally much like Fury-Wilder is contractually stipulated, but unlikely to be ordered in a court of law.

This is because both fighters appear keen on the idea of a rematch and unlike Fury and Wilder, there is no bad blood or animosity between the two. In fact, the former two-time world champion Joshua showed “Class” in defeat in congratulating the new champion including a cordial exchange in the locker room after the fight as well as being extremely humble in his remarks during the post-fight press conference where he more or less said that despite his standing in the sport, he is still learning, which should be an example of not only how to handle a setback for any fighter or athlete in general, but also shows that even the best of the best fighters and athletes are like the rest of us, all human.

As for whether or not it will be wise for Joshua to seek an immediate rematch as he did when he was stopped by Andy Ruiz in June 2019, that is a subject to debate. Unlike when he was coming back from the first time he lost his world championship, Joshua is not attempting to rebound from a knockout loss, but rather a convincing decision loss in which he was out box3d by a master boxer. Can Joshua make any adjustments in a rematch? That remains to be seen, but in this observer's view, he will need to change his approach because as the old adage goes, you cannot box with a master boxer. Whether that means Joshua will have to force Usyk into a fight for twelve rounds and use his physical advantages the second time around is something that he and his team will have to decide as they prepare for the rematch. Without a significant change in strategy and how Joshua approaches that strategy, the rematch whenever it takes place could have a similar outcome.

“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 






Monday, September 27, 2021

Munguia And Rosado Square Off November 13TH On DAZN

 

Press Release: By DAZN LOS ANGELES, CA (September 27, 2021) – A new chapter will be added to the classic Mexico vs. Puerto Rico rivalry on Saturday, November 13, as Jaime Munguia (37-0, 30 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico, will put his undefeated record and WBO Intercontinental Middleweight title on the line when he faces off against the Borinquen warrior “King” Gabriel Rosado (26-13-1, 15 KOs) of Philadelphia, Penn. Fight fans, clamoring for an all-out war between two of the most exciting warriors in the division, will get to see a 12-round ‘Fight of the Year’ contender live exclusively on DAZN worldwide, excluding Mexico. 

Credit: DAZN

 

Additional information on the event will be announced.

 

"This fight will be full of non-stop action. It will be a war that fight fans will enjoy and a new exciting chapter in the classic Mexico vs. Puerto Rico boxing rivalry," said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman, and CEO of Golden Boy. "Both fighters are coming off of spectacular performances and knock-out victories that showed their power, speed, and resilience.  Jaime Munguia is a super-star; he has all the elements that make a fighter great. He's already conquered the junior middleweight division and is on his way to conquer the middleweight division.  But this is going to be a big test for him because Gabriel Rosado is a dangerous fighter, he has never backed down from a challenge. He has faced and gone the distance with some of the toughest fighters in the middleweight division. This is truly a 'Fight of the Year' contender, a fight that fans will remember for years to come."

 

"As always, Golden Boy continue to deliver world class matchmaking in what's set to be a brilliant night of boxing in November between Jaime Munguia and Gabriel Rosado" said Ed Breeze, EVP Rights at DAZN. "After a clinical performance against Szeremeta in June, Munguia puts it all on the line again, this time against a fan favorite and one of the toughest men in the sport of boxing, Gabriel Rosado. We cannot wait to bring this fight to fans around the world, live exclusively on DAZN."

 

“Rosado is a dangerous fighter with a lot of experience,” said Munguia. “He is a formidable rival that we have to prepare to be stronger and more intelligent in the ring.  He has had the opportunity to fight with great fighters, the best in the middleweight division. I am going to give this fight 100% and as always, give a great fight for fans on November 13.”

 

“I'm excited about this fight. It’s a fight in high demand,” said Rosado.  “I respect Munguia as a fighter and I will bring my best and I am confident I will be victorious. My last fight I think will end up being ‘Knock-out of the Year,’ and I plan on making this upcoming bout ‘The Fight of the Year.’ Time to make history. Team KGR!!”

 

Ranked as one of the top middleweights in the world, Jaime Munguia will have a big challenge in facing “King” Gabriel Rosado.  One of the most exciting fighters to come out of Tijuana, Mexico, Munguia is a rising boxing super-star in the middleweight division. He has already conquered the junior middleweight division with a former world title and five defenses against Liam “Beefy” Smith, Brandon “Bad Boy” Cook, Takeshi Inoue, Dennis Hogan, and Patrick Allotey. Now, Munguia hopes to continue his undefeated streak as he trains under the tutelage of Hall of Famer Erik “El Terrible” Morales as he continues to climb the ranks and prove he is the best at 160lbs. 

 

“King” Gabriel Rosado (26-13-1, 15 KOs) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is coming off of a sensational knock-out victory over the former undefeated fighter Bektemir “Bully” Melikuziev. The Philadelphia fighter of Puerto Rican descent has never backed down from a fight and has delivered some of the most memorable battles in the sport, facing some of the toughest fighters in the division.  His experience has prepared him for the upcoming test, as he takes on Munguia on November 13 and hopefully claim the WBO Intercontinental Middleweight title. 

 

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, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.

 

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


Saturday, September 25, 2021

Molina Scores Second Win Over Raygosa, What’s Next?

 There was little build for former IBF Jr. Middleweight world champion Carlos Molina’s bout against veteran Juan Carlos Raygosa on Friday, September 24th in Patzcuaro, Mexico. This was due to Molina facing a fighter with whom he had already scored a ten round unanimous decision over in November of last year, but also perhaps due to Raygosa having a less than stellar record as he entered the bout with a record of 17-17-3, with 6 Knockouts compared to Molina’s 37-12-2, with 12 Knockouts. Although this had all the appearance as this observer said in previewing the bout as a “Stay Busy” bout for Molina as he looked to bounce back from a defeat earlier this year to Middleweight contender Sam Eggington, this fight did have a basic storyline to it.

Despite his experience against at or near top level competition throughout his career as a former world champion, there is always a question of whether or not a fighter can bounce back from a setback regardless of the perceived caliber of the opposition standing across the ring from them. After fifty professional fights in an eighteen year pro career, it is logical to ask how much more a fighter might have left in them in terms of their in ring career. In fairness, Carlos Molina has not shown any signs of a fighter that is in decline though his record is an illustration of someone who has spent quite an amount of time inside the Boxing ring.

While some may not look at a fight such as the one he had against Juan Carlos Raygosa with much regard, the thing that always interests me going into a fight like this even though Raygosa’s record may not appear to offer much in terms of his overall level of competition is, as I said in the prelude to the fight, fighters like Raygosa are often the most active in the sport because of their willingness to go into fights under varying conditions regardless of who the opposition might be. Given that this was Raygosa’s second opportunity to share a ring with Carlos Molina after giving a good effort in defeat in their first encounter, I wondered what type of adjustments he might be able to make this time around.

As the two fighters entered the ring at the Posada Hotel Don Vasco before a limited crowd of spectators due to the ongoing circumstances of the global COVID-19 epidemic, Raygosa did attempt to bring the fight to Molina by showing a willingness to not only stand and trade punches, but also apply pressure on the former world champion. What was noticeable about Raygosa’s approach was he was a bit more aggressive as compared to the first fight where Molina was able to outwork him over the course of ten rounds.

Although Raygosa was the more aggressive of the two fighters throughout this rematch, he was not tactical in his aggression and left opportunities for Molina to counter punch, which he did capitalize on. Molina may not have overwhelmed Raygosa with activity, but he was very compact with his offense in that he would at times land two or three punches in combination and then step back and await his next opportunity in allowing Raygosa to lead throughout.  While not a complicated fight to describe, it was Molina’s taking advantage of opportunities presented to him, compact offense that was often the cleaner of the punches landed between the two fighters, in addition to making his opponent miss that ended up being the story of this fight as Molina was able to box his way to another ten round unanimous decision over Juan Carlos Raygosa.

While this fight was frankly simple to describe for the reader, some might choose to be critical in the sense that Molina did not stop Raygosa. This observer will not be one to criticize because fights like this do serve a purpose for a fighter that is looking to get back in the mix and going ten rounds at a consistent pace is likely more beneficial than if he had gone a shorter distance and gotten a quick stoppage or knockout victory.

The question now becomes what will happen next for the former world champion and promoter Carlos Molina as he continues to campaign in the 160lb. Middleweight division.  For now I feel the key is to try and stay as active as possible. This of course is easier said than done due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, but there are two things that Molina does have in his favor as he looks to position himself for another opportunity to fight for a world title. One he has a plethora of experience and while he may not be viewed as a marquee name by some, a fighter with the amount of experience that Molina brings to the table is always going to be in the discussion of potential challengers for a world champion even if those who promote said champion are looking to him as a would be “Tune-Up” for a potentially more lucrative fight to come. Second, in addition to his experience, Molina is a former world champion and should have some name recognition clout to be able to get into a position where a world championship fight is at least an option on the table for him. The fact that he did become a world champion should serve as an indicator to any promoter with a top contender or a world champion in their stable to not take him lightly because all a fighter really needs is one impressive victory against a notable opponent to stir buzz.  For now however, Molina needs to stay as active as he can and look to make the best argument possible for an opportunity down the road.


“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

THE TALES OF BOXING'S QUARANTINE KING - AUSSIE BOXINGS TONY TOLJ

 

 Press Release: September 25, 2021 By Dragon Fire Boxing /Story By Chris Glover – Tony Tolj has experienced likely every challenge that global travelling has during the last two years, with his charges Andrew and Jason Moloney signing with global boxing leaders Top Rank just prior to the beginning of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic. 

Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank Boxing

The Moloney's have travelled back and forth to the USA for camps, culminating in fights with Joshua Franco, Josh Greer and the arguable pound for pound King Naoya Inoue. With Tolj based in Western Australia, and the Moloney's on Australia's Gold Coast, it hasn't been the easiest of tasks 

Tolj discussed some of the issues he's faced over the last two years. He said, "I've spent a total of just under 6 months in quarantine since the pandemic commenced. Human beings are social creatures, so keeping them locked up isn't good for their mental and physical health in general. The hardest part for me has been, being stuck in hotels with no ventilation and no fresh air for two week stretches.

"I live in Perth, Western Australia, so after doing two weeks in a hotel then I spend another two weeks at home which is very difficult. Two weeks isn’t too bad mentally but getting into week three and four is bad. I run a business, and I have to stay switched on for that. Nights begin to turn into days because you're not functioning as a human naturally so your sleeping goes everywhere. It's a complete nightmare, literally."

As previously stated, the Moloney brothers have been involved in some elite level clashes over the last 2 years, with Andrew Moloney having three fights with Joshua Franco for the WBA world super flyweight title being one of the most high profile contests in the lower weights globally. The Aussie boxing baron Tolj recollected the issues he faced during that fight from a travel standpoint.

Tolj said, "The worst stretch was after the disappointment of the phantom headbutt in Moloney Franco II fight. I then had to do two weeks in a hotel and two weeks at home. What's made it worse was the domestic borders were then open then, so I went back to Sydney a couple days later for Bruno Tarimo vs Paul Fleming which was a draw due to a head clash. Bruno was up on the cards prior to the stoppage. I was there for 4 days and then there was a COVID detection in Sydney's Northern beaches. So there was a lockdown then. I then went to the Gold Coast for another fight and there was another head clash but the fight continued and Ty Payne won. 

"After all that I went home and had to do another two weeks home quarantine where it is strictly enforced. So basically six weeks out of seven weeks was in some form of quarantine, and technically I was in seven of the eight weeks as I was in the bubble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It's torture for me right now, and I keep thinking of we are the champions by Queen in my head, I’ve done my sentence but committed no crime but after I get out of this quarantine I roll straight into Dragon Fire Boxing's Thunderdome 36 event at Metro City, Perth. No more sad stories hopefully, just proper ones!"

Material Courtesy of: Dragon Fire Boxing/ Story By Chris Glover/ Photo Courtesy of: Mikey Williams/ Top Rank Boxing Used with permission.

 

For more information about Dragon Fire Boxing please visit Dragon Fire Boxing’s official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DragonFireBoxing.

 

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

 


Friday, September 24, 2021

Joshua-Usyk Weights

 

The official weigh-in for Saturday’s World Heavyweight championship fight between unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua and undefeated WBO number one Heavyweight contender and former Undisputed world Cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk took place earlier today in London, England. Official weights for the entire card, which will be broadcast globally by digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN and by Sky Sports Box Office Pay-Per-View in the United Kingdom and Ireland are below.

 

Main Event: Unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world championship – 12Rds.

 

Anthony Joshua (Champion) 240lbs. vs. Oleksandr Usyk (Challenger) 221 1/4lbs.

 

WBO Cruiserweight world championship – 12Rds.

 

Lawrence Okolie (Champion) 199 lbs. vs. Dilan Prasovic 200lbs.

 

Light-Heavyweight – 10Rds.

 

Callum Smith 175lbs. vs. Lenin Castillo 175lbs.

 

Welterweight – 10Rds.

 

Maxim Prodan 146 3/4lbs. vs. Florian Marku 146 1/2lbs.

 

Middleweight – 10Rds.

 

Chris Ousley 160lbs. vs. Khasan Baysangurov 159 1/2lbs.

 

Lightweight – 6Rds.

 

Campbell Hatton 136lbs. vs. Sonni Martinez 136lbs.

 

*Also Scheduled Weights unavailable as of this writing

 

Light-Heavyweight – 6Rds.

 

Daniel Lapin vs. Pawel Martyniuk

 

Joshua vs. Usyk takes place on Saturday, September 25th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. The fight as well as it’s full undercard can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 1PM ET/ 10AM PT (U.S. Time) For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.

 

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the card can be seen on Sky Sports Box Office Pay-Per-View for £24.95 beginning at 7PM (Local UK Time) For more information about Sky Box Office and to order please click the following link: www.sky.com/boxoffice/joshua-usyk.

 

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

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

 

 


Thursday, September 23, 2021

Can Molina Get Back In The Win Column

 

There are some stories in Boxing that are go hand and hand with the sport. One of the most common is the story of a former world champion continuing on with their career in search of another opportunity at a world championship. Former IBF Jr. Middleweight world champion Carlos Molina is one such tale of a former champion that has continued on in hopes of getting another opportunity at a world title. Some may recall Molina winning the IBF crown from Cory Spinks in February 2013 in winning a twelve round unanimous decision to take the title from the former two-division world champion. After a successful title defense over former world champion Ishe Smith later that year, Molina lost his crown to Cornelius Bundrage in October 2014.

Since then, Molina’s career inside the ring has seen the ups and downs that many fighters experience over the course of a long career. Along the way, Molina has taken a route that some boxers have in choosing to take a true entrepreneurial approach to his career by becoming a promoter and choosing to compete under his own promotional banner. In more recent times, this has included staging cards in his native Mexico in the midst of the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic in being one of the first promoters that was able to resume staging events even if it came under circumstances where no spectators have been allowed to attend. Molina has also taken advantage of ever evolving technology by using the power of the internet to stream his events to a worldwide audience including through Facebook among other platforms.

After building an unbeaten run of eight bouts in which he scored knockouts in four of those fights, Molina traveled to Coventry, England in May of this year where he lost a twelve round unanimous decision to former European Welterweight champion Sam Eggington in a Middleweight bout. Although he came out on the losing end of the decision in that fight, Molina showed his veteran know how in pushing Eggington throughout and gave a good account of himself in defeat.

Now with a record of 37-12-2, with 12 Knockouts, Molina now prepares to take a step forward in an effort to bounce back as he will face Juan Carlos Raygosa on Friday, September 24th at the Posada Hotel Don Vasco in Patzcuaro, Mexico in a card promoted by Molina’s King Carlos Promotions and streamed globally by digital combat sports network and pay-per-view platform FITE TV.

This will be a rematch of a fight that Molina and Raygosa had in November of last year in which Molina was able to score a ten round unanimous decision. Although Raygosa can be described by a term that this observer does not like to use, as a “Journeyman”, as he will enter this rematch with Molina with a record of 17-17-3, with 6 Knockouts, he has only been stopped in four of those seventeen career defeats and has not been stopped in his last eight bouts stretching over the last two years. 

While this frankly has all the appearance of a “Stay Busy” and a “Bounce Back” fight for Molina given his opponent’s record and the fact that Raygosa will enter having lost two of his last five including the loss to Molina, the bottom line is fighters like Raygosa do serve a role in the sport that can be underappreciated by some fans, a fighter who is willing to get in the ring on a frequent basis, at times on short notice, regardless of who the opposition might be. As a result, despite the appearance that a record like the one Raygosa will have going into this fight, these type of fighters are often the most active in the sport because if nothing else, they almost always give a solid effort win or lose and their willingness to fight as often as possible, will often make them an asset to many promoters who look to fill out their cards.

What this fight does boil down to for Molina at least in terms of his career as a fighter is whether or not he will be able to bounce back from a setback earlier this year and continue the overall momentum he has been able to build in recent years even if the majority of his victories in recent times has come against opposition that some may hold in little regard. Much like Raygosa, Carlos Molina is a veteran of the Boxing ring and the bottom line is the more active a fighter is, the better that fighter’s odds of being ready to step into an opportunity whether that comes in the form of a world championship bout, or a bout against a rising or top contender is. The more active a fighter is, the more that fighter is able to win, the better the chance that the phone will ring with the next potential opportunity.

Whether or not an opportunity will come for the former world champion to challenge once more for a world title remains to be seen. Molina does have one thing going for him in that he does have himself set up to continue in the sport after his career inside the ring is over. Something that frankly all fighters regardless of their standing in the sport, the level in which they compete on, should all learn from.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Molina vs. Raygosa II takes place on Friday, September 24th at the Posada Hotel Don Vasco in Patzcuaro, Mexico. The fight as well as it’s full undercard can be seen globally on digital combat sports network and pay-per-view platform FITE TV beginning at 8PM ET/5PM for $9.99 (U.S. Time.) For more information on FITE, including schedules and for instructions on how to download the FITE app on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, please visit: http://www.FITE.TV. To order Molina vs. Raygosa II download the FITE app or click the following link:  "King" Carlos Molina vs Juan Carlos Raygoza II - Official PPV Live Stream - FITE. For more information on King Carlos Promotions please visit King Carlos Promotions Official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/KingCarlosPromotions.

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

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


Joshua-Usyk: Is The Stage Set For An Upset?

 

If there is one thing that almost anyone with an interest in Boxing, the sport known as the sweet science can agree on, it is that one of the things that make it so appealing is the element of the unknown. The element that not only can a fight end at any given moment, but also the anticipation of a fight where there is a legitimate sense of not knowing what the outcome is likely to be amongst both fans and experts alike.  One such meeting will take place on Saturday, September 25th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England where two-time unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua will make the second defense of his second reign as champion against undefeated former Undisputed Cruiserweight world champion and current WBO number one Heavyweight contender Oleksandr Usyk in a bout scheduled for twelve rounds that can be seen globally on digital subscription-based sports streaming network DAZN and on Sky Sports Box Office Pay-Per-View in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The element of the unknown is something that the champion Joshua knows well. After all, it was not long ago that he as a then unbeaten world champion entered the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY in his United States debut in June 2019  in defending his title against Andy Ruiz, a fight that Ruiz took on short notice and ended up shocking many by getting up off the canvas to drop the champion a total of three times before stopping him in the seventh round to emerge as the new world champion. Although Joshua was able to produce a near flawless Boxing performance in their immediate rematch in December of that year to regain his unified crown, he did learn the lesson that indeed anything can happen and sometimes it is the element of the unknown that can upset any potential future plans.

Following a ninth round knockout in his first title defense after regaining the championship against IBF number one contender Kubrat Pulev in December of last year, Joshua now prepares to make a second mandatory title defense. This time, in the form of former Undisputed Cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk, who is the number one contender in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Heavyweight ratings. Before we go further, it is appropriate to note that this fight came to fruition following the collapse of a hoped-for Undisputed world championship bout between Joshua and undefeated two-time Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, current holder of the World Boxing Council (WBC) crown when Fury was ordered legally to defend his title against former WBC world champion Deontay Wilder in a contractually obligated third encounter between the two.

In some ways, this is a situation that is not unlike the one that Joshua found himself in prior to his first encounter with Andy Ruiz in the sense that there was a more lucrative fight in the future for him if he were able to get by Ruiz as at the time, the anticipation for an encounter between he and the then undefeated WBC world champion Wilder was extremely high and one might argue was one of the best fights that could have been made in the sport at that time. Of course, where the situation differs is that Ruiz had stepped into a fight on short notice when Joshua’s original opponent Jarrell Miller was suspended for testing positive for a banned substance as part of the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency’s (VADA) randomized testing protocols.

While there are some similarities in the sense that Joshua could have a lucrative fight for the Undisputed World Heavyweight championship in his near future and in fact believed a deal was in place with Fury prior to the court ruling that led to the still upcoming Fury-Wilder III bout, the unified world champion has had considerably more time to prepare for Usyk than he did the first time he fought Ruiz.

As for Oleksandr Usyk, the former Undisputed Cruiserweight world champion has remained unbeaten in two bouts since moving up to the Heavyweight division. In those two outings, Usyk scored decision wins over longtime contender Chazz Witherspoon and former world title challenger Dereck Chisora in his last fight on Halloween night of last year. Despite being undefeated in eighteen professional fights, Usyk does have questions surrounding him in regard to not only his punching power, but also just how successful he might be overall as a Heavyweight. Questions that are not all that unlike those that have been asked of previous top Cruiserweight fighters that have ventured into the Heavyweight division seeking lucrative paydays and world championships.

Much like Joshua, Usyk is a former Olympic Gold medalist having won Gold as a Heavyweight in the 2012 London Olympics. The same Olympics that saw Joshua win Gold as a Super-Heavyweight. Though the distinction of the two weight classes on the amateur level of the sport is one that this observer has criticized as I feel it is not necessary, it does make one wonder why Usyk would choose to begin his professional career as a Cruiserweight. In his two Heavyweight bouts, Usyk was able to score those two wins over Witherspoon and Chisora, but one could make the argument that he was not able to hurt either fighter and in the case of Chisora, was given a much more difficult fight than some had anticipated. There are also some who feel that Chisora, who was able to put consistent pressure on Usyk throughout may have deserved the nod from the three official judges in what was a unanimous decision for Usyk.

While I felt Usyk did enough to win that fight, it is indisputable that it was not a dominant performance by the former Cruiserweight world champion and it created more questions than answers regarding how Usyk will fare at the elite level of the Heavyweight division. What he does have as an asset is he is a southpaw going against an orthodox fighter in Joshua. It is crucial however, that Usyk find a way to get the champion's respect early in this fight.  Although Joshua looked like the “Knockout Artist” of old against Kubrat Pulev in his last fight, Usyk is highly skilled and crafty. Despite Joshua’s reputation for often scoring quick knockouts that he earned prior to his loss to Andy Ruiz in their first fight, there might be some who still question whether he is fully recovered from that loss even though he out boxed Ruiz convincingly in their rematch.

Although it may be logical to think that as the theoretically bigger man of the two that Joshua will look to impose his will on Usyk early, it will be interesting to see if he takes a more tactical approach. Usyk is a very skilled counter puncher and even though his style differs from that of Andy Ruiz, one should remember that Joshua was able to score a knockdown of Ruiz in the third round of their first fight, but as he went in to try to finish Ruiz after Ruiz had gotten up, he was overly aggressive and did not anticipate Ruiz’ hand speed and ability to counter punch. This resulted in Joshua getting caught and suffering his own knockdown in what ended up being one of the best rounds of Heavyweight Boxing in recent memory. While one might say that Ruiz has more punching power than Oleksandr Usyk, a skilled counter puncher still has the ability to catch an opponent with something that the opponent may not see coming if the counter attack is timed properly. So, even though much of the focus here will be on whether Usyk will be able to deal with someone of Joshua’s punching power, the possibility of Joshua getting caught due to being overly aggressive certainly exists. Another aspect that one should keep in mind as this fight approaches is Usyk has the ability to outwork his opponents as a fight progresses and part of the challenge he will present to the champion if the Joshua is not able to hurt him early is whether or not Joshua will be able to maintain a consistent offensive rhythm for all twelve rounds.

With much of the focus over the next few days and weeks within the sport not only focused on this fight, but also focused on the scheduled third encounter between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, which is scheduled for October 9th in Las Vegas, NV, there is a lot at stake for all four fighters as the five portions that make up the World Heavyweight championship are up for grabs in these two fights. If Anthony Joshua is looking beyond Oleksandr Usyk it could lead to disaster much in the same way it did against Andy Ruiz, when Ruiz was thrust into challenging him and not given much regard by some fans and experts. The difference here is, Oleksandr Usyk is not stepping in on short notice, but if he can deal with the champion’s power, does have the skillset to create problems for Joshua and if Joshua is not at his best, the ingredients for an upset are here.

There is nothing quite like the anticipation of a World Heavyweight championship fight as the questions and debates amongst fans and experts often intensify in the lead up to the two fighters entering the ring to do battle. While there is still time for such discussion, all that is left is for Anothy Joshua to try and defend his crown against a highly skilled and determined challenger looking to become a two-division world champion. We will see what happens when Joshua and Usyk square off on Saturday night.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Joshua vs. Usyk takes place on Saturday, September 25th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. The fight as well as it’s full undercard can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 1PM ET/ 10AM PT (U.S. Time) For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the card can be seen on Sky Box Office Pay-Per-View for £24.95 beginning at 7PM (Local UK Time) For more information about Sky Box Office and to order please click the following link: www.sky.com/boxoffice/joshua-usyk.

*If there is any additional broadcast information, it will be made available here on The Boxing Truth® on Friday, September 24th when the official weigh-in report for this card is released.

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

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

 

 

 

 


Monday, September 20, 2021

JASON MOLONEY LOOKS TO MAKE IT THIRD TIME LUCKY IN WORLD TITLE TILT

 

Press Release: September 20, 2021 By Team Moloney – Australian Mayhem, Jason Moloney has his sights set on making it third time lucky on the world title front, worth the Top Rank standout sitting high in both the WBC and IBO world ratings.  

Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank Boxing

 
 

Moloney impressed once again last time out, as he returned from a valiant effort against pound for pound star Naoya Inoue to dominate highly rated Josh Greer, winning the WBC world silver bantamweight title in the process.  

 
 

Moloney reflected on his last outing, where he traveled to the USA once more to challenge for the WBC strap.  

 
 

The Australian said, “I was happy with my performance against Greer. He is a tough fighter and came to win. We both had everything to lose in this fight, and I thought we both showed that in our performances. I felt the fans got a great fight and at the end of the day that’s what it’s about.  

 
 

“I thought I showed what level I’m at in my last fight, and that’s a level that’s good enough to become world champion. I’m highly ranked in the world now with the WBC and IBO, so I’m going to leave it to my manager Tony Tolj and Top Rank to make the next move for me, but I’m waiting to make it third time lucky in my world title shot.”  

 
 

Moloney sits in a lofty position with multiple sanctioning bodies, and the all action brother of former world champion Andrew Moloney discussed what he wants next.  

 
 

Jason said, “I’m not going to turn down any world title fight that comes my way, but I know how things currently are I may have to wait my turn. I’m good with that, I just want to be in entertaining fights and keep showing people that I have all the ability to be a world champion.  

 
 

“Obviously a fight with the current WBC Champion Nonito Donaire would be the dream, he’s a legend at the end of the day. He looks to be on a collision course with Casimero, but if that doesn’t happen I’d fight Donaire in a heartbeat. It would be an honor to share the ring with one of the best ever.” 

 

Material Courtesy of: Team Moloney/ Photo Courtesy of: Mikey Williams/Top Rank Boxing Used with permission. 

 

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