The Boxing Truth®

 Longtime readers know that a recurring theme for this observer has been the overpriced and undervalued model that is pay-per-view and how more often than not it is a model that does not serve in the best interest of Boxing and the fans who support the sport in good times and bad. While Boxing remains one of the few sports that relies heavily on such a structure, often referred to as paywalls, it has been my contention going back decades that something needs to change.   In recent years, readers have seen this observer’s coverage at an extensive pace of the move not just of the sport of Boxing, but one might argue of entertainment and all of sports as a whole away from traditional television distribution including cable/satellite telco providers, and toward over the top (OTT) digital distribution or in more simple terms streaming over the internet. As this gradual push has continued over several years and continues in present day, among those streaming networks that have e...

  The sport of Boxing is no stranger to tournament style competition. While many likely associate the idea of Boxing being contested under tournament style formats with the amateur ranks with several tournaments taking place yearly and of course, Olympic competition occurring every four years, the professional side of the sport has seen its share of tournament concepts as well. While many of these tournaments have served a purpose of unifying world championships in a given weight division, often accompanied by significant elements of hype by the respective promoters and television networks involved, there have also been reality television style competitions such as The Contender and The Next Great Champ series that did serve as a way to introduce several fighters to a more casual audience and in the case of Sergio Mora, the winner of The Contender's first season, an eventual world champion, who since retirement has gone on to become one of the sport's respected expert commentat...

  Press Release: By DAZN – New York – February 25:  Pound-for-pound superstar Canelo Alvarez (57-1-2, 30 KOs) has signed a new two-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing and DAZN. The first fight will see boxing’s biggest attraction step up in weight to take on Dmitry Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs) in a bid for the WBA light-heavyweight title from Las Vegas on May 7. The second fight in the two-fight deal is set for September. Credit: DAZN   The May 7 blockbuster will be available to subscribers around the world on DAZN, excluding Latin America and Mexico. In the U.S. & Canada, the event will be offered exclusively on DAZN Pay-Per View (PPV) - newly introduced for very select events to come - and priced at $59.99 for current subscribers and $79.99 for new subscribers (inclusive of a one-month subscription to DAZN).    Canelo Alvarez claimed the IBF Super-Middleweight strap last time out against a tough Caleb Plant, becoming the first boxer ever to bec...

  Press Release: February 24, 2022 By Brandon Countee – Austin native and Heavyweight boxer Blair Anderson looks to notch the first win of his professional career in the first part of the year. Anderson currently sits with a 0-1 record with his first bout ending in less than a minute in Dallas, Texas. “I should have turned it down, but I didn’t,” Anderson states about the bout. “We put in the training, sparring, and all that. I was all nervous about my first fight, but I thought I was ready. We get to Dallas, and I'm told immediately the opponent pulled out and I ended up fighting a sparring partner. We thought about pulling out but went ahead. I had a guy in the ring who knew my weaknesses and did what he had to do. I got to accept that.” Blaire understands that in sports you either win or lose. Before transitioning to boxing, Anderson played basketball at Blinn College. So, he intends to treat his career not as an individual but as a team initiative. “I got me a good team at mana...

 A new feature here on The Boxing Truth® Jabs And Observations that was introduced in the month of January that will hopefully become a regular fixture of the rotation of content offered to readers as well as in an effort to cover more ground by this observer in regard to the events and happenings in the world of Boxing. Following the feature’s first installment last month, the time has come for the February 2022 edition. While there has been plenty that has gone on outside of the Boxing ring over the last several weeks that will be touched upon later in this month's Jabs And Observations, the February installment should begin with what has happened inside the ring. To be more specific, some of the events that took place over February 18th and 19th around the Boxing world.   Obviously, one that is knowledgeable in regard to the sport of Boxing knows that it is a sport that truly operates twenty-four hours a day, three-hundred sixty-five days a year both in and out of the r...

  Press Release: By Probellum – LOS ANGELES, FEBRUARY 22 – Probellum is thrilled to announce a major strategic partnership with Boxing Hall of Fame promoter Lou DiBella and his company DiBella Entertainment.  Credit: Probellum   The strategic partnership will see Probellum, a global promotion and media company that launched last year, and the legendary DiBella collaborate on a number of fronts in a bid to further their shared vision of advancing the sport of boxing.   This will include co-promotional activities around key fighters in the DiBella Entertainment stable, support for grassroots boxing in the United States, and the continued growth of Probellum’s international network of co-promotional partners.   “Today is a landmark day for Probellum. I am delighted to be able to formally announce our strategic partnership deal with the great Lou DiBella,” said Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum.   “Lou and I have known and worked together for many years ...

Press Release: February 22, 2022 By Dragon Fire Boxing – Highly touted Western Australian Jackson England is set for the biggest night of his career, as he steps up in class against Australian standout Paul Fleming.  Credit: Dragon Fire Boxing   England has been mostly punch-perfect as a professional, with his recent contests resulting in him winning silverware and gaining ratings in the WBC and IBO respectively.   The Perth native now takes a career step up against Fleming over 10 rounds, and the likable all-action featherweight opened up on his clash with Fleming.   England said, "This is what dreams are made of. The first PPV event on Stan Sports at the ICC Arena in Sydney and sharing a card with the likes of Sonny Bill Williams. This is what I got into boxing for.   "I have to say a massive thank you to my manager Tony Tolj and Green Machine Promotions for putting me on in such a great fight with Paul Fleming. Fleming is a great fighter and all the respect t...

  Undefeated Lightweight prospect Ruben Torres scored an impressive sixth round knockout over veteran Cristian Mino on Friday night at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA. Torres simply took his time in a fight that had the appearance as though it would go the distance. By utilizing his reach to keep the shorter Mino at distance, Torres was able to pick his shots. As the fight progressed, the punches Torres was able to land were gradually having an effect on Mino. In round six a beautiful left hook to the body followed by a right hand to the head sent Mino down. Mino showed his mettle by getting up from the knockdown, but moments later, a left hook to the solar plexus sent Mino down in significant pain. The bout was immediately stopped. Official time of the stoppage was 1:37 of round six. Ruben Torres advances to 18-0, with 15 Knockouts.  Cristian Mino falls to 20-5-2, with 15 Knockouts.   Also on this card:   In a Featherweight rematch from a fight in 2018, Horacio ...

  Anyone who covers the sport of Boxing and to be more specific those who specialize in penning columns on a variety of subjects including previews and post-fight analysis can likely relate to the uniqueness of one's creative process. For yours truly, there are times when a basic concept will start to form in my mind of what I will be writing in a forthcoming column at several times. Times which can be the practice of me sitting at my desk and staring at the dreaded blank page waiting for inspiration to strike, or in the context of current technology, being able to pick up my cell phone or a tablet at any time when an idea/concept comes to mind. There are even times when I will start forming an idea in my mind as I cover a fight thinking with each passing round that the forming concept will indeed be what I end up going with when all is said and done.   In some instances however, a concept that forms in the mind that seems by all accounts to be supported by what one is s...