The Boxing Truth®

The sport of Boxing and by extension combat sports is far from an exact science. While that statement by its nature is one that can cover a lot of ground, for the purposes of this column, the term “Exact Science" will be in regard to the development of a young fighter. To be more specific, when the decision is made to allow the fighter to step up in caliber of competition. In the case of undefeated Super-Middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga, it seems like it was only yesterday that he was a rising prospect, who began his career with a streak of sixteen knockouts. As impressive as that is, what makes it more impressive is all of those knockouts came in the first round. It should not be a surprise based on that statistic that Berlanga, who turned professional in 2016 has moved up the ladder of contention rather quickly, though the first four years of his career resulted in only sixteen rounds inside the ring. A conundrum that all fighters who have risen through the ranks as Berlang...

  The hype that preceded the encounter between Undisputed Super-Middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and former Undisputed Jr. Middleweight world champion Jermell Charlo was largely based on the fact that for the first time in modern Boxing history, two fighters, who were undisputed world champions in their respective weight classes at the same time, would face each other as one would move up significantly in weight to challenge the other for his crown. There was however, the small wrinkle in that once Jermell Charlo entered the ring at the T-Mobile Arena on September 30th to face Alvarez, his status as an undisputed champion would no longer be current as it had been known in the weeks prior to the fight that the World Boxing Organization (WBO) would be stripping Charlo of it’s world championship in the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division for failing to defend its championship against undefeated number one contender Tim Tszyu. A fight that was supposed to take place, but ...

There are numerous stories throughout Boxing history where world champions in one weight division in seeking a challenge will opt to move up in weight to fight for another world championship. While the fact that there are multiple world sanctioning organizations and thus, multiple world championships per weight division has made the process of a champion moving up to challenge for another world title a bit easier, it is still an accomplishment that can prove difficult to pull off.  In the case of former Undisputed Jr. Middleweight world champion Jermell Charlo, he is preparing to take what some would call a bigger risk as he will move up in weight by two weight divisions to challenge Undisputed Super-Middleweight world champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez for the Undisputed Super-Middleweight championship of the world on September 30th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The fight, which can be seen here in the United States on Showtime Pay-Per-View , has been marketed as the f...

 As the world nears the Christmas holidays, the Boxing world will not be taking much of a hiatus as was the case in previous years. With the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters staging two cards on Christmas night and New Year’s Day on Fox and Fox Sports Pay-Per-View here in the United States and will be largely alone in doing so, the weekend of December 17 th and 18 th of 2021 saw a focus on the Light-Heavyweight division, a world title elimination bout, and two rematches that depending on one’s perspective were anticipated for different reasons. While one of those rematches as well as it’s full undercard have already been covered by this observer here on The Boxing Truth®, the final weekend before Christmas saw other action throughout the sport that also deserves attention.   The first of these bouts took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where an elimination bout took place to determine the next mandatory challenger in the World Boxing Association (WBA) Jr....

  Although much of what has dominated the attention throughout the sport of Boxing recently has had to do with scheduled bouts falling through, being rescheduled for several reasons including, but not limited to the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic, there has been several fights that have taken place inside the ring that some might say because of what has been circulating the Boxing news cycle has been under the radar. Among those bouts that perhaps would have received more attention under normal circumstances, was the July 17 th  World Jr. Middleweight unification bout between WBC/WBA/IBF world champion Jermell Charlo and undefeated WBO world champion Brian Castano, which took place at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, TX.   Normally when a unification bout such as this is signed, it is not uncommon to see elements of hype used as a promotional tool in an attempt to garner interest in the upcoming showdown. This was a rare case however, where such tactics and/or trying...

  The official weights for Saturday’s Jr. Middleweight world championship unification bout between WBC/WBA/IBF Jr. Middleweight world champion Jermell Charlo and undefeated WBO world champion Brian Castano took place earlier today in San Antonio, TX. Official weights for the bout, which will be broadcast in the United States by premium cable network  Showtime , as well as the scheduled televised portion of the undercard, which are available as of this writing are as follows.   Main Event: WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO Jr. Middleweight Unification Bout – 12Rds.   Jermell Charlo 153lbs. vs. Brain Castano 153 1/4lbs.   Lightweight – 10Rds.*   Rolando Romero 135lbs. vs. Anthony Yigit 140 1/4lbs.   (*Yigit five pounds over the 135lb. Lightweight limit. Bout to go on as scheduled as of this writing. The bout will also determine interim/regular champion status in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Lightweight ratings.)   Super-Middleweight – 10Rds.   Amilcar Vi...

  The career of undefeated Jr. Middleweight contender Tim Tszyu has seen him quickly progress from a prospect following in the footsteps of his father the longtime former Jr. Welterweight world champion and Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu, to a contender, who appears to be on the cusp of challenging for a world championship of his own.  In just eighteen professional bouts over nearly five years as a professional, the twenty-six year old Tszyu has developed a reputation as a “Knockout Artist.” Much like his father, the twenty-six year old Tszyu has the ability and punching power to end a fight at any time with either hand. Tszyu’s progression in his career thus far has largely been highlighted by victories over former WBO Welterweight world champion Jeff Horn and former world title challenger Dennis Hogan. Two fights, which Tszyu scored knockout wins.   Recently however, Tszyu had a question asked of him that in some ways is one that is asked of many fighters regardless of thei...

The 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division has been one that has seen many notable battles through the years. In recent times, it has seen Jermell Charlo emerge as the division’s central figure after scoring a knockout of Jeison Rosario last September to unify the WBC, WBA, and IBF world championships. Although Charlo has yet to become undisputed world champion in the division, as the only unified champion currently at 154lbs., the natural question that usually is asked after a fighter emerges victorious from a unification bout is who might be the next challenger.   A potential candidate that has made a strong argument for himself is undefeated top contender Tim Tszyu. Tszyu, the son of former longtime Jr. Welterweight world champion and Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu, has emerged as a fast-rising contender in the division. Much like his father, Tszyu has also developed a reputation for having an ability to score knockouts. The marquee victory for Tszyu thus far came in August of last year w...