The Boxing Truth®

  After a lengthy absence from in ring competition, the career of former three-time Light-Heavyweight world champion Sergey Kovalev resumed at The Forum in Inglewood, CA on May 14 th . While the thirty-nine year old former world champion is not a stranger to the process one goes through following a defeat, this time it was a little different for Kovalev. Not only was Kovalev coming off of a two and a half year layoff following his knockout loss at the hands of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in November 2019, but for the first time in his career, Kovalev would not be competing as a 175lb. Light-Heavyweight. A division where he has been the cornerstone for much of the last decade. After a career spent in the Light-Heavyweight division, Kovalev chose to move up in weight to the 190lb.-200lb. Cruiserweight division to face undefeated contender Tervel Pulev in a scheduled ten round bout. The primary question that I had going into this fight was what did Sergey Kovalev have left to give as a ...

  One of the most common storylines that is associated with the sport of Boxing and by extension all combat sports that most can identify with is one of a former world champion trying to re-emerge into competition after a lengthy absence. A storyline is most commonly known as “A Comeback.”     While there are certainly no shortage of comeback stories that range from highly successful to at times tragic in the sense of the outcome of a planned return, each comeback story has its own unique circumstances. In the case of former three-time World Light-Heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev, his career has seen several highs and lows that often come with a long career in the sport. In his last bout in November2019, Kovalev's third reign as a Light-Heavyweight world champion came to an end when he was knocked out by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez for the WBO world championship in eleven rounds. Since then, Kovalev has been inactive due in part to testing positive for banned substances...

It would not be appropriate for this observer not to begin this column without being honest with the reader when I say that I took several days to write this column. Not in the sense that I have been grinding away in the writing process, a process that all writers regardless of genre truly appreciate whether all of us will admit it or not, but in the sense that I needed time to compose myself mentally due to feeling something I have not felt in the two and a half decades that I have been writing about and covering Boxing in addition to other combat sports. The feeling of absolute utter disgust and embarrassment for the sport that I have loved since I was a little kid. A feeling that hit me when I watched the recent pay-per-view event promoted by Triller headlined by an eight round Heavyweight bout between two-division world champion and Boxing Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield and former UFC world champion Vitor Belfort. An event and bout that left not only the feelings I have described,...

  The official weigh-in for Saturday’s pay-per-view card featuring an eight round Heavyweight bout between Hall of Famer/former five-time two-division world champion Evander Holyfield and former UFC champion and MMA legend Vitor Belfort took place earlier today in Hollywood, FL. Below are the official weights for the entire card, which will be streamed worldwide via FITE TV and also available in the United States through cable/satellite providers are as follows.     Main Event: Heavyweight – 8Rds (Two Minute Rounds) *Result will count on each fighter’s record.*   Evander Holyfield 225 1/2lbs. vs. Vitor Belfort 206 1/2lbs.   Jr. Lightweight – 10Rds.     Jono Carrol 130lbs. vs. Andy Vences 129 1/4lbs.   Cruiserweight – 8Rds.   Anderson Silva 192 1/4lbs. vs. Tito Ortiz 200lbs.   Heavyweight – 8Rds.   David Haye 211 1/2lbs. vs. Joe Fournier 195 1/2lbs.   Jr. Lightweight – 6Rds.   Ant...

One might argue that recent times in the sport of Boxing have evolved into one of the oddest eras in the history of the sport. From YouTube stars/social media influencers embarking on forays in the sport whether serious or not, to retired fighters venturing on an exhibition circuit of sorts, to bouts featuring stars from differing combat sports disciplines, it has certainly not been the norm.   The latest on this odyssey will be the September 11 th bout. Originally, this bout was to feature the return of former six-division world champion Oscar De La Hoya, who last competed in 2008, to the Boxing ring to face former UFC champion and MMA legend Vitor Belfort in an eight round Boxing match that unlike some recent events in recent times would be an official fight on both fighter’s Boxing records.   As some know however, De La Hoya was forced to withdraw from the bout, which was to headline a pay-per-view card promoted by Triller and streamed worldwide on FITE as well as carried...