Franklin Stops Vargas In 6 On Big Time Boxing USA

Heavyweight contender Jermaine Franklin continued his winning ways by scoring a sixth round stoppage of veteran Devin Vargas on Thursday night at the Wayne State Fieldhouse in Detroit, MI. A fight where Franklin was able to showcase both his punching power and combination punching, he frequently had Vargas, a former Olympian in the 2004 games in Athans,Greece on the defensive. As has been a trait throughout his career, Vargas was able to withstand much of what Franklin dished out, which more often than not consisted of hard, thudding punches with both hands and did try to make a fight of it in spots throughout. 

The effects of the punishment however, gradually took its toll on Vargas who was knocked down in the fourth round and again in the sixth round. Both knockdowns were from accumulated punishment. Although Vargas was able to get up both times, after the second knockdown in round six where he was able to finish the round, he told his corner that he had, had enough and the bout was stopped at the conclusion of round six. Jermaine Franklin advances to 23-2, with 15 Knockouts. Devin Vargas falls to 22-11, with 9 Knockouts.

 Also on this card:

In a battle of unbeaten Jr. Welterweights Joshua Pagan overcame a bad cut in the opening seconds of the first round over his left eye in the first round as well as consistent pressure from his opponent Roger Hilley to earn a convincing eight round unanimous decision. Official scores were: 78-74 (On all three scorecards) in favor of Pagan. Joshua Pagan advances to 10-0, with 4 Knockouts. Roger Hilley falls to 13-1, with 8 Knockouts.

An encounter between former Middleweight sparring partners saw Josiah Shackleford pound out a four round decision over a very “Game” Ja'shar Banks, who was making his professional debut. Official scores were: 40-36 (On all three scorecards) for Shackleford. Josiah Shackleford advances to 3-1, with 2 Knockouts.  Ja'shar Banks falls to 0-1, with 0 Knockouts. 

In a Super-Middleweigh bout that began the evening, Ali Akhmedov scored the fifth win of his comeback following a loss to Carlos Gongora in December 2020, by scoring a second round knockout of Encarnacion Diaz. Akhmedov spent the first round gradually stalking Diaz and in the second round dropped him with a short left hook to the head. Diaz was able to get up, but moments later was dropped with a barrage of punches highlighted by a right hand to the head. Diaz from his knees nodded his head in resignation and took the full ten count. Official time of the stoppage was 2:14 of round two. Ali Akhmedov advances to 21-1, with 16 Knockouts. Encarnacion Diaz. falls to 18-5, with 11 Knockouts.

This card, which was promoted by former world title challenger and now promoter Dmitry Salita’s Salita Promotions as part of its recently introduced Big Time Boxing USA series broadcast globally by digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN was in many was reminiscent of the classic Tuesday and Thursday night Boxing series, which ran weekly on the USA Network here in the United States in the 1980’s and 1990’s. The series, which took it's final bow in 1998 at the legendary Blue Horizon in Philadelphia, PA has left a void in the sport in the years since its closure. Though ESPN did fill that void for several years through it's Friday Night Fights series, which eventually became seasonal due to the network’s commitments to College Football in the days that predated digital streaming, which seemed to solve the issue of scheduling conflicts while putting more options and control in the hands of the consumer, the need for series like this new Big Time Boxing USA series is still there.

Not only does a series like this allow fighters in various stages of their careers including contenders like Jermaine Franklin the opportunity to stay active, not only an opportunity for increased exposure, but also an opportunity for promoters like Salita to showcase their stable of fighters all while bringing the sport to cities and states big and small, which should open Boxing to new eyes. Something that both USA Network and ESPN accomplished with their respective series. As cable/satellite appears to be on the way out in the traditional way we know it, it is refreshing to see a series like this trying to fill the void in the era of digital streaming. It is something that should be supported.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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With Little Buzz: BLK Prime Finally Debuts Tuesday Night Fights Series

In December of last year, digital subscription general entertainment network BLK Prime entered the sport of Boxing by being the broadcaster and promoter for WBO Welterweight world champion Terence Crawford's title defense against David Avanesyan in the champion's hometown of Omaha, NE. The event, which was broadcast on the BLK Prime app on pay-per-view as well as carried by traditional cable/satellite providers, was generally considered a success as it signaled the arrival of potentially another major broadcast platform for the sport. 

Credit: Beau Denison 

As some may remember however, since that event, things have been touch and go as far as the network's involvement in the sport. Some may recall the highly publicized signing of former four-division world champion Adrien Broner, who was to return to the ring under the BLK Prime platform earlier this year. Unfortunately for both Broner and BLK Prime, struggles with securing an opponent for the former world champion ultimately resulting in a third scheduled opponent being forced to withdraw from the bout due to suffering a broken jaw in sparring, led to the disillusion of the agreement between Broner and the network. Adrien Broner will finally return to the ring this coming Friday after a two year absence in the main event of a Don King promoted pay-per-view card.

Following the fall out between Broner and the network, BLK Prime aired one Boxing card on its platform from Costa Rica that was barely promoted and subsequently received little coverage from those of us in Boxing media. The network seemed to change its focus as it was announced in March that thry would debut a weekly Tuesday night Boxing series on it's platform for subscribers. For me this stirred memories of my youth.

Those of a certain age likely remember the weekly Tuesday night Boxing series on the USA cable network here in the United States. This observer can remember that the series actually bounced around different days of the week, primarily on Thursday and Friday nights before finally settling into the Tuesday night time slot at 9PM ET in the late 1980's  that the series would ultimately become known. To take it a step further, the ESPN sports network, which remains a major player in the sport to this day, often aired Boxing cards on Thursday nights on a weekly basis during the same time period.

The idea of a weekly Boxing series in the new age of subscription-based streaming frankly excites me. Not only because it obviously, gives an opportunity for me to further cover the sport I love, but along with another digital streaming network Probox TV, which airs Boxing cards on a bi-weekly basis, probides vital opportunity for young fighters seeking exposure as they begin their careers. As someone who is always looking out for what is in the best interest of Boxing as s sport, this was something I viewed as a win for Boxing.

Unlike Probox TV's series, the BLK Prime series, which was to debut in May got postponed twice, each time with no announcement or statement to those of us in the media as to why. Given the lack of promotion from the network, it was hard not to become skeptical that the series would eventually get off the ground. As the weeks went by with still no communication from the network and as the premiere date for what supposedly will be a weekly series, I became doubtful even as BLK Prime's app displayed a countdown clock for an event scheduled for June 6th, but wilth no information about the card beyond the simple clock that similar to the latter weeks of May seemed as though it would be reset for yet another date.

Despite not receiving any communication from the network, nor seeing any other media outlet offering any coverage of said event, I kept a close eye on the BLK Prime app and the countdown clock to see if there were any changes or any information that frankly would have helped as someone who would have covered the event. Despite also not seeing any upcoming events advertised on the Boxing record book databases, which again would have been helpful to yours truly, I was surprised to see wn actual feed of an event somewhere in Costa Rica go live when the countdown clock struck zero.

Even though I feel the term "Somewhere in Costa Rica"  is vague, non-descriptive,  and borderline unprofessional, unfortunately it is all I have to go on, but I do apologize to readers who expect more detail as this is something that I would not consider to be normal circumstances. Equally as unfortunate, the broadcast of this event had several technical problems and I was unable to get any information that instead of covering the event as I would have wanted to do, has subsequently resulted in my writing this column.

While it is important to remember that BLK Prime is still a newcomer in the sport, there are two obvious questions that come to mind here. One, why was there no promotion for this event from the network and why was no information made available on the respective Boxing record databases including BoxRec for example that regularly list upcoming events for every level of the sport on a daily basis throughout the world? Perhaps the more crucial question is what now for BLK Prime and their Tuesday night Boxing series? 

This observer obviously cannot answer that question, but any Boxing event needs promotion and information to be made available to the public if it hopes to be successful. Although it is not my intention to attack BLK Prime as any platform involved or wanting to be involved in Boxing should be viewed as an asset especially if they have the interest of the Boxing fan in mind and are not overly reliant on the outdated, overpriced, and undervalued model that is pay-per-view, if there is no promotion for your events and no communication with those who will gladly cover them if they have the appropriate information to do so, I cannot see how any series can be successful if it is done in anonymity, even if the concept of a weekly series does bring back fond memories of a great time for Boxing.

"And That's The Boxing Truth."

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

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