Baluta Wins WBO European Bantamweight Championship

In a battle for the vacant WBO European Bantamweight championship Ionut Baluta scored a close ten round split decision over local favorite Kyle Williams on Friday night at the Hangar Events Venue in Wolverhampton, England. Baluta dropped Williams with a counter left hook to the jaw in the first round. Despite facing an early deficit on the scorecards, Williams fought back well by using his aggression and angles to pressure Baluta. Williams however, would suffer a cut over the right eye as a result of an accidental clash of heads in round five. Although Williams had success, particularly when he was able push Baluta back against the ropes, Baluta generally landed the cleaner punches and seemed to get the better of the exchanges between the two. Baluta was penalized a point in round nine for deliberately spitting out his mouthpiece. A second point deduction for the same foul would follow in round ten. Despite this, Baluta, who was fighting for the first time outside of his native Romania,was able to get the nod of two official judges by scores of 96-92 and 95-93, while the third judge scored the fight 95-92 for Williams giving Baluta a hard-fought victory. Ionut Baluta advances to 12-2, with 2 Knockouts. Kyle Williams falls to 11-2, with 3 Knockouts.

Also on this card:

Welterweight Sid Bowater scored a six round decision over Artur Devaytan. Both fighters were able have their moments throughout exchanging combinations, but Bowater was able to out work Devaytan down the stretch to secure the win. Sid Bowater advances to 5-1, with 1 Knockout. Artur Devaytan falls to 1-4, with 0 Knockouts.

Also in the Welterweight division rising prospect Conah Walker scored a lopsided six round decision over a very “Game” Edvinas Puplauskas. The story of this fight was Walker’s consistent attack to the body of Puplauskas throughout the entire fight. Consistent pressure allowed Walker to earn the convincing win as Puplauskas simply could not find a way to keep Walker off of him. Conah Walker advances to 6-0-1, with 2 Knockouts. Edvinas Puplauskas falls to 6-26, with 4 Knockouts.

Undefeated Middleweight Shaka Thompson scored a dominant six round decision over Bryn Wain. Thompson dropped Wain with a short left hook in the second round and carried the action from the opening bell on his way to the victory. Shaka Thompson advances to 7-0, with 0 Knockouts. Bryn Wain falls to 0-30, with 0 Knockouts.

Lightweight Stu Greener successfully made his professional debut by scoring a four round decision over Clayton Bricknell. Bricknell was the aggressor early in the fight throwing and landing combinations, but Greener was able to match his offense and by the end of the bout seemed to be getting the better of the exchanges. Stu Greener advances to 1-0, with 0 Knockouts. Clayton Bricknell falls to 2-2-1, with 0 Knockouts.

Women’s Welterweight Kirstie Bavington scored a second round stoppage of Monika Antonik. Bavington scored a knockdown in the first round when Antonki’s glove touched the canvas while she was trying to evade punches on the ropes. The fight was stopped in round two when Antonik turned her back appearing to submit rather than take further punishment. Official time of the stoppage was 1:28 of round two.Kirstie Bavington advances to 3-1-1, with 2 Knockouts. Monika Antonik falls to 1-18, with 0 Knockouts.

In the Cruiserweight division Antony Woolery scored a four round decision over Elvis Dube. Woolery controlled the tempo of the combat with his jab throughout and generally kept Dube on the defensive. Antony Woolery advances to 2-2, with 0 Knockouts. Elvis Dube falls to 8-80-2, with 5 Knockouts.

Middleweight Ashlee Eales successfully made his professional debut with a workmanlike four round decision over two hundred twenty-five fight veteran Kevin McCauley. Ashlee Eales advances to 1-0, with 0 Knockouts. Kevin McCauley falls to 15-199-12, with 0 Knockouts. 

Undefeated Featherweight James Beach scored a four round decision over veteran Michael Mooney. James Beach advances to 11-0, with 2 Knockouts. Michael Mooney falls to 9-69-2, with 3 Knockouts.

Although most knowledgeable Boxing fans probably associate the European championship as being that, that is recognized by the European Boxing Union (EBU), the original version of the European championship in Professional Boxing, recent years have seen the sport’s respective sanctioning organizations introduce their own versions of the European championship. While this in no way diminishes the prestige and importance of the original European championship, what it does is create an alternative path for European fighters to enter into the world rankings. For Ionut Baluta, his victory over Kyle Williams will now earn him a place in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) rankings in the 118lb. Bantamweight division. While no one knows for certain whether it will ultimately lead to a world championship fight for Baluta remains to be seen, but he has now officially stepped up a level and it will be up to him to show that he is among the best Bantamweights in the world going forward. It is a task that can indeed be easier said than done.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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Wade Defeats Lemelle In Dallas

Welterweight Jamykle Wade scored s hard-fought six round unanimous decision over Mike Lemelle in the main event of a five.bout card on Thursday night at Rodeo West Dallas Nightclub in Dallas, TX. Lemelle seemed to dictate the combat in the first two rounds consistently backing Wade up on the ropes and landing short, compact punches. The third round saw almost a complete reversal as Wade began backing Lemelle up and along with steady pressure, began to outwork Lemelle over the remaining rounds to earn a convincing unanimous decision and along with it a regional championship as recognized by the American Boxing Organizations (ABO). Jamykle Wade advances to 5-4-1, with 2 Knockouts. Mike Lemelle falls to 3-3-1, with 0 Knockouts.

Also on this card:

Light-Heavyweight Robert Hill scored a close four round split decision over Louis Webster. Both fighters had their moments throughout, but Hill’s consistent jabs and cleaner punches were able to earn him the decision victory. Robert Hill advances to 3-5, with 0 Knockouts. Louis Webster falls to 2-4, with 2 Knockouts.

In the Super-Middleweight division, Christopher Jones scored a four round majority decision over Dennis Williams. At times this was s difficult fight to watch due to the differences in the styles of the two fighters. Although Jones appeared to have some trouble with Williams’ height and reach, he was able to get the better of the exchanges on the inside and that seemed to give him the benefit of the doubt as two of three official judges scored the bout in his favor giving him every round. Christopher Jones advances to 6-2, with 4 Knockouts. Dennis Williams falls to 5-14-1, with 3 Knockouts.

Jr. Middleweights Darius Bagley and Benjamin Gurment fought to a four round majority draw. The ebb and flow shifted between both fighters for the entire duration of the bout as both were willing to stand and exchange with each other where neither was able to gain a significant advantage over the other. At the end of four rounds, two official judges scored the fight even resulting in the majority draw. Darius Bagley advances to 1-1-1, with 0 Knockouts. Benjamin Gurment advances to 1-0-1, with 1 Knockout.

In the Lightweight division Kenneth Taylor scored a hard-fought four round unanimous decision over Mario Franco. There were some entertaining exchanges between the two fighters throughout the fight, but it appeared Taylor might have been able to get a stoppage as he dropped Franco with a flush left hook early in the fourth round. Despite appearing hurt, Franco to his credit was able to survive to the final bell in one of the more entertaining bouts of the evening. Kenneth Taylor advances to 10-1-2, with 6 Knockouts. Mario Franco falls to 0-6, with 0 Knockouts. 

This card, the first under promoter Krishna Wainwright’s Wainwright Productions provided much needed exposure to some up and coming fighters on a regional level. While all the fighters who competed on this event will likely look to either continue to progress towards potentially being regarded as prospects or to bounce back from a loss, events like this are crucial to the sport of Boxing. Not only because they provide a needed platform for young fighters, but also can serve as a way to help grow the sport. Something that a fan of Boxing of any level should support.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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

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Update

We would like to let our readers know that new material will be released on Friday, October 18th. Stay tuned. "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.twtter.com/Beau_Denison 

PETALCORIN, APOLINARIO, AND CARCOSIA HEADLINE “BRAWL AT THE MALL 13”

Press Release: October 14, 2019 By Sanman Promotions –  Sanman Promotions is back with another action packed event as “Brawl at the Mall” happens at the Robinsons Place Atrium in General Santos City on October 20. Former light flyweight titlist Randy Petalcorin (W30 KO23 L3 D1) is fronts the event as he fights Reymark Taday. Also featured in the co-main event are undefeated prospects Dave Apolinario (W11 KO6 L0 D0) who faces Arnold Garde and Carjun Carcosia (W6 KO6 L0 D0) who will be facing Jay-ar Aliasot. A solid undercard line-up has also been prepared by Sanman. 

Credit: Sanman Promotions 

“This is another treat for the supportive boxing fans of our beloved City of General Santos. We guarantee you the same level of quality boxing entertainment just like the past episodes of Brawl at the Mall. Hope to see you there”, Sanman CEO Jim Claude Manangquil stated.

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Sanman Promotions Used with permission.

For more information about Sanman Promotions and to watch the Sanman Live Boxing series please visit Sanman Promotions’ official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SanmanPromotions

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

October 11-12, 2019 Weekend Thoughts

Following a fight of the year candidate between Gennady Golovkin and Sergiy Derevyanchenko, which kicked off the month of October in the sport of Boxing, the second weekend of the month also provided some intrigue. While the weekend began with an upset of sorts that saw Cruiserweight Tommy McCarthy score a split decision victory over previously undefeated prospect Fabio Turchi, the two days of action also featured the return of a former world champion as well as a highly anticipated Heavyweight debut.

This column will cover some of the action from what was a full weekend of Boxing. Former two-time Light-Heavyweight world champion Chad Dawson returned to the ring for the second time since returning from a two year layoff on Friday, October 11^th as he faced former North American Boxing Federation (NABF) Light-Heavyweight champion Denis Grachev at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT. Dawson, who scored an eight round unanimous decision over Quinton Rankin in June is attempting to rebuild his career after some notable setbacks. While the subject of his career can be discussed more thoroughly in a column of its own, most Boxing aficionados will likely regard Dawson as one of the top Light-Heavyweights of the last decade.

What is always of interest when any fighter, especially a former world champion returns to the ring following a lengthy absence is to see what effects the time out of competition will have on the fighter. Another term that is often used to describe those potential effects is “Ring Rust.”

At his best, Dawson is a compact boxer/puncher with a good mix of hand speed and punching power. In Denis Grachev, Dawson faced a veteran of twenty-eight professional fights, who was also known for his durability and reputation to be a difficult opponent. Although some might think that facing a fighter of Grachev’s caliber was a risky move for a fighter in Dawson’s position so soon in a comeback, it would provide a good evaluation of exactly where Dawson is at this stage of the comeback before possibly taking a step towards world championship contention.

Dawson’s performance in this fight can best be described as a fighter going through the motions as he gradually outworked Grachev over eight rounds to earn a lopsided unanimous decision. Grachev simply could not find a way ti get into a rhythm. Although he attempted to pressure Dawson throughout, he was inconsistent with his offense. While there was not much to say about this fight, it did serve the purpose of keeping Dawson active in his second fight in four months.

Who Dawson’s next opponent will be remains to be seen, but the win also earned Dawson the United States Boxing Council (USBC) Light-Heavyweight championship. Even though some Boxing fans and critics of the sport might scoff at the fact that Boxing has no shortage of titles at various levels, a title like a USBC title, which has an affiliation with the World Boxing Council (WBC) does serve the purpose of getting a fighter into the world rankings.Whether or not Dawson will be in the discussion for a potential world title shot  in the near future also remains to be seen. Though Dawson certainly has name recognition clout, the key in this observer’s eyes will be for Dawson to remain as active as possible much as it is for virtually every fighter that attempts a comeback. With two wins under his belt, it will be interesting to see how Dawson progresses going forward.

This brings us to the much-anticipated Heavyweight debut of undefeated former Undisputed World Cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk, who was supposed to make his debut earlier this year was sidelined by torn right biceps, which delayed his Heavyweight prospects nearly exactly five months to the day of this fight on October 12^th at the Wintrust Area in Chicago, IL. If being sidelined by an injury were not frustrating enough for Usyk, he also had to deal with two changes in opposition for his Heavyweight debut. Usyk’s original opponent, former Heavyweight world title challenger Carlos Takam opted to take his career in a different direction, which included signing with a new promoter rather than waiting for Usyk’s injury to heal and for the fight to be rescheduled. Usyk’s next signed opponent undefeated Heavyweight and former Kickboxing world champion Tyrome Spong fell out early in the week of the fight when it was revealed that he had tested positive for a banned testosterone boosting substance in pre-fight testing. Despite Spong’s protest of the result an accusation that the result was somehow an effort by those associated with Usyk and/or his promoter Eddie Hearn to use as a way to avoid fighting him, the bottom line was Spong was out. The third signed opponent ultimately proved to be the charm. Enter longtime contender Chazz Witherspoon.

The thirty-eight year old Witherspoon took the fight on only a few days notice. Although Witherspoon did not have much time to prepare, he was a Heavyweight of considerable size and appeared to be someone that would allow Usyk to test the waters at Heavyweight. What most would view as a red flag was that, despite Witherspoon’s long-standing as a respectable Heavyweight, he had failed in previous bouts against fighters who were deemed to be top contenders at the time including against former world title challengers Chris Arreola and Tony Thompson. This along with limited time to prepare for a fighter who is regarded as one of the top in the entire sport made many including this observer wonder what kind of fight we would see.

Although Witherspoon seemed to hold his own against Usyk for a time primarily by being defensive, it did not take long before Usyk’s hand speed, angles, and overall skill set began to show as Usyk battered Witherspoon over seven mostly one-sided rounds before Witherspoon stopped the fight after round seven, resigning in his corner.

Even though this was not the type of fight that some might have wanted to see Usyk in for his Heavyweight debut, the former Cruiserweight champion, who by way of his previously holding the undisputed championship in the division, which included the World Boxing Organization (WBO) crown has earned him the mandatory position as the WBO’s number one Heavyweight contender, which puts him in line to challenge the winner of the upcoming rematch between unified WBO/WBA/IBF/IBO world champion Andy Ruiz and Anthony Joshua. Whether or not that fight will indeed happen in 2020 for Usyk is likely to be debated because there are also other mandatory defense obligations in the other organizations that comprise the unified world championship that may have an impact on when Usyk gets that opportunity.

While yours truly would want to conclude this column by discussing the performances of undefeated WBA Light-Heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol, and unified Women’s Jr. Welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill, who successfully retained their world championships with decision wins on this card in detail , the story of this evening of Boxing in Chicago was the unfortunate tragic circumstances involving Jr. Middleweight contender Patrick Day, who suffered a severe knockout loss in the tenth round of his fight against undefeated United States Boxing Association (USBA) champion Charles Conwell.

Day held his own throughout the ten round bout. Although he had suffered two knockdowns over the course of the fight, Day had turned in a good performance in what had the appearance of a fight that would go the distance. As can happen in combat sports, the bout would instead come to a sudden end as Day was floored for a third and final time midway through the round. Conwell connected with a left hook to the jaw that sent Day down and out cold on the canvas. Day hit the back of his head on the canvas as he went down and was down for several minutes before being removed from the ring on a stretcher and immediately rushed to nearby Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The broadcast team of DAZN, who broadcast the card provided updates on Day’s condition throughout the remainder of the evening revealing that he had not regained consciousness while being transported to an ambulance at the arena and had also suffered a seizure. This would be followed by news that Day had been placed on a breathing tube at the hospital and news in the late night hours that he had undergone emergency brain surgery. As of this writing Day remains in a coma and is reported to be in critical condition according to several outlets who cover the sport including Fightnews, Boxingscene, and ESPN.

While one should not jump to conclusions, the situation regarding Patrick Day serves as another reminder of how dangerous combat sports can be and why every fighter who enters the ring deserves respect from the fans of the sport for the risk they take each time they enter the ring. It is not something to take lightly. My thoughts and prayers go out to Patrick Day and his family.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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

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McCarthy Defeats Turchi

Cruiserweight Tommy McCarthy scored a narrow twelve round split decision over previously undefeated prospect Fabio Turchi on Friday night at the Festival Dello Sport in Trento, Italy. The fight was a tactical chess match with Turchi attempting to use his aggression to break McCarthy down. McCarthy however, was effective in landing counter punches throughout and seemed to generally get the better of the action between the two fighters. Although the combat was fought at a measured pace and at times was not the most entertaining fight to watch, McCarthy’s overall consistency was enough for him to earn the split decision and Turchi’s WBC International Cruiserweight championship. Official scores were 116-112 (Turchi) and 115-113, 116-112 in favor of McCarthy. Tommy McCarthy advances to 16-2, with 8 Knockouts. Fabio Turchi falls to 17-1, with 13 Knockouts.

Also on this card:

In a fight for the vacant European Middleweight championship Matteo Signani scored a twelve round split decision to regain the European championship he formerly won in 2014, over Gevorg Khatchikian. A fight that was not the best meshing of styles where both fighters just had trouble getting into a consistent rhythm, Signani was able to squeeze out a narrow decision win by scores of 116-112 and 115-113, while the third judge scored the fight for Khatchikian 115-113. Matteo Signani advances to 29-5-3, with 10 Knockouts. Gevorg Khatchikian falls to 29-3, with 14 Knockouts.

In a battle for the vacant WBC International Silver Featherweight championship, Italian Featherweight champion Francesco Grandelli scored a hard-fourth ten round split decision over Reece Bellotti. This fight saw several ebbs and flows. The first half of the fight seemed to be dictated by Bellotti’s combination punching and ability to land the cleaner punches. Grandelli however, was able to bounce back over the second half of the fight by being the more active of the two fighters and landing combinations to the body and head. The World Boxing Council (WBC), which uses open scoring throughout the fight indicated that the fight was close after eight rounds with the fighters being separated by a single point on all three scorecards. At the conclusion of ten rounds two judges had identical scores separating the fighters by a single point 96-95, with the judges being split between the two. The third judge turned in a score of 96-94 in favor of Grandelli giving him the split decision win. Francesco Grandelli advances to 13-1-1, with 2 Knockouts. Reece Bollotti falls to 14-3, with 12 Knockouts.

Jr. Welterweight Samuel Gonzalez scored a six round majority decision over Jayro Duran. Duran was predominantly the aggressor throughout most of this fight and had sporadic success in landing wide looping hooks to the head of Gonzalez and did connect with some thudding body shots early on. Gonzalez’ more rounded skill set and sharper offense was enough to earn the decision on two scorecards. Samuel Gonzalez advances to 22-5, with 13 Knockouts. Jayro Duran falls to 14-5, with 13 Knockouts.

Also in the Jr. Welterweight division, undefeated Dalton Smith scored a six round decision over Marko Radenovic. Dalton Smith advances to 3-0, with 1 Knockout. Marko Radenovic falls to 0-2, with 0 Knockouts.

Undefeated Super-Middleweight Valentino Manfredona scored a six round unanimous decision over Milos Jankovic. This fight frankly resembled a workout between two sparring partners as Manfredona outworked Jankovic to earn the victory. Valentino Manfredona advances to 2-0, with 0 Knockouts. Milos Jankovic falls to 1-8-2, with 1 Knockout.

In a Jr. Middleweight bout, unbeaten Mirko Natalizi scored a sixth round stoppage over veteran Alexander Benidze. This had all the look of a workmanlike perfect for Natalizi against a tough, but awkward opponent that was relatively uneventful until Natalizi connected with a right hook, left hook combination to the head that sent Benidze down in the closing seconds of the six round bout. Benidze gamely staggered to his feet, but the referee ruled that he could not continue. Official time of the stoppage was 2:52 of round six. Mirko Natalizi advances to 7-0, with 4 Knockouts. Alexander Benidze falls to 13-27-3, with 6 Knockouts.

While this card did not necessarily produce the best meshing of styles, many of the bouts were competitive and as promoter Eddie Hearn continues his global expansion with this card being promoted under Matchroom Boxing’s Italian promotional branch, we may see at least two rematches from this card. Those two rematches are a second encounter between Tommy McCarthy and Fabio Turchi and a return encounter between Francesco Grandelli and Reece Bellotti. In regard to McCarthy and Turchi, the Cruiserweight division is traditionally one that does not have many lucrative fights due to many top fighters in the division using it as a way to elevate themselves into the Heavyweight division. The most recent example of this is former unified Cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk, who coincidentally will be making his Heavyweight debut on Saturday against longtime contender Chazz Witherspoon in Chicago, Il. 

Although a rematch between McCarthy and Turchi may not be viewed as lucrative in the eyes of some, the fight between the two was competitive and a second encounter between them could provide the winner a potential opportunity to springboard himself into a world championship fight before possibly settling their sights on the Heavyweight division. A rematch between Francesco Grandelli and Reece Bellotti meanwhile would be a second encounter of a fight that was well received by the crowd in attendance at this card and could likewise provide the winner with a potential shot at a world championship in what is a talent-deep 126lb. Featherweight division.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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

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Usyk-Witherspoon Weights

Press Release: By DAZN – CHICAGO, October 11, 2019 – Ahead of Saturday’s stacked card at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, and live around the world on DAZN, all of the fighters successfully tipped the scales just steps away from where all of the action will unfold tomorrow night.  

Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA

“Fight Season” on DAZN continues with an action-packed card which features the heavyweight debut of former undisputed cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk (16-0, 11 KOs) against seasoned veteran Chazz Witherspoon (38-3, 29 KOs), who replaced Tyrone Spong following a positive drug test earlier this week. In the co-main event of the evening, Russia’s Dmitry Bivol (16-0, 11 KOs) will defend his WBA World Light Heavyweight Title against Lenin Castillo (20-2-1, 15 KOs) of the Dominican Republic. Kicking off the main broadcast at 9 p.m. ET on DAZN, WBC and WBA World Female Super Lightweight titlist Jessica McCaskill (7-2, 3 KOs) of Chicago will meet Erica Farias (26-3, 10 KOs) of Argentina in a rematch of their hotly-contested fight which highlighted the first DAZN event in Chicago a year ago. 

The three-fight preliminary card starts on DAZN at 7 p.m. ET and features three undefeated rising prospects in separate bouts. Charles Conwell (10-0, 7 KOs), Anthony Sims, Jr. (19-0, 17 KOs) and Arthur Biyarslanov (4-0, 4 KOs) will showcase their elite abilities in front of the packed crowd on the Chicago’s South Side.

Below are the official weights for the entire fight card.

Heavyweight Fight (12 Rounds)

Oleksandr Usyk – 215 lbs.

Chazz Witherspoon – 242 lbs.

WBA World Light Heavyweight Title Fight – 175 lbs. (12 Rounds)

Dmitry Bivol – 174.3 lbs.

Lenin Castillo – 175 lbs.

WBC & WBA World Female Super Lightweight Title Fight – 140 lbs. (10 Rounds)

Jessica McCaskill – 138.7 lbs.

Erica Farias – 138.1 lbs.

Super Lightweight Fight – 140 lbs. (6 Rounds)

Arthur Biyarslanov – 137 lbs.

Tyrome Jones – 136 lbs.

Super Middleweight Fight – 168 lbs. (10 Rounds)

Anthony Sims, Jr. – 169 lbs.

Morgan Fitch – 157.5 lbs.

Super Welterweight Fight – 154 lbs. (10 Rounds)

Charles Conwell – 153.8 lbs.

Patrick Day – 153.7 lbs

Super Bantamweight Fight – 126 lbs. (8 Rounds)

TJ Doheny  - 124 lbs.

Jesus Martinez – 124 lbs.

Welterweight Fight – 147 lbs. (4 Rounds)

Summer Lynn – 147 lbs.

Jenna Thompson – 147 lbs.

Super Welterweight Fight – 152 lbs.

Reshat Mati – 151 lbs.

Norfleet Stitts – 150.5 lbs.

Junior Lightweight Fight – 130 lbs. (6 Rounds)

Otha Jones III – 129 lbs.

Eric Manriquez – 130 lbs.

For more information, fans can follow DAZN’s U.S. social channels: @DAZNUSA on Facebook, @DAZN_USA for Twitter, and DAZN_USA for Instagram.

About DAZN:

DAZN is the largest global sports streaming platform in the world. Since launching in 2016, DAZN has expanded across four continents with the app currently available for download in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Japan and Brazil. In the U.S., DAZN has made its mark as an attractive alternative to pay-per-view within the combat sports industry. The platform features big fights from Matchroom Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions, GGG Promotions, Bellator MMA, the World Boxing Super Series and Combate Americas, all for one affordable price, on any device - including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, games consoles and PCs. DAZN also features live MLB action each day of the season with its new daily show, ChangeUp. The much-anticipated daily program The Pat McAfee Show launched in September.

Material Courtesy of: DAZN/ Photo Courtesy of Ed Mulholland Matchroom Boxing USA

Usyk vs Witherspoon takes place on Saturday, October 12th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. The card can be seen on digital sports streaming network DAZN in the United States and several international countries beginning at 7PM ET/4PM PT. (U.S. Time)

For more information about DAZN including schedules, compatible streaming devices/platforms/smart TVs, availability around the world, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.

Check your local listings internationally.

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

Cancio To Face Alvarado In Rematch

Press Release: By DAZN – INDIO, CALIF. (Oct. 11, 2019): WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Andrew “El Chango” Cancio (21-4-2, 16 KOs) will defend his title for a second time in a 12-round rematch against Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado (31-8, 20 KOs). The event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. and will be streamed live exclusively as part of fight season on DAZN.

“Andrew Cancio is a very resilient fighter and has proven himself with his raw talent and passion, showing his true potential to grow in this industry. Meanwhile, Rene Alvarado has also put in hard work during his tenure, with an impressive determination in the ring that has kept up his winning streak over the past couple of years,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “This year, we’ve put on many high-quality bouts at Fantasy Springs and are confident this event will be the best so far. We’re also excited to add this card to this fall’s action-packed fight season on DAZN. You don’t want to miss this!”

Cancio is a 30-year-old world champion who recently made two back-to-back stoppage wins against former undefeated world champion Alberto “Explosivo” Machado. The native of Blythe, Calif. has become a hero in his hometown, where he received a “Key to the City” after his first win against Machado. Cancio is managed by Ray Chaparro and recently re-signed with Golden Boy before his win against Dardan Zenunaj. Since his return to the sport after a two-year hiatus, he has become one of Golden Boy’s most prominent and determined champions. 

"I'm very excited to return to my second home, Fantasy Springs Casino on November 23 for the rematch with Rene Alvarado,” said Andrew Cancio. “This is my 12th time fighting there, and I love the enthusiasm my fans bring to the venue in support of my fights. Rene Alvarado and I have fought before and now he's earned another opportunity to fight me. I know he'll be very well prepared to try and take my WBA world title. However, I plan on defending my championship in impressive style once again and show boxing fans in attendance and watching on DAZN that I'm the best 130-pound fighter in the world, period!"

Alvarado is a 30-year-old super featherweight contender who has faced challenging opponents in his professional career including Robinson “Robin Hood” Castellanos, Rocky Juarez, Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, Manuel “Tino” Avila, Jayson Velez, Yuriokis “El Ciclon de Guantanamo” Gamboa, and Carlos “The Solution” Morales. A veteran in the ring that originates from Nicaragua, Alvarado hopes to avenge his loss against Andrew Cancio.

“Nicaragua is known for its great world champions, and I’m one step away from becoming one,” said Rene Alvarado. “I’m coming for the victory against Andrew Cancio on November 23. We know each other very well, and it’s going to be a war.”

In the co-main event, Xu Can (17-2, 3 KOs), China’s third world champion, will defend his WBA Featherweight World Title against rising contender Manny Robles III (18-0, 8 KOs) of Los Angeles in a 12-round fight. Robles is a crafty fighter whose grandfather and father were renowned trainers. After victories against the likes of Edgar “Kid Neza” Valerio and Rigoberto Hermosillo, Robles is ready to take on the biggest challenge of his career against a man who has become a national hero in his home country.

“I’m ready to make the second defense of my world title,” said Xu Can. “I defended it with honor in my home country of China, and now I’ll come back to the United States to defend it against a tough fighter. Manny Robles III as earned his opportunity. He is smart and tough, but I plan to remain champion for a very long time.”

“My time has come,” said Manny Robles III. “All of my amateur experience, the hours spent in the gym, and the tough fights as a professional have prepared me for this challenge. I’m ready to bring a world title to Los Angeles and make everyone at home proud. Xu Can is a phenomenal fighter, but on Nov. 23, the Robles family will crown its very own world champion.”

Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis (21-0, 14 KOs) of Boston will fight Eddie “Eboy” Gomez (23-3, 13 KOs) of the Bronx, N.Y. in a 10-round rematch for the vacant WBA Continental Americas Welterweight Title. Ellis is very close to a world title opportunity, while Gomez is eager to avenge his stunning first-round knockout loss to him in 2016.

Victor Morales Jr. (12-0, 7 KOs) of Vancouver, Wash. will return in an eight-round super featherweight bout. This will be Morales’ first fight on a Golden Boy card after signing with the company.

Alberto “Impacto” Melian (5-1, 3 KOs) of Buenos Aires, Argentina will participate in an eight-round super bantamweight fight. Melian is a two-time Olympian who will return after his first loss against Leonardo “Leon” Baez for the NABA Super Bantamweight Title.

Baishanbo Nasiyiwula (15-3-1, 6 KOs) of Urumqi, China will face Saul Corral (30-14, 20 KOs) of Sonora, Mexico in an eight-round super lightweight bout.

Daniel Barrera will make his professional debut in a four-round super flyweight fight.

Alex Rincon (7-0, 6 KOs) of Dallas will return in a six-round super welterweight fight.

Opponents for this undercard will be announced shortly.

Cancio vs. Alvarado II is a 12-round fight for the WBA Super Featherweight World Title presented by Golden Boy. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” and Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. and will be streamed live on DAZN. The title defense is one of several highlights this fight season on DAZN – an entire fall featuring boxing’s biggest matchups in one of the best schedules in boxing history.

Tickets for the event will go sale on Friday, October 11 at 10:00 a.m. PT and are priced at $35, $45 and $55. Tickets will be available at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino box office, by calling 1-800-827-2946, or by purchasing online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com. 

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #CancioAlvarado2.

Material Courtesy of: DAZN Used with permission.

For more information about DAZN including schedules, compatible streaming devices/platforms/smart TVs, availability around the world, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

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

Usyk-Witherspoon Final Presser Quotes

Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA

Press Release: By DAZN – CHICAGO, October 10, 2019 – Fight Season on DAZN continues this Saturday night at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, the site of the very first U.S. fight on DAZN one year ago. All of the fighters gathered in downtown Chicago this afternoon to speak with the media ahead of Saturday’s stacked event.

In celebration of the one-year anniversary, DAZN and Matchroom Boxing USA return with an action-packed card featuring the heavyweight debut of undefeated Oleksandr Usyk (16-0, 11 KOs) against seasoned veteran Chazz Witherspoon (38-3, 29 KOs), who replaces Tyrone Spong following a positive drug test earlier this week. In the co-main event of the evening, Russia’s Dmitry Bivol (16-0, 11 KOs) will defend his WBA World Light Heavyweight Title against Lenin Castillo (20-2-1, 15 KOs) of the Dominican Republic. Kicking off the main broadcast at 9 p.m. ET on DAZN, WBC and WBA World Female Super Light titlist Jessica McCaskill (7-2, 3 KOs) of Chicago will meet Erica Farias (26-3, 10 KOs) of Argentina in a rematch of their hotly-contested fight which highlighted the first DAZN event in Chicago.  

The three-fight preliminary card starts on DAZN at 7 p.m. ET and features three undefeated rising prospects in separate bouts. Charles Conwell (10-0, 7 KOs), Anthony Sims, Jr. (19-0, 17 KOs) and Arthur Biyarslanov (4-0, 4 KOs) will showcase their elite abilities in front of the packed crowd on the Chicago’s South Side.

Below are quotes from today’s final press conference.

Eddie Hearn

“First and foremost, before we begin today, our thoughts are with Errol Spence this morning.

“This crazy adventure started a year ago right here in Chicago. Some laughed and some questioned us when we proclaimed we would assemble the best fight schedule in boxing. One year later, we have the best schedule in boxing. It all started right here.

“We are expecting about nine thousand fans on Saturday night. This is a great fight city and has a big future for huge fights in the U.S. We are thrilled to be back with an excellent card. The heavyweight debut of Oleksandr Usyk, the return of Dmitry Bivol, a rematch of one of the best fights on DAZN this year between Jessica McCaskill and Erica Farias.

“When you get a call like I did on Monday that Tyrone Spong had failed a drug test, you need to move quickly or there is a chance that there is no show at all. We want to say a special thank you to Chazz Witherspoon. He has been undefeated for nearly six years now and we have talked to him about a bunch of different fights of the years. He stepped up here to take a shot at Oleksandr Usyk and we are grateful.”

Oleksandr Usyk

“I want to thank my team for acting fast with the circumstances that took place earlier this week. My team is the best team, thank you to everyone who is here with me, especially my amazing wife and trainer. I invite you to Wintrust Arena on Saturday night to witness a show.”

Chazz Witherspoon

“Thank you so much to my team. So many people on the internet are talking badly about me, asking me why I got this shot. But it’s all about my team. I am not with a big time promoter and there’s no red tape in my career. I trust everyone around me. I am now at a point where I need to take this shot. There’s a huge opportunity for me here. It came knocking and I opened the door to see who it was, and here I am. Usyk is a great guy, I have the utmost respect for him. I am not one to get up here and talk crazy. That’s not me. I am a guy that is going to show up and rumble. I’m never scared, my heart don’t pump Kool Aid. I am the bigger guy and I am going to come in there and mix it up. I am looking for lightning to strike here, but I am coming to rumble.”

Dmitry Bivol

“I am glad to be in Chicago. This is a beautiful, clean city. I really like it. Thank you to DAZN and my promotional team, Eddie Hearn, Kathy Duva and World of Boxing. We had problems getting an opponent on this date. But Lenin Castillo stepped up for this opportunity. This is going to be a great fight on Saturday and I hope everyone tunes in.”

Lenin Castillo

“Thank you to everyone for this opportunity especially Eddie Hearn and DAZN. I appreciate this chance. This is my first time in Chicago and I am glad to have the opportunity to take the belt away from Dmitry Bivol on Saturday night.”

Jessica McCaskill

“Welcome to my city! Thank you to everyone who was here last year when I fought the first time on DAZN. I put in the work, every single day. I will be in the gym on Sunday, running or something. I used to have days off but now I am a World Champion. The work ethic is the difference. But go get DAZN if you don’t have it already because this is going to be a great fight on Saturday night. If you don’t have DAZN, go and get it. You can go on there and watch a bunch of my old fights and get a taste for what you will see on Saturday night.”

Erica Farias

“I am back in Chicago and I am here to get back what belongs to me, my WBC belt.”

Anthony Sims Jr.

“I’m still alive. Thanks for asking everyone. I am back and ready. I am ready to challenge the bigger names after the fight, I am ready for a big shot. Eddie seems to forget about his other Anthony over here. He has Anthony Joshua but here is Anthony Sims. I plan to have a good time. It’s an honor to fight with guys like Dmitry Bivol on the card. See you all on Saturday night.”

Charles Conwell

“Thank you all for coming out. I want to thank DiBella, Matchroom and DAZN. Otha Jones and I had a great camp. I worked incredibly hard and I am ready to make an impact on Saturday night.”

Patrick Day

“I am excited for this card, there’s a lot of talent. I am glad we all got here safe and healthy. Conwell is a great fighter and has a lot to prove but so do I. They look at me and my demeanor, and the fact that I am well-spoken and well-mannered, and they ask me why I box? This is what I love. This is going to be an entertaining fight and it’s going to be a great night.”

Arthur Biyarslanov

“First of all, I want to thank Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing and DAZN for putting us on this great event. We are more than ready and come Saturday night I will show the world some great boxing.”

For more information, fans can follow DAZN’s U.S. social channels: @DAZNUSA on Facebook, @DAZN_USA for Twitter, and DAZN_USA for Instagram.

About DAZN:

DAZN is the largest global sports streaming platform in the world. Since launching in 2016, DAZN has expanded across four continents with the app currently available for download in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Japan and Brazil. In the U.S., DAZN has made its mark as an attractive alternative to pay-per-view within the combat sports industry. The platform features big fights from Matchroom Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions, GGG Promotions, Bellator MMA, the World Boxing Super Series and Combate Americas, all for one affordable price, on any device - including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, games consoles and PCs. DAZN also features live MLB action each day of the season with its new daily show, ChangeUp. The much-anticipated daily program The Pat McAfee Show launched in September.

Material Courtesy of: DAZN/ Photo Courtesy of Ed Mulholland Matchroom Boxing USA

Usyk vs Witherspoon takes place on Saturday, October 12^th at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. The card can be seen on digital sports streaming network DAZN in the United States and several international countries beginning at 7PM ET/4PM PT. (U.S. Time)

For more information about DAZN including schedules, compatible streaming devices/platforms/smart TVs, availability around the world, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.

Check your local listings internationally.

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