The Boxing Truth®

Boxing is truly a sport that seems to breed stars almost as quickly as fighters tend to be positioned in the sport's mythical "Pound For Pound" debates. While often there is not much criteria for the latter as the entire concept is based almost exclusively on opinion and by its very nature is very subjective, the emergence of a star in the sport is often easier to see because it is something that one can see develop from the very early stages of a fighter's career. One such star that has emerged is undefeated former two-division world champion Shakur Stevenson. Stevenson, unbeaten in nineteen professional fights after winning a Silver medal in the 2016 Summer Olympics, was able to win world titles in both the 126lb. Featherweight and 130lb. Jr. Featherweight divisions, despite not having twenty pro bouts as of yet and in the process, has been a star on the rise for the past several years. Although Stevenson is at a point in his career where many fighters at similar st...

The latest chapter in the career of former two-time Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua began on April 1st in London, England under significant uncertainty and hype regarding what Joshua, who was working with a different trainer for the third time in as many fights, would look like coming off his second consecutive loss to undefeated unified WBO/IBO/IBF/WBA Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk, the man who ended Joshua's second reign as a world champion im 2021. Although the declaration of both his promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing and of Joshua himself that a loss to upstart Heavyweight content Jermaine Franklin would signal the end of his career was in some ways a classic way to hype a fight out of a promoter's handbook, it was fair to wonder if following his second loss to Usyk as to whether or not he could adjust his style now under the guidance of trainer Derreck James. It was also fair to question if after two setbacks, whether or not the losses to a mas...

Longtime readers of this observer's work both online and in print over the years, have likely seen yours truly at one time or another chronicle the rise of a fighter, who is the offspring of a former fighter, who in most cases is a former world champion. As time has gone on, unfortunately I find myself in a position where now when these scenarios come up, the offspring of a fighter I will be covering is one where I covered their parent during the early days of my journey covering Boxing and by extension combat sports, which began in the mid-1990's. While that does offer me the chance to feel old, it also provides yours truly an opportunity to provide some insight that some might describe as unique due to my either having covered or otherwise watched the parent during their time competing in the sport of a fighter that is now starting to emerge on the scene in Boxing. Such a scenario presented itself on March 31st, when on an otherwise quiet afternoon, I found myself browsing th...

Press Release: March 31, 2023 By  ProBox TV - ProBox TV alongside the legendary Juan Manuel Márquez returns with its monthly show from Mexico on April 5th.  The Mexican capital will play host to three televised fights at the cost of absolutely nothing to viewers with a free boxing show for fight fans to enjoy on ProBox TV.  A ten-round welterweight battle will take place between Mexican Carlos Sanchez Valdez (23-1, 19 KOs) and Panama’s Alexander Duran (21-0, 7 KOs). Sanchez comes off a 7th round KO victory over Elvis Torres last October, the undefeated southpaw was last in the ring against Edwin Bennett, picking up a points victory over eight rounds.  Brandon Reyes Valle (6-0-1, 2 KOs) will put his unblemished record on the line when he faces off with fellow Mexican, Abraham Arreola Calixtro (5-2-1, 4 KOs). Valle makes a long awaited return to the ring after a period of inactivity coming off a majority decision draw to Luis Castro. Calixtro also comes of...

Press Release: March 29, 2023 By BLK Prime - (San Jose, CA - March 29, 2023) – BLK Prime is committed to being a force in the sport of Boxing. Excitement awaits Boxing Fans around the world by offering opportunities to prospects throughout different Boxing communities. With that in mind, BLK Prime is excited to announce the return of Tuesday Night Fights featuring the New Era Boxers. Starting in May 2023, BLK Prime will feature five fights every Tuesday night live, included in your $3.99 subscription. Rising stars, undefeated fighters, and top prospects will showcase their skills every week on the BLK Prime platform.  Credit: BLK Prime  A significant aspect of BLK Prime's mission is to be a leader in Women's Boxing featuring weekly women's fights and all women's cards. Although Women's Boxing has been on the rise, there are numerous women lacking opportunities to get in the ring, BLK Prime is opening that platform for all women fighters. BLK Prime wan...

Only with the rarest of exceptions, one would be hard pressed to not find a fighter in the sport of Boxing or to take it a step further, all of combat sports, that has not at one time or another experienced a setback or several throughout the course of their careers. This is one reason why veteran writers/journalists/historians such as this observer will refer to what a fighter goes through during the course of their careers as "Chapters" in the story of that career. The story of former two-time Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua is one that is about to embark on a new chapter that one might have the working title of "The Rebuild?" or "The Comeback."  Without delving too much into the backstory of how we got here to what will be the start of what is essentially phase three of Joshua's career, the conclusion of the previous chapter was Joshua's failure to regain his title for second time in his rematch against undefeated unified IBF/WBA/WBO/I...

As strictly a Boxing match, the encounter between former Super-Middleweight world champions David Benavidez and Caleb Plant checked a lot of boxes that a Boxing fan looks for in the lead up to the fight. A clash of styles that when matched against each other was likely to produce a competitive fight. A rivalry between the two fighters that appeared to grow into legitimate bad blood, and the sub-plot of potentially getting another opportunity to fight for a world championship. With the fight fan's list of what to look forward to checked off, it was time for the two fighters to converge on the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV on March 25th to do battle.  In previewing this bout, this observer stated that it would likely come down to whether or not Plant would be able to deal with the punching power and hand speed of Benavidez. It was also crucial in my eyes that Benavidez not allow Plant, a fighter known for his elusiveness, to be able to set the tempo of the fight and could n...

Press Release: March 25, 2023 By  Jarred Cross and Dragon Fire Boxing - Aussie sensation and next-big-thing Alex Winwood may find himself with two regional belts after just three fights come June. Credit: Dragon Fire Boxing  The 25-year-old’s next bout is set for three months' time - looking at the numbers, it’s a big one.  While Winwood has blown past his competition so far at light flyweight, namely former world champion Tibo Monabesa on February 3, a drop down to strawweight could present a trickier task; WBC champ and world no.9 Reyneris Gutierez.  The Nicaraguan similarly boasts an undefeated record, not that it phases the young Western Australian.  Despite his preference for discipline and preparation over the bravado you might expect from a boxer, Winwood had one subtle reminder for his next opponent.  “For most of these fights we're gonna be giving up experience. But in terms of the people he’s fought, maybe (they) might not hold too muc...

It has been announced that the April 8th Jr. Flyweight world championship unification bout between WBC world champion Kenshiro Teraji and WBO world champion Johnathan Gonzalez has been called off. The bout, which was scheduled for April 8th at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan and was to include the vacant WBA world championship in the 108lb. Jr. Flyweight division was called off when Gonzalez had to withdraw from the bout after coming down with pneumonia. As of this writing, an attempt is being made by promoters and Teraji 's handlers to secure a substitute opponent in what one would assume would be an attempt to not only maintain the April 8th date, but also a defense of his WBC world championship. The Teraji-Gonzalez unification bout was scheduled to be streamed here in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ . Obviously, with the status of the event now uncertain, there is also no word as of this writing as to whether the network will still strea...

On Saturday, March 25th, two former world champions will enter the ring at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV with the goal of taking one step closer to challenging once more for a world championship. This observer is referring to the encounter between David Benavidez and Caleb Plant. Two fighters who each know what it is to be a world champion in the talent-deep 168lb. Super-Middleweight division. A division currently ruled by Undisputed world champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. While the goal of both men is obviously an eventual fight with Alvarez, the encounter between the two, which will headline a pay-per-view card broadcast by Showtime Pay-Per-View here in the United States, could possibly be one of the best fights of the year. The reason for that is it is an interesting clash of styles between two boxer/punchers, but one who is more noted for his punching power than the other. David Benavidez is a former WBC Super-Middleweight world champion. He also has a rare d...