Miami Fight Night Final Presser Quotes

Press Release By DAZN – MIAMI, Jan. 28, 2020 – Two days before the highly-anticipated Miami Fight Night featuring undefeated middleweight star Demetrius Andrade (28-0, 17 KOs) defending his WBO World Middleweight championship against contender Luke Keeler (17-2-1, 5 KOs), the fighters took the stage to discuss their preparations and predictions heading into the fight.  

Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA 

In the co-main event, the grudge match between YouTube stars Jake “The Problem Child” Paul and “7-Figure Gibber” AnEsonGib will finally play out in the ring, Tevin Farmer (30-4-1, 6 KOs) will look to defend his IBF world super featherweight title for the fifth time when he faces JoJo Diaz (30-1, 15 KOs) and unified world super bantamweight champion Daniel Roman (27-2-1, 10 KOs) defends his titles against Murodjon Akhmadaliev (7-0, 6 KOs).

Final Press Conference Quotes

Demetrius Andrade, WBO Middleweight World Champion

“Luke, I am your father! Miami! Let’s get jiggy with it. It’s an honor to be here on this card with these guys. Kicking off Super Bowl weekend with a bang on DAZN. Luke Keeler, just like everyone else. They have the game plan, they say they can beat me and then they can’t. I had a great camp, spent a lot of time down here in Miami training. It’s my second home. Let’s put on a show. And remember Luke, I am your father.”

Luke Keeler, Middleweight Contender

“Thanks everyone for coming and making this fight happen. There’s a tale of two halves with my career. People think this is an easy touch for Andrade. He stepped up to middleweight and he hasn’t been performing. He hasn’t showed me how great he is like he said he is. I labeled him delusional and I think it got under his skin. I am 32 but I am fresh. I think his pro career has slowed him down. He’s not entertaining, he’s struggling. He talks like he is the greatest but he isn’t. I am going to take that belt back to Ireland.”

Jake Paul

“I am an entrepreneur at the end of the day. I have a baker’s dozen in the influencer space which I take a percentage from. I have over a hundred people using my merch company. I’m off the YouTube stuff. I am good.

“There are a lot of lies being told from their side. Two days from now, you will see the work that I put in.

“I wrote a book called ‘You Gotta Want It.’ It was top 10 on Amazon. I wanted to be a Navy Seal before I moved to LA to pursue acting and stuff. We can chop it up any single way but I am going to win on Thursday night. I think it’s only going three rounds. Shane thinks that and so do I. This is boxing, we aren’t measuring hearts though so I don’t care how big his heart is.

“I am here to avenge the Paul name. After I beat Gib, again he’s a stepping stone, I am going to fight KSI. After that, who knows? I love this sport. I don’t do anything I don’t love to do. So I will see what the future holds. I will beat Gib and then fight KSI next.”

AnEsonGib

“Training camp is done and I have been pushed to the limit. I am ready to get in there on Thursday. I think his aim is to say that he is more technical. Sure, he is more technically sound. But I am going in there on my rough house shit and I am going to beat him.

“I think he has tried to select opponents before and this isn’t what he wanted. It’s going to be a rough night for him. I finessed my way into this fight. I have nothing to lose. I want it really f**king bad. He has everything to lose on Thursday.”

Shane Mosley (Jake Paul’s Trainer)

“Jake has put the work in. He hasn’t just come to me randomly, it was that we were friends. I’ve known him a few years. I wanted to train him and show him the ropes. He can put in the work. He really loves the sport of boxing. The people he works with – they are all impressed by him and his talent in the ring.

“These guys have the desire. I won’t train anyone who doesn’t put in 100%. He does that every single day. He’s working harder than a lot of professional fighters that I know. He has definitely put the work in. He is strong, he is fast and he is ready to go.

“The toughness shows in sparring. I put him to the test. I didn’t make it easy for him during camp. He has no quit. I put him against guys at 154. Boxing is entertainment and this brings a lot of fans and followers to the sport. It’s great for the fight game. It will only grow the sport.”

Viddal Riley (AnEsonGib’s Trainer)

“We are looking to repeat history again. IT was great to come out on the winning side of the KSI vs. Logan Paul fight. We broke down barriers. We came out victorious. We will do it again.

“Gib is not the best boxer in the world. But neither was Marcos Maidana. I can compare Gib to him because he has that rough element to him. He is tougher than a typical YouTube guy. I have hit him hard on purpose and he has taken those shots. I don’t think Jake can hurt him.

“Gib fights unorthodox. It’s dangerous for his opponent because he can’t prepare for it really.”

Tevin Farmer, IBF Super Featherweight World Champion

“I don’t have much to say. I am going to be JoJo’s ass – flat out. Thanks to Eddie, DiBella, Matchroom and DAZN. Thanks for keeping me active. This is such a huge card. There are so many stars on this card, it’s amazing to be on there with all of these guys. I feel amazing. I don’t feel dried out, my weight is great. Miami weekend is going to be crazy after I win. I wanted to fight him and gave him this opportunity. I am tired of sweeping everyone out and kicking everyone’s ass so I hope he brings it. He better bring it. I’ll probably sweep him though, but we will see on Thursday on DAZN.”

Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, Super Featherweight challenger

“Thanks to Eddie Hearn, Joe and DAZN, and Golden Boy Promotions. Thank you to my whole team. I have been through a lot in my career, a lot of ups and downs. It has made me who I am today. I know Tevin Farmer is a slick boxer, I know he is tough but I am coming to take that title. I’ve talked a lot of shit, he has talked a lot of shit. We are going to back it up. This is history in the making and I am just happy to be alive and be a part of it. I know he’s making his fifth and his last defense. Tevin, I hope you are sleeping with that belt because it is going to be mine.”

Danny Roman, WBA and IBF Super Bantamweight World Champion

“Thanks to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and Thompson Boxing for making this happen. I am thrilled to be on this world championship card. I am going to make this the fight of the night again. I became the unified champion last year and I am going to keep it like that.”

Murodjon Akhmadaliev, Super Bantamweight World Champion

“Thanks for supporting this event. Thanks to everyone who made this fight possible. See you January 30.”

Anthony Sims, Jr., Super Middleweight Champion

“Since we are telling stories. I got a story about Devin Haney. I was at his house, I was like, ‘This is a dope fox statue.’ Devin says, ‘I don’t have a fox statue.’ I turn around and it is gone. Now it’s up on the wall. I take a stick and tell Devin to line him up and I hit it into the pool. His dad gets home and doesn’t believe us that there was a fox in the house. He thought we were just breaking shit.

“Thank you for this opportunity. My mother is Cuban so it feels like home. Thanks for the opportunity. My Español is muy malo though. Thanks to the WBO, Matchroom and DAZN. Thanks to my UK geezers. They always say I need to fight better opposition and here it is. This is my time. Expect a funky, groovy night baby, yeah.”

Joseph Markowski, EVP DAZN North America

“Good to be back at it 2020. In 2019, DAZN was home to every single one of ESPN’s year-end boxing awards: Fighter of the Year, Fight of the Year, Round of the Year, Knockout of the Year, Prospect of the Year.

“We look forward to delivering a stellar 2020 to our subscribers and this week’s championship tripleheader marks the deepest card of the boxing year so far.

“Demetrius Andrade looking to make a statement on a big stage and lure the division’s biggest names into career-defining matchups later this year. Tevin Farmer and JoJo Diaz competing in a can’t-miss grudge match. A guy in Danny Roman, who has been with DAZN since our U.S. launch, putting both of his belts on the line against a hungry, undefeated fighter in Akhmadaliev.

  

“In addition to a championship tripleheader, Thursday’s co-main event will see Jake Paul looking to avenge his brother’s loss by defeating Gib on his way to a fight with KSI.

“In terms of the interest this matchup is generating, our pre-fight show 40 DAYS has already been viewed nearly 4 million times on YouTube – and that’s a testament to the fan bases of these two individuals. They are businessmen, content creators and – for the first time on Thursday – professional fighters.

“And the only place you can watch it is on DAZN. Just download the app, sign up and enjoy. Thank you to the fighters for making the most of this opportunity, participating in a busy several days of media and creating great content on social. This is a noisy week but we feel confident that we’ll be able to cut through and draw a spectacular audience on Thursday night.”

Eddie Hearn, President of Matchroom Boxing USA

“This is what you call a fight card. Unbelievable night of championship boxing. Three huge title fights from Miami on DAZN. We took over Super Bowl week.

“We added Amanda Serrano, seven-time champ, to the card. She is on a quest for the super bowl of women’s boxing against Katie Taylor in 2020.

“This card is so underrated. Everyone in boxing is talking about this card. The three world championship fights are all breathtaking. Danny Roman is a unified super bantamweight world champion. Murodjon Akhmadaliev is one of the most exciting young fighters. This is going to be an absolute war for the unified belts.

“Tevin Farmer is the most active world champion in the world. Period. This is first huge breakout fight. They said they were going to make this fight and here we are.

“Andrade is the best 160 pounder in the world. Everyone is saying it. Everyone comes in with a plan but they can’t even with rounds, minutes or even seconds. He has an interesting point. WBO ranked number two. If he pulls off the upset, he will go back to Ireland as a hero. He will look to topple the champion on Thursday night. It’s going to be a huge fight. And listen, if you don’t have DAZN then what on earth are you doing?”

About DAZN:

DAZN is the largest global sports streaming service. Since launching in 2016, DAZN has expanded to nine countries across four continents with its app 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 service 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 The Pat McAfee Show, live MLB action each day of the season with its daily show ChangeUp and a growing number of projects from DAZN Originals.

Material Courtesy of DAZN/ Photo Courtesy of Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA Used with permission.

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of 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. 

Clayton, Rolls, And Galle Victorious In Toronto

Undefeated Welterweight prospect Custio Clayton successfully made the first defense of his North American Boxing Association (NABA) Welterweight champion by scoring a dominant eighth round knockout over veteran Diego Ramirez on Tuesday night at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto, Canada. Clayton applied a systematic approach from the outset gradually walking Ramirez down, but picking his shots. The consistent theme of the fight was Clayton walking Ramirez back on the ropes, throwing short combinations and stepping back just out of range where Ramirez could not return offense. An overall accumulation of punishment highlighted by several body punches set up the eventual knockout of Ramirez as a result of a jab to the solar plexus sending Ramirez down and out along the ropes at :26 of round eight. Custio Clayton advances to 18-0, with 12 Knockouts. Diego Ramirez falls to 21-4, with 6 Knockouts.

Middleweight contender Steve Rolls scored a fourth round knockout over late substitute Gilberto Dos Santos. Rolls, who was returning to the ring for the first time since suffering s knockout loss to Gennady Golovkin in June of last year, chose to return to the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division for his comeback fight. Dos Santos did not offer much resistance and it looked for a time as though Rolls could have boxed his way to a decision win if he wanted. Rolls however, would gradually increase his offensive output and had success landing uppercuts and body shots in round three. Dos Santos ultimately succumbed to a barrage of punches that sent him down in Rolls’ corner and was counted out at 2:00 of round four. Steve Rolls advances to 20-1, with 11 Knockouts. Gilberto Dos Santos falls to 16-11, with 12 Knockouts.

Also in the Middleweight division undefeated prospect Hurshidbek Normatov scored an eight round unanimous decision over Uriel Hernandez. Normatov was in control from start to finish and nearly ended the fight in round seven when he knocked Hernandez down with a body shot. Official scores were: 80-71 (On all three scorecards) in favor of Normatov. Hurshidbek Normatov advances to 9-0, with 3 Knockouts. Uriel Hernandez falls to 13-6, with 7 Knockouts.

In a battle for the Women’s Canadian Jr. Featherweight championship, undefeated contender Amanda Galle scored a dominant eight round unanimous decision over current Women’s Canadian Bantamweight champion Shelly Barnett. From the opening bell, Galle attacked Barnett with combination punching from every conceivable angle. Although Barnett was unable to time Galle’s hand speed, she never stopped coming forward, despite taking significant punishment throughout. Official scores were: 80-72 (On all three scorecards) for Galle. Despite her victory, Galle was unable to win the championship due to weighing over the 122lb. Jr. Featherweight limit. Amanda Galle advances to 4-0, with 0 Knockouts. Shelly Barnett falls to 4-3-2, with 0 Knockouts.

This card, which was the first in the popular Broadway Boxing series promoted by 2020 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Lou DiBella, to take place in Canada served as a showcase for three fighters at similar stages in their respective careers. Whether or not Custio Clayton, Steve Rolls, and Amanda Galle all find themselves fighting for world championships in the near future remains to be seen. If each can continue to perform impressively against further competition, it may only be a question of when and not if each will be challenging for a world championship.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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

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Ugas-Dallas Highlights The Boxing Schedule On Super Bowl Weekend

Although this is slightly different from the norm that readers are accustomed to, it is necessary to inform the reader that this column was originally intended to preview two bouts that highlighted the beginning of the Boxing schedule for February 2020. Unfortunately, this will not be the case as it was announced on last Friday that the WBC Jr. Welterweight world championship bout between undefeated world champion Jose Ramirez and former WBC world champion Viktor Postol, which was scheduled to take place in Haikou, China was postponed due to the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak that has severely impacted the country.

While obviously that bout will be rescheduled at a date to be determined, the night before the National Football League’s (NFL) Super Bowl  54 between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, Boxing will still be featured as a bout in the 147lb. Welterweight division will now  take centerstage. A fight between top contender Yordenis Ugas and Mike Dallas Jr. Ugas is a former world title challenger that has been close to making the transition from top contender to world champion. Just how close has Ugas been? In his one title shot against Shawn Porter in March of last year, he lost via twelve round split decision in a fight that frankly could have gone either way. Ugas was able to rebound in July of last year with a twelve round unanimous decision over Omar Figuroa. 

Now Ugas looks to continue building momentum towards another world title shot by taking on Mike Dallas Jr. Dallas has had an up and down career, but can reestablish himself with a win in this fight. Some may remember Dallas for his loss in January 2013 Lucas Matthysse, where he suffered a knockout loss in the first round. 

Following that loss, Dallas took a two year layoff. Since returning to the ring in November 2015, Dallas has gone undefeated in five bouts having scored wins in four of those fights. The lone exception was a ten round split decision draw in May 2016 with undefeated contender Dusty Hernandez Harrison. Although Dallas has won twenty-three of his twenty-eight professional fights, an argument can be made that his three career losses and two draws came when he attempted to step up in the caliber of his opposition.

The question going into this fight is what version of Mike Dallas shows up. There have been times throughout his career where he has appeared as though he could be on the verge of being a potential candidate for a world title shot, but there have also been times particularly during his career setbacks where he has appeared to freeze up. Whether or not that can be attributed to nerves is a question that only Dallas can answer, but this is something to keep in mind as this fight approaches.

 Dallas is not known for his punching power having scored knockouts in eleven of his twenty-three wins, but does have a good well-rounded skill set. The difference in this fight may come down to levels of opposition going into the fight. Statistically, Yordenis Ugas and Mike Dallas have similar records and like Dallas, Ugas has not scored a high number of knockouts in his career, but has shown he can compete effectively at or near the top level of the sport. Ugas has also established himself as a fighter that can grind out decision wins, often in closely fought grueling type fights.

If this fight goes into the middle and late rounds, it may come down to who is in better condition. Ugas is rated number three in the world in the WBC Welterweight ratings going into this fight. Even though some might argue that Ugas has the advantage as this fight approaches, he also has a lot to lose. In contrast to Ugas, Dallas, who is currently not rated in the WBC’s top forty contenders in the Welterweight division, is in a nothing to lose/everything to gain scenario and a victory will catapult him into the rankings. We will see what happens on Saturday, February 1^st.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Ugas vs. Dallas takes place on Saturday, February 1^st at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, MS. The fight can be seen in the United States on Fox Sports 1on cable /satellite as well as the Fox Sports app beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT. There will also be a portion of undercard bouts televised on both platforms beginning at 6:30PM ET/3:30PM PT. For more information about the card and ticket information please visit: www.PremierBoxingChampions.com. For more information about Fox Sports, Fox Sports 1 and a list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs where the Fox Sports app is available, please visit: www.FoxSports.com. Check your local listings internationally.

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

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Jackson England Sparring Former World Champion TJ Doheny Ahead Of March 6 Outing In Perth

Press Release: January 27, 2020 By Dragon Fire Boxing – Rising Australian Featherweight standout Jackson England has been sparring alongside world class company, as the Australasian Champion has been working alongside former IBF World Champion TJ Doheny.  

Credit: Dragon Fire Boxing 

Mike Altamura and MTK Global guides Doheny put on one of the best fights of 2019 against unified world champion Danny Roman, and England has been working alongside the Irish 122 pound standout in preparation for their respective outings. 

England opened up about sparring with Doheny. He said, “Sparring TJ is fantastic. It is a great experience for myself and I’m really grateful to TJ and his team for giving me the opportunity to work with him ahead of my next fight. 

“I firmly believe I have all the potential to get to world level, so training alongside former world champions like TJ Doheny is only helping me progress as a fighter. 

“The sparring has been world class learning for me. I’ve learned so much from this work and I’m excited to take these learning experiences into my next fight.”

England, who is guided by Australian boxing honcho Tony Tolj, returns on March 6 on Dragon Fire Boxing’s Thunderdome event in Metro City, Perth. 

England discussed his plans for March 6 and beyond, “I am really excited to be back in action on March 6 and thank you to Tony Tolj for getting me back in action. 

“I want to show off the improvements I’ve made in camp first and foremost. I believe I am getting better all the time and I want to show that and that I’m ready for more titles in 2020. 

“I want to win more titles in 2020 so I need to put on a top class show to make people want to see me in titles fights next.  That’s what I want in 2020 so I want to put on a career best performance on March 6 to make sure I can get these title fights.

Material and Photo Courtesy of Dragon Fire Boxing Used with permission.

For more information about Dragon Fire Boxing please visit Dragon Fire Boxing’s official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DragonFireBoxing.

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

What Options Are Available For Danny Garcia?

The fight between former two-division world champion Danny Garcia and contender Ivan Redkach on January 25^th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY had one central subplot. It was not only an encounter between two fighters with crowd pleasing styles, but perhaps more importantly, it would determine a mandatory challenger in the World Boxing Council (WBC) Welterweight ratings. Despite some questions regarding the rankings of the two fighters that this observer discussed in previewing this fight, there was also an element of intrigue that surrounded this fight due largely to the styles of the two fighters, which indicated that it could be a competitive and exciting bout to watch. 

Although I stated prior to the fight that it was logical to expect Redkach to be aggressive, he needed to be tactical in his approach. The problem for Redkach was he was tactical to a point where he more or less was lulled into Garcia’s type of fight. This essentially allowed Garcia to dictate the tempo of the combat, generally getting his punches off first as well as being able to mix his offense up to the body and head. What was also prominent in Garcia’s offense was his accurate counter punching.

When a fighter falls into such a lull, the story of the fight more often than not centers on one fighter’s reluctance and/or inability to let his hands go. As the fight progressed, what was taking place in the ring at times resembled a competitive sparring session where the theme remained the same throughout. Garcia getting his punches off first and having his way inside the ring.

A sign of frustration in Redkach emerged in the eighth round where he bit Garcia on the shoulder while in a clinch. This along with periodic instances throughout the fight where he taunted Garcia including sticking his tongue out. Although clearly this was an attempt to goad Garcia into engaging in a slugfest, it did not do Redkach any favors as he would ultimately end up on the losing end of a twelve round unanimous decision to Garcia.

It goes without saying that sometimes the competitive fight that appears will be what takes place when two fighters enter the ring does not always materialize in the way it might appear will be the case on paper prior to a bout. This fight however, does serve as a clear demonstration of one fighter’s well-rounded skill set when matched against the type of opponent that allows that fighter to showcase his skills.

The obvious question emerging from this fight is what are the potential options for Danny Garcia going forward? In terms of what this fight accomplished for him beyond securing the thirty-sixth victory of his career was it puts him right back in position to fight for a world championship. The WBC Welterweight championship that Garcia held from January 2016 to March 2017. As this observer discussed in previewing this fight, this will depend on whether current unified IBF/WBC world champion Errol Spence, who has been sidelined due to injuries he suffered in a serious automobile accident in October of last year, will be able to return to the ring in a reasonable timeframe.

While it is too soon for one to make assumptions, the possibility does exist that Garcia could either be named champion by the WBC or at minimum be placed into a fight for the vacant WBC Welterweight world championship if Spence does not return to the ring in a certain period of time. Garcia meanwhile in the days leading up to his bout with Ivan Redkach, eluded to the possibility of moving up in weight to the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division if a fight against Spence or current WBA world championship Manny Pacquiao can not be made.

In the current landscape of the 147lb. Welterweight division Spence and Pacquiao have established themselves as the two biggest names outside of current WBO world champion Terence Crawford in terms of being the most lucrative options available in the division. While one should also not dismiss the possibility of a potential fight with Garcia and Crawford, who is currently promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank, Inc,, the more compelling question will be asked of the promoters that currently do business under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) banner where Garcia, Spence and Pacquiao currently compete under.

With one fighter clearly seeking the most lucrative opportunity available to him with his publicly stating that if he cannot get an opportunity that would be lucrative that he is open to the possibility of moving up in weight, this is something that the PBC group of promoters will have to address. In an ever evolving landscape where there are several networks, and promoters across both traditional and digital streaming platforms that are all vying for the interest of fighters that can help grow their platforms and subsequent standing within the sport, one should also not dismiss the possibility of a fighter possibly opting to offer his promotional rights to the highest bidder if an opportunity that fighter seeks is not presented to him by his current promoter.

Although as the competition has increased over the last year between networks and the general shift towards streaming has increased significantly, there has been talk amongst both promoters and networks to the concept of loyalty of fighters to both promoters and platforms. It is however, irrational for anyone to expect loyalty when fighters are not given the opportunities they seek. In a dangerous sport where a fighter’s career can unfortunately end in an instant without warning, the only loyalty a fighter should have is to themselves, their families, and anyone who will help them get the opportunities they want, which ultimately could/should prepare and set them up for a financially secure life after their days competing in the ring are over.

“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.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

Garcia-Redkach Feature Update

We would like to let readers know that new material discussing the recent WBC Welterweight elimination bout between former world champion Danny Garcia and contender Ivan Redkach is in the works and will be released here on the website on Monday, January 27th. Stay tuned. “And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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

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Ramirez-Postol Postponed

It has been announced that the WBC Jr. Welterweight world championship bout between undefeated champion Jose Ramirez and former WBC world champion Viktor Postol has been postponed. The postponement of the fight, which was scheduled to take place on February 1st in the main event of an ESPN televised Boxing card  in the United States, from Haikou, China comes as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak that has severely affected the country. 

There is no word as of this writing as to when and where the fight will take place. We will update readers on any developments as they become available.

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

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison 

Garcia-Redkach Preview

An important fight in Boxing’s 147lb. Welterweight division will take place on Saturday, January 25^th as former Jr.Welterweight world champion Danny Garcia will face top contender Ivan Redkach at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. What makes this encounter between two of the top Welterweights in the world important? The fight, which will be broadcast in the United States by Showtime has implications for the future of the World Boxing Council (WBC) Welterweight world championship as it will determine a mandatory challenger for current IBF/WBC world champion Errol Spence.

As many Boxing fans know, Spence was involved in a serious automobile accident in October of last year, weeks after he successfully unified the IBF and WBC crowns with a twelve round unanimous decision over WBC champion Shawn Porter. Although Spence suffered some injuries in the accident where he was ejected from his Ferrari, he has said that he intends to return ti the ring. The circumstances regarding Spence’s situation is a subject to discuss at a later time, but how it relates to the Garcia-Redkach fight is that the elimination bout could ultimately determine a new WBC world champion if Spence is unable to return to the ring within a certain timeframe or if he is stripped by the WBC, with the likely reason being inactivity.

Before anything regarding that can be addressed, Danny Garcia and Ivan Redkach will do battle to at minimum determine a number one contender in the WBC Welterweight ratings. Garcia has been campaigning as a Welterweight since 2015, but has experienced some setbacks since moving up from the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division. Despite winning the vacant WBC Welterweight world championship in January 2016 with a twelve round unanimous decision over Robert Guerrero, Garcia’s reign would be short as he would lose a close twelve round split device in a unification bout with WBA champion Keith Thurman in March 2017. This would be followed by another setback when he came out on the short end of a twelve round unanimous decision to Shawn Porter in September 2018 in a bout for the then vacant WBC crown.

In his last fight, Garcia scored a seventh round knockout over Adrian Granados in April of last year. Garcia is a boxer/puncher who has a compact offensive style. This has worked well for him as he can counter opponents in between their offense while also being able to avoid damage. Although Garcia has won thirty-five of his thirty-seven professional fights, the two fights he lost were largely a result of both Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter being able to out work him over the course of those bouts.

Ivan Redkach meanwhile will come into this fight rated number twenty-five in the WBC’s Welterweight ratings compared to Garcia’s number two rating. The subject of rankings in the sport is something that is always open to criticism, debate, and ridicule. Based on the current rankings, it is understandable how some might question why a fighter who is rated number two in the world by an organization is facing a fighter that is rated twenty-fifth in a fight that is billed as a world championship elimination bout. The politics that be in the sport notwithstanding, Boxing as this observer has often said over the years, is a sport of opportunity and obviously if Redkach can win this fight it will propel him into an opportunity to at least fight for a world championship.

Redkach is a former United States Boxing Association (USBA) champion as a Lightweight, but has thus far failed to earn a notable win against a fighter that most would consider to be championship level. Redkach will enter this fight with Garcia riding a three fight winning streak having scored knockouts in two of those bouts including in his last fight in June of last year when he stopped former Jr. Welterweight world champion Devon Alexander in six rounds. Although this does qualify as a notable win in the eyes of yours truly, some might feel that Redkach defeated a fighter in Alexander, who is on the decline. If Redkach can win this fight however, he will have to be given his due by those who might be questioning why he is in this fight.

In terms of what one can expect when the two fighters get in the ring, it is logical to expect Redkach to be aggressive. If this is the case, Redkach must be tactical in his approach. One might argue that Redkach could have a slight edge in terms of power given that he has a career knockout percentage of over 60% having scored knockouts in eighteen of his twenty-three wins.  He must keep in mind that he is facing a precision counter puncher in Garcia that has proven his ability to catch fighters in between punches they throw with punches they cannot see coming.

What may loom ahead for the winner of this fight beyond a potential opportunity to fight Errol Spence,if not potentially earning a vacant world championship with a victory, could be a possible opportunity to face current WBA world champion Manny Pacquiao, who is a fighter that per his Hall of Fame resume, is one of the most sought after fighters in the sport because of the notoriety and lucrative opportunity he brings with him. 

With several possibilities that could loom for the winner of this fight, it shouldn’t be difficult to see that there is a lot at stake for both fighters. Such circumstances can produce compelling and competitive fights. Whether or not the Danny Garcia-Ivan Redkach fight is such an occasion remains to be seen.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Garcia vs. Redkach takes place on Saturday, January 25^th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The fight can be seen in the United States on Showtime beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT on cable/satellite providers as well as the Showtime and Showtime Anytime streaming apps. For more information about Showtime, Showtime Sports, and the Showtime and Showtime Anytime streaming apps please visit: www.SHO.com. For additional ticket availability and fight card information please visit: www.premierboxingchampions.com/ and www.BarclaysCenter.com. Check your local TV listings internationally.

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

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

Cuban prodigy “King” Raynel Mederos inks with Tony Tolj's Dragon Fire Boxing

Press Release: January 22, 2020 By Dragon Fire Boxing – Tony Tolj and Dragon Fire Boxing  have announced they have signed 23-year-old Cuban prodigy “King” Raynel Mederos.  

Credit:Dragon Fire Boxing 

Boasting an impressive amateur record of: 145 fights, 111 wins having been part of Cubas's national setup from 2009 as he was selected as a cadet. The Jnr Welterweight won several national amateur titles in Cuba, 3 Gold Medals, 2 Silver and Bronze alongside multinational tournaments in Cuba itself and Brazil, Ecuador, Russia, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic

The Cuban then made the leap to the professional ranks in 2019, currently 2-0 in the professional ranks. Mederos trains alongside Dragon Fire Stable mates WBA Fedebol Flyweight Champion Andres Campos and Ramon Mascarena at the World famous Libra Libra Boxing gym run by Chile’s Nico “Maverick” Martinez.

The Cuban opened up about signing with Tony Tolj's Dragon Fire Boxing. 

“First of all, thank God for the opportunity to go to Chile and to be able to meet these wonderful people to whom I thank you for this beautiful opportunity that you have given me. This step for me being able to sign with Dragon Fire Boxing means a lot  for my personal life and my career as a professional boxer, Tony Tolj never stops working and gives everything to his fighters, under the Big Bossman I will be given every opportunity to grow as a boxer and as a person I am sure that with him in command my career will go far, such that I will achieve my dreams of  be world champion in different divisions.

“Together with my team, we are doing things the right way.  The first thing he made visible is to end all the light and super light division of Chile, I think it is an important step that I have no doubts that will be achieved.  After that I intend to win international titles that help me position myself as the great boxer that I am and be able to win a world title!  I will achieve it.

I think that without my team it would not be possible to achieve my dreams, with my Latino Wolf Pack teammates (Andres Campos and Ramon Mascarena and my coaching staff is important, their advice, support, etc. is like a family and together as a family we will become World Champions”.

Tony Tolj gave his take on his latest acquisition, "We are very excited to work with Raynel. I believe he will go right to the top in this industry soon and it was the right move for all parties concerned. We work with fighters all over the world and this will benefit Raynel and “The King” is very young almost a Prince so we plan to strategically guide his career and when the time comes, there will be a Royal Flush and we will say all hail “King” Raynel Mederos. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Chile and they are some of the nicest, most humble people on this planet. It is an honor to represent Mederos along with "Latino Wolf Pack" stable mates Mascareña Jnr and Chilean National Hero Andres Campos.

I believe this will usher in a New Era and a Golden age of Chilean Boxing and there are some exciting times and projects we are working on."

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Dragon Fire Boxing Used with permission. 

For more information about Dragon Fire Boxing please visit Dragon Fire Boxing’s official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DragonFireBoxing.

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

Alvarez Back In Light-Heavyweight Mix

In August 2018 undefeated Light-Heavyweight contender Eleider Alvarez reached the pinnacle of Professional Boxing and shocked many in the Boxing world in the process by scoring a devastating knockout of multi-time Light-Heavyweight world champion Sergey Kovalev. Despite going into the fight unbeaten as a professional and rated the number one Light-Heavyweight in the world in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Light-Heavyweight ratings, Alvarez was viewed as an underdog by some. This was largely due to the reputation that Kovalev had established as one of the sport’s feared “Knockout Artists.”

Even after suffering two consecutive losses to Andre Ward, the second of which ended in a somewhat controversial stoppage, Kovalev's reputation was still that of a devastating power puncher. In many ways however, Alvarez’ fifth round knockout of Kovalev was an example of the appeal and beauty that draws most fans to Boxing and by extension all combat sports. The fact that a fight can end at any given time. While Kovalev was seemingly in control of that fight prior to getting caught by Alvarez, the sudden nature in which the fight came to an end was head turning. Alvarez had successfully knocked out a fighter known for scoring quick knockouts and in the process took the WBO Light-Heavyweight world championship and ended Kovalev's second reign as a Light-Heavyweight world champion.

In an immediate rematch in February of last year however, the story would have a different ending as Kovalev would become a three-time world champion by defeating Alvarez. What was surprising about the second encounter between the two was Kovalev was not the seek and destroy fighter that he had been throughout his career. He instead implemented a more tactical approach and out boxed Alvarez over the course of the twelve round world championship bout to earn a convincing unanimous decision victory. 

The loss of his world championship would be the only time Eleider Alvarez would compete in 2019. As many fighters who have won and lost world championships throughout the history of Boxing have done, Alvarez took some time to regroup before beginning the rebuilding process. An injury to his right Achilles was also a reason why Alvarez was inactive after the loss to Kovalev. The rebuilding process that would begin however, on January 18th when he returned to the ring to face Light-Heavyweight contender Michael Seals at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY.

A question that is commonly asked when a fighter returns to the ring after losing their world championship is what adjustments, if any will the fighter make. In this case one might have wondered what effect the loss to Kovalev might have had on Alvarez mentally. Although it is understandable how a fighter losing can have an impact on them mentally, it is important to keep in mind that the second encounter between Alvarez and Kovalev was ultimately defined by the adjustments that Kovalev was able to make more so than any flaws in Alvarez' approach. Some might be justified however, to say that Alvarez was unprepared for the change in tactics that Kovalev was able to execute. 

In Michael Seals, Alvarez faced a fighter who had won twenty-four of twenty-six professional fights prior to facing the former world champion.Of those twenty-six bouts, Seals’ most notable opponent came in the form of former world title challenger Edwin Rodriguez, who stopped him in three rounds in November 2015. A fight that saw Seals knock Rodriguez down twice in the first round before suffering three knockdowns of his own before the fight was stopped. Seals also suffered a disqualification loss to journeyman Michael Gbenga in May 2018 where he was disqualified for hitting Gbenga while he was down after being told by the referee to stop punching.

The native of Mobile, AL did go into the fight with Alvarez on a wave of momentum in winning his last four fights with three knockouts in those four wins. An argument could be made however, that those wins, which came against fighters with a combined record of 66-25-2, with 44 Knockouts, were the type of victories that can be described as a fighter in a rebuilding process simply going through the motions. One may have wondered with no victories coming against a notable opponent going into this fight, what type of challenge Seals would be able to pose for Alvarez.

A tactical fight from the outset, there was not much to separate the two fighters due to both displaying a healthy respect for each other and not being quick to engage. Though this was not the most entertaining bout to watch for much of the early rounds, what did stand out was the success Alvarez was able to find in landing his right hand on Seals. With neither fighter being aggressive, small details such as that can make a difference in determining which fighter has an edge over the other.

Seals was able to have a solid fourth round in landing some solid right hands of his own as well as being able to mix some combinations into his offense. Alvarez was able to stagger Seals at the end of the fifth round with a right hand to the head. Although the bout remained close at this point in the fight, it appeared that the edge in power was in Alvarez’ favor. 

In round six, the two fighters had their share of moments, but it appeared that the momentum was in favor of Alvarez based largely on what happened at the end of round five. It would be in the closing seconds of round seven however, where any potential questions regarding the possible scoring of what was a closely fought battle would not be needed. Alvarez connected with a flush overhead right that sent Seals down on his back partially leaning on the bottom rope. As it became clear that Seals would not be able to beat the count, the fight was stopped by Referee Danny Schiavone.

This was essentially a one punch knockout similar in some aspects as the knockout Alvarez was able to score against Sergey Kovalev in their first encounter, though Kovalev was knocked down twice more after initially being knocked down in round seven. Although this knockout over Michael Seals was more of the definition of a one punch knockout, after the first knockdown Kovalev suffered in that fight, he really was in no condition to continue so the two knockdowns that followed to force the stoppage was academic. 

Despite appearing to have a little difficulty throughout this fight, Alvarez did get the type of win that should put him right back in the discussion of potential world title challengers in the Light-Heavyweight division. In regard to the WBO world championship that Alvarez once held, it was recently vacated by Saul “Canelo Alvarez, no relation following his knockout win over Sergey Kovalev in November. With the championship now vacant, Eleider Alvarez would appear to be a logical choice to be one of two fighters to to fight for the vacant crown whenever the WBO mandates that a fight take place to fill the vacancy. It may be a question of when and not if Alvarez gets that opportunity.

“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.Twitter.com/Beau_Denison 

Will DAZN Increase Subscription Prices?

The year 2019 ended with two of sports top digital streaming networks DAZN and ESPN+ in a great position to continue their respective growth in 2020 and beyond. With the success of both platforms, it is only natural for rumors and/or other speculation to surface. When new platforms enter the market, the goal more often than not is to break new ground and deliver a new, fresh presentation that stands apart from their competitors.

In regard to sports, this is a formula that has been seen numerous times through the years. Some may recall the 2002 launch of the Yes Network or Yankee Entertainment and Sports. The first sports network owned by a professional sports team, the New York Yankees. While Yes Network was truly a groundbreaking milestone for the sports television industry where a team chose to launch their own platform rather than negotiate with more established network platforms, it was not without its share of critics. Yes Network, which for many years operated solely as a regional sports network (RSN) in the New York region faced some backlash for a time from various cable subscribers who could not access the network shortly after it launched due to the network not being available on some cable platforms.

Although the network was available and marketed as being available on satellite television providers like DirecTV, which enabled access to the network nationally in the United States, some criticism remained for a time. Eighteen years later, the network now offers a national feed to both cable and satellite providers and served as a model for other sports networks to try and follow.

One of the appeals of digital streaming networks is that it operates on a direct to consumer model making the potential of a network not being available on a traditional television platform largely a thing of the past. This fact however, has not made digital streaming networks immune from criticism and/or rumors.

Recently, a story that has made the rounds was a suggestion by Eddie Hearn, one of Boxing’s top promoters, that DAZN, the digital streaming network that has a $1 Billion deal with his promotional company Matchroom Boxing, increase their monthly subscription plan from the current $19.99 per month price point to $50 per month with the thinking that it would encourage those monthly subscribers to instead opt to subscribe to the network’s yearly annual subscription plan.

In the interest of full disclosure with the reader, this observer is a subscriber to DAZN on a yearly basis and, despite the fact that yours truly has rarely written a column or other form of article both in online and print mediums over the last two decades yours truly has covered Boxing and other combat sports based solely on rumors, this is a subject that should be discussed. It is also important for me to state that this column will offer strictly my opinion and will not offer a negative point of view.

Regular readers of The Boxing Truth®️ know that one of the more consistent themes of yours truly in recent years has been the benefits of streaming technology and how it can benefit Boxing. While one should look no further than a few short weeks ago at the beginning of 2020 where I discussed this subject at length, one who may be uninformed may wonder what the benefits are and exactly what I have been talking about.

In short, streaming services/networks delivered over the internet, often referred to as Over The Top (OTT) digital distribution offers the consumer generally low cost options on a wide scale of entertainment that unlike cable/satellite television is available directly to the consumer and not part of a large bundled programming package. Although as the OTT distribution model has rapidly increased in recent years with several new platforms either entering the market or will soon be launched, the pricing structure has largely remained the same where consumers can choose what they want to subscribe to and do so at a reasonable price point.

As the market has increased, it was only a matter of time before sports platforms would be introduced and join the game.  For the most part, I feel both DAZN and ESPN+ have succeeded in providing value for the price of a subscription in a largely untapped portion of the market when it comes to streaming. It is important to consider however, that unlike ESPN+,which is only available in the United States, DAZN is a global streaming network that is currently available in nine countries.

A challenge for DAZN in regard to the United States was entering the market during a period of time where various broadcasting rights to numerous sports, many of which they hold international rights to, are currently not open for bidding to cover the U.S. market. With limited options in terms of acquiring rights in the United States, they chose to focus on combat sports. Although prior to their official launch in the U.S. DAZN had to contend with a relatively crowded field of broadcasters offering combat sports, primarily Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), the network was able to take advantage of the decision of HBO to exit Boxing after a forty-five year run at the end of 2018.

In a relatively short time, DAZN increased their content offerings by striking broadcast deals with Bellator MMA, Golden Boy Promotions, and several other Boxing and MMA promotions in addition to their deal with Matchroom Boxing, which has also allowed Eddie Hearn to expand his promotional company into several branches around the world, providing even more value for the subscriber by providing content in an innovative way that had not been seen before on a network platform.

One of the deals DAZN was able to strike that received significant attention and skepticism was the eleven-fight $365 Million deal with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, in addition to a deal to provide a broadcast platform for his promoter Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions stable of fighters after previously being aligned with HBO. The deal with Alvarez was significant both in terms of opening up potential opportunities for fighters to potentially secure lucrative deals that had not been seen before in the sport. It also represented the first legitimate pay-per-view draw to take a step into the digital subscription age and away from what this observer has often called an overpriced and undervalued model of pay-per-view.

For a streaming network that has marketed itself as a legitimate alternative to the pay-per-view model, signing a fighter of Alvarez’ stature was a win for DAZN. Despite their successes in establishing a subscriber-base of reportedly eight million global subscribers with an estimated subscriber-base of under one million in the U.S. according to several media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, skepticism has remained.

It is understandable how some may have their doubts as to the long-term viability of a platform that has only been available in the U.S. for just over one year. After all, DAZN is challenging a previously tried and true model of sports television in the United States and is doing so while competing with more established sports network platforms in the country including ESPN and Fox Sports to name a few. It is also true that DAZN has spent significantly in terms of fighter contracts while also trying to acquire any rights that might be available including the launch of their ChangeUp nightly studio show in a deal with Major League Baseball (MLB). Although as of 2020 the deal does not include live full games, the live look in, whip around style show did get DAZN’s foot in the door to potentially acquire further rights for live games down the line while also leaving the possibility open for similar content to be developed for other sports leagues while waiting for respective broadcast rights to become available on the open market.

Some might argue however, by being so aggressive in spending money to not only sign fighters, but also establish the platform in the U.S. while also acquiring more rights over time that it could create a difficult scenario for the network in the long-term picture. This argument has fed the skepticism of some.

While this observer does not currently work for DAZN or any other network or outlet outside of my own, I do not share the same skepticism of some and believe that for a network that has only been available in the United States for over one year, the network appears to be in great position for further growth after initially launching internationally in 2016. As for the current subscription plans of either $19.99 per month or $99 per year that were introduced in the U.S. last year, it is important to note that initially DAZN entered the U.S. market by offering a $9.99 per month subscription option following a thirty-day free trial. 

This was done as an introductory offering before increasing the monthly price point to $19.99, but also introducing the $99 annual subscription option, while keeping the $9.99 price point for existing subscribers for a period of time. Although this was met with skepticism, criticism, and rumors that DAZN was struggling, what was not explained clearly was that the introduction of the $19.99 monthly subscription option and the $99 annual subscription option moved the U.S. offering of DAZN to the same pricing structure as what the network offers internationally.

Despite this fact, skepticism and rumors of another potential price increase has remained. As far as criticism regarding how much the network has spent and invested, I believe it is in some ways similar to where ESPN was when they launched on cable television in the late 1970’s and into the 1980’s. It took a significant period of time stretching several years for the network to establish itself, increase access, grow subscriber numbers and over time acquire significant and lucrative broadcast deals with various sports leagues. A necessary component for ESPN and really any sports network was to spend and invest significant resources to grow their platform. In 2020, ESPN is one of the power players in sports in the United States and like DAZN, are now establishing their footprint in the digital streaming age, that many including yours truly believe will ultimately replace the traditional cable/satellite television model.

While taking a brief vacation that I often refer to as a staycation towards the end of last year, I kept a keen eye on news regarding both DAZN and ESPN+ as I routinely do. Although I do not like to pen columns based on rumor an innuendo, I have seen some fans on social media suggest that DAZN should attempt to enter the pay-per-view realm and this along with numerous speculation pieces I have read regarding the network, it became clear that it would be a topic I would have to address.

In regard to the possibility of another price increase at least for those who choose a monthly subscription option, I cannot say as someone viewing things from the outside that a price increase will not come in time as has been the case for digital streaming networks like Netflix and Hulu for example. I cannot see however, a price increase occurring shortly after an increase was introduced into the market as a way to get the U.S. on the same pricing structure as other countries where the network is available. It would not surprise me however, to see a price increase come at a point where the network is able to acquire broadcast rights to a major sports league or leagues as has been reported as a possibility involving the National Football League (NFL) down the line.

As far as the stance of some that DAZN should consider a pay-per-view option, I disagree. It would be a step backwards for the network that marketed itself to Boxing fans as providing 100+ fight nights per year across both Boxing and MMA “Without The Pain Of Pay-Per-View!” When one considers the current state of the cable/satellite industry that is in decline as cord-cutting continues to grow and the general decline of the pay-per-view industry that both due to the decline of cable/satellite and the ever increasing price points of pay-per-view, pay-per-view Boxing events rarely draw the type of revenue that makes the model sustainable in the long-term. 

Although I put the blame for this both on the price points, which average between $70-$90 on a per card basis as well as cord-cutting, there is also the issue of piracy that also contributes to the general decline of pay-per-view buys more so than a lack of interest. This is one reason why it is rare to see a pay-per-view Boxing card come close to drawing one million buys regardless of what the main event might be. There are of course, the rare exceptions such as the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao bout in May 2015, which drew 4.4. million pay-per-view buys even with the expensive price tag of $100. This however, is more the exception than it is the norm.

For DAZN to adapt a pay-per-view model would be a lose/lose scenario for their network. Though critics will remain regardless of what a network offers, the sensible option would be for DAZN to not only stay the course, but also continue presenting value and content that makes it stand apart from both the pay-per-view model, but also their other competitors. Over time growth will continue and more importantly in time, the network will not only see returns on their investments, but hopefully will also prove that while breaking ground is seen initially as a risk, without risk there is no innovation and without risk there is no reward. 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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

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