Conwell Caps Off Night Of Knockouts In Uncasville, CT

 

In a battle of unbeaten Jr. Middleweight prospects Charles Conwell scored a ninth round knockout over previously undefeated Wendy Toussaint on Wednesday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. In what was the main event of the first card of Showtime Sports’ popular ShoBox:The New Generation series since March prior to the sports world shutting down due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, Conwell applied a consistent strategy of walking forward behind a high defensive guard and getting on the inside of Toussaint. This fight was largely based on Conwell’s ability to get on the inside and Toussaint’s inability to maintain distance and keep Conwell on the outside. 

 

Once on the inside of his opponent, Conwell implemented an effective body attack on Toussaint and mixed in uppercuts and hooks to the head as well. The fight seemed to follow this pattern from start to finish as the methodical approach of Conwell became the story of the bout. Although Conwell appeared to be on his way to winning a convincing unanimous decision victory in the scheduled ten round bout, he would instead end the fight in round nine by landing a flush right uppercut up the middle of Toussaint’s guard and forcing the previously unbeaten prospect to take a knee in his own corner. Toussaint clearly hurt and compromised by what was immediately revealed to be a broken nose was unable to beat the count of Referee Johnny Callas. Official time of the stoppage was 2:42 of round nine. Charles Conwell advances to 13-0, with 10 Knockouts. Wendy Toussaint falls to 12-1, with 5 Knockouts.

 

 

Also on this card:

 

In the first of two Welterweight fights on the card, undefeated prospect Brandun Lee scored a first round knockout of veteran Jimmy Williams. Lee staggered Williams with a wide left hook early in round one that had Williams hurt against the ropes. A barrage of punches resulted in a knockdown being ruled as Referee Danny Schiavone ruled that the ropes prevented Williams from going down. The fight continued and Lee scored a second knockdown of Williams with a looping right hand. Although Williams was able to get up after being dropped a second time, it became clear that it was only a matter of time before the bout would be over. Seconds later, Lee dropped Williams for a third and final time with a flush right hand sending Williams down in brutal fashion to bring the one-sided fight to its conclusion. Williams was down on the canvas for several minutes, but was able to leave the ring under his own power. Official time of the stoppage was 1:34 of round one. Brandun Lee advances to 20-0, with 18 Knockouts. Jimmy Williams falls to 16-4-2, with 5 Knockouts.

 

This was followed by undefeated Welterweight prospect Janelson Figueroa Bocachica who scored a first round knockout of his own of Nicklaus Flaz. A flush counter left hook to the head dropped Flaz flat on his back on the canvas. Flaz chose to try and exchange with Figueroa Bocachica, but it proved to be costly as he was sent down for a second time with another left hook to the jaw that sent him down heavily on the canvas in a neutral corner of the ring. Flaz was able to get up on very unsteady legs and the fight continued. A follow up barrage of offense from Figueroa Bocachica brought an end to the bout as Flaz was sent down for a third time resulting in the fight being stopped. Official time of the stoppage was 2:43 of round one. Janelson Figueroa Bocachica advances to 16-0, with 11 Knockouts. Nicklaus Flaz falls to 9-2, with 7 Knockouts.

 

Debuting Featherweight David Navarro scored a first round knockout to begin his career by knocking down Nathan Benichou down twice to earn a stoppage in an off-air preliminary bout. David Navarro advances to 1-0, with 1 Knockout. Nathan Benichou falls to 2-2, with 2 Knockouts.

 

It is rare to see every fight scheduled on any combat sports card end in knockouts, but that is what happened here in the return of ShoBox to the Boxing airways. For Charles Conwell, his victory over Wendy Toussaint earned him the United States Boxing Association (USBA) Jr. Middleweight championship and should find himself in the world rankings off of this win as the regional governing body is affiliated with the International Boxing Federation (IBF). More importantly for Conwell, this fight was his second fight and victory since his bout with Patrick Day in October of last year. A hard fought victory for Conwell that unfortunately led to Day’s death four days after the bout as a result of injuries he suffered during the fight.

 

Although the circumstances of Day’s passing are tragic, what is an unfortunate danger of all combat sports and could happen to any fighter each time they compete, which is one reason among many why all fighters deserve the utmost respect for what they risk each time they enter the ring to compete, what also can be overlooked is the effect a tragedy like that can have on the other fighter involved. While Charles Conwell has been able to continue his career in what has to be difficult and emotional circumstances, it should not be ignored that he wore a patch that read “Pat Day All Day” on his trunks in his fight in tribute to his former opponent.

 

All too often, Boxing leaves itself open to its flaws both in and out of the ring, but even though such flaws and animosity between fighters will always get more attention than the good the sport has to offer and the “Respect” and “Class” fighters do show the sport and each other, all involved in the sport from fans, to broadcasters, to those who cover the sport like yours truly, to those who enter the ring to do battle should from time to time show and discuss the good Boxing has to offer. Something that at times you don’t even need to see a punch thrown to do.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

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

 

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CRACKLE ANNOUNCES THE US PREMIERE OF ORIGINAL SPORTS DOCUMENTARY, ‘LENNOX LEWIS: THE UNTOLD STORY,’ AVAILABLE OCTOBER 15

 Press Release By Crackle – NEW YORK, N.Y., October 6, 2020 – Crackle Plus, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (Nasdaq: CSSE) company and one of the largest operators of streaming advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) networks, announced today the premiere of its original documentary, Lennox Lewis: The Untold Story, launching on Thursday, October 15. 

Credit: Crackle 

Lennox Lewis: The Untold Story follows the three-time world heavyweight boxing champion,Lennox Lewis, as he defies all odds on his inspiring journey to become one of the most decorated boxers in history. Narrated by Dr. Dre, the documentary features never-before-seen footage from Lewis’ personal archives, extensive interviews with Lewis and some of his greatest competitors including Mike Tyson, George Foreman, and Evander Holyfield.

As one of the only AVODs continually adding original and exclusive programming that uplifts, entertains, and inspires audiences, Crackle adds Lennox Lewis: The Untold Story alongside original and exclusive titles that can only be found on Crackle, including Spides, Corporate Animals, Blue Iguana, Anything is Possible - The Serge Ibaka Story, Road to Race Day, On Point, Cleanin’ Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters, The Clearing, Yelawolf: A Slumerican Life, and Going From Broke, recently picked up for a second season.

Lennox Lewis: The Untold Story is distributed in North America by Screen Media, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment company, and the supplier of exclusive and original content for Crackle Plus. 

From a modest and challenging upbringing to an Olympic Gold medal and reign as undisputed heavyweight champion, Lewis’ story is one of redemption and forgiveness and the perseverance and strength needed to overcome obstacles. The documentary unfolds his inspirational journey as Lewis draws back the curtain on his childhood and career to unveil what makes a true champion. Directed by Rick Lazes and Seth Koch, Lennox Lewis: The Untold Story was written by Josh Dubin and Koch. The film is a Verdi Production and was produced by Chad A. Verdi,Rick Lazes, Nick Koskoff and Tom DeNucci. Emma Tillinger Koskoff and Michelle Verdiexecutive produced.

“The documentary delivers a powerful message and I am so glad we were able to tell this story,” said Lewis. “For anyone watching who feels they can’t make it in life, I am proof that you can.” 

“We are proud to bring this inspirational story of Lennox’s historic boxing career to Crackle,” said Richard De Croce, SVP of Programming at Crackle Plus. “We know our audience will appreciate Lennox’s passion and determination to overcome the obstacles he’s faced and reach his dreams both in and out of the ring.”

Crackle is available in the U.S. and can be accessed on 26 devices and services including Amazon FireTV, RokuTV, Apple TV, Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Vizio), gaming consoles (PS4 and XBoxOne), Plex, iOS and Android mobile devices and on desktops at Crackle.com. Crackle is also available in approximately 500,000 hotel rooms in the Marriott Bonvoy chain.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqJPliEUCzA&ab_channel=Crackle

CRACKLE PLUS, A CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY

Crackle Plus owns and operates ad-supported VOD networks Crackle and Popcornflix and garners 50 million streams of its movies and TV shows per month, making it one of the largest AVOD streaming platforms in the U.S. Crackle Plus has over 80,000 hours of content available across all its networks, and premieres at least one original and one exclusive program each month, differentiating it from other AVODs. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE) owns a majority stake in the company formed with Sony Pictures Television. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment also acquires and distributes video content through its Screen Media subsidiary and produces original long and short-form content through Landmark Studio Group, its Chicken Soup for the Soul Originals division and APlus.com. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment is a subsidiary of Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC, which publishes the famous book series and produces super-premium pet food under the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand name.

 

ABOUT SCREEN MEDIA VENTURES, LLC

Screen Media Ventures, LLC, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSSE) company, acquires the rights to high quality, independent television series and feature films. Screen Media Ventures acquires worldwide rights for distribution through theatrical, home video, pay-per-view, free, cable and pay television, video-on-demand, and new digital media platforms. The company acquires AVOD rights for third party networks and is the main supplier of content for Crackle Plus and other Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment properties. With a library of over 1,500 television series and motion pictures, Screen Media Ventures is one of the largest independent suppliers of high-quality tv series and motion pictures to U.S. and international broadcast markets, cable networks, home video outlets and new media venues. For more information, visit www.screenmedia.net. 

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Crackle Used with permission.

 

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

CAMPOS HEADS STATE SIDE FOR MOLONEY TRAINING CAMP

 Press Release October 6, 2020 By Dragon Fire Boxing – Chilean flyweight sensation Andres "Crocodile" Campos has joined World Title Challengers Jason and Andrew Moloney in Las Vegas for their historic World Title challengers. The trio are guided by Oceania Manager of the year Tony Tolj 

Credit: Tony Tolj

Campos is undefeated in his professional campaign 9-0 and has risen quickly through the World flyweight ranks since linking up with Dragon Fire Boxing Latino alongside stables mates Ramon Mascarena, Raynel Mederos, and Luis Junior Cruzat. 

Campos WBO #10 currently holds the WBA Fedebol, WBO Latino, and Chilean flyweight titles, touched down in Las Vegas on Saturday evening, and Tolj opened up on the 24-year-old Campos.

Tolj said, "I had to use a few of my connections within my inner circle to lease with the Chilean and American authorities to allow Campos to travel. Fortunately, they were all very helpful and we gained approval on Friday for Andres to fly to Las Vegas.

"Andres took a COVID-19 test prior to departing and took one on arrival in the United States and just yesterday took another one with myself and The Moloney twins.

"Andres is one of the top quality fighters that Dragon Fire Boxing has acquired during its expansion into South America. He has been in camp with us before in Australia and boxed on one of our cards on the Gold Coast last November. He has spent time in camp with the Moloney twins before and had great work with world rated Bruno Tarimo as well so he really is a top-quality. Now it's time for the Team to live the dream and put on a show on ESPN.

 

Material Courtesy of Dragon Fire Boxing/Photo Courtesy of Tony Tolj 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.

 

Ahlin Outclasses Szabo In 2

Light-Heavyweight prospect Oscar Ahlin scored a dominant second round stoppage of a “Game”, but overmatched Achilles Szabo in the main event of a Boxing card held behind closed doors in an undisclosed location on Saturday night in Brussels, Belgium. Ahlin dropped Szabo in the first round with a left hook to the body. This was followed by a second knockdown with a left hook to the head in round two. Although Szabo continued to get up, it was clear that he was simply outclassed in this fight. After a third knockdown from a right hand to the head, Szabo again arose from the canvas only to be floored for a fourth and final time as the referee stopped the fight. Official time of the stoppage was 1:57 of round two. Oscar Ahlin advances to 19-2, with 17 Knockouts. Achilles Szabo falls to 25-25, with 14 Knockouts.

 

Also on this card:

 

In the Middleweight division, unbeaten prospect Julien Demeyer scored a fourth round stoppage of veteran Daniel Rashdan. Demeyer consistently forced the action on Rashdan, who mostly fought defensively throughout. Rashdan was deducted a point in round three after repeatedly dropping his mouthpiece and after a brief exchange of punches that was frankly Rashdan’s best offensive showing in the fight, the bout was stopped at thirty-five seconds of round four when Rashdan appeared to indicate he did not want to continue. Julien Demeyer advances to 5-0, with 5 Knockouts. Daniel Rashdan falls to 5-10, with 2 Knockouts.

 

 

In the first of two Jr. Middleweight bouts on the card, undefeated prospect Jan Helin outworked veteran William Vargas over six rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory. Jan Helin advances to 7-0, with 4 Knockouts. William Vargas falls to 3-15-1, with 0 Knockouts. This was followed by Nabil Messaoudi, who in his professional debut only needed one left hook to the jaw of veteran Samuil Dimitrov to end their bout at just twenty-five seconds of the first round as Dimitrov was unable to beat the count after being knocked down. Nabil Messaoudi advances to 1-0, with 1 Knockout. Samuil Dimitrov falls to 2-10-1, with 1 Knockout.

 

This card, which was promoted as “Back To Business “ and broadcast worldwide on combat sports network FightNight Live’s Facebook page was originally scheduled for late August, but was delayed due to a rise of COVID-19 cases in the country of Belgium in what is an ongoing global epidemic. While clearly this card served as a way for rising prospects to resume their careers after being inactive for in some cases several months due to the epidemic, it will be interesting to see if they are able to increase the level of their opposition in their next outings. Of course, that will likely be determined by the status of COVID-19 throughout the world as promoters and fighters continue to try to adapt, operate, and compete in unprecedented times. 

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

For more information about FightNight Live please visit FightNight Live’s official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/faceFightNightLive

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

 

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Will Jermell Charlo Go For Undisputed Or Will He Set His Sights On Middleweight?

 In many cases, the term unification in the sport of Boxing usually means when the best fighters in a given weight class, who each hold a claim to a world championship are pitted against each other to determine who is the best. Such was the case on September 26^th in Uncasville, CT when WBC Jr. Middleweight world champion Jermell Charlo met unified WBA/IBF world champion Jeison Rosario. A fight that headlined the second portion of a unique doubleheader concept that also featured Jermell's twin brother Jermall in the headline bout of the card’s first portion.

 

The bout between Jermell Charlo and Jeison Rosariodid not just bring two world champions together to unify three of five recognized world championships in the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division, but as always seems to be the case in Boxing a unification bout like this could well lead to more lucrative opportunities for the winner down the road. In large part, this fight turned out to be the tactical encounter that this observer thought it would be going into it.

 

A misconception that some might have whenever the word tactical is used in describing a fight is that it could be translated as not the most entertaining to watch. While this fight was not necessarily fought at a high pace, what was entertaining was watching how calm Jermell Charlo was over the more aggressive Rosario. This allowed Charlo to pick his spots and make the most out of the punches he threw rather than trying to outwork Rosario over the course of the fight. It was this approach that allowed Charlo to score knockdowns of Rosario with short hooks to the head in rounds one and six.

 

Although he was consistently aggressive and pressed forward through much of the fight, Rosario was following Charlo rather than dictating the tempo of the combat. Despite this, Rosario was able to land some effective punches to the body of Charlo throughout. He just couldn’t land with consistency in my view to turn the ebb and flow in his favor. Perhaps ironically, it would be a jab to the body of Rosario that would end the fight in the eighth round giving Jermell Charlo the victory and status as a unified world champion. 

 

While it is rare to see a knockout come as a result of a jab, the most elementary of punches in a fighter’s arsenal, it is important to keep in mind that any type of punch can end a fight if it lands in the right spot at the right time. This is especially true when it comes to body punches that if they land in a sensitive spot it can not only cause damage, but it can also effect a fighter’s breathing where it makes it almost impossible to get up from a knockdown to continue battle as was the case when Bernard Hopkins knocked out Oscar De La Hoya with a perfectly placed left hook to the body in their Middleweight world championship unification bout in September 2004. Essentially, this is what happened to Rosario in this fight as once the punch landed it had an impact on his breathing and he was unable to beat the count.

 

In what was a statement making performance for Jermell Charlo, the question now becomes whether he will pursue a bout against WBO Jr. Middleweight world champion Patrick Teixeira, current IBO world champion Erislandy Lara to attempt to fully unify the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division or will he turn his attention to the 160lb. Middleweight division where his brother Jermall currently competes. This observer sees viable options in both divisions for Jermell Charlo, but in terms of the immediate future, I believe it is most likely that he will face top contender Erickson Lubin, who won an elimination bout on September 19^th to become the WBC’s mandatory challenger in the Jr. Middleweight division in his next fight before deciding on which lucrative opportunity he wants to pursue. For now, Jermell Charlo did what he had to do in unifying three of five world championships in the Jr. Middleweight division and by doing so in impressive fashion, his stock can only go up as 2021 approaches.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

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

 

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HANEY VS. GAMBOA AND JACOBS VS. ROSADO HEADING TO FLORIDA

 Press Release October 2, 2020 By DAZN – Devin Haney will defend his WBC World Lightweight title against Yuriorkis Gamboa on Saturday, Nov. 7 and Daniel Jacobs will clash with Gabriel Rosado on Friday, Nov. 27, both behind closed doors and subject to strict COVID-19 protocols at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Florida, live on DAZN.

Credit:DAZN 

 

Haney (24-0, 15 KOs) is back in action for the first time since November 2019 after injuring his right shoulder in seeing off Alfredo Santiago in the first defense of his belt in LA. The 21-year-old sensation had successful surgery on the injury and is now ready to resume his quest to dominate a 135-lbs. scene that’s littered with big names.

 

First on his hit list is Gamboa (30-3, 18 KOs), the former unified World Featherweight king and Cuban hero, following his Olympic gold medal. Gamboa is aiming to become a two-weight World ruler at the third attempt having challenged Terence Crawford and Gervonta Davis for their titles, but Haney is confident he will reignite his reign in style.

 

“Yuriokis Gamboa is a dangerous and experienced fighter,” said Haney. “He’s a former unified world champion, and he has been in the ring with some of the best. He hurt Terence Crawford with a big shot, so his power is not to be ignored. He beat Orlando Salido who beat Vasiliy Lomachenko. Less than a year ago he took Gervonta Davis into the 12th round, something no one has ever been able to do. Gamboa is a true warrior and I’m not taking him lightly. I’ve called out all the top names, and I finally got someone who will challenge me for my title. I intend on making a statement in this fight. My hunger is on another level. It’s time to show the world who the best fighter in boxing is and that’s me!” 

 

“I'm extremely thankful to God for allowing this fight to happen and for the miracle of healing my Achilles,” said Gamboa. “I've been dreaming and wishing of fighting for the WBC Green Belt ever since I was an amateur in Cuba. I'm ready and determined to win this title for my fans and to prove those who wrote me off as a washed up fighter wrong. I came up short against Davis because of my Achilles in the second round, but I fought the rest of the fight on one foot, hurting him in the middle rounds. You are going to see a healthy Gamboa fight with both of my legs, fists and warrior heart of mine. With God's blessings I will come out victorious Nov. 7.”

 

Jacobs and Rosado have built up a rivalry over the last year and now that comes to a head three weeks after Haney vs. Gamboa.

 

Jacobs (36-3, 30 KOs) made the first steps on his target of becoming a two-weight World champion with victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in Phoenix, Arizona in December. That was the “Miracle Man’s” first foray into the 168-lbs. scene after the two-time World Middleweight king moved up from 160 lbs. after his unification clash with Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas in May 2019.

 

Rosado (25-12-1, 14 KOs) appeared on the undercard in Phoenix and clashed with Jacobs ahead of the weigh-in. The Philly ace recorded a ten round points win that night to return to winning ways following his thrilling back-and-forth battle with Maciej Sulecki on home turf in March 2019, and the 34-year-old will be out to fire himself into contention for the World title clash that Jacobs seeks.

 

“Gabe talked his way into this fight and now it’s time to see if he can back it up,” said Jacobs. “He’s got a big mouth and he’s been bringing up my name constantly for over a year – but on Nov. 27 the talking stops and I can’t wait to shut him up. My aim is to become a two-weight division World champion in 2021 and that starts with a big win in Florida. After that, I’m ready to step up and fight one of the World champions at 168 pounds.”

 

“I’m really excited for the fight,” said Rosado. “There’s been a lot of back and forth between me and Jacobs, and for the fight to finally happen, I’m more than ready. I’ve started training camp with Freddie Roach in LA at Wild Card Boxing, and I’m just looking to put on one hell of a show for the fans. I’m definitely going to bring the fight to Danny and it’s going to be great.”

 

Both events have stacked undercards in support of the main event. There’s a Heavyweight flavor to the Haney card with Croatian talent Filip Hrgovic (11-0, 9 KOs) facing American Rydell Booker (26-3, 13 KOs) and Chinese star Zhilei Zhang (21-0, 18 KOs) meeting another American in Devin Vargas (22-6, 9 KOs). Three young stars continue their pro journeys on the bill as Reshat Mati (7-0, 5 KOs), Raymond Ford (6-0, 2 KOs) and Arthur Biyarslanov (6-0, 5 KOs) are in action on the show - – and Matchroom are delighted to announce the signing of French star Souleymane Cissokho (11-0 7 KOs) to a multi-fight deal and he’ll box on the bill, and more details on the deal for the Anthony Joshua managed Super-Welterweight will come on Monday.

 

Marc Castro will make his pro debut on the undercard of Jacobs vs. Rosado. The Fresno talent was slated to make his bow in the paid ranks in Tulsa, Oklahoma in August, but he tested positive for COVID-19. Now the amateur sensation finally laces them up and is joined on the undercard by fellow amateur rulers in Olympic gold medalist Daniyar Yeleussinov (9-0, 5 KOs), three-time World amateur champion Magomedrasul Majidov (2-0, 2 KOs), and young talents Nikita Ababiy (9-0, 6 KOs) and Alexis Espino (6-0, 4 KOs).

 

“I can’t wait for our U.S. return in Florida – two stacked cards with plenty riding on them,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “The Lightweight division is on fire and there’s no better time for Devin to return to action and make a big statement at the Hard Rock. Although Devin may well be the next big thing, when you look at his CV, Yuriorkis is by far his toughest test to date. A few weeks later, the bad blood between Daniel and Gabe will come to a head as they clash, and the winner of that fight will find themselves in a great position for a World title shot at 168 lbs. in 2021.”

 

“There’s so many interesting plotlines on both undercards. The Heavyweights are in the spotlight on Nov. 7, with Filip and Zhilei, two World-class fighters that are looking to stake their claims for massive fights next year, as will Magomedrasul who fights on Nov. 27.”

 

“Marc was devastated that his debut was postponed but the Fresno sensation has re-focused and it’s not a bad thing to have to learn to cope with a setback like that – he’s been working so hard in training, and I think we’re going to see a spectacular debut.”

 

“We’re lining up a big test for Daniyar, and so many of the young stars on the cards are beginning to get to the stages in their career where they move to the next level so I am expecting two exciting nights of action in the Sunshine State.”

 

Hard Rock Live and Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood in Florida have a rich history of hosting world-class boxing in addition to globally recognized entertainment acts like Jerry Seinfeld, Alicia Keys and Aerosmith. The venue is excited to play host to two huge nights of action in November.

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: DAZN 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. 

Update

 We would like to let our readers know that a third feature column scheduled for this week covering the recent Charlo Doubleheader pay-per-view card, which will focus on the Jr. Middleweight world championship unification bout between Jermell Charlo and Jeison Rosario will be released here on the website on Saturday, October 3^rd. 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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Will The Decision To Do Pay-Per-View During The COVID-19 Epidemic Prove To Be Good Or Bad?

 

It is rare when taking about a Boxing card that is aired on pay-per-view not to hear criticism of the card itself. More often than not you will hear fans and experts alike criticize a particular fight or what they feel should have taken place. When one also factors into the equation that such criticisms also include the consumer only being offered a small portion of what takes place on a full Boxing card for what is often an expensive price tag, it is not hard to understand such criticism.

 

In the case of the recent pay-per-view doubleheader that was marketed as “Two Pay-Per-View Cards In One” featuring twin brothers Jermall and Jermell Charlo headlining separate portions of the card, there was not criticism of the fights that were scheduled on the six bout pay-per-view card, but rather most if not all criticism stemmed from the decision by broadcaster Showtime and its parent company ViacomCBS as well as the Premier Boxing Champions group of promoters to put the event on cable/satellite pay-per-view and to do so at a price point of $74.95.

 

It should not be a secret to longtime readers that this observer has long been critical of the pay-per-view model that has over the last two decades gotten out of control in terms of pricing, but one that also rarely has the consumer’s interest in mind in terms of the amount of content that is offered on a per card basis for increasingly expensive prices. The criticism in this case differs from the norm in that the decision to put not only this card, but also additional cards promoted by the PBC group of promoters on pay-per-view in the coming weeks and months comes in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic and recession. An epidemic that has caused sickness and death around the world, but one that has resulted in significant job loss in the United States as well.

 

While the general trend of pay-per-view Boxing attractions has consistently underperformed over the years with rare exceptions due largely to the price points in this observer’s eyes more so than a mere lack of interest from fans/consumers, it is also important to keep in mind that the cable/satellite industry, which was already in decline prior to the COVID-19 as consumers opt to switch to digital streaming platforms and away from traditional pay-TV providers, have only seen their subscriber-base continuing to erode as the epidemic has increased its impact.

 

In terms of Boxing, it should also not be ignored that the rise of digital subscription-based streaming networks DAZN and ESPN+ have provided a legitimate alternative to traditional pay-per-view distribution as well as offering an economically reasonable option for consumers. Although for the time being the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) MMA promotion sells their pay-per-view events through ESPN+’s platform exclusively in the United States at a similar price point to when those events were available on cable/satellite pay-per-view, those events are made available on delay for existing ESPN+ subscribers weeks after they take place and the pricing of those events are used to sell annual subscription plans for ESPN+ for non-subscribers. 

 

Why should that be taken into consideration? Because it shows that the pay-per-view model as it once was is no longer a viable option, especially when one also factors in that events are available on demand for subscribers to watch when they wish shortly after an event takes place, whereas with traditional pay-per-view, most events produced by a network like Showtime will only get one live showing as was the case with the Charlo Doubleheader pay-per-view event last week. While in some cases, there may be an immediate replay aired shortly after a live showing, it is not a standard and that in addition to the pricing structure and more economically reasonable alternatives being available only adds to the hurdles that promoters and networks face in a pay-per-view being successful in addition to the dwindling subscriber numbers, which obviously limits the potential audience for events broadcast on cable/satellite pay-per-view.

 

Although it may sound to the reader that yours truly is deliberately pointing out the negative aspects of pay-per-view, I am doing so for a reason. There are alternatives available that could benefit networks, promoters, and the fighters themselves. The most obvious of those alternatives would be to adapt a digital subscription model similar to that of ESPN+ and DAZN.

 

In previewing the Charlo Doubleheader pay-per-view, I pointed out one alternative that was/is already available to ViacomCBS seeing as the pay-per-view was being broadcast by the company’s-owned Showtime. CBS All Access.

 

 CBS All Access, a digital streaming network platform that CBS launched in 2014 has been a main focal point for the network as it looks to increase its presence in the digital streaming market. As of February last year, the streaming platform had an estimated four million subscribers paying either $9.99 per month for a plan that does not include commercials on on-demand content or $5.99 for a plan that includes limited ads on such content.

 

Although it is debatable as to how many of CBS All Access’ subscriber-base are fans of Boxing or sports in general as the platform is aimed at the general entertainment genre, a potential reach of that many subscribers is a number that very few pay-per-view events have even come close to.

 

It is also worth noting that the platform, which has begun incorporating other ViacomCBS-owned content from it’s various networks as the company looks to rebrand CBS All Access to Paramount+ next year, which will include everything currently featured on the platform plus additional content, could have used a Boxing card like this as a way to attract new subscribers while continuing to expand their evolving content which also recently included the addition of UEFA Men’s and Women’s Champions League Soccer among other content.

 

While it also needs to be noted that this card was made available to non-cable/satellite consumers at the same pay-per-view price point through Showtime's standalone streaming app as well as through Live TV streaming platforms aimed as an alternative/replacement to traditional pay-TV service like cable/satellite, like Sling TV, it is debatable whether consumers that have “Cut The Cord” will be willing to embrace paying the same type of pay-per-view prices that are available through traditional television providers given that the main selling point of becoming what is known as a “Cord Cutter” and going with only streaming as their preferred method of accessing television is to save money.

 

Although it is unclear as of this writing as to how well the Charlo Doubleheader did in terms of overall buys and does not include the added element of those who access content via piracy in various forms, all of the above are things that networks and promoters who insist on sticking with an outdated model of pay-per-view are going to have to keep in mind.

 

With COVID-19 continuing to impact the world in numerous and severe ways, there simply is no way that a model that was already in decline prior to a global epidemic will be boosted or even saved during said epidemic whose impact no one knows the severity of as of yet. Unfortunately, without a willingness to adapt to changing times and conditions or a willingness to adjust price points that are more economically reasonable, a network or promoter should not expect successful returns regardless of who is on the card. It’s a shame for the fans who support the sport tirelessly in good times and bad who unfortunately are being priced out of being able to see fights they want to see, but even more of a shame for the fighters who risk their lives every time they compete that are trying to raise their profile and standing in the sport that are being denied the chance to compete in front of as many eyes as possible.

 

“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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thoughts On Charlo-Derevyanchenko

 

One of the marquee attractions of what was billed as “Two Pay-Per-View Cards In One” that took place on September 26^th at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT was the Middleweight encounter between undefeated top contender and former IBF Jr. Middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo and former two-time world title challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko. While the concept of the pay-per-view, as well as the second main event of the card will be covered in separate upcoming material here on The Boxing Truth®️ over the upcoming week, the first main event did bring two of the top Middleweights in the world together for what on paper had all the makings of a closely fought battle.

 

As readers who read the preview this observer penned last week discussing the pay-per-view doubleheader know, this fight had an interim championship designation at stake in the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) Middleweight ratings due to current WBC world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez being designated as a “Franchise Champion “ due to his desire to fight between the 160lb. Middleweight and 175lb. Light-Heavyweight divisions depending on opportunities that may be available to him both in terms of marquee fights as well as the lucrative incentives they could bring. Although the political aspects of the sport often do not lend favorably upon those top contenders who are seeking an opportunity against a fighter in Alvarez’ position, this fight also had the potential for the winner to set themselves up for lucrative opportunities against other top stars in the Middleweight division as well as top positioning in the division should Alvarez ultimately vacate his standing as a Middleweight.

 

In previewing this fight, I stated that I felt it was crucial for Derevyanchenko to implement a body attack on Charlo. This proved to be a difficult task as Charlo was able to keep Derevyanchenko on the outside in the early rounds of the fight by using his near 74” reach and three inch height advantage to land offense as Derevyanchenko as he came forward. A focal point of that offense for Charlo during this period of the bout was his jab and more specifically his ability to be accurate with it.

 

It was this approach that allowed Charlo to dictate the tempo of the combat through much of the first half of the fight. As the fight progressed however, Derevyanchenko was able to make gradual adjustments, most notably, his approaching and attacking Charlo at angles as opposed to coming straight forward. This allowed Derevyanchenko opportunities to get on the inside of his taller and longer opponent. In some ways, this bout resembled Derevyanchenko’s fight against Gennady Golovkin in the sense that once Derevyanchenko was able to implement a body attack, the dynamic of the fight changed. When the fight was fought in close on the inside, there were several heated exchanges of offense between the two fighters, but one aspect of offense that worked well for Derevyanchenko in the middle rounds was how he was able to land a left hook to the body followed by a left hook to the head. 

 

While Derevyanchenko had trouble implementing this aspect of his attack consistently as the fight moved into the later rounds, it was this combination along with his overall approach that seemed to allow him to make up ground in the middle rounds on the scorecards in my mind. A competitive fight from start to finish where both fighters were able to have their moments throughout and with both men having their ability to recover while hurt tested throughout, made the encounter the entertaining battle that many thought it would be. 

 

Although this observer felt this was a close fight that I ended up scoring a draw at the end of the twelve round bout, it did not turn out that way on the official scorecards as all three judges scored the fight for Charlo by significant margins.  In many cases when it comes to fights that are viewed as close from outside observers, but differ significantly from the three official judges tasked with scoring a fight, it will often come down to interpretation as to how one sees w fight. 

 

A commonality between this fight and Sergiy Derevyanchenko’s two previous losses to Daniel Jacobs and Gennady Golovkin was that Derevyanchenko did not get the nod from the judges in the early rounds, but stepped up his pace as those bouts progressed and managed to make up ground on the scorecards. While in some was this fight was similar to those fights, Derevyanchenko was unable to win any of the first five rounds on the official scorecards, which put him at a significant deficit to overcome on the scorecards. It is also important to keep in mind that Charlo was also able to win some rounds over the second half of the fight and with Derevyanchenko unable to score any knockdowns that would have narrowed the margin on the official scorecards, it is understandable how the three official judges arrived with wider scores than yours truly did in an unofficial capacity. While there is no argument that Charlo had the upper hand over the first half of the fight, I did not feel he swept the first five rounds and that along with Derevyanchenko’s success in the second half of the bout was how I arrived with a draw when all was said and done. 

 

With the victory, Jermall Charlo maintains his position in the Middleweight division. Whether or not Charlo could be a potential opponent for Saul “Canelo”Alvarez remains unclear due largely to the various business and political aspects involved, which unfortunately play a role in what fights get made and when. Charlo’s stock however, has gone up with this victory over Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Based on how competitive the fight between the two was as well as obstacles that could be made in a relatively short time, the possibility exists for a rematch between the two to take place down the line.  We will have to see what the landscape of the division looks like heading into 2021 with the element of COVID-19 also likely to continue to overshadow things.

 

“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

 

 

Making Sense Of Chavez Jr.- Cazares

 

Readers who have followed this observer’s work both online and in print over the two decades I have covered combat sports and primarily Boxing are likely familiar with numerous writings through the years about the career of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. A fighter known as “The Son of the Legend “, his namesake Hall of Famer Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.  Many years ago during my time as an overseas correspondent for The Fist Boxing Magazine, which was based in Australia, I wrote a column discussing the promise that is often placed upon fighters that follow in their parent’s footsteps by embarking on their own Boxing career and how unfortunately such promise/potential often came with unrealistic expectations that the offspring of a great fighter unfortunately could not live up to. 

 

The main focal point of that column centered upon Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., who at that time appeared as though he might have been nearing a fight against Hector Camacho Jr,, the son of a Hall of Fame fighter in his own right, who Chavez Sr. had defeated in a memorable showdown in September 1992. Despite having a decent career in his own right where at times he was a contender, Camacho Jr. never quite fulfilled his potential and never went on to win a world championship. As most know however, Chavez Jr. did win a world championship in 2011 when he won the WBC Middleweight world championship and went on to successfully defend the crown four times before losing the championship via twelve round unanimous decision to Sergio Martinez in 2012.

 

Like many offspring of great fighters before him, Chavez’ career has been marked by highs where he has looked very impressive, but also lows where he has been very inconsistent both in his performances in the ring as well as his training and preparation outside the ring where despite winning a world championship, he has not been able to fulfill his potential. In recent years, he has been more known and criticized for his inconsistencies than his successes. Such inconsistencies have led many including yours truly to question whether or not Chavez Jr. was done as a serious contender who could be in a world championship picture.

 

Some may recall his recent bout against former IBF Middleweight world champion Daniel Jacobs in December of last year where despite holding his own early in the fight in what appeared to be a solid showing, Chavez quit after five rounds citing that he couldn’t breathe in what was later revealed by his father that he had in fact suffered a broken nose. The aftermath of the stoppage was an ugly scene that was riots from the crowd in attendance in Phoenix, AZ. Needless to say, criticism of Chavez Jr. has continued.

 

Chavez Jr. however, returned to the ring on September 25^th in headlining a card that featured his father and fellow Hall of Famer Jorge Arce participating in an exhibition, their third such exhibition, for charity at the Grand Hotel in Tijuana, MX. The opponent for Chavez Jr. came in the form of unbeaten, but unknown Light-Heavyweight Mario Cazares. Cazares, who entered the fight undefeated in eleven previous professional bouts, appeared to be at a significant disadvantage both in terms of overall time in the ring as well as quality of opposition as only one of his previous opponents had a record where he had won more fights than he had lost. Although this fight obviously had an element of the unknown, it did give the impression that the intention was to attempt to get Chavez some rounds and back in the win column before trying to secure another potential opportunity against a known contender.

 

What occurred instead can best be described as “Ugly.” A fight that saw Cazares frequently out work Chavez, but one that saw the unbeaten fighter frequently foul his more experienced opponent. Cazares was penalized a point in round two for what was ruled an intentional headbutt, but what appeared to be an elbow to this observer. Another foul that was ruled to be an unintentional headbutt caused a cut over Chavez’ left eye, which ultimately resulted in the fight being stopped in the sixth round. Despite the frequent fouls, Cazares’ greater activity along with Chavez’ inability to get into a rhythm and let his hands go resulted in the undefeated fighter earning a unanimous six round technical decision and the biggest win of his career.

 

Although there will obviously be a natural angle for a potential rematch, quite frankly this was one fight that does not require much analysis and it is debatable as to whether or not there will be any demand for a second meeting between the two even amongst the most loyal of Chavez’ supporters. Why is that? Frankly, Chavez did not look good in this fight and while it is difficult to look good against a fighter who fights dirty and is willing to foul, this along with previous inconsistencies in the career of Chavez Jr. including his previous fight against Daniel Jacobs may have left a bad taste in the mouths of his fan base.

 

Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. was an all-time great fighter not only because of his dominance throughout his prime including going 89-0 before his first career defeat before ultimately finishing his competitive career with 107 victories in one hundred fifteen career bouts, but also because of his willingness to fight under circumstances where he was in extreme pain and being more than willing to engage with any opponent that was put in front of him. Such traits is one of many reasons why Chavez Sr. is a beloved figure not only in Mexico, but throughout the entire sport. Although Chavez Sr. had a few instances later on in his career where he did not continue on in fights, most notably his second brutal encounter with Oscar De La Hoya in 1998 where Chavez retired in his corner after eight rounds, his status in the sport was not damaged in any way as most would say that at that point in his career as well as later on Chavez had nothing more to prove and he was fighting on well past his prime.

 

As someone who grew up watching Chavez Sr., covering him late in his career, and has covered his son Chavez Jr. from very early on in his career up to this point, I believe it may be time for father and son to have a heart to heart talk and discuss whether or not Chavez Jr. wants to continue with his career. While I am one who believes that no one can tell a fighter when it’s time and those of us who cover the sport like yours truly, who have never been in the ring certainly have no place to say anything, after another setback against an unknown opponent in a fight where he looked sluggish and couldn’t let his hands go consistently, Chavez Jr. needs to decide whether he wants to continue fighting and whether his commitment to the sport is serious enough where he can make a legitimate attempt to resurrect what was once a promising career.

 

If not, as I said many years ago in that column for The Fist, Chavez Jr.’s career, though with the accomplishment of becoming a world champion will largely resemble many of the offspring of great fighters that have come before and since. Unfulfilled promise, with unrealistic expectations.

 

“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