Triller Fight Club To Make History On June 19 At Miami’s loanDepot Park With First-Ever Men’s and Women’s Undisputed Title Bouts Featured On The Same Card

 Press Release: Triller Fight Club To Make History On June 19 At Miami’s loanDepot Park With First-Ever Men’s and Women’s Undisputed Title Bouts Featured On The Same Card

PPV Onsale Starts For Undisputed Four-Belt IBF/WBA/WBO/WBC Clash Between Undefeated Teófimo López and George Kambosos Jr, and WBC/WBO titlist Franchon Crews-Dezurn vs. WBA & IBF Belt Holder Elin Cederroos 

Credit: FITE 

 

LOS ANGELES AND MIAMI (May 11, 2021) – Triller Fight Club today announced that they will again make history by having men’s and women’s undisputed title fights on the same card for the first time ever, with an elite boxing Pay-Per-View card co-headlined by the title fight between ‘The Takeover’ Teófimo López and ‘Ferocious’ George Kambosos Jr., which has four belts on the line—IBF, WBA, WBO, WBC and the prestigious Ring belt, and a four-belt title bout between Franchon ‘The Heavy-Hitting Diva’ Crews-Dezurn and Elin Cederroos. The PPV event will be the first-ever boxing event held at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, home of the Miami Marlins. PPV pre-sales are now underway. 

“This is truly a historic moment having both the male and female undisputed title fights on the same card,” said Peter Kahn, Chief Boxing Officer, Triller Fight Club. “We are excited to have Franchon and Elin join a night of boxing thatalready has one of the most anticipated fights of the year, López and Kambosos, along with a strong undercard that will appeal to true boxing fans.”  

”We’re excited to bring boxing’s biggest event of the year to loanDepot park,” said Adam Jones, Miami Marlins Chief Revenue Officer. “This will be another milestone event for South Florida’s jewel venue, as we host one of the most exciting and unique experiences for boxing fans.”

Tickets to attend the event will go on sale Thursday, May 20. More info at TrillerFightClub.com.

The four-hour show, which will kick off at 8:00pm EDT with the live PPV main card starting at 9pm EDT, will also feature a WBA World Title Heavyweight Eliminator bout between Michael Hunter (19-1-1, 13 KOs) and Mike Wilson (21-1, 10 KOs), as well as the WBC International Super Featherweight Silver Championship matchup between Andy Vences (23-2-1, 12 KOs) and Ireland’s Jono Carroll (19-2-1, 5 KOs). Additional fights will be announced in the coming weeks.

López, 23, (16-0, 12 KOs) is the current undisputed lightweight world champion, having held the IBF title since 2019 and the WBA, WBO, WBC and Ring magazine titles since defeating Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2020. López is considered to be one of, if not the, best active boxers, pound for pound, by ESPN and Boxing Writers Association of America, and The Ring. He is also ranked as the world's best active lightweight by BoxRec, ESPN and the TBRB. The Australian Kambosos has held the IBF Pan Pacific lightweight title since 2017. Kambosos (19-0, 10 KOs) became the IBF mandatory challenger after defeating Lee Selby by split decision in October.

The co-main bout will feature a four-belt undisputed super middleweight championship between WBC/WBO titlist Franchon Crews-Dezurn and Elin Cederroos, who holds the WBA and IBF belts. The winner will become a true women’sundisputed champion in the sport.

In a heavyweight clash, Las Vegas, NV resident Michael ‘The Bounty’ Hunter II will battle Michael ‘White Delight’ Wilson, of Medford, OR in a ten-round WBA Heavyweight World Title Eliminator. 

Competing for the WBC International Super Featherweight Silver Championship, Andy ‘El Tiburon’ Vences of San Jose, CA meets Jono ‘King Kong’ Carroll of Dublin, Ireland in a scheduled 10-rounder.

FITE, the world’s premier streaming PPV platform for sports and entertainment recently acquired by TrillerNet, will handle worldwide live pay-per-view streaming distribution online for the June 19 event, and via FITE mobile and Smart TV apps, game controllers and all major OTT devices as well as power TrillerFightClub.com.

iNDemand, the leading transactional video-on-demand and PPV programming provider in North America, will serve as the exclusive U.S. and Canadian cable, satellite, and telco PPV provider for the Lopez vs. Kambosos fight. Fans will be able to order the event on PPV through their existing cable, satellite, and telco PPV providers across the U.S. and Canada.

This marks the third time that FITE, iNDemand and Triller will have partnered to bring value-packed, world-class PPV events to boxing, music, and entertainment fans. iNDemand also served as the cable, satellite, and telco PPV distributor for Triller Fight Club’s November 2020 Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. event (which landed as the 8th best PPV event of all time), as well as the April 17, 2021 Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren event.FITE handled global digital sales for both events and powered the TysononTriller and TrillerFightClub sites.

Mark Boccardi, iNDemand’s SVP Programming & Marketing, said, “Pay Per View remains the king for monetizing premier fighting events. PPV is in the DNA of fight sports, and our alliance with Triller allows us to reach the widest possible audience by incorporating music and entertainment stars into the mix, along with top-notch boxing talent."  

The PPV retail price for the event is $49.99 (U.S. & Canada)plus processing fee. Fans outside North America can check the FITE link at https://www.fite.tv/watch/teofimo-lopez-vs-george-kambosos/2p97b/ for international pricing.

**HOW TO WATCH THE June 19, 2021, TRILLER FIGHT CLUB PPV EVENT**

TV: Cable, satellite & telco PPV providers, including Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, DirecTV, AT&T TV, Dish, Fios, and Optimum (U.S.), as well as Rogers, Bell, Shaw, Videotron, and Sasktel (Canada).

Worldwide Streaming: FITE.TV and all FITE mobile, Smart TV, game controller and OTT apps as well as the event microsite hub: TrillerFightClub.

In addition to being a co-owner, Snoop also provides strategic counsel to Triller Fight Club, helping to select fighters and musical acts for the show-stopping events. An entertainment expert who has successfully maneuvered through a range of projects in a variety of different fields, Snoop secured his spot as a fan favorite during Triller's first sporting event, Tyson vs. Jones.

About FITE:

FITE is the premier global platform for live sports and entertainment offering many of the industry's marquee PPV events and SVOD packages with over 4.4MM registered users. FITE is available worldwide through its iOS and Android mobile apps, Apple TV, Android TV, ROKU, Amazon Fire TV and Huawei apps. In addition, FITE supports Samsung, LG, Cox Contour, Vizio SmartCast™, Foxxum, Chromecast, PS4, XBOX, ZEASN, Netrange, Vidaa/Hisense, VEWD, Netgem TV, Virgin Media, Comcast's Xfinity 1 and Xfinity Flex as well as 7,000 models of Smart TVs. Available online at www.FITE.tv. Follow FITE on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. If it Happens, it’s on FITE.

 

About iNDemand:

iNDemand is an innovative partnership between three of the leading cable companies in the U.S.—Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, and Cox Communications. iNDemand is a company of trusted content aggregators and licensing experts, with unparalleled technical expertise and long-standing relationships with MVPDs, major sports leagues, Hollywood studios, and other entertainment and sports companies across North America. iNDemand delivers great content to more than 80 million homes and has distribution deals with more than 150 companies. For more information, go to indemand.com.

 

About loanDepot park:

loanDepot park is a state-of-the-art retractable roof ballpark located in the heart of Miami. Built in 2012 and located fewer than two miles from downtown Miami, loanDepot park’s uniqueness and attractiveness, including unobstructed views of Miami’s skyline made possible by six operable glass panels, have made the venue a go-to destination for world-class entertainment, hosting a variety of sporting events as well as many business and entertainment events.

 

About TrillerNet:

FITE and Triller Fight Club are owned by TrillerNet, a first-of-its-kind company consolidating technology and content platforms to lead the move to Internet 3.0. TrillerNet pairs the culture of music with sports, fashion, entertainment and influencers through a 360-degree view of content and technology. TrillerNet—which owns the globally popular Triller app used by musicians, celebrities, athletes, and overall culture setters—has more than 300 million users worldwide. The Triller app—unlike other popular short-video apps it is often compared to, encourages its users to post the content created on the app across other social media platforms and websites. The app uses proprietary AI and Machine Learning technology which is uniquely tied to the content rather than the user. By tracking the content, Triller empowers its tastemakers and users to push their content virally to affiliated and non-affiliated sites and networks reaching hundreds of millions of additional users. Data and insights gleaned from the Triller network, its creators, artists and users (from the app and off network) are used to program longer-form content, connect users across the web with the content, and provide unprecedented opportunities for engagement and monetization. TrillerNet has developed highly successful campaigns that begin with the app and continue throughout the entire content and technology ecosystem with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Pepsi, McDonalds, Weedmaps, DraftKings, L’Oreal, and many others. TrillerNet offers brands a unique content and technology solution, including direct deals with the influencers and celebrities. This branded content journey starts with short-form video and can easily expand into valuable long-form content distributed through the Triller Network, such as live-event boxing and music PPVs, fashion shows, and episodic reality content on TrillerTV. Some of the more than 65 original half-hour TrillerTV shows include The D’Amelios Family’s “Ask a DAM Question,” Jennifer Lopez In The Morning, Jake Paul: Staying On Top, 2 Chainz Let’s Do It, DJ Khaled’s Spreading Love, Hype House's Thomas Petrou's Coffee Talks, Josh Richards’ Josh Pong, Ur Lov’d: the Noah Beck Show, Fat Joe’s Masterclass, The Perez Hilton Show, and Violet Benson’s Too Tired To Be Crazy, among others. TrillerNet additionally owns Verzuz, the massive live-stream music platform launched by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, and Triller Fight Club (www.TrillerFightClub.com), which launched last year with the highly successful Tyson-Jones Fight which shattered digital PPV records. Other holdings include leading AI-powered customer engagement platform Amplify.ai, and FITE, the premier live event and PPV, AVOD, SVOD streaming platform.

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: FITE Used with permission.

 

For more information about FITE including schedules, list of compatible streaming device/platforms/Smart TVs, and for information on how to download the FITE app please visit: www.FITE.TV. 

 

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

Alvarez Sets Stage For An Undisputed Coronation?

 

The recent history of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has been as eventful outside the ring as his accomplishments inside the ring. While these recent times have been well-chronicled by virtually everyone in Boxing media including this observer, what began last year as a highly publicized dispute between Alvarez and his former promoter Oscar De La Hoya, and for a time also with digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN, resulting in his release from not only his promotional agreement with De La Hoya, but also his initial landmark $365 Million eleven fight agreement with his broadcaster, quickly evolved into one of the more active schedules of a fighter regarded as the top boxer in the entire sport in recent memory.

 

After aligning himself with promoter Eddie Hearn and returning to DAZN’s platform almost as quickly as he left, Alvarez has competed in three bouts in under six months. This began in December of last year when he scored a twelve round unanimous decision victory over previously undefeated Callum Smith to win Smith’s WBA Super-Middleweight world championship as well as the vacant WBC world championship in the same weight class. What followed in his first defense of his unified crown was what amounted to both a bout to stay busy as well as fulfill his mandatory obligation by scoring a third round stoppage of WBC mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim in February of this year,

 

The two wins in a short time frame for a fighter on the elite level of the sport by today’s standards provided the ideal preparation for Alvarez’ bout on May 8^th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. A bout where he attempted to further unify the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division by facing undefeated two-division world champion Billy Joe Saunders, holder of the WBO world championship in the division. 

 

With the world still dealing with the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic, this fight also provided something we have not seen in what is unfortunately the COVID-19 era. A full stadium of rabid fans where there were no visible restrictions due to the COVID-19 virus. A crowd of over 73,000 spectators, setting an indoor record for the largest crowd to ever see a Boxing event in the United States were on hand for this showdown.

 

While such a mass gathering is a subject that will likely be debated due to the ongoing global crisis in terms of safety under the circumstances, the atmosphere did bring back fond memories of what Boxing can be at its best. An event as well as an exciting and competitive fight. In previewing this bout, this observer stated that one could argue from a stylistic standpoint that Saunders presented the most difficult challenge for Alvarez since his September 2013 bout against Floyd Mayweather, a fight that remains the only official loss of Alvarez’ career.

 

This was based on Saunders having an awkward Boxing style that in addition to fighting out of a southpaw stance, also incorporates consistent lateral movement, angles,  and combination punching. No opponent in Saunders’ thirty previous professional fights had been able to solve his puzzle, much less win rounds against him on a consistent basis. While there was no dispute as to where the crowd support would be in an event that headlined Cico De Mayo weekend, the stylistic challenge Saunders posed to Alvarez alone made this fight intriguing.

 

While this fight was one that was simple to describe in a pure boxer in Saunders trying to offset the boxer/puncher who can do a little of everything in Alvarez, it was an encounter where subtle things ended up being the difference. Saunders true to form attempted to establish himself as an elusive target from the outset by utilizing movement, trying to approach Alvarez with angles, while also trying to limit Alvarez’ opportunities to get his punches off.

 

This was the approach that this observer felt would be to Saunders’ advantage if he could execute it. Although he had periods of success throughout the fight, he could not keep Alvarez at a distance where he could have the advantage. What was also a tactical mistake in my eyes was Saunders’ willingness to stay in the pocket in spots where he could exchange offense with Alvarez. For those who may be unfamiliar with the term “In the pocket,”  it means that rather than using his legs to evade Alvarez, there were times where Saunders would stand in one spot and engage in exchanges of offense. While some fighters including Floyd Mayweather were able to use such tactics to their advantage throughout their careers, in this case, it worked against Saunders.

 

It worked against Saunders not only from the standpoint of allowing Alvarez opportunities to get his punches off, which more often than not were the harder punches being thrown, but also it created a scenario where Alvarez might have been able to sway opinion as to who was getting the upper hand, despite Saunders appearing to be the more active of the two fighters. What also worked against Saunders throughout this fight was his inability to avoid being backed up periodically by Alvarez against the ropes, which allowed Alvarez opportunities to land body punches. 

 

Although there was a period of time throughout this bout that I felt Saunders may have been ahead on the scorecards not only in my view, but on the three official judges scorecards based on his overall activity as well as his ability to somewhat limit Alvarez’ output in addition to making him miss with a portion of his offense, the subtlety of Alvarez being able to make the most out of the opportunities his did have to land offense made this a close fight in my view.

 

As the fight entered the eighth round, I felt Saunders was ahead based on the success he gradually was able to build in limiting Alvarez’ offense and being able to make him miss. While Saunders at no point was able to land a punch that visibly seemed to hurt Alvarez and, despite his combination punching throughout being sporadic, perhaps out of respect for Alvarez’ counter punching ability, it appeared as though Saunders was finding a rhythm that while not necessarily crowd pleasing, did make the fight competitive. 

 

Just as it seemed as though Saunders was building momentum, Alvarez responded in round eight with what was his best round of the fight as he was able to stun Saunders with an uppercut to the head. This set off a sequence where Alvarez was able to land several power shots. While Saunders did not get knocked down, he was in trouble for the first time in his career. To his credit, he was able to survive the round. Unfortunately, for Saunders, this is where his night would end in terms of competition as the bout was stopped after the eighth round by his trainer Mark Tibbs. 

 

Although the ending of this bout initially confused yours truly and it gave an initial impression that perhaps, Saunders having felt Alvarez’ power and being put in danger for the first time in his career simply did not want to continue, which subsequently led to both criticism and ridicule by Boxing fans throughout social media, it did not take long for the reason why the fight was stopped to become clear. During the course of the eighth round, the uppercut that Alvarez was able to land to Saunders’ head that stunned him landed in the area around Saunders’ right eye, which resulted in rapid swelling around the area and the eye appeared to be nearly swollen shut by the time Saunders was able to get back to his corner at the conclusion of the eighth round.

 

Mark Tibbs would later explain in post-fight interviews including on Boxing media outlet’s Seconds Out YouTube channel that Saunders has told him that he could not see and it was his call and not Saunders to stop the fight. It was later revealed that Saunders, who left the ring under his own power, but was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital soon afterward, had suffered what was believed to be a broken eye socket. Promoter Eddie Hearn via Twitter would confirm the day following the fight that Saunders had suffered multiple fractures to the orbital area around his right eye, which required surgery that Hearn said would occur later in the day.

 

While obviously in the era of social media there is never a shortage of opinions amongst Boxing fans that range from the well thought perspective to the frankly ill-advised in the way one might express their view, the reality here is while Saunders wanted to continue, an injury such as one to the eye socket and orbital area around the eye is extremely serious and potentially career threatening. Although some fans may not want to hear this and all too often allow their fandom to not view things objectively, the decision of trainer Mark Tibbs to stop the fight, putting his fighter’s long-term health as the priority over the opportunity to emerge from this fight as a unified world champion in what was to date the biggest fight in Saunders’ career both from a financial standpoint as well as from a marquee event perspective, was the right call to make.

 

Even though the Boxing fan no matter their view is entitled to just that, their view, Boxing is still a combat sport and much like how a fight can end at any given time, so too can a fighter’s career or life. Fortunately, once it became apparent that Saunders had suffered a serious injury, his trainer made the correct decision to not send his fighter out for what possibly might have resulted in permanent damage. Obviously, it remains to be seen what the future will be for Billy Joe Saunders, but in this observer’s view, he has nothing to be ashamed of and made a good account of himself in defeat.

 

As for Saul Alvarez, for a fighter who had more battles and disputes outside the ring last year than unfortunately he did in the ring, he now is on the brink of doing something no other fighter has been able to do in the history of the sport, fully unify the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division. The lone obstacle is undefeated IBF Super-Middleweight world champion Caleb Plant.

 

Although from a business perspective there is also an obstacle that could be present as Plant is aligned with the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters, who’s current broadcast agreements with networks Fox Sports and Showtime in the United States, put them as rivals to DAZN, who have been able to retain their relationship with Alvarez and Eddie Hearn, who Alvarez has also formed a partnership with, the reality is Alvarez is in the driver’s seat. In the driver’s seat both in terms of being able to command lucrative paydays as well as the ability even as the world continues to deal with COVID-19, to draw massive crowds and attention whenever he fights.

 

With DAZN continuing to expand their global reach and maintaining their relationship with Alvarez, it is up to Caleb Plant to decide whether he will want to fight Alvarez on DAZN’s network or if he will insist on the bout taking place under the PBC banner. Although the PBC has also done good for the sport since it launched in 2015, it has also seen its share of struggles particularly due to its reluctance to embrace digital subscription based streaming as an option for its marquee cards, choosing instead to rely on the overpriced and undervalued model of pay-per-view, something that has not proved to be successful and which differs significantly from it’s initial concept of bringing “Big Time Boxing” back to free over the air (OTA) television here in the United States.

 

While DAZN in recent months has used the pay-per-view medium, one that they market as an alternative to, as a way to reach non-subscribers on a selective basis, their position is growing stronger. What this means for a fighter in Caleb Plant’s position is not only the possibility to face Alvarez for all the gold in the Super-Middleweight division, but to also do so on a platform that could offer him the opportunity to make more money for one fight than he has had before in his career. Even though Saul Alvarez is chasing history in wanting to secure his legacy as an all-time great fighter and Plant much like Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders would walk into an encounter with Alvarez unbeaten, in terms of the business of the sport, Plant is in the position where he needs a fight with Alvarez more than Alvarez needs a fight with him. Something he should consider when the time comes negotiate.

 

“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

 

'Can't Wait To Be Out There': Action Jackson's Return To The Ring In Sight

 

Press Release: May 9, 2021 By Dragon Fire Boxing – Mandurah boxing sensation "Action" Jackson England is eager to rank as number 30 in the world when he takes to the ring at Thunderdome this month. 

Credit: Dragon Fire Boxing 

Squaring off against New Zealand fighter Shiva Mishra on May 28, England will be hoping to power his way to victory in his first bout in over a year.

The pandemic hit hard for England, who went from having at least four fights a year to none in the blink of an eye.

"It's been very frustrating not having someone to fight in over a year," he said.

"I've been training non-stop all year around but the biggest factor is that you can do as much hard work as you want but if you have no goal to look forward to you get quite agitated.

"There's nothing to put your hard work towards and now that I actually have a fight I can't wait to be out there again."

Now the Mandurah-based fighter is set to contest the WBC Asian Boxing Council and IBO Oceania Orient Championships, which would see England hit the top 30 in the world if he wins.

"In March last year I won the WBC Asia Super Featherweight Title, which put me at 40 in the world," England said.

"These next two belts are guaranteed top 30 in the world so they put me down 10 more spaces in the world ranking.

"I'm excited, happy and grateful for this fight."

England said he had been covering all his bases to prepare for his return to the ring.

"I've been doing all my work up at my coach's house because due to COVID-19 he had to close his gym doors," he said.

"He moved everything to his place up in the mountains. The altitude up there is quite high and it's thin air so all of the training is a hell of a lot harder."

Other than getting ready for his fight against Shiva Mishra there has been something even bigger England has been preparing for. A baby.

"I've got a baby on the way so I want to get this fight out the way so I can be there for my partner," England said.

"By the end of the year I'm hoping to have more fights.

"I want to fight some bigger names but a lot of them don't want to fight until it's in their favour, however, if I win these two fights they will have to fight me there is no where to hide."

England's bout will be held at Metro City in Perth on Friday, May 28.

 

 

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-Saunders: The Road To Super-Middleweight Supremacy Continues

 

On Saturday, May 8^th the Boxing world will focus on AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX for one of the most anticipated fights of 2021. The Super-Middleweight unification clash between WBA/WBC Super-Middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and undefeated two-division world champion Billy Joe Saunders, the current WBO Super-Middleweight world champion. A unification bout, which will be broadcast globally by digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN, that frankly represents a dangerous style match up for Alvarez, the fighter regarded as the top star in the entire sport in the eyes of many.

 

For the fighter known to fans simply as “Canelo”, this fight will be his third bout in six months after defeating previously undefeated WBA world champion Callum Smith last December in a bout where the vacant WBC world championship in the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division. Although it is rare to see a fighter of Alvarez’ level compete as often as this recent stretch in the present day of the sport of Boxing, from an old-school standpoint, the more active a fighter is regardless of their standing in the sport, theoretically the better they are conditioned and prepared for marquee fights such as this.

 

In his last bout in what was his first title defense of his unified portion of the Super-Middleweight world championship, Alvarez scored a third round stoppage of WBC number one mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim in Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL. A bout where frankly Alvarez did not face much resistance and one where he knocked Yildirim down before Yildirim quit on his stool at the conclusion of the third round. Although many Boxing fans criticized Alvarez for taking the bout against Yildirim based on an obvious skill difference between the two, fights such as that one served the purpose as both one that allows a star of the sport to stay busy in between marquee bouts as well as fulfill mandatory defense obligations of the sanctioning organizations, whose world championships Alvarez holds, which have to be fulfilled on an annual basis.

 

While Alvarez’ victory over Yildirim did not amount to much more than the aforementioned criteria, it also served as an unofficial “Tune-up” for the next marquee fight to come in the form of undefeated two-division world champion Billy Joe Saunders. Saunders, who will enter the fight unbeaten with a record of 30-0, with 14 Knockouts compared to Alvarez’ record of 55-1-2, with 37 Knockouts, has won world championships in the 160lb. Middleweight division as well as the WBO Super-Middleweight crown he currently holds.

 

A southpaw with an awkward and elusive style that has an emphasis on both lateral movement and hand speed, several of the marquee fighters in both the Middleweight and Super-Middleweight divisions have opted against fighting against Saunders. The reason for this has seemed to be that from a business perspective, Saunders has been a high risk/low reward option based on his having a style that is not always crowd-pleasing, but more specifically having a style that has presented a puzzle that opponents have yet to solve. 

 

Although Saunders has victories over notable opponents including Willie Monroe Jr, his last bout against longtime contender Martin Murray in December of last year, and former two-time IBO Super-Middleweight world champion Chris Eubank Jr., perhaps the most notable of his thirty career wins came against former WBO Middleweight world champion David Lemieux in December 2017. A bout that took place in Lemieux’ home country of Canada. Despite being at a disadvantage in terms of crowd support and in a scenario where one might have assumed that he might not have gotten a fair shake in terms of scoring, Saunders dominated a fighter in Lemieux, who is a “Knockout Artist” that was also a potential opponent for Saul Alvarez for a time, in earning a wide twelve round unanimous decision over him.

 

In some ways, the scenario the British-born and based Saunders found himself in for that bout against Lemieux may turn out to be the ideal preparation as he now prepares for the biggest fight of his career against the Mexican-born Alvarez, who will have sizable crowd support in AT&T Stadium from his rabid fanbase. The style match up between the two also provides some intrigue.

 

One could argue that stylistically this bout could be the most difficult bout for Alvarez since his September 2013 bout against Floyd Mayweather, a bout that to date remains the lone career defeat in Alvarez’ career. This is based on both Mayweather and Saunders being fighters with elusive styles that mixes defense with deceptive hand speed and power that many opponents have not been able to have consistent success in landing offense. While one could also argue that Alvarez has used that loss to Mayweather as not only motivation, but also as a way to improve on what Mayweather was able to take advantage of as well as his overall skillset, Saunders though having a different type of elusive style than Mayweather, appears to be the type of fighter that could give Alvarez similar problems.

 

The key to this fight in this observer’s eyes is whether Saunders can keep Alvarez from being able to get into a consistent rhythm. Even though both Alvarez and Saunders are boxer/punchers, Alvarez could have an advantage in terms of punching power. An asset that Saunders has here at least going into this fight has been his ability to hit and not be hit. Another aspect of Saunders’ style that has been frustrating for opponents is he can also switch between his base southpaw stance and an orthodox stance, which can make it even more challenging for an opponent to find their rhythm.

 

Saunders must be elusive from the outset and tactical. In simple terms, he needs to set the tempo of the combat, look to set traps, and take advantage of what openings Alvarez might leave him. While this is an approach that Saunders has shown that he can execute well throughout his career, a danger that might be present in this fight is the potential for Saunders to become complacent. In that if he is able to have success in this fight and find himself in a position where he is ahead by a reasonable margin or though it might seem on the scorecards, it will be interesting to see what might happen if after seeing success, if Saunders will choose to stand and trade punches with Alvarez. A decision some previous opponents have made that have proven to be a big mistake.

 

While Saunders, who stands 5’11 and has a seventy-one inch reach will have a three inch height advantage and a one inch reach advantage over Alvarez, Alvarez has shown particularly in his bouts against Rocky Fielding and Callum Smith the ability to neutralize an opponent’s height and reach. Although it is a task that can be easier said than done, Alvarez must find a way to neutralize Saunders’ ability to use lateral movement, must cut the ring off, and get on the inside of Saunders. When Alvarez has been able to get on the inside of his opponents, he has shown that he can execute a consistent body attack that has at times been devastating.

 

In terms of what the odds for this fight are, it is also interesting. According to the latest odds analysis from SportsBettingDime.com, Alvarez is favored by a wide margin. That said, there is some variation in the betting market. Canelo is as short as -800 and as long as -675. Saunders ranges from +425 to +550. His most optimistic odds (i.e. +425) give him a 19% chance to win, while his longest odds only allow the Briton a 15.4% chance.

 

The odds are both an indication of Alvarez’ overall popularity as well as standing in the sport. Whether or not the odds will match up with the style matchup between the two and indeed favors Alvarez remains to be seen.

 

Cinco De Mayo weekend in the sport of Boxing has traditionally produced some of the sport’s most memorable battles. If the intriguing battle Alvarez-Saunders appears to be on paper manifests into a great fight inside the ring, it will be the latest among memorable Boxing events to take place on Cinco De Mayo weekend. We will see who emerges victorious on Saturday night.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

 

Alvarez vs. Saunders takes place on Saturday, May 8^th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. The entire card can be seen globally (Excluding Mexico) on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT (U.S. Time). 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. 

 

In Mexico, the bout can be seen on TV Azteca. Please visit www.TVAzteca.com for channel and start time in your area,

 

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Campos Cracks WBO Top 6 Targets Nakatani

 

Press Release: May 6, 2021 By Dragon Fire Boxing – Chilean Superstar flyweight Andres Campos (10-0) is looking to make a push for championship honours in 2021. 

Credit: Dragon Fire Boxing 

Campos has now moved to number 6 in the WBO and 13 in the WBAs World Flyweight ratings 

Chiles favorite son is targeting Japanese WBO champion Junto Nakatani and WBA champion Artem Dalakian. 

Due to the ongoing pandemic, Campos had not seen any action for nearly a year,  most recently on the 12th of March, fighting in his homeland of Santiago, Chile - with "The Crocodile" soundly defeating Ramon Velasquez (7-4). 

Despite the global upheaval Campos has not stopped honing his craft having taken part in training camps in the United States with the Australian Moloney twins, Andrew and Jason. 

"I'm ready for any fight my team puts in front of me. I have full faith in my promoter Nico (Nicholas Martinez) Dragon Fire Boxing Latino and my manager, the big bossman Tony (Tolj). Its tough here in Chile with COVID, I haven't fought since March and I can't wait to get back in the ring. I would like the WBO champion Nakatani or the WBA champion Artem Dalakian. I'm 25-years-old so I have some time and I will be patient," said Campos regarding his plans for the upcoming year. 

His manager, Tolj, went on to discuss the strategy for the Chilean flyweight ahead of 2021. 

"I have personally been on the ground floor since Andres’ third fight, he just gets better and better. He is a genuine rockstar in Chile and I'm proud he has remained very humble, especially during these difficult times with the pandemic. He hasn't fought for a little while, but he has probably done a couple of hundred rounds with Andrew and Jason (Moloney) in the states for their respective training camps," Tolj said.

 

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:wwe.facebook.com/DragonFireBoxing.

 

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

Heavyweight Saturday Thoughts

 

The month of May­ has traditionally been one of the most active in the sport of Boxing in a calendar year. Of course, last year Boxing much like the rest of the world saw many norms brought to a halt due to the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic. This year however, there is at least a sense that things may get back to normal in due time as vaccines to combat the COVID-19 virus continue to be rolled out. As progress continues to hopefully move forward, the Boxing world much like the rest of sports have begun the process of trying to stage events in front of a limited number of spectators due to COVID-19 protocols.

 

May 2021 began with two Heavyweight bouts that each had a similar storyline of a former world champion going against a former world title challenger whose better days were thought to be behind them. The first of these two bouts took place at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England where former WBO Heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker took on longtime contender and former world title challenger Dereck Chisora.

 

In previewing Natalie this fight, but also the second of the two Heavyweight bouts, which will be discussed later in this column, I stated that it would be a bout that in this observer’s view would come down to whether or not Chisora would be able to use his pressure style to walk down the boxer/puncher in Parker. As it would turn out, Chisora would make a statement almost immediately after the opening bell as he would quickly score a knockdown of the former world champion with an overhand right in the first ten seconds of the round. Although this was the definition of a “Flash Knockdown,” it did send an immediate signal that Chisora had come to fight and that this would not be as easy of a bout for Parker at some may have anticipated.

 

Following the quick knockdown in round one, I felt that Chisora executed an effective fight plan where he frequently pushed Parker back to the ropes and landed offense to the body and head. It was this approach with an emphasis on focusing a majority of his attack to Parker’s body that seemed to carry most of the first six rounds of the scheduled twelve round bout. It did not seem as it was a close fight throughout the first half based largely on not only the success Chisora was able to have, but also basic ring generalship and effective aggression in bringing the fight to Parker.

 

While Chisora was able to maintain a high pace throughout the entire fight, he did seem to fatigue as it progressed in this opened the door for Parker to make up some crucial ground on the scorecards in the middle and late rounds. Even though Parker did not seem to hurt Chisora throughout, his greater activity in the second half of the fight was such that it could sway opinion as to who had the upper hand. It should also not be overlooked that during the latter stages of the fight Parker was able to establish some distance between himself and Dereck Chisora. This differed significantly from how the fight was fought in the first half where Chisora consistently pressed forward and was able to walk Parker backward.

 

Although in the eyes of this observer I felt that Chisora had done enough to win the fight by a margin of nine rounds to three or 117-110 in points with an extra point for the knockdown in round one and feeling that Chisora won five of the first six rounds, it did not surprise me to see a close decision announced in this fight in it being a split decision. As I have often said over the years and unfortunately have frequent practice in saying whenever it is appropriate when talking about close fights, it will often come down to what a judge prefers in their own individual criteria based on clean punching, effective aggressiveness, ring generalship, and defense.

 

Even though I felt that this was a relatively simple fight to score in favor Chisora based on what I saw as effective aggression and seeming to land the harder punches, if one does not score the knockdown in the first round by a 10-8 margin in favor Chisora, there is an argument for this fight being closer as well as for Parker as having won it based on what he was able to do over the second half the fight. From my perspective in addition to Chisora’s effective aggression and ring generalship throughout the bout, I felt that he was very effective in using head movement to deflect a good portion of Parker’s offense and this is what I based my score on.

 

The official decision of a split decision in favor of Joseph Parker was not one that I felt was inadequate or as some fans often say was “A Conspiracy,” but I do feel especially given that many felt going into the fight that Chisora may be in the twilight of his career, a rematch may not be a bad idea based on how the fight was fought.

 

A fight that was quite similar to Parker-Chisora in terms of the storyline of a former world champion going against a longtime contender and former world title challenger that was thought to have seen better days is coincidentally the second Heavyweight bout that took place on what yours truly unofficially dubbed “Heavyweight Saturday.” I am referring of course to the encounter between former unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz and former multi-time world title challenger Chris Arreola that occurred at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA in a bout that was the main event of a card promoted by the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters and was broadcast in the United States on Fox Sports Pay-Per-View.

 

This venue in Carson, CA has seen many incarnations over the years in the form of name changes, so much so that this observer has referred to it on more than one occasion as “The Venue In Carson, CA.” The subject of naming rights for a stadium aside, the outdoor venue has become known for producing many memorable battles. Ruiz-Arreola proved to be the latest memorable battle.

 

Much like the circumstances Dereck Chisora found himself in going into his bout against Joseph Parker, Chris Arreola had been through a long career that has seen many wars and has the distinction of having challenged for a World Heavyweight championship on three separate occasions. Although Arreola has two more world title fights than does Chisora, the similarity between the two at this stage was that some felt he was a significant underdog compared to Ruiz, who was fighting for the first time since losing his unified portion of the Heavyweight crown in December 2019 in his rematch with the man he had taken the title from earlier that year, Anthony Joshua.

 

While I touched upon what could be viewed as a questionable business decision in putting this fight on pay-per-view given both the continued decline of the pay-per-view medium as well as the current state of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, in reality this was not a bad style match up as both Ruiz and Arreola are offensive-minded fighters that do come to fight and the decision to stage the fight in Carson, CA was a smart decision given both fighters respective California roots as well as their respective fan bases.

 

Unlike the Parker-Chisora bout, which took place with no non-essential personnel in attendance, the Ruiz-Arreola event was able to have a limited number of fans in attendance under social distancing guidelines in accordance with COVID-19 protocols. A crowd of over 3, 900 were treated to a memorable and some might say surprising Heavyweight encounter.

 

Although much of the story going into the fight centered on Ruiz, his dropping nearly thirty pounds from his last bout where he lost his title back to Anthony Joshua, and the addition of trainer Eddy Reynoso in his corner, what did not get nearly as much focus including by yours truly was the adjustment Chris Arreola made in hiring trainer Joe Goossen to work in his corner as well as his coming in at the lightest weight of his career at the weigh-in prior to the fight of 228lbs. Despite having the reputation of a brawler, Arreola would also show new elements of technique and strategy that was unexpected.

 

What was a noticeable difference about Arreola’s approach was how disciplined he was in that he remained committed to a fight plan that had an emphasis on defense as well as lateral movement. Although he was at a disadvantage in terms of hand speed, which seemed to increase with Ruiz’ drop in weight, Arreola’s strategy gave him opportunities to land counter punches in the midst of exchanges of offense. It was during one such exchange in the second round that Arreola landed a short right hand on the top of Ruiz’ head that sent him down for only the second time in his career. 

 

Ruiz was clearly hurt by this blow. In some ways, it brought back memories of a similar exchange that resulted in the first time Ruiz was knocked down in the third round of his first fight against Anthony Joshua where he was caught by a short hook to the head in an exchange of punches. As most know, Joshua, who is a devastating finisher when he has an opponent hurt, approached Ruiz recklessly and ended up being knocked down himself moments later in what was one of the best rounds in Heavyweight Boxing in recent memory.

 

Knowing Arreola’s offense-first style, it was logical to expect him having hurt and knocked the former champion down to approach Ruiz in a similar fashion as Joshua had. Surprisingly, Arreola showed restraint and perhaps knowing what Ruiz was capable of in this type of situation, stuck with a tactical approach and this proved well for him as he continued to have sporadic success in landing hard shots particularly with the right hand that did get Ruiz’ attention.

 

 

An aspect that I feel ultimately worked against Arreola however, was, despite that success and the knockdown he was able to score, he was not able to limit Ruiz’ offensive output and as Ruiz found his rhythm, he gradually took control of the fight. What was an entertaining, yet tactical battle can be summed up as one fighter using his quicker reflexes to outwork an opponent that when he was able to land seemed to land the harder blows. Although Chris Arreola deserves all the credit in the world for fighting a completely different fight than one could expect and as a result looked like a new fighter than he had been throughout his entire career, his inability to nullify Ruiz from being able to get his punches off first and allowing himself to be outworked is what cost him the fight in a bout that I unofficially scored eight rounds to four or 116-111 in points for Ruiz.

 

The official decision of the twelve round bout was more lopsided in Ruiz’ favor in his winning a unanimous decision. While he did not take anything away from his opponent’s performance, the scoring of the three official judges infuriated Arreola, who lashed out in an explicit-filled tirade toward the official judges in a post-fight interview with Fox Sports’ Heidi Androl. 

 

It is understandable how Arreola, who, despite the loss, fought one of the best fights of his career could be angry at a decision that he felt he should have won. He likely did not do himself any good by venting his frustration in the explicit way he did and it will be interesting to see what response the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) might have given that they and other regulatory commissions around the world have taken disciplinary action against fighters who have responded in similar ways as Arreola did towards judges and other commission officials. 

 

Whether or not this could lead to a fine against Arreola or even a suspension remains to be seen. Prior to these two Heavyweight bouts there seemed to be a feeling that the two former world champions Joseph Parker and Andy Ruiz, who fought in December 2016 for the then vacant WBO Heavyweight world championship that Parker emerged victorious in what was a razor thin bout in terms of scoring, could have been headed towards a rematch as both fighters look to secure another opportunity at a world championship if they were able to get past Dereck Chisora and Chris Arreola respectively.

 

Coming out of these fights however, that were extremely competitive, an argument should be made that both Chisora and Arreola deserve rematches because many felt neither fighter had much chance and much like the similarities each man found himself in going into these f, they are similar going out in each man having put forth what should be considered as the best performances of their respective careers.  Something that should serve as another example for Boxing fans that you never know what to expect in the sport and especially in the Heavyweight division.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

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

 

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ABC NEWS ENTERS THE RING WITH SPECIAL FOUR HOUR DOCUMENTARY SERIES ‘MIKE TYSON: THE KNOCKOUT’ DETAILING THE LIFE OF THE BOXING LEGEND

 

Press Release: May 3, 2021 By ABC News – Two-Part Primetime Event Chronicles Mike Tyson’s Climb, Crash and Comeback on Back-to-Back Tuesdays, May 25 and June 1 (8:00 – 10:00 p.m. ET), on ABC

 

 

ABC News announced today it will debut a special four hour documentary series on the life of boxing legend Mike Tyson. “Mike Tyson: The Knockout” will put viewers ringside for a main event that will chronicle the former champion’s climb, crash and comeback, from his difficult childhood to becoming undisputed world champion to his 1992 rape conviction and his personal struggles. Through the lens of his life’s extreme highs and lows, the two-part primetime event will examine some of the most pressing questions about resilience and reinvention. “Mike Tyson: The Knockout” will feature new interviews with actor and boxing enthusiast Rosie Perez, former President of HBO Sports Ross Greenburg, ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap, those in Tyson’s inner circle and more. It will also include exclusive ABC News archival material and previously unaired interview footage with Tyson, who reflects on what he has learned throughout his boxing career and his new outlook on life. “Mike Tyson: The Knockout” premieres on back-to-back Tuesdays, May 25 and June 1, (8:00 – 10:00 p.m. ET), on ABC. It can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu. 

Credit: ABC News

 

“In addition to being an inspiring story of the perseverance and hard-won growth of one extraordinary person, Mike Tyson’s life and career are also relevant to the important collective self-reflection finally occurring in America,” said executive producer Geoffrey Fletcher.

 

Tuesday, May 25, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. ET

“Mike Tyson: The Knockout” begins with Tyson’s youth and his transition from a bullied kid who, in a single instant, discovers his true power, which becomes the basis for the icon’s reputation as “The Baddest Man on the Planet.” Former trainers Bobby Stewart and Teddy Atlas and Joe Colangelo, longtime friend of legendary boxing trainer Cus D’Amato, describe Tyson’s time in and out of juvenile detention while D’Amato trains a young boy from Brooklyn to the edge of his boxing dream of heavyweight champion of the world. They discuss Tyson’s rise to fame after D’Amato’s death and his spiraling under the pressures of stardom, including his lifestyle of excess partying, his marriage to Robin Givens, his infamous 1988 Barbara Walters interview, including Given’s allegation of domestic abuse, and divorce. Former opponents Michael Spinks and Buster Douglas sit down for interviews and discuss their fights against Tyson, including Tyson’s win over Spinks to become the undisputed heavyweight champion and Tyson’s shocking first professional boxing loss to Douglas, who was a 42-to-1 underdog.

 

Tuesday, June 1, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. ET

“Mike Tyson: The Knockout” continues with Tyson’s conviction and prison sentence for raping 18-year-old Desiree Washington, reviewing the cultural conversation that ensued throughout the trial as the public grappled with ideas around victimization and the fall of a hero. Tyson’s defense attorney James Voyles and special prosecutor Greg Garrison reflect on the trial nearly 20 years later. Tyson’s release from prison and his highly anticipated and celebrated re-entry into society is examined. The program also spotlights Tyson’s comeback in boxing and his bouts against Evander Holyfield, including the moment he bit Holyfield’s ear, as well as his addiction to cocaine, as he quickly became vilified and one of the most polarizing athletes in America. The show also touches on Tyson’s deep personal losses, including how he managed to move forward after the death of his daughter Exodus. It showcases an apologetic, middle-aged Tyson making amends for his regrets. The show culminates with previously unaired footage from an interview conducted by ABC News’ Byron Pitts to whom Tyson poignantly reflects on the man he is today.

 

“Mike Tyson: The Knockout” is produced by ABC News. Roxanna Sherwood serves as Senior Executive Producer. Academy Award winner Geoffrey Fletcher serves as an Executive Producer and the Director of Animation. Academy Award-nominated composer Terence Blanchard contributed an original score.

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: ABC News Used with permission.

 

For more information about ABC News please visit: www.ABCNews.com.

 

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