Women's World Championship Unification Doubleheader Postponed Following The Passing Of Queen Elizabeth II

 

Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, September 8, 2022, it has been announced that Saturday’s scheduled all Women’s Boxing card, which was to be headlined by two world championship unification bouts featuring Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall for the Undisputed Middleweight championship of the world and Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner in a Jr. Lightweight unification bout, that was to take place at the O2 Arena in London, England has been postponed as the United Kingdom begins a period of mourning. The announcement follows postponements of several events that were to have taken place throughout the United Kingdom including several Football (Soccer) league matches, the postponement of a PGA Golf tournament, among other events.  

 

Prior to the announcement on Friday, it had been announced by Boxxer, the promotional company behind the card had intended to hold a private weigh-in for the event. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) however, released a statement early on Friday saying that it as a mark of respect following the passing of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II that competition that had been scheduled for Friday, September 9th had been suspended, but said that decisions regarding competition scheduled for the remainder of the weekend would be made following a review of official mourning guidance and consultation with relevant parties and other sports.  

It has also been announced that the entire card that was scheduled to take place at the O2 Arena will be tentatively rescheduled for October 15th at the same venue. We will keep readers updated on any developments as they become available. 

 

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Valle-Nguyen Weights From Costa Rica

 

The official weigh-in for Thursday night’s Women’s World Minimumweight championship unification clash between current IBF world champion Yokasta Valle and current WBO world champion Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen took place earlier today in San Jose, Costa Rica. The unification bout, the first of three unification bouts to be held this week throughout Women’s Boxing will headline a Golden Boy Promotions promoted card from the Cuidad Deportiva Heiner Ugalde and can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN.

The Minimumweight limit for the bout is 105lbs. Both world champions Valle and Nguyen weighed in officially at 104lbs. Valle will have a hometown advantage in Costa Rica and will be making the sixth defense of the IBF world championship she won in August 2019 with a ten round split decision over Joana Pastrana. She will also have a significant experience edge over WBO champion Nguyen having had twenty-seven professional bouts compared to only five for Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen. Nguyen however, is unbeaten in those five bouts and will be making her the first defense of the WBO championship she won in October of last year with a ten round unanimous decision over Etsuko Tada.

*Weights for bouts on the undercard are unavailable as of this writing.

Valle vs. Nguyen takes place on Thursday, September 8^th at the Cuidad Deportiva Heiner Ugalde in San Jose, Costa Rica. The bout can be seen on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT. (U.S. Times.) For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.

 

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Ruiz-Ortiz: Post-Thoughts And Analysis

In the weeks following undefeated unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk’s second victory over former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua, the man he took the title from last year, the dominant question has been what is next? Almost immediately after Usyk scored his second unanimous decision over Joshua, talk began of a potential fight with the on again, off again, retired, and un-retired undefeated WBC world champion Tyson Fury for a potential showdown between the two champions that would finally lead to one Undisputed World Heavyweight champion. 

While it remains uncertain whether that will indeed become a reality, the first significant Heavyweight bout to take place in the aftermath of Usyk’s rematch with Joshua occurred on September 4th at the legendary venue formerly known as the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA, now known as Crypto.com Arena. Even though names of arenas and stadiums in modern times seem to change as quickly as those venues are built, the building has long been a hot spot for the sport of Boxing where many memorable battles have taken place over its two-decade history. On this occasion, the arena was filled with a sizable crowd to see former unified Heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz, the first man to defeat Anthony Joshua and former holder of the unified crown that Oleksandr Usyk now holds, and longtime top contender and former two-time world title challenger Luis Ortiz meet in a bout billed as an elimination bout for the World Boxing Council’s version of the World Heavyweight championship, currently held by Tyson Fury.

Although neither seemed to be in a position to garner a fight against either Fury or Usyk in the immediate future regardless of the outcome of this fight, as this observer said in previewing the bout, in some ways the bout between the two could amount to an audition to for lack of a better term, attempt to swoop into a world title fight if the potential unification bout between the two champions does not occur in the near future. It was a fight however, where both boxers had questions that surrounded them.

For the former world champion Andy Ruiz, the issue with him stemmed from inactivity having fought only once since his losing the unified Heavyweight crown back to Joshua in their December 2019 rematch. There also was the issue of Ruiz having put in a so, so performance against longtime contender and former world title challenger Chris Arreola, who was able to score a knockdown of Ruiz before losing a twelve round unanimous decision in March of last year. This was similar to Luis Ortiz, who came into this bout off of an impressive knockout win over former IBF Heavyweight world champion Charles Martin in January of this year, but appeared to show signs of possible decline as he was dropped twice by Martin before catching him in the fifth round and scoring the knockout victory. Although Ortiz ultimately did what he had to do in that fight, the question that surrounded him coming into this encounter was whether or not at forty-three years of age and having shown signs of having trouble keeping his balance in his fight with Martin was just how much did he have left in him to give as a fighter.

Given the styles of the two fighters that have an emphasis on offense, I did suspect that we would find out the answers to how much Ruiz’ inactivity would affect him as well as whether the wear and tear that tends to come along with a long career inside the Boxing ring as well as age would be an issue for Ortiz, rather quickly. As it would turn out, both men would bring elements of their best skills into this fight. Even though I felt that Ortiz would have the edge in terms of punching power, I did wonder how he would respond in the midst of exchanges of offense with Ruiz, who despite coming into the fight at nearly 270bs., and who has been heavy for most of his career, has exceptionally quick hands for a fighter his size. At minimum, I felt that the difference in hand speed between the two would appear early in the fight and test Ortiz’ balance that gave him trouble against Martin earlier this year. Initially, it was Ortiz’ power that became evident first as he rocked Ruiz with a solid straight left hand from the southpaw stance in the closing seconds of round one. 

Prior to that point, it was a bit surprising to see both fighters willing to stand in close range and willing to engage so early and to the eye of an objective observer, it seemed like Ruiz was getting the upper hand by a slight margin before he was tagged by the left hand of Ortiz. As he has done throughout his career, Ruiz showed the ability to take a punch and would respond in round two by dropping Ortiz in the second round with a flush counter right hook to the head.

In some ways, this reminded me of what happened to Ortiz early on in his fight against Charles Martin from the standpoint of the sudden nature of the way he was knocked down. Although the veteran did his best to milk the referee’s ten count before getting up at the count of nine, Ortiz was hurt and moments later would be knocked down for a second time by a follow-up barrage of punches by Ruiz. It was not clear, at least to this observer’s eyes, whether the second knockdown was a result of Ortiz being hurt by the punches that Ruiz was throwing, but I immediately began to wonder aloud whether this was more evidence of Ortiz potentially being a compromised fighter at this stage in his career. I also wondered if Ortiz was on the verge of being stopped.

To his credit, Ortiz used his veteran instincts and was able to survive the round and did manage to tag Ruiz with a few solid shots of his own in the process. Nevertheless, I did not think based on what I was seeing and based on what I had seen in covering Ortiz’ fight against Martin that the fight would last far beyond the second round. This was based on the balance issues Ortiz seemed to have as well as possible issues with his ability to take a punch, though in fairness to Luis Ortiz, the counter right hand that first sent him down was a case of a fighter in Ruiz using his hand speed and pinpoint timing to his advantage.

A testament to Luis Ortiz’ skillset and instincts were seen in rounds three through six where he was able to both slow the pace down and get himself into a rhythm. It was at this stage where the tempo of the combat was being controlled by the former world title challenger and this in addition to his ability to use angles to keep Ruiz on the outside and a solid jab appeared to get him right back into the fight, despite having two knockdowns against him. As is often the case in Boxing, just as it appears that the ebb and flow is shifting directions, something can happen to change the course of things. This would occur late in the seventh round when Ruiz would stun Ortiz with a right hand to the head and follow up with a right hook to the head that dropped Ortiz for the third time in the fight.

In the context of scoring, it is rare to think that a fighter who suffers three knockdowns over the course of a twelve round fight and probably lost a few rounds in between depending on one’s perspective, would still have a chance to win the fight on the scorecards. At this point in the fight, I felt Ortiz as usual, made a good account of himself, but because of the knockdowns, would need to either reverse roles and score a knockdown or two of Ruiz or outright knock him out to win the fight.

Unfortunately for Ortiz, that would not be the case. Despite being able to win rounds eight, ten, and the twelfth and final round on the official scorecards based largely on his ability to keep Ruiz at distance and seeming to out box him in those rounds, the three knockdowns proved to be the difference as Ruiz would earn a twelve round unanimous decision by a three point margin on two scorecards and a single point on the third.

Although the decision in this fight was the right one in my view and there was no controversy in terms of scoring, the narrow scores at the end of the bout are a reflection of both fighters skills and how both were able to have periods of success throughout the fight even though Luis Ortiz had three knockdowns working against him. The primary difference in my view in addition to the knockdowns came down to the advantage Andy Ruiz had in hand speed. It is indispensable however, that Luis Ortiz did have success and was able to win several rounds throughout the fight.

As for what comes next, this bout was billed as an elimination bout in the WBC’s Heavyweight ratings, but what this fight represented in reality was the first in an unofficial four-man tournament to determine the next mandatory challenger for the WBC crown currently held by Tyson Fury. This is because on October 15th former WBC Heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder will face longtime Heavyweight contender and former European Heavyweight champion Robert Helenius in a second WBC Heavyweight elimination bout.

While nothing is really set in stone in the sport of Boxing, this will likely set up Ruiz to face the winner of that fight in early 2023 at the earliest to then determine the next WBC mandatory challenger. Although this scenario is for the moment unofficial, given all four fighters, Ruiz, Ortiz, Wilder, and Helenius are aligned with the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters, the final elimination bout should be an easy one to make should this unofficial tournament play out as it appears to be drawn up.

With Luis Ortiz now back to the drawing board, Andy Ruiz now awaits the outcome of the Wilder-Helenius bout to see in all likelihood who will be his next opponent following his victory over Ortiz.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth. “

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Paro vs. Jarvis Set For October 15th In Brisbane, Australia On DAZN

Press Release: September 4, 2022 By DAZN – Liam Paro and Brock Jarvis will clash for the WBO Global Super-Lightweight Title at the South Bank Piazza in Brisbane on Saturday October 15, live to subscribers worldwide on DAZN, as Matchroom break new ground with their first show in Australia. 

Credit: DAZN

 Paro (22-0 13 KOs) is ranked No.1 with the WBO at 140lbs and the Brisbane star will aim to kick-off Matchroom’s new era Down Under in style on his home turf. The 26-year-old inked a promotional pact with Hearn in December after seeing off the unbeaten Yomar Alamo in Tampa, Florida on his American debut.

Jarvis (20-0 18 KOs) also comes into the bout on the back of his first fight on US soil, where the New South Wales ace came out on top in a wild shoot out with Alejando Rodriguez with a fifth-round stoppage in Fresno, California. The 24-year-old recorded his 18th win inside the distance from 20 fights that night and has promised fans another all-action affair next month.

Queensland Featherweight sensation Skye Nicolson (4-0) lands her first title shot as she fights for the vacant Commonwealth strap against Tasmania’s Krystina Jacobs (6-3), undefeated Heavyweight Demsey McKean (21-0, 13 KOs) takes on Germany’s Patrick Korte (18-1-1, 15 KOs) for the vacant IBF Intercontinental crown and ‘El Tijuanero’ Cesar Mateo Tapia (14-0, 9 KOs) defends his WBA Oceania Super-Middleweight Title against Abdoulaye Mayweather (7-0, 5 KOs) , with more fights to be confirmed soon.

“My rankings speak for themselves; I’ve taken no short cuts to get here,” said Paro. “I ain’t losing to a guy who isn’t on my level. His team will quickly realise that they’ve made the wrong move chasing a fight with me. On fight night I’ll show you why I’m rated No.1.

“I’ve got a statement to make. I want to be a household name in Australia, and this is another guy in my way. This is my destiny so I’m not letting him come here a wreck it – no way. We didn’t have to take this fight. We could have sat pretty at No.1 until that title came but love to fight. This is what I do.”

“Matchroom boxing is the biggest promotional company in the world and it's fantastic that they are coming to Australia," said Jarvis. "I’m really proud and excited to be part of their first event here and I'm looking forward to putting on a show for everyone.

“I’m very grateful to get the opportunity. It almost seems unfair that I get a shot at world No.1 without even having competed in the 140lbs division but that’s just the way that it went and I’m very lucky to get the opportunity. I’m going to make the most of it.”

“I am so excited to kick-off this new era for Matchroom in Australia,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “Australian fans are so passionate about sport and boxing is on the rise here, so I have no doubt that they will embrace the fight nights that we put on and join us in creating unforgettable nights that showcase this country as one of the key players for the sport globally.

 

“In order to put on great nights, you need to make exciting fights, and our first main event Down Under promises to be explosive stuff. Liam and Brock are only ever in thrilling bouts and the winner will be in prime position to hunt for a World title fight.”

“We are delighted to be broadcasting our first event in Australia’, said Joe Markowski, CEO DAZN North America. “This card features some of the best up and coming talent Australia has to offer and we look forward to hosting more and more shows as the sport grows Down Under. Watch it live worldwide on DAZN.”

Ticket details will follow in due course.

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, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

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

 

Ruiz-Ortiz Weights From Los Angeles, CA

The official weigh-in for a rare Sunday night pay-per-view card headlined by former unified Heavyweight world champion Andy Ruiz and longtime top. contender and former two-time world title challenger Luis Ortiz took place on Saturday in Los Angeles, CA. The bout, which will headline a Fox Sports Pay-Per-View card from the venue now known as Cryto.com Arena that can be seen on traditional cable/satellite providers as well as digital combat sports streaming network and pay-per-view platform FITE is also being billed as an elimination bout for the WBC World Heavyweight championship.

Although it is unclear as of this writing as to whether or not the winner of this fight will indeed be declared the next mandatory challenger by the World Boxing Council (WBC), the stakes are high for both fighters. The former champion Andy Ruiz weighed in at 268 3/4lbs. He will have a weight advantage of nearly twenty-four pounds over Ortiz, who weighed in at 245 1/2lbs. for the scheduled twelve round bout.

"Weights for undercard bouts on this card are unavailable as of this writing.*

Ruiz vs. Ortiz takes place on Sunday, September 4th at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. The fight can be seen on a pay-per-view basis in the United States on Fox Sports Pay-Per-View for $74.99 beginning at 9PMET/6PM PT. The bout as well as it’s undercard will be available through traditional cable/satellite providers as well as through streaming by the Fox Sports streaming app across mobile, tablet, and connect streaming devices/Smart TVs, as well as through digital combat sports streaming network and pay-per-view platform FITE.  

 

Contact your cable/satellite provider for ordering information.  

 

To order and stream via the Fox Sports app visit the Fox Sports app on your device of choice or visit: www.FoxSports.com/PPV to order. 

 

To order and stream on FITE visit the FITE app on your device of choice, visit: www.FITE.TV for ordering information or Click Here. 

*Check your local listings internationaly.*

 

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

 

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

 

Women’s Boxing Shines Bright At Thunderdome 39

 

Credit: Dragon Fire Boxing

In a battle for the vacant WBA Women’s Oceania Light-Flyweight championship, Sarah Higginson outworked Charimae Salvador over six rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory in the main event of Dragon Fire Boxing’s Thunderdome 39 card on Friday night at Metro City Nightclub in Northbridge, Australia. A fight that was fought at an extremely high pace from the opening bell and saw several heated exchanges of punches, it was Higginson’s greater work rate that was ultimately the difference in a very competitive contest. Sarah Higginson advances to 4-2-1, with 1 Knockout. Charimae Salvador falls to 5-5, with 2 Knockouts. 

Also on this card:

 

Former Australian youth Amateur national champion Ben Innes made his professional debut in the Featherweight division by scoring a workmanlike four round unanimous decision over Zainul Hasan. The main story of this fight was Innes’ lateral movement, combination punching, and a systematic body attack that only increased with each round. Innes would ultimately be credited with a knockdown in the closing seconds of the fight when a combination to the body caused Hasan to drop his mouthpiece for the fourth time in the fight, but this time the ring ropes prevented him from going down. Ben Innes advances to 1-0, with 0 Knockouts. Zainul Hasan falls to 1-7, with 0 Knockouts.

 

In a Heavyweight bout, undefeated Alick Williams survived a knockdown in the third round to score a four round unanimous decision over a debuting Makoni Mafi. A fight that was fought at a measured pace saw Williams generally dictating the combat and landing the cleaner shots. In round three however, Mafi sent him to the canvas with a short left hook to the jaw. Although Williams did not appear hurt, in a four round bout, a knockdown can very well lead to a victory. Any advantage Mafi had was negated in round four when he was deducted a point for holding. Alick Williams advances to 2-0, with 0 Knockouts. Makoni Mafi falls to 0-1, with 0 Knockouts.

 

Undefeated Middleweight Jordan La Ruccia scored a first round knockout of veteran Rin Kobar. Kobar, who was a late substitute for original opponent Liam O’Connor was dropped by a left hook to the liver that sent him down in excruciating pain and unable to continue. Official time of the stoppage was :46 of round one. Jordan La Ruccia advances to 4-0, with 2 Knockouts. Rin Kobar falls to 3-4, with 0 Knockouts.

 

Also in the Middleweight division, unbeaten Jude Grant scored a dominant four round unanimous decision over Habib Kheirkhah. Grant, who made his pro debut earlier this year with a first round knockout at Thunderdome 38 back in May, appeared as though he was on his way to making it 2 for 2 as he quickly dropped Kheirkhah with a left hook to the liver that forced Kheirkhah to take a knee. Under most circumstances, a body shot like that normally brings an end to the fight, but to his credit, Kheirkhah was able to beat the count and continued the fight. Grant however, continued his consistent body attack and remained in control the rest of the way to earn the unanimous decision victory. Jude Grant advances to 2-0, with 1 Knockout.  Habib Kheirkhah falls to 0-2, with 0 Knockouts.

 

Women’s Jr. Middleweight Courtney Martin began her professional career with a second round stoppage of Tianna McKee. Martin was simply too much for McKee who took some significant punishment throughout. In round two McKee was getting hit cleanly that the referee opted for a rare standing eight count in professional Boxing likely to evaluate whether McKee could continue. The referee tried to give her the benefit of doubt, but moments later, a barrage of flush hooks to the head forced the referee to stop the fight. Official time of the stoppage was 1:30 of round two. Courtney Martin advances to 1-0, with 1 Knockout. Tianna McKee falls to 0-1, with 0 Knockouts.

 

Middleweight Ryan Daye, an ex-Cricket star successfully made his professional debut by scoring a first round knockout of Bahtiyar Sonyol, who was also making his pro debut. Daye connected with several hard shots during the round and put  Sonyol on his back and out with a right hook to the head. The bout was immediately stopped midway through the count Official time of the stoppage was 1:34 of round one. Ryan Daye advances to 1-0, with 1 Knockout. Bahtiyar Sonyol falls to 0-1, with 0 Knockouts.  

 

In the women’s Jr. Middleweight division between fighters making their respective professional debuts, Sophia Davies-Morgan and Natalie Moeahu Pehi engaged in a four round slugfest. For four rounds, both women went toe to toe in a bout that frankly became impossible to score as they met each other punch for punch. After four physically exhausting round Moeahu Pehi earned a hard fought majority decision to begin her career. Natalie Moeahu Pehi advances to 1-0, with 0 Knockouts. Sophia Davies Morgan falls to 0-1, with 0 Knockouts.

 

Featherweight Simon Geberat successfully made his professional debut by scoring a four round unanimous decision over Amit Thapa. This fight saw several heated exchanges of punches between the two fighters, but the main difference was the lateral movement, defense, and cleaner offense of Geberat. Geberat was credited with a knockdown of Thapa in the closing seconds of the final round, from what initially appeared to be a slip, but in fact Geberat did land a short punch to the head. Simon Geberat advances to 1-0, with 0 Knockouts. Amit Thapa falls to 0-4, with 0 Knockouts.

 

The evening began with three exhibition bouts. First in the Light-Heavyweight division Marcus Di Lisa scored a three round unanimous decision over Max Criddle. Di Lisa forced the fight from the opening bell and displayed a full arsenal to the body and head of his opponent. Criddle was able to have moments periodically, but simply had no way to keep Di Lisa off of him. This was followed by Welterweight Lukas Vanecek who scored a one punch first round knockout of Zac Johnson. A straight right hand to the head sent Johnson down hard in the closing seconds of the first round. The bout was immediately stopped. Official time of the stoppage was 1:50 of round one.  Finally, Jr. Middleweights Liam Clayton and Dominic Kennedy engaged in a three round toe to toe battle. The dynamic of the fight was Clayton coming forward with constant punches and try to suffocate Kennedy with pressure, but Kennedy countering effectively with flush hooks and uppercuts to the head throughout.  In the end, Clayton’s constant pressure were enough for him to earn the nod of two of the three judges giving him a hard fought split decision victory.

 

In previewing this card earlier this week, this observer stated having covered several previous Thunderdome events that the Thunderdome series has a little something for every Boxing fan and through its history, the series has proven to be unpredictable and must see. Simply put, you never know what you are going to see. Thunderdome 39 certainly did not disappoint as there was no shortage of knockouts, competitive bouts, and a few surprises as well. Moreover, this edition in the series shined a bright spotlight on the women competing in the sport and it is a testament to not only the continuing evolution of Women’s Boxing in terms of growth, but also in terms of entertainment value that three women’s bouts were featured on this card including the main event. For Sarah Higginson, the WBA Oceania regional championship in the Light-Flyweight division will likely springboard her into a potential world championship fight in the near future. Whether or not that fight headlines a future Thunderdome event remains to be seen, but if it can be materialized, based on the action this card produced, it may not be a bad idea for promoter Tony Tolj and Dragon Fire Boxing to think of staging a world title fight as part of the series. If it also continues to focus the spotlight on Women’s Boxing, all the better.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Promotional poster 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.

 

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Belated August 27, 2022 Boxing Thoughts

The month of August 2022 closed with both curiosity and intriguing in two events being staged on August 27th in two different countries. First, it was the debut of the MisFits Boxing series that pits celebrities and social media personalities in the Boxing ring to do battle. An event that was streamed on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN as part of its subscription offering as well as a low cost pay-per-view offering depending on what country or region you were viewing the event from. The United Kingdom, Ireland, and those of us in North America (United States and Canada) were offered the event at a low cost of $9.99 for current subscribers.

Some readers will recall a column penned by this observer last week where I asked a simple yet complex question because it could be answered in a variety of ways. Does “Celebrity Boxing “ hurt or benefit the sport? I also concluded that column by saying that I would be tuning in, in part out of curiosity as well as a Boxing scribe in search for his next story, ending the column by offering an observation to any would be viewer of “No Expectations, No Disappointments. “ It was not surprising that the bouts on this card though contested without the participants wearing headgear, were not professional bouts as most of the participants had little, if any Boxing experience prior to the event.

Regardless of how one views “Celebrity” or “Influencer Boxing” it should not be overlooked or dismissed that the content creators on this card though out of their elements with a few exceptions, were able to draw a sell out crowd in the O2 Arena in London, England that was on par with any major Boxing event. Although some may view that as a negative to the sport, it is impressive and does show that those influencers do have the ability to use their respective followings to draw a crowd.

As far as the bouts were concerned, frankly, I do not believe that anyone who is knowledgeable about the sport of Boxing should have expected professional level bouts. The participants should be given credit for stepping into a ring that is outside of not only their comfort zones, but also their respective areas of expertise and taking a risk to their health in doing so.

While some may expect this observer to be overly critical of an event like this as someone who does have the sport’s best interest at heart, I did not have any expectations going into the event. There is one thing that is a negative that cannot be ignored however, and that is it was obvious to an experienced eye that some of the participants likely had little time to prepare as most of the fights did not last long, which can also be a reflection of the lack of experience many of the participants had.

The main draw of the event was KSI, (Real name Olajide Olatunji) who was 1-0 as a pro boxer with a victory over fellow YouTube star, now business partner Logan Paul in 2019 in an officer professional fight, choosing to compete in two bouts on this card after originally scheduled opponent Alex Wassabi needed to withdraw due to suffering a serious injury in training for the bout. While KSI’s decision to compete in two exhibition bouts on this card was clearly motivated by wanting to ensure the scheduled event could go on as planned, it is something that is a rarity in the sport. In his first bout that actually began the card, KSI scored a second round knockout over an overmatched London-based rapper Swarmz.

KSI would return to close out the event by facing pro boxer Luis Pineda in the main event. A criticism that many within Boxing have, including yours truly with regard to the influx of celebrities/influencers that have ventured into the sport in recent years has been a reluctance to face pro boxers in officially sanctioned professional fights rather than participating on the exhibition circuit and/or competing against fellow influencers. For what it is worth, Luis Pineda did have pro Boxing experience having competed in seven pro bouts, this fact did little to give him credibility as the fighter, who had a 2-5 record competing as a 154lb. Jr. Middleweight, spent more time complaining from the canvas during this exhibition than he did actually trying to compete with KSI. The three round bout, which had so many knockdowns that yours truly quit counting midway through the second round, was mercifully stopped before the end of the third round.

While this event did not fill me with thoughts that any of those who competed would find their way towards competing as professional boxers, it was nevertheless entertaining and giving credit where it is due, KSI’s bout with Luis Pineda was akin to what a new professional fighter is likely to see in their first couple of fights. An opponent that has a record that can be described as non-descript and someone who will be used by their opponent’s handlers as a way to get their fighter’s feet wet in the professional side of the sport as well as to gage where their fighter is in terms of their development.

The obvious question not only I, but those who also watched this event are probably asking is whether or not this type of concept of “Celebrity” or “Influencer Boxing” can work in the long-term. I obviously cannot answer that question, but what I will say is I feel those behind this series need to clearly establish and define this concept. What I mean by that is it needs to be made clear as to what this series is intended to be. A separate genre within the sport of Boxing that is strictly within the niche of “Celebrity/Influencer Boxing,” or a series that will showcase those who have serious intentions on pursuing a legitimate Boxing career. It goes without saying that as a combat sport, there are inherent dangers that come with the territory and no matter what, any person who steps into a Boxing ring needs to understand those dangers and not treat it with a cavalier mentality. Simply put, people do get hurt and risk their lives each time they step into a ring to compete. If one has no intention of treating the sport with the respect it deserves and commands, they should not get into a ring. Boxing needs to be taken seriously.

On that subject of the sport being taken seriously, two former world champions also did battle on August 27th in a bout that was strictly all business. This observer is speaking of course of the Jr. Welterweight bout between former Lightweight world champion Richard Commey and Jose Pedraza that brought with it Commey’s debut in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division.

If one has followed the sport for a long period of time, you can develop a sense for what type of fight you are going to see based on the style of the two fighters. This was a case where both Commey and Pedraza had similar styles and similar ways in which they approach their opposition. It was based on this as well as my having covered fights in both of their careers that I said in previewing the bout that this had the potential to be a close fight. I then went a step further in saying that outside of the possibility of a knockout, which can never be dismissed, that this fight could end in a close decision.

As it would turn out, this analysis was spot on. For ten rounds Commey and Pedraza engaged in a tactical Boxing match where virtually every round was fought the same way. Neither fighter had an issue being willing to fight in close and each seemed to match each other punch for punch. This resulted in an extremely close fight where neither fighter was able to stand out clearly from the other resulting in the bout ending in a ten round split decision draw.

While the fight likely will do little to move either fighter towards a title shot at 140lbs., it does underscore what I did say prior to the fight in that just as the talent pool in the 135lb. Lightweight division is and has been traditionally deep, so too is the Jr. Welterweight division and as the lastest line of notable Lightweights including Richard Commey move into the field at 140lbs., the competition level is going to remain high and the talent-depth is going to get deeper and deeper. Unfortunately for the time being, this likely means that both Commey and Pedraza will find themselves facing off against each other in a rematch because they’re fight on this occasion turned out to be dead even and it is hard to make an argument for either fighter based on how close this fight turned out to be inside the ring that there should not be a rematch even though both fighters will likely have other options moving forward.

With the month of August 2022 now in the rearview mirror, it will be interesting to see what the month of September now has to offer.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.*

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

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DAZN & MISFITS BOXING ANNOUNCE MF & DAZN: X SERIES 002 For October 15TH In Sheffield, England

 

Press Release: August 30, 2022 By DAZN – Following a series premiere this past weekend that saw tremendous viewership around the globe, DAZN Group, the global sports entertainment company, today unveils the second installment of its groundbreaking crossover MF & DAZN: X SERIES in partnership with social media megastar KSI and his promotional company Misfits Boxing, and in association with the Sauerland brothers, Wasserman Boxing and Proper Loud.

Credit: DAZN

 

 

 

MF & DAZN: X SERIES 002, powered by Misfits Boxing, will take place on 15 October at Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England, and feature a thrilling main event between Hasim Rahman and Vitor Belfort with the co-main event freaturing British YouTuber Jamie Michael “Jay” Swingler and American actor and YouTuber Cherdleys. 

 

 

 

The 15 October fight night will be available both live and on demand to all subscribers around the world on DAZN. Tickets details will be released soon. Visit MisfitsBoxing.com for more info. 

 

 

 

Rahman Jr. started his professional debut in 2017. Hasim Rahman Jr has gone on to compete in over 100 amateur fights. After a blistering start to his professional career, producing TKO’s and not losing for four straight years, he set his eyes on Jake Paul. Now, he takes on a proven dangerman in combat sports and will look to produce a statement win. The son of the former two-time heavyweight champion, Hasim Rahman, who unified the IBF, IBO, WBC and lineal titles before reclaiming his WBC World Heavyweight title five years later. After the disappointment from not being able to compete on a previous card, there will be no doubt that “Gold Blooded” Rahman Jr will be coming to shock the world and show his worth in the fight game.

 

Belfort is the former Brazilian MMA star who held the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship whilst producing stunning highlight-reel finishes throughout 20 years in the organisation. Alongside his reputation as a finisher, that saw 18 out of 26 wins come via stoppage, he is also undefeated as a professional boxer. He returned to the ring in September 2021 when he stopped Evander Holyfield in the first round of their exhibition fight. Having fought at both Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight, Belfort has beaten some of MMA’s greatest athletes including Randy Couture, Michael Bisping, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson and Luke Rockhold. He sits amongst some of the greatest finishers the UFC has seen with his 12 knockout wins. 

 

 

Swingler first made his boxing debut on the undercard of KSI vs. Logal Paul in 2018, where he battled against AnEsonGib inside a sold-out Manchester Arena. On 15 October, he is determined to walk away with his first pro win and proof that his future in boxing remains bright. Outside of the ring, Swingler is known for making challenge, comedy, and prank videos on the channel TGFbro with Uncle Romell, as well as his own eponymous channel, collectively reaching 8 million subscribers worldwide across the two. He began his YouTube career when he was just 12-years-old, and while he briefly attended Halesowen College to study photography and film, he ultimately quit to pursue his cretaor career full-time.

 

 

 

Cherdleys is a professional funny-man who has worked with the likes of Comedy Central, Funny Or Die, and Adult swim. In his own words, “His own mother might be ashamed of him, but Cherdleys doesn’t care” – no topic is off limits, and he’s had success bringing the comedy heat. Now, he’s ready to put it all on the line to stand up for two things: America and Mustaches. When he steps into the ring against Jay Swingler, he’s going to bring the heat in another way. He thinks Swingler doesn’t stand a chance against Cherdley’s A-game.  And even if he did, Cherdleys is going to bring his A, B, C and D …but mostly his C game…because he’s Cherdleys.

 

“We are thrilled to announce the second installment in the MF & DAZN: X Series; this series has spectacular growth potential in a thriving new category in the sport, and has already kicked off with a premiere event this past weekend featuring KSI in a doubleheader that well exceeded live worldwide viewership expectations on DAZN,” said Joseph Markowski, EVP at DAZN Group. “We are ready to further excite and entice a growing new generation of fight fans with the premium live sports action and best-in-class production synonymous with DAZN. This is a long-term and limitless endeavor with our partners that’s only just begun.”

 

 

 

Rahman said: “I’m really looking forward to fighting Mr.Belfort on Oct 15th. I’m extremely grateful to Misfits Boxing for giving me the opportunity and I look to make the most of it. I’m 100% focused on making a lasting impression on all the fans in England and those watching at home. Now the world gets to see why Fake Paul and his sister want absolutely nothing to do with getting in a ring with me!”

 

 

 

Belfort said: “I’m excited to showcase my skills on October 15 in Sheffield, live on DAZN! I have been waiting for a fight for a while, and now is my time. I’m always in the gym staying ready. Rahman is a perfect opponent for me, so expect fireworks in the return of the Phenom.”

 

 

 

President of Misfits Boxing and CEO of Proper Loud, Mams Taylor said: “We couldn’t have dreamed of a better start to proceedings than that huge event in the capital. It sets us up for another massive night, where the world will be watching Vitor Belfort and Hasim Rahman go at it. Misfits Boxing has landed, and we’re here to keep giving the fans what they deserve.”

 

 

 

“I’ve had the pleasure of promoting some huge fight nights, but our premiere event at the for Misfits Boxing was absolutely mind-blowing at the sold out O2,” said Kalle Sauerland, Head of Global Boxing at Wasserman Boxing. “We’re not standing still, we’re not stopping, we go again. We have a former UFC champion going up against a man who has boxing running through his veins. Belfort vs. Rahman Jr, plus another unbelievably stacked card heading your way; expect fireworks in Sheffield people!” 

 

 

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, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.

 

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

 

 

 

 

Bivol-Ramirez Set For November 5TH ON DAZN

 

Press Release: August 30, 2022 By DAZN – Dmitry Bivol will defend his WBA Light-Heavyweight World Title against Mandatory Challenger Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Saturday November 5, live to subscribers worldwide on DAZN (excluding South Korea and MENA).

Credit: DAZN

 

Bivol (20-0, 11 KOs) is coming off a huge upset win over Mexican pound-for-pound superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in May, where he retained his 175lbs World Title via a unanimous decision to make it 20 wins from 20 fights.

 

The 31-year-old handed Alvarez only the second loss of his career, nine years on from his first at the hands of modern great Floyd Mayweather, and in doing so further cemented himself as one of the very best Light-Heavyweights on the planet.

 

Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs) is a former WBO Super-Middleweight World Champion who has won all five of his fights at Light-Heavyweight inside the distance in impressive fashion since moving up in weight in 2019.

 

The heavy-handed Mexican southpaw emerged as the Mandatory Challenger to long-reigning champion Bivol, after a fourth-round knockout of Dominic Boesel in their May 14 title eliminator in Ontario, California.

 

“The fight with Zurdo has been brewing for some time, many things have been said,” said Bivol. “Now we have the chance to take care of things with our actions in the ring, and not our words outside of the ring.”

 

“I’m happy that the fight is finally happening despite all the challenges,” said Ramirez. “It’s been a long time coming and I look forward to a great night come November 5. I would fight Bivol anywhere - including Mars, but I know we’ll put on a great show in Abu Dhabi. I’m happy overall and very thankful to the WBA, Mr. Gilberto Mendoza and the Golden Boy family for being on this journey with me.”

 

“Dmitry Bivol has now secured himself with pound-for-pound status after his victory over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in May and looks to make a hugely important defence against Mandatory Challenger and former World Champion Gilberto Ramirez. The card will be stacked with World Championship fights and is set to be one of the biggest nights of boxing in 2022,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “I’m delighted to bring this huge World Title fight to Abu Dhabi and would like to thank Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi for all of their help in making this world-class event become a reality. Roll on November 5 for a huge night of World Championship boxing live on DAZN.”

 

“With this fight finally materialising we look forward to a great night of boxing to remember and another exceptional performance by Dmitry Bivol,” said Bivol’s manager Vadim Kornilov. “We are very excited to be in Abu Dhabi, which is on the way to be the modern top sports attraction of the world."

 

"Dmitry Bivol vs. Gilberto Ramirez will be a great fight, many fans have been waiting for this fight to happen and it will finally materialise," added President of World of Boxing, Andrei Ryabinskiy.

 

“We are headed to Abu Dhabi and Zurdo will prove he is the best Light-Heavyweight when he fights Bivol on November 5,” said Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya.

 

“We are thrilled to host this spectacular boxing event in Abu Dhabi - partnering with reputable partner Matchroom Boxing adds yet another dimension to our exciting calendar,” said HE Saleh Mohamed Saleh Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism, at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi,  “Once again, the eyes of the world will be on Abu Dhabi on November 5 as we continue to strengthen our position as a top destination for world-class sport. As the host city, we are eager to share our warm Emirati hospitality to visiting fans and offer them memorable, exciting experiences to enjoy at their own pace.”

 

“Thank you to our brilliant partners Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy for delivering another blockbuster fight to the platform,” said Joseph Markowski, EVP, DAZN Group. “We can’t wait to see Dmitry Bivol back in the ring after he pulled off the upset of the year against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in May, and in the unbeaten Zurdo Ramirez, he will face one of his toughest opponents yet. We have a potential classic on our hands. Watch it live and worldwide on DAZN.”

 

An announcement on tickets will follow in due course.

 

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, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.

 

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