Can Avanesyan Upset Crawford?

 

Following a tenth round stoppage of former two-time Welterweight world champion Shawn Porter in October of last year in defense of his WBO World Welterweight championship, undefeated multi-division world champion Terence Crawford has spent the majority of his time engaging in battles outside the Boxing ring. First with his former promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank, Inc. and in negotiations to try and make a fight with undefeated IBF/WBC/WBA world champion Errol Spence for what would be for the Undisputed Welterweight championship of the world, a reality.  

 

Both arguably has resulted in over a year of inactivity for the current WBO world champion. This will change on Saturday, December 10th when Crawford returns to the ring in front of his hometown in Omaha, NE at the CHI Health Center to defend his championship against longtime top contender and current European Welterweight champion David Avanesyan in a scheduled twelve round bout that will headline a card broadcast on pay-per-view. This fight comes in the aftermath of a failed negotiation between Crawford and Spence for what has become a highly anticipated bout amongst both fans and experts alike. The failed negotiation however, has led to the entry into the sport of digital subscription streaming platform BLK Prime, who has reportedly guaranteed Crawford $10 Million for this bout against to headline the platform’s first Boxing card. 

 

Although the circumstances of the failed negotiation between Crawford and Spence and to be more specific, Crawford and the Primer Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters and it’s founder Al  Haymon is a reflection of a long-standing flaw of the business side of the sport that more often than not does not serve in Boxing’s best interest or the fighters that compete in it, the danger for a fighter in Crawford’s position is the potential to be distracted. Not only will this fight be taking place in Crawford’s hometown, but one does have to wonder if all of the talk regarding Errol Spence has had an impact on the champion’s preparation and focus going into this title defense. Fighters are after all as human as the rest of us and competing in your hometown where you are the marquee attraction can obviously have it's own distractions and stresses on it’s own. When you add into the equation that most of the talk going into this bout is not about the fight itself, but a fight that was not made, it is logical to at least question whether the champion’s focus is more on the fight that couldn’t be made as opposed to the fight that was made. 

 

In David Avanesyan, Crawford will face a longtime top contender in the Welterweight division that was for a period of time the number one contender in the WBA’s Welterweight ratings. Although the biggest victory in Avanesyan ‘s career came against a faded legend in Shane Mosley, whom he scored a twelve round unanimous decision over in May 2016, he will enter into this fight unbeaten in his last six fights having stopped all six of his previous opponents inside the distance. Off of the string of knockouts he has compiled as well as his status as the current European Welterweight champion, Avanesyan has worked his way to the number six ranking in the WBO ratings. One might argue that the circumstances of the failed negotiations between Crawford and Spence, as well as the champion’s desire to get back in active competition rather than sit out until 2023 has given Avanesyan the perfect opportunity as the highest rates available contender who was willing to face Crawford as he has been active and is being viewed by some as an afterthought. 

 

Avanesyan does have deceptive hand speed and has shown punching power in his recent fights. The task that will be for the challenger in his first world championship fight will be one in two parts, which may prove to be easier said than done. He is going into the Boxing equivalent of a lion’s den in facing Crawford in his hometown where all the crowd support will be in favor of the champion. While crowd support is only one aspect, Avanesyan as the for lack of a better term “Road Fighter” must find a way to take the crowd’s enthusiasm and potential influence out of the equation. Although it will not be easy to accomplish given that he is fighting an elite level fighter with an evolving skillset in Crawford, Avanesyan needs to establish early that he will be dictating the combat and must not allow the champion to get into any sort of rhythm. 

 

Crawford has always been very compact with his offense and is highly skilled when it comes to hand speed, power, and ability to counter punch. Avanesyan must not be reckless in how he approaches Crawford and needs to be both tactical and pick his spots with caution. While a fighter entering a fight with a six fight knockout streak may give an appearance that said fighter will have the edge in power, Terence Crawford has shown the ability to end a fight quickly if the opportunity presents itself and if what has gone on for the champion in recent times outside the ring from his split and legal dispute with his former promoter to the failure in negotiations for a more lucrative fight has not taken his mind off the task at hand, this fight could end quickly if Avanesyan is not strategic in his approach. The challenger must however, also find a balance between being tactical, but at the same time not giving Crawford too much respect where it might allow the champion to sway what could potentially be closely fought rounds, particularly early in the fight. 

 

In all honesty with the reader, despite Avanesyan’s credentials as a longtime contender and current European Welterweight champion, this has all the appearance, particularly amongst those for whom Boxing is of casual interest, of merely another title defense by an elite world champion in Terence Crawford with an eye towards more lucrative bouts that might come in the future. If Crawford is not on his “Fight Game” however, Avanesyan does have the skills and experience as someone who is used to fighting in an opponent’s hometown/country where he could pull off an upset and immediately halt any and all discussion of potential fights that could come for Crawford. The Welterweight division is historically one of the most talent-deep in the entire sport and even the best of the best fighters can have an off night in the ring, especially if as a human being their focus might be diverted by too many distractions outside the ring. We will see if David Avanesyan can seize the opportunity that is in front of him when he challenges Terence Crawford for the WBO Welterweight championship of the world on Saturday, December 10th. 

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.” 

 

Crawford vs. Avanesyan takes place on Saturday, December 10th at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, NE. The fight as well as it’s full undercard can be seen on digital streaming platform BLK Prime on a pay-per-view basis for $39.99. The card will begin at 6PM ET/3PM PT with preliminary bouts with the pay-per-view portion of the card beginning at 9PM ET/3PM PT. In addition to BLK Prime, the card will also be available to purchase on traditional cable and satellite providers. Visit: https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view to order on BLK Prime and for a list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, and Smart TVs or contact your local cable or satellite provider for ordering information.  

 

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

 

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

 

 

Will Martin Play Spoiler Again?

As the year 2022 winds down, arguably the last what this observer often calls “Marathon Day” of Boxing features a fight that some might argue is under the radar amongst all of what remains on the Boxing schedule this year, but is one of the more interesting bouts yet to take place. Yours truly is referring to the Jr. Welterweight encounter between former Undisputed Lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez and Jr. Welterweight contender Sandor Martin. A fight that will be taking place on December 10th at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY and can be seen on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+.

This bout will be the second for Lopez since moving up from the 135lb. Lightweight division to the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division. In his Jr. Welterweight debut, Lopez scored a seventh round stoppage of Pedro Campa in August of this year. Although Lopez had some difficulty with Campa early, he was eventually able to break him down and get the stoppage. While not necessarily the stat-making performance that some may have expected in his first fight since losing the Undisputed World Lightweight championship to George Kambosos in November of last year, Lopez did what he needed to do and the victory likely served as a confidence booster following the first loss of his career. The former world champion now looks to continue building momentum in his second bout in a new weight class.

Originally, Lopez was slated to face former two-division world champion Jose Pedraza on December 10th, but Pedraza pulled out of the fight due to illness. Enter Sandor Martin. Martin, a veteran of forty-two professional fights, is a slick and crafty boxer that has been unbeaten since 2017. In addition to a current eleven fight winning streak, Martin, has held the European Jr. Welterweight championship in his career. Despite his credentials and significant momentum coming into this fight. Martin might not be viewed as a marquee name. It was not long ago however, where Martin in a position similar to the one he finds himself in going into this bout as the opponent for a former world champion in the midst of a rebuilding process, scored a twelve round majority decision over former four-division world champion Mikey Garcia in October of last year, a fight that signaled the end of Garcia’s career.

What this fight cones down to in my eyes is whether or not Martin will be able to avoid the punching power of Lopez and nullify his pressure. In his eighteen bout career, Lopez quickly developed a reputation for his ability to score quick and often devastating knockouts that enabled him to quickly ascend to the top of the Lightweight division. The one loss in his career however, came against a fighter in George Kambosos that was able to out box and out work him over the course of twelve rounds. This fight will be scheduled for ten rounds, but Martin is a crafty boxer that uses angles, lateral movement, and often attacks opponents in spurts of combinations.

Although Lopez has the reputation as a power punching “Knockout Artist,” he did show an ability to box in his fight against Vasyl in October 2020, the fight where he successfully unified the Lightweight championship to become Undisputed world champion. Much like Lomachenko, Martin can do a little bit of everything and it will be interesting to see if Lopez will try to implement a similar strategy in this fight as he was able to surprise many by out Boxing and out working Lomachenko, given the skillset Martin has shown in his career.

While Martin does have a significant edge in terms of overall experience, one might assume given the difference in punching power between the two, that Martin might have to box a perfect fight from start to finish if he wants to be successful in this bout. Even though Lopez is the fighter with the name recognition clout going into this fight and will likely have the support of the crowd inside Madison Square Garden, Sandor Martin is not a fighter to overlook and if he can once again play spoiler and defeat Lopez as he did Mikey Garcia, a victory in this fight will likely catapult him into a world championship fight in 2023. A loss for Lopez at this stage in his career would not signal the end of his career or the end as an attraction or a contender, but a second loss in his last three fights would likely set him back even further from his goal of trying to become a two division world champion. 

For a fight that whether intended or not is under the radar, there is certainly a lot at stake for both fighters here in what by all appearances has the look of an interesting clash of styles between two of the best the Jr. Welterweight division has to offer. Who will emerge victorious remains to be seen.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.“

Lopez vs. Martin takes place on Saturday, December 10th at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. The fight as well as it’s full undercard can be seen in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ at 5:55PM ET/2:55PM PT. ESPN+ is available through the ESPN app on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices/Smart TVs. For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: www.ESPNPlus.com. 

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

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

Crawford-Avanesyan Open Workout Quotes

 Press Release: By BLK Prime – OMAHA, NEBRASKA (December 7, 2022) – Pound-for-pound king, WBO Welterweight Champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs), WBO # 6 contender David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs), superstar Cris Cyborg (1-0, 1 KO), and undefeated light heavyweight prospect, Steven Nelson (17-0, 14 KOs), held a media workout in Omaha, Nebraska ahead of their BLK Prime Pay-Per-View event taking place at the CHI Health Center on December 10.

Credit: Tom Hogan/BLK Prime

 

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on the BLK Prime app and across all cable and satellite outlets for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video-on-demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. 

 

Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday from the B & B Boxing Academy.

 

TERENCE CRAWFORD

 

“Training was great, we had an awesome training camp, and pre-camp before we went to Colorado Springs. My thing is to keep doing what I’ve been doing, which is winning in a tremendous fashion, and everything else will fall into place.”

 

“I’m getting restless thinking about Saturday, it’s a job that I’ve done for a long time and as used to it as I am, I’m still really excited about this one in my hometown. I’m sure there will be a lot of first-time boxing fans who haven’t been able to see me live, and they’ll get the opportunity to see me right in their backyards.”

 

“My camp is like a family, when one fights, we all fight. There are four of us on this card, which is great for us, but at the same time, it gets us pushing each other that much harder. We’re able to make sure each one of us is healthy, prepared mentally and physically, and ready to go out there and perform at our best.”

 

DAVID AVANESYAN

 

“I’m going into this fight with a lot to prove as no one is giving me a chance to win, but he has a lot on his plate. He’s got a lot of distractions, and none of the interviewers ask him about me. It is always about the fight that didn't happen or other stuff. I am more focused than ever, and coming in as a massive underdog, is just the way I like it. I was in camp already and got to extend my camp for a month or so, which was perfect. I will be the mentally stronger fighter on Dec.10th."

  

“A win against the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in boxing, will make one of the biggest names in the sport. I would become a household name and a top-5 pound-for-pound fighter. These are motivations, I get to take everything Crawford worked for, and I will." Beating Terence Crawford will change my life forever. I am better than ever, and I am about to be the one that everyone in boxing talks about."

 

 

CRIS CYBORG

 

It’s my second boxing fight, my first was in Brazil and it was a great experience. I always like to think it’s best to keep myself ready, a fight can come up at any time, and I’m able to take on these fights because I stay ready. I’m really excited about Saturday, getting another chance in the boxing ring will be great. 

 

I think one of my strengths for my entire 18-year MMA career is that I am always looking to knock opponents out and I always have to defend takedowns in MMA. Now in boxing, I don’t have to worry about those takedown moves. In terms of power, I definitely have that punching power. I know the stance is different in boxing from MMA, but I always was prepared with the fight stance in MMA.

 

STEVEN NELSON

 

“It’s my first fight since I tore my achilles, my first fight in 26 months. I’ve been putting an extra focus on my rest, recovery, and taking care of my body with the same level of attention as I have on my training. Being 17-0 with 14 knockouts, I’m feeling really strong going into Saturday, very prepared, and excited to defend my undefeated record against Ballard.”

 

“I’m so excited to be back at home. After two years off, it’s going to be a special night. I’m going to make my mom proud. When my hand goes up after the final bell rings, I’ll know she’s going to be proud.”

 

“Omaha has the best fans in the world. Whether they’re boxing fans or not, I know that Omaha will show up and show out for Bud (Terence) and me. It’s going to be a big party when the hometown stars keep the wins rolling in.”

 

“It’s so special to be a part of the launch of BLK Prime into boxing. I feel like a pioneer, me and Bud and everyone on the card pioneered BLK Prime. It’s the first event, looking like it’ll be a sellout, it’s going to be an awesome night. I'm looking forward to it. To all the other boxers out there, BLK Prime takes care of its people, and takes care of its fighters. From the negotiations to everything, even today’s media workout, it’s different from the others and they really care for their people.”



# # #

 

 

Tickets are priced at $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 4:30 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

 

Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) will make his triumphant return to the ring when he battles WBO #6 ranked David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, 2022. The 12-round bout will air live on BLK Prime PPV, with Crawford's WBO welterweight title on the line.

 

About BLK Prime:

BLK PRIME is a subscription video-on-demand company that offers multicultural content to a diverse audience worldwide. To learn more about BLK Prime, visit: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

 

Material Courtesy of BLK Prime/ Photo Courtesy of: Tom Hogan/BLK Prime Used with permission.

 

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

 

Terence Crawford Training Camp Notes

Press Release: By BLK Prime – OMAHA, NEBRASKA

(December 6, 2022) – Welterweight sensation and current pound-for-pound king, Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs), will look to finish 2022 on a high note as he takes on the WBO #6 ranked challenger, David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs). The fight takes place at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10. Crawford is back in his hometown, fresh off his training camp in Colorado, Springs, and he’s eager to show the world why he’s the best fighter in boxing. 

Credit: Marvin Kelly/Marvelous Photography

 

 

 

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on the BLK Prime app and across all cable and satellite outlets for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video-on-demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

 

 

 

Here is what Crawford had to say about his recent training camp, his matchup with David Avanesyan, fight on BLK Prime at home, and more:

 

 

 

On his recent training camp:

 

 

 

“It is business as usual. It’s great to have a fight date and a goal to work toward.  I have a solid group of guys who are pushing me every single day, and we had a close-knit community during camp. This was one of my best camps, and I am motivated to put on a show for my fans in Omaha, who have had my back from the start of my career."

 

 

 

On his matchup with David Avanesyan:

 

 

 

“David Avanesyan is a good fighter. He’s on a good winning streak, and beat a guy in the U.K., in Josh Kelly who people thought was going to be a star. I have to train like I am facing King Kong on December 10th, because Avanesyan has everything to gain and nothing to lose. I know he is going to bring everything on December 10th, so I’m not looking past him. This will be the best Avanesyan, so I have to be the best Terence Crawford."

 

 

 

On what a win will do for his career:

 

 

 

“My goal is to remind the world that world I am the best fighter on the planet so everyone needs to tune in December 10 on this new BLK Prime PPV platform. I am fighting not just to be the best, but to give fighters fair and equitable treatment in negotiations moving forward."

 

# # #

 

 

 

Tickets are priced at $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 4:30 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

 

 

 

Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) will make his triumphant return to the ring when he battles WBO #6 ranked David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, 2022. The 12-round bout will air live on BLK Prime PPV, with Crawford's WBO welterweight title on the line.

 

 

 

About BLK Prime:

 

BLK PRIME is a subscription video-on-demand company that offers multicultural content to a diverse audience worldwide. To learn more about BLK Prime, visit: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

 

Material Courtesy of BLK Prime/ Photo Courtesy of: Marvin Kelly/Marvelous Photography Used with permission.

 

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

 

BLK Prime Announces Broadcast Team for Crawford vs. Avanesyan PPV Event

Press Release: By BLK Prime – OMAHA, NEBRASKA (December 5, 2022) – The biggest fight to end the year between the best fighter in the world, WBO welterweight world champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) taking on David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) in a PPV showdown, that will take place at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, now has an official broadcast team.

Credit: BLK Prime

 

 

 

Lupe Contreras will serve as the ring announcer, Zab Judah will offer behind-the-scenes insight and backstage interviews, and Todd Grisham will lead the commentary crew with BWAA award-winning broadcast journalist Paulie Malignaggi, along with former world champion Antonio Tarver. Cheyenne McCargo will serve as the undercard scoring voice to conclude the crew.

 

 

 

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on BLK Prime and across all cable and satellite outlets for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video-on-demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

 

 

 

Lupe Contreras, a veteran ring announcer of over 20 years, has called some of the biggest fights the sport has seen. Traveling to every realm of the globe to introduce the best pugilists in the world, when Contreras calls a fight, you know it is a big deal!

 

 

 

Todd Grisham has been innovating sports entertainment broadcasts from the WWE to being a staple of the DAZN boxing crew, Grisham is becoming one of the iconic figures in the sport, and will be guiding the action on Saturday.

 

 

 

Paulie Malignaggi is a former two-division world champion holding the IBF super lightweight title, as well as the WBA welterweight title. Malignaggi transitioned into the field of commentary in the past decade, in which he was quickly regarded as one of the best young voices in broadcast journalism, and his vibrant personality has earned him a close connection with the fans.

 

 

 

Antonio Tarver is a five-time light heavyweight champion, holding the WBC and IBF titles two times, and the WBA title for good measure. Tarver has been in some of the greatest fights and is now calling some of the modern great bouts on BLK Prime.

 

 

 

Zab Judah is a former two-division, six-time world champion holding the IBF light welterweight title on two different occasions, as well as the WBO light welterweight title, the WBA, WBC, and IBF welterweight world titles. Judah is widely considered one of the best fighters of his era and was the last undisputed champion at welterweight.

 

 

 

Cheyenne McCargo is a popular YouTuber, with thousands tuning into his daily live streams. McCargo will offer the voice of the fans for the BLK Prime broadcast, scoring the undercard bouts.

 

# # #

 

 

 

Tickets are priced at $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 4:30 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

 

 

 

Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) will make his triumphant return to the ring when he battles WBO #6 ranked David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10, 2022. The 12-round bout will air live on BLK Prime PPV, with Crawford's WBO welterweight title on the line.

 

 

 

About BLK Prime:

 

BLK PRIME is a subscription video-on-demand company that offers multicultural content to a diverse audience worldwide. To learn more about BLK Prime, visit: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: BLK Prime Used with permission.

 

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

 

Estrada-Gonzalez: Will The Rivalry Continue?

 

When it comes to trilogies in the sport of Boxing, it is logical to assume that when a fighter is able to emerge with two victories out of three bouts that in most cases that would conclude the story/rivalry between two fighters. There are times however, when no matter what the results are between two fighters over a series of fights, the question becomes will the rivalry continue beyond three fights.

 

While it is rare to see a series of fights exceed three bouts due to both the politics that be in the sport as well and perhaps more specifically, the accumulation of punishment fighters sustain not only in the course of a series of bouts, but in their careers in general, there have been exceptions. Many will recall the series of fights between Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta in the 1940’s and 1950’s that extended to six bouts between the two, despite Robinson winning five of those fights.

 

Some may ask why where there six fights between the two given not only that Robinson won five of those battles, but also what would make the continuation of the series appealing to the Boxing fan. This observer feels that the simplest answer comes down to the adage of “Styles Make Fights.” In that it does not necessarily matter to some fans as to who will win a fight between two fighters or how many times, they face each other. There are times where the styles of two fighters simply mesh so well that no matter how many times two fighters enter the ring to do battle against each other, the fan whether they be attending a fight in person or watching on television/streaming is almost guaranteed to see an entertaining fight.

 

In the case of Jr. Bantamweights Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, the styles of both men would appear to mesh perfectly where they will almost always produce a close and competitive fight that will entertain the vast majority of Boxing fans. On December 3^rd, the two multi-division world champions entered the ring for their third encounter at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ. As it stood entering fight three between the two, each man had won victory a piece, each in exciting and competitive fights that went the distance. Fight three would turn out to be no different.

 

The early rounds appeared to favor Estrada, who’s WBC Jr. Bantamweight world championship was on the line in this fight. Estrada appeared to out box Gonzalez during much of the first six rounds of the fight by doing what he did in the second bout, in which he won in March of last year, using lateral movement and combination punching to offset the pressure of Gonzalez. While the fight was very competitive at this stage, it seemed at least to this observer that Gonzalez was a step behind Estrada, which allowed the champion to gain the edge. At the halfway point in the fight, I felt that Estrada had done enough to win four out of six rounds. Despite the appearance that might give of a lopsided bout favoring one fighter, I knew based on past history of both fighters that the bout would not be decided at the conclusion of six rounds of a scheduled twelve round bout unless of course, one fighter were able to knock out the other or an instance of a fight being stopped due to an accidental foul or an injury. I did however, begin to wonder at this point in fight three whether Estrada would be able to continue to box his way towards what was looking like could be something that we had not seen as of yet in this trilogy, a clear victory that would not be debated.

 

Over the second half of the fight, Gonzalez found his rhythm and was able to turn things from a Boxing match fought at a high pace into more of a toe to toe battle, though the pace remained the same, very high with both fighters fighting a full three minutes of every round. Although I felt Estrada was ahead going into round seven, the problem at least for me as the fight progressed was that as Gonzalez began to get into the fight, rounds seven through twelve were very close where who won those rounds could likely be determined by moments in a round more so than one fighter out landing/out working the other. While this is a credit to Gonzalez’ skillset and ability to adapt when it appeared as though the fight was getting away from him in terms of how it was scored, it created a conundrum for those who were scoring both in an official capacity or an unofficial capacity to determine who was getting the upper hand. This was due to one fighter in Estrada tending to throw his punches in combination, but Gonzalez being able to make up ground by landing hard flush punches. Even though Gonzalez’ shots at this point in the fight tended to be one at a time, when he did land, he appeared to get the better of the action.

 

As was the case in the previous two encounters, entering the final rounds, I felt the fight was close and could go either way, even though I still felt Estrada was doing enough to earn the victory. It was indisputable however, that Gonzalez had succeeded in closing the gap and the question that began the go through my mind was whether his rally would be enough to sway the fight in his favor. At the conclusion of another hotly contested twelve rounds between the two fighters, I arrived with a scorecard of seven rounds to five or 115-113 in points in favor of Estrada.

 

The basis of my scorecard was largely based on how effective Estrada was in the first half of the fight. A misconception that some can have at times, particularly those who do not understand how Boxing is scored is even if a fighter is able to rally in the middle and late rounds of a fight, without the benefit of knockdowns or being able to clearly win rounds that were closely fought, it can be difficult to close the gap in terms of the scorecards. While Gonzalez did manage to turn what was a four rounds to two deficit on my scorecard at the conclusion of the first six rounds into a closer fight ending up being on the losing end at the conclusion of the fight by two rounds/two points, I believe it was a case where he ran out of rounds.

 

Despite the view and basis of scoring of this fight in an unofficial capacity by yours truly, I felt that the fight could have gone either way and I was almost expecting the official scores to result in a draw being the result of this fight. For those who may wonder why even though I ended up with a seven rounds to five scorecard at the end of the bout, that I would almost expect a draw to be announced as the final result, as I have often said through the many years that I have covered the sport that when it comes to close fights it will often come down to what a judge prefers in their own criteria based on clean punching, effective aggression, ring generalship, and defense that will determine how they score a fight.

 

Speaking only for myself as someone who has spent most of his life covering Boxing and having seen and covered thousands of fights on every level the sport has to offer, how I may see things even though I have both experience and insight to back up how I score, may not necessarily be how three official judges might see the same fight, much less others who are scoring unofficially whether they be fans or fellow members of Boxing media that are also covering a bout. It was nevertheless not a surprise to me to see a close decision announced with one official judge scoring the bout a draw, while two official judges scored the bout seven rounds to five 115-113 in points and eight rounds to four, 116-112 in points for Estrada giving him the victory via majority decision.

 

Ultimately, the two judges who scored this bout in favor of Estrada had a one round difference in their scoring, but that does not change the fact that like the previous two fights, fight three between Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez was very close. Should there be a fourth fight between the two? This observer is not against the idea of a potential fourth bout between the two because again, “Styles Make Fights,” and if one were to poll Boxing fans, I believe that they would welcome a continuation of what has been one of the sport’s more memorable rivalries in the recent history of the sport.

 

There is also context in the recent past that would seemingly open the door for a fourth bout. Many will recall the heated rivalry that stretched multiple weight classes between legends Manny Pacquaio and recent Hall of Fame inductee Juan Manuel Marquez, who fought four times in an epic series of fights with a disputed draw in their first fight, followed by two close decision wins by Pacquiao, which fueled demand for a fourth fight. In fight four in December 2012 where both men scored knockdowns of each other, it was Marquez who emerged victorious knocking Pacquiao out in brutal fashion with a perfectly time counter right hand that was thrown in a defensive manner as Pacquiao charged Marquez in the closing seconds of the sixth round. Pacquiao was out cold on the canvas for several minutes. The rivalry between the two concluded with this bout with Pacquiao winning two bouts, one draw, and Marquez’ victory in the final encounter. While I felt that the Marquez victory in fight four and more specifically how it came opened the possibility of a fifth fight between the two, there would be no continuation between the two fighters as Marquez would only fight twice more before retiring in 2014. As most know, Pacquiao continued fighting until losing his last bout to Yordenis Ugas in August of last year, retiring shortly after the fight to focus on his political ambitions in his native Philippines where he has served as a congressman and a senator.

 

Will there be a fourth bout between Estrada and Gonzalez? After three toe to toe wars between the two in fights that were all Fight of the Year candidates, it may be a question of both what either fighter has left in them at this stage in their careers and also whether the money is right for both fighters to make a fourth fight viable. Considering that both Estrada and Gonzalez are part of a crop of fighters in Boxing’s lowest weight divisions that has brought long overdue recognition and exposure of those weight classes in main events here in the United States in recent years, and both fighters like Robinson, LaMotta, Pacquiao, and Marquez are destined to be Hall of Famers when all is said and done, if both fighters are healthy, why not continue the rivalry while both are still near their primes? At the end of the day, much like the rivalries mentioned in this column and some others that I personally could go on and on about, it likely will not matter who ends up with more wins between Estrada and Gonzalez. It will instead be the fights themselves and more specifically how they were fought that will be discussed by Boxing fans and those of us who cover the sport for many years to come.

 

“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

Ricky Hatton Tells Chisora To 'Hang Up Gloves & Retire' After Fury Loss

 

Press Release: December 4, 2022  By Liam Solomon – Fair Betting Sites – British boxing legend Ricky Hatton has opened up in an exclusive interview with Fair Betting Sites, professing his desires to fight old foe Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather in an exhibition fight.

 

In a wide-ranging interview, Hatton predicts Tyson Fury will finish Derek Chisora this coming Saturday (December 3rd), in a late stoppage. ‘The Hitman’ also urges Chisora to ‘hang up his gloves’ and retire after Saturday’s fight with Fury.

 

To view the interview click the video below.

 

Material and Video courtesy of Fair Betting Sites/ Liam Solomon Used with permission.

 

For more information about Fair Betting Sites and for a full transcript of this interview please visit: https://fairbettingsites.co.uk/blog/2022/11/30/exclusive-ricky-hatton-interview

 

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

Fury Concludes Chisora Trilogy In Dominant Fashion

 

In previewing the third bout between undefeated two-time Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury and longtime contender and former world title challenger Dereck Chisora, this observer pointed out that the trilogy bout between the current holder of the WBC World Heavyweight championship and the former European Heavyweight champion Chisora did not come in the standard way that most think of when it comes to a series of three fights between two fighters. While it was indeed true that Fury had won both of the previous encounters, including stopping Chisora in the second bout eight years ago, the question going into the third fight for the champion was whether or not he was looking past the challenger and toward a potential unification bout in 2023 against undefeated unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk for what would be the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world.

 

An additional question that I personally had in mind given not only what had occurred in the previous two meetings between Fury and Chisora, but specifically given Fury’s status going into the third fight as a significant favorite, was whether Fury could produce a statement-making performance and close the book on the trilogy in convincing fashion. It was also worth wondering whether at an advanced stage of his career, if Chisora could produce an upset the likes of which would be one of the top in the history of the Heavyweight division.

 

With a crowd of over 60,000 in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night in London, England, Fury showed that he was not looking ahead to a more lucrative bout to come in the near future. Although Chisora came out aggressively in the first round and did what a shorter fighter is theoretically supposed to do against a taller and longer fighter in trying to push the 6’9 268lb. Fury back by going to the body and applying pressure, it was not long before Fury put on a full display of his Boxing skills. Following the opening round where the challenger seemed to land more punches, Fury began using his reach, angles, and combination punching to gradually administer a beating on the longtime contender. One of the primary weapons that the champion used in doing that was his jab, followed by overhand rights, and mixing his punches in combination to keep the 6’1 ½ Chisora at a distance where Fury could hit him and the challenger could only occasionally return offense. Another weapon that was noticeable in this fight as was the case in Fury’s last title defense in April against top contender Dillian Whyte was the use of the right uppercut that the champion used when Chisora tried to duck under his long reach and attempted to get on the inside.

 

Although Chisora as has been the case throughout his career remained very “Game” and was able to hit Fury sporadically, particularly with flush overhand rights, as the fight progressed, one question came to mind as it became clear that Fury would be able to take what Chisora had to offer and continue dominating the combat, how long would the fight last? While no one can take anything away from the heart a fighter shows during a fight, this was the type of fight that I frankly worried that if it were not stopped as the one-way beating continued, it may have resulted in permanent injury for Chisora.

 

It was after all only recently that Aidos Yerbossynuly was hospitalized with a severe brain injury after being stopped by undefeated Super-Middleweight contender David Morrell. The commonalities between that fight and this one was clearly apparent. Both Yerbossynuly and Chisora were too brave for their own good and both fights were allowed to go on well beyond where they should have been stopped. In a scenario that was similar to the second encounter between Fury and Chisora where Fury stopped him in ten rounds in a mostly one-sided fight, the third bout between the two would also be stopped with just ten seconds remaining in the tenth round when Referee Victor Loughlin finally decided that Chisora had taken enough punishment.

 

Although in some ways Fury’s performance and to be more specific the dominance he showed in this fight reminded me of two dominant Heavyweight champions from a recent era in the sport, brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, the latter of whom Fury defeated to win his first world championship in November 2015 in that he was so dominant that the outcome of the fight was formulaic, I found myself openly questioning why the fight was allowed to go into the tenth round. No one should take anything away from Dereck Chisora for the heart and frankly mettle he showed in this fight and has shown for his entire career, but as was the case several weeks ago following David Morrell’s twelfth round stoppage of Aidos Yerbossynuly, I feel that both Chisora’s corner as well as Referee Victor Loughlin allowed this to go on well beyond where it should have been stopped.

 

A fighter’s mentality, at least most of the time where a boxer does not determine on their own that they have taken enough punishment and decide to retire from a fight, is to keep fighting no matter what where the only way a fight will be stopped is either that fighter being knocked out, or being able to go the distance. What is not factored into the equation is the amount of punishment a fighter suffers in the process. It is therefore, the responsibility of both the referee officiating a bout and more specifically a fighter’s corner to know when enough is enough and to protect a fighter from themselves in order to hopefully prevent the possibility of permanent injury.

 

While in this case Dereck Chisora was able to leave the ring and by all accounts at least as of this writing seems to be okay following this fight, the subject of when a fight should be stopped is something that yours truly feels needs to be addressed by the various state athletic commissions, international regulatory boards, and sanctioning organizations that appoint referees to official bouts. It should also be explained to those working a fighter’s corner that they are the first line of protection to ensure that their fighter can exit competition safely. Although thankfully there was no instance of severe injury resulting from this fight, preventing and perhaps protocols need to be implemented in the future at every level of the sport.

 

As for Tyson Fury, if a bout between he and Oleksandr Usyk is indeed the aim going into 2023, he has done his part to set up the potential Undisputed Heavyweight championship fight. Perhaps the champion will choose to have one more fight prior to a potential bout with Usyk. If that were the case, top contenders Joe Joyce, who is currently unbeaten and the WBO’s top Heavyweight contender and WBA number one contender Daniel Dubois, who scored a third round stoppage of Kevin Lerena after being dropped three times in the first round on the undercard of Fury’s second stoppage of Dereck Chisora, would both be good potential options for Fury, particularly if the champion wants to continue fighting for the time being in the United Kingdome where both fighters much like Whyte and Chisora before them, have sizable followings and could likely help sell a stadium out to challenge Fury.

 

With two victories in 2022 now in the books, if Fury is done toying with retirement, it is hard to say that he would not be favored over Usyk, Joyce, or Dubois given both his size and skillset, which seems to be improving with every fight. No matter who the current WBC world champion fights next, there are some interesting times and possibilities ahead in the Heavyweight division heading into 2023. The only question might be could either of the three potential opponents or perhaps a contender not currently in the mix pose a challenge for Fury.

 

“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

 

STEVEN “SO COLD” NELSON TRAINING CAMP QUOTES

 

Press Release: By BLK Prime – OMAHA, NEBRASKA (December 2 , 2022) – Undefeated prospect Steven Nelson (17-0, 14 KOs), of Omaha, NE, is ready to square off against James Ballard (10-4, 3 KOs), on the Crawford vs. Avanesyan card taking place at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. on December 10. Nelson vs. Ballard is scheduled for eight rounds in the light heavyweight division. 

Credit: BLK Prime

 

Crawford vs. Avanesyan, a 12-round WBO welterweight world title clash, will stream live on the BLK Prime app and across all cable and satellite outlets for the price of $39.99. BLK Prime, a Silicon Valley-based tech company, is a subscription video-on-demand platform that utilizes elite technology to bring the best picture-perfect stream available. The telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. 

 

Nelson is fighting for the first time since a TKO victory over DeAndre Ware in September of 2020 following a torn Achilles tendon. A U.S. Army veteran, Nelson spent eight years working in satellite communications with the 7^th Special Forces Group and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008-2009. He then joined the Army’s World Class Athlete Program boxing team and was stationed in Colorado Springs prior to beginning his professional career.

 

He is training alongside his lifelong friend and fellow Omaha native Crawford in their Colorado Springs training base in preparation for December 10. Here is what Nelson had to say about his training camp, his matchup with Ballard, fighting at home on BLK Prime PPV, and more.

 

On his recent training camp: 

 

“Training camp has been going great. This is one of many camps that we’ve done together in Colorado Springs, but seeing how motivated Bud is and how hard he pushed us has made this camp really special for all of us. I’m coming off a torn Achilles that had me sidelined for two years, so I cannot wait to step back in the ring. It really feels like it is our team against the world. Bud and the coaches have made me step up my game. If you aren’t strong enough, you are not going to make it in this camp.”

 

On his matchup with James Ballard:

 

“I am going to smash Ballard, respectfully of course. I have had some setbacks, but I am one of the best fighters in my division. I am looking to win this fight and go after fighters like Edgar Berlanga and many others who have been avoiding me. I am taking Ballard extremely seriously, but I fully expect to stop him.”

 

On what a win will do for his career:

 

“Once I am victorious on December 10, I want all the top contenders in the division. But to do so, I have to put on a great performance in Omaha and remind the boxing world who I am. This reminds me of how I felt prior to the Reyes Diaz fight when I stopped him. He basically retired after that fight, and that is the type of performance I am going to do on December 10th. I am going to win and target all the big-name fighters."

 

On fighting on BLK Prime PPV at home:

 

“This is the first time I'll be fighting on PPV, so I'm very excited. Seeing the type of love BLK Prime is showing Bud, made me a fan. They're putting the fighters first, and I know the fans will get behind them, because they have good intentions and are paying the fighters for risking their lives. Getting the chance to fight at home on this BLK Prime PPV card is a blessing. I’m expecting a lot of hometown supporters and people I have met worldwide during my military career to be in attendance. The CHI Health Center is going to be electrifying on fight night."

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: BLK Prime Used with permission.

 

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

 

Estrada -Gonzalez 3 Preview

Perhaps it is a mere coincidence, but the first Saturday in the final month of 2022 in the sport of Boxing is highlighted by two trilogy bouts ranging from one of the sport’s lightest divisions to it’s heaviest. While this observer has already penned a preview of the third encounter between WBC Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury and longtime contender Dereck Chisora, the second trilogy bout that will take place on Saturday, December 3rd is one that is also highly anticipated. Yours truly is referring to the third battle between WBC Jr. Bantamweight world champion Juan Francisco Estrada and four-division world champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez. A fight that will headline a Boxing card from the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ that can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN.

Although the Fury-Chisora third bout has come in an unconventional way with Fury having won the previous two fights, the Estrada -Gonzalez trilogy is the more standard set up when most think of a three-fight series between two fighters with each having won one bout. In their last encounter in March of last year, Estrada evened the score by avenging his November 2012 loss to Gonzalez by scoring a twelve round split decision to retain his WBC crown. The first two fight between these two were fought at an extremely high pace and it would be logical to assume that the third encounter might be similar. Why could one make that assumption? 

While the possibility certainly exists that both fighters will look to make tactical adjustments having seen what each other can do after sharing the ring for two twelve round battles, sometimes the old adage of “Styles Make Fights” holds true in that no matter how many times two fighters face each other, the combat tends to be fought in a similar way. If there were slight differences between the first and second bouts it was that in fight two, Estrada used significantly more movement to offset the pressure of Gonzalez, which also allowed him to stay off the ropes. Something that he did not do consistently in the first fight.

Although the combat in fight two was fierce as was the case in the first encounter, the subtle difference in Estrada’s approach as well as seeming to get the upper hand in several of the exchanges resulted in a close victory for him. Now the task for the champion, which may be easier said than done, particularly in regard to a fight in the sport's lower divisions where fights are fought typically at an exhausting pace, will be to try and duplicate and improve on what proved to be a winning strategy last time against Gonzalez. In contrast, Gonzalez must look to cut off the ring and try to limit Estrada’s movement as best as he can.

One thing that a fan should keep in mind as this fight approaches is that both men have been through many wars including the two against each other. Although neither fighter is necessarily near the end of their respective careers, one should wonder when the accumulation of all the battles each fighter has been through will begin to show as they continue on with their careers. It should also not be overlooked that the careers of fighters that compete in Boxing’s lower weight classes tend to be shorter than those who fight at heavier weights with rare exceptions. Whether or not that can be attributed to the pace in which fights at lower weights tend to be fought is a subject to discuss and debate at another time.

One can only hope however, given the fierce battles that Estrada and Gonzalez have given us that both have enough left in them to produce what could, like the last two encounters, be a Fight of the Year candidate. Will chapter three between Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez be another classic? We will find out on Saturday, December 3rd.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Estrada vs. Gonzalez 3 takes place on Saturday, December 3rd at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 5PM ET/2PM PT with Before The Bell, featuring preliminary bouts, followed by the main card beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT (U. S. Times only.) 

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.

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