The Boxing Truth®

Thursday, July 13, 2023

NESTOR BRAVO AND WILL MADERA FACEOFF FOR WBA FEDELATIN TITLE IN MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS’ SECOND INSTALLMENT OF MOST VALUABLE PROSPECTS

Press Release July 13, 2023 By DAZN and Most Valuable Promotions - NEW YORK, NY – On Wednesday, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced their main event for its second Most Valuable Prospects event on Friday, August 18 in Orlando, Florida. The WBA Fedelatin title bout will feature super-lightweight Puerto Rican-American talent Nestor “El Mas Bravo” Bravo (21-0, 15 KOs) and Will “Ill Will” Madera (17-2-3, 10 KOs). The 10-round bout is contested at 140 lbs and will be taking place at the Caribe Royale Resort.

The Most Valuable Prospects series is produced and promoted by MVP, with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter and is distributed by DAZN. The second event in the series continues the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. All events within Most Valuable Prospects will take place on Friday nights in 2023 and will be hosted by the series’ official title sponsor, Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL. DAZN will air the series across its platforms as a part of its subscription package which will include the entire main card lineup and prelims. Tickets are now on sale at https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/22005EEADB50BF76

Bravo, the undefeated fighter out of Orlando, FL, by way of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, is ranked seventh in the world by the World Boxing Association as a super lightweight. The cross-weight talent also holds the WBO-NABO junior welterweight title, which he won in October 2022 by stopping Adrian Yung in seven rounds and becoming the second fighter ever to do so. Bravo hopes to return to his winning streak after facing a disappointing no-contest against WBC Latino Champion Jair Valtierra in February 2023 when Valtierra clashed heads with Bravo in the fourth round. He is trained by Bob Santos, who was named Ring Magazine’s 2022 Trainer of the Year.

Madera, the Puerto Rican super lightweight out of Albany, NY, comes to the ring following a series of high-octane matchups. The orthodox fighter handed Brandun Lee the first knockdown of his career via a vicious overhand right in August 2022, ending in a narrow loss after Lee got up at the 11th second and won the bout. Previously, Madera stopped Jamshidbek Najmitdinov (20-1) in the 5th round of their faceoff at the Barclays Arena in October 2021 and defeated Thomas "Gunna Man" Mattice (13-0-1) by a unanimous decision in February 2019. Madera, a father to six, is trained by Ty Goldston.

“Our first Most Valuable Prospects event was incredibly successful and we are thrilled to announce the lineup for Most Valuable Prospects II,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “Our commitment to cultivating the next generation of great boxers is evident in the work that we do, and we want to thank each of our partners for sharing that same mission. The matchups on this card will serve our audiences with nothing less than an exciting night as we all witness these young athletes work towards becoming tomorrow’s must-watch names in boxing. We appreciate Caribe Royale Resort’s hospitality and partnership and want to thank our distribution partner, DAZN for their dedication to bringing the action to global audiences at home.”

Viewers can expect to see nine total fights on the 18th, with some of the world’s most promising prospects in boxing. The full undercard and broadcast team will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We are excited to be working with the team of Most Valuable Promotions on our second Most Valuable Prospects event. The main event is a great one for the fans in attendance and those watching on DAZN. Two top talents will be vying for the WBA Fedelatin Title in what will be an action packed bout,” said Amaury Piedra, Managing Director of Caribe Royale Resort and President of Boxlab Promotions. “In addition the list of up and coming prospects on the co-main and remainder of the card is exceptional. We will feature some of the top rising stars in boxing from around the world. Caribe Royale and Boxlab Promotions are proud to be a part of bringing this event to Orlando. This is part of Caribe Royale’s strategy of being the top All Suite hotel in Orlando for both locals and visitors alike.”

For more information, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @MostVPromotions, @DAZNBoxing, @Boxlab_AP, and @cariberoyale or on Instagram via @JakePaul, @MostValuablePromotions, @DAZNBoxing, and @cariberoyaleorlando.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP has produced Jake Paul’s last four global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Fury match, which surpassed 800,000 Pay-per-view buys worldwide. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head-to-head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN

DAZN is a leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Canada, US, and the UK.  Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world - Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC. 

DAZN is the NFL’s global partner and, from the 2023 season, will be the only place for fans around the world to watch every NFL match through the NFL Game Pass International add-on subscription. DAZN is a global home for boxing and combat sports through its partnerships with Matchroom Boxing the Professional Fighters League, and a global home for Women’s Football with UEFA Women’s Champions League and Finetwork Liga F.  DAZN is adding more and more sport to its platform to create a destination for sports fans. 

DAZN is reimagining the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, bet, play, share, socialize, and buy tickets, NFTs and merchandise. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN. 

DAZN is available on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles, ensuring that fans have access to ground-breaking rights catalog and slate of incredible content. In the UK and globally, DAZN can be accessed on Samsung, LG, Sony, and Panasonic Smart TVs and on Games Consoles including PlayStation and Xbox. Subscribers also have access to DAZN on their Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, and Apple TV and can find the app on their iPhone, iPad, and android mobile devices. DAZN is available as an Amazon Channel on Amazon Prime TV and can be viewed on Channel 429 on Sky in the UK and Ireland.

DAZN is a global, privately-owned company with employees in over 25 countries. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit www.dazngroup.com.  

About Caribe Royale Orlando Resort

Located just minutes from the Walt Disney World® Resort in the nation’s number one convention and tourist destination, Caribe Royale Orlando is the only AAA Four Diamond all-suite meetings resort in Orlando. A TripAdvisor 2022 Travelers’ Choice Award winner – among just 10 percent of hotels worldwide to receive the distinction – the upscale Caribe Royale is emerging from a $140 million renovation that includes fully remodeling all of its one-bedroom suites, an all-new 50,000-square-foot grand ballroom (bringing the total meeting space to 220,000 square feet), and an inviting new lobby. Being privately-owned, Caribe Royale offers meeting planners faster approval cycles and more flexibility to create stand-out events. To learn more or to book a visit, event or meeting, visit www.cariberoyale.com. Follow the all-suite convention hotel on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(@cariberoyale), LinkedIn and Pinterest. #cariberoyaleorlando

Alex Winwood Eyes Next Opponents In Pursuit Of World Title Dream

Press Release July 13, 2023 By Jarred Cross and Dragon Fire Boxing - Aussie boxing sensation Alex Winwood says "video can only tell you so much" in sizing up potential opponents in the ring, but he'll keep a close eye on those contesting belts for when his time arises.

Credit: Mike O'Hara/Dragon Fire Boxing

The brief he's set himself is simple - win a world title inside seven fights.

Undefeated at 3-0 since turning professional last year, the 25-year-old has three fights to work with to beat Jeff Fenech as the fastest Australian man to do so.

Current WBC strawweight champ Panya Pradabsri held off Japanese contender Norihito Tanaka with an eighth round TKO at home in Thailand on June 28.

The pair met last year 2022 in a fight which went the distance.

WBC interim champion Yudai Shigeoka circles as Pradabsri's next fight - something Winwood knows is an opportunity to get another look at who's around the top of the tree.

A shot at a world title means toppling over those currently in the way.

At minimum weight, Winwood said taller opponents are something he's used to, and a challenge he's able to match even when limiting his natural ability as an outside fighter.

He joked that entering any fight "I'd love to knock them out with the first punch I threw" but knows versatility is his strong suit against more experienced fighters.

"I've got a pretty well-rounded boxing ability,"

"Naturally, I'm an outside boxer. But when it comes to size it doesn't really suit me in some fights.

"I'm pretty adept to fighting on the inside, the outside or anywhere in between…my amateur career has obviously allowed me to have that depth of experience fighting at all different ranges."

At 5-foot-four, Pradabsri has "an inch or two" on the Western Australian.

Winwood anticipates taking plenty away from seeing Pradabsri face a faster, more reactive, "more explosive" Shigeoka.

Panya Pradabsri retained the WBC strawweight title against Norihito Tanaka in Thailand on June 28.

"It's gonna be interesting to see how he (Pradabsri) matches up in his next fight because then that gives us a pretty good understanding of where we need to be in the ring against him."

Winwood and the team behind him, notably respected trainer Angelo Hyder & manager Tony Tolj, are setting their sights on fights that give those making the decisions in boxing no choice but to offer chances at more belts.

In his previous two bouts the 25-year-old has claimed the WBC International titles at both light flyweight and strawweight.

It now a matter of extracting approach out of the vision available of potential future matchups and training at his base on the far north coast of NSW.

From what he has seen already, Winwood feels he has every chance of showing he belongs at the top of the tree.

"I've sure beaten some of the best already so I know that it's hard to go off three fights and every fight is a learning curve for me and kind of shows us where we are in the mix," he said.

"I think from everything we've seen that we do believe that I have a pretty big chance at taking on these guys sooner rather than later.

Winwood says he doesn't care who he joins in the ring next "as long as they've got something to offer me, in terms of rating positions."

Material Courtesy of: Jarred Cross/Photo Courtesy of: Mike O'Hara Dragon Fire Boxing Used with permission.

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Lester Martinez Hoping Win Against Lucas de Abreu will Propel him to Become Guatemala’s 1st World Champion

Press Release July 12, 2023 By ProBox TV - Super middleweight contender Lester Martinez has represented his native Guatemala with distinction as an amateur winning 5 Gold medals throughout the Central American Games, Central American and Caribbean Games and Central American Championships.

Credit: ProBox TV

Turning pro in 2019, life on the professional circuit has started perfectly for the 27 year old trained by Brian ‘Bo Mac’ McIntyre accumulating a healthy record of 15-0 (13 KOs) to date. Oddly enough he started his pro campaign with a 2nd round knockout victory over the legendary Ricardo Mayorga in his nation’s capital, Guatemala City.

On Wednesday night Martinez locks horns with Brazil’s Lucas de Abreu on ProBox TV’s Wednesday Night Fights co-main event in a 10 round duel. A fight that Martinez hopes will propel him to become his country’s first world champion.

“I won Gold medals in the Central American and Caribbean, this is something that has not been done in 68 years in Guatemala.” Martinez said. “I would like to thank ProBox TV for this opportunity, I’m looking to impress people on this show and show boxing fans what I am capable of. I plan to become Guatemala’s first ever world champion in boxing, it has been something my country has never achieved. However, the sport is growing little-by-little back at home and I plan to carry the flag for Guatemala in the professional system much like I did in the amateurs.”

Martinez is managed by the well renowned Richard Steele and trained by the highly regarded Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre. Abreu, who stands in his way, comes off successive points defeats to Darrelle Valsaint and Ernesbadi Begue. His record currently stands at 14-3 (11 KOs).

“I know Lucas de Abreu will be very tough.” Martinez added. “He is very experienced and has a good record, I’m expecting a good fight and a tough test. He did well in the amateurs too, I’m hoping the fans enjoy seeing me fight.”

Material and Photo Courtesy of: ProBox TV Used with permission.

For more information about ProBox TV including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, full event archive and additional programming, and to subscribe please visit: www.ProBoxTV.com.

Monday, July 10, 2023

The Pacheco Brothers And The Benefits Of The Body Attack

Originally, the days that followed the fourth of July holiday here in the United States in the sport of Boxing was to shine a spotlight on the 147lb. Welterweight division, a division which later this month will crown it's first undisputed world champion since the 1980's when undefeated world champions Errol Spence and Terrence Crawford put their records and portions of the World Welterweight championship on the line. There was however, supposed to be an encounter of significance in the division on July 8th as undefeated contender Vergil Ortiz was to meet top contender Eimantas Stanionis in San Antonio, TX, which would have determined a mandatory challenger for the winner of the upcoming Spence-Crawford clash.

Unfortunately, Ortiz, who has seen his fast-rising career stall due to dealing with medical issues that had previously caused postponement of this bout earlier this year, was forced to withdraw again just days before the fight when he fainted while training for the bout. The subsequent hospitalization that followed resulted in Ortiz being medically disqualified by doctors and thus forced him to withdraw from the bout.

The bout, which was to be the highlight of the post-July 4th weekend being cancelled although likely a disappointment for those who were looking forward to the encounter, an interesting dynamic would instead highlight the weekend on July 7th in Monterrey, Mexico where two brothers, each unbeaten, bookended a card promoted by Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing.

In the main event, rising Super-Middleweight contender Diego Pacheco faced what some considered to be a significant test in the form of veteran Manuel Gallegos. From the opening bell, Gallegos attempted to put constant pressure on Pacheco and tried to walk him down in what was a relatively small ring. Although this may seem at least on the surface to be a wise strategy in trying to cut off the ring and establish the tempo of combat by theoretically making an opponent uncomfortable, Gallegos took significant punishment as he came forward, particularly from hooks to the head.

It is often said that one of the best assets a fighter in any combat sport can have is a good chin, otherwise known as having the ability to take a good punch or strike and keep coming forward. Gallegos did indeed have this quality even as he was taking shots from Pacheco that made yours truly shake his head in disbelief. The ability to absorb such significant amounts of punishment is truly something that is God given. For fighters blessed with such an ability, if one wants to call being able to walk through punches to one's head a blessing, it can at times expose a vulnerability. A vulnerability that many fighters over past decades, one of the most notable among them being Hall of Famer Julio Cesar Chavez, Sr., were able to make careers out of breaking down and exposing. The body.

After three rounds of landing everything he could throw at Gallegos' head as well as taking the best of what his opponent could dish out, Pacheco would find the answer that would bring Gallegos down in round four when he landed a left hooks to the body that sent the "Game" Gallegos down. Although Gallegos would get to his feet, a follow-up barrage from Pacheco would end the fight giving the twenty-two year old Pacheco his nineteenth victory as a professional and his sixteenth knockout. While there is not much to say beyond this being an illustration of a fighter being broken down, what it also demonstrates is the benefit of executing a body attack.

As one Pacheco ended the evening with a knockout win, another Pacheco began the evening by doing the same. This observer is referring to Diego's younger brother and unbeaten Heavyweight Federico Pacheco. Federico, who stands 6'5 and weighed in over 250lbs. for his bout on the undercard faced a fighter named Oscar Heredia. In what was his fourth fight as a professional, the nineteen year old Pacheco focused on working behind a consistent jab and mixing in hooks to the body. It would be a left hook to the body that would send Heredia down in his own corner in the closing seconds of the second round. Heredia was able to beat the count, but the fight was stopped after the round by his corner.

This was my first time having an opportunity to see Federico Pacheco compete and similar to what his brother was able to do later in the evening, there is not much to say or much one can analyze. What can be said however, with regard to why the element of a consistent attack to an opponent's body is beneficial is that it takes an opponent's ability to move and evade punches away gradually because it effects the opponent's legs. This can also prove to be a useful approach in circumstances where an opponent is able to avoid and defend against punches to the head, which can prove beneficial as a fight progresses in terms of being able to open opportunities to the head. There is also the obvious additional benefit of the possibility of landing a punch in the right spot on an opponent's midsection that can bring a fight to an end suddenly because it often can have a paralyzing effect where an opponent has no choice, but to go down and try to catch their wind, which more often than not, results in said fighter being counted out because it is extremely difficult to move once struck in an area of the body that paralyzes you where you have trouble breathing, whether it be to the liver, ribcage, or solar plexus.

Although the elements of the benefits of a body attack is something that has been proven countless times throughout Boxing history and, despite the midsection being an obvious sensitive area of the human anatomy, it is a form of offense that many fighters today on every level of the sport for whatever reason seem to neglect. Nevertheless, the Pacheco Brothers were able to show in their respective bouts, what the benefits of the body attack could be when executed properly. As for what's next for both, it is difficult to say where Federico Pacheco is in terms of his development with only four professional fights, three of which have come by knockout against limited competition as he is obviously in the beginning stages of his career.

For older brother Diego, he appears to be nearing world championship contention and given his alignment with promoter Eddie Hearn and Hearn also now promoting fellow undefeated Super-Middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga, it appears obvious that their paths are likely to cross, especially if the goal for both men is an eventful challenge of current India Super-Middleweight world champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. The question might be whether or not either fighter's respective teams or perhaps even Hearn are willing to roll the dice and make that fight in the immediate future given both fighters similar standing current, each's growing fan bases, and both being potential challengers for Alvarez down the line.

"And That's The Boxing Truth.

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

Sunday, July 9, 2023

JUSTIN PAULDO JOINS PROBOX TV AIMING FOR WORLD TITLE SHOT IN 2024

Press Release July 9, 2023 By ProBox TV - Talented lightweight Justin Pauldo (15-1, 7 KOs) has inked a long term promotional contract with ProBox TV’s promotional arm, ProBox Promotions.

Credit: ProBox TV

Pauldo will get to work almost immediately on ProBox TV’s Wednesday Night Fights on August 23rd in Kissimmee, Florida. An opponent will be announced in the coming weeks for a 10 round contest at 135 pounds.

“I am very excited to start this new journey with ProBox.” Pauldo said upon signing his new deal. “I want to thank Garry Jonas and his entire team for the opportunity to showcase my talent. I am proud to be a part of one of the only Promoters that are doing shows regularly, you don't see that in boxing these days. I also want to thank my team at Fighters First Management for making this happen!

“My long term goal is to show people I belong in the ring with the top guys in the Lightweight division. My goal for this time next year is to be fighting for a World Title. Fans on ProBox can expect me to finally showcase my talents and take my opponents out one by one.”

The Florida native joins Jonas in great form having gone undefeated for the last 8 years since a career lone-loss in 2015. Pauldo has been plying his trade on PBC before seeing a period of inactivity in 2022. He comes off a unanimous decision victory over Yeifer Valencia last November. Other notable victories have come against Josec Ruiz and the undefeated Joshua Zuniga.

Pauldo’s manager Jolene Mizzone added. “I want to thank Garry Jonas and his entire team for giving Justin this opportunity, it is refreshing to be with a promoter who will keep Justin active. I love the whole concept of ProBox TV and look forward to being a part of it.”

Material and Photo Courtesy of: ProBox TV Used with permission.

Friday, July 7, 2023

MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS’ SHADASIA GREEN TO FACE OLIVIA CURRY ON THE JAKE PAUL VS. NATE DIAZ PAY-PER-VIEW ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 5TH

Press Release: By DAZN- DALLAS - July 7, 2023 – On Thursday, July 6, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Real Fight Inc. (RFI) announced that two super middleweight powerhouses, Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator Green” (12-0, 11 KOs) and Olivia Curry (7-1, 2 KOs) will be joining the Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz pay-per-view card live on August 5th. The 10-round matchup will be contested at 168 Ibs at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. Green, the universally recognized number one contender, comes to the ring off her latest dominating victory, a 6th round TKO, over former unified world champion, Elin Cederroos, back in February. Curry, who boasts a decisive five-bout winning streak, will put her power and skill to the test as she steps in against the powerful Green.

Credit: DAZN

Rounding out the card will be Real Fight, Inc.’s Alan Sanchez (22-5-1, 10 KOs) vs. Angel Beltran Villa (17-1, 10 KOs) as they go head-to-head in an 8-round welterweight bout. Sanchez is the former WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Champion and is coming off consecutive victories that include wins over Saul Bustos (15-0-1) and Jose Miguel Borrego (18-2).

The Paul vs. Diaz pay-per-view is presented by Celsius Essential Energy drinks and will be distributed globally by DAZN PPV. In the US and Canada in addition to DAZN PPV, Paul vs. Diaz will be available on all major cable and satellite pay-per-view providers. All tickets can be purchased at https://www.ticketmaster.com/mvp-jake-paul-v-nate-diaz-dallas-texas-08-05-2023/event/0C005EA581B12549

Green, the former Team USA star who boasts an impressive 12-0 record with 11 KO’s and the record for fastest KO in a women’s fight, joined MVP after a trailblazing few years in the sport. She is currently the mandatory challenger for Undisputed champion Savannah Marshall’s newly earned WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF belts, which sets up a bout that would be the biggest women’s fight in UK history. As a former standout college basketball star, Green spent years as a starter for Old Dominion University (ODU) where she was impressively named Third Team All-CAA and ranked top 20 in the CAA in scoring. The Paterson, NJ native later broke out into the amateur boxing scene when she joined the U.S. National Team as a heavyweight after just five fights, earning a silver medal at the 2016 World Championships in Kazakhstan. In 2019, Green transitioned to professional boxing where she quickly gained notoriety as a top female contender, ranking #1 in the WBC and IBO, and #2 in the WBA, ultimately earning her the Paterson Laila Ali Award.

“I’m at the top of my game right now,” said Shadasia Green. “I may be next in line for the super middleweight title, but right now, I’m strictly focused on knocking out Olivia Curry. The August 5th card boasts an impressive lineup of fights and it's an honor to share center stage with female boxing legends like Amanda Serrano and Heather Hardy. I can’t wait to show fans in Dallas and at home exactly why they call me ‘The Sweet Terminator.’”

Curry, the professional boxer out of Chicago, originally hailing from Cincinnati, OH, comes to the ring after winning her last five fights. The 33-year-old began her amateur fighting career in Muay Thai, winning the TBA Classic and fighting the best Class A competition in North America. As an amateur boxer, she won the Chicago Golden Gloves and went on to represent Chicago at the National Golden Gloves three times. Curry was nationally ranked as an elite female and competed at the 2018 USA National Tournament. As a pro, she is ranked in the top 5 middleweight contenders by major sanctioning bodies and The Ring Magazine. Outside the ring, Curry is a commercial filmmaker. She is managed by Trinidad Garcia and Rick Ramos.

“I’m grateful to MVP and Real Fight, Inc. for the opportunity to fight Shadasia and introduce myself to the world with a bang,” said Olivia Curry. “I’m coming to Dallas to win. I want to show that women’s boxing at the higher, more dangerous weight classes is leveling up.”

RFI’s 32-year-old Alan Sanchez (22-5-1, 10 KOs), hails from Guadalajara, Mexico and has conducted his camp in Stockton, CA. Defined by the area's toughness, Sanchez is a 147 Ib standout who will take on Angel Beltran Villa who boasts an impressive record of 17-1 with 10 KOs. The 27-year-old from Mexicali, Mexico is currently training in Indio, CA and is entering this fight after an eight-fight winning streak, following his June knockout of Abraham Afful and unanimous decision upset win against Luis Lopez in March. He is managed by Francisco Garcia.

“Angel is a proper Mexican fighter who is going to come forward and challenge me the way a fighter should,” said Sanchez. “I only want the toughest fights and Angel ensures that both everyone is going to get their money’s worth.”

“Shadasia Green vs. Olivia Curry promises to be an exciting fight from start to finish. I am excited for the world to see why Jake and I are such big believers in Shadasia,” said MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian. “For the first time, every member of our current MVP talent roster will be fighting on one card, and I couldn’t be prouder of the team we’ve built. Between the energy of the American Airlines Center, our incredible PPV production with DAZN, and the quality of the Paul vs. Diaz fighters- this night will be legendary.”

“These fights are the final pieces of a main card that showcases the best in boxing, Real Fight, Inc. and Most Valuable Promotions,” said RFI President, Zach Rosenfield. “We wanted to ensure that fans who attend this event and watch it all over the world through DAZN are treated to the best that boxing has to offer, and together we know that is what we are delivering.”

Most Valuable Promotions, founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, and Real Fight, Inc., founded by Diaz, are partnering to bring Paul vs. Diaz to global audiences. The strategic partnership will combine the star power and international reach of both fighters to promote the year’s biggest fight. The event is presented by Celsius Essential Energy drinks and will be distributed globally by DAZN PPV. In the US and Canada in addition to DAZN PPV, Paul vs. Diaz will be available on all major cable and satellite pay-per-view providers.

For more information, follow on Twitter via @MostVPromotions, @shaygreen35, and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @shadasia_green, @oliviarosecurry, @MostValuablePromotions, and @DAZNBoxing.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

About Real Fight, Inc.

Founded by mixed martial arts legend Nate Diaz, in 2022, Real Fight Inc. promotes exactly what the name suggests — the fights people want to see, featuring the realest fighters from all over the world. Since his departure from the UFC, Diaz is extending his business empire with a true all-around combat experience that will focus on boxing, MMA, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The inaugural event under the Real Fight, Inc. banner is set to take place on August 5, 2023, when Diaz makes his long-awaited professional boxing debut against Jake Paul at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The card will also feature RFI fighters, Chris Avila, Alan Sanchez, Jose Aguayo and Luciano Ramos

About DAZN:

DAZN is a leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Canada, US and the UK.  Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, La Liga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world - Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC. 

DAZN is available on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles, ensuring that fans have access to a ground-breaking rights catalog and slate of incredible content. In the UK and globally, DAZN can be accessed on Samsung, LG, Sony and Panasonic Smart TVs and on Games Consoles including PlayStation and Xbox. Subscribers also have access to DAZN on their Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Apple TV and can find the app on their iPhone, iPad, and android mobile devices. DAZN is available as an Amazon Channel on Amazon Prime TV and can be viewed on Channel 429 on Sky in the UK and Ireland.

DAZN is a global, privately-owned company with employees in over 25 countries. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit www.dazngroup.com.  

About American Airlines Center:

Designed by architectural wizard David M. Schwarz and Dallas based HKS, Inc., American Airlines Center is considered one of the nation's top arenas. Since opening its doors in 2001, the Center has been setting the precedent for sporting and live entertainment events. Bringing in a wide variety of big name shows as well as being home of both the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars, American Airlines Center consistently displays its unique versatility. Billboard Magazine named American Airlines Center the 6th busiest arena in the world in 2022.

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, to subscribe and for information on how to order Paul vs. Diaz please visit: www.DAZN.com.

Thursday, July 6, 2023

JIMMY KELLY THROWS HIS NAME INTO THE HAT FOR GOLOVKIN HOMECOMING

Press Release: July 6,, 2023 By ProBox TV - England’s Jimmy Kelly has somewhat reinvented himself in recent years. The Manchester based middleweight has ventured to American shores since his collaboration with ProBox TV last year.

Kelly (27-3, 10 KOs) upset the odds defeating Kazakhstan’s Kanat Islam last year in Plant City. He has since tasted defeat at the hand of Jaime Munguia but got back to winning ways with a victory over Edward Ulloa Diaz in February.

Credit: ProBox TV

With a 100 percent win record against Kazakh fighters, Kelly has thrown his name into the hat for a potential homecoming fight with Gennadiy Golovkin.

“I think my name should be in the hat for that fight.” Kelly said. “I beat Kanat Islam, a popular fighter from Kazakhstan. From what I can gather my name is well known over there due to that fight, and I just think I’m in the conversation. It excites me.

“He is arguably one of the best ever 160 pound fighters. He has had so many title defenses. If you were going to fight Golovkin, now probably would be the right time but it is still an incredible task to defeat a man like him. If it made sense and he wanted to have a homecoming fight over there, what an honour it would be to share the ring with him. I wouldn’t be going over there in awe of him, I’ve shown before that I’m willing to go anywhere in the world and give it a good go. I’ve upset the odds before, no reason why I can’t do it again. I was winning against Munguia until I got caught. I’ve boxed in Australia, I’ve boxed in California, boxed in Florida and even Kuwait. I’ve been all around the world, and I can’t find my baby.”

Kelly has been campaigning around the middleweight limit in recent fights, but was in no mood to worry over significant details in a proposed bout with Golovkin.

“I’ll leave the weight to him.” Kelly added. “I think he has earned the right to do it at 160 or 168, completely up to him. It doesn’t make that much difference in my head. I boxed at 165 against Munguia and I only had four weeks notice. I believe I have the character to go and win on the road, a lot of people don’t."

Material and Photo Courtesy of ProBox TV Used with permission.

For more information about ProBox TV including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, full event archives and additional programming, and to subscribe please visit: www.ProBoxTV.com

Joshua -Whyte To Meet In Highly Appreciated Rematch August 12th In London, England On DAZN

Press Release: July 6,, 2023 By DAZN - British Heavyweight rivals Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte will meet in an explosive rematch at The O2 in London on Saturday August 12, shown exclusively live on DAZN around the world and on DAZN PPV in the UK and Ireland.

Credit: DAZN

Two-time unified Heavyweight World Champion Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) and former World Title challenger Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs) lock horns again nearly eight years on from their wild British Title clash in Greenwich, which Joshua won by a huge seventh-round stoppage to end a thrilling war.

Brixton’s Whyte has a long-running rivalry with Joshua, having beaten the Watford man on points as an amateur back in 2009 before Joshua won an Olympic gold medal at London 2012 which kick-started his meteoric rise to global stardom.

‘AJ’ went on to unify the Heavyweight division, winning the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO crowns as he became one of the biggest athletes on the planet with a string of wins against the likes on Charles Martin, Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin, Andy Ruiz and Kubrat Pulev.

The 33-year-old convincingly outpointed Jermaine Franklin at The O2 earlier this year as he returned to winning ways under new trainer Derrick James following back-to-back defeats to Ukrainian pound-for-pound great Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022.

Whyte, whose last win also came via a points decision against the USA’s Franklin last year, fell short in his record-breaking World Title challenge against undefeated WBC ruler Tyson Fury at Wembley Stadium in April 2022, succumbing to a sixth-round TKO loss.

The Jamaican-born warrior, 36, has aspirations of fighting for another World Title and knows that a win over his old foe Joshua next month will put him in prime position for another mega-fight against one of the division’s other glamour names later this year.

In the UK and Ireland the PPV will cost £26.99 via DAZN.com. Prices may vary on other providers.

“I’ve been clear that my plan is to be active this year," said Joshua. "August 12 is the date, I’ll be ready to fight. I look forward to dealing with business."

“I’m looking forward to returning to the London O2 on August 12 and going to war,” said Whyte. “It's 1-1 so this is the decider!”

"I can’t quite believe this fight is happening and there was absolutely no stopping either man," said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. "The rivalry runs deep and there is something about these two where they will never back down from each other. At times it may have looked like a game of bluff but now we are set and with everything that’s on the line this is an absolute must win for both. Just like the first time at The O2, get ready for fireworks August 12 and a huge night of boxing live on DAZN."

“It is great to have Anthony Joshua back fighting on the platform so soon after his fight in April," said Joseph Markowski, CEO North America, DAZN Group. "We want ‘AJ’ in the biggest fights and in Dillian Whyte this is a massive one - reigniting a feud that has bubbled away for well over a decade. August 12 promises to be fireworks. Watch a night of all out action, live and exclusive on DAZN around the world and on DAZN PPV in the UK and Ireland.”

Tickets for Joshua vs. Whyte 2 are priced £40, £60, £80, £100, £150, £200, £300, £400 and £800 (VIP).

Tickets are available to O2 and Virgin Media customers via Priority from 10.00am on Friday July 7.

Tickets are available via The O2 venue presale and AXS presale from 10.00am on Saturday July 8.

Matchroom Fight Pass members will also be able to purchase tickets from 10.00am on Saturday July 8. Priority ticket info will be emailed directly to eligible members ahead of the on-sale time.

General Sale tickets can be purchased via Stage Front and AXS from 9.00am on Monday July 10.

About DAZN Group

DAZN is a leading sports streaming service in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, the US and UK.  Its wide range of content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world - Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC.  DAZN is the only place for fans around the world to watch every NFL match outside North America.

DAZN is building the ultimate sports entertainment business where fans from across the globe can watch, read, bet, play, share, socialise, buy tickets and merchandise, all in one place, with one account, one wallet and on one app.

For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit dazngroup.com.  

Material and Photo Courtesy of DAZN Used with permission.

JORDAN LARUCCIA RETURNS SEPTEMBER 1 FOR TITLE CHALLENGE IN MAIN EVENT OF THUNDERDOME 43

Press Release: July 6,, 2023 By Dragon Fire Boxing - September 1st will be the return of the iconic Thunderdome boxing series, based out of Metro City in Perth, Western Australia.

Credit: Dragon Fire Boxing

Headlining the Thunderdome 43 bill will highly touted prospect Jordan Laruccia who will look to go 6-0 as he challenges Fano Kori 8-5 for the Australian National Boxing Federations Australasian Super Welterweight Challenge over 8 rounds. The Event will be shown live on Fite.TV

Laruccia last hit out last a mere 23 seconds over Indonesian Jack Dolo, rather poetic for somename named “Jordan”.

Fano Kori has been in the ring with all the top challengers in Australia, such as Mateo Tapia, Wes Capper, Jesse White, Koen Mazouider, Sherwyn Watkins to name a few.

The unbeaten Italian Australian prospect Jordan hasn’t had an amateur career and has gone straight through the pro ranks and is making some noise after racking up Five wins from as many starts.

The Australian super-welterweight prospect trained at Juventus in Italy as a goalkeeper before heading back to Australia to pursue a career in pugilism.

Laruccia discussed the fight: “I love this fight, I just want to fight the best, I have full respect to Fano (Kori) he had a very decorated amateur background and had 14 professional fights, so he is well experienced. It’s the step up fight I need at this point in my career.

I need these opportunities and I will always rise to the occasion, I have the best team behind me, my trainer Big Rig (Dayle Phillips), Tony Tolj hes literally the Mr Boxing of Australia, these people bend of backwards to give us the opportunities in our career. I train like an animal so I’m always ready for anything.

All I do is ask, when am I fighting and who Im fighting. I leave the rest to my team. September 1st two men enter one man leaves, welcome to the Thunderdome.

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

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Happy 4th Of July 2023

We would like to wish all of our readers a very Happy and safe 4th of July. We would also like to inform readers that we are between rounds and will resume our regular schedule on Monday, July 10th with a feature discussing some of the events that took place over the July 7th and 8th period in the sport of Boxing.

In the interim, if there is any content that has been sent in or if there is any developing news, it will be made available for readers here on the website as normal. Stay tuned.

"And That's The Boxing Truth."

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

Monday, July 3, 2023

July 4th Weekend 2023 Thoughts

The July 4th holiday here in the United States is a celebration of the nation's birthday. Along with fireworks shows throughout the country, Major League Baseball games, and family barbecues, there are always many things happening in, around, and on the holiday. One of those things that always seems to precede the holiday in some form or fashion is a healthy dose of Boxing action. This July 4th weekend was no exception though unlike in some previous years, the 2023 edition had a bit of an international flavor with a British and Commonwealth Jr. Welterweight championship fight kicking off the action followed by a fast rising Heavyweight prospect returning to his hometown of Toledo, OH to face what was the first significant test of his career.

What should be referred to as "Boxing Saturday" of the holiday weekend on July 1st did begin with a unification of the British and Commonwealth Jr. Welterweight championships as British champion Dalton Smith faced Commonwealth champion and former world title challenger Sam Maxwell in Sheffield, England. As expected, this was a tactical fight where what stood out early on was the compact, yet explosive offensive spurts from the undefeated Smith, particularly in landing his right hand on Maxwell. What became clear beyond Smith seeming to be the quicker of the two fighters was, he was also the harder hitter of the two.

The compact way in which Smith set up his attacks in picking his spots is something that also stood out. While this fight was competitive, Maxwell seemed to be a step behind in terms of his timing and attempts to counter Smith, particularly in the midst of exchanges. This created a scenario where there was one consistent theme. Smith dictating the tempo of the combat, picking his spots, executing his offense, and Maxwell gradually becoming hesitant to let his hands go and seemingly on defense, despite periodically being able to land solidly with his punches.

As the fight progressed, I felt as though I was looking at a bout that would ultimately go the twelve round distance. When it comes to two fighters with a similar style as Smith and Maxwell, two boxer/punchers, you can never dismiss the possibility of a knockout, but seeing the tempo in which a fight is being fought, you can just get the feeling that you’re seeing a bout that will go to the scorecards. For several rounds in this bout, I had that feeling. Not so much because of the styles of the two fighters being similar, but because of the tactical and measured pace in which the combat was being fought.

Despite this observer’s gut feeling based on decades of experience covering and watching the sport, sometimes things do not turn out quite as they appear they might. In round seven, Smith following a suffering a deep cut as a result of an accidental clash of heads in the fifth round over his right eye, would bring the fight to a sudden and dramatic conclusion. A single overhand right to the head ended Maxwell’s night sending him down and out on the canvas. The shot that ended this fight, which came behind a jab, landed on the temple of Maxwell, which in a way reminded me somewhat of Mike Tyson’s first round knockout of Henry Tillman in June 1990.

In a scenario similar to this in terms of where the knockout punch landed, Tyson connected with a high left hook that landed on the temple of Tillman, the 1984 Olympic Gold mendalist, who had previously defeated Tyson twice prior to the 1984 Olympics in the amateur ranks. Why that fight, over thirty-three years ago came to mind when I saw this knockout Dalton Smith was able to score, I cannot say because, while like Tyson-Tillman, this fight ended on one punch, it was not an identical scenario and unlike Tyson’s knockout of Tillman, Smith’s knockout of Maxwell, was a result of an overhand right. The only thing I can assume as to why my memory was automatically triggered might be that while a knockout as a result of a fighter being struck in the temple is possible and obviously does happen, it does not seem to happen as often as one might think.

Nevertheless, the knockout win for Smith was a statement-making moment that will likely get people talking and taking notice. While this solidifies Smith’s position atop the British Boxing scene in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division, this victory over Sam Maxwell will likely result in him testing the waters on the world level of the division moving forward. It remains to be seen how Smith will fare against world rated competition, but with now with his fifteenth win and eleventh knockout behind him, he does have momentum to at least try and test those waters.

One undefeated prospect that found himself testing the waters during July 4th weekend was “Knockout Artist” Jared Anderson. Anderson, who had scored knockouts in all fourteen of his professional fights, found himself testing the waters against a former world champion in a fight that was designed to be a homecoming for him in his hometown of Toledo, OH. Despite taking the fight on eleven days notice, former IBF Heavyweight champion of the world Charles Martin was able to give Anderson the first significant test of his career.

Before an enthusiastic crowd of supporters, Anderson immediately applied pressure on Martin from the outset. He did this by using his jab and trying to walk Martin down. While this was not something unexpected based both on Anderson’s punching power as well as the fact that Martin had taken the fight on short notice, what was a bit surprising was the tactical approach of Anderson. Even though he was looking to land power shots as all fighters with a reputation of being power punchers do, the thing that stood out was the patience he showed throughout this fight, even though prior to this encounter Anderson had never been beyond six rounds in his career.

Despite being put under pressure from the outset, Martin used his experience to his advantage and seemed to take Anderson’s power shots well. This changed slightly in the third round when Anderson was able to score a knockdown of Martin with a counter right hand. Martin did not appear to be hurt and attempted to contend that the knockdown was caused by the fighters legs being tangled. Video replays at the conclusion of the round however, that Martin's claim was not valid and the call of a knockdown being scored cleanly was in fact the correct call. At this point in the fight, I felt that it was competitive, but the addition of a knockdown to what seemed to be a reluctance by Martin to let his hands go, created a hole in terms of the scoring of the fight that would be difficult for the former world champion to overcome. I also had a sense that perhaps what appeared to be a strictly counter punching approach by Martin was an attempt to extend Anderson as far into the fight as possible while trying to make the young unbeaten prospect exert his energy, which in theory would allow Martin to step up his pace and offensive output in the middle and late rounds.

If that was indeed the strategy Martin was looking to execute, it would be what one would likely expect of a seasoned veteran. In round five, Martin would make his presence known when he stunned Anderson with a counter left hand from the southpaw stance. This proved to be the first time that Anderson would have his ability to take a punch tested as it was the first time he was significantly stunned in a fight.To Anderson's credit, he was able to regroup and maintain control of the fight.

What was impressive beyond the poise and calm that Anderson showed in being able to keep his composure after being hurt for the first time in his career, but he also showed the ability to use defense to his advantage as he was able to make Martin miss with much of his offense both before and after being stunned. Martin would nevertheless periodically land with more solid left hands throughout the remainder of the ten round bout, but it would be Anderson's greater activity in addition to the knockdown he scored in the third round that resulted in him being able to score a wide and convincing ten rounds unanimous decision victory to remain unbeaten.

While this fight marked the end of Anderson's knockout streak of fourteen consecutive knockouts, the decision victory did knock a few questions off the check list that are often asked if unbeaten prospects that have the reputation as a "Knockout Artist."

Can the fighter go into the middle and late rounds of a fight?✔️

Will the fighter respond well to adversity when challenged?✔️

Will the fighter be able to survive being hurt when an opponent is able to land punches solidly?✔️

And,

Can the fighter continue to perform well when matched against an opponent with more experience?✔️

Jared Anderson was indeed able to at least for this fight answer those questions favorably and check them off the list. It goes without saying however, that the level of competition will only continue to increase from here and this victory over a former world champion should be viewed as a step forward in Anderson's overall development. Where he goes from here, against whom, and how he will use what he learned in this fight with Charles Martin remains to be seen.

"And That's The Boxing Truth.

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

Friday, June 30, 2023

Will Anderson Get A Tougher Test From Martin?

It seems as though in recent weeks in the sport of Boxing, the trend has become "Homecomings." In that a fighter who has achieved notoriety in the sport coming back to their respective hometowns to compete before a crowd of enthusiastic supporters. While most of the time such scenarios are usually designed as a showcase for said fighter before a significant fight down the line, there are times when a "Homecoming Fight" turns out to be more competitive than some may have anticipated. One needs to look no further than WBC Jr. Welterweight world champion Regis Prograis' recent return to his hometown of New Orleans, LA to defend his title against Danielito Zorrilla for an example of a fight with the design of a showcase, which ultimately turned out to be a close call for the champion, who retained his title via twelve round split decision.

The next "Homecoming Fight" of significance will take place on Saturday, July 1st in Toledo, OH as undefeated Heavyweight prospect and "Knockout Artist" Jared Anderson will return to his hometown at the Huntington Center. An event that can be seen here in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+. A slight wrinkle emerged however, when Anderson's scheduled opponent, the undefeated Zhan Kossobutskiy was forced to withdraw from the bout due to visa issues. While Kossobutskiy, much like Anderson, is an unbeaten "Knockout Artist," the opponent who has emerged to step in to face Anderson, one might argue now could potentially be a more significant test for the young unbeaten prospect. Charles Martin.

Martin, a one time IBF Heavyweight champion of the world, is by far the most experienced opponent that Anderson, who has scored knockouts in all fourteen of his professional fights, will have faced in addition to being the first former world champion he has been in the ring with. Although Martin has taken this fight on little more than a week's notice, he has remained a top contender for several years since losing the IBF championship to Anthony Joshua in April 2016. In thirty-three professional fights, Martin has a record of 29-3-1, with 26 Knockouts.

What this fight will come down to in this observer's eyes will obviously center on how prepared Martin is in taking this fight on a narrow timeframe. Martin does have some punching power, but he is a crafty boxer/puncher, who when he is at his best, has proven to be a difficult fighter to combat for many opponents. The red flag that some might see with Martin is there are times where he has been caught and in fact, two of his three losses did come by stoppage against Joshua and Luis Ortiz.

Some may recall that in his fight against Ortiz on New Year's Day in 2022, Martin was seemingly in control of that fight, having scored two knockdowns of Ortiz during the course of that fight before being caught and stopped by Ortiz in the sixth round. The reason yours truly brings this up is much like Ortiz, Anderson has the type of punching power that can turn a fight around and end a fight suddenly. If Charles Martin is to have success in this fight he needs to be aware at all times and be wary of getting caught as the possibility of getting caught by the explosive power of Anderson should be taken seriously.

What Martin does have going for him going into this fight is his experience. As devastating as Anderson has been throughout his career up to this point, he has yet to be extended beyond four rounds in his career. The strategy for Martin though obviously easier said than done, should be to try to extend Anderson into the middle and late rounds of this scheduled ten round Heavyweight bout. Martin must not only find a way to survive Anderson's power early, but must find a way to make him uncomfortable where he will be tested for the first time. It is something that Martin is capable of doing, but it will be interesting to see if it truly is easier said than done. Especially, if under the circumstances in which this fight was made, Anderson attempts to end the fight quickly in thinking that Martin may not be at his best with the limited time to prepare for the fight.

Nevertheless, it is often when a prospect meets a former world champion that often serves as an indicator as to whether or not the prospect is ready for either a top contender or even an opportunity at a world championship. This observer has quietly watched Anderson's progression and while he has been impressive up to this point, I am not quite ready to say that he is ready for such a fight. If however, he performs well in this fight and to be more specific, if he does so after being tested by the crafty veteran and former world champion in Martin, it might be time to think about that possibility.

"And That's The Boxing Truth."

Anderson vs. Martin takes place on Saturday, July 1st at the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 6:10PM ET/3:10PM PT. For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: www.ESPNPlus.com.

*Check your local listings internationally.*

*Card and start time subject to change.*

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

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