The Boxing Truth®

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Kovalev To Face Barrera April 25th On DAZN

Press Release: LOS ANGELES (March 5, 2020): Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (34-3-1, 29 KOs), the former light heavyweight champion and one of the most dangerous punchers in recent years, will return against former world title challenger Sullivan Barrera (22-3, 14 KOs) in a 12-round cruiserweight battle. The card will feature pugilists from four different continents fighting for championship belts from all four major sanctioning organizations. The event will take place Saturday, April 25 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

Credit:Golden Boy Promotions/Main Events

“I’m delighted to announce this epic card of international proportions,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “For this huge event, we’ll have fighters from four different continents battling it out for world titles from all four sanctioning bodies. Fans of professional boxing will be treated to a banquet of big fights headlined by Sergey Kovalev vs. Sullivan Barrera, along with the returns of world champions such as Patrick Teixeira, Rene and Felix Alvarado, and Chayaphon Moonsri. Don’t miss this festival of world champions on April 25 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and live on DAZN.”

Kovalev is a Russian knockout artist and three-time light heavyweight champion who captured his first world title in 2013 when he stopped Nathan Cleverly in Wales. Kovalev then traveled to Atlantic City to meet future Hall of Famer Bernard "The Alien" Hopkins to unify the WBO, WBA and IBF titles with a lopsided unanimous decision victory in 2014. As unified champion, "Krusher" successfully defended his titles twice against Jean Pascal and once against Isaac Chilemba. Despite setbacks against Andre “S.O.G.” Ward and Eleider Alvarez, the 36-year-old contender managed to avenge a loss to Alvarez and score a technical knockout victory against undefeated contender Anthony Yarde. Kovalev will return after participating in the most important boxing event of 2019 against Canelo Alvarez.

“I am happy to get back in the ring and to be on my way back to world championship bouts,” said Sergey Kovalev. “Barrera is a Cuban fighter and, even though I never faced any Cuban fighters as a professional, back in amateur days it was always Russian boxers competing with Cuban boxers, so I'm looking forward to remembering my amateur boxing. I'm very glad to be back and to bring my boxing to my fans on April 25.”

After a spectacular amateur career, Barrera defected from Cuba to the United States in 2009, and made his professional debut in Miami, Florida. In only his eighth fight, he captured two regional titles by defeating Frank Paines in 2011, which he followed with victories against the likes of Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy and Karo Murat. Barrera suffered his first defeat against Andre Ward, but returned to take Vyacheslav Shabranskyy’s undefeated record and scored a decision win against Joe Smith Jr. The 38-year-old contender’s only other losses have been against Dmitry Bivol and Jesse Hart in very tough fights, and he looks to make another run for a world title in 2020.

“This will be the most important fight of my career because I have always pursued a fight with Sergey Kovalev,” said Sullivan Barrera. “I know that he has to win this fight in order to continue with his career, but the case is the same with me. It is very important to win this fight, which for me would be like becoming a world champion. That’s what it means for me to finally face Kovalev. I also want to thank Golden Boy for believing in me and my team, and for giving us the opportunity that we have always wanted, which is to fight Kovalev.”

Main Events CEO Kathy Duva said, “Because Sullivan Barrera spent most of his professional career with Main Events, a fight between Kovalev and Barrera is something that we naturally anticipated would happen for a very long time. And so here we are! This is a really solid fight between two action fighters who have never turned down a challenge.”

“This might be the last chance for both fighters,” said DAZN EVP Joseph Markowski. “A win could catapult either man into a title shot. A loss could mean the end is near. Plenty is at stake when Kovalev and Barrera enter the ring on April 25.”

In the co-main event, Patrick Teixeira (31-1, 22 KOs) of Sau Paulo, Brazil will make the first defense of his WBO Super Junior Middleweight World Title against undefeated challenger Brian “El Boxi” Castaño (16-0-1, 12 KOs) of Buenos Aires, Argentina in a 12-round battle.

“I am very happy and excited to defend my world title for the very first time,” said Patrick Teixeira. “I worked very hard to become a world champion, and I won’t let anyone take that away from me. I know that Castaño, as my mandatory challenger, is tough and experienced, but my team and I are more than ready to go to war and deliver a great performance for all the fans at Fantasy Springs.”

Rene “El Gemelo” Alvarado (32-8, 21 KOs) will put his WBA Super Featherweight World Title on the line against Roger “The Kid” Gutierrez (24-3-1, 20 KOs) of Maracaibo, Venezuela. Alvarado will defend his title for the first time after violently taking it from Andrew “El Chango” Cancio in November 2019, while Gutierrez is coming off a five-win streak that includes an upset knockout victory against Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez.

Chayaphon Moonsri (54-0, 18 KOs), the Thai boxer who currently boasts the most impressive undefeated record in the sport, will defend his WBC Minimumweight World Title against Marco J. Rementizo (12-3, 9 KOs) of Misamis Oriental, Philippines in a 12-round fight.

Felix “El Gemelo” Alvarado (35-2, 30 KOs) of Managua, Nicaragua will defend his IBF Light Flyweight World Championship against DeeJay Kriel (16-1-1, 8 KOs) of Boksburg, South Africa in a 12-round battle. Felix, who is the twin brother of Rene, will fight for the first time after signing with Golden Boy.

Former world champion Alberto “Explosivo” Machado (22-2, 18 KOs) of San Juan, Puerto Rico will look to inch closer towards his dream of becoming a two-division world champion when he takes on Cristian Baez (18-1, 17 KOs) of Caracas, Venezuela in a 10-round lightweight bout.

Diego De La Hoya (22-1, 10 KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico and Manuel “Tino” Avila (23-2-1, 8 KOs) of Fairfield, California will meet in a 10-round matchup between two standout featherweight contenders.

Recently signed middleweight contender Shane Mosley Jr. (15-3, 9 KOs) of Pomona, California will make his Golden Boy debut in an eight-rounder against Abraham Cordero (13-5-21, 7 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico.

Hector Valdez (12-0, 8 KOs) of Dallas, Texas will return in an eight-round super bantamweight fight against a soon-to-be announced opponent.

Kovalev vs. Barrera is a 12-round special attraction in the cruiserweight division presented by Golden Boy, Main Events and Krusher Promotions. The event is sponsored by Hennessy "Never Stop. Never Settle." The event will take place Saturday, April 25 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

Tickets for Kovalev vs Barrera will go on sale Friday, March 13 at 10:00 a.m. PT. Tickets are priced at $65, $45 and $35. Prices do not include applicable facility fees and service charges. Tickets are available at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino box office, by calling 1-800-827-2946, or by purchasing online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,

www.MainEvents.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Main_Events, @KrusherKovalev and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, https://www.facebook.com/thekrusher/,

https://www.facebook.com/MainEventsBoxing and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/.

Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy, @Main_Events, @SergeyKrusherKovalev, and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #KovalevBarrera.

Material Courtesy of: DAZN/ Photo Courtesy of:Golden Boy Promotions/Main Events Used with permission.

Kownacki-Helenius Preview

The sport of Boxing is still buzzing over Tyson Fury’s dominant performance two weeks ago in stopping previously undefeated longtime WBC Heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder in their highly anticipated rematch to become a two-time world champion. While the focus of the Heavyweight division will very much remain on Fury and Wilder, who will meet for a third time later this year in a contractually mandated third fight, as well as current unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO world champion Anthony Joshua’s upcoming title defense in June against current IBF number one Heavyweight contender Kubrat Pulev, there are several contenders in the division that are looking to maneuver themselves into position to challenge for either portion of the World Heavyweight championship down the line.

Two such contenders will square off on Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY as undefeated WBC number six, WBA number four rated contender Adam Kownacki will square off with former European Heavyweight champion Robert Helenius in a bout scheduled for twelve rounds. The fight, which will headline a card televised nationally here in the United States by Fox is the latest test for the undefeated Kownacki.

In his last fight, Kownacki scored the twentieth win of his career in scoring a hard-fought twelve round unanimous decision over former multi-time world title challenger Chris Arreola. Kownacki, who has scored knockouts in fifteen of his twenty wins in registering a career knockout percentage of 75%, appears to be on the fringe of possibly being placed in an elimination bout to determine a mandatory challenger in either the World Boxing Council (WBC) or the World Boxing Association (WBA) Heavyweight ratings.

Before those possibilities can be discussed, Kownacki must contend with former European Heavyweight champion Robert Helenius. Helenius was once thought to be a fighter who could dominate the Heavyweight division in the post-Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko era. Helenius however, has dealt with both setbacks as well as a severe injury to his right shoulder, which was thought to be career-threatening several years ago.

Helenius does have the size and skills that could cause trouble for top contenders if he is in shape. There have been times however, where he has also been inconsistent and the question that surrounds this fight in this observer’s mind is which version of Robert Helenius will be standing across the ring from Adam Kownacki. Will this be the fighter that some thought would be the heir apparent to the Heavyweight thrown that for over a decade was dominated by the Klitschko brothers, or will this be the fighter who has looked sluggish and seemingly allows himself to be out worked over the course of a fight?

At thirty-six years old and currently not being rated in the top-ten of any of the five world sanctioning organizations, one could say that this could be Helenius’ last chance in facing a top contender who appears to be on his way up in Adam Kownacki. Helenius has won twenty-nine of his thirty-two wins and will come into the fight having won his last two of his last three fights. If there is an advantage that one could point to for Helenius beyond having an edge in terms of experience, it is the near four-inch height advantage he will have over the 6’3 Kownacki.

In thinking of how this fight could be fought, I feel it is crucial that Helenius establish the tempo of combat from the outset. Kownacki is a fighter that comes forward and brings the fight to his opponents. It is also important to keep in mind that Helenius has been knocked out in two of his three career losses and if he is not on his game in this fight, Kownacki certainly has the punching power to end a fight early if the opportunity arises. Kownacki must not be complacent in this fight however, and should be tactical in his approach.

An encounter between two Heavyweights who may be at different stages in their respective careers. One fighter, who could be in contention for a shot at a World Heavyweight championship in the near future going against a fighter that may not be in the current discussion of top contenders, but could re-enter the picture and the world rankings with a victory in this fight.

As we saw two weeks ago when Tyson Fury surprised many by stopping Deontay Wilder, Boxing is truly a sport where anything can happen. The saying yours truly has said and will continue to say “Anything Can Happen At Any Given Time In The Sport Of Boxing And That Is What Makes Boxing Great.” Is never more evident than when talking about the Heavyweight division. Whether this fight will also produce fireworks remains to be seen.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Kownacki vs. Helenius takes place on Saturday, March 7^th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The fight can be seen in the United States on Fox beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT and will also be available on the Fox Sports and FoxNow streaming apps. Check your local listings for time and channel in your area or visit: www.PremierBoxingChampions.com for more information. Check your local listings internationally.

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

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Jason Moloney discusses Josh Greer fight in Las Vegas on Anzac Day

Press Release: March 3, 2020 By Team Moloney – Bantamweight contender Jason Moloney has the chance to establish his name in front of a worldwide audience as the hard-hitting Australian gets set to clash with Josh Greer on April 25, a fight that falls on Australia's Anzac Day.

Credit: Team Moloney

The 118lbs contest also acts as chief support to the American debut of 'The Monster' Naoya Inoue who faces John Riel Casimero in a world bantamweight unification showdown presented by legendary promoter Bob Arum's Top Rank Boxing.

Moloney, who narrowly and controversially missed out on becoming IBF Champion in 2018 opened up about making his American debut in Las Vegas and featuring on a marquee event at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

Moloney said, "I'm absolutely delighted to be a part of such an amazing show on Anzac Day, a day that is really special to me and I can't be more grateful to my team Tony Tolj, Dragon Fire Boxing and Top Rank for getting me this opportunity.

"Anzac Day is such a special day to all Australian's, I'm proud to be Australian and I believe that we should all show our gratitude to the soldiers who sacrificed so much for us all over the years. It's put a little extra fire in my belly for this fight as I really want to put on a warrior-like performance to give Australian fight fans a performance they can be proud of.

"To not only fight on Anzac Day but on the same card as Naoya Inoue in Las Vegas is stuff dreams of made of. I'm delighted to be getting this opportunity and I'm confident that all the viewers around the world on ESPN will enjoy the performance I am going to bring."

Moloney's opponent on April 25 comes in the form of American Josh Greer with the winner potentially fighting the winner of Inoue-Casimero. 'The Smooth One' discussed his opposition in Las Vegas and a potential clash with the winner of Inoue-Casimero.

He said, "I'm really excited to fight Greer. Training has already been going perfectly and I believe that a career-best performance is coming from myself on Anzac Day. Greer is a good fighter, he's ranked in the top 5 in the world. You don't get there by chance, but I believe that I have the skills to win and win in style against Greer.

"I haven't thought about the possibility of fighting the winner of Inoue and Casimero, to be honest as my focus is on Josh Greer. I want to be world champion so I would ideally want to face the winner of Inoue and Casimero for the world title, but for now, my focus is solely on Josh Greer."

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Team Moloney Used with permission.

Monday, March 2, 2020

DAZN EXPANDING TO MORE THAN 200 COUNTRIES & TERRITORIES

Press Release: By DAZN – NEW YORK and LONDON, (March 2, 2020) – DAZN, the leading global sports streaming service, will dramatically increase its presence in 2020, expanding to more than 200 countries and territories.

The first global event on DAZN will be Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez’s soon-to-be-announced fight during Cinco de Mayo Weekend, which will take place on Saturday, May 2.

This first phase of DAZN’s global expansion will be an English-language service focused on boxing, building on the company’s significant investment in the sport over the past two years. DAZN holds international rights to many of the world’s top promotional companies including Golden Boy Promotions, Matchroom Boxing USA and GGG Promotions. Fighters such as Alvarez and Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin will be part of a robust year-round portfolio of premium fights and original programming on the new service.

“Beginning this spring, most of the world will have access to DAZN and its unmatched schedule of boxing events,” said DAZN Group Executive Chairman John Skipper. “Our roster of championship fighters represents some of the world’s most popular athletes and we’ll be working with them to stage spectacular international events for years to come.”

“Since our launch in 2016, we’ve seen an encouraging level of interest around our key events from both international fans and potential partners, which highlighted the opportunity to capitalize on our existing rights portfolio within boxing to fuel our expansion,” said DAZN EVP Joseph Markowski, who will oversee the global service. “Establishing DAZN as the global home of fight sports is just the first step and we couldn’t think of a better attraction for our inaugural event than Canelo’s traditional Cinco de Mayo Weekend fight.”

In addition to live sporting events, DAZN offers an ever-growing archive of classic fights, athlete features and a slate of original programming featuring 40 DAYS, The Making Of and ONE NIGHT.

To date, DAZN has debuted services in nine countries – Austria, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the United States – across four continents.

The DAZN app will be available globally on most internet-connected devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, PCs, and living room devices such as smart TVs, streaming sticks and game consoles.

Pricing by market will be announced in the coming weeks.

For fans outside of DAZN’s existing markets that are interested in gaining early access to the service via the DAZN beta community, registration is open at DAZN.com. Official invites will be sent out later this month.

About DAZN Group

DAZN Group is one of the fastest growing sports media companies in the world. Headquartered in the UK and with 2,800 employees in over 25 countries, our businesses touch every aspect of the way fans engage with sports; from production, through to content distribution and commercialisation. DAZN Group is home to DAZN, the leading global sport streaming service, as well as some of the most popular sport portals, including DAZN News, Goal, Sporting News, and Spox.com. DAZN is leading the charge to give sports fans around the world access to sport anytime, anywhere. DAZN guarantees affordable access on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles. DAZN is live in Austria, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the United States. In 2020, DAZN will dramatically increase its presence, expanding to more than 200 countries and territories. Visit https://media.dazn.com for more information.

Material Courtesy of DAZN Used with permission.

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, availability around the world, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.

Mikey Garcia Answers Questions With Convincing Win Over Jessie Vargas

In March 2019 an event took place in AT&T stadium in Dallas, TX that fit the criteria of what most would refer to as a “Super-Fight” in the sport of Boxing. The encounter between undefeated world champions Errol Spence and Mikey Garcia. Garcia, a multi-division world champion ranging from 126lb. Featherweight division to the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division, chose to challenge himself by moving up to the 147lb. Welterweight division to challenge Spence for his IBF world championship. A decision that many ranging from fans, to those who cover the sport, to those within his own camp questioned the wisdom of.

As most Boxing fans know, Garcia was able to hold his own in putting forth a spirited effort against a fighter in Spence that was simply too much for him to overcome on that March evening. Garcia would lose a twelve round unanimous decision to Spence and his undefeated record.

Although Garcia lost the fight, he was not disgraced in the ring and was very “Game” and classy in defeat. It was logical to question however, whether Garcia had reached his ceiling in terms of moving up in weight. Was the move to 147lbs. one step too far up the weight scale?

There have after all been many great fighters throughout the history of the sport who have been able to move up through multiple weight classes and win world championships along the way. With few exceptions however, are fighters able to consistently move up in weight and be able to maintain all of their attributes along the way. For some who are noted for having punching power at lower weights, the punches may not be as effective at a heavier weigh, while others may not have the same hand speed or lateral movement as compared to when they were competing at lower weights. One must also factor into the equation that while some fighters deprive themselves from competing at a more naturally comfortable weight either based on how effective they are at a lower weight or for the financial incentives that may be available by competing in a lower weight class, in most cases as a fighter moves up in weight they tend to face opposition tgat is naturally bigger and theoretically stronger.

Of course, there are other things that factor into the equation beyond mere size and strength that plays a significant role in what happens when two fighters get into the ring to do battle such as a fighter's tactical approach and Boxing style. Even though opinion was at best mixed concerning whether Garcia should remain at Welterweight, the former four-division world champion would choose to give it another chance as he would face former WBO Welterweight world champion Jessie Vargas in February 29^th at the Ford Center in Frisco, TX.

Beyond this being an encounter between two former world champions who were each looking to gain further standing in the division towards potentially another opportunity at a world championship, what was of interest to this observer in this fight to see what approach Garcia would implement this time around and whether nearly one year of inactivity would be beneficial or detrimental to him.

In Jessie Vargas, Garcia faced a naturally bigger opponent who had held his own against the best that the Welterweight division has to offer during his career. It was also of interest to me to see if Vargas would try to impose his will on Garcia from the outset. Although Garcia was able to make a good account of himself against Errol Spence, as the fight progressed, Spence's naturally bigger size, power, and overall skill set became the difference. This fight against Jessie Vargas would serve as an indication as to whether the loss to Spence was a case od a great fighter having a bad night at the office against another great fighter or if Garcia had reached too far past his weight ceiling.

Jessie Vargas is a world-class fighter and was fully capable od asking the questions of Garcia that needed to be answered. For the first four rounds, this bout had all the appearance of a tactical chess match with both fighters having periods of effectiveness in rounds that were frankly difficult to score. It would be in round five that the ebb and flow of the fight would shift.

A right hand to the head buckled the legs of Vargas late in the round, this world be followed by a second right hand that would send the former Welterweight world champion down to the canvas. This clearly answered the question of whether Mikey Garcia had the punching power to hurt Welterweights. Vargas was able to get up from the knockdown, but it was from this point in the fight that Garcia was clearly in control of the momentum.

It appeared for a period of time that the combination of Garcia’s hand speed and power might have been too much for Vargas as there were periods over the second half of the twelve round bout where it appeared that Garcia was on the verge of stopping Vargas. To his credit, the always “Game “ Vargas was able to weather the storm and even appeared to get the better of the action in some of the latter rounds of the fight. The combination of the knockdown as well as Garcia’s overall effectiveness throughout the fight proved to be the deciding factor as all three judges scored the fight in his favor giving him a convincing twelve round unanimous decision and his first win as a Welterweight.

Although it is too soon to say Mikey Garcia should be regarded as the top fighter in the Welterweight division, a convincing victory and overall solid performance over a former world champion and top contender in Jessie Vargas certainly puts him in the discussion of potential world title challengers. From a business standpoint, Garcia also figures to be in a good position.

Garcia, who has spent the last several years of his career competing under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) banner, chose to sign with Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn for his fight against Jessie Vargas making it the first time he has competed on digital sports subscription streaming network DAZN, where Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing promotional branches have a lucrative long-term broadcast agreement. Although the agreement between Hearn and Garcia was believed to be a short-term deal, one could assume that DAZN will be making an offer to Garcia to keep him on their network going forward.

What makes this interesting and potentially more lucrative for Garcia and all concerned is the ramblings that have begun to surface that were even acknowledged on DAZN’s broadcast of the Garcia-Vargas fight that there is a possibility that Manny Pacquiao, who has competed recently under the PBC banner could be a free agent promotionally. In terms of what this could mean for Mikey Garcia is Pacquiao is the current Welterweight world champion of the World Boxing Association (WBA) and even in what some might consider to be the twilight of his career, his current standing as well as legendary status in the sport is such where he is in demand and will likely go to the highest bidder in terms of both promotional and broadcast rights.

Since it’s inception in the United States along with the decision of HBO to exit Boxing after forty-five years in 2018, DAZN has proven to be a worthy successor to the network once known as “The Network Of Champions” in terms of their presentation of Boxing and overall value of content. This along with a solid and expanding global subscriber-base would appear to make DAZN an ideal candidate to make an offer to Manny Pacquiao, who’s global appeal is not limited to Boxing or the United States. As the network looks to continue to expand into different markets around the world, a fighter of Pacquiao’s stature competing on and helping to market their platform global would appear to be an ideal fit.

While the possibility of Pacquiao competing on DAZN in the near future is speculation at this point in time, the network has also shown the ability and willingness to put on the best fights possible for their subscribers while also proving that they do not need a traditional network platform like those of traditional cable networks or pay-per-view to be successful. Pacquiao’s status in the sport along with what would likely be a lucrative payday for Garcia has to be appealing and may indeed be a better option than continuing to face other contenders in the hope of securing another opportunity at a Welterweight world championship if a possible fight with Pacquiao is on the table for him under the DAZN banner.

For the moment, Garcia has succeeded in making an argument for himself that perhaps his outing against Errol Spence was simply a bad night at the office for a great fighter. The question now becomes who will Garcia’s next test comes against as he looks to continue navigating the waters of the crowded and talent-deep Welterweight division.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Garcia-Vargas Weights

Press Release By DAZN – FRISCO, Texas, Feb. 28, 2020 – Ahead of the huge welterweight event headlined by four-division world champion Mikey Garcia against two-division world champion Jessie Vargas, the fighters hit the scales for the official weigh-in before entering the ring on Saturday night – live on DAZN.

Credit: Amanda Westcott / DAZN

The stacked Matchroom Boxing USA card will kick off with Joseph Parker battling Shawndell Winters in a heavyweight bout, Julio Cesar Martinez Aguilar will make his first defense of the WBC World Flyweight title against the undefeated Jay Harris, and in the chief support bout undefeated Khalid Yafai will look to defend his WBA World Super Flyweight title against former pound-for-pound king Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez.

DAZN coverage will kick off at 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT, with the main card beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT.

12-Round Welterweight Bout @ 147 lbs.

Mikey Garcia: 145.8 lbs.

Jessie Vargas: 147 lbs.

12-Round WBA Super Flyweight Title Bout @ 115 lbs.

Khalid Yafai: 114.8 lbs.

Roman Gonzalez: 114.6 lbs

12-Round WBA World Flyweight Title Bout @ 112 lbs.

Julio Cesar Martinez Aguilar: 111.4 lbs.

Jay Harris: 111.6 lbs

10-Round Heavyweight Bout

Joseph Parker: 245.4 lbs.

Shawndell Winters: 208 lbs.

About DAZN:

DAZN is the largest global sports streaming service. Since launching in 2016, DAZN has expanded to nine countries across four continents with its app available for download in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Japan and Brazil. In the U.S., DAZN has made its mark as an attractive alternative to pay-per-view within the combat sports industry. The service features big fights from Matchroom Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions, GGG Promotions, Bellator MMA, and the World Boxing Super Series, all for one affordable price, on any device – including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, games consoles and PCs. DAZN also features The Pat McAfee Show, live MLB action each day of the season with its daily show ChangeUp and a growing number of projects from DAZN Originals.

Material Courtesy of: DAZN/ Photo Courtesy of: Amanda Westcott/DAZN Used with permission.

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, availability around the world, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.

Friday, February 28, 2020

Wilder-Fury II Post-Thoughts

When the subject of a rematch is discussed throughout all of sports, there is usually one central question. Whether a rematch takes place between two individuals in an individual sport or two teams in a team sport, the question is usually what adjustments can be made and how will the rematch differ from the original encounter. In Boxing, this question is asked frequently. The rematch between undefeated WBC Heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder and undefeated former Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury was no exception.

A rematch of a somewhat controversial encounter in December 2018 where the champion was able to score two knockdowns late in the fight to retain his crown via a split decision draw seemed to warrant a rematch on its own. When one factors into the equation that the second knockdown of Tyson Fury in the twelfth round of that fight also had an element of controversy in that following getting to his feet after a knockdown that would have ended the night for most fighters, Fury was able in the eyes of some to benefit from extra seconds as Referee Jack Reiss evaluated his condition before allowing him to continue and subsequently finish the fight. This for some created the argument that the judgment call of Reiss had denied Wilder an opportunity to finish a hurt Fury off in a fight that he was trailing on two official scorecards, only added fuel to the fire for a rematch.

Although in most cases the verbiage leading up to a rematch between two fighters where both tend to make boastful claims regarding what they will do in the rematch can be regarded as simply providing promotional hype as well as good sound bytes for assembled media, Tyson Fury was direct in saying that he intended to forgo his normal elusive and awkward Boxing style in favor of implementing a more straightforward physical approach in the rematch. Despite the view of this observer in saying that it would likely be a mistake for Fury in previewing this fight, it was nevertheless an element of interest as the second encounter approached.

On February 22^nd a sold out crowd packed the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV to see the highly anticipated second encounter between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury. It did not take long to see that Fury was indeed serious in his claims that he would be more aggressive and physical as compared to the first fight as he immediately pressed forward and looked to apply pressure on Wilder. This created something we had not seen in Deontay Wilder’s career up to this point. Although Wilder had scored knockouts in forty-one of his forty-two career wins prior to this fight, he had never been forced to fight moving backward and was used to being the fighter who came forward and looked to walk his opponents down.

For a period of time, this rematch was fought at a tactical pace, but it was clear that Fury intended to use his bigger size and 273lb. weight to his advantage. Despite the tactical pace of the combat, both fighters had success early on. For Wilder, he was able to land several right hands during the first two rounds and to Fury’s credit, he was able to absorb the punches the champion was able to land and return with offense of his own. What impressed me about Fury was how well he was able to establish that it would be him that would dictate how this fight would be fought.

Despite his 6’9 imposing frame, Fury is not known as a fighter that carries significant punching power. When you have the gift of height and being able to compete at a world class level at a heavier weight than most Heavyweights however, those physical advantages can appear to your benefit and produce punching power. As this rematch progressed, this is exactly what Tyson Fury was able to use to his advantage. In round three, Fury began to connect more frequently with his right hand and it was a right hand to the head that sent Deontay Wilder down. Fury, who suffered knockdowns in the ninth and twelfth rounds of the first fight, had answered the question of whether he had the power to be able to knock Wilder off his feet.

Wilder appeared clearly hurt following this knockdown, but what became more of a concern to this observer was an obvious problem with Wilder’s equilibrium in that even though he was able to get up from the knockdown, he had difficulty maintaining his balance from this point on. This was confirmed when following the third round,Wilder was bleeding from his left ear. Although yours truly is not a medical doctor, normally when a fighter is bleeding from inside the ear and it did not come as a result of a foul such as biting, it is a sign of either a ruptured ear drum or a broken one and can explain equilibrium problems.

Having seen injuries occur like this in the past, most notably the January 2003 encounter between Kostya Tszyu and Jesse James Leija, where Leija suffered an injury to his right eardrum, a fight this observer covered, upon seeing Wilder bleeding from the ear, I felt the fight should have been stopped immediately. I also noticed Wilder bleeding from the mouth and was concerned of the likelihood of him swallowing blood as the fight progressed, which is also dangerous and potentially life threatening. The opinion of this observer not withstanding, the fight continued. Wilder however, was clearly compromised and it became a one-sided fight in favor of Fury as Wilder’s inability to regain his balance along with his decreasing offensive output became the story of the fight.

Wilder would be knocked down for a second time in round five from what appeared to be a body shot from Fury. Readers should keep in mind my previous statement that I felt the fight should have been stopped after round three. Following the second knockdown, I felt that Referee Kenny Bayless having seen the champion’s condition would stop the fight, but he gave Wilder the benefit of the doubt as most world champions are given under similar circumstances. Even though I disagreed with Bayless to allow the fight to continue after the second knockdown, I also wondered how long Wilder’s corner would allow their fighter to take punishment as it became more and more clear that he was compromised.

It is important for me to also state for the reader that I am in no way questioning Wilder’s heart and desire to defend his world championship. There comes a time however, where a fighter needs to be protected from their natural instincts. For Wilder, that time came in round seven. Wilder’s co-trainer Mark Breland threw the towel in to prevent his fighter from further punishment making Tyson Fury officially a two-time World Heavyweight champion.

Breland, a former two-time Welterweight world champion as a professional and one of the most accomplished fighters in the history of the United States as an amateur, was heavily criticized by some including from within the Wilder camp for stopping the fight. Although it is understandable both due to the natural instinct of a fighter to want to go out on their shield as Wilder himself has said in the days that have followed the rematch, there comes a point where common sense has to enter into the equation.

In the days that have followed this fight, this observer has also faced some criticism for my opinion that the fight should have been stopped after round three. I was even told by a few folks that the reason why the fight needed to continue was due to the fact that the bout was broadcast on pay-per-view with the absurd price tag of $79.95 on most cable/satellite providers as well as through the Fox Sports and ESPN streaming apps. While this was the point of view of a few people ranging from the casual fan, to the Boxing enthusiast, to some within the sport, I disagree…

The subject of pay-per-view and it’s inflated pricing model is one that longtime readers are used to seeing yours truly criticize and point out the flaws thereof in an evolving and changing technological landscape on a regular basis here on The Boxing Truth®️ as well as elsewhere and I will continue to do so as long as such a model that increasingly is overpriced, undervalued, and holds no real benefit to the fans/consumers that support the sport, continues to exist in its current form. It is irresponsible and dangerous to use such a model as an excuse/justification as to why a fight should continue when it is clear one fighter’s long-term health may be at risk.

It is true that Boxing is a combat sport and by the very nature of the word “Combat “ there is a risk attached to it. Although 2019 was by most standards a successful year for the sport and its growth, Boxing also suffered several tragedies throughout the year resulting in deaths due injuries that occurred during bouts inside the ring. Normally when such circumstances occur, the critics of the sport and there are many come out in full force to call for reforms and/or an outright ban of the sport.

When this occurs, there are some in the sport as well as fans who dismiss such criticism and calls as grandstanding as merely publicity stunts. One of the best ways and perhaps the best way to prevent those outcries and prevent the critics of Boxing and by extension all of combat sports from being given the ammunition to make such calls is for Boxing and other combat sports to adjust from within. Knowing when a fight should be stopped is the first step.

For his part, Wilder has downplayed the severity of the injury to his left ear as Wilder told Boxing Scene that he did not know how the cut occurred and that it was not the cause of the problems he had with his legs and balance throughout the fight. Wilder also has claimed that the issues were related to the costume he entered the ring with, which was said to weigh forty pounds. While it is true that Boxing is a form of entertainment and theatrics have increasingly become part of the presentation for the sport’s major events as this rematch was, I am not an expert on the weights and/or material used for costumes that for the purposes of Boxing are unnecessary, and can only comment on what I see during a fight. With all due respect to Deontay Wilder, who was a great champion who defended his portion of the World Heavyweight championship successfully ten times over five years, champ I disagree. I will say however if there is indeed merit to that claim, the fighter as well as the fighter’s corner do have a right to say no to the use of elaborate unnecessary wear/costumes if they feel it will have a negative impact on the fighter’s performance inside the ring.

This observer will take nothing away from Deontay Wilder or any other fighter who has the courage to get inside the ring. No one can ever dispute the heart Wilder showed in this fight, but what yours truly finds troubling are statements Wilder has made in the past in eluding to wanting a body on his record, despite the tragedies the sport has suffered. An equally troubling statement was one the former WBC world champion made to Boxing Scene where he stated that he wanted to go out on his shield and saying death is better than a defeat.

Although anyone reading this column and those who know me personally should know I strongly disagree with such a statement given what the Boxing community has endured in recent times as well as throughout the sport’s history, Deontay Wilder has a true fighter’s mentality and it is not often where you will see a fighter, especially one as proud as Wilder acknowledge that a trainer was acting in their best interest in stopping a fight. In this case, I feel Deontay Wilder’s view is one of a proud champion who just lost his crown. With that in mind, I do not want to be overly harsh in what I say here, but as much as it is the responsibility of those within the sport to adjust from within to hopefully prevent tragedies from occurring, it is also the responsibility of the fighters who compete in the sport to represent the sport and show Boxing is just that a sport and not something that can be simply described as “Barbaric.” It is my hope that Wilder takes some time to reflect on things and realizes that such statements, which for better or worse are attention-grabbing, diminishes the fighter he is. I would also suggest reaching out to those effected by the recent tragedies that have impacted the sport and ask for their point of view on such statements. While this observer is viewing things from the outside, having experienced and suffered tragedies in my own life, I would be surprised if there is much support for such statements. In closing, Mark Breland made the right decision, but it was a decision that frankly yours truly would have made sooner.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Prograis-Hooker Launch Presser Quotes

Press Release: By DAZN – FRISCO, Texas, Feb. 27, 2020 – Matchroom Boxing USA and DAZN will present a huge night of boxing at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland on Friday, April 17, headlined by two former light welterweight world champions Regis Prograis against Maurice Hooker in a 143 lbs. catchweight showdown, live on DAZN.

Credit: Amanda Westcott/ DAZN

Both men come into the bout following starring roles in two of 2019’s “Fight of the Year” contenders. Prograis (24-1 20 KOs) traveled to London in October to take on Josh Taylor in a unification clash and the final of the World Boxing Super Series, with Scotsman Taylor edging out ‘Rougarou’ via Majority Decision in an all-out war. In July, Hooker (27-1-3 18 KOs) hosted José Ramírez in a unification bout in Dallas, and the pair served up a back-and-forth shootout that Ramirez won via stoppage in the sixth round of a breathless contest.

In the kick-off press conference, Prograis and Hooker talked about kicking off 2020 with a strong performance, and their eagerness to once again fight for a world title.

Eddie Hearn

“For me this seems like an obvious fight but never expected it to happen. Prograis coming off a tough loss to Josh Taylor, and Hooker coming off a recent win, and a defeat to Jose Ramirez. This is everything for boxing - guys that wants to get back to the top. These are two guys that know they can win. It’s so refreshing to make a fight like this. Here we have an opportunity for two guys to get straight to the top. This fight comes at the hottest time in the division, and both guys have eyes on the fight tomorrow – Mikey Garcia vs. Jessie Vargas.”

Regis Prograis

“I wanted to go straight back to fighting the best. People will look at a loss and write you off. I don’t want a tune-up fight. I want the toughest fights. I’m a former world champion, and I’ve been fighting world champions. I want to keep doing the same thing.

“I definitely think I’m going to win, I never think I’ll lose. I think it’s going to be great fight, I can’t wait. I don’t see how he wins if he got stopped by Ramirez - I hit harder. I’m the hardest puncher in the division.”

On coming back after Josh Taylor fight: “It’s everything for me. This is a make or break fight. I still feel I’m the best in the world, I don’t want tune-up fights, and no easy fights. This is a great fight, and if I win in dominant fashion then I’ll be right at the top.”

Maurice Hooker

“It’s a good fight. He’s a former world champion, as am I. I’m going to show the world I’m the best at 140. The fight with Ramirez, he hit me with a good shot. This fight you’ll see a different Hooker. This is the new style that my new team has been working on. Don’t mis this one. I’m going in to win.

“I’m going to do my thing, and stick to my game plan. I will come out on top and come out with the victory.

“We are both exciting fighters, and going to meet in each other in the middle of the ring. Fans want to see fights like this, the top guys fight each other.”

About DAZN:

Material Courtesy of DAZN/Photo Courtesy of:Amanda Westcott /DAZN Used with permission.

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, availability around the world, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.

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