The Comeback of Richard Commey

Originally, the premise of this column was to concern the fallout of the anticipated clash for the vacant WBO Light-Heavyweight world championship between top contenders Joe Smith Jr. and Maxim Vlasov, which was to take place on February 13^th at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, NV. As we seem to be reminded on a daily basis however, the sport of Boxing is one that is truly unpredictable. A statement that carries even more significance in the midst of the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic. Unfortunately, it was revealed as covered here on The Boxing Truth®️ last week, that Maxim Vlasov had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus just days before the scheduled twelve round world championship bout and that would subsequently force the fight between he and Smith to be postponed. 

 

While this subsequently took the main event of the scheduled card out of the equation, the fight that stepped into the main event position also carried an interesting storyline. This observer is of course speaking of the story of former IBF Lightweight world champion Richard Commey. As some may recall, the thirty-three year old Commey won the IBF world championship in the 135lb. Lightweight division in February 2019 with a third round knockout over Isa Chaniev. Commey successfully defended the title once over former world champion Ray Beltran in June of that year via twelve round unanimous decision. This was the set up for his title defense against the unbeaten “Knockout Artist “ Teofimo Lopez in December 2019. Commey saw his title reign come to an end in that fight being dropped with a flush right hook in the second round and subsequently finished with a follow-up barrage.

 

The third loss for Commey in thirty-one career bouts was the first time he had been stopped in his career. Although a fighter suffering a knockout loss in the sudden way that Commey did against Lopez can create a bit of a misconception amongst particularly casual Boxing fans as to how good a fighter might be, in reality, the sudden ending of that fight was a case of a world champion simply getting caught and it could have easily been a reverse scenario. Sometimes all a fighter needs is one punch and on that night it was Lopez who was able to land it.

 

Under circumstances where the sport is able to operate normally, it would be logical to question how long it would be before Commey would return to the ring. While there are some fighters who will look to rush back into the ring quicker than others after suffering a knockout loss, an argument should be made that in the case of Richard Commey, one year of inactivity due largely to the COVID-19  crisis provided him the appropriate time to recover fully from that loss. 

 

The question going into Commey’s bout against Jackson Marinez in my eyes was not whether there would be a difference in Commey physically, but if he would be tentative and not as willing to engage in exchanges of offense. What I mean by this is Commey did get caught by one punch in his fight against Teofimo Lopez and even though the knockout did not come as a result of him suffering prolonged punishment over a period of time, it can still create a scenario where a fighter might be more cautious after suffering a knockout than they were prior. The other term that is often used to describe this under those kind of circumstances is whether the fight will be “Gun Shy” and not as willing to let their hands go as they might have been before.

 

In Jackson Marinez, Commey faced a fighter who was a veteran of twenty professional bouts coming into the fight with a record of 19-1, with 7 Knockouts. While this statistic gave the former world champion an edge in terms of overall experience as he entered the ring with a record of 29-3, with 27 Knockouts, one aspect of Marinez’ record that stood out to me was that he had a career knockout percentage of just over 30% compared to Commey’s over 80%. Although this indicated that Marinez was not a fighter known for punching power as evidenced in his only having seven knockouts in his nineteen career wins, it gave an indication in my view that the intention beyond looking for a confidence boost for Commey, was also to try and get some rounds in. After all, in addition to his coming off of a knockout loss, Commey was also coming off over a year of inactivity and one could argue that it is just as important or perhaps more important for a fighter to work off what is known as “Ring Rust” from a long stretch of inactivity as it is for a fighter to hopefully return to their winning ways following a loss.

 

While the question of whether Commey would be tentative early on in this fight was answered almost immediately upon the bout beginning with a definitive no as he looked to apply pressure on Marinez, Marinez was elusive and showed early that he could make the former champion miss. As the fight progressed, Marinez continued to use lateral movement to try and evade Commey as he pressed forward, but gradually Commey’s power began to show itself and he began landing punches including hooks and right hands with more consistency.

 

Although Marinez had an edge in lateral movement and seemingly in hand speed, he could not land anything to discourage Commey from coming forward. In simple terms, he could not get the respect of the former world champion. This in addition Commey’s punching power set the stage for the conclusion of the fight in round six. 

 

Commey’s aggression had only continued to increase as this fight progressed and the sixth round world be no different as he increasingly found openings to land his right hand to the head of Marinez. It was a right hand while Marinez was against the ropes that would send Marinez down late in the round. Marinez showed his heart by getting up from the knockdown, but with his opponent badly hurt, Commey pressed forward landing another flush right hand to the head sending Marinez down and out on the canvas.

 

At the end of the day, this fight was able to accomplish both the task of getting the “Ring Rust” off as well as provide the type of confidence restoring victory for Commey that should put him right back in the mix amongst the top fighters in the 135lb. Lightweight division. One such fighter who was there in attendance at the MGM Grand Conference Center to support Richard Commey was the man who took the IBF world championship from him. A man who is now the Undisputed world champion in the Lightweight division. Teofimo Lopez.

 

While it is certainly possible that there might be a potential rematch between Lopez and Commey down the line, Lopez himself said shortly after he beat Commey to become a world champion that the roles could have easily been reversed and showed his respect for Commey in the process. In a highly competitive Lightweight division where anyone could realistically vie for the position Lopez currently holds, it is refreshing to see fighters show each other the respect all fighters deserve for the risk they all take each and every time they step into the ring to compete. Boxing may not always be benefited by acts of “Class” like the type shown between Richard Commey and Teofimo Lopez and may unfortunately garner more attention for the negatives of the sport, but the respect shown between these two one time and perhaps future opponents is something all involved in Boxing can learn from.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

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

 

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

 

 

  

Diaz And Rakhimov Fight To Majority Draw In Indio, CA

 

In a battle for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Jr. Lightweight championship, former champion Joseph Diaz and undefeated contender Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov fought to a highly competitive twelve round majority draw on Saturday night at the Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino in Indio, CA. Diaz, who was the IBF world champion prior to the bout, lost his crown on the weight scale  on the day prior to the fight due to coming in nearly four pounds over the 130lb. Jr. Lightweight limit. This created a scenario where the championship was only on the line for Rakhimov, who came in under the Jr. Lightweight limit. 

 

For twelve rounds, the two fighters engaged in a tactical, but entertaining battle that saw the ebb and flow of the combat shift several times throughout. Diaz was most effective during periods where he took the initiative and got his punches off first. This was not a consistent pattern throughout the fight however, as Rakhimov had several rounds where he was able to keep the former world champion on the defensive and land combinations highlighted by some effective body work. Diaz was able to seemingly regain the momentum in the late rounds and at the conclusion of the twelve round world championship bout the near even combat that took place in the ring resulted in a majority draw on the official scorecards as two of three official judges scored the fight identically 114-114, while the third judge felt Diaz had done enough to win by a narrow margin of seven rounds to five or 115-113 in points. The draw leaves the IBF world championship at 130lbs. vacant. Joseph Diaz advances to 31-1-1, with 15 Knockouts. Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov advances to 15-0-1, with 12 Knockouts.

 

 

Also On This Card:

 

Undefeated Jr. Middleweight contender Brian Castano successfully made the transition from top contender to world champion by scoring a dominant twelve round unanimous decision over WBO Jr. Middleweight world champion Patrick Teixeira to win the world championship. Castano applied nearly relentless pressure on Teixeira from the opening bell and never really allowed the champion the space to get himself into a consistent rhythm as he outworked and out fought Teixeira over the twelve round distance to earn a convincing unanimous decision and the WBO crown. Official scores were 120-108, 119-109, and 117-111 all in favor of Brian Castano. Brian Castano advances to 17-0-1, with 12 Knockouts. Patrick Teixeira falls to 31-2, with 22 Knockouts.

 

Super-Middleweight Shane Mosley Jr. scored a fifth round stoppage over a very “Game” Cristian Olivas. Mosley was very tactical in his approach Boxing behind a consistent jab, using lateral movement, and mixing his offense to the head and body. It was the work Mosley did with his jab that caused accumulated swelling of Olivas’ right eye and this is what ultimately led to the fight being stopped at the end of round five as Olivas’ right eye was nearly swollen shut. Shane Mosley Jr. advances to 17-3, with 10 Knockouts. Cristian Olivas falls to 20-8, with 17 Knockouts.

 

Jr. Featherweight contender Ronny Rios scored a lopsided ten round unanimous decision over Oscar Negrete. The story of this fight was Rios’ poise and consistency in knowing when to let his hands go as well as making his work to Negrete’s body the focal point of his offense as he outworked Negrete over ten rounds to earn the unanimous decision victory. Official scores were: 100-90, (On two scorecards) and 99-91 in favor of Ronny Rios. Ronny Rios advances to 33-3, with 16 Knockouts. Oscar Negrete falls to 19-3-2, with 7 Knockouts. 

 

Unbeaten Light-Heavyweight prospect Bektemir Melikuziev scored a third round stoppage over Morgan Fitch. Melikuziev systematically broke Fitch down with steady pressure and power punches. Melikuziev was credited with a knockdown in round three when his glove seemed to touch the canvas. This was followed by Fitch going down a second time from what appeared to be a low blow, but the fight was stopped by Referee Jack Reiss as Fitch seemed to not want to continue. Official time of the stoppage was 2:08 of round three. Bektemir Melikuziev advances to 7-0, with 6 Knockouts. Morgan Fitch falls to 19-5-1, with 8 Knockouts.

 

Lightweight Dalis Kaleiopu successfully made his professional debut by scoring a thir round knockout over Eduardo Sanchez. Official time of the stoppage was was :48 of round three. Dalis Kaleiopu advances to 1-0, with 1 Knockout. Eduardo Sanchez falls to 2-4, with 0 Knockouts.

 

Featherweight Azat Hovhannisyan scored an eighth round stoppage of Enrique Bernache. Official time of the stoppage was :35 of round eight. Azat Hovhannisyan advances to 19-3, with 16 Knockouts. Enrique Bernache falls to 24-13, with 14 Knockouts.

 

Undefeated Featherweight Victor Morales remained unbeaten by scoring an eight round unanimous decision over Rodrigo Guerrero. Official scores were: 80-72 (On all three official scorecards) in favor of Victor Morales. Victor Morales advances to 14-0, with 7 Knockouts. Rodrigo Guerrero falls to 26-10-2, with 16 Knockouts.

 

The main takeaway from this card, which was promoted by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, in this observer’s eyes is there will likely be s second chapter to the story of Joseph Diaz and Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov after such a closely fought battle that neither fighter emerged as standing out clearly from the other. Perhaps a question that should be asked is whether this fight might take place in the 135lb. Lightweight division given the difficulty Diaz had in making weight for this fight, whether Diaz will want to attempt to make 130lbs. again to attempt to regain his championship, or even perhaps if former champion Tevin Farmer, who Diaz beat for the IBF world championship in one of the best fights of 2020 might enter the equation if Diaz chooses to enter the Lightweight division going forward.

 

As Boxing continues to deal with the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic, it is uncertain as to how quickly this question might be answered and how long the IBF Jr. Lightweight world championship will remain vacated. Despite the ongoing circumstances, there remains no shortage of compelling stories for Boxing fans to keep an eye on as 2021 progresses. This story is certainly among them.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

UPSET: Lara KO’s Warrington In 9

 

In a stunner Featherweight contender Mauricio Lara scored a devastating ninth round stoppage over previously undefeated former IBF Featherweight world champion Josh Warrington on Saturday night at the Wembley Arena in London, England. Lara, who was viewed as a significant underdog against Warrington, who only recently relinquished his world championship, found that he was the stronger of the two fighters early as he frequently found openings to land hard thudding hooks to the head on Warrington. In round four, Lara nearly ended the fight when he dropped the former world champion hard with a combination highlighted by a left hook to the head. Warrington was able to beat the count on very unsteady legs, but was allowed to continue and miraculously made it out of the round, despite appearing to be out on his feet.

 

From this point in the fight on, Warrington did not appear to be recovered and continued to take vicious punishment. Although the former champion showed tremendous heart by trying to fight on, Lara’s harder punches were clearly the story of this fight. Lara brought an end to the fight in brutal fashion by dropping Warrington with right hook to the body followed by a flush left hook to the head. The fight was immediately stopped as Warrington was out on the canvas. Official time of the stoppage was :54 of round nine. Mauricio Lara advances to 22-2, with 15 Knockouts. Josh Warrington falls to 30-1, with 7 Knockouts.

 

Also On This Card:

 

Jr. Lightweight Zelfa Barrett scored a controversial twelve round unanimous decision over former IBF Jr. Featherweight world champion Kiko Martinez. Martinez consistently applied pressure on Barrett throughout and seemed to be the effective aggressor as well. Barrett had some success in catching Martinez as he came forward particularly during the second half of the fight. Barrett suffered a cut over the right eye due to an accidental clash of heads in round seven. Despite the appearance of what might have been a close fight down the stretch, all three judges scored the fight in favor of Barrett by wide margins at the conclusion of the bout. Official scores were: 118-111, (On two scorecards) and 116-113 in favor of Barrett. Zelfa Barrett advances to 25-1, with 15 Knockouts. Kiko Martinez falls to 41-10-2, with 29 Knockouts.

 

In a battle for the vacant British Featherweight championship, Leigh Wood scored a devastating ninth round stoppage of previously unbeaten Reece Mould. At times a tactical Boxing match, other times a give and take battle, the two fighters had no reluctance to engage each other from the outset. In round three, Mould appeared to show he was the harder puncher of the two as he staggered Wood with a left hook to the head and appeared to have him in trouble. Wood would turn the ebb and flow in his favor however, in round four with a combination to the body followed by an uppercut to the head that sent Mould down to the canvas. Mould would show an ability to recover, got up from the knockdown, and seemed to be in a position where he was back in the fight in the middle rounds. In round nine however, Wood would bring the fight to a sudden conclusion when he connected with a perfectly timed flush counter left hook to the head that sent Mould down for a second time. Although Mould was able to get up, he was compromised and seeing he had his opponent in trouble, Wood pressed forward and landed a follow-up combination to the head that sent Mould down for a third and final time in scary fashion forcing the bout to be immediately stopped. 

 

Despite the brutal way the stoppage came, Mould was able to leave the ring under his own power. Official time of the stoppage was 1:03 of round nine. Leigh Wood advances to 24-2, with 14 Knockouts. Reece Mould falls to 13-1, with 6 Knockouts.

 

Rising Jr. Welterweight prospect Dalton Smith scored a dominant third round stoppage over a “Gane”, but overmatched Ishmael Ellis. From the opening bell, Smith forced Ellis on the defensive and displayed a full range of offense throughout. After three rounds of one-sided combat, the corner of Ellis had seen enough and stopped the fight shortly after the end of round three to prevent their fighter from further punishment. Dalton Smith advances to 7-0, with 6 Knockouts. Ishmael Ellis falls to 11-4, with 0 Knockouts.

 

Jr. Featherweight  Ivan “Hopey” Price remained undefeated with a one-sided six round decision over late substitute Daniel Mendoza. For the entire six round bout, Price used his 5’10 height and counter punching to get the better of the 5’5 Mendoza, who was unable to get anything effective done on the inside and simply could not land anything significant from distance. Official score from Referee Robert Williams was 60-54 in favor of Price. Ivan Price advances to 4-0, with 1 Knockout. Daniel Mendoza falls to 11-12, with 4 Knockouts.

 

Unbeaten Featherweight prospect Ibrahim Nadim scored a six round decision over veteran Jonny Phillips to begin the evening and advance his record to 3-0. Official score from Referee Robert Williams was 60-55 in favor of Nadim. Ibrahim Nadim advances to 3-0, with 0 Knockouts. Jonny Phillips falls to 5-6, with 2 Knockouts.

 

This card, which was the first for promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing in 2021 proves the saying that this observer has said many times over the years is indeed true. “Anything Can Happen At Any Given Time In The Sport Of Boxing, And That Is What Makes It So Great.”

 

Here you had a card featuring prospects, one British championship bout, a little controversy, and ultimately a shocker in the main event in a lightly regarded contender scoring a devastating knockout over one of the best fighters in the world, who due to the political elements of the sport chose to relinquish his world championship in the weeks prior to this fight. Josh Warrington’s status as one of the top fighters in the 126lb. Featherweight division will certainly be impacted off of this knockout loss to Mauricio Lara, but while others may focus on what may have gone wrong both before and during the fight, no one can take away from the heart he showed in this fight. 

 

As someone who is always looking out in the best interest of the sport and the fighters that compete in it however, I feel the fight should have been stopped in the fourth round as it was clear in my view that Warrington was out on his feet and while one can never take away from a fighter’s courage, sometimes a fighter needs to be protected from themselves and the punishment Warrington sustained after the fourth round including the brutal knockout in round nine was unnecessary. You never want to see a fighter take one punch too many. 

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

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

 

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

 

Warrington-Lara Weights From London

  

The official weigh-in for Saturday’s Boxing card promoted by Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing took place earlier today in London, England . Weights for the entire card taking place at the Wembley Arena, which will be headlined by a twelve round Featherweight bout between Josh Warrington and Mauricio Lara and will be televised globally by digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN are as follows .

 

Main Event: Featherweight – 12Rds.

 

Josh Warrington 125 1/2lbs. vs. Mauricio Lara 125lbs.

 

Vacant British Featherweight championship – 12Rds. 

 

Leigh Wood 125 1/4lbs. vs. Reece Mould 125 3/4lbs.

 

Featherweight – 6Rds.

 

Ibrahim Nadim 123 1/4lbs. vs. Jonny Phillips 123 3/4lbs.

 

Jr. Lightweight – 12Rds. 

 

Zelfa Barrett 128 3/4lbs. vs. Kiko Martinez 128 1/4lbs.

 

Jr. Welterweight – 10Rds. 

 

Dalton Smith 142 1/2lbs. vs. Ishmael Ellis 138 1/2lbs.

 

Jr. Featherweight – 6Rds. 

 

Ivan Price 122 1/2lbs. vs. Daniel Mendoza 122 1/2lbs.

 

Warrington vs. Lara takes place tomorrow (Saturday, February 13^th) at Wembley Arena in London, England. The entire card can be seen globally excluding the United Kingdom on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 2PM ET/11AM PT (U.S. Time.) For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, availability around the world, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.

 

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the card can be seen on Sky Sports Arena beginning at 7PM (Local UK Time). For more information about Sky Sports including schedules, list of Sky Sports channels, and availability in your area please visit: www.SkySports.com.

 

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

 

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

 

 

UPDATE: Vlasov Tests Positive For COVID-19: Bout With Smith Postponed

 

In an update to the preview that was released here on the website this morning, it has been announced by promoter Bob Arum and his promotional company Top Rank, Inc. that Light-Heavyweight contender Maxim Vlasov has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and his scheduled bout with Joe Smith Jr. on Saturday, February 13^th has been postponed in accordance with COVID-19 protocols set forth by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). The bout, which was for the vacant WBO Light-Heavyweight world championship was to serve as the main event for Top Rank’s scheduled card televised here in the United States on sports cable network ESPN and its digital subscription streaming network ESPN+ taking place without spectators at the MGM Grand Conference Center.

 

Although the Smith-Vlasov bout will no longer take place on Saturday night, the remainder of the card as of this writing will proceed as scheduled with the new headline bout being a ten round Lightweight bout between former IBF Lightweight world champion Richard Commey and Jackson Marinez. As of this writing, there is no word on when the Smith-Vlasov bout might be rescheduled. We will keep readers updated on any developments as they become available.

 

Unless circumstances change such as further cancellations, we here at The Boxing Truth®️ intend to provide some coverage of this card as well as other action scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 13^th. Stay tuned. “And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

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

 

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

Smith-Vlasov: The Beginning Of A New Era For The Light-Heavyweight Division?

 

Much of the last decade in the 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division was largely dominated by former three-time Light-Heavyweight world champion Sergey Kovalev, who ultimately served as a central figure for the division over that period of time. In recent times however, Kovalev has been more known for what he has been involved in outside the ring including recently testing positive for a banned substance, which forced the cancellation of his scheduled January 30^th bout with Bek Melkuziev. With the future of Kovalev very much uncertain, the Light-Heavyweight division appears to be embarking on a new era as top contenders Joe Smith Jr. and Maxim Vlasov will meet on February 13^th at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, NV for the vacant WBO Light-Heavyweight world championship. A crown, which Kovalev held three times and one that has been vacant since his loss to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in November 2019. With Alvarez choosing to relinquish the championship to focus on opportunities in the 168 lb. Super-Middleweight division, it has created an opening for Smith and Vlasov to attempt to enter the picture amongst the world champions of the division that are each trying to emerge as its new central focus.

Joe Smith Jr. emerged on the scene in the eyes of many with his knockout victory over future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins in December 2016. While that win did establish Smith as a force to be reckoned with in the Light-Heavyweight division as well as giving him the status as being the only fighter to ever stop Hopkins, doing so in the final fight of Hopkins’ legendary career, he has suffered some setbacks and has not been able to go from top contender to a world champion. Some may recall Smith’s two losses that followed his victory over Hopkins to top contender Sullivan Barrera in 2017 and undefeated WBA world champion Dmitry Bivol in 2019. Although Smith lost those fights, he gave a good account of himself in defeat, was not stopped in either of those bouts and has maintained his status as a top contender in the division by compiling two victories in his last two fights over Jesse Hart and scoring a stoppage of former WBO world champion Eleider Alvarez in his last fight in August of last year.

Smith has scored knockouts in twenty-one of his twenty-six career wins compiling a career knockout percentage of nearly 73%. Despite being known for his punching power, Smith has also shown that he can box and has an ability to adapt as a fight progresses. In Maxim Vlasov, Smith will face an opponent, who like him has never been stopped in his career, but a fighter who some might say has not succeeded when he has stepped up in caliber of opposition in his career.

Vlasov will enter this bout with a record of 45-3, with 26 Knockouts compared to Smith’s 26-3, with 21 Knockouts. Even though Vlasov has an experience edge over Smith, it will be Smith who will likely have more recognition going into this fight.

What this fight appears to be in my eyes is an encounter between two boxer/punchers and one might argue that it could end quickly or could easily go the distance. This appears to be one of those bouts that you just do not know what type fight it will be going in.

Despite the experience edge Vlasov has going in, he has lost against fighters such as Isaac Chilemba, Gilberto Ramirez, and more recently, Krzysztof Glowacki in November 2018. Perhaps one advantage Vlasov will have over Smith in addition to experience is several of his bouts took place in the Cruiserweight division and he was able to avenge his loss to Chilemba in a rematch in 2019. Much like Smith, Vlasov will enter on a win streak having won his last three bouts. The questions that I have going into this fight is whether or not Vlasov will be able to deal with the consistent pressure and punching power of Smith for twelve rounds and whether or not he will be able to be elusive and nullify that pressure.

What will lie ahead for the winner of this fight could be some lucrative opportunities against fellow world champions of the division including WBA world champion Dmitry Bivol and unified IBF/WBC world champion Artur Beterbiev. As this observer has often said over the years however, before any talk can take place regarding potential fights that could be made and the various financial figures that are involved, there is business to attend to first for both Joe Smith and Maxim Vlasov.

Who will emerge in what might be the post--Sergey Kovalev era as the next central figure in the Light-Heavyweight division is anyone’s guess, but it sure will be an interesting process to watch as it evolves.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Smith vs. Vlasov takes place on Saturday, February 13th at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, NV. The card can be seen in the United States on digital subscription streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT. The main event portion of the card will also be simulcast on the linear ESPN main network across cable and satellite providers beginning at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT. For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, and smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: plus.espn.com/. For more information about ESPN please visit: www.espn.com. Check your local listings internationally.

 

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

 

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

February 5th-6th, 2021 Weekend Thoughts

 

After a relatively quiet month of January for the sport of Boxing, the month of February began with a steady flow of Boxing action across both the professional Bareknuckled and traditional forms of the sport. The beginning of what is also Super Bowl weekend for the National Football League (NFL) here in the United States saw the return of the Bareknuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), who began their 2021 schedule with an eleven bout card dubbed “KnuckleMania.”

 

While this card, which took place at the BP Funding Center in Lakeland, FL was notable for the professional Bareknuckle Boxing debut of former UFC star Page VanZant, who competed in the main event in a Featherweight bout against Britain Hart, the card featured no shortage of highlights, some of which will be covered and discussed in this portion of this column. While it would be difficult to give each individual bout the time it deserves in a full-length feature that will cross the bareknuckled and traditional realms of the sport, this observer will offer the reader his thoughts on some of what took place as well as where I feel things stand for Bareknuckle Boxing and the BKFC as a whole as the 2021 schedule has begun.

 

As is usually the case in bouts fought under the bareknuckled-format and has been seen throughout the two year history of the BKFC, most bouts were fought at a high pace from the opening bell and this in addition to the two minute round length made for some exciting combat. Of the eleven bouts on this the sixteenth card promoted by the BKFC, eight ended in knockouts, but it was the three fights that each went the scheduled five round distance that in my eyes stood out.

 

Perhaps the fight of the night depending on one’s perspective took place on the undercard that like the evening’s main event, was fought in the Women’s Featherweight division. A bout between two newcomers to Bareknuckle Boxing Taylor Starling and Charisa Sigala, who were each making their professional Bareknuckle debuts. 

 

A fight that quickly became an all-out war from the outset, there was no feeling out process between the two fighters and it did not take long for blood to become a factor as Starling suffered what would become a severe cut over her left eye only seconds into the fight. Despite the cut, Starling was not discouraged and would score a knockdown of Sigala later in  round one with a straight right hand to the head. Sigala would be dropped for a second time in round two with what appeared to be a jab followed by a right hand to the chin.

 

At this stage both because of the fierce pace in which the combat was being fought as well as the knockdowns and general damage fighters suffer in bouts fought under Bareknuckle rules, I wondered how long it would be before this fight would be stopped. Sigala however, would remain very “Game “ and willing to exchange, despite being knocked down twice. At the conclusion of four rounds, both fighters had sustained wounds over their eyes and even though due largely to the knockdowns in rounds one and two Starling had a significant lead on the official scorecards, the action did not let up until the final bell. Although it would be Starling that would get a hard-fought unanimous decision on this night, it was a bout that would be hard to follow and both fighters simply gave everything they had.

 

The co-main event of “KnuckleMania” was a bout for the BKFC Lightweight world championship between champion Johnny Bedford and Dat Nguyen. As some may recall, Nguyen has a record of 20-3, with 7 Knockouts in bouts fought under the traditional professional Boxing format and was viewed as a contender as a 130lb. Jr. Lightweight. After completing in his last bout under the traditional professional Boxing format in February 2017, Nguyen embarked on competing in the Bareknuckle form of the sport and entered his challenge of Bedford’s world championship unbeaten in two Bareknuckle bouts. Bedford meanwhile entered unbeaten in his own right with a record of 5-0, with 3 Knockouts.

 

One aspect of Bareknuckle Boxing as this observer has said in the past that differs significantly from its traditional counterpart is the element of fighting in the clinch. This was a fight that the element of clinch fighting immediately became a part of the combat as both fighters tried to get the upper hand on the inside. This was an encounter where even though the champion had an advantage of height, reach, and seemed to be the stronger of the two fighters particularly when they fought in the clinch on the inside, Nguyen seemed to have the quicker hands and this allowed him to both be the more active of the two as well as seeming to get the better of the exchanges.

 

A commonality between the traditional and Bareknuckle forms of the sport is when there is a fight where both fighters are able to have success in spots in several of the same rounds, it can create a conundrum for judges scoring a fight to determine who has the edge round by round. Although there were periods where Bedford was able to hurt Nguyen with his offense and show his strength advantage, Nguyen’s greater activity and ability to seemingly get the better of most of the exchanges with hooks and uppercuts while on the outside where theoretically one might think Bedford would have the advantage is what ultimately swayed the three official judges who scored the five round world championship bout unanimously in his favor giving Nguyen the victory and his first professional world championship. 

 

The main event of BKFC “KnuckleMania” featured the highly anticipated debut of UFC veteran Paige VanZant facing Britain Hart in a five round Women’s Featherweight bout. While there is no doubt that since signing with the BKFC in 2020 that Paige VanZant’s Bareknuckle Boxing debut would be anticipated due largely to her success in her Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) career, her run in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and with that carry significant attention due also to her cross over appeal, success in a new sport is not always a given right away.

 

In Britain Hart, VanZant faced a fighter with slightly more experience having competed in three previous Bareknuckle bouts as well as having an edge in overall Boxing experience having a record of 4-4-3, with 1 Knockout in traditional professional Boxing. While Hart entered the bout with VanZant with a 1-2 Bareknuckle record, what she also had was a three inch height advantage over the 5’4 VanZant and also a slight reach advantage.

 

It was these attributes as well as her edge in experience that allowed Hart to dictate the combat from the opening bell. The primary difference in this fight in my eyes was Hart’s ability to get the better of the action on the outside, but also surprisingly get the better of the action inside the clinch. Sometimes in Boxing regardless of form in which bouts take place, it can be as simple as one fighter being able to outwork the other and that is essentially what happened in this fight. Although VanZant was able to rally in the fifth and final round, it was not enough to sway the opinion of the three judges who scored the fight unanimously in favor of Hart. 

 

While some may say that starting her Bareknuckle career with a loss should discourage Paige VanZant, this observer does not feel that way. It goes without saying that not every career in combat sports will begin with a victory and it will be interesting to see what adjustments VanZant can make before her next bout. One thought that consistently came to mind as I watched this fight was perhaps one reason why VanZant was outworked in addition to being at an experience disadvantage going in is as an MMA fighter, she is used to fighting in most cases three five minute rounds where theoretically, a fighter has more time to implement a tactical approach rather than having to be more aggressive. Of course bouts in Bareknuckle Boxing as well as all forms of Women’s Boxing are fought with two minute rounds. Due simply to the round length, if a fighter does not consistently let their hands go, it is very difficult to win fights,

 

It may simply be a matter of VanZant taking the time to adapt to the differences in fighting only two minutes per round as opposed to five minutes as well as making other tactical adjustments that will benefit her going forward. The important thing to keep in mind is this will take some time and it may not be wise to rush back in the ring quickly. VanZant may not have gotten the victory in this fight, but she has nothing to be ashamed of and there is no substitute for experience and it will be this experience that will only help her evolve in time.

 

As for the BKFC and Bareknuckle Boxing as a whole, the sport continues to grow by leaps and bounds far beyond what could have been envisioned a decade ago when variations of modernized/organized Bareknuckle Boxing began to re-emerge here in the United States and the United Kingdom. As more Bareknuckle Boxing promotions emerge and the sport is able to increase exposure, the sport as a whole will continue to grow. If this leads to further opportunities for boxers as well as other athletes throughout all of combat sports, it should be viewed as a step forward.

 

One fighter on the traditional side of professional Boxing that was looking to take another step forward in his comeback was former longtime Jr. Middleweight contender Austin Trout. Trout, who held interim/regular champion status in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Jr. Middleweight ratings between 2011 and 2013 as the WBA’s top contender in the division, returned to the ring for the first time in over a year to face veteran Juan Garcia in Chihuahua, MX. 

 

The bout, which was Trout’s first since a second round knockout over Rosbel Montoya in February of last year, took place in a venue that like many over the last year was closed to the public due to the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic. In Juan Garcia, Trout faced a veteran of thirty professional bouts, who had twenty-one wins, but a fighter who had been stopped in four of his seven losses. While Garcia, who also had two draws in his career going into this fight, had gone 2-2 in his last four bouts, he did suffer a first round knockout loss to unbeaten Welterweight Jessie Wilcox in his last bout in June 2018. 

 

Although this had all the appearance of a fight intended to get the ring rust off for Trout, who entered the bout with a record of 32-5-1, with 18 Knockouts, the question that usually accompanies a fight like this particularly in the midst of the ongoing global COVID-19 crisis is what effect will fighting under such conditions have on fighters. A question that is all the more relevant when one considers that due to the ongoing circumstances of COVID-19, plans including, but not limited to when bouts will take place can change day to day.

 

Trout showed no visible signs of ring rust as for ten rounds he used his elusive style, lateral movement, and superior skillset to out box the “Game “ Garcia to earn a convincing ten round unanimous decision victory. Even though Trout was in complete control of this bout from the outset, it appeared at times particularly late in the ten round bout that he might have been able to get a stoppage if he had stepped up his pace a little more. A win is still a win however, and one could make an argument that going ten rounds did the thirty-five year old Trout more benefit than scoring a quick knockout would have simply because it allowed him to get some rounds in after a year of inactivity due to the circumstances of COVID-19.

 

While those circumstances are seemingly no closer to being resolved in February 2021 as it was when the COVID-19 virus began impacting the world globally in late 2019 into 2020, we can all only hope that as the Boxing schedule across both the traditional and Bareknuckle realms seems to be filling up in the days, weeks, and hopefully months to come that there will not be as many starts and stops as there were in 2020. Unfortunately, no one can say for certain that there won’t be a halt to activity as there was for a period of time during 2020, but in the meantime it is crucial for fighters like Austin Trout and the Bareknuckle boxers that were discussed in this column as well as boxers throughout the entire sport to try to be as active as they can while they can.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

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

 

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BRUNO "THE TERIMINATOR" TARIMO: RIOS & NEGRETE, I’M WAITING FOR YOU

 

Press Release: February 8, 2021 By Dragon Fire Boxing – The Super Bantamweights are back again, one of boxings hottest divisions delivers again as Feb 13 on DAZN as Fantasy Springs Resort Casino lights up in Indio, Calif as the co feature of Diaz vs Rakhimov as WBA Gold Champion Ronny Rios (32-3, 16 KOs) and Oscar “El Jaguar” Negrete (19-2-2, 7 KOs) face off. 

Credit: Getty Images

The stacked event will take place Saturday, Feb. 13 and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN in more than 200 countries and territories, including the US, Australia, Mexico, Russia, Tajikistan, Brazil and Argentina.

Rios is a 30-year-old contender of Santa Ana, California who is coming off three consecutive stoppage wins, including a dominant knockout victory of then-undefeated Diego De La Hoya in 2019. Rios plans to capitalize on this opportunity in convincing fashion in order to accelerate his path to another world title shot.

“COVID-19 robbed all of us of something, whether it was memories, family members, friends, or in my case, a year of my boxing career,” said Ronny Rios. “I have lost opportunities to make up for, and I’m hungrier than I’ve ever been. That’s not good news for Oscar Negrete. I have a lot of respect for Oscar, but at the end of the day, I have one job and that’s to break the will of every opponent I face. My time to capitalize on the momentum I’ve built in this sport starts with this fight.”

Negrete, a 33-year-old native of Tierralta, Colombia, will return to 122 pounds after a unanimous decision victory against two-time Olympian Alberto “Impacto” Melian and an unforgettable trilogy against Joshua “The Professor” Franco,who is now a world champion even though most viewers believe Andrew Moloney should be the rightful champion.

“I am delighted to be returning to the ring against Ronny Rios on February 13,” said Oscar Negrete. “Both he and I have a style that is very aggressive, and that’s going to guarantee a real war inside the ring. This fight will be very important in determining the future of this competitive division. That’s why I’ll be training at 100% in order to walk away with the victory and earn another opportunity at a world title.”

One person who will be watching with a vested interested is leading World rated contender Bruno "The Teriminator" Tarimo 25-2 who has been hunting all the champions in the Super Bantamweight division.

Tarimo is managed by Tony Tolj, best known for his work with twins Jason and Andrew Moloney. The three frequently train together, which only further sharpens Tarimo's skills as he looks to advance to the title level where the Moloneys both currently reside.

"I have told my manager (Tony Tolj) to get me a fight with any of the World champions, I don't care who it is" insists Tarimo. "I come from nothing, people are complaining about covid and quarantine, I have not seen my wife and kids for nearly a year and a half. This is the sacrifice I make for the opportunity of a world title".

"Rios and Negrete are great boxers and full respect to them, I know this will be an excellent fight and very exciting for the fans. These are the kinds of fights I want, I want people to remember the name Tarimo and think this boxer gave everything who could for his family, his fans and his country."

"My boss, manager Tony Tolj call me 'The Teriminator.' I will never stop until I'm world champion. Bruno Tarimo will be the next Super Bantamweight champion of the World."

 

Material Courtesy of: Dragon Fire Boxing/Photo Courtesy of: Getty Images Used with permission.

 

For more information about Dragon Fire Boxing please visit Dragon Fire Boxing’s official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DragonFireBoxing.

 

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