Is Whyte Ready For Joshua Rematch?

 

In April of this year, the long wait for longtime Heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte to receive an opportunity to fight for the WBC World Heavyweight championship came to an end when Whyte finally stood across the ring from undefeated WBC Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury before a crowd of over 90,000 at the legendary Wembley Stadium. Despite giving a good account of himself, Whyte exited the bout with Fury without the WBC world championship in the Heavyweight division, being knocked out by one uppercut in the sixth round. The question that normally follows a fighter losing a world championship fight whether they be in the role of champion or challenger is the same, when will the rebuilding process begin?

 

For Dillian Whyte, the process began on November 26^th at the Wembley Arena as he faced undefeated, but largely unknown Heavyweight Jermaine Franklin in a scheduled twelve round bout. Although Whyte has been in a position similar to the one he was in going into the bout against Franklin in looking to bounce back after suffering a defeat, after an eleven year career, it was fair to question if at thirty-five years old and having been through his share of grueling battles over the years if the accumulative effect of a long career might have been starting to effect Whyte. In Jermaine Franklin, Whyte faced an unbeaten Heavyweight with a record of 21-0, with 14 Knockouts, but a fighter that due to managerial problems had only fought once since 2019 and was taking a step up in the caliber of his opposition in facing a fighter in Whyte, who has been a top contender in the division for several years and was coming off of fighting for a world title.

 

Although there was a bit of mystery regarding Franklin going into this fight and to be more specific, whether he was ready for this step up given both the lengthy period of inactivity prior to May of this year when he scored a fifth round knockout of Rodney Moore, you never really know what may or may not happen when two fighters get into a ring to do battle even if there may be questions regarding the caliber of opposition of one of the boxers prior to the bout. While some may assume that Whyte may have been looking for a soft touch for lack of a better term in his first bout back in an effort to boost his confidence again, you simply do not know what will happen until a fight begins.

 

In this case, this fight was fought at a somewhat surprising tactical pace. What made this surprising was, despite Whyte’s reputation as a power puncher, he did not press the issue early in the fight even though he also has a reputation as a slow starter in fights. Perhaps this could be explained as showing Franklin respect in not trying to press the issue too early, but the pace in which this fight was fought seemed to favor Franklin, who showed a calm poise in his approach as well as an edge in hand speed compared to Whyte.

 

What impressed this observer about Franklin was how he often threw punches in two and three punch combinations whenever he did let his hands go. Despite the edge Franklin seemed to quickly establish, it was also clear that Whyte had the edge in punching power. Franklin also seemed to be able to bait Whyte into creating openings for him to counter punch, which for a period of time did seem to quell Whyte’s power.

 

This created a scenario where it was the volume punching of Franklin against the more damaging blows of Whyte. A very close fight that came down to a simple, yet complex question of what a judge would prefer that would ultimately determine who would win this fight. Although the difference in punching power was indisputable and the gradual body work of Whyte did prove to be effective as the fight progressed, I felt Franklin’s offensive output was something that could not be ignored as at the end of the twelve round bout, I had him ahead by a margin of seven rounds to five or 115-113 in points. The basis of my scoring was not only the volume in which Franklin threw his punches, but also how he was able to answer back with offense whenever Whyte would land something significant. It was however, one of those fights where, despite the score I arrived at, at the conclusion of the bout, I felt could go either way and I certainly would not have been surprised if the result proved to be a draw.

 

One official judge did score the bout even 115-115, a rare scorecard, but at the same time an illustration as to how close the fight proved to be. The two remaining official judges however, arrived with identical scorecards of eight rounds to four or 116-112 in favor of Whyte making him the winner via majority decision.

 

While some may say that this was not the statement-making performance that Whyte may have needed coming off of a knockout loss in his overdue title shot, he still was able to score a victory in what proved to be a closer fight than some had anticipated. What this fight did prove is no matter how long a fighter is a top contender and competes near the top level of the sport, the competition never stops and Jermaine Franklin has now entered the discussion of contenders who may fight for a world championship down the line.

 

In terms of what comes next, it was said by promoter Eddie Hearn that the winner of this bout would be positioned to face former two-time Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua in early 2023. This now sets up a rematch for Whyte against Joshua. In their first meeting in December 2015 when the two met for the then vacant British Heavyweight championship, Joshua scored a seventh round stoppage of Whyte. Nearly eight years will have passed between the that fight and when a potential rematch will take place if indeed it does happen in 2023. Obviously, both fighters have changed significantly compared to their first meeting and much like Whyte, Joshua will be looking to bounce back off of consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk. Although some may wonder off of this performance against Jermaine Franklin if Whyte is ready for such a crossroads bout with Joshua, there is very little room to maneuver near the top of the division if the goal is ultimately to fight for a world championship. With new fighters trying to work their way into contention on a consistent basis, it puts fighters like Whyte and Joshua into a position where a fight such as a rematch between the two is almost a necessity at this point in their respective careers as they look to maintain their positions as top contenders. As the new year approaches, the Heavyweight division will continue to be one of the main topics of discussion in the entire sport. A rematch between Whyte and Joshua would be among those topics.

 

“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

 

 

Jabs And Observations September-November 2022

 

While it was originally intended as a monthly to bi-monthly feature that was introduced earlier this year by this observer here on The Boxing Truth® as a means to frankly cover as much ground as possible in covering the sport of Boxing beyond the short-form card coverage and individual features that cover specific fights and subjects throughout the calendar year, Jabs And Observations has been absent since March. Although this was not intended as such, I felt coverage provided throughout 2022 had been smooth where the feature would be used on an occasional basis for the remainder of the year when circumstances warranted, with the aim of returning it as a bi-monthly feature column in 2023. As tends to be the case from the months of September through the remainder of a year, yours truly began the month of September in the midst of what I consider to be my norm, covering what usually tends to be a very active Boxing schedule during the latter months of the year.

Even though most of September ran smoothly in this regard, unfortunately plans changed in the last week and a half of the month. This was due to the unfortunate disaster known as Hurricane Ian, which necessitated my family and I to evacuate to seek higher ground. Although I am as have said in the weeks and months since the storm across social media, extremely grateful that the storm did not directly impact my area as was originally forecasted in the days prior to it making landfall in Florida and have no illusions as to how lucky we were upon seeing the effects of the storm in other areas as it could have been much worse, unfortunately having to evacuate as well as the Boxing schedule continuing as normal resulted in material that was in development for the final week of September as well as the first few weeks of October being sidelined, thus necessitating the return of Jabs and Observations.

 

While I will not put the reader through the several pages of material that was written across two features if memory serves me as I write this, I do want to spend a little time discussing some of the events that took place prior to the storm that I did cover as well as some things that have happened since as I have eased back into the schedule following what frankly was a scary and stressful time. Something that unfortunately we had a subtle reminder of recently with hurricane Nicole as well.

 

With the subject now thankfully turning to Boxing, the last week of September 2022 featured two bouts that were of particular interest to yours truly. First, was the September 23^rd bout, which featured undefeated two-division world champion  Shakur Stevenson in what turned out to be his final bout in the 130lb. Jr. Lightweight division. This was because not only his setting his sights on the 135lb. Lightweight division where there are some interesting fights that could be ahead for him as well as more lucrative paydays, but also because he failed to make weight for his scheduled title defense against top contender Robson Conceicio resulting in his losing the unified WBC/WBO Jr. Lightweight world championship on the weight scale. Stevenson’s struggle to make the 130lb. limit did not have an adverse effect on him as he soundly out boxed Conceicio over twelve rounds to earn a convincing twelve round unanimous decision.

 

While some were critical of Stevenson for not making the weight prior to this fight, it is important to keep in mind that the human body can be a mystery at times and what may work for one fighter in terms of cutting and maintaining weight may not necessarily work for another fighter under similar circumstances. There are also times where no matter what a fighter does, the issue of making weight remains difficult especially for fighters who are naturally bigger than where they compete in terms of fighting weight, thus a move up in weight to a heavier weight class is often a necessity for fighters that are not natural Heavyweights as their careers progress. With his focus now turning to the Lightweight division, I do not necessarily see Stevenson remaining in the division for long.

 

This is due to several notable fighters that could be lucrative opportunities for him either having already moved up to the 140lb. Lightweight division or will soon be doing so. Along with Stevenson’s comfort level at that weight, which is yet to be determined, it will likely mean that his time as a Lightweight could be brief depending on what may be available to him as a Jr. Welterweight down the line.

 

On September 24^th, an important Heavyweight bout took place in London, England that featured former WBO Heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker and undefeated top contender Joe Joyce in what was billed as a world title elimination bout. Although Joyce had ended every bout, but one he has fought as a professional inside the distance, the question remained as to whether or not he would face a sufficient test before getting a shot at a world championship. Parker proved to provide that test as the former world champion was able to land flush right hands on Joyce throughout the fight. Despite Parker’s success, as the fight progressed, Joyce gradually wore and broke him down before knocking Parker out in the eleventh round. The first knockout loss of Parker’s career.

 

Two important questions of Joyce were answered in this fight. The first was how he would react to being hit flush by a fighter that has some punching power. Despite being hit with right hands that may have dropped some Heavyweights, Joyce was able to take the best that Parker had to offer and press forward. The second question was would being hit flush change his approach? Joyce was able to show that he could keep his mind on the task at hand and ended up producing one of the best performances of his fifteen fight professional career. With the win, Joyce became the WBO’s number one Heavyweight contender for undefeated current IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk. It may be unlikely based on Usyk’s desire to meet undefeated WBC champion Tyson Fury in a bout for the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world in the near future that Joyce will get his opportunity at least in the immediate months ahead. If however, Joyce can remain active against other top contenders in the meantime and continue to maintain his position as the WBO’s top contender, he will likely be the first fighter in line once the issue regarding a potential undisputed championship fight is settled.

 

While yours truly spent the last week of September and the first weeks of October evacuating due to hurricane Ian and subsequently taking a little time to recharge and refocus after a difficult time, the month of October was dominated by one topic. The collapse of the scheduled bout between undefeated Welterweight contender Conor Benn and former IBO Super-Middleweight world champion Chris Eubank Jr. By now most know that the bout, which was to take place in London, England on October 8^th ended up being cancelled by the British Boxing Board of Control in the days prior to the bout taking place, while the fighters were in the midst of the normal “Fight Week” festivities and obligations. The reason for the abrupt cancellation was due to Benn testing positive for a banned substance in the weeks prior.

 

In the interest of honesty with the reader, my mind was frankly on other things at the time this occurred, but as I observed the fallout, which as of this writing is still not settled, one question continuously ran through my mind. Why would the British Boxing Board of Control wait until mere days before what was a highly anticipated event, particularly throughout the United Kingdom, if the board were aware of a positive test well before fight week festivities began? It is important for me to point out that I ask this question not as an expert in the field of drug testing, but merely as an observer who covers the sport. This situation has not been resolved as of this writing, but I will say that at minimum, the protocols of not only the British Boxing Board of Control and any other reputable state or international regulatory boards should be reviewed in order to ensure if there is indeed a circumstance of a positive test that a situation like this can be avoided in the future.

 

Now as we approach Thanksgiving here in the United States, I would like to share a few brief thoughts about what has gone on in recent weeks. First, as the reader can probably tell, I have jumped around a bit here and if there is anything omitted from this edition of Jabs And Observations it is merely a circumstance of the constraints of what can fit into a single column. Originally, I intended to conclude this edition with the Benn-Eubank Jr. controversy. I would however, be doing readers and the sport a disservice if I did not share my view on the recent fights between undefeated Super-Middleweight contender David Morrell and Aids Yerbossynuly. A fight that took place in the Minneapolis Armory in Minneapolis, MN on November 5^th. Quite frankly, the fight was a mismatch from very early in the bout as Morrell administered what can be described as a beating on a very “Game,” but overmatched Yerbossynuly. Despite the one-sided nature of the bout, somehow the fight was allowed to go into the twelfth and final round, where after sustaining significant punishment throughout the contest, Morrell was able to drop Yerbossynuly and led to a long overdue stoppage.

 

Most who are familiar with this fight know that Yerbossynuly suffered a severe brain injury, had to be helped back to his corner by Morrell and Referee Tony Weeks. Following the bout, Yerbossynuly was rushed to a nearby hospital where he underwent surgery to reduce swelling on his brain and was for a time put in a medically induced coma. Although Yerbossynuly remains hospitalized as of this writing, he is said to be improving, which is news that  all who are involved in the sport should welcome.

 

This observer however, has struggled to find the words to describe my feelings on what I saw in this bout. After a lifetime covering Boxing and by extension combat sports, there is not much that I have not seen. This unfortunately includes several bouts that were allowed to go on well past the point where they should have been stopped resulting in traumatic brain injury and death. While I will admit that the topic of when a fight should be stopped is one that can be it’s own column and perhaps several if I am honest with the reader, I do wonder when does common sense enter the equation?

 

As in when it is clear that a fight is one-sided as this one was, at what point is it the responsibility of a fighter’s corner, the referee, and the athletic commission overseeing a fight to exercise common sense and prevent an injury or God forbid worse before it occurs. No one can take anything away from the heart Aidos Yerbossynuly showed in this fight, but his corner, the Minnesota Boxing commission, and Referee Tony Weeks should review the fight, which was subsequently pulled from reairings by United States premium cable network Showtime and see where they could have stopped the fight sooner. While Aidos Yerbossynuly is recovering, the reality is missing the signs of when a fight should be stopped may result in a more tragic outcome next time. Everyone involved in the sport, especially commissions/regulatory boards and referees should consider if protocols need to be changed. This observer believes at minimum a dialogue should take place in order to hopefully, try and prevent something like this from happening in the future.

 

“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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Veshawn Champion And Dino Minor Close out 2022 With A Bang

 

Press Release: By November 19, 2022 By Majestic Raven Entertainment – On December 31st,   unbeaten welterweight prospect VeShawn Champion

and upset artist Dionardo “Dino” Minor return to the ring in San

Antonio, Texas. Champion who is looking for his 5th victory will be

looking to close out 2022 as he intends to start 2023 with a bang. 

VeShawn Champion Credit: Majestic Raven Entertainment

 “I

want to thank my team for keeping me busy and really putting me in the

right place to rise my career. Fighting on New Year's Eve will be a

really good way for me to ring in the New Year for everyone.” Says

Champion who is advised by Rick Ross and promoted by Cameron Davies of

San Antonio.

 

        Dionardo Minor will be returning to the ring since his upset victory

to then-unbeaten Juan Higuera in October as he takes on Cuban

prospect, Luis Vera. 

 Dionardo Minor Credit: Majestic Raven Entertainment 

Their bout will be sanctioned for the vacant

Texas State Cruiserweight title in six rounds of action. When asked

about the opportunity Minor only response was short and concise

“Another win for team Minor.”

 

        Rounding out the card will be journeyman Heavyweight Miree Coleman

and veteran Angel Contreras. The card will be promoted by Davies

Promotion.

 

Material and Photos Courtesy of: Majestic Raven Entertainment Used with permission.

 

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

 

 

David Avanesyan Addresses Upcoming Terence Crawford PPV Showdown

Press Release: By BLK Prime – NEWARK, ENGLAND (November 15, 2022) – WBO #6 welterweight contender, David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs), is preparing for the most electrifying fight of his career, a 12-round Championship showdown with the current pound-for-pound king, Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) on December 10 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb.

Credit: BLK Prime 

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

Avanesyan, deep in training, talks about his upcoming fight with Crawford and gives his thoughts on the epic opportunity that stands in front of him.

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime for my family and me, one I will not take for granted,” said Avanesyan, who is currently training in Nottinghamshire, England. “I know going in that I’m a huge underdog and no one is giving me a chance, but let me tell you, I’m going to surprise everyone watching. I’ve had enough time to prepare, so I’ll be ready for the southpaw.”

“There’s a reason Terence Crawford is considered the best fighter in boxing, his skill set is amazing, and he knows how to win. I know my hands are full, but I’m going to do everything I can to become a world champion. I need to stick to the game plan we have in place, and if adjustments need to be made during the fight, I will have to make them.”

“As I’ve matured in boxing, I’ve learned a lot of tricks that have helped me become the fighter I am today. Coming from the amateur ranks, I had to learn how to sit on my punches correctly, which can take a lifetime for some fighters. The bad habits that plagued me early in my career, are now fixed. Today I’m a completely different fighter in the ring, and my last six fights have shown my growth when it comes to my power punching. I believe my aggressive style is going to give Crawford problems.”

“I’m coming into hostile territory, his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, all his fans will be there in abundance. I’ve fought most of my career in people’s backyards, and I love it because it gives me an extra buzz. This is what being an underdog is all about. When I walk out of the arena with a monumental victory, I believe I will win his fans over.”

A former WBA interim champion, Avanesyan enters this welterweight title bout on a six-fight stoppage streak dating back to 2019 when he captured the European welterweight championship. He defended that title five times before he recently decided to vacate and challenge Crawford for his WBO crown. Considered by many boxing connoisseurs as a legitimate welterweight contender, Avanesyan is ranked top ten by three of the recognized sanctioning organizations. 

Tickets priced $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 5:00 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

About BLK Prime:

To learn more about BLK Prime, go to: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit: https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

NEWARK, ENGLAND (November 15, 2022) – WBO #6 welterweight contender, David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs), is preparing for the most electrifying fight of his career, a 12-round Championship showdown with the current pound-for-pound king, Terence “Bud” Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) on December 10 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb.

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

Avanesyan, deep in training, talks about his upcoming fight with Crawford and gives his thoughts on the epic opportunity that stands in front of him.

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime for my family and me, one I will not take for granted,” said Avanesyan, who is currently training in Nottinghamshire, England. “I know going in that I’m a huge underdog and no one is giving me a chance, but let me tell you, I’m going to surprise everyone watching. I’ve had enough time to prepare, so I’ll be ready for the southpaw.”

“There’s a reason Terence Crawford is considered the best fighter in boxing, his skill set is amazing, and he knows how to win. I know my hands are full, but I’m going to do everything I can to become a world champion. I need to stick to the game plan we have in place, and if adjustments need to be made during the fight, I will have to make them.”

“As I’ve matured in boxing, I’ve learned a lot of tricks that have helped me become the fighter I am today. Coming from the amateur ranks, I had to learn how to sit on my punches correctly, which can take a lifetime for some fighters. The bad habits that plagued me early in my career, are now fixed. Today I’m a completely different fighter in the ring, and my last six fights have shown my growth when it comes to my power punching. I believe my aggressive style is going to give Crawford problems.”

“I’m coming into hostile territory, his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, all his fans will be there in abundance. I’ve fought most of my career in people’s backyards, and I love it because it gives me an extra buzz. This is what being an underdog is all about. When I walk out of the arena with a monumental victory, I believe I will win his fans over.”

A former WBA interim champion, Avanesyan enters this welterweight title bout on a six-fight stoppage streak dating back to 2019 when he captured the European welterweight championship. He defended that title five times before he recently decided to vacate and challenge Crawford for his WBO crown. Considered by many boxing connoisseurs as a legitimate welterweight contender, Avanesyan is ranked top ten by three of the recognized sanctioning organizations. 

Tickets priced $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 5:00 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

About BLK Prime:

To learn more about BLK Prime, go to: https://watchnow.blkprime.com/ and to order the pay-per-view, visit: https://ppv.blkprime.com/pay-per-view. On social media follow #CrawfordAvanesyan, on Instagram @BLKPRIMEBOXNG @BLKPRIME, on Twitter @BLKPRIMEBOXING, on Facebook @BLKPRIMEMEDIA

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

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

Update: Jabs And Observations

 We would like to let our readers know that we are between rounds and will return with a special edition of our periodic feature that was introduced earlier this year Jabs and Observations, that will discuss several topics spanning from late September to November 2022, on Thanksgiving eve here in the United States, Wednesday, November 23rd. In the interim, any content that is sent in for release from promoters, networks, and others involved in the sport of Boxing will be released here on the website as normal as they are sent in. 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

Zepeda-Prograis Meet For Vacant WBC Jr. Welterweight World Championship Saturday, November 26TH On FITE Pay-Per-View

Press Release: By FITE – Los Angeles, CA (November 10, 2022) An outstanding undercard has been announced for ‘Battle of the Best’ headlined by the highly anticipated WBC Super Lightweight Championship between #1 Ranked Jose ‘Chon’ Zepeda (35-2, 27 KOs) and #2 Ranked Regis ‘Rougarou’ Prograis (27-1, 23 KO’s), set for Saturday, November 26 and emanating from ‘The War Grounds’, Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA, just outside of Los Angeles, CA.

Presented and produced by Legendz Entertainment in association with Marv Nation,

Zepeda vs. Prograis will be available live, Saturday, November 26 beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT. on FITE.

Material  Courtesy of: FITE Used with permission.

For more information about FITE including schedules, lists of compatible streaming devices, platforms, and, Smart TVs, and to learn how to download the FITE app on your device of choice please visit: www.FITE.TV 

To preorder Zepeda vs. Prograis click the following link: https://www.fite.tv/watch/zepeda-vs-prograis/2pc6z/

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

BATESON AND MASOUD FIRE WARNING SHOTS AS BIG FIGHT NEARS

 

 

Press Release: By Probellum – SHEFFIELD, NOVEMBER  9 – Jack Bateson and Shabaz Masoud have fired warning shots at each other ahead of their barnstorming battle of top British prospects. 

Credit: Probellum

 

Bateson and Masoud clash in a sizzling super bantamweight showdown at Probellum Sheffield on Friday night – and both men have rubbished big claims from their rival.

 

Leeds hero Bateson has poured scorn on Masoud being the betting favourite and insists ‘Maverick’ has heaped pressure on himself with his pre-fight confidence.

 

Stoke’s Masoud is certain of “comfortably” beating Bateson and says he sees plenty of weaknesses in the former medal-winning Great Britain amateur star.

 

Bateson and Masoud come head-to-head at today’s press conference in the Steel City and the tension between the pair is simmering as fight night nears.

 

Jack Bateson (17-0) said: “I’m not sure why Shabaz is the favourite with the bookies, but it’s a mistake, that’s for sure!

 

“And he’s going to be in for a shock if he thinks he wins comfortably.  If he’s taking me lightly, then let him.  I can’t wait to leave him in shock.

 

“He’s a good fighter but I believe I am better; a better boxer, a better fighter and whatever he brings on the night, I believe I will do it better.  He’s obviously full of himself, he’s confident but so am I, and this means it’s going to be a great fight.”

 

Shabaz Masoud (10-0) said: “In all departments, I am the better fighter and on Friday night I am going to show that.

 

“He’s got a lot of strengths, but he’s got a lot of weaknesses too.

 

“If you’re making loads of mistakes, we are going to capitalise – and I think he is making loads of mistakes, but we’ll see on Friday.

 

“I can beat him comfortably.  If I can be better than someone in every department, then why can’t I beat him comfortably?!  I think I’ve got a better boxing brain; I think I’m stronger, sharper and the better fighter.”

 

Boxing fans have given their seal of approval to the Bateson vs Masoud scrap and applauded two of the country’s most promising fighters for agreeing to meet.

 

Bateson’s WBA Intercontinental belt is on the line at the Utilita Arena, but the fight is also a final eliminator for the British super bantam strap.

 

Bateson added: “He is putting all the pressure on himself because, apparently, it’s going to be an easy night’s work.  He’s the favourite with the bookies, he’s talking himself up to have this easy night on Friday, while I’ve been staying quiet.

 

“I’ve dealt with pressure and come through it.  This is a big night for him, and he’ll be nervous.  For me, it’s just another night.”

 

Masoud said: “I want to put respect on my name and after this fight I will truly get appreciation.  That is what I’m here for, I don’t care about anything else, I’m here for the respect.  People are going to value me and think ‘woah!’.

 

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Probellum Used with permission.

 

For more information about Probellum please visit: www.Probellum.com

 

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

 

 

Crawford vs. Avanesyan 9,500 Tickets Sold In First Two Days Sellout Expected

  

Credit: BLK Prime

Press Release: By BLK Prime – OMAHA, NEBRASKA, (November 9, 2022) – Terence Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) vs. David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) is proving to be one of the hottest tickets in America this holiday season. The December 10th clash at the CHI Health Center, in Omaha, Nebraska, available on BLK Prime PPV, for the affordable price of $39.99, has already sold 9,500 tickets to the mega-fight. Nearly half of the arena is sold out within days of the tickets going on sale. 

 

 

 

"Terence Crawford is a cultural icon and an American boxing superstar, and his fans in Omaha are showing just how big of a star he is," said Sam Katkovski, a representative for BLK Prime. "This fight will have an amazing atmosphere and show the world how much combat-sports fans enjoy seeing Terence Crawford in the ring.”

 

 

 

At the current pace, the event is on schedule to sell out before fight week. The heightened demand to see Crawford fight in his hometown shows the star power he has locally.

 

 

 

"The fans want to see Crawford," continued Katkovski. "He is the best fighter in the world and has been out of the ring for too long. The city of Omaha is showing tremendous support for Terence, and they're getting their exclusive opportunity to attend a world-class fight right in their backyard.”

 

 

 

Tickets priced $50, $75, $125, $200, $350, and $500 for Crawford vs. Avanesyan are on sale now and are available at www.ticketmaster.com. This event is promoted by NextGen Boxing, Bash Boxing, and BLK Prime. Doors open at 5:00 pm CT with the first fight starting at 5:30 pm CT.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

About BLK Prime:

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

RICHARD SCHAEFER SAYS SUNNY EDWARDS HAS POUND-FOR-POUND SKILL

Press Release: By Peobellum - SHEFFIELD, NOVEMBER  8 – Richard Schaefer rates Sunny Edwards as one of the top five boxers in the world for pure skill.

Credit: Peobellum 

Probellum President Schaefer has delivered the headline-making verdict in the week Edwards defends his IBF world flyweight title against Felix Alvarado. 

The unbeaten Edwards – known as ‘Showtime’ – faces the most dangerous fight of his career against Alvarado on Friday night at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield and knows he must be close to perfect to see off the hard-hitting Nicaraguan. 

But Schaefer is backing Sunny to deliver the goods once again by using the skillset that, he believes, puts the 26-year-old among the very best boxers on the planet. 

“His ability to slip punches is at the absolute highest level of any weight class and from a skill point of view, I would rank Sunny Edwards today, in the top five pound-for-pound. That's how good he is,” Richard Schaefer said. 

“He has the skills which and that will to win, and those qualities, combined with his confidence and his attitude, means he is a tough nut to crack.” 

Edwards is unbeaten in 18 fights as a professional and wants to land a mega fight with Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez in 2023 but is under no illusions about the task directly in front of him. 

Sunny Edwards said: “Alvarado was a world champion at the weight below, he has 33 KOs on his record, and he has boxed at the highest level.  He’s a big punching Nicaraguan, who has had more knockouts than I’ve had fights and he is hungry for this.” 

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

SUNNY EDWARDS INSISTS MARTINEZ SHOULD HAVE WBC BELT TAKEN OFF HIM

Press Release: By Probellum – SHEFFIELD, NOVEMBER  7 – Sunny Edwards insists Julio Cesar Martinez deserved to be stripped of his WBC title the second he walked away from their unification fight. 

Credit: Probellum 

Edwards and Martinez were deep into negotiations to stage a blockbuster fight in Mexico last month, for the IBF and WBC world flyweight titles. 

Britain’s Edwards had been pushing to make the fight happen for months, but Martinez turned his back on the showdown and, instead, agreed to face his mandatory challenger McWilliams Arroyo in December. 

Edwards had to quickly put the disappointment of Martinez’s withdrawal behind him and, on Friday, night at Probellum Sheffield, the man known as ‘Showtime’ defends his belt against the extremely dangerous Felix Alvarado. 

But the 26-year-old is adamant there should be more than his IBF crown on the line at the Utilita Arena this week. 

“Martinez is not a rival of mine, he’s a muppet,” said Edwards, in scathing attack on the Mexican.   

“I saw him as easy work, but I was trying to sell it as being my hardest fight to date. 

“The WBC title should be vacant, and it should be on the line for me and Alvarado on November 11.  Martinez was paying step-aside money, to an overdue mandatory challenger, and then pulled out of the fight. 

“Whoever is advising Martinez has told him to stay a million miles away from Sunny Edwards.  He has avoided me like the plague. 

“And, for me, Martinez is done in the division now.” 

Edwards wants to land a big-time fight with Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez in 2023 and had invited the US star to be at ringside in Sheffield this week. 

But the charismatic champion knows he cannot afford to overlook the hard-hitting Alvarado, who was previously an IBF title holder at light flyweight. 

“I have become one of the most avoided fighters in world boxing, but Felix Alvarado has the courage to face me on November 11, and that makes him an extremely dangerous opponent,” Edwards said. 

“I have grand plans to become the undisputed flyweight world champion, and then move through the weights, and I am totally confident that will happen - but there is no room for error against a fighter of Alvarado’s calibre, that’s for sure.” 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Probellum Used with permission.

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

Bivol-Ramirez Thoughts

 

There are times when the ingredients for what most identity as a major fight throughout combat sports seem to match up perfectly at least on paper. Among those ingredients, two undefeated fighters, one a former world champion attempting to win a world title in a second weight class going against a world champion that is also unbeaten, has been dominant, and when you add into the equation that both fighters are in their competitive prime, the set up for a marquee bout that would be highly anticipated would appear to be close to perfect.

Such a set up was the scenario when undefeated WBA Light-Heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol defended his crown against undefeated former WBC Super-Middleweight world champion Gilberto Ramirez on November 5th at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, U. A. E. A fight that came in the aftermath of the champion Bivol’s biggest win of his career in a dominant successful title defense against multi-division world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in May of this year.

While this observer pointed out the similarities between what Bivol had accomplished against Alvarez and what Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins had done when he defeated Felix Trinidad in September 2001, in that like Hopkins, Bivol had beaten a fighter considered to be one of the top stars in the entire sport, and was not expected by some to do so, in previewing this fight, Bivol arguably fought the toughest opponent available to him coming out of his victory over Alvarez in Gilberto Ramirez. Ramirez was not only an undefeated former world champion, but had also worked himself into a mandatory challenger position since moving up to the Light-Heavyweight division. 

Although there are times when a world champion facing their number one contender/mandatory challenger does not always generate attention, what made this fight compelling came down to the styles of the two fighters in that they could each do a little of everything. When one factors in the differences between the two in Ramirez being a southpaw, who was naturally bigger and longer than Bivol, the fight between the two was compelling to see.

While both men could score knockouts if the opportunity arose, I was not surprised to see a tactical Boxing match between the two where both were willing to stand and engage in the pocket. What stood out to me was even though Ramirez was the naturally bigger fighter with the longer reach between the two, it was Bivol who was dictating how the fight was fought.

If one were to ask me to sum up this fight in a word, it would be “Discipline.” The Discipline of the champion Bivol to tactically pick his spots, land punches in short, compact combinations, and using footwork and lateral movement to keep Ramirez from being able to get his punches off consistently. What was particularly impressive about what yours truly refers to as a disciplined, but scientific Boxing style that Bivol implemented here in this fight was not only the approach, not only the discipline and consistency the champion showed, but also his ability to maintain both even while under fire, particularly in some heated exchanges of offense with Ramirez.

Although such a disciplined style often leads to frustration for opponents, for those who appreciate the tactical skill that boxers can implement, Bivol was quite enjoyable to watch and has been throughout his whole career. One aspect of Ramirez’ offense that I felt worked against him in this fight was he was not consistent in focusing a portion of his attack to Bivol’s body. This resulted in Bivol being able to catch much of Ramirez’ punches with his gloves or using other methods to make the challenger miss such as lateral movement and maintaining distance where he could pick his spots while Ramirez seemed to be a few seconds behind in terms of throwing punches. 

All of the above in addition to a significant edge in terms of hand speed, resulted in a performance by the champion that was quite similar to the one that he produced against Alvarez six months ago in terms of his control of the fight and the result, a clear, dominant twelve round unanimous decision to retain his WBA crown for the tenth time. As for what is next for Bivol, the premise going into this fight at least for some was if Bivol were to defeat Ramirez, it would it lead to a big money rematch with Saul Alvarez.

While a rematch of a fight that was dominated by one fighter clearly is not warranted in this observer’s view given what we saw in that fight as well as the fact that the current Undisputed Super-Middleweight world champion Alvarez was moving up in weight to challenge Bivol for his championship and lost, it is important to remember that the sport of Boxing for better or worse can be political and as such, those fighters who are able to achieve the star status that Alvarez has in his career, do have the ability to secure opportunities based on their name recognition clout for a period of time regardless of whether they win or lose. 

Although that ability to secure opportunities will obviously be limited if said fighter continues to lose over time, it is not far fetched to think of a rematch between Bivol and Alvarez. Alvarez, who is recovering from recent surgery on his left wrist following his second victory in his trilogy with two-time Middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin, will likely want to get back in against Bivol as soon as possible. If I were advising Alvarez however, I would suggest that seeking a rematch with Bivol may not be the best decision.

Styles do make fights and after a second dominant performance over someone who like Alvarez is a highly skilled boxer in Gilberto Ramirez, there is no evidence at least at this point to suggest that a rematch between Bivol and Alvarez would have a different outcome.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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

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Walsh KO’s Parsley In 3

 Rising Jr. Middleweight prospect Callum Walsh scored a third round knockout of veteran Delen Parsley on Thursday night at the Quiet Canyon Country Club in Montebello, CA. Walsh landed a straight left hand that caused a delayed reaction on Parsley that sent him down on one knee in the first round. Parsley got up at nine and the fight continued. It would be more of the same in round two as Parsley would be knocked down for a second time with another straight left hand to the head from the southpaw stance. In round three, Walsh closed the show dropping Parsley for the third and final time. This time a straight left hand put Parsley down on his back on the canvas. The bout was immediately stopped. Official time of the stoppage was 2:26 of round three. Callum Walsh advances to 5-0, with 4 Knockouts. Delen Parsley falls to 13-2, with 4 Knockouts.

Also on this card:

Jr. Middleweight Serhii Bohachuk scored a second round knockout of Aaron Coley. A right hand, left hook to the head combination sent Coley down to one knee where he took the count and attempted to get up at ten. Official time was 1:54 of round two. Serhii Bohachuk advances to 21-1, with 21 Knockouts. Aaron Coley falls to 16-5-1, with 7 Knockouts. With the win, Bohachuk won the vacant WBC Continental America’s Jr. Middleweight championship, which should move him up the WBC Jr. Middleweight ratings.

A very competitive Jr. Bantamweight bout saw Daniel Barrera and Isaac Anguiano fight to a four round majority draw. What was a scrappy bout from the outset, Barrera generally initiated the combat while Anguiano landed effective counter punches and making things extremely difficult. At the conclusion of the four round bout, two of three official judges scored the bout 38-38, while the third official judge had Barrera winning 39-37, resulting in the majority draw. Daniel Barrera advances to 1-0-1, with 1 Knockout. Isaac Anguiano advance to 3-1-1, with 1 Knockout.

Unbeaten Featherweight prospect Omar Trinidad scored a second round stoppage of veteran Jose Garcia. The end came in the second round when a combination of hooks to the body by Trinidad followed by two left uppercuts to the head followed by a right uppercut and a follow up of hooks to the head forced a referee’s stoppage of the bout. Omar Trinidad advances to 10-0-1, with 8 Knockouts. Jose Garcia falls to 13-3-3, with 9 Knockouts.

In an entertaining back and forth battle Lightweights David Romero and Michael De La Cruz fought to a four round split decision draw. Romero seemed to have the quicker hands of the two early as he frequently threw punches in combinations. De La Cruz meanwhile, almost always answered back with offense of his own and landed some counter punches throughout. At the end of four rounds, two judges were split between the two fighters, each turning in a scorecard of 39-37, while the third judge arrived deadlocked at a 38-38 scorecard resulting in the split draw. David Romero advances to 2-0-1, with 1 Knockout. Michael De La Cruz advances to 1-1-2, with 0 Knockouts.

Women’s Jr. Bantamweight Gloria Munguilla began the evening by successfully making her pro debut in scoring a four round majority decision over the also debuting JoAnna Espinoza. Munguilla began the fight by bull rushing Espinoza and throwing constant punches. Although Espinoza was able to gradually find a rhythm and have some success in rounds two through four, Munguilla’s cleaner offense and harder landed punches proved to be the difference. Official scores were 38-38 (Even), and 39-37 (On two scorecards in favor of Gloria Munguilla. Gloria Munguilla advances to 1-0, with 0 Knockouts. JoAnna Espinoza falls to 0-1, with 0 Knockouts.

 

Callum Walsh has gradually turned into one of the prospects in the entire sport of Boxing that everyone should have on their respective radars. Although he only has five fights in his career, he is gradually stepping up the caliber of his opposition. Delen Parsley was on paper a fighter that was supposed to provide a test for the unbeaten prospect having thirteen professional bouts to his credit going into this bout and having never been stopped previously in his career. This fight followed Walsh’s last outing in August, where he was forced to go the distance for the first time.

 

While that fight against Benjamin Whitaker was a workmanlike performance, it likely served Walsh better in terms of his development as a fighter to have gone the distance. Having said this, one thing that fighters who are able to begin their careers with a string of knockouts seem to want to prove after being forced to go the distance in a fight, is that they still have the ability to end a fight quickly. Walsh certainly proved that with his knockout of a “Game,” but overmatched Delen Parsley.

 

As for what is next, Walsh could be back in the ring as soon as January of 2023 according to his promoter Tom Loeffler. Even though the building blocks are still very much being laid in the foundation of the career of Callum Walsh, if he continues to step up his level of opposition and continues to not only win, but produce the types of performances that he did against Delen Parsley, it is not necessarily hard to envision a scenario where Walsh could be on the verge of world title contention going into 2024 if not challenging for a world title by then. The development of a fighter is far from a perfect science both in terms of a fighter’s training and preparation going into a fight, but also the strategy of a fighter’s handlers in trying to move that fighter up the ladder of contention with the ultimate goal of fighting for a world championship.

 

Not every fighter’s journey is exactly the same and some fighters are able to advance up the ladder of contention quicker than others. While it is not known at this point whether Walsh will be one of these fighters who moves up at an expedited rate, assuming that there are no setbacks or anything else unforeseen that might delay things, if he continues to produce these types of performances, it will become increasingly harder to not put him in against a top contender or world champion if he continues to win.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

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

 

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