Was Holiday Boxing A Wise Decision For The PBC?

 

Brief introduction By Beau Denison: It is time for this observer to share his belated thoughts in the form of a feature column that was originally scheduled to begin our 2022 schedule here on The Boxing Truth® discussing two Boxing cards that closed out 2021 taking place on Christmas day and New Year’s day respectively. As the bulk of this column was written in advance of an unexpected delay in the column’s release to readers, what follows is the column as it was written. Towards the end of this column both due to the time between when the material was written as well as what has occurred in the days since what was to be the original release date, the column will be updated to hopefully provide as current information as possible. We thank readers for your patience and hope you enjoy reading.

 

The year 2020 for several reasons, all of which are not necessarily good, was a year that broke a lot of norms both in regard to everyday life as well as in the world of sports. For the sport of Boxing, at least as far as the United States was concerned, Boxing Day 2020 was one that saw a televised Boxing card promoted by the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters. In all the years, this observer has covered combat sports, specifically Boxing, I could not recall a time previously where I saw a Boxing card take place here in the United States on Boxing Day or in the days that occur between Christmas and New Year’s Day. In fairness, I did look at the 2020 Boxing Day event that the PBC promoted as something that likely would not have taken place if it were not for the impacts of the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic in that almost half of a year was largely lost in Boxing due to the almost universal shutdown of the sport that occurred during the first six months of 2020, and on that basis it was understandable that promoters, and to be specific those who had broadcast agreements with television networks across traditional and streaming platforms would want to get as much content as possible produced when the sport began resuming activity in the summer of 2020 largely in closed-door settings.

 

As 2021 drew to a close, I was surprised to see the PBC and one of it’s television partners here in the United States Fox Sports opt to produce cards on both Christmas night and New Year’s day, with the latter of the two being a pay-per-view card.  It surprised me because I had always had the impression going back to long before my journey in covering the sport began in the 1990's that the primary sports that would take place over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays are typically team sports that occur during the time of year where the Christmas and New Year’s holidays take place, namely National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), National Basketball Association (NBA), and College Football bowl games. It were those reasons why I was not critical as much as I was curious as to why the PBC and Fox Sports would choose to put on two cards, with one being a pay-per-view event with frankly minimal promotion and questionable interest that would be debatable as to whether it would appeal to casual observers as well as those for whom Boxing is a lifelong passion.

 

While it is during this holiday period that more often than not, I as a Boxing lifer and someone who covers the sport fulltime during a calendar year, usually take a pause to enjoy the holidays and recharge my batteries for the coming year, during this holiday break, I did make a point of it to observe these two cards even though I would not be covering them as they took place. What was of interest to me was not only how these two events would fare both in terms of crowd attendance given that it took place over the holidays as well as how it would fare in terms of ratings and buys for the New Year’s day pay-per-view card, in addition to obviously what would occur inside the ring.

 

First, it would be the Christmas night event that took place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, that was broadcast on the national Fox Network in here in the United States. Headlining this card was nineteen year old Welterweight prospect Vito Mielnicki, who faced veteran Nicholas DeLomba in a ten round bout. This bout showcased Mielnicki’s skillset as well as his disciplined approach in gradually breaking down DeLomba over nine rounds before finally breaking through with a barrage of punches highlighted by a flush right hand to earn a stoppage in the tenth and final round.  The thing that stood out to me was the disciplined approach that Mielnicki used throughout this fight. In particular, how well he was able to control the tempo of the combat with his jab, which is something that you do not always see with regard to a young fighter. What was also noticeable was how he simply bided his time and waited for the opportunity to get the stoppage win rather than trying to force the issue too much, which is something that even seasoned veterans do not always do when they are in control of a bout to such degree that they could probably end things when they choose to.

 

Although some might say that Mielnicki could have been a bit more aggressive and if he were then he may have been able to get an earlier stoppage, it is important to keep in mind that this was only the eleventh professional bout for the nineteen year old native of Roseland, NJ. While it is indeed true that a prospect that is able to score head turning knockouts more often than not generates more attention, there is something to be said about the development of a young fighter and the fact that Mielnicki was able to not only go into the tenth round, but do so in a way where he pretty much controlled the bout from the opening bell is something that will likely serve him better than a quick knockout might have in terms of the long-term picture as he progresses in his career.  The only loss for Mielnicki thus far in his career came in dropping an eight round majority decision to James Martin in April 2021. With two victories since that setback, each coming via stoppage, the future looks bright for Mielnicki going into 2022 and the question that might be asked is whether or not he may be ready for a bit of a test in his next fight to see where he fits in what is usually a talent-deep 147lb. Welterweight division.

 

The future also looks bright for undefeated Middleweight prospect Joey Spencer, who also appeared on this card in scoring a fifth round stoppage of veteran Limberth Ponce.  This was a fight that could be described as a systematic breakdown of an opponent as much like Mielnicki did in the main event of the card, the twenty-one year old Spencer gradually wore Ponce down. Spencer did this by implementing a tactical approach that had an emphasis on maintaining distance, but also allowed him to pick his shots in spurts to the body and head, which kept Ponce off balance and unable to do much beyond trying to defend against what Spencer was throwing. The combination of well-timed and executed offense to the body and head eventually created the opening where Spencer was able to stagger Ponce with a left hook to the head and follow that with a right hand that sent Ponce down on his back midway through the fifth round resulting in a stoppage of the fight without a count from the referee.

 

Although Spencer was able to get to his opponent in a quicker fashion than Mielnicki was able to in his bout, the approach both fighters used was similar in it’s execution and both fighters were able to get the impressive victories they needed heading into 2022. For Spencer, the stoppage win over Limberth Ponce was his fourteenth professional victory and his tenth knockout. The similarities between Spencer and Mielnicki will continue going into this year as much like Mielnicki, the question for Spencer will be whether or not he is ready for a test to see where he fits into the 160lb. Middleweight division and hopefully an attempt to move him into the top thirty rankings of Boxing’s five recognized world sanctioning organizations the World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association (WBA), the International Boxing Federation (IBF), the World Boxing Organization (WBO), and finally, the International Boxing Organization (IBO).  While the PBC’s decision to broadcast a Boxing card on Christmas night proved to be a surprising success with over two million viewers tuning in to watch what was the highest rated Boxing card broadcast by Fox in 2021, it led to the pay-per-view event that took place on New Year’s day at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL.

 

A Heavyweight-themed event that featured five bouts with the sales pitch being priced at a $39.99 price point, much lower than the $60-$80 price points, which despite the consistently dwindling returns for pay-per-view cards over the last several years, remains the norm. This PBC Fox Sports Pay-Per-View card did however, feature an interesting main event that pitted former IBF Heavyweight world champion Charles Martin against former two-time world title challenger and longtime Heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz.  A bout that was billed as an elimination bout in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Heavyweight ratings that perhaps because I was observing this card during some downtime that I had an impression was a final eliminator to determine the next IBF mandatory challenger that would theoretically face the winner of the presumed rematch between undefeated IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk and former two-time Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua, which might take place later this year. The elements of the business side of the sport as it relates to the IBF aside for the time being, this was nevertheless a fight between two fighters who have been at or near the top of the division for several years.

 

Although the forty-two year old Ortiz is known for his ability to score quick knockouts, I wondered how he would respond to a fighter in Martin, whom like himself, is a crafty southpaw, who had not been known for his punching power, but did have the ability to score knockouts should the opportunity arise in scoring knockouts in twenty-five of his twenty-eight career victories. Martin also came into the bout on a five fight winning streak and one might argue that he had more momentum coming into the bout than Ortiz, who was coming off of a victory in his last fight following his second stoppage loss to then WBC Heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder in November 2019.

 

The thing that stood out to me when the fight began was the measured approach in which Martin chose to pursue Ortiz. While Ortiz seemed to be the busier of the two fighters, Martin chose a calculated approach focusing on making the most of his openings rather than trying to outwork Ortiz. It was this approach that resulted in an unexpected knockdown when Martin connected with a short left hook that seemed to land behind Ortiz’ ear that sent him down in the first round. Although this was what is often referred to as a “Flash Knockdown” in that Ortiz was caught off balance and was subsequently knocked down rather than it being a case where he was badly stunned/hurt, Martin was able to show that he could exploit openings that Ortiz would leave him and this in my view gave him what some might have viewed as an unlikely advantage as the fight progressed. It also stood out to me that Ortiz’ apparent issues with his balance may not have been a case of an effective fight plan by the former world champion Martin, but also perhaps an indication that at Fort total years old that Ortiz may be at the point where he may not be able to maintain his balance as well as he has done previously throughout his career and that in addition to elements such as age and TBE physical wear and tear that comes with being a competitor in combat sports is something that might become an increasing issue as Ortiz continues on in his career.

 

Martin would follow the knockdown he was able to score in round one with a second knockdown of Ortiz in the closing seconds of round four. Much like the first knockdown in round one, Ortiz was caught off balance, but this time, it was a jab that knocked Ortiz off his feet. While some may not think much of knockdown a that occur in this way due simply to more often than not, the fighter being knocked down not being hurt, the fact that knockdowns are scored can have a crucial role in how a fight is scored. In this case, particularly because this was a bout between two southpaws that were able to counter each other's offense effectively in spots as this fight progressed.

 

In this observer's view, the two knockdowns Martin was able to score as well as the general measured approach he implemented for a large portion of the bout was enough to give him the advantage. Despite my view, when Ortiz was able to connect with his offense, he did seem to have more power behind his punches compared to Martin. This kept Ortiz not just in the fight, but also extremely dangerous. The question that developed in my mind was whether or not Ortiz would be able to catch Martin, who had proved to be elusive and almost sniper like with his tactics in setting up his punches.

 

As can sometimes happen in Boxing and in particular the Heavyweight division, fights can change in the blink of an eye. This is essentially what would happen in this fight. As Martin appeared at least in my eyes to be building a lead on the scorecards based largely on the strength of the two knockdowns he had scored, Ortiz would turn things in his favor in sudden and dramatic fashion. In round six, Ortiz would connect with a flush overhand left that landed on Martin's temple that more or less froze the former world champion on his feet. This set off a brutal barrage of punches that ultimately sent Martin down. Some might say that at this point, Martin was able to benefit from a break of sorts in that because one of his gloves got tied in the first and second ropes as he went down, the referee Frank Santore Jr. opted to stop the count at around the count of seven to unhook Martin's glove. Despite momentarily getting crucial seconds to try and clear his head once the count was stopped, Ortiz sensing he had his opponent in serious trouble, pressed forward with a near relentless assault of punches resulting in Martin being dropped for a second time. This time even though Martin was able beat the count, Santore did not like what he saw in Martin's eye and body language and stopped the fight.

 

Although this was as impressive a come from behind victory for Luis Ortiz as one could draw up, more questions emerged from this fight regarding Ortiz than there were questions answered. To be specific, given both his age as well as the balance problems that were clearly evident in this fight, just how much longer will he continue on with his career? Despite emerging victorious in what was billed as an IBF elimination bout, an indication that perhaps Ortiz may not have been100% going into the fight with Martin became known in the days that followed the fight as Ortiz withdrew from an ordered IBF elimination bout against undefeated top contender Filip Hrgovic citing an undisclosed injury that would prevent a bout, which would determine a new mandatory challenger in the IBF Heavyweight ratings to face the winner of the upcoming rematch later this year between undefeated unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk and former two-time Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua. Taking Ortiz' place in the planned IBF elimination bout will be top contender Tony Yoka of France, who had a scheduled bout this month cancelled due to the French government imposing restrictions in regard to the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic. As has been the case for many things over the last two years regarding COVID-19 virus, it may be best to wait and see what happens regarding the ongoing crisis before discussing when those two bouts, the Usyk-Joshua rematch as well as this planned IBF elimination bout will take place beyond saying hopefully, they will both occur during the course of 2022.

 

There were also four other Heavyweight bouts that occurred on the undercard of Luis Ortiz’ stoppage of Charles Martin that will be touched upon here before sharing some closing thoughts. Unbeaten Heavyweight prospect Frank Sanchez had to overcome circumstances, which unfortunately because of the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic have become an issue throughout the entire sport. A change of opponent due to an originally scheduled opponent due to contracting COVID-19. In this case, Sanchez’ original opponent was to be Carlos Negron, who was forced to withdraw from the bout in the days prior to the card due to contracting the COVID-19 virus. Longtime Heavyweight contender Christian Hammer stepped in on limited notice and was able to last the full ten round distance against Sanchez in losing a unanimous decision.

 

It was a workmanlike performance by Sanchez who simply did what he needed to do over the ten rounds to earn the victory. While there was not much in the way of highlights to speak of regarding this bout, the reality is under the current circumstances the world is in because of the COVID-19 crisis, fights like this are as much an adjustment for the fighter who had to have a change in opponent as much as it is for the fighter stepping into the bout on what is often times limited notice. While as of this writing there is no word as to whether there will be an attempt to reschedule Sanchez to face Negron down the line, but it was as good a performance as one could expect under such a scenario against a durable opponent in Christian Hammer that was able to hang in there and did his best.

 

Ali Demirezen also saw action on this card in scoring the most notable win in his career thus far in stopping former world title challenger Gerald Washington in eight rounds. The veteran Washington was able to have some sporadic success early on in this fight, but Demirezen gradually was able to take control and midway through the eighth round with their fighter seeming badly fatigued and suffering significant punishment, Washington’s corner stopped the fight. Although Washington had some success throughout particularly when he was able to work behind his jab, he simply did not let his hands go with consistency to be effective for a sustainable period of time. Whether or not this was due to the pressure Demirezen was able to put on him, the effect of Demirezen’s power, or the fact that Washington is thirty-nine years old and has suffered some punishment throughout his twenty-six bout career is only something that he can answer, but for Demirezen, who entered the bout with a record of 14-1, with 11 Knockouts, these are the type of tests that a prospect is often faced with as they look to progress towards an eventual challenge of a world championship. This observer is not quite ready to say that Demirezen is ready for the upper class of the Heavyweight division, but the fact that he was able to stop a former world title challenger is something that should be viewed as a positive as he looks to progress forward in the new year.

 

This card also featured a rematch as veteran Johnnie Rice scored a lopsided and uneventful ten round unanimous decision over Michael Coffee. Similar to Frank Sanchez’ victory over Christian Hammer, there is simply not much to say about this fight beyond the simple description of one fighter besting the other. Unlike their first encounter in July of last year where Rice entered as an unknown opponent for the then unbeaten Coffee and was not thought to be much of a test for him in entering with a record of 14-6-1, with 9 Knockouts compared to Coffee’s 12-0, with 9 Knockouts, a fight where Rice surprised many in stopping Coffee in five rounds, the rematch was a slow methodical bout that Rice was able to control from the outset to earn a convincing victory on the scorecards. While it is hard to say that Rice is a potential contender at this stage, two consecutive victories over a previously unbeaten prospect is definitely something to take notice of and at minimum Rice has earned status as a potential spoiler for prospects on the rise and fringe contenders for now. As for Michael Coffee, a problem many prospects throughout the entire sport face as they move up towards world contender status, particular those who are able to score several knockouts on their rise up is the issue of what happens when they are tested by fighters that may not be household names, but are capable of giving a prospect a tough fight and possibly a surprise. Two losses to one fighter is certainly not an indication that a fighter does not have potential to be a contender or even a world champion at some point in their career, but for Michael Coffee, it will be a question of whether these two losses were a case of a fighter in Johnnie Rice being under the radar and being a more dangerous opponent than his record may have suggested, or if it was simply a bad clash of styles for Coffee. For now, the two losses should be viewed as something that Coffee should take time to digest, learn from, and see what adjustments can be made in the gym before he attempts to resume his career.

 

Perhaps the most entertaining bout on this pay-per-view card was it’s opening bout between unbeaten Heavyweight Viktor Faust who scored an exciting and somewhat controversial second round stoppage of veteran Iago Kiladze. A bout that can be best described as “Rock Em’, Sock Em’ the two fighters exchanged multiple knockdowns in the round and a half that they were in the ring together and this can be attributed to both fighters willingness to stand and trade punches with little regard for defense. For Faust, who came into the fight having scored knockouts of six of his previous eight opponents and was heavily favored over Kiladze, this proved to be a significant test that was not anticipated. Faust quickly dropped Kiladze with a short left hook in the opening seconds of round one. Kiladze responded just as quickly as Faust pressed forward following the knockdown and dropped Faust with a counter right hand to the jaw moments later. Not to be outdone, Faust would score a second knockdown of Kiladze later in the first round with another left hook to the head. 

 

The wild encounter would continue in the second round with Kiladze dropping Faust for the second time with a flush counter right hook to the jaw. Faust was able to get up and later in the round he would respond by dropping Kiladze with a right hand that seemed to land behind the ear. After what was the fifth knockdown of the fight between the two in a little over four minutes of action, Kiladze got up once more. This time on unsteady legs when asked by Referee Sam Burgos whether he wanted to continue Kiladze did not appear to give a clear response prompting Burgos to stop the fight. An enraged Kiladze responded by throwing a right hand that landed on the arm of Burgos. Burgos understandably angry, responded with some explicit language that in essence he asked Kiladze “What is wrong with you?!” before saying the fight is over and pointing Kiladze to his corner. Kiladze was clearly irate at the stoppage and threw his gloves out to the spectators in attendance before leaving the ring in utter disgust.

 

It is not often that one can say on any level of the sport of Boxing that you see a total of five knockdowns exchanged between two fighters in such a short period of time. Although some may criticize Referee Sam Burgos for stopping this fight and see it as a controversial move, it is important to remember that Burgos was the third man in the ring in September of last year when the ill advised bout between Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield and former UFC world champion Vitor Belfort took place in the same venue. Burgos should be credited as this observer said in covering that sad moment in the sport, for saving the fifty-nine year old Holyfield from himself and quickly stopping the fight following a knockdown and a follow up barrage in which it was clear that Holyfield no longer belonged in the ring as a fighter. That sad night in the sport’s history aside, which this observer simply asked in the days following the event in his coverage “What’s Wrong With Boxing?,” the fact was that Sam Burgos did what the Florida State Athletic Commission refused to do in protecting a man from himself in allowing the event to take place when the state of California, which was originally slated to host the event, refused to license Holyfield citing his age as well as the punishment he had taken throughout his career as well as being many years removed from active competition. In this case, Burgos again proved to be a competent referee and once he did not get a clear response to the question of can you continue from Kiladze, he promptly stopped the fight.

 

If there is a controversy to point to however, it is in how Kiladze responded to the stoppage. A referee’s primarily responsibility is to ensure the safety of the fighters that compete in addition to ensuring rules and regulations are followed. While it is certainly understandable Kiladze’s anger at the stoppage in what was an exciting fight, putting his hands on the referee crossed the line, and no matter what one thinks of the stoppage should be viewed as unacceptable.

 

While it is unclear as of this writing as to whether or not Kiladze will face action from the Florida State Athletic Commission (FSAC) for his actions following the stoppage, the bout between him and Viktor Faust was exciting and definitely deserves a rematch just based on the action that took place. Whether or not a rematch will take place will probably come down to whatever repercussions Kiladze faces for assaulting Burgos after the fight was stopped.

 

As for whether this Heavyweight pay-per-view was successful, yours truly has heard estimates citing by others within the sport claiming that the event drew under 25,000 buys. While I will not speculate on the claims as they are not numbers that have been released by the PBC or Fox Sports, if the numbers were in that range, perhaps it is an indication that doing a pay-per-view card on New Year’s day against a wide range of college football games was maybe not the best idea though if the PBC continues to insist on using the pay-per-view model as they will be in a scheduled February 5^th Fox Sports Pay-Per-View card headlined by a twelve round Welterweight bout between former WBA Welterweight world champion Keith Thurman and Mario Barrios, perhaps they should keep the price point at a reasonable range as this card was.

 

Was the decision to stage Boxing cards on Christmas night and New Year’s day by the PBC and Fox Sports a wise decision? This observer believes, despite the high ratings that the Christmas night card was able to generate on the national Fox network, probably not. It is a fact that was even pointed out by Fox Sports during the Christmas night broadcast that the last Boxing card to have taken place on Christmas in the United States before Christmas 2021 was in the 1960’s. While I could not personally verify when the last card to have taken place on New Year’s day here in the United States was before 2022 began, I would feel safe in suggesting that there have not been too many. While it is important to keep in mind the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 global crisis and that the main priority for all promoters in the sport including the PBC is to try to be as active as possible and to try to keep their fighters that they promote as active as they can in such circumstances, maybe by the Christmas and New Year’s holidays in 2022 roll around, we might see a more strategic approach in scheduling Boxing cards around the holidays.

 

“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

 

 

 

 

CHEAVON CLARKE SIGNS PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING

 

Press Release: By DAZN – Team GB Olympian set for pro debut in 2022 January 14, 2022 - Cheavon Clarke has signed a long-term promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and will make his eagerly anticipated professional debut at Cruiserweight in 2022. 

Credit: DAZN

 

Born and raised in rural Jamaica, Clarke moved to England at the age of 11 where he started boxing to keep fit – and it wasn’t long before he began to make his mark on the amateur scene, winning novice competitions across the country. 

 

Clarke enrolled onto GB Boxing in 2017, winning a silver medal at the European Championships in the Ukraine that year before earning bronze in the men’s Heavyweight category a year later at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

 

The former amateur standout from Gravesend in Kent, who is trained by Sam Mullings at Churchill’s Boxing Club in South London, was selected to represent Team GB at the Tokyo Olympic Games last summer but was defeated at the last 16 stage by Brazil’s Abner Teixeira.  

 

“I’m delighted to have signed a long-term promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and I can’t wait to make my professional debut this year,” said Clarke. “This feels like the perfect time to get my journey in the pro ranks on the road. As an amateur I won the ABA title twice, I won bronze at the Commonwealth Games, I won a European silver medal and I qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. I didn’t achieve what I set out to achieve at the Olympics. I wanted to win a medal, but I didn’t – and that wasn’t good enough. It was still a great experience though and something that I can always say that I’ve done.

 

“I just like the way the Matchroom shows are. There’s a legacy behind it. Speaking to people behind the scenes and speaking to Eddie, it felt right and it was a simple decision. I’ll bring that excitement and explosiveness, ferociousness and bad intentions. I can do it all. I can mix it all up. I can give you a bit of the Mike Tyson, a bit of the Ali, the Roy Jones. Ultimately, I’m Cheavron Clarke. There can only be one of anybody and I’m just the best Cheavron Clarke I can be. C4Boxing x Matchroom has been a long time coming!”

 

“I’m delighted to welcome Team GB Olympian Cheavon Clarke to the Matchroom Boxing team,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “I’ve followed Chev’s progress for a number of years now and he is a brilliant talent with a powerful personality and story that will make him hugely popular among fight fans. His vast amateur experience will allow him to move nice and quickly in the pro game and after debuting soon in the U.K. he will have the opportunity to box all over the world on DAZN as we move him towards the Cruiserweight World Championships.”

 

You can follow Clarke’s journey on Twitter: @C4CHEV and Instagram: @c4chev

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of DAZN Used with permission.

 

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

 

For more information about Matchroom Boxing please visit: www.MatchroomBoxing.com.

 

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

 

Smith-Geffrard Weights From Verona, NY

 The official weigh-in for Saturday’s WBO World Light-Heavyweight championship fight between champion Joe Smith Jr. and Steve Geffrard took place earlier today in Verona, NY. Geffrard steps into what will be his first attempt at a world championship on more than a week’s notice following original opponent Callum Johnson being forced to withdraw from challenging Smith due to contracting the COVID-19 virus. Weights for the entire card, which can be seen here in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ is as follows.

 

Main Event: WBO Light-Heavyweight world championship – 12Rds.

 

Joe Smith Jr. (Champion) 174 1/2lbs. vs. Steve Geffrard (Challenger) 173 1/2lbs.

 

Featherweight – 10Rds.

 

Abraham Nova 126 3/4lbs. vs. William Encarnacion 127lbs.

 

Jr. Welterweight – 6Rds.

 

Omar Rosario 139 1/2lbs. vs. Raekwon Butler 138 1/2lbs.

 

Middleweight – 6Rds.

 

Troy Isley 156 1/2lbs. vs. Harry Cubano 156 1/2lbs.

 

Welterweight – 6Rds.

 

Jahi Tucker 146 3/4lbs. vs. Akeem Black 145 3/4lbs.

 

Cruiserweight – 6Rds.

 

Lyubomyr Pinchuk 194 1/2lbs. vs. Jose Flores 197 1/2lbs.

 

Smith vs. Geffrard takes place tomorrow night (Saturday, January 15^th) at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY. The entire card can be seen on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 7:40PM ET/4:40PM PT. The main portion of the card will be simulcast on the ESPN cable/satellite network beginning at 10PM ET/7PM PT.

 

For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: www.ESPNPlus.com. Check your local listings internationally.

 

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

 

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

JADE BORNEA CONFIRMED AS PROBELLUM’S LATEST SIGNING

Press Release: By Probellum –

Los Angeles, CA - January 13, 2022 - Probellum, in association with Sanman Boxing, is delighted to announce the signing of undefeated Filipino fighter Jade Bornea, who will be in action this coming Friday.   Credit: Probellum The 26-year-old (16-0, 10 knockouts) has enjoyed an impressive career to date and captured the vacant WBC-NABF super-flyweight title in January 2020 courtesy of a win over Ernesto Delgadillo. Bornea returns to the ring on Friday January 14 as part of Probellum’s co-promotional show with Mexico’s BXSTRS in Monterrey, where he will be competing in an IBF World Title Eliminator. “I am thrilled to be signing with Probellum,” said Bornea. “I now have the one-two punch I needed to succeed out of the ring. “With Probellum and Sanman Boxing, I look forward to my upcoming IBF World Title Eliminator as just the start, with my ultimate goal to win the world title in 2022.” “Sanman Boxing is thrilled to be partnering with one of the best promotional company's in the sport,” added Jim Claude, Chief Executive Officer, Sanman Boxing. “We know Probellum will take us to our ultimate goal of winning a world title and it all starts in Monterrey, Mexico, on January 14 with Jade competing in the IBF World Title Eliminator to become number one.” He becomes the latest addition to Probellum’s fast-growing stable, which also includes the likes of Pat and Luke McCormack, Troy Williamson, Regis Prograis, Nonito Donaire, Donnie Nietes, Lee McGregor, Eimantas Stanionis, Arthur Biyarslanov, Noel Mikaelian, Taras Shelestyuk, Ricky Burns, Paul Butler, Lewis Ritson, Muhammad Waseem, O’Shaquie Foster, Hovhannes Bachkov, Darius Fulghum, Eduardo Hernandez, Mark Dickinson, Brandon Moore, Jack Bowen, Jason Mallia, Hebert Sousa, Dina Thorslund, Ben Rees and Will Cawley. Probellum has also secured co-promotional agreements with Wasserman Boxing, Universum in Germany, Groupe Yvon Michel in Canada, Maravillabox Promotions in Spain, Kynoch Boxing in Scotland, Mitchell Sports Promotions in England, LNK Boxing in Latvia, Titov Boxing in Russia, Glozier Boxing in New Zealand, Cuadrilatero Boxing in Colombia, PR Best Boxing in Puerto Rico, Shuan Boxing Promotions in the Dominican Republic, Bufalo Boxing in Nicaragua, Team Ellis Boxing in Australia, Moron Boxing in Venezuela, Volcano Boxing in El Salvador, Armin Tan Promotions in Indonesia, and Box Office Sports in Ghana. For live news and updates, be sure to follow Probellum on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

 

 

About Probellum Launched in September 2021, Probellum is a global boxing promotion and media company, and the fastest-growing brand in the sport.   Probellum’s elite stable includes Nonito Donaire, Lee McGregor, Donnie Nietes, Troy Williamson, Dina Thorslund, Muhammad Waseem, O’Shaquie Foster, Will Cawley, Mark Dickinson and Pat and Luke McCormack.   Since launching, Probellum has signed co-promotional partnerships with some of the biggest promoters globally, including Wasserman (Germany), Universum (Germany), GYM (Canada), Maravilla Box (Spain), Team Ellis (Australia), Titov Boxing Promotions (Russia), Volcano Boxing (El Salvador), BXSTRS Promotions (Mexico), PR Best (Puerto Rico) Glozier Boxing (New Zealand), Box Office Sports (Ghana) and LNK Boxing (Latvia).   Probellum hosted its inaugural event at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena in December 2021.

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Probellum Used with permission.   The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Boxing Holiday Feature Update

We would like to let our readers know that the previously advertised feature discussing two cards that took place over the Christmas and New Year's holidays that was originally slated to begin our 2022 schedule, has been rescheduled for Monday, January 17th. We apologize for the delay and thank everyone for their patience. Stay tuned.

"And That's The Boxing Truth."

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

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DAZN KICKS OFF 2022 IN STYLE WITH EIGHT BLOCKBUSTER FIGHTS

 Press Release: By DAZN – World title stunners, thrilling rematches and crossroad clashes highlight schedule so far for the first three months alone 

Credit: DAZN

 

Even more fights and full undercard details to be announced shortly

 

January 7, 2022: After 6 weekends of unrivalled boxing on the platform brought 2021 to a spectacular close, DAZN, in partnership with Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions, announces EIGHT premium fight nights across the U.S. and UK to kick off a busy 2022 of global boxing on DAZN. 

 

• Saturday, February 05: Jessie Vargas vs. Liam Smith 

Headlining the event is former two-weight world champion Jessie Vargas Vs. former WBO light-middleweight champion Liam Smith with Rungvisai Vs. Cuadras fighting for the vacant WBC Super-Flyweight title also on the card. The show will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Thailand).

 

• Saturday, February 12: Daniel Jacobs Vs. John Ryder

Super-middleweight John Ryder looks to step up in 2022, taking on two-time middleweight world champion Daniel Jacobs in the UK. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

 

• Saturday, February 19: Jaime Munguía vs. D'Mitrius Ballard 

Mexican middleweight Jaime Munguía takes on D'Mitrius Ballard in a rescheduled middleweight battle between the pair for the WBO Inter-Continental middleweight title. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Mexico).

 

• Sunday, February 27: Lawrence Okolie vs. Michal Cieslak

WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Lawrence Okolie will defend his belt for the second time at the end of February against Poland's former World Title challenger Michal Cieslak. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

 

• Saturday, March 05: Estrada vs. Chocolatito III 

Juan Francisco Estrada and Román ‘Chocolatito’ González run it back once more for a highly anticipated trilogy fight for the WBA and The Ring Super Flyweight titles. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN.

 

• Saturday, March 12: Leigh Wood vs. Michael Conlan 

Leigh Wood defends his new WBA belt for the first time after producing a 12th-round knockout against Xu Can at Fight Camp, now facing WBA 'interim' featherweight champion Michael Conlan. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

 

• Saturday, March 19: Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Michael McKinson 

Knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jr. looks to make it 19-0, taking on flawless British prospect Michael McKinson in the first defense his WBO International welterweight title. The event will be live worldwide on DAZN.



• Saturday, March 26: Kiko Martinez vs. Josh Warrington II 

Spanish two-weight world champion Kiko Martinez puts his newly acquired IBF featherweight belt on the line against old foe Josh Warrington – who actually beat the champion back in 2017. The rematch will be live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

 

“After a stacked fall fight schedule on DAZN to close out 2021, we’re committed as ever to maintain that pace with our partners and thrilled to announce an unrivalled start to 2022 – a year that will see new matchups constantly added as we continue to deliver nonstop boxing action to subscribers and fight fans all around the world,” said Ed Breeze, EVP Rights at DAZN.  

 

“In addition to the live boxing schedule, we also look forward to ramping up our original content slate, featuring even more of the most compelling storylines in and around boxing, daily drops of The DAZN Boxing Show, and much more to be unveiled in the new year.”

 

“We ended 2021 with a bang and I can’t wait to get started in 2022,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “It’s going to be such an exciting year for Matchroom and DAZN with massive events all over the world, and I’m delighted with the early schedule we’ve put together – unifications, World title action and career-defining nights; there’s so much drama packed into these nights, and we’ve got plenty more to add soon.”

 

“Golden Boy finished off 2021 with incredible, action-packed fights on DAZN headlined by some of the biggest stars in the sport, Vergil Ortiz, Jr., Jaime Munguia, and Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez. These fighters are the future of boxing, and we are delighted to continue to work with DAZN in 2022 on the upcoming events of these fighters,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman & CEO of Golden Boy.

 

“We are starting 2022 with the announcement of Jaime Munguia vs. D’Mitrius Ballard on February 19 and Vergil Ortiz, Jr. vs. Michael McKinson on March 19. These events are going to be full of non-stop action, featuring the fan-friendly styles of Munguia, Ballard, and Ortiz, Jr.’s incredible knock-out power. 2022 will be an exciting year of boxing for all fight fans.”

 

Further fights and full undercard details to be announced shortly.

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: DAZN Used with permission.

 

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

 

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

A Boxing Wishlist For 2022

 

The time has come once again where this observer shares his “Boxing Wishlist” for the coming year. Unlike previous years where this annual feature here on The Boxing Truth® has usually begins the schedule at the beginning of a year, for 2022 that was not the case. This was due to the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters staging cards on Christmas night and a pay-per-view card on New Year’s Day. While this column has been written in advance of those cards and will be released after both cards have taken place that will be the subject of a feature next week here on The Boxing Truth®, in a coincidence, it leads to the first item on the 2022 “Boxing Wishlist.”  To see promoters that have relied on the pay-per-view model finally embrace the benefits of the subscription-based streaming model that has gradually populated much of the Boxing broadcast coverage throughout the sport over the last three years thanks largely to the success of digital sports streaming networks DAZN and ESPN+.

 

It should be no secret to longtime readers that a consistent theme of my coverage of the sport over the last several years has been to point out the benefits of the subscription-streaming model as compared to what is often an overpriced and undervalued model of pay-per-view where consumers are charged fees that in the current landscape usually begin at the $60 or above price range on a per card basis. Unfortunately, as the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic has continued, there has seemingly been an increase in the amount of pay-per-view cards that has only furthered the decline of the model. This is due largely to multiple pay-per-view cards being scheduled within a narrow timeframe, which in addition to the price points has resulted in the returns of the majority of those pay-per-view events producing underwhelming numbers for the promoters who put the events on as well as for the networks that produce and distribute the broadcasts via the pay-per-view medium.  Although InDemand (Formerly Viewer’s Choice), the longtime number one pay-per-view cable distributor here in the United States has recently launched a pay-per-view-centric streaming platform under the PPV.com branding, which should be seen as the distributor’s attempt to transition to streaming in response to more consumers opting for streaming television and leaving traditional cable/satellite pay-TV providers behind, the mere amount of events at the aforementioned price points could make the potential success of such a service debatable.

 

Some reasons for that in addition to subscription-based options offering more value to consumers for the price of a subscription, there are other streaming-based pay-per-view providers such as FITE that have been established for several years, which could make it a challenge for InDemand to succeed in the streaming realm. Another aspect of the traditional pay-per-view model that will likely not fare well if InDemand is simply looking to transition their existing distribution model to streaming, that has proven beneficial for networks like FITE and those networks that operate on a subscription model is the feature of on-demand access being made available either with a PPV purchase or a subscription. Traditional pay-per-view distributors do not offer such a feature and if they are looking to transition to streaming as the cable/satellite model continues phasing out, they will likely need to add the benefit of on-demand access for those who purchase events live if they hope to compete effectively in the space.

 

While I certainly have no expectation that the pay-per-view model will disappear in 2022 as promoters and some networks that have been resistant to adapt to subscription-based streaming, those that yours truly often refers to as hold outs, despite mounting evidence that adaptation is likely a better option, if pay-per-view is to remain, I would like to see more value added for the price of a pay-per-view fee. The best way to add value regardless of who might be at the top of a card, would be to see every bout on a card broadcast on the pay-per-view feed. This is something that both DAZN and ESPN+ do with most of their Boxing events. It is also worth noting that FITE has done this before with many of the events they offer that are not also offered through the cable/satellite model. Typically, pay-per-view cards that are produced by networks such as Fox Sports and Showtime here in the United States only broadcast the top three or four bouts on a card that could have anywhere from eight to ten bouts. It should not take much explaining as to why such a model lacks value, though Fox has aired a portion of preliminary bouts on either the national Fox network or their cable sports networks, which depending on a consumer’s pay-TV provider may not always be easy to access.  Even though I remain firm on my stance that the PPV model needs to be done away with or significantly revamped, putting every bout on a card available on a pay-per-view channel for those purchasing an event rather than simply the top three or four fights on a card would be a step in the right direction simply by adding value for the price.

 

This brings me to the second item on this year’s list. Reducing the pay-per-view price points to make it more economically reasonable for consumers. The bottom line in addition to the other aforementioned flaws of the pay-per-view model that has resulted in a consistent decline in pay-per-view revenue on a regular basis, beyond the fact that there are subscription-based alternatives on the market that offer generally better value for the price is, the pay-per-view model has gotten to the point where it has priced out many Boxing fans who can simply not afford a $60 or above price point on a per card basis, that would likely be more willing to tune-in if those price points were more reasonable.

 

Some personal perspective for the reader. I grew up in the 1980’s and 1990’s during the boom period of cable/satellite television. I can recall more or less pestering my parents whenever there was a Boxing or pro wrestling pay-per-view event coming up during those days. Back then, pay-per-view offerings were not every month or every few weeks, but were reserved for the legitimate “Big Fights.” The type of fights that everyone even those with only a casual interest in Boxing would be talking about in one form or another. You would also see much more promotion for such bouts on television via late night talk shows, advertisements, as well as radio interviews and such, but the one thing that I remember perhaps more than most was that in many cases, the price points for pay-per-view Boxing did not exceed a $35 price point regardless of what the main event might have been. I do however, recall instances where pay-per-view providers like InDemand, then known as Viewer’s Choice would offer promotions in offering events at a slightly reduced cost if ordered in advance while keeping the full retail price in place for those who ordered an event on the day it took place.  I will not bother explaining which method my parents and I would use when such a promotion was offered as it should be self-explanitory.

 

While obviously some events/cards will always do better than others with regard to buys, I would be willing to say that those events at a lower price point tend to do better in terms of overall buys as compared to those that have a much higher price point.  In the current landscape, the only region in the world that offers pay-per-view at a reasonable price point that is similar to my youth and even my early days as a writer covering combat sports in the mid-1990’s is in Europe and more specifically the United Kingdom where most pay-per-view cards do not exceed a £25 price point.  As much as I have criticized the pay-per-view model and will continue to do so for the aforementioned reasons as well as in many cases today, the model simply being used as a source of potential revenue regardless of what might be on the card as opposed to the legitimate “Big Fights,” if the price points were lower, the model may be more successful even if those promoters and networks, the “Hold Outs,” refuse to air every bout on a card as yours truly has suggested would add more value for the price as well as allow those “Hold Outs” as stubborn as they might be, to compete with subscription-based streaming alternatives.

 

Now, the reader may be wondering since I have spent the majority of this column pointing out the flaws of the pay-per-view model as well as offering suggestions as to what I think might at least make it more viable, what else I could have in mind for this year’s “Boxing Wishlist.” Well, the third item on this year’s list is something that frankly needs to happen for the benefit of the sport. Promoters regardless of television network affiliation need to work together on a regular basis to make fights that have significant public interest occur in a more reasonable timeframe than is typically the norm.

 

It is something that is as old as the sport itself that has always been a source of frustration not just for me, but anyone involved in Boxing that truly has the best interest of the sport at heart. How many times throughout Boxing history has there been a scenario where two fighters in or around the same weight class are able to garner significant followings and drum up interest amongst both Boxing fans and experts alike in a potential fight between the two, yet for one reason or another whether it be rival promoters that do not want to work together for their own business interests if nothing else, rival television networks that would rather take cheap shots at competitors rather than offering the best bouts that could be made for their audience, or simply the perception that one fighter, a fighter’s team, and/or a fighter’s promoter ducking another fighter, for one reason or another it results in fights at times taking several years to be made.

 

While some might say that such tactics end up drumming up more interest and make fights even bigger in terms of making them an event, more often than not, when two marquee fighters finally get into the ring, it can and has left a bad taste in the Boxing fan’s mouth and thus leaves the sport open to more criticism and ridicule than really should be the case.  In recent times, despite the willingness of networks like DAZN and ESPN to work together to make fights happen, the PBC side of the equation does not always show such willingness and seems more content to only make fights happen if it happens under their promotional banner and on their broadcast platforms, even if it may be in the best interest of not only the sport, but also the fighters that compete under the PBC platform to face fighters that may not be attached to their platform.  Unfortunately, this serves as a detriment to the sport and benefits no one involved. Much like my thoughts on the pay-per-view model, I don’t expect things to change in 2022, but I hope steps in the right direction are taken, even if it came as a result of a promoter or network trying to survive in the sport.

 

This brings us to the fourth item on this year’s “Boxing Wishlist.” For Boxing’s respective sanctioning organizations to finally come up with an alternative to “Interim/Regular Championship” designations. Those who have followed this observer’s “Boxing Wishlist” for years probably know that this particular item is something that is pretty much a mainstay on the list every year. Although I spend much time during a calendar year pointing out that such designations are not world championships, but are in actuality a number one contender’s designation, the short answer here is though it is well-intended by the sanctioning organizations as a way of ensuring that a top contender gets an opportunity to fight for a world championship one way or another, it is something that needs to be revamped or preferably done away with outright. In 2021, the World Boxing Association (WBA) at least stated their intent to eliminate such designations in their respective rankings per weight division. It goes without saying to any knowledgeable observer that the WBA’s rankings and “Interim/Regular” designations have created more confusion than it has solved problems that more often than not are related to the business end of the sport. Much like the other items on this year’s list, the elimination of “Interim/Regular” designations is something that will not happen overnight and will take time. It is my hope however, that the WBA sticks to their word and that other organizations in the sport that use a similar structure in their rankings follow their lead.

 

The final addition to this year’s “Boxing Wishlist” is something that yours truly has long advocated for and if it were not for the detriment of the pay-per-view model, would have been listed as the number one item on this year’s list rather than the closer. To see Women’s Boxing finally be moved to three minute rounds.

 

Anyone who is familiar with Women’s Boxing knows that the sport for women is in a period of long overdue exposure and recognition. Although thankfully, it is no longer uncommon to see a women’s bout headline a Boxing card either here in the United States or internationally that also features men’s bouts, one thing that continues to be a drawback is the fact that rounds in Women’s Boxing are scheduled for two minutes in duration. While the argument some have used is the two minute round length all but ensures an entertaining fast-paced fight for women competing in the sport, it usually results in fights that may not otherwise go the distance if it were fought under three minute rounds, the same length as men competing in the sport, or very closely scored bouts that could end in draws.

 

When one keeps in mind that the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) allows the women that compete in it to fight for either a three five minute round distance or a five, five minute round distance for world championship fights, the same distance as male MMA fighters, the argument that women boxers should not be allowed to fight for three minutes per round becomes less credible. One should also consider that during the delayed 2020 Olympics, which took place in the summer of 2021, women boxers were allowed to compete in three minute rounds and I personally felt that while there were still bouts that were very competitive and ended in close decisions, the women who competed in those Olympics were able to prove that women boxers are more than capable of Boxing for three minutes per round.  Those who read this observer’s coverage of those Olympics heard me state that it was my hope that those on the professional end of the sport would follow the lead of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Boxing taskforce and move women’s bouts to three minute rounds. While I would also like to see women allowed to progress to a twelve round distance for world championship fights, the same as their male counterparts, if those who regulate the sport from the respective athletic commissions around the world to the sanctioning organizations would take the step to three minute rounds for female fighters competing in the sport, it would be one more step in the right direction for Women’s Boxing.

 

Unfortunately, all of the items on this year’s “Boxing Wishlist” still comes under the midst of an ongoing global epidemic, which may or may not bring Boxing and the rest of sports to a halt at any given moment due to the several variants of the COVID-19 virus and the obvious uncertainties that come with it. Obviously, I hope that there will be no such pause and that the sport of Boxing will be able to have a full year of action in 2022 as was the case throughout much of 2021. We will have to wait and see what happens, but as a new year has now begun, yours truly is eager to see what is next for the sport of Boxing and to cover the events that unfold throughout 2022.

 

“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

 

 

MIKAELIAN CONFIRMED TO COMPETE IN LATVIA NEXT MONTH

 Press Release: By Probellum – January 6, 2022 - Noel Mikaelian will headline the LNK Boxing event in Latvia on Saturday, February 12. 

Credit: Probellum

The Armenian-German cruiserweight (25-2, 11 knockouts) will face DR Congo’s Youri Kayembre Kalenga (27-6, 20 knockouts) for the WBC Silver title in the night’s main event.

Mikaelian, a former WBO international cruiserweight champion, will be performing for the first time since joining Probellum’s ranks last month.

“I’m very much looking forward to returning to the ring and competing against Youri Kayembre Kalenga, who is an experienced fighter,” said Mikaelian.

“After signing for Probellum in December, my immediate focus turned towards ensuring I’m in the best possible shape for my next bout, and that will certainly be the case.

“After a long time out of the ring, I’m eager to remind the boxing world of my capabilities and I will be ready for the fight next month.”

“We’re delighted to confirm Noel will be headlining February’s LNK Boxing event in Latvia,” added Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum.

“Over the course of his career, Noel has proven his quality on numerous occasions. He is a top-level fighter who is guaranteed to excite those fans in attendance.
 

“Signing Noel for Probellum was a big moment and we can now look forward to watching him in action at what promises to be a fantastic event.”

The IBA Intercontinental title will also be up for grabs when Latvia’s Ralfs Vilcans (12-0, 5 knockouts) faces Germany’s Timo Rost (12-1, 4 knockouts) in front of a home crowd.

Among the other bouts already confirmed for the event, two more Latvian’s will be in action, with Francis Rozentals (7-0, 2 knockouts) and Milans Volkovs (6-2, 5 knockouts) taking on Russia’s Mikhail Kozletinov (2-2, 1 knockout) and Spain’s Alberto Tapia (2-3, 1 knockout) respectively.

LNK Boxing is one of the many companies Probellum has secured co-promotional agreements with since launching in September, along with the likes of Wasserman Boxing, Universum in Germany, Groupe Yvon Michel in Canada, Maravillabox Promotions in Spain, Kynoch Boxing in Scotland, Mitchell Sports Promotions in England, Titov Boxing in Russia, Glozier Boxing in New Zealand, Cuadrilatero Boxing in Colombia, PR Best Boxing in Puerto Rico, BXSTRS Promotions in Mexico, Shuan Boxing Promotions in the Dominican Republic, Bufalo Boxing in Nicaragua, Team Ellis Boxing in Australia, Moron Boxing in Venezuela, Volcano Boxing in El Salvador, Armin Tan Promotions in Indonesia, and Box Office Sports in Ghana.

For live news and updates, be sure to follow Probellum on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Probellum Used with permission.

 

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

BREAKING: British Boxing Board of Control Suspends Boxing Events Throughout January Due TO COVID-19

 

 

It has been announced that due to COVID-19’s latest omicron variant that has been spreading throughout the world that the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) has suspended all Boxing cards throughout the month of January throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. What this does mean is the scheduled January 29^th card featuring a Women’s World Middleweight championship bout between undefeated world champion Claressa Shields and Ema Kozin, as well as a Middleweight bout between former IBO Super-Middleweight world champion Chris Eubank Jr. and Liam Williams that was one of the marquee events on the schedule for January 2022, which was due to co-headline a pay-per-view event here in the United States from Cardiff, Wales, that was already rescheduled from it’s original December 11^th date, has been postponed again. As of this writing, there is no word on whether the card will be attempted to be rescheduled beyond the BBBofC’s January pause.

 

  This however, does not have any impacts on tonight’s scheduled pay-per-view card here in the United States, which will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL, which will be headlined by a Heavyweight bout between former IBF Heavyweight world champion Charles Martin and former multi-time world title challenger Luis Ortiz. There has been one replacement opponent on the undercard of the Heavyweight-themed pay-per-view, that will see veteran Christian Hammer step in on short notice to replace Carlos Negron, in a bout against undefeated prospect Frank Sanchez. Negron, was forced to withdraw from the fight earlier in the week due to testing positive for the COVID-19 virus. As of this writing, the card, which can be seen in the United States on Fox Sports Pay-Per-View and FITE, will take place as scheduled. 

 

We will however, keep readers updated on any COVID-19 related postponements/cancellations throughout the world as we learn of them. 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

Happy 2022/Schedule Reminder

 We would like to wish our readers a very happy and safe 2022. A reminder regarding when our 2022 schedule will begin, we will begin our 2022 schedule with  our annual “Boxing Wishlist” feature, which traditionally begins the schedule at the beginning of a new year that will be released on Friday, January 7^th. In the interim, any content that is sent in for release by promoters and networks will be made available for readers as they are sent in. We here at The Boxing Truth® look forward to continuing to provide readers with features, weigh-in results, special previews, fight card recaps, and other content also being released as events approach throughout the sport of Boxing. As we continue to be in the midst of the global COVID-19 epidemic, we will also be doing as best as possible to keep readers updated on any potential changes to the Boxing schedule due to COVID-19. The Boxing Truth® welcomes the opportunity to continue to provide our readers with accurate information, in-depth analysis, and objective opinions regarding the sport of Boxing as well as the participants and issues that surround it.  We thank all our readers for your continued support and we look forward to hearing from you throughout 2022.  Happy New Year.

 

“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

Light Heavyweight James “The Equalizer” Ballard Looks To Make Waves In 2022

 Press Release: December 28, 2021 By Brandon Countee – (Detroit, Michigan) Light Heavyweight and Detroit Michigan native James Ballard looks to get his career back on track in 2022. After 3 straight losses, the fighter felt that 2022 needed to be his crossroad year in boxing. “To be honest I was not prepared like I needed to be in my last 2 fights, and you could see it. I was not focused like I should have been, and I promised myself 2022 would be much better. To be honest my record of 10 and 4 is more a reflection of not being dedicated fully more than my actual potential limits. I am more focused and dedicated, got a new trainer and everything.” Ballard states. He is now aligned with former boxer and trainer Ray Darden who looks to help bring out the best in Ballard. 

Credit: Brandon Countee

 

“James has talent, and it is a shame that he got unfocused because that can really mess up a fighter's career. My plan is really getting him back on track and to get some quality wins for 2022 and going forward.” states his new trainer, Ray Darden.

 

Ballard looks to get opportunities to upset the apple cart for contenders at 175. “Boxing is the one sport where one fight can make a star and save a career.”

 

 

Material  and Photo Courtesy of: Brandon Countee Used with permission.

 

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

Happy Holidays/Schedule Update

 

We would like to wish all of all readers a very Happy and safe Holiday season. We here at The Boxing Truth® are between rounds for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Our 2022 schedule will begin on Wednesday with our annual “Boxing Wishlist” feature that will be released on Friday, January 7^th. In the interim, any content that has been sent in for release will be made available for readers as they come in as normal.

 

Happy Holidays.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

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

 

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December 17th-18th, 2021 Weekend Thoughts

 As the world nears the Christmas holidays, the Boxing world will not be taking much of a hiatus as was the case in previous years. With the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters staging two cards on Christmas night and New Year’s Day on Fox and Fox Sports Pay-Per-View here in the United States and will be largely alone in doing so, the weekend of December 17^th and 18^th of 2021 saw a focus on the Light-Heavyweight division, a world title elimination bout, and two rematches that depending on one’s perspective were anticipated for different reasons. While one of those rematches as well as it’s full undercard have already been covered by this observer here on The Boxing Truth®, the final weekend before Christmas saw other action throughout the sport that also deserves attention.

 

The first of these bouts took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where an elimination bout took place to determine the next mandatory challenger in the World Boxing Association (WBA) Jr. Middleweight ratings between top contenders Israil Madrimov and Michel Soro.  Although this observer did not have an opportunity to preview this bout in the days leading up to it, this fight as much as any should serve as a reminder particularly to the sport’s detractors as to just how global Boxing is as well as the benefits that yours truly has frequently pointed out in recent years with regard to digital streaming networks that have increased access on a global scale to much of what goes on throughout the sport that would otherwise not be broadcast by traditional networks as this bout was a late addition to the schedule of digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN, that also broadcast the previously covered Parker-Chisora rematch.  As for the fight itself, it was fought at a very tactical pace where both fighters were able to execute their offense in spots. It was this pace that resulted in several of the first eight rounds of this bout being very close and very difficult to score.

 

While Soro tended to be more accurate with his offense, it was Madrimov who seemed to land the harder punches, particularly when the two fighters engaged in exchanges. Although the element of who lands the harder blows is what some would consider as the determining factor in who ultimately gains the upper hand in terms of the scoring of a fight, it is not necessarily the case. When two fighters are able to essentially match each other punch for punch as was the case in this bout, it creates a very challenging conundrum where it will as I have said numerous times over the years, come down to what a judge prefers in their own criteria in how they see a fight based on clean punching, effective aggression, ring generalship, and defense. In this case, after eight rounds I felt the fight was even as usually when one fighter seemed as though they were starting to gain a slight advantage over the other, the opposition would return offense to such degree where it left the impression that this was an even fight.

 

In round nine however, all questions regarding the potential scoring of the bout would come to an end, but an element of controversy would emerge that left more questions than answers. As was the case for the previous eight rounds, the two fighters continued to exchange and match each other’s offense. It was in the closing seconds of the ninth round where Madrimov would break through with a combination of hooks to the head of Soro that appeared to have Soro legitimately stunned and backed against the ropes. The controversy that emerged came when Madrimov pressed forward with his opponent against the ropes and continued throwing punches, the bell appeared to ring several times with no movement from Referee Salvador Salva, who perhaps did not hear the bell due to the roar of the crowd in attendance, seconds later he did jump in and signaled a stoppage of the fight ruling Madrimov the winner by technical knockout.

 

Although it was clear that Soro was hurt in my eyes at this stage in the bout, the fact that the bell rang several times before the referee stepped in opens the question of whether or not the ruling of Salva of a TKO in favor of Madrimov could possibly be challenged in an attempt to have the result changed to a no contest simply because once the bell rang, the action should have been halted and the blows Madrimov was able to land after that were thus after the bell and would be considered illegal.  While normally I tend to side with the referee in instances like this as they are the closest person to the action and a referee’s discretion could be the difference between a fight ending appropriately or one that ends up having tragic circumstances, I do believe that there might be some sort of challenge regarding the result of this fight with both the WBA and the Federation of Professional Boxing of Uzbekistan who regulated the bout. In the interest of full disclosure with the reader, it needs to be noted that Salva only had twenty-one professional bouts under his officiating record at the time this bout took place in a career as a referee that began in 2016. Perhaps what will be difficult to argue in any potential protest, despite the issue of the bell ringing and an apparent miscommunication between the timekeeper and the referee is that Soro was not answering back with punches when the fight was stopped and did have his hands down when Salva stepped in and stopped the fight.

 

Even though some might point to Salva’s not hearing the bell to end the round as well as only having twenty-one bouts officiated in five years as a professional referee as inexperience particularly for a fight between two top contenders to determine who gets an opportunity to fight for a world title, Salva’s argument will like be that he saw a fighter in a compromised state in taking punches with his hands down, who was also clearly hurt when he decided to step in and stop the fight.  Although it is a heartbreaking way to lose a fight if you are in Soro’s position, if Salva does in fact have to give an explanation for his stoppage of this bout and provides a similar one to the example this observer has laid out, a protest by Soro and his team will not likely succeed. The best case scenario for Soro, under the circumstances would not be to protest the result of the fight, but rather to petition the WBA for a rematch. particularly since both Jermell Charlo the WBC/WBA/IBF Jr. Middleweight world champion and Brian Castano the WBO world champion appear to be headed towards a rematch of their unification bout, which ended in a draw earlier this year, in 2022. Whether or not the WBA would order an immediate rematch remains to be seen.

 

The final weekend before Christmas 2021 was also highlighted in part by two Light-Heavyweight bouts including a title defense by undefeated unified WBC/IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev, who made the fifth defense of his title at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada against longtime top contender Marcus Browne. Although much of the focus of the Light-Heavyweight division in recent times has centered around two central figures in Beterbiev and undefeated WBA world champion Dmitry Bivol, Browne did pose a serious test for Beterbiev as a former mandatory challenger in the WBA's Light-Heavyweight ratings. In previewing this bout, I stated that the key to the fight was whether or not Browne would be able to survive Beterbiev’s pressure and be able to extend him into the middle and late rounds of the fight in saying that at this stage we did not know how Beterbiev would respond to being in such a situation as being taken into the deep waters of a fight and whether or not he would be able to adapt.

 

An argument can be made that Browne was not only able to answer that question, but also was able to get an additional question answered of the champion who had scored knockouts in every one of his previous sixteen bouts in his professional career. How would Beterbiev respond to adversity? As expected, the champion began the fight by applying pressure on Browne and trying to walk him down. Although the pressure was clear, Browne did for a time manage you use his movement and combination punching to offset the tactics of Beterbiev. In the fourth round, both fighters suffered cuts as a result of an accidental clash of heads, but it was Beterbiev’s cut, a deep gash on the forehead that appeared as though might be the cause of the fight being stopped due to the blood going into the champion’s eyes and the bleeding of the wound being difficult for his corner to control.

 

Despite being under circumstances where some fighters do not respond well, Beterbiev became more aggressive and made it very difficult for Browne to use his movement to gain space between himself and the champion. In round seven, Beterbiev would score his first knockdown of the fight by dropping Brown with a left hook to the body that appeared to cause a delayed reaction. In the ninth round, the champion would bring an end to the fight by dropping Browne for a second time with another left hook to the body that forced Browne to take a knee and the ten count resulting in another knockout victory for Beterbiev in what was an impressive performance under what had to be trying circumstances due to the gash on his forehead. Even though the gash Beterbiev suffered was frankly enough justification to stop the fight, due to the fact that it was caused by an accidental head clash, if the fight had been stopped, the outcome would have been determined by going to the scorecards for a technical decision.

 

Although no one should discredit the heart Marcus Browne showed in this fight, his effectiveness gradually declined as the bout progressed and if the bout had gone to the scorecards, it is likely that Beterbiev would have retained his title with a decision win. While Beterbiev and Bivol appear to be on a collision course, there is another potential opponent that both champions should keep an eye on. This observer is referring to undefeated former WBO Super-Middleweight world champion Gilberto Ramirez, who returned to the ring on December 18^th against Yuneski Gonzalez at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, TX.

 

With so much of the recent times of the Light-Heavyweight division focused on Bivol, Beterbiev, and the fact that both have been angling for a potential fight with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, the sport’s biggest star that has been seeking the most lucrative fights possible in his career, or a potential fight with each other, Ramirez has quietly emerged as a potential wild card opponent for either of the three if the opportunity were available to him. In Yuneski Gonzalez, Ramirez faced a solid boxer/puncher who showed immediately upon the fight beginning that he was not a mere opponent for Ramirez to simply get some work in before more lucrative fights in 2022. Gonzalez was more than willing to engage in exchanges of punches with Ramirez from the outset and from my perspective had particular success in landing his right hand as well as being able to periodically back Ramirez against the ropes.

 

It did not take long before this fight evolved from a Boxing match to an all-out brawl with both fighters standing and going toe to toe, and punch for punch. While there were moments where Ramirez was able to hurt Gonzalez and had him appearing as though he might be able to get a stoppage early, Gonzalez kept fighting on and kept answering whatever Ramirez threw at him. When it comes to fights that are fought like this, the primary question that comes to mind beyond the subject of potential scoring of a bout is which fighter will have enough left in them to go the distance if required to do so.  This was a case where as I watched this fight, the idea of scoring did not come to mind simply due to the way the fight was being fought and the high pace of the combat with both fighters throwing seemingly every punch with fight ending intentions.

 

As the bout went on however, it did appear that Ramirez was gradually getting the better of the exchanges and the question that formed in my mind was whether or not Gonzalez would be able to go the distance. The war of attrition continued on until the tenth round when Ramirez connected with a barrage of punches on a fatigued Gonzalez along the ropes, which forced the fight to be stopped.

 

Although Gilberto Ramirez had more difficulty than some may have expected going into this fight, he did what he had to do in outlasting a very “Game” Yuneski Gonzalez in what was a very grueling fight that might be considered one of the best bouts of 2021 depending on one’s perspective. While Ramirez remains a live opponent for either Bivol or Beterbiev going into 2022, he has earned the opportunity to rest, despite his stating that he would like a bout with Bivol in his next fight shortly after his victory over Gonzalez.

 

The final bout that took place on December 18^th featured YouTube star turned boxer Jake Paul in a rematch against former UFC World Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in a rematch of a bout the two had earlier this year in Cleveland, OH. This rematch, which was fought at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL, came out of necessity for Paul and United States cable network Showtime to keep the pay-per-view date after original opponent Tommy Fury, withdrew with what was described as a chest infection and a broken rib that he suffered in training.

 

Even though this rematch came not necessarily out of public demand as it did out of necessity in terms of the business aspects of the sport, Paul’s status as a celebrity did succeed in selling out the near 20,000 seat arena, which were no doubt full of both his sizable YouTube following as well as those who remain curious as to Paul’s legitimacy as a boxer. It is a fact that Paul has yet to face someone with a legitimate Boxing background and that fact alone has fueled much criticism in addition to his being pushed as a pay-per-view headliner with only four professional bouts to his credit going into what turned out to be an immediate rematch with Woodley. The first encounter, which was won by Paul via eight round split decision had the consensus that, despite Woodley being able to stun Paul in the fourth round of that fight, he simply was not active enough over the course of the fight to garner favor of the judges scoring the bout. Woodley did claim in the lead up to this rematch that he would be more active this time around and for a period of time, he did seem intent on keeping his word as he did try to pressure Paul early.  Unfortunately for those in attendance at Amalie Arena and those watching via pay-per-view, this rematch did not have much in the way of action throughout much of the first five rounds of the bout as both fighters tried to engage each other, but more often than not ended up in clinches, which did not produce much in the way of action.

 

This can be attributed to inexperience of both fighters in terms of Boxing, but it should also be noted that many of the clinches seemed to be initiated by Woodley. While clinching is not allowed in Boxing and is normally separated by a referee officiating a bout, in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), where Woodley has primarily competed for most of his combat sports career, fighters are allowed to fight while in a clinch. Perhaps Woodley out of instinct tried to gain an advantage over Paul by way of clinching, and thus forgetting that this bout was being fought under Boxing rules. This would prove to be a moot point as Paul would bring a sudden end to the fight in round six when he connected with a flush right hook to the jaw that knocked Woodley out cold face first on the canvas.

 

Although Paul moved his record to 5-0, with 4 Knockouts with his second victory over Tyron Woodley, criticism will likely remain again based on the fact that he has not faced someone with a legitimate Boxing background and the decision of Showtime to push him as a pay-per-view attraction having not faced a legitimate boxer.  While the issue of the business of the sport and it’s flaws is a subject to be discussed at a later time, it will be interesting if in 2022 those at Showtime, who have struggled to draw consistently high buy rates for their pay-per-view cards amid the consumer trend shifting more towards subscription-based streaming, will insist that Paul fight against people with legitimate Boxing backgrounds going forward if he is truly serious about wanting to be taken seriously as a boxer.  It will also be interesting to see if Showtime’s parent company ViacomCBS chooses to use the growth of it’s subscription streaming network Paramount+ as a pay-per-view alternative in perhaps using Paul as a way to drive subscribers as many of his followers are likely casual Boxing fans and would likely be more inclined to subscribe to Paramount+ for the entertainment options the network has to offer in addition to seeing Paul featured as part of the streaming platform’s sports programming as opposed to paying inflated pay-per-view fees.  For now, Paul has succeeded in scoring another knockout and maintaining the curiosity that has followed he and his brother Logan’s respective entries into the sport. It will be up to him to prove that this is a legitimate Boxing career and not a novelty act that will eventually wear off.

 

While this is usually where this observer shares some closing thoughts on what has been an extremely active year, despite the continued impacts of the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic. As much as I would like to close this column reflecting on some of the events that have taken place, the Boxing calendar now turns to what the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters will have to offer on Christmas night and a pay-per-view card to take place on New Year’s Day in Hollywood, FL.

 

Although the choice to do Boxing cards over the holidays is a curious one that will have debatable returns, it is important to keep in mind that as of now, both cards are scheduled to take place as planned, but with the impacts of the COVID-19’s latest variant Omicron beginning to lead to cancellations in the National Football League (NFL), the National Hockey League (NHL) and has already led to at least one Boxing-related postponement in the scheduled Middleweight championship unification bout between world champions Gennady Golovkin and Ryota Murata, which was scheduled to take place on December 29^th in Tokyo, Japan being postponed due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions in the country, the possibility of those two cards being potentially impacted is at least that a possibility. While this observer takes a pause for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, the reader can rest assured that I will be keeping an eye on the developments of these two cards and if they do indeed take place as scheduled, those events will be covered when our schedule resumes in January 2022.

 

Happy Holidays.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

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