The Boxing Truth®

Monday, June 3, 2019

MEPRANUM CAPTURES IBF REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN MACAU

Credit: Sanman Promotions

Press Release: June 3, 2019 By Sanman Promotions – Sanman boxer Richie Mepranum now W34 KO9 L7 D1 has just captured the IBF Pan Pacific Super Bantamweight Belt as he beats Chinese titleholder Sen Chen W11 KO2 L2 D0 in a fight held at the Wynn Palace in Macau, China. (Sunday, June 2^nd) Mepranum who appeared to be in a terrific condition used his superior experience and ring generalship to claim the unanimous decision victory. It was a needed notable comeback for the Filipino having suffered a recent three fight losing streak against Aarthur Villanueva, Luis Nery and Carlos Cuadras.

Mepranum was ecstatic about the victory. “I felt so down in my career and this win is what I badly need. I feel rejuvenated with my new team at Sanman. I admit having neglected myself during training thus the losing streak I suffered. But I’m back and I’m onfire. I will train even harder. I am still young and can come back to the top rankings. I want to thank Sanman through my manager Jim Claude Manangquil for this very needed opportunity.”

For Sanman CEO Manangquil, “This is a good win for my team having lost the Ben Mananquil fight recently. I always know the true potential of Richie. We always believed in him. He just needed more focus and discipline. If he stays on the right track then he will soon contend again for a world title.”

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Sanman Promotions Used with permission.

For more information about Sanman Promotions and to watch the Sanman Live Boxing series please visit Sanman Promotions’ official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SanmanPromotions.

Saturday, June 1, 2019

Joshua-Ruiz Weights

Credit: Amanda Westcott/DAZN USA

Press Release: By DAZN – NEW YORK, May 31, 2019 – Heavyweight king Anthony Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs) of the United Kingdom and dangerous Mexican challenger Andy Ruiz, Jr. (32-1, 21 KOs) tipped the scales a day ahead of the heavyweight battle where Joshua will make his U.S. debut and will defend his IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO World Heavyweight Championship titles against Ruiz on Saturday, June 1, at Madison Square Garden and exclusively on DAZN.

The main card bouts also stepped on the scale which will feature undefeated WBA Super Middleweight World Champion Callum Smith (25-0, 18 KOs) making his first title defense against former Middleweight World Champion Hassan N’Dam (37-3, 21 KOs). Earlier in the evening, Katie Taylor (13-0, 6 KOs) will face Delfine Persoon (43-1, 18 KOs) to crown the undisputed World Female Lightweight Champion. Taylor owns the IBF, WBA and WBO titles, while Persoon holds the WBC strap. Former World Champion Chris Algieri (23-3, 8 KOs) returns as he takes on Tommy Coyle (25-4, 12 KOs) for the vacant WBO International Super Lightweight Title, Joshua Buatsi (10-0, 8 KOs) makes his U.S. debut against Marco Antonio Periban (25-4-1, 16 KOs), and Josh Kelly (9-0, 6 KOs) faces off against Ray Robinson (24-3-1, 12 KOs).

Boxing on DAZN begins at 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 1, with the main event starting at 10:00 p.m. ET.

12-Round Heavyweight Championship Bout

Anthony Joshua – 247.0 lbs.

Andy Ruiz, Jr. – 268.0 lbs.

12-Round WBA Super World Middleweight Title Bout @ 168 lbs.

Callum Smith – 167.6 lbs

Hassan N’Dam - 166.0 lbs.

10-Round Female Lightweight Unification Title Bout @ 135 lbs.

Katie Taylor – 134.6 lbs.

Delfine Persoon – 130.6 lbs.

10-Round WBA International Welterweight Title Bout @ 147 lbs.

Josh Kelly – 146.4 lbs.

Ray Robinson – 146.0 lbs.

10- Round Light Heavyweight Bout @ 175 lbs.

Joshua Buatsi – 174.0 lbs.

Marc Antonio Periban - 172.0 lbs.

10–Round Vacant WBO International Super Lightweight Title Bout @ 140 lbs.

Chris Algieri – 139.8 lbs.

Tommy Coyle – 139.6 lbs.

About DAZN:

DAZN is the largest global sports streaming platform in the world. Since launching in 2016, DAZN had expanded across four continents with the service available in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Japan and Brazil. DAZN guarantees no long-term contract, no bundles, just affordable access to all the service's sports on connected devices including smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, games consoles and PCs. In the U.S., DAZN has made its mark as an attractive alternative to pay-per-view within the combat sports industry. The platform features more than 100 fight nights per year from Matchroom Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions, GGG Promotions, Bellator MMA, the World Boxing Super Series and Combate Americas. DAZN also features live MLB action each day of the season with its new daily show, ChangeUp.

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

Joshua vs. Ruiz takes place Tonight (Saturday, June 1st) at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. The fight can be seen in the United States and several international countries on digital sports streaming network DAZN. The undercard will begin at 5:30 PM ET/2:30PM PT (U.S. Time). The main portion of the card is scheduled to begin at 9PM ET/6PM PT. (U.S. Time.) For more information about DAZN, schedules, list of available streaming devices, availability around the world, and to subscribe, please visit: www.DAZN.com.

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the card can be seen on Sky Sports Box Office Pay-Per-View for £19.95 beginning at 10PM Saturday, June 1st (Local UK Time.) For ordering information and availability in your area please visit:https://www.sky.com/boxoffice/joshua-ruizjr. Check your local listings internationally.

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

Friday, May 31, 2019

Opportunity Knocks For Ruiz

It can at times be an overused expression, but Boxing is truly a sport of opportunity. Opportunities in the sport can come in several forms. One of the most familiar stories that most people are familiar with whether they are fans on any level or someone with little interest in the sport is one of a young fighter working his/her way through the ranks to earn an opportunity to fight for a world championship. A way that opportunity can come knocking on someone’s door that does not always get talked about is when a fighter steps into a fight on short notice.

Although such a scenario can vary with regard to opportunity, it is one that happens regularly in the sport. When the opportunity comes in the form of stepping into a world championship fight, it can indeed be viewed as the Boxing equivalent of one stumbling upon a winning lottery ticket. Some fighters have been able to take advantage of such scenarios, while others have not. The latest fighter to be placed in such a scenario is Heavyweight contender Andy Ruiz.

Ruiz, took an unbeaten record into the ring to challenge for the vacant WBO Heavyweight world championship in December 2016 when he battled fellow undefeated contender Joseph Parker. In what was a close and competitive fight, Ruiz came out on the losing end of a twelve round majority decision. Despite that setback, Ruiz made a solid account for himself in defeat. Since that fight against Parker, Ruiz has gone unbeaten in three bouts scoring knockouts in two of those bouts.

Despite being ranked in the top five in the World Boxing Association (WBA) Heavyweight ratings, Ruiz was positioned on the outside looking in along with several other too contenders as the main storyline of the division has continued to be the two world champions of the division Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder heading towards what appears to be an eventual showdown to fully unify the World Heavyweight championship. As each fight in the careers of each champion has continued and subsequent coverage of each bout has been provided to the readers of The Boxing Truth®️ by this observer, the consistent question has been is the eventual showdown between the two any closer to becoming a reality.

As most know, Wilder recently scored a first round knockout over Dominic Breazeale earlier this month in his ninth defense of the World Boxing Council (WBC) Heavyweight world championship. For unified IBF/WBA/IBO/WBO world champion Anthony Joshua however, his scheduled title defense for this Saturday was nearly derailed by circumstances beyond his control. Undefeated top contender Jarrell Miller, Joshua’s scheduled opponent for the unbeaten champion’s United States debut at New York’s Madison Square Garden, was removed from the fight due to testing positive for several banned substances during randomized testing under the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency’s (VADA) testing protocols.

While the situation involving Miller is a subject to be discussed at another time, Miller’s circumstances opened the door of opportunity for Ruiz, who stepped into the fight on limited notice to face the champion. The circumstances that led to this bout, which will take place on the scheduled date of what would have been Joshua’s title defense against Miller now presents a scenario that is reminiscent of a good movie script. A familiar story of an underdog that takes a fight against a world champion on short notice, who is given little chance to pull off what would be considered an upset.

An aspect that could work to Ruiz’ advantage is he has good hand speed for a Heavyweight. Despite his having a physique is misleading, Ruiz is the type of fighter who can throw punches in several variations of combination. The primary obstacle in my mind for the challenger as this fight approaches has to do with physics.

Joshua will have a four-inch height advantage and an eight-inch reach advantage over Ruiz. At 6’6, the champion will likely look to keep the challenger at distance with his 82” reach. The 6’2 Ruiz must find a way to get on the inside of Joshua’s reach where his 74” reach will not be a disadvantage.

Of course, this is a task that can at times be easier said than done. For Ruiz to be successful in this fight. however getting on the inside and turning the combat into an inside fight is crucial. The primary question that faces Anthony Joshua as this fight approaches is what effect, if any did the situation regarding Jarrell Miller have on his preparation for Ruiz? In addition to answering that question looms the possibility of Joshua potentially looking ahead to a potential unification bout with Deontay Wilder down the line is something to also keep in mind.

As most Boxing fans likely know, Deontay Wilder announced via social media earlier this week that he will face top contender Luis Ortiz in a rematch of their 2018 encounter later this year. Given that announcement, the odds of an undisputed Heavyweight championship fight happening by the end of this year appear slim. The possibility of potential distractions having an effect on Joshua however, is a real one under the circumstances.

While most fans and experts alike will continue to anticipate the full unification of the Heavyweight division, the best thing for Anthony Joshua for the immediate future will be to focus on the opponent that will be standing across the ring from him in a historic venue known as “The World’s Most Famous Arena” and “The Mecca of Boxing” in his U.S. debut. If for whatever reason the champion is not focused on the task at hand, an unlikely and perhaps underestimated challenger just might seize the opportunity that has presented itself.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Joshua vs. Ruiz takes place tomorrow night (Saturday, June 1st) at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. The fight can be seen in the United States and several international countries on digital sports streaming network DAZN. The undercard will begin at 5:30 PM ET/2:30PM PT (U.S. Time). The main portion of the card is scheduled to begin at 9PM ET/6PM PT. (U.S. Time.) For more information about DAZN, schedules, list of available streaming devices, availability around the world, and to subscribe, please visit: www.DAZN.com.

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the card can be seen on Sky Sports Box Office Pay-Per-View for £19.95 beginning at 10PM Saturday, June 1st (Local UK Time.) For ordering information and availability in your area please visit: https://www.sky.com/boxoffice/joshua-ruizjr. Check your local listings internationally.

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

Steve Gago Sets Sights On IBF Pan-Pacific Title

Credit: Dragon Fire Boxing

Press Release: May 31, 2019 By Dragon Fire Boxing – Perth's undefeated Welterweight standout Steve Gago is ready to top the bill at the coveted IBF convention in Macau, contesting the IBF's Pan-Pacific title as he looks towards breaking onto the world scene in quick fashion.

Gago, who has an unblemished professional record so far as a professional, opened up at the opportunity given to him to box at the prestigious IBF convention. He said, “Firstly thank you to my manager Tony Tolj at Dragon Fire Boxing for making this amazing opportunity a reality for me.

“As a boxer, you always want to be recognised by the governing bodies, so fighting at a convention is the ultimate. I can’t wait to put on a show for the IBF representatives and hopefully showcase my skills well enough, win the fight and emerge with a high world rating following it.”

Gago will contest the Pan-Pacific regions title at the Macau convention this coming weekend, and the Perth native opened up about his preparations prior to his big opportunity. Gago said, “Training has gone perfectly for this fight. I am always in the gym, sparring up and coming talent like Jackson England who is going to be a champion going forward, and experienced former world champions like Lucas Browne. I couldn’t ask for more training wise and that is showing in my performances.”

Every fighter works towards being the best in their country, and then the best in the world. Gago is no exception, as, under the guidance of Dragon Fire Boxing, he has plotted a way to the pinnacle of the sport.

Gago elaborated, “I want to be recognised as the best fighter in my weight class in Australia, which means everything to me. I have an experienced Filipino opponent in the opposite corner in Macau, and I know that I will have to be at my best to prove I am the best Welterweight in Australia and the Pan-Pacific region. “I am not looking past this fight by any means, but my plan is to take on the world starting at the IBF convention in Macau. I will fight anyone and I know that anyone that is put in front of me I will beat and I will beat them in an entertaining fashion.

“I am a no-nonsense fighter. I come to fight, and that is what not just boxing fans but general sports fans want to see the world around. My manager Tony Tolj will deliver me the fights that sports fans will be entertained with and I will continue to work towards becoming a world champion starting in Macau this weekend.”

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

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

Monday, May 27, 2019

KOBAYASHI UPSETS MANANQUIL

Press Release: May 27, 2019 By Sanman Promotions – Pinoy Bantamweight prospect Ben Mananquil drops to (W14 KO4 L2 D3) as he suffers an upset loss in the hands of Yuki Kobayashi, now (W15 KO9 L8 D0) and the new WBO Asia Pacific Bantamweight champion. The fight was competitive all throughout but Mananquil appeared to have an injured thus changing the tempo of the fight. Kobayashi became the aggressor as he smelled blood and finally cornered Mananquil in the tenth round.

For Mananquil, “I injured my right hand during training but I don’t want to make excuses. Kobayashi was the better fighter tonight. We win some and lose some. I will come back stronger. This is a hard lesson for me. My apologies to my fans and team for not being able to bring home the belt.”

According to Sanman CEO Jim Claude Manangquil, “ Ben trained hard for this. Props to Kobayashi for going all in and finally getting his reward.

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Sanman Promotions Used with permission.

For more information about Sanman Promotions and to watch the Sanman Live Boxing series please visit Sanman Promotions’ official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SanmanPromotions

Friday, May 24, 2019

Australian Boxing Supremo Tony Tolj Discusses Andrew And Jason Moloney's Signing With Top Rank

Credit: Dragon Fire Boxing

Press Release: May 24, 2019 By Dragon Fire Boxing/Team Moloney – Tony Tolj has been a mainstay in Australian boxing for over a decade, having emerged onto the global scene as an integral figure in the career of Indonesian legend Chris John.

Tolj has chameleon-like tendencies when it comes to both the Australian and global boxing industry. He seems to keep evolving and adapting, moving with the times with significant ease. This has reflected in his ability to develop fighters, and get the best out of established pros.

At the present time, Tolj has two of the world's hottest talents on his hands, in the shape of 'The Australian Klitschko's' Andrew and Jason Moloney. The pair have steadily climbed the world ratings, and now hold lofty positions with world title clashes on the horizon for the pair.

Not only do the pair appear to be heading towards world title clashes in the super flyweight and bantamweight divisions respectively, but news has emerged that the pair have linked up with the promotional powerhouses Top Rank.

Tony Tolj has guided both Moloney brothers for the majority of their careers and the Western Australian based manager opened up about his charges linking up with legendary promoter Bob Arum's American based setup.

Tolj said, "I am absolutely over the moon with Andrew and Jason linking up with Top Rank. Top Rank is the world leaders in boxing and has been for years. Top Rank always seem to keep growing and growing and getting stronger and stronger on a global scale, so for the boys to be a part of such a special setup makes me very proud."

Tolj continued, discussing the effects that the Moloney brothers deal with Top Rank could have for both twins and for Australian boxing as a whole, "The Moloney brothers are unbelievable talents, so for them to link up with Top Rank will be a massive factor in them becoming world champions.

"Top Rank has the capacity to make sure that the brothers get a fair shake when they fight for the world title. We've seen robberies when people go to other fighters backyards, and I believe Jason Moloney would have been a world champion if he had fought Emmanuel Rodriguez on neutral turf; but with Top Rank on our side these issues won't happen anymore."

Tolj continued, as he gave his take on what the Moloney's and Top Rank link up can do for Australian boxing, "The Moloney's linking up with Top Rank will bring more global attention to Australian boxing, that will help in countless ways and it will also open a door for rising Australian talents to be assessed by in my opinion the biggest promoter in the world, Top Rank. This link up is bigger than the future of two fighters, as it will help Australian boxing grow for years to come."

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

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

To learn more about Andrew and Jason Moloney please visit their respective Facebook pages:

Andrew Moloney: www.facebook.com/AndrewMoloneyBoxing

Jason Moloney: www.facebook.com/JasonMoloneyBoxing

Haney-Moran Weights

Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA

Press Release: By DAZN – OXON HILL, MARYLAND, May 24, 2019 – On the eve of DAZN’s stacked Memorial Day weekend boxing card, the fighters hit the scales and all successfully made weight at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. On Saturday night, undefeated lightweight sensation Devin Haney (21-0, 13 KOs) of Las Vegas will make his DAZN debut against Mexico’s Antonio Moran (24-3, 17 KOs) in the scheduled 12-round main event. In the co-feature of the evening, Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic (7-0, 5 KOs) takes on Gregory Corbin (15-1, 9 KOs) of Dallas, Texas, in a heavyweight title scheduled for 10 rounds. Kicking off the action at 9:00 p.m. ET on DAZN, Michael Hunter (16-1, 11 KOs) of Las Vegas will look to extend his unbeaten streak at heavyweight when he faces off against Brazil’s Fabio Maldonado (26-2, 25 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round affair.

Three undercard bouts will air on DAZN beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET, prior to the main card at 9:00 p.m. ET.

12-Round Lightweight Fight @ 135 lbs.

Devin Haney: 134.8 lbs.

Antonio Moran: 134.0 lbs.

10-Round Heavyweight Fight

Filip Hrgovic: 242.0 lbs.

Gregory Corbin: 269.4 lbs.

10-Round Heavyweight Fight

Michael Hunter: 215.5 lbs.

Fabio Maldonado: 241.0 lbs.

For more information, fans can follow DAZN’s U.S. social channels: @DAZNUSA on Facebook, @DAZN_USA for Twitter, and DAZN_USA for Instagram.