Mexican Sensation Oscar Alvarez features in Co-Main event on ProBox TV, Jan 25, Tampa, FL

Press Release: By ProBox TV – January 14, 2023 – Mexican sensation Oscar Alvarez is all set for his US debut, as he features on the January 25 edition of ProBox TV"s Future Stars Series in the co-main event slot, where he takes on Nicholas Polanco of the Dominican Republic. 

Credit: ProBox TV 

Polanco, who is coming off a hard-fought loss to the highly rated Albert Bell and Alvarez opened up on the challenge of the skilled Dominican. The native of Sonora, Mexico stated, "I'm very excited to be boxing on ProBox TV, and thank you to my team, and ProBox TV for putting this together so I can showcase my skills on a platform that you can watch free and frictionless all over the world. It's a great platform to be on for a fighter that is growing so I am very grateful for this opportunity.

"Polanco is a solid fighter, he has a good record and comes to fight. He has never been stopped and has won regional titles, so he is coming to win, and that's what I wanted. I wanted a fighter who is coming to win and has ambitions of being a champion. So this opponent excites me."

Alvarez is a unique talent, having had several hundred amateur contests, and stands 6ft 3in tall despite campaigning in the super featherweight division. At only 19 years old, the future appears to be a bright one for Alvarez, who ironically bares the names of two Mexican greats. 

Alvarez discussed his amateur career and hopes in the professional ranks. 

The towering Mexican said, "I'm very excited to continue my pro career on ProBox TV because I want everybody around the world to see my skills. I've enjoyed being a professional so far and think that it suits my style more than the amateurs.

"I won national titles in Mexico as an amateur and boxed internationally for Mexico, so I had a lot of experience in the amateurs, which is helping me move quickly as a professional. I think I can be a multi-weight world champion and a champion for the people of Mexico, that is my goal as a professional boxer."

Material and Photo Courtesy of: ProBox TV Used with permission.

For more information about ProBox TV 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.ProBoxTV.com. 

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

A Heavyweight Doubleheader Takes Centerstage In Verona, NY January 14th

With all signs seemingly pointing towards a showdown between the two undefeated world champions in Boxing’s Heavyweight division Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk for what would be the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world appearing to be nearly finalized for a date in the spring, there are questions surrounding the rest of the division. Normally when a fight such as one for an undisputed world championship, the question that inevitably is asked is who might the first potential challenger be when the smoke clears for the new undisputed champion. Over the many years that this observer has covered the sport of Boxing including countries unification and undisputed world championship bouts throughout the entire sport, I have also learned to ask another question. Out of numerous contenders and prospects, who might be able to step into position to face either champion in a proposed unification bout, should the opportunity suddenly become available. 

With this in mind, there is potential for some Heavyweights to maneuver. An interesting doubleheader will take place on Saturday, January 14th at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY that might feature potential challengers for either Fury or Usyk either as possibly a first challenger for whomever the Undisputed Heavyweight champion might be after the title is fully unified, or as a potential challengers to step in against either should negotiations between the two champions for whatever reason fall through. These bouts, which can be seen here in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ features Heavyweights that range from prospect to fringe contender. 

In the first of these two headline bouts, undefeated prospect Guido Vianello will face Johnnie Rice in a bout scheduled for ten rounds.

Undefeated in eleven professional fights, Vianello has established himself as a rising “Knockout Artist.”  In his last bout however, Vianello was forced to go the distance for the first time in his  career in scoring an eight round unanimous decision over Jay MacFarlane in October of last year.

Although that fight did go the full eight rounds, Vianello was able to dictate the combat from start to finish in what was a workmanlike performance. While that fight can also be described as a step up in his overall development, now the native of Rome, Italy prepares for what could be a test in the form of Johnnie Rice. 

Rice, a veteran of twenty-two professional fights will come into the bout having built some momentum in scoring back to back victories over previously undefeated Michael Coffee in 2021 and 2022 respectively. One potential issue for Rice is his second victory over Coffie came in January of last year and he has not been in the ring since.

With a record of 15-6-1, with 10 Knockouts, Rice has shown the ability to be a spoiler for prospects on the rise having stopped Coffie in their first fight and scoring a ten round unanimous decision in their rematch. The somewhat coincidental thing that looms over this fight is prior to facing Rice for the first time, Michael Coffie was at a similar stage as Vianello is going into this fight.

Much like the task that was in front of him in those bouts, Rice will need to use his veteran instincts and experience to be successful in this fight. Vianello’s Last opponent Jay MacFarlane was able to extend him to an eight round distance largely by looking to survive. Vianello does have nine knockouts in his ten career wins having fought to a draw eighty pro fight. MacFarlane was very “Game” and able to hang in against Vianello, but at no time in that fight did it appear that he was able to make the unhealthy prospect uncomfortable. Logic would suggest that Vianello will attempt to put pressure on Rice from the outset with the intention of stopping the fight early. The task that faces Jonathan Rice will be whether or not he will be able to weather the storm early and try to take Vianello into the middle and late rounds, otherwise known as the deep waters of a fight to try and pull off another upset.

The second Heavyweight encounter on January 14 will feature prospect Efe Ajagba facing undefeated Stephan Shaw in a bout scheduled for ten rounds. Ajagba will come in this fight looking to continue to build momentum in his second bout since suffering the first loss of his career in October 2021 when he lost a ten round unanimous decision to Frank Sanchez. Much like Guido Vianello, Ajagba is known for his ability to end fights quickly having scored knockouts in thirteen of his sixteen career wins registering a career knockout percentage of nearly 77%. In his first bout since the loss to Sanchez, Ajagba bounced back and scored a second round stoppage of Jozsef Darmos in August of last year.

In Stephan Shaw, Ajagba will face a fighter that is unbeaten in eighteen professional fights having scored knockouts in thirteen of those bouts. Some may look at this fight as a bit of a step up for Shaw even though he has experience comparable to Efe Ajagba and has a victory over Jonathan Rice in his career as well. In addition to Rice, Shaw has also defeated veterans Rydell Booker and Joey Dawejko in his career. The view of those who may be viewing this as a step up for Shaw likely base that on Ajagba having more television exposure here in the United States in his previous fights, but in reality, this seems to be a fight that at least on paper might be evenly matched as both fighters have shown punching power in the past, both have scored early knockouts in their careers, and in terms of their respective standing in the division are looking to take the next step towards at a shot at a world championship.

What these two bouts come down to in the long-term is ultimately which of these four Heavyweights will be able to provide a strong argument for themselves as a potential challenger down the line. With there being no shortage of potential options for either Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk, we will see, which of these four Vianello, Rice, Ajagba, or Shaw will be able to enter the mix.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Ajagba vs. Shaw/Vianello vs. Rice takes place on Saturday, January 14th at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY. This Heavyweight doubleheader as well as it’s full undercard can be seen in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 5PM ET/2PM PT.

*Card and start time subject to change.*

ESPN+ is available through the ESPN app on mobile, tablet and connected streaming devices and Smart TVs. 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 

Clavel-Plata: Boxing's First Unification Bout Of 2023

Women's Boxing has continued to make strides and receive long overdue recognition and respect in recent years. After all, the fight between undefeated Undisputed Lightweight world champion Katie Taylor and multi-division world champion Amanda Serrano, which sold out New York’s Madison Square Garden in April of last year was not just a landmark night for women in the sport for being the first Women’s bout to headline a card in The Garden, it turned out to be a candidate for Fight of the Year not just for Women’s Boxing, but for the sport overall. With that memorable night still fresh in the minds of many, including this observer, it seems in some ways like poetic justice that one of the first major bouts of 2023 will feature the women of the sport as two world champions put their respective crowns on the line to partially unify their division.

This observer is referring to the Light-Flyweight unification bout between WBC world champion Kim Clavel and WBA world champion Jessica Plata. The fight, which will take place on January 13th at the Place Bell Arena in Laval, Quebec, Canada and can be seen here in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ brings together two of the best fighters in Boxing's lowest weight divisions. It also brings together two fighters that one might argue are similar both in terms of where they are in their respective careers as well as in their Boxing styles.

Both Clavel and Plata have had relatively short reigns with their respective portions of the World Light-Flyweight championship prior to getting to this unification bout at 108lbs. Kim Clavel is unbeaten in sixteen professional fights and has scored knockouts in three of those bouts. Clavel won the WBC world championship with a ten round unanimous decision over Maria Vargas in August 2021. Since winning the title, Clavel has successfully defended her crown twice and is coming off a ten round unanimous decision over Yesenia Gomez in July of last year. Like many women competing in the sport, Clavel can do a little bit of everything and has shown some power in recent fights in addition to her ability to box her way to convincing decision victories.

As  she now prepares for the third defense of the WBC world championship, Clavel will face a fighter similar to her, but with a slight edge in terms of experience. Jessica Plata will enter this fight with a record of 28-2, with 3 Knockouts. Like Clavel, the reigning WBA champion has the amount of knockouts and is experienced when it comes to going the distance and winning decisions, which when it comes to Women’s Boxing, where rounds are only two minutes in duration, is not necessarily easy to accomplish. Where Plata does have the edge at least statistically is in overall fights fought having been in fourteen more bouts than Clavel. Plata has also never been stopped in her career and has been unbeaten since 2017.

The WBA world champion won the title in March of last year with a ten round split decision over Yesica Bopp. While it may not necessarily be wise to go into a unification bout immediately after winning a world championship, particularly off of a close decision, it is important to keep in mind that Women’s Boxing is still growing and it is not uncommon to see fighters on the women’s side of the sport moving up and down in weight, at times on a per fight basis depending on what opportunities might be available to them. As such this opportunity to try and unify two of five would titles against Kim Clavel might have been the best option on the table for Plata both in terms of prestige as well as financially, in addition to what fights were available to her.

What this fight boils down to is two boxer/punchers in a fight that will likely be determined by moments in rounds rather than simply who is able to establish control. The reason for this comes down to the aforementioned two minute round length and that alone can create what amounts to a nightmare in terms of trying to score a fight where the rounds are shorter as compared to the three minute round length that Men in the sport are able to benefit from. In addition to the shorter round length, when two fighters are each able to have their share of moments during a round, that is what creates the conundrum/migraine for judges and is also why there tends to be more draws rendered in Women’s Boxing as compared to the men competing in the sport.

Although yours truly has long advocated for women to be able to have the benefit of a three minute round both for the benefit in terms of strategy as well as hopefully to help solve the scoring conundrum many judges face when it comes to scoring women’s bouts, something that was proved in the delayed 2020 Olympics where all women’s bouts had three minute rounds, I do not believe Clavel and Plata will be granted the chance to fight three minute rounds, though if they were I would applaud it as it would be another step forward for Women’s Boxing not just in terms of a unification bout like this, but for equality for the fighters competing in the sport overall.

With this in mind and with logic suggesting that this will be a fight fought at a fast pace due to the round length, given the style similarities between Clavel and Plata, who is able to have more moments that might sway the judges scoring of a round just might determine who wins this fight. It would not surprise yours truly however, if this fight were to end in a draw.

This fight nevertheless, does continue to show the Boxing world that the sport for the women competing in it is continuing to move in the right direction. Hopefully, 2023 will be a year of continued progress for the sport and more steps towards equality for female fighters can be made. Progress has largely been assisted by great fights between world champions, which has elevated Women’s Boxing to a level it has never been previously. Whether or not Clavel-Plata turns out to be the latest Fight of the Year candidate remains to be seen. 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Clavel vs. Plata takes place on Friday, January 13th at the Place Bell Arena in Laval, Quebec, Canada.  The fight as well as it’s undercard can be seen in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 7PM ET/4PM PT.

*Card and start time subject to change.*

ESPN+ is available through the ESPN app on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices and Smart TVs. 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 

DAZN & MISFITS BOXING ANNOUNCE HISTORIC FIVE YEAR PARTNERSHIP FOR MF & DAZN: X SERIES

 

Press Release: By DAZN –
CROSSOVER COMBAT SERIES PROMOTED BY MISFITS BOXING WILL SEE THE BIGGEST GLOBAL NAMES IN ENTERTAINMENT, SPORT, AND LIFESTYLE HEADLINING BLOCKBUSTER FIGHT NIGHTS EXCLUSIVELY ON DAZN FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS 

Credit:DAZN 

 

·         Partnership will see global megastar KSI fight exclusively on DAZN for the next five years.

·         DAZN to exclusively broadcast at least 6 MF & DAZN: X Series events a year including two blockbuster pay-per-view fight nights across its 230+ territories. 

·         This landmark partnership highlights DAZN’s commitment to attract new, younger audiences to the platform as well as bringing its cutting-edge technology, products and services to the market.

·         MF & DAZN: X Series 004- KSI VS. Faze Temper to air live from OVO Wembley Arena London January 14, 2023 on DAZN PPV.

·         MF & DAZN: X Series 005 February 25, 2023 – UK

·         MF & DAZN: X Series 006 April 22, 2023 – US

·         MF & DAZN: X Series 007 May 13, 2023 – UK

·         MF & DAZN: X Series 008 June, 2023 – US

 

London, January 9, 2022 – In another move that cements the global sports entertainment company as the ultimate home of sports, DAZN Group today announces a landmark partnership with social media megastar KSI and his promotional company Misfits Boxing. The deal, in association with the Sauerland brothers, Wasserman Boxing and Proper Loud, will see all KSI fights and MF&DAZN: X Series events broadcast exclusively on DAZN for the next five years.

 

DAZN is a leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Canada, the US and the UK. Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champion’s League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world – Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC.  DAZN is a global home for boxing and combat sports through its partnerships with Matchroom Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions, the Professional Fighters League, and a global home for Women’s Football with Women’s European Champions League and Liga F. DAZN is adding more sport and more forms of entertainment to its platform to create the ultimate destination for sports fans.

 

This pioneering partnership will bring five more years of crossover drama and non-stop boxing action to DAZN subscribers around the world. The series will feature the biggest global names in entertainment, sport, and lifestyle, and will be delivered to DAZN’s best-in-class live production standards.

 

This announcement follows the huge success of the MF & DAZN: X Series to date, which has seen unprecedented numbers tuning in to watch the drama live and on-demand. The first show alone, headlined by KSI in August, attracted nearly 2 million global viewers on DAZN (with 90% of those tuning in being first time subscribers to DAZN), with the highlights and build-up content generating a further 30 million views across DAZNs social platforms.

 

“DAZN brings the very best in sport and entertainment to millions of customers worldwide. The MF&DAZN: X Series has quickly proved to be hugely popular, driving significant new audiences and engaging a new generation of sports fans.  We are extremely excited to be partnering with KSI, Wasserman Boxing, Mams Taylor and the entire Misfits team to build on this early success over the next five years”, said Joe Markowski, CEO DAZN North America. 

 

KSI, CEO of Misfits Boxing, said: “This is a massive agreement between everyone involved with Misfits Boxing, and I personally couldn't be more excited for what this means for everyone moving forwards. It just shows everyone is here to establish a long-serving crossover boxing promotion that aims to provide ultimate entertainment and somewhere the fans and fighters can call home. There's no better way to celebrate this deal than with me fighting on Jan 14th and setting up a huge 2023. Misfits Boxing has arrived and is here to stay."

 

Co-President of Misfits Boxing and CEO of Proper Loud, Mams Taylor said: “Misfits Boxing was birthed to give the fans crossover boxing of the highest quality, and a promotion that is as much theirs as it is ours. The success, due to the fantastic partnership between KSI, DAZN,  Wasserman Boxing and myself, has meant that we can continue to remain the established home of this sport. We are proud that the future will be filled with countless MF & DAZN: X Series events, and this deal is just the starting point of what Misfits Boxing will go on to achieve for the next five years.”

 

“This agreement is truly an historic event and one which changes the dynamics of the entire ‘crossover’ boxing industry. We are so proud of Misfits Boxing’s achievements in its first six months of smashing records but now, with the long-term vision with our esteemed partner DAZN in place, we can focus on consistency of delivering the best events under the MF & DAZN: X Series Events starting with the blockbuster on January 14”, said Kalle Sauerland, Co-President of Misfits Boxing and Head of Global Boxing at Wasserman Boxing.

 

MF & DAZN X Series 004 sees KSI and  Faze Temper fight it out in an epic grudge match at the OVO Arena Wembley in London on January 14^th. This blockbuster night will be available around the world for DAZN subscribers and as a DAZN PPV in Australia, Canada, France, Netherlands, Mexico, New Zealand, Sweden, the UK, Ireland and the U.S.

 

MF & DAZN: X Series 005 will take place in the UK on Saturday February 25.

 

MF & DAZN: X Series 006 will be staged in the US on Saturday April 22.

 

MF & DAZN: X Series 007 will be staged in the UK on Saturday May 13.

 

MF & DAZN: X Series 008 will be staged in the US in June, 2023

 

About DAZN Group: 

  

DAZN is a leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Canada, US and the UK.  Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, JLeague, LaLiga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world - Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC.  DAZN is a global home for boxing and combat sports through its partnerships with Matchroom Boxing the Professional Fighters League, and a global home for Women’s Football with UEFA Women’s Champions League and Finetwork Liga F.  DAZN is adding more and more sport to its platform to create a destination for sports fans.  

  

DAZN is reimagining the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, bet, play, share, socialise, and buy tickets, NFTs and merchandise. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN.  

 

DAZN is available on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles.  DAZN can be accessed on Samsung, LG, Sony and Panasonic Smart TVs and on Games Consoles including Playstation and Xbox. Subscribers also have access to DAZN on their Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Apple TV and find the app on their iPhone, iPad, android and mobile.

   

DAZN is a global, privately-owned company with employees in over 25 countries. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit www.dazngroup.com.   

 

 

ABOUT KSI

 

A pioneering YouTuber (fourth most followed channel for a British artist behind Ed Sheeran, One Direction and Adele) approaching 20 billion cumulative views, his 40.8 million subscribers know him as a creator, an artist, a mate who brings the passion (and the jokes) to whatever he does. He’s a businessman with a portfolio of interests, from owning his own music label, The Online Takeover and his own boxing promotions company, Misfits Boxing to one of the fastest growing beverages, his Prime Hydration drink is set to surpass $140 million in revenue in its first year. As a performer and all-round entertainer, he can light up stages (Reading, TRNSMT, a Wembley headline) and screen: an upcoming documentary for Prime Video, produced by Louis Theroux, promises to lift the lid on the extraordinary life of the 29-year-old from Watford. And as a boxer, the amateur-turned-professional fighter is undefeated. As a musician with over 12 million monthly Spotify listeners, he’s also well-versed in coming out on top. His second album, summer 2021’s All Over the Place entered the charts at #1, an emphatic follow-up to the previous year’s debut, Dissimulation, a #2 hit which was the biggest selling debut album of 2020. In rapid succession there’s been a flurry of hits, on his own merits (making him the British Breakthrough Artist of 2020) and with others (Don’t Play with Anne-Marie, Lighter with Nathan Dawe), making for eight Top Ten singles in total. As prolific as he is innovative, KSI was the only artist to be nominated twice in the Song of the Year category at the 2022 Brit Awards. Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | YouTube | Website

ABOUT MISFITS BOXING

Misfits Boxing is a new radical and revolutionary promotional partnership between megastar KSI, Proper Loud and Wasserman Boxing, coming to take over and make waves within the crossover boxing industry. The collaboration between Misfits Boxing and DAZN for the MF & DAZN: X Series is set to pave the way for the future of crossover boxing to provide the highest calibre of events within the genre, across the whole of the sports and entertainment industry. Stars from all corners of the globe and all formats of the entertainment world will be putting their will to the test, as Misfits Boxing guarantees the greatest crossover boxing spectacle the world has ever seen.

 

ABOUT PROPER LOUD

 

Proper Loud prides itself on having close relationships with its roster and taking the time to understand its artist's individual needs and goals. Proper Loud’s mantra is to be recognized for their integrity, fairness and making great art. www.properloud.com

 

ABOUT WASSERMAN

Wasserman is a partner to the world’s most iconic brands, properties, and talent in their endeavours across sports, entertainment, and culture. Our purpose is to transform the businesses and careers of clients. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Wasserman operates globally in more than 20 cities, including London, New York, Toronto, Raleigh, Carlsbad, The Hague, Portland, and Shanghai. In 2021, Wasserman acquired Team Sauerland, one of the world’s leading boxing promoters, to form Wasserman Boxing, a new global force in the world of boxing. Learn more at TeamWass.com. 

 

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. 

CHRIS EUBANK JR VS LIAM SMITH TO BE BROADCAST ON DAZN IN THE US, CANADA, DACH AND JAPAN ON JANUARY 21

 

Press Release: By DAZN – HUGE ALL BRITISH BOUT FROM BOXXER IN ASSOCIATION WITH WASSERMAN BOXING CONTESTED LIVE FROM MANCHESTER 

Credit:DAZN

 

 London, January 10th , 2022 – DAZN Group, the leading global sports entertainment platform, today announces that it will broadcast the all-British dust up, Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith, Saturday, January 21^st, from BOXXER in association with Wasserman Boxing, Live from AO Arena in Manchester. The event will be available to all DAZN subscribers in the US, Canada, DACH and Japan.

Chris Eubank Jr (32-2-0, 23 KOs) needs no introduction, son of legendary former world champion Chris Eubank, the 33-year-old has successfully carved out his own reputation in the sport and is seen as one of the leading middleweights in the world.

 

His latest fight in February 2022 saw an impressive shutout points win over Liam Williams at the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff in which he showed his class by knocking down the Welshman four times.

 

Liam Smith (32-3-1, 19 KOs) heads into this mouth-watering clash in the form of his life following big wins over Jesse Vargas, Anthony Fowler and Roberto Garcia. The Liverpool man is determined to become a world champion for a second time and a statement win vs Eubank JR will kick off 2023 with a bang.

 

‘DAZN are always looking to deliver the best boxing schedule to our subscribers and we are proud to be showing this huge fight between two of Britain’s finest’ said Joe Markowski, CEO DAZN North America. ‘We are no strangers to Liam and Chris and know we have a potential blockbuster on our hands. In 2023, we are determined to work with as many promoters as we can in order to deliver the best fights for fight fans and with actions speaking louder than words we are excited to be working for the first time with BOXXER on this special event. Tune in live January 21^st for a memorable night of British boxing’.

 

BOXXER CEO & Founder, Ben Shalom said: “This is fantastic news. I am delighted that fight fans in the US, Canada, DACH and Japan will be able to watch this blockbuster event live and exclusively on DAZN. The card is stacked with massive fights from top to bottom. And the brewing animosity between bitter rivals, Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith will reach boiling point in what promises to be an unmissable main event in front of a sold-out AO Arena in Manchester.”

 

Wasserman’s Head of Global Boxing, Kalle Sauerland, said: "It’s fantastic that this mega fight will now have a global audience on DAZN, it’s a fight that merits a global audience and the eyeballs of the world will be on Manchester come next Saturday."

 

The show features a stacked undercard with Richard Riakporhe launching his quest for a world title shot in 2023 when he battles former two-time WBO cruiserweight world champion Krzysztof Głowacki and local lad Jack Massey stepping up to face former WBO world heavyweight champion, Joseph Parker.

 

Joining them on this blockbuster night of boxing will be Ekow Essuman vs Chris Kongo and further bouts involving Frazer Clarke, Matty Harris, Scott Forrest and Amine ‘The Beast’ Boucetta.

 

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. 

Will Ongoing Problems Outside The Ring Prevent Gervonta Davis From Facing Ryan Garcia?

 

A significant part of the story leading into Gervonta Davis’ bout with WBA Jr. Featherweight world champion Hector Garcia on January 7^th at the Capital One Center in Washington, D. C. had little to do with the fight between the two being fought in the 135lb. Lightweight division and had little to do with the clash of styles between the two fighters. What it did have to do with was the question of whether the fight should take place following Davis being arrested on December 27^th due to an alleged domestic violence incident in Broward County, Florida involving Davis and a former girlfriend, who is the mother of one of his children. Although the woman recanted her claims and the undefeated former Jr. Lightweight world champion would be released from custody and pled not guilty to the charge of domestic battery in the days prior to the bout, the ongoing case nevertheless did hang over the fight, which was allowed to go ahead as scheduled.

 

Normally prior to a fight such as this one, this observer likes to provide readers with a preview of the upcoming encounter. In this case, I decided not to do what is the normal routine prior to this fight simply because I had significant doubts as to whether it would be allowed to take place given the circumstances Davis found himself in prior to the bout. With the fight going forward as scheduled, it was logical to at least wonder if what had to be stressful and difficult circumstances would have an impact on Davis as he entered the ring to do battle with Hector Garcia.

 

Prior to the issues Davis found himself dealing with in the days prior to the bout, this was a clash of styles between a world-class boxer in Garcia and a fighter in Davis who can do a little of everything, but is known for having explosive punching power. This fight also had what is in some ways a rarity in that both Davis and Garcia are southpaws.

 

What stood out to me particularly in the early rounds was how Hector Garcia was seemingly able to control the range in which the fight was being fought. In that he was able to maintain a distance where he was able to engage with Davis, but also be elusive where he proved to be difficult to hit. Although this was not the most entertaining fight to watch in terms of action during this period, it did prove that this would be a difficult fight for Davis. While both fighters executed their offense in spurts, it was Garcia who was seemingly able to get the better of it with his jab and landing his left hand from the southpaw stance.

 

As the fight progressed, the two fighters began to open up more with their offense and it was Davis who seemed to take control particularly due to his being able to land short compact combinations that appeared to have more power on them as compared to Garcia’s punches. It nevertheless, remained a competitive fight as the bout moved into the middle rounds.

 

Despite the issues that Davis was dealing with prior to the fight, it appeared as though the fight itself would be void of any controversy. There was however, an incident early in the eighth round where the fight was temporarily halted due to what appeared to be a disturbance in the crowd. Although it is rare to see something like that happen, it has happened before, most notably in the second encounter between Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield in November 1993 where a man infamously attempted to fly into the ring in the middle of the fight in the outdoor arena at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas that caused a significant delay in the bout. Fortunately, this disturbance would only last a couple of minutes and the fight continued.

 

It would be in the eighth round where Davis would open up and stagger Garcia with a combination of punches to the head highlighted by his left hand that appeared to have Garcia hurt in the closing seconds of the round. At the end of the eighth round, Garcia informed his corner that he could not see and that resulted in a fight being stopped as Garcia failed to answer the bell for round nine giving Davis a technical knockout victory. Ultimately, Gervonta Davis did what he had to do in order to gain a victory and remain undefeated.

 

With his victory over Hector Garcia now behind him, the stage is seemingly set for Davis to meet undefeated top Lightweight contender Ryan Garcia in the spring of this year. Whether or not that fight will take place remains to be seen however, as Davis continues to go through legal problems outside the ring as in addition to the domestic battery charge that nearly derailed his fight with Hector Garcia, Davis will stand trial in February for his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run incident in November 2020 in his hometown of Baltimore, MD.

 

Obviously, whether or not a fight with Ryan Garcia or any fight for that matter inside the Boxing ring taking place will depend on not only the outcome of that trial, but also the still open case in Florida on the domestic battery charge. While it is important to keep in mind that anyone going through these type circumstances are innocent until proven guilty, the circumstances that Davis finds himself in could ultimately derail his Boxing career. If he is able to get through these particular circumstances without an interruption to his Boxing career, it may be wise for him to add members to his team that can provide both guidance as well as wisdom going forward.

 

For a fighter, who is only twenty-eight years old and is not yet at his peak, there is no telling just how far Gervonta Davis could go in his career. If he is unable to straighten things out for himself outside the ring, unfortunately his career might end up being placed under the category of what might have been. For now, the only thing that can realistically be said about Davis and his career inside the ring is “To Be Continued?”

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

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

 

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Davis-Garcia Weights

The official weigh-in for Saturday’s Lightweight bout between undefeated former unified Jr. Lightweight world champion Gervonta Davis and current WBA Jr. Lightweight world champion Hector Garcia took place on Friday in Washington, D. C. Weights for the four bout televised card, which can be seen here in the United States on Showtime Pay-Per-View are as follows.

*Main Event: Lightweight – 12Rds.

Gervonta Davis 134lbs. vs. Hector Garcia 134lbs.

(* Bout will determine Interim/Regular champion status in the World Boxing Association’s Lightweight ratings. A designation currently held by Davis.*)

*Welterweight – 12Rds.

Jaron Ennis 145 3/4lbs. vs. Karen Chukhadzhian 146 1/2lbs.

(*Bout will determine Interim/Regular champion status in the International Boxing Federation Welterweight ratings.*)

Welterweight – 12Rds.

Rashidi Ellis 146 1/2lbs. vs. Roiman Villa 145 3/4lbs.

Super-Middleweight – 10Rds.

Demetrius Andrade 167lbs. vs. Demond Nicholson 167 1/2lbs.

Davis vs. Garcia takes place Tonight Saturday, January 7th at the Capital One Center in Washington, D. C. The fight as well as three undercard bouts can be seen in the United States on Showtime Pay-Per-View on cable/satellite as well as the Showtime and PPV.Com streaming apps for $74.95 beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Contact your local cable/satellite providers or visit: www.SHO.com or www.PPV.com for ordering information.

*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