Is Shakur Stevenson One Fight Away From Challenging For A Third World Title In Three Weight Divisions?

Boxing is truly a sport that seems to breed stars almost as quickly as fighters tend to be positioned in the sport's mythical "Pound For Pound" debates. While often there is not much criteria for the latter as the entire concept is based almost exclusively on opinion and by its very nature is very subjective, the emergence of a star in the sport is often easier to see because it is something that one can see develop from the very early stages of a fighter's career.

One such star that has emerged is undefeated former two-division world champion Shakur Stevenson. Stevenson, unbeaten in nineteen professional fights after winning a Silver medal in the 2016 Summer Olympics, was able to win world titles in both the 126lb. Featherweight and 130lb. Jr. Featherweight divisions, despite not having twenty pro bouts as of yet and in the process, has been a star on the rise for the past several years. Although Stevenson is at a point in his career where many fighters at similar stages are either just flirting with contention for a world title or are awaiting an opportunity to try to move into that position, Stevenson's talent as a slick and elusive boxer is indisputable and thus far, has proven to be a fighter with a style that no one has yet been able to solve.

Prior to his last fight, which was to be a title defense of what was the unified WBO/WBC Jr. Lightweight world championship against Robson Conceicao in September of last year, Stevenson was stripped of the title for failing to make the 130lb. Jr. Lightweight limit. Despite the setback for him, the fight went on and Stevenson dominated Conceicao over twelve rounds. This victory not only opened a vacancy of two world championships in the Jr. Lightweight division, but also closed the chapter of Stevenson's time at 130lbs. as the need to move up in weight became apparent.

A move up in weight to the 135lb. Lightweight division, which will officially take place on Saturday, April 8th in Stevenson's hometown of Newark, NJ. In his Lightweight debut, Stevenson will face undefeated WBC number eight rated Lightweight contender Shuichiro Yoshino in what is being billed as an elimination bout in the WBC rankings, which can be seen here in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+. Although not likely known to a portion of American Boxing fans, Yoshino is himself unbeaten in sixteen professional bouts and has scored knockouts in twelve of those fights. Among his career accomplishments up to this point, Yoshino has won regional Lightweight championships recognized by both the WBO and the Oriental Professional Boxing Federation (OPBF).

Yoshino is coming off a sixth round knockout in his last fight in November of last year of Masayoshi Nakatani in his native Japan. While Yoshino is undefeated and has more knockouts than Stevenson, who has nine knockouts in his nineteen career wins, in his career, this fight will not only represent Yoshino's first fight in the United States and his first fight outside of Japan, but also a significant step up in caliber of opposition having fought almost exclusively in the Japanese and Asia-Pacific regional rankings. Per the OPBF's affiliation with the World Boxing Council (WBC) however, Yoshino has been designated as a top ten contender in the Lightweight division.

Obviously, questions regarding how legitimate that number eight ranking is will be asked, particularly because Yoshino is in a bout that is billed as a world title eliminator, despite not facing an opponent ranked in the world rankings. As flawed and open to criticism as any world sanctioning organization might be, the silver-lining is we are likely to get an answer regarding Yoshino's ranking early on in this fight as Stevenson's skillset is such that he can get an opponent out of there if the opportunity presents itself with a blend of hand speed and deceptive power in both hands.

What does Yoshino bring to the table? He is a come forward pressure fighter, which is theoretically an approach that one would attempt to use against a fighter such as Stevenson who has good lateral movement and tends to use the ring in his fights. Yoshino also tends to throw punches in bursts of flurries that seems to swarm his opponents. A highlight of his offense is a devastating left hook, which if he can find a way to land it in this fight, and more specifically, can do so while getting leverage on the punch, it could well do damage. One should keep in mind, despite the unknown surrounding Yoshino in regard to how he will fare against world level opposition, he is the natural Lightweight here and if one were to point to a potential advantage he might have over Stevenson, at least in theory, it is that theoretically, he is the bigger fighter naturally against someone who has competed in two lower weight divisions prior to this encounter.

What does concern this observer however, is there are times when Yoshino tends to loop with his punches. While none of his previous opponents were able to exploit that, Shakur Stevenson is a high-caliber boxer, who in addition to his aforementioned attributes, is also a skilled counter puncher. 

With this in mind, the obvious approach for Yoshino will be to try to cut off the ring from Stevenson to attempt to limit his ability to move. Yoshino must however, be tactical, make sure his punches are compact and tight, and be responsible defensively because Stevenson will likely take advantage of any opening that is left for him. Stevenson meanwhile, must not approach this fight with a complacent mindset and must take this fight seriously.

In terms of what will be ahead for the winner of this fight at least as far as the WBC is concerned, could be a mandatory challenge of the winner of the May 20th clash between undefeated Undisputed Lightweight champion of the world Devin Haney and former three-division world champion Vasyl Lomachenko, which will take place in in Las Vegas. While Haney, Lomachenko, and Stevenson are all promoted by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum's Top Rank, Inc. and this in theory creates an ideal scenario for Stevenson to move into position to challenge the winner of that fight, Stevenson does have business to tend to first and if he is not on his game, he might not be as close to challenging for a world championship in a third division as it might appear. Despite how it might look at least in terms of the set up, I as a proud Boxing lifer, who has spent most of his life covering the sport, certainly do not have to remind any knowledgeable Boxing fan that sometimes things are not as they might seem and there are times dear reader where strange things happen in a fight, the least of which are upsets.

"And That's The Boxing Truth."

Stevenson vs.Yoshino takes place on Saturday, April 8th at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. The entire card can be seen in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 6:55PM ET/3:55PM PT. For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: www.ESPNPlus.com. 

(*U.S.Times Only*) 

(*Card and start time subject to change.*)

(*Check your local listings internationally.*)

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The Reinvention Of Anthony Joshua?

The latest chapter in the career of former two-time Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua began on April 1st in London, England under significant uncertainty and hype regarding what Joshua, who was working with a different trainer for the third time in as many fights, would look like coming off his second consecutive loss to undefeated unified WBO/IBO/IBF/WBA Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk, the man who ended Joshua's second reign as a world champion im 2021.

Although the declaration of both his promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing and of Joshua himself that a loss to upstart Heavyweight content Jermaine Franklin would signal the end of his career was in some ways a classic way to hype a fight out of a promoter's handbook, it was fair to wonder if following his second loss to Usyk as to whether or not he could adjust his style now under the guidance of trainer Derreck James. It was also fair to question if after two setbacks, whether or not the losses to a master boxer in Usyk was indeed the start of a decline in Joshua.

In the interest of honesty with the reader, I did not buy the hype tactics that were whether one would admit it or not, were designed to generate interest in what was a non-title fight and one that lets be honest, had little impact in terms of the outcome on the current upper echelon of the Heavyweight division. What this fight did represent however, was both a chance for Joshua to get back on track and show that he was still a player in the division, as well as a chance for Jermaine Franklin to show that his performance in dropping a decision loss to longtime contender and former world title challenger Dillian Whyte late last year, which gave him the opening for this opportunity was no fluke and if he were to br successful in this fight, it would show that he is now a player in the division.

The only thing left for both Joshua and Franklin to do was to enter the ring before a crowd of nearly 20,000 spectators at London's O2 Arena to do battle. What stood out immediately was Joshua seeming to be more defined physically as compared to his rematch against Usyk in August by coming into this fight at a career high for him 255 1/4lbs, but despite being heavier, Joshua appeared to be solid and in great condition. Although Joshua had built his reputation prior to his three career losses to Andy Ruiz and twice to Usyk on his ability to score quick and often devastating knockouts, Joshua began this fight appearing tentative in that he did not look to impose his will immediately, but appeared instead to implement a strategy with an emphasis on technique. A focal point from the outset that would serve the former world champion greatly throughout the fight was his jab and his ability in using that jab to maintain a distance between him and Franklin.

While this was not necessarily the most entertaining of fights to watch if you were one that was expecting to see a quick knockout, it was clear as Joshua gradually began to put round after round in the bank by simply fighting tall and looking to box Franklin, that this would be a significant adjustment in his style. He was not aggressive, but tactical, was not devasting, but measured. One key aspect of this strategy that Joshua executed well as the taller fighter was that whenever Franklin was able to get close, he would immediately tie him up and put his body weight on Franklin. There have been times throughout history, most notably used by fighters such as the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, as well as Lennox Lewis with regard to the Heavyweight division, where the use of such tactics boardered on being illegal, but it often boils down to what a referee will let a fighter with those physical advantages to get away with before being admonished that will determine how much the fighter will tempt fate and try to use such tactics to their advantage.

In this case, though Referee Marcus McDonnell would caution Joshua periodically throughout the fight, Joshua did not step over the line where I would feel that he should have been penalized a point or further disciplinary action was needed. Having said that, Joshua’s use of holding did serve two purposes throughout this fight. One it allowed him to control the output of Jermaine Franklin and it also provided an immediate defensive tactic whenever Franklin was able to connect with solid punches most notably with his right hand.

Despite the periodic success Franklin did have in landing that right hand, he had no answer to avoid the jab of Joshia and he had no way to avoid being tied up on the inside when he was able to get close. This was the story of the fight in that one fighter had some periodic moments throughout, but he could not find a way to halt the offense or the rhythm that his opponent was able to establish throughout the fight as Joshua boxed his way to a wide twelve round unanimous decision victory.

Although this was probably not the way that Anthony Joshua, his promoter Eddie Hearn, or the fans for that matter envisioned a victory for him in this fight, the bottom line is he did get the job done and therefore, his performance in this fight, though different from his previous norm, was still successful. The obvious question for Joshua going forward will be whether he will troy to secure a fight with undefeated two-time Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, current holder of the WBC world championship in the division now that negotiations for a fight between the champion and Oleksandr Usyk for what would be the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world have stalled if not outright broken down. 

It is indeed true that in regard to the United Kingdom, a fight between two of the sport’s biggest stars in Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua does carry more significance as both are based in the United Kingdom and each have drawn massive crowds for their fights often held in big outdoor stadiums. As tempting and lucrative as that might be, if I were advising Anthony Joshua I would stress the importance of staying active. 

Often times both for economic reasons as well as their stature in the sport, fighters who reach a level such as Anthony Joshua has in his career tend to lose sight of the importance of staying active by fighting on average once or twice a year if that between fights deemed as significant or title defenses assuming said fighter is a world champion. A concept that was part of the norm in the sport in decades past was that star fighters regardless of whether they were world champions or not fought regularly, some doing so every few months, and while the level of competition was not always the highest particularly when world champions would compete in non-title fights between defenses, by being active regularly it allowed the fighter to remain in what is often referred to as “Ring Shape” or “Boxing Shape” so that when a fight of significance did come along, their odds of performing well were at least increased. 

In the present time where fighters that are regarded as top level fighters or world champions are making millions of dollars each time they compete, it is hard to tell a fighter that they should be more active. In this case, if a fight against Tyson Fury is not available to him within a window of two to three months, this observer believes the best option will be for Joshua to simply fight whomever is available even if it meant that he might have to face a fighter of little regard that is not ranked highly in any of the five recognized world sanctioning organizations as by being active he will not only be able to polish and refine his skills and apparently a new style that he and his trainer Derreck James used in this fight against Jermaine Franklin, but by being more active than his contemporaries at the top of the division, it will improve his odds of success when the next opportunity to fight for a world title does come along.

While it is still unclear whether the version of Anthony Joshua we saw against Jermaine Franklin is a “Reinvention,” the best way to continue to improve and move on from those setbacks he has suffered throughout his career is to be as active as possible. Something that can only happen inside the Boxing ring and not by waiting by the phone while negotiations on the business side of the sport, hopefully, play itself out.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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Harlem Eubank Emerges On The Jr. Welterweight Radar

Longtime readers of this observer's work both online and in print over the years, have likely seen yours truly at one time or another chronicle the rise of a fighter, who is the offspring of a former fighter, who in most cases is a former world champion. As time has gone on, unfortunately I find myself in a position where now when these scenarios come up, the offspring of a fighter I will be covering is one where I covered their parent during the early days of my journey covering Boxing and by extension combat sports, which began in the mid-1990's. While that does offer me the chance to feel old, it also provides yours truly an opportunity to provide some insight that some might describe as unique due to my either having covered or otherwise watched the parent during their time competing in the sport of a fighter that is now starting to emerge on the scene in Boxing.

Such a scenario presented itself on March 31st, when on an otherwise quiet afternoon, I found myself browsing the app of digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN as I often look to see if there are additions to their schedule. A pleasant surprise emerged when I came across an advert for a Boxing card taking place within minutes from the legendary York Hall in London, England where undefeated Jr. Welterweight prospect Harlem Eubank, the son of former world champion Chris Eubank Sr., and the brother of former IBO Super-Middleweight world champion Chris Eubank Jr., would be competing in the main event.

In the interest of disclosure with the reader, I had been aware that a card would indeed be taking place on March 31st in York Hall, but was unaware that I would have access to the event and further did not know that the opportunity to watch the card would also present the chance to see Harlem Eubank compete for the first time. Having previously covered both his father and his brother, I was naturally interested by the chance to cover the latest in the Eubank bloodline.

As is usually the case whenever a fight featuring the offspring of a great fighter occurs, I do tend just out of instinct, to look for similarities between what I had seen previously and what the offspring has to offer. In this case, this fight in particular had an added wrinkle in that Eubank would be facing a late replacement in the form of thirty-two bout veteran Miguel Antin. This created a sense of the unknown as to what I thought I might see as often those who take fights on short notice are either under prepared, which is natural given the circumstances and that usually results in a short fight,  or they end up being considerably more dangerous than the label of a "Late Replacement" would suggest.

What stood out to me immediately was Eubank, who entered the fight unbeaten in sixteen bouts with six knockouts, displayed speed both in terms of lateral movement as well as hand speed. Eubank's ability to change levels and attack Antin, a native of El Boldon, Argentina, who entered the fight with a record of 20-11-1, with 8 Knockouts, at varying levels and ability to use angles in doing so, reminded this observer of Chris Eubank Sr., who won world titles in both the Middleweight and Super-Middleweight divisions, at his best. While it can be tempting when one sees such similarities to get caught up in nostalgia, it is important for one to keep in mind that when it comes to the offspring of great fighters, it may not necessarily be wise for one to associate their style as being similar or a direct copy of who they have sprung from.

Nevertheless, Eubank's approach did catch my attention as he appeared to implement a stick and move approach, throwing and landing short, compact combinations, and evading Antin with his movement. Although the circumstances seemed to favor Embank in every way, Antin would catch Eubank with a few solid hooks to the head as the fight progressed and in doing so, was able to provide him with something that can be at times elusive for young prospects on the rise regardless of their lineage, a stern test.

At least for this fight, Eubank showed he could take a punch and not only was able to take the best that Antin could throw at him including some roughhouse tactics, but he also showed that he could stay focused on the task of executing his fight plan. In rounds six and seven, Eubank would score a knockdown in each round as a result of some effective work to Antin 's body. Antin was very "Game" in getting up from the knockdowns and, despite being clearly out of the fight on the official scorecards, under circumstances where he could have said he had, had enough, he continued the fight all the way to the final bell.

A clear and wide unanimous decision in favor of Eubank was no surprise at the conclusion of the scheduled ten round bout. What this fight did for Eubank beyond allowing him to box against a late replacement was by producing a solid performance under those circumstances and also passing what was likely the first test of his career, he has now emerged on the Jr. Welterweight radar. Given the name recognition he brings to the table, it would not be surprising from a business standpoint to see an attempt to move him towards world title contention. 

Based on this performance, it may not be too long before an attempt towards that is made. The development of a fighter however, is truly a delicate balancing act, and it might be wise to give him a few more fights now as a 17-0 prospect before trying to move him against the top contenders in the talent-deep 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division.

"And That's The Boxing Truth."

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

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CARLOS SANCHEZ AND ALEXANDER DURAN TOP PROBOX TV CARD IN MEXICO CITY, APRIL 5

Press Release: March 31, 2023 By  ProBox TV - ProBox TV alongside the legendary Juan Manuel Márquez returns with its monthly show from Mexico on April 5th. 

The Mexican capital will play host to three televised fights at the cost of absolutely nothing to viewers with a free boxing show for fight fans to enjoy on ProBox TV. 

A ten-round welterweight battle will take place between Mexican Carlos Sanchez Valdez (23-1, 19 KOs) and Panama’s Alexander Duran (21-0, 7 KOs). Sanchez comes off a 7th round KO victory over Elvis Torres last October, the undefeated southpaw was last in the ring against Edwin Bennett, picking up a points victory over eight rounds. 

Brandon Reyes Valle (6-0-1, 2 KOs) will put his unblemished record on the line when he faces off with fellow Mexican, Abraham Arreola Calixtro (5-2-1, 4 KOs). Valle makes a long awaited return to the ring after a period of inactivity coming off a majority decision draw to Luis Castro. Calixtro also comes off a draw, sharing the spoils with Luis Bolanos Lopez. 

Rounding off the televised action from Mexico City will be a ten-round contest at lightweight. Jose Angel Napoles (14-1-2, 6 KOs) will lock horns with Eduardo Martinez Martinez (10-1, 7 KOs) to kick the evening off. 

Promoter Juan Manuel Márquez shared his delight upon returning to Mexico City. “It means a lot every time I come back to this magical place. This show you will see next Wednesday will also be very magical. Some very strong Mexican men will give everything to make sure the Mexican boxing fans are entertained. Tune in for free on ProBox TV if you can’t make it.”

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, Full library of previous Boxing events, availability around the world, and to subscribe please visit: www.ProBoxTV.com 

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

BLK PRIME PRESENTS TUESDAY NIGHT FIGHTS FEATURING THE NEW ERA BOXERS

Press Release: March 29, 2023 By BLK Prime - (San Jose, CA - March 29, 2023) – BLK Prime is committed to being a force in the sport of Boxing. Excitement awaits Boxing Fans around the world by offering opportunities to prospects throughout different Boxing communities. With that in mind, BLK Prime is excited to announce the return of Tuesday Night Fights featuring the New Era Boxers. Starting in May 2023, BLK Prime will feature five fights every Tuesday night live, included in your $3.99 subscription. Rising stars, undefeated fighters, and top prospects will showcase their skills every week on the BLK Prime platform. 

Credit: BLK Prime 

A significant aspect of BLK Prime's mission is to be a leader in Women's Boxing featuring weekly women's fights and all women's cards. Although Women's Boxing has been on the rise, there are numerous women lacking opportunities to get in the ring, BLK Prime is opening that platform for all women fighters.

BLK Prime wants to offer Boxing fans the chance to watch great fights weekly, including many undefeated prospects. Competitive fights will demonstrate how prospects can become contenders. BLK Prime will feature seasoned commentators along with current and former champions. BLK Prime aims to be the go-to destination for Boxing enthusiasts.

"The top five of the week are going to be the new wave of Boxing for all emerging fighters. BLK Prime is providing a platform for all fighters to showcase and show the world who the best fighters are!" - Zab Judah, Former Champion, and Spokesperson for BLK Prime

The first Tuesday Night Fights Main Event prospect will be Alan Garcia, (8-0, 7 KOs), a lightweight hailing from Ulysses, Kansas hungry to make a statement in the sport of Boxing. Further information will be available soon.

Be sure to follow BLK Prime across all social media platforms for upcoming information on the first Tuesday Night Fights.

Material and Photo Courtesy BLK Prime Used with permission.

For more information about BLK Prime and to subscribe please visit: www.BLKPrime.com. 

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

Joshua-Franklin: Can Joshua Bounce Back?

Only with the rarest of exceptions, one would be hard pressed to not find a fighter in the sport of Boxing or to take it a step further, all of combat sports, that has not at one time or another experienced a setback or several throughout the course of their careers. This is one reason why veteran writers/journalists/historians such as this observer will refer to what a fighter goes through during the course of their careers as "Chapters" in the story of that career. The story of former two-time Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua is one that is about to embark on a new chapter that one might have the working title of "The Rebuild?" or "The Comeback." 

Without delving too much into the backstory of how we got here to what will be the start of what is essentially phase three of Joshua's career, the conclusion of the previous chapter was Joshua's failure to regain his title for second time in his rematch against undefeated unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk in August of last year, Usyk, the man who took the unified portion of the World Heavyweight championship from Joshua and ended his second reign as champion over a year earlier.

While Joshua fought a better fight in the rematch with Usyk, he was still unable to get the job done. In hindsight, even though Joshua had an immediate rematch clause, which he exercised to get another fight with Usyk, there are likely some who question the wisdom of that decision even though he was simply out boxed by a master tactician both times and was not knocked down or out in either bout. Now Joshua prepares to try and get his career back on track as he will face Heavyweight contender Jermaine Franklin on Saturday, April 1st at the O2 Arena in London, England. A bout that can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN.

Although there is the similarity of both Joshua and Franklin coming into this fight off of losses, Franklin's loss in November of last year to former world title challenger and former Joshua opponent Dillian Whyte, established the previously unknown native of Saginaw, MI as a Heavyweight contender. It was in that fight where Franklin, who entered that bout unbeaten in twenty-one professional fights, dropped a twelve round majority decision to Whyte, but arguably came out of that fight looking more like a winner then Whyte did as there were several including yours truly who felt that Franklin deserved the decision. Perhaps, it was that consensus opinion as well as Franklin's performance in that fight where he seemingly outworked Whyte in a fight that was not the most entertaining to watch, which has resulted in him getting this chance against the former champion Joshua.

This will be Joshua's first fight and second connective fight with a new head trainer in his corner. After previously working with trainer and former world champion Robert Garcia for the rematch with Usyk, this time Joshua has enlisted trainer Derrick James to be his coach. James has trained several world champions, much like Garcia, including current undefeated IBF/WBA/WBC Welterweight world champion Errol Spence, among others. The obvious question that is asked whenever a new trainer takes over the reins of an established star in the sport is what new elements or wrinkles can that new trainer bring to the table in terms of hopefully helping improve and evolve that fighter's skillset.

In this case, I believe most would concede that even though Joshua fought a better fight the second time around against Usyk and that fight was closer than the first encounter, at no point in either fight did Joshua assert his naturally bigger size and strength on Usyk, who at that point was an undefeated former Undisputed Cruiserweight world champion, who also showed mixed returns in terms of his ability to handle Heavyweights in his previous Heavyweight bouts prior to facing Joshua. Whether it was a case of Joshua being under prepared in either of those fights or perhaps complacency in underestimating just how good and skillful Oleksandr Usyk is, I believe many would say that whatever the case was, it was the wrong strategy.

Many will of course remember that Joshua began his pro career with a string of quick knockouts. While that certainly helped him move up the ladder of contention quickly and eventually to a world title, a problem that many fighters that are able to have a similar rise up the ranks run into at some point is not having a Plan B when an opponent is prepared for and able to withstand their punching power. In Joshua's three losses, first to Andy Ruiz, then the two against Usyk, an argument can be made that not only did Joshua not have a Plan B, but he also did not recognize the need to adjust whatever plan he had in those fights when it became clear that his strategies were not working. The challenge for Derrick James is not only to find a way to reinstill Joshua's instincts as a power puncher, but also, giving him the mental aspects to recognize when a change of approach is needed, as well as a way to tactically implement it.

In terms of the opposition, Jermaine Franklin is still largely unknown from the standpoint that it is not known how he will respond to a fighter with Joshua's power. What can be said however, is he was able to withstand the best of what Dillian Whyte threw at him and in addition to seemingly being able to outwork him over the course of the fight, Franklin also proved to be durable. The question is whether or not that was a case of Franklin catching Whyte on an off night or more of a circumstance of Franklin not getting the benefit of exposure on television consistently prior to that fight that was the reason why he was able to turn in a performance that many did not expect.

Given what happened in that fight in Franklin coming out on the losing end of a decision many felt he deserved, it will also be interesting to see if Franklin approaches this fight a bit more aggressively in an effort to keep the outcome out of the hands of the three official judges. One should also keep in mind, despite Anthony Joshua's reputation as a "Knockout Artist," he has been caught, hurt, knocked down, and knocked out before. As such, even though Franklin has had limited exposure up to this point, the possibility certainly exists that Joshua can be caught and the beauty of Boxing is after all, "Anything Can Happen At Any Time." Whether Franklin, who has fourteen knockouts in his twenty-one career wins, has the power or the timing to be able to catch Joshua as Andy Ruiz was able to do when he knocked him out in their first fight in June 2019, remains to be seen.

While there is not much "Hype" at least from yours truly, beyond the simple quote that indeed anything can happen, which should not be viewed as "Hype" more than it should be taken as "Common Sense," promoter Eddie Hearn, who has prompted Joshua for his entire career, has started that if Joshua were to lose this fight, it might signal the end of his career. Although that should be taken in context as a promoter's primary job is after all, to generate as much interest as possible to both sell tickets as well as to hopefully, move the needle for lack of a better term for their broadcaster, in this case DAZN, I do not necessarily believe that should he lose this fight that Joshua would be finished as a fighter because he is one of the biggest stars in the sport, particularly in the United Kingdom where he has routinely drawn massive crowds in stadiums for his fights.

A loss however, would at minimum take Anthony Joshua out of the world championship picture for a period of time and it would be dishonest to say that the onus is not on Joshua in this fight and obviously with that, there is pressure. On the other side of the equation, much as was the car prior to his bout with Dillian Whyte, Jermaine Franklin has nothing to lose and everything to gain. No matter how well regarded a fighter might be, their stature in the sport, and how dominant they might be, the longer a fighter's career continues, the competition will get tougher with time and the possibility of a loss is always there. How Part 3: Chapter 1 in the story of the career of Anthony Joshua is ultimately written remains to be seen. 

"And That's The Boxing Truth."

Joshua vs. Franklin takes place on Saturday, April 1st at the O2 Arena in London, England. The bout as well as it's full undercard can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning with The DAZN Boxing Show: Before The Bell, which will feature preliminary bouts beginning at 11:45AM ET/8:45AM PT. This will be followed by the main card, which will begin st 2PM ET/11AM PT.

(* U.S. Times Only*) 

(*Card and start times subject to change.*)

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. 

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

Benavidez-Plant Thoughts

As strictly a Boxing match, the encounter between former Super-Middleweight world champions David Benavidez and Caleb Plant checked a lot of boxes that a Boxing fan looks for in the lead up to the fight. A clash of styles that when matched against each other was likely to produce a competitive fight. A rivalry between the two fighters that appeared to grow into legitimate bad blood, and the sub-plot of potentially getting another opportunity to fight for a world championship. With the fight fan's list of what to look forward to checked off, it was time for the two fighters to converge on the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV on March 25th to do battle. 

In previewing this bout, this observer stated that it would likely come down to whether or not Plant would be able to deal with the punching power and hand speed of Benavidez. It was also crucial in my eyes that Benavidez not allow Plant, a fighter known for his elusiveness, to be able to set the tempo of the fight and could not start slow as he had done in previous fights as the possibility existed that Plant could build an early lead on the scorecards

For most of the first six rounds of the fight, this is exactly what Plant was able to accomplish. Using his ability to move laterally and approach Benavidez at varying angles, Plant was able to pick his shots by throwing and landing short, crisp combinations to the body and head and then move before Benavidez could return offense. This essentially was the pattern in which the fight was fought for a significant period of time. What yours truly also stated was that Benavidez needed to avoid following Plant around, needed to find a way to cut the ring off to try and limit his movement, and needed to let his hands go consistently.

Throughout most of the first half of the twelve round bout, Benavidez seemingly fell into that trap, which is a testament to what appeared to be an effective fight plan that Caleb Plant was able to execute. It also should not be overlooked that as Benavidez followed Plant around, it was Plant who was able to frequently make the undefeated former WBC Super-Middleweight world champion miss with the punches that he did throw. Plant, the former IBF Super-Middleweight world champion, also succeeded in keeping Benavidez from being able to establish any kind of consistent rhythm offensively by implementing this strategy, with an emphasis on movement and trying to out box his opponent.

At the halfway point of the fight, I felt that Plant had won five of the first six rounds based largely on his execution of his fight plan. While I did not feel the bout was close in terms of scoring at this point, one thing that also stood out was when he was able to connect with his punches, David Benavidez was the harder puncher of the two. Although that should not be surprising to most knowledge Boxing fans, who are familiar with the styles of the two fighters, the question that formed in my mind as the fight progressed was whether or not power punches would be enough for Benavidez to be able to get the job done in this fight as it appeared going into the second half of the fight that he was being out boxed and out worked by Plant.

During the second half of the fight however, the ebb and flow changed as the pressure of Benavidez as well as fatigue began to slow Plant down, which made him more of a stationary target. This along with Benavidez being able to land punches more consistently, seemed in some ways to mirror Plant's only career defeat at the hands of current Undisputed Super-Middleweight world champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, who was able to gradually break Plant down and stop him in eleven rounds in their unification bout in November 2021. Much like Benavidez, Alvarez was able to land the harder shots particularly to the body, which slowed Plant down. In this case, perhaps because of what happened to him against Alvarez, Plant though slowed considerably as the bout progressed tried to go toe to toe with Benavidez, despite it not being to his advantage.

Some might also point to the fact that Caleb Plant was able to get away with what at times appeared to be excessive holding throughout the fight when Benavidez was able to get close. While the tactic of holding an opponent is one that a boxer uses both as a means of defense as well as a way to physically turn an opponent where they are not able to get punches off and then be able to maintain distance when separated by the referee, I will say that I felt the holding by Plant did border on excessive, particularly in the second half of the fight when he was unable to use his legs as he had done over the first six rounds to evade Benavidez.

It needs to be pointed out however, that skilled boxers as Caleb Plant certainly is will look to take advantage of whatever they are able to get away with as long as they are allowed to by the referee. The referee for this bout was Kenny Bayless, who is one of the most respected referees throughout the entire sport that is frequently called upon to officiate bouts all over the world, not just in the state of Nevada in a career where he has officiated close to 900 professional bouts as a referee, many of those bouts having been for world championship fights. Why am I taking the time to point out the credentials of the referee of this fight the reader might ask?

Well, if you are knowledgeable about the sport and you have spent as much time covering it as I have in having spent most of my life writing about and covering Boxing as well as other combat sports, you unfortunately get used to hearing the criticism of fans of referees, judges, and hear the subsequent accusations of potential corruption hurled in the direction of those who are criticized. Although I have not spent too much time as I write this column to see if there has been such criticism of Bayless, I do not feel there was anything suspicious going on in terms of potential corruption. I do feel however, that Bayless should have at least warned Plant about holding as the fight progressed. Referees and judges, like the rest of us, are human and are just as prone to having an off night at the office for lack of a better term as any of us. Bayless is still one of the best in the sport, but it is quite possible that he indeed had an off night here and that did serve to benefit Plant.

Unlike in the Alvarez fight where the effects of pressure, punishment, and fatigue led to his downfall, just as it appeared this fight was heading for a similar outcome, Plant was somehow able to survive a terrible beating that Benavidez dished out in the later rounds. This was particularly surprising in the eleventh round where I frankly thought he was taking too much punishment and wondered if Bayless or his corner would stop the fight as a result. Although Plant did not get knocked down during this period of the fight and deserves a lot of credit for being able to survive and go on to finish the fight, I felt the eleventh round was lopsided to the degree that scoring that round 10-8 in favor of Benavidez was appropriate. As it would turn out, that decision by yours truly would end up producing a rarity on my unofficial scorecard at the end of the fight.

At the end of the twelve round bout, I arrived with an even score in terms of rounds in having scored six rounds a piece between Benavidez and Plant. In points however because I scored the eleventh round 10-8, a score that most of the time is reserved for when there is a knockdown, in favor of Benavidez, I arrived with Benavidez winning the fight 115-113 in points, akin to a seven rounds to five scorecard. 

Ultimately, Benavidez would win the fight via unanimous decision by margins of 115-113 (Seven rounds to five), 116-112 (Eight rounds to four), and 117-111 (Nine rounds to three). While I do not feel a nine rounds to three scorecard was an accurate illustration of how close this fight was, it is indisputable that once Caleb Plant was not able to use his movement, the dynamic of the bout changed and it was a different type of fight from the second half of the contest on through the end of the fight. 

The victory for David Benavidez now moves him into a mandatory position to challenge Saul Alvarez as far as the World Boxing Council's (WBC) Super-Middleweight ratings is concerned. The likelihood of Benavidez getting that shot in the near future seems unlikely due both to Alvarez' upcoming title defense against WBO mandatory challenger John Ryder in May and assuming he retains his undisputed championship in that fight, his desire to seek a rematch with undefeated WBA Light-Heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol, who defeated Alvarez last year in defense of his Light-Heavyweight crown. This as well as the uncertainty of the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters, who currently promote Benavidez, seems to keep him out of the equation at least in the immediate future, though he did do his best to call Alvarez out for a fight later this year shortly after defeating Plant. 

As for Caleb Plant, the second loss of his career will do little to negatively affect his standing in the Super-Middleweight division. He has however, earned the chance to rest after what was a very tough and grueling fight. The uncertainty that the PBC, who also promotes Plant, currently finds itself in will likely allow Plant all the time he needs to recover and decide what he wants to do before going back to the drawing board. The one thing Plant can take from this loss is he performed well and even though he did lose this fight, the way he fought, particularly in the later rounds will endear him to fans going forward and his stock in the division will go up as a result.

"And That's The Boxing Truth."

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"HE IS COMING TO TAKE OVER": AUSSIE SENSATION ALEX WINWOOD LOCKS IN CHANCE AT A SECOND BELT

Press Release: March 25, 2023 By  Jarred Cross and Dragon Fire Boxing - Aussie sensation and next-big-thing Alex Winwood may find himself with two regional belts after just three fights come June.

Credit: Dragon Fire Boxing 

The 25-year-old’s next bout is set for three months' time - looking at the numbers, it’s a big one. 

While Winwood has blown past his competition so far at light flyweight, namely former world champion Tibo Monabesa on February 3, a drop down to strawweight could present a trickier task; WBC champ and world no.9 Reyneris Gutierez. 

The Nicaraguan similarly boasts an undefeated record, not that it phases the young Western Australian. 

Despite his preference for discipline and preparation over the bravado you might expect from a boxer, Winwood had one subtle reminder for his next opponent. 

“For most of these fights we're gonna be giving up experience. But in terms of the people he’s fought, maybe (they) might not hold too much weight, I guess,” he told the National Indigenous Times.

"I don't feel like I'm out of my depth.

“He’s (Guiterez) obviously got a lot of confidence. He's not used to losing and he's one he's built, and he's still holding it…he’s not going to want to lose it…but I'm the International champion at the heavier weight coming down, so it's gonna be a good matchup.”

The plan is to be a world champion within six fights; one shy of Jeff Fenech's record for the quickest Australian man to the top. 

With that comes a strategy for taking names and making one for himself, often against more experience to put himself on the map of those making the big decisions. 

It’s something he and renowned trainer Angelo Hyder believes is a pursuit well within reach.

“To be at this stage of my career and already looking out to grab a second WBC belt is just unreal,” Winwood said.

“It's also the path that we need to be on if we want to be as ambitious as we are.

“We're obviously going in the right direction and we've got to take a step up every fight and this is just one of the many people that's gonna try to knock us off our course. 

“We’ve just got to lock in and get through this guy and take him at his best ‘cause I’m sure he’s gonna be at his best on the night.”

Even better - doing in front of his home town. 

“The crowd is just getting bigger and bigger every every time I fight in Perth,” he said. 

“I'm very keen to bring another big fight back there. 

“I think they're not used to having such big title fights and they’re only getting bigger and the crowds obviously loving it so they're coming out full force.”

Any reservations on talking himself up are happily left to the men around him. 

Winwood’s manager Tony Tolj likened him to “a cross between Roy Jones and Mike Tyson.”

“He knows the sacrifices that are needed to be the absolute best possible…he is a student of greatness and by stepping in with a guy with 21 wins, one loss and world no.13 in his second fight (Monabesa) shows he is not coming to take part.

“He is coming to takeover.”

Alex Winwood faces Reyneris Gutierez for the WBC Strawweight International championship on June 16 in Perth. 

Material and Photo Courtesy of Jarred Cross and 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. 

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

BREAKING: Gonzalez Withdraws From Unification Bout With Teraji Due To Illness

It has been announced that the April 8th Jr. Flyweight world championship unification bout between WBC world champion Kenshiro Teraji and WBO world champion Johnathan Gonzalez has been called off. The bout, which was scheduled for April 8th at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan and was to include the vacant WBA world championship in the 108lb. Jr. Flyweight division was called off when Gonzalez had to withdraw from the bout after coming down with pneumonia.

As of this writing, an attempt is being made by promoters and Teraji 's handlers to secure a substitute opponent in what one would assume would be an attempt to not only maintain the April 8th date, but also a defense of his WBC world championship. The Teraji-Gonzalez unification bout was scheduled to be streamed here in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+. Obviously, with the status of the event now uncertain, there is also no word as of this writing as to whether the network will still stream the event if it goes forward, assuming a substitute opponent for Teraji can be secured. 

We will keep readers updated on any developments as they become available. Stay tuned.

"Abd That's The Boxing Truth."

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Benavidez-Plant Preview

On Saturday, March 25th, two former world champions will enter the ring at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV with the goal of taking one step closer to challenging once more for a world championship. This observer is referring to the encounter between David Benavidez and Caleb Plant. Two fighters who each know what it is to be a world champion in the talent-deep 168lb. Super-Middleweight division. A division currently ruled by Undisputed world champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

While the goal of both men is obviously an eventual fight with Alvarez, the encounter between the two, which will headline a pay-per-view card broadcast by Showtime Pay-Per-View here in the United States, could possibly be one of the best fights of the year. The reason for that is it is an interesting clash of styles between two boxer/punchers, but one who is more noted for his punching power than the other. David Benavidez is a former WBC Super-Middleweight world champion. He also has a rare distinction for being one of the few fighters to have held a world championship, but never lost his title in the ring. Some may recall that Benavidez, who won the title in 2017, becoming the youngest world champion in the history of the Super-Middleweight division in the process, was ultimately stripped of it by the World Boxing Council due to having tested positive for cocaine shortly after defeating Ronald Gavril for the title. The WBC then ruled that Benavidez was a "Champion in Recess," which allowed him to fight for the title again only to ultimately be stripped for failing to make weight prior to a scheduled title defense against Roamer Angelo.

Despite his struggles out of the ring, Benavidez has remained unbeaten in twenty-six professional fights and has scored knockouts in twenty-three of those bouts. Inside the ring, Benavidez has been a dominant force that has yet to be tested. Enter Caleb Plant.

Plant, as some may recall, had a lengthy reign as the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Super-Middleweight world champion before being stopped in eleven rounds by Saul Alvarez in a unification bout for the Undisputed Super-Middleweight championship of the world. While Plant lost that fight, he made a good account of himself in defeat, particularly in the early rounds before eventually being broken down by Alvarez' pressure and body attack. While that loss is to date the only one Plant has suffered in his career, he obviously would like another opportunity against Alvarez. In his only fight since that loss, Plant scored a devastating knockout of former WBC Super-Middleweight world champion Anthony Dirrell in February of last year.

What this fight will come down to in my eyes is whether Plant will be able to deal with the punching power and hand speed of Benavidez. At his best, Caleb Plant is an elusive fighter, who in addition to having hand speed of his own, is known for his lateral movement and ability to use angles. These aspects of his skillset did for a time create problems for Alvarez before he was able to eventually break Plant down as that fight progressed. While Plant's knockout of Dirrell in his last fight was a brutal hook to the body/hook to the head combination, he is not known for his power and logic would suggest that he will need to try and implement a similar approach as he attempted to use against Alvarez, but obviously will look to correct the flaws in that approach that Alvarez ultimately took advantage of, if he wants to be successful in this fight.

The reason for this is Benavidez has exceptionally quick hands in addition to his punching power and Plant will need to be meticulous and tactical for the duration of the scheduled twelve round bout. Perhaps a flaw in Benavidez that Plant will look to take advantage of is that at times he can start slow and not let his hands go much in the early rounds. While obviously Plant should not base his entire approach on this, he must be elusive and try to resist the temptation to go toe to toe with Benavidez if he is able to connect more than occasionally with offense in the early rounds.

For David Benavidez, he must study Plant's fight with Alvarez and look at what Alvarez did that led to his being able to stop Plant late in the fight. Although implementing a similar strategy can be easier said than done, there are two aspects that Benavidez must keep in mind at all times in this fight. One, he needs to find a way to cut off the ring and try to limit Plant's ability to move and must do so early on in the fight as to not allow Plant to establish the tempo of the fight or give him the chance to potentially build up a lead on the scorecards. Benavidez must avoid following Plant around and must limit his movement. Secondly, Benavidez must let his hands go consistently from the outset. If he starts slow and allows Plant to dictate the combat, Benavidez might be in a position where he might need a knockout in the later rounds in order to maintain his undefeated record.

While this fight being the main event of a pay-per-view card in the present time when Showtime as the last premium cable network televising Boxing in the United States may be on its way out in similar fashion as former longtime rival HBO had done in 2018 following a corporate restructuring of its parent company, has drawn criticism of some as a similar restructuring is now taking place in Showtime's parent company Paramount Global, the fight between Benavidez and Plant is still one of the best fights that has been made recently at least on paper. Whether or not that ultimately translates to a memorable battle inside the ring on Saturday night March 25th remains to be seen, even if those broadcasting the fight are likely setting themselves up for failure in the form of underwhelming pay-per-view buy numbers as Boxing fans continue to reject what has become an overpriced, undervalued, and outdated revenue model for the sport that needs to change.

"And That's The Boxing Truth."

Benavidez vs. Plant takes place on Saturday, March 25th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The fight can be seen in the United States on Showtime Pay-Per-View beginning at 9PM ET/ 6PM PT. The pay-per-view event will be available on traditional cable/satellite providers as well as through the Showtime streaming app on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices and Smart TVs. Contact your local cable/satellite provider for ordering information.

To order via and stream on the Showtime streaming app please visit: www.SHO.com/PPV for ordering information.

The event is also available for streaming for the aforementioned price through PPV.com and the PPV.com app on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices and Smart TVs. To order through PPV.com and for more information about compatible streaming devices, please visit: www.PPV.com

*Check your local listings internationally*

*Card and start time subject to change*

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