By Norm Frauenheim

A performance that reminds us why boxing was once called The Sweet Science screams for an encore.

In the days after Terence Crawford pulled a fading craft off the fringe and back onto center stage for 12 magnificent rounds in a masterful decision over Canelo Alvarez, there’s an inevitable clamor for more.

Fans and media are asking: Who’s next? A lot of fighters, some worthy and most not, are asking to be next. But there’s no immediate next on Crawford’s calendar, other than a birthday.

He’ll be 38 on Sept. 28, just 15 days after he celebrated a victory watched by more than a reported 41 million on Netflix and more than 70,000 at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium last Saturday.

It’s an age – early middle-aged — that comes with questions. At 37, Crawford answered many with sustained movement and footwork not expected by a fighter with more than 40 bouts on his odometer.

Crawford never stopped in a tireless dance that confused Canelo, who saw Crawford in a different spot, with a different posture and at a different angle at almost every turn.

In the end, there was more than just confusion. It left Canelo, the younger man, without options and energy. He was exhausted. Crawford, the 35-year-old Canelo said, did everything.

Everything, other than knock him out.

Maybe it’s just coincidence, but Crawford patiently applied every element in his endlessly versatile skillset throughout. For one night, he managed to do all of what he does best. For most of his career, he was a finisher. We knew that, it’s there in his unbeaten record – 31 KOs in 42 wins.

Against Canelo, he had a chance to display even more.

In the days since the scorecards – 116-112, 115-113 (twice) were announced, the video of his comprehensive victory has been studied and re-studied for segments that were just missed. 

Here’s classic: A double left hand.

First, it lands squarely between Canelo’s eyes. Canelo seems to look away. As he does, that same left hand drops down by an inch, maybe two, and then lands onto Canelo’s jaw, all delivered as Crawford ducks in and away.

It was a thing of beauty, art according to the book on The Sweet Science.

Canelo’s reaction says it all. Stunned, he looks back at Crawford in disbelief, as if to say: Where in this universe did that punch come from?

It was a moment – one of many, that secured Crawford’s place as the best in his generation. Today, he’s the consensus – if not unanimous — pound-for-pound champion, ahead of heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk and junior-featherweight Naoya Inoue, who delivered his own statement with a dominant decision over Murodjon Akhmadaliev in Japan just a few hours after Crawford’s triumph.

For Crawford, the history-making victory for a third undisputed title at three weights in his first bout at super-middle was a definitive counter to the critics who have questioned his record for years. Repeatedly, his credibility was undercut by doubt about the quality of his opposition.

Those doubts, perhaps, were reflected by the 115-113 scores. The 116-112 score was more accurate. On this scorecard, the margin grew – 116-112 in the arena to 117-111 the next day after watching the video.

Against Canelo, Crawford simply proved – round after round — he’s just been better than everybody else.

The dominance suggests that there’s more than that. Crawford has plenty of fight still within him.

But it also includes a question about what another fight or two might do to his legacy as an all-time great. There’s a pretty good argument that he has run out of opponents.

A rematch was mentioned. A second fight against Canelo would probably make money. But it’s hard to imagine a different result against the faded Canelo (63-3-2, 39 KOs), who has been fighting professionally since he was 15 years old and still had freckles. The popular Mexican is 68-fights old, and it’s beginning to show.

The other possibilities swirling around Crawford’s future are predictable. 

There’s the emerging Jaron Ennis, Canelo’s sparring partner for Crawford. 

There’s talk about a move down to middleweight – from 168 pounds to 160 – for another division title – his sixth.

There’s even David Benavidez, a former super-middleweight champion from Phoenix now training for a light-heavyweight title defense against Anthony Yarde in Nov. 22 in Riyadh.

Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh teased the Benavidez possibility from his ringside seat late in Canelo-Crawford by asking on social media whether the 6-foot-2 Benavidez could still make 168. 

Maybe, but at 28 and counting, Benavidez will only mature, which means more pounds and an even heavier division. In another year or two, he could be at cruiserweight, 200-pounds.

Crawford’s victory on one of boxing’s biggest stages in years includes prerogatives. To wit: He can do whatever he wants. But at what cost?

In a notable quote at the post-fight news conference in a tent outside of Allegiant, Canelo was asked to compare Crawford with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who beat him twelve years ago by decision in September, 2013.

“Crawford is way better,’’ Canelo said.

That one comment is a bigger victory for Crawford’s legacy than another title, say the middleweight belt held by 42-year-old Erislandy Lara.

It’s also a legacy, including an unbeaten record, maybe worth protecting against one of those young lions — Ennis, unbeaten at welterweight and seeking to move to junior-middle and/or a much bigger Benavidez.

Legacy or encore? This time, it’s a decision only Terence Crawford can make.

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – There was no blood. There were no knockdowns. There was only Terence Crawford.

Crawford’s dance, as brilliant as it was defiant, continued Saturday, reaching a peak few others have achieved or even imagined with an upset of Canelo Alvarez in front of a crowd of 70,482 at Allegiant Stadium.

Crawford, booed when he entered the arena and booed for weeks after the fight was announced, did what he was always done in his historic path to undisputed title in three weight classes.

He did it with his feet, frustrating Canelo at almost every turn in winning a unanimous decision. It was 115-113 on two scorecards and 116-112 on the third. Two of the cards appeared to be closer than what the dominant Crawford did in moving across the ring, in and out of harm’s way and into history.

Canelo always seemed to be a step behind, a dance partner that couldn’t quite keep up with the master.

If there was a surprise, it was in Crawford’s footwork. He moved his feet with an agility not seen in almost a decade. For 12 rounds, the 37-year-old Crawford sustained the dance that earned him the undisputed super-middleweight title and a place among boxing’s all-time greats.

If he had been around in another time, the game would have Five Kings alongside the foursome of Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran.

In his hometown – Omaha, they simply call him Bud. On this night, however, boxing historians could have called him Sugar. He was that good, a former welterweight and junior-welter champion coming up two weight classes to take down Canelo, one of the most feared punchers in his day,

After it was all over, Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) went to one knee and looked toward Allegiant Stadium’s ceiling as though he was looking to the heavens.

Thanks, he said

The thank-you was preceded by a confident Crawford who opened the fight in the southpaw style. His right hand led the attack and hinted at imminent alterations. But he never switched up, never went from left-handed to right-handed. But the threat was always there, forcing Canelo to be wary.

Above all, Crawford’s two-handed, ambidextrous threat  threw some hesitancy, if not outright  confusion into Canelo’s tactical plans.

Crawford right hand landed first, followed by a glancing left in the opening round. The crowd roared. Canelo remained cautious.

But in the second round, the popular Mexican hinted, perhaps, at what he had planned. He moved forward, almost stalking and in an almost straight line that led him to his target: Crawford’s midsection.

The body punch landed, forcing Crawford to step to one side and then another. In the third, it began to look as if Crawford was poised to pick up the pace.

In the fourth, he did, landing a couple of quick hands, first a right than a left. Momentum in the fourth, however, suddenly shifted when Canelo landed a straight right hand. Crawford looked at at him and smiled as if to say: You can’t catch me.

Over the next eight rounds, Canelo never could.

Callum Walsh dominates in one-sided decision over Vargas Jr.

Callum Walsh had too much power and too much accuracy.

In the end, he had too much of everything in overwhelming Fernando Vargas, Jr, who has a legendary name but none of his father’s resilient skillset. 

On the scorecards, Vargas (17-1, 13 KOs) never had a chance. The judges nearly scored the 10-round junior-middleweight fight as a shutout for Walsh (16-0, 11 KOs), an agile Irishman who knows his way around the ring.

 It was 99-91 on two cards and 100-90 on the third in the final fight before the Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez main event at Allegiant Stadium.

Mbilli, Martinez fight to a bruising draw

It was punishing, a fight full of momentum swings and exhausting exchanges of punches that landed everywhere and from all angles. It was hard to pick a winner.

In the end, nobody could..

Christian Mbilli-Lester Martinez was a draw. The good news is that the super-middleweight fight set the stage for a sequel and perhaps a great new rivalry. The only winner was the gathering crowd for the main event, Canelo Alvarez-versus-Terence Crawford. The early undercards didn’t offer much in terms of drama. Allegiant Arena eats were empty. Knockouts were few. Cheers were muted.

Then, Mbilli and Martinez stepped through the ropes.

In the early rounds, it looked as if Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) might win easily. He appeared to have an edge in the number and power of inside punches. In the middle rounds, however, Martinez. (19-01, 16 KOs), showed a stubborn streak and and his own brand of body shots and uppercuts. The Guatemalan wasn’t going anywhere. In the eighth and again ninth, it looked as if the body assault had robbed Mbilli of his energy. He looked fatigued.

In the final moments of the tenth and final round, however, Mbilli recovered, scoring repeatedly and often enough to perhaps ensure a draw. One judge scored it for him, 96-94. One scored it for Martinez, 97-93. On the third, it was a draw, 95-95

Can’t wait for the rematchThe punishing fight ended with exchanges of punches and moment

Mohammed Alakel wins unanimous decision

Saudi junior-lightweight Mohammed Alakel (5-0, 1 KO) employed faster hands and feet, scoring quickly and repeatedly for a unanimous decision  overTravis Crawford (7-4) a hard working fighter from (7-4-1) from Corpus Christi, TX in the first fight on the Netflix part of a card featuring Terence Crawford-versus-Canelo Alvarez at Allegiant Stadium Saturday. 

Brandon Adams wins rematch, scores decision over Bohachuk

Brandon Adams wore a gray wig to news conferences and weigh-ins. He shed the costume in the ring and answered questions about his age with a variety of punches.

Body shots, hooks and uppercuts were repeated answers to Serhii Bohachuk, who called the 36-year-old Adams — a Los Angeles middleweight — an old fighter.

Age is just a number, or at least it was for 10 rounds of punishing shots from multiple angles from Adams in a rematch victory Saturday at Allegiant Stadium over Bohachuk (26-3, 24 KOs) , a Ukrainian known for his power. 

In the end, Adams made the 30-year Bohachuk look old.  Adams, who scored an eighth-round TKO of Bohachuk in 2021, landed shots almost at will, winning a unanimous decision in the final fight before the Netflix portion of the Canelo-Crawford card.

Jermaine Franklin wins dull decision

It was unanimous.

On the cards.

And in the seats.

Jermaine Franklin Jr. won the decision. He also shared some of the contempt hurled at Ivan Dychko from a few fans scattered across Allegiant Stadium’s 65,000 seats Saturday on the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford card in a heavyweight matinee Saturday.

Franklin (24-2), of Saginaw MI,  and Dychko (15-, 14 KOs), a two-time Olympic bronze medalist from Kazakhstan, clinched and clutched more than they punched through 10 forgettable rounds. By the fifth, the scattered crowd began to jeer. By the eighth, the boos began to echo through the empty arena.

By the end of the 10th, there were cheers.

Finally, it was over. 

Tsutsumi scores first-round stoppage

Reito Tsutsumi, a Japanese junior lightweight, didn’t need much time, mostly because Javier Martinez didn’t have much of anything at all.

Tsutsumi (3-0, 2 KOs) did it all within 2:18, walking down Martinez (7-3,4 KOs), hurting the Dallas fighter first with a succession of body shots and then finishing him with with straight punches that put Martinez on the canvas, a lonely figure in an empty building early on a card featuring Terence Crawford-versus-Canelo Alvarez fight.

Sultan Almohammed made a succsessful pro debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Martin Caraballo in a lightweight bout.

In round one, Almohammed dropped Caraballo with a right to the jaw.

Almohammed, 132.5 lbs of Jeddah, SA won by scores of 40-36 on all cardsa and is now 1-0. Caraballo, 133 lbs of Hollywood, FL is 0-1-1….Marc Abrams

Raiko Santana scored a mild upset by stopping Steven Nelson in the opening round of their 10-round light heavyweight bout.

Santana landed a hard right hand that hurt Nelson and a follow-up flurry forced the stoppage at 2:38.

Sanatana Of El Paso, TX is 13-4 with with seven knockouts. Nelson of Omaha, NEB is 20-2…...Marc Abrams

Potential Mexican star, Marco Verde stopped Sona Akale in round our of their six-roumd middleweight bout.

In round one, Verde landed a right hook that put Akale on the canvas.

In round four, Verde continued the assault and referee Mark Nelson stopped the bout at 1:11.

Verde, 158 lbs of Mazaltan, MEX is 3-0 with two knockouts. Akale, 158 lbs of St. Paul, MN is 9-4….Marc Abrams

Follow all the action as Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford get it on in a mega-fight from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The action kicks off at 9 PM ET with a three-fight undercard freturing Christian Mbilli against Lester Martinez as well as Callum Walsh taking on Fernando Vargas Jr,

NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED. THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICLLY

Round 1: Right from Alvarez..Jab from Crawford…

ROUND 2 Right to body from Alvarez…Jab from Crawford..

ROUND 3 Left from Crawford…Left…Counter left..

Round 4 Combination from Crawford..Straight left…Right from Alvarez…Rught..Left from Crawford..

ROUND 5 Counter from Crawford..

ROUND 6 Big combination from Crawford…

ROUND 7 Jab…Alvarez right eye is swelling

Round 8 Right from Alvarez…Combination from Crawford…Right from Alvarez..

Round 9 Headbutt by Alvarez..Right from Alvarez…Left from Crawford..

ROUND 10 Right from Alvarez…Combination from Crawford…

ROUND 11 2 rights from Alvarez..ANother..Jab from Crawford..Left…

ROUND 12 Combibation from Crawford..Counter left…hard left from Crawford

116-112 and 115-113 TWICE FOR TERENCE CRAWFORD 

rOUND 1 Combination from Walsh…Right to body from Vargas,,,Right hook from Walsh…Right hook

Round 2 Body combo from Walsh…

Round 3 Combination from Vargas..Body work from Walsh..

Round 4 Body shot from Vargas..Right to bidy..left to body..Combination from Walsh

Round 5 Body shot from Walsh..Jab from Vargas…

Round 6 Straight left from Walsh…Jab from Vargas…Left…Left…

Round 7 Left to body from Walsh…

Round 1: Right from Martinez..Right from Mbilli..Left to body/Right to head,..Left and right from Martinez..Right to body…

ROUND 2 Mbilli trying to crowd Martinez..Uppercut from Martinez..Right from Mbilli..double uppercut from Martinez..Right from Mbilli..Left to body..

ROUND 3 Left hook from Mbilli..Combination to the head..Double left hook..Body combination

ROUND 4 Mbilli landing to the body

ROUND 5 Right to body from Mbilli…Combination…right to head..Left hook..Jab from Martinez…Good uppercut..

ROUND 6 Double left hook from Mbilli..Flurry from Martinez…Uppercut from Mbilli..Hard right from Martinez..Uppercut..Right frim Mbilli..

ROUND 7 Left hook from Mbilli..Uppercut..Uppercut rom Martinez..Uppercut from Martunez..

Round 8 Right from Mbilli..Right to head..Right and left on ropes..Chopping left..Counter right and uppercut from Martinez..Right

ROUND 9 Right from Martinez…Counter uppercut..Right..Big flurry…

OUND 20 Left from Martinnez…Uppercut…Left…Left from Mbilli…Uppercut from Martinez…

97-93 Martinez….96-94 Mbilli….95-95 DRAW

Round 1 Right and jab from Alakel…Right..Left to body..
Round 2 Jab from Alakel…Left hook..Left to body

99-91 twice and 98-92 for Alakel

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – It was called ceremonial. But a huge, roaring crowd called for it to be known as something else.

Something more.

Much more.

It was off the scale, a Woodstock of weigh-ins Friday at T-Mobile Arena for a crowd that gathered in huge numbers and generated noise that echoed up-and-down the Vegas Strip in a sure sign of mounting interest in the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford fight Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium.

The weigh-in, the real one, had already happened, hours earlier in a chilly, quiet ballroom in a luxury hotel at the opposite end of The Strip.

For the record, both Canelo and Crawford weighed the same, each at 167.5 pounds, safely under the super-middleweight’s 168 limit.

There wasn’t an ounce of difference between them, perhaps an indication of just how close this fight for Canelo’s super-middleweight title really is. The late afternoon weigh-in was staged to sell a few more tickets and Netflix subscriptions.

But the crowd, perhaps as big as any in Vegas’ long and colorful boxing history, delivered an exclamation point to anticipation rare in this era of boxing. It’s been called a dying sport. From lower bowl to the upper deck at T-Mobile, however, that obituary sounded premature Friday.

This ceremony wasn’t a funeral. It was a celebration. Even Crawford and then Canelo seemed almost surprised at the roar that greeted them as they walked onto the stage and stepped onto a scale that was little more than a prop.

It came with expectations, all of which will echo throughout the hours before opening bell in a ring that figures to be near the 50-yard line on the Raiders home field.

Canelo, the favorite, spoke to the crowd of Mexican partisans with a promise to do everything.

“I trained for everything,’’ said Canelo, who continues to be a narrow betting favorite. “I’ll need to do everything in this fight.”

He said it in a way that suggested some emerging respect for Crawford and his comprehensive skillset.

Throughout the build-up for the fight, there’s been a sense that Canelo and Crawford are more than just business partners in a bout that reportedly will add at least $100 million to Canelo’s net worth. They like each other. There’s been no trash talk and an absence of dismissive gestures.

Crawford, a two-time undisputed champion at welterweight and junior welter, hears boos only from the Canelo fans. They – fans and boos — were everywhere Friday.

Crawford jumped on and off the scale quickly Friday. He exited the stage, before Canelo spoke. Then, the promoters asked him back for a word.

When he returned, there they were, the boos all over again.

Nobody had to ask him about them. Instead, he was asked:

How are you feeling?

“Lovely,’’ Crawford said as if he were enjoying a deep breath of the noisy element that has motivated him throughout his brilliant career.

Defiance is Crawford’s oxygen.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow,’’ he said.

This time the crowd only roared, as if to say nobody else can either.

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – First, there was Terence Crawford, dressed in a white top and a friendly smile.

Then, there was Canelo Alvarez, his eyes hidden by sunglasses darker than the undershirt he was wearing.

For about the next hour, both answered questions, talked philosophy, exchanged a few promises and threats.

There were a lot of roles on stage at T-Mobile Arena throughout a news conference Thursday, and both fighters played them well for a super-middleweight fight hard to predict, yet loaded with story lines and opinions

Sometime after opening bell at nearby Allegiant Stadium Saturday night, however, neither the opinions nor the stories will matter much in a ring near the 50-yard line of the NFL Stadium.

That’s when Canelo and Crawford will take matters into their own hands – hands as dangerous as any over the last decade of prize-fighting

Boxing newsers are always part of the show, of course. They set the stage for feints and perhaps a little bit of psychology.  Rhetorical jabs before the real ones.

Crawford and Canelo were there, each with an answer for whatever was asked in front of a crowd that has already made up its mind.

For Crawford, that means changing minds.

For Canelo, it means affirming what many already think in the remaining hours before the Netflix-streamed bout.

No matter what else was said Thursday, Crawford and Canelo were in the place they’ve been since their intriguing super-middleweight fight was announced several weeks ago.

Crawford is the underdog, defiant and yet seemingly happy to be in the role.

“They say I’ve fought nobody, they say I can’t sell, they say I’ve got no personality,’’ Crawford said with the defiant edge that has helped him forge a career with skeptics but no losses

For the last decade, Crawford has proven everybody wrong. It was clear Thursday that he intends to deliver some definitive say-so against Canelo, who has played the popular favorite throughout most of his career.

It was no surprise that Canelo was the crowd favorite at Thursday’s newser. He’s been a powerful favorite for about as long as Crawford has been doubted.

The news-conference crowd amplified its expectations Thursday. It is betting Canelo’s long reign as Mexico’s best fighter since Julio Cesar Chavez will continue.

Canelo said he doesn’t listen to cheers or criticism. Maybe not. Go ahead, he says, and debate about his place in Mexican history, which has for long started and ended with Julio.

“In the end, the people will decide,’’ Canelo said. “The numbers will be there or they won’t.’’

For now, however, the numbers are in the seats, there at least in terms of support for Canelo in his risky date as the bigger man in defense of his undisputed super-middleweight. 

Those numbers also add up to what might be an astonishing paycheck. There’s talk that Canelo will collect $100-million for fighting Crawford

Wrong, Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh said Thursday.

“Our contract is for more than that,’’ said Alalshikh , who negotiated a three-fight deal in an 11^th hour offer that convinced Canelo to agree to the Crawford fight.

Like the purses perhaps, Crawford, it’s thought, will enter the ring smaller. He’s a former undisputed welterweight and junior-welter champion, who is jumping up the scale from junior-middleweight to fight Canelo.

The Canelo chants, like the expectations, were bigger Thursday, echoing throughout the building like an old lyric.

Crawford heard them and smiled. He’s been there. Defiance has been his lifestyle. He’s good at it, and he intends to be just as good for at least one more time.

But defiance isn’t a physical attribute. It’s not included on any tale-of-the -ape. There’s no way to measure it. Canelo’s experience and documented power at a heavier weight might just be too much for Crawford.

It’s easier to defy skeptics than it is a left counter. In the end, it might prove to be that stark, that simple, no matter what else was said Thursday. In boxing, some roles never change.

LINCOLN, CALIFORNIA – Rising middleweight prospect Islam Abdusamadov scored a workmanlike six-round unanimous decision victory over durable Jose Manuel Gomez in the featured attraction at the Venue at Thunder Valley at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Saturday night. 

Abdusamadov (6-0, 2 KOs) of Santa Clara, California by way of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia boxed his way to the decision win in his first foray into the six-round distance over the veteran Gomez (4-6-1, 4 KOs) of Livermore, California.  

Abdusamadov, 158, controlled the early part of a feeling out round one with his jab as Gomez, 158, got off to an uncharacteristically tentative opening start. Gomez upped his output in round two as Abdusamadov looked to time his right hand and counter. In round three, Gomez failed to let his hands go and gave away the round to Abdusamadov, who mostly popped his jab and occasionally followed with the right. 

As the fight moved into the second half, Abdusamadov began to find a home for his right with greater frequency. Gomez got active again in the fourth, but a few well-timed rights likely gave the Russian import the round. Both had their moments in the fifth as they met each other in the middle of the ring. Abdusamadov showed great ring generalship and made subtle moves to evade some of Gomez’s offense. Abdusamadov landed with a couple more precision rights in round six to edge another one on the cards. Both took their swings in the final ten seconds before the bell sounded to end the fight. 

Judge Joel Farbstein scored the bout 59-57 and judges Melissa McMorrow and Edward Collantes had it 58-56 all for the still unbeaten Abusamadov. 

Without breaking much of a sweat, unbeaten middleweight Sergio Gonzalez (3-0, 3 KOs) of Sacramento, California rolled past Juan Meza Moreno (4-8, 3 KOs) of Los Angeles, California via first-round stoppage in the last fight of the night.

Gonzalez, 156, hurt Meza Moreno, 152, with the first right hand he threw and scored the first knockdown of the first with another soon thereafter. Meza Moreno unwisely returned to his feet before leaving himself open for a clean right hand that had him reeling again. Backed into the blue corner, Meza Moreno was touched by a left to the body and crumpled to a knee. Referee Edward Collantes did not bother a count and waved off the onslaught at 1:40 of round one. 

Featherweight prospect Kyle Lacanlale (6-0, 3 KOs) of San Ramon, California flashed his power with a first-round body shot knockout of Phillip Ramirez (2-7) of Sacramento. 

The much shorter Ramirez, 126, landed with a right early as he worked his way inside, but after that it was all Lacanlale. At range, Lacanlale, 124, landed with both hands at a distance that Ramirez could not counter. Soon Lacanlale pressed Ramirez back with a left and moved-in with the final left to the body that immediately dropped the Sacramento native to his knees. As referee Michael Margado counted, Ramirez slammed his glove against the mat and showed no sign of getting up. Margado reached ten and waved off the bout at 1:59 seconds of round one. 

In the fight of the night, Tatiana Almaraz (2-4) of Pittsburg, California by way of Guatemala City, Guatemala battled her way to a six-round majority decision over previously unbeaten Iris Contreras (4-1) of Richmond, California. 

Contreras, 118, was strong early, but Almaraz, 117, appeared to have an edge in conditioning and seemed to have more in the tank in later rounds. Almaraz came on late in round three before Contreras fought hard to take round four. 

The final two rounds featured exciting two-way action. Almaraz seemed to have more steam down the stretch and outlanded Contreras in the sixth and final round.  

Judge Joel Farbstein scored the bout even, 57-57, but was overruled by judges David Hartman and Melissa McMorrow, 58-56 for Almaraz. 

Vicky Zhao (1-2) of Watsonville, California by way of Chongqing, China spoiled the professional debut of multi-time Muay Thai champion Fayeda An (0-1) of Long Beach, California via four-round unanimous decision.

Zhao, 111.5, landed with the harder shots and outworked An, 113.2, in stretches. Judges Melissa McMorrow, Joel Farbstein and Edward Collantes all scored the bout 39-37 for Zhao.

In his professional debut, former amateur standout Orion Cyrus Dizon (1-0) of Las Vegas, Nevada scored a decisive four-round unanimous decision over Jaycee King (0-5) of Sacramento.

Dizon, 133, had King, 133, in trouble at the end of round two and kept the pressure up as the fight moved into the second half. After surviving some shaky moments, King found his footing late, but was outworked by the faster, more aggressive Dizon. All three judges scored the bout a shutout, 40-36 for Dizon. 

In a good action fight, middleweight prospect Dante Kirkman (5-0, 2 KOs) of East Palo Alto, California scored a four-round unanimous decision over a willing Dylan Carlson (2-11-3, 1 KO) of Klamath Falls, Oregon. 

Kirkman, 158, threw in combination and maintained a fast pace. Carlson, 159, placed a few solid shots of his own, including a clean right uppercut. The busy Kirkman got the better of every round, taking the cards of judges David Hartman, Joel Farbstein and Michael Margado, 40-36. 

Two fights that weighed-in yesterday did not take place on Saturday night. Super heavyweight Junlong Zhang (20-1, 19 KOs) of Elk Grove, California by way of Qingdao, Shandong, China was to have made his U.S. debut against Vikash Deol (4-0, 3 KOs) of Hayward, California in a four-round bout. However, Zhang was ruled out earlier in the day after his pre-fight medical check. 

Leonard Ocampo of Pinole, California withdrew from his scheduled four-round bout with Rodolfo Molina (0-2) of Antioch, California earlier in the day. Both fighters had weighed-in on Friday, with Ocampo coming in half-of-a-pound over. Ocampo cited health reasons according to the Molina camp. 

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com

ROCKLIN, CALIFORNIA – Unbeaten middleweight prospect Islam Abdusamadov will make the move up to the six-round distance in taking on hard-nosed veteran Jose Manuel Gomez in the headlining attraction of the “Thunder Showdown III” event at the Venue at Thunder Valley at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California on Saturday night. Fighters for the nine-bout card weighed-in on Friday afternoon at Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ in nearby Rocklin. 

Abdusamadov (5-0, 2 KOs) of Santa Clara, California by way of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia last saw action in the very same ring back in March, scoring a hard-fought four-round unanimous decision over Josias Gonzalez. Abdusamadov flashed his power, scoring a second-round knockdown, which would end up being the difference in the final tabulations. Now, ready for his first scheduled six-rounder, Abdusamadov weighed-in at 158-pounds. 

Gomez (4-5-1, 4 KOs) of Livermore, California is no stranger to the six-round distance, nor unbeaten prospects. The battle-tested Gomez has fought four previously undefeated fighters, giving many of them tough rounds but coming up short on the scorecards. Last time out, Gomez was bested by heralded Jorge Maravillo via unanimous decision in June of last year. On his first attempt, Gomez weighed-in .4 over the contracted 158-pounds, before returning to the scale and hitting the mark.

Junior middleweight prospect Sergio Gonzalez (2-0, 2 KOs) of Sacramento, California will make his return to the Thunder Valley ring against Juan Meza Moreno (4-7, 3 KOs) of Los Angeles, California in a four-round bout. Gonzalez, who weighed-in two pounds over the contracted weight at 156, is coming off of a dominant first-round stoppage over Tyre Travon Reed in May. Meza Moreno, who will be fighting his eighth straight opponent with one or fewer defeats on their record, scaled 152-pounds on Friday. 

Featherweight prospect Kyle Lacanlale (5-0, 2 KOs) of San Ramon, California will take on late replacement opponent Phillip Ramirez (2-6) of Sacramento in a four-rounder. Lacanlale’s original opponent Enrique Uvalle bowed out early in fight week and Ramirez quickly stepped-in. Lacanlale was last in the ring in May, scoring an exciting four-round decision over Rodolfo Molina. Ramirez, who has already fought six previously unbeaten foes in his career, weighed-in at 126-pounds, while Lacanlale scaled 124. 

Iris Contreras (4-0) of Richmond, California returns to the ring after battling the injury bug over the last year against Tatiana Almaraz (1-4) of Pittsburg, California by way of Guatemala City, Guatemala in a six-round bantamweight bout. Contreras scored a four-round unanimous decision over Maribel Guerrero in April of last year. Almaraz moved into the win column last time out, getting the nod over Vicky Zhao by four-round unanimous decision last October. Contreras scaled 117-pounds, while Almaraz came in at the bantamweight limit of 118. 

Super heavyweight Junlong Zhang (20-1, 19 KOs) of Elk Grove, California by way of Qingdao, Shandong, China will make his U.S. debut against Vikash Deol (4-0, 3 KOs) of Hayward, California in a four-round bout. Zhang, a thirteen-year pro, ended a nearly two-year layoff with a first-round kayo last July in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Deol reeled off two knockout victories in Colombia in June and July after ending a six-year layoff with a four-round unanimous decision over Herman Hodnett at Thunder Valley in March. Zhang scaled a whopping 314-pounds Friday, while Deol came in at 219. 

Veteran Muay Thai champion Fayeda An of Long Beach, California will make her professional boxing debut against Vicky Zhao (0-2) of Capitola, California by way of Chongqing, China in a four-round flyweight bout. An, who has held multiple Muay Thai titles, came in 1.2-pounds over the contracted weight at 113.2-pounds. Zhao, looking to get into the win column after a hard-fought defeat to Tatiana Almaraz last time out, came in at 111.5-pounds on Friday. An was fined for being overweight. 

Former amateur standout Orion Cyrus Dizon of Las Vegas, Nevada will make his professional debut against Jaycee King (0-4) of Sacramento in a four-round lightweight bout. Dizon, nicknamed “Cyrus the Virus,” scaled 133-pounds, as did King, who has fought nothing but tough opponents in his short career. 

Middleweight prospect and recent Stanford University graduate Dante Kirkman (4-0, 2 KOs) of East Palo Alto, California returns to Thunder Valley to take on Dylan Carlson (2-10-3, 1 KO) of Klamath Falls, Oregon in a four-round middleweight bout. Kirkman, who graduated in June, was last in the ring with a quick first-round stoppage over Jose Cruz at Thunder Valley in March. Carlson, who despite ten defeats has never been stopped, scaled 159-pounds, while Kirkman came in at 158. 

Leonard Ocampo of Pinole, California will make his professional debut against tough Rodolfo Molina (0-2) of Antioch, California in a four-round super bantamweight bout. Ocampo, fighting out of the D.F. Boxing Club in Richmond, came in a half pound over the contracted weight at 120.5-pounds. Molina, coming in off of a hard-fought decision defeat to Kyle Lacanlale in May, scaled 119.5-pounds on Friday. Ocampo opted to take a fine instead of attempting to drop any weight. 

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Middleweights, 6 Rounds

Abdusamadov 158

Gomez 158*

Middleweights, 4 Rounds

Gonzalez 156**

Meza Moreno 152

Featherweights, 4 Rounds

Lacanlale 124

Ramirez 126

Bantamweights, 6 Rounds

Contreras 117

Almaraz 118

Heavyweights, 4 Rounds

Zhang 314

Deol 219

Flyweights, 4 Rounds

Zhao 111.5

An 113.2*** 

Lightweights, 4 Rounds

Dizon 133

King 133

Middleweights, 4 Rounds 

Kirkman 158

Carlson 159

Super bantamweights, 4 Rounds 

Ocampo 120.5****

Molina 119.5

*Gomez was .4 over contracted weight on first attempt before dropping the extra poundage. 

**Gonzalez weighed-in two pounds over and was fined 

***An was 1.2 pounds over and was fined 

****Ocampo was .5 pounds over and was fined 

Tickets for the event, promoted by Upper Cut Promotions, are available online at uppercutpro.com 

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com

Middleweight prospect Islam Abdusamadov moves up to the six round distance when he takes on rugged Jose Manuel Gomez as part of “Thunder Showdown III,” presented by Upper Cut Promotions at the Venue at Thunder Valley at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California this Saturday night.  

Abdusamadov (5-0, 2 KOs) of Santa Clara, California by way of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia may be short on professional experience, but is not short on confidence as he moves up in scheduled distance and in class on Saturday. 

“I feel great,” says Abdusamadov. “I feel that I will beat him easily because I always train hard. I am always confident that I will beat anyone that fights me. I just feel like I can smash anybody.” 

Abdusamadov will be taking a step-up in class against the battle-tested Gomez (4-5-1, 4 KOs) of Livermore, California. The veteran Gomez has been stopped just once and given unbeaten prospects tough rounds over his six-year career. 

“I know he’s a tough guy, but I’ve fought tough guys before too,” says Abdusamadov. “It has never been too much for me. I know I can fight anyone. I think it will be easy for me.” 

After going the full four-round distance in two consecutive fights, Abdusamadov is now ready to extend himself two additional rounds if need be. The power-puncher plans to make it a short night, but has complete faith that his preparation has readied him for distance. 

“I want to finish him early,” says Abdusamadov. “I am not too worried about the last round, to be honest. I sparred more rounds; ten, twelve rounds sometimes. Before [my previous fights,] I sparred less. With the fight being six rounds, I worked on conditioning more and sparred more rounds. I like to start fast, fight aggressively and finish fast. It is a fight, so you never know what will happen. If it goes the six rounds, I am ready for six rounds, eight rounds. But if I can, I will finish him earlier.” 

In his last bout, which took place this past March at Thunder Valley, Abdusamadov passed the test of Josias Gonzales, a scrappy southpaw that has been matched tough in his career, but fights to win. Abdusamadov went into the bout with his signature confidence, but despite scoring a knockdown, had to fight hard until the end to secure the unanimous decision. 

“Before that fight, I did think it would come easy,” says Abdusamadov of the Gonzales encounter. “That guy was tough though. I did knock him down in the second round, but he kept coming and wanted to beat me. For me, Gonzales was my toughest fight out of my five fights. He was a southpaw and he was always busy. He’s a good fighter and tough and I like the tough fights. It was a good fight for my experience.” 

As the competition increases, the pressure on an unbeaten fighter to maintain his record mounts. Abdusamadov, who has grown his fanbase fight-by-fight, is conscious of the importance placed on protecting his loss column and plans to keep it empty this Saturday night. 

“When everyone comes out to see me, I have to win,” says Abdusamadov. “If I keep winning, then they will want to keep coming every time. I want to stay undefeated. It is important, because people want to keep coming to see a winner. Come to watch my fight and I promise you will like this one. It will be the best fight on the card.” 

Tickets for event, promoted by Upper Cut Promotions, are available online at uppercutpro.com

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com 

By Norm Frauenheim

It’s in Japan. But it might as well be on Jupiter. It’s the forgotten fight, shoved off stage and out-of-mind by attention and anticipation captured by the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford fight next week at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

At any other time, Naoya Inoue-Murojdon Akhmadaliev would be a talker. It’s a big fight, significant enough to include pound-for-pound implications. For Inoue, it’s perhaps the biggest challenge to his pound-for-pound claim and emerging celebrity since victories over Nonito Donaire in 2019 and again in 2022.

In the here-and-now, however, only Canelo-Crawford is doing numbers that multiply and amplify as the Sept. 13 opening bell approaches. Will Inoue and Akhmadaliev the next day eventually matter? Forgotten now, but unforgettable later?

The relevance to their  junior-featherweight fight, of course, hinges – first – on Canelo-Crawford Sept. 13 in Vegas and then what they do a few hours later in Nagoya Sept. 14. By the time Inoue and Akhmadaliev enter the ring, they should know who won between Canelo-Crawford.

On Vegas’ clocks, Inoue-Akhamadaliev is scheduled to begin at about 1 a.m. Sept 14. That’s about the same time Canelo has been known to arrive at post-fight news conferences.

It’s anybody’s guess as to who will celebrate at the newser. Canelo-Crawford is hard to pick for reasons that have been analyzed and over-analyzed over the last few weeks. Betting odds suggest the super-middleweight fight is a close call, which helps explain some of the interest. Those odds suggest the post-fight newser could be controversial, too.

Inoue-Akhmadaliev is not expected to be as close, although the Uzbek’s punching power is reason not to rule out an upset. Still, the odds are one-sided. Inoue is about an 11-1 favorite, which simply means his unbeaten run continues. Also, Inoue is the only fighter the public really knows.

Most people, including media, are still learning how to spell Akhmadaliev.

But people know Canelo, maybe Mexico’s best fighter ever and still the game’s only pay-per-view star. They know Crawford, still unbeaten and bidding to be an undisputed champion at three weights.

Both have been at the top of the pound-for-pound debate for years. Canelo-Crawford is full of reasons to stop and watch. Guess here, Inoue and Akhmadaliev will too in the hours before they face each other.

What they’ll witness, however, is anybody’s guess. Still, the result might be the source of some motivation, especially for Inoue. The dynamic little guy, Japan’s Rising Son and a giant name in a sports universe dominated by Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, is already arguing that he’s the world best fighter, No. 1 in the pound-for-pound debate.

Above all, Inoue needs to beat Akhmadaliev to keep himself in the argument, which for the last year has been down to three — Inoue, Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk.

A knockout of Akhmadaliev would strengthen Inoue’s claim, especially if Canelo-Crawford comes down to a debatable result on the scorecards – a split or majority decision.

Crawford by stoppage or one-sided decision would probably end the argument, putting him at No. 1 in what could be the final punctuation to a fight some speculate will be the last in his brilliant career.

Canelo, whose record includes two defeats, could resurrect his pound-for-pound claim with a big knockout. Whatever happens, Usyk, unbeaten at two weights and undisputed at heavyweight, will still be there with another date, another fight to stay relevant.

Oscar Valdez comeback scheduled for ESPN Deportes

Oscar Valdez Jr. is going home in a fight to resurrect his career in a bout against Ricky Medina Saturday that will be televised by ESPN Deportes.

Valdez (32-3, 24 KOs), a former two-division champion,  returns to Nogales, his birthplace, for his first fight since a punishing rematch loss to Emanuel Navarrete in December in Phoenix.

The card featuring Valdez-Medina is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. The fight at Domo Binacional will be Valdez’ first in Nogales, the Sonoran town on the Mexican-Arizona border.

“The main goal for me right now is to become a world champion again,” Valdez, a two-time Mexican Olympian, said. “I want to return to Nogales as a world champion, and I want to be your champion.

“But in order to do that, I have to get through this fight. I’m taking this fight very seriously. I respect Ricky Medina a lot. I have seen him fight. He is strong and young, and he has the same dream that I have. All boxers want to become a world champion, and that’s why we are all here.”

The 34-year-old Valdez, popular in Mexico and Arizona, held world belts at featherweight and junior-lightweight. He was beaten twice by Navarrete and once by Shakur Stevenson.

His most noteworthy victory was a stunning stoppage of Miguel Berchelt. Medina (16-3, 9 KOs) is a 24-year-old junior-lightweight from San Antonio.

Throughout his rise in the amateur ranks and through four fights as a professional, middleweight prospect Dante Kirkman was living a dual life. While shining athletically in boxing, Kirkman was also excelling in school, eventually making his way to prestigious Stanford University in Stanford, California. Having graduated in June, Kirkman can now fully focus on his professional boxing career beginning this Saturday night as he takes on Dylan Carlson in a featured four-round bout at the Venue at Thunder Valley at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California. 

Kirkman (4-0, 2 KOs) of East Palo Alto, California developed a passion for both boxing and academics at a young age, through his parents Robert and Catherine. Kirkman’s father competed as an amateur boxer and continued to follow the sport as an adult. Robert’s love for boxing eventually rubbed off on his younger son Dante, who had tried his hand at team sports, but gravitated to the one-on-one aspect of the sweet science. 

“In boxing, I could control my own destiny and with my dad being a boxing fan, he always wanted to raise my brother and I to protect ourselves,” recalls Kirkman. “Part of that was watching boxing. I remember watching Floyd Mayweather and thinking he was awesome. He gets to do his own thing and he wins without other people being a factor. Whether he loses a round or anything, it was always up to him. It wasn’t up to a lineman or somebody else making a bad pass.” 

The studious side of Kirkman was heavily influenced by his mother Catherine, as well as his brother Tremaine, who is eight years older and graduated from Stanford in 2016. 

“My mom went to Harvard for undergrad and Stanford for law school,” details Kirkman. “We grew up near Stanford, so if we went to a football game or a basketball game, that’s where we went. Obviously, with my mom having a history there and it being one of the best schools, it was always a dream for my brother and that passed down to me. For my dad, he always wanted us to have a good life. He would always say he wanted us to be cool nerds.” 

As he progressed and began challenging himself as a fighter in national tournaments, Kirkman was hitting the books just as hard so that he could realize his dream of attending Stanford. 

“It was pretty intense,” says Kirkman of the juggling of both worlds. “My mom played a big factor, making sure I didn’t slack off. It would have been very easy to slack off because I was tired after training. Whenever I would get back after training, I’d hit myself with the massage gun and be tired and my mom would go, ‘Alright it is homework time.’ So I would do homework for three or four hours until midnight or however long it took and then wake up for the next day. It was a grueling process that I feel is a testament to the people that care about me. It was not a fun experience necessarily, but something I was able to bite down and get through.” 

By the time Kirkman was accepted and enrolled at Stanford, the COVID-19 pandemic had hit, which meant beginning college life off campus in a remote learning setting. With the coronavirus uncontrolled, Kirkman did not have any sanctioned competitions to worry about as he began school and continued to train. While most of his classmates were likely disappointed, Kirkman found the positive in his unique situation. 

“That year, USA Boxing was on pause for a majority of it,” explains Kirkman. “It was good for my training though, because I could really focus and then hop on the computer and go do homework and then go back to training. That year things were shut down for the most part.” 

In 2023, while preparing for the U.S. Olympic Trials, Kirkman took a break from school to prepare for the tournament. 

“For my schooling, we actually took a little bit of a break before the Olympic Trials,” explains Kirkman. “We felt like this was the time to take a few quarters off and have a good performance in the qualifiers. In the first round, I beat the National Golden Gloves champion of that year. In the quarterfinals, I beat the national champion of the weight class above me, who was also the number two seed. In the semi-finals, I lost a tough fight to Keon Davis. After the Olympic Trials, I went back on campus. Immediately after I lost, I knew that meant I was going to be turning pro and that was pretty tough with school.” 

In many academic programs, student-athletes are given some level of grace with assignment deadlines and the like. As Kirkman prepared for his professional debut, which took place in May of last year and resulted in a four-round unanimous decision win over Henry Rivera, he found out that being a student/professional athlete did not garner him any leeway at Stanford. 

“I thought maybe it might be easier,” admits Kirkman of his expectations. “I thought that professors would be a little more understanding since they knew I was competing at a high level in amateur boxing. But the label amateur led them to believe it was more of a hobby thing. As an athlete, but not an actual Stanford athlete, I wasn’t getting a lot of support from professors. I thought that might change with the professional label, but that did not change. So that was a pretty difficult process. I still had an amazing training camp and a dominant performance in my debut.” 

Despite the heavy workload in school, Kirkman continued to excel in the ring as a professional. The East Palo Alto native, nicknamed “The Inferno,” scored a four-round unanimous decision over awkward Miguel Soto-Garcia last August before notching his first two stoppage victories last November and this past March. While finishing up his last quarter at Stanford, Kirkman was scheduled to fight this past May against tough Jose Manuel Gomez, before needing to withdraw from the bout. 

“I saw he is also fighting on the sixth, so hopefully I will be able to share the ring with him after this fight,” says Kirkman of Gomez, who will be in the main event on Saturday against undefeated Islam Abdusamadov. “I was hoping to fight him in this fight, but I saw he was already booked. I think it would be a really great fight and I would like to take that step-up.” 

While he did not get to fight in May, Kirkman, who majored in Art Practice, soon thereafter achieved one of his ambitions by graduating from Stanford University. 

“It was pretty tough, but I grinded it out and officially finished as Stanford’s first professional boxer and graduate,” says Kirkman proudly. “It was really an honor. It was a letdown that I didn’t get to fight then, because I did want to fight then, but I was still very happy to graduate at that time and achieve one of my goals.” 

Now, with his degree mounted on the wall, Dante Kirkman can focus entirely on his pursuits as a professional boxer. Outside of his time preparing for the Olympic Trials, Kirkman has always had his studies drawing his time and attention away from boxing, yet he still managed to compete at a high level. With that time no longer diverted, Kirkman the boxer is excited to show what he can do. 

“I am blessed to be boxing full-time and I am really excited for this new journey,” explains Kirkman. “My whole boxing career, both in amateurs and professionally, has been while simultaneously trying to be the best I can be academically. I am excited to be getting the proper rest and proper training times and reaching new levels.” 

Having graduated in June, Kirkman began camp for his next bout in July, his first as a professional boxer only. 

“I graduated in June, so this camp has been pretty clear of anything to interrupt my training, so it has been great,” says Kirkman. “Now that I am out of school and not trying so hard to get an A in class or be late or anything, it really just makes things a whole lot easier. Now that I am full-time boxing, it also makes things easier mentally as well. I am mentally clear and fully have my mind on boxing. We have just been getting ready, looking to get back active and get as many fights as possible. We will take it one fight at a time, but after this, hopefully go up to six rounds and step-up the competition.” 

Dylan Carlson (2-10-3, 1 KO) of Klamath Falls, Oregon may not sport the best record, but he has never been stopped, despite the ten defeats. While four rounds does not always provide the time required to finish a tough opponent inside the distance, Kirkman worries only about putting on the best performance possible and securing the victory this coming Saturday night. 

“Whatever happens in the fight happens,” says Kirkman. “If he gets stopped, he gets stopped, but we are looking overall to just get the win. Our end goal is to get me to the top championship level, so we are always trying to increase our skillset and our secret sauce. I had a lot of improvement in my last fight camp. That fight ended up only being one round, so I didn’t get to show a whole lot of it in there. So for this fight, I am looking forward to showing how I’ve been developing as a pro and hopefully giving a sneak peak of what is to come in the future.” 

Kirkman, no longer the student-athlete and now simply a prizefighter, plans to show his supportive fanbase what he can do when fully focused on his craft, beginning this Saturday in Lincoln. 

“My fans can expect to see someone that is very passionate about boxing, displaying their skills on the blank canvas of the ring and doing what I always do: bringing the heat, as my Inferno nickname indicates,” says Kirkman. “I plan to put on a great show and a dominant performance.”

Tickets for the event, promoted by Upper Cut Promotions, are available online at uppercutpro.com 

Photo by Ed Silva/Original Solo Photos

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com

By Norm Frauenheim

Pressure is for tires, Hall of Fame pundit Charles Barkley once said famously.

A couple of weeks before opening bell, however, there’s more than just hot air evident in the anticipation building for the Canelo Alvarez-versus-Terence Crawford fight Sept. 13 in front of an expected football-sized crowd at Las Vegas Allegiant Stadium.

Alongside big money, lots of legacy is at stake for fighters already wealthy, yet still pursuing proof of what they’ve done and who they’ve become.

Legacy, of course, is overused enough to be meaningless these days. Just about everybody has one. But the size and significance of Canelo-Crawford puts a spotlight on careers that will meet in a collision that promises to provide a real answer.

Who’s the best of their generation? That’s the simple question. Crawford is 37; Canelo is 35. They come from different weight classes, are from different places, are motivated by different opinions and answer to different fan bases.

Over the years, however, they have emerged as rivals despite that difference in weight, which ironically might be what determines the answer.

But the weight was close enough to be negotiable. Only the date, place and purse remained. Where better than in a four-sided ring where two fighters will seek to be the definitive best of an era they defined? It doesn’t happen that often.

Forget those historical parallels, which have often turned boxing into little more than an exasperating video game.

To wit: How would Oleksandr Usyk, the best heavyweight of this era, have done against Muhammad Ali? Okay, it’s a fun argument, but still mere fantasy. There’s no answer. Never will be. But one is possible in Canelo-Crawford. It’s what makes Canelo-Crawford special. It’s not virtual reality. It’s blood-and-guts real, rare in this day and perhaps in any other.

That’s where the pressure starts. It’ll be there, building throughout next week, fight week, weigh-in, opening bell and post-fight conversation.

For now, it also explains all of the talk preceding the bout between Crawford, an all-time great at welterweight who is coming up from junior-middleweight and jumping two divisions to fight Canelo, the greatest super-middleweight in history.

The biggest risk — in the ring, at least — appears to be in Crawford’s corner, simply because he’s never taken, much less endured, a punch in a sanctioned bout from a true 168-pound fighter.

How will Crawford react when Canelo lands the power that is his trademark? There’s no answer until it lands. That uncertainty sums up the odds. Since the fight was announced, they’ve never changed. Canelo was a slight favorite then. He’s a slight favorite now.

It’s a reflection of an old, reliable guide in a game that has seen it all. To wit: In a fight between two good fighters, always bet on the bigger one.

The documented difference in weight might force Crawford to take a chance. If he hopes to win, he’ll have to step into Canelo’s dangerous wheelhouse at some point. By any definition, that’s a huge risk.

Yet, Crawford might be the personification of what, who Barkley was talking about with his dismissive take on pressure.

Crawford has been known for his cool, calculating demeanor throughout his reign as a four-division champion, including undisputed at 140 pounds (junior-welterweight) and 147 (welter). Ringside commentators like to say Crawford has the It factor. It is in his composure. It is overall poise

In Boxing Speak, Crawford is also known for another intangible called Ring IQ. There’s no exam to measure that, other than his unbeaten record. Let’s just say he knows what he’s doing with a versatile, two-handed style that includes unerring anticipation and a keen predatory instinct. If there’s a weakness, he’ll find it.

And attack it.

If there’s a weakness in Canelo, it appears to be his endurance, especially in the later rounds against fighters known for agile footwork. Crawford’s middleaged feet don’t move at the rate they did a decade ago.

But Canelo’s scorecard loss in May 2022 to light-heavyweight Dmitrii Bivol – perhaps mandatory viewing in Crawford’s video library – showed what’s possible in the late rounds. Canelo gets tired.

If that fatigue factor persists, there’s an opportunity for Crawford if he can withstand – survive – Canelo’s power through the first six to eight rounds. That’s an IF, as big as it is decisive.

Bivol threw punches at varying angles as he moved in-and-out of harm’s way in the late rounds of a decision over Canelo. Canelo was slow to react, slower to recognize, the angles on Bivol’s punches.

Angles are one of Crawford’s unequalled specialties, an aspect augmented by his ability to switch hit. The ambi-dextrous Crawford can fight left-handed, right-handed and makes the switch from one to the other and back in quicksilver fashion.

A tired Canelo might not see what’s coming. But Crawford, who will have to prove he can endure early power shots to the body and upper arms, might have to battle through some early rocky moments just to take the fight into that late stage when Canelo has proven to be vulnerable.

Pick here: Crawford will, getting up from an early knockdown to win a narrow decision.

CANYONVILLE, OREGON – Featherweight prospect Osvel Caballero scored a third-round knockout of Ernesto Sebastian Franzolini to cap the seven-bout “Clash at the Casino II” event at the Seven Feathers Casino Resort on Saturday night. 

After taking the first round to get warmed up, Caballero (6-0, 5 KOs) of Los Angeles, California by way of Lajas, Cienfuegos, Cuba let his hands go in the second round. With Franzolini (21-17-2, 2 KOs) of Pinamar, Buenos Aires, Argentina coming forward, Caballero landed a short right hand to score the first knockdown in the fight. Franzolini, 130.2, gamely rose to his feet, but Caballero, 130.9, kept up the pressure, eventually downing the Brazilian with a combination late in the round. 

At the start of the third round, referee Ray Armendariz called for the ringside physician to take a look at Franzolini. After some discussion, the fight was allowed to continue. Caballero moved in, eventually landing with the right and dropping Franzolini for the third time. After a brief look, the referee opted to wave off the bout at 31 seconds of the third round. 

In the semi-main event, Tony Cruz Herrera (4-0) of Eugene, Oregon boxed his way to a five-round split decision over Blaiwas Eaglepipe (2-3, 1 KO) of Salem, Oregon. 

After a slow start, action picked up in the third round. Cruz Herrera, 130.8, was wider with his punches, while Eaglepipe, 130.8, was more up the middle. Both had their moments in the stanza and traded punches through the bell to end the third. Cruz Herrera controlled the fourth and fifth, catching Eaglepipe on the way in and avoiding much of the Salem native’s attempts to answer. 

After five rounds, one judge scored the bout 48-47 for Eaglepipe, but was overruled by the other two judges, who both scored the bout 49-46 for Herrera. 

Unbeaten light heavyweight prospect Rocky Sanchez (5-0, 3 KOs) of Monmouth, Oregon pounded away at late replacement Idrees Wasi (1-5, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California for three minutes en route to a stoppage victory. 

Sanchez, 185.8, came out aggressively, looking to land to the body and head, while Wasi, 178.1, mostly just covered up. Sanchez landed an unanswered combination, with referee Ray Armendariz looking closely, to close out the round. While Sanchez landed several clean punches over the course of the round, Wasi’s decision not to answer the bell for the second round was unexpected by the crowd. 

In a bout he seemed to win clearly, aggressive southpaw Emmanuel Ojeda (3-0) of Salem scored a four-round majority decision over Joel Hernandez (1-1) of Wenton, Washington. 

After a feeling out first round, Ojeda, 126.8, stepped on the gas in the second round and pressured Hernandez, 124.8, for the duration. Ojeda kept coming in the third and fourth as Hernandez attempted to time the Salem native on the way in, but was not busy enough to slow his southpaw adversary. Both fighters stood and traded to close out the fight. 

One of the three judges scored the bout even, 38-38, but was overruled by the other two who scored the bout 39-37 twice for Ojeda. 

Alessandro Singson (2-1) of Surrey, British Colombia, Canada scored a five-round unanimous decision over a game Christian Torrico (1-1) of Medford, Oregon. 

Singson, 143.6, got behind his jab and used his longer reach early in the first. Late in the first, Singson scored a knock down as he landed an overhand right that forced one of Torrico’s gloves to touch the canvas. Torrico, 143, was more aggressive in the second round and was able to get in range as Singson slowed his output. Torrico spun Singson’s head with a right, but the Canadian fired right back, just before the bell. 

Torrico controlled the action early in the third, before Singson sprang to life and uncorked a series of combinations late in the round. With the referee Ray Armendariz urging Torrico to answer back, the Medford native answered the request and fought his way out of the blue corner, backing up Singson to close the round. Both fighters had their moments in the fourth round, before Torrico came out aggressively to start the fifth and final act. Singson again came alive to close the round firing at the ten-second warning. Singson took all three judges’ cards by scores of 48-46 and 49-45 twice. 

In a pairing of fighters making their professional debut, Sam Mednick (1-0) of Portland, Oregon outworked Bryce Bradbeer (0-1) of Grants Pass, Oregon to score a four-round unanimous decision. 

Mednick, 156.5, was able to get in range and land some power shots in the opening round, while Bradbeer, 159.8,  did well at range with his jab. Mednick timed Bradbeer well with his right hand early in the second and maintained a busy pace. Bradbeer was not nearly as active as in the first round and would struggle to keep up with Mednick’s output as the fight progressed. Mednick controlled the pace in rounds three and four, although Bradbeer did time an uppercut and overhand right, When Bradbeer would land one, Mednick would come back and land two or three. Both fighters, who converted southpaw at various times in the fight, closed out the final round throwing until the final bell. All three judges scored the bout for Mednick by scores of 39-37 and 40-36 twice. 

In an entertaining opener, Vasyl Yakymiuk (1-0) of Spokane, Washington dropped Cesar Pineda (0-1) of Hillsboro, Oregon in the third round en route to a four-round unanimous decision. 

There was some good back-and-forth action in the first round. Yakymiuk, 129.8, found success with some winging shots at distance early, but Pineda, 128.6,  found a home for his lead left in the latter half of the round. Pineda successfully forced an inside fight in round two. Yakymiuk struggled to keep up with Pineda’s pace and the Hillsboro native kept the pressure for the duration. 

Pineda began round three strong, finding a home for his uppercut, but Yakymiuk kept coming with his winging shots. Late in the third, Yakymiuk downed Pineda with a winging right seemingly out of nowhere. Pineda beat referee Ray Armendariz’s count and made it out of the round. Pineda again made excellent use of his uppercut in round four, but Yakymiuk stayed with him, looking to land as Pineda made his way inside. All three judges scored the bout for Yakymiuk, 39-36 and 38-37 twice. 

Saturday’s event was promoted by WhiteDelight Promotions, who will bring professional boxing back to the Medford Armory in Medford on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

Photos by Ryan Hemme/Authentic Media

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com

CANYONVILLE, OREGON – Featherweight prospect Osvel Caballero will aim to continue his upward advancement in the eight-round main event of “Clash at the Casino II” against Ernesto Sebastian Franzolini at the Seven Feathers Casino Resort on Saturday night. Fighters for the seven-bout card weighed-in at the casino’s Elements Lounge on Friday night. 

Caballero (5-0, 4 KOs) of Los Angeles, California by way of Lajas, Cienfuegos, Cuba was actually in the ring just one week ago, competing as a member of the Las Vegas Hustle in Team Combat League. Caballero won both of his one-round bouts by decision over Ariel Perez De La Torre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Throughout the 2025 season, Caballero won 16 of his 19 one-round bouts as one of the top performers in the league. Saturday marks Caballero’s first traditional bout of the year. Last February, Caballero, a 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championship gold medalist, made his U.S. debut and scored a fourth-round stoppage of Jason Buenaobra in Santa Ynez, California. Caballero weighed-in at 130.9-pounds on Friday night. 

Franzolini (21-16-2, 2 KOs) of Pinamar, Buenos Aires, Argentina is a thirteen-year pro making his fourth appearance in the U.S. on Saturday night. Franzolini is coming off of back-to-back victories in his native Argentina this year, lastly a second-round stoppage just three weeks ago. In two fights against American prospects last year, Franzolini failed to last past the second round against Angel Barrientes and Dylan Price, who combined to have a record of 27-1 at the time. Franzolini weighed-in at 130.2-pounds on Friday night. 

In the semi-main event, Anthony Cruz Herrera (3-0) of Eugene, Oregon will take on Blaiwas Eaglepipe (2-2, 1 KO) of Salem, Oregon in a five-round super featherweight bout. Herrera, who weighed-in at 130.8-pounds on Friday, moved up to the five-round distance in his last bout, a unanimous decision over veteran Rob Diezel in Salem this past February. Eaglepipe, who also scaled 130.8-pounds, will be looking to rebound from a seven-round decision defeat to Gerardo Esquivel this past April. 

Light heavyweight prospect Rocky Sanchez (4-0, 2 KOs) of Monmouth, Oregon will meet short-notice replacement Idrees Wasi (1-4, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California in a four-round cruiserweight bout. Sanchez, who weighed-in at 185.8-pounds, had been pegged to rematch Thomas Turner, who was ruled out early in the week. Wasi, who came in at 178.1-pounds, was named as the new opponent on Tuesday. 

Emmanuel Ojeda (2-0) of Salem will take on Joel Hernandez (1-0) of Wenton, Washington in a four-round featherweight bout. Ojeda, who turned pro in April and was last in the ring just one month ago, weighed-in at 126.8-pounds. Hernandez, who scaled 124.8-pounds, turned pro in January with a four-round unanimous decision over Julio Lanzas Carrillo. 

Christian Torrico (1-0) of Medford, Oregon will meet Alessandro Singson (1-1) of Surrey, British Colombia, Canada in a five-round welterweight bout. Torrico, who weighed-in at 143-pounds, turned pro at Seven Feathers with a second-round stoppage over Angel Manrajos last October. Singson, who scaled 143.6-pounds on Friday, looks to rebound from his first professional loss, which took place on the same October night at Seven Feathers. 

In a pairing of fighters making their pro debuts, Sam Mednick of Portland, Oregon will take on Bryce Bradbeer of Grants Pass, Oregon in a four-round middleweight bout. Mednick, also 7-1 as an MMA fighter, scaled 156.5-pounds on Friday. Bradbeer, also an experienced MMA fighter and kickboxer, weighed-in at 159.8-pounds. 

In a four-round super featherweight bout, former amateur standout Cesar Pineda of Hillsboro, Oregon will make his professional debut against Vasyl Yakymiuk of Spokane, Washington, also in his first start as a professional. Pineda, a former state and regional champion, weighed-in at 128.6-pounds, while Yakymiuk came in at 129.8 on Friday night. 

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Super featherweights, 8 Rounds

Caballero 130.9

Franzolini 130.2

Super featherweights, 5 Rounds

Cruz Herrera 130.8

Eaglepipe 130.8

Cruiserweights, 4 Rounds

Sanchez 185.8

Wasi 178.1

Featherweights, 4 Rounds

Ojeda 126.8*

Hernandez 124.8

Welterweights, 5 Rounds

Torrico 143

Singson 143.6

Middleweights, 4 Rounds

Mednick 156.5

Bradbeer 159.8

Super featherweights, 4 Rounds

Pineda 128.6

Yakymiuk 129.8

*.8 over contracted weight, but Oregon allows 1 pound over contract 

Tickets for the event, promoted by WhiteDelight Promotions, are available online at sevenfeathers.com

Photos by Keith Weir

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com 

By Norm Frauenheim –

Jake Paul announced another show this week on Don King’s birthday.

Presumably, it was a coincidence. It was also appropriate, or perhaps inappropriate depending on the perspective.

Put it this way: Not even King, 94 on Wednesday, would have been allowed to put a lightweight in against a guy who last fought at cruiserweight.

In effect, that’s what Paul plans, according to reports Wednesday of a done deal for an exhibition between him and Gervonta Davis, who might want to change his nickname from Tank to Tiny for another Netflix spectacle scheduled for mid-November in Atlanta.

Exhibition could mean just about anything these days. It’s a euphemism for anything goes. There are 65 reasons for why it shouldn’t happen. During an era when weight classes still meant something, that’s the difference – 65 pounds of leverage — between Paul, a natural cruiserweight and Davis, a lightweight champion.

Paul was at 199.4 pounds the day before his victory in June over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a unanimous decision in a 200-pound bout. Davis was at 133.8 for his controversial draw in March with Lamont Roach, who was robbed of a deserved victory in a 135-pound title fight.

Tank-versus-Paul simply would never have happened during King’s tumultuous era. Try to imagine Evander Holyfield, undisputed at cruiserweight in 1988, against Julio Cesar Chavez, the unified lightweight champ at the time.

You can’t.

King always pushed the envelope, crossed several lines of decorum, yet never really trespassed on the craft itself. Then, a 65-pound difference was off the scale, real or imagined. It was simply impossible, beyond comprehension.

But no more. Reasonable these days is defined by whether it can make money. Paul-Tank can, so it’ll happen no matter what kind of risk the massive weight difference creates.

Paul was a 227.2-pound heavyweight for a sad victory over Mike Tyson in a bout that Texas allowed, despite news that Tyson, now 59, had suffered an ulcer in May. His condition forced a postponement from July to November.

Still, Tyson’s performance was full of signs that the ulcer had impacted him physically and perhaps psychologically. He was hesitant at every turn and in every moment. It was hard to watch.

Yet, the fight went on, made possible by a Texas commission represented by Governor Greg Abbott. Gov. Gerry Mandering was there, at ringside, applauding a bout with re-written rules, including two-minute rounds instead of the traditional three. It was a sanctioned exhibition, as in anything goes.

In terms of money, it worked. The live gate at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, was announced at 72,300. The average ticket price was $302. Texas regulators did the math and smiled. Netflix reported an audience of 60-million households.

Those are numbers that add up to an encore, including Paul, the promoter, against Tank, an agile pound-for-pound contender when he’s ready and willing to do more than just collect a paycheck. He’s erratic in and out of the ring.  

What’s clear, however, is that a lot of viewers still follow. Tank continues to be one of boxing’s best draws.

What’s unclear, however, is exactly how Georgia will supervise. Rewritten, Texas-like rules? Shorter rounds? A ladder for Tank?

Everything is up for negotiation, including weights and the other fundamentals that have long defined the ring craft.

The key in so much of this is Paul. Within the ropes, he’s a fighter who says he wants to win a cruiserweight belt. Safe to say, somebody is going to give him that opportunity. He’s already ranked by one acronym.

Above all, he also has the best promoter of the day: Himself. He’ll say anything, do almost anything. He’s King-like in that way.

The difference is that King didn’t answer any opening bells, at least sanctioned ones. Paul answers all of them at multiple weights and does so with a successful promoter’s clout and money. He’s created his own audience, a so-called influencer with some unprecedented punch throughout social-media.

If the Boxing Writers Association of America had an annual award – say, the Don King Promoter of the Year, Paul would have already won it repeatedly.

Is that a good thing? Is he an evolution from King’s contentious reign, often marked by noisy feuds with Bob Arum?

Social-media, Paul’s home turf, has erupted with condemnation at his plan to fight Tank. The angry posts read like last rites. Boxing-is-dead, of course, is a lyric to a very old dirge. We’ve heard it. And we’re hearing it again.

Weights apparently don’t matter much anymore, but there’s still a lot on a scale that this time might provide an answer to whether it’s a game forever changing or forever gone.  

In just over six months since joining the paid ranks, light heavyweight prospect Rocky Sanchez has kept a busy pace and goes for his fifth professional victory this Saturday night, taking on late replacement Idrees Wasi in a four-round special attraction at the Seven Feathers Casino Resort in Canyonville, Oregon as part of “Clash at the Casino II.” 

Originally from Sacramento, California, but residing in Monmouth, Oregon and training out of Young Guns Boxing in Vancouver, Washington, Sanchez (4-0, 2 KOs) originally had different squared circle dreams as a youngster. 

“When I was younger, about four or five, I told my dad I was going to be WWE champion,” recalls Sanchez. “He told me, ‘Why would you do that if you could become a boxer?’ He ended up showing me a bunch of videos of Mike Tyson and ever since then I fell in love with boxing. I kept bugging him to get into it and, finally, when I was eleven-years-old, I got into it and I have been in love with it ever since.” 

Unfortunately, Sanchez’s father passed away before he could see his son’s greatest amateur achievement: a silver medal at last year’s National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions in Detroit, Michigan. Sanchez, who moved to Oregon at the age of 15 to live with his mom after his father’s passing, moved up in weight class and scored decisions on three consecutive days before falling in the finals on a split verdict against a very experienced Isaiah Olugbemi. 

“I was going to fight at 189 that year, but they did not have that weight class in the Golden Gloves, so I went up to heavyweight,” explains Sanchez. “Once I got to the nationals, I was the smallest heavyweight, out of 26 of them.” 

Despite the size disadvantage, Sanchez thought he deserved the nod in the final round. Even without the gold medal finish, the national tournament experience was a positive one for the aspiring fighter, giving Sanchez confidence as he looked toward the pro game. 

“I thought I won the fight, honestly, but it ended up being a split decision loss,” recalls Sanchez of the final round bout. “It was the most challenging, toughest experience I ever had. The mindset of going to the nationals and fighting day-after-day, I still have had nothing else like that. Honestly, I feel like it helped me get ready for the pros.” 

Sanchez had one last goal as an amateur and that was to meet Olugbemi in a rematch and even up the score. Tragically, Isaiah Olugbemi was shot and killed by his own neighbor in Odenton, Maryland just a month after the National Golden Gloves. 

“I was going to go to the Summer Fest,” recalls Sanchez, referring to the national event held in Kansas last June. “I wanted to run it back with him, but I ended up finding out later that after he got home, he got murdered. So it cut that off. I ended up not going to the Summer Fest and decided I would be going pro.” 

Sanchez prepared for the National Golden Gloves by training himself out of his home gym. Once he made it be known he would be turning professional, several gyms and managers made overtures about working with the young prospect. During a sparring event in Washington, Sanchez met former fighter Jason Davis of Young Guns Boxing in Vancouver, who offered his services and the two quickly hit it off. 

“I went to an event for sparring and we started talking,” recalls Sanchez of meeting Davis, who once went the distance with Joel Casamayor. “Once I met him, he said if I ever needed help, I could reach out to him. He’s a real cool dude and I feel like he’s real. We ended up clicking and been with each other ever since.”

With his team assembled, Sanchez turned professional this past February with a first-round stoppage of Joshua Brice in Salem, Oregon. 

“During the weigh-in, he was smiling at me or laughing at me and it ticked me off,” remembers Sanchez of Brice. “The next day, when we were getting ready, he was laughing again, and I told my corner, ‘I am going to hurt this motherfucker.’ It felt good. I never realized how small the gloves are until I was in the ring. We ended up just going at it and I got the knockout.” 

Two months later, Sanchez was back in action, taking on Thomas Turner in Clackamas, Oregon. 

“We had a pretty good fight, but what happened was that he broke his hand in the fight,” explains Sanchez. “After the third round, he told me, ‘I’m going to quit. We are going to have to run it back.’ I had never had anyone hug me during a fight before. I went back to my corner and they told me to stay focused, because he could just be playing around. But the ref ended up waving it off, saying that he did quit. When we had our talk with the doctors, he kept talking to me, saying we needed to run it back and he didn’t get his fair shot. I told him we could run it back at any time, I don’t care.”

After two unanimous decision wins in May and July, the plan was to give Turner that second opportunity this Saturday in Canyonville. However, on Tuesday word came down that Turner’s hand was not cleared and would require surgery. 

“I think he was coming into this fight unprepared and I am in the best shape I have ever been in my life,” says Sanchez of Turner, who had already requested a higher contracted weight. “If anything, I wanted to stop him in this fight, just to prove that the first fight wasn’t a fluke.”

Putting the definitive stamp on the Turner victory will have to wait until another day. Luckily for Sanchez, a new opponent was signed quickly, as Idrees Wasi (1-4, 1 KO) of Sacramento has stepped-in. The larger Wasi, who has additional experience in kickboxing and Muay Thai, will likely present a much different challenge than Turner. 

“I don’t know anything about him,” admits Sanchez. “ I haven’t seen any video of him yet, but I am pretty sure he is going to come awkward. It was a last minute replacement. I told them I could go up in weight, or whatever we needed to do [to keep the date.] So we are going to cruiserweight for this fight. I feel like everything happens for a reason. I am just trying to fight anybody I can right now.”

Sanchez, who has been campaigning at light heavyweight, will not add any additional weight to prepare for his new heavier opponent and has designs on moving down to the 168-pound super middleweight division. 

“I plan on coming in at the same weight [as I planned originally,] because I want to feel sharp, I want to feel strong,” explains Sanchez. “I feel good at this weight right now. We wanted to see how I felt during the weight cut, but the plan, since I feel great, is to shoot down to 168, most likely after this fight.”

In addition to possibly moving down in weight, Sanchez’s other goal is to remain active to close out the year, with a move up to the six-round distance in the offing. 

“I am just trying to stay as active as I can this year,” says Sanchez. “It is getting hard to find opponents over here, so after this next fight, we are probably going to start travelling to get the fights.” 

With eyes on the road, Saturday night’s bout in Southern Oregon presents a great opportunity for Sanchez’s following from both the Northwest and Northern California to see the young prospect in action before he starts logging airline miles. 

“It is going to be big,” says Sanchez. “I have a lot of people coming out, so it is going to be wild. I am coming aggressive. I am looking to hurt him. I want to put him away.”

Tickets for the event, promoted by WhiteDelight Promotions, are available online at sevenfeathers.com 

Photos by Josi Welter/Josi Welter Photography 

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com  

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – Lightweight prospect and co-promoter Lorenzo Powell remained unbeaten in the blink of an eye, stopping Mexican import Javier Rojas Campos to cap a seven-bout event at the Oakland Marriott City Center on Saturday night. 

Powell (5-0, 2 KOs) of Sacramento, California moved quickly, forcing Campos (3-5, 1 KO) of Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California, Mexico down to his knees with an unrelenting flurry, highlighted by a left to the body and finished with the right hand. Rojas Campos, 135.4, grimaced in pain and made no signs of getting up as Powell, 136.8, moved to a neutral corner and waited for referee Edward Collantes’ count to reach ten. 

The official time of the stoppage was 1:30 of the opening round. Powell, part of the promotional team at G1 Promotions, co-promoters of tonight’s event alongside Lion’s Den Boxing Promotions, is tentatively slated to return to the ring this November. 

Light heavyweight prospect Kumar Prescod (3-0-1, 3 KOs) of Antioch, California looked to be on his way to a fourth professional victory over Michael Nelson (4-2-1, 2 KOs) of College Park, Georgia before an unfortunate accidental headbutt forced an early end to the contest after two completed rounds. 

After getting warmed up, Prescod, 176.1, stunned Nelson, 173, late in the first, forcing the Georgia native to hold on as the round came to a close. The bout took a turn in the following round as an accidental headbutt opened a cut above Nelson’s right eye, which did not aid his ability to see Prescod’s power left hand. After a dominant round for Prescod, referee Michael Margado called for a time-out prior to the start of the third. After taking a quick look at Nelson, ringside physician Kevin Mitchell advised referee Margado to end the contest, resulting in a technical draw. 

In a pairing of veteran middleweights, Aaron Coley (17-5-1, 7 KOs) of Oakland ended a nearly three-year layoff with a shutout six-round unanimous decision over a game Moris Rodriguez (8-18-3, 5 KOs) of Sacramento. 

Coley, 160.8, caught Rodriguez, 161.9, leaning in with a right to the body, then followed it upstairs in the third. Late in the round, Coley caught Rodriguez clean with a sweeping right to the head and pressured the Sacramento resident into a neutral corner. The veteran Rodriguez weathered the storm and the bell to end the round soon followed. 

Much of the fourth was fought at a measured pace, but Coley finished the round strong as he forced Rodriguez back into the blue corner with a clean left just before the end of the round. The pace picked up in the fifth, as Coley let his hands go and Rodriguez did his best to respond. 

Early in the sixth, Coley caught Rodriguez with a strong left after catching a punch on the gloves. Rodriguez shook his head to show the blow did not shake him and, after touching the canvas on a slip, kept coming until the final bell. 

Judges Melissa McMorrow, Kermit Bayless and Joel Farbstein all scored the bout 60-54 for Coley. 

In a thrilling offensive showing, Tony Hirsch Jr. (6-0-2, 4 KOs) of Oakland impressively halted veteran former regional title holder David Reyes (25-14-2, 13 KOs) of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico inside of two rounds. 

Hirsch, 134.5, was in constant motion from the opening bell, overwhelming Reyes, 133.7, in moments. Early in the second, Hirsch wobbled and then dropped Reyes with the follow-up right hand. The Mexican veteran gamely made it to his feet, but Hirsch smelled blood in the water. With Reyes taking unanswered combinations, referee Michael Margado leaped-in to call a halt to the contest at 1:39 of the second. 

Pleasing his vocal crowd in attendance, Alberto Velasco (2-0, 1 KO) of Stockton, California made short work of an unrefined Antonio Ferrel (0-1) of Santa Rosa, California. 

Velasco, 131.7, landed with both hands from the outset as Ferrel, 128.7, struggled to defend or maintain his footing. After landing clean with both hands along the ropes, Velasco forced Ferrel into the blue corner and kept punching. Despite losing some of the steam on his punches towards the end of the continued onslaught, Velasco forced the hand of referee Edward Collantes, who called a halt to the bout at 1:46 of the first round. 

In a rematch of a bout in May, Alton Wiggins (3-1-1) of Ceres, California repeated the feat, this time via four-round split decision, over a tough and determined Michael Portales (3-5-1, 1 KO) of San Jose, California. 

The taller southpaw Wiggins, 154.6, engaged in more of a close range fight after positioning himself as more of a boxer-mover in their first engagement. With four full rounds already in their memory bank, neither fighter felt the need to feel out the other.

Wiggins had his best round in the second, rocking Portales, 155.6, with his right. Portales began to find a home for his overhand right, but Wiggins closed the round strong, forcing the San Jose native into a neutral corner as the round came to a close. Portales clearly won the fourth, repeatedly snapping Wiggins’ head back with his right. 

Judge Melissa McMorrow scored the bout 39-37 for Portales, but was overruled by judges Kermit Bayless and Joel Farbstein, who had it 39-37 the other way. Wiggins, who claimed victory by unanimous decision in their first go-around, admitted to the crowd on hand that the second fight was tougher. 

In the opener, Shawn McCollum (1-0-1) of Hayward, California edged out Ricky Esquibel (1-4, 1 KO) of Albuquerque, New Mexico via four-round unanimous decision. 

The action was frantic in spots, especially on the inside. McCollum, 140.8, backed up Esquibel, 136.9, with his jab early in the fight, but did not utilize it enough to make his night a little easier. Esquibel switched to southpaw at times and landed a left that forced McCollum to hold for a moment in the second. McCollum backed up with his hands down in the third, allowing Esquibel to double up without worrying about a return. Things heated up in the fourth. Esquibel landed first in an exchange of stiff right hands, but McCollum’s seemed to land with more authority. “The Irish Bad Boy” followed up and backed Esquibel up with a combination that likely gave him the round. 

All three judges; Melissa McMorrow, Kermit Bayless and Joel Farbstein, scored the bout 39-37 for McCollum, who thanked his coaches for believing in him as he earned his first professional victory. 

Photos by Michelle Morgan

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com

By Norm Frauenheim

David Benavidez has moved up the scale and into the pound-for-pound ratings, both marks of progress that say that bigger stardom is imminent.

But one thing hasn’t changed. 

Benavidez is still maturing.

Still waiting, too.

The wait game continues with his approaching date, a light-heavyweight title defense against Anthony Yarde on a date, Nov. 22, and place, Riyadh, that might test that maturity as much as the opponent.

It’s easy to think of Benavidez as forever young, mostly because of his resume. He was a 20-year-old champion, youngest in the history of the super-middleweight division and young in any weight class.

But there is no forever in young. There’s only that clock, stubborn and relentlessly demanding. Benavidez begins a new stage just five days before Thanksgiving. He’ll enter the ring at 28, within a month of turning 29 on Dec. 17. Ready or not, his prime has arrived. So, too, have the expectations that come with it.

He’s already been fighting professionally for more than a decade. He made his debut as a teenager in Puerto Penasco, a Sonoran fishing town at the top of the Gulf of California about four hours south of Phoenix, his hometown. He won that one and that’s all he’s done ever since.

He’s won, and only won, at a ferocious rate and in a punishing manner that has denied him a true test of his maturity. That’s what happens when a feared fighter gets stuck with the most-avoided tag. He gets stuck in the waiting room, an enforced limbo with lots of potential, but none of it ever completely fulfilled by a significant test. Blame Canelo Alvarez. Blame boxing’s balkanized politics. Blame both.

Now, however, Benavidez enters a stage of his career armed with the potential to generate more money and a name now known to be among the second five in the pound-for-pound-for-pound debate. Both represent leverage, enough of it perhaps to secure the defining fight he has yet to land.

For now, however, the frustration is that it’s still not there. Surely, it’s not Yarde. Benavidez is a 10-to-1 favorite to beat the UK challenger in a 175-pound title defense.

Already, there’s confusion about whether and when the big fight will finally land on his calendar. When the November date with Yarde was first announced by Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh, it was thought that a Benavidez victory would lead to a showdown for the light-heavyweight’s undisputed crown against the winner of a third Artur Beterbiev-Dmitrii Bivol fight.

But Beterbiev-Bivol 3 fell apart. First, there were rumors that there was Russian money involved for a fight expected to be in a nation still trying to destroy Ukraine in Vladimir Putin’s desperate war. Even by boxing’s crazy standards, it just made no sense. As it turned out, a third Bivol-Beterbiew fight didn’t either.

Finally, Bivol announced on social media that he decided to undergo back surgery, a procedure that will sideline him for at least the rest of this year.

Frustrated, Beterbiev decided to move on. Eventually, he was added to the Nov. 22 card against second-tier contender Deon Nicholson. Presumably, the idea is for Benavidez to fight Beterbiev. But Beterbiev is fighting at an age when most are making comebacks. He’s from the generation personified by Manny Pacquiao, who at 46 came back last month and fought Mario Barrios to a draw.

Beterbiev is 40. He’ll be 41 before – make that if – he ever agrees to fight Benavidez, who is at an age and a point in his career when he needs a defining date.

It could still happen, of course. For Benavidez, the immediate task is to take care of business – simply do his job. Benavidez has yet to fight outside of North America. In Riyadh, Benavidez figures to fight at an unusual hour, perhaps early in the morning in a move to accommodate viewers in Mexico and the United States.

In a tune-up for his fight next month against Terence Crawford at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, Canelo fought William Scull May 7 at 6 a.m., Riyadh time.

Canelo complained about the early hour after delivering a dull – call it sleepy – performance at dawn. The crowd wasn’t exactly awake either. From Phoenix to Vegas, Benavidez – known for his abundant energy in the later rounds — has been fueled by loud, passionate crowds.

How he’ll react without one at an unusual hour could prove problematic against Yarde, whose only edge might be his well-traveled resume.

Put it this way: Benavidez might have to beat more than just Yarde in a bout that could finally get him out of the waiting room and into prime time.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – Well-regarded lightweight prospect Lorenzo Powell takes center stage as he and his promotional team at G1 Promotions join with Lion’s Den Boxing Promotions to present “Straight Outta Oakland,” at the Oakland Marriott City Center on Saturday night. Fighters for the seven-bout card weighed-in on Friday morning at the host venue. 

Powell (4-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California will take on Javier Rojas Campos (3-4, 1 KO) of Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California, Mexico in the six-round main event. 

Powell has been building his professional resume in Stockton, California, including a six-round unanimous decision over Michael De La Cruz this past May. Powell took to the scale last at Friday’s weigh-in, coming in at 136.8-pounds. Rojas Campos, who fought three times last year, going 2-1, weighed-in at 135.4-pounds. 

In the co-main event, rising light heavyweight prospect Kumar Prescod (3-0, 3 KOs) of Antioch, California will meet Michael Nelson (4-2, 2 KOs) of College Park, Georgia in a four-rounder. 

Prescod, who weighed-in at 176.1-pounds, is coming off of a one-sided second-round knockout in May. Nelson, who sprung an upset over previously unbeaten Carlos Fidel Miranda before hitting a two-fight skid, weighed-in at 173-pounds. Nelson initiated a brief shoving match during the face-off photo op, which was the one spike in excitement during an otherwise cordial weigh-in ceremony. 

Former middleweight contender Aaron Coley (16-5-1, 7 KOs) of Oakland ends a nearly three-year hiatus in taking on fellow veteran Moris Rodriguez (8-17-3, 5 KOs) of Sacramento in a six-round bout. 

Coley, who will be fighting before his home crowd for the first time in nine years, weighed-in at 160.8-pounds on Friday. Rodriguez, coming off of a split decision defeat to Delen Parsley in February, came in one pound over the contracted weight at 163-pounds before shedding the overage and returning to the scale at 161.9-pounds.  

Tony Hirsch Jr. (5-0-2, 3 KOs) of Oakland will meet former regional title holder David Reyes (25-13-2, 13 KOs) of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico in a four-round lightweight bout. 

Hirsch, who bested a different David Reyes in an exciting fight at the Oakland Marriott City Center last August, scaled 134.5-pounds. Reyes, a thirteen-year veteran, came in at 133.7-pounds. 

Alberto Velasco (1-0) of Stockton will meet debuting Antonio Ferrel of Santa Rosa, California in a four-round super featherweight fight. The Oakland-born Velasco weighed-in at 132.2-pounds on his first attempt, but scaled 131.7 on his second try, under the contracted 132. Ferrel, who was drinking water before getting on the scale, came in at 128.7-pounds. 

In a rematch of a highly-competitive bout this past May, Alton Wiggins (2-1-1) of Ceres, California and Michael Portales (3-4-1, 1 KO) of San Jose, California will battle it out in a four-round junior middleweight bout. Wiggins, who claimed a four-round unanimous decision in their first meeting, scaled 154.6-pounds, while Portales made 155.6. 

Shawn McCollum (0-0-1) of Hayward, California takes aim at professional victory number one against Richard Esquibel (1-3, 1 KO) of Albuquerque, New Mexico in a four-round lightweight bout. McCollum came in heavy at 140.8, but Esquibel who scaled 136.9, agreed to some extra pay in lieu of forcing his opponent to shed any weight. 

Super featherweight prospect Braulio Ceja Navarro (5-0, 2 KOs) of Concord, California had been slated to fight Brandon Sandoval (3-4, 1 KO) of Salem, Massachusetts in a lightweight bout. 

Sandoval made the trip all the way to Oakland, only to pull out of the fight just before the weigh-in. Obed Sepulveda (0-7-1) of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico was originally pegged to fight Cesar Olvera (1-0, 1 KO) of Tracy, California, who was a late scratch, and offered to step-in for Sandoval, but that fight was not approved by the California State Athletic Commission. 

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Lightweights, 6 Rounds 

Powell 136.8

Rojas Campos 135.4

Light heavyweights, 4 Rounds

Prescod 176.1

Nelson 173

Middleweights, 6 Rounds 

Coley 160.8

Rodriguez 161.9

Lightweights, 4 Rounds

Hirsch Jr. 134.5

Reyes 133.7

Super featherweights, 4 Rounds

Velasco 131.7

Ferrel 128.7

Light middleweights, 4 Rounds

Wiggins 154.6

Portales 155.6

Lightweights, 4 Rounds

McCollum 140.8*

Esquibel 136.9

*McCollum 2.8 pounds over, fight will go on

Tickets for the event, promoted by G1 Promotions and Lion’s Den Boxing Promotions, are available online at g1promotions.com 

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com 

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – Former middleweight contender Aaron Coley makes his ring return, fighting at home for the first time in nearly a decade, when he takes on veteran Moris Rodriguez to headline “Straight Outta Oakland,” a ten-bout card co-promoted by G1 Promotions and Lion’s Den Boxing Promotions at the Oakland Marriott City Center this coming Saturday. 

Coley (16-5-1, 7 KOs) of Oakland last saw ring action in 2022, suffering back-to-back defeats: a debatable eight-round split decision to Jamontay Clark and the only stoppage loss of his career to Serhii Bohachuk seven months later. After a nearly three-year hiatus, Coley’s return was ignited by his 11-year-old son Ahki’s dedication and success in the amateurs. 

“The team, the people around me and my son motivated me to [return] just by him boxing and him wanting to see me in action,” explains Coley. “With him being a little bit older, he moved me by working his corner. It did get me going, because I wanted him to see me work and pick up some of the craft that I’ve got and the skills that I possess that other people don’t.” 

In Coley’s time away from competition his son Ahki went from just getting his first fight or two under his belt to advancing to the semi-finals of the 75-pound weight division at the USA Boxing National Championships in December of last year. Now that Ahki is older and an accomplished competitor himself, there is an extra layer of excitement added to the elder Coley’s ring return. 

“It is going to be great,” says Aaron about sharing this moment with his son. “Just hearing him say, ‘I really can’t wait to see you fight.’ That just gives me the chills. He wasn’t old enough to really see me when I was active and busy. When you are about three-years-old you really don’t understand the magnitude of things. Now that he has been on the big stage in the amateurs, at nationals, placing number three in the nation, he really knows the magnitude of the situation. So it is pretty big.” 

Coley had been a road warrior throughout most of his career, but will make this ring return at home in Oakland, making it easy for Ahki and his entire fanbase in the Bay Area to be ringside when “Heavy Metal” begins this next phase of his career. 

“It is awesome to get back because a lot of my people have been asking me when I would fight back at home,” explains Coley. “They did not realize that I was off for a little bit. [It is special] being able to kick it off at home before I get back on that road.” 

Coley will have a familiar voice, but one new to his corner, when he makes his return this Saturday. Khamza, who came up in Bay Area gyms with Coley and amassed an unbeaten record before injuries forced him from the ring, now serves as his head trainer. 

“Not only has he been my friend for so long, but we have been watching boxing and tapes together ever since we were training together at SFC, so that goes way back,” explains Coley. “We used to sit there for hours, watching different tapes and talking boxing. Now to have him in my corner, it is so easy. It just gel real smooth.” 

Opposing Coley in the six-round bout on Saturday night will be fellow ring veteran Moris Rodriguez (8-17-3, 5 KOs) of Sacramento, California. Rodriguez, despite his uneven record, has proven to be a solid test for up-and-coming prospects as well as comebacking veterans in recent times. Rodriguez was last in action in February, forcing a majority draw against returning former prospect Delen Parsley. In his fight prior, Rodriguez dropped unbeaten Victor Guerrero early, before the tables were turned en route to a stoppage defeat. Despite their many years, each plugging away in Northern California gyms, Coley and Rodriguez never have crossed paths before.

“I have never seen him,” explains Coley. “It is crazy that I have never heard of him, being that I have been all over this part of Northern California, getting work. So he is new to me. I have not seen anything on him or expect anything from him. I really just got to come at my best. I know when I am at my best, there is really nothing you can do. When I am really doing my thing and boxing, there is really nothing you can do to come and rattle my cage.” 

With nearly three years away to refresh his body, Coley believes now is the time to chart his course back to the big stage. The road back begins this Saturday, at home in Oakland. 

“I just see getting back into championship contention,” says Coley about where this return will take him. “I was there once before, so just getting back to that green belt status, going after that WBC belt, that is what I am looking for. I want to get a shot at the top 160-pounders.” 

Tickets for the event, promoted by Lion’s Den Boxing Promotions and G1 Promotions, are available online at g1promotions.com 

Photo by Lina Baker/360 Promotions

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com 

By Norm Frauenheim

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez’ rocket-like rise in the pound-for-pound debate and overall name recognition comes with a lot of risk, including the inevitable temptation to look too far ahead.

Actually, it’s not even a temptation anymore. It happened in Rodriguez’ last fight. Saudi Prince and Promoter Turki Alalshikh signed and announced his next fight before he had even answered the opening bell before his last one.

News of Rodriguez’ title unification date against dangerous Argentine Fernando Martinez Nov. 2 in Riyadh was all over social media in July long before Rodriguez took care of business, scoring a 10^th-round stoppage of South African Phumelela Cafu in Frisco, TX. Bam, he’s reliable, too.

But here’s the caveat: History is littered with examples of young fighters thinking more about what’s next instead of looking out for the incoming power punch thrown in the here-and-now. It’s a trap. Yet, it’s one that Rodriguez, mature beyond his 25 years, understands with a quiet, almost unnerving poise. The future is a feint. Rodriguez, already among the top five in several pound-for-pound rankings, hasn’t been fooled by it.

Yet, it’s here, all over again, this time in news that Junto Nakatani is expected to vacate his bantamweight titles, the 118-pound International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council belts. Boxing Scene reports that Nakatani will announce his move up to junior-featherweight in a recording for WOWOW’s Excite Match SP series early next week.

The move opens the door for Rodriguez, already a champion at flyweight and super-fly, to win a third division title. First, however, he has to add a third piece of the super-fly title against Martinez to the growing collection of hardware draped across his shoulders. By all accounts, he’s a huge favorite, minus-1000, according to Fan Duel.

The expectation – and Bam has fulfilled them all so far – suggests that that he would move up, perhaps pursue one of the two belts vacated by Nakatani or one of the two held by the other two champions. Antonio Vargas is the World Boxing Association’s version and Yoshiki Takei the World Boxing Organization’s.

Nakatani’s expected decision to move up the scale isn’t a surprise. The top-10 pound-for-pound fighter had been calling out Bam before a stoppage of Ryosuke Nishida June 8 in Tokyo. Then, however, there was silence about Bam from the Japanese fighter who trains in Southern California.

There had been various reports that Bam and Nakatani had agreed to fight. But the reported possibility was quashed by Akihiko Honda, the powerful “Mister Honda” of Teiken Promotions.

The long-range plan has always been an all-Japanese showdown between Nakatani and super-star Naoya Inoue, ranked alongside Oleksandr Usyk and Terence Crawford among the top three in the current pound-for-pound debate. Inoue faces a challenging date in Murodjon Akhmadaliev for Inoue’s undisputed 122-pound belt Sept. 14 in Tokyo.

Then, there are reported plans for Inoue to keep sharp in a stay-busy fight against Mexican Alan David Picasso in December before a long-anticipated showdown against Nakatani next year.

According to sources in Japanese media, Mister Honda didn’t want a Nakatani-Bam fight to get in the way – perhaps risk – Inoue-Nakatani, a fight projected to break revenue records in Japan. It makes sense.

The timing of Nakatani’s move up would allow him a fight or perhaps two to get familiar with the new weight.

Meanwhile, it would allow Rodriguez to further his own reputation and perhaps move ever closer to his own shot at Inoue in a bout that is climbing up the list of “dream fights” as quickly as Bam is moving up the pound-for-pound ratings.

Oscar Valdez going home

Former two-division champion Oscar Valdez Jr. (32-3, 24 KOs) is going back to where it all started. Top Rank announced he’ll face Ricky Medina (16-3, 9 KOs) Sept. 6 in his hometown, Nogales, on the Mexican side of the border it shares with Arizona.

It’ll be the first time Valdez, an ex-champ at featherweight and junior-lightweight, will fight as a pro in the Sonoran city where he was born.

Valdez is fighting for the first time since a punishing loss to Emanuel Navarrete in a rematch last December in Phoenix. Before and after the loss, there was talk that Valdez would retire. But former Mexican Olympian, known for his no-quit mentality, has decided to fight on.

“Oscar Valdez is a proud warrior, and this is a great opportunity for him to return home and prove he still has what it takes to contend at 130 pounds,” Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum said. “Oscar has been with Top Rank since he turned pro, and we are in his corner as he attempts to become a three-time world champion.”

By Norm Frauenheim

Netflix and Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium are sure signs that Canelo Alvarez-versus-Terence Crawford is transforming itself into an event, bigger than just boxing.

Netflix’s subscriber base, 301 million and counting, alongside the NFL brand attached to the Raiders’ home field is a powerful marketing combo, a chance perhaps to bring back some of that so-called cross-over crowd that continued to exit the boxing audience with ESPN’s final card last week.

With the Sept. 13 opening bell still six weeks away, anticipation for Crawford-Canelo has already been building for weeks. Unlike the sad spectacle of watching Jake Paul against aging Mike Tyson in Netflix’s last bit of boxing theater inside the Dallas Cowboys home in November, Crawford-Canelo is genuine.

At least, it can be.

That, of course, is the mandatory caveat, always there, attached to a sport as risky as it is resilient. Buyer beware. Nevertheless, Canelo and Crawford represent a rare opportunity to unify fans, hard core and casual.

It doesn’t happen often enough in any era, even a good one. But here we are, Crawford and Canelo, two of the best fighters from the same generation from different weight classes meeting in a fight that could determine the best of a passing era.

Some promoter somewhere will no doubt dust off the cliched label and call this one another fight to save boxing. It’s not, of course. Boxing has always been beyond saving, anyway. Still, this one has a chance to be a keeper

For Crawford, it’s a chance to prove he was as good a welterweight as any in any era, including the one defined by Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran.

For Canelo, it’s a chance to deliver the proof to what he’s been saying all along. History’s only undisputed super-middleweight champion has long argued he’s the best. Period. A definitive victory over Crawford would be the proof and perhaps the piece that would allow him to say he’s the best in Mexican history, better than even the iconic Julio Cesar Chavez.

The stakes, like the purses, are enormous, heightened by the fighters’ ages. Crawford is 37. Fifteen days after the fight, he’ll be 38. Canelo celebrated a birthday on July 18. He’s 35. Both are leaving their primes. This is a chance for each to recapture the best of what made them great.

By now, their respective advantages and disadvantages have been analyzed to the point of redundancy. On the scale, the bigger, heavy-legged Canelo has all the advantages. He also more to lose.

Crawford, who is moving up two weight classes after winning at junior-middle more than a year ago, is quicker with a quicksilver ability to switch from right to left and back. Yet, he’s at a bigger risk of getting knocked out, a danger and perhaps a final punctuation to a Hall of Fame reign that could leave some doubts about his pursuit of a genuine legacy.

All and more are the backdrop to expectations that might be difficult – perhaps impossible – to fulfill. But that’s why Netflix will be there in a 65,000-seat stadium. It’s not exactly winner-take-all, but it has that kind of feel to it. Appropriately, it’s also a fight that could go a couple of ways.

The best and worst examples in modern history:

·    Manny Pacquiao’s star-making stoppage of Oscar De La Hoya in December 2008 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

·    Errol Spence Jr.’s unanimous decision over Mikey Garcia March 16, 2019 at the Cowboy’s A&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.

Both were fights between the best in different weight classes. In each, the lighter fighter was jumping two divisions — Pacquiao from lightweight to welterweight to face De La Hoya, who dropped down from 154 pounds to 147 and Garcia from lightweight to welter against Spence.

Pacquiao-De La Hoya was the keeper. It ended with De La Hoya, beaten and finished on the stool at the start of the ninth. De La Hoya, a six-division champion, retired and Pacquiao, an eight-division champion went on to stardom still evident. At 46-years-old, he still filled the MGM Grand with fans chanting Manny in a controversial majority draw with Mario Barrios last month.

Spence-Garcia was the dud. Garcia was known for his footwork and versatile skillset. But his brother, trainer Robert Garcia, warned him about moving up two weights against the then-emerging Spence, who seven months later was badly hurt in a scary auto accident. Garcia should have listened to his brother. Spence dominated in every conceivable way, winning on scorecards – 120-108, 120-107, 120-108 — that reflected a bout best forgotten.

Keeper or dud? The only sure thing about Canelo-Crawford is that it’ll be an event. Boxing could use one. Could use a keeper, too.

NOTES

It was evident that Oscar Valdez Jr. (323, 24 KOs) had decided to fight on when it was disclosed last month that he was leaving trainer Eddy Reynoso and re-joining Manny Robles, his first pro trainer.

His first step back into the ring after a punishing rematch loss to Emanuel Navarrete in Phoenix in December is planned for Sept. 6, according to Boxing Scene.

However, no opponent or site has been reported. The expectation is that Valdez, 34, will make his comeback in Mexico. The two-time Mexican Olympian lives in Hermosillo. He grew up in Nogales, a border town south of Tucson, where he has family. He also went to school in Tucson, where he has always been a good draw.

NEW YORK– He turned pro at the age of 17. At 22, Puerto Rico’s chosen one became a champion.

Xander Zayas dominated Mexico’s Jorge Garcia by unanimous decision (116-112, 118-110, and 119-109) to win the WBO junior middleweight world title Saturday evening at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. 

Garcia (33-5, 26 KOs), fueled by his upset win over Charles Conwell in April, launched toward Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) with wildly thrown punches. Zayas evaded most shots, soon adjusting to a game plan of quick jabs to the body and occasional right hands.

Still, Garcia managed to drag Zayas into a fight, especially in the sixth as both went toe-to-toe with hooks in the center of the ring. But by the seventh and eighth, Zayas’ counterpunching began to wear down Garcia as he easily outboxed him in the championship rounds.

Zayas said, “Boxing 101. I had to box my way to victory. I knew that if I stood in front of him that I’d be fighting his fight. So, I did everything behind the jab. The jab was the key to victory, and we showed that today.

“This is a dream come true. This is beautiful. To see my Puerto Rican fans here, this is amazing. I could never dream of anything better than this.”

Carrington Decisions Heita To win Interim Featherweight Title

Bruce Carrington won the WBC Interim Featherweight Title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Mateus Heita.

Carrington was quick with counters and landed several hard combinations that seemed to slightly rock Heita on several occasions.

Carrington, 125 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 119-108 twice and 120-108 and is now 16-0. Heita, 124.8 lbs of Namibia is 14-1.

CARRINGTON

“I wanted to show that I can go the full 12 rounds. I showed that championship level through those 12 rounds. I feel good. I feel in shape. I feel sharp and ready for that next level.”

I’m ready. I’ve been calling out all the champions. They already know. I see {Rafael} Espinoza in the crowd. I want to fight him. I want to fight Nick Ball. I want to fight Stephen Fulton.”

Emiliano Fernando Vargas Obliterates Espinoza in 1

Emiliano Fernando Vargas needed just one counter right hand to take out Alexander Espinoza in the opening round of their eight-round junior welterweight bout.

Vargas put a right hand on the chin of Espinoza and he folded down to the canvas. Espinoza tried to get up, but fell face first and the bout was over at 42 secpnds.

Vargas, 139.6 lbs of Las Vegas is 15-0 with 13 knockouts. Espinoza, 139.4 lbs of Ecuador is 20-4-1.

EMILIANO FERNANDO VARGAS

“I’m just a Mexican kid trying to make it to the top. 26 years ago, my father fought here, and history repeats itself. If I could be half as great as my father was, I’ll make it a long way.”

“Top 15 in the world, 15-0… I’m coming for all the belts!”

“Alexander Espinoza is the most experienced fighter I’ve ever fought. I was ready for 15 rounds tonight. It’s a blessing that I got to do it so quick. They don’t pay me for overtime, though. I had to get it done fast. Like I said, I’m ready for top, elite competition. My skills are going to show through.”

Rohan Polanco remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Quinton Randall in a welterweight fight.

Polanco, 146.6 lbs of Samto Domingo, DR won by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 97-93 and is now17-0. Randall, 146.8 lbs of Houston is 15-3-1.

Juanmita Lopez De Jesus stopped Jorge Gonzalez in round two of their four-round junior bantamweight bout.

In round one, De Jesus dropped Sanchez with a perfect counter left. De Jesus dropped Sanchez again after he landed about five consecutive left hands that was finished off by a two hand flurry. In round two, De Jesus dropped Sanchez with a perfect counter left and the fight was stopped at 1:14.

De Jesus, 113.8 lbs of Caguas, PR is 3-0 with two knockouts. Sanchez, 114.8 lbs of Las Mairis, PR is 5-3.

Yan Santana remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Aaron Almeida in a featherweight bout.

Santana, 124.8 lbs of La Romana, DR won by scores of 100-90 on all cards and is now 15-0. Almeida, 125.4 lbs of Nogales, MEX is 30-3.

Steven Navarro pounded out an eight-round unanimous decision over Christopher Rios in a junior bantamweight bout.

The fight was a slugfest with both fighters landing combinations.

n round two, Navarro began to bleed around his left ear, but he landed more and was more accurate and won by scores of 77-75 on all cards and id now 7-0. Rios, 114.4 lbs of Compton, CA is 11-3.

Julius Ballo made a sucsessful pro debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Brandon Ayala in a lightweight bout.

Ballo, 132.6 lbs of San Diego won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 1-0. Ayala, 130.2 lbs of Harrisburg, NC is 2-1.

Claressa Shields retained the Undisputed Heavyweight Title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Lani Daniels at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Shields landed 167 of 535 punches. Daniels was just 41 of 240.

Shields, 174.6 lbs of Flint, MI won by scores of 100-90 and 99-91 twice is now 17-0. Daniels, 170.4 lbs of Pipiwau, NZ is 11-3.

Harrison Gets Dropped But Decisions Diaz

Former world champion Tony Harrison won a 10-round unanimous decision over Edward Diaz in a middleweight bout.

In round nine, Diaz landed a perfect counter right on the chin that put Harrison on the deck.

Harrison landed 213 of 572 punches. Diaz was 53 of 382,

Harrison, 159.2 lbs of Detroit won by scores of 98-91, 97-92 and 96-93 and is now 30-4-1. Diaz, 159.4 lbs of El Congo, DR is 1607.

Pryce Taylor Decisions Simms

Pryce Taylor remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Robert Simms in a heavyweight bout.

Taylor landed 176 of 668 punches. Simms was 97 of 341.

Taylor, 278.2 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 80-72 on all cards and is now 9-0. Simms, 258 lbs pf Saginaw, MI is 12-5-1.

Worthington Decisions Piteau

Samantha Worthington won a 10-round majority decision over Victoire Piteau to win the WBA Interim Super Lightweight title.

Worthington landed 176 of 614 punches. Piteau landed 165 of 551.

Worthington, 138.4 lbs of Lexington, KY won by scores of 99-91, 96-94 and 95-95. Piteau, 139.2 lbs of Saint-Maur, FRA is 14-3.

Veyre Decisions Boudersa

Caroline Veyre won a 10-round unanimous decision over Licia Boudersa in a featherweight elimination bout.

In round six, Veyre landed a hard right that had the nose of Boudersa bleeding from her nostrils. In round nine, Boudersa was cut over her left eye.

Veyre landed 158 of 408 punches. Boudersa was 60 of 410.

Veyre, 125.4 lbs of Montreal won by scores of 99-91 twice and 98-92 and is now 10-1. Boudersa, 125.4 lbs of Lilie, FRA is 24-4-2.

By Norm Frauenheim

Yesterday, today and tomorrow played out on a three-sided weekend last Saturday that summed up what boxing has been, is now and might soon become.

Manny Pacquiao brought the golden-oldie nostalgia. Oleksandr Usyk re-asserted himself as the best of this era and maybe a few others. And Jesse Rodriguez provided another preview at what could be next.

It’s hard to say just who made the biggest statement. Pacquiao’s enduring celebrity dominated the headlines and perhaps contributed to some of the frustration over the scorecards for his majority draw with Mario Barrios, who retained his welterweight title with a second successive draw. Maybe, there’s been some erosion in the 46-year-old Filipino’s skillset, but his likability is intact, as powerful as ever.

“Manny, Manny’’ chants filled the MGM’s Grand Garden Arena like a memorable lyric from an old pop song. I’m not sure he’ll ever be a welterweight champion again, but he’ll always be remembered more than the collection of forgettables among today’s belt-holders.

Pacquiao, who talked about a rematch with Barrios and already is mentioned as a possible challenger for Rolly Romero’s belt, reminds us of what we miss. There’s a huge risk there. He could get hurt. But he’ll fight on, and a Pied Piper-like crowd is sure to follow.

Pacquiao’s immense popularity is matched by what Usyk has in terms of respect for his discipline and smarts. He’s an undisputed heavyweight champion all over again with his stoppage of Daniel Dubois at London’s Wembley Stadium.

It’s not exactly clear what undisputed means anymore. Acronyms get in the way with so-called mandatories and hollow threats to strip. Already, the World Boxing Organization is ordering Usyk to defend its piece of the heavyweight puzzle against Joseph Parker. 

Usyk hasn’t replied and doesn’t have to, of course. It’d be nice if these self-proclaimed ruling bodies quit issuing orders and just showed Usyk some mandatory respect. He’s a great champion, whose unbeaten record over 24 bouts is notable for what it doesn’t include. He’s never had a pro fight in his home country, war-torn Ukraine. Yet, he fights on, winning with an unerring instinct. To wit: He knows what he’s doing.

The stoppage of Dubois in a rematch has generated a lot of talk about how he would have done against the all-time greats in boxing’s fabled division. Even Muhammad Ali’s name has been dropped into the conversation. Who knows? It’s a fun argument, but it’s impossible to compare fighters from different generations.

I’m not even sure he’s the greatest Ukrainian heavyweight ever. Shouldn’t Wladimir Klitschko and brother Vitali Klitschko, now the major of Kyiv, be included in the conversation? I’m sure Usyk himself would mention them. Then again, Usyk knows something about respect for history, Ukrainian and boxing.

It’s not exactly clear what Usyk does next. Parker is an okay fight, but it doesn’t bring anybody to the edge of their seat or to a live-stream audience. At 38 – 39 in January, Usyk will be exiting his prime, a stage that Pacquiao left long ago.

In terms of prime time during last week’s triple-header, there was only Rodriguez, a poised and master tactician who continued to fulfill everything it means to be Super Fly by unifying the 115-pound belt with a 10^th-round stoppage of Phumelele Cafu in Frisco, Texas.

Rodriguez’ victory got less attention than Pacquiao and Usyk, but at one level it was the most significant bout of the three.

At 25, Rodriguez is 21 years younger than Pacquiao, 13 years younger than Usyk. Pacquiao and Usyk are moving on. So, too, is the way we watch boxing. ESPN is leaving ringside with its last Top Rank show Saturday featuring unbeaten Puerto Rican junior-middleweight Xander Zayas against Mexican Jorge Garcia in New York at The Theater in Madison Square Garden.

How we watch, who we watch is about to change.

Enter Bam, a nickname that Rodriguez manages to fulfill nearly every time he answers an opening bell. To be fair, it was hard to judge the Cafu victory. Cafu, a South African, was fighting in the United States for the first time after scoring a notable upset of Kosei Tanaka in Japan for a belt last October.

The circumstances dictated that Rodriguez do more than just win. He had to be brilliant. He was, delivering a methodical beatdown that led to a 10^th-round knockout at Ford Center on the Dallas Cowboys complex.

Short-term, it set up what had already been announced – Bam in a bid for a third Super Fly belt against Fernando Martinez Nov. 22 in Riyadh on a card that includes Phoenix-born David Benavidez in a light-heavyweight defense against Anthony Yarde.

Long-term, it puts Rodriguez a little bit closer to what has been a dream fight for a couple of years. On the pound-for-pound ratings, Rodriguez’ last victory put him within talking – if not striking – distance of Japanese star Naoya Inoue, the current junior-featherweight champion who is a consensus No. 2, second to Usyk.

Rodriguez, who jumped into the pound-for-pound debate with a stoppage last June of accomplished Juan Francisco Estrada in downtown Phoenix on the Suns home floor, is a consensus No. 5 in ratings released this week.

Bam’s victory over Cafu prompted his promoter, Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, to put him at No. 2, ahead of Inoue, who is not among Hearn’s favorites. He’s ripped Inoue for a resume that – Hearn says – includes weak opposition. His criticism of Inoue might have helped land Inoue’s next opponent, Murodjon Akhmadaliev, Sept. 14 in Nagoya, Japan.

It’s no coincidence that Hearn also represents Akhmadaliev. It’s also no coincidence that Hearn publicly ranks Bam ahead of Inoue. Some early negotiations – opening salvos — have already begun.

A lot still has to fall into place if in fact Bam-versus-Inoue has any chance at ever happening. Inoue is projected to fight Mexican Alan David Picasso, perhaps in December.

Then, there’s Junto Nakatani, a unified bantamweight champion living and training in southern California. Just a couple of months ago, Nakatani had been calling out Bam. But that talk ended, abruptly, after Nakatani stopped Ryosuke Nishida June 8 in Tokyo.

Nakatani-versus-Inoue has been at the top of the want-to-see list for Japanese fans. It’s also at the top of fights most wanted by Japanese promoter Akihiko Honda, known simply as Mr. Honda.

Multiple sources in Japanese media and boxing circles told The Boxing Hour that Mr. Honda told Nakatani to forget about a fight with Bam any time soon. The reasoning is as clear as it is solid. Mr. Honda doesn’t want to risk Nakatani-Inoue, a fight expected to generate record receipts in Japan. In part, that’s an acknowledgement of just how dangerous – how good – Bam is.

The path is still there, if Inoue beats Akhmadaliev, Picasso and then Nakatani. There are doubts he can, in part because of the way he was knocked down by little-known Ramon Cardenas in Las Vegas May 4.

Cardenas floored him in the second round. Inoue went on to win by TKO in the eighth. But there’s talk that Inoue would not have been able to get up if the knock-down punch had been delivered by Nakatani, who’s noted for his power.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez has to beat Martinez and then continue to win as he moves up the scale, first to 118 pounds and then 122.

A lot still has to happen. Last Saturday, a lot did.

NOTES

Thanks to emerging Mesa, AZ junior-welterweight Trini Ochoa (21-0, 9 KOs) for helping kids get ready for school while also helping the old-school boxing gym, Central, in downtown Phoenix (1755 West Van Buren Street) Saturday. Ochoa there (9 am to noon) to sign autographs, pose for pictures, pass out school supplies and help the famed gym raise funds for repairs to fix some vandalism on a mural, a west-facing wall covered with faces and memories from Arizona’s rich boxing history

By Alex Seccia

On June 6^th, 2025, Nahir “Woo” Albright (17-2 7Kos) made his grand return to boxing. Becoming a Co-Main Event feature on none other than Top Rank’s world championship card, presented on ESPN+. Nahir was scheduled to take on the former undefeated Kelvin Davis (15-1 8Kos).

         The fight was scheduled to be the Co-Main to the WBO World Lightweight championship match between Keyshawn Davis and Edwin De Los Santos. Before his layoff Nahir previously went head-to-head with Keyshawn in a 10-round contest for the WBC USA light, and WBO intercontinental title. The contest was later switched to a “No-Contest” after Keyshawn failed a drug test.

         Fast forward 2 years later, the Davis brothers set to headline a massive hometown fight card. But unfortunately for them, the formerly World ranked lightweight had his attention set on ruining their moment.

         After being out of the ring for two years, Nahir made the aggressive decision to move up in weight and accept a fight against an undefeated opponent knowing he would be a heavy underdog.

Throughout fight week Albright appeared to be battling two opponents as any time the fighters made any media appearances together, the Davis brothers made sure they were both heard. Both sides were engaged in verbal confirmation with his former opponent and new opponent. While the Davis brothers believed to have had Albright figured out, Keyshawn who previously fought him, on top of his two-year layoff. They felt Nahir had no chance.

“I showed that I’m his level”- Nahir Albright said referring to the level of Keyshawn Davis after being asked why he thinks he can win. “I’ve been in the gym, and I stayed in shape for this moment,” Nahir said when asked about how felt after being out of the ring for two years. The confidence that alluded to both fights is what made this fight a must watch.

That is, a must watch for anyone outside of Virginia, from the sound of the first bell Nahir showed zero indication of any ring rust. Having ring generalship as well as sharp and elusive counters in which later became a big problem for Kelvin Davis. The bout ended up going a complete 10/10 rounds where Albright won via Majority decision.

Following the conclusion of the bout, Nahir was met in his locker by Keyshawn Davis and his counterpart, where they slowly walked towards Nahir putting his hands on him, while clashing heads. While no fists or any heavy blows were exchanged, this was yet another unprofessional act on the former WBO World Champion, just one day after being stripped of his title for not making weight.

With the recent attack of Keyshawn, and his decision to also move up and weight. Nahir took to the media to call out Keyshawn for a part 2 clash. This time with reel beef behind it. “I want to fight him, and it can be anywhere. Matter of fact I want to fight him in Virginia”-Nahir Albright. When asked if Keyshawn should face him on his own turf. “I want to do it in front of his people”- was Nahir’s response when asked why he chose Virginia.

Both fighters look to make their move up to a new division, with Keyshawn recently being stripped of his title and now facing to climb back up to a championship slot, who else to square off in the ring, then a former opponent that beat your brother, in which you attacked. Both parties have now added incentive to really collide in what could be a stellar contest for boxing fans. A personal vendetta vs a young star’s determination to be the best, mixed with the shot at revenge. Creates a high steak, high tense heated match that will boil up to something massive in Norfolk, Virginia. Prompting boxing fans all over to get a ruthless clash of two young warriors. When asked when he would want the fight to happen. “I’m ready now,” Nahir answered.

Jesse Rodriguez retained the WBC/WBO Super Flyweight title with a 10th round stoppage over Phumelele Cafu at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Rodriguez dominated the fight against the rugged challenger. In round 10, Rodriguez landed a right hook that hurt Cafu. Rodriguez followed up on the challenger with a flurry of punches that wobbled Cafu. Cafu tackled Rodriguez and both fighters fell to the canvas. When Cafu got up, his corner waved the towel at 2:07.

Rodriguez, 1148. lbs from San Antonio is 22-0 with 15 knockouts. Cafu, 115 lbs of Eastern Cape, SA is 11-1-3.

Rodriguez will fight a unification bout with Fernando Martinez on November 22nd in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Pacheco Decisions McCumby

Diego Pacheco remained undefeated with a 12-round unanimous decision over nTrevor McCumby in a super middleweight bout.

In round two ,McCumby was cut on his forehead between his eyes from an accidental headbutt.

Pacheco, 168 lbs of South Central Los Angeles won by scores of 120-108 and 119-109 twice and is now 24-0. McCumby, 168 lbs of Glendale, AZ is 28-2.

Ammo Williams Stops Ivan Vazquez in 9

Austin Williams stopped late-replacement Ivan Vazquez in round nine of their scheduled 10-round middleweight bout.

In round three, Williams was deducted a point for a low blow.

In round nine, Williams landed a hard body flurry that put Vazquez down. When Vazquez got to his feet, he told the referee that he did not want anymore and the fight was called at 36 seconds.

Williams, 158.4 of Houston is now 19-1 with 13 knockouts. Vazquez, 159.6 lbs of Houston is 11-1-2.

Omari Jones Stops Blanco in 3

Omari Jones stopped Alfredo Rodolfo Banco in a scheduled six-round junior middleweight bout.

Just before the bell sounded to end round two, Jones landed a check left hook that put Blanco on the canvas, In round three, Jones dropped Blanco with a body shot and the fight was stopped at 1:31.

Jones, 149.4 lbs of Orlando is 3-0 with three knockouts. Blanco, 150.2 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 24-15.

Hector Beltran Jr. took out Edgar Gutierrez in round three of a scheduled four-round junior middleweight bout.

Beltran dominated the action and in round three, Beltran landed a big flurry of punches that forced a referee stoppage at 2:35.

Beltran Jr., 154 lbs of Dallas is 3-0 with three knockouts. Gutierrez, 153.4 lbs of Yuma, AZ is 3-4.

Nshant Dev stopped LaQuan Evans in the sixth and final round of their junior middleweight bout.

In round six, Dev landed two hard lefts on Evans and the body language of Evans looked as he was in trouble and the bout was stopped at 1:58.

Dev, 155.8 lbs of Karmal, IND is 3-0 with two knockouts. Evans, 156.2 lbs of Philadelphia is 5-6.

Pablo Valdez remained undefeated with a third round stoppage over Robert Redmond Jr. in a junior middleweight bout.

In round three, Valdez dropped Redmond with a short right hand. Seconds later, it was a bigger right hand that put Redmond down again, and the fight was stopped at 1:00.

Valdez, 156 lbs of New York is 10-0 with nine knockouts. Redmond, 154.2 lbs of Houston is 8-3-2.

LAS VEGAS –The chants were back.

But Manny Pacquiao wasn’t, at least not in the eyes of three judges.

The 46-year-old Pacquiao, who seemed to defy middle-age and perhaps the aches-and-pains that come with it Saturday, was left with a controversial majority draw with World Boxing Council welterweight champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand.

The controversial scorecards mean Barrios keeps the belt and Pacquiao was denied a chance to make history. The Filipino legend had hoped to become boxing’s second-oldest world champion ever.

“I thought I won,” Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs) said.

So did a crowd of 13,107 fans, who chanted the familiar “Manny, Manny” before and after every round. But those chants were supplanted by boos when the cards were announced. Max DeLuca had it 115-113 for Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs). Both Steve Weisfeld and Tim Cheatham had it, 114-114. The Boxing Hour scored 116-112 for Pacquiao.

Pacquiao, his worldwide celebrity still intact, suggested that his quest in the risky ring will continue.

“I need to continue my training for longer going into a championship fight,” Pacquiao said. “Because of the election I started late, but it’s okay. Of course, I’d like a rematch. I want to leave a legacy and make the Filipino people proud.”

Barrios said he would give Pacquiao another opportunity.

“I’ll do the rematch,” Barrios said. “Absolutely. This was huge for boxing. I’d love to do it again.” 

Expect the controversy to linger. It looked as if Pacquiao was well on his way beating a man 16 years his junior in a tactical, patient execution of the sweet science. He wasn’t the explosive, Bruce Lee-like figure that once blew away Hall-of-Fame names like a force of nature. This was a former Senator, deliberative and still dangerous enough to be a world champion.

Pacquiao’s familiar footwork, including a stutter-step inside, was there. The punch that followed, however,  missed more often than it had when Pacquiao’s power proved to be so lethal against Oscar De La Hoya, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Ricky Hatton.

All the while, Barrios looked tentative, cautious perhaps because he was looking into the face of a legendary lion,  or maybe because he didn’t want to go out like Hatton, who waa lifted so high by a Pacquiao knockout punch that you could see the bottom of Hatton’s shoes from ringside. The years have left some lines on that Filipino face. There’s gray in his facial hair.  The punches travel at a slower rate. The explosive dynamic isn’t there anymore.

But the skillset is still solid, tempered by time yet improved by wisdom. Above, he still knows his way around the ring. That has changed. Then again, neither has the judging.

Welcome back, Manny, on a night full of cheers and boos.

Tszyu surrenders, Fundora wins TKO

Blood was expected. There was a trace. In the end, however, there was surrender.

The rematch ended abruptly with Tim Tszyu sitting on his stool after the seventh, perhaps his best round, Saturday night against Sebastian Fundora in front of an astonished crowd awaiting Manny Pacquiao’s comeback against Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand. 

This was the same Tszyu who refused to quit after he suffered a gruesome cut at the top of his head in their first fight.  Then, it seemed as though nothing could stop him from fighting on. This time, however, he didn’t lose much blood from a cut above his right eye. This time, he lost his will.

“That’s one tough m-effer,” Tszyu said as he pointed at Fundora after the surprising conclusion to a much-anticipated sequel.”And I tried to give everything.”

It was decided that everything was just not enough this time. The fight ended on the advice of his corner. His corner must have looked into his eyes and saw that there was no more blood to spill. Suddenly, they saw a fighter exhausted and unable to continue in a fight that raises doubts about the rest of his career

Tszyu’s challenge, a complicated mix of height and geometry, quickly became apparent. Tzsyu’s only path to victory is to step inside against the 6-foot-6 Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs), who has the wing span of a gigantic praying mantis. In the first round, Tszyu took that perilous first step. Boom, Fundora saw it and threw a counter-right that dropped Tszyu (25-3, 18 KOs) onto the canvas with a thud.

Emboldened, Fundora, still the junior-middleweight champ, took the initiative in the second, moving forward and forcing Tszyu into what looked to be a tentative retreat. Suddenly, blood appeared over Tszyu’s eye. For him, it had to be an uncomfortable reminder of the bloodletting he suffered in their first bout, won by Fundora in a split decision.

In the third and throughout the fourth, however, Tszyu became more surefooted and appeared to regain his aggressiveness. He also got a little quicker with his punches, effectively rocking Fundora with shots that seemed to take some of the edge and precision out his long punches. Tszyu capitalized. He began to circle , a wary predator. He also began to land throughout the fifth and again in the sixth.

In the seventh, the rematch began to settle into a brawl. It began with Tszyu rocking Fundora with a short right. But Fundora also began to re-employ his reach.

“We’ve been working on that all of the time,” said Fundora, who talked as if he wanted to use his incredible reach throughout the rest of the fight.

But Tszyu and his corner had already seen enough of it.

The seventh round was more than the beginning of the end. 

It was the end.

Pitbull Cruz wins dominant decision

Omar Salcido was a late stand-in, which is another way of saying he probably doesn;t have a chance.

He didn’t.

Salcido, who replaced Angel Fierro Friday, did a lot of things. He endured. He even took Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz into the 10th and final round. But any chance at a huge upset was never really there. Cruz started slowly and then showed all the aggressiveness defined by his nickname with a bullish assault over the final three rounds of a live-streamed bout on the Pacquiao-Barrios card at the MGM Grand.

In the 10th, Salcido ((20-3, 14 KOs) went to his knees. He was also penalized, losing a point for an apparent attempt at an illegal blow.

In the end, it was more than a shutout on the scorecards. Cruz, an interim junior-welterweight champion, won 100-88 on one cad and 99-89 on the other two

After it was over, Cruz (28-3-1, 18 KOs) had kind words for Salcido, who suddenly became his opponent when Fierro was sent to the hospital after a futile attempt to make weight.

“I have ultimate respect for him taking the fight,” said Cruz, who had only contempt for Fierro, whom he called unprofessional. “He’s a good fighter. We’re both champions.’

Figueroa scores decision over Joet Gonzalez

Brandon Figueroa calls himself The Heartbreaker.

Figueroa did that and more Saturday. The heartbreak was suffered by Joet Gonzalez, who continues an up-and-down ride through a career that is 4-4 over his last eight bouts, including successive losses over his last two.

Figueroa (26-2-1, 19 KOs), a former champion at 122 and 126 pounds, appeared to have a slight advantage in size and strength against the star-crossed Gonzalez (27-5, 15 KOs), a Los Angeles fighter who was game yet just no good enough in a featherweight eliminator on the Pacquiao-Barrios card at the MGM Grand.

Throughout the middle rounds, it often looked as if Gonzalez was fighting Figueroa to a standstill. It looked to be close in the ring, but not on two of the three scorecards. Both favored Figueroa 116-112. The third had it 115-113, also for Figueroa, a Texas fighter still in the hunt for another bel

Gary Russell Jr. scores four knockdowns for stoppage win

Gary Russell Jr., more idle than active, still possessed enough power and poise  to dominate, knocking down Hugo Castaneda twice in the second round and again in the sixth enroute to 

Castaneda, a lightweight from Mexico, came roaring back in apparent desperation in the fourth, driving the 37-year-old Russell (32-2, 19 KOs) into the ropes. But a sweeping right hook from Russell, an ex-featherweight champion from Washington DC, ,dropped Castaneda in the sixth. Yet, Castaneda (15-3-1, 11 KOs), ever resilient, continued to march forward, all the while throwing a succession of punches. 

Yet he could never hurt Russell, or even knock him off balance. In the end, Russell power was decisive, including a fourth knockdown in the 10th, ending the fight at 26 seconds of the round

Nothing artistic, but PIcasso wins majority decision

It wasn’t artistic, but Mexican junior-featherweight David Picasso did enough to win and perhaps keep himself in contention for a  possible shot at Naoya Inoue.

Picasso (32-0-1, 18 KOs), who turned down a chance to fight Inoue months ago,  struggled throughout a close 10-round fight against Inoue’s fellow Japanese fighter, Kyonosuke Kameda (15-5-2, 9 KOs), who appeared to mock him in the middle rounds. Kameda dropped his hands, stuck out his chin and shook his rear end.

The gestures proved to be an opportunity for Picasso, who applied fundamentals at MGM Grad., many of which scored often enough for him to escape with a 95-95, 97-93, 98-92 majority decision on the Pacquiao-Barios card.

Mark Magsayo wins one-sided decision

He had a little bit more experience. HIs feet were a little bit quicker. His hands were a little bit faster. 

Little added up to a lot, allowing Mark Magsayo to score efficiently and repeatedly in a one-sided, yet otherwise uneventful decision over Jorge Mata in a junior-lightweight bout Saturday on the card featuring Manny Pacquiao’s comeback against Mario Barrios.

Magsayo (28-2, 18 KOs), a Filipino who briefly held the World Boxing Council’s featherweight title in 2020. began to take control of the bout in the fourth round when he backed up Mata (41-3-2, 13 KOs) with a body-to-head assault. Still, Mata, of Mexico managed to endure, but never much more than that, losing by a wide margin on all three cards — 100-90, 98-92,100-90.   

First Bell: Filipino prospect drops the thunder, wins TKO

It opened with a Filipino beat.

Beat-down

Middleweight prospect Eumir Marcial warmed up the ring for fellow Filipino Manny Pacquiao with a heavy-handed stoppage of Bernard Joseph in a Saturday matinee, hours before Pacquiao would take the stage in his comeback against Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand.

Marcial (6-0, 4 KOs), a 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, dropped Joseph (11-3-1, 5 KOs), of Dorchester MA, in the second and again in the third. A succession of shots in the third thundered throughout the empty arena, ending the bout in a TKO at 1:55 of the round. 

Daniel DuBois had a ring walk full of fireworks and pyrotechnics, but it was Oleksandr Usyk who brought inferno as Usyk became the Undisputed Heavyweight champion for a second time with an emphatic fifth round destruction in front of over 90,000 fans at London’s Wembley Stadium.

In round five, Usyk landed a perfect counter right hook that put DuBois down to the canvas. Usyk then landed a perfect left to the jaw that put DuBois with a defeated and bewildered look on his face and did not beat the count at

Okolie Decisions Lerena

Former cruiserweight world champion Lawrence Okolie won a 10-round unanimous decision over Kevin Lerena in a heavyweight bout.

Okolie, 262.4 lbs of London won by scores of 100-90 twice and99-91 and is now 22-1. Lerena, 232.5 lbs of Johannesburg, SA is 31-4

Daniel Lapin Wins Majority Decision over Lewis Edmondson

In a battle of undefeated light heavyweights, Daniel Lapin won a 10-round majority decision over Lewis Edmindson.

Lapin, 174.13 lbs of Kyiv, UK won by scores of 96-94 twice and 95-95 and is now 12-0. Edmindson, 174.13 lbs of Soutampton, ENG is 11-1.

Dacres Decisons Sirenko

Solomon Dacres won a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Vladyslav Sirenko in a heavyweight bout.

Dacres, 235.9 lbs of Birmingham, UK won by scores of 99-91, 99-92 and 98-92 and is now 10-1. Sirenko, 256.3 lbs of Kiev, UKR is 22-1-1.

Adam Hamed remained undefeated with a four-round decision over Ezequiel Gregores in welterweight bout.

Hamed, 144.3 lbs of Dubai via Manchester won by a 40-36 score and is now 6-0. Gregores, 145.10 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 3-25.

Lasha Guruli beat down James Francis and their eight-round junior welterweight bout was stopped after in round five.

The corner pulled Francis from the fight officially at two seconds round five,

Guruli, 139.15 lbs of Georgia Republic is 2-0 with knockout. Francis, 137.12 lbs of Liverpool, ENG is 7-2.

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao stepped off a scale and looked up toward a corner high above the floor at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. It was a flag that celebrated his legacy. It was also a symbol of a story still unfolding. 

Another chapter awaits, this one as risky as any in the iconic career of a fighter now 46 and still fighting for more more.

The flag was there to mark Pacquiao’s 16th bout at the old arena. After it’s over Saturday night, nobody in the rich history of the historic address near the well-traveled intersection at Tropicana and The Strip will have fought there as often. 

Pacquiao will rank No. 1, one bout more than his old rival Floyd Mayweather and four more than Oscar De La Hoya, who ranks third on the list and perhaps first among the Pacquiao victories that turned him into an enduring Filipino legend. 

The question, of course, is whether the flag will wave goodbye or say hello to another chapter in Pacquiao’s pursuit of history. He’s written a lot of it.

He’s been a champion in eight different weight classes. After a political career that included a run for the Filipino presidency, the Sergeant, Senator and statesman is back in an attempt to become the second-oldest champion in boxing history. 

To pull it off, he’ll have to beat a fighter 16 years his junior (Prime Video on card starting at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT). Thirty year-old Mario Barrios has a belt — the World Boxing Council’swelterweight version — and a fresh face without any of the gray that’s evident in Pacquiao’s facial hair.

On the scale Friday at a ceremonial weigh-in in front of a roaring crowd, Barrios came in at 146.2 pounds looking every much as though he had done the work. His trainer Bob Santos bragged and gestured about a sculpted upper body that suggests no task was left undone. Pacquiao, who was at 146.8 pounds, looked solid, yet far from the Bruce Lee look-alike of a decade ago.

Those different looks — gray-streaked beard and young fresh face — stood in contrast, a stark reflection of all the risks Pacquiao faces. Yet, risk has always been a part of his story. It’s why he fights. Why we watch. 

He took a risk against a bigger and better-known name in De La Hoya in 2008. He blew him away, stole De La Hoya’s celebrity and created his own kind of global stardom. 

This time, however the risk is in the nature of time itself. How much of it has eroded the magnificent reflexes Pacquiao had in his prime? How will he attack Barrios’ superior reach and punches when Pacquiao steps inside. 

There’s a minefield full of questions, the simplest of which might be the one that confronts everybody in the middle-aged demographic. 

Who will get up Saturday morning? The Pacquiao we remember against De La Hoya, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and so many more? Or will he be just another 46-year-old guy struggling to walk through the aches and pains that come with the years. It’s impossible to say, which makes this fight impossible to pick.

Pacquiao hasn’t fought since his scorecard loss to late stand-in Yordenis Ugas four years ago. Ugas’ youth and slick footwork — combined with some youthful energy — allowed the Cuban to dart in, out and away in a slow, yet deliberate plan that Pacquiao failed to counter.

A key question is whether the middle-aged Pacquiao will have to try to take out Barrios early. Fatigue appeared to be a Barrios’ weakness in a draw with Abel Ramos last November. Ramos was able to catch and hurt him with successive body shots over the last four to five rounds. 

But Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KOs) wasn’t fighting a 46-year-old man. Ramos, an aggressive welterweight from Casa Grande south of Phoenix, is 34.

Nevertheless, Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) is confident that four years away from the ring helped him conserve much of his skillset and energy.

The four years, he said, were a time of healing and re-evaluating what he wanted in life, post-politics.

“I missed boxing,’’ Pacquiao said. “The four years were good. It was good to rest.’’

But time doesn’t rest. It keeps moving forward, stubbornly and in the relentless way that defined the Pacquiao reign from flyweight to junior middleweight. 

Pacquiao stopped most everybody he faced. But not even he couldn’t stop that clock, his biggest opponent in one the biggest risks he’ll face in a many-sided life. 

Pacquiao has made a lifestyle out of doing what people think he can’t. That’s a reason not to pick against him versus Barrios or anybody else he might face if a victory Saturday launches him into another risky date against another young champion. Maybe, a rematch with Mayweather awaits him. Pacquiao is never out of options, promise and potential. 

Against Barrios, however, the question is whether he’s out of time.

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS — Tim Tszyu saw why boxing is called bloodsport. He saw a lot it. All his.

His craft — the inescapable nature of his sport — was defined by his blood in a gruesome fight that left him looking more like an accident victim than the warrior he has chosen to be about 16 months ago in a  split-decision loss to Sebastian Fundora.

Tszyu remembers what he saw. Or, perhaps what he couldn’t.

“I was distracted,’’ he said Thursday, nearly a year-and-a-half after he was cut at the end of the second round at the top of his forehead and at the center of his hairline at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena in March 30, 2024. “When I went back to my corner, I wasn’t thinking about my fight. I was thinking about the blood.’’

It never quit. 

Neither did he. 

Tszyu fought on, his vision obscured and his focus distracted. But that blood, including the DNA that motivated him to endure through the 12th round, continues to drive him now. He fights on, hoping only that the bleeding won’t resume. Still, he’s hell-bent on risking that and perhaps more in a rematch Saturday that he has pursued since Fundora turned his face into a crimson mask. For more than 10 rounds, he couldn’t see clearly. The clarity of what he seeks, however, has always been there.

“That answers the question of why my corner didn’t stop the fight,’’ Tszyu said of the first bout that ended with Fundora winning on two cards, 116-112 and 115-113. The third card favored Tszyu, 116-112.

Fundora left the ring with two junior-middleweight belts and newfound stardom. Tszyu was left with his first loss and all the stitches.

In the wake of the nasty defeat, there were doubts, many left by a third-round stoppage loss to Bakhram Murtazaliev, who knocked him down four times before his corner surrendered in a stunning stoppage in October, 2024 in Orlando. Suddenly, it looked as if blood and more had been lost on that shocking night against Fundora.

Tszyu went on to scored a fourth-round TKO of Joseph Spencer last April at home in Australia. It was a solid stoppage, but it didn’t exactly stop some of the questions about whether the promises in Tszyu’s career had been stopped, all in one bloody night.

Tszyu, the son of feared Kostya Tszyu, is back in Vegas to say that it hasn’t been.

“I will put together  a different performance,’’ said Tszyu, who will share the stage in a co-main event to a card featuring 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao’s comeback against welterweight champion Mario Barrios at the MGM’s Grand Garden Arena. “A more intelligent one.’’

Tszyu’s bloodied, yet narrow loss to Fundora was preceded by complications. Initially, the opponent was supposed to be Keith Thurman. But Thurman got hurt in training, forcing a late switch. 

Twelve days before opening bell, the skinny, yet NBA-tall Fundora got the gig and the improbable victory that has put him on the fringe of enduring stardom. In part, perhaps, he’s fighting Tszyu a second time to prove that his emergence is more about his skillset and poise than his 6-foot-6 height.

Fundora relinquished a belt, bypassing a mandatory defense against Xander Zayas for a rematch with Tszyu. Against Tszyu, there’s a chance for Fundora to validate his place in the boxing galaxy, even at the risk of more blood.

“Yeah, why not,’’ Fundora said Thursday in a tone that suggested it would not be his blood.

The only promise from both is that their bout will steal much of the anticipated thunder from Pacquiao and Barrios.

“May the best man win, but we just don’t know who the best man is yet,’’ Tszyu said in a matter-of-fact way that says he’s willing to bleed some more to answer that

JAMESTOWN, CALIFORNIA – Unbeaten featherweight prospect Noli Valenzuela dropped rugged Irving Xilohua in the first en route to a hard-fought eight-round unanimous decision in the grudge match main event of Toscano Boxing Promotions’ “Rising Stars” event at the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort on Thursday night. 

The story heading into fight night centered around some bad blood between the two main event camps, stemming from Valenzuela’s inability to make the contracted 126-pounds on Wednesday afternoon. After originally coming in one pound over, Valenzuela (13-0, 6 KOs) of Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico dropped less than one-half-pound and a deal was reached to secure their scheduled eight-round clash, but not before some heated trash talk. Once the introductions were out of the way, it was clear that neither fighter had grown any fonder of their opponent and referee Edward Collantes seemed to be on high alert from the outset. 

About one minute into round one, Valenzuela landed the first telling blow of the bout, a stiff jab that seemed to momentarily buckle the knees of Xilohua (9-2, 6 KOs) of Stockton, California. Rather than follow-up,  Valenzuela, 126.6, took the opportunity to imitate Xilohua, 125.4, and showboat for the crowd. 

Xilohua let his hands go with Valenzuela backed into the corner, but when the action moved to center ring, the Chapala native landed with a jab and straight left to score a knockdown. Valenzuela again taunted the downed Xilohua, standing over his prone opponent in a prolonged manner with referee Collantes trying to pull him back to his corner. Instead of following up on the knockdown, Valenzuela opted to showboat again before the pro-Xilohua crowd to close out the round. 

Other than an early flurry, Valenzuela let off the gas pedal in round two, which allowed Xilohua to regain his footing in the fight. Early in the third, Xilohua connected with a clean right in an exchange that excited the home crowd. Both fighters got their shots in during early exchanges and by midway through the round, Valenzuela’s showboating had ceased for the most part. 

Both combatants looked to mix in their body work to set up their head shots in the fourth. Xilohua maintained good ring position, but the southpaw Valenzuela was fairly adept at fighting while backing up. 

Xilohua had a solid fifth round, letting his hands go to the body especially. At one moment, Xilohua lost his footing momentarily, but rebounded to land a solid overhand right while Valenzuela moved in close to capitalize. 

After Valenzuela landed a combination with Xilohua covering up in the sixth, the Stockton native let his hands go and took over the remainder of the round. Not endearing himself to the pro-Xilohua crowd, Valenzuela, figuring he was up on the cards, was on his horse for much of the seventh and at the close of the eighth. 

All three judges; Brian Tsukamoto, Joel Farbstein and Michael Margado scored the bout 77-74 for the still undefeated Valenzuela. 

“It was complicated for several rounds, but I managed to get the win,” admitted the naturally larger Valenzuela after the bout. “I tried to use my left hand to the body the whole fight, but I didn’t think he would last this long.” 

In a battle of former sparring partners, Marco Antonio Delgado (8-6-1, 5 KOs) of Turlock, California scored an exciting six-round majority decision over Juan Zamorano (6-2, 6 KOs) of Turlock by way of Rosamorada, Nayarit, Mexico

Delgado, 175, and Zamorano, 172, went to war from the opening bell. The two-way action of the first round set the tone for the fight, as Delgado landed clean when in close, while the rangy Zamorano found success when at range on the outside. 

Delgado did well to work his way inside on the much taller Zamorano in the second round, while keeping a steady pace for a light heavyweight. There was more back-and-forth in the third, as Zamorano found more time at range, but Delgado still was busy when he worked his way on the inside. Before the fourth, the ringside doctor checked-in on some swelling under Delgado’s right eye, but it never became an issue in the bout. 

In the fourth, Delgado displayed some good footwork for a big man as he cut off the ring well and even tuned southpaw for a stretch. In the fifth, Delgado pressed the entire round and really let his hands go after the ten-second warning at the end of the round.

Zamorano started out round six at range, but once Delgado closed the distance he found a home for his uppercut and pressed his Mexican-born adversary against the ropes where he could unload his combinations on the inside. 

Judge Joel Farbstein found five rounds for Zamorano, scoring the bout 59-56, but was overruled by judge David Hartman (58-56) and judge Brian Tsukamoto (59-55), who both had it for Delgado. 

“I thank him for taking the fight,” said Delgado, who welcomes a potential rematch, after the bout. “I wouldn’t want to fight me.” 

19-year-old lightweight prospect Nick Saavedra (4-0, 2 KOs) of Modesto, California made short work of Juan Guillermo Montero (4-3-1, 3 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, scoring two knockdowns en route to a first-round stoppage. 

Saavedra, 133.4, was aggressive at the outset and landed in combination as Montero, 139, struggled to keep or cover up. Saavedra soon landed a short left hook that disconnected Montero momentarily and dropped the Tijuana native near a neutral corner. When Montero rose, Saavedra moved in quickly with a combination, punctuated by a left hook, to score a second knockdown. When action resumed, Saavedra forced Montero into his own corner and landed an unanswered combination that prompted referee David Hartman to leap in a call a halt to the bout at 2:57 of the first. 

In under one exciting round, Pedro Juarez (2-0, 1 KO) of Tracy, California scored three knockdowns en route to a stoppage victory over Harley Sampson (1-1, 1 KO) of Reno, Nevada. 

Juarez, 135, first dropped Sampson, 135, with a combination in the early going. Sampson rose on steady legs, but was caught a little squared-up and dropped again by a left hook. Despite the two knockdowns, Sampson looked fairly clear-headed before Juarez landed with a right and a clean-up left hook that laid the Reno resident flat on his back. Referee Edward Collantes had no choice but to wave off the bout at 2:31 of round one. 

Juarez entered the bout with a three-fight win streak dating back to his pro boxing debut last October and including two stoppage victories inside the MMA cage. The two-sport combat fighter was asked about his fighting future after the impressive kayo victory. 

“We’ll see what happens, but I will probably continue to box, but if an opportunity comes in MMA, we’ll jump on that too,” said Juarez after the bout. “Whatever comes, I am ready.” 

19-year-old Damian Flores (3-0-1, 2 KOs) of Ceres, California turned back a tough opponent while making his U.S. debut, scoring a four-round unanimous decision over Adrian Mendoza (0-1) of Carson City, Nevada. 

Each had their moments in the opening round as Flores, 115.2, flashed his boxing skills and footwork from the early going, while Mendoza, 112.6, employed a more straight ahead approach. Flores had a more difficult time keeping Mendoza at bay in the second round, as the Nevada resident was able to get in range for some winging shots.  

Flores, sporting a fresh haircut since yesterday’s weigh-in, found a home repeatedly for his uppercut in round three, before opening up a cut over Mendoza’s right eye after planting his feet and landing with a straight right hand late in the round. 

Despite the difficult round three, Mendoza came out determined for the final round. Flores controlled the round in stretches with his jab and combinations, but Mendoza kept coming and landed with an overhand right before the final bell. 

Judges Brian Tsukamoto, Joel Farbstein and David Hartman all scored the bout a shutout, 40-36, for Flores. 

In the walkout bout, Lai Thang (2-3) of Dallas, Texas spoiled the night for the vocal supporters of Benigno Gaona Diaz (1-2, 1 KO) of Galt, California by way of Pabellon de Arteaga, Aguascalientes, Mexico, scoring two late knockdowns en route to a four-round unanimous decision victory. 

Thang, 126, rocked Gaona Diaz, 123.6, with an overhand right and was a little quicker on the draw for much of the opening round. After the out-of-towner outworked Gaona Diaz for much of the second round, the Galt resident found some success early in the third before his momentum was stunted by a Thang counter that gave him reason to take a step back and two-way action closed out the round. 

Both fighters came out swinging at the start of round four, each attempting to secure their second career victory. The pro-Gaona Diaz crowd was into the fight as their man looked to be on the way to securing the round before disaster struck and Thang scored his first knockdown late in the stanza. Gaona Diaz beat the count, but was soon dropped again by a left hand just before the sound of the final bell. Referee David Hartman counted Gaona Diaz back to his corner to close out the fight, which would be scored a shutout by all three judges; Brian Tsukamoto, Joel Farbstein and Edward Collantes, 40-34.

Photos by Michelle Morgan

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com 

JAMESTOWN, CALIFORNIA – Unbeaten Noli Valenzuela fights outside of his native Mexico for the first time to meet streaking local prospect Irving Xilohua in the intriguing eight-round featherweight main event of the Toscano Boxing Promotions’ “Rising Stars” event from the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort on Thursday night. Fighters for the six-bout card weighed-in at the host venue on Wednesday afternoon. 

Valenzuela (12-0, 6 KOs) of Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico was last in the ring in April, scoring a fourth-round knockout of once-beaten Alan Zaid Rodriguez Montiel in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. The win marked the third straight stoppage victory for the southpaw Valenzuela. 

Xilohua (9-1, 6 KOs) of Stockton, California has won four straight, including three stoppages, since his lone professional setback, a six-round majority decision defeat to tough journeyman Diuhl Olguin. In his last outing in May, Xilohua stopped Enrique Uvalle inside of two rounds at the Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium. Xilohua will be stepping up to the eight-round distance for the first time as a professional, while Valenzuela has been scheduled for eight or more on five previous occasions and went the distance in two of those instances. 

There was a bit of drama at the official weigh-in on Wednesday afternoon. Xilohua stepped on the scale first, with the bout contracted at 126-pounds, and made 125.4-pounds. Valenzuela, who was one of the last fighters to arrive for the official weigh-in, came in one pound over at 127-pounds. After a bit of shouting between camps, Valenzuela left to attempt to sweat off the last pound. On his last attempt, Valenzuela came in at 126.6-pounds and an agreement was reached to keep the main event intact. 

Juan Zamorano (6-1, 6 KOs) of Rosamorada, Nayarit, Mexico will end a nearly two-year layoff against the rugged Marco Antonio Delgado (7-6-1, 5 KOs) of Turlock, California in a six-round light heavyweight bout. Zamorano, looking to get back on track after suffering his lone pro defeat in his last bout, weighed-in at 172-pounds. Delgado, whose previous five opponents had a combined record of 44-4, weighed-in at the light heavyweight limit of 175. 

Lightweight prospect Nicholas Saavedra (3-0, 1 KO) of Modesto, California will move up to the six-round distance when he takes on Juan Guillermo Montero (4-2-1, 3 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico on Thursday night. Saavedra, fresh off of a third-round stoppage of Richard Esquibel on May 24th, weighed-in at 133.4-pounds, while Montero weighed-in just under the junior welterweight limit at 139-pounds. 

After posting two consecutive MMA victories since his pro boxing debut last year, Pedro Juarez (1-0) of Tracy, California will return to the ring to take on Harley Sampson (1-0, 1 KO) of Reno, Nevada in a four-round lightweight bout. For the bout that Toscano Boxing Promotions’ Israel Guajardo predicted will be the fight of the night, Juarez and Sampson both made the lightweight limit of 135-pounds. 

Making his U.S. debut, 19-year-old Damian Flores (2-0-1, 2 KOs) of Ceres, California will meet debuting Adrian Mendoza of Carson City, Nevada in a four-round super flyweight bout. The 5’8” Flores scaled 115.2, while the 5’4” Mendoza came in at 112.6-pounds.  

In the opener, Benigno Gaona Diaz (1-1, 1 KO) of Galt, California by way of Pabellon de Arteaga, Aguascalientes, Mexico will look to bounce back from a decision defeat in January against Lai Thang (1-3) of Dallas, Texas in a four-round featherweight bout. Gaona Diaz came in at 123.6-pounds, while Thang weighed-in at the division limit of 126. 

The “Rising Stars” event will be available for live stream on the Toscano Boxing Promotions’ YouTube page.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Featherweights, 8 Rounds 

Valenzuela 126.6*

Xilohua 125.4

Light heavyweights, 6 Rounds

Zamorano 172

Delgado 175

Lightweights, 6 Rounds

Saavedra 133.4

Montero 139

Lightweights, 4 Rounds

Juarez 135

Sampson 135

Super flyweights, 4 Rounds 

Flores 115.2

Mendoza 112.6 

Featherweights, 4 Rounds

Gaona Diaz 123.6

Thang 126

*Valenzuela originally weighed-in 1 pound over the contracted limit of 126 on first attempt

Tickets for the event, promoted by Toscano Boxing Promotions, are available online at Ticketon.com 

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com 

Two-sport combat fighter Pedro Juarez will pack away his open-finger gloves and lace up his boots as he returns to the boxing ring after two straight MMA victories to take on Harley Sampson in a four-round lightweight attraction as part of the “Rising Stars” event promoted by Toscano Boxing Promotions at the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort in Jamestown, California this Thursday night. 

Juarez (1-0) of Tracy, California is a veteran of six professional MMA bouts, but crossed over to the sweet science last October to claim victory in his pro boxing debut in an entertaining four-round decision over Alec Acuavera in nearby Modesto. 

“It felt good,” says Juarez, reflecting on his first pro boxing victory. “I had a good camp for that fight. It worked out in my favor and the hard work paid off. It felt good to get my pro debut out of the way. Now I know what to expect and I am more familiar with the ring and all that good stuff. I’m ready to rock for this fight coming up.”  

The fight with Acuavera was an all-action, toe-to-toe slugfest between two fighters with MMA backgrounds. Juarez did not give up any ground during the bout and Acuavera was a willing opponent in a fight that pleased the crowd for all four rounds. 

“That is my style,” declares Juarez. “I like to come forward, I like to fight. That is how I normally fight and Acuavera was a tough opponent too. He came to fight as well. It made for a great fight for the fans and I am happy with the outcome.” 

Juarez’s trainer Alfredo Perez was happy with the result and pleased with his fighter’s debut performance, but has worked to refine one aspect of Juarez’s game in the time since. 

“For the most part, everything went to plan,” says Perez. “Being that it was his first fight, and both fighters, as you could see, were throwing. Working with our team, he is learning to breathe better and pick when to punch, instead of just throw, throw, throw…throw with a meaning.” 

Heading into his debut with eight ounce gloves, Juarez had already signed to compete in mixed martial arts just under three weeks later. Despite going four hard rounds against Acuavera, Juarez was able to shift gears and immediately get ready for his MMA bout against Chris Fernandez as part of Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat 25 in Wheatland, California. On that night in November, Juarez ended things early with a second-round kayo. 

“It was crazy,” exclaims Juarez. “That is just how it worked out. I had that MMA fight pretty locked in and then I got the boxing opportunity presented to me, so I took it. I rolled it over into my MMA fight. After my boxing fight, I went right into training for the MMA fight and things worked out for me on that night too. I have some good momentum right now and I plan to keep it going on July 17th.”  

One might think that it would be difficult to shift gears from the intricacies of the sweet science to mixing in kicks and ground attacks and all that comes with competing in mixed martial arts. For Juarez, a fight is a fight and he adapts no matter how short the time between bouts. 

“For me, I am always training anyways, so I am used to being in the environment of being in a fight,” explains Juarez. “Once you step into the ring or the cage, it is a fight. So that is how I look at it. For the MMA fight, I just got back to training and sharpening up my ground game and my cage work and I was ready to rock.”  

After picking up another MMA stoppage in May, Juarez shifted his focus to the July 17th date at the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort where he will be fighting Harley Sampson (1-0, 1 KO) of Reno, Nevada in a four-rounder. 

“I don’t really know too much about him,” admits Juarez. “I know he fought an MMA guy that was like 0-6, but I couldn’t really find any tape on him, so it’s kind of the unknown, but I am getting ready for whatever. As long as I am in shape and ready to fight, it doesn’t really matter.” 

With his trainer Perez recovering from a medical setback, Juarez has been getting ring work with his first boxing coach, Felipe Martinez. Training at Martinez’s gym, with Perez able to monitor from ringside, Juarez has the added benefit of the great sparring provided by the plethora of fighters that frequent Felipe’s Boxing Academy in Stockton. 

“Before this camp, I actually had an amputation done on my toe, because of sickness,” reveals Perez. “So I told Pedro to go see our coach Felipe and coach is going to work you. Coach Felipe has done a great job, helping Pedro get better and better. Almost everyday, Pedro is going over there and if not getting the great sparring, he’s getting work with Coach Felipe and I am able to watch it from the outside from a different vantage point. That is something new for us that we did not have at the first camp. But now, we are sparring a lot of better, high-end fighters and doing very well. We are very thankful for all of our sparring partners.” 

With his reconfigured team aiding in his training and the experience of his debut out of the way, Juarez is ready to put his hard work to use this coming Thursday in Jamestown. 

“Obviously, we watched the first fight, studied it and looked for things I could improve on,” says Juarez. “That is what we are working on for this camp, just being more sharp and defensively-minded. So I am just minding my P’s and Q’s, working on the basics and things like that. I have definitely been improving since my first fight, that is for sure.” 

Fight fans that make the trip to the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort this week can expect to see a refined Pedro Juarez, the boxer. Both he and his coach are confident heading into Thursday. 

“At the end of the day, we respect our opponents, whoever they are, but I think Pedro is going to do a whole lot better than in that first fight,” says Perez. “Conditioning-wise, right now he’s in great shape. He’s getting good rounds, sometimes against two or three people. I see how he’s managing his breathing better and of course right now it is very hot, but he’s still doing so well. Honestly, I think we are going to see a different Pedro this time and surely a stronger Pedro. He looks real strong and we are happy where we are right now.”

“Expect a good show as always,” says Juarez. “I plan to come in and go for the finish. It is a four-round fight, but I am ready to take this guy out. That is the plan.”

Tickets for the event, promoted by Toscano Boxing Promotions, are available online at Ticketon.com

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com

Hamzah Sheeraz emphatically stopped Edgar Berlanga in round four of their 12-round super middleweight bout at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushing, Queens, New York

In round four, Sheeraz dropped Berlanga with a hard three punch combination that punctuated by a left to the head. Seconds later, it was two vicious head shots that put Berlanga on his back. Seconds into round five, Sheeraz landed a couple more hard shots to the head the doubled over Berlanga and the fight was stopped at 17 seconds.

Sheeraz, 167.8 lbs of Ilford Essex, ENG is 22-0-1 with 18 knockouts. Berlanga, 167.6 lbs of Lithia, FL via Brooklyn is 23-2.

“Whoever was in the ring with me tonight, there was no stopping me,” Sheeraz said at the end of the night. “After my last fight (against Carlos Adames), the amount of abuse I got on social media and in person—I understand it’s part of boxing—but it made me a hungrier fighter.” 

Sheeraz worked with a new trainer for this bout, former middleweight champion Andy Lee, who he credited with aiding him in tonight’s win. “A massive thank you to Andy Lee, a man who put his faith and trust in me. In the first few rounds, I was losing them. I told him I can hunt this guy down and he believed me. Not many coaches do that, so Andy, thank you very much.”

“Canelo has always been a boxing hero of mine, so even for my name to be mentioned in the same sentence as his is a great achievement in and of itself,” said Sheeraz. “If I do get the opportunity to fight him, it won’t be one of those where I try to nick him on points. I will stand in the middle with him and have it out. Whoever lands first, I suppose, will knock out the other.”

Stevenson Decisions Zepeda to Retain Lightweight Title

Shakur Stevenson retained the WBC Lightweight title as he pounded out a 12-round unanimous decision over William Zepeda.

Zepeda made Stevenson show a different side of him as he was able to stand toe-to-toe with Zepeda. Zepeda pushed the action and at times backed Stevenson to the ropes. But Stevenson countered beautifully off the ropes. Zepeda landed punches, but Stevenson was able to land punch for punch and was alot more economical and precise with his punches.

Stevenson, 135 lbs of Newark, NJ won by scores of 119-109 and 118-110 twice and is now 24-0. Zepeda, 134.8 lbs of San Mateo, MEX is 33-1.

“It wasn’t the performance I was looking for, because I was trying to prove a point. I was trying to fight, so I took more punishment than usual. At the end of the day, I do whatever it takes to get the job done,” Stevenson remarked following the bout. “I’ve got that dog in me. I’m not no puppy. I’m not a poodle. I’m a tough guy. I’ve got dog in me.” (See video HERE)

“That was one of the toughest fighters at 135 lbs. I want a lot of people to get in the ring with him and see how tough he is. He pushed me to another level,” Stevenson said of Zepeda. “I had to go in my bag. He just kept coming. He tried to pin me against the ropes so I had to switch it up and not sit against the ropes too long.”

When asked who may be next on his list, Stevenson welcomed all challengers while noting he plans to keep leveling up his game. “Whoever. I want to go back to the drawing board, work on my game a little bit. Get physically stronger and when I come back, I’ll be even better.”

Matias Decisions Puello in Barnburner to Win Super Lightweight Title

Subriel Matias became a two-time world champion with a majority decision over Alberto Puello to win the WBC Super Lightweight title in high-action, high-contact fight.

The fight was fought at close quarters with Matias walking forward and throwing his customary high volume work rate. Puello was very effective counterpunching and

In round five, Matias was cut over his left eye. Matias and Puello battled down the stretch but the judges preferred the volume of Matias to the tune of 115-113 twice and 114-114.

Matias landed 255 766 punches; Puello was 267 of 735

Matias, 140 lbs of Fajardo, PR is now 23-2. Puello, 139.8 lbs of Las Vegas via Dominican Republic is 24-1.

After the decision was announced, top contender Dalton Smith entered the ring and a fight with Matias was announced for November 22nd in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“When I lost (to Liam Paro) in 2024, a lot of people laughed at me, but I told them I would come back and be a world champion once again and here it is.”

David Morrell Gets Decision over Khataev

In a 10-round war, David Morrell won a razor thin split decision over Imam Khataev in a light heavyweight bout.

In round two, Morrell started swelling around his right eye. Khataev was cut over his right eye. In round five, Khataev began to bleed from his nose. Late in the round, Khataev uncorked an overhand right that put Morrell on the canvas.

Khataev hurt Morrell on several occasions. Morrell made a late flurry late that won him the fight as he won by scores of 96-93 and 95-94 and Khataev took a 95-94 talley.

Morrell, 174.8 lbs of Santa Clara, CUB us 12-1. Khataevm 174.8 lbs of Sydney, AUS vis Russia is 10-1.

When asked about the potential of a rematch with Khataev, Morrell welcomed the challenge. “Why not? It was a great fight. I don’t say no to a rematch. If the people say they want a rematch and they liked the fight, I don’t say no to anybody. I’m ready. I don’t care.”

Tsutsumi Stops Ruiz in 2

Reito Tsutsumi stopped Michael Ruiz in round two of their four-round lightweight bout.

In round one, Tsutumi dropped Ruiz with a right to the body. Ruiz was dropped again with another body shot. Early in round two, Tsutsumi dropped Ruiz with a straight left and the fight was stopped at 28 seconds.

Tsutsumi, 134.6 lbs of Tokyo is now 2-0 with one knockout. Ruiz, 134.8 lbs of Lacey Township, NJ is 2-8-1.

NEW YORK--Katie Taylor retained the Undisputed Super Lightweight title with her third consecutive razor thin, this time majority over Amanda Serrano in front of a sold out crowd of over 19,700 at Madison Square Garden.

The fight lacked the action of the first two classic bouts between the two. This was more of a thinking boxing match that saw Serrano try tp press the action and Taylor going back to her stellar amateur roots by moving side to side to create angles and darting in and out. Serrano thew more, but The fighters landed the same amount.

In round eight, Taylor started to swell under her right eye.

Taylor, 135.8 lbs of Bray, IRE won by scores of 97-93 twice and 95-95 and is now 25-1. Serrano, 136 lbs of Carolina, PR is 47-4-1.

Katie Taylor

On Amanda Serrano

I’m just so grateful for Amanda Serrano. What an amazing champion. And we created history together three times. My name will always be embedded with hers forever. I’m very very happy about that. What we’ve been able to create over these last few years has been unbelievable. It’s amazing to have a rival like that in the sport. And this has brought [the world to] an event like this tonight, an all-female card, because of what myself and Amanda have been able to do to produce over the last few years. Both myself and Amanda are just sitting back very very proud right now.

The whole game plan tonight was to not let her feet set. I knew I was capable of a performance like that in the other two fights as well, but I just got caught up in a bit of a war [in our first] two fights. I’m so happy that I was able to stay disciplined tonight and just outbox her. 

On headlining an all female card:

“Absolutely unbelievable to be part of a show like this and to be headlining an all female card. It was an absolute privilege. These are the sort of opportunities that people didn’t think were even possible a few years ago.”

On her performance

“I thought I showed a very smart performance, a very clever performance. This performance I knew I was capable of against Amanda. The two fights previously ended up as complete wars and I came out of the ring battered and bruised and I’m thinking, what? Why am I just standing there fighting with our newest cable and moving my legs like that? I’m just outboxing her and I’m just happy I was able to produce that tonight and execute the game plan that Ross has been telling me to do all along. So yeah, I’m very very satisfied right now.”

“I think just my movement was causing her a bit of trouble. My footwork was causing her trouble and she wasn’t able to set her feet. I’m not sure what was going through her mind. But I think I just made the fight a bit easier for myself. […] I used the ring a lot better tonight. My feet were very good tonight. I felt fresh in there. I felt sharp in there. I [could see] that the punch was coming. So yeah, I definitely felt like it was my kind of fight.”

On retirement: 

“I don’t know. I’m just going to enjoy this victory right now and um sit back, reflect, and then I’ll make a decision and that’s it. But very very happy with tonight’s performance and just the amount of work that we put in over the last few months, myself and Ross. It was uh a grueling few months in preparation for these kind of fights and I’m so glad I was able to showcase what I could do tonight.”

On future Croke Park match:

“Maybe in Croke Park. That would be unbelievable.”

On the support from fans:

“These people are spending their hard earned money to go over and support me. It just means the world honestly. I can’t believe that this is my life. I’m headlining the show at Madison Square Garden. I’m looking back on the whole journey. What an absolute what an amazing life. These are nights that I dreamed of as a kid and sitting here again as a winner. I’m so happy, so grateful.”

On if a trilogy with Chantelle Cameron is possible

I think Chantelle has to see if she can sell out 10,000 seat arena first. I don’t think she can sell out any stadium at all. I think I made her more money than she really deserves. 

Baumgardner Decisions Miranda; Remains Undisputed

Alycia Baumgardner retained her undisputed super featherweight title with a unanimous decision over Jennifer Miranda.

Baumgardner, 130 lbs of Dallas via Fremont, OH won by scores of 98-92 twice and 97-93 and is now 16-1. Miranda. 129.8 lbs of Madrid, SPA is 12-1.

Alycia Baumgardner

On being co-main to Taylor-Serrano 3

“I first want to say I am so thankful to be here as a part of a historic event. I’m so thankful that MVP has taken the time and given the women the opportunity to showcase their skills and just be under the lights tonight was an awesome experience.”

On getting back in the ring 

“Yeah, I was happy to be back in there. You guys have to understand it’s been two years since I’ve done a 10 round fight. So, just to be back in there to get those rounds meant everything to me. So, I was just enjoying every round that I could when I was in there.”

On if she’d challenge Amanda Serrano or Katie Taylor

“I definitely would love the challenge with either fighter.” 

On what drove her successful undisputed title defense

“It was the grit. It was the bite down. [My trainer] said, you know, go forward. I knew that I couldn’t get my jab off the way I typically do to find that range and so we just kept the fight to go forward and just, you know, dig deep.”

On the main event Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano

“I thought the main event was perfect. A lot of fans were probably expecting a fight like the second fight, but these are two smart fighters. You know, they know how to box. They know how to use the ring. They have experience and I think they made the fight very clear on who the winner was. And again, they box smart. You guys have to understand, I know y’all like a blood bath, but you know, we got brains at the end of the day that we got to take care of. So, they did a great job in there boxing and showing the skill set that women do have.

On Jennifer Miranda

She had a smarter game plan in terms of what to engage in and what not to engage in. You know what I mean? So, you know, she definitely kept her distance on not wanting to come in. And just like anything, you make adjustments as you go. We have an idea on what somebody’s going to fight like, but we also make the adjustments each round. And so that’s what I was doing [My corner] was saying, you know, boxing, pressing, and making it ugly.

On working with Derrick James

Yeah, it’s been a great experience. When you start with a new trainer, you have to get a feel of everything. You have to understand how that’s going to feel in the fight. It’s one thing to be in training camp. It’s another thing to be in a fight. And I liked what I had in the corner this time. At the end of the day, it is up to Alycia Baumgardner to do what she has to do. I can have you in my corner, but it is up to me to to decide what I got to do. So, at this stage in my life, I need a team that’s going to encourage me in there and let me know what I need to do. But ultimately, it’s up to me. So, I enjoyed my corner tonight.

On what’s next for her

“Listen, the sky is the limit, y’all. I’m so excited to be with MVP and I know they have something exciting for me coming up and for the future. So many options to move up to 135, make these big super fights. These are the challenges that I need. I want to fight, and I want to fight an experienced fighter who’s going to bring just as much challenge as I am. That’s what’s going to make me great and that’s what’s going to make me be set apart from the rest of the women in boxing. 

“My inspiration just comes from the growth that I want for myself as a woman, as an athlete and what I’m able to possess in the ring. You know, I’ve been boxing for 23 years and I’m still growing. I don’t even think I’ve hit my prime yet. So, there’s just so much more to tap into and I have a great team who’s allowing that to come out.” 

On the evolution of women’s boxing and what’s next for the sport

“The next evolution is just women knowing who they are each and every day. I think we’ve seen through the fight week  with the looks and being a beauty, being a beast, being in our femininity, but also being the warriors that we are when it comes to fight night. So, it’s just like showing two

different sides, but also knowing that we have a job to do and to clock in.

Green Decisions Marshall; Unifies Super Middleweight Titles

Shadasia Green unified her WBO and won the IBF Super Middleweight World Title with a split decision over Savannah Marshall.

In round four, Green was deducted a point for holding.

Green, 167.2 lbs of Paterson, NJ won by scores of 96-93 and 95-94 while Marshall took a card 96-93.

Green is now 16-1. Marshall, 167 lbs of Hartepol, UK is 13-2.

Shadasia Green

On what Savannah Marshall told her post-fight–and if Marshall thinks Green can beat Claressa Shields

“Savannah told me something today. I don’t know if I should share it, but she said she said to me today—which I didn’t even realize that she might have had noticed—-but she said “You need to have more belief in yourself. I’ve never been in the ring with somebody like you, that hits as hard as you do.” She said, “I’ve been in the ring with [Claressa Shields] and you could take her out.” And I’m like damn, you know hearing that from Savannah? And Savannah can punch too. I’m not sitting up here saying making it seem like that wasn’t a tough fight. So I would love to fight Clarissa Shields and when the time comes and it’s big, let’s do it.”

On receiving the $250k Performance of the Night bonus, and if she’ll buy anything

“I don’t live like that. […] I’m going to relocate my wife and my family to a better neighborhood so we can be safe before I get kidnapped. Maybe take my nieces and nephews to the water park, do something for my mom and pop. I got you, coach. I hear y’all. I see y’all looking.”

On training to face Savannah Marshall

“I’m just blessed and honored, man. Going into tonight, I meant everything I said this week, you know, and camp’s really been different, these last couple of camps dealing with my coaches being sick, in and out, and we showed up together as a unit today and we displayed greatness.” 

On facing Savannah Marshall

“Shout out to Savannah Marshall. She was a tough cookie, man. She caught me with a good shot, too. Buckled my left leg. I ain’t never been hit like that before, but I’m just honored to be here today and be victorious. Thanks to the man upstairs, and thanks to these two fellas [Nakisa and Jake] for making this happen, Katie and Amanda, for real.”

On coming back from Franchon Crews-Dezurn loss to come out victorious tonight

“I had to go back to the drawing board and get my mental together. This game is definitely 90, 95% mental. If your mental ain’t intact, then you know… […] So that’s what I did. I went back to the drawing board, got myself together, reunited with my coaches and just tried to show up and be a better person. And self-belief. It’s funny. I was watching Jake fight Chavez Jr. last week and he said it in the ring and I shook my head. I was sitting in front of the TV and he just kept saying ‘self-belief, self-belief, self-belief.’ I think that’s what’s been missing from my career for a long time. Sometimes I’m hard on myself and I don’t always believe, but today I believe, and I’ve been believing all camp. I kept saying I’mma beat this girl. I kept saying that.”

On facing Claressa Shields 

“I would love to fight Clarissa Shields. Of course, I want to go and rest or whatever, but I think that’s the fight to be made.” 

On playing up or down to her competition:

“I just think it’s a lot of my ability you guys haven’t been able to see. I’ve always had this thing about me. Even when I play basketball, I always either play down to my competition or played up. It’s been a bad habit all my life. My mother has told me this my whole life. So, when you throw some names out there like I know I’ve got to be on my A game, and I find myself not slacking and my coaches don’t let me slack either. The best competition is always going to bring the best out of me.”

On what she learned from herself tonight

“I learned that that dog is still in me no matter what. I’m up for every challenge. I got that mean streak back—I thought I lost it. […] The mean streak is still alive and I’m glad to know that.”

Scotney Decisions Mercado to Become Unified Super Bantamweight Title

Ellie Scotney became the IBF/WBC/WBO super bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over Yamileth Mercado.

Scotmey, 121.6 lbs of London won by scores of 100-90 and 98-92 twice and is now 11-0. Mercado, 119.6 lbs of Mexico is 24-4.

Ellie Scotney

On adding the WBC title to her unified collection

“My nan—I always mention her because she was my biggest fan—and we always said ‘complete the collection’. So, I’m one step away from Undisputed and that’s what I want next.” 

On being on Netflix and getting her name in front of the world

“Thanks to Netflix and MVP, they gave me a platform where I can really announce myself and I felt like I did that tonight. This is such a big journey with them and I feel like this is just the start.”

On 3-min rounds for women’s boxing

“’I’m 11-0 and I ain’t got a stoppage. I think I’d get a stoppage over 3 minutes and my brother would be a lot richer. He’s lost a fortune betting on it. So, yeah, if we had three minutes I’d get a stoppage. That’s my excuse.”

On preparing for facing Yamileth Mercado

“I’ll be honest with you, it’s been a hard camp. So, I felt like this camp showed me more who I am than anything else. I went in that ring and I felt like I [had been holding] a lot in, and it was let out tonight. So, it just showed me that I’m number one in the division. I believed that before, but I feel like this has cemented it—and it’s just the start.” 

On when she’ll be back 

“Definitely by the end of the year. I want to enjoy my Christmas this year.”

On losing friend Georgia O’Connor and having Georgia’s dad join her during her walk out 

“Georgia was a a soul of the earth. Like if you ever met her or even if you heard her story, you’d realize what she was. And you know, we made a promise just before she passed. It was a blessing to see her get married. And you know, she battled cancer like it was nothing. I just felt like having her dad with me tonight was something that will live forever. I felt her there [in the ring with me]. So yeah, tonight was so much bigger than me. It was all for her. And I just yeah I felt like she was watching over me and that would be the biggest takeaway from tonight.”

Cherneka Johnson Stops Metcalf in 9 To Win Undisputed Bantamweight Title

Cherneka Johnson won the undisputed bantamweight stoppage with a ninth round stoppage over Shuretta Metcalf.

In round four, Johnson scored a knockdown when she landed a right hand and both fighters fell to the canvas.

Jonson continued to beat down Metcalf and the fight was stopped by referee Charlie Fitch on the advice of the ringside doctor at two seconds.

Johnson, 116.6 lbs of Gold Coast, AUS is 18-2 with eight knockouts. Metcalf, 117 lbs of Dallas is 14-5-1.

Cherneka Johnson

On being part of history on Taylor vs. Serrano 3

“When I was out there and Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano were walking out, that stadium was absolutely electric. I had goosebumps and it was like ‘wow this is truly happening.’ To see that moment and to experience that feeling? It’s special.

“It’s absolutely awesome what everyone is doing. Everyone has their own, I guess, agendas and they obviously want to win the fights. But we all put in the hard work to get here and it’s not easy, but we show up anyway and we get the job done.”

On becoming the first Australian undisputed champion, male or female, in the 4 belt era

“It hasn’t hit me yet, I don’t think. It still sort of feels surreal to even be here and to be in this position.”

Cameron Retains Interim Title with Decision over Camara

Chantelle Cameron retained the WBC Super Lightweight title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Jessica Camara.

Cameron, 139 lbs of Nothhampton, ENG won by scores of 99-91 twice and 98-92 and is now 21-1. Camara., 139.4 lbs of Montreal is 14-5-1.

Ramla Ali won a eight-round unanimous over Lila Furtado in a super bantamweight bout.

In round eight, Ali began to bleed around the right eye,

Ali of London won by scores of 78-74 twice and 77-75 and is now 10-2. Furtado of Sao Paulo, BRA is 11-3.

Ramla Ali

On the future of women’s boxing

“I think the future of women’s boxing is only growing. Look at the outcome tonight. Look how many people showed out to support women’s boxing. It’s exciting to be a part of and to see the growth and you know that those numbers are definitely growing and being more active with fights.”

On which fight was most special

“You have to give credit to every woman who stepped into the ring tonight, who showed out, who put in the 10, 12 weeks of hard work, who put everything on the line. You can’t fault that. So, I think every fight uh deserves its flowers.”

On her next fight

“I’ve been out of the ring for like 13 months now and I’ve also changed coaches. I was living in LA for 3 years. My father got sick so I moved back to London. I’ve got a new coach now. And when I started training with him, he asked me, “What is it you want to do?” And I just said to him, “I just want to take one fight at a time.” Cuz a couple years ago, I was like, “This is what I want. This is what I want. This is what I want.” And it never quite worked out. So I just became a bit superstitious. And now I’m just like, I just want to take whatever fight comes and just take it one by one.”

Tamm Thibeault stopped previously undefeated Mary Casamassa in round five of their eight-round middleweight bout.

Thibeault scored a knockdown in round one,

Thibeault of Montreal got the stoppage at 2:18 and is now 3-0 with two knockouts. Casamassa of Pittsburgh is 6-1.

amm Thibeault

On what Taylor vs. Serrano 3 meant to her

“To be honest, I just feel really grateful like we were in a card stacked with women just as talented as each other. And, you know, [we] created new dreams tonight. I truly believe that what’s going to make women’s boxing grow is to get more people into it, start at the grassroots, and we’ve got to create dreams for that. We’ve got to create dreams for little girls who want to come up and be just like us, right? 

I’ve said that from such a long time ago. The only way women’s boxing grows is if other women come out and support us. And they did today. Every woman in the crowd was cheering and it was just such a phenomenal movement to be a part of.

On fighting 3 min rounds

I fought three minute rounds for like eight years. Like we talk about this in the professionals, but we don’t talk about this in Olympic style boxing. The gap between men and women has been erased essentially. There’s equal value in both. And like we’re doing all right. Olympic champion as a female, Olympic champion as a male is the same. I’m not saying three minutes or two minutes is what’s best. Look, I’m not a doctor. It’s not my expertise. I’ve done three minutes

forever for most of my amateur career. I want to keep doing it. And if people want to do it, then so be it. But that’s on them.

On which fight she liked most

I think every fight was special in itself. That’s what makes this card so historic. You can’t really choose because you have people like Shadasia who are coming up as the underdog surpass themselves and you have two legends like Katie and Amanda fighting each other for a third time and you have Neeks [Johnson] over here who just became undisputed. [Every fight was] so big in itself, and they all deserve to be honored equally.

NOTES…Metcalf became the first Australian Undisputed Champion.