The San Francisco Bay Area has a crop of young fighters beginning to emerge that may make up the next wave of world champions to come from the region. One fighter that has received some attention, partially due to his unique story of balancing time as a Stanford student, majoring in Art Practice, with a career in the fistic arts, is junior middleweight Dante Kirkman. The Silicon Valley native’s story of perseverance as a fighter overcoming injury is one just as intriguing and inspiring as his tale as a student-athlete. 

Kirkman (3-0, 1 KO) of Palo Alto, California found appeal in boxing as a youth where other team sports had disappointed him. Growing up, Kirkman tried his hand at just about every sport possible, having played soccer, football, basketball, running track and competing as a wrestler. 

“I remember, with team sports, I never felt like I was getting my fair chance,” explains Kirkman. “I felt like in football, the coaches would play their sons the most or give their sons the ball the most. Or we would lose because somebody didn’t block or something that was out of my control. 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.” 

Kirkman’s father, Robert, is not only a boxing fan, he took part in the sport as a young amateur growing up in East Palo Alto. Robert’s passion for the sport did not diminish once his time as an athlete concluded and he eventually passed down his love of boxing to his son. 

“Where my father grew up was, at one point, the murder capital of the U.S. I believe, but he found a great path in life in amateur boxing, competing in the local Golden Gloves and traveling with his gym team,” details Dante. “He never really knew how to pursue boxing as a career, so it was just something he was really good at and really proud of. He was a big Sugar Ray Leonard fan and boxing fan in general. He always kept watching boxing and eventually introduced it to me at a young age.” 

Robert’s fighting career did not blossom into a profession, but when his son expressed interest in boxing, Dante’s father wanted to make sure he got started off the right way so that if he displayed an aptitude for the sweet science, Kirkman would be set up for success. Eventually, Robert was put in touch with retired formerly world-ranked contender Mitchell Julien, who had carved out a noteworthy career mainly in Northern California rings. 

“With my dad’s background in boxing, he had always felt that he wasn’t able to pursue a career because of where he was training at and people not knowing the real route to success,” explains Kirkman. “Because of that, my dad would call and ask around for people that had a deeper history in boxing than he did, like Mitch Julien, who I believe at one point was ranked number eight in the world and fought Roger Mayweather. Mitch wasn’t going to be staying here. I believe he was moving to Houston, but my dad asked Mitch, ‘My son is going to box and I am not going to just bring him to a fitness instructor. I really want him to be led the right way from the beginning.’ So Mitch recommended Eddie Croft.”

Croft, a former world title challenger and one of the most well-respected trainers in Northern California out of his B Street Boxing in San Mateo, turned out to be a perfect fit for Dante and, just as his father had hoped, the young Kirkman would be led the right way from the start. 

“From the beginning, Eddie’s and my personalities were very similar,” says Kirkman. “I really appreciated Eddie’s hunger and knowledge for boxing. All of the things he was teaching to these ten and eleven-year-old kids, he wasn’t just letting them go through the motions, but actually enabling them to understand how boxing works. Eddie was actually teaching them and not letting them slack off.” 

By the time he turned 16, Kirkman had progressed to the point that he was ready to take on the best fighters in the country in national tournaments. Unfortunately, the only thing that could hold Kirkman back was his own body. 

“I had a lot of injuries growing up, from overtraining and issues with my growth plates,” explains Kirkman. “For example, I started out orthodox and I hurt my left shoulder. Then I started training southpaw for a year or two and injured my left shoulder and switched back. I would constantly have something, whether it was a shoulder, elbow or hand, just something that would allow me to have a few fights and then take me out for a little bit. Eventually those injuries slowed down enough for me to be able to compete. My team and I decided it was the time to really start doing it and getting to the next level.” 

While the injuries to his shoulders were a hindrance to his amateur career at the time, the experience of learning to box out of both stances will prove to be quite useful as he pursues his professional career. 

“What is funny is that I am left handed, but I played sports like I was right handed,” recalls Kirkman. “So when Eddie asked me to show my stance, I hesitated for a bit, but I went into the orthodox stance. It wasn’t until two years later, when I injured my shoulder, that Eddie learned that I was actually left handed. Because of that, it was a pretty smooth transition to southpaw because I was actually left handed.” 

All the while Kirkman was pursuing athletic achievement in the ring, the Palo Alto native was also excelling in the classroom. When away from the gym, Kirkman applied his studious nature not only to his classwork, but also to improve as a fighter. 

“I would do film study, where I would see examples of these cool switches, like Willie Pep doing cool sidestep movements and I played around with how I could integrate these subtle switches or how I could do these things,” explains Kirkman. “I ended up doing whole national tournaments orthodox and other whole national tournaments completely southpaw and whole national tournaments going back-and-forth. So that was a great experience for me to be able to have that in my arsenal.” 

While learning to box from both stances was a positive side effect from Kirkman’s recurring injuries, the young boxer was going to need to find a way to stay healthy if he wanted to pursue his Olympic or professional dreams. Luck would have it, that Kirkman’s trainer Eddie Croft knew someone very well that could be of great help.

“SNAC [Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning] started helping me, through Eddie’s wife, Casey Croft, who is a director at SNAC and has been amazing for my career, about five months before the Olympic Trials,” recalls Kirkman. “I started at the USA Boxing Eastern Qualifier. That was the introductory point, where I just started to get help from them, but even a week made a huge difference in how my body felt. After that, I had a full summer training camp, or multiple training camps with them, where my body completely changed. I grew a lot because I was getting the food I was supposed to eat. I wasn’t overtraining and so I noticed a big difference in my body.” 

Healthy and fully-focused on boxing, with a respite from his workload as a Stanford student, Kirkman performed well at the U.S. Olympic Trials, besting two national champions in early rounds of the December of 2023 tournament, but ultimately coming up short in a semi-final bout with Keon Davis. 

“It was a great experience,” says Kirkman. “I was there to compete, but it also just felt really good to be around the best fighters that in the coming years are going to be competing for or defending world titles. It felt like I belonged there and the legends before me, whether they won or lost, like Terence Crawford, who lost in the Olympic Trials and was there at that Olympic Trials as well, it definitely made me realize that I could do something special in this sport. No matter my story, whether I won or lost, it would be a part of my unique path and one day lead me to greatness.” 

With his Olympic Trials experience in the rearview, Kirkman and his team immediately turned their focus to his professional debut, which would ultimately land in Redwood City, California in May of last year and result in a four-round unanimous decision over a seven-fight veteran. In his second bout, Kirkman would take another four-round decision, this time in Oakland, California, and again sweep all three official scorecards. Unlike some young prospects, Kirkman is planning to keep busy fighting at home and not make any trips to Mexico or elsewhere to fill out his record. Kirkman, who carries the nickname of “The Inferno,” it is part of a concerted effort to build his name in the local markets. 

“It has been a choice,” explains Kirkman. “As a Bay Area native, inspired by Andre Ward, I have always felt that I wanted to have that fanbase behind me and to fight in front of friends and family. I want to be able to gain a larger fanbase behind me and someday fight in the 49ers stadium or Stanford Stadium or the Warriors stadium and have a big Bay Area show.”

Last time out, Kirkman scored his first professional knockout over Jose Madrigal Rodriguez in the third round back in Redwood City. For Kirkman, the victory was extra sweet as he felt he may have silenced some critics by his display of power. 

“That felt great,” explains Kirkman. “I would always get little comments questioning my power from people. It never bothered me. My power played a factor in my amateur fights, and that was with extra padded gloves and headgear, but I would have fight-altering power at times. Also, in my first two fights, once my opponents felt my punches, they did not want to feel them again. It was just awkward, trying to get someone out that once they felt the power, they did not want to feel that again and kind of hopped on the defensive end. So finally getting to close the show in the third fight felt like a confirmation of my hard work and fighting ability.” 

Kirkman will return to the ring on March 8th against eight-fight pro Jose Cruz in a four-rounder at the Venue at Thunder Valley in Lincoln, California. Kirkman will come prepared, having studied his opponent and preparing as best he can for the test come fight night. 

“He’s a bit of an awkward guy,” Kirkman has surmised from his study. “He has a little bit of flash. He’s not a showboat, but he has some extra stuff. He tries to think a little bit. I am just interested in doing what I have to do. My coach Eddie Croft and I have a gameplan and we’re always going to be able to execute it. I just look forward to putting on a good show against a good opponent and hopefully have an exciting fight and get the job done and get my second knockout.” 

To get to this point in his career, it has been a long road traveled from those early years of watching boxing with his father on television for Kirkman. Given his skill, determination and attention to detail, Kirkman’s journey ahead could be one to keep on every Bay Area fight fan’s radar. The promising young fighter looks forward to building his name in just under a month’s time at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort. 

“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,” says Kirkman. “As my Inferno nickname indicates, and hopefully putting on a great show and a dominant performance.” 

Tickets for the March 8th event, promoted by Upper Cut Promotions, are available online at uppercutpro.com 

Photos by Ed Silva/Original Solo Photos 

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

By Norm Frauenheim

Surprise, surprise, the Canelo Álvarez-Terence Crawford fight was off. Then, faster than flipping a light switch, it was back on. For the nut jobs gathered in the murky bottom of the social-media cesspool, that was the first sign of a lot more off and on. Sure enough, that’s what followed within a few hours Thursday. Canelo-Jake Paul was on, then suddenly off, in a dizzy sequence of dueling reports, all hard to follow in a sport known more for feints than facts.

Welcome to boxing, once called the red-light district of sports.  Buyer beware, which these days means don’t believe anything you read or hear because it’s about to change.

It all started late Wednesday with a Canelo-Crawford report from The Ring. Suddenly, a fight rumored for about a year and reportedly a done deal for September was suddenly off. Why? Fill in the blanks.

Immediately after news that — for “now” — the reported Canelo-Crawford fight in September on the Las Vegas Raiders home field is off, there were reports that Canelo would fight Jake Paul, who issued a statement Thursday evening, saying “when there is something to announce, we will announce it.’’

Turns out, there was nothing to announce. Instead, there was boxing’s new money man, Saudi Prince Turki Alalshikh, on social media, saying — somewhat cryptically — that Canelo had a four-fight deal for the Riyadh Season. It’s supposed to start on the first weekend in May, but apparently Paul will not be included, despite multiple reports to the contrary earlier in the day.  Meanwhile, The Ring, which Alalshikh recently bought, posted that Canelo-Paul was off. Please, pass the dramamine. It’s hard to know when this messy merry-go-round stops.

Above all, it suggests what everybody already knows. To wit: Boxing doesn’t know what it’s doing. Never has. The difference this week is the chaos. There’s more of that than ever. The best bet — perhaps the only one — is that the chaos will continue, leaving fans and media free to speculate wildly about what to believe and who to mock, what to rip and who to insult.

The best guess in this corner is that an untold amount of money was offered in some furious wheeling-and-dealing between the offs and ons, all in an 11th-hour effort to convince Canelo that he was better off with the Saudis than with a reported bout against Jake Paul. 

The Paul reports were credible, mostly because they made sense.

Canelo, the wealthiest boxer on Forbes’ annual list of the world’s richest athletes, has been more businessman than boxer over the last couple of years. He has employed the risk-reward formula he inherited from Floyd Mayweather Jr., who reportedly became a billionaire boxer by adhering to the ratio.

Paul has been calling out Canelo for years. As an aside, he has never called out David Benavidez, who also had been pursuing Canelo for years before his solid victory at light-heavyweight Saturday over David Morrell. Paul fought MMA star Anderson Silva in a boxing match two-plus years ago in Glendale AZ, just a few blocks from Phoenix streets where Benavidez grew up. 

“You call out Canelo, why not Benavidez?’’ I asked him at the formal news conference.

“I’m not ready for that,’’ Paul said.

He’s not. 

Not then. 

Especially not now.

Canelo, super-middleweight champ and still ranked in the middle of most pound-for-pound ratings, knows that, of course. He also knows that Crawford, an all-time welterweight great still among the top three in the pound-for-pound debate and now 1-0 at junior-middle, is a bigger risk than Paul ever could be. 

Like Benavidez, Paul has never called out Crawford either. 

The risk in either is not worth the reward.

But Paul, whose persona includes an edgy notoriety, has a social-media following that only Gallup can count. His drawing power is also undisputed. A Netflix audience for Paul’s sad spectacle against aging and ailing Mike Tyson on Nov. 15 was reported to peak at 65 million. The live crowd at AT&T Stadium in Arlington TX was announced at 72,300. Factor in all of that and it looked to be a no-brainer. 

The only downside would be the criticism Canelo would inevitably hear if he fought Paul, a novice boxer, instead of the emerging Benavidez or the feared Crawford, who is promoted by Alalshikh.  But the Saudi offer apparently was big, bigger than even the money Canelo might have made in a May date against Paul.

Apparently, the Saudi deal also restores plans for a Crawford fight against Canelo in September. Crawford tweeted Thursday night that he would wait on Canelo to fight a perceived tuneup in May. Super-middleweight belt-holder William Scull, a Cuban living in Germany, Jermall Charlo and Bruno Surface — who knocked out Jaime Munguia in a huge upset — are possibilities for the May date.

But there’s still a caveat. As of late Thursday, there was still no word — yes or no — from Canelo, the reigning Face of the Game. Only his final say-so can stop the chaos, or maybe just ignite a lot more of it.   

Last month, The Ring Magazine named Robert Garcia as 2024’s Trainer of the Year, an accolade he previously achieved back in 2011 and 2012. While much of that recognition comes from the success Garcia experienced with world champions Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela and Virgil Ortiz over the last calendar year, ardent followers of the sport know there is nary a major event that takes place, in Las Vegas, Los Angeles or San Antonio especially, that does not feature at least one of his champions, contenders or up-and-coming prospects. One such promising young southpaw that already has the Alamo City excited just four fights into his pro career would be Ethan Perez, a 20-year-old featherweight who goes for win number five in his hometown at the Boeing Center at Tech Port this coming Saturday night. 

Perez (4-0, 2 KOs) originally found the sport of boxing, following his older brother Anthony into the Alamo City Boxing Club, at just six-years-old and quickly found he had an aptitude for the sweet science. Five years later, with the full support of his parents, Perez was already qualifying and traveling for national tournaments. 

“By like ten or eleven, we started going more towards the national tournaments and out of state for tournaments,” recalls Perez. “Whatever [my parents] felt like they needed to do, they would do, and a lot of times it is not cheap. We would do plate sales or waters, things like that to raise up the money. My parents have always been a big help.” 

Alvino Valles of Texas Boxers & Brawlers, co-promoter of Saturday’s event, has known Ethan and the Perez family since those early years. 

“I’ve known Ethan since he was about ten, eleven years old,” recalls Valles. Ethan, Dan Cortez and my grandson used to all work out together at the RGBA [Robert Garcia Boxing Academy] on Bandera Road. As a matter of fact, Ethan beat up my grandson, who is the same age, when they were young. After Ethan was done with him, my grandson said, ‘This isn’t for me.’ Ethan’s dad has been by his side since day one. They are good people, him and his wife. They’ve done very well with him. He is a well-mannered young man.” 

Ethan’s father Raymond not only was a financial and emotional support during his son’s journey, he also took up as his primary trainer from near the end of his amateur run until the beginnings of his pro career. 

“From 16 up to 18, my dad was coaching me on his own,” recalls Ethan. “Anytime before that, we would try different coaches here and there. I was training with Mario Barrios’ dad for a year or two. I was trained by Bam’s dad for a good year-and-a-half to two years. It was kind of coach-to-coach, but my dad was my main coach for my first and second pro fights, as well as Daniel Cortez’s dad. His dad was a help too.” 

Daniel Cortez is another exciting young fighter out of the same camp, who grew up alongside Perez in San Antonio rings. The two share a close bond, having charted the same path simultaneously in what can be a lonely sport at times. 

“Me and Danny grew up together and we have always been kind of close in weight,” says Perez. “We’ve always been really helpful when it comes to having to spar with each other or working on things with each other. That we are doing it together still, in the pros, is really helpful.” 

Despite his numerical youth and accomplished amateur credentials, Perez opted to turn professional at an early age in the fall of 2023. It was a decision Perez would make together with his father, ultimately leading to his pro debut that September in his hometown of San Antonio. 

“It was a decision that I made right out of high school,” recalls Perez. “I told my dad, ‘Look, I’m ready to get my career started.’ I just feel like the amateurs are just an up and downward spiral. Betweens wins and losses in tournaments. I just felt like I was ready to go pro and take that next step in my career and see how this goes.” 

Perez prepared for his pro debut with his father as his head trainer. In preparing his son for that first big step into the pros, Raymond upped the intensity and attention to detail, leaving nothing to chance. 

“The lead-up was difficult, I am not going to lie,” explains Ethan. “My dad was my coach for that fight. I was living with him, so it was every day. He was watching everything that I would eat, watching how much I weighed everyday. Pushing me through two to three workouts everyday. He pushed me pretty hard for that first fight. 

When we were younger, he explained to me how I needed to tell the difference between him being my coach and him being my father. He said, ‘When we are in the gym and when it is about boxing, you have to realize I am your coach, I am not your father. And also, anytime we are at home or we are outside of boxing, I am your father.’ He didn’t want to mesh the two because it would stir something else up if we started bumping heads. That is something I had to learn growing up, when he’s my coach and not-so-much my father.” 

Making his pro debut in his hometown of San Antonio, Perez scored a shutout, four-round unanimous decision before a raucous crowd at the outdoor Smoke Sky Bar. 

“The whole experience was something different that I had experienced in amateurs,” explains Perez. “In the amateurs, you’re always traveling so much that you don’t have that supportive fanbase there, because you are in different states. But in San Antonio, I had family and friends and a bunch of people that came out and supported. It was a different experience than I had ever felt. It was amazing.” 

In his second pro bout, two months later back at the Smoke Sky Bar, Perez would score his first professional stoppage at just :31 seconds of the first round, which ignited the crowd into a frenzy. 

“I had never experienced that before, especially hearing the crowd,” explains Perez. “Whenever the ref stepped-in, I backed up and I didn’t really process that the fight was already over. I looked at the opponent, like waiting to see what was next, and then the ref was waving it off and finally it clicked. It was crazy and very exciting.” 

The camp for his second pro bout, which included some time working with Daniel Cortez Sr. when Raymond was tied up with work, would be Ethan Perez’s last in San Antonio before making the move to work with Robert Garcia, who had also been the co-promoter of those first two fights. 

“Robert had reached out after the first pro fight and said he wanted me to go out there and start training with him and that was obviously an honor,” recalls Perez. “But I felt that we needed to spend a little more time to get ready, my dad and I, and put in a little more work to mentally prepare me and physically prepare me for Robert’s camp. So that is why we did one more fight back at home, so then going into that third fight, we had three or four months to mentally prepare myself for whatever was to come at RGBA. That’s how I ended up here.”

Their first camp together was to prepare for a fight last March that ultimately fell apart when the scheduled opponent pulled out late. When his next opportunity rolled around last June, Perez’ opponent again put the fight in jeopardy when he came in heavy. However, with two camps with Garcia under his belt, Perez was not going to let a few extra pounds get in the way of notching his third pro victory. 

“They told me that the guy was struggling to make weight, so could I come up a little bit,” recalls Perez. “So from there I started drinking water and gatorade that morning. Then I weighed-in at 128 and he showed up at 132 ¼. I didn’t know he was going to come in so heavy. My dad and I talked about it, and we felt like we could still handle business, regardless of the four pounds over he was. We still felt like we were coming in strong and ready.” 

Strong and ready Perez was, as he punished his heavy opponent before scoring a third-round stoppage (which BoxRec incorrectly lists as a first-round kayo) with a vicious body attack. 

“I was boxing good the whole time, landing solid shots,” remembers Perez. “We had worked on sitting down on punches as opposed to the first fight when I was just trying to throw as much as I could. For the third fight, we were working on sitting down on punches, landing clean shots and showing skills. I feel like it really showed in that fight. I dropped him twice and by the second one, the fight was already over.” 

Since moving over to work with Garcia, both Perez and his good friend Cortez have shown great improvement as they have passed every test put in front of them. 

“They are progressing at a good rate, fight-by-fight, the way that they are supposed to be progressing,” explains Valles, who has co-promoted every one of Perez’s professional bouts. “You can see it, fight-by-fight, every time out they are bringing something new to the ring. You can tell they are learning and getting better. This is going to be Ethan’s last four-rounder [on Saturday.] After this he will be moving up to six-rounds.” 

This Saturday, Perez will be taking a step-up in class when he takes on Steve Garagarza (4-8-1, 2 KOs) of Laredo, Texas. Garagarza has stretched some fighters and sprung an upset on a previously unbeaten fighter before, while also having more wins than Perez’s previous opponents combined. 

“Steve is a strong guy and these are the types of fights Ethan is going to have to take as he moves forward,” explains Valles. “Steve is very durable, very strong. Steve is coming off of a good outing and he knocked off an undefeated guy that was 2-0 prior, so these are good fights for Ethan.” 

Regardless of the opponent, Perez is ready to showcase what he has been working on in the lab with the Trainer of the Year. 

“I don’t know much about him, honestly,” says Perez of Garagarza. “I’m just coming into this fight always trying to work to be better. With this guy, he has more wins than the other opponents I’ve fought against, so I’m going to make sure that I am on my A-game. Just expect to see action. I plan to put on a good show.” 

Tickets for the event, promoted by Texas Boxers & Brawlers and Robert Garcia’s House of Champions and broadcast by ProBox TV, are available online at boeingcentertechport.com

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

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS — David Benavidez did the shuffle, touched the canvas, gestured at fans and his opponent.

He did it all.

He won.

In an often contentious light-heavyweight fight, Benavidez always survived, sometimes dominated and ultimately prevailed, scoring a unanimous decision Saturday night over Cuban David Morrell in front of a roaring crowd at T-Mobile Arena and an Amazon Prime pay-per-view audience.

The bout was called an eliminator, a bureaucratic euphemism that could mean just about anything. Maybe, a shot at 175-pound division’s undisputed title awaits. Maybe, the winner of the Feb. 22 rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dimitrii Bivol awaits.

But Saturday fight was loaded with evidence that Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) isn’t waiting on anybody or anything. He delivered a multi-angled performance that overcame some difficult moments with the kind of resilience that suggests he won’t be eliminated any time soon. 

Against the clever Morrell (11-1, 9 KOs), there were moments when a premature end to all his promises could have been there. He got knocked down late in the 11th when he was off balance and his gloves touched the canvas. Immediately, he rallied, with a furious assault in the round’s final seconds.  Morrell, stunned, reacted a second too late. He popped Benavidez with a counter one second after the bell sounded an end to the round. A one-point penalty was assessed by referee Thomas Taylor.

Would it have mattered? No. Benavidez had a solid advantage on all three scorecards. It was 115-111, 118-108 and 115-111, all for Benavidez. But his quick thinking in response to sudden chaos was a sign of some inexhaustible poise and a stubborn will to fight. It’s what Monsters do, he suggested during an interview in the middle ring immediately after the victory. This Monster is not extinct, despite talk that suggested otherwise.

“He knows that,’’ Benavidez said as he nodded toward Morrell’s corner. “Everybody knows that the Monster is still here. Now he does, too.’’

Morrell had no complaints in the immediate aftermath. He did not rip the referee for taking a point. He did not hurl profanities at Benavidez. They hugged after it was all over..

“It’s OK,’’ Morrell said. “I’m not going to criticize. Thank you, David Benavidez. I want to fight you again. I know I can beat you 

 The violence, promised by promoter Tom Brown, was there — fully locked and loaded — in an explosive fourth round. 

It happened at both sides of the ring, in opposite corners, each neutral only in name. First, there was Benavidez, trapping Morrell in one corner and unleashing punches at a familiar, yet still astonishing rate. Initially, it looked as if Morrell couldn’t tell where the punches were coming from. They rained in on the Cuban from impossible angles. Benavidez was delivering chaos. But  Morrell escaped, stepping to his right along the ropes and into the relative calm of the center ring.

But that calm proved to be an illusion, a little bit like the eye of a storm.

Within seconds, the winds of violence blew Benavidez into the opposite corner. This time, it was Morrell’s turn. With Benavidez’ back up against the ring post, Morrell unloaded a skillset noted for more precision than chaos. One big shot landed, rocking Benavidez’ head back almost as if it were attached to his shoulders by a long, loose spring.

“He hit me, but I thought he would hit harder,’’ Benavidez said.

Translation: Morrell couldn’t take away some of the intangibles that continue to make Benavidez so effective. He always has an answer. They were there Saturday night, at every moment and in every corner.  

Fulton wins, crowd boos

The sequel is never as good as the original.

Stephen Fulton and Brandon Figueroa proved the old line, ad nauseam, Saturday with an oh-so-dull rematch of their first encounter in November 2021.

Then, they did it at super-bantamweight in a bout won by Fulton in a majority-decision. Saturday, they were at featherweight with a World Boxing Council title at stake. But it didn’t matter. Fulton 23-1, 8 KOs) won the belt, scoring a unanimous decision.But there was no celebration. Only boos

On any scale, a restless T-Mobile Arena crowd waiting for the David Benavidez-David Morrell main course  just wanted it to end.

The crowd began booing in the fourth round. The booing continued for the next few rounds before some in the crowd began to chant insults and expletives in Spanish. In any language, Fulton-Figueroa 2 was boring. It also took some air out of the arena after an entertaining junior welterweight bout won by Isaac Cruz over Angel Fierro in the prior bout.

Neither Fulton nor Figueroa was able to mount, much less sustain, any kind of an attack. Fulton landed a powerful right. But not much more from either fighter after that.

In the twelfth, there were finally cheers from a crowd happy only that it had ended

Isaac Cruz wins decision in tough fight for belt named after Israel Vazquez

Israel Vazquez would have been proud.

Isaac Cruz and Angel Fierro fought with some of the heart and much of the same stubborn skill that defined the late Vazquez through 10 competitive rounds for a WBC Aztec belt named after the late Mexican great Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

In the end, Cruz prevailed, winning a unanimous decision.

Go ahead and argue with the scores — 96-94, 97-93, 98-92, all for the better-known, more popular Cruz.

But there was no argument with the fight. It was a toe-to-toe, back-and-forth battle between two Mexicans. In the end Cruz (26-4-1, 18 KOs) prevailed. Perhaps, he had just a little bit more bite, although the 98-92 didn’t indicate that. It should have.

 But Fierro (23-3-2, 11 KOs) didn’t complain.

“I came here to give the fans a great fight and leave it all in the ring,” he said through an interpreter. “I don’t care about the judges, I care about the fans. But I do hope that ‘Pitbull’ gives me a rematch, because I think I deserve it.”

 With the crowd woofing and the dog still apparent in Cruz, nicknamed the Pitbull, things suddenly changed in the third round. That’s when Fierro let the barking fans and the aggressive Cruz know that he wasn’t going to go away meekly. 

Fierro, of Tijuana, used his advantages in height and reach to catch the incoming  Cruz with a succession of shots that wobbled him. Suddenly, some of that barking began to sound like begging in the pro-Cruz crowd..

Through the next two rounds, Cruz, of Mexico City, would back up Fierro with his power. But the stubborn Fierro always knew where he was. Cruz was moving, always incoming. He knows no other way. Hence, the dogged nickname.

Fierro caught again in the fourth 

And again in the fifth..

By the seventh and eighth, both junior-welterweights began to tire. Cruz didn’t pursue with the same energy. Fierro’s hands and shoulders began to droop, then drop. But in the 1oth and final round, both stood, exchanging blow after blow.

Israel Vazquez must have been smiling.

Ramos wins middleweight TKO, plans to go back to 154 pounds

Losses are lessons.

Lesson learned.

Jesus Ramos applied what he remembered from a painful, controversial loss to Erickson Lubin in his lone defeat and beat Jeison Rosario Saturday at T-Mobile Arena with a definitive finish.

He won by stoppage. This time, he eliminated any chance at a scorecard debate.

“I was hoping for a knockcout,” said Ramos, who plans to go back down to junior middleweight after the 160-pound victory, his second straight win since the Lubin loss.

But he didn’t quibble with the technical part of it, although Rosario appeared to when the referee ended at 2:18 of the eighth round on a card featuring David Benavidez-versus-David Morrell.

By then, Ramos (22-1, 18 KOs), who ended it with a succession of punches — two to the head and two to the body , was in complete control with a thorough body-to-head attack that broke down Rosario (24-5-2, 13 KOs). It also knocked him down in the seventh.

Ramos, fighting out of a southpaw stance, was effective with lead left hands in the opening round and again in the second. Rosario, a former welterweight champion, moved forward, but his advance was repeatedly met by agile combinations, body to head and head to body.

After three rounds, Ramos had landed 38 body punches, according to a ringside computer.. By the fifth, Ramos appeared to be gaining control of the middleweight bout. His fans, many from his hometown of Casa Grande in central Arizona, thought so.

“Ramos, Ramos,” they chanted.

By the sixth, Ramos’ body shots were having an impact — one that echoed through the arena. Rosario’s forward movement began to slow. His hands began to drop. It was an opportunity, and Ramos capitalized with one uppercut after another. Rosario was hurt. In the seventh he was down, dropped by a right-left combination from Ramos.. 

Photo by Ester Lin/Premier Boxing Champions

Follow all the action as David Benavidez and David Morrell get it on in a cant-miss Light Heavyweight Battle. The four-fight card begins at 8 PM ET / 5 PM Pt with Jesus Ramos taking on former unified champion Jeison Rosario. In all-Mexican showdown, former world champion Isaac Cruz takes on Angel Fierro. In a rematch for the WBC Featherweight title, Brandon Figueroa takes on former unified champion Stephen Fulton.

NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED

Round 1:Body shot from Brnavidez..Body combination..Right hook from Morrell
Round 2 Straight left from Morrell…Left to body..Uppercut from Benavidez…Nice uppercut and right from Morrell…2 hard rights from Benavidez..
Round 3 Combination from Benavidez…Benavidez cut over left eye
Round 4 The Two unloading heavy punches..Left hook to body from Benavidez..Big left from Morrell
Round 5 Counter left from Benavidez..Left to the body..Left..Nice right and right to the body
Round 6 Left uppercut from Morrell..Another uppercut..2 more uppercuts
Round 7 Body shot from Benavidez…Right from Benavidez…Counter left from Morrell..Combination..
Round 8 Counter left from Morrell..Combination..Left from Benavidez…Short left from Morrell
Round 9 Body shots and uppercuts from Benavidez..3 punch combo from Morell…Right hook..Body shot
Round 10 Chopping right from Benavidez…Another right
Round 11 Left hook to body from Benavidez..Chopping right..Morell landing on the ropes…COUNTER RIGHT AND DOWN GOES BENAVIDEZ..POINT DEDUCTED FROM MORRELL FOR HITTING AFTER THE BELL
ROUND 12 Right to body from Benavidez…Uppercut…Left hook…Swelling under both eyes of Morrell

115-111 twice and 118-109 FOR DAVID BENAVIDEZ

ROUND 1 

ROUND 2 Counter right from Fulton..Counter right..Jab and right to body

ROUND 3 Right from Fulton..Sharp right

ROUND 4 Body shot from Fulton…Body shot from Figueroa…Left to head from Fulton…

ROUND 5 Counter uppercut from Fulton..Right and left

ROUND 6 Double right from Figueroa..Counter from Fulton…Right uppercut…Body shot

ROUND 7 Jab from Fulton..And another..Right from Figueroa..

ROUND 8 Double left and right from Figueroa…Fulton Outlanding Figueroa 139-84

ROUND 9 Uppercut on inside from Figueroa..right..

ROUND 10 Nice counter right from Fulton…nice Left hook

ROUND 11 Body shot and left hook from Fulton..Left to body…Counter left from Figueroa

ROUND 12 Body shot from Fulton..Left from Figueroa..Right from Fulton

116-112 TWICE AND 117-111 FOR STEPHEN FULTON

Round 1: They come out wailing away in the center of the ring.  Left to body from Fierro…Big right from Cruz..2 Hard rights..
Round 2 Big Left hook from Cruz..Left hook and right hand…2 left hooks to the live..Combination to the head..Left hook to body from Fierro..Lead left to body from Cruz..left to head..Jab…
Round 3 Body shot…Uppercut…1-2…Right from Fierro..Uppercut..Big right from Fierro…toe-to-toe war…Big right from Fierro..Big right
Round 4 Jab from Cruz..Left…Straight right..Big right..
Round 5 Counter right from Fierro..Right from Cruz..2 rights drives Fierro to the corner…Right to the head..Right from Fierro..4 punch combination
Round 6 Straight right from Cruz
Round 7 Jab from Fierro…2 rights from Cruz
Round 8 Left hook from Cruz…Body work..Leaping left..Hard left…Fierro throwing back
Round 9 Right to head from Cruz. Right upper cut. left to body from Fierro..Lead left hook from Cruz..Big left and big right…
Round 10 Left from Fierro..Big left from Cruz…Uppercut..Left from Fierro..Right..

96-94, 97-93 and 98-92 FOR ISAAC CRUZ

CRUZ Outlanded Fierro 248 of 624  to 238 of 786…Fight was a Fight of The Year Candidate for sure.

Round 1 Right to body from Rosario…2 shots from Ramos…Left…Straight Right
Round 2 Jab from Ramos..Left…Right from Rosario…Right to the body from Rosario,,Right to body
Round 3 3 Body bunches from Ramos..Straight left to the body…Good right to the body. Straight left to the body. Combination featur4ed by a right to th e body
Round 4 4 punch combination from Body..More Body work…3 punch combination
Round 5 Jab and left from Ramos…3 punch combination finished off by a body shot.  1-2..Lead left..  Ramos outlanding Rosario 137-37
Round 6 Uppercut drives Rosario back…Rosario backtracking..Body shots…
Round 7 Punishing body shot..PERFECT LEFT TO THE HEAD AND DOWN GOES ROSARIO
Round 8 Doctor checking out Rosario…Huge right hook from Ramos and THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS — Words, mostly the four-letter variety, have been exchanged. So have threats, insults and all of the rest. David Benavidez and David Morrell played their roles and memorized their lines. It was boxing theater at its best. And its worst. Promoter Tom Brown promises violence, which of course is exactly what you’d expect in a fight.

By Friday, there wasn’t much left to say. After all, there are only so many four-letter combinations. We’ve heard them all, and none of them have really changed any minds. Benavidez-Morrell was a pick-em fight when it was announced. It was virtually a pick-em fight Friday after both stepped off the scale — appropriately enough — without a fraction of a pound separating them.

Their weights were like their first names. Both Davids came in at an identical 174.2 pounds, safely under the 175-pound mandatory for a light-heavyweight fight Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena that is supposed to lead to a shot at the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitrii Bivol winner on Feb. 22 in Saudi Arabia.

The weigh-in, a staged version of the official one earlier Friday, was perhaps noteworthy for what didn’t happen. There were no blows, not even a shove.

Escalating rhetoric, mostly sparked by Benavidez, at news conferences and public appearances had set off more than a few alarms. A few punches the day before opening bell would not have surprised anybody. But it didn’t happen, mostly because of Morrell.

As the two rivals moved toward center stage for the ritual face-off, Morrell suddenly looked down and stepped back, exiting left and away from an impending storm. It’ll happen anyway, sometime around 8 p.m. (PT) in the Amazon streamed bout.

That doesn’t exactly mean that the two camps were suddenly at peace. They’re not. The evident hostility was there, behind closed doors,  at the official weigh-in in a moment best described by Morrell manager Luis De Cubas. 

Benavidez and De Cubas have been insulting each other all week. There have been allegations about performance-enhancing drugs, a knockdown of Morrell in training camp, money and even hand shakes. According to De Cubas, Friday morning’s chapter of discontent started with an attempted hand shake.

De Cubas said Benavidez arrived at the official weigh-in, offering to shake De Cubas’ hand. De Cubas refused. He said he wouldn’t accept anything — not an apology or anything else — from Benavidez. De Cubas called him a “——sucker” at Thursday’s news conference.

“He called me a thief,’’ De Cubas said.

By the time everybody reached the MGM Grand Garden Arena for the staged weigh-in, Benavidez  was only offering promises of pain and peril for the 27-year-old Morrell, an unbeaten Cuban living in Minneapolis.

“I guarantee that I’ll knock him out,’’ the 28-year-old Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) said to a crowd of a few thousand, most of whom made the drive up to Vegas from Phoenix, Benavidez’ hometown.

The weigh-in crowd was clearly there for Benavidez, who has gone from fat kid to feared fighter in an unlikely ascent to stardom. Fans at the weigh-in identify with Benavidez and the westside Phoenix streets that produced him.

“Benavidez, Benavidez”, they chanted.

Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) heard them. His only answer was a gesture. He blew them kisses. It also might have been his way at telling them to kiss off. He and his corner enter Saturday’s fight confident that they can slow down Benavidez, often a freight train in the late rounds of any fight. The Cuban’s left hand, they say, will do to Benavidez what he guaranteed he’ll do to Morrell. A KO is Morrell’s promise.

Best bet?

Violence.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – The first must-see fight of 2025 takes place this coming Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena as power-puncher David Benavidez takes on boxing savant David Morrell to determine the next in line at 175-pounds, as mandated by not only two of the sport’s sanctioning bodies, but by the public as well. Fighters for Saturday’s event weighed-in this morning, but reenacted their trips to the scale before a large gathering on Friday afternoon at the MGM Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand. 

Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) of Las Vegas by way of Phoenix, Arizona has appeared motivated and agitated in the lead-up to Saturday’s fight, something that looked to be missing in his debut at 175-pounds. If the Arizona native unleashes “The Monster” of previous fights, Morrell will have his hands full once the bell rings. 

Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) of Minneapolis, Minnesota by way of Santa Clara, Cuba has been waiting for an opportunity at one of the big names at 168 or 175-pounds to agree to put him on the big stage. When a fight with Canelo Alvarez, which has eluded Benavidez as well, was not forthcoming, Morrell’s team switched their focus to the Arizona puncher. Morrell, like Benavidez, did not look like his best self in his debut at the weight, even while scoring a wide decision. 

To many in the boxing world, the matter of who could stake claim as the number one light heavyweight in the world was settled last October when Artur Beterbiev decisioned Dmitrii Bivol to unify the four major world titles. Finding ways to cloud up a clear situation, the WBC and WBA each had anointed additional champions at 175-pounds, prior to the unification bout last fall. Benavidez claimed the interim WBC title in his light heavyweight debut via unanimous decision over Oleksandr Gvozdyk last June. Morrell, in his light heavyweight debut, moved past a tough Radivoje Kalajdzic to claim a secondary version of the WBA title last October. 

While Beterbiev and Bivol are set to meet again later this month, the winner of Saturday’s bout will unequivocally become the clear leading contender for the winner. Benavidez and Morrell both came in at 174.2-pounds. 

In a long awaited rematch, Brandon Figueroa (25-1-1, 19 KOs) of Weslaco, Texas attempts to avenge his lone career defeat while also defending the WBC featherweight title against Stephen Fulton Jr. (22-1, 8 KOs) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the co-main event of the evening. 

From the moment Figueroa heard the official cards go against him back in November of 2021, he believed he deserved the nod and wanted the rematch, but at 126-pounds, four pounds north. Figueroa made the necessary move to 126 where he would claim and defend the interim version of the WBC title, before being elevated to full-champion when Rey Vargas was demoted to the title of “champion in recess.” Now in his first defense of the full title, Figueroa will get the second chance at Fulton that he has yearned for since 2021. 

Fulton remained at 122-pounds after his victory over Figueroa, making one successful defense of his unified title before running into the buzzsaw that is Naoya Inoue and falling by way of eighth-round stoppage. Fulton, the WBC #2 ranked featherweight, made this bout a possibility by moving past veteran Carlos Castro via split decision last September here at T-Mobile Arena. Figueroa weighed-in at 125.8-pounds, while Fulton met the division limit of 126. 

Always a crowd favorite, Isaac Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico hopes to take a step back towards a world title opportunity when he takes on former regional title holder Angel Fierro (23-2-2, 18 KOs) of San Diego, California by way of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico in a ten-round junior welterweight bout. 

Cruz looks to rebound from a decision defeat to Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela last August and regain the momentum he had accrued since his memorable decision defeat to Gervonta Davis in 2021. Fierro moved up to the 140-pound class two fights back and was unsuccessful in Puerto Rico, before a get-well welterweight victory back home in Tijuana last time out. Cruz scaled 138.6-pounds, while Fierro made 139. 

WBC #6/WBA #7/IBF #8 ranked junior middleweight Jesus Ramos Jr. (21-1, 17 KOs) of Casa Grande, Arizona attempts to get his career rolling again against former champion Jeison Rosario (24-4-2, 18 KOs) of Miami, Floria by way of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in a ten-round middleweight bout to open the pay-per-view telecast. 

Ramos last saw action in May of last year when he moved past Johan Gonzalez by ninth-round stoppage in this same arena. For Ramos, that victory is the one bout he has had since coming up short against Erikson Lubin the year prior. Rosario, who claimed the IBF light middleweight title, stopping Julian Williams, in January of 2020, is attempting to resurrect his career at Ramos’ expense. Ramos scaled 159-pounds, while Rosario came in at 159.2. The bout is for the vacant WBA North America middleweight title. 

In the final appetizer before the main pay-per-view card, Mirco Cuello (14-0, 11 KOs) of Arroyo Seco, Santa Fe, Argentina will take on Christian Olivo (22-1-1, 9 KOs) of San Diego by way of Hermosillo, Mexico in a ten-round elimination bout, putting the winner potentially next in line to securing a title opportunity against WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball. Cuello, the WBA #3/IBF #15 ranked featherweight, scaled 125.6-pounds. “Kiki” Olivo, the WBA #5 ranked 126-pounder, made 25.6-pounds.

In another of the broadcasted preliminaries, Yoenli Feliciano Hernandez (6-0, 6 KOs) of Providence, Rhode Island by way of Camaguey, Cuba will aim to get his countrymen in attendance warmed-up for the main event when he meets Angel Ruiz (18-3-1, 13 KOs) of Los Angeles, California by way of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico in a ten-round middleweight fight. Feliciano Hernandez, who scored an eighth-round stoppage of a previously unbeaten opponent last time out in October, weighed-in at 158.4-pounds. Ruiz, who in 2021 stunted the career of Kazak Bobirzhan Mominov by decision, scaled 159.6-pounds. Feliciano Hernandez’s regional WBA Continental Latin America title is at stake. 

A late addition to the preliminary broadcast, which is free to all on Prime Video, Mayweather Promotions’ budding star Curmel Moton (6-0, 5 KOs) of Las Vegas returns to the ring against Frank Zaldivar (5-1, 3 KOs) of Miami by way of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba in an eight-round lightweight bout. Moton, returning to the scheduled eight-round distance for the first time since his second pro bout, came in at 134.8-pounds. Zaldivar, who dropped a ten-round decision in his last bout, made 135.8-pounds. 

Homegrown prospect Kaipo Gallegos (7-0-1, 6 KOs) of Las Vegas makes his second career appearance at T-Mobile Arena when takes on Leonardo Padilla (24-6-1, 17 KOs) of Petare, Venezuela in an eight-round lightweight bout on Saturday. Gallegos, reportedly an 18-time national champion as an amateur, scaled 134.6-pounds. Padilla, who scored his signature win over Andy Vences in 2023, but has struggled to see the final bell against the majority of his class opponents, weighed-in at 129.8. 

In a pairing of unbeaten super middleweights, former amateur star Daniel Blancas (11-0, 5 KOs) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin battles Juan Barajas (11-0-2, 7 KOs) of Victorville, California in an eight-round fight. Blancas, a regular David Benavidez sparring partner, scaled 166.2-pounds, while Barajas, entering the contest off of two consecutive draws, weighed-in 166.6. 

The elder of the fighting Benavidez brothers, Jose Benavidez Jr. (28-3-1, 19 KOs) of Phoenix is back in action against former Nico Ali Walsh adversary Danny Rosenberger (20-9-4, 10 KOs) of Youngstown, Ohio in an eight-round middleweight bout. Benavidez, looking to rebound from his one-sided defeat to Jermall Charlo back in November of 2023, came in at 160.8-pounds. Rosenberger, who notably fought Ali Walsh to a draw, only to have the decision changed to a no contest when the Ohio native’s random drug test came back with high levels of testosterone, scaled 159-pounds. 

Mayweather Promotions’ super middleweight John Easter (7-0, 7 KOs) of Las Vegas takes a step-up in class in just his second fight on U.S. soil when takes on Joseph Aguilar (6-2-1, 3 KOs) of Portland, Oregon in a six-rounder. Easter, in his first action since taking on award-winning trainer Bob Santos, weighed-in at 169.4-pounds. Aguilar, who has more wins than Easter’s previous seven opponents combined, made 171.8-pounds, which was 1.8 over the contracted limit. 

In a battle for Lone Star State bragging rights, Gabriela Tellez (3-0, 1 KO) of San Antonio, Texas will meet Abril Anguiano (4-0, 2 KOs) of Garland, Texas in a six-round featherweight bout. Tellez, a standout amateur before turning professional in July of last year, weighed-in at 127.8-pounds. Anguiano, who won a six-round decision in her last official bout over a solid fighter in Melissa Holguin last March, but also logged four rounds over two nights in Team Combat League last summer, came in at 125.2-pounds. 

Quick Weigh-in Results:

WBC Interim Light Heavyweight Championship

WBA Light Heavyweight Championship

WBC Light Heavyweight Championship & WBA Light Heavyweight Championship Elimination Bout, 12 Rounds

Benavidez 174.2

Morrell 174.2

WBC Featherweight Championship, 12 Rounds

Figueroa 125.8

Fulton Jr. 126

Light welterweights, 10 Rounds 

Cruz 138.6

Fierro 139

WBA Continental North America Middleweight Championship, 10 Rounds

Ramos Jr. 159

Rosario 159.2

WBA Featherweight Championship Elimination Bout, 10 Rounds

Cuello 125.6

Olivo 125.6

WBA Continental Latin America Middleweight Championship, 10 Rounds

Feliciano Hernandez 158.4

Ruiz 159.6

Lightweights, 8 Rounds

Gallegos 134.6

Padilla 129.8

Super middleweights, 8 Rounds

Blancas 166.2

Barajas 159.6

Lightweights, 8 Rounds

Moton 134.8

Zaldivar 135.8

Middleweights, 8 Rounds

Benavidez Jr. 160.8

Rosenberger 159

Super middleweights, 8 Rounds

Easter 169.4

Aguilar 171.8*

Featherweights, 6 Rounds

Tellez 127.8

Anguiano 125.2

*Aguilar 1.8-pounds over contracted weight 

Tickets for the Premier Boxing Champions event, promoted by TGB Promotions, Warriors Boxing Promotions, Sampson Boxing and Mayweather Promotions, are available online at Ticketmaster.com 

Photos by Ester Lin/Premier Boxing Champions 

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

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS — Two days before opening bell, promoter Tom Brown promises violence. Minutes later, David Benavidez says enough to enrage David Morrell and his manager, Luis DeCubas, pushing Brown’s promise ever closer to reality during a contentious news conference Thursday. 

Benavidez turned up the rhetoric, elevating the potential hostility by several octaves, with everything from profane threats to personal insults during an angry hour in a ballroom at the MGM Grand.

Ordinarily, trash talk at a boxing news conference is a redundancy. It’s all part of the show. Increasingly however, a method in Benavidez’ madness is apparent. It’s in his words, to be sure. But it’s also in his eyes. Again and again Thursday, the Phoenix-born fighter looked  across the table at Morrell and De Cubas with eyes that flashed like sparks off flint. Benavidez, nicknamed The Monster and sounding like one, looks to be serious in the final hours before his light-heavyweight clash with Morrell Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

The trash talk is like another training session, one that further sharpens the edge on his mind and emotion. Ask him about it, and he acknowledges that the verbal exchanges help channel his energies and maybe his anger, too.

That wasn’t apparent in his last fight, a light-heavyweight debut, a bout with former 175-pound champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June. Benavidez won, but without any of the dynamic energy that has been a trademark for so long. He liked Gvozdyk, a quiet and skillful Ukrainian.

“We spoke different languages and we respected each other, unlike this effing guy, who I don’t effing respect at all,’’ Benavidez told The Boxing Hour/15 Rounds as he waved a dismissive gesture toward Morrell’s side of the stage.

One thing became loudly clear at the newser. Benavidez and Morrell understand each other. Both are fluent in profanity. But there were signs that Morrell wanted to insert a little civility to the pre-fight proceedings.

“Peace and love,’’ Morrell, a Cuban living in Minneapolis, said at the end of his first turn at the bully pulpit.

Benavidez reacted to that like a predator pursuing prey.

“Peace and love, what’s the hell is that?’’ Benavidez said. “But I’m not surprised, because I know he’s effing afraid of me.’’

The hostility, sparked by Benavidez, began with a barrage of insults aimed at De Cubas. De Cubas tried to keep his cool as he spoke amid one interruption after another. But it was to no avail. Finally, De Cubas answered, profanity-for-profanity.

“—-sucker,’’ he yelled, throwing out an obscene insult that set the stage for an X-rated show.

It got so bad that Benavidez manager and promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz actually admonished De Cubas.

 “I want to apologize for De Cubas’ behavior,’’ said Lewkowicz, who isn’t exactly known for diplomacy. “We didn’t need anybody to scream. This fight sells it itself.’’

But the screaming continued anyway for an intriguing light-heavyweight bout between young fighters, both entering their primes and both unbeaten. They’re both cocksure, which isn’t exactly the word De Cubas used to describe Benavidez. But you get the idea.

After the newser, De Cubas said he wasn’t surprised at how Benavidez went at him.

“We know all about Benavidez’ bullying and all of that other stuff,’’ De Cubas said in the relative calm just outside the doors to the MGM Grand’s media room. “I knew it was coming. But when you behave like that, it’s because of fear. I saw that fear in him. Look, I think he knows that some time during the fight he’s going to realize that he shouldn’t have taken this fight in the first place.

“He’s complaining about not shaking hands. Before that, there was all this stuff about steroids. But we were the first to agree to VADA testing. There’s always something. Why? Because he’s afraid he’s gonna get knocked out.”

Who’s afraid of who? Brown’s promise suggests that nobody is afraid at all. In part, that’s why he’s forecasting violence.

“At the end of the day, we’re selling fights, right?’’ said Benavidez, who lives in Miami these days yet continues to honor his Phoenix roots with PHX boldly stitched onto the waistband of his trunks. “Would I rather say he’s a good fighter? I’m trying to sell the fight. I’m trying to sell pay-per-views. I’m trying to generate interest because if I don’t say anything, this effing guy’s not going to say anything. People are paying hard-earned money for this fight. 

“They want to see something. Let’s give them something to see.”

Angry words, but they’re also words from a fighter who hopes to be a peoples champ. Perhaps, The Peoples Champ

“I want to be the Face of Boxing,’’ said Benavidez, who on Thursday was a face hard to ignore. 

Harder to silence. 

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS — If trash talk is a reliable way to measure David Benavidez’ readiness, it’s at the top of the scale and climbing  just a few days before he faces David Morrell Saturday in a bout as big as any in his career.

Benavidez welcomed a crowd of gamblers, guests and fans on the MGM Grand’s casino floor Wednesday with promises and threats about what he intends to do to Morrell at the nearby T-Mobile Arena in a light-heavyweight eliminator streamed by Amazon Prime.

“I’m going to beat the bleep out of him,’’ Benavidez (29-0, 21 KOs) shouted as he stepped into the ring for a public workout that included three-year-old son, Anthony, who imitated his father with a display of fast hands and a playful look.

Subtract a bleep or two, and Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) said pretty much the same thing to a crowd of fans anxious to see the former Cuban amateur, now a left-handed light-heavyweight living in Minneapolis.

If the trash-talk exchange sounds familiar, it is. Benavidez, a Phoenix fighter now living in Miami, shouted some of the same insults with the same intensity at Caleb Plant before he scored a punishing super-middleweight decision over Plant in March 2023 at the MGM Grand. 

Benavidez and Plant exchanged profane threats then. They also exchanged hugs after it was all over.

“Truth is, I always hate the guys I’m about to fight,’’ said Benavidez, whose older brother, Phoenix-born fighter Jose Benavidez Jr. (28-3-1, 19 KOs), is also scheduled for the undercard in an eight-rounder against Danny Rosenberger (28-9-4, 10 KOs), a junior-middleweight from Youngstown, Ohio. “But this time, the guy is promising to beat me up, knock me out. All of that makes me respond. I never been more ready to beat the bleep out someone more than I am this guy.’’

Benavidez, who said he was ready for Morrell’s southpaw style, also enters the clash — David-versus-David — with some intriguing help from one of the best light-heavyweights ever. 

Andre Ward, who retired unbeaten, spent some time with Benavidez in a training camp that was divided between Miami and Las Vegas.

“It was good,’’ said Benavidez, who spent time with Ward during the Vegas half of the camp. “We talked about a lot of stuff. The biggest thing is something you’ll see Saturday. He told me to keep my lead hand up. There were other things. But that’s help I’ll use right away.’’

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – This coming Saturday night, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, a mouth-watering light heavyweight unification bout takes center stage on pay-per-view between two former super middleweight champions that grew tired of waiting on Canelo Alvarez to return their messages and instead moved up one weight class in their last respective bouts to claim gold at 175-pounds, as David Morrell takes on David Benavidez. Morrell, previously one of the most decorated and successful amateur boxers of this generation, shares a trainer with an aspiring super middleweight that began his career from a different starting point in John “The Candyman” Easter, who will take a step-up in class on the undercard this weekend against Joseph Aguilar in a six-round bout. 

Easter (7-0, 7 KOs) of Las Vegas came to boxing later than some, having participated in many other athletic endeavors before finding his way to boxing somewhat out of necessity. Born in South Carolina, but raised between Texas and Nevada, Easter had trouble settling into any season long enough to play a team sport. 

“I ran track, played football, basketball and golf,” recalls Easter. “When you play those other sports, you have to make the team and I moved around a lot growing up, so boxing was the way I could live my life through my athletic ability without the things that I could not control. There isn’t a team you have to make in boxing.”

Easter’s desire to utilize his athleticism led him to the sport of boxing, but from the beginning, the young athlete was not interested in taking it up as just a hobby. Easter got into boxing to become a paid professional. 

“I wanted to make something of myself and I didn’t want to be another statistic,” explains Easter. “I wanted to become something and change my family’s lives.” 

Despite not being a loyal follower of the sport, there was one professional pugilist that stood out and reached Easter’s awareness. By the time Easter reached elementary school, Floyd Mayweather Jr. had reached the pinnacle of the sport and was widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. An undeniable crossover star by the time he beat Oscar De La Hoya in 2007, Mayweather was someone that Easter revered. 

“Floyd was definitely somebody that was doing great things and I knew who he was and he was somebody that I did look up to,” recalls Easter. “Absolutely I did, because he was doing something great and I look up to greatness.” 

Fast forward in life and John Easter would find himself under the tutelage of the man himself, Floyd Mayweather. Mayweather Promotions has handled many fighters dating back to when Mayweather was still actively fighting, but in recent years the company has scaled back the roster of fighters it oversees. Easter finds himself as one of the few that Mayweather has a vested interest in these days, and it is not lost on the young fighter what a gift that relationship is to his career. 

“More than anybody would know,” says Easter when asked how involved Mayweather is in his fistic journey. “Any question I have or anything I want to go over, he is hands on. It is really a blessing that he is there for me in any way I need.” 

While Mayweather retired after his 50th career win, which came over Conor McGregor in 2017, he has followed a path paved by great fighters from years-gone-by in taking up exhibitions in different parts of the world. On the undercard of one such bout, taking place last August at Arena Ciudad de México in Mexico City, Mexico, Easter was able to notch his seventh pro victory over Jesus Villa Miranda, before witnessing his mentor show off before a raucous crowd. 

“The experience was a great experience,” recalls Easter. “It was my first time opening up for Floyd, so that is always going to be amazing, to be able to say that I opened up for Floyd Mayweather. It was awesome. It was a great overall experience. The people embraced me when I went into the crowd to show love, the people loved me. Also, the magnitude of the event was perfect for me, because I am a big dreamer.” 

With Mayweather’s guidance, Easter made a change to his corner last year, replacing the trainer that started him, Kofi Jantuah, and joining up with multiple-time trainer of the year, Bob Santos. Saturday’s bout will be the first the new duo embarks on together since joining forces around six months ago. 

“Obviously, I’ve always had a good relationship with Floyd Mayweather, going back a long, long ways and Floyd is his promoter,” explains Santos. “Floyd gave his blessing to move him over here with me. He thought they needed to make a change. I think Kofi Jantuah did a great job with him, but for whatever reason, and I’m not privy to all the details, they thought they needed to make a change. Floyd thought I would be the best possible guy, moving forward with his career.”

 “Bob has been phenomenal,” says Easter. “I’ve found a great place to be. It is a great home and I am very thankful that I crossed paths with Bob. I’ve learned a lot and he really believes in me. That is what matters to me.”

Easter came to boxing after competing in other sports and then opted to gain ring experience less from amateur bouts and more by sparring before turning professional in Mexico in May of 2021. While some may see the lack of amateur pedigree as a disadvantage, Easter and his trainer Santos are of like mind that is not necessarily the case. 

“I didn’t train to be an amateur,” explains Easter. “I trained to be a pro. At the end of the day, there is not an advantage or disadvantage [in regards to having an amateur background]. At the end of the day, it is a fight. You have to go out there and punch. A lot of that stuff doesn’t make a difference. You have to go out there and fight. I think some fighters that have bigger amateur backgrounds are better than those that don’t, but then there are some fighters that don’t have that much of an amateur background that go on to be legends.” 

“Roberto Duran didn’t have very many amateur fights and you saw what he did with his career,” says Santos. “There’s been a lot of guys [without amateur backgrounds] that ascended to the top. We’ve also had guys that won gold medals and never won a world championship. In the perfect world, would you like the amateur background? Yes. But sometimes, guys can’t transition from the amateurs to the pros because they are so stuck in one pattern they are not even coachable.” 

Santos speaks from prior experience, pointing to a success story from his past as a prime example of what can be accomplished without the long amateur pedigree. 

“I worked with a guy named Hector Lizaaraga that won a world championship from Fresno that had only 20 amateur fights, so this isn’t my first rodeo working with guys that don’t have a plethora of amateur fights and taking them to the top,” explains Santos. “We did it with Lizaaraga and I know we can do it with John Easter.”

Long before any designs can be made on winning world championships, Easter must pass the test at hand, this coming Saturday, in the form of Joseph Aguilar (6-2-1, 3 KOs) of Portland, Oregon.

“I don’t really know too much about him or know what to expect from him,” admits Easter, without apologies. “I didn’t do my research on him. I am going in there to be the best me. I am not going in there to be the best opponent for my opponent. I know he is going to bring something to the table, but at the end of the day, I know that I can box.”

While Easter seems less-than-concerned about what Aguilar may bring to the table, his team does recognize that the Oregonian represents a step-up in class from prior opposition for their young charge. 

“No doubt about it, it is a step-up in class from where he has been fighting,” admits Santos. “But John is coming along really, really well and I am expecting for us to have a great performance and be victorious.” 

Easter, known as “The Candyman,” is ready to put on a show for those who decide to arrive early to T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night. 

“I am very excited to be fighting in Las Vegas on Saturday,” says Easter. “It is a blessing. I wish it was a different magnitude, but my time will come. You can expect to see me using my athleticism. Me going out there, being smart, listening to my team and having a victory with a big smile.” 

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

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – It can be debated when Vegas became the boxing capital of the world. Of course, New York was once the city the boxing world revolved around, but when hotel-casino moguls needed something to pull patrons to the desert to visit their City of Lost Wages, big time boxing became one of the major drawing cards. By the time George Foreman exchanged knockdowns with Ron Lyle, before a national television audience, in the 1976 Fight of the Year, from the Sports Pavilion at Caesar’s Palace, big time boxing had found its new permanent home. Despite that fact, it took 37 years before Ishe Smith defeated Cornelius Bundrage for the IBF light middleweight title to become widely recognized as Las Vegas’ first homegrown world champion. Very few have followed in the years since, but one young rising star, in super featherweight Kaipo Gallegos, aims to make certain that drought does not last much longer. 

The 18-year-old Gallegos (7-0-1, 6 KOs) returns to fight in his hometown for just the second time as a professional, taking on well-traveled veteran Leonardo Padilla (24-6-1, 17 KOs) of Petare, Venezuela in an eight-round bout this coming Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena on the undercard of the light heavyweight unification bout between David Benavidez and David Morrell. For the aspiring 130-pound wunderkind, it will be his second time fighting at the big arena in his hometown, a moment that is not lost on Gallegos. 

“It feels good, because ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to fight in my hometown, in front of my family and just put on a good show for them,” says Gallegos. 

Gallegos’ family is as deeply involved in the sweet science as a family can be. His father, Jayson, is his trainer and the long-time proprietor of the Las Vegas Fight Club, a gym that serves young school-age boxers-to-be, as well as professionals, such as Kaipo and his older brother Jayson, an undefeated 130-pound pro as well. 

“It has been a long journey,” explains Kaipo’s father-trainer. “I was a really bad kid growing up, so I guess I am giving back. I give back to the kids that I work with everyday, almost 80 kids a day and adults. God put me in this situation to give back after all the bad I did.” 

Whatever wrongs the elder Jayson may have had in his past, he has done many things right since, as evidenced by the success of his sons. Kaipo was one of the most decorated U.S. amateur boxers in recent years, claiming 18 national titles during his time in the unpaid ranks. All that success came with great sacrifices, as Kaipo followed his father’s instruction, giving up on many of the pleasures most of us enjoy during our youth. 

“We’ve been doing this so long, ever since he was five,” says his father. “I’m also his nutritionist, I’m his trainer, I make sure he goes to sleep on time, I make sure he recovers on time. We’ve been doing this so long, I don’t even have to tell him. He does everything on his own. He knows what he needs to do. He’s a very disciplined kid.” 

Gallegos was able to amass an incredibly full trophy collection, despite leaving the amateur game behind for the paid ranks at the ripe age of 16. With few exceptions, most commissions in the United States will not even license a fighter at that age. For Kaipo, who began fighting at the age of five, moving to the pros was just the next natural step in his progression. 

“We have been doing this since I was little,” explains Kaipo. “Through the amateurs, where I became an 18-time national champion. Now, we just are going to take it on in the professionals and keep moving forward.” 

With his long and successful amateur pedigree, Gallegos’ father and team did not take any baby steps out of the gate in the pros, despite his young chronological age. 

“He started his career off in the Dominican Republic until he had four fights, but every fight was a hard fight, it wasn’t easy,” explains Jayson. “We never went to Mexico. We never took those easy fights. They haven’t given us anybody easy. His first fight, on the BoxRec rating, he had a star-and-a-half match rating. Even in the Dominican Republic, those guys he fought were hungry. It is not like going to Mexico and they fall down or take a knee so they can get paid. In the Dominican Republic, everybody over there is hungry and they want to kill you.”

Gallegos jumped into deep waters right away during his stretch of fights in the Dominican Republic. After scoring a fourth-round stoppage in his pro debut in April of 2023, Gallegos returned and jumped up to the six-round distance against a fighter in Misael Vazquez that was eleven years older and a veteran of 17 pro fights at the time. The hometown fighter was able to force a split decision draw, which represents the only thing resembling a blemish on Gallegos’ ledger to date. Failing to come away with the victory did not slow Gallegos’ career trajectory, as he immediately jumped up to the eight-round distance for his next outing. 

“Ever since Kaipo was young, he’s had a pro style,” explains Jayson. “He takes his time and round-by-round he gets stronger, so having more rounds helps him. He had his first eight-rounder at 17, he won the WBO Youth title. He fought two eight-rounders last year and got them out of there early. He was ready for eight-rounders.” 

In his last fight, this past November, Gallegos picked up a WBA Youth title against another durable and game opponent in Iron Alvarez, who managed to hang in there in stretches, but ultimately was stopped standing in the seventh round in Orlando, Florida. 

“I felt like it was a tough fight,” says Kaipo. “He was a durable guy that was not just in there to lay down. So I feel like that was a good fight for me and a good step up in my career.” 

On Saturday, Gallegos will take on Padilla before the early arrivers T-Mobile Arena, in what could be one of his last eight-round contests before moving up to the ten-round distance.

“I feel like I am going to put on a good performance this time because I fought recently, so I am ready,” explains the young fighter. “I expect a tough fight, but I feel that I have what it takes to beat him. I feel like I am going to break him down and bring him to the later rounds and get him out of there. I picked up some stuff [from watching footage,] but once we get into the ring, I will find out more about him.” 

Having fought at T-Mobile Arena a little under a year ago, early in the night on the undercard of Sebastian Fundora’s bloody war with Tim Tszyu, should serve Gallegos well this coming Saturday. The 18-year-old fighter will know what to expect, but one thing his local following in attendance can expect is that the Gallegos family will make them proud. 

“When we were in the amateurs, people would come up to us and ask us about being from Vegas and I would say, ‘Yes, born and raised.’ We were all so proud to be representing Las Vegas,” recalls Gallegos’ father. “My boxing gym is called Las Vegas Fight Club, so we represent that with pride. This is his hometown. Family, friends will all be there. We grew up representing Vegas for his whole life. Vegas is our home, both my sons were born and raised here.” 

Those who decide to show up early for the marathon night of boxing this weekend could be treated to seeing the next step in the career of Las Vegas’ next homegrown world champion.  

“Watch out for me and tune-in on February 1st at T-Mobile Arena,” says Kaipo. “And just be ready for me to put on a great performance.”

Photo by Damon Gonzalez/Boxlab Promotions

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

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Undefeated 23-year-old super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco turned back the challenge of Steven Nelson, scoring a twelve-round unanimous decision at the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in the main event of a multi-continent DAZN broadcast on Saturday night. 

Attempting to stamp his position as the next in line at 168-pounds, Pacheco (23-0, 18 KOs) of Los Angeles, California opted to fight a previously undefeated fighter others have apparently avoided for good reason in Nelson (20-1, 16 KOs) of Omaha, Nebraska.

After a feeling out first round, Pacheco, 166.4, and Nelson, 168, opened up a bit more at the close of the second round. After Pacheco found a home for a few stiff jabs, Nelson landed clean just before the bell in retort. 

Pacheco, the WBO #1/WBC #3/IBF #6 ranked contender, continued to rely on his jab in the third, but it was Nelson, the WBO #9 ranked super middleweight, who was busier and found a home for a couple power shots late in the stanza. 

Just as Nelson was having a fairly successful fourth, outworking Pacheco, the pride of South Central Los Angeles timed the overhand right he had been looking to land and busted up the former Army veteran with his counter. 

With the left side of his face turning into a crimson mask, Nelson was less apt to engage in the fifth. Pacheco began walking down the Nebraskan native, just missing the mark at times with potential night-enders.

Pacheco opened up more to close the fifth and kept up the output through the sixth and seventh, when the action really heated up. Pacheco still looked to time the perfect shot in the eighth, just missing the mark on a couple occasions. 

After a tenth in which both combatants had their moments, Nelson came out with renewed vigor in the eleventh, landing clean with power punches with both hands. Even when Pacheco timed a couple well-placed uppercuts, Nelson was undeterred in his forward attack. 

In the twelfth, Nelson maintained the pressure, snapping Pacheco’s head back on several occasions. Even when Pacheco landed, Nelson was hell-bent on maintaining his forward attack.  

All three judges, Tim Cheatham, Max DeLuca and David Sutherland, scored the bout 117-111 for Pacheco, who holds onto his USWBC and WBO International super middleweight titles and place near the top of the rankings. 

While he gave a great technical performance against a solid, previously undefeated fighter, Saturday’s win may not have been the type to create a public outcry for the money man in the division, Canelo Alvarez, to sign on for a bout with Pacheco just yet. 

In the co-featured bout, lightweight contender Andy Cruz (5-0, 2 KOs) of Miami, Florida by way of Matanzas, Matanzas, Cuba passed the stiffest test of his pro career to date, pounding out a ten-round unanimous decision over a game Omar Salcido (20-2, 14 KOs) of Lakeside, California by way of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. 

Cruz, 134.8, had more gears and dimensions than did his Mexican counterpart, Salcido, 134.8. Cruz seemed content to utilize the boxing skills that made him one of the most decorated amateurs of recent years through the first nine rounds. The WBA #4/IBF#5/WBC #6/WBO #15 ranked lightweight Cruz attempted to close the show in style in the final round, but the WBA #12 ranked Salcido hung tough and held his own through the ten rounds. 

In the end, Cruz outboxed Salcido by scores of 99-91 (judge Chris Migliore) and 98-92 (judges Dave Moretti and Zachary Young) twice, taking home two regional titles: the WBA Continental Latin America and IBF International lightweight belts. 

Undefeated junior welterweight Ernesto Mercado (17-0, 16 KOs) of Pomona, California stamped himself a contender with a fourth-round kayo over former world champion Jose Pedraza (29-7-2, 14 KOs) of Cidra, Puerto Rico. 

Mercado, 142.4, was the naturally larger fighter in the bout and utilized that size advantage to great effect. In the end, it looked as though the knockout blow to Pedraza, 143, may have strayed to the back of the head. However, referee Robert Hoyle opted to count and then wave off the bout when Pedraza did not appear to be in any condition to continue. Official time of the stoppage was 2:08 of round four. 

After the bout, the still unbeaten fighter called out Shakur Stevenson, “I want that punk right there,” said Mercado, pointing towards the three-division champion, who was less-than-thrilled to hear his name being called.

Leonardo Rubalcava (9-0-1, 3 KOs) of Jurupa Valley, California by way of Teocaltiche, Jalisco, Mexico narrowly escaped with his unbeaten record intact, fighting to an eight-round majority draw in his bout against a determined Israel Mercado (11-1-1, 7 KOs) of Montclair, California.

Mercado, 141, controlled almost all of the first, before Rubalcava, 141, landed one right that should have scored an official knockdown immediately. Referee Allen Huggins dusted the gloves of Mercado and let the action resume, but indicated before the start of round two, that Mercado was in fact down.  

By the end of the fourth, Mercado was dictating the fight in extended moments, beating the young prospect to the punch. 

However, Mercado was deducted a point late in round seven for a low blow, which would unfortunately play a key factor in the scoring. 

After the knockdown and the point deduction, two judges (Chris Migliore and Dave Moretti) scored the bout a draw, 75-75. Judge Zachary Young had the dissenting card for the underdog, Mercado, 76-74. 

In his professional debut, Nishant Dev (1-0, 1 KO) of Karnal, India flashed his power in the lighter gloves, scoring a first-round round stoppage of Alton Wiggins (1-1-1) of Modesto, California. 

Dev, 155.8, and Wiggins, 156.4, both fought out of the southpaw stance. However, Dev, who won bronze for India at the 2020 Olympic Games, had a clear edge in power and flurried Wiggins for the first of two knockdowns. The game Wiggins was able to continue briefly, but soon enough Dev scored a second knockdown, prompting referee Robert Hoyle to call for the end at  2:48 of round one. 

Power-punching former amateur star Harley Mederos (8-0, 7 KOs) of Brooklyn, New York scored a third-round stoppage of Arturo de Isla (5-3-1, 4 KOs) of  Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico

Mederos, 134.4, varied his attack from the opening bell and all de Isla, 135.6, could hope to do was to hang in there. The sound from Mederos’ punches alone were thudding and reverberating throughout the Chelsea. 

Mederos broke through in the third, dropping Mederos hard with a right hand. Referee Raul Caiz Jr. immediately stopped the contest at 1:27 of the third round. 

In the opening bout, 19-year-old wunderkind Zaquin Moses (2-0, 1 KO) of Newark, New Jersey was just getting warmed-up after one round of boxing when short-notice replacement Mario Garcia (3-1, 3 KOs) of Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico remained on his stool. 

Moses, 130.4, began to open-up from his southpaw stance in the final moments. Garcia, 137.4, seemed fine going to his corner, but ultimately the fight ended after just minutes. 

Photo by Melina Pizano/Matchroom

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

Highly-regarded super middleweight Diego Pacheco meets fellow unbeaten Steven Nelson at the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in the headlining bout of the second leg of a two-continent DAZN broadcast on Saturday night. While two regional titles are at stake, the true prize for the winner of the twelve-rounder could be a bout against one of the major players at 168-pounds. Fighters weighed-in on Friday afternoon at the OPM Theater, one floor down from the host venue. 

Pacheco (22-0, 18 KOs) of Los Angeles, California has gradually moved to the precipice of landing the marque bout he has vocally demanded during fight week. In his last time out, Pacheco impressively halted veteran Maciej Sulecki in the sixth with a perfectly-placed bodyshot. Sulecki, albeit naturally smaller and now older, had previously lasted the distance against Demetrius Andrade and Daniel Jacobs in his only two prior defeats. 

The 36-year-old U.S. Army veteran Nelson (20-0, 16 KOs) of Omaha, Nebraska has moved along at a different pace and to less fanfare than his 23-year-old counterpart. Nelson’s resume does not have a Sulecki type to be found, as Pacheco marks the veteran’s first major headline opportunity. In his last bout, Nelson dropped previously undefeated Marcos Vazquez three times en route to a fifth-round stoppage, deep down on the undercard of Terence Crawford’s victory over Ismail Madrimov in Los Angeles last August.   

Pacheco, the WBO #1/WBC #3/IBF #6 ranked super middleweight, is only one fight away from a bout with Canelo Alvarez, according to recent remarks by his promoter, Eddie Hearn. Pacheco is trained by Jose Benavidez Sr., no stranger to leading a 168-pounder to the doorstep of such a bout, as David Benavidez was in that same position not long ago. Benavidez Sr.’s first journey towards Canelo has thus proven fruitless and it remains to be seen where on the scale Alvarez will appear next. 

Nelson, the WBO #9 ranked super middleweight, must look at his opportunity against Pacheco as his Canelo fight. The Nebraska native has developed quietly, in the shadows of Crawford, fighting mainly on his undercards in recent years. With a win over Pacheco, who defends the regional USWBC and WBO International titles on Saturday, Nelson would put himself in prime position to attract one of the big names at 168-pounds. 

Pacheco made 166.4-pounds on Friday, while Nelson hit the super middleweight limit of 168. The public weigh-in ceremony got heated during the face-off, as a jawing back-and-forth turned into some shoving before camps went their seperate ways.

In the leading supporting bout, WBA #4/IBF#5/WBC #6/WBO #15 ranked lightweight Andy Cruz (4-0, 2 KOs) of Miami, Florida by way of Matanzas, Matanzas, Cuba defends the regional IBF International lightweight title against WBA #12 ranked Omar Salcido (20-1, 14 KOs) of Lakeside, California by way of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico in a ten-round bout. 

Cruz, previously one of the most accomplished amateurs of all-time, appears to be on the fast-track towards a world title opportunity. Cruz has referred to himself as Keyshawn Davis’ daddy in the lead-up to Saturday’s bout, a nod to his four amateur victories over the fellow lightweight contender. While Davis will vie for a world title in February, Cruz will be defending the regional title he won in his pro debut for the fourth time. However, the 2020 Cuban Olympic gold medalist cannot afford to look past the veteran Salcido, who enters the bout fresh off of his signature victory to date, a ninth-round stoppage of Chris Colbert this past October. 

For the bout, which will also see the WBA Continental Latin America title on the line, Cruz and Salcido scaled an identical 134.8-pounds each. 

Junior welterweight prospect Ernesto Mercado (16-0, 15 KOs) of Pomona, California looks to march towards to bonafide contender status as he moves up in class against former two-division world champion Jose Pedraza (29-6-2, 14 KOs) of Cidra, Puerto Rico in a ten-round bout. Mercado, 142.4 at Friday’s weigh-in and recently signed to Matchroom Boxing, will be making his Las Vegas debut against a fighter in Pedraza, 143, that has fought a who’s who list from all over the world. 

Junior welterweight prospect Leonardo Rubalcava (9-0, 3 KOs) of Jurupa Valley, California by way of Teocaltiche, Jalisco, Mexico takes on Israel Mercado (11-1, 7 KOs) of Montclair, California in an eight-round bout. Rubalcava, making his Las Vegas debut, scaled 141-pounds, as did Mercado, fighting in Vegas for the second straight occasion. 

Former amateur standout Harley Mederos (7-0, 6 KOs) of Brooklyn, New York will meet Arturo de Isla (5-2-1, 4 KOs) of  Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico in a six-round lightweight bout. Mederos, who capped a well decorated amateur run as U.S. National champion in 2020, scaled 134.4-pounds, while de Isla made 135.6.  

2024 Indian Olympic bronze medalist Nishant Dev of Woodland, California by way of Karnal, India will make his professional debut against Alton Wiggins (1-0-1) of Modesto, California in a six-round junior middleweight bout. Dev came in at 155.8-pounds, while Wiggins tipped 156.4.  

19-year-old former amateur standout Zaquin Moses (1-0) of Newark, New Jersey will take on replacement opponent Mario Garcia (3-0, 3 KOs) of Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico in a four-round super featherweight bout. Moses was 130.4, giving up seven pounds to make the fight, with the short-notice Garcia at 137.4-pounds Friday. 

For those watching from home, the DAZN marathon boxing broadcast begins with Dalton Smith’s junior welterweight headliner against Walid Ouizza from Nottingham, England, with coverage beginning at 12:15 EST. Coverage from Las Vegas begins at 5:45 EST. 

Quick Weigh-in Results:

USWBC Super Middleweight Championship

WBO International Super Middleweight Championship, 12 Rounds

Pacheco 166.4

Nelson 168

WBA Continental Latin America Championship 

IBF International Lightweight Championship, 10 Rounds

Cruz 134.8

Salcido 134.8

Light welterweights, 10 Rounds

Mercado 142.4

Pedraza 143

Light welterweights, 8 Rounds

Rubalcava 141

Mercado 141

Lightweights, 6 Rounds

Mederos 134.4

de Isla 135.6

Light middleweights, 6 Rounds

Dev 155.8

Wiggins 156.4 

Super featherweights, 4 Rounds

Moses 130.4

Garcia 137.4

Tickets for the event, promoted by Matchroom Boxing, are available online at Ticketmaster.com 

Photos by Melina Pizano/Matchroom

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

By Norm Frauenheim

Naoya Inoue’s astonishing career continues without any apparent limits.

There are 10 straight knockouts, 22 in title fights. There are four titles in four weight classes, two undisputed. He’s unbeaten, and for now unchallenged. 

Yet, he talks as if his resume is somehow incomplete. He talks about his career as though it’s more of a search for identity than just another fight. 

Inoue, Japan’s Rising Son, wants to know more about himself.

“I don’t know how complete I am as a boxer,’’ Inoue said.

That might surprise Ye Joon Kim, who was destroyed in another thorough beat down delivered by Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) at home in Tokyo Friday with still another deadly display of tactical efficiency and predatory instinct.

The result, a fourth-round knockout of Kim in a junior-featherweight title defense, was also thoroughly predictable. Kim (21-3-2, 13 KOs) was a late stand-in for Sam Goodman, an Australian forced to withdraw because of a nasty cut suffered in training. But we expect a lot from Inoue these days. Anything less than dominance would be disappointment.

Kim didn’t have a chance. Goodman wouldn’t have either. That, of course, has raised a familiar chorus of skepticism. Terence Crawford, an Inoue rival alongside Oleksandr Usyk in the pound-for-pound debate, has heard the same questions. They go all the way back to Joe Louis’ Bum Of The Month during his heavyweight reign. 

Dominance is double edged. Too much of it, and fans begin to doubt because of inevitable questions about the quality of the opposition. 

Inoue might wonder himself. 

Might wonder, too, about how more complete he can be against fighters perceived to be real threats. Fighters like Junto Nakatani, or Murodjon Akhmadaliev, or Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez. Against them, perhaps, Inoue will be forced to extend himself beyond the limits of what it means to be complete.

That journey in self-discovery begins — appropriately enough — on the road. Inoue confirmed what Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told The Boxing Hour/15 rounds and Boxing Scene in early December while in Phoenix for Emanuel Navarrete’ stoppage of Oscar Valdez in a rematch. Inoue said he will leave the comforts of home and the intense loyalty of Japanese fans for the first time in nearly four years.

“Yes, 2025 will be a big year for me to go overseas to have a fight,’’ Inoue said during a post-fight monologue that was seen on ESPN+ in the early-morning hours in the United States. “In spring of 2025, I’ll be going to Las Vegas to show the great match. I am planning to have fights in Las Vegas and Saudi Arabia this year.’’

Arum, who likened Inoue to Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, foresees an Inoue fight in Vegas in April or May. The initial road test is not expected to present Inoue with a steep challenge. The opposition figures to be more like Kim than Bam. 

Both The Boxing Hour/15 Rounds and Boxing Scene reported in early December that there had been some preliminary talks about Alan David Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs), a Mexico City junior-featherweight with the perfect last name for Inoue’s masterpiece of a career.

So far, it’s been an artistic run, one summed up Friday with a body assault that — in the end —was punctuated by a head-rocking, left-right combo. At 2:25 of the fourth, Inoue was already planning to hit the road.

“The great country of Japan has given Ohtani to the city of Los Angeles, and at least for one fight, the great country of Japan will give this great Inoue to the city of Las Vegas for one fight this spring,” said the 93-year-old Arum, who was at ringside at Ariake Arena.

For the 31-year-old Inoue, it’s an opportunity to introduce and re-introduce himself to fans whose only opportunity to see him has been in the early-morning hours. Hitting the road is another way of saying he’s going global, all in an attempt to become a complete craftsman and the game’s first real cross-over star since Manny Pacquiao.

Jesus Ramos wants Lubin rematch

Colleague Marc Abrams broke some news this week on his 15 Rounds podcast in an interview with Jose Ramos Jr., who fights former junior-middleweight champion Jeison Rosario Feb. 1 on the card featuring fellow Arizonan David Benavidez against David Morrell at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. 

The fight is Ramos’ second since a controversial scorecard loss to Erickson Lubin in September 2023. Ramos, who stopped Johan Gonzalez last May in his first fight since his lone loss, says he’s seeking a rematch.

“Definitely,’’ said Ramos (22-1, 17 KOs), who lives and trains in Casa Grande, south of Phoenix. “We’ve been trying. Whenever he’s ready.’’

Rosario’s power poses a threat in what’s an interesting fight and perhaps a step toward a rematch. Lubin (18-2, 8 KOs), of Orlando, stopped Rosario (29-4-2, 23 KOs), dropping the Dominican twice in the sixth round nearly four years ago in Atlanta.

Ramos, now 23, says there are lessons in the loss, controversial because of a couple of widely different scores, all favoring Lubin — 117-111, 116-112, 115-113. When announced, there were lots of boos from a crowd at T-Mobile for Canelo Álvarez’ decision over Jermell Charlo.

The defeat, Ramos said, changed his mindset.

“I’m learning more, growing as a person,’’ he said.

By Norm Frauenheim

Benavidez-Morrell, David-versus-David, is intriguing on several levels in a fight primarily significant because it’s a new year’s first real stage-setter for a potential light-heavyweight showdown between the best of a new generation and the best in an aging one.

Three weeks after the Davids, both in their late 20s and entering their primes, meet on Feb. 1 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Center, the 175-pound establishment’s leading faces, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol, meet again on Feb 22 in a rematch of Beterbiev’s narrow scorecard victory in Saudi Arabia in October.

The winner in the first is supposed to meet the winner of the second in what could be a generational showdown. That’s the plan, anyway. That might be the problem, too. In the boxing biz, plans are just another glass jaw. They get shattered all the time.

The good news is that Benavidez-Morrell is a pick-em fight. The 28-year-old Benavidez has been a slight favorite since it was announced, probably because the unbeaten, yet former two-time super-middleweight champion has more professional experience. But Morrell, also unbeaten, has the amateur pedigree that comes with being a Cuban-born boxer. Morrell, who turns 27 this Saturday (Jan. 18) — the day after Muhammad Ali’s birthday, had a reported amateur record of 130-5. 

That suggests he knows his way around the ring, a skill he might need in countering Benavidez, a Phoenix-born fighter known for his energy and ferocious pursuit in the later rounds. That’s just one element in a fight close enough to perhaps lead to a rematch, a sequel that could also get replayed in calls for a trilogy fight between the 34-year old Bivol and Beterbiev.

If Bivol wins the second, then expect a third against Beterbiev, who will be 39 years old on Tuesday, January 21 in a month that should include boxing gloves on the hooves of its traditional zodiac sign, a goat. Or is that GOAT?

Nobody, perhaps, will be more interested in each fight more than Canelo Álvarez, who has fallen out of the pound-for-pound debate, yet continues to be the pay-per-view leader. Canelo is the biggest reason for the Benavidez-Morrell fight. 

He wouldn’t fight either, forcing both to move up the scale, from 168 pounds to 175. Each is 1-0 at the heavier weight in respective debuts that they won, yet each with a mixed performance. Their second appearance at light-heavy is also considered too-close-to-call in part because it’s hard to judge their debuts — an injured Benavidez, in a unanimous decision over former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June and a tentative Morrell, also in a unanimous decision over Radivoje Kalajdzic in August.

Most of Canelo’s attention figures to be on Bivol-Beterbiev. A Bivol victory in that rematch might convince him to seek his own rematch with the Russian, who upset him, scoring a unanimous decision over the heavily-favored Mexican in May 2022.

For Canelo, each fight figures to be something of a scouting mission. He’s 34, presumably entering the last stage in his brilliant career. Reportedly, he’s looking for options. If he doesn’t find one in the light-heavyweight double-header in February, there’s persistent talk that he’ll turn to Terence Crawford, the welterweight great who won a junior-middleweight title in his first fight at 154 pounds in August.

Talk about that possibility, rumored ever since Crawford’s defining welterweight stoppage of Errol Spence in July 2023, was all over social media this week. This time, there was talk that an agreement was in place for Crawford to challenge Canelo, undisputed at 168 pounds, some time later in the year, perhaps in September in Las Vegas. 

But none of that talk came from Canelo.

Until it does, it’s still speculation. Fair or not, his pay-per-view supremacy comes with perks, including the final say-so. If he sees an option or options in February, the Crawford possibility might get postponed or eliminated altogether. 

Still, it is a potential story, part of the Goliath-sized stakes that could be there for a February twin bill that starts with the Davids.

By Norm Frauenheim

A New Year started out a lot like the old one with news this week that suggests 2025 will be more idle than busy.

Teofimo Lopez, more enigmatic than charismatic these days, let a Tuesday deadline come and go without agreeing to a March 15 bout with ex-champion Subriel Matias for a junior-welterweight title defense at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Why? That’s become the proverbial question without an answer. Predictably, Lopez tried to explain himself on unsocial media. But it was more of a tease than a reliable answer, fitting for X, an appropriately-named platform that inflames more than informs.

Lopez said he had unfinished business with Top Rank, whatever that means. He promised he’d be fighting in 2025.

“Guaranteed,’’ he said, ‘’by the powers that be! 3 6 9. ..’’

Those numbers could add up to just about anything, of course. March, June and September? The numbers are also thought to have some sort of mystical quality. Nickolas Tesla, the inventor and not X owner Elon Musk’s car, believed in writing down goals 3 times in the morning, 6 times at noon and 9 times at night. 

Repetition, Tesla reportedly thought, would make them happen. Then again, maybe 369 is just an area code. Eureka, it actually is for communities in Northern California.

Who knows? Increasingly, that’s another question being asked about Lopez. Media and fans are trying to get a clue. But throwing spaghetti against the wall makes more sense. Nothing there but a mess.

Lopez is entering his prime. He’s 27. He’s a two-division champion with a resume that includes a victory over the masterful Vasiliy Lomachenko. But the decision over Lomachenko happened in Oct. 2020. 

Then, it looked as if Lopez would fulfill his nickname, The Takeover. 

Over the next four years, however, there has been only mounting doubt, including a faux retirement and a scorecard loss to George Kambosos. Lopez disputed the defeat — a 2021 split decision in front of a hometown crowd in New York — in a wild post-fight scene. Kambosos, who would later lose to Lomachenko, called him delusional. 

But Top Rank preached patience. Bob Arum would wait for Lopez to  grow up, grow into his evident potential for enduring stardom. After a couple of ho-hum performances last year against Steve Claggett in June and Jermaine Ortiz in February, there was hope that the mature Lopez would finally arrive in 2025.

Finally, Take Over.

But Tuesday came, went and left the same questions about Lopez, who four years ago was called a cornerstone to a potential remake of Four Kings — Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns, a four-way rivalry memorialized forever by writer George Kimball’s terrific book on the busy 1980s. 

About five years ago, Lopez, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia and Tank Davis were anointed. They were going to be the sequel, the next Four.

But Garcia is under suspension and undergoing surgery. Haney is suing Garcia, who tested positive after punishing Haney in the 2024 Controversy of the Year in April. Haney is in London and hopes to resume his career in March. Tank, the best of the four, overwhelmed Garcia in April 2023, knocking him down twice in a seventh-round stoppage.

Tank, who fought only once in 2024 with a stoppage of Frank Martin in June, is scheduled to fight Lamont Roach March 1 in Brooklyn. He says he wants three more fights. Then, he says, he’ll retire.

Four Kings 2? More like Forgettable Four in an idle empire, one that figures to stay that way if Lopez’ latest move is a reliable sign.  

By Norm Frauenheim

Say goodbye to the good, bad and the stupid. 2024 was a lot like so many other years on boxing’s roller-coaster ride through history. 

From Ryan Garcia to Jake Paul-versus-Mike Tyson, there was plenty to forget. Actually, Tyson probably had the best advice. He said he didn’t remember a thing about the Paul fight, a Netflix show of the absurd. Wish it was that easy.

But there were moments and performances worth remembering. Thank you Oleksandr Usyk, Jesse Rodriguez, Naoya Inoue, Artur Beterbiev, Dmitrii Bivol and the Ukrainians for saving the year from becoming one for the spit bucket.

A look back at 2024 and hoping for better in 2025:

Fighter of the Year

Usyk, From this corner, it looks to be a no-brainer. He beat Tyson Fury twice, nearly stopping him in May and then backing it up in December with a comprehensive — 116-112 on all three cards — decision on Dec. 21, both in Saudi Arabia. But there is no consensus in boxing or anywhere else these days. The social-media mob dismissed the rematch’s scoring and Usyk’s place in history. If you don’t like him as Fighter of the Year, how about Man of the Year? He stands up for the Ukraine, his home in a desperate war against the Russians. He is boxing’s most compelling personalty since Manny Pacquiao, also a people’s champ still revered by fellow Filipinos.

What does Usyk do in 2025? Nobody knows. He doesn’t know. The answer might rest in the fate of his country. If he continues to box, there’s an opportunity to further his claim on a genuine legacy. 2025 includes the 50th anniversary of Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier 3. Ali won the 1975 fight, an unrivaled mix of courage, skill and brutality on October 1 of that year. Trainer Eddie Futch, knowing that Frazier couldn’t see and had only his inexhaustible will to continue, ended it after the 14th round. 

The fight was many things. There was the violence witnessed in Fury-Deontay Wilder 3. There was Evander Holyfield’s masterful skillset, a key to conquering the bully in feared Tyson. All of the classic elements were there — all at once — in the Thrilla In Manila. A reported 100 million watched on closed-circuit. A reported 500,000 bought HBO pay-per-view. Boxing will never be the same. But the aniversary is an opportunity to look at heavyweight history and a chance for Usyk to prove that he has place in it.

Fighter Of The Year Runner-up

Jesse Rodriguez. He calls himself Bam and that’s exactly the impact he had on 2024. His power was already documented, but there might have been some questions about the skills needed to deliver it against an equally skilled opponent. 

Enter Juan Francisco Estrada in late June on a hot desert night in downtown Phoenix. Rodriguez, then a flyweight champion, re-claimed his Super Fly belt and reputation in a bout that was fought at a skills-and-will level as high as any throughout 2024. Bam scored a knockdown, got knocked down himself, got up and finished Estrada with body punches delivered with timing and precision. Estrada, an acknowledged master of  ring tactics, was finished, moving up in weight instead of a rematch. Rodriguez went on to win a third-round stoppage of Pedro Guevara in Philadelphia in November.

Bam in 2025? His momentum carries him into the New Year, but it is double edged. Everybody saw what he did to Estrada, who said no to another one, despite a rematch clause. Roman Gonzalez had been rumored, but apparently he also said no to a proposed date with Rodriguez. Rodriguez wants to unify the 115-pound title, perhaps against Argentine Fernando Martinez, who withdrew from a New Year’s Eve rematch with Kazuko Ioka in Japan because of the flu. Eventually, Martinez figures to fight Ioka. Rodriguez gets the winner?  It looms as a possible steppingstone to what is still a dream fight — Rodriguez against pound-for-pound claimant Naoya Inoue.

Fight Of The Year

Ageless Artur Beterbiev, in majority-decision over Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light-heavyweight title in a beauty of a bout in October. 

It was close enough to do it all over again, and that’s the plan, also in Saudi Arabia on Feb 22.

What happens in 2025? The rematch, a pick-em fight, is a stage setter for the rest of the year. Three weeks before, David Benavidez and David Morrell, light-heavyweight newcomers, face each other in the first real significant fight of 2025 in Las Vegas. 

The Benavidez-Morrell winner on Feb. 1 is a so-called mandatory, meaning it will lead to a fight against the Beterbiev-Bivol winner. But only complications are really mandatory, especially if the tactically-skilled Bivol wins this time. 

That might might mean Canelo Alvarez, the undisputed super-middleweight champion in a move to to avenge his 2022 scorecard loss to Bivol.

It’s not clear what Canelo intends to do. A date with former welterweight great and current junior-middleweight champ Terence Crawford continues to be at the top of the rumor mill. But Bivol would be an option. So, to would Beterbiev, although that one is unlikely because of the rugged Beterbiev’s heavy-handed power.

No matter what happens, Benavidez has to beat Morrell first. It’s risky, but it has fans talking a month before opening bell precisely because it is. 

If Benavidez wins what will be only his second fight at 175 pounds and Canelo chooses to fight the Bivol-Beterbiev winner, Benavidez will find himself  in the same place the Phoenix-born fighter  has always been:

Waiting on Canelo — another chapter to a story line that dominated in 2023 and again in 2024.

Trainer Of The Year

Robert Garcia. This is a no-brainer. Garcia, Jesse Rodriguez’  trainer, is putting the best into busy. Latest example: Garcia, Jesse Rodriguez’ trainer, put in a lot of roadwork on Dec. 7. From dressing room to ring and back, Garcia worked five corners on a Top Rank/ESPN-televised card featuring Emanuel Navarrete’s blowout stoppage of Oscar Valdez in a rematch at Footprint Center, the Phoenix Suns home arena.

Fighters of the Year

The Ukrainians. They aren’t all as talented as Usyk or Vasiliy Lomachenko. Throughout 2024, however, virtually all have proven to be a tough out. There’s an old line in boxing: They come to fight. It’s a cliche, but the Ukrainians gave it new life throughout 2024. With their country in peril from the Russians in a brutal war, they boxed with skill and inexhaustible resilience against better-known and always heavily favored fighters. In 2024, an unprepared Ukrainian did not answer an opening bell.

Here are just two:

Denys Berinchyk. He introduced Navarrete to the lightweight division. The favored Navarrete lost a split decision to Berinchyk in San Diego for a vacant 135-pound title in May. Instead of a rematch with Berinchyk for a bid at a fourth division title, he chose to fight Valdez for a second time.

Serhii Bohachuk. He knocked down talented junior-middleweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. twice before losing a debatable majority decision in August in Las Vegas. It was the first time any fighter had taken Ortiz to the scorecards.

Remember them. Without them, boxing wouldn’t have been what it was in 2024.

By Norm Frauenheim

Legacy is this generation’s tired cliche. Actually, it’s more than just that. It’s silly, a refrain repeated by fighters more idle than busy. Legacy has been transformed into just another argument, which makes it about as cheap as another title belt. Just about everybody has one, or thinks they deserve one. 

But there is an exception:

Oleksandr Usyk.

His decision — unanimous on identical scorecards and tactically thorough throughout 12 rounds — over Tyson Fury last Saturday has led to a yada-yada debate about his place in heavyweight history. He’s an all-timer. No, he’s not. Hell, yes, he is. Opinion, more plentiful than even those aforementioned belts, is also like legacy these days. On social media, everybody has one. A boxing acronym would say it’s mandatory. Meaningless, too. 

Usyk, I think, knows that. His voice is missing from the debate his victory ignited. Above all, he has already delivered a solid argument, one that will be fairly judged and best decided over time. He has beaten Fury twice, nearly stopping the much bigger man in their first encounter and dominating him on the cards — 116-112 on all three — in the second.

Each fight provides a further look at Usyk, whose ring persona is beginning to say a lot about who he is outside of the ropes. In his two fights against Usyk, it’s clear — make that undisputed — that he fights with purpose. As a tactician, he possesses some deadly determination. He’s stubbornly sure of himself and what he can do. Nothing Fury said or sang could interrupt a focus that was evident on any television screen. What’s more, it was there, from Round 1 to Round 24, in Fury’s face, a mix of confusion and frustration

Fury’s clowning is a lot more than a lousy lounge act. It’s been a Fury tactic, effective against Deontay Wilder and others. Distract the opponent, anger him and then turn him into the punch line. But Usyk would not fall for the Fury feints and foolishness. In effect, Usyk turned the stand-up routine in Fury’s skillset into a significant, perhaps, fatal weakness.

Simply put: He wouldn’t allow Fury to be himself. That’s an art, performed only by some of the all-timers. Muhammad Ali did it to George Foreman with the Rope-A-Dope on a 1974 night in Africa forever memorialized in the film, When We Were Kings.

I don’t know if Fury will be back. Maybe, he returns for a fight against Anthony Joshua or somebody else who would fall for his tricks, a show that still sells.

I don’t know if Uysk will be back. Maybe, he goes back to cruiserweight. He talked about it. Maybe, he fights Daniel Dubois, who made a fool of himself when he climbed into the ring and tried to goad Usyk into a rematch. 

It was a flashback to the aftermath of his split-decision over Joshua in a rematch August, 2022. Joshua, acting very much like a big toddler throwing a heavyweight tantrum, threw belts out of the ring, grabbed the microphone and later cried at the post-fight newser. All the while, Usyk, looking like the only grown up in boxing’s overgrown kindergarten, remained patient, poised and ever purposeful.

During Saturday night’s aftermath in Riyadh, there was a further sign — a powerful symbol — that Usyk is fighting for something more than just another belt or some more Saudi cash. Instead of a belt, he held an ancient sword above his head. The saber, according to Ukrainian media, belonged to Ivan Mazepa, a warrior who used it to fight for Ukraine’s independence from Russia three centuries ago.

It’s a story I didn’t know. It’s a story boxing fans beyond Ukraine’s bloodied front lines don’t know. It’s a story that today’s  Russians are trying to bury in their ongoing war against the Ukrainians

It’s also a story worth telling, one that helps explain Usyk, a fighter with a purpose bigger than himself and one that will eventually put him among the all-time greats, no matter what is said today.

By Norm Frauenheim

Oleksandr Usyk, never a man of many words, has had even fewer this week, just days before a sequel that has all of social-media’s usual suspects talking. 

But Usyk doesn’t have to say much, if anything, before a rematch full of its own redundancies. His name already says it best.

Oleksandr, which is of Greek origin, means:

To Defend.

It’s a goal as clear as it is risky against Tyson Fury, whose heavyweight resume is a masterpiece collection of adjustments within fights and between them.

To wit: He doesn’t lose rematches. 

Then again, neither does Usyk. 

That’s about to change Saturday (DAZN) in Riyadh in a rematch perhaps as significant as any in the history of boxing’s fabled flagship division.

Of course, Fury, unlike Usyk, has had a lot to say this week without really saying anything at all.

“The biggest adjustment I’ve made is to grow a beard,’’ Fury said after he arrived in Saudi Arabia to a parade that added a few octaves and exclamation points to what over-the-top means.

Fury has always been better with lyrics and one liners than just anybody in the crowded trash-talking corner of the noisy game. It’s part lousy-lounge act. But it’s also a tactic, one he has used with great effect throughout his heavyweight reign. 

After opening bell, his brilliant feint is a weapon. Before opening bell, he weaponizes his words. 

It worked against Deontay Wilder, especially in their first rematch when the dangerous Wilder tried to blame the sudden loss of his singular power on fatigue he said he suffered by wearing an armored medieval costume in his ring walk. 

Truth is, Wilder didn’t know who the heck he was anymore. He had lost his feared identity, his armor of confidence, on the night Fury got up from his power six years ago in Los Angeles, in a wild draw. 

Fury then reminded him of that repeatedly — hauntingly — during the weeks and months before their first rematch — won by Fury in a seventh-round TKO — February 2020 in Las Vegas.

Wilder was embarrassed then. Later, he was destroyed in a concussive conclusion to the trilogy, five knockdowns of violence that ended in Fury winning an 11th-round KO October 2021, also in Vegas.

Fury dominated Wilder, both physically and psychologically, perhaps finishing his career. 

The damage done to Fury is still an open question, one that Usyk surely hopes to answer Saturday in the rematch to his contentious split decision over Fury seven months ago. 

Fury swears he’s in better condition. He says he went into seclusion in training at a camp in Malta. He says he didn’t speak to his wife for months. She might have been relieved. Just joking, I think. This time, he says he won’t clown around. This time, he says he promises to deliver only pain. 

Blah-blah-blah. By now, we’ve heard it all from Fury.

So, too, has Usyk.

A difference, however, is that Usyk, unlike Wilder, doesn’t really listen. At least, he doesn’t appear to react to anything said or sung by Fury. Usyk — poised, patient and menacing — is his own counsel. 

Amid everything he didn’t say this week, he had one comment, quotable if you’re the media and perhaps foreboding if you’re Usyk.

“Don’t be afraid,’’ Usyk said at a final news conference that included an unblinking, 12-minute stare-down. “I will not leave you alone.’’

By now, Fury knows that. Since May, I’m guessing he has had dreams of Usyk, always there and always in his face. 

In a style that borders on a battle of attrition, the smaller Usyk, stubborn and stealthy, tirelessly works his way inside. It a risk, big enough to be costly for Usyk, especially in the early rounds.

Fury knows that. Fury’s immense advantages in size and power could end this fight before the sixth round. If, however, Usyk is able to push the fight into the seventh, then the eighth and again into the ninth, perhaps he has a chance to finish what he could not in their first fight. 

That’s when he hurt a fading Fury badly. He didn’t stop him, although there’s a solid argument that it should have ended, then and there. But a knockdown was ruled, which was enough for Usyk to win on two of the three scorecards.

It was close, but close is when Usyk is at his very best. Fury is best at pulling off the dramatic. Only Fury got up from the full impact of the lethal power in Wilder’s right hand. Only he could survive that right once more, get up all over again and knock out Wilder in a scary third encounter. 

Guess here: Each fighter knows the other very well by now. For Usyk, the task is to endure an early assault, then launch one of his own later. For Fury, the test is to end it, close the show as fast as possible.

There’s a temptation to predict that this one ends in a draw. Yes, that’s cynical, but some cynicism is a fight fan’s best defense. Riyadh, Matchroom, Top Rank and DAZN would love a third fight. 

A close first fight suggests that the second will be too, which also would probably lead to a trilogy. Neither Usyk nor Fury is young. But they’re not exactly old either. Usyk is 37. He’ll be 38 on Jan. 17. Fury is 36. He’ll be 37 on August 12.

A rematch clause is in place, according to Fury promoter Frank Warren.

“It’s contracted,” Warren told Boxing News. “That will be the case if Tyson wins, providing nobody retires.”

Providing, too, that Usyk, the defending champion, doesn’t do what his name has always told him:

To Defend.

By Norm Frauenheim

Busy is a vanishing fundamental in boxing these days, although likable Jaime Munguia continues to practice the old-school art-form this week with his fourth fight in a year Saturday in a Tijuana homecoming.

It’s not much of a fight, notable only because of Munguia, who continues to work on his craft in a super-middleweight bout that sets the stage for what could be a significant step into his prime next year. Munguia (44-1, 35 KOs) is not quite a full-blown star, but his busy schedule is a sure sign that he intends to be. 

He re-introduces himself to hometown fans for the first time in nearly three years on ESPN against unknown Bruno Surace (25-0-2, 4 KOs), who is leaving France for the first time for a fight not expected to last long. Munguia is a 25-to-1 favorite. Those kind of odds suggest that Munguia will spend more time saying hello to old friends than exchanging punches with the Frenchman.

Nevertheless, he’ll re-acquaint himself with his loyal fan base while also alerting it to a year he hopes will put him at centerstage in the super-middleweight shuffle. 

Other than the Tijuana homecoming, the biggest news involving Munguia this week actually comes out of Germany at the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) annual convention in Hamburg. The acronym’s menu included an order Wednesday that Munguia fight feared Christian Mbilli for an interim (aren’t they all?) title significant only because it’s supposed to lead to a shot at the real championship. 

We say “supposed to” because so many never do, especially at super-middle. That’s Canelo Alvarez’ division, the pay-per-view star and boxing diva who gets what he wants. 

It’s no coincidence that the WBC ratings committee noted that Canelo will be granted “a voluntary” title defense. Call it the Canelo Clause, meaning he does whatever he wants. Still, it’s not clear what his plans are. Guess here, he won’t fight anybody still in his twenties and with enough energy to stage an aggressive assault in the late rounds. 

Again, the guess here is that’s exactly why he hasn’t — and probably never will — fight David Benavidez, the Phoenix-born fighter who will be 28 years old on Tuesday.

Benavidez’ upcoming birthday included a promising gift this week, also from the WBC, which designated his Feb. 1 fight against dangerous David Morrell as a light-heavyweight eliminator for a shot at the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol 2 winner for the undisputed title, scheduled for Feb. 22. 

By now, of course, Benavidez knows all about the mandatory role. Nothing mandatory about it. It’s limbo land. Benavidez was there, the so-called mandatory challenger for Canelo’s title. Yet, Canelo has always found ways to fight somebody else. 

The Canelo Clause gives him free rein, one that could even put him at the front of the Beterbiev-Bivol line, especially if Bivol manages to reverse his earlier loss to Beterbiev. That would give Canelo a chance to avenge his scorecard loss to Bivol.

But who knows? Canelo hasn’t been saying much about plans for 2025. For now, at least, the volunteer in his “volunteer defense” might still be Terence Crawford, one of the all-time welterweight greats and a newly-minted junior-middleweight champion. There’s still talk that Crawford will move up to 168 pounds to fight Canelo for what might be Crawford’s final fight in a Hall of Fame career.

All of this puts Munguia in an uncertain spot. He’s already fought Canelo, losing a unanimous decision last May in one of what will be his four-fight schedule in

2024. 

Munguia stopped John Ryder, a solid and skillful UK fighter, at Footprint Center in Phoenix in January. He stopped Canadian Erik Bazinyan in September at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, a Phoenix suburb. Following the WBC’s Mbilli-Munguia announcement from Germany, all of the talk centered on an eventual Mbilli-Canelo showdown, perhaps in May or September of next year.

That, of course, presumes that Mbilli beats Munguia. But what if the opposite happens? Let’s say Munguia, still perfecting his craft, beats Mbilli and puts himself in line for a rematch. 

Would the 34-year-old Canelo, who is near the end of his prime, agree to a second fight with Munguia, 28 and just entering his prime?  Munguia didn’t have much of a chance against Canelo. He lost on all three scorecards — 117-110, 116-111, 115-112. Canelo knocked him down in the fourth round, putting Munguia on the canvas for the only time in his career.

After the fight, Canelo told reporters that he “carried” Munguia. The narrative circulated for weeks. Munguia was very careful with polite, diplomatic answers to inevitable questions. Finally, Munguia objected. In an interview with Boxing Scene and The Boxing Hour days before his stoppage of Bazinyan, Munguia said:

“Truth is, I found it disrespectful.’’

The forthright comment was a certain sign of Munguia’s emerging maturity. In effect, he was telling Canelo that he belongs at center stage and perhaps in a rematch. 

Above all, the comment is there, a good promotional angle and a on-the-record demand from Munguia for some respect from the game’s biggest name. There’s only way to get that: 

A rematch.

Until then, there’s only one thing to do:

Stay busy. 

NOTES

In the wake of Emanuel Navarrete’s devastating three-knockdown, sixth-round stoppage of Oscar Valdez last Saturday in a junior-lightweight rematch Saturday at the Suns home arena in downtown Phenix, there are mounting calls for Valdez, 34, to retire. Top Rank’s Bob Arum told Yahoo’s Keith Idec that he would urge Valdez to retire when they talk again, probably early next month. In an interview with Boxing Scene and The Boxing Hour before the rematch loss, Valdez was adamant. Retirement talk was already circulating. Valdez said he would not. He said retirement was not in his mindset. Question is, what are his options if he decides to fight on after the second loss to Navarrete, who also said in post-fight interviews that he’s contemplating retirement after two or three more fights. Arum says he believes Valdez would be a good trainer. The bi-lingual Valdez also has done some media work as a ringside commentator.

Apparently, Mike Tyson has already done what everybody else is trying to do. He tells Fox Sports Radio that he doesn’t recall much of what happened in the Jake Paul fiasco last month. “I don’t remember the fight that much,’’ Tyson says of an exhibition that was something other than a fight. “I kind of blanked it out.’’ Forget about it? Not quite. Lawsuits and stupid conspiracy theories continue to circulate in the wake of a Netflix show that attracted a reported audience of more than 70 million. It generated lots of money, which probably answers the one question nobody wants to address: How in the hell did Texas license Tyson? He underwent transfusions for excessive bleeding from an ulcer just months before the show. The 58-year-old Tyson told New York Magazine that he asked a physician whether he was going to die. Apparently, Texas regulators ignored that question. I’ve said it once; I’ll say it again. We’re lucky we didn’t witness something more than an embarrassment on Nov. 15 in a ring on the Dallas Cowboys home field.

Phoenix, AZ – A tip of the black hat to Emanuel Navarrete, still El Vaquero.

Still the The Victor.

Navarrete’s power proved to be too much for Oscar Valdez about a year-and-a-half ago and again Saturday night in a junior-lightweight rematch in front of a roaring crowd at Footprint Center.

Valdez made some promised adjustments. But there was no way to adjust to his power. He just doesn’t have as much of it as Navarrete. He didn’t in August 2023 at Desert Diamond Arena in nearby Glendale. He didn’t  Saturday night in downtown Phoenix. 

Pick the time. Pick the place. It wouldn’t matter. Navarrete settled it, once and for all, proving that he’s simply a better fighter than Valdez.

“I tried,’’ Valdez said.

But  trying in the rematch didn’t carry him for as long as it did in a punishing loss in the first fight. The rematch was a repeat and then some. Navarrete finished the popular fighter from Mexico’s northern Sonora and south Arizona, dropping him three times — once in the first round, again late in the fourth and the finisher in the sixth.

Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) ended it with a thundering body shot, a left hand that sent Valdez into the ropes and onto the canvas. At 2:42 of the sixth, the fight was over, although Valdez told the crowd he would continue to fight on. The only sure thing is that Navarrete won’t be anywhere in his future, how ever much longer his career lasts.

“I had to work hard in each round.’’ said Navarrete, still the World Boxing Organizations 130-pound champion. “I had to push him back. He comes forward. I had to push him back. And that was the right strategy to take down a Valdez, who is always strong.”

“I told everyone before that I would have a new left hand. And that’s what has happened. It felt really good. We are not starting a second stage of my career. And I plan to take advantage of it.”

Valdez (32-3, 24 KOs) promised adjustments might have cost him in

the opening moments. In the the first round, Valdez moved forward, throwing two or three punches , then ducked and backed away from Navarrete’s attempts at a counter. Late in the first round, Valdez ducked enough to jeopardize his balance. Navarrete capitalized, landing a combination that put, almost pushed, Valdez on to the canvas for an  early knockdown.

Valdez came back over the next couple rounds. He caught Navarrete with succession of solid rights.  All the while, it looked as if Valdez was trying to disrupt Navarrete, an instinctive fighter who is at his dangerous best when he’s gets into a rhythm. It’s a rhythm that rolled over Valdez throughout 12 rounds in the first fight 16 months ago.

Valdez’ adjustments worked, but never long enough to keep Navarrete off him. Interrupt Navarrete’s rhythm, but there was no way to halt his power. It was his advantage in the first fight and again in the second. No need for a third. 

At the end of the fourth rounds, Valdez found himself on the canvas again. He protested to the referee. But to avail. The referee wasn’t listening. He saw what a crowd of more than 8,000 was witnessing. Valdez simply had no chance against Navarrete. Never has.

“Sorry to those who came to see me,’’ Valdez said.  “I wish it was a better result. Maybe next time. No excuses from me. He beat me well.’’

Beat him again.

Espinoza retains his WBO belt

In the 1st of 2 championship rematches of the night we have the co main event of the Navarrete Valdez card, inside the footprint center. Mexican fighter Rafael “Divino” Espinoza defending his WBO Featherweight tittle for the 2nd time in the highly anticipated rematch with Cuban Robeisy Ramirez. In their first fight a year ago, Espinoza edged out the win by a majority decision. Each fight did taste the canvas Espinoza in the 5th, Ramirez touched in the 12th.

Leading up to the fight the fight at hand with many calling it as the potential fight of the night. While both of them have been very respectful and cordial throughout this build up. At the press conference each said that they want to give the fans and themselves a great show.

Rafael “Divino” Espinoza 25-0(21KOs) from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico weighed in at 125.7lbs while Robeisy Ramirez 14-2(9KOs) Cienfuegos, Cuba came in at 125.6

In the opening rounds as expected with two technical fighter both use this round to check each other temperature, in which both were low. Not much action went on except for a couple of punch flurries.

Espinoza started to attack the body of Ramirez, later it opened up a clean uppercut. Ramirez came back with solid left hook that woke up the crowd while getting the attention of Espinoza. As the round went on Ramirez found a home on the right side of Espinoza’s face.

For the first time of the night the boo bird started to chirp however they were quickly turned to cheers as if the fighter heard them. So far this has been an evenly contested fight with both going back and forth. Espinoza is having a little trouble cutting off the ring, as Ramirez is circling the ring. Thus far in the five rounds the action is steady picking up each round

The start of the 6th had a huge turn of events as Ramirez was hit with a straight right hand to his eye that led to him waving his hand up in the air indicating he wanted no mas and that’s how referee Chris Flores took it. Stopping the fight 12 seconds into the round. Earning a TKO victory Espinoza improves to 26-0(22KOs).

In the post fight interview Ramirez indicated that he was hit with a few elbows in the 4th round, and it led to him making sure his health was top priority wanted to protect himself since the referee was not. When interviewed Espinoza stated that Ramirez was feeling his power and knew was coming if he stayed in the fight longer. As for the future he wants the big fights and become a legend in the sport. He also mentioned that he wants to make Phoenix his home. Could we see a potential show down with the winner of the main event?…..possibly in Phoenix?…

Lindolfo Delgado scores convincing stoppage

Lindolfo Delgado has heard boos. Heard questions. But he had only answers Saturday night on the Emanuel Navarette-Oscar Valdez 2 card at the Suns arena in downtown Phoenix.

Delgado (22-0, 16 KOs), a Mexican junior welterweight, dropped Jackson Marinez (22-4, 10 KOs) twice in the fifth round. First, he landed an uppercut combo, putting Marinez, of the Dominican Republic, on the canvas in evident pain. Seconds later, he finished him with a body shot. At 2:14 of the round, referee Wes Melton ended it, declaring Delgado a TKO winner.

Richard Torrez storms back into the KO column

Richard Torrez looked at his record back in September and didn’t exactly recognize it.

It was one knockout shy of perfection in a fight that ended when his opponent was disqualified for spitting out his mouthpiece repeatedly.

“I got in a cab and the driver asked me what I did for a living,” Torrez said. “I told him I’m a heavyweight boxer. So, the driver asked what my record was. That stopped. me. I couldn’t tell him 11 victories, 11 knockouts.”

Torrez will never have that perfect record again. But he put the stoppage back into his identity Saturday, blowing away Mexican Isaac Munoz Saturday on the Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez rematch card at the Suns home area in downtown Phoenix.

Torrez (12-0, 11 KOs) rocked Munoz (18-2-1, 15 KOs) repeatedly through the first two rounds. In the third, he caught him along the ropes, where Munoz slumped into a defenseless posture. The referee ended it, then and there, at 59 seconds of the round

Perez chopped down

The start of the 2nd half of tonight’s fights Gerardo Perez 12-6-1(3KOs) from Salta, Argentina took on Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez 11-0(7KOs) fighting out of Moreno Valley, Ca. In just his 2nd 8 round fight “Chop Chop” is making his return to the valley of the sun. In his Arizona debut he was featured on his stablemates card when Super Flyweight champion Bam Rodriguez fought Sunny Edwards for the IBF and WBO Flyweight belts last December.

Not the way of the night as the first round was pretty much a fill out, as both fighters did not do much engaging. Gonzalez did land 2 clean shots to Perez’s head. Things got interesting as both fighters met in the middle of the ring to start off the 2nd round. The action maintained for much of the round. While each had their moments, again Gonzalez made more of the opportunity and landed the harder punches and knocking Perez’s head back a couple of times.

In the 3rd chop chop found his rhythm stunning Perez with a right hook. In a old fashion brawl this fan favorite round got the fans out of their seats. As this was the round of the night up to this point. Even with the Mexican legend entering the arena could not take away from the action going on in the ring.

Rounds 4 and 5 were catch your breathe type rounds with the actions taking a little break. Gonzalez did start to pick up his punching towards the end of the 5th connecting plenty of times to Perez’s head, however that did not stop him from keep coming forward and pressing the action.

Sensing he has his opponent on the verge “chop Chop” came out of the 7th looking to end it. Walking him down to the corner with a borage of punches. Yet again Perez took those punches stopping the momentum.

 As the fight comes to the end entering the 8th and final round both fighters deserve to be applauded as they left it all in the ring. With Gonzalez maintaining the out put and land the more efficient punches he closed out the fight with some head snapping punches.

The fight ended with no one hitting the canvass but that is not to say it was not a great fight. On the flip side it was the fight of the night as both warriors stood in front of each other and took what the other had. Going to the judges Gonzalez earned the Unanimous decision with 2 of the judges having it a shootout 80-72 and the 3rd scoring it 79-73.—David Galaviz

Steven Navarro put super into flyweight with second-round TKO

It started with a glancing body punch. It continued with a solid body shot. It ended with a left hook. 

From body to head,  Los Angeles super-flyweight Steven Navarro (5-0, 4 KOs)did it all, knocking down Puerto Rican Gabriel Bernadi (7-2, 3 KOs) three times in the second for a dominant stoppage at 2:29 of the round Saturday in the fifth fight on a card featuring the Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez rematch at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix.

Santillan races to first-round TKO

Giovani Santillan, a slick welterweight from San Diego, is often criticized for not having enough aggression in what is otherwise a versatile skillset.

Let’s just say it was missing in action.

But it was suddenly there, appearing like a bolt of lightning in overwhelming Ghana welterweight Frederick Lawson within three rounds on an ESPN card featuring the Oscar Valdez-Emanuel Navarrete rematch at Footprint Center, the Phoenix Suns home arena.

At the sound of the opening bell, Santiillan (33-1, 18 KOs) — trainer Robert Garcia in the corner for his third straight fight of the day —  raced at a surprised Lawson (30-5, 22 KOs), who had no counter or defense.  As the bell sounded an end to the opening round, referee Chris Flores waved it off, Santillan a first-round TKO winner 

Referee hits the canvas, Art Barrera wins TKO

The fighters were left standing. Only the referee went down.

In a quick finish to a welterweight fight, referee Wes Melton rushed to step in between Art Barrera Jr. and Juan Carlos Campos Medina. Melton was trying to save Medina from further punishment.

He did, but Melton took a tumble in the fight’s only knockdown Saturday afternoon, several hours before the Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez main event at Footroitn Center.

Unhurt, Melton coolly got up and ruled a timely end to the fight at 2:58 of the second round, declaring the Robert Garcia-trained Barrera (7-0, 4 KOs) a TKO winner over Medina (4-2, 3 KOs) of Sioux City, Iowa.

Prospect loses pro debut

He walked into the rung as a prospect. He walked out of it winless.

Cesar Morales’ pro debut ended in a loss and perhaps an early lesson in the second fight on a card featuring the Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez rematch Saturday.

Morales, a Mexican lightweight signed by Valdez manager Frank Espinoza and trained by Robert Garcia, got rocked in the fourth and final round at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix.

 A  succession of punches from Kevin Mosquera (3-0, 1 KO), a long and lanky fighter from Ecuador, rocked Morales. In a desperate effort to maintain his balance, his gloves touched the canvas for an official knockdown

That was enough to put him on the losing end of a majority decision — 39-36, 38-37, 38-38 — in what proved to be an early surprise on Top Rank’s 10-fight card. 

In the opening bell inside the Footprint Center home of the Phoenix Suns, Roman Reynoso 22-5-2(10KOs) fighting out of Moreno, Argentina faced DJ “The War Machine” Zamora 14-0(9KOS) a Top Rank prospect coming all the way from Las Vegas, NV. Both fighters made weight yesterday for their Jr Lightweight contest.

In the first round Reynoso went down twice, first by a shot to the right side of his stomach at the 1:03 mark and then on his own accord with a wild punch that connected only with the cold air in the arena.

Sensing some urgency Ramon came out in the 2nd round with a flurry of punches, pushing Zamora to the ropes. What seemed to be plan A for Reynoso did not hold up and with no plan B, Zamora had his equalizer, with 1:17 left in the round, he landed a left hook square on his opponent’s jaw. Referee Chris Chavez Stopping it shortly after. Improving to 15-0(10KOs) Zamora still has some room for improvement but the reward out weighs the risk in his young career.—David Galaviz

By Norm Frauenheim

PHOENIX — On the scale Friday, they were almost even. On the scorecards a year-and-a-half ago, they were close. On any scale, the fight is hard to predict.

Emanuel Navarrete and Oscar Valdez meet for the second time Saturday at Footprint Center in a fight that fans hope is more of a rematch than a repeat.

The first fight — at Desert Diamond Arena in nearby Glendale — was a punishing blowout, delivered by Navarrete, who got on a roll and rolled over Valdez, who left the ring badly bloodied, a fractured eye socket and absolutely no chance on the cards. It was 119-109, 118-110 and 116-112, all for Navarrete.

About sixteen months ago, it looked as if there’d never be another one.

“It was too one-sided,’’ said Valdez (30-2, 24 KOs), who Friday was at 130-pounds, the junior lightweight limit and one-tenth of a pound heavier than Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs). “I have to be honest.’’

But Valdez’ stubborn  persistence and a couple of sloppy performances by Navarrete set the stage for another. When the rematch was first announced, there was some skepticism about its marketability. Once was enough, wasn’t it?

No, it wasn’t. That much was clear at Friday’s weigh-in. 

A crowd and a buzz filled an upstairs ballroom at a downtown Phoenix hotel. The back-and-forth display of violence, blood and courage created an appetite for more, NavarreteValdez2. 

A restless crowd of fans from southern Arizona and northern Mexico jammed the room. Phoenix has often been called a city full of educated boxing fans, Perhaps, they know something that wasn’t always evident in the first fight. Whatever it is, the buzz says a genuine battle is looming in the second chapter between the Mexican rivals

A sure sign is at the box office. Footprint opened up the upper section of seats at the Suns arena late Thursday. 

Tickets are selling, not only for the Navarrete-Valdez, but also for another rematch, Rafael Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs) versus Robeisy Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs) in a rematch of Espinoza’s majority decision for a featherweight title a year ago. Espinoza was 125.7 pounds Friday, also a tenth-of-a-pound heavier than Ramirez, a Cuban who heard Cuba, Cuba chants after he stepped off the scale

Even Navarrete says he can’t wait to watch  Espinoza-Ramirez.

“Me and Oscar are going to war all over again,’’ said Navarrete, still the World Boxing Organization’s’ junior-lightweight champion. “But it might be hard to put on the kind  war that we’ll see from Ramirez and Espinoza.’’

Call it a night of encores, for fighters and fans.

By Norm Frauenheim

PHOENIX — Plans for Naoya Inoue’s return to the United States next spring already include a possible opponent.

Mexican David Picasso, an artistic name and perhaps an opportunity for Inoue to enhance his masterpiece of a career, is being mentioned as a possibility for the Japanese pound-for-pound contender in a possible April fight in Las Vegas.

“It’s on the table,’’ Rene Aviles, of Zanfer Promotions, said Friday while in Phoenix for the Oscar Valdez-Emanuel Navarrete rematch Saturday at Footprint Center. “Nothing is set, but that’s the plan.’’

Picasso (30-0-1, 16 KOs), a Zanfer-promoted junior-featherweight from Mexico City, has appeared on two major cards in the U.S., first in January of last year in a victory over Erik Ruiz at Footprint and again in a victory in May over Damien Vazquez at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs), a four-division champion who hasn’t fought in the United States since a victory in June 2021 in Vegas, is already scheduled to test his pound-for-pound supremacy against Australian junior-featherweight Sam Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) on Dec. 24 in Tokyo.

“On Christmas Eve, I’ll be there,’’ said Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who will celebrate his 93rd birthday Sunday. “If successful, then we’ll announce his next fight, hopefully in Las Vegas.’’

By Norm Frauenheim

PHOENIX — Rafael Espinoza is in line for a possible shot at the Oscar Valdez-Emanuel Navarrete junior-lightweight winner if he beats Robeisy Ramirez in a featherweight rematch, one of two title rematches on the ESPN-televised card Saturday at Footprint Center.

There’s talk that Espinoza, unusually tall for a featherweight, is about to move up in weight, from 126 pounds to 130, if he again beats Ramirez, who lost a dramatic majority decision to Espinoza a year ago in Pembrook Pines, Fla.

The 6-foot-1 Espinoza (25-0, 21 KOs), the World Boxing Organization’s featherweight champion, was at 125.7 pounds Friday at the official weigh-in. He was only a tenth-of-a-pound heavier than Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs), but was five inches taller. At 30 years old, it looks as if Espinoza is ready to fight in a heavier division.

“Rumor is, he’ll go up,’’ Brad Goodman, of Top Rank, said.

First, however, he has to beat Ramirez, a Cuban who many thought won the first fight. Late Friday, Ramirez was a slight betting favorite.

There has been talk that Espinoza might move up to challenge Texan O’Shaquie Foster (23-3, 12 KOs), the World Boxing Council’s junior-lightweight champion. But Espinoza, who wore late Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela’s jersey to Friday’s weigh-in, in an all-Mexican fight against either Valdez or Navarrete for the WBO’s 130-pound title looks to be a more marketable match among Mexican and Mexican-American fans.

By Norm Frauenheim

PHOENIX — Emanuel Navarrete arrived at a news conference without his trademark. The black cowboy hat wasn’t there. For years, it has been a symbol — defiant, ominous and a reliable indication of exactly what he intends to do.

But Thursday he just wore a simple baseball cap. He could have been just about anybody.

Of course, he isn’t. Friends and rivals still call him Vaquero, an old-school nickname that says Beware. Maybe, he just left the defining hat in his room or his bags. It’s a good bet, of course, that it’ll be there when he makes his ring entrance Saturday night for a rematch with Oscar Valdez at Footprint Center. The black hat, after all, is his identity.

Yet, there are questions just days before opening bell about exactly who he is at this stage of a whirlwind career, which includes three division titles and — for awhile — an unlimited horizon. He stormed into the sport at a get-the-hell-out-of-my-way pace, a fighter as fearless as he was impatient. But is that gunslinger still there?

The answer to that one looms as a determining factor as to whether he can score a punishing encore over Valdez, who was badly-battered in losing a one-sided decision in their first fight on a hot day in August 2023 at Desert Diamond Arena in nearby Glendale. Since that bloody drama about 16 months ago, Navarrete defended a junior-lightweight title in a narrow decision over Robson Coneicao and talked about a possible date with Shakur Stevenson. Anything looked possible.

But a jump up the scale to lightweight in a fight against Denys Berinchyk halted his momentum. He looked sluggish and fleshy in losing a split decision to Berinchyk, another prepared and skillful Ukrainian. Against Berinchyk, Navarrete looked just like another guy in a baseball cap. The loss — which cost him a fourth division title, prompted his return to junior-lightweight in another title defense in a rematch with Valdez, who is as stubbornly studious as he tenacious.

Repeatedly, Valdez has promised tactical changes in the rematch. Expect more patience from a fighter who went for broke early in the first fight and wound up broken because of it. The question is whether a return to 130 pounds is the right fit, the only fit, for Navarrete. He conceded Thursday that there have been changes.

“Everything has gone well in camp,’’ Navarrete said. “We had to make some changes, mostly because my body is not the same as it was. But everything else is good. As soon as I get to the fight location, which in this case is Phoenix, the switch is on. There will be no excuses. I’m here because I want to be.”

Valdez, who dismissed a win-or-retire narrative in an interview with Boxing Scene and The Boxing Hour at a north Phoenix gym Wednesday, suggested that Navarrete has already been thinking about retirement. Navarrete was quoted in Spanish-speaking media that he might retire after a few more fights. Connect the dots and the result is some inevitable speculation: How much has Navarrete changed? Has he hung up that black hat for good? The rematch with Valdez might be as much and opportunity to answer that question as it is a chance for Valdez to avenge a painful loss.

“This is the biggest fight of my career, because this the first time I’m fighting somebody who already beat me,’’ he said Thursday.

Translation: Valdez is seeking redemption on a night when Navarrete might be in pursuit of a restoration. He wants to prove that the black hat still fits. He’s still a Vaquero in more than just name.

“We all have worked and we have planned to put on a war together again,’’ he said. “I can’t say much more, yet I know it will be epic.”

By Norm Frauenheim

It’s rematch with a chance at becoming a rivalry.

Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez 2 on Dec. 7 in Phoenix was never envisioned after Navarrete won a decision as punishing as it was one-sided on the scorecards 15 months ago. 

Then, Valdez left the ring in nearby Glendale, tears mixing with blood that poured from a right eye swollen shut into a grotesque mess by a fractured orbital bone. Then, Valdez’ many fans in southern Arizona and Mexico’s northern Sonora only hoped he would recover from a night, a fight, shocking for its mix of violence and drama. Applause mixed with prayers like the blood and tears.

Despite the pain, Valdez knew his fans were there. Knew what they were thinking. Despite the anguish, he apologized.

“I’m sorry I disappointed everyone,’’ he said then at Desert Diamond Arena. “I feel terrible. I wanted to give you all a great fight. I hope you enjoyed the fight. I hope to return strong.’’

He did return. He finished Australian Liam Wilson in a dominant seventh-round stoppage last March, also in Glendale. Then, he didn’t know that a Navarrete rematch was even a remote possibility. 

Navarrete had gone on to defend his junior-lightweight title with a victory over Brazilian Robson Conceicao and was planning on a move up the scale to lightweight in a bid for a fourth division title against Ukrainian Denys Berinchyk in San Diego in May. 

The expectation was that Navarrete would win and vacate his junior-lightweight title, which would then belong to Valdez. Instead he lost and decided to stay at 130 pounds, prompting the World Boxing Organization to order in July what had been an unlikely rematch.

Like so much else in boxing, expectations are just another glass jaw. This time, they were shattered by Berinchyk scoring an upset, winning a split decision over Navarrete, who delivered a dull performance just months after fans and media were asking him whether he thought he had a chance against Shakur Stevenson. He doesn’t.

For now, however, the only relevant question is whether Valdez has any chance in his second opportunity against Navarrete, this time in downtown Phoenix on the Suns home floor at Footprint Center. Valdez, a 118-110, 119-109, 116-112 loser in the first fight, says he does. 

Above all, he talks as if he’s anxious to walk back into harm’s way for a chance to genuinely win the title in the ring instead of acquiring it through a mere paper shuffle. 

Had Valdez been elevated to the WBO’s 130-pound champion because of a Navarrete move up the scale in the wake of a 135-pound victory over Berinchyk, Valdez would have been dismissed as just another E-mail champ. That’s a long way from the blood and guts that have been there throughout his career. Remember Scott Quigg?

In March 2018 on a rain-swept night in an outdoor ring in Carson, Calif, a heavier Quigg, who fought despite missing weight, broke Valdez’ jaw midway through the 12 rounds. Valdez fought through it, winning a unanimous decision. After it was all over, the persistent rain had washed away the dirt and debris. 

But the rain did not — perhaps could not — wash away a stain in the corner of the canvas where Valdez sat and spit up blood between rounds. 

After it was all over, the fight’s winner was strapped onto a board like an accident victim, placed into the back of an ambulance and taken to a nearby hospital. He’s that kind of fighter. Down, but never finished. 

He endures. You can bust up his eye. Break his jaw. But that will remains intact, seemingly unbreakable. At least, it has. There’s a lingering question about how much more punishment the resilient Valdez can absorb. He’ll turn 34 on Dec. 22, a few weeks after the Navarrete rematch. 

That inevitable question will be there, and it’s one the 29-year-old Navarrete figures to test repeatedly with his many-angled array of punches. Valdez, still a serious enough student of the game to know not to waste a lesson, promises to be more prepared the second time around.

“I think my game plan was just off, because I left the game plan and was just looking for that one shot,’’ Valdez told Fight Hype TV from his San Diego training camp last week. “The fans were there, and they were enjoying it. It was loud and I wanted to please the crowd and go for that one-shot knockout. And it did not work, especially with a fighter like Navarrete.

“So, now we’re going back looking at the fight, looking at film and watching the fight. Like I said, I made a lot of mistakes. 

“So, we’re training, day-by-day, trying to get better and become just a better fighter, be the smarter fighter inside the ring and win in general. Everybody knows we lost our first fight, which was devastating for me because I thought I was 100 per cent gonna win that fight.

 “I feel blessed. I feel blessed to have the opportunity again, but I’m more focused than ever because I’ve faced him already. I know what he’s got. I know his advantages. It’s for a championship belt, and it means everything to me.”

Navarrete, inconsistent over the last couple of years, goes into the rematch favored. The oddsmakers haven’t forgotten the first fight, either. 

A Valdez victory just seems unlikely. Then again, so was a Valdez victory over Miguel Berchelt in February 2021. Valdez knocked out Berchelt, then feared and unbeaten, in the 10th round. The Berchelt stunner and Valdez’ dominance of Wilson are signs he might be able to spring another surprise. Many believe Wilson was robbed of victory over Navarrete in a controversial fourth-round knockdown in Glendale in February 2023. Navarrete got up and survived, winning a ninth-round stoppage.

There are questions about whether Navarrete simply overlooked the unknown Aussie. Yet, there are also questions as to whether he still has the energy to throw his many-angled punches with the same degree precision, all at a whirlwind rate. 

If Valdez can summon up counters to the energy, precision, angles and work-rate, he might have a bigger answer to whether the fight is just another sequel or a rematch turned into a true rivalry.

NOTES

Valdez, A Mexican Olympian born in Nogales who went to school in Tucson, will be fighting In the Phoenix area for the third straight time. 

Navarrete will fight in Phoenix for the third time in his last five bouts.

By Norm Frauenheim –

It’s the first significant fight in a New Year. That’s mere coincidence, but it’s also appropriate.

David Benavidez-versus-David Morrell on February 1, formally announced this week, is all about timing, a theme sure to unfold as both fighters step into their respective primes in only their second fight at light-heavyweight.

In part, it’s a potential stage-setter, both for the sport and the 175-pound division. On the calendar, at least, it’s a chance to move beyond a dreary year, one that figures to be remembered mostly for the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fiasco. Maybe, the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch on Dec. 21 changes all of that. We can hope. Make that pray.

At 175 pounds, it’a a chance for the Benavidez-Morrell winner at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena to move into a shot at perhaps the undisputed title against Artur Beterbiev, although even he is talking about Jake Paul.

Paul is calling himself the Face of the Game, mostly because he’s got the key to the vault. There’s speculation he might even coax Andre Ward out of retirement. Big money can do that, and that’s what Paul’s face brings to prize-fighting, more prize than fight these days. Forget the scars, skills and courage. Cash is the only feature that matters anymore. 

Even Saudi Prince Turki Al-Sheikh, who has brought even more cash into the sport, claimed to be the Face after his promotional role in a card featuring accomplished Terence Crawford’s debut victory at junior-middleweight in Los Angeles last summer. Apparently, Al-Sheikh forgot that Crawford had more rights to the Face than just about anybody. When reminded that the reigning Face has to risk that face in the ring, Al-Sheikh — to his credit — backed off.

Meanwhile, Paul’s face eluded most of Tyson’s punches. Then again, there weren’t many to elude. Eighteen landed, for a pathetic average of fewer than three per round over the eight-round farce last Friday in Arlington, Tex. More punches land in shadow boxing. 

It was sad because Tyson used to be The Face. But it’s unrecognizable anymore, bought off by anybody with only cash in his skill set.

Can it be restored? Hard to say. But it’s worth a try and maybe Benavidez-Morrell is a place to start.

Start over. 

I remember an exchange I had with Paul more than two years ago before he fought mixed-martial-arts legend Anderson Silva at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ, just a few miles of roadwork from the mean streets where Benavidez grew up near downtown Phoenix.

At the news conference in October 2022, I welcomed Paul to Benavidez’ hometown. At the time, Paul was calling out Canelo Álvarez. He still is. So, I asked him if he wanted to fight Benavidez, too. Paul stopped, looked at me intensely and said: “I’m not ready for that.’’

It was an honest answer, a real moment in a business turning into a carnival, a Hall of Mirrors. Nobody knows what they’re looking at anymore. 

Last week, I had a theory that most in the crowd of 72,000 at AT&T Stadium and a Netflix audience — estimated at 75 million viewers, worldwide — would not know that Usyk and Fury are fighting a rematch for the undisputed heavyweight title next month. Wouldn’t care either. Now, I’m not even sure many would know who Usyk or Fury are. 

To them, the craft is no longer the attraction. Only $pectacle is. They got one, but now there are weird, wild conspiracy theories. $pectacle and conspiracy go together like show and business. 

At last report, a class-action lawsuit has been filed by fans unhappy at Netflix’s production of the event. No word on whether they’re unhappy at themselves from buying into the hype.

The Sweet Science?

Nothing Sweet or Scientific about it.

From this corner, the formal announcement of the Benavidez-Morrell date in the aftermath of Tyson-Paul was a relief. It’s something real, old-school and fundamental in a world gone awry. 

Maybe, I’m expecting too much from Benavidez and Morrell. But all of the time-honored elements are there for a real fight. A memorable one, too. Nobody 58-years-old will be answering an opening bell. Benavidez is 27. He’ll be 28 on Dec. 18. Morrell is 26. He’ll be 27 on Jan. 17. They’re both unbeaten — Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) and Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs).

They’re the face of the future. 

For now, that’s the only face we’ve got.

NOTES

Jesus Ramos Jr., a promising junior-middleweight from Casa Grande AZ, will fight on the Benavidez-Morrell undercard. The 23-year-old Ramos was last seen in the corner for his brother Abel in his spirited draw with welterweight champion Mario Barrios on the Paul-Tyson undercard. Jesus Ramos (21-1, 17 KOs) will fight former champion Jeison Rosario (29-4-2, 17 KOs). “I’ve learned my lesson about leaving things up to the judges,’’ Ramos said during a news conference this week in Los Angeles. “I can’t do that anymore. I’m coming to knock him out.”

Emanuel Navarrete is a slight favorite to again beat Oscar Valdez in their junior-lightweight rematch Dec. 7 at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. Navarrete is coming off a disappointing performance at a new weight, a split-decision loss at lightweight to Denys Berinychk. Meanwhile, Valdez was impressive in a stoppage of Aussie Liam Wilson, who many believe got robbed of victory over Navarrete in a controversial bout, also in Arizona in 2023. Navarrete is talented, yet erratic. Meanwhile, consistency defines Valdez, whose seemingly inexhaustible resilience continues to make him dangerous.

I’ve already said this on other platforms and I’ll say it again: Tyson-Paul generated real numbers. Real money, too. Here’s a real question: Why was Tyson licensed? In a post after the bout, he talked about dying, saying that he underwent transfusions for excessive bleeding in May from an ulcer that postponed the bout. Yet, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation licenses him anyway? Texas regulators must have known about Tyson’s condition. He talked about it in ominous detail in a story published by New York Magazine before opening bell. Did Texas listen, decide he was exaggerating and license him anyway? If so, we’re fortunate we witnessed only an embarrassment. 

Follow all the action as Jake Paul and Mike Tyson fight in a much anticipated fight from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Action Kicks off at 8 PM ET and will feature the WBC Welterweight fight between Mario Barrios and Abel Ramos. Also one of the most anticipated rematches as Katie Taylor defends the Undisputed Super Lightweight title against Amanda Serrano.

THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY AFTER EACH ROUND. NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED

Round 1: Jab from Tyson drives Paul back…Right from Paul…Jab..
Round 2 Body shot from Paul…
Round 3 3 lefts from Paul..
Round 4 Right from Paul…Left Hook…
Round 5 1-2 from Paul…Left hook..Body shot…Right…Lead left from Tyson
Round 6 
Round 7 Jab from Paul…Right to body…3 punch combination
Round 8 Right from Paul..

80-72, 79-3 TWICE FOR PAUL

ROUND 1 Serrano lands a left..Combinatuon Taylor…Left from Serrano…Left…Left buckles Taylor

ROUND 2 Nice right from Taylor…Combination…Good Hook…

ROUND 3 Left from Serrano

ROUND 4 Hard left from Serrano…Serrano bleeding over right eye from a headbutt

ROUND 5 Counter left from Serrano…Lead Left…

ROUND 6 Another bad cut over Serrano’s left eye…Taylor lands a right…

ROUND 7 Great action in center of the ring.  Right from Taylor…Left…Right from Serrano,,

ROUND 8 Left hook from Serrano…Left from Taylor..Just a war..TAYLOR DEDUCYED A POINT FOR USING HER HEAD

ROUND 9 Goof right from Taylor.  Good body shot from Serrano

ROUND 10 A REAL WAR…BOTH JUST THROWING AND LANDING…Good body shot from Serrano

95-94 ON ALL CARDS FOR KATIE TAYLOR

Round 1: Right from Barrios..

ROUND 2 Nice right to the body from Barrios…Body shot from Ramos…Nice hook…Body shot from Barrios and a right to the head..Jab to the body…lead right crosss…Body shot from Ramos…Counter left…COUNTER SHOT AND DOWN GOES RAMOS

ROUND 3 Double left and right from Barrios…3 punch combination from Ramos…Lead left to the jaw

ROUND 4 Good jab from Barrios…Good right..

ROUND 5 

ROUND 6 Double body shot from Barrios..Right..BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES BARRIOS…Big Right…Barrios is hurt..Right…Another big Right 

ROUND 7 Right to head from Ramos…Left hook..Good uppercut from Barrios…Lead left hook. Lead left hook from Ramos…Left to body from Barrios..Right from Ramos..Combination from Barriois…1-2 from Ramos…Jab from Barrios

ROUND 8 Jab from Barrios..Good body shot from Ramos..Combination…

ROUND 9 Body shot from Barrios..Jab from Ramos…Counter jab from Barrios..Nice jab..Nice left hook and right from Ramios..Double left…Barrios bleeding from the nose..Body shot from Ramos..Combination from Barrios..Double jab…Left fhook from Ramos

ROUND 10 Right from Barrios…Good right from Ramos

ROUND 11 Right from Ramos…Ramos cut under his left eye…

ROUND 12 Lead left hook from Ramos…Good right///Nice jab from Barrios..Lead right from Ramos…Left hook from Barrios…Good body shot…Jab…

114-112 Ramos, 116-110 Barrios, 113-113 DRAW

Round 1 Combination from Goyat…Uppercut
Round 2 Right from Goyat…Combination
Round 3 Left hook from Nunes…Left hook and right from Goyat…Double left hook to live by Nunes..
Round 4 Good right from Goyat…Uppercuts on inside…Right…Body shot from Nunes…4 punches to the head..
Round 5 Nunes lands a combo to the head…Combination to the head from Goyat…Nice left from Nunes..Uooercut on inside and right from Goyat…Combination…Left hook to body from Nunes
Round 6 Goyat lands a big right…Clipping right…

60-54 TWICE AND 59-55 FOR GOYAT

In a much hyped event, Jake Paul won a unanimous decision over 58-year-old former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in front of a massive crowd of over 70,000 fans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The fight was void of any sustained action. Tyson looked every bit of a fighter who was 58 years old and 19 years removed of any professional action. Paul was able to and move around the ring and he occasionally mixed in a right hand that would drive the ex-champ back. There were several instances where it looked like Tyson was through for the fight, but he was able to manage be around for the final bell.

Paul landed 78 of 278 punches. Tyson was just 19 of 97.

Paul of Cleveland won by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73 twice to raise his record to 11-1. Tyson of Brooklyn is 50-7.

Katie Taylor Defeats Amanda Serrano Again to Retain Undisputed Super Lightweight Title

In a rematch that lived up to the exceptional predecessor, Katie Taylor retained the undisputed super lightweight title with a razor thin unanimous decision over Amanda Serrano.

Serrano got off to a fast start and buckled Taylor at the end of the first round. In round four, Serrano was cut over her right eye from a headbutt.

In round six, Serrano suffered another bad cut from a headbutt. In round eight, Taylor was deducted a point for the headbutts. Much of the last three rounds were fought in the center of the ring with each fighter throwing and landing much to delight to the crowd.

Taylor landed 217 of 529 punches. Serrano 324 of 734.

Taylor, 137.4 lbs of Bray, IRE won by scores of 95-94 on all cards and is now 24-1. Serrano, 137.4 lbs of Carolina, PR is 47-3-1.

Barrios and Ramos Battle to a Draw

Mario Barrios retained his WBC Welterweight title as he battled Abel Ramos to a 12-round split draw.

In round two, Barrios landed a left hook to the chin that was followed by a straight right that sent Ramos on his back. In round six, Ramos got it back when he landed a powerful right to the jaw that put Barrios down.

In round nine, Barrios began to bleed from the nose. In round 11, Ramos was cut under his left eye.

Barrios landed 29 of 789 punches. Ramos was 204 of 753.

Ramos took a scorecard 116-110, Ramos 114-112 and 113-113.

Barrios, 146.8 lbs of San Antonio is now 29-2-1. Ramos, 146.4 lbs of Casa Grande, AZ is 26-6-3.

Neeraj Goyat Decisions Whindersson Nunes

Neeraj Goyat won a six-round unanimous decision over Brazilian Social Media star Whindersson Nunes in a middleweight fight.

Goyat landed 171 of 481 punches. Nunes was 87 of 365.

Goyat, 162 lbs of India won by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55 and is now 19-4-2. Nunes, 164 lbs of Brazil is 0-1.

Shadasia Green Wins Super Middleweight Title with Split Decision over Watpool

Shadasia Green won the WBO Super Middleweight title with a 10-round split decision over Melinda Watpool.

Green landed 93 of 346 punches. Watpool was 111 of 409.

Green, 167.8 lbs of Paterson, NJ won by scores of 97-93 and 96-94 while Watpool took a card 96-94. Green is now 15-1. Watpool, 166.8 lbs of Toronto is 7-1.

Bahdi defeats Casamonica via Majority Decision

In a battle of undefeated lightweights, Lucas Bahdi won a 10-round majority decision over Armando Casamonica.

Bahdi landed 124 of 641 punches. Cassamonica was 113 of 577.

Bahdi, 134.6 lbs of Niagara Falls, CAN won by scores of 98-92, 96-93 and 95-95 and is now 18-0. Casamonica, 135.6 lbs of Rome, ITA is 7-1.

Carrington Decisions Coolwell

Bruce Carrington remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Dana Coolwell in a featherweight bout.

Carrington scored a knockdown in round eight from a flurry that was started by a left hook.

Carrington landed 237 of 521 punches. Coolwell was 82 of 544.

Carrington,125.8 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 80-70 on all cards and is now 14-0. Coolwell, 125.2 lbs of Queensland, AUS is 13-3.

By Norm Frauenheim –

Mike Tyson has been making a fool out of himself and just about everybody around him for decades. Maybe, he’ll do it again, making a fool out of Jake Paul and the rest of us who believe he shouldn’t be in a traditional boxing ring against anybody anywhere.

Any more.

But, of course, he will be Friday night on the Cowboys home field in Texas in front of an expected crowd of 80,000 and who-knows-how-many from Netflix’s subscriber population of 287.2 million, millions more than the nearly 150 million who voted in the recent presidential election. 

Don’t call it a fight, although the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation elected to do so, but only after adding four ounces to the usual 10-ounce gloves while reducing the number of scheduled rounds from 10 to eight and subtracting a minute from each round, from three to two.

Texas, like Netflix, knows a money-maker when it sees one. In this transactional era, traditional rules and regs are just some of the numbers that can be adjusted if the projected financials are big enough. They are. 

Reportedly, Paul will walk away with $40-million, a purse that might make the accomplished Canelo Alvarez — the only traditional boxer left among the wealthy athletes near the top of Forbes’ annual rating — wonder if he’s in the wrong game.

But Tyson-Paul isn’t about boxing, although boxing surely wishes it was. Does anybody in the Tyson-Paul audience plan to watch the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury heavyweight rematch next month? Guess here: Very few. Truth is, very few probably even know it’s happening.

Usyk-Fury is a real fight. It’s intriguing, but only for a shrinking demographic that still enjoys a craft historically defined as The Sweet Science. Nothing about the 58-year-old Tyson versus a 27-year-old Paul figures to be sweet or scientific.

It’s spectacle, a Tyson speciality. It also happens to be the only thing about Tyson that hasn’t eroded over the decades. He’s feared for his punching power, and perhaps some of that is still there. It’s the last thing to go. 

But the real power, the most durable element in Tyson’s skillset — is his ongoing ability to create the kind of anticipation that precedes a spectacle and sometimes an accident. A crowd will gather for both. 

Tyson’s career as an active fighter is remembered more for what happened in defeat than victory. The infamous Bite Fight — Evander Holyfield lost part of his ear and won the fight in a DQ — defines him. It shut down the MGM Grand and the city of Las Vegas on a hot night in June 1997. 

Cabbies still driving Vegas streets tell stories about it to this day. Meanwhile, Holyfield, one of history’s great heavyweight champions, occupied an almost forgotten role in one of boxing’s most unforgettable moments, infamous because of Tyson and the genuine unpredictability he brings to any event.

Then.

And now.

Twenty-seven years later, that unpredictability is still centered around Tyson. He’ll be 60 in a couple of years. Texas regulators and Netflix can alter the length of rounds and the amount of padding in the gloves. It can tamper with a lot of the numbers. But not that one. 

Father Time doesn’t negotiate. 

On the scale Thursday, Tyson, reported to be at 233 pounds, looked good, especially for a man moving from middle age into old age. Some of the photos posted on social media included one word: SCARY.

Yeah, scary for him.

I’ve been asked to pick the fight. The sure winner, of course, is Netflix. But there’s another pick, really more of a hope. Here’s hoping Tyson emerges unhurt. Guess is, he will. For all of his trash-talk, Paul, reported to be at 220 pounds, is smart enough to know that his fellow Millennials in the crowd and audience are cheering for Tyson. 

They remember him like kids remember their favorite comic-book SuperHeros. They never get old. But Tyson has. 

Father Time beats us all, perhaps because of an unforeseen injury or just because of exhaustion, or an erosion in reflexes, or some problematic pre-condition. Remember, this fight was postponed in May because of an ulcer, which Tyson said was bleeding. Tyson told New York Magazine that he was spitting up blood. He was quoted as saying: “I said to the doctor: ‘Am I going to die?’ ‘’

Scary.

A hint at what might happen, perhaps, comes from his greatest rival, Holyfield. 

Twenty-four years after The Bite Fight, a 58-year-old Holyfield lost to a mix-martial-arts fighter, Vitor Belfort, who agreed to do an exhibition just eight days before the show in 2021. 

Within two minutes of opening bell, Holyfield went down, falling to the canvas in a chaotic crash of uncoordinated legs and limbs. Holyfield got up, but without any of the instinctive reflexes he possessed a couple of decades earlier. They were gone, washed away by the years. He was finished at 1:49 of the first round. It was sad, yet inevitable.

Then. 

And probably now.

PHILADELPHIA–It was a little tougher this time, but Jaron Ennis defended his IBF Welterweight title with his second 12-round unanimous decision over Karen Chukhadzhian in almost two years. This time it took place at Wells Fargo Center in Ennis’ hometown of Philadelphia.

The first bout, which took place in January of 2023 saw Ennis cruise to a 12-round shutout in a bout that saw Chukhadzhian bascally run around the ring and not engage. This time Chukhadzhian tried his best and at times have success landing on Ennis. Ennis landed more often and harder and used a two-fisted attack from bot the orthodox and southpaw stances.

In round five, Ennis landed a solid upper cut that put the challenger on the canvas. There were several times that Ennis had Chukhadzhian on the brink of trouble, but the Ukranian was able to fend off just enough to keep further damage from incurring.

In round 10, Chukhadzhian was deducted a point for holding. Chukhadzhian was gritty, but was out gunned by the much more dynamic Ennis.

Ennis landed 224 of 730 punches. Chukhadzhian was 173 of 622.

Ennis, 146 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 118-109, 117-110 and 116-111 to push his record to 33-0. Chukhadzhian, 146 1/2 lbs from Kiev, UKR is 24-3.

After the match, Ennis offered an honest review: “My performance was okay. I don’t know, it might be time to go to 154. I felt good, but I feel at 154 I’m going to be way better…I was prepared for anything he had coming; it didn’t really matter to me.”

“After I dropped [Chukhadzhian] I felt like he was holding ever since then. That’s on me though, I needed to take half a step back, rip those shots, use my angles, and just listen more. My dad was saying everything right and I just wasn’t listening.” 

“It means everything, I appreciate everybody that came out and showed their support, even though it wasn’t a top guy. Every time I fight here it’s going to get bigger and better,” said Ennis on fighting in front of his home crowd for the second straight bout.

Bam Rodriguez Stops Guevara in 2

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez defended the WBC Super Flyweight title with a second round stoppage of Pedro Guevara

In round two, Rodriguez landed a hard left that put Guevara on the canvas. Seconds later, Rodriguez landed a perfect right uppercut on the chin that put Guevara down and the fight was stopped at 2:47.

Rodriguez, 114.8 lbs of San Antonio is 21-0 with 14 knockouts. Guevara, 114.4 lbs of Sinalba, MEX is 42-5-1.

Speaking after the fight, Rodriguez commented, “I’m pretty happy, but I kind of already knew it was going to happen that way. It is what it is. On to the next. I really didn’t expect that [his movement]. I really thought he was going to stand there and fight a little bit more.”

When asked what’s next for him, Rodriguez added, “I feel good, this is my weight class right now. Got a few more fights here and then we’ll see where we go from there…Any unification fight, I’m ready right now.”

Ray Ford Drops Orlando Gonzalez Twice; Cruises to Unanimous Decision

Former Featherweight World Champion Raymond Ford scored two knockdowns en route to a 10-round unanimous decision over Orlando Gonzalez in a junior lightweight bout.

In round two, Ford landed a perfect right hook to the jaw that deposited Gonzalez under the bottom rope.

In round eight, Ford dropped a now bloodied (from the nose Gonzalez with another perfect right hook to the jaw.

Ford landed 171 of 481 punches. Gonzalez was 35 of 297.

Ford, 130 lbs of Canden, NJ won by scores of 100-88 twice and 99-89 and is now 16-1-1. Gonzalez, 130 lbs of Aguildila, PR is 23-3.

“I feel like the fight tonight went really well,” said Ford. “I just wanted to close the show and get him out of there. This win means a lot to me. It gets me higher in the 130-pound rankings so I can eventually get a shot at a world title.”

Gallegos Scores Four Knockdowns; Stops Coe in 9

Manuel Gallegos scored the biggest win of his career as he stopped Khalil Coe in round nine of their 10-round light heavyweight bout.

In round five, Gallegos dropped Coe with a left to the body. Coe furiously came back and hurt Gallegos with several hard right hands. In round seven, Gallegos hurt Coe with an uppercut and floored him with a right hand to the head. In round eight, Gallegos sent Coe down again with a left hook to the body along the ropes. As soon as the ninth bell rang, Gallegos went directly at Coe and dropped him with a combination and referee Eric Dali stopped the bout at seven seconds.

Gallegos, 174 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is 21-2-1 with 18 knockouts. Coe, 175 lbs of Jersey City, NJ is 9-1-1.

Reflecting on his preparation coming into the fight, Gallegos said, “This is a very good division, so I had to train hard. I had a long training camp up in Monterrey with my friends there. I have to thank my trainers that put me through my paces, and I think you saw the fruits of that labor of my long preparation in the ring tonight.”

He added, “I don’t know what’s next but I’m open to all options. I’ll let my promoter, and my team decide, but I’ll face whoever they put in front of me. I’m ready. I’ll stay at this weight. I like the 175-pound division – a lot of opportunities at this weight.”

Ammo Williams Takes out Garrido in 5

Austin Williams stopped Gian Garrido iin round five of their eight-round middleweight bout.

The right eye of Garrido began to swell in round two.

In round five, Williams battered Garrido all over the ring and then landed a booming left that forced referee Harvey Dock to stop the bout at 1:04.

When asked how Williams felt to have a win back under his belt he responded, “Man I feel amazing. I’m a champion. I’m a true champion in every sense of the word…I just came to make a statement and let y’all know I’m back, I’m a champion, and I’m coming for that world championship. Anybody at my weight can get it.

Ismail Muhammad remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Nelson Morales in a welterweight contest.

Muhammad, 145.8 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 6-0. Morales, 145.8 lbs of Scranton, PA is 5-19.

Morales was cut around the left eye in the fourth round.

PHILADELPHIA--Zaquin Moses made a successful debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Michael Ruiz in a super featherweight bout.

Moses, 129.6 lbs of Newark, New Jersey is the cousin of Shakur Stevenson, won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 1-0. Ruiz, 129.6 lbs of Lacey Township, NJ is 1-5.

When asked about entering the ring for the first time as a professional, the three-time national amateur champion replied, “It was a learning experience. This was my first fight, so it was all new to me, the eight ounce [gloves] was new to me, fighting with no headgear was new to me. I never fought without headgear before. I like it better than the amateurs.”

Dennis Thompson opened the night with a second round stoppage over Edgar Ortiz Jr, in a scheduled four-round super bantamweight bout.

Thompson battered Ortiz all over the ring until Eric Dali stopped the bout at 2:59.

Thompson, 121.8 lbs of Philadelphia is a stablemate of Jaron Ennis is now 3-0 with two knockouts. Ortiz, 121.2 lbs of Phoenix is 8-6-2.

“I feel like I was calm in this fight, I was able to put my shots together and I worked on my speed and combinations in this fight,” said Thompson. 

By Norn Frauenheim-

Matchroom is calling it Two Kings, which is a couple of face cards from Four Kings, George Kimball’s terrific book about a four-way rivalry that has become a reference point in boxing history. 

Many aspire to be the next Four Kings. But there will never be another four quite like Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran.

Still, half of the famed four is a pretty good hand, a bet that will pay off for promoter Eddie Hearn if welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis and super-fly champ Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez achieve all of their advertised potential. 

The pair will be there Saturday — each an emerging champion in a doubleheader show of main events —  at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center on a DAZN card that figures to provide a promising look, rare these days in a sport desperate for young stars.

Ennis is 27 and Rodriguez 24, which makes them about a generation younger than Tyson Fury, 36, and Oleksandr Usyk, 37, the middle-aged players in the much-hyped heavyweight rematch December 21 in Saudi Arabia. 

Fury-Usyk is a step toward retirement. Ennis-versus-Karen Chukhadshian and Rodriguez-versus-Pedro Guevara are about who’s next. What’s next.

Make no mistake, Fury-Usyk 2 is still intriguing. But some of the anticipation has faded. It’s a little bit stale, a lot like one of Fury’s jokes.

In Ennis and Rodriguez, there’s the unlimited optimism that comes with youth. That also creates a problem, at least it does for the unbeaten Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs), a huge talent fans hope to see and rivals hope to elude. 

Ennis’ versatile skillset has been evident for a couple of years. It’s also been impressive enough to put him on top of the list for most-avoided, a problematic category. 

It’s not a good place to be, an ongoing dilemma that has led to a rematch with Chukhadshian (24-,1 KOs), who in 2023 lost a one-sided decision to Ennis in Washington DC.

A sequel is not something anybody really wants. Fans were thinking more about Terence Crawford or maybe Vergil Ortiz. It’s no secret that Ennis has wanted to fight Crawford, a former undisputed welterweight champion who won a junior-middleweight belt in his last appearance. 

But the accomplished Crawford has shown no interest in a challenging date with the younger man. In media interviews this week, Ennis has said he’s moved on, beyond the Crawford possibility. He said he has tried to talk Errol Spence and/or Keith Thurman into fighting him. Apparently, no takers there either.

“It is what it is,’’ Ennis told reporters. “I’m going to be great, regardless.’’

The path to being great, however, is tricky. Ennis, who will be fighting in hometown Philly for the second straight time, can only get there if he proves himself to be a draw — at the box office and on live-stream telecasts. 

That’s where Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) enters the equation, a main-event fighter whose drawing power became evident in his last fight before a roaring crowd of about 10,000 in downtown Phoenix in late June. 

That’s when he stopped Juan Francisco Estrada in a masterful performance. It was also a victory that allowed him to add to his nickname. Bam is also “The Legend Slayer.’’ 

For Rodriguez, the stop in Philly against the 35-year-old Guevara (42-4-1, 22 KOs) is a step toward proving he can be a legend as well as a slayer. Also, it’s an opportunity for him to affirm the emerging stardom that was

evident at Footprint Center, the Suns NBA home in downtown Phoenix. 

If Bam can prove to be a draw in Philly, Ennis’ resume could get some important leverage, a card that would also strengthen Hearns’ hand at the table.

O’Shaquie Foster recaptured the WBC Super Featherweight title with a 12-round split decision over Robson Conceicao at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

The fight was a rematch of a fight from July that saw Conceicao win the title from Foster in a close and may controversial decision in Newark, New Jersey.

Much like the first battle, this was a closely contested fight, but the difference was the work done by Foster down the stretch that saw him win by scores of 115-113, while Conceicao took a card 115-113.

Foster landed 172 of 534 punches. Conceicao was 153 of 565.

Foster, 129.9 lbs of Orange, TX is 23-3. Conceicao, 129.7 lbs of Brazil is 19-3-1.

Foster said, “Man, he’s a hell of a fighter. His heart is unbelievable. Shoutout to him. He’s got a big heart.”

“I told y’all I was gonna step it up and bring it to him. That was my goal. I still ain’t satisfied with my performance, but I felt like I showed a lot of people my versatility.”

“I want the winner of Emanuel Navarrete vs. Oscar Valdez.”

Conceição said, “I’m happy because I know what I did in the ring. I did a good job, so there’s no reason to be sad. I know the victory wasn’t mine tonight, but I know that I did a good job.”

“If he wants the rematch, I’ll be ready. I gave him a rematch, so I think he should show the same respect to me by giving me the third fight.

Muratalla Stops Perez in 2

Raymond Muratalla remained undefeated by stopping Jesus Perez in round two of a scheduled 10-round lightweight bout

In round two, Muratalla dropped Perez with a right hand. Seconds later, Muratalla landed a perfect right to the jaw that put Perez down again. Muratalla then landed a two more rights and the fight was stopped at 1:24.

Muratalla, 136.6 lbs of Fontana, CA is 22-0 with 17 knockouts. Perez, 136.2 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 25-6.

Muratalla said, “I’m coming for those champions. I’ve still got it. I don’t know what people are talking about. I’m here.”

“I’m asking for these title shots, and they haven’t given them to me. So, tonight I proved that I deserve it. I want any of the champions.”

“I’m ready for any of the guys with the belts. I’m just waiting for that call. You saw what I’m capable of doing. I’m waiting for that call to fight any of the champions.”

Bryce Mills stopped Mike Ohan Jr. after round five if a scheduled eight-round junior lightweight bout.

Mills beat Ohan down and the corner stopped the bout after round five.

Mills, 139 lbs of Syracuse, NY is 17-1 with five knockouts. Ohan, 140.7 lbs of Hollbrook, MA is 19-4.

Abraham Nova and Humberto Galindo battled to a 10-round split draw in a junior lightweight fight.

Scores were 97-93 for Galindo; 96-94 for Nova and 95-94.

Nova, 133.4 lbs of Albany, NY is 23-3-1. Galindo, 1313 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 14-3-3.

Jahi Tucker scored an eighth and final round stoppage of Quilisto Madera in a middleweight fight.

In round eight, Tucker was deducted for holding and hitting. Later in the round, Tucker landed a couple of hard rights that buckled Madera that forced a referee stoppage at 1:52.

Tucker, 161.8 lbs of Deer Park, NY is 13-1-1 with six knockouts. Madera, 161.3 lbs of Stockton, CA is 14-4.

Ali Feliz stopped Rashad Coulter in round two of their six-round heavyweight bout.

Feliz landed a counter right hand to the head the drove Coulter to the ropes. Feliz followed up with 10 unanswered blows and the fight was waved off at 1:34.

Feliz, 224.1 lbs of Danbury, CT is 4-0 with three knockouts. Coulter, 252.1 lbs of Dallas is 5-5.

Yan Santana remained undefeated with a fourth round stoppage over Eduardo Baez in a 10-round featherweight bout.

In round four, Santana dropped Baez with a hard left hook. Sanatana continued to pound on a hurt Baez and the fight was stopped at 1:57.

Santana, 126.3 lbs of La Romana, DR is 13-0 with 12 knockouts. Baez, 125.7 lbs of Mexicali, MX is 23-7-2.

Damian Knyba stopped Richard Lartey in round three of a scheduled eight-round heavyweight bout.

In round three, Knyba landed a right hand that was followed by a left hook that dumped Lartey on the canvas, and the fight was stopped at 2:10.

Knyba, 259.1 lbs of Poland is 14-0 with eight knockouts. Lartey, 288 lbs of Accra, GHA is 16-7.

By Norm Frauenheim

He’s a little guy about to embark on a second chapter, also a significant one with the potential to be the biggest in the history of fighters at the bottom — the forgotten — end of boxing’s scale.

Jesse Rodriguez’ emergence over the last year is impossible to ignore. His popularity, perhaps, is best defined by his nickname. Bam, it’s simple, descriptive and easy to remember in just about any language. Bam, it could be in a super-hero cartoon or a TV ad for some new household product. But these days it sums up a fighter whose dynamic skillset can put some rare bam into a sport in desperate need of some.

Increasingly, today’s boxing is about fights that don’t happen. Anyone interested in more exasperating speculation about Canelo Alvarez-versus-David Benavidez or Canelo-versus-Terence Crawford? Didn’t think so. Anybody interested in more dreary news about the IBF, Irrelevant Boxing Federation, stripping another fighter of another title? Didn’t think so.

There have been lots of headlines this week, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Muhammad Ali’s iconic stoppage of George Foreman in then Zaire. The stories are terrific. But, mostly, they fill a void. Nostalgia is about all boxing has these days. 

Baseball celebrated its rich history this week  with another compelling World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees while boxing remembers its colorful past while wondering whether there’s much of a future.

Increasingly, I fear, boxing’s biggest moments will be the circus-like exhibition that we’re about to witness in the 57-year-old Mike Tyson against the 27-year-old Jake Paul. A big crowd figures to gather November 15 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex. A big Netflix audience is likely. 

But they’ll be watching for the same reason people stop to watch a car wreck. In Tyson-Paul, there’s a chance an accident is about to happen.

It’s a dreary landscape, mostly devoid of promise. But there is Rodriguez, unbeaten (20-0, 13 KOs) and a reason for optimism. He just renewed his deal with Matchroom, the opening step in the 115-pound fighter’s move up the pound-for-pound scale. 

Next up: A date against a so-called mandatory challenger, Mexican Pedro Guevara (42-4-1, 22 KOs) on Nov. 9 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on a card featuring welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis against Karen Chukhadzhian.

Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn added Bam to the card after hearing complaints about Chukhadzhian in a rematch. Ennis scored a one-sided decision — 120-108 on all three scorecards —over the Ukrainian in January 2023.

Hearn countered the complaints with his newly-minted star, Rodriguez, a small fighter who figures to be a big draw for Philly’s Puerto Rican audience. In part, the Philadelphia fight is a chance for Rodriguez to further affirm the stardom he established in entertaining fights in Phoenix, the best market for little guys in the United States since Hall of Fame junior-flyweight Michael Carbajal’s memorable run in the 1990s.

The milestone moment was Rodriguez’ masterful seventh-round stoppage of Juan Francisco Estrada last June in front of a roaring crowd of about 10,000 at Footprint Center, the Suns home arena in downtown Phoenix. It was a Super Fly fight that included power — three knockdowns — two by Bam and one by Estrada. Mostly, however, it was an almost artful exhibition of boxing skill from both. 

If boxing passed out an award for Most Skillful Fight Of the Year, Rodriguez-Estrada would be this corner’s choice with light-heavyweight Artur Beterbiev’s majority decision over Dmitry Bivol on Oct. 14 in Saudi Arabia a close second. Rodriguez-Estrada was fought at the craft’s highest level.

Initially, the proud Estrada talked about a rematch. After thinking about it, however, he decided no and announced he would move up in weight. In effect, it was an affirmation of just how good Rodriguez is. 

And will be. 

The best guess is that Rodriguez will beat Guevara, a 35-year-old former champion who is perhaps best known for beating former featherweight and junior-lightweight champion Oscar Valdez Jr. as an amateur.

Then, there’s a move to unify the 115-pound title. For now, it’s not clear where that takes him. There had been talk about a fight with the winner of a projected rematch between Kazuko Ioka and Fernando Martinez, an Argentine who scored a decision over Ioka in Japan in July. 

There have confusing reports this week about whether the Irrelevant Boxing Federation had stripped Martinez of its 115-pound title. At last report, the acronym said Martinez had relinquished the belt because he wanted to proceed with the Ioka rematch instead of a so-called mandatory. I don’t know. I don’t care.

The only significant scenario here is a path for Rodriguez to secure a shot at another belt — against Ioka or Martinez or whoever — in an effort to unify one title in perhaps another step toward Naoya Inoue, maybe the most popular Japanese athlete not named Shohei Ohtani. 

For now, Rodriguez-versus-Inoue is a dream fight. Inoue, a former junior-flyweight champion, is currently fighting at junior-featherweight, 122 pounds. There’s been talk about him at featherweight, 126. Weight might be a hurdle, although  the 24-year-old Rodriguez is expected to mature. His body type suggests he can carry more weight. 

There’s also Junto Nakatani. Nakatani, unbeaten with dangerous power, is fighting at bantamweight. He looms as the most immediate threat to Inoue’s Japanese reign.

Still, Rodriguez-versus-Inoue — a cross-cultural, world-wide clash between a Mexican-American and a Japanese star — is still the Dream.

Boxing needs one. 

MODESTO, CALIFORNIA – Jose Luis Vazquez scored a hard-fought eight-round unanimous decision over veteran gatekeeper and local favorite Giovannie Gonzalez to remain unbeaten in the main event of a seven-bout card from the Modesto Centre Plaza on Saturday night. 

Vazquez (17-0, 3 KOs) of Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, Mexico and Gonzalez (20-7-2, 15 KOs) of Stockton, California took the first round to feel each other out. Vazquez, 139, may have taken the opening stanza with a couple hard shots and his forward movement, as both he and Gonzalez, 137.4, had a low output. 

Vazquez, the larger man in the fight, had to sweat off some extra poundage in the moments before Friday’s official weigh-in and looked to have rehydrated into a full-fledged welterweight. The extra weight may have aided Vazquez in absorbing Gonzalez’s power, including the clean uppercut the Stockton native landed early in the second. Gonzalez took a shot that may have strayed below the belt line late in the round, which set off a heated exchange in the last 30 seconds. 

Vazquez maintained the distance he wanted in the third and let his hands go when the action stayed in the center of the ring. Gonzalez had to work hard to get inside, but had his moments when he could force Vazquez along the ropes. After Vazquez took the fourth with his left jab, Gonzalez had a solid fifth round, landing with an overhand right and some clean work to the body. 

Counter to what one would expect, Gonzalez, the 34-year-old, eight-year veteran, got busier as the fight moved into the later rounds. The 22-year-old Vazquez did not wilt in the later portion of the fight, but was more selective with his output in the final two rounds. Gonzalez applied pressure in the seventh and eighth, but just did not have the power to alter the course of the fight as he punched up to land on Vazquez, listed as holding a five inch height advantage. 

Judge Kru Michael Rinaldi had it 79-73, judge Melissa McMorrow scored it 78-74, while judge Michael Margado had it the closest at 77-75, all for Vazquez, recently signed by Toscano Boxing Promotions, promoter of tonight’s event, who was fighting outside his native Mexico for the first time. 

Gonzalez, known as “King Gio,” may have fought his last fight if his statement made after the bout holds true. 

“I have been doing this since I was twelve,” said Gonzalez after the fight. “It is a tough game. Father Time, nobody can beat it. This was probably my last fight.” 

Making his second trip to fight in the U.S., Gustavo Perez Alvarez (14-1, 4 KOs) of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico came into the backyard of Jesus Haro (12-3, 1 KO) of Merced, California and came away with a wide eight-round unanimous decision. 

The taller, southpaw Perez Alvarez, 106, established his right jab and maintained the distance he needed to be successful in the opening round. Haro, 105, found his way into range to land a clean combination in the last third of the second round and let go with his right hand early in the third round, but was not active enough to please his corner or the official judges. 

Things began to heat up in the middle rounds, with the action only slowed by accidental head clashes in the fourth and fifth, as the southpaw versus orthodox stances were to blame for the timeouts. 

Perez Alvarez’s left hand proved to be a problem for Haro as the fight progressed. Perez Alvarez, nicknamed “Smiley,” was able to land his left as a lead from a distance that Haro could not counter. Haro had a better round in the sixth, using his jab, but still did not let his right go with enough frequency. 

Perez Alvarez continued to find a home for his left hand for much of the seventh, before Haro came on late in the round with some combinations. After beginning the eighth aggressively, “Smiley” spun Haro’s head with a right midway through the stanza. Haro came on late in the round as Perez Alvarez seemed confident that he led on the scorecards. 

Judge Melissa McMorrow had the bout 78-74, while judges Edward Collantes and Kru Michael Rinaldi scored the shutout for Perez Alvarez, 80-72.  

“I have no words, this was a great night for me tonight,” said Perez Alvarez after the bout. “We knew we were facing a tough opponent as he was. In the second round, we adjusted to box and then pressure him, box and pressure him, back-and-forth.” 

Fighting outside of Mexico for the first time as a pro, Emiliano Cardenas Rodriguez (4-0, 3 KOs) of Union City, California scored a four-round unanimous decision over Eduardo Sanchez (1-1) of Watsonville, California by way of Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico in an entertaining and competitive contest. 

Cardenas Rodriguez, 117.8, carried the first round as his strength advantage was clear at the outset. Sanchez, 117, had strong stretches in the second round, but Cardenas Rodriguez had the ability to wipe away that solid work with his edge in power-punching. 

After a back-and-forth third, Sanchez had his best round in the fourth, as he outworked Cardenas Rodriguez and avoided getting caught by any head-snapping retorts for the three minutes. 

In the end, judges Melissa McMorrow, Kru Michael Rinaldi and Michael Margado all scored the bout 39-37 for Cardenas Rodriguez. 

Manuel Flores (5-0, 5 KOs) of Stockton proved his knockout record is not one of smoke and mirrors as he stopped rugged David Reyes Jr. (3-3-1, 2 KOs) of Fresno, California in the second round of a scheduled four. 

Flores, 139.2, and Reyes, 139.8, went at it from the opening bell, much to the delight of the boisterous onlookers in Modesto. Reyes was rocked early in the first, but gathered himself quickly and got into the fight heading into the second round. 

Reyes opted to trade with Flores again as the second began. The two fired at each other in a heated exchange near a neutral corner, before the Stockton native broke through and dropped his opponent near the ropes. The always tough Reyes got to his feet and continued to fire instead of holding on. Eventually, as Flores landed power shots near the blue corner, referee Edward Collantes leaped in to stop the bout. Official time was 1:30 of the second round. 

Nicholas Saavedra (2-0) of Modesto used his size advantage en route to a four-round unanimous decision over game veteran Jonathan Almacen (7-14-3, 2 KOs) of Los Angeles, California by way of Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines. 

Saavedra, 124.2, and Almacen, 124.2, traded power punches for much of the fight, but the Modesto resident withstood the shots of the former light flyweight contender better down the stretch of the fight. 

Almacen was game, but some well-placed body shots may have slowed him down over the second half of the bout. All three judges, Melissa McMorrow, Edward Collantes and Kru Michael Rinaldi, scored the shutout for Saavedra, 40-36.

Pedro Juarez (1-0) of Tracy, California downed Alec Acuavera (0-1) of Pittsburg, California in the third round en route to a hard-fought four-round unanimous decision in a bout pitting two pro MMA fighters making their professional boxing debuts.

Juarez, 134, and Acuavera, 136.4, each had their moments in the bout, especially over the first two rounds, as they traded on even ground. The fight began shifting towards Juarez’s favor late in the third, as he landed clean upstairs to slow Acuavera before finally dropping him with a left just before the bell to end the round. Juarez rocked Acuavera again seconds into the fourth, but the Pittsburg resident regained his balance and kept on throwing, finding some success late in the round. Before the bell sounded to end the bout, Juarez rocked Acuavera again just to keep it exciting until the last second. 

After four action-packed rounds, judges Melissa McMorrow and David Hartman scored the fight 39-36, while Michael Margado had it a shutout, 40-35, all for Juarez, who now turns his attention to his next scheduled MMA bout on November 15th in Wheatland, California. 

In the opening bout, Irving Xilohua (7-1, 4 KOs) of Stockton pounded out a four-round unanimous decision over John Mark Alimane (8-9-1, 4 KOs) of Laguna Nigel, California by way of Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines. 

Xilohua, 130.6, rocked Alimane, 131.4, with a counter right in the first round to set the tone. 

Xilohua hurt his opponent upstairs midway through the second round, which prompted Alimane to expose his body. Xilohua took advantage, which led Alimane to hold for the remainder of the round. In the third, Xilohua hurt Alimane to the body, which left the Filipino’s head as an open target. It was more of the same in the fourth, as Xilohua bloodied Alimane before the conclusion. 

All three judges, Melissa McMorrow, Edward Collantes and Kru Michael Rinaldi scored the bout a shutout for Xilohua by the score of 40-36. The bout had originally been slated for six rounds, but was ultimately reduced by the California State Athletic Commission. 

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