By Norm Frauenheim–

He calls himself Unknown. For unknown Louis Rose, it’s a nickname and a lot more. It sums up where’s he been and maybe provides the motivation for where he hopes to go.

He used to spend his nights sleeping in an old car.

For eight months, he says, that was home.

No address there. Not much of a future, either.

But futile dreams from restless hours on an eroded front seat of a rusting car are gone.

These days, Rose is risking real dreams as a middleweight without amateur experience against plenty of tough challenges, including Friday night against unbeaten prospect and 2010 national Golden Gloves champion Rob Brant at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix in Showtime’s ShoBox: The Next Generation (10:30 p.m. ET/PT).

The non-televised portion of the card – a Greg Cohen, Roy Jones Jr. and Iron Boy joint promotion – is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. (PT).

Rose’s chances? Not good. In Brant, he faces a fighter with an amateur pedigree similar to that Ievgen Khytrov, a former Olympian and a Ukrainian prodigy who knocked him out in the first round of a bout in Tulsa last November.

Brant (17-0, 11 KOs) is thought to be among the best in that new generation ShoBox advertises. The 25-year-old fighter from Saint Paul, Minn., had a reported amateur record of 101-22. That means he’s well-versed in all the fundamentals, finesse and tricks.

Rose isn’t. He grew up trying to figure out where he’d find his next meal. There are some lasting lessons in learning that kind of footwork, too. Lately, Rose (13-2-1, 5 KOs) has displayed some instinctive resiliency, perhaps a byproduct of his homeless days.

He came back from the devastating loss to Khytrov with a stubborn display of athleticism. In two bouts, both in Arizona, he scored stoppages of then-unbeaten Milorad Zizic in March and Andrew Hernandez in August.

In both, he fought as if he knew what was at stake. He battled to keep an optimistic future intact, which is a long way from the dead-end he saw every time he woke up from those long nights in that old car.

Rose, 26, turned to boxing when there wasn’t much else. He didn’t know his dad. He didn’t know much about his family. One day, he walked into a Long Beach gym, looking to work off some anger. He decided he’d rather hit a bag or a sparring partner instead of an old steering wheel. That’s when he ran into Panayotis Carabatsos, a former Greek amateur and today the owner of a popular Los Angeles restaurant.

Carabatsos liked what he saw. He offered to train Rose. Eventually, the relationship grew from that of trainer and fighter. Rose moved in. He almost became a son for Carabatsos and his wife, Hanah.

Before long, Rose began to adopt some of the Greek culture. That’s evident today. His robe is split into two colors, American on one side and Greek on the other.
It is just one part of an evolving identity, which might allow him to one day become The Great Unknown.

PHOENIX – Las Vegas featherweight Jessie Magdaleno was looking forward to his first 10-rounder.

Still is.
Magdaleno didn’t need nine of the scheduled rounds. He didn’t even need all of the first round’s three minutes.

Magdaleno (22-0, 16 KOs) looked a lot like a prospect in the express lane toward a major title Saturday night in a first-round knockout of Filipino Vergel Nebran (14-10-1, 9 KOs) in a UniMas-televised bout on a Top Rank/Iron Boy Promotions card at Celebrity Theatre.

The beginning to a swift end started about two minutes after opening bell when Magdaleno delivered a lightning strike of combos that sent Nehran falling along the rope and onto the canvas.

At 2:22, Nebran was down again. This time, he didn’t get up from a Magdaleno body shot, a left, that knocked the air and will out of him.

Off The Card

Phoenix Hall of Famer Michael Carbajal had a chance to watch HBO’s pay-per-view telecast of pound-for-pound king and fellow flyweight Roman Gonzalez’ ninthj-round TKO of Brian Viloria after all.

Carbajal, who 22 years ago was the first fighter from the flyweight divisions to be ranked among the top five in The Ring’s pound-for-pound ratings, was scheduled to work the corner for a debut of Johnny Tijerina, a featherweight from his Ninth Street Gym.

But the four-rounder was cancelled. Turns out, Tijerina’s opponent, Pedro Romero, was too young for an Arizona license. He’s 17. For an Arizona license, you have to be at least 18.

Romero had one pro fight, a loss in Texas, where he was licensed. In Texas, the minimum age is 17, according to Matthew Valenzuela, executive director of the Arizona State Boxing & MMA Commission.

Best of the undercard: Phoenix light-heavyweight Trevor McCumby (21-0, 16 KOs) is still unbeaten, but he wouldn’t be without a timely display of toughness. West Virginian Dustin Echard (11-2, 8 KOs), who knocked him down in the round wiht powerful right hand. McCumby answered the threat with a furious succession of body to head combos for hard earned victory by unanimous decision.

The Rest: Chinese light-heavyweight Que Peng (5-1, 4 KOs) might have traveled far, but he was as comfortable in a Phoenix ring as he would been in a Beijing one, throwing an overhand right that scored first-round KO of Mexican Lauro Alcanter (9-5, 1 KOs).

Francsico De Vaca (13-0, 4 KOs), a Phoenix super-bantamweight trained by ex-Oscar De Hoya cornerman Robert Alcazar, survived a whirlwind four rounds for a unanimous decision over Ricardo Proano (11-3, 9 KOs) of Mexico.

Phoenix super-lightweight Luis Olivares (9-0, 6 KOs) overwhelmed Mexican Brandon Aguinaga (6-4, 4 KOs), landing a succession of punches at head spinning rate for a second-round TKO.

Phoenix lightweight Victor Castro (15-0, 7 KOs) remained unbeaten, yet appeared vulnerable in escaping with six-round majority decision over Mexican lefthander Victor Capaceta (4-9-3, 2 KOs), who stormed out of the ring in anger after the scores were announced.

The card opened with DQ. Oswaldo Ortega (1-2, 1 KOs) threw one cheap shot after another until referee Wes Melton said no more, disqualifying him in the fourth round of a heavyweight bout with fellow-Mexican Bernardo Marquez (3-1-1, 1 KO).

By Norm Frauenheim–

Roman Gonzalez and Michael Carbajal are separated by twenty years and linked by history.

Saturday that link between two fighters from different generations will come to a rare crossroads, a coincidence, yet still a significant snapshot about where boxing has been and where it’s going.

Gonzalez represents the fulfillment of what Carbajal began. In 1993, Carbajal introduced the possibility that flyweights can be a big part of the business. That’s when the Phoenix Hall of Famer was No. 4 in The Ring’s pound-for-pound ratings, then the highest ever for a fighter in the lightest divisions.

More than two decades later, Gonzalez has a chance to connect the dots — complete what Carbajal started — at New York’s Madison Square Garden against Brian Viloria Saturday on an HBO pay-per-view card (6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET) that includes middleweight Gennady Golovkin-versus David Lemieux.

The 28-year-old Gonzalez, an unbeaten Nicaraguan (43-0, 37 KOs) goes into the compelling bout ranked No. 1 by The Ring and other media, including ESPN.

“He should be No. 1,’’ Carbajal, now 48, said. “He deserves to be there.’’

Ironically, yet somehow appropriately, Carbajal won’t get a chance to see the bout live. He’s busy.

At about the time Gonzalez climbs through the ropes for his bout Saturday night with Viloria (36-4, 22 KOs), Carbajal will be working a corner for Johnny Tijerina in a featherweight debut at Celebrity Theatre near downtown Phoenix on a UniMas-televised card featuring Las Vegas super-bantamweight Jessie Magadaleno (21-0, 15 KOs) against Filipino Vergel Nebran (14-9-1, 9 KOs).

On both sides of the ropes, business just wouldn’t be the same anymore without the little guys.

Carbajal, the current trainer, has a key question about Gonzalez, one shared by many.

“What happens when his chin gets tested by some real power?’’ he asks.

Nobody really knows, simply because Gonzalez has been so dominant. Against Viloria, there’s a pretty good chance at an answer.

Although he’s been erratic throughout his career, Viloria, a Filipino-American from Hawaii, possesses proven power. If optimistic reports from his training camp are accurate, he intends to target that untested chin early and often. That, of course, raises a couple of other questions.
To wit:
· Will Viloria be able to land a big blow against the skilled Nicaraguan?

· In setting up a big punch, there’s a good chance Viloria leaves himself open to Gonzalez’ own brand of lethal power. Can he withstand a big Gonzalez counter?

In Roman Gonzalez, Hall of Fame manager and advisor Rafael Mendoza of Guadalajara sees some of Carbajal and some of Carbajal’s great rival, Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez. Carbajal and Chiquita collected purses still unequalled in the flyweight divisions with a memorable trilogy.

“Roman is not as fast as Carbajal, but he has some of that speed and some of the quickness,’’ Mendoza said. “He is not as powerful as Chiquita, but he has some of that power. He’s kind of a mix of both.’’

Perhaps a historical mix, potent enough to make him the pound-for-pound No. 1 and keep him there.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Two fighters, two different directions..

Welterweight Devon Alexander’s career crashed and Welsh featherweight Lee Selby continued to emerge Wednesday night in ESPN-televised bout on a Premier Boxing Champions card at Gila River Arena.

Alexander’s hopes at resurrecting his career after a loss last December to Amir Khan took a beating in losing a unanimous decision to Aron Martinez in 10-round bout as punishing as it was forgettable.

Meanwhile, Selby got the victory he needed in his American debut in scoring a unanimous decision over experienced Fernando Montiel in the first defense of his IBF title.

After it was all over, only one thing was certain. Selby’s career as an elite fighter is just beginning, despite a performance that he said fell short of expectations. Meanwhile, Alexander’s elite days are over and probably have been for a while. As a welterweight, Alexander The Great is ancient history.

For Selby, the victory over Montiel was the beginning of campaign to heighten his profile among American fans.

“But I didn’t perform the way I had hoped to,’’ Selby (22-1, 8 KOs) said after scoring a 119-109, 118-110, 116-
112 victory over Montiel ((54-5-2, 39 KOs). “Montiel as a very tough guy.’’

A Selby hope was for a performance that would have made him a worthy possibility for Loe Santa Cruz, the best featherweight on Al Haymon’s deep roster.

“If I had boxed the way I did a few months ago, I could beat Santa Cruz,”” said Selby, who won the title in May with a technical decision over Evgeny Gradovich in London. “But the way I boxed here, I couldn’t beat him.’’

Selby, who suffered a cut near his right eye, said he hopes his next bout is in the UK.
“Then back here in the U.S.,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Alexander’s immediate future appears t be some more of the same soud-searching he did in immediate wake of his loss to Khan.

“Consecutive losses are tough,’’ said Alexander, who displayed little of old quickness and overall athleticism in a 96-94, 97-93, 96-94 loss to the heavy-handed Martinez (20-4-1, 4 KOs). “But I still believe in my skills.’’
On The Undercard

The Best: Phoenix super-bantamweight Alexis Santiago (20-3-1, 8 KOs), the only fighter from Arizona on the card, overcame a few rocky moments in the early rounds, hurt Mexican Gustavo Molina (10-9, 4 KOs) in the seventh and survived a furious eighth for unanimous decision on the scorecards.

The Rest: In an ESPN3-televised bout, Robert Garcia-trained Ivan Redkach (19-1, 15 KOs), a lightweight prospect from the Ukraine, proved to be too much for Mexican Erick Martinez (11-3-1, 5 KOs) who was on his knees from a powerful left with 10 seconds remaining in the third and finished in a TKO loss at 2:59 of the round.

Buffalo cruiserweight Lionel Thompson (16-3, 10 KOs) scored a knockdown in the second round with a body shot that knocked the will out of Kentucky’s Thomas Hanshaw, who calls himself Hillbilly and called it a night before the bell sounded for the third.

Colorado flyweight Damien Vasquez (8-0, 3 KOs) remained unbeaten and hard to hit in scoring a unanimous decision over Francisco Lapizco (7-2, 2 KOs) of Mexico.

About three hours after high noon, Kevin Newman (4-0-1, 1 KOs) of Harbor City, Calif., opened the show with a unanimous decision over Jay Williams (3-8) of West Monroe, La., in super-middleweight matinee.

By Norm Frauenheim-

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Devon Alexander promises speed, quickness and some new found power.

Mostly, he promises to have fun.

It’s the fun, he says, that has gone missing in the latter stages of a career that includes world titles at 140 and 147 pounds.

“I’m going to be loose, quick and with just enough power, and I’ll be that guy who boxes because he loves it,’’ said Alexander (26-3, 14 KOs), who was at 146.9 pounds Tuesday for an ESPN-televised welterweight bout against Aron Martinez on a Premier Boxing Champions card (6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET) at Gila River Arena.

Martinez weighed 147.1 pounds. In a bout for the IBF’s featherweight title, champion Lee Selby was 125.8 pounds and Fernando Montiel 125.6.

Alexander said he has re-discovered that love for his craft during some difficult soul-searching in the 10 months since his last bout, a spirit-crushing loss to Amir Khan.

The Martinez bout, Alexander says, represents the first step in his fight to get back into the elite mix.

“I don’t want to be remembered as a guy who should have been better,’’ Alexander said. “I believe in my skills. When they’re right, nobody can beat me.’’

But a confident Martinez (19-4-1, 4 KOs) believes he can force Alexander into another sober re-evaluation of his career. Martinez, a Mexican living and training in Los Angeles, foresees an upset of Alexander. He says he will accomplish what was denied him against Robert Guerrero. Martinez lost a debatable split decision to Guerrero in June.

“Everybody I talk to tells me I beat Robert Guerrero,’’ Martinez said. “I knocked him down. I’ve got power that people underestimate.’’

But Alexander says Martinez doesn’t have enough to beat him.

“His Plan A won’t work,’’ Alexander said. “He’ll go to Plan B and then Plan C. They won’t work either.’’

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Lee Selby isn’t shy about where he thinks he belongs on the Premier Boxing Champions long list of talented featherweights.

He raises the index finger on his potent right hand when asked how he would rank himself in a deep pool that includes Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares and Carl Frampton.

But the confident gesture is more of a prediction than a current assessment.

“Numero Uno,’’ the Wales fighter said, joking in a UK accent after a brief workout at Central Boxing before his Wednesday bout with Fernando Montiel at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz. “See, I’m learning my Spanish, too.

“I rank myself amongst them. They are the fights I want to be in. I want to be in the big fights, see how good I am.’’

For now, the Wales fighter and IBF champion is just trying to introduce himself to the American market against the experienced and well-traveled Montiel of Mexico on an ESPN-televised card (6 p.m.PT/9pm ET) featuring former welterweight champion Devon Alexander (26-3, 14 KOs) against Aron Martinez (19-4-1, 4 KOs).

The weigh-in is scheduled for Tuesday at 2 p.m. (PT) at Gila River Arena.. It’s open to the public.

“I myself chose a formidable foe, a former three-weight world champion,’’ said Selby, who will defend the title
he won in a technical decision over Evgeny Gradovich last May in London. “If I beat a guy like him, look good on free television, it should change my profile overnight.’’

A profile, perhaps, that could lead to a bout with Santa Cruz, who put himself at the head of Al Haymon ‘s126-pound class with a dramatic decision over Mares at Los Angeles’ Staples Center on August 29.

“At the moment, my name, my profile, is not big in America, if at all’’ said Selby, who trained for his U.S. debut in Los Angeles. “So, I have a lot work to do on that. A lot of it depends on who the opponent is. But the fights are on free TV. Everybody gets to see me. It’s not like pay-per-view. So, if I look good, it could happen fairly rapidly.’’

By Norm Frauenheim-

Arizona’s dramatic, often controversial and thoroughly unpredictable boxing market is back and open for business Wednesday with a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) card at Glendale’s Gila River Arena that is the biggest in the state since Julio Cesar Chavez’ career ended in a 2005 loss to an Omaha car salesman.

Chavez’ experience in Arizona doesn’t sum up the state’s boxing history. Nothing really could. But Chavez, the greatest champion in a long line of Mexican legends, is a good sign that – from A to Z – most anything can happen and often does. Chavez won everywhere but AZ.

He was 0-2 in the state, losing a sixth-round TKO to Kostya Tszyu in 2000 and retiring for good on the stool after five rounds against Grover Wiley in 2005.

Then, there’s Tzsyu, who beat Sharmba Mitchell in a third-round stoppage in 2004 at the same Glendale arena in what was then seen as a potential steppingstone to a big-money bout with Oscar De La Hoya. In his next fight, Tszyu lost a 2005 stunner to Ricky Hatton in Manchester, England. Tszyu never fought again. Who knew?

Strange things happen in AZ.

Good things, too.

Home grown junior-flyweight Michael Carbajal, a forerunner to current flyweight and pound-for- king Roman Gonzalez, came off some of Phoenix’s toughest streets and fought his way into the Hall of Fame during the 1990s. Late legend Salvador Sanchez, boxing’s version of James Dean, won his first major title at old Veterans Memorial Coliseum in downtown Phoenix, scoring a 13th-round stoppage of Danny Lopez in February 1980 for the WBC version of the featherweight crown.

It’s the good that Devon Alexander (26-3, 14 KOs), a welterweight from St. Louis, seeks Wednesday in the ESPN-televised main event (6 pm. PT/9 p.m. ET) at the NHL arena next door to the Arizona Cardinals stadium.

It’s a chance for Alexander, a former champ at 147 and 140 pounds, to get his career back on track since a loss last December to Amir Khan. But it doesn’t look as if that will be as easy as it might appear. His opponent, Aaron Martinez (19-4-1, 4 KOs) of Los Angeles has lost his last two, but there’s a good argument he got robbed in split decision loss to the accomplished Robert Guerrero in June.

In another televised bout, IBF featherweight champ Lee Selby (21-1, 8 KOs) of Wales makes his U.S. debut against Mexican technician Fernando Montiel (54-4-2, 39 KOs). Montiel’s resume makes him an intriguing opponent for Selby, who joins Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares and Carl Frampton on Al Haymon’s featherweight roster. Nonito Donaire launched his career, putting himself into the pound-for-pound conversation with a sensational stoppage of Montiel in 2011.

The PBC undercard, a joint promotion with Phoenix-based Ring Pros, includes Ukranian lightweight prospect Ivan Redkach (18-1, 14 KOs) against Mexican Erick Martinez (11-2-1, 5 KOs). The non-televised part of the card is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

The PBC show is the first of three televised cards in AZ during the next two-and-a-half weeks.

On Oct. 17, Top Rank and Phoenix-based Iron Boy will co-promote a UniMas show at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix featuring Las Vegas featherweight Jessie Magdaleno (21-0, 15 KOs) against Filipino Vergel Nebran (14-9-1, 9 KOs).

The following Friday (Oct. 23) also at Celebrity, Iron Boy and Roy Jones Jr. will co-promote a Sho-Box-televised card featuring unbeaten Minnesota middleweight Rob Brant (17-0, 11 KOs) against Louis Rose (13-2-1, 5 KOs), of Lynwood, Calif.

By Norm Frauenheim–

It’s been nearly three weeks since the boxing business was left to wonder whether Floyd Mayweather Jr. is really retired or already plotting a comeback.

Who knows? Better yet, who cares?

The bet here is that he’ll hint at a comeback throughout the next year and maybe longer just to prolong the guessing game. Above all, he loves to be in control of everything around him. Those hints, dropped at the right time and in the right place, are just another way of exerting that control.

For the rest of the business, however, the real task rests in how it proceeds in an attempt to redefine itself.

At this point, the GPS is a mix of conflicting signals. There’s some good news, of course. To wit: Adrien Broner (30-2, 22 KOs) — who tries to re-start his erratic career Saturday in hometown Cincinnati against Khabib Allakhverdiev (19-1, 9 KOs) in a Showtime bout — still isn’t talking to the mainstream media.

Hard to say whether Broner’s silence will last longer than Mayweather’s retirement or vice versa. Maybe, both are permanent. We can hope. Then again, odds against that Daily Double are higher than Andre Berto’s chances were against Mayweather on Sept. 12.

The big question is this: Who becomes the face of the battered game?

It’s beginning to look as if reigning heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko is getting closer to the end of ihs brilliant, yet unappreciated career. That much was evident last week when his bout with Tyson Fury was abruptly shelved by a calf injury sustained in training.

Meanwhile, Deontay Wilder’s status as Klitschko’s heir-apparent looked to be a little shaky last Saturday in a late-round TKO against Johann Duhaupas, a Frenchman who could have been Charles De Gaulle for all anybody knew. Or cared.

Turns out, not many cared. Wilder won, but the ratings for the NBC telecast were down in an ongoing ratings decline for Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) shows.

Above all, the business looks to be at an uncertain crossroads. But potential clarity looms, first at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Oct. 17 when middleweight Gennady Golovkin appears in his first pay-per-view bout against David Lemieux on an HBO card that also includes Mayweather’s pound-for-successor, Nicaraguan flyweight Roman Gonzalez against Brian Viloria.

The guess in this corner is that Golovkin blows away Lemieux in the mid-to-late rounds after the wild-swinging Lemieux exhausts himself in a furious and futile attempt to score a huge upset in the early going.

Lemieux is fun, but the Canadian just doesn’t have enough skill to hang with the unbeaten GGG.

The true mid-October test rests in how Golovkin does in the PPV market. Does anybody other than hardcore fight fans know the middleweight from Kazakhstan? We’ll see. If the PPV numbers are more than 300,000, it’ll be a pretty good jumping-off point for the next stage in GGG’s career.

Then, there’s Nov. 21 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay in an old-school revival of the Mexican-Puerto Rican rivalry with Mexico’s Canelo Avarez against Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto.

It promises to be a big money maker for all involved –fighters, promoters and HBO. It also could set the stage for a bout between GGG and the Canelo-Cotto winner in what would be another biggie and another reason to forget tired talk about what Mayweather will, or won’t, do.

PHOENIX – Featherweight Carlos Castro continued to exhibit poise and possible power in an effective mix that might lead to bigger bouts and major cards, scoring a unanimous decision Saturday night over Jose Silveira at Celebrity Theatre.

Evident potential was the biggest victory in the 21-year-old Castro’s 13th pro bout on an Iron Boy Promotions card.

He displayed plenty.

At 126 pounds, Castro (13-0, 5 KOs) is long and lanky. There’s a lot room to grow.

Against Silveira (15-18, 6 KOs), Castro showed that he could. He staggered the Phoenix brawler in the second, yet was unable to knock him down. Throughtou the next four rounds, he employed footwork and long jab to control tbe pace and keep Silveira off of him.

In the co-feature, junior welterweight Abel Ramos (14-0-2, 9 KOs) of Casa Grande, south of Phoenix, turned Mario Hermosillo’s face into a target for an uninterrupted succession of right hands. After the third round, the trainer for Hermosillo (12-21-4, 2 KOs), a Tijuana fighter, had seen enough. He said no more to referee Richard Soto, who ended it before the bell sounded for what would have been a futile fourth.
News & Notes On An Undercard

Former lightweight contender Raymundo Beltran worked as a second in the corner for Phoenix lightweight Danny Montoya (2-1), who won a unanimous decision over Jayson Thompson (0-5).

Beltran’s suspension for a positive steroid test after a second-round stoppage of Takahiro Oh on May 1 ends in February. That’s when he plans to re-start his career.

“I’d like to make my comeback here (Phoenix),’’ said Beltran, who is living in Phoenix. “I’m staying in shape. I think I could come back at lightweight or maybe junior-welter. We’ll see.’’

World-class trainer Buddy McGirt was in the corner for couple of possible prospects, both from Chicago. Both won. Joshua Greer (1-0, 1 KO) got a second-round TKO over Luis Rangel Guerrero (0-1), a Phoenix fighter whose corner threw in the towel. Welterweight Ernest Muhammad (2-0, had a tougher time, yet prevailed, scoring a majority decision over Clifford Jordan (1-1) of Phoenix. McGirt also handled the bucket in the Ramos’ corner

The Rest: In the card’s biggest crowd-pleaser, Albuquerque featherweight Jamie Gutierrez scored a knockdown en route to a unanimous decision over Mexican Robert Leon (0-1); Phoenix featherweight Paul Romero, a former amateur standout, remained unbeaten as a pro (6-0-1, 1 KO) with a unanimous decision over Gerardo Avila (3-5-2, 1 KO of Nogales; Phoenix junior-lightweight Miseal Chacon (1-12) couldn’t double his win total, despite knocking out Junior Rodriquez (3-0, 2 KOs) mouthpiece in the final seconds of a loss by unanimous decision; Phoenix heavyweight Anetelea Opetaia (2-1, 1 KO) threw concussive shots, launching from redwood-sized thighs, in a head-rocking unanimous decision over Chad Davis (5-14, 1 KO), also of Phoenix; and Canadian Kevin Lavallee (14-0-1, 11 KOs) scored a unanimous decision over Mexican Pablo Batres (8-13-1, 2 KOs).

By Norm Frauenheim–

It’s hard to now what to make of the heavyweights anymore.

Sometimes, they look as if they’re nearly extinct, vanishing faster than starving polar bears in the melting arctic. Sometimes, they appear to be a symbolic corner of nostalgia, gone from the here-and-now and consigned to the black-and-white clips relevant only to the documentary filmmaker.

Then, there are days when they just look like a crazy collection of wackos. Throw a net over all of them. Tyson Fury showed up at a news conference Wednesday in London for his October 24 bout with Wladimir Klitschko in a Batman costume. Fury, who often behaves as if he’s a better fit for a strait jacket, leaped over a table to tackle some joker dressed as The Joker. The grown-up in the room, the ever-sober Klitschko, looked as if he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Sometimes, I wonder what’s going on with these guys,’’ said Klitschko, a PhD who a day later diagnosed Fury as a bipolar psycho-path. “It’s weird.’’

Yeah, it sure is.

The heavyweight division has been in a state of crisis ever since Mike Tyson, the real fury, was diagnosed as bipolar. Tyson is happy and sane these days. He’s a voice of reason. But the heavyweights continue to be a cartoon show. At their best, they are the Euro League, ruled from Moscow to London by Klitschko.

A pound-for-pound debate in the wake of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s announced retirement reflects the confusion about whether heavyweights are relevant anywhere, anymore

Flyweight Roman Gonzalez is No. 1 in the latest pound-for-pound ratings published by The Ring and ESPN. Meanwhile, The Ring ranks Klitschko No. 6. ESPN has him at No. 8. There’s a pretty good argument that, at the very least, he deserves to be among the top five.

After all, he hasn’t lost since April, 2004 to Lamon Brewster. He has defended the title 18 successive times. But he’s been at the top of the division for so long that his dominance is judged by the quality of his opposition and time. Like a longtime politician in the polls, he is losing votes in both categories.

For more than a decade, his opponents have had virtually no chance against his size, jab and unerring implementation of tactical skill. They’ve been the jokers. Not him. But without a real challenge over such a long stretch, there’s a parallel erosion in respect for him. Then, there’s his age, perhaps a bigger issue. He’s 39. From round to round, the critics are looking for what opponents can’t find. Have his reflexes begun to betray him?

Maybe, Fury will discover that they have, although the guess here is that his emotions will distract him and leave him open to a succession of fight-ending combinations from a patient and poised Klitschko.

Then, there’s the Deontay Wilder possibility. Wilder (34-0, 33 KOs), who faces unknown Frenchman Johann Duhaupas (32-2, 20 KOs) Saturday in Birmingham on NBC (8:30 pm ET/5:30 pm PT) is the latest in a long string of Great American Hopes.

Wilder, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., has the WBC piece of the title. He likes to talk and brings some charisma to the cameras and the ring. There’s a lot to like. The temptation is to say that Wilder will help restore relevance, credibility and some sanity to the old heavyweight edifice. But Wilder’s relative inexperience is reason to be cautious about whether he in fact is ready for Klitschko or even Alexander Povetkin, perhaps next year.

“The heavyweights are definitely coming back,’’ Wilder said in a conference call. “I’m just excited to be a part of it. Not only just me, but we have a lot of other guys in the heavyweight division.

“…Our time has come around and it’s very important because everybody always dwells on the past and back-in-the-day. They can’t get past back-in-the-day. Today is a new day. It’s a new era of boxing, it’s a new era of heavyweights and they have to get comfortable with what’s going on in your generation, you know?

“Past generations, that was the past. You have to move forward.’’

And beyond The Jokers.

By Norm Frauenheim–
PHOENIX – The Arizona boxing market, dormant for a couple of years, continues to heat up Saturday night with an Iron Boy Promotions card featuring unbeaten junior-featherweight Carlos Castro at Celebrity Theatre.

The Iron Boy promotion is the first of four cards in Phoenix within the next four weeks.

Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) is scheduled for Oct. 14 at Glendale’s NHL arena in an ESPN show, featuring welterweight Devon Alexander against Aaron Martinez and featherweight Lee Selby versus Fernando Montiel.

Iron Boy, which has led the way in rebuilding the Arizona market, goes back to work on Oct. 17 in a co-promotion with Top Rank in a UniMas show and again on Oct. 23 in a co-promotion with Roy Jones Jr. Both are also scheduled for Celebrity Theater.

This Saturday, Castro (12-0, 5 KOs), of Phoenix, is scheduled for a six-rounder against Jose Silveria (15-17, 6 KOs) of Mexico. In another six rounder, Phoenix junior-welterweight Abel Ramos (13-0-2, 8 KOs) faces Mario Hermosillo (12-20-4, 2 KOs) of Mexico.

Doors open at 5 p.m. (PT).

By Norm Frauenheim-

Reports of low pay-per-view sales for the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Andre Berto fight are more predictable than Mayweather’s victory.

Berto, after all, had a better chance at landing the proverbial lucky punch on Sept. 12 than a casual customer had at spending $74.95 for a high-definition telecast of a bout already defined as one sided by style, records and odds.

The only surprise at the reported numbers – anywhere from 400,000 to 550,000 – is that they were bigger than expected. At least, they were in this corner.

All the aforementioned reasons for not buying the Showtime production worked against a promotion that also was battling unprecedented pre-fight hype for Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao and a lingering hangover from that May 2 disappointment.

There’s more, however. The public, I suspect, is just sick-and-tired of Mayweather. Sick of seeing him pack his bags full of cash. Sick of his Ferraris and Bugatis. Sick of the TMT caps. Sick of the TBE T-shirts. Sick of the soap-opera string of controversies that this time around include Thomas Hauser’s story of a banned IV on the eve of the Pacquiao bout. Sick of the boring fights, too, although those bouts almost became an afterthought amid all of the other stuff generated by Mayweather’s money and lifestyle.

The Mayweather story, perhaps, is like any other. It has run its course. The media, especially the social wing, has moved onto other celebrities who can be targeted and exhausted from every angle, legit to twisted to wrong.

All of that is just another reason to think Mayweather is serious about retirement. Few believe him. But Mayweather has been more of a celebrity than a fighter since his 2007 victory over Oscar De La Hoya. He made more money than anybody in any sport not because of his evident athletic skill. He did it by being a celebrity who happened to be a terrific boxer. You can’t be either for too long. Sure, maybe, Mayweather comes back because he’s bored, or he needs to pay his legal fees. Maybe.

But what would his comeback be worth? Consider the Berto fight, which he vows was his last in a 49-0 career. He collected $32 million. Presumably, there was plenty still left in the bank from the Mayweather-Pacquiao GDP-like revenue to cover that paycheck.

But could he ever collect $32-mill in the ring again? The reported PPV for the Berto bout is reason to think he can’t. When Mayweather picked Berto, the guess here is that there was an underlying assumption his celebrity would sell the show. It didn’t.

For the guy who calls himself Money because he’s defined by it, there’s a message in numbers that are a little bit like the odds favoring him against Berto. Retirement with no chance at a comeback is the overwhelming choice.

LAS VEGAS – Floyd Mayweather Jr. said it was his last dance. If it was, he also got the last laugh.

In what he promised was his farewell fight Saturday night, Mayweather mocked Andre Berto. Beat him. too, for most of 12-one-sided rounds for a unanimous decision that put him alongside Rocky Marciano in the historical ledger at 49-0.

Everything, including his body language, said he would not fight again. He hugged and kissed his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., on the cheek before the start of the 12th and perhaps his final round.

After the 118-110, 117-110 and 120-108 scores were announced, he knelt at the center of the ring, pointed one of his green-gloved hands toward the ceiling and look up as if he were saying a goodbye prayer.

“My career is done,’’ Mayweather said.

After the ninth, he complained to his father about an injury to his left hand.

“It doesn’t matter whether I hurt my left hand or my right hand,’’ said Mayweather. who collected another $32 million guarantee in the sixth and final fight on his Showtime contract. “My career is over.’’

As definitive as his statement was in the wake of his victory over Berto, speculation will continue about whether he will pursue a 50th victory sometime in the spring, perhaps at a brand new Las Vegas arena scheduled to open next spring.

His decision to face Berto had been mocked the day it was announced. In the end, Mayweather managed to mock Berto, if not the mismatch, himself.

Sometimes, he moved robotically as if to mimic a tiring and clueless Berto. Sometimes, he moved as if had been hurt. He wasn’t. Mostly. He just made fun of Berto. At the strta of the 10th, Mayweather talked non-stop at Berto. Finally, referee Kenny Bayless called timeout and warned both.

“Just trash talk,’ said Mayweather, who hasn’t knocked anybody in eight years.

Berto was cheered for just about anything he attempted from the 13,395 in a crowd that began to fill a Grand Garden Arena that about 90 minutes before opening bell appeared to be nearly half empty.

In the early rounds, however, Berto must have felt like he was playing dodge-ball with a target always close enough to hit, yet always elusive enough to make him miss.

“He a great fighter,’’ said Berto, who didn’t call him greatest when as if he thought Mayweather was The Best Ever.
Berto will let history decide that one.

The rematch was supposed to settle the argument. It didn’t.

Instead, Orlando Salido and Roman Martinez have more to fight about after battling to a draw Saturday night in junior-lightweight bout on the Floyd Mayweather Jr .-Andre Berto card at the MGM Grand.

“I won this fight,’’ said Martinez (29-2-3, 17 KOs), a Puerto Rican who scored a unanimous decision over Salido in April

Salido (42-13-3, 29 KOs) was credited with a knockdown in the third. Martinez complained to no avail. Turns out, Martinez was right and referee Vic Drakulich wrong in ruling it a knockdown. Video replay showed that Salido stepped on Martinez’ foot, knocking him off balance and onto the canvas.

Later in the third, Martinez scored a legit knockdown, landing a big right that sent Salido back on his heels and onto his rear end. Salido was clearly hurt. But he was able to survive and then managed to drag the fight into the kind of bruising exchange he so often wins. He threw 1,037 punches. Martinez threw 691.

“I should have won,’’ Salido said. “That’s not fair.”

Anybody for a trilogy?

Badou Jack scored a first-round knockdown that proved to the key to a split-decision over George Groves in the first defense of his WBC super-middleweight bout.

Jonathan Oquendo of Puerto Rico and Johnny Gonzalez of Mexico opened the PPV part of the card in a super-featherweight bout that began with fireworks and then settled down into a battle of wits, survival and some blood. In the end, Oquendo (254, 16 KOs), prevailed, winning a 10-round majority decision after suffering a knockdown in the first round, knocking down Gonazlez (58-10, 49 KOs) in the second and sustaining a nasty cut on his legs ye;id in the sixth.

The Floyd Mayweather-Andre Berto show opened Saturday during the noon hour, or probably before Mayweather rolled out of bed.

In an empty MGM Grand Garden Arena, Atlanta junior-welterweight Trakwon Pettis didn’t waste any time in his pro debut. Pettis stopped Devante Seay (0-1) of Martinsville, Va., at 2:24 of the first round. He was done in time to catch a late lunch.

In the afternoon’s second matinee, London junior-welterweight Ashley Theopane (39-6-1, 11 KOs) outworked Steven Upsher (24-5-1, 6 KOs), winning a one-sided decision over the Philadelphia fighter who lost to Berto last year.

Then, Baltimore lightweight prospect Gervonta Davis (12-0, 11 KOs) took over with a fast and furious beating of Filipino Recky Delay (8-2, 5 KOs), who was down twice in the first and signaled to referee Russell Mora that he was done at 1:34 of the round.

In another afternoon beating, Romanian super-middleweight Ronald Gavril (13-1, 9 KOs) punished Scott Sigmon (25-7-1, 14 KOs) before the ringside physician ended it before the ninth.

A disciplined, patient Vanes Martirosyan waited as if he knew Ishe Smith would leap and lunge. Smith did. Not once, but twice. Martirosyan (36-2-1, 21 KOs), a middleweight from Glendale, Calif., capitalized both times, scoring knockdowns with well-timed counters late in the third round and again in the eighth for a majority decision over Smith (27-8, 12 KOs), a Mayweather-promoted fighter.

Dayton middleweight Chris Pearson (13-0, 10 KOs) rocked Canadian Janks Trotter (9-2-1. 9 KOs) repeatedly in the sixth and finally floored him in the seventh for a stoppage at 2:59 of the round.

In the last fight before the pay-per-view portion of the card, Uzbekistan junior-welterweight Sanjarbek Rakhmanov (2-0, 1 KO) rocked an overmatched, yet durable Farkhad Sharipov (4-5, 1 KO) of Kazakhstan repeatedly in scoring six-round unanimous decision.

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – It was advertised as Oscar Valdez’ toughest test yet. So much for advertising.

Valdez made it look easy, displaying a potent mix of smarts, timing and power for a fifth-round stoppage of Chris Avalos Friday night at The Cosmopolitan.

“Everything we did in gym, it worked,’’ said Valdez (18-0, 15 KOs), a two-time Mexican Olympian and a featherweight student whose prospects have looked better. “It was perfect.’’

A counter left was Valdez weapon of choice against Avalos (26-4, 19 KOs), a 25-uear-old Lancaster, Calif., fighter whose biggest mistake was some aggressiveness in the third.

Avalos walked straight into a left that seemed to have a delayed effect. He stumbled forward, caught himself and regained his balance, then fell backwards and onto the canvas.

It was sign of what was to come. Valdez staggered him with a left in the final second of the fourth, then finished it by landing a left that prompted referee Russell Mora to stop it 1:17 of the fifth

Philadelphia super-middleweight prospect Jesse Hart discovered that there’s only one counter to a tactic that includes more grabbing and holding than punching.

“Poise,’’ he said .

Hart (18-0, 15 KOs) relied on it while patiently mixing in an array of solid body blows for a ninth-round TKO of Aaron Pryor Jr. (19-9-1, 12 KOs), the Cincinnati son of the senior Aaron Pryor and a great junior-welterweight known as The Hawk.

Rios, Bradley

Welterweight Timothy Bradley worked as a ringside analyst for the TruTV telecast. At another side of the ring, Brandon Rios sat alongside trainer Robert Garcia. They’ll be sharing a ring on Nov. 7 at Thomas & Mack in Las Vegas.

“I’m just happy to be back,’’ said Rios, who hasn’t fought since a stoppage of Mike Alvarado on Jan. 24.

Bradley, who won a disputed decision over Jessie Vargas on June 26, will have a new corner for the first time in his a decade. He confirmed that Teddy Atlas will be his trainer instead of Joel Diaz.

By Norm Frauenheim

Las Vegas — Floyd Mayweather has his “May-Vinci “ code.

He was talking about Leonardo and not Roberta, of course.

Nobody knew who Roberta was until Friday when the tennis side of the Vinci family put together her own Leonardo Da Vinci-kind-of-masterpiece in a huge upset of Serena Williams at the U.S. Open.

The upset of Williams was an inevitable angle at the weigh-in Friday for the Mayweather-Andre Berto fight Saturday night (Showtime PPV, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Williams’ dominance of women’s tennis is the equivalent of Mayweather’s prize-fighting reign. Williams has looked unbeatable and Mayweather has been.

The question after Berto and Mayweather stepped off the scale was inevitable.

Two huge upsets in successive days?

“Of course,’’ said Berto, who is probably as unknown to tennis fans as Roberta Vinci is to the boxing crowd.

Of course, that’s exactly what Berto would say. But the odds say something else. Berto was a 30-to-1 underdog at the MGM sports book when he stepped off the scale at 145 pounds Friday afternoon. His best shot, perhaps his only one, is the proverbial one-punch knockout. He was a 20-to-1 shot to pull that one off.

Translation: Berto, who will collect $4 million, has no chance at all. Put it this way: Chances are better that Mayweather won’t be controversial. Maybe, historical upsets come in pairs. If they do, Mayweather is headed for sainthood.

The “May-Vinci code, a take off on a popular film starring Tom Hanks, was Mayweather’s way of summing up his defensive genius before his two fights against Marcos Maidana. Nobody could crack it and nobody has. That’s why he is poised to equal Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 milestone against Berto (30-3, 23 KOs) in the sixth and final fight on a Showtime contract he signed 30 months ago.

There are potential distractions. A story by Thomas Hauser broke Thursday in SB Nation about Mayweather undergoing a banned IV after the weigh-on on the day before his victory over Manny Pacquiao on May 2. There is controversy about Arizona Cardinals assistant coach Jen Welter accepting a Mayweather invitation to the Berto fight because of his history of domestic violence.

But controversy is nothing new in the weeks and days before any Mayweather fight. It’s almost expected. Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) is no stranger to any of it. Perhaps, it’s part of the theater. Or perhaps it’s marketing. Or perhaps it’s just Mayweather being himself. Or maybe it all of the above.

Whatever it is, Mayweather insists he is doing it for the last time despite the chance to surpass Marciano’s record and at putting more money into a bank account that is guaranteed another $32-million for the Berto fight.

“Last time I’m getting off a scale,’’ he said after weighing 146 pounds for what he says his final pro fight.

Really? It might take another Vinci to figure that one out.

NOTES: The televised portion of the pay-per-view card includes three fights before Mayweather-Berto. The televised card begins with Jhonny Gonzalez (58-9, 49 KOs) at super-featherweight against Jonathan Oquendo (25-4. 16 KOs). Each was at 129 pounds Friday. …Mexican Orlando Salido (42-13-2. 29 KOs) fights for the WBO’s 130-pound title against Roman Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs). Salido was at the junior-lightweight mandatory Friday. Martinez tipped the scales at 129.5. … In a third televised bout, super-middleweight Badou Jack (19-1-1, 12 KOs) fights for the WBC title against George Groves (22-2, 16 KOs) Jack was at 167.5 pounds. Groves, of Britain, was at 168. A crowd of about 6,000 was at the weigh-in. Many were from the UK. “I was going to say it’s great to be back in London,’’ Groves told his cheering countrymen.

By Norm Frauenheim–

Floyd Mayweather Jr, likes to gamble. If the winning tickets he posts are any indication, he’s pretty good at it, too. But life after boxing isn’t a NFL wager. It comes with more risk than just a point spread.

That why all bets are off, despite a guessing game about whether he’ll continue to fight after he is expected to equal Rocky Mariano’s 49-0 mark with a victory on Sept. 12 over Andre Berto, who is trying to achieve some history himself in an attempt at becoming the next Buster Douglas – a 50-to-1 shot before beating Mike Tyson.

Few believe Mayweather when he says the Berto fight will be his last. Mayweather invites the skepticism. After all, he already has come out of retirement once after a 2007 stoppage of Ricky Hatton. Besides, there’s always been reason for healthy skepticism at just about anything Mayweather says. He’s as clever with a feint at a news conference as he is in the ring.

But I’m beginning to change my mind about his promise to walk away. Could he change his mind? Could he retire and come back? Of course.

Could he be playing another game? Maybe. Could retirement be a business tactic? Retire as a free agent and then let the networks bid, bid and bid some more for one more fight at a brand new MGM AEG Arena in Las Vegas? That’s cynical, but as plausible as the money grab was in his May 2 victory over Manny Pacquiao.

But as the Berto bout approaches, there’s a growing sense that Mayweather isn’t kidding. In the here-and-now, the bet is that his heart is telling him to retire. Within the ropes, he’s never been a gambler anyway. He adheres to the fundamental that commands a great fighter to hit and not get hit. He has done that as well as anybody in history. He has said repeatedly that’s why he’s still fighting. Who could argue?

But time has a way of slowing reflexes and altering odds. The longer he fights, the more likely it becomes that a damaging punch lands. Leaving the sport with faculties intact has always been Priority One for Mayweather. When he was younger, he used to say that punishment “ain’t cool.’’ An older Mayweather is using different words these days, but saying the same thing.

“I think my health is more important,’’ he said in a world-weary tone Wednesday during a conference call. “You stay around anything too long, anything can happen. I’m not really worried about losing. But I want to have a sharp mind.

“You can make a lot of money, but you still want to be able to walk, talk and have a sharp mind.’’

The money — more money than any athlete has ever earned in a single event – is already there. According to most reports, Mayweather collected at last $220 million for his victory over Pacquiao. In May, that was more than the New York Yankees payroll. The Yankees opened the 2015 season with a payroll of $214, 248, 571, according to the Associated Press. Of the 30 MLB teams, only the Dodgers payroll was bigger than Mayweather’s purse for one night of work.

That’s his legacy. That’s his TBE (The Best Ever). That’s also why he’s sincere about retirement. Why risk what he’s earned? A smart gambler knows that’s a bad bet.

By Norm Frauenheim–

LOS ANGELES – Leo Santa Cruz is always smiling.

Now more than ever.

Santa Cruz overcame some doubters and Abner Mares Saturday night, winning over nearly everyone but a judge in a majority decision for the WBA version of the featherweight title.

But there was more than just an acronym-sanctioned belt at stake. It was about turf, friendship and rivalry. It was about Los Angeles. It was about a couple of fighters who had once sparred, had moved down different career paths and came back together in a long-awaited confrontation.

It was personal. It was dramatic. It was a crowd pleaser. In the end, it belonged to Santa Cruz (31-0-1, 17 KOs) who in the middle rounds began to capitalize on a three-inch advantage in reach with a jab that forced Mares (29-2-1, 15 KOs) to back pedal out of victory and into defeat.

“I stayed outside with the jab,’’ Santa Cruz said. “We were able to take control.

“My dad told me that we could beat him by boxing. We want to be aggressive but tonight we had to box him too and that’s how we got it done.’’

Mares started fast, perhaps because of nervous energy or a sense that he couldn’t let Santa Cruz develop a rhythm that would allow him to use his long jab. With his early aggression, Mares led on the scorecards after two rounds.

“It was a close fight, but I thought I won the fight,’’ Mares said. “I thought I pulled it off.

“My plan was to box him, but I started out really fast. I felt good but my corner told me to box more, so I did that. It was a good fight.’’

At times, it also was hard to score. One card reflected that. Respected Max Deluca scored it a draw, 114-114. Jesse Reyes and Steve Morrow had it 117-111, each for Santa Cruz. Deluca’s card opens the door for a rematch.

“If he wants the rematch I’ll give him the rematch,’’ Santa Cruz said. “I want to fight the best. I want the big fights.”

It’s no surprise that Mares is interested in a sequel.

“I’m more than willing to have a rematch,’’ he said. “It was a close fight. I knew he had never faced a fighter like me and he proved today he’s a great fighter.”

The bout, an epic LA showdown, began with sound. Then, fury. The crowd of 13,109 roared when Mares appeared on the PBC stage with a black bandana covering his lower face and a red bandanna on his left arm. He wore trunks that said “This Is My Town’’ and looked like a man determined to prove exactly that.

Then, it was Santa Cruz’ turn. He stepped off the same stage and walked toward the ring with a smile impossible to hide.

Through the first three to four rounds, Santa Cruz didn’t have much time to smile. Mares, bloodied at the top of his head in a butt during the third, repeatedly rushed him, trying to draw him into a withering inside battle, By the fifth, however Santa Cruz’ smile was more evident than ever, mostly because he knew his jab was beginning to work.

In the end, there was only that smile. His smile.

His town, too.

Best Of The Undercard
Mexican super-bantamweight Julio Cesar Ceja was down on the canvas. Down on the scorecards, too. But he celebrated in the end.

Ceja (29-1, 27 KOs) was on the brink of defeat when he unleashed a lethal left that leveled fellow Mexican Hugo Ruiz (35-3, 30 KOs) in the fifth round of a 122-pound bout for the WBC’s interim version of the title.

Somehow, Ruiz, who floored Ceja in the third, got up. But it didn’t take long to see that he was badly hurt. Referee ended Raul Caiz ended at 2:34 of the round.

The Rest

Lightweight Alejandro Luna (19-0, 14 KOs) stayed unbeaten and near the front of the line for a title shot by overwhelming Sergio Lopez (18-10, 12 KOs) in a bout stopped at 34 seconds of the fourth by Lou Moret.

Former junior-middleweight contender Alfredo Angulo (24-5, 20 KOs) put a buzz into the Staples crowd with a performance that has made him popular. He spilled blood, most of it belonging to Hector Munoz, an Albuquerque fighter who was finished after five rounds of a scheduled 10 at super-middleweight.. Angulo, 2-1 since a 2014 loss to Canelo Alvarez, battered Munoz (22-16-1, 14 KOs), 4-16 over his last 20 fights, from start to finish, from pillar to post.

Welterweight Jessie Roman (20-2, 10 KOs) knocked around fellow Californian Hector Serrano (17-5, 5 KOs) for six rounds, knocked him down in the seventh and was declared a unanimous decision winner after eight.

A foul-filled fight ended appropriately: In a disqualification. Middleweight Jonathan Batista (14-7, 7KOs) of the Dominican Republic threw low blows at Argentine Brian Castano (13-0, 9 KOs) until the referee wouldn’t let him throw another one. In the fifth, he threw his last one in fight that ened in a DQ at 5:15 of the round.

Buenos Aires middleweight Alan Castano (9-0, 6 KOs) overwhelmed Thomas Howard (8-5, 4 KOs) of Trenton, Mich., with power and punches, prompting a stoppage referee Pat Russell at 4:11 of the fourth round.

Los Angeles junior-welterweight Anthony Flores (9-0, 5 KOs) threw punches at what sometimes looked to be an uninterrupted rate, out-working and out-scoring Curtis Morton (3-5-3) of New York for majority decision.

Super-middleweight Paul Mendez (20-2-2, 10 KOs) of Delano, Calif., had an easy afternoon of work, forcing Mexican Andrik Saralegui (19-3, 15 KOs) to quit after two rounds.

Bantamweight Isaiah Najera (1-1) of Yakima, Wash., got roacked early, yet celebrated in the end with a four-round majority decision that spoiled Antonio Santa Cruz’ debut.

In an empty arena, Los Angeles junior-featherweight Jose Gomez (3-0) opened the show with a matinee bout, scoring a unanimous decision over Mexican Manuel Rubalcava, who might have trouble getting licensed the next time he applies. He’s 2-14.

By Norm Frauenheim-

It starts with the look. Leo Santa Cruz has a generous smile that moms love. Abner Mares has the uncompromising eyes of a man with a stubborn point of view and readiness to fight for it. It’s a reflection of how different they are.

It’s also an intriguing look at how these unlikely business partners are linked in featherweight fight for turf and credibility Saturday night in a PBC-promoted bout at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

“My town,’’ says Mares, who was born in Mexico and grew up on the dangerous streets of LA’s Hawaiian Gardens.

It’s an unproven claim, of course. Santa Cruz , who was also born in Mexico, has his own claim. He lives in LA, too. In terms of Los Angeles’ fabled boxing real estate, it really hasn’t belonged to anybody since Oscar De La Hoya’s best days. It’s no coincidence perhaps that De La Hoya’s statue stands next to statues of Magic Johnson and Wayne Gretzky on the sidewalk outside of Staples.

It is there as a reminder that there’s still plenty at stake in a fight that some complain should have happened a couple of years ago. Fair enough. Boxing’s balkanized politics got in the way. De La Hoya once promoted both. But his only role Saturday night will be as that statue and all that it represents. Mares and Santa Cruz jumped to all Al Haymon’s venture. They moved on and into the looming showdown (ESPN 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) that has always seemed inevitable.

“I can’t really think about all of that anymore,’’ said Mares, a businessman who dismissed presidential candidate Donald Trump’s recent rip at Mexican immigrants by saying he has made millions and paid taxes in the US.. “I can’t think about why it didn’t happen earlier. I only know that it’s here and I only know that I have to take care of business.’’

For both, there’s a further burden of proof. There are questions about whether a string of forgettable opponents has dulled the Santa Cruz skillset.

“I have been leaning how to get better all of the time,’’ said Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KOs), who has a significant three-inch advantage in reach. “I can box. But the brawler can come out in me too. ‘’

For Mares, there are questions about whether there are lingering effects from the stunning knockout he suffered at the hands of Jhonny Gonzalez in 2013. Mares (29-1-1, 15 KOs) has won three straight since then, but there were moments in each when he appeared tentative.

“I’m past my loss,’’ said Mares, a three-time champ who also said he has faced tougher opponents than Santa Cruz. “I’ here to make a statement: Abner Mares is back. I’m looking forward to a fourth world title. I’m looking forward to making history in this sport.’’

And maybe in his town.

By Norm Frauenheim–

Jose Benavidez Jr., the WBA’s interim junior welterweight champion, is back at work, hoping to fight one more time this year.

“November or December,’’ said his father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr. whose unbeaten son resumed training last week at the Benavidez gym in downtown Phoenix.

Top Rank, Benavidez’ promoter, has yet to put together its schedule for the year’s final two months. Any chance that Benavidez might fight Terence Crawford was eliminated this week.

Crawford, the Boxing Writers Association’s reigning Fighter of the Year, will face Dierry Jean on Oct. 24 in Omaha, Crawford’s hometown. Crawford-Dierry will be formally announced on Monday.

Top Rank’s Bob Arum mentioned Benavidez as a Crawford possibility a couple of months ago. Benavidez was also a leading possibility for Crawford in Crawford’s 140-pound debut last April. Instead, Crawford fought Thomas Dulorme, stopping him within six rounds in Arlington, Tex.

It looks as if Crawford is being groomed for a 2016 shot at Manny Pacquiao, if in fact Pacquiao’s resurrection from shoulder surgery happens without any setbacks.

For Benavidez (23-0, 16 KOs), it means he only knows whom he won’t be fighting. Top Rank likes what it has seen recently in the 23-year-old, who scored a 12th -round stoppage of Jorge Paez Jr. in May at Phoenix’s US Airways Center in the only defense of a title he won in a controversial decision over Mauricio Herrera last December.

Plenty of names at both 140 and 147 are in the rumor mill, including Brandon Rios, who is restless and anxious to resume his career after his only fight this year – a victory over Mike Alvarado in January.

Thus far, Herrera has shown no interest in a rematch. But Herrera might run out of options. Antonio Orozco, who beat Emmanuel Taylor on the card that featured Benavidez’ stoppage of Paez, has also been mentioned. However, Orozco has an October 3 date again Humberto Soto at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
“Jose has always said he’ll fight anybody,’’ his father said. “He won’t walk away from any fight.’’

By Norm Frauenheim
FORT McDOWELL, Ariz. – A title was at stake in a fight scheduled for only eight rounds.

Turns out, Louis Rose only needed eight. Ten or 12 weren’t necessary.

Rose (13-3-1, 5 KOs), of Lynwood, Calif., retained a junior NABF version of the middleweight title Saturday, stopping Phoenix challenger Andrew Hernandez (9-2-1, 1 KO) at 2:02 of the round, 58 seconds short of a complete eight.

Hernandez, who was bloodied above his right eye in the fourth, had no defense for a succession of right hands in the final round. They landed, one after another, like a wave hitting a beach.

The last one from Rose put Hernandez down along the ropes. Hernandez got up, but looked helpless, prompting a timely stoppage from referee Wes Melton on a card jointly promoted by Roy Jones Jr. and Iron Boy of Phoenix.

The card lost some of its star power when former junior-flyweight champion Giovani Seguro was forced to withdraw. Promoter Robert Vargas of Iron Boy said his scheduled opponent, Nicaraguan Juan Palacios, told him that he was not ready to fight.

Best of the Undercard: Phoenix featherweight Carlos Castro (12-0, 6 KOs) landed a right hand early, sending a message that would land repeatedly in a decision as definitive as it was unanimous over Johnny Guillen of El Paso, Tex.

Guillen was considered the toughest test in Castro’s early career. He aced the test and nearly aced Guiillen in the process. Castro’s right dropped the once unbeaten Guillen late in the fifth. If there had been more than a few seconds left in the round, it might have been over.

But the tough Guillen (7-1-1, 3 KOs) survived, only to be handed his first defeat when the scorecards – 60-53 on all three — were announced after the sixth.

The Rest: San Antonio welterweight Benjamin Whitaker (10-1, 2 KOs) UD over John Ryan Grimaldo (9-7, 6 KOs) of
Fort Collins, Colo; Phoenix super-bantamweight Paul Romero (5-0-1, 1 KO) UD over Raymond Chacon (5-17) of Los Angeles; Phoenix featherweight Keenan Carbajal (7-3-1, 4 KOs) UD over Jose Silveira (15-16, 6 KOs) of Mexico; Phoenix super-flyweight Alexis Zazueta (6-0, 3 KO) UD over Sergio Lopez (2-3-1) of Las Ve

By Norm Frauenheim

FORT McDOWELL, Ariz. — Former junior-flyweight champion Giovani Segura withdrew from a card Saturday night at We-Ke-Po Conference Center because opponent Juan Palacios of Nicaragua said he wasn’t ready, promoter Robert Vargas said before first bell.

Vargas said he spoke to Segura’s representatives before the card.

“They just told me that he needed more time to train,,” said Vargas of Iron Boy, which promoted the card in a joint venture with Roy Jones Jr.

Vargas said other dates were discussed.

Cards scheduled for Sept. 26 and Oct. 17 in Phoenix are possibilities for Segura-Palaciaos, Vargas said.

Segura (32-4-1, 28 KOs) had been talking about a bout with Roman Gonzalez, who is is scheduled to face Brian Viloria on the Gennady Golovkin card at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Oct.17. Segura has tried to stay busy since losing last September to Juan Francisco Estrada.

It’s the second time that Segura was

By Norm Frauenheim-

The table is set. From late August to November, from late summer to late fall, there’s a boxing schedule worth celebrating.

The harvest starts with Abner Mares-Leo Santa Cruz on August 29 at Los Angeles’ Staples center.

It continues with Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Andre Berto on Sept. 12 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand in a historical mismatch, yet another reason for the Mayweather haters to hope that the improbable finally happens.

Then, there’s Gennady Golovkin-David Lemieux on Oct. 17 at New York’s Madison Square Garden on a card that looms as a test of GGG’s pay-per-view marketability and includes the game’s best-kept secret, flyweight Roman Gonzalez, against Brian Viloria.

Finally, there’s the biggie, Canelo Alvarez-Miguel Cotto, on Nov. 21 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay in a bout loaded with history that does not figure to include a mismatch.

Happy Thanksgiving.

The menu’s biggest question, perhaps, is how to rate them, or perhaps price them. In announcing Cotto-Canelo for the middleweight title Thursday, Canelo promoter Oscar De La Hoya was quoted as saying the PPV price for the HBO telecast won’t be $100.

That was a crack directed at the sticker-shock tag for the high-def telecast of Mayweather’s dull decision over Manny Pacquiao May 2.
Left unsaid, however, was whether the PPV tag for Canelo-Cotto would be similar to the price ($64.95 for HD/$54.95 for the regular telecast) of Showtime’s production of Mayweather-Berto.

There was a lot of talk about a backlash after the Mayweather-Pacquiao disappointment. Big live gates and good television ratings for subsequent bouts – Canelo’s stoppage of James Kirkland in Houston, for instance – say that the fans will still watch.

This fall’s rich variety of options, however, might make the customers a lot more discerning about how they spend their Holiday dollars.

In part, the price tag fro Canelo-Cotto appears to hinge on whether Andre Ward winds up on the card. There’s talk that he might in a bout that would create further momentum for a 2016 showdown between Ward and light-heavyweight Sergey Kovalev, the most interesting man in boxing today. It’s no coincidence that Kovalev’s next fight is scheduled for Nov. 28 in Moscow.

Meanwhile, we’re still waiting to hear the PPV tag for the HBO telecast of GGG-Lemieux. The initial guess here was that the bout might draw 300,000 buys if priced at $50. If the live gate’s pre-sale at MSG is an indication, however, that might be a little conservative.

A record of more than 6,000 tickets was sold. GGG interest is growing. But the real test of his popularity rests in PPV sales, which in turn depends on price, price, price.

Best option of all might be the first one. Mares-Santa Cruz for a featherweight title is on ESPN. No PPV investment at all. On a couple of levels, it’s the most intriguing of the four. It looms as the best PBC bout since Al Haymon launched his series in March.

Mares and Santa Cruz have been rivals for almost as long as anybody has known them. The fight also is a test of
the thinking that goes into Mayweather’s claim, The Best Ever, which will continue two weeks after Mares-Santa Cruz in his pursuit of a 49-0 record against Berto.

For Mayweather, TBE means an unbeaten career. For others, however, TBE is defined by adversity. That means defeat. Dealing with it. Overcoming it. Muhammad Ali did. Sugar Ray Robinson did. Without it, they might not be remembered as legends.

Santa Cruz is unbeaten and mostly unchallenged, especially over the last couple of years against over matched opponents. Mares is 4-0 after a suffering a crushing first-round knock out at the hands of Jhonny Gonzalez in 2013.

Mares has often appeared tentative since the KO. Meanwhile, Santa Cruz has simply appeared unstoppable. Has Mares forged some newfound toughness in the couple of years since his lone loss? Can Santa Cruz counter adversity he hasn’t seen?
We’re about to find out over a three-month run with options and answers.

By Norm Frauenheim-

FORT McDOWELL, Ariz. –Former junior-flyweight champion Giovani Segura battles to get back into the world-title mix, this time at super-flyweight, Saturday night against Juan Palacios at We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center at Fort McDowell on the Yavapai Nation Reservation east of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Segura (32-4-1, 28 KOs), a Mexican now living and training in Southern California, is scheduled for a 10-rounder against Nicaraguan Juan Palacios (29-5-2, 22 KOs) on a seven-fight card, staged in a joint promotion by Roy Jones Jr. and Iron Boy of Phoenix.

Segura is coming off a loss last September in Mexico City to Juan Francisco Estrada for the WBA’s super-flyweight title in Mexico City. From 2008 through 2011, he held the WBO version of the 108-pound championships. Michael Carbajal, a Hall of Famer from nearby Phoenix, held that same title in the 1990s.

Louis Rose (12-2-1, 4 KOs) of Lynwood, Calif., is scheduled for the main event against Andrew Hernandez (9-1-1, 1 KO) for a minor junior-middleweight title.
First bell is scheduled for 5 p.m.

By Norm Frauenheim-

Floyd Mayweather Jr., whose real legacy is money, hears the anger from media and fans unhappy at his decision to fight Andre Berto.

“I’ve been getting backlash,’’ Mayweather said Thursday at a Los Angeles news conference announcing the pay-per-view bout on Sept. 12 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand. “He’s been getting backlash.

“No one is forced to buy the fight. I appreciate it, but no one is forced to buy the fight.’’

True enough.

The real test of Mayweather’s legacy figures to be in his ability to sell a fight that has been panned from public pillar to public post since it was first rumored a few weeks ago.

Showtime’s PPV price — $64.95 for the regular telecast and $74.95 for high-def – is cheaper than the sticker-shock shelling felt by wallets turned-inside-out from the $89.95/$99.95 cost of watching Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao.

But it’s still a long way from the free-TV that was considered by CBS executives. Showtime executive vice president Stephen Espinoza confirmed that possibility Thursday.

It didn’t happen, Espinoza said on a shosports live stream before the formal news conference, because there just wasn’t enough time to sell the advertising.

“Wasn’t practical,’’ Espinoza said.

That begs a practical question about whether there are enough PPV customers to cover even a fraction of Mayweather’s guarantee, which figures to be at least $30 million.

Early indications are that Berto, a 40-to-1 underdog in initial odds posted at the MGM Grand, has a better chance at winning.

That said, don’t ever underestimate Mayweather’s salesmanship. Berto gives him a chance to sell in the style that has made him the world’s highest-earning athlete in a sport so often deemed bankrupt.

His haters have made him rich and they figure to be there at least one more time for a chance, no matter how slim, to see him finally lose. As a business plan, perhaps it’s perverse. But it works.

“This is an intriguing match-up,’’ said Mayweather, his own promoter, matchmaker, baker and candlestick-maker. “I don’t want anyone to say, ‘Damn, I missed that fight.’ ‘’

Part of the sales pitch is history, including a chance to equal Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record. That much was evident Thursday. Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, said that Sept. 12 would be the last chance to see a fighter who has claimed to be The Best Ever. His records will never be broken, Ellerbe said.

Safe to say, his record for earning more than $200 million in a single fight – the dull decision over Pacquiao – will be very hard to break.

Mayweather has been able to generate revenue like nobody in history. Maybe, it will continue beyond Berto and into a quest for 50-0 at a new Las Vegas arena scheduled to open next spring. Maybe.

“Number 49, this is it,’’ Mayweather said after the formal news conference when asked about whether he might change his mind. “I’ve had a remarkable career. I can go out at 48-0 and be happy.’’
Rich and unpopular, too.

By Norm Fraiebheim–

Sergey Kovalev’s stoppage of Nadjib Mohammedi last Saturday in Las Vegas marked a six-year anniversary of his first fight in North America. It was a beginning then. In some ways, it still is.

As the Russian learns English, we begin to learn more about him. At times, he’s as blunt as the Russian hammer.

Ask him about Adonis Stevenson, and his response is profane. He looks as if he’s about to take off a shoe and bang it on a table the way Nikita Khrushchev did at the United Nations in 1960.

He looks at ex-trainer Abel Sanchez with a glare that reminds you of news photos of a Putin-Obama stare down. Then, he breaks into a smile that, so far, has been interpreted as either predatory, or goofy, or good-natured.

Who is this guy? Yakov Smirnoff, the Russian comedian? Ivan Drago, the arrogant character in Rocky IV? Or both?

Hard to say right now. But that’s the intriguing part of Kovalev’s ongoing introduction, a journey that started with a first-round stoppage on July 25, 2009 of somebody named Daniel Chavez in Greensboro, N.C, to a third-round knockout in a light-heavyweight title defense on July 25, 2015 at Mandalay Bay.

With apologies to Dos Equis, Kovalev has become the most interesting man in boxing.

It’s based on what we’ve seen. His unbeaten record is built around a swift right hand that is as long as it is lethal. Then, there’s what most of us didn’t see. His record includes Roman Simakov, who died three days after Kovalev stopped him within seven rounds of a December, 2011 bout in Russia.

There’s reason to fear him. There’s reason to like him.

There are reasons to watch him.

Putting together the evident pieces of stardom, however, is about finding the right business partners, all at the right time. Kovalev promoter Kathy Duva sees the potential for an era comparable to the 1980s when Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns staged a four-way middleweight rivalry as legendary as any in boxing’s star-crossed history.

George Kimball wrote about it in his terrific book, Four Kings: Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Duran and the Last Great Era of Boxing.

Duva thinks she might already have three sides to a potential sequel. There’s super-middleweight Andre Ward. Duva believes Ward-Kovalev is likely, probably next year perhaps at 172-pound catch weight.

Then, there’s Gennady Golovkin. In ongoing talks with Ward’s management, Duva says she’s been told that it wants Ward to fight Golovkin before Kovalev.

There’s already been speculation about Golovkin-Kovalev, despite the weight difference. GGG is a middleweight (160 pounds), and a small one at that. Kovalev is a natural 175 pounder. If Ward and GGG can agree on a catch weight, however, it’s not a stretch to think that a deal on weight can be made for GGG-Kovalev.

But who completes the square circle? Who’s the fourth rival? Thus far, it looks as if Stevenson doesn’t want to risk his piece of light-heavyweight title. That’s why Kovalev has repeatedly calls him a piece of bleep. Earlier this week, Stevenson announced he would fight somebody named Tommy Karpency. I guess Andre Berto is busy.

The Stevenson possibility is further complicated by his professional relationship. He’s with Al Haymon’s PBC. Given their rocky history, a joint venture between Duva and Haymon is unlikely. She sued him. The case never got to court. It was dropped when Bernard Hopkins agreed to fight Kovalev, who went on to win a one-sided decision last November.

She has offered Artur Beterbiev a Nov. 28 fight against Kovalev in Moscow. It’s a natural. Beterbiev, an emerging light-heavyweight and former Olympian, beat Kovalev when they were Russian amateurs.

The problem is Haymon. He has a contract with Beterbiev. Duva sent the offer to Beterbiev promoter Yvon Michel of Montreal. Duva expects some kind of answer next week.
The search continues. A chance at boxing’s next great era depends on it.

LAS VEGAS – Sergey Kovalev is blunt and effective.

Mostly, he’s predictable.

If you want subtlety, pick another Russian game. Chess, maybe. It’s full of a lot of pawns, which is what every light-heavyweight has become when faced with Kovalev.

Nadjib Mohammedi was just the latest on a board that Kovalev continues to rule with impunity. Andre Ward looks like a challenger. Maybe, Adonis Stevenson. But those are only fights to imagine, talk about. For now, it’s Kovalev’s empire.

“I wanted to make him look like a clown,’’ Kovalev (28-0-1, 25 KOs) said. “I wanted to make him look like a fool.’’

At 2:38 of the third round Saturday night, that’s exactly what Mohammedi (37-4, 23 KOs) looked like. He was down, finished by a right-left combination that left the Frenchman with a damaged left eye.

“I wanted it to continue,’’ said Kovalev, who also put Mohammedi on all fours with a crushing right hand that is as long as it is lethal. “I wanted more rounds.’’

Kovalev didn’t say so. But he might have wanted more time to drive home a point to his ex-trainer, Abel Sanchez, who was in Mohammedi’s corner.

Sanchez and Kovalev split in 2010 for reasons that remain unclear. What is clear, however, is that Kovalev has not been happy with the circumstances. The Russian never forgets. But he did serve up some cold vengeance in taking down Mohammedi.

Sanchez, Gennady Golovkin’s trainer, tried to explain the one-sided loss.

“It was Mandalay Bay, the bright lights, the pressure,’’ Sanchez said in the middle of the ring during the bout’s immediate aftermath.

Noticed, he never mentioned Kovalev.

The bout, which took place in front of lot of empty seats at Mandalay Bay, will quickly be forgotten. Kovalev will move on, presumably to a show dwon with Ward sometime next year. His immediate plans are for a bout in Moscow on Nov. 28. His promoter, Kathy Duiva of Main Events, said she will offer the bout to Artur Beterbiev, another Russian. Trouble is, Beterbiev is advised by Al Haymon, a Duva rival.

Next pawn, please.

Maybe, Jean Pascal.
Pascal (30-3-1, 17 KOs) ducked repeated sledge-hammer rights and, in the end, ducked an upset in winning a narrow decision that had many in the crowd crying foul and Yunieski Gonzalez (24-3-2, 10 KOs) crying tears. It was unanimous, but only the scorecards..

ON THE UNDERCARD

The Best: Joel Diaz, a junior-welterweight from trainer Abel Sanchez’ Summit Gym in Big Bear, Calif., flashed a prospect’s credentials with double-edged power.
Diaz (19-0, 15 KOs, scored two knockdowns of Alejandro Rodriguez (24-18-1, 14 KOs, in the second round, the first with a right and the second with a left. He finished Rodriguez, of Guadalajara, with a beautiful right hand for a TKO at 39 seconds of the fourth.

The Rest: Unbeaten light-heavyweight Sullivan Barrera (16-0, 11 KOs) of Miami was bleeding, looked tired and appeared to be near defeat when he railed, fighting with urgency in the seventh and energy in the eighth for a TKO of France’s Hakim Zoulikha 21-8, 10 KOs), who was one the canvas early in the eighth and finished when he absorbed a succession of blows at 1:34 of the round.

The show opened with a KO, delivered by Connecticut heavyweight Cassius Chaney (3-0, 2 KOs), who knocked Eduardo Ramirez (1-3, 1 KO) of Yuma, Ariz., unconscious and onto the canvas with a left hand at 1:35 of the first round.

Rodney Hernandez (8-2-1, 1 KO), heavyweight from Modesto, Calif, got a six-round, split decision over Brice Ritani-Coe (4-4-1, 3 KOs). Ritani-Coe, of San Pedro, Calif., shook his head in disagreement. But it was hard to know if anybody agreed with him. The arena was empty when the scores were announced.

By Norm Frauenheim-
Phoenix lightweight Victor Castro (15-0, 7 KOs) risks his unbeaten record Saturday against Mexican Angel Martinez (14-6-1, 10 KOs) Saturday night in Phoenix at Celebrity Theatre.

The bout is scheduled for eight rounds on an Iron Boy Promotions card. As many as 12 fights are scheduled. First bell is 5 p.m.

By Norm Frauenheim-

LAS VEGAS – It starts with a smile. It’s there because Sergey Kovalev genuinely enjoys what he does. Then again, so does a crocodile.

That smile was perhaps a hint at what many expect Saturday. Kovalev turned his head away from Nadjib Mohammadi during the ritual stare-down after a formal weigh-in Friday at Mandalay Bay.

After tipping the scales at 174.5 pounds, Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) looked at the crowd, flashing that grin with teeth that could make a Great White blink. It’s hard to know what Nadjib Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) thought during a moment when he looked a little bit like prey.

Mohammedi, who was at 173 pounds, is given no chance in a light-heavyweight bout televised by HBO (10 pm ET/PT). That’s probably not fair to a tough fighter who might have a significant advantage in his corner. Abel Sanchez, Kovalev’s ex-trainer, is Mohammedi’s current trainer. But will that, or anything else, make a difference? Few believe it will go the full 12 rounds.

Consider this: On a wagering sheet at the Mandalay Bay’s sports book, there’s a proposition that has Kovalev at minus-2200 to win by knockout. In other words, you’ve got to put up $2,200 to win $100.

“Where’s the closest ATM?’’ a wise guy in the media room said. “That sounds like an easy way to pick up a quick $100.’’

Maybe.

But all of that could change at opening bell. Above all, Mohammedi has absolutely nothing to lose. Sanchez is quick to remind everybody that Mike Tyson was a lopsided favorite to beat Buster Douglas in Tokyo. Huge upsets happen, all right

On Friday, however, all of the talk was about Kovalev and what was next for the Russian with the predatory smile. One scenario has him fighting Jean Pascal next in a rematch if Pascal gets past Yuniesky Gonzalez, a tough-looking Cuban, who escaped Cuba on small boat crowded with refugees in 2009.

Then, there’s the projected showdown that has already begun to capture the public’s imagination: Kovalev-versus-Andre Ward. It sounds as if it’s inevitable. Kovalev promoter Kathy Duva of Main Events says talks are ongoing.

“In fact, those talks have been better than most,’’ she said this week.

There’s speculation that it might happen next year, perhaps after there’s some clarity about when Floyd Mayweather Jr. will in fact retire. Kovalev-Ward could be sold as the fight that will determine Mayweather’s successor at the top of the pound-for-pound debate.

All of the talk has made Kovalev-Mohammedi look like a steppingstone for a legend in the making. That, the lopsided odds and a rival PBC promotion featuring BJ Flores-versus Beibut Shumenov in Vegas The Palms are probably having a lousy impact on ticket sales, although Duva said there has been an uptick during the last couple of days.

But ticket sales, talk about who’s next and speculation about what’s next didn’t seem to matter much to Kovalev. Only an imminent opening bell does. That’s always a reason to smile.

By Norm Frauenheim-

LAS VEGAS – Imagine trying to demolish what you once designed. It sounds awkward and it probably is if you’re an architect suddenly hired to bring down a building you constructed.

But boxing isn’t architecture. It’s about changing roles and changing sides. One day, you’re drawing up the blueprint. The next day, you’re swinging the wrecking ball.

So it is for Abel Sanchez, who finds himself in the opposite corner Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in an attempt to bring down a feared fighter he helped create.

Sergey Kovalev was just another Russian in 2010 when Sanchez became his trainer.

Then, Sanchez didn’t exactly foresee himself in Nadjib Mohammedi’s corner as the mastermind in an attempted plot to derail Kovalev’s swift emergence as a potential successor to the pound-for-pound throne soon to be vacated by Floyd Mayweather Jr.

He was only certain that Kovalev would become a star.

“I told him, I told him he would be where he is right now,’’ Sanchez said Thursday after a news conference for the light-heavyweight bout (HB0, 10 p.m. ET/PT).

For eight fights between October, 2010 and December, 2011, Sanchez trained Kovalev. Kovalev won all eight by stoppage. Only in hindsight is it evident that Kovalev was then beginning to discover an identity now summed by his nickname, Krusher. He’s been the real wrecking ball. Everybody, even Bernard Hopkins, has been crushed by lethal power complemented by unshakable poise.

Sanchez knew he had a future champion in his gym. But he also knew he had to make tough choice. Middleweight champ Gennady Golovkin was there, too.

“Sometimes, we make choices that maybe we are forced to make,’’ Sanchez said.

What happened after that decision, however, is a matter of some debate. It also appears to be at the heart of a simmering rivalry.

Stories about sparring sessions between Golovkin and Kovalev began to circulate. Sanchez told the media that GGG once knocked down Kovalev. He also was quoted as saying that he thought Golovkin had a higher ring IQ than Kovalev.

The comments had to get back to Kovalev, who is getting to know English as well as he knows his way around the ring. Translation: Very little escapes him.

When asked about Sanchez during an international conference call, Kovalev said:

“Who is this Abel? I don’t know any Abel.’’

Kovalev didn’t have to say anything more. It’s clear he intends to show that Sanchez made the wrong choice in 2011.

“I want to show in this fight just who I really am,’’ said Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs), who sounds as if he is motivated by what he believes was a sub-par performance in an eighth-round round stoppage of Jean Pascal in March.

Betting odds indicate that Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs), a Frenchman of Algerian descent, has no chance no matter what motivates Kovalev or who is in his corner

Mohammedi is a 33-to-1 underdog, according to odds posted on a sheet at the Mandalay Sports book late Thursday. The line is surprisingly lopsided, so much so that Mohammedi has nothing to lose. If it goes the distance, he probably earns another good payday.

“When I’m told we have no chance, that means we have every chance,’’ Mohammedi co-manager Vince Caruso said.

Best guess: Mohammedi’s best chance rests in what Sanchez knows about Kovalev. Sanchez was giving no hints Thursday as to what Mohammedi’s game plan might be. No surprise there. Instead, he praised Kovalev for the progress he’s made under trainer John David Jackson.

“He evolved,’’ Sanchez said. “He’s a world champion now. I think guys, when they become world champions, get better anyway. They have something to protect. They have something they don’t want to lose. They work harder.

“He’s a much better fighter because of all of those things and because he’s got a very good coach in John David.’’

A personal rivalry is an expected element, said Sanchez, who has been working corners long enough to know that emotion can turn an ordinary fight into great one.

“He has a very competitive nature,’’ Sanchez said. “He knows that one day he might fight another one of my guys. He might fight Golovkin, if it ever gets to that point.

“It’s professional competitiveness that sometimes gets mistaken for animosity. During the news conference, he looked over at me and I winked at him. He kind of acknowledged me.

“But you know what? It’s not personal. This is business, just business.’’

A business full of unexpected corners.

By Norm Frauenheim-

Sergey Kovalev is new to English. It’s a second language for the light-heavyweight who grew up speaking Russian.
Occasionally he’ll ask manager Egis Klimas to translate. Sometimes, a phrase or cliché will confuse him. But don’t let that fool you. He’s learning English grammar and some of its common slurs as thoroughly as he once learned his way around a ring. Kovalev is already more fluent in English than Vladimir Putin.

A new language is an acquired skill, mastered by work and study. By now, it is evident Kovalev isn’t afraid of either. But there’s more to this process than just diligence. Like his dangerous complement of heavy hands and unnerving poise, he possesses an instinctive ability to communicate. No matter the language or how it’s delivered, his words connect like his punches.

No translation was necessary during an hour-long conference call this week for his title defense against Nadjib Mohammedi on July 25 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay in an HBO-televised bout. There was no BS. Amend that. Subtract the bull and leave the remaining four letters for Kovalev’s ongoing description of Adonis Stevenson, who has the WBC-version of the title.

Stevenson is a piece of bleep, Kovalev — sounding very American — said of the Canadian, who he says continues to duck him.

About everything else, however, he was simple and direct in a way increasingly foreign in a business so prone to euphemistic double-speak.

“A lot of fighters are making business, but not making boxing,’’ said Kovalev, an emerging pound-for-pound contender and a prohibitive favorite over Mohammedi, Frenchman of Algerian descent. “On my left hand, I can count who are the real fighters in boxing: Gennady Golovkin, Miguel Cotto and Keith Thurman and I don’t remember more. Maybe me.’’

During a tiresome few weeks full of guessing about what Floyd Mayweather Jr. will or won’t do on Sept. 12, Kovalev’s pointed comment stood in contrast — as stark as it was a relief.

There have been mounting reports that Mayweather might fight Andre Berto in the sixth and final bout on his Showtime contract. Speculation is that it’ll be offered on free-TV, Showtime’s CBS flagship, instead of pay-per-view. According to some of the reports, a Mayweather bout on free-TV will be sold as a remedy to public anger still there from many in a record audience who spent $100 for the dull PPV telecast of Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao.

Berto a remedy? Please. Berto is 3-3 over his last six bouts. If that’s a remedy, give me shot a hemlock, Mayweather against anybody other than Thurman or Amir Khan only threatens to further alienate fans. They already believe they were played for suckers throughout the Mayweather-Pacquiao hype.

Before Berto’s name emerged, Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe dismissed Thurman as a possibility. Ellerbe said Thurman wasn’t at Mayweather’s level. Berto isn’t at Thurman’s level. Who knows if Berto and Mayweather will fight? But if they do, it is just one more reason to suspect another shakedown is in the works, perhaps for Mayweather’s free-agent finale in a 50th bout.

In Kovalev, at least, there’s a sense he’s building his career patiently, all in a big-money attempt to fight Andre Ward. Kovalev-Ward looms as a fight that could be everything Mayweather-Pacquiao wasn’t. Early talk about it indicates real interest instead of the cynicism so prevalent in the wake of the Mayweather-Pacquiao money grab on May 2.

“We have been talking to Andrew Ward’s people all week,’’ said Kovalev promoter Kathy Duva, who expects the fight sometime next year. “We all agree the fight is going to happen.’’
In any language, that sounds good.