By Norm Frauenheim –

Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou defies description. Fight or fraud? Fish or foul? It depends on who’s doing the marketing and/or the mocking.

Sift through all of the possibilities, and there’s only one: Exhibition. That, and all of its interpretations, was on parade at a news conference Thursday in Riyadh.

 At times, it was slapstick funny. Send in the clowns. At times, it began to redefine what it means to be cringe-worthy.

A cringe-worthy moment: Fury stripped off his jacket and vest for a bare-chested pose in a forehead-to-forehead stare-down with Ngonnou. His 59-year-old father, John Fury, quickly joined the strip show shedding his shirt and then stepping in front of the camera. Gently, John Fury – animated as in cartoon-like — had to be moved to one side. It wasn’t his show. At least, it’s not supposed to be.

All of the time, it was clear it was all about the cash.

There’s plenty of that being exhibited, although none of the numbers have been confirmed. Let’s just say that Fury’s income could make him an oil baron.

Speculation puts his payday at $60 million for an exhibition (Saturday, 2 pm ET/11 am PT, ESPN + pay-per-view), that looks a lot like a tune-up for a fight – a real one –projected for Dec. 23 against Ukrainian heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, also in Riyadh and also for an astonishing bankroll. Talk – and that’s all it is – puts that paycheck at $100 million.

For the Saudis, Fury looks to be another investment in their so-called sports wash. He’s another name, another possible diversion from the controversy surrounding the Saudi Kingdom’s reputation for repression. Their sports collection includes Phil Mickelson, Formula One auto racing, soccer and horse racing. A major addition would be Fury-Usyk, one of the biggest heavyweight fights in a fabled history.

“Tyson Fury is certainly the best heavyweight since Muhammad Ali and maybe ever,’’ said Fury’s 92-year-old American promoter, Bob Arum, also Ali’s former promoter.

But boxing isn’t golf. It’s a risk, one that maybe Mickelson wouldn’t even bet on.  With one punch, everything can go wrong and often does.

Fury-Ngannou, at $79.99 pay-per-view, is being mocked precisely because it looks like a set-up for the reported December date with Usyk. The Saturday exhibition is not even listed under Fury’s BoxRec entry. If the reliable, go-to BoxRec doesn’t list it, it’s not a fight. Then, there’s Fury’s World Boxing Council heavyweight belt. It’s not at stake, although WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman was there with a specially-made belt, named “the Riyadh Champion belt.’’ That makes interim sound like a promotion.

The guess is that if the unlikely happens, the WBC belt would still be in play in December against Usyk, who holds the three other belts. Then, there’s Ngonnou, a UFC champion, a mixed martial arts fighter known for unprecedented power.

Even Mike Tyson, a celebrity cornerman for Ngannou, marvels at power that once defined him.

“Nobody takes a punch like Tyson Fury, but this is a different kind of power,’’ said Tyson, who wore a businessman’s suit to Thursday’s exhibit of Fury exhibitionists.

Tyson is there to help sell the show. He’s an intriguing angle. In 1988, John Fury named his son after Tyson, who had just begun his wild run through the heavyweight division.

Mike Tyson warns his namesake about Ngannou’s power. It’s a limb-breaker, he says.

“I saw him hit this guy,’’ Tyson said as he gestured with an imaginary blow to the jaw. “And the guy wound up breaking a leg or ankle or whatever.’’

But there are doubts about whether Ngannou, of Cameroon, will ever land that big punch. He’s a novice boxer. Video of him hitting the mitts showed power, but no precision or hand speed. Autumn could turn to winter in the time it takes Ngannou to land. The clever Fury could feint, duck, feint again and counter within that long moment. Leg-breaker? Yeah Ngannou might break his own in a wild miss.

The real measure of Ngannou’s feared power is also hard to judge. He’ll be wearing 10-ounce gloves for the first time. He executed 17 stoppages in mixed martial arts wearing four-ounce gloves.

In his memorable trilogy with Deontay Wilder, he was knocked down four times by a right hand as explosive as any in history. What would Wilder’s power have done had he been wearing four ounces, instead of 10? He and Fury probably would have never gone beyond the first fight and Fury’s 12th-round resurrection from a crushing knockdown.

There are other possibilities, hard to predict and all common to boxing’s familiar chaos. Fury knows them. He’s been there. In September 2019, he fought Swede Otto Wallin in a fight perceived to be a tune-up for his first rematch with Wilder. The heavily favored Fury won a debatable unanimous decision in Las Vegas. He also suffered a nasty cut to his right eye.

A Wallin punch caused the cut in the third round. Wallin would do further damage, enough to argue that the fight should have been stopped in his favor.

Fury needed a reported 47 stitches and time to heal. There was speculation that it would delay the second fight with Wilder. It didn’t. Wilder conceded it was risky, that the cut might rupture. But he never gave a clueless Wilder the chance to try, blowing him away in the seventh round February 2020 in Vegas.

Call it a warning, Exhibit A among risks to a Saudi bet that it’ll host some heavyweight history.   

By Norm Frauenheim –

Showtime was at ringside before Canelo Alvarez was born, yet its imminent exit from boxing isn’t much of a surprise. It is however, a warning for a battered, balkanized business forever at odds with itself.

Only boxing is killing boxing. It’s an old line that bears repeating in the wake of the announcement this week that the network will televise one, maybe two more cards, including David Benavidez’ Nov. 25 super-middleweight date with Demetrius Andrade in Las Vegas.

Benavidez is 26, a face of boxing’s emerging generation. It’s fair to guess that the Phoenix-born fighter and former-two-time champion assumed that Showtime would always be there. He grew up with it. Throughout his unbeaten career, it was part of the show. 

But it’s exit, predicted for years, leaves questions about what awaits him, his rivals and their generation of fans.

Showtime has been fundamental to their hopes and expectations. It brought the money. But if Benavidez beats Andrade, will enough of that be there for a projected Canelo-Benavidez blockbuster next year, post-Showtime?

That’s just one question, emblematic of the many that boxing never really considered amid all the speculation that the network was approaching its final bell.

Rumors were there last month throughout the fight-week build-up for Canelo’s one-sided decision over Jermell Charlo, also on Showtime. By then, however, it was too late for any substantive change. After all, Showtime’s exit from boxing was predicted in 2018.

That’s when Top Rank’s Bob Arum said Showtime would eventually follow HBO and leave boxing.  

“Showtime does not belong in boxing,’’ Arum said.

Arum made the comment to reporters before Canelo’s majority decision over Gennadiy Golovkin on Sept 15 in a 2018 rematch on HBO. Twelve days later, HBO announced it was throwing in the towel, finished after 45 years.

“I mean, they’re wasting the stock holders money by doing boxing matches,’’ Arum said then.  “They should invest in entertainment because HBO realizes they’re in a dogfight with Disney, with Netflix, and so every dollar that they can conserve to put into entertainment, they need desperately.

“Showtime has to become aware of that fact, but the only way they’re going to survive is with good entertainment, because unfortunately when you do boxing, you open and close the same night.’’

Showtime’s exit became inevitable last January with Paramount+, a streaming service and a sure sign of change in philosophy – a move toward long-running shows.

Rather than one night of boxing or a live concert, Arum said, HBO and Showtime can only compete with shows that can draw an audience week after week, night after night.

“And five years from now, the linear platform won’t mean bleep,’’ Arum – aligned with ESPN since 2017 — said five years ago. “Everything will be streaming – everything. Entertainment, sports, everything will be streaming.”

Bingo.

However, either boxing didn’t listen. Or, it just assumed the good times would never end. Or, it did what it has always done. To wit: Grab the fast buck and move on.

Fighters with little name recognition made big money. The younger generation began to look upon Floyd Mayweather’s brilliant career as the model.

Throughout his long-running deal with Showtime, Mayweather did more than follow the risk-to-reward ratio to the top of the pound-for-pound debate. He rode it straight to the top of Forbes’ list of the world’s wealthiest athletes. He was No. 1 in 2018.

What could go wrong? Plenty. There was only one Mayweather. He made unprecedented money, pre-stream. But that risk-to-reward formula left an assumption that the money would never end. The Showtime exit is a sign that it will.

It’s still hard to say what impact that might have on a possible Benavidez-Canelo fight, a bout that fans have wanted for a couple of years.

It leaves a further question about the chances of a projected Terence Crawford-Errol Spence rematch of Crawford’s singular performance in a stoppage win in July, also on Showtime.

The sad aspect to the Showtime exit after 37 years is in the timing. 2023 has been one of boxing’s best years in some time. Under Stephen Espinoza’s guidance, it staged a comeback.

For years, there has been doom-and-gloom — persistent talk about an eroding fan base. But Showtime began to rediscover that audience, first in April with a reported 1.2 million pay-per-view customers for Tank Davis’ blowout of Ryan Garcia.

Then, there was Crawford-Spence. The welterweight fight had been talked about for years. Then, there were negotiations, misinformation and even a reported fight date — Nov. 19 2022. In the end, however, there was only futility.  Talks broke down in October.

Fans were outraged. More than a few editions of the boxing-is-dead theme were written, including one in this corner.

But Showtime persisted. The fight got made and it delivered a sensational moment from Crawford on July 30. 

The fight did fewer PPV numbers — a reported 700,000 — than Davis-Garcia. The number was solid. But, above all, Crawford-Spence delivered a message: The business had a pulse.

Still does.

But is anybody listening?

By Mario Ortega Jr.

Earlier this year, a new team boxing concept was launched that hoped to bring non-stop action from bell to bell. Team Combat League, the brainchild of promoter Ahmed Sheikh, featured six teams of about 24 fighters per team, spread over six weight classes, based across the United States. One of the budding young pugilists that shined over the course of the TCL’s inaugural season was featherweight Lizette Lopez of the Los Angeles Tengoose franchise.

Lopez, a 1-0 professional based out of the MXN Boxing Center in Salinas, California, was able to secure a tryout for the Los Angeles team, led by head coach Ricky Funez, through her co-head trainer Josh Sanchez. Heralded amateur Roxy Verduzco had already secured one of the female featherweight spots on the team, leaving only one more spot remaining. 

“When it really came down to it, it ended up being about a week in advance and Coach Funez asked Coach Josh if I could go down there and spar,” recalls Lopez. “We took the opportunity and went and I sparred and I ended up taking the second spot.” 

With that sparring session Lopez had made the team, which would base their training from the Tengoose Boxing Gym in Van Nuys, California, leaving the fighter from the Central Coast city of Salinas in a scramble to find housing in time for the start of the season. While most of the team were already based out of the Los Angeles area, Lopez would end up with a much longer commute than her teammates.

“I would stay in Chino Hills and have to commute an hour everyday,” remembers Lopez. “I have some close relatives that stay there and that was the only spot since it was so last minute. I want to say every Monday thru Friday we would train at about 11 am.” 

Lopez’ willingness to make the sacrifice to commute in unforgiving Southern California traffic to get to and from the gym everyday was just the first example of her dedication to the sport that impressed coach Danny Gonzalez.

“It was a long, long trip for her to come,” explains Gonzalez, one of the two assistant coaches for Los Angeles, alongside Jonathan Walley. “I instantly read it from her at the beginning, and I told her from the get-go that she was going to do great. She just had to focus on a little bit of things. That was what we ended up doing, working together and putting in the little things that she did and she ended up being one of the best female fighters on that show.” 

With less than two months between the time she found out she had made the team and the week one match-up against the New York City Attitude in Connecticut, Lopez had to quickly adjust to training in new surroundings, away from her home coaches for the first time, with new trainers with different styles and for the new format of fighting for just one, two-minute round. 

“It was definitely an adjustment, but I think I did pretty well adjusting to it,” proclaims Lopez. “It helped that I did so well training with [the Los Angeles coaches,] so everything came so natural to me. I did [have to change my mindset going into this]. In training and sparring we did a lot of pressure work and high volume punching. So I think that really helped me throughout the competition.” 

Over the course of the season, Lopez would fight a southpaw opponent seven times. One of the advantages she may have had was that her teammate and sparring partner, Roxy Verduzco, was herself a skilled southpaw. 

“It was amazing that she had the experience to move around with “Right Hook” Roxy, because she has the experience from being an amateur fighter,” explains Gonzalez. “When I would see them in there going at it, they were both going at it back-and-forth, so it was tough competition. That is why I think our girls were really, really tough and hard to beat throughout the whole entire show. Their chemistry working together was really good. After that, [Lizette] honed in and really began showcasing her skills. She was dominating a lot of the southpaw fighters she had to fight, as well as some of the orthodox fighters she fought too. Working with “Right Hook” Roxy the whole camp really sharpened her up and added to her boxing skills, because she is a forward-pressure fighter. She likes digging to the body and ripping uppercuts and using head movement. Working with Roxy, she was helping her use her jab and cutting angles, so that was really good.” 

In each week of competition, fights between each team would consist of 18 individual rounds, with each fighter competing one round at a time, once or twice throughout the night, depending on the fighter availability on each roster. The first week of action took place on March 29th at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, the host venue for the entire regular season. In the first fight on the first night, Lopez would meet southpaw Nicole Ocasio of New York. It would be the first of three meetings they had in what would become the signature rivalry of the inaugural Team Combat League season. 

Lopez and Ocasio had met before as young amateurs in the lead-up to the 2016 USA Boxing Junior National Championships in December of that year. “We had both traveled to Kansas City, Missouri and competed in that tournament for nationals,” recalls Lopez. “We ended up sparring each other, which is pretty cool that we ended up coming back into each other’s lives all this time later.” 

Without any examples to watch before their meeting, Lopez and Ocasio functioned as the guinea pigs for the entire season and set the tone for what was to come by opting for an offensive-minded fight for the two-minute duration of their opening bout. 

“I was just going to go out there and try my best to box and fight my fight and fight smart and also just throw a lot, which is like the whole concept of the show I believe,” says Lopez. “I felt pretty good actually. I felt my performance was really good and I knew that I was only going to get better from there.” 

Though her team would end up losing to New York City by one point, Lopez held up her end by winning that opening round. Lopez gave Ocasio more movement and her conditioning held up a little better in the last half minute to seal a decision win in an entertaining contest. After each night of fights, the Los Angeles Tengoose team would fly back together to California and return to training before the next fight night would bring them back across country to Connecticut. 

In her next time out on April 13th, Lopez would meet one of her tougher adversaries for the first time in experienced pro Jennifer Miranda of the Dallas Enforcers. Miranda had already fought the ten-round distance twice and captured a WBA regional belt in Spain. For two minutes, Miranda was able to find success boxing and moving and tying up the shorter Lopez when she found her way in range. 

“I did find it a little bit challenging, fighting somebody like her,” admits Lopez. “Obviously, I was going to have to close the distance more and get inside more. She was kind of trying to hit and move, stick and move. So it was a little bit harder for me. I feel like towards the end, I started getting in closer and she would start clinching more. I just tried my best.” 

Lopez would be back in the ring on May 4th, fighting twice in one night for the first time of the competition. The first bout paired her against the tough Tyriesha Douglas of the DC Destroyers. The muscularly-built southpaw Douglas entered as a fifteen-fight pro and former WIBA champion and started out the round strong. Much like in her first bout with Ocasio, Lopez’ conditioning made the difference as she came on in the last 45 seconds, this time with clean head shots, while Douglas tried to clinch to run out the time.  Two of the three judges ringside scored the split decision for Lopez. 

In the second of her fights that night, Lopez took on Dupe Akinola, who had fought in the first overall round of the match, while the win over Douglas took place in the seventh round. Akinola got off to a strong start, in what was the 13th overall round between LA and DC. After getting knocked off balance with one shot early in the round, Lopez came on late as Akinola’s output slowed, but the late rally failed to sway the judges as the DC fighter earned the unanimous nod. 

Fighting two rounds with a break in between each round was something of an adjustment for the fighters in the competition. In boxing, maintaining adrenaline and staying warmed up is part of the routine when it comes to a fight. However, in this format there are some new challenges the fighters deal with when fighting multiple rounds. 

“I had been warming up for like a while and then we go and we sit down,” explains Lopez of the process. “I think I just needed to focus a bit more. I like being first and getting it out of the way. But I didn’t mind fighting later either. I like fighting twice and I like fighting once, either or. As long as I get to fight.” 

On May 18th, Lopez and Ocasio would engage in a two-minute war that would earn the two fighters great public acclaim and eventually the TCL’s Ali-Frazier Fight of the Year Award. In the type of fight promoter Ahmed Sheikh likely envisioned when he formatted the league, Lopez and Ocasio went all out on offense from the first bell to the last. Play-by-play announcer Ray Torres proclaimed the bout round of the year during the broadcast before it even had ended. Lopez scored the most telling blow when a right hand moved Ocasio back and again the Salinas fighter proved to have the conditioning edge down the stretch en route to the thrilling decision win. 

“I just kind of went in there and wanted to stick-and-move, basically, just get in and get out,” states Lopez of the original gameplan. “But then we just threw. The bell rang and we just started throwing. I think my conditioning just held up more. That is how the round went and we won an award for that. Shout out to Nicole again. It takes two to tango, so I am proud that I got to share the ring with her.” 

With the two minutes of war that took place the week prior fresh in her mind, Lopez entered her opening bout with the Las Vegas Hustle’s Florencia Britos with a different game plan in place on May 25th. The southpaw Britos boxed well, with one head-snapping right hook probably sealing the round in her favor. Attempting to brawl less and box with a more measured pace ended up working against Lopez. 

“I think the week before was in my head,” admits Lopez. “I should have applied more pressure and threw more with Florencia. I think I could have definitely beat her. She chose her punches really well and knew how to move out of the way. I think that would be a great fight [down the road].” 

In the tenth round of the match-up against Las Vegas, Lopez returned to her aggressive style against veteran Deanha Hobbs. Lopez utilized her come forward style and landed clean with both hands, while Hobbs attempted to box while backing up.  After two minutes, Lopez had rebounded with a unanimous decision. 

The next night of fights saw Lopez open the show with a clear-cut victory over Leanne Calderon of the Dallas Enforcers, before a rematch ten rounds later against the tall and rangy Jennifer Miranda on June 2nd. Miranda, who did not fight earlier in the night, stuck to her style of boxing at range and clinching whenever Lopez found her way in close. This time however, Lopez made it a closer fight, landing well with some head shots before Miranda was able to lock her up. The one-round decision went Miranda’s way by split verdict. 

“Lizette really did good in that fight, but since Miranda was potshotting and moving back, and grabbing into a clinch, it was difficult for her,” recalls Coach Gonzalez. “But she was slowly applying that pressure and getting more into her gamestyle, so with that type of fighter, like a Miranda, she would have slowly broke her down in maybe the third or fourth round, and slowly found the opportunity to finish her off [in a traditional bout.]. She was cutting off her angles and setting herself up so she could pin her up on the ropes, but that girl Miranda was awkward for everybody.” 

In the last week of the regular season, Lopez scored wins over Deanha Hobbs and Erisnelsy Torres Castillo on June 10th to close out her time as a member of the Los Angeles Tengoose, as her team did not qualify for the playoffs. In the first bout against Hobbs, Lopez controlled the action outside of one good right that found a home with about a half minute to go in the round. “There was that one shot, it was a good shot,” admits Lopez. “I am not going to lie. But I came out on top and I felt pretty good.” 

Lopez held a rare size advantage in her bout against Torres Castillo. The shorter fighter had trouble with Lopez’ reach and tried to swing in with looping punches. Lopez imposed her strength and rocked her opponent before the final bell en route to the decision. “I think I controlled the fight,” says Lopez. “I threw a lot of right hooks and I think I almost dropped her late in the round.” 

While still training in Los Angeles, Lopez got the call to replace a fighter on the DC Destroyers for their playoff match against the New York City Attitude in Long Beach, California on August 15th. The substitution meant a rematch of the most exciting fight of the competition was set, Lopez-Ocasio one more time. Lopez started out aggressive, just as in their previous encounters, while Ocasio attempted to box more than in their prior brawl. Several Lopez right hands were the most telling punches of the round, helping sway the bout in her favor. 

“I think that was my best performance of the whole show actually,” says Lopez. “I felt really, really good that fight. I believe I was coming in and coming out, and it was a hard time for her to hit me.” 

Watching the fight closely was coach Danny Gonzalez, who concurred with Lopez’ assessment of her performance that night. “What was the best fight for me, for Lizette, was the rematch when she fought [Ocasio] in the playoffs,” recalls Gonzalez. “In the first fight, they just sat down and were throwing blows and not really setting up their [offense.] It was one of the most amazing fights, and that is why they got nominated for the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier Award and they won it. That fight, I will never forget it. It was amazing and entertaining and they started a real great relationship. But after that, when they had their rematch, and by then we had been training together and established our gamestyle and our different strategies that would help her win the rounds that she fought, that fight was the most entertaining to me. She clearly did what we had strategized and what we had worked on after week five and for the rest of the show, when we really started getting into our groove, and I like that she showed dominance in that rematch fight.” 

After the playoffs, Lopez got one more night to showcase herself as she was named to the Team West all-star team to compete twice against Team East’s Tyriesha Douglas on August 20th. In the build-up to the showcase event, Douglas showed off her entertainer side by eating a sandwich on the scale at the weigh-in before an intense staredown as well as in a bravado-filled face-off segment on YouTube. By this time, it was clear that it was all in fun and the fighters had a mutual respect for one another. 

“In my mind I was just laughing about it,” recalls Lopez. “I think it was great that she did that because it brought so much more exposure to both of us and the show. I didn’t have any negative feelings about that or anything. It was all love, no hate with Tyriesha Douglas. She is a really good person and a really good fighter. I think we were just both going into the fight thinking we are going to give it a great fight and I think we did.” 

In a fitting conclusion, Lopez and Douglas split their two bouts. Lopez took the first round of the night by split decision by keeping the steadier pace and landing right uppercuts as Douglas faded a bit late. “I think I did pretty well,” says Lopez of that opening round. “It was just a little hard because going into it she’s like my friend. But I gave it my all and tried my best and I think I did pretty well.” 

In the second meeting, which was the 16th round of the night, Douglas won a unanimous nod after finding a home for her straight left hand for a couple of the more eye-catching blows. “I thought she took it honestly,” admits Lopez. “I thought she took it, but it is okay, it is all about the experience.” 

Lopez added greatly to her collection of supporters with her impressive showing throughout the Team Combat League competition. Los Angeles Tengoose assistant coach Danny Gonzalez counts himself as one of those believers in what the Salinas fighter could accomplish as she continues in her professional pursuits.

“Like I told her before she left, and I teared up a bit, because me and her were really bonding together,” recalls Gonzalez. “We were getting nothing but results and we were in the ring with some really tough opponents and we really held our ground and were doing really good. I told her, when you can focus and implement your strength and conditioning into what got accomplished in the last six weeks, I see nothing but super success for her. I think she can be a world champion easily because of her forward-style pressure and the way she moves and establishes her jab and she’s fierce, she’s smart, she digs uppercuts to the body and she knows how to get away from shots now that we focused on her defense. She would come a little bit too much with her forward offensive threat and she would get caught and lean forward, and she would lose rounds like that. But now that she has her feet under her and she’s managing her distance and being more intelligent with her feet, I see nothing but success for Lizette.” 

The future looks bright for Lopez, who remains ready in the gym for whatever comes next. “I do not have anyone [specifically] in mind, but whoever comes at me, trying to fight, I am ready for it,” says Lopez. “Whatever is for me, is for me. I am very grateful for the opportunity and the exposure. I got a lot of exposure out of this and I got to meet a lot of great people. Shout out to [TCL promoter] Akmed. He is a really great person that gave me the opportunity.”

With season one in the rearview, Lopez hopes to get another traditional professional bout under her belt before perhaps making a team for Team Combat League season two. Two teams have announced tryout schedules thus far, with the first one taking place November 4th as of press time. Season two kicks off on March 28, 2024 at a venue to be announced. 

Photo by Chris Farina

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

By Norm Frauenheim –

It’s a Thanksgiving weekend fight, a main event between David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade and a Holiday date projected to lead to a possible fight with Canelo Alvarez.

Sorry for the Thanksgiving reference, but it could set the table for what might be the biggest fight in 2024, which is planned for another May 5 celebration, Cinco in Mexico and Canelo de Mayo in Vegas

But there were no thanks for Canelo Thursday.

There were questions, of course. Follow the money. In boxing, that means follow Canelo.

“F— Canelo,’’ Andrade said Thursday in the first formal news conference announcing his super-middleweight fight with Benavidez at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay on Nov. 25, the Saturday after Turkey day.

Even without the Canelo intrigue, it’s an interesting fight, especially for Benavidez, who has formally changed his nickname since he overwhelmed Caleb Plant in a punishing late-round assault in a scorecard victory last March.

Benavidez used to call himself El Bandera Roja, The Red Flag, as in warning. But the Phoenix-born fighter, who will be 27 on December 17, has outgrown that one. By now, the warning is well-known enough to make some – perhaps even Canelo – wary.

Now, Benavidez calls himself “El Monstruo,” The Monster. That’s how he was introduced at Thursday’s newser in Los Angeles. In part, it’s what Mike Tyson called him more than a year ago. In fact, Tyson called him The Mexican Monster. But Benavidez simplified it, stripping it down to a scary simplicity. Trick or treat, he sees himself as The Monster, no nationality needed.

Canelo seems to have his own name for Benavidez. When asked about him after his one-sided decision over Jermell Charlo a few weeks ago, he used the same language that Andrade did Thursday.

“I don’t effing care,’’ Canelo said more than once.

Subtract the effing and that’s pretty much what Benavidez said about Canelo Thursday.

“I’m not worried about Canelo,’’ said Benavidez, who went on to say that only the Andrade fight concerned him.

On several levels, it was the right thing to say, of course. In tone, however, it was a different Benavidez, more pragmatic and perhaps a lot wiser. For a couple of years, he was always calling out Canelo with volumes of unabridged trash talk.

But the talk only seemed to anger Canelo, whose celebrity and documented pay-per-view number gives him all the leverage. He put Gennadiy Golovkin on ice, denying him a third fight until it was too late for GGG. Why? Maybe, because GGG angered him when he accused Canelo of being a user after a positive test for clenbuterol.

Silence on Canelo looks to be a smarter negotiating tactic. Besides, there’s only Andrade for now.

Lose to him, and Benavidez likely says goodbye to a chance at big money and a share of legacy. The oddsmakers like Benavidez to beat Andrade, a 35-year old former junior-middleweight and middleweight champ who will be fighting at 168 pounds for only the second time.

Benavidez, who will make his second appearance on Showtime pay-per-view, opened as a solid favorite, minus-320, which means he’s given about a 78 percent chance at winning.

Andrade, however, has a chance in part for skills that many say Benavidez does not have. Andrade has an Olympic pedigree. That means footwork and a high ring IQ. A fighter with an educated skillset say the critics, including ESPN analyst Tim Bradley, who says the 2008 Olympian’s footwork could lead to an upset.

“That’s why I’m taking this challenge,’’ Benavidez said. “I want to shut everybody up.’’

However, Benavidez dad, Jose Benavidez Sr, continues to talk, buoyed perhaps by his son’s powerful dominance, especially over the last four rounds.

“I think David stops him in the eighth round,’’ Jose Sr. said.

That would say it all.

NOTES: Initially, Benavidez-Andrade was headed to San Antonio, according to multiple sources and reports. It was moved to Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena within the last week. The move makes sense. Benavidez’ fan base is Phoenix, his hometown. Vegas is a lot closer to Phoenix than San Antonio. 15 rounds talked to some Benavidez fans. They said there’s a better chance of them traveling to Vegas than San Antonio on Thanksgiving weekend. Tickets went on sale Thursday.

There have been several reports that Benavidez’ older brother, Jose Benavidez Jr. will fight middleweight champion Jermall Charlo on the undercard. However, that bout has yet to be announced.

By Norm Frauenheim –

Other than heavyweight and perhaps welterweight, there’s no division that has had a bigger impact on boxing than middleweight. The names tell the story. Hagler, LaMotta, Hopkins, Zale, Monzon, the original Sugar and so many more.

Suddenly, however, it’s a weight class without a face. More mediocre than middle. The top of The Ring’s 160-pound rating is blank. A division without definition. The title is vacant, an empty lot in what used to be historical real estate.

Some of that might begin to change next week, October 14. A title unification between Janibek Alimkhanuly and Vincenzo Gualtieri is scheduled for Rosenberg, Texas.

It’s an ESPN fight. But a Houston suburb is a long way from Vegas, Los Angeles or New York. There’s a reason for that. Few know Janibek, the World Boxing Organization’s champion. Nobody knows Vincenzo Gualtieri, the International Boxing Federation’s belt holder. These guys need name tags. They have titles, but no name recognition.

Janibek is probably today’s best middleweight. He’s powerful and aggressive enough to be scary. But the Kazak is unknown, a reason perhaps that he continues to be ranked by The Ring and ESPN behind the widely known Gennadiy Golovkin, the 41-year-old fellow Kazak who relinquished his 160-pound titles last March, about six months after his forgettable scorecard loss at 168 pounds to Canelo Alvarez in a trilogy fight. For all anybody knows, the next time we see GGG might be at his Hall-of-Fame induction.

Then, there’s Gualtieri. Gualtieri answers an opening bell somewhere other than his home country, Germany, for the first time next week.

Chris Eubank, a much better-known middleweight contender from the UK, probably put it best weeks after his stoppage of Liam Smith in August. He was asked about fighting Janibek or Gualtieri.

“I don’t know who they are,” Eubank told Sky Sports. “And I’m in the game. So, the general public are not going to know who these guys are, which means it’s hard for them to tune in.’’

I bring all of this up because the fabled yet faded middleweight division is desperate for a fighter who has at least some name recognition. Enter Elijah Garcia.

There was a lot of controversy about Canelo’s decision over Jermell Charlo last Saturday on Showtime at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. But there were no complaints about Garcia’s dynamic stoppage of Armando Resendiz in the opener to a pay-per-view card that drew an audience reportedly between 650,00 and 700,000 customers.

Garcia delivered the best performance on a card that otherwise generated lots of social-media flak, mostly directed at Charlo, who appeared to be there only for a paycheck. For Garcia, there were cheers from a crowd that increasingly likes what it sees. It was the third straight time that Garcia, now 16-0 with 13 knockouts, has opened a pay-per-view show. It’s been an introduction that fans haven’t seen from Janibek, much less Gualtieri.

It’s also been an introduction that has created an appetite for more from Garcia, who has been adept at using social media since his amateur days. Potentially, his ongoing emergence is welcome news for a division fighting to reverse a slide into anonymity.

For Garcia, it’s an opportunity. The 20-year-old Arizona fighter, who grew up in Phoenix and has a ranch in Wittman, is known for a bold goal. Repeatedly, he says he wants to be a 21-year-old champion. He’s in the right place to pull that one off.

“I want to be a mandatory for a title pretty soon,’’ he said after delivering a beautiful combo – a left-handed body shot followed by a seamless right to the body then head in an eventual eighth-round stoppage of Resendiz. “I’ll be 21 in April and I’m gonna keep taking it one step at a time.’’

Garcia is clearly on the fast track. But that comes with a dilemma. Too fast is a risk. Janibek might be unknown. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t dangerous.

Garcia told 15 Rounds before the Canelo-Charlo card that he would want at least one more fight before a shot at a major title.

“I think I’m getting better every single fight and I think it starts in the gym,’’ he then said after the card. “I’m getting back in the gym on Monday. I just have to keep getting better every single fight, take it one step at a time, fight harder opponents and I’ll get that world title.’’

For now, Garcia will have to wait on the unpredictable collection of haphazard rankings by the acronyms. This week, he’s at No. 7, according to the IBF, which has vacancies at both No. 1 and No. 2. The WBC (World Boxing Council) puts him at No. 6 for a title held by the troubled and ever unpredictable Jermall Charlo, Jermell’s twin brother who reportedly will fight Arizona-born Jose Benavidez Jr. on Nov. 25 on a card projected to feature his brother — super-middleweight contender and Canelo possibility David Benavidez — against Demetrius Andrade.

Meanwhile, Garcia, No. 9 by The Ring, is suddenly at No. 2 by the notorious WBA (World Boxing Association) for a title held by Cuban Erislandy Lara, now 40.  Lara is expected to fight Danny Garcia.

In the WBO ratings, he’s No. 13 for the title held by today’s most feared middleweight, Janibek.

Add it all up, and Garcia’s ambitious goal looks doable, made possible by a young fighter who is introducing himself and maybe re-introducing an old weight class to fans.  

By Norm Frauenheim –

LAS VEGAS – It was only a show, but a big audience saw plenty.

Canelo Alvarez promises he’s back and – at first glance – it looks as if he’s not kidding.

Canelo stepped on the scale for a staged weigh-in Friday, looking a lot like the old Canelo, or at least the one who dominated pay-per-view sales and pound-for-pound debates before his upset loss to Dmitry Bivol.

Canelo’s work in the gym was evident in a redefined upper-body. Only after opening bell Saturday against Jermell Charlo will anybody know whether Canelo has redefined his career.

But a sculpted look was a sign he’s serious about halting an apparent decline that began with a scorecard loss to Bivol at light-heavyweight and continued with forgettable victories at super-middle-weight over Gennadiy Golovkin and John Ryder.

“The size factor is no matter here,” said Canelo (59-2-2, 39 KOs), the undisputed super-middleweight champion said after stepping off the scale a day before opening bell for his bout at T-Mobile Arena with Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs), undisputed at junior middle.  “I did that before and I felt good. So, it’s gonna be a great fight, and I’m ready for anything.’’

Both fighters were lighter than the super-middle mandatory, 168 pounds. Both were reported to be at 167.4 pounds at an official, Nevada State Athletic Commission weigh-in Friday morning behind closed doors at the MGM Grand.

A few hours later, they moved outdoors and onto a stage at an outdoor pavilion in front of T-Mobile. A big crowd was waiting. So were the beer vendors.

It was 96 degrees under an afternoon sun in the Nevada desert. The fighters did the sweating and some of the swearing.

“I’m a bad m-effer,’’ Charlo said.

The crowd did the drinking.

It also did the cheering, all for Canelo. Nobody is quite sure what had happened to him, post-Bivol. For a crowd full of the Canelo faithful, however, Friday’s show re-affirmed hopes that he’s back.

Betting odds suggest that he will be against Charlo on a Showtime pay-per-view card (5 pm PT/8 pm ET).

Late Friday, Canelo continued to be about a 4-to-1 favorite over Charlo, who is jumping up two weight classes. In his first fight at 168, there are questions about whether Charlo can endure Canelo’s punching power throughout the scheduled 12 rounds.

There’s also speculation about the condition of Charlo’s left hand. He suffered a reported fracture in the hand last December, eventually forcing him to withdraw from a key date with Tim Tszyu.

“I don’t speak on those things because, I don’t want to make an excuse for myself,” Charlo said to reporters Wednesday after the final news conference. “I want to go in there and be a dog.”

Also, Charlo has not been the non-stop trash talker most fans remember and expect. The bad m-effer has almost been polite. In part, he says, that’s because he hasn’t been around his notorious twin brother, Jermall Charlo.

“Just don’t got that noise in my head,’’ he said.

No noise, no chance? That’s just one question for a fight that on Friday, at least, hinted at an answer in some redefined body language from Canelo Alvarez. 

By Norm Frauenheim –

LAS VEGAS – Process and patience, routine and roadwork are at the beginning of any young fighter’s career. Jesus Ramos has done them all. Does them all. He’s made the weight and run the miles. The demanding lifestyle never changes a whole lot. Cheat the routine and you cheat the craft.

Ramos, a quiet 22-year-old, practices that craft, one he learned in the desert town of Casa Grande between Phoenix and Tucson. It’s a farming community known for some ancient Native American ruins. Mostly, it’s known for unforgiving summers. Phoenix is hot. Casa Grande is hell.

Ramos has emerged from that cauldron, tempered by an environment as unforgiving as his chosen profession. Try and cheat the desert at midday in July, and it’ll kill you. Cheat the craft, and it’ll beat you.

Place and profession, they are inseparable in Ramos, a fighter who seems to have an innate understanding of who he is, what he wants and what he can and can’t control in a game ruled by chaos. Break it all down, and it leaves only himself.

Perceptions change. Popularity moves up and down like mercury in thermometer. For Ramos, however, there’s the process, ongoing and now on the brink of another challenge Saturday night against experienced junior-middleweight contender Erickson Lubin in the co-main event on a Showtime pay-per-view card featuring Canelo Alvarez-versus-Jermell Charlo at T-Mobile Arena.

“I’m here to showcase my talent,’’ said Ramos (20-0, 16 KOs, who made weight Friday, tipping the scale at 153.4 pounds. “I’ve seen a lot of people say that I don’t have a lot of ring IQ.

“So, I’m looking to show that and other dimensions to my game. It’s going to be a new Jesus Ramos. It’s not really about exposing Lubin, but more about exposing my talent.’’

The new Jesus Ramos? More like the evolving Jesus Ramos. He’s just figuring out how good he is. He was called a prospect just a few months ago.  

“Now, I think of myself as a contender,’’ he said.

So, too, does everybody else. His sudden emergence is the reason he’s featured in the last fight on the pay-per-view (5 pm PT/8 pm PT) before the Canelo-Charlo show. There’s a sense, a buzz about Ramos. He looks as if he’s the real deal, a future star in a game searching for new blood.

It’s appropriate, perhaps, that he’s on a card expected measure whether the game’s long-reigning star, Canelo, has begun to fade. That, however, is just one of the many things Ramos can’t control. He can only beat Lubin (25-2, 18 KOs), who was also at 153.4 pounds Friday.

Lubin praises Ramos. But he also warns that the Arizona fighter is getting ahead of himself in so-called eliminator bout expected to earn the winner a shot at a junior-middleweight title.

Lubin, now 27, was once a young lion. He was 22, confident and very sure of himself. But that’s when Charlo beat him, knocking him out in October 2017. History, Lubin promises, is about to repeat itself.

“I took the Jermell Charlo fight at 22 and Jesus Ramos is doing the same thing, daring to be great by fighting somebody like me,’’ Lubin said. “I know he comes ready to fight, but I feel history repeats itself in my favor.’’

Ramos doesn’t exactly think in terms of history. He’ll leave that to Canelo. For him, it’s more about the resume. He needs an impressive entry, one that would qualify him for a job, a role as a challenger for a middleweight title.

“It’s really important that I dominate, because Lubin is so tough’’ Ramos said. “He’s given guys like Stephen Fundora a lot of trouble. It would be a big statement, a big win for my resume.’’

It’d also be another answer to questions about Ramos’ IQ, within the ropes and outside of them. He’s always learning, a fundamental part of a never-ending process forged by place and profession.

By Norm Frauenheim –

LAS VEGAS – Rounds in the gym are done.

Thursday, it was time for rounds – and more rounds — with the media for Elijah Garcia, who has moved swiftly through the prospect stage and graduated into a contender.

That graduation was confirmed by his promoter Tom Brown during an undercard news conference for Saturday’s Canelo Alvarez-Jermell Charlo fight at T-Mobile Arena.

Showtime’s pay-per-view telecast begins with Garcia (15-0, 12 KOs) against Armando Resendiz (14-1, 10 KOs) n a fight expected to do more than just warm up the audience with an opening act.

Brown expects it to create possibilities. Garcia-versus-Resendiz is a step toward a New Year.

“The winner of this fight will fight for a middleweight world title in 2024,’’ Brown said in introductory remarks in a crowded ballroom at the MGM Grand.

That, perhaps, wasn’t news to Garcia, one of two Arizona fighters on a pay-per-view card including Casa Grande junior-middleweight Jesus Ramos against Erickson Lubin in the co-main event.

Brown’s promotional plan aligns with Garcia’s goal to be a 21-year-old world champion.

It’s ambitious. Garcia is 20. He’ll be 21 next year, still an apprentice in a lot of other crafts. But that apprenticeship looks to be another completed round in Garcia’s emerging resume. Garcia’s career is taking off in terms of name-recognition and possibilities.

But all contenders are enrolled in the next step, a kind of finishing school for champions. The burden of proof is always there. What have you done for me lately?

Now, it’s up to Garcia to deliver that proof, that answer, against a 24-year-old fighter known for his toughness.

“I know Armando comes in shape, and he’s really strong,’’ said Garcia, who grew up in Phoenix and has a ranch in Wittman. “He throws a lot of punches, so I have to control the pace.

“You saw in his last fight what happens when he controls the pace. So, I’m definitely not going to let that happen.’’

Garcia is cool and confident. Both are there in his demeanor, whether at work within the ropes or on a stage with reporters. Both also are signs of an emerging craftsman ready for his next job. He’s prepared for the punches. And prepared for the questions.

He’s learning. Always learning, a task that ends only for former champions. From prospect to aspiring champion, one thing never changes. The student always has to be there.

“I try to choose the best opponent every time,’’ the student in Garcia said. “Armando was on the top of the list, because he’s gonna give me the experience I need. He’s gonna prepare me for the world title. I want to get better, each and every fight.’’

There’s only way to do that. The perennial student isn’t afraid of a lesson plan that includes some honest self-criticism.

“I don’t think my last performance was my best,’’ he said. “I started a little slow. But I’m gonna prove that I’ve got more experience than I showed.

“I’m a new class fighter and I’m gonna show I’m on a different level.’’’

By Norm Frauenheim –

LAS VEGAS – It’s a fight at the crossroads.

Canelo’s crossroads.

Where it’ll take him is just about anybody’s guess. There’s right. There’s left. And there’s nowhere, or at least no more. Canelo Alvarez has answered 63 opening bells over the last 18 years.

The 64^th is significant, but not for the way it’ll sound. Canelo has been answering opening bells the way the rest of the world answers its morning alarm. They’ve been his lifestyle, his 9-to-5 routine. It’s hard to imagine what he’d do – who he’d be – without one.

But Jermell Charlo is there, promising to end the only thing Canelo has ever known Saturday night in a Showtime pay-per-view bout at T-Mobile Arena. Charlo looms as an unlikely threat to undo that Canelo identity.

Canelo, perhaps, will prove just how unlikely. All the documented data suggests that’s what will happen.

Charlo, an undisputed champion at junior-middleweight, is jumping up two weight classes in a bid to upset Canelo, undisputed at super-middle.

Charlo has been idle for more than a year. Above all, he’s never been subjected to the pressures that accompany the kind of stage occupied by Canelo for so long.

“He’s gonna feel it,’’ Canelo said at a news conference Wednesday in a crowded ball room at the MGM Grand. “It’s hard to explain it, but it’s just something different. He’s not used to being in there with a fighter like me.’’

That begs a question, one that served as something of a promotional theme ever since the fight was announced in the summer months.

After all of those opening bells and subsequent punishment, just who is Canelo? The same fighter he believes himself to be? Still the aggressive finisher who stopped a then-feared Sergey Kovalev in the 11^th round in November 2019?

Or is he at the end? It’s too easy to suggest that Canelo’s career is at the precipice. Still, there are signs he’s preparing for life after he answers that last bell. He’s selling his own brand, VMC, of Tequila cocktails. In and around his hometown, Guadalajara, he has his own line of gas stations, Canelo Energy.

Energy, of course, is one of the factors in Canelo’s perceived decline. Over his last three fights, there’s just been none of it in the late rounds. By the seventh or eighth, Canelo is running on empty.

Maybe, it’s just been a question of conditioning or injuries, especially to his left hand.The hand, he said, is fine, back to what it was following surgery.

But if that energy crisis continues Saturday night, the career is problematic.

Potentially, it could put a fatigued Canelo in jeopardy against a fighter, Charlo, who is known for staging the late assault. Charlo, a lot like possible Canelo foe David Benavidez, gets on a roll over the final three to four rounds

Canelo promises he’ll have the right counter to whatever Charlo plans to deliver.

“I never overlook any fighter,’’ said Canelo, who switched up his usual routine with a training camp at altitude in the Nevada mountains near Reno. “I know what he brings and I’m ready.

“I’ve been in there with all types of fighters. He hasn’t experienced this kind of level of fight. You will see and you will learn.’’

Throughout Wednesday’s newer, there were moments when he sounded like the fighter known worldwide today as simply Canelo. He finds motivation. He uses it. He remembers Charlo for criticism of his skillset.

“He never believed in my skills.” he said. “…Now, I have the opportunity to show my skills.’’

Charlo, known for crazy trash talk earlier in his career, has said little to annoy Canelo. If anything, the Houston fighter has been cautiously complimentary. Wednesday’s news conference was notable for all the slurs that weren’t said and all the shoves that were deliver. By boxing standards, it was polite.

Only a lion might complain.

Charlo likes to think of himself in lion-like terms. They are lionized, stitched across the front of  his caps and shirts.

“I’m an effing lion,’’ he roared during the news conference.

Canelo smiled.

“I don’t know what animal I need to be,’’ he said.

Probably the animal he used to be.    

Depending on the pundit doing the autopsy, Canelo Alvarez is – or isn’t — in decline.

It’s a story line that has become Canelo’s motivation and almost a theme for the promotion of his Sept. 30 date with Jermell Charlo on Showtime pay-per-view at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Canelo has endured his share of controversy. But not much adversity. Within the ropes, at least, he’s never been knocked down. Some believe those same ropes saved him from a trip to the canvas in 2010, Canelo, then 19, rebounded, bouncing off ropes at Vegas’ MGM Grand like a projectile from a slingshot.

A first-round assault from Jose Cotto, Miguel Cotto’s brother, put him there, in peril yet never finished.  He went on to win a ninth-round stoppage. It was a moment that summed up a career with few missteps.

Since then, nobody has been able to knock him off his feet. Not Gennadiy Golovkin. Not Floyd Mayweather. Not Dmitry Bivol.

Through 63 fights, Canelo has remained upright, always surefooted, throughout nearly two decades in a place full of chaos, cheap shots, slick spots and accidents.

Boxing is a sucker for the drama that transpires when a fighter gets up, off the deck to win. Yet, it has never seen Canelo in that moment. He loses. But he never falls.

Yet, an evident decline, starting with a scorecard loss to Bivol in May 2022, has fellow fighters, rival trainers and pundits wondering whether Canelo’s career is where he was 13 years ago: Off-balance and held up by only the ropes.

Maybe. A week before opening bell, time looms as a bigger question than Charlo. For Canelo, age is only a number on his birth certificate. He’s 32, still standing and squarely within the middle of the traditional window defined as prime time.

Instead, the relevant measure is 18 years. That’s how long he’s been a prizefighter, swapping punches and punishment for paychecks.

He’s been there, in harm’s way, longer than Aaron Rodgers, whose 17 years as an NFL quarterback suffered a career-threatening injury to an Achilles tendon a few weeks ago in the opening moments of his debut with the New York Jets.

Betting odds, at least, continue to suggest that Canelo will get his career off the metaphorical ropes this time with a victory over Charlo, whose power at junior-middleweight might not be there at super-middle.

As he has for the last couple of years, Canelo might tire in the later rounds. But everything in his long career says his durable defense will keep him there, throughout the scheduled 12 rounds. 

The prevailing bet is that the fight will go to the scorecards. But that leaves a prevailing question: Can Charlo win a decision? The promotional tag for the fight is Undisputed. Charlo is the undisputed champ at junior-middle; Canelo is undisputed at 168. There’s some fear that Undisputed will be a huge dispute if it goes to the judges.

Canelo, currently about a 4-to-1 favorite, figures to be the overwhelming favorite among fans in front of an expected capacity crowd at T-Mobile. 

Charlo can win, even if it’s close, but only if he forgets about the judges, says his former trainer, Ronnie Shields.

“That’s the biggest problem,’’ Shields said during a Zoom session with reporters. “But going in, you can’t think about that. Just go in to win rounds, round after round.

“Charlo has to make sure he wins rounds convincingly. You won’t win close rounds against Canelo.’’

Shields picks Charlo to win by split decision. Charlo, he says, has an edge, especially late.

“Charlo is one of the few fighters who holds his power throughout the whole fight.,’’ Shields said.” You don’t get too many of those.’’

You don’t get too many decisions over Canelo, either. For Charlo, the question is whether the power will be decisive enough – early or late – to do what no one else has: Knock down Canelo.

By Norm Frauenheim –

Microphones become megaphones. Humble turns to hype. If noise is a way to measure a fight, Canelo Alvarez-Jermell Charlo is a biggie.

Opening bell is still a couple of weeks away, but the talk got a lot louder this week at media workouts, first with Charlo at home in Houston and then Canelo at altitude near Lake Tahoe.

Charlo turned it up a decibel or ten, saying that a victory over the favored Canelo on Sept. 30 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on Showtime pay-per-view would ensure him of a place alongside the greats.

“If I accomplish this massive goal, it’ll be hard to top,’’ Charlo said on the live-stream. “I’ll be in the record book with the greats of boxing for a long time.”

Move over Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler. Make room for a fifth King.

Charlo, undisputed champion at junior-middleweight, has never been shy, of course. He argues he’s already done enough to be in the Hall of Fame. I guess that means Dmitry Bivol is already in that book of greats and enshrined in the Canastota Hall. I mean, didn’t Bivol beat Canelo about 17 months ago?

In 21 fights, Bivol is unbeaten. In 37 bouts, Charlo has one loss and a draw. Bivol, a light heavyweight, can’t call himself undisputed, a claim defined by a so-called four-belt era. But who knows when four belts become five belts, then six belts? Belts, all attached to sanctioning fees, are like dollars. They’re inflationary.

Amid Charlo’s hyper-ventilating, however, there was a reflective moment.

“I would’ve fought Canelo years ago, and it probably wouldn’t have been as big as it is now,’’ he said.

The bout, at super-middleweight, is magnified in all ways by Canelo, undisputed at 168 pounds. There’s everything and everyone that the Mexican star and reigning pay-per-view draw brings to the ring. Now, there’s more. There’s evidence of a decline in Canelo’s career. It’s no secret

It’s a decline that started with – and because of — Bivol. Forgettable victories over Gennadiy Golovkin in a second rematch and journeyman John Ryder followed. Each of those only raised more questions. 

It all adds up to adversity Canelo hasn’t faced since his loss to Floyd Mayweather a decade ago. On Thursday, Mayweather’s scorecard victory happened exactly 10 years ago — Sept. 14 2013.

The Mayweather loss, however, happened when Canelo was young, 23. He isn’t anymore. He’s 33, a primetime age that really doesn’t reflect the punishment he’s endured. It’s been inevitable. Cumulative, too.

I thought of Canelo when I saw Aaron Rodgers tumble onto the turf Monday night with a torn Achilles tendon after only four snaps as the New York Jets new quarterback and long-awaited savior.

The 39-year-old Rodgers is a 17-year NFL veteran. Canelo, six years younger, has been boxing professionally for 18 years. Despite their difference in age, Rodgers and Canelo are old men on the career clocks that measure wear and tear in two dangerous sports.

At the moment of Rodgers’ injury, it almost looked incidental. But it wasn’t. It was potentially career ending, a symptom of the vulnerability almost built into the end of any long run. Only Father Time is unbeaten.

Time, more than Charlo, looks to be Canelo’s real challenge. He’s under contract with PBC for two more fights after Sept. 30.

He says he might fight until he’s 37. At camp Wednesday, he sounded like the vintage Canelo, the fighter who always arms himself with motivation that comes more from alleged insults than accurate punches.

Canelo said he remembers how Jermell and his twin brother, Jermall, questioned his ring skill about five years ago. He said this fight is a chance to prove them wrong.

“I never forget, no,’’ Canelo said.

Never is one thing Canelo and time have in common. It never stops.

By Norm Frauenheim –

History has always motivated Canelo Alvarez. He fights to make some. Now, it looks as if he’s fighting not to become some.

The 33-year-old Mexican, the pay-per-view star of his generation, enters the ring for the first bout in another rich deal in three weeks amid uncertainty about his career. What’s left?

Against Jermell Charlo on September 30 at Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena in a Showtime pay-per-view bout, the task is to reverse a decline that isn’t exactly a secret anymore. His fans have seen it. Those close to him talk about it. Only he can reverse it.

But skepticism is everywhere, enough of it to wonder whether Charlo can spring an upset that would raise inevitable questions about Canelo’s future.

Five years ago, Charlo wouldn’t have been perceived as a threat. The junior-middleweight, 154-pound champion is jumping up a couple of weight classes to face Canelo, who has all of the relevant belts at 168-pounds. Charlo has been idle for more than a year. His last fight was a stoppage of Brian Castano in May 2022. He’s spent his career at junior-middle.

Those are documented items on a resume that should make Canelo the overwhelming favorite. For now, they are still enough to persuade the betting public. When news of the fight was disclosed in July, most betting services had Canelo at minus-280, meaning there was a 69.7-percent chance of a Canelo victory.

A couple of months later, Canelo is at minus-310, meaning his chances at winning have improved to 75.2 percent.

Canelo has fought and won at heavier weights, including a defining late-round stoppage of once-feared Sergey Kovalev in 2019. He’s busier.

Yet, the uncertainty persists. It was there in a virtual news conference Wednesday with prominent trainers Ronnie Shields, Bob Santos, Calvin Ford and Robert Garcia, who like everybody else witnessed Canelo struggle through his last three fights.

There was the scorecard loss to light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, also in May 2022. A dull decision in a long-awaited third fight over Gennadiy Golovkin followed. Then, there was another forgettable decision over journeyman John Ryder.

When asked for a pick, there was a split decision from the trainers.

Shields picked Charlo. “I think, Jermell wins by split decision,’’ said Shields, his former trainer, who still trains his twin brother, Jermall.

Santos, the 2022 Ring Magazine’s Trainer of the Year, leans toward Canelo “55-45” in a fight he says will end in a KO.

Ford, Gervonta Davis’ trainer, didn’t pick a winner. Like Santos, however, he foresees a knockout. “Somebody is going to sleep,” Ford said. “I don’t know which one, but someone is going to sleep.”

Garcia, whose resume also includes Trainer of the Year, picks Canelo, yet foresees different scenarios in which either can win.  “This is a tough one to pick,’’ Garcia said. “If Canelo wins by knockout, I think it’s under eight rounds. Late rounds is where Charlo could actually stop Canelo. If it goes the distance, I think Canelo edges a decision.”

There’s consensus about only one thing: Charlo has a chance, mostly because nobody knows whether Canelo’s last three fights are an aberration or evidence of an irreversible decline.

A key to the younger Canelo’s emergence was a willingness to learn from defeat. He was a 23-year-old student when he was schooled by then 36-year-old Floyd Mayweather.

A decade later, there are questions about whether a long career has eroded Canelo’s physical capacity to learn and rebound from Bivol, only his second loss in 63 fights.

In an effort to resurrect the fighter who was there against Kovalev, Canelo has altered his preparation. He moved his training camp to the mountains near Reno. He’s working at altitude, a sign that he hopes to eliminate fatigue that was evident late in each of his last three fights.

“It’s gonna be one of those challenges that Canelo will need to be in top shape for,’’ Garcia said. “The size won’t matter. I’m pretty sure when it comes to fight night, they’ll be around the same weight. It’s gonna be very competitive and I can’t wait.

“Everyone says that Canelo is one of the hardest working fighters they’ve ever seen. But Canelo hasn’t looked that good his last couple of fights. That is a reason to give Charlo a really good chance. Charlo is not gonna hold back.

“You can train to the best of your abilities, but sometimes your body just doesn’t respond as well. Canelo may be training as hard as ever, but he’s had 18 years as a professional fighter.

“I still pick him to win the fight, but I don’t think it’s gonna be easy.’’

History never is.

By Norm Frauenheim –

Arizona’s early identity was once defined by a Chamber of Commerce kind of acronym – the five Cs – that stood for Copper, Cattle, Cotton, Citrus and Climate.

Somehow, Cactus, Canyons and Crazy – as in growth – got left out. Like AZ itself, however, it’s a changing acronym, which means at least one more C.

C, for Contenders.

That one might evolve to mean Champions, but that depends on David Benavidez, Jesus Ramos and Elijah Garcia.

Average age: 26.66 years old. Garcia, of Phoenix, is 20. Ramos, of Casa Grande, is 22. Benavidez, also of Phoenix, is 26, a senior only in terms of experience.

Time belongs to all three. Their prime approaches, a strong sign that the state’s emergence as a primetime boxing market will continue.

Phoenix likes to brag about its status as a major-league market. Add boxing – forever confined to the so-called fringe in other cities — to a list that includes the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL.

There are some questions about the NHL. At times, the Coyotes look as if they’ll melt away faster than ice in 120-degree heat. But boxing has moved into the arena that the Coyotes left.

It’s a working example of Rodney Dangerfield’s old joke, but with a twist. Went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out, Dangerfield cracked. The twist: The fight has replaced the hockey. At least, it has in Glendale.

At Desert Diamond Arena’s last card on August 12, Top Rank opened up some upper-level seats to accommodate the demand for Emanuel Navarrete’s dramatic decision over Oscar Valdez Jr. in a Fight-of-the-Year contender. More than 10,000 roared throughout 12 rounds of the junior-lightweight fight.

It was another sign of AZ’s place in real estate otherwise limited mostly to Las Vegas, New York and Los Angeles.

Multiple reasons explain the state’s emergence. The population has exploded, including the Mexican and Mexican-American dynamic, the key demographic in boxing’s fan base.

But there’s more. From Hall-of-Famer Michael Carbajal in the 1990s and Louie Espinoza, Zora Folley and Jimmy Martinez before him, boxing has always been part of AZ. Gyms dot the Phoenix landscape like potholes. There are heavy bags hanging from tree limbs in backyards. There are kids skipping rope on sidewalks outside of downtown barber shops. There are rings inside of old churches and abandoned storefronts.

Fifteen years ago, Benavidez, Ramos and Garcia were among those kids. They, like the market, have emerged, almost on parallel paths.

Of the three, Benavidez is the best known, mostly because of his long, still futile, pursuit of a showdown with Canelo Alvarez, the unified super-middleweight champion.

As of Thursday, Benavidez, who lives and trains in Seattle these days, was still in talks for a deal to fight Demetrius Andrade later this year.

Meanwhile, Benavidez, who fights with Phoenix stitched across the back belt of his trunks, can only continue to win while waiting on Canelo.

The Mexican pay-per-view star has a date with Jermell Charlo on Sept. 30. He’s also talking about a fight with welterweight Terence Crawford, who left no doubt about his pound-for-pound dominance in a stunning stoppage of Errol Spence Jr., a month ago.

Crawford, too, is talking about fighting Canelo at a catch weight. First, however, he’s obligated to fight Spence in a rematch.

As expected, Spence exercised his contractual right to a rematch, according to multiple reports Thursday.

No news yet on date or site. No news either on the weight. After Crawford’s one-sided victory at 147 pounds, Spence said he would want the rematch to be at 154.

Meanwhile, nobody is talking about Benavidez.

But, again, Benavidez has time. His prime awaits. Canelo or no Canelo, his future is still very much intact, probably at light-heavyweight. He says he’ll fight three more times at super-middleweight before moving up the scale in perhaps a goodbye to Canelo, whose primetime appears to be slip, slip-sliding away.

While Benavidez continues to train and hope for a big payday against Canelo, he and the AZ connection are sure to be there throughout the build-up for Canelo-Charlo.

Ramos and Garcia will make that angle inescapable. Both will be featured on the Showtime pay-per-view undercard – Ramos (20-0, 16 KOs) against contender Erickson Lubin (25-2, 18 KOs) at junior-middleweight and Garcia (15-0, 12 KOs) against Armando Resendiz (14-1, 10 KOs) at middleweight.

Ramos and Garcia appeared together on the same stage Tuesday at a news conference in Los Angeles. For the first time, they’ll appear together on a PPV card.

For both, it’s another fight in a year that has brought them to prominence. Already, both are ranked among the top contenders by the various sanctioning bodies.

Ramos, currently as hot as any prospect in boxing, is ranked among the first five at 154 pounds.

Garcia, who continues to wear the 602 Phoenix area code across the front of his waistband, is among the top 10 at 160.

“This has been the biggest year of my life,’’ said Garcia, whose goal is to be a 21-year-old world champion “It’s been crazy, a snap of a finger and I’m blowing up.’’

For Ramos, Lubin represents another step in a process he hopes will further prepare him for his chance at a major title.

“I’m going to take a lot from fighting Lubin,’’ Ramos said. “After this fight, I’ll be a different fighter. …

“”Whatever I have to do to win, I’m ready for. I’m here to dominate. I want to make a statement, and in order to do that, I have to dominate. That’s the plan.’’

While watching Garcia and Ramos share a stage, I could only wonder whether they might share a ring one day, maybe on a card featuring Benavidez in his prime.

A lot more would have to happen for that one to become a plan and then an opening bell. Above all, they’d have to keep winning, enough for each to win a major belt. For now, at least, they’re close enough in weight.

From A to Z, they’re also products of a market place poised to add another champion or three to its legacy of Cs.

By Norm Frauenheim –

Oleksandr Usyk is going into a fight against Daniel Dubois while talking about Tyson Fury.

If that sounds confusing, it is.

Then again, this is the heavyweight division, often as exasperating as it is entertaining.

“I need him,’’ Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) said of Fury in an interview with the BBC just a week before risking his heavyweight titles against Dubois (19-1, 18 KOs) Saturday (ESPN+, 5 pm ET/2 pm PT) in Wroclaw Poland, not far from Usyk’s war-torn home in the Ukraine.

Usyk is right, of course. No showdown with Fury leaves Usyk with an incomplete resume. At 36, there’s not much time left for Usyk to punctuate his career with the fight that could define a legacy. He wants to be remembered.

“People will talk about our fight for 20, 30, 40 years,’’ he said. “We need to fight.’’

The division, boxing’s old flagship, needs them to fight, too. But the inability to put together a deal is a many-layered sign that the unpredictable Fury just isn’t interested. He’s been there before. He came roaring back with a memorable trilogy against Deontay Wilder. The third fight was wild, a violent five-knockdown epic a couple of years ago.

Then, it was a celebration of what the heavyweight division was.

And still can be.

The inherent power was there. So, too, was the danger, the risk to both Fury, the winner, and to Wilder, the loser left on the canvas in an exhausted, broken heap midway through the eleventh. Loser and winner, each paid in ways still impossible to imagine.

Since then, Wilder has fought once, scoring a quick KO of Robert Helenius Now, he says he’s in talks with Anthony Joshua, who seems to be in a perpetual search to re-discover the guy who retired Wladimir Klitschko in April 2017.

Fury has fought twice, first scoring a sixth-round stoppage of Dillian Whyte and then a 10^th-round TKO of Derek Chisora. Both were as predictable as they were forgettable.

Now, Fury, still the World Boxing Council’s champion, has an off-beat bout scheduled with MMA power striker Francis Ngannou on October 28 in Saudi Arabia. Ngannou will have Mike Tyson in his corner. But none of Evander Holyfield’s skill will be there.

For Fury, it’s another chance at some sports-wash money. It’s also a way to avoid another bout that would likely include a further toll, a physical price hard to calculate. Fury has said he suffered a couple of concussions against Wilder. Fury, of course, says a lot of things. He’s a lousy-lounge act. But the concussions are believable. Fury-Wilder 3 was a concussive fight for both.

Usyk, the best cruiserweight champion ever, is an undersized heavyweight, especially by today’s NBA-like standards. But his skillset is comprehensive and disciplined. The mindset is a mix, both fearless and clever. Combine skill and mind, and Usyk represents a real test of what’s left of Fury.

It’s not clear Fury wants to take that kind of risk anymore. He’s talked retirement. He even insisted that he was retired in 2022. That lasted for a few weeks. It was funny, but it also suggests he’s not sure whether he still wants to fight.

In part, that might explain why Usyk and Fury couldn’t agree to a 50-50 purse split for a fight in London. Usyk has three of the belts; Fury has one. Fifty-fifty sounds fair. But Fury reportedly demanded the lion’s share. When he didn’t get it, he cracked jokes, insults and then scheduled one of those awkward MMA-boxer bouts for money big enough to be a Phil Mickelson wager.

Usyk promoter Alexander Krassyuk told Boxing Social he will continue to pursue a fight with Fury. That, of course, hinges on an expected Usyk victory over Dubois. Usyk was at 220.9 pounds and Dubois at 233.2 at Friday’s weigh-in.

Krassyuk is confident the money will be there, probably in Saudi Arabia. But Fury’s willingness to risk belts, body and brain once more?

“That’s the only thing pending,’’ Krassyuk said. “If he’s ready, then he’s ready.

“If he’s not, then there’s nothing we can do about it and no money in the world can buy his consent.”

By Norm Frauenheim –

Canelo Alvarez has always had a testy relationship with critics. The super-middleweight champion, who has a mean counter in the ring, is quick to angrily counter anyone who delivers a pointed question at a news conference.

But criticism can be an ally. It’s beginning to sound as if Canelo has realized that much in the face of questions about an evident decline in his rich career.

Yes, he hasn’t been at his best, he said in Beverly Hills CA Wednesday in the second coast-to-coast news conference this week.

“We’ll see if it’s true that I’ve lost a step,’’ Canelo said twenty-four hours after a newser in New York. “We’ll see. I understand what the people said, and I agree.

“I didn’t look my best in my last two fights, but I know why and I’m ready for this fight. We’ll see what happens. We’re going to see something different.’’

Something different might actually mean somebody familiar. For about a year-and-a half, the punishing domination that defined Canelo hasn’t been there.

It was gone in sluggish performances in victories over Gennadiy Golovkin in a third fight and then a so-called tune-up against John Ryder.

It’s a decline that began with a scorecard loss to light-heavyweight champion to Dmitry Bivol in May 2022.

It’s easy to over-analyze anything said or done at a boxing news conference. But Canelo’s surprising acknowledgement is sign that he’s taken a hard look at himself. To wit: Decline is hard to reverse if self-denial stands in the way.

The real genesis of Canelo’s brilliant career happened because of a scorecard loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September 2013.

It was a majority decision. Truth is, it was a one-sided loss, a majority embarrassment. Canelo heard the criticism, especially from his Mexican fans.

He sifted through that defeat for the lessons it left. He then went back to work, transforming himself into the pound-for-pound, pay-per-view star who – from this corner – was at his dominant best in an 11^th-round stoppage of former light-heavyweight king Sergey Kovalev in November 2019.

There’s been a lot of money and public adulation ever since. Through it all, an increasingly-insulated Canelo grew increasingly-impatient with criticism.

Through it all, he also might have suffered an inevitable erosion in his physical reflexes. Endurance has become a huge issue.

He tires in the later rounds, a problem that could be a critical factor against Charlo, a junior-middleweight champion who looked like the bigger man in face-off photos from Beverly Hills and New York.

That evident fatigue is a reason, perhaps, that Canelo continues to sidestep calls for him to fight David Benavidez. As of Thursday, the Phoenix-born super-middleweight was still in negotiations for a fight later this year with unbeaten Demetrius Andrade, a 35-year-old lefthander.

Benavidez is reportedly still in play for a shot at Canelo, if both win. Benavidez is a PBC fighter. Canelo’s fight with Charlo is the first in a three-fight deal with PBC. The deal can be done. But it’s still not clear whether Canelo wants a fight that fans have been demanding for at least a couple of years.

It depends on Charlo. Does Canelo beat him? If he does, how does he perform? If fatigue continues to be an issue, Benavidez could be a big problem.

There are moments when Benavidez looks to be inexhaustible. His energy appears to be at its highest in the later rounds.  Think of a snowball going down a steep hill. It only gains momentum and usually ends in a dangerous avalanche that buries anything, anyone in its way.

In this week’s newsers, Charlo said something that could have been said by Benavidez

“My whole career has kind of been all about chasing Canelo,’’ Charlo said.

For Benavidez, that chase might be getting closer to an end. If Charlo beats Canelo, it’s virtually over. Instead, it then might become Benavidez-versus-Charlo.

Canelo is expected to win. He opened as a 2-1 favorite over Charlo in early July. According to some betting sites, the line has been pushed to 4-1. It’s a bet, perhaps, that the old Canelo will remerge, maybe a step slower but still smart enough to know how to adjust.

Canelo-Charlo card to feature best of AZ

From A-to-Z, 22-year-old junior-middleweight Jesus Ramos and 20-year-old middleweight Elijah Garcia are two of boxing’s best prospects.  

AZ’s emerging combo will give the Canelo-Charlo undercard some real punch.

Ramos (20-0, 16 KOS), of Casa Grande south of Phoenix, faces Erickson Lubin (25-2, 18 KOs), of Orlando, 15 Rounds has confirmed. Ramos withdrew from a scheduled bout on the Terence Crawford-Errol Spence card on July 29 because of a hand injury.

The Lubin date will be Ramos’ second at junior-middle. He made his debut at 154 pounds in an impressive stoppage of Joey Spence on the undercard of Benavidez’ decision over Caleb Plant on March 25 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

Garcia (15-0, 12 KOs), of Phoenix, will face Armando Resendiz (14-1, 10 KOs), of Mexico. Garcia has been penciled in for the card for several weeks. But his opponent wasn’t named until this week in a Boxing Scene report from the New York news conference.

Garcia is coming off a decision over Kevin Salgado on the April 22 card featuring Tank Davis’ stoppage of Ryan Garcia at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Both the Ramos-Lubin and Garcia-Resendiz bouts are scheduled for the pay-per-view portion of the Showtime telecast.

Iron Boy card set for Saturday

The AZ boxing market stays busy Saturday night with promoter Robert Vargas’ latest Iron Boy card at Celebrity Theatre, just east of downtown Phoenix.

Junior-welterweights Trini Ochoa (15-0) of Mesa, and Miguel Zamudio (45-17-1), of Mexico, are scheduled for the main event.

In his last bout, Zamudio got stopped by Lindolfo Delgado, who won a decision last Saturday in the co-main event on a card featured by Emanuel Navarrete’s unanimous decision over Oscar Valdez Jr. in a Fight-of-the-Year contender at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, west of Phoenix.

First bell is scheduled for 5 p.m. (Arizona time).

UNCASVILLE, CT – Summer Heat 2023 nearly boiled over today after all of the fighters successfully made weight at Mohegan Sun Arena.  

Only a handful of tickets are left for a massive August 12th double header featuring Chordale “The Gift” Booker’s first defense of his WBC US Super Welterweight title against Nicolas Hernandez as well as the return of 4 time, 2 division champion Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.  

Tickets can be purchased online at CESfights.com, Ticketmaster or at the Mohegan Sun box office.  The event will be streamed live at SpectationSports.com beginning at 7pm EST for those watching at home.  In addition to 8 professional bouts, fans will be treated to the “Jimmy Burchfield Classic Invitational,” a USA sanctioned amateur showcase beginning at 4:30pm EST.

Weights from Uncasville, Connecticut:

• Chordale Booker 153 vs. Nicolas Hernandez 154; Super Welterweights

Chordale Booker: “I’m defending my belt.  I’m going to do the same thing I did in my last fight: I’m going to finish him.  Tomorrow when I defend my belt, it’s going to be worse than what I did when I won it. He’s going to pay for every mistake. I’m ready to beat his ass right now!”      

Nicolas Hernandez: “I’m here for one job – to fight and to win.  It’s not about what I do better than him or what he does better.  We’re going to trade punches and either he’s going to finish me or I’m going to finish him.”

• Jaime Clampitt 131 vs. Josefina Vega 132.5; Lightweights

Jaime Clampitt: “I trained extremely hard for this.  I think this has been my hardest training camp yet and I’m here to win.  This means the world to me.  I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I finally feel like I’m getting the fights I need and the recognition.”    

Josefina Vega: “I’m going to show that us women can fight.  I’m well prepared and ready for this bout and I’m here to put on a great show.  I’m going to leave my heart and soul in the ring – that’s what I prepared for.”  

• Alejandro Paulino 131.5 vs. Julian Aristule 135; Lightweights

Alejandro Paulino: “Camp is always great.  We train hard for everyone, so I’m more than ready for tomorrow night.  We’re going to put on a great show.  I have power in both hands, so he better watch out!”

Julian Aristule: “I’m going to box to victory tomorrow.  We can box or we can brawl, but I came all the way from Argentina for this, and my punch variety will be the difference.”

Other weights:

• Wilson Mascarenhas 142 vs. Anthony Mora 138; Super Lightweights

• Anthony Velasquez 162 vs. Mario Bustos 172; Middleweights
• Mike Kimbel 141.5 vs. Stephen Davis 140.5; Super Lightweights
• Jeffrey Gonzalez 147.5 vs. Joe Wilson Jr. 140.2; Welterweights
• Slawomir Bohdziewicz 201 vs. Gabriel Costa 201; Cruiserweights

For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

INFORMATION

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the east coast.  Founded by Jimmy Burchfield Sr. in 1992, CES has promoted several world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, and Ray Oliveira.  CES Boxing has promoted such superfights as “The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones” and “The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton”.

By Norm Frauenheim

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez Jr. fight is a tough call, so tough that neither Marco Antonio Barrera nor Erik Morales will pick a winner.

Navarrete-Valdez has been marketed as a possible successor to the Barrera-Morales trilogy, an iconic rivalry in Mexican boxing.

It’s no coincidence that both Barrera and Morales have been a big part of the promotion. They were featured in the ESPN promo, Hecho en Mexico.

They were on the stage at the formal news conference Thursday.

Barrera sat next to Valdez (31-1, 23 KOs), the challenger and a slight betting favorite tonight (7 p.m./ ESPN) at Desert Diamond Arena.  Morales sat next to Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs), the World Boxing Organization’s junior-lightweight champion.

“It’s complicated,’’ Morales said Friday after both fighters made weight, although Navarrete needed two trips to the scale to make the 130-pound mandatory. Valdez was at 129.8.

It’s complicated, perhaps, because of the divergent styles.

Navarrete, long and lanky, is awkward. His punches come from all kinds of angles, all with great velocity.

If one is a trademark, it’s his uppercut. If it travels through Valdez’ upraised gloves, splitting his disciplined defensive posture, it could end, then and there.

However, Navarette’s long, often wild-swinging style opens him up to a precisely-delivered hook.  Valdez’ left is one of the best in the business.

Navarrete got dropped by a right hook from little-know Australian Liam Wilson in the fourth round last February, also at Desert Diamond. He got up and won by ninth-round TKO, but only after he spit out his mouthpiece, forcing a controversial 27-second delay.

Complications are Morales’ way of saying anything can happen. Either fighter can win.

But there’s friendship, too.

“They are my amigos,’’ Barrera said through an interpreter. “I’ve talked to both. I like both of them a lot. I just can’t pick a winner.’’

Barrera was at Valdez’ side as they stepped onto the stage for the weigh-in. Morales was alongside Navarrete, who spent some of his time training at Morales’ gym in Tijuana.

“The winner will be the public,’’ said Barrera, who might have a future as a politician.  

By: David Galaviz

Glendale, AZ —Locally-known fighters, both from Phoenix, have been on a collision course. The build up has been heating up over time. On Saturday night on the the Navarrete-Valdez card at Desert Diamond Arena, they both have the chance to steal the show. In the second bout of the night Eduardo “Chi Chi” Ayala 9-3-1(3KOs) takes on Sergio “Checo” Rodriguez 7-0-1 (6KOs). At Thursday’s press conference both stated that they are excited for this opportunity and look to prove they’re next name fighter to represent Phoenix in the world of boxing. With both of fighters coming up with Iron Boy Promotions, it was destined for them to face off in the ring and what better opportunity than on a Mexican-headlined card, which some say could be the Fight of the Year. At the press conference, Ayala and Rodriguez both stated how this was a great opportunity and the chance to settle a rivalry. With having many friends in common, it will be a challenge to see these warriors go at it. For many in the stand — especially Phoenix boxing fans, this is the local headline attraction. 

Ayala stated that “this is a fight to help him propel his career and land a promotional deal with Top Rank. With his experience fighting on a bigger stage plays to his advantage” Ayala is coming off a close fight with Nico Ali Walsh on the Navarrete-Liam Wilson card back in February. Ayala won over the crowd that night as they chanted “Chi Chi Chi” through out the fight. 

Rodriguez when asked how is he feeling, “he says he is ready and is excited and performing at a arena is not a distraction”

At the weigh-ins on Friday afternoon at Marriott Resort at The Buttes, both fighters came in at the contract weight of 161LBs. Ayala at 160lbs and Rodriguez at 161LBs, Originally he came in at 161.3, than jumped back on the scale minus his boxers and made the official weight. 

This is a fight with explosive potential. It’s the second fight on the card Desert Diamond Arena Doors open at 4:45pm and the first bout will start at 5pm, Stay tuned to 15rounds.com for more information.

By Norm Frauenheim –

TEMPE, Ariz. — – Oscar Valdez Jr. looked to his right. Looked to his left.

He was surrounded by the history he witnessed and the history he still hopes to make.

To his left, there was Marco Antonio Barrera. To his right, there was Erik Morales.

Barrera and Morales, the historical faces of a defining chapter in Mexican boxing, were there Thursday on a stage on either side of Valdez and Emanuel Navarrete in a Tempe ballroom for a news conference, a platform perhaps for the next chapter.

“Just having Morales and Barrera here says something,’’ said Navarrete, who didn’t have to say much more.

Expectations are huge for Saturday night when Valdez and Navarrete will meet in an intriguing junior-lightweight fight on the other side of Phoenix in Glendale at the Desert Diamond Arena.

In terms of ferocity and drama, the Barrera-Morales trilogy nearly a quarter of century ago stands alone. It’s the example, the Mexican model for blood, guts and guile.

Don’t expect an exact remake. Neither Valdez (31-1, 23 KOs) nor Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs) was foolish enough to promise that.

But the blood and guts, they vowed, will be there in a ESPN showdown for the World Boxing Organization’s 130-pound belt, which was won by Navarrete last February in a controversial stoppage of Liam Wilson, also at Desert Diamond.

For both, the promotional link to Barrera-Morales is an opportunity to make their own history. Each will pursue it with a key element that has been missing so far.

Like Morales and Barrera, Navarrete and Valdez look as if they could be partners in the kind of long-term rivalry that turns forgettable into memorable.

“For me, this fight means the world,’’ said Valdez, who mentioned Julio Cesar Chavez, Ruben Olivares on a long list of Mexican legends. “With all of these great names, it’s been my biggest dream to be on that imaginary list. What I’ve done so far is not much.’’

What he’s done includes titles at a couple of weights. He’s a former featherweight champion. He a former junior lightweight champion. It’s the former part that bothers him. Motivates him, too.

He got blown out by Shakur Stevenson, losing his 130-pound version of the championship puzzle. There’s no shame in that. Stevenson is well on his way to pound-for-pound prominence. He might be a step below Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue. But Stevenson doesn’t figure to be there for long.

Still the defeat, a one-sided decision in January 2022, haunts Valdez, a Mexican Olympian who was born in Nogales and still has family in Tucson. It was his first defeat. Still his lone loss

It’s been painful, maybe even more painful than his epic victory over Scott Quigg on a rainy night in an outdoor ring in Carson, Calif., in March 2018.

Quigg broke his jaw midway through the bout. Quigg was three pounds heavier than the featherweight limit at the official weigh-in the day before opening bell. Management told Valdez not to fight. But Valdez said no way. He came to fight, and fight he did.

But he paid for his stubborn will. He also won a unanimous decision on a long, chilly night. For most of the bout, the blood from his shattered jaw spilled from his mouth and onto the canvas in front of his stool. Despite the rain, the blood stain was still there about an hour after he had been carried out on a stretcher.

It was a moment when you wondered whether Valdez would ever answer another opening bell. He did, of course He’s about to answer one more.

“You can send Valdez to the canvas, you can break his jaw, but still he comes at you,’’ Navarrete said.

Valdez has fought eight times since that epic night. He’s gone 7-1, losing to Stevenson and then beating Adam Lopez in a rematch last May.

I asked him after that news conference Thursday, what hurt more? The loss to Stevenson or the broken jaw?

“Good question,’’ Valdez said. “The thing about the broken jaw was that the fans were still there for me. They were applauding me. They were wishing me well. They were telling me to get well. They were telling me they couldn’t wait see me in the ring again.

“After losing to Shakur, I was kind of alone. I had a lot of questions. I had to work my way through that by myself. I’m better for it now. But it was tough.’’

Nothing much about Valdez’ stubborn resilience surprises his manager, Frank Espinoza, anymore. He’s seen him get up. He’s seen him endure. He’s also seen him get caught up in too many close fights. But about his will, Espinoza has no doubt.

“Hey, a broken jaw is really painful,’’ Espinoza said. “But I’m not surprised that losing is more painful than a busted jaw for Oscar.’’

Put it this way: Valdez’ jaw healed. Only a victory will correct the record and maybe make some history.

By Mario Ortega Jr.

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA — Local favorite junior middleweight Ruben Torres returns to his hometown for the second time this year on Saturday night as takes on Christian Seals in the closing bout of a competitively-matched card at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Sacramento. Fighters weighed-in Friday morning at the hotel.

Torres (5-2, 1 KO) of Sacramento ended a ten-month layoff with a four-round unanimous decision at the DoubleTree in April. Hoping to stall Torres’ career momentum will be Carson, California’s Seals. The Southern California native (4-2-1, 2 KOs) aims to end a two-fight skid by sending the local fans home unhappy on Saturday night. Torres weighed-in for the four-round main event at 154-pounds, while Seals scaled 150 ½.

In the six-round co-main event, Jesus Haro (9-1) of Merced, California will take on Gabriel Ponce (5-3-1, 3 KOs) of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico in a light flyweight bout. Haro, who claimed the WBC Youth 105-pound title in his last bout, will be making his United States debut as a professional. Haro came in at 106-pounds, while Ponce weighed 108.

Mario Hernandez (0-1) of Sparks, Nevada will meet debuting Marco Ortiz of Red Bluff, California in a four-round cruiserweight bout. Hernandez, who was impressive in defeat in his debut at a DoubleTree in April, made 175 ¼-pounds. Ortiz weighed-in at the contracted 180-pounds on his second attempt.

In a rematch, Mark Salgado (1-2-1, 1 KO) of San Jose, California and Christian Avalos (0-1-1) of Carson City, Nevada will pick up where they left off after an all-action four-round draw in May. Salgado weighed-in for the four-round bout at 134, while Avalos scaled 135-pounds.

Tito Carlo (1-0, 1 KO) of Carson City will take on Pedro Angel Cruz (3-2, 2 KOs) of San Jose in a four-round lightweight bout. Carlo, fighting for the first time since November 2021, scaled 136-pounds, while Cruz made 137.

Terrell Glynn (1-0) of Sacramento returns to the DoubleTree to take on battle-tested veteran Jasper McCargo (4-4-2, 2 KOs) of Richmond in a four-round cruiserweight bout. Glynn, coming off of a four-round war with Mario Hernandez, weighed-in at 185-pounds. McCargo, who has been matched against a series of unbeaten prospects, weighed-in at 179-pounds Friday.

In an all-Sacramento showdown, Will Villa (6-0-1) will open the show against Phillip Ramirez (0-1) in a four-round featherweight bout. Villa, coming off of a draw at the DoubleTree in May, weighed-in at 125-pounds. The much shorter Ramirez came in at 126-pounds.

Moises Marroquin (5-0, 2 KOs) of Sacramento was scheduled to make his U.S. debut against Evert Antonio Vallecillo Velasquez (0-1) of Richmond, California by way of Chinandega, Nicaragua in a four-round flyweight bout. However, even after an attempt to cut weight at the weigh-in, Marroquin was too far over the agreed upon number to keep the fight intact.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Light middleweights, 4 rounds
Torres 154
Seals 150 1/2

Light flyweights, 6 Rounds
Haro 106
Ponce 108

Cruiserweights, 4 rounds
Hernandez 175 1/4
Ortiz 180 2nd

Lightweights, 4 rounds
Avalos 135
Salgado 134

Lightweights, 4 rounds
Carlo 136
Cruz 137

Cruiserweights, 4 rounds
Glynn 185
McCargo 179

Featherweights, 4 Rounds
Villa 125
Ramirez 126

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

By Norm Frauenheim –

Risk & Reward was the message on Terence Crawford’s T-shirt at a weigh-in last Friday.

Then, it was subtle.

Nearly a week later, it’s big.

Pay-per-view numbers for the Showtime telecast of Crawford’s masterful triumph in a ninth-round stoppage of Errol Spence Jr. Saturday are evidence that risk & reward can work together instead of against each other in making fights.

Initial reports from Dan Rafael’s Fight Freaks Unite and Boxing Scene five days after the welterweight bout put the pay-per-view number at 650,000 buys. It could climb to 700,000. The reports are based on anonymous sources. There are conflicting reports of 550,000.

But either number is a success, especially for Crawford, who had never generated more than a reported 200,000 for a pay-per-view appearance.

Multiple people attached to the Crawford-Spence promotion in Las Vegas last week told 15 Rounds that 500,000 was the break-even point. The live gate at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena was a reported $21 million. The crowd was announced at 19,990.

Spence and Crawford could each collect more than $20 million each.

Crawford’s T-shirt said it all.

It was a subtle twist, a rewrite of the ratio that had been paralyzing the business for years. It was risk-to-reward.

It worked for Floyd Mayweather, a boxer-banker who retired unbeaten and used the ratio to become the world’s richest athlete with huge paydays that included Manny Pacquiao in 2015 and mixed-martial-arts celebrity Connor McGregor a couple of years later.

The ratio became the model for the generation that followed. What worked for Mayweather, however, didn’t work after him.

Increasingly, the reward factor outweighed the risk. In effect, it became risk-versus-reward instead of risk-to-reward. It paralyzed the game, turning it into an exasperating never-never land. There were fights demanded by the market, yet most never got past the bargaining table and into the ring.

A sure sign of a business breakthrough was delivered on April 22 with Tank Davis’ stoppage of Ryan Garcia. The PPV number for that one was reported to be 1.2 million. The live gate, also at T-Mobile, was reported to be $22.8 million.

The 136-pound bout – Garcia was finished by a body punch in the seventh — didn’t compare to Crawford’s singular performance in knocking down Spence three times. Showtime will replay the telecast Saturday (9 p.m., ET/PT). But Davis-Garcia reawakened a market, one still willing to reward real risk.

Nearly three months later, Risk & Reward were there.

First, on a T-shirt.

Then, in the ring.   

Valdez, Navarrete ready for AZ showdown

Oscar Valdez Jr. wraps up his training camp in Lake Tahoe, expecting a tactical challenge from unorthodox Emanuel Navarrete on August 12 at Desert Diamond Casino in Glendale AZ.

“We all know that Navarrete has an awkward style,’’ said Valdez (31-1, 23 KOs), a former two-division champion.  “We might not have the perfect sparring that can emulate his style.

“But we try to imitate him in the mitt work and strategy. He’s not your typical fighter that throws straight shots.”

Valdez is a slight betting favorite over Navarrete, a fellow Mexican and a former featherweight champion who moved up the scale and won the World Boxing Organization’s junior-lightweight belt in a difficult fight against unknown Liam Wilson, also at Desert Diamond.

Wilson, a late stand-in from Australia, knocked down Navarrete in the fourth round of a controversial fight on Feb 3, also at Desert Diamond.

Navarrete spit out his mouth piece. He gained some time to recover as the referee retrieved it. Navarrete went on to batter Wilson, scoring a ninth-round TKO of the tough Aussie.

“Winning this fight would boost my career significantly,’’ Navarrete (37-1, 31 KOs) said from his camp in San Diego. “Personally, I would feel complete. What has been missing in my career is precisely a victory against someone like Valdez. It would fill me with pride to be part of such an iconic fight between Mexicans and come out victorious.”

Both fighters are well-known in Arizona. Valdez, a former Mexican Olympian who went to school in Tucson, is poised to fight for the sixth time in AZ.

Navarrete will fight for the third time in the state.

Follow all the action as Errol Spence Jr. takes on Terence Crawford for the Undisputed Welterweight Title. NO BROWSER REFESEH NEEDED. THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY

Round 1: Left to body from Spence…1-2…Counter left from Crawford…

ROUND 2 Combination from Spence..Double jab and combination from Crawford…Left from Spence..Jab from Craford..Left to body..BIG JAB FROM SPENCE AND DOWN GOES CRAWFORD…

ROUND 3 Hard combo from Spence…Hard counter from Crawford…Counter right..Jab..

ROUND 4  Body shot from Crawford…Left uppercut…Hard straight left…Doube jab and left hand from Spence…Hard jab from Crawford..Spence bleeding around the right eye

ROUND 5 hard counters from Crawford..Huge uppercut..2 rights from Spence…Goof left from Spence…Jab from Crawford..

ROUND 6 Massive jab from Crawford…Counter left…Left..

ROUND 7 Huge right,,Thudding jabs..COUNTER RIHGHT HOOK DOWN GOES SPENCE..Huge Body shot…BIG KEFT AND DOWN GOS SPENCE…

ROUND 8 Big left from Crawford

ROUND 9 HUGE COMBINATION,,,,SPENCE IS HURT…FIGHT STOPPED

Round 1 Lead left from Cruz
Round 2 Cabrera lands a jab to the body. Lunging left from Cruz..Left hook to the body..Lead left uppercut from Cabrera…Counter right from Cruz…Check right from Cabrera…
Round 3 Lead left from Cruz..Right to the head…
Round 4 Left from Cruz…
Round 5 Lead left from Cabrera…Left hook from Cruz…Nice right..Left hook..Jab, 2 rights and a hard left,…Big right..
Round 6 Left hook from Cruz…Big left and right..Left hook
Round 7 Overhand right from Cruz…Left and right..Hard left…Cabrera showing a great chin
Round 8 Good left from Cabrera..Overhand right from Cruz..CRUZ DEDUCTED A POINT FOR PULLING THE HEAD…Cuz lands flush shots…Overhand right…Heaving flurry
Round 9 Left uppercut and left uppercut to body from Cruz..Lead left hook to the head…
Round 10 Left hook to top of head by Cruz…
Round 11 Double left hook for Cruz..Left and jab from Cabrera 
Round 12

114-113 CABRERA….114-113 CRUZ….115-112 CRUZ

Round 1:Uppercut from Donaire

ROUND 2 Right from Donaire..Counter left hook..Double jab…Right from Santiago

ROUND 3 Big Right from Donaire…Santiago bleeding from right side of forehead

ROUND 4 Santiago lands a right…Uppercut

ROUND 5 Double jab-right hand from Santiago…Good left hook..Right inside…right and left at the bell

ROUND 6 Right from Santiago…Body work,,,Donaire jab..Body shot

ROUND 7 HEADBUTT CAUSES CUT AROUND LEFT EYE OF SANTIAGO…

ROUND 8 Counter left hook from Donaire..Uppercut from Santiago..Combinaton from Santiago..

ROUND 10 Good right from Santiago…

ROUND 11 Left hook from Donaire…Right from Santiago…Double jab…4 punch combination..

116-112 TWICE AND 115-113 FOR SANTIAGO

Round 1  Tellez Jabbing…Doublejab right hand..Jab from Garcia…Right from Tellez,,Left to the body..right uppercut from Garcia..Right
Round 2 Body shots from Tellez..Right and left from Garcia…Uppercut…Hard jab…Right from Tellez..
Round 3 left From Tellez…Right…HARD RIGHT ROCKS GARCIA AND ANOTHER DROPS HIN ON HIS BACK….HUGE FLURRY AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

By Norm Frauenheim 

LAS VEGAS – They are dangerous men. They’re engaged in what Mike Tyson once called the hurt business. But on the eve of hostility, they didn’t threaten each other.

They shook hands.

Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr., Brothers In Arms, reached across a scale Friday on a stage at T-Mobile Arena like partners, both agreeing to inflict the violence inherent to the business so aptly defined by Tyson.

By boxing’s modern standards, it was another unusual moment in what promises to be the biggest welterweight fight in years Saturday night on Showtime pay-per-view.

The last time two elite fighters stood on either side of a scale in Vegas, there was some unscripted drama. Devin Haney reached across with both hands, delivering a shove that sent Vasiliy Lomachenko tumbling on to the edge of the stage.

It was intended to generate attention and that’s what it got before Haney’s controversial unanimous decision over Lomachenko in late May.

But that shove was just more of the stuff that makes boxing look like another screaming exhibition of redundant outage.

Enter Crawford and Spence. They‘ve been trying to shove the business in another direction. It all depends on what happens in their much-anticipated fight for the 147-pound division’s undisputed title. Nobody is going to invest $84.99 in the pay-per-view to watch them shake hands.

Those hands are trained to hurt. Trained to spill blood. That’s why we watch. The danger is part of the attraction. But Crawford and Spence have been acting as if they know that. They know themselves. They know their audience.

Mostly, they know their craft and they don’t intend to dirty it up with trash talk or a pro-wrestling-like gesture.

Before the handshake, Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) leaned over and spoke to Spence (28-0, 22 KOs). What did he say?

“Nothing much, other than we’re about to make history,’’ said Crawford, who was a quarter of a pound lighter (146.75) at the staged weigh-in than he was at the official one Friday morning. “Best man wins.’’

That didn’t sound like the ever-defiant, often-angry Crawford, who got into a testy exchange with a Spence fan at a news conference Thursday. The fan mocked Crawford, who reacted profanely. It was if the fan was mocking more than just Crawford. He was mocking his craft.

From Crawford, the edgy counter was a rhetorical shove. He shoved that fan into silence.

Through it all, there has been some compelling byplay between Crawford and Spence. A deadly rivalry is at play between these Brothers-In-Arms. But only they can settle it.

They like to argue about who played the biggest role in making sure the fight happened after it looked as if the possibility was dead in the wake of failed negotiations last fall. Before their handshake, Spence said he offered thanks to Crawford.

“I said thank you for helping make this happen,’’ said Spence, who was two-tenths of a pound heavier (147) at the staged weigh-in than he was at the official one. “Of course, I was the one who made it.

“Hey, this is Spence-Crawford, not Crawford-Spence.’’

Who’s first or second  won’t matter if the welterweight partnership delivers a singular performance that fulfills expectations and enhances a deadly craft.

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – Just when it sounded as if not much more could be said about Terence Crawford-versus-Errol Spence Jr., more was.

A lot more.

The last formal news conference at T-Mobile Arena took an unexpected turn Thursday. There was trash talk. It wouldn’t be boxing without at least some.

But this edition turned nasty with exchanges between fighters and fans from each of their camps.

At one point, it was punctuated by a racial epithet from Crawford, who used the N-word in an angry response to a Spence fan who had mocked his chances at beating Spence Saturday for the undisputed welterweight title.

“You ain’t gonna do nothing,’’ Crawford said to the fan. “You a (expletive), doing all that talking.’’

Initially, it was thought that the profane exchange was fueled by family members, who were at opposite ends of the seating arrangement in front of a stage on the floor at T-Mobile.

But Spence said the fan was not part of his family.

“He’s not a cousin,’’ Spence said. “He’s from Dallas.’’

Spence, who grew up in  the Dallas area, said Crawford went too far.

“He was definitely going a little too far,’’ Spence told reporters after the formal part of the news conference. “I mean, his people were saying stuff to me. I just smiled.’’

It wasn’t clear why emotional fans were even allowed to attend. The volatile moment – spontaneous combustion at a staged news conference – was sparked by the fight’s magnitude and escalating tensions as the opening bell nears.

Also, Crawford, who is known to be defiant, has never been afraid of confrontation. He has often said that he had a problem with his temper when he was younger.

The controversial language also stood out for another reason.

There was no real trash talk between the fighters themselves. Their mutual respect has been there since the fight was resurrected after it looked as if it would never happen in the wake of failed negotiations last fall.

Their mutual respect throughout the many media appearances doesn’t surprise Stephen Espinoza, Showtime’s President of Sports and Event Programming.

“If it’s Errol Spence, you’ve got to respect him,’’ Espinoza said just days before the pay-per-view bout. “If it’s Terence Crawford, you’ve got to respect him.’’

They do.

But fans and family put a different twist into the equation for a long-awaited fight that – for the last couple of months — has sold itself.

Even the trainers, Brian “BoMac” McIntyre for Crawford and Derrick James for Spence – got into the act Thursday.

McIntrye mounted the bully pulpit and said: “Comes a time when you can’t hide. War Time, War Time, War Time.’’

Then, it was James’ turn. He looked at McIntyre, a super-heavyweight who appears ready to go sumo.

“My chant is this: Time to Eat, Time to Eat,’’ James said. “Reason I’m saying this is he (BoMac) hasn’t missed a meal in years.’’

James and BoMac then went on to exchange a few more shots. James suggested that Crawford’s lofty pound-for-pound status and lone belt – The World Boxing Organization’s version of the 147-pound title – was manufactured against questionable opposition.

“Who you fought,?’ James said as he looked at Crawford.

Finally, BoMac just said:

“Shut the eff up.’’

On a hot afternoon when a news conference was about to go off the rails, that was the best suggestion of all. 

By Norm Frauenheim –

Errol Spence calls it the strap season. Maybe, it is. Suddenly, title belts count for something more than just another sanctioning fee. These days, they even count as a new chapter.

It’s called the four-belt era. It’s a crowded one, a chapter that looks a little bit like a messy closet full of belts, one indistinguishable from the other.

WBC or WBA or IBF or WBO, it’s hard to know – or care — about the difference between the acronyms, which is reason enough to just hang them all on to one rhetorical hook.

That’s why there’s a strap season in Spence’s closet. He’s has questioned their value. Yet, their significance is there, perhaps now more than ever for his long-awaited welterweight showdown with Terence Crawford July 29 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena in a Showtime pay-per-view bout.

It’s a chance to win all four for the first time in the fabled history of the 147-pound division. Maybe, just that will add some clarity to boxing messy proliferation of belts and weight classes during an era when there are almost more of both than there are prize fighters.

Then again, clarity in boxing is another way of saying clear as mud. There will be five-belt, six- belt and 12-belt eras if people keep paying the fees.

But Spence’s strap season is a pragmatic summation of an ever-chaotic game. Spence has long pursued legacy, despite the outrage last fall over news that talks with Crawford had failed.

“This is what I’ve always wanted,’’ he said Thursday before a media workout in Las Vegas. “It’s the only fight I’ve ever wanted.’’

I can confirm that. Four years ago – almost to the day, Spence appeared at a news conference with Shawn Porter before Manny Pacquiao’s victory over Keith Thurman at Vegas’ MGM Grand in July 2019.

After the newser, I saw Spence, standing alone behind a makeshift stage. I asked him about Crawford. He told me then that Crawford was the fight he wanted.

He promised it would happen.

Promise delivered.

But the path to that long-envisioned fight hasn’t been easy. Instead, there were times when it looked as if it just wouldn’t happen. There was Spence’s scary auto accident in Dallas in October 2019, not long after his narrow scorecard victory over Porter in Los Angeles.

He was out of the ring for more than a year. But, please, don’t say he was inactive, a word straight out of boxing’s fractured language. He was active all right, actively fighting for his life. Fourteen months later, he scored a unanimous decision over the accomplished Danny Garcia in front of a hometown crowd in Dallas.

Then, there was a date with Pacquiao in August 2021. But an eye injury forced him to withdraw. Spence was rushed into surgery for a torn retina in his left eye within two weeks of opening bell. His chance at adding a victory over one of history’s legends was denied. Late stand-in Yordenis Ugas went on to upset Pacquiao. Spence was left with only more questions

Still, he continued to pursue what he had envisioned. He beat Ugas, scoring a 10^th-round TKO for a third strap In April 2022. In retrospect, that was the strap that made the date with Crawford inevitable.

Crawford, too, is hunting straps. If he takes Spence’s three and adds them to his own, he’ll set some four-belt history. Crawford would become the first to win undisputed titles in two divisions. He was a four-belt champion at junior-welterweight.

“This fight is happening at the right time,’’ Crawford said at his media workout Wednesday, also in Vegas. “All the belts are on the line, so there’s even more to fight for. What better way to have this fight than to have it for the undisputed welterweight title?”

Crawford has been a slight favorite ever since the fight was announced. His quicksilver versatility, speed and ring IQ are just three reasons. Another reason, however, is the simple fact that Spence has answered only two opening bells – Garcia and Ugas — since the auto accident.

Spence trainer Derrick James was asked Thursday whether he was concerned about ring rust.

“He’s been training,’’ James said. “in between, he’s been sparring. In the fight itself, he’ll have to adjust to Terence’s speed. But that’ll happen over a few rounds.’’

There’s a theory that Spence might be able to break down Crawford with prolonged pressure. He’s bigger than Crawford. Presumably, he’s stronger, too. But there’s more.

A few weeks ago, there was a virtual media session with Porter, former welterweight champion Kell Brook and two respected trainers, Virgil Hunter and Stephen “Breadman’’ Edwards.

Spence’s auto accident was part of the discussion. Has he completely recovered? Are there lingering affects?

The insightful Edwards had his own take. He said he believed Spence had learned from the accident. He said he might be better because of it.

On July 29, Spence might prove to be the survivor.

Only a survivor figures to win this one, one of the best welterweight fights in any season. 

By Norm Frauenheim –

It’s an unlikely partnership in an unforgiving business for blood and bucks. Maybe some legacy, too. Mostly, it’s still a surprise, an opening bell few expected to ever hear.

Yet, Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. are moving closer to their July 29 pay-per-view date, a welterweight bout as intriguing as any in years.

It’s no secret that stakes are enormous for both fighters and a battered business. The real impact hinges on what happens in the long-awaited Showtime bout at Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena.

Narrow odds continue to slightly favor Crawford. But bet on just about anything in a fight few foresaw in the wake of failed negotiations and a lot of finger-pointing.

That’s all gone. At least, there was no rancor apparent in the last appearance of Crawford and Spence in a virtual news conference Wednesday.

They were businessmen – Crawford talking in a measured, unemotional tone and Spence wearing fashionable glasses that made him look like a CEO in command of a corporate board room.

For now, mutual respect is evident. There were rhetorical shots, but only at pundits and social media’s noisy army. In a trash-talking game, however, respect doesn’t do much for ticket sales.

The April 22nd box-office and Pay-Per-View success (1.2 million buys) of Tank Davis-versus-Ryan Garcia was proof of that. The talk was better than the fight – Davis, a TKO winner over Garcia, who has more words than skills.

As of Friday, Crawford-Spence tickets were still available in every category for a fight announced on May 22. Early sales were reportedly brisk, but most of the tickets – priced from $519 to $2,000 — went to brokers, who are betting that interest in Crawford-Spence will heat up.

Guess here, it will. But there might be lingering skepticism from fans, especially the casual crowd which hasn’t forgotten the abortive talks last fall. Negotiations were an on-again, off-again roller coaster. Misleading and often inaccurate reports from the media didn’t help.

Repeatedly, you could hear fans and pundits say they’d believe it only when both are gloved up, in the ring and echoes of an opening bell fill the arena.

Fair enough. But believe it. This one is on the horizon, approaching like a summer storm.

From this corner, it’s refreshing not to hear, ad nauseam, the trash talk. Spence and Crawford respect each other for documented reasons. They’re both unbeaten and both accomplished in ways that Ryan Garcia was not.

Trash talk is language used by the frightened or the foolish. Crawford and Spence are neither. Crawford, pragmatic and always edgy, summed up the build-up to July 29.

Yes, he said, there’s mutual respect. Yes, he said, Spence is an important business partner at this, a late stage in Crawford’s brilliant career. But don’t be misled, he said.

“We’re not friends on fight night, absolutely,’’ Crawford said. “I’m friends with Shawn Porter. You saw what happened. I knocked him out (10^th-round TKO, September 2021).

“I’m friends with Ray Beltran. You saw what happened. I beat him (unanimous decision, November 2014).

“I’m not friends on fight night with somebody who is there to do whatever to take me down, take my life.’’

That’s business.

Crawford-Spence undercard update

Emerging Jesus Ramos Jr, an unbeaten junior-middleweight from Casa Grande AZ and probably the best prospect from Arizona since David Benavidez, withdrew from the undercard because of a hand injury. He was scheduled to fight Sergio Garcia.

With the withdrawal, Nonito Donaire-versus-Alexandro Santiago was added to the card. It had been scheduled for July 15. Donaire and Santiago will fight for a vacant bantamweight title.

Meanwhile, Garcia stays on the card in a fight against prospect Yoenis Tellez instead of Ramos.

By Alex Seccia –

After becoming the first fighter to be signed to Boots Promotions and previously making his debut in March 2023,  Ismal “The Chef” Muhammad found himself back in the kitchen as the opening fight of the night to the Ennis v Villa fight card in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Entering a super lightweight 4 round bout, Ismail representing the city of Philadelphia faced off against Parker Bruno out of Clear Lake, Texas. Normally boxing matches are known for the majority of the crowd to arrive closer towards the main event. But from the first sound of the ring and when all the lights waved down pointing to the ring, it didn’t take for the ring announcer to announce the names before the crowd made it known who they were for. With fans to their feet and the music drying out, the only sounds heard were none but chants for the Chef.

            When in the kitchen a chef is known to take his time and prep his dish. At the sound of the bell Ismail Muhammad came out the gate looking to collect the data. Initially working off counters. Parker Bruno looked to establish dominance and control the pace of the fight, coming out utilizing his jab with a mix of hooks.  Only having received two straight counters, by his third punch Ismal landed a sweeping left uppercut leaving the room  in aw over his power. Parker Bruno however would walk through what Muhammad gave as he would try and keep Muhammad against the ropes.

            Failing to find any stride or keep Muhammad, contained the fight entered the second round were Ismal started to pick up the pace. Parker Bruno would find himself simply trying to establish a rhythm, however with each jab or 1,2 combo thrown Parker found himself on the receiving end of a lightning 3-4 punch combo from Muhammad. A combination that flew so fast that in the opening seconds of the second round Parker found himself on the canvas. It wouldn’t be long before Parker would be countered hard and dropped again.

            Carrying over into round three, Parker Bruno remained poised to land something on Muhammad. Doing what he can to establish a legitimate offense, at the same time finding himself on the receiving hand of electric counters. While failing to acquire any offense throughout the fight Parker Bruno found himself on the end of relentless hooks that would later be enough for referee Eric Dali to call the fight at 1:45 in round 3.

            Ismail “The Chef” Muhammad has officially picked up his second straight win in 4 months’ time improving his record to 2-0 with 2Kos. Displaying key factors like: speed, patience, and IQ Ismal is on the right track to make himself a name in boxing.

Follow all the action as Jaron Ennis defends the IBF Interim Welterweight Title against Roiman Villa

NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED. THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY

Round 1: Right to body from Ennis…Jabs…Right to body…Right to head…

ROUND 2 Big Straight left from Ennis…Blood from nose of Villa..3 Punch combination

ROUND 3 Right from Villa…Ennis lands a wicked counter left..Left…counter right from Villa…Uppercut…Hard left from Ennis…Good exchange..

ROUND 4 Left from Ennis..Quick combination..Flicking left…2 lefts drve Villa back…Hard right…Left from Villa…

ROUND 5 Villa lands a combination in the corner…Quick combo from Ennis..Step around right..Hard right from Villa..Uppercut from Ennis…Straight left

ROUND 6 Jab to body bt Ennis..Straight left….Right from Villa…Huge combination from Ennis has Villa hurt

ROUND 7 Hard left from Ennis…Vicious uppercuts and combination rock Villa…He has shown a rock chon but taking a beating

ROIND 8  Villa lands a right…Ennis lands vicious shots with both hands…Villa’s face is a mess.

ROUND 9 Villa lands a right…Huge shots from Ennis

ROUND 10 Ennis ripping shots...Villa is HURT…CHOPPING LEFT AND VICIOUS RIGHT…DOWN GOES VILLA FIGHT OVER

Round 1 Jab to body fromL Gomez…Left…
Round 2 Right to body from Taylor..BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES GOMEZ…Right from Taylor..Hard right…Right to body…Hard jab…Body shot..Right to head..
Round 3 2 hard shots frim Taylor..Right to body…Right to body…Left from Gomez…Combination from Taylor.Another body shot
Round 4 Good left from Taylor..Quick rigjt…Body work…Jab…Left to body from Gomez..Left…
Round 5 Right from Taylor..Right..Left from Gomez…Right from Taylor…Left from Gomez..
Round 6 Left from Taylor..Body work…Left from Gomez..Right hook..Big right from Taylor at the bell
Round 7 Left from Gomez..Right jab…Left to body…Uppercut from Taylor…body work…Left from Gomez..Left…Body shot from Gomez..
Round 8 Uppercut from Taylor…Left from Gomez…Left…Quick right from Taylor..Body shot
Round 9  Counter left friom Gomez…2 hard rights from Taylor…Left from Gomez…Right hook and left \…Left to body
Round 10 Hard left uppercut from Gomez..Body work from Taylor…Left from Gomez..

96-93 TWICE AND 99-90 FOR TAYLOR

Round 1: Jab from De Los Santos..Right hook..Left to body from Adorno..Straight left from De Los Santos…
Round 2 Left from De Los Santos…Jab..Straight left…
Round 3 De Los Santos lands a right hook…Good right jook..Straight left…Hard jab..Uppercut…
Round 4 Straight left from De Los Santos…Right to the body…1-2…Right to Body..
Round 5 Right hook from De Los Santos…Right Hook…Right from Adorno
Round 6 Right hook from Adorno..Jab from De Los Santos…Left hook from Adorno…1-2 from De Los Santos…Right Hook…Left to body
Round 7 Left from Adorno…1-2 from De Los Santos…Right to the body…3 punch combination….Hard left…
Round 8 
Round 9 Left to body from De Los Santos..Left..
Round 10 1-2 from De Los Santos..

100-90 TWICE AND 99-91 FOR DE LOS SANTOS

By Norm Frauenheim –

Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr, a fascinating fight embedded in the public imagination for years, is generating lots of ideas about how it will unfold, yet no idea about how it will end.

That much was evident Thursday in a virtual news conference featuring Shawn Porter and Kell Brook — retired welterweights beaten by both — and respected trainers, Virgil Hunter and Stephen “Breadman” Edwards.

The imagined scenarios were unlimited. So, too, was the insight. In the end, however, there was only one agreement. 

With opening bell on July 29 just a few weeks away, Porter, Brook, Hunter and Edwards agreed – for now — not to pick a winner.

“I don’t have a pick,’’ said Porter, a former two-time 147-pound champion who lost a 10^th-round TKO to Crawford in November 2021 and a split-decision to Spence in September 2019. “I don’t know who is going to win this fight.

“This is what boxing truly is.’’

Truly, true.

It’s why Crawford-Spence has been at the top of the public’s most-wanted list for so long. It also explains why there was so much frustration last fall at news that negotiations had fallen apart.

But the frustration is gone, supplanted by the fascination. There haven’t been too many high-level, high-wire fights during an era ruled by Floyd Mayweather’s risk-to-reward ratio. The formula mitigated the risk, much of the drama and most of the compelling reasons to watch.

Too many fights were easy to pick. Crawford-Spence isn’t.

“I don’t have a pick right now,’’ said Edwards, who was in the corner for Caleb Plant in a tense scorecard loss to super-middleweight contender David Benavidez in March. “That’s the honest truth. I think we’re going to have the Fight of the Century. ‘’

The Century is still young. It’s only 23-years old, still enough time for fights forever etched into history. There was Diego Corrales’ 10^th-round TKO of Jose Luis Castillo in a 2005 epic.

About 21 months ago, there was one that will be remembered as wild, even by the heavyweight division’s extreme standards. Tyson Fury’s crazy, up-and-down 11^th-round KO of Deontay Wilder was buckle-your-seatbelt crazy  

The last 23 years are not a lost era. Still, they are dogged by the one fight seen by more people than any other. Mayweather’s 2015 decision over Manny Pacquiao, also in a welterweight bout, fell short. Before opening bell, It was much hyped and it’s been much derided ever since.

There’s a suggestion – perhaps a prayer — Crawford-Spence can deliver a performance that will close the book on that lingering disappointment.

From Breadman’s perspective, both Spence and Crawford have qualities that remind him of a more celebrated era. He foresees a performance that won’t disappoint.

“I don’t see either guy choking up under the bright lights,’’ he said. “Both guys seem to have that clutch gene. 

“…Every time, I’ve seen one of these guys’ backs against the wall, they up the ante, raise the stakes.’’

Breadman says the fight will make fans want more. That means a rematch. But Breadman meant more than just that.

“I think the casual fan might say: ‘There’s not enough action,’ ‘’ Breadman said. “But for the purist, you’ll see some great, great stuff. It will become a classic.

“I think this one is one I wish was 15 rounds, because I think both guys are 15-round fighters and would have flourished in a 15-round era.’’

The winner? It depends.

Depends, perhaps, on how the bigger Spence rehydrates the week before opening bell at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, says Hunter, who was Andre Ward’s trainer.

Depends, maybe, on how Crawford adjusts to a blistering desert summer in Nevada after training at altitude in the Colorado mountains, Hunter also says.

“It’s going to come down to very small margin,’’ said Brook, a former 147-pound champion stopped by Crawford in a fourth-round TKO in November 2020 and knocked out by Spence in the 11^th round of a punishing bout in May 2017.

The calculating Crawford, Brook says, possesses a precision that can result in dangerous accuracy. It has a snap, Brook says of a Crawford punch that lands like a whip.

“Very sharp and snapping puncher,’’ said Brook, who won a majority over to Porter in August 2014.

Spence is more fundamental. Once Spence starts to move forward, he can run you over, he says.

“A grinding and thumping kind of power,’’ said Brook, who has felt Crawford’s dynamic snap and Spence’s grinding thump.

“That’s the difference,” Brook added.

Maybe, the drama, too. For now, that’s the only pick.

Valdez-Navarrete Update

 Emerging lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla hopes to take another step in his swift ascent against fellow Mexican Diego Torres Aug. 12 on the ESPN-televised card featuring Oscar Valdez Jr.-versus-Emanuel Navarrete for a junior-lightweight title at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale AZ, Top Rank announced this week.

Muratalla (18-0, 15 KOs) calls himself Danger, a nickname that reflects his unbeaten record, which includes 12 stoppages in his last 13 bouts. He’s also Busy.

He faces an equally dangerous Torres (17-0, 16 KOs) in his third fight in 2023.

 “I couldn’t be more excited to get back in that ring on such a great card,’’ Muratalla said. “I can’t wait to put on another great performance for the fans. I believe this is my time now, and I will continue to show the hard work that’s being put in.”

Muratalla has the momentum. Torres hopes to halt it.

“Fighting against another undefeated fighter is something that I was looking for,’’ Torres said. “It is my way of showing that I am made for this, and I am here to achieve great things.

“I am not afraid. I’m going to give it my all and come out with a great victory.”

Muratalla-Torres has been added to a card also scheduled to include  Richard Torrez Jr. (5-0, 5 KOs), a silver medalist for the U.S. at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, against Willie Jake Jr. (11-3-2, 3 KOs) in a six-round heavyweight bout.