By Norm Frauenheim

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oscar Valdez going home

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

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

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

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

By Norm Frauenheim

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

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

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

At least, it can be.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The best and worst examples in modern history:

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOTES

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

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

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

By Alex Seccia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Featherweights, 8 Rounds 

Valenzuela 126.6*

Xilohua 125.4

Light heavyweights, 6 Rounds

Zamorano 172

Delgado 175

Lightweights, 6 Rounds

Saavedra 133.4

Montero 139

Lightweights, 4 Rounds

Juarez 135

Sampson 135

Super flyweights, 4 Rounds 

Flores 115.2

Mendoza 112.6 

Featherweights, 4 Rounds

Gaona Diaz 123.6

Thang 126

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Katie Taylor

On Amanda Serrano

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

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

On headlining an all female card:

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

On her performance

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

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

On retirement: 

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

On future Croke Park match:

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

On the support from fans:

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

On if a trilogy with Chantelle Cameron is possible

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

Baumgardner Decisions Miranda; Remains Undisputed

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

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

Alycia Baumgardner

On being co-main to Taylor-Serrano 3

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

On getting back in the ring 

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

On if she’d challenge Amanda Serrano or Katie Taylor

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

On what drove her successful undisputed title defense

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

On the main event Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano

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

On Jennifer Miranda

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

On working with Derrick James

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

On what’s next for her

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

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

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

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

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

Green Decisions Marshall; Unifies Super Middleweight Titles

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

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

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

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

Shadasia Green

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

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

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

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

On training to face Savannah Marshall

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

On facing Savannah Marshall

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

On coming back from Franchon Crews-Dezurn loss to come out victorious tonight

“I had to go back to the drawing board and get my mental together. This game is definitely 90, 95% mental. If your mental ain’t intact, then you know… […] So that’s what I did. I went back to the drawing board, got myself together, reunited with my coaches and just tried to show up and be a better person. And self-belief. It’s funny. I was watching Jake fight Chavez Jr. last week and he said it in the ring and I shook my head. I was sitting in front of the TV and he just kept saying ‘self-belief, self-belief, self-belief.’ I think that’s what’s been missing from my career for a long time. Sometimes I’m hard on myself and I don’t always believe, but today I believe, and I’ve been believing all camp. I kept saying I’mma beat this girl. I kept saying that.”

On facing Claressa Shields 

“I would love to fight Clarissa Shields. Of course, I want to go and rest or whatever, but I think that’s the fight to be made.” 

On playing up or down to her competition:

“I just think it’s a lot of my ability you guys haven’t been able to see. I’ve always had this thing about me. Even when I play basketball, I always either play down to my competition or played up. It’s been a bad habit all my life. My mother has told me this my whole life. So, when you throw some names out there like I know I’ve got to be on my A game, and I find myself not slacking and my coaches don’t let me slack either. The best competition is always going to bring the best out of me.”

On what she learned from herself tonight

“I learned that that dog is still in me no matter what. I’m up for every challenge. I got that mean streak back—I thought I lost it. […] The mean streak is still alive and I’m glad to know that.”

Scotney Decisions Mercado to Become Unified Super Bantamweight Title

Ellie Scotney became the IBF/WBC/WBO super bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over Yamileth Mercado.

Scotmey, 121.6 lbs of London won by scores of 100-90 and 98-92 twice and is now 11-0. Mercado, 119.6 lbs of Mexico is 24-4.

Ellie Scotney

On adding the WBC title to her unified collection

“My nan—I always mention her because she was my biggest fan—and we always said ‘complete the collection’. So, I’m one step away from Undisputed and that’s what I want next.” 

On being on Netflix and getting her name in front of the world

“Thanks to Netflix and MVP, they gave me a platform where I can really announce myself and I felt like I did that tonight. This is such a big journey with them and I feel like this is just the start.”

On 3-min rounds for women’s boxing

“’I’m 11-0 and I ain’t got a stoppage. I think I’d get a stoppage over 3 minutes and my brother would be a lot richer. He’s lost a fortune betting on it. So, yeah, if we had three minutes I’d get a stoppage. That’s my excuse.”

On preparing for facing Yamileth Mercado

“I’ll be honest with you, it’s been a hard camp. So, I felt like this camp showed me more who I am than anything else. I went in that ring and I felt like I [had been holding] a lot in, and it was let out tonight. So, it just showed me that I’m number one in the division. I believed that before, but I feel like this has cemented it—and it’s just the start.” 

On when she’ll be back 

“Definitely by the end of the year. I want to enjoy my Christmas this year.”

On losing friend Georgia O’Connor and having Georgia’s dad join her during her walk out 

“Georgia was a a soul of the earth. Like if you ever met her or even if you heard her story, you’d realize what she was. And you know, we made a promise just before she passed. It was a blessing to see her get married. And you know, she battled cancer like it was nothing. I just felt like having her dad with me tonight was something that will live forever. I felt her there [in the ring with me]. So yeah, tonight was so much bigger than me. It was all for her. And I just yeah I felt like she was watching over me and that would be the biggest takeaway from tonight.”

Cherneka Johnson Stops Metcalf in 9 To Win Undisputed Bantamweight Title

Cherneka Johnson won the undisputed bantamweight stoppage with a ninth round stoppage over Shuretta Metcalf.

In round four, Johnson scored a knockdown when she landed a right hand and both fighters fell to the canvas.

Jonson continued to beat down Metcalf and the fight was stopped by referee Charlie Fitch on the advice of the ringside doctor at two seconds.

Johnson, 116.6 lbs of Gold Coast, AUS is 18-2 with eight knockouts. Metcalf, 117 lbs of Dallas is 14-5-1.

Cherneka Johnson

On being part of history on Taylor vs. Serrano 3

“When I was out there and Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano were walking out, that stadium was absolutely electric. I had goosebumps and it was like ‘wow this is truly happening.’ To see that moment and to experience that feeling? It’s special.

“It’s absolutely awesome what everyone is doing. Everyone has their own, I guess, agendas and they obviously want to win the fights. But we all put in the hard work to get here and it’s not easy, but we show up anyway and we get the job done.”

On becoming the first Australian undisputed champion, male or female, in the 4 belt era

“It hasn’t hit me yet, I don’t think. It still sort of feels surreal to even be here and to be in this position.”

Cameron Retains Interim Title with Decision over Camara

Chantelle Cameron retained the WBC Super Lightweight title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Jessica Camara.

Cameron, 139 lbs of Nothhampton, ENG won by scores of 99-91 twice and 98-92 and is now 21-1. Camara., 139.4 lbs of Montreal is 14-5-1.

Ramla Ali won a eight-round unanimous over Lila Furtado in a super bantamweight bout.

In round eight, Ali began to bleed around the right eye,

Ali of London won by scores of 78-74 twice and 77-75 and is now 10-2. Furtado of Sao Paulo, BRA is 11-3.

Ramla Ali

On the future of women’s boxing

“I think the future of women’s boxing is only growing. Look at the outcome tonight. Look how many people showed out to support women’s boxing. It’s exciting to be a part of and to see the growth and you know that those numbers are definitely growing and being more active with fights.”

On which fight was most special

“You have to give credit to every woman who stepped into the ring tonight, who showed out, who put in the 10, 12 weeks of hard work, who put everything on the line. You can’t fault that. So, I think every fight uh deserves its flowers.”

On her next fight

“I’ve been out of the ring for like 13 months now and I’ve also changed coaches. I was living in LA for 3 years. My father got sick so I moved back to London. I’ve got a new coach now. And when I started training with him, he asked me, “What is it you want to do?” And I just said to him, “I just want to take one fight at a time.” Cuz a couple years ago, I was like, “This is what I want. This is what I want. This is what I want.” And it never quite worked out. So I just became a bit superstitious. And now I’m just like, I just want to take whatever fight comes and just take it one by one.”

Tamm Thibeault stopped previously undefeated Mary Casamassa in round five of their eight-round middleweight bout.

Thibeault scored a knockdown in round one,

Thibeault of Montreal got the stoppage at 2:18 and is now 3-0 with two knockouts. Casamassa of Pittsburgh is 6-1.

amm Thibeault

On what Taylor vs. Serrano 3 meant to her

“To be honest, I just feel really grateful like we were in a card stacked with women just as talented as each other. And, you know, [we] created new dreams tonight. I truly believe that what’s going to make women’s boxing grow is to get more people into it, start at the grassroots, and we’ve got to create dreams for that. We’ve got to create dreams for little girls who want to come up and be just like us, right? 

I’ve said that from such a long time ago. The only way women’s boxing grows is if other women come out and support us. And they did today. Every woman in the crowd was cheering and it was just such a phenomenal movement to be a part of.

On fighting 3 min rounds

I fought three minute rounds for like eight years. Like we talk about this in the professionals, but we don’t talk about this in Olympic style boxing. The gap between men and women has been erased essentially. There’s equal value in both. And like we’re doing all right. Olympic champion as a female, Olympic champion as a male is the same. I’m not saying three minutes or two minutes is what’s best. Look, I’m not a doctor. It’s not my expertise. I’ve done three minutes

forever for most of my amateur career. I want to keep doing it. And if people want to do it, then so be it. But that’s on them.

On which fight she liked most

I think every fight was special in itself. That’s what makes this card so historic. You can’t really choose because you have people like Shadasia who are coming up as the underdog surpass themselves and you have two legends like Katie and Amanda fighting each other for a third time and you have Neeks [Johnson] over here who just became undisputed. [Every fight was] so big in itself, and they all deserve to be honored equally.

NOTES…Metcalf became the first Australian Undisputed Champion.

By Norm Frauenheim

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s arrest on charges of being in the United States illegally just days after a loss to Jake Paul in an exhibition devoid of punches, energy and drama leaves questions about why he was allowed to fight despite an active warrant for his arrest in Mexico for alleged involvement with organized crime. 

According to multiple reports, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services alerted enforcement agencies about Chavez last year, saying he “is an egregious public safety threat.’’ 

Yet, he had reportedly been in the U.S. since January 4, training and licensed by the California Athletic Commission to fight Paul, a popular social-media influencer who beat him by unanimous decision in a state-sanctioned cruiserweight fight last Saturday in Anaheim

ICE agents arrested him Wednesday, while he was riding a scooter in front of his residence in Studio City. Chavez, whose tourist visa reportedly expired in February 2024, is due to appear in court on Monday. U.S. authorities are seeking to deport him, also according to multiple reports.

As of Thursday, there was no public statement from Paul about the arrest of Chavez, who has been linked to the Sinaloa cartel by law enforcement. 

Both Chavez and Paul appeared at promotional events, including news conferences and the weigh-in before the pay-per-view bout streamed live by DAZN. Paul’s company, MVP, was among the promoters.

Chavez, 39, is the son of Mexico’s most enduring boxing legend, Julio Cesar Chavez, El Gran Campeaon Mexicano —The Great Mexican Champion. There are few gyms in Mexico and the U.S. that don’t include a framed photo or rendering of the senior Chavez hanging from one of the battered walls. 

Dad was a feared champion in multiple divisions. His son is a former middleweight champion. But Junior’s boxing history is problematic, despite the powerful name, still a drawing card.

Including the loss to Paul, he’s 3-4 over his last seven fights, including a wild sequence of events that included a loss to Danny Jacobs December 20, 2020 at the Suns home arena in downtown Phoenix. 

First, Chavez had to get an injunction on a ruling against him in Nevada, which had suspended him for not undergoing all of a mandated medical exam. The injunction allowed him to get licensed in Arizona. 

On the morning of the weigh-in, however, he missed weight, coming in 4.7 pounds heavier than the contracted 168. A compromise was reached. Jacobs, a super-middleweight, agreed to fight him at a catch weight, 173. 

The fight itself, however, sparked a near riot among the crowd of about 10,000 fans, who threw beer, cups, a chair or three and other debris into the ring when Chavez quit on the stool, losing a fifth-round TKO. 

Chavez Jr. could not continue, he said, because of a broken nose and a fractured hand. A couple of days later, Chavez posted a video of himself in a hospital bed with his father at his side. 

That video was followed by another one of him celebrating at a Christmas party. The reaction on social media was predictable. There was skepticism. And more anger.

Yet, Chavez fought six more times, including the loss to Paul in an exhibition the saw him backing away and throwing few punches throughout a dreary first eight rounds. 

A few days later, he’s facing what looks to be the biggest fight of his life.

Benavidez agrees to first title defense

In a bit of a surprise, Turki Alalshikh, Prince and promoter, announced Thursday that David Benavidez will defend his World Boxing Council light-heavyweight belt for the fist time against UK veteran Anthony Yarde, sometime in November in Riyadh.

It was thought that the unbeaten Benavidez, a Phoenix-born fighter, would face Callum Smith, instead. Smith said just a few days ago that he believed there had been progress in talks with Benavidez, who was awarded the WBC belt when Dmitrii Bivol relinquished it.

It’s believed that the Benavidez-Yarde winner could be in line for a shot at the unified 175-title pound, which is expected to be up for grabs in a projected third Bivol-Artur Beterbiev fight. 

Beterbiev won the fist one; Bivol won the rematch. Alalshikh says he wants to stage the third fight sometime later this year. But there’s not been much news about talks for Bivol-Beterbiev 3. If there’s a deal and it happens in November, Benavidez-Yarde could land on the card as the co-main.

Benavidez has been turning himself into a Las Vegas attraction. His last four fights have been in Vegas. A fight in Riyadh would be his first outside of the US since a string of eight fights in Mexico early in his career

Four years into his journey as a boxer and nine years removed from the prom date that brought him into the public consciousness, Albert Ochoa is set to take to the ring for his second bout as a pro, and first in the United States, this coming Thursday night at the Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. Ochoa, having just celebrated his first Father’s Day as one himself, will take on Leon Miles Jr. in a four-round welterweight bout as part of SOCA Fights’ Fight Club OC event, which will be streamed internationally by TrillerTV+. 

Ochoa (1-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California made his pro debut in February, scoring a first-round stoppage over Miguel Angel Ortiz in San Francisco del Rincón, Guanajuato, Mexico. Ochoa had been slated to meet an American opponent before Ortiz, an unknown commodity, stepped in on short notice to keep his debut bout intact.  

“I had one day’s notice [on my new opponent] and I was terrified,” admits Ochoa candidly. “I was scared. The guy I fought had more fights and I didn’t have amateur experience, so I wanted to pull out too, but I had to believe in myself and the work that I put in. With a last minute opponent switch, a lot of fighters would pull out of a fight, because you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, but I went in there and knocked him out.”

Ochoa, who came to prominence after reality TV star Kendall Jenner agreed to be his junior prom date in 2016, decided to turn professional after a run on the influencer boxing exhibition circuit and without any traditional amateur experience. As one could expect, Ochoa has heard from naysayers along the way, which ultimately made the taste of his first pro victory all the more sweet. 

“I got goosebumps and was very emotional,” recalls Ochoa of hearing his name announced victoriously after the win. “So many people have doubted me and people doubt me in this sport still. Being from Sacramento, I have a big target on my back. I knew whether I won or lost, people were going to talk. In the end, I had to do what was best for me and I went in and got the job done. I was very happy and emotional, because this sport isn’t easy.” 

Ochoa’s debut came after a brief camp with new trainer Stan Martyniouk, a former international level amateur with nearly 18 years of professional experience, dating back to his own pro debut in 2007. Martyniouk was pleased with what he saw out of his new charge in that first fight together. 

“We went into the fight and I had to keep him calm a little bit, so as not to waste a lot of energy,” explains Martyniouk. “He had a little bit of the jitters, so we warmed up and he shook out a little bit. He went into the fight and executed the game plan very well. He got the victory and everything was good.” 

Adding to the swirl of emotions Ochoa experienced on the night of his debut, his girlfriend Maricela Cornejo, who fought Cecilia Braekhus to a close decision in an attempt at an interim title last year, was in the home stretch of her pregnancy, as their son Ocean arrived just over a month later. 

“When I knocked that guy out, I was extremely happy, because now I could enjoy the time with my baby boy,” recalls Ochoa. “So that’s all I was thinking about, was the after effects. I got this job done and now I can spend some time with them and relax with them and be there for Mari as well.” 

Ochoa has managed to juggle his newfound responsibility as a father and as a professional fighter while preparing for his upcoming bout against Miles this Thursday. 

“My baby now is three months and we dialed-in [for this upcoming fight] when he was three-weeks-old,” explains Ochoa. “So I’ve been in camp about nine to ten weeks. I’ve been 100 percent focused and motivated. It does suck to be away from him, being at the gym twice a day. We had a media workout in Sacramento and so many people came, but it does suck being away. I know it is going to pay off in the long run and beating this guy in L.A. is going to be great, but the after effect is what I am looking forward to and that is spending time with my son.” 

In addition to being away from his newborn son, Ochoa has been training mostly out of the Salas Boxing Academy in his adopted hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, while Martyniouk remained in the Bay Area. Despite the distance, Martyniouk has continued to be a guiding voice and will be in the Ochoa corner on Thursday night. Thus far, Ochoa has impressed Stan “The Man” with his improvement. 

“It has been a bit different, because I have been talking to him about what I’ve seen mostly through videos,” explains Martyniouk. “We discuss what he’s been doing, what he needs to improve and work on. Ever since we started working together, either over the phone or when he comes and sees me, his timing has improved a lot. His power and his ring IQ, have all improved. He looks like a whole different fighter. We worked a lot on speed and while he’s been out there in Vegas, you can tell the difference in speed. He looks like a seasoned fighter now.”  

“It’s been a long camp, but I’ve jumped so many levels,” says Ochoa. “My sparring competition has been higher. My IQ is higher and I’ve been boxing amazingly. I am keeping up with these pros coming up as well. So this camp has been my best camp, it really has. From my strength to my IQ, to letting my hands go in combination, I feel I have taken a big leap from the last fight until now.” 

Ochoa will meet a familiar face on Thursday, taking on Miles, known on social media as “Suede The Plug.” Miles comes from the influencer boxing circuit as well, which is where he and Ochoa met before. Ochoa boxed his way to a decision win over Miles in an exhibition in December of 2023. 

“I am sure he has grown as both a person and a fighter and I am definitely not taking him lightly,” says Ochoa of Miles. “I am training my butt off and doing everything I need to do to come out victorious. He was my toughest challenge. That influencer fight was fun for sure, but now I am going into the pros and it is a different game. Miles wanted to run it back and for [promoter] Roy [Englebrecht] to give me the opportunity, being from Sacramento, it is a blessing to be on that card. [Miles] is from L.A. and he’s a good fighter. We went the distance the last time we fought, but I just have to focus on myself and no matter who they put in front of me, I need to get the job done and that means winning.”

With all the motivation that comes with becoming a father for the first time and pursuing a passion, Ochoa is excited to show that all of his hard work has paid off as he goes for his second pro win on Thursday night in Costa Mesa. 

“The event is about sold out already I believe,” says Ochoa. “I am excited and it is going to be fun. I expect fireworks. I am going to put on a great performance and in this fight, I am going to show why I became a boxer. I think it is going to be a good fight, a really fun one and I plan to show out.”  

The few remaining tickets for the event, promoted by SOCA Fights, are available online at socafights.com 

Photos courtesy Team Ochoa

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

By Norm Frauenheim

Vasiliy Lomachenko, complicated and gifted, announced on Thursday what many had expected months ago. He retired. 

Age was a factor. He’s 37. Injuries, including shoulder surgery and at last report a problematic back, were there, too. 

In the end, however, there was a growing sense that his retirement wasn’t just about the clock’s corrosive erosion of a singular skillset or even the inevitable battle with torn tendons and pain left by years of exchanging punches. 

Lomachenko landed more than he ever took. His Hall-of-Fame resume — amateur and professional — is evidence of that. But the ones the two-time Olympic gold-medalist and three-division pro champ took are the ones that leave their own permanent mark in the scars never seen on any won-loss record.

The guess here is that Lomachenko still had some big fights left in him. There was talk about Tank Davis. Fans wanted to see him against Shakur Stevenson. I would have liked to see him in a rematch against Teofimo Lopez, although it’s hard to know exactly who Lopez wants to fight anymore. Ask Devin Haney, who thought he had a reported deal this week to fight Lopez until he didn’t. I also would have liked to see Lomachenko in a rematch against Haney. 

On this scorecard, Lomachenko got handed a lousy decision in a loss to Haney for the lightweight title in May 2023. There was plenty of debate, even outrage about the 115-113, 116-112, 115-113 cards, all in favor of Haney. Some pundits acknowledged the controversy. But, they said, please don’t call it a robbery. Okay, but neither Haney nor many of his supporters called for a rematch, either.

In the fight’s immediate aftermath, there was video of Lomachenko crying in his dressing room. Then, as he walked onto the stage for the post fight-news conference, a hot mike caught his promoter Bob Arum telling him: “You won that fight easy.’’ That’s what I thought too. Then and now. After watching the fight a second and third time, this scorecard still has Lomachenko winning, 116-112.

In looking at the post-fight video, however, something else becomes even more evident, more relevant perhaps to what motivated Lomachenko to announce his retirement on social media Thursday. The fire had gone out. By the time he walked onto the stage for a post-fight newser, he was stoic. Arum was angry. He complained about a Las Vegas fight — Ukrainian-versus-American – that included three American judges. But Lomachenko remained stoic throughout the newser and the following weeks.

Only Lomachenko knows the real answer. And, perhaps, we’ll hear it some day. Still, there was a sadness about his retirement Thursday. He goes into the Hall of Fame, mostly because of his astonishing amateur record more than his pro career (18-3, 12 KOs). As an amateur, the Olympic gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Games and again in 2012 in London was 396-1. I don’t know who beat him. But whoever you are — where ever you are — please take a bow.

As a pro, however, Lomachenko walks away amid a lingering sense that his career was somehow unfulfilled. That’s not exactly fair. But it’s there, on social media and in the minds of many. It was the stoicism in the face of the controversial loss to Haney, however, that suggests a level of resignation in Lomachenko, who did go on to fight one more time in a dominant stoppage of George Kambosos at Perth in Western Australia.

There just wasn’t much he could do about it. There was also his complicated relationship with his country, Ukraine, then and still now in a brutal war with Russia.

After years of fighting along Ukraine’s eastern border, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion February 2022.  At the time, Lomachenko was attempting to move up the scale from featherweight and junior-lightweight to lightweight. He had fought for his country in the Olympic ring, but there were increasing complaints in social media that he wasn’t fighting for his country in a desperate war. He had appeared in a photo in fatigues as part of a territorial defense battalion for his hometown, Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, a port city in southwestern Ukraine.

But fellow Ukrainians were skeptical, mocking the photo as a public-relations stunt. The criticism grew and — by all accounts — it’s still there. 

It’s a story, best told by journalist/author Sean Nam:

Vasiliy Lomachenko: Boxer, soldier, believer, traitor? 

It’s a brilliantly reported story about country, war, religion, patriotism and a fighter with a skillset that has been compared to Muhammad Ali and Roy Jones Jr. I read the long piece, published a year ago, again after getting the news about Lomachenko’s retirement. It’s fair to now wonder if he decided to walk away from the ring because of the pressures he felt — and may still feel — at home. The ring must have felt like a very small — irrelevant — place after the Haney loss. 

Lomachenko cried, but maybe for something a lot bigger than another controversial decision in the boxing business. 

Late last year, Lomachenko’s manager Egis Klimas gave some credence to talk that Lomachenko’s passion for boxing had been extinguished. Klimas confirmed that there were questions about whether the motivation was still there.

In Thursday’s post, Lomachenko talked about his faith and about how he had grown over the last few years from a prideful young man. He thanked his father. He thanked his fans. But, still, there was a stoicism from a man created by conflict within the ring and perhaps changed by a bigger one at home.

By Mario Ortega Jr.

SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA – Undefeated featherweight prospect Kyle Lacanlale aims to defend his home turf when he returns to the ring this coming Saturday night against Rodolfo Molina at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in nearby Pleasanton, California. The four-round bout will serve as co-main event on the “Next Generation of Fighters” card presented by upstart promoters Elite Underdog Promotions and Benjamin’s Boxing. 

Lacanlale (4-0, 2 KOs) of San Ramon has fought in the Bay Area and elsewhere in Northern California before, but Saturday’s contest will take place less than 10 miles from Dougherty Valley High, where the young prospect attended school. Fighting so close to his home base for the first time has Lacanlale, whose nickname “Masanting” means handsome in Kapampangan, a Filipino language, looking forward to Saturday night. 

“I am really excited,” explains Lacanlale. “I grew up going to the Fairgrounds for the Fair and all the events they have there. To be the co-main event on a show there in Pleasanton, California and have all my family and friends and the local community behind me, it is something that I’ve been looking forward to.” 

For some young fighters, the responsibility that would come with being in the co-main event so close to home would be an intrusion on their preparation. However, the determined Lacanlale remained focused in camp and is ready to put on a show for his local following on Saturday night. 

“It is not a distraction,” says Lacanlale of fighting at home. “I take it as motivation. I am excited when my family comes out to support me and they get loud and a lot of people come through for me. It is just added fuel to the fire for me when I get in the ring.”

If preparing for his fifth pro bout was not enough of a workload, Lacanlale is simultaneously wrapping up his junior year at California State University, East Bay, where he studies kinesiology. Finding the balance between academics and athletics is something not foreign to the young pro.

“When I am not in the gym, I am at home taking care of my schoolwork,” explains Lacanlale. “I really have to manage my time and set my schedule straight to get everything I need to get done in a day. I went to Dougherty Valley High, which is a very academic school. I grew up doing this. Academics is something that has always been important in my family. I take care of business in the classroom and in the gym. It just shows how bad you want it. If you want it, you can get it. I put my 110% into everything I do from being in the classroom to being in the gym.” 

Last time out, Lacanlale scored a shutout four-round decision over a scrappy Brandon Badillo at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California this past March. All three judges scored every round for Lacanlale, who drew a sizable crowd to the Sacramento suburb. 

“That was my first southpaw in the pros,” says Lacanlale of Badillo. “I thought I performed very well. I beat him convincingly. He didn’t manage to win a round against me. I was able to box him and control the entire fight. I turned it up a little too late, otherwise I probably could have got him out of there, but I think I showed my skills on that night.” 

Saturday’s event is co-promoted by Juan Sanchez of Elite Underdog Promotions and Ali Benjamin, proprietor of Benjamin’s Boxing, where Lacanlale has trained for years. With Benjamin a longtime fixture in his corner, taking the co-main event slot on this card has some added significance for the San Ramon native. 

“To have Coach Ali putting this event together, along with Elite Underdog Promotions, means a lot and it is an honor for me to be the co-main event,” explains Lacanlale. “I just want to display my skills and put on a good show for everyone at the Fairgrounds.” 

Lacanlale will meet rugged Rodolfo Molina (0-1) of Antioch, California on Saturday night. Molina fought valiantly, but came up short in his pro debut against the well-regarded Irving Xilohua in Sacramento and was willing to sign for a bout with Lacanlale when many others passed on the opportunity. 

“I know he fought Irving in his first professional fight and we know Irving is a solid fighter,” explains Lacanlale. “We’ve seen him throughout the years. From Molina, I expect a tough fighter and we are not overlooking him. I train hard for every fight I step into the ring for and I think that my skills will carry me to a win.”  

Lacanlale, who will be one of the featured fighters taking part in a media day at Benjamin’s Boxing on Thursday afternoon, is determined to make his homecoming fight of sorts a memorable one for all of those who attend on Saturday night. 

“You can expect an exciting fight,” says Lacanlale. “I’ve been training hard and I am feeling sharp. I am ready and determined and I cannot wait to put on a show on May 24th.” 

Tickets for the event, promoted by Elite Underdog Promotions and Benjamin’s Boxing, are available online at Eventbrite.com 

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

By Norm Frauenheim

Few great careers are complete without a risky comeback or two and, sure enough, 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao is poised to made a second one six weeks after he’s inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

What has been rumored for weeks became official Thursday with an announcement from a Pacquiao spokesman that he’ll face welterweight champion Mario Barrios in his first bout in four years on July 19, probably in Las Vegas.

Why? 

Why-oh-why? 

The question is little bit like a comeback. It’s almost — thank you, Marvin Hagler — inevitable, even if a good answer rarely is.

Pacquiao, boxing’s only champion to win belts in eight different divisions, fought and lost a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas in his first comeback August 21, 2021 in Vegas. Mostly, that loss is remembered for his emotional, compelling post-fight news conference. He spoke like a statesman.

The next day, he formally announced his retirement in video posted on Facebook.

“Goodbye boxing, thank you for changing my life,” he said then.

Hello boxing, he said Thursday.

Plans have been in the works for awhile. Thursday’s formal news was preceded by online books posting opening odds earlier this week. That’s always a pretty good bet that a rumored fight is a done deal. Pacquiao is picked to lose to the 29-year-old Barrios, a San Antonio welterweight who opened as a minus-500 favorite. 

I’m only hoping for odds that Pacquiao doesn’t get hurt. That’s the only bet I’d make.

In an interview with Sean Zittel after the fight was announced Thursday, trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards said it best. 

Said it for us all.

“I don’t want to see a legend get hurt,’’ Breadman said. 

Too often, however, it’s the risk that sells, and this one figures to sell very well on a busy July 19 that will include heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk-Daniel Usyk 2 at London’s Wembley Stadium and super-flyweight champ Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez in a title unification bid against Phumelela Cafu in Frisco, TX, a Dallas suburb. Reportedly, the Pacquiao-Barrios card will also include Sebastian Fundora-Tim Tszyu 2, a terrific rematch.

But much of the attention will be on Pacquiao, who is just the latest example of how celebrity is a lot more durable than a chin or foot speed. 

Against Ugas, Pacquiao, then 42, looked every bit his age. Perhaps, his power — always the last thing to go — was still there then. 

And now. 

In 2021, however, he was never able to land much of a telling blow against Ugas, a slick fighter and former Olympian educated in Cuba’s elusive style. Barrios, the World Boxing Council’s 147-pound champion, looked vulnerable against Abel Ramos in a surprising draw last November on a card that drew worldwide interest because it featured aging Mike Tyson against Jake Paul. Tyson couldn’t move his feet or his head any more, either. 

Ramos — an aggressive fighter from Casa Grande, south of Phoenix — wore down Barrios, taking him into the final rounds with stubborn pursuit and quick reflexes. Ramos, who deserves a rematch, is 33, 13 years younger than Pacquiao.

That brings us back to the beginning: 

Why?

Why-oh-why? 

Pacquiao, who will be formally inducted to the Hall in Canastota NY June 8,  is as good a story as any. He’s been a people’s champ. Perhaps, The People’s Champ in a boxing history endlessly compelling because of them. 

He was a forgotten kid who fought his way out and off a third-world country’s poorest streets and into the hearts of his fellow Filipinos. 

He transformed himself into a worldwide celebrity, popular enough to become a Filipino Senator and even a Presidential contender. Politics cost a lot of money. Pacquiao— generous to a fault, if that’s possible — has been known to give away much of what he made in the ring to the poorest Filipinos. He bought meals, homes and fishing fleets.

But even the people move on, and now there are signs that has happened to Pacquiao, too. He failed in his second run for a Senate seat. It was announced Wednesday in the Philippines that he did not get enough votes to finish among the top 12 candidates for the Senate’s available seats. 

Pacquiao, the Federal Party’s nominee, finished with 10,208,499 votes, leaving him in 18th place overall. Turns out, he went from 18th in Filipino politics to fifth in the WBC’s welterweight ratings. But that’s a different story for a different day.

The question here is about money. Does Pacquiao have to fight to pay his political bills? We’ll never really know. At heart, he’s still a fighter, still the name that captured hearts In the Philippines and everywhere else. 

Maybe, he’s back just because he wants to re-live the ring moments that made him so captivating. But he doesn’t have to. His legacy is safe, no matter what happens on July 19. Forever, he’s a genuine legend.

That’s why, as Breadman says, we don’t want him to get hurt. 

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS — Naoya Inoue stood on the scale like a politician on the bully pulpit Saturday in his first American appearance in about four years for a bout that looks a little bit like a campaign stop in his bid to gain pound-for-pound supremacy.

Pound-for-pound is nothing more than debate, after all. It’s about gaining supporters and knocking out lingering doubts.

Inoue is expected to do both against likable, yet little-known junior-featherweight challenger Ramon Cardenas, a massive underdog  who insists he’ll prove to be more than a mere prop Sunday in Inoue’s defense of his undisputed 122-pound title at T-Mobile Arena.

“More than anything, I want people to see something they haven’t been able to see yet in the U.S,” Inoue said through an interpreter before he safely made weight, coming in under the junior-featherweight-limit by a slim tenth-of-a-pound, 121.9, also a tenth-of-a-pound heavier than Cardenas.

Those are bold words. Terence Crawford, an all-time welterweight great and America’s best practitioner of the sweet-science craft, is surely planning to introduce a couple of counter arguments of his own in a planned move up to the scale against Mexican super-middleweight Canelo Alvarez later in the year. 

On Sunday, however, Inoue, Japan’s rising son, will have the bully pulpit all to himself in what will be the four-division champion’s 25th successive title defense. 

Inoue’s dominance of boxing’s lightest weight classes has been thorough and reliable, so much so that it’s become expected, if not somewhat forgettable. 

It’s not, of course. In part, Inoue can reawaken America’s impatient, quick-to-forget audience with a showcase exhibition of a skill set still sharp, comprehensive and dynamic as any.

“I’m very motivated to fight in front of an American crowd in a big arena like this, but because it’s during Cinco de Mayo weekend, it feels like I’m playing an away game,” Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) said a day before the ESPN-televised bout. “So, I don’t know what to expect.”

He can expect skepticism, much of it planted by rival promoter Eddie Hearn, whose noisy criticism of Inoue’s recent string of opponents probably factored into Inoue’s agreement to fight Murodjon “MJ” Akhmadaliev, a feared Uzbek and a former bantamweight champion, next September in Tokyo. 

Against Cardenas, there’s a chance to get an updated look at Inoue and how he might withstand a risky challenge from a dangerous Akhmadaliev.

If there are flaws in Inoue, Cardenas hopes to be the first to expose them.

Opportunities like this don’t come around often, so I had to jump at it,” said Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs), a 29-year-old San Antonio fighter and Akhmadaliev’s stablemate. “I’ve been mentally preparing to fight Inoue for a long time. I knew I’d eventually get a big fight if I kept winning. And here we are — a shot at the undisputed champion of the world.

“This is Inoue’s first fight in America in four years, so I know he’s motivated to show out. I’m prepared for the very best version of Naoya Inoue.”

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Unified super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue aims to bolster his bid for pound-for-pound kingpin status in a stateside showcase against once-beaten Ramon Cardenas at the T-Mobile Arena in an ESPN-televised main event on Sunday night. On a weekend in which some of the sport’s top stars will have already stated their case and another has dropped from contention, Inoue is the best bet to stand out spectacularly. Fighters for the eight-bout card weighed-in Saturday morning and then took part in a ceremonial event in the afternoon in one of the studios adjacent to the MGM Grand Garden Arena. 

Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) of Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan continues what could become a Fighter of the Year 2025 campaign as he takes on heavy underdog Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas. Inoue made short work of late replacement opponent Ye Joon Kim in January and may fight twice more this calendar year if reported plans come to fruition. 

Reports surfaced in recent days that Inoue has already agreed for his next bout, to take place this September in Japan, against Murodjon Akhmadaliev, who holds claim to an interim version of the WBA title. When asked how he stays motivated to keep fighting, Inoue offered brief insights. 

“My goal is to just get stronger,” said Inoue. “For my final challenge, I want to move up to featherweight. That will be my final challenge,” said Inoue, through interpreter Nobu Ikushima on Saturday. 

Cardenas, the IBF #1 ranked 130-pounder, graduated to the national level in 2024, picking up two regional titles, followed by a career-best win over previously unbeaten Bryan Acosta this past February. There may not be any string of opponents one could have that would ready a fighter for the leap in class that Inoue represents, so it goes without saying “The Monster” represents a giant step-up in class for Cardenas. However, the San Antonio fighter does not appear to be in awe of the moment and has said the right things. 

“I am excited and ready to get the show on the road,” said Cardenas, fighting for his first world title on Sunday. “It doesn’t get real until tomorrow and I am ready.” 

Inoue, defending the WBC/WBA/WBO/IBF 122-pound titles, weighed-in at 121.9-pounds on Saturday, while the challenger Cardenas scaled 121.8. 

In the co-feature, budding star Rafael Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs) of Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico will defend his WBO 126-pound title against former 130-pound title challenger Edward Vazquez (17-2, 4 KOs) of Fort Worth, Texas in a twelve-round featherweight bout. 

Espinoza, who scaled 125.4-pounds on Saturday, became one of the faces of the division over the last year-and-a-half, highlighted by his signature knockout of Robeisy Ramirez in the rematch of his title-winning effort last December. 

“It is a dream come true to be here on this Mexican Day and to fight for these beautiful people,” said Espinoza after hitting the scales for the ceremonial weigh-in. 

Vazquez, the WBO #10 ranked 126-pounder despite not fighting at that weight class in two years, was last seen at this level giving Joe Cordina all he could handle in an IBF super featherweight title bid that resulted in a majority decision defeat in November of 2023. The challenger weighed-in at 125.6-pounds on Saturday. 

WBO #10/WBC #15 ranked welterweight Rohan Polanco (15-0, 10 KOs) of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic will see action against veteran Fabian Maidana (24-3, 18 KOs) of Jose Leon Suarez, Buenos Aires, Argentina in a ten-round bout. Polanco hopes to further add to his credentials, while Maidana aims to make good at the same venue he came up short in an interim title bid against Mario Barrios one year ago. Polanco, who risks his regional WBO Inter-Continental title, weighed-in at 146.2-pounds on Saturday, while Maidana made 146 even. 

Rising prospect Emiliano Fernando Vargas (13-0, 11 KOs) of Las Vegas will meet Juan Leon Alvarez (11-2-1, 2 KOs) of Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain by way of Guayaquil, Ecuador in an eight-round bout for the minor NABF Junior light welterweight title. Vargas, who made 138.7-pounds on Saturday, is back after a second-round stoppage of veteran Giovannie Gonzalez in late March. Leon Alvarez, who scaled 139.9-pounds, has built up his record against modest opposition, mainly in Spain. 

Mikito Nakano (12-0, 11 KOs) of Las Vegas, by way of Hiroshima, Japan will take on Pedro Marquez (16-1, 10 KOs) of San Juan, Puerto Rico in a ten-round featherweight bout. Nakano, the IBF #8/WBC #10/WBA #10/WBO #11 ranked featherweight, made 125.9-pounds on Saturday. Marquez, who weighed-in at 126-pounds, will be taking a major step-up in class on Sunday as he fights out of his native Puerto Rico for the first time in his professional career. 

Fighting out of the famed Robert Garcia Boxing Academy, junior middleweight prospect Art Barrera Jr. (8-0, 6 KOs) of Paramount, California will meet Juan Carlos Guerra Jr. (6-1-1, 2 KOs) of Chicago, Illinois in a six-rounder. Barrera, who just saw action and scored a second-round stoppage a month ago, weighed-in at 152.7-pounds. Guerra, who gained fame with a victory over Nico Ali Walsh at Madison Square Garden this past February, weighed-in at 153.7-pounds. 

Featherweight contender Ra’eese Aleem (21-1, 12 KOs) of Las Vegas looks to get rolling again against Rudy Garcia (13-1-1, 2 KOs) of Los Angeles, California in a ten-round bout. Aleem, now signed to Top Rank after fighting just once a year for the last three years, made 125.6-pounds, while Garcia, who will be shaking off a little rust himself, scaled 125.3-pounds. 

Former amateur star Patrick O’Connor of Waldorf, Maryland makes his professional debut against Marcus Smith (2-1, 2 KOs) of Carlisle, Ohio in a four-round cruiserweight bout on Sunday. O’Connor weighed-in 196.1-pounds, while Smith scaled 188 even. 

Quick Weigh-in Results:

WBC Super Bantamweight Championship

WBO Super Bantamweight Championship

WBA Super Bantamweight Championship

IBF Super Bantamweight Championship, 12 Rounds

Inoue 121.9

Cardenas 121.8

WBO Featherweight Championship, 12 Rounds

Espinoza 125.4

Vazquez 125.6

WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Championship, 10 Rounds

Polanco 146.2

Maidana 146

NABF Junior Light Welterweight Championship, 8 Rounds

Vargas 138.7 

Leon Alvarez 139.9

Featherweights, 10 Rounds

Nakano 125.9

Marquez 126

Light middleweights, 6 Rounds

Barrera Jr. 152.7

Guerra Jr. 153.7

Featherweights, 10 Rounds

Aleem 125.6

Garcia 125.3

Cruiserweights, 4 Rounds

O’Connor 196.1

Smith 188

Tickets for the event, promoted by Top Rank, in association with Ohashi Promotion, Teiken Promotions and Sampson Boxing, are available online at AXS.com 

Photos by Mikey Williams/Top Rank 

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

Canelo Alvarez won a 12-round unanimous decision over William Scull to become Undisputed Super Middleweight champion at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The fight lacked any sustained action as Scull circled the ring relentlessly with Canelo trying to stalk the former IBF champion. Scull laned an occasional right hand but it was body shots from Alvarez that proved to be the difference.

Alvarez of Guadalajara, Mexico won by scores of 119-109, 116-112 and 115-113 and is now 63-2-2. Scull of Germany via Cuba is 23-1.

After the fight, Alvarez and Terence Crawford faced off in the center of the ring as they officially announced their September 12th mega-showdown which will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Badou Jack Decisions Mikaelian to Win Full WBC Cruiserweight Title

Badou Jack won the full WBC Cruiserweight title with a majority decision over Champion in Recess Moel Mikalelian.

Mikalelian controlled the first five rounds using the right hand behind the jab. In round five, Mikaelian suffered swelling under his left eye. Jack was able to land some good right hands. It was a close fight as they grinded out down the stretch.

Jack, 200 lbs of Stockholm, SWE won by 115-113 twice and 114-114 and is now 29-3-3. Mikaelian, 198.1 lbs o Armenia is 27-3.

Munguia Gets Even; Decisions Surace

Jaime Munguia avenged a December knockout loss to Bruno Surace and pounded out a 12-round unanimous decision in a super middleweight bout.

Munguia boxed well and dominated with body shots and slowed Surace down.

Munguia, 167.7 lbs of Tijuana, MEX won by scores of 117-111 and 116-112 and is now 45-2. Surace, 167.7 lbs of Marsailles, FRA is 26-1-2.

Ajagba and Bakole Battle to Draw

Efe Ajagba and Martin Bakole battled to a 10-round majority draw in a battle of big hitting heavyweights.

Ajagba controlled the first part of the fight as he worked behind a nice jab and mixed in some right hands. Bakole started to get inro the fight and had a big eighth round as he landed a huge flurry of power punches that made the nose of Ajagba bleed. Bakole once again had a big final frame as landed a nice combination.

Scorecards read 96-94 for Ajagba and 95-95 twice. Bakole, 299 lbs of Kampala, Congo is 21-2-1. Ajagba, 240 lbs of Ughilli, NIG is 20-1-1.

Brayan Leon Decisions Aaron Guerrero

Brayan Leon remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Aaron Rocha Guerrero in a super middleweight bout.

In round two, Guerrero started to swell on his face. In round four, Leon dropped Guerrero with a perfect left hook to the jaw.

Leon, 169.1 lbs of Pinna Del Rio, CUB won by score of 60-54 and is now 7-0. Guerrero, 166.1 lbs of Culican, MEX is 11-4-1.

Former cruiserweight world title challenger Richard Riakphore made a successful heavyweight debut with a stoppage of Kevin Nicolas Espindola after round four of their scheduled eight-round bout.

In round four, Riakphore landed a huge right to the body that put Espindola on the canvas. After the round, Espindola had enough and the fight was halted.

Riakphore, 235 lbs of London is 18-1 with 14 knockouts. Espindola, 297 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 9-10.

Marco Verde made a rousing pro debut with an opening round stoppage over Michel Galvin Polina in a six-round middleweight fight.

Early in round one, Verde dropped Polina with a big body shot. Seconds later, Verde dropped Polina with another body shot. Verde use sizzLing flurry to hurt Polina and the fight was stopped at 1:34.

Verde, 158.7 lbs of Mazaltan, MEX is 1-0 with one knockout. Polina, 158.8 lbs of Monterrey, MEX is 4-6-3.

Mohammad Alakel remained undefeated with a six-round decision over Alexander Morales in a lightweight bout.

Alakel, 134.1 lbs of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia won by a 60-54 score is now 4-0. Morales, 133.5 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is 6-14-5.

Rolando Romero scored the biggest win of his career by winning a 12-round unanimous decision over Ryan Garcia in a welterweight fight outdoors at the famed Times Square in Midtown Manhattan in New York City.

In round two, Romero dropped Garcia with a hard double left hook on the chin. After that, Garcia really seemed to be listless and fought very timidly. Romero did just enough in every round by just coming forward more with foot pressure that any type of sustained punching.

That was enough as Romero, 146.6 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 118-109 and 115-112 twice to raise his mark to 17-2. Garcia, 146.8 lbs of Victorville, CA is 24-2.

Devin Haney Decisions Ramirez in Lackluster fight

In a fight where very punches of significance landed, former undisputed champion Devin Haney won a 12-round unanimous decision over former unified world champion Jose Ramirez in a welterweights.

Haney, 143 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 119-108 twice and 118-110 and is now 32-0. Ramirez, 143,8 lbs of Avenal, CA is 29-3.

Teofimo Lopez Decisions Lopez; Retains Super Lightweight Title

Teofimo Lopez retained the WBO Super Lightweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over mandatory challenger Arnold Barboza Jr.

In round five, Lopez started to swell under his right eye. In round six, Lopez was cut under left eye.

Lopz, 139.6 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 118-110 and 116-112 twice and is now 22-1. Barboza, 139.8 lbs of Long Beach, CA is 32-1.

Tsutsumi Wins Pro Debut by Unanimous Decision

Reito Tsutsumi won his professional debut with a six-round unanimous decision over Levale Whittington in a super featherweight bout.

Tsutsumi, 128.8 lbs of Tokyo, JAP won by scores of 60-54 twice and 58-56 and is now 1-0. Whittington, 127.8 lbs of Chicago is 1-3-1.

By Norm Frauenheim

Naoya Inoue, whose masterful combinations keep him at the top of the pound-for-pound debate, is back in the United States for the first time in nearly four years this week on the first stop of an itinerary that will give him the last word and perhaps an opening statement.

It all adds up to another Inoue combo, one perfectly timed to reaffirm his claim on the pound-for-pound’s mythical crown. It’s no coincidence, perhaps, that Inoue is planning to deliver a convincing one-two just a few weeks after he turned 32. Inoue, who celebrated the birthday on April 10, is in his prime, yet it’s a prime entering a late stage. On his career path, now is the time to punctuate an unbeaten, four-division title run with a string of dominant performances.

It all begins next weekend with an intriguing Cinco de Mayo triple-header. First, there’s Times Square Friday (May 2) on a New York card featuring Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia, all three in almost desperate fights to resurrect their pound-for-pound aspirations. Then, there’s a chance Saturday (May 3) to see what Canelo Alvarez still has against William Scull in Saudi Arabia in a perceived tune-up for his projected September showdown with Terence Crawford.

Then, there’s the curtain-closer Sunday (May 4), Inoue — with his pound-for-pound credentials very much intact — against Ramon Cardenas at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. There are loud complaints about Cardenas, just as there were about everybody else beaten by Inoue over the last couple of years. No surprise there. In part, it comes with the rare pound-for-pound real estate occupied by Inoue these days.

But the complaints also are one way to explain Inoue’s astonishing superiority. He’s just been a hell of a lot better than anybody since stopping Nonito Donaire in a 2022 rematch. From this corner, the complaints about Inoue’s opposition sound a lot like those lodged against Crawford, who alongside Inoue and heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is at the top of the pound-for-pound race. 

Crawford was just a heck of a lot better than anybody he faced, especially at welterweight. That, after all, is why Crawford, who has fought once at junior-middle, is jumping up two weight classes to face Canelo, undisputed at 168 pounds.

But that won’t stop the skepticism. And it shouldn’t. Pound-for-pound contention comes with a burden of proof. Inoue, after all, is a 50-to-1 favorite to beat Cardenas, according to some online books. Buster Douglas had a better chance at beating Mike Tyson in 1990 in Inoue’s home country. Douglas, a 42-1 underdog, beat Tyson in a monumental upset in Tokyo. Maybe, that’s a reason we should watch Inoue-Cardenas. But don’t bet on it.

In his first appearance in the U.S. since a third-round TKO of Michael Dasmarinas in June 2021, however, complaints about Inoue-versus-Cardenas miss what the Cinco de Mayo three-step is really all about. 

From New York to Riyadh to Vegas, it’s a stage-setter. Depending on what happens in Canelo-Scull, the weekend heightens the stakes attached to Crawford-Canelo. In New York Friday, a strong performance by Teofimo, or Haney, or Garcia in Times Square could generate some pound-for-pound time for one or all three in the evolving debate.

In the end, however, the guess here is that Inoue will get the biggest say-so. He’ll use a one-sided blowout of the unfortunate Cardenas to amplify his pound-for-pound claim. Then, he’ll pursue the proof to that claim by moving on to the bigger names promoters, pundits and fans are demanding.

Former junior-featherweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev, possibly in September, and unbeaten bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani, also of Japan, in December were mentioned during Inoue’s public workout Wednesday at Westside Boxing Gym in Los Angeles. Beyond that, there’s hope for a dream fight, Inoue against super-flyweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez.

“I don’t know if I’ll make it back to No. 1 with this fight, but with September, December and next year … I hope to get back with those fights,” Inoue told reporters through an interpreter at his media workout. “I’m really looking forward to it. I know it is a legendary day for boxing.’’

A good day for another combo, too.

By Norm Frauenheim

It was a different Ryan Gracia than the one who shocked, outraged and frightened throughout a long-running social-media ride to hell-and-back a year ago. He was composed, thoughtful. There was even a hint of humility. Was it real? Will it last? 

Those are questions only Garcia can answer as he resumes a career interrupted by the craziness that surrounded his date with Devin Haney, a fight preceded by Garcia chugging a beer on the weigh-in scale and one that turned into a virtual accident. It’ll be exactly a year this Sunday, Easter Sunday, since a bout that  included a positive PED test, suspension, lawsuit, reported settlement and repeated denials. The hangover, framed by the questions, lingers.

There were no simple answers last April. There were none this April at a public workout in San Diego Thursday a few weeks before Garcia answers an opening bell for the first time in more than a year May 2 against Rollie Romero in Times Square, about eight miles of roadwork through New York traffic from the scene of his last ring appearance against Haney at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

Garcia, who is coming off a year-long suspension for testing positive for Ostarine, was calm. But will that prove to be only the calm before another storm? The answer to that one rests in what is about to transpire before a card that figures to get more attention for where it is than who is on it. 

For Garcia, it’s a tuneup. For Haney, it is too. He’s scheduled to fight Jose Carlos Ramirez. Teofimo Lopez will also be there in a defense of his junior-welterweight title against Arnold Barboza Jr. Hopefully, the weather will include only punches and no rain. 

“Looking to get the rust off,’’ Garcia said to a circle of reporters before a live-streamed workout at BXNG Club in Oceanside.

Looking to get some answers, too.

Garcia made some news Thursday, repeating that he had an interest in fighting welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis, the acknowledged best at 147 pounds today. He also mentioned Mario Barrios and Brian Norman.

“I’m excited, but do I want to fight somebody else that would make me feel more like a champion?’’ he said. “Whoever the champions are …any of those guys. I will win the word championship if I beat any of those guys.’’

But, mostly, the Friday night card — the first in a Cinco de Mayo triple-header  including Canelo Álvarez-William Scull Saturday in Saudi Arabia and Naoya Inoue-Ramon Cardenas Sunday at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena — is thought to be a steppingstone to a Garcia-Haney rematch, which is projected for a day in October. The planned sequel is full of immense potential to settle a lot of differences still there after Garcia’s three-knockdown beatdown of Haney in bout later changed to no-contest because of the PED positive.

“I want the Devin Haney rematch, 100 percent,’’ said Garcia, who has virtually disappeared from the wild social-media presence he occupied a year ago. “I need it and I’m going to do it for USADA this time. I want the Devin Haney rematch so bad. I really want it. There’s some personal bad blood there but it’s not going to overrule me but it’s got some extra oomph in there, you know, when you’re fighting and put it on him even more. 

“Then you got Bill’s (Haney’s father and trainer) crazy antics, and he’s constantly talking nonstop, and that makes me want to put a whooping in a little bit more. This is an opportunity to do it again, and I think after that, I’ll put a stamp on that and move forward.”

Garcia’s mention of USADA — a drug-testing agency — is a reference to the Ostarine controversy. Garcia tested positive twice for the substance — an anabolic agent, according to drug testing and New York State Athletic Commission. 

But he denied it after the fight. And he denied it again Thursday.

“I did a lot of things, but for me it was more mental,’’ Garcia said. “Everything was mental. It took a toll on my mentality, because I know I didn’t take steroids or anything like that.

“It was tough for me to overcome that, but throughout the year I got over it, re-focused myself, and got blessed with this opportunity.’’

This time, Garcia denies it without any of the angry histrionics that were there for weeks after the fight.  A year later, Gracia says it a matter-of-fact tone.

Still, it was an acknowledgement that Garcia knows what a lot of people are thinking. Hall of Famer and ringside analyst Roy Jones Jr, expressed it in an interview this week with AKHi TV, a You Tube boxing network. Jones gives a Haney a chance to win the rematch.

“If you (don’t) knock him out when you’re illegal, how you gonna beat him when you’re not illegal?’’ Jones is quoted as saying.

For Garcia, there’s only one opportunity. Only one answer. First, there’s Romero. Then, there’s the projected rematch.

“I felt that this is my chance to come back and show everybody I can really fight,” he said.

By Norm Frauenheim

Date and place remain uncertain, but exploding interest in Canelo Alvarez-versus-Terence Crawford six months before a projected opening bell is already evident in the noisy debate on social media and shifting numbers in the betting line. 

The social-media noise will continue, ad nauseam. But it’s the betting line, an early poll of sorts, that is showing a shift of public opinion toward Canelo. 

Canelo opened as a slight favorite, minus-190. But the odds, the dollars, are moving toward Canelo during the weeks since an 11th-hour deal was struck with Saudi Prince and promoter Turki Alalshikh on Feb. 7. 

This week Canelo is at minus-230. Translated, that means there’s a 66-percent chance he wins a fight as intriguing as any for a bout expected to happen in September in either Las Vegas or Los Angeles. 

The early odds figure to change more, especially during the first Saturday in May when Canelo is expected to reunify the super-middleweight title against International Boxing Federation belt-holder William Scull, a Cuban living in Germany, in a perceived tune-up in Riyadh. 

Canelo figures to win easily, but how easily will be a key factor going into the fight against Crawford, a four-division champion and an all-time welterweight great who is moving up two weight classes.

Increasingly, there’s social-media talk that the smaller, more skillful Crawford can beat Canelo. But the shifting odds say something else. There’s an old line: In a fight between two good fighters, bet on the bigger guy. For now, that’s Canelo. 

According to the latest odds update, Crawford has a 33 percent chance at springing one of the biggest upsets since Manny Pacquiao, then a lightweight champion, jumped to welterweight and scored an eighth-round stoppage of Oscar De La Hoya in December 2008.

Pacquiao weighed in at 142 pounds. De La Hoya, who came down from junior middleweight, was at 145 at the official weigh-in. It looked as if De La Hoya had weakened himself in the battle to make weight. Pacquiao overwhelmed De La Hoya late in the eighth, forcing him to quit before the start of the ninth.

Canelo, already known to tire in the later rounds, won’t have to weaken himself on the scale. According to the agreement, he’ll be at his customary weight, 168 pounds at the weigh-in the day before opening bell. 

It’s up to Crawford, who fought and won a belt at junior-middle (154) in his last bout, to add pounds. The question is how that will affect Crawford, who unlike Canelo does not have a fight scheduled before the projected September bout.

If Crawford can carry the additional weight without draining his endurance or eroding the dynamic resilience in his varied skillset, he’s got a real chance. Canelo has never faced anybody with Crawford’s quicksilver ability to adjust, including a seamless move from orthodox to southpaw and back. 

At 37 — he’ll be 38 on Sept 28, Crawford’s feet might not move with the agility and speed that they did when he was at lightweight and junior-welter. 

If, however, Crawford withstands Canelo’s early power, carries the weight and carries himself into the later rounds, there’s a chance he catches a tiring Canelo with counters from angles the powerful Mexican has yet to see.

On the scale of intangibles, the edge goes to Crawford. There’s charisma in his defiance. Motivation, too. Underdog will be the perfect fit for Crawford in his pursuit of big money and genuine legacy. 

It’s not as if Crawford is coming into what might be his last fight seeking a gigantic payout against a Jake Paul or a Conor McGregor. He’s taking on perhaps the biggest challenge possible against a bigger man, Canelo, who goes into the fight more than just favored.

Canelo is supposed to win. There’s pressure in that role, but it’s one Canelo understands better than any fighter in his generation. 

He’s learned how to counter it and how to use it throughout the years since a milestone scorecard loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September 2013. If social media and shifting odds are any indication, that pressure is just beginning to build.

Best bet:

It’s going to be a hell of a fight.

Keyshawn Davis stopped Denys Berinchyk in round four to win the WBO Lightweight title at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden.

In round three, Davis landed a left to the body that put Berinchyk on a knee for a knockdown. In round four, it was another left to the body to liver as Berinchyk tried to come in and throw punches that put Berinchyk on the deck for the 10-count at

Davis, 134.2 lbs of Norfolk, VA is now 13-0 with 10 knockouts. Berinchyk, 134.6 lbs of Kyiv, UKR is 19-1.

Xander Zayas Stops Slawa Spomer in 9

Xander Zayas remained undefeated with a ninth round stoppage of Slawa Spomer in a battled of undefeated junior middleweights.

In round one, Spomer began to bleed from his nose.

In round nine, Zayas hurt Spomer with a left hook to the body. Spomer retreated to the ropes and Zayas pounced on Spomer with a flurry of punches until Zayas doubled over Spomer again with a another left to the body, and the fight was stopped at 2:01.

Zayas, 153.2 lbs of San Juan, PR is 21-0 with 13 knockouts. Spomer, 153.2 lbs of Heilbromn, GER is 20-1.

Mielnicki and Coyle Battle To Majority Draw

Vito Mielnicki Jr. and Connor Coyle battled to a 10-round majority draw in a middleweight fight.

In round four, Mielnicki was bleeding from his mouth. In the same round, Coyle was cut around his left eye.

Mielnicki, 159.4 lbs of Roseland, NJ took a card by a 96-94 tally while two judges had it even at 95-95. Mielnicki is now 20-1-1. Coyle, 158.3 lbs of Derry, NI is 21-0-1.

Juanmita Lopez DeJesus needed just 59 seconds to win his pro debut over Bryan Santiago in a four-round junior bantamweight bout.

DeJesus landed a left uppercut that put Santiago down and out.

Dejesus, 113.8 lbs of Caguas, PR is the son of former world champion Juan Manuel Lopez. Santiago, 113.6 lbs of Weslaco, TX is 1-2-1.

Abdullah Mason remained undefeated by dropping Manuel Jaimes four-times enroute to a fourth round stoppage in a eight-round lightweight bout.

In round Mason dropped Jaimes with a step-back left uppercut. Mason scored another knockdown in round three from another left hand.. In round four, Mason dropped Jaimes with a right hook that was followed by a left. Mason finished off Jaimes when he dumped him agaion the canvas with a straight left hand that was followed by two right hooks at 1:55.

Mason, 136.2 lbs of Cleveland is 17-0 with 15 knockouts. Jaimes, 137 lbs of Stockton, CA is 16-3-1.

Rohan Polanco stopped Jean Carlos Torres in round two of their 10-round welterweight fight.

In round one, Polanco dropped Torres with a leaping left hook to the temple In round two, it was a left hook that d put Torres down again. Seconds later, it was a big right hand that rocked Torres and one punch later the fight was stopped at 1:48.

Polanco, 146.4 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is now 15-0 with 10 knockouts. Torres, 147 lbs of Trujillo Alto, PR is 22-2.

Keon Davis stopped Ira Johnson in round two of their four-round welterweight fight.

In round two, Davis dropped Johnson with a left hook to the body. Then it was a flurry that was capped by a right over the top that put Johnson down for 10-count at 1:38.

Davis, 149.2 lbs of Norfolk, VA is 2-0 with one knockout. Johnson, 148.2l lbs of Kansas City is 3-3.

Jared Anderson won a 10-round unanimous decision over Marios Kollias in a heavyweight bout.

In round four, Kollias started to swell under his left eye.

ANerson, 256.8 lbs of Toledo won by scores of 99-91 twice and 98-92 and is now 18-1. Kollias, 235.4 lbs of Pares, GRE is 12-4-1.

Juan Carlos Guerra Jr. scored an upset six-round split decision over Nico Ali Walsh in a middleweight fight.

Guerra, 1578.8 lbs of Chicago won by scores of 58-56 twice and 58-56 for Walsh. Guerra is now 6-1-1. Waksh, 15.2 lbs of Las Vegas is 11-2.

By Norm Frauenheim

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I’m not ready for that,’’ Paul said.

He’s not. 

Not then. 

Especially not now.

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

Like Benavidez, Paul has never called out Crawford either. 

The risk in either is not worth the reward.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quick Weigh-in Results:

USWBC Super Middleweight Championship

WBO International Super Middleweight Championship, 12 Rounds

Pacheco 166.4

Nelson 168

WBA Continental Latin Americas Championship

IBF International Lightweight Championship, 10 Rounds

Cruz 134.8

Salcido 134.8

Light welterweights, 10 Rounds

Mercado 142.4

Pedraza 143

Light welterweights, 8 Rounds

Rubalcava 141

Mercado 141

Lightweights, 6 Rounds

Mederos 134.4

de Isla 135.6

Light middleweights, 6 Rounds

Dev 155.8

Wiggins 156.4

Super featherweights, 4 Rounds

Moses 130.4

Garcia 137.4

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

Photos by Melina Pizano/Matchroom

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

By Norm Frauenheim

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inoue might wonder himself.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus Ramos wants Lubin rematch

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

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

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

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

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

The defeat, Ramos said, changed his mindset.

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

By Norm Frauenheim

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

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

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

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

Fighter of the Year

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

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

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

Fighter Of The Year Runner-up

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

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

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

Fight Of The Year

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trainer Of The Year

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

Fighters of the Year

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

Here are just two:

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

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

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

By Norm Frauenheim

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

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

Oleksandr, which is of Greek origin, means:

To Defend.

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

To wit: He doesn’t lose rematches. 

Then again, neither does Usyk. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, too, has Usyk.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To Defend.

By Norm Frauenheim

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2024. 

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

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

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

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

“Truth is, I found it disrespectful.’’

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

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

A rematch.

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

Stay busy. 

NOTES

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

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

By Norm Frauenheim

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Norm Frauenheim

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Norm Frauenheim

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Start over. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Sweet Science?

Nothing Sweet or Scientific about it.

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

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

They’re the face of the future. 

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

NOTES

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

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

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

By Norm Frauenheim –

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

Any more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then.

And now.

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

Father Time doesn’t negotiate. 

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

Yeah, scary for him.

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

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

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

Scary.

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

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

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

Then. 

And probably now.

By Norm Frauenheim

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And will be. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Boxing needs one. 

By Norm Frauenheim

An old line is as current as ever this week because of the acronyms, which continue to prove that the only thing killing boxing is boxing itself.

The IBF is redefining itself. Call it the Irrelevant Boxing Federation. The latest move dropped Thursday with news that defies common sense. Business sense, too. Then again, the IBF is in the business of collecting sanctioning fees.  But there won’t be too many more of those if the IBF continues to make baffling moves that can only shove the acronym into further obscurity.

The latest: A threat to strip Artur Beterbiev of the IBF piece of the light-heavyweight title within a week after he retained it, two other belts and added a fourth in a controversial scorecard decision over Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh. 

You didn’t have to watch the fight to know that a rematch had to be next. I didn’t watch because of another acronym, DAZN, which advertised that the undercard’s live stream would be free in the US and Canada, yet then charged $19.99. Frustrated, I just decided to say no. It was just the latest example of how boxing conducts itself. Only in boxing can a circular firing squad become a business agenda.

According to many accounts in the post-fight scuffle on social media, Bivol got robbed. Maybe. Maybe not. However, at least one of the scorecards in the majority decision says that Bivol did enough to get a rematch. One judge scored it a draw, 114-114. The other two cards favored Beterbiev, 115-113 and 116-112, a score that managed to generate a lot of the outrage. 

Whatever you think, the fight and subsequent debate left a question. The only way to get an answer is with a rematch. For a few days, at least, that seemed to be what everyone wanted.

Beterbiev, who says little, said enough to indicate he’s willing.

With Bivol and his corner, there was never much doubt. Many in the Bivol corner were shouting robbery. An attorney for Bivol petitioned the acronyms Wednesday, asking for a rematch. 

For once, there seemed to be some consensus. But — surprise, surprise — it didn’t last. The familiar chaos was back with news from the IBF that it would order Beterbiev to fight somebody named Michael Eifert. It could have ordered him to fight the Eiffel Tower for all that it mattered. Does anybody know who Michael Eifert is? Didn’t think so.

Then again, does anybody know William Scull? He’s a good name for Halloween, but as a champion, or challenger he is as unknown as Eifert (13-1, 5 KOs), an IBF challenger living in Germany who is best known for scoring a decision over a faded Jean Pascal in March 2023. 

By coincidence, perhaps, Scull (22-0, 9 KOs), a Cuban also living in Germany, fights for the first time Saturday since the IBF elevated him to the top of super-middleweight ratings after stripping Canelo Álvarez of its 168-pound belt. 

Scull fights for Canelo’s former piece of the undisputed title against an unbeaten Russian named Vladimir Shishkin, (16-0, 10 KOs) in Falkensee, a town west of Berlin. Will anybody see it? Put it this way: There won’t be any speculative stories about the pay-per-view count. No television or streaming is planned.

In effect, the IBF stripped Canelo of the belt and itself of his drawing power. The numbers are smaller, but the IBF could be taking a similar step in a baffling move, a so-called order that Beterbiev fight an unknown or risk losing his 175-pound belt. 

Common sense dictates that the IBF — or any other acronym arrogant enough to issue orders, designate mandatories and call itself a ruling body  — threatens to strip Beterbiev of only if he declines to do an immediate rematch.

Anything else is a down payment on irrelevancy.

NOTES

Speaking of rematches, a couple of them were formally announced this week. Top Rank will stage Emanuel Navarrete-versus-Oscar Valdez Dec. 7 in Phoenix in a rematch of Navarrete’s punishing decision over Valdez in a dramatic junior-lightweight title bout August, 2023 at Glendale’s Desert Diamond Arena. 

The card, aptly called Scores 2 Settle, will also include Rafael Espinoza versus Robeisy Ramirez in a featherweight rematch of Espinoza’s majority-decision victory in December.

The ESPN card has been in the news for months. The only difference will be the site. Initially, it was believed that Navarrete-Valdez would go back to Glendale. But it was announced this week that they’ll do the sequel at Footprint Center, the NBA Suns home in downtown Phoenix.