By Bart Barry-

SAN ANTONIO – Onto the kindling of this city’s massive unemployment and bursting foodbank lines and COVID-19 fear and socialdistancing alienation dropped last week the match of yet more racist police violence, making a conflagration inevitable.  Except it wasn’t.  It didn’t happen.  Saturday evening 5,000 or so residents marched civilly to SAPD Headquarters in a legal reminder to those who police us they do so only with our permission.

Many hours later a tiny fraction of this city’s hopeless and misdirected smashed some windows and threatened a mall and shouted insults at a coterie of overarmed loons protecting the Alamo – hallowed grounds so sacred they’re shared by Ripley’s Haunted Adventure, Tomb Rider 3D and The Amazing Mirror Maze – and frightened lawenforcement officials responded as they do, with projectiles, though thankfully projectiles of impermanent effect.

This column will feign no expertise about any subject below this line.  At age 46 I’m too young to be ideological as a boomer and too old to be ideological as a millennial.  I’m part of the comparatively tiny and robustly pragmatic generation sandwiched betwixt the ideologues.  Part of a generation that, at least last Friday, best autoidentified as Killer Mike’s – for who came close to giving a better speech?

I don’t want to be here, either, this week, writing about a subject I’ve avoided best as I can since the last L.A. riots happened a month before my highschool graduation.  It felt genuine historic then and moreso that November when George H. W. Bush became the only incumbent American president to lose an election in the last 40 years.  Then as now politicians promised reforms and pleaded for their donors’ financial interests by telling us that anything but peaceful and preferably silent acts of protest undermined whatever it was they thought we were trying to tell them.

The system prevailed; those who’d given voice to the rage that happened 28 years ago got repurposed – Ice Cube starred in Are We There Yet? and Dr. Dre covered his debut album with a cannabis leaf and Ice-T began his career as a television cop and one half of Public Enemy made Flavor of Love – and things got quieter and sillier but decidedly not better.

This all feels insincere sanitized, so let’s stop it.

I am not friends with any cops or politicians.  Not one peer I admired in highschool or college went on to be a cop or a politician.  Frankly the people who populate both ranks feel weird to me.  Cops my age feel like lonewolf losers, socially awkward cowards who fantasized of being soldiers but lacked some essential quality, tangible or otherwise; politicians my age, of which there are comparatively and blessedly few, feel like failed salespeople who hadn’t the chops to play in the free market, and stoke grievances for votes instead.

Most days I look at millennials and envy their ideological bent, wondering what it must feel like to care so much about so many different things, but not last week, not this week.  It’s simply too raw and painful to feel that much.

Last week I thought of the kids who in 2010 hit heavybags at San Fernando Gym, a mile up Santa Rosa from SAPD Headquarters, where they are now, as legal adults, and if life kept them safer here than in another city like Minneapolis, an 18-hour drive up I-35, a city my blissful ignorance used to equate with only icehockey players and Lake Superior, certainly not a racist police force and buildings aflame.

One reason I have hope our kids are safer here than other American cities is our police force’s demographics.  We are a majority-Latinx city with a majority-Latinx police force.  Whites occupy a disproportionate share of our sworn officers, yes, 42-percent the police force while 25-percent the citizenship, but they are still the minority of police here.  And one thing that seems essential in all this is a populace policed by its own, not by an occupying army that commutes daily from a suburban fortress, dons anonymizing equipment, collects weapons of war and patrols our streets in attack vehicles.

Now is the place, I know, one is supposed to walk half this back in the name of balance, talking about all the good cops – but as mentioned above, I don’t know any.  Among my friends over the years I’ve counted project managers and a porn star, a meth dealer and prizefighters, golf pros and guitarists, a Mexican machinist and a Puerto Rican barber, Catholic nuns and Linux DBAs, a coke addict and firefighters, prostitutes and Marines, a Lebanese restauranteur and an immigration lawyer, and as many corporate VPs as writers and painters – but no, not one cop.

None has yet been cool enough.  I feel uneasy round them.  They feel like a dangerous combination of barely competent and violence-prone, dull knives, the sort of men who do things badly and blame others – the worse they do the more they project their selfdisgust on bystanders.  Too, I aspire to be an antiracist, though I’m no angel, and I doubt police work, as currently taught, can be compatible with antiracism.

As I sat about procrastinating and dreading this column I kept returning Saturday to a piece written by Joel Garreau in September 2005, a couple weeks after Hurricane Katrina destroyed parts of Louisiana.  Ten days was time enough for politicians to come out of hiding and start their orgy of promisemaking.  They would shower money and resources and strength and pride and, well, you know the spiel, until all was better than ever.

But Garreau knew it was nonsense and began his Washington Post piece thusly: “The city of New Orleans is not going to be rebuilt.”  He went on to explain why: “Sentiment won’t guide the insurance industry. When it looks at the devastation here, it will evaluate the risk from toxicity that has leached into the soil, and has penetrated the frames of the buildings, before it decides to write new insurance – without which nothing can be rebuilt.”

Mixing this idea with Killer Mike’s, I wonder if robust, insurance-mandated citizen-review boards aren’t a way for cities to find their ways partially out of this morass; commercial realestate insurers have long looked at climate science before underwriting construction projects and after what just happened in Minneapolis they’ll have to consider police forces unaccountable to their communities dangerous as natural disasters.  More predictable too.  I lack Killer Mike’s decency and optimism, truthfully, but if there’s a freemarket solution to this problem – and probably there is not – it may be found, oddly enough, in insurance underwriting.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

Gilbert Burns got the biggest win of his career as he dominated former welterweigh champion Tyron Woodley over five round to rack up an easy unanimous decision at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

In round one, Woodley was dropped and cut above the left eye. Burns landed three-times the amount of strikes and had two take-downs as Woodley seemed faded and was never in the fight.

Burns, 170 1/2 lbs of Brazil, who came in with a number-four ranking, won by scores of 50-45 and 50-44 twice to raise his mark to 19-3. Woodley, 170 1/2 lbs of Saint Louis, MO is 19-5-1.

Augusto Sakai won a split decision over Blagoy Ivanov in a heavyweight bout.

Sakai, 259 1/2 lbs of Brazil won two cards by 29-28 tallies. Ivanov won a card 30-27.

Sakai is 15-1-1. Ivanov, 255 1/2 lbs of Sofia, BUL is 18-4-1.

Billy Quarantillo won a unanimous decision over Spike Carlyle in an action filled 150 lb catchweight bout.

Quarantillo, 149.5 lbs of Tampa, FL won by scores of 29-28 on all cards, and is now 14-2. Carlyle, 150 lbs of Del Mar, CA is 9-2.

Roosevelt Roberts submitted Brok Weaver in round two of their lightweight bout.

Roberts dominated and was able to finish Weaver with a rear-naked choke at 3:26.

Roberts, 156 lbs of San Bernadino, CA is 10-1. Weaver. 157.5 lbs of Micintosh, AL is 15-5.

Mackenzie Dern submitted Hannah Cifers in the 1st round of their strawweight bout.

Cifers landed some punches early, and was even attempting Ground and Pound on Dern when Dern was able to take Cifers down with a leg-lock that made Cifers tap at 2:36.

Dern, 115.5 lbs of Long Beach, CA is 8-1. Cifers, 115.5 lbs of Wake Forest, NC is 10-5.

Kaitlyn Chookagian got revenge, sort of as she beat up and battered Antonina Shevchenko in their flyweight bout.

Chookagian had Shevchenko on the ground and pounded away at her for most of the 15 minutes of the fight.

Chookagian who lost to Shevchenko’s sister, Valentina in a world title clash, got the revenge by scores of 30-25 on all cards.

Chookagian, 126 lbs of Amity Harbor, NY is 14-3. Shevchenko, 125.5 lbs of Kyrgyzstan is 8-2.

Daniel Rodriguez won a unanimous decision over Gabriel Green in a welterweight fight.

Rodriguez, 170 lbs of Alhambra, CA won by scores of 30-27 on all cards, and is now 12-1. Green, 170.5 lbs of San Pedro, CA is 9-3.

Jamahal Hill stopped Klidson Abreu in the opening round of their light heavyweight bout.

Hill dropped Abreu with a vicious knee, and then landed several punches with Abreu on the ground, and the bout was stopped at 1:51,

Hill, 205.5 lbs of Grand Rapids, MI is 8-0. Abreu, 206 lbs of Brazil is 15-5.

Brandon Royval choked out Tim Elliott in round two of their flyweight bout.

Elliott dominated the first round-plus with some solid takedowns, but in round two, Royval was able to turn the tide and get Elliott to tap out from a cArm-Triangle at 3:18.

Royval, 125.5 lbs of Englewood, CO is 11-4. Elliott, 126 lbs of Lee’s Summitt, MO is 15-11-1.

Casey Kenney choked out Louis Smolka in the 1st round of their bantamweight fight.

Kenney dropped Smolka with a left hook and was able to sub,it Smolka with a one-armed Guillotine at 3:03.

Kenney, 136 lbs of Tucson, AZ is 14-2-1. Smolka, 136 lbs of Kapolei, HI is 16-7.

Chris Gutierrez stopped Vince Morales in the 2nd round of their featherweight bout.

In round two, Gutierrez hurt Morales repeatedly with a plethora of leg kicks. Gutierrez continued to land low leg kicks that beat up the legs of Morales until the fight was stopped at 4:27.

Gutierrez, 145.5 lbs of Englewood, CO is 15-3. Morales, 145 lbs of Las Vegas is 9-5.

By Norm Frauenheim–

The Forbes list used to belong to Floyd Mayweather Jr., who became better known for dominating the money ranks than the pound-for-pound ratings.

Dollars buy crossover fans and Mayweather seemed to have an endless supply. The cash filled his suitcases and the minds of young fighters, who wanted to spend like him even if they couldn’t fight like him.

The biggest reward for the smallest risk, a ratio and a role model, became as important as any combination of punches. No matter what the sport, Mayweather employed it as effectively as anyone ever has.

But the ratio is vanishing in a pandemic for which there has been no apparent immunity. The risk is still there. Boxing without risk is aerobics. Have a nice workout. But the reward is eroding at a rate that will soon force fighters to think twice about that inherent risk.

The latest Forbes list of the world’s highest-paid athletes was released about a week ago. It includes four boxers – Tyson Fury at No. 11 with $57 million, Anthony Joshua at No. 19 with $47 million, Deontay Wilder at No. 20 with $46.5 million and Canelo Alvarez at No. 30 with $37 million.

At the top, Roger Federer, who is the first tennis player to ever be ranked No. 1 with $106.3 million in earnings and endorsements for the period between June 1, 2019 and June 1, 2020. He won’t be standing in line at any food banks before his next match.

Nevertheless, the list is a red flag, an early earning sign of financial trouble awaiting all sports and especially boxing, which includes few guarantees, other than stitches and scars.

Start at the top. Federer is there with income less than half of what Mayweather earned during days when he was No. 1 often enough to be named for the list. In 2018, Forbes Mayweather led the way with $285 million, most of it from his all-reward and no-risk dance with Conor McGregor, a mixed-martial arts performer then posing as a boxer.

Two to three years later, the money looks to be vanishing faster than a full-time job. Top-to-bottom, the pay-for-play list for the top 100 is down nine percent from what it was a year ago. Cancellations started in late February and never stopped until the entire sports landscape went dark in April.  Forbes predicts a steeper decline in its next list. No play, no pay.

https://www.forbes.com/athletes/#696328ea55ae

There are signs that some sports will return this summer in an abbreviated format. The NBA and NHL are talking about schedules at single sites in a format that would essentially be a payoff schedule. For now, baseball is locked into talks about money. Thus far, players are balking at proposed pay cuts.

Boxers aren’t that lucky. During the pandemic, they aren’t collecting any pay anyway. They are independent entrepreneurs. They have to fight to get paid, contract-to-contract. Boxing is set to hit the re-start button on June 9 in a bout featuring emerging featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson against Felix Caraballo in Las Vegas. Further bouts are scheduled throughout June and July.

But, essentially, they will be studio shows. In an effort to safeguard fighters and officials from catching the lethal coronavirus, there will be no fans. No ringside media. The bouts will be televised by ESPN, which is desperate for live content.

Yet, the absence of a live crowd limits the purse. That might be OK for young boxers still fighting to make their name. But for the established star, there’s no chance at earning the big money that was a hallmark of the Mayweather era and its immediate aftermath during pre-pandemic days.

Without a live gate, it’s hard to foresee Fury-Wilder 3 or a third Canelo Alvarez-Gennadiy Golovkin fight any time soon. How about Terence Crawford-versus-Errol Spence Jr.? Not this year, if ever.

No live gate also looms as a potential complication for Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino Senator who had been hoping to fight sometime this summer.

Pacquiao had been fighting for about $20-million. That’s a big number. He’ll be 42 on Dec. 17. That’s a short window for a fighter near retirement.

A solution? There might not be one during a stretch when the money will be short and Forbes forgettable.

Over the next few weeks the sport of boxing will finally resume after a lengthy hiatus caused by the covid-19 pandemic.

While the action in the ring was on hold, there still was plenty going on outside of the ring.  Former undisputed heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson was trending after setting the social media world fire after posting a short training video clip.

Whispers of a comeback by Tyson ensued and he fueled the fire more by stating that he would like to comeback to the ring in a series of exhibition bouts to raise money for charity.  

Tyson’s announcement set off a chain reaction, as he inspired several other legendary names in the combat sports world to throw their names in the mix. Long time Tyson rival Evander Holyfield, James Toney and MMA legends such as Wanderlei Silva and Tito Ortiz were among the fighters to state their interest in fighting the youngest heavyweight in the history of boxing.

However, the interest in comebacks isn’t limited to only heavyweight fighters.  A former Mexican superstar has reached out to Impact Boxing to gauge their interest in potentially televising his comeback fight.  

Impact Boxing is a newcomer to the sport, having joined the boxing world earlier this year and is interested in helping retired fighters continue to earn money to support their families but only if it can be done in a safe manner.

In similar fashion to senior leagues in professional golf and tennis, Impact Boxing would only be interested in televising these “legends” fights if strict rules are adhered to for each bout.

Impact Boxing would like to propose the potential creation of a veteran’s league that would allow former ring idols to return against their colleagues with modified rules. These rules are outlined below:

VETERAN BOXING LEAGUE

The Veteran Boxing League (the “VBL”) is a proposed specialty boxing league specifically established for former professional boxers from ages 45-60 years. The VBL would follow traditional boxing weight classes and work with established sanctioning bodies to establish a ranking system and championship structure for each weight class. 

The VBL would hold events and mini-tournaments featuring a “who’s who” of retired professional boxers that would allow these retired pros to come out of retirement and
recapture their former glory in the ring. The VBL would provide a high level of competition for former fighters in a setting that allows for competition and safety.

VBL Fight Structure:
? No more than 6 rounds per bout
? 2 minute rounds
? 90 second breaks between rounds instead of the usual 1 minute for professional fights in order to allow proper recovery time and also additional medical supervision from ringside doctors between rounds
? Fighters would use 12 oz. gloves at the heavier weight classes and 10 oz. gloves at the lighter weight classes
? Stringent medical requirements pre-bout to ensure physical fitness to compete in VBL
? All other aspects of the fights to be governed by the ABC rules
? Tournaments may be held with seeding established based on fighter’s prior professional success, alternatively fighters could be ranked in conjunction with an established sanctioning body

Steve Marcano of SMM Boxing believes that the VBL will provide a high level of competition for former fighters that still desire to fight in a setting that allows for competition and safety. “This structure will allow retired fighters to compete against each other and avoid mismatches where retired fighters are fighting boxers who are much younger than them, which increases the potential risk of injury and is something that no one wants to see,” he stated.

According to Marcano, Impact is in discussions to hold its first VBL event with a main event featuring 2 boxing hall of famers as soon as regulations preventing fans from attending events are lifted.

“As soon as we are up and running we are expecting to get this new platform off the ground in conjunction with Impact’s regular boxing programming,” Marcano revealed

Ricky Burns says it would be fitting to draw the curtain on his illustrious career in Glasgow when the time is right, but the Coatbridge hero is confident he still has plenty more great nights left in the tank as he spoke with Chris Lloyd in the latest episode of Matchroom Boxing’s podcast ‘The Lockdown Tapes’.
THE LOCKDOWN TAPES WITH RICKY BURNS IS ALSO ON MATCHROOM BOXING’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL NOW!
Burns (43-8-1, 16 KOs ) created history by becoming Scotland’s first three-weight World champion in May 2016 when he added Super-Lightweight glory to his Super-Featherweight and Lightweight titles by stopping Michele Di Rocco for the WBA title at the SSE Hydro.

‘Rickster’ joined the paid ranks at the age of 18 in October 2001, decisioning Woody Greenway at Kevlin Hall in Glasgow, 51 fights and almost 20 years later the ultimate professional insists that he is still going strong following a close defeat to Welshman Lee Selby in London last October. 

“I just felt as if I had done enough to win in that fight,” said Burns. “It wasn’t just the Selby fight but over the last year and on social media, I had lots of people asking me if I was still fighting. After the fight it was things like that going through my head but I’m not ready to retire yet. If I had went in and Lee had punched the face off me I would have said no more. 

“As I say, I thought I had done enough to win and I do think I have a couple of good fights left in me so let’s see what happens! I was 36 at the time, I am 37 now and I don’t kid myself. I know I have got a year or two left of my career. I’ve always said I will decide when the time is right, I just don’t like it when people are trying to force it upon me.

“I started ticking over in the gym up here and had to shake off a few injuries after the Selby fight. All the scans have come back clear and I have been back to normal doing marathon runs, the body is all good. 

“We’ve not spoken about dates or opponents yet but I would love to finish my career in Glasgow and have one more big night up here. Throughout my career the fans have always turned up and showed great support so I would love to put on one last show for them up here before I call it a day.

“I don’t really want to think about life after boxing until I’ve decided that’s it. I see myself staying within boxing and getting an amateur club started. Getting my pro license would be great and I think I would make a good coach and a good trainer.”

As well as reflecting on his glittering career and looking ahead to what comes next, Burns discusses his amateur days in Scotland, dealing with losses, what it takes to maintain his incredible fitness, as well as the future of Scottish boxing. 

Fans can find Burn’s episode plus previous episodes with Joshua Buatsi, Devin Haney, Joe Cordina, Joseph Parker, Josh Warrington, Daniel Jacobs, Liam Smith, Demetrius Andrade, John Ryder and more here:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-matchroom-boxing-podcast/id1506174562

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5YRAWQS5JXB0OvM8vCqZxq

Matchroom Website: https://www.matchroomboxing.com/lockdown-tapes-podcast/

Interim WBC Heavyweight World Champion Dillian Whyte and Heavyweight UFC star Francis Ngannouwill come together for a special ePress conference at 7pm (BST) tomorrow (Saturday May 30) on Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel.

In partnership with StubHub, Sky Sports and VOW, Eddie Hearn hosts the fifth edition of our ‘Rivals’ series following the first four instalments featuring Lee Selby, Anthony Fowler, Ohara Davies, Terri Harper, Fabio Wardley and more. 

Hearn revealed that he has received huge demand to stage an explosive battle between the big-hitters, and is planning on holding talks with UFC boss Dana White with an eye to putting on the fight at the back end of 2020.

Whyte is currently training for a rescheduled clash with Russian danger man Alexander Povetkin that is due to conclude Matchroom Boxing’s groundbreaking ‘Fight Camp’ this summer, but ‘The Body Snatcher’ could then turn his attention to a fight with Ngannou before the end of 2020. 

Ngannou is the No.2 ranked contender in the UFC and the 33-year-old’s mettle has already been tested inside the boxing ring by British Heavyweight Joe Joyce when the big men shared eight rounds of sparring in Las Vegas earlier this year.

“Whoever wants it, can get it,” said Whyte. “We can do two fights, one in the ring and one in the cage. We’ve both got power, we’re both in our prime and one punch can end it. I want to get it on and rock the world.”

“People have been talking about this potential fight for months now,” said Ngannou. “This makes sense down the line, me and Dillian are going to cross paths. I don’t back down from a challenge.”

“Dana loves great fights, so I’ll try to make this happen. This isn’t a gimmick, this is two of the best and baddest in the world. Whyte vs. Ngannou would be huge,” added Hearn. 

Fans can tune in to Rivals tomorrow at 7pm (BST) on the Matchroom Boxing YouTube channel here: Whyte vs. Ngannou Rivals 

Matchroom Boxing Light-Heavyweight stars Joshua Buatsi and Callum Johnson will speak to each other for the very first time on ‘The Boxing Show’ – a new dynamic weekly show presented by Anna Woolhouse alongside Matthew Macklin on Sky Sports.

Airing at 2.00pm (BST) today on Sky Sports News and Main Event, the British rivals will discuss the latest news and views from the world of boxing, with a focus on the thriving Light-Heavyweight scene and a potentially huge domestic clash with each other in the future. 

Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Buatsi (12-0, 10 KOs) has already established himself as a must-watch fighter having scored a series of eye-catching stoppage wins so far in his professional career as he marches towards a World Title shot, most recently halting Ryan Ford in seven rounds at The O2.

Big-hitting Johnson (18-1, 13 KOs) fell short in his first World Title attempt in 2018 when current WBC and IBF ruler Artur Beterbiev inflicted his sole career defeat, but the Boston man is itching for another shot at the big time and believes that a meeting with Buatsi is inevitable down the line. 

Buatsi’s manager, two-time Heavyweight Champion of the World Anthony Joshua OBE, was full of praise for the undefeated Croydon sensation as he spoke to Andy Scott in an exclusive interview: “I know Buatsi for the man he is. He gives me advice as well before my fights, he reaches out to me. I think with Buatsi, why he will do great things in boxing is because of his belief in god.

“He has a reason, and his reason is bigger than boxing. Through boxing, he will use his platform to go on and do great things after. That rugged edge is only to fulfil his destiny and purpose, and he has to do it through fighting.”

Watch ‘The Boxing Show’ on Sky Sports News and Sky Sports Main Event from 2.00pm (BST) today!

NEW YORK (May 28, 2020) – Split-T Management has announced the addition of a second top amateur prospect this week, as 2020 Olympic hopeful Omar Rosario of Puerto Rico has signed with the company.

Rosario, of Caguas, PR, is the Puerto Rican Olympic Trial Champion at 152 lbs., and was the island’s favorite to win a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However after many conversations with his coaches and family surrounding the uncertainty of the Olympic games due to postponement of the games due to COVID-19, Rosario has decided to make the transition to the pro ranks under the guidance of Split-T’s Tim VanNewhouse.

Rosario will campaign in the junior welterweight division.

“Although I am disappointed I won’t be able to compete for Puerto Rico in the Olympics this year, I feel that I am better able to represent my country in the pros. Puerto Rico is looking for their next superstar, and I am that guy,” said Rosario with a smile.

Rosario, 22, has come a long way since he began boxing at the age of seven after being inspired by the success of fellow countryman and fellow Caguas-native Miguel Cotto. Rosario has followed in Cotto’s footsteps ever since – winning six Puerto Rican National Championships and representing the National Team in various international competitions. In fact, Cotto’s father, Miguel Sr., was Rosario’s first trainer and Rosario describes him as being “like a second father” to him growing up.

“I am ready and working hard every day to build a great legacy in boxing and I know that Tim and the whole Split-T family will help me do that. I just want to make the people of Puerto Rico proud.”

Rosario’s current trainer, Joe Santiago, the coach of the Puerto Rican National Team and Miguel Cotto’s trainer for multiple world title bouts, commented that, “The Olympics are a myth right now and we are going to take advantage of this time to begin Omar’s journey into the pros. He has all the right tools and physicality to become a multi-divisional World Champ.”

According to VanNewhouse, Rosario is a complete fighter with good fundamental skills – honed by over 200 amateur bouts – with a particular fondness for attacking the body like his idol, Cotto.

“I’m really excited about adding Omar to our growing roster of young talent. He’s from a deep boxing culture in Puerto Rico that has great love and pride for the sport. Omar’s an outstanding talent and he can easily be described as a boxer-puncher with a beautiful, precise left hook – similar to Cotto’s when he was an amateur. With Omar’s ability and experience he has a maturity about him that should help him make a flawless transition to the professional ranks,” stated VanNewhouse.

Rosario enjoys a strong support system at home that includes his brother Jose, a 2015 Pan-Am Games Bronze medalist boxer for Puerto Rico, and is in the process of completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing & Finance at Ana G. Méndez Universidad.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (May 28, 2020) — Classic Entertainment and Sports (CES), founded and operated by veteran boxing promoter Jimmy Burchfield, Sr., is offering “Iron” Mike Tyson $1,000,000 to square-off with Juiseppe Angelo Cusumano, plus a percentage of closed circuit receipts to be negotiated, as well a $200,000 donation to whatever charity Tyson’s wife prefers.

Jimmy Burchfield, Sr., known as “The Hardest Working Promoter in Combat Sports”
“If Mike Tyson is serious about making a comeback,” Burchfield said, “we’re prepared to make him a legitimate offer to fight Cusumano in a 6 or 8-round fight, whichever Mike chooses. After three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, boxing fans are hungry to watch real fights, not exhibitions. Tyson is a boxer and a damn good one at that! He’s not a bare-knuckle fighter or wrestler. A real boxing match is what we’re interested in promoting!”

Tyson (50-6, 49 KOs) hasn’t officially fought since June 11, 2005.

The 6′ 4″ Cusumano (18-3, 16 KOs) is an Italian heavyweight who fights out of Carini, Sicily.

CES needs to make sure that Tyson is medically cleared before proceeding. His complete medical exam results are required by CES to be submitted with a June 25, 2020 deadline. The date and venue for Tyson vs. Cusumano is to be determined, but open to negotiations once CES has spoken to Tyson or his representatives.

“Cusumano will be a true gauge for Tyson’s first fight in 15 years,” Burchfield added. “This is a fight boxing fans want to see, not an exhibition, because it will let everyone know exactly where he’s at today and whether or not he can truly challenge a (Tyson) Fury, (Anthony) Joshua, or (Deontay) Wilder. We’re ready to negotiate in good faith right now.”

CES has been promoting boxing events for nearly 30 years and its stable of fighters has included 5-time world champion Vinny Paz, who was a very close teammate of Tyson’s when they were amateurs, 3-time world titlist Chad Dawson, Peter Manfredo, Jr., Ray Olivieria, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, Gary “Tiger” Balletto, and Matt Remillard, among the more notables.

INFORMATION:
Website: www.CESBoxing.com
Twitter & Instagram: @cesboxing

NEW YORK – May 28, 2020 – SHOWTIME Sports^® has announced today its SHOWTIME BOXING CLASSICS June slate, featuring a collection of Mike Tyson fights, Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko and other memorable moments from the network’s deep archive of world championship bouts. SHOWTIME BOXING CLASSICS airs every Friday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME and is also available via the SHOWTIME streaming service and SHOWTIME ANYTIME^®.

In June, the weekly series includes four nights of edge-of-your-seat boxing action featuring some of the most unforgettable bouts in recent years, including 2017’s unanimous Fight of the Year – Joshua vs. Klitschko – and a dramatic matchup between Adrien Broner and Marcos Maidana. In addition, Mike Tyson’s legendary knockout power will be on display with five fights in one night on June 12, and the semifinals and final of the Super Six World Boxing Classic will air on June 19 and June 26.

The full schedule is as follows:

• Friday, June 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
  • Joshua vs. Klitschko
  • Broner vs. Maidana
• Friday, June 12 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
  • Tyson vs. Frans Botha
  • Tyson vs. Julian Francis
  • Tyson vs. Lou Savarese
  • Tyson vs. Brian Nielsen
  • Tyson vs. Clifford Etienne
• Friday, June 19 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
  • Andre Ward vs. Arthur Abraham
  • Carl Froch vs. Glen Johnson
• Friday, June 26 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
  • Ward vs. Froch

Combat sports analysts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell will host live companion episodes of their digital talk show MORNING KOMBAT on the Morning Kombat YouTube Channel for select SHOWTIME BOXING CLASSICS telecasts. They will watch the fights along with viewers, give their real-time reactions and take questions from fans throughout the replay. Viewers can follow along and participate in the discussion by using the hashtag #FightFromHome on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS, and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Amazon, Apple^®, Google, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Roku^®, Samsung Smart TVs and Xbox One. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, Apple TV Channels, AT&T TV Now, FuboTV, Hulu, The Roku Channel, Sling TV and YouTube TV or directly at www.showtime.com.

Las Vegas – UFC^® returns to Las Vegas with a pivotal bout in the welterweight division as former champion and No. 1 ranked contender Tyron Woodley looks to work his way back to title contention by snapping the impressive winning streak of No. 6 Gilbert Burns.Also on the card, No. 2 ranked women’s flyweight contender Katlyn Chookagian aims to bounce back into the win column when she meets fellow striker No. 12 Antonina Shevchenko.This will be the first in a series of events set to take place at UFC’s Apex facility. Future cards will be announced at a later date. These events will be closed to the public and will be produced with only essential personnel in attendance pursuant to a Health, Safety and Operations plan approved by the Nevada Athletic Commission.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: WOODLEY vs. BURNS will take place Saturday, May 30 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. All bouts will air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in English and Spanish, and be simulcast on ESPN+, beginning with the prelims at 6 p.m. ET and the main card at 9 p.m. ET.

Looking to make an emphatic return to action, Woodley (19-4, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) plans to remind the division of the skills that made him one of the most dominant champions in welterweight history. Competing for the first time in over a year, Woodley intends to add another signature win to his resume that already includes victories over Robbie Lawler, Stephen Thompson and Demian Maia. He now aims to make a statement and stake his claim for another title shot.

Currently on the best winning streak of his UFC career, Burns (18-3, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla.) looks to secure his biggest victory yet. A multiple-time world champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Burns has earned wins over fellow grapplers Demian Maia, Gunnar Nelson and Olivier Aubin-Mercier. He now looks to take out his first former UFC champion and break into the top 5 of the division. 

Chookagian (13-3, fighting out of Kenilworth, N.J.) looks to take the lessons learned from her recent title bout and return to her winning ways. One of the most skilled strikers in the division, Chookagian has netted wins over Joanne Calderwood, Jennifer Maia and Irene Aldana. She now aims to defend her spot at the top of the rankings by defeating the sister of the champion. 

A multiple-time world champion in Muay Thai, Shevchenko (8-1, fighting out of Henderson, Nev.) aims to continue her climb up the women’s flyweight rankings. Despite being in the UFC for less than two years, Shevchenko has established herself as one of its top prospects with wins over Ji Yeon Kim and Lucie Pudilova. She now intends to replicate her sister’s victory over Chookagian and secure the biggest win of her MMA career.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: WOODLEY vs. BURNS is also stacked with up-and-coming talent looking to make their mark on the sport, including Billy Quarantillo (13-2, fighting out of Tampa, Fla.) and Spike Carlyle (9-1, fighting out of Del Mar, Calif.), who intend to build off their impressive debuts in a catchweight bout at 150 pounds. Additionally, in a clash of Dana White’s Contender Series standouts, Brok Weaver (14-4, fighting out of McIntosh, Ala.) and Roosevelt Roberts (10-1, fighting out of San Bernardino, Calif.) aim to prove that they are the next top prospect in the lightweight division.

Additional bouts on the card include:

• In a battle of heavyweight contenders seeking to break into the top 10, No. 12 Blagoy Ivanov (18-3 1NC, fighting out of Sofia, Bulgaria) aims to stop the rise of surging No. 13 Augusto Sakai (14-1-1, fighting out of Parana, Brazil)
• Submission ace Mackenzie Dern (7-1, fighting out of Long Beach, Calif.) faces Hannah Cifers (10-4, fighting out of Wake Forest, N.C.) in a women’s strawweight bout
• Jamahal Hill (7-0, fighting out of Grand Rapids, Mich.) aims to remain undefeated when he meets Klidson Abreu (15-4, fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil)
• No.11 ranked flyweight contender Timothy Elliott (16-10-1, fighting out of Lee’s Summit, Mo.) squares off with UFC newcomer Brandon Royval (10-4, fighting out of Englewood, Colo.)
• Chris Gutierrez (14-3, fighting out of Littleton, Colo.) looks to secure his third win in a row when he takes on Vince Morales (9-5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.)
• Exciting bantamweight grapplers meet as Louis Smolka (16-6, fighting out of Kapolei, Hawaii) battles Casey Kenney (9-2, fighting out of Tucson, Ariz.)
• In a welterweight bout, Daniel Rodriguez (11-1, fighting out of San Gabriel, Calif.) looks to remain undefeated in the UFC when he welcomes short-notice newcomer Gabriel Green (9-2, fighting out of Downey, Calif.)

Visit the UFC.com for information and content to support your UFC coverage. Please click here to apply for the event.

###

About UFC^®

UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 318 million fans and 80 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly one billion TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 65 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS^®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC was acquired in 2016 by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, along with strategic investors Silver Lake Partners and KKR. UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram: @UFC.

About ESPN

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment enterprise, features more than 50 assets – nine U.S. television networks, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN International, ESPN The Magazine and more.  ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the leading direct-to-consumer sports streaming service from Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown quickly to 7.9 million subscribers, offering fans thousands of live events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks, as well as premium editorial content. 

Programming on ESPN+ includes exclusive UFC and Top Rank boxing events, thousands of college sports events (including football and basketball) from more than a dozen sports at 20 conferences, hundreds of MLB and NHL games, top domestic and international soccer (Serie A, MLS, FA Cup, Bundesliga – beginning in 2020, EFL Championship and Carabao Cup, Eredivisie), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby and cricket, exclusive ESPN+ Original series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films.

Fans subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) through the ESPN App, (on mobile and connected devices), ESPN.com or ESPNplus.com.  It is also available as part of a bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu (ad-supported), and ESPN+ — all for just $12.99/month

Carl Froch and Darren Barker own some of the best wins on away territory by British fighters, and the duo talk about fighting on the road with Chris Algieri on the latest episode of ‘The Rounds’.
WATCH EPISODE TWO OF ‘THE ROUNDS’ AS CARL FROCH AND DARREN BARKER JOIN CHRIS ALGIERI
Froch began life as WBC World Super-Middleweight champion with a thrilling final round win over Jermain Taylor in Connecticut in April 2009, and then in 2010-11, ‘The Cobra’ went on the road during the Super Six series to face Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham, Glen Johnson and Andre Ward.

Barker’s first World title action saw him face the formidable Middleweight king Sergio Martinez in Atlantic City in October 2011 and then returned to the same city in August 2013 to achieve his World title dreams in dramatic fashion against IBF king Daniel Geale.

Both men open up on those trips and more, including great stories on their sparring sessions together.

Carl Froch: “I enjoyed being on the road. When we boxed for England we were going to hostile environments and fighting top fighters back-to-back in nations tournaments, but I was always a nervous fighter. So, when I defended my title against Jermain Taylor in Connecticut, I was nervous about it all. 

“Not so much boxing abroad, but more that it was Taylor, a former undisputed Middleweight World champion. I saw him get out of this limousine for the press conference in NYC and he just looked like the don, he had this nice suit on and looked crisp and clean. I was just there with a hoodie and t-shirt and I was thinking ‘do I belong here?’ It was quite a daunting thing for me, and I was always quite nervous and apprehensive as a fighter, I was unsure of myself, and I was a new World champion and making my first defense. I didn’t really know if I belonged at World level and here I was fighting Taylor in America. I look back at that fight now and think how naive I was at that level and I just had to put all my trust in Rob McCracken and my fitness, my refusal to quit and my competitive nature, I like to win.

“[Kessler and the volcanic ash cloud] On Tuesday of fight week we had Sky News on and they were saying all the flights we grounded so I am thinking I am definitely not going, the US broadcasters aren’t going to be able to make it over, so it’s definitely off. We had a barbecue in the garden, I had a couple of cans of Guinness; I don’t drink much, and I had a couple of them in fight week! The next day my promoter rang me and said that the Sauerlands’s were sending a private jet and the flight was at 2pm. Private jet sounds glamorous but it wasn’t, it was a five-seater, it was bumpy all the way and Rob doesn’t like heights so he was white all the way and didn’t say a word, hanging onto the seat and looking at me, and I was winding him up saying ‘I think we’re bang in trouble here this plane is all over the place!’ 

“I crashed the weight which I never do, and at the weigh-in I felt weak. It’s the first and only time I ever did that, but I don’t want people to think I’m making an excuse, I felt good to fight and had a great 12 rounds against a brilliant fighter and I just didn’t quite do enough. But going over on the Wednesday under that ash cloud in fight week and being overweight, switching off, it was horrible. I believe that things happen for a reason though and in boxing you don’t win or lose, you win or learn. I learnt how to come back and in my next fight I fought Arthur Abraham and the WBC title was back up for grabs, that boosted my spirits and that loss then didn’t feel as bad. 

“The loss with Andre Ward felt worse. Andre is a fantastic fighter, very skillful, fast, hard to hit, good with his jab. I remember getting out of the fight thinking, I had a decent rounds in 10, 11 and 12, and I was getting into it and I thought, why didn’t I start earlier, why didn’t I get into it, why didn’t I believe in myself? But that’s what we do when we lose, we look for reasons.”

Darren Barker: “I never felt more nervous or under pressure in the States and I think a big part of that was the experience of fighting all over the world as an amateur.

“I flew into New York with Eddie Hearn and we were in and out for the Martinez press conference, I remember the American’s almost laughing at me for showing any confidence, even though I was undefeated and European champion, I just hadn’t fought anybody. I was confident in my ability, but it was the unknown, I had sparred hundreds of rounds with Carl, an elite level fighter, but it’s still sparring. I knew I was capable of being in there with elite fighters, but I didn’t quite understand where I was at the time. 

“I don’t have any regrets looking back at my career, but I have a slight one looking back at that fight because I think if I had believed in myself a little more, been more aggressive and forced the action more, then potentially I could have caused a huge upset. I’m not saying that it would have happened, I just wished I gave it a bit more. But the whole unbuild up was just the reason I chose boxing, I was on top of a huge skyscraper in New York for the presser and thinking, ‘this is it, I’ve made it’. I was walking up fifth avenue with Eddie and we walked past a shop with bright green trousers in the window and Eddie said: ‘you should buy them and wear them at the press conference for a laugh!’ I said: ‘no chance, I wouldn’t be seen dead in them!’ We got to the press conference and Sergio was wearing that exact pair of trousers! 

“The Repton club had a knack of churning out top quality Southpaws so I was never fazed at fighting them, I knew I would be able to compete with him and it was a great experience for me and one that was massively valuable going onto the Geale fight.

“I’d been to Atlantic City for the Martinez fight, so it wasn’t alien to me and I was driven to right that wrong. We had a similar game plan, to be aggressive but smart, on the front-foot and hold center of the ring. It wasn’t until I got in there that I realized how awkward he was, he had a knack of getting out of range, I was falling short and adopted a different plan to get on his chest and outwork him. 

“The moment I got put down in the sixth round, a lot of people know my brother Gary passed away, he was a very good fighter and if I had have lost that fight I would never have fought again, it would have been a box that hadn’t been ticked and it would have eaten away. So, I was just so prepared to leave everything in the ring that night that a body shot was never going to keep me down, fast-forward to the 12th round and hearing Michael Buffer say, ‘and the new’, I still can’t believe it. I achieved what I set out to do. 

“There were a lot of question marks over my toughness, but I always knew I was tough. You don’t do 12 rounds of sparring with Carl and not be tough! I always knew there was a fight out there to show everyone I was mentally and physically tough.”

Froch and Barker star in the second episode of ‘The Rounds’ and the first episode, featuring Mikey Garcia, Devin Haney and Daniel Jacobs talking about the highs and lows of boxing, can be found on Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel.

Sampson Boxing proudly announces the re-signing of two-time former world champion Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna to a promotional contract.

From La Romana, Dominican Republic, Fortuna (35-2-1, 24 KOs), the former WBA Featherweight and Super Featherweight Champion, has fought under the Sampson Boxing banner from his pro debut and has gone on to have one of the greatest careers in history for a Dominican boxer.

The 31-year-old is currently the world’s #1 WBC lightweight contender and, upon the end of the pandemic’s halt of professional boxing, will next face England’s Luke Campbell, for the interim lightweight championship.

The winner of that match will go on to face current Regular Champion, Devin Haney.

“If I were to die and be born again, I would re-sign with Sampson to do it all over again,” said a happy Fortuna. “I will become the first three-division world champion soon and I have my promoter Sampson to thank for all the opportunities he got for me throughout my career.”

Lewkowicz, best known for having helped discover and bring Manny Pacquiao to the United States, currently handles two-time super middleweight world champion David “El Bandera Roja” Benavidez, 6’ 7” super welterweight contender Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora and unified WBA and IBF Welterweight Champion Jeison “Banana” Rosario, among others.

“I have been working with Javier Fortuna since his pro debut and he has always been a joy to work with him and his team,” said Lewkowicz. “Soon he will wear the championship belt in his third division and I couldn’t be happier or more proud of all his success. My fighters are like sons to me and I laugh and cry with them through the good times and the bad.”
About Sampson Boxing

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports and several international networks. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com.

ChampionsHeart Boxing Chat |SHOOTING STAR AARON “ALIEN KING” APONTE | Episode 9

One of the most talked-about top amateurs in the United States with a record of 98-18, the 18-year-old Aponte joins Johnny Fara?e and ChampionHeart You Can’t Play Boxing Chat podcast for a talk about his pro debut and joining a team that includes 17-year-old Xander Zayas and 16-year-old Trinidad Vargas as outstanding amateurs who headed towards the professional ranks at a young age.

Standing six feet tall, Aponte will compete in the junior welterweight division as a professional. Currently training at the KO Fitness Gym in Hialeah Gardens, Aponte is a 2019 Graduate of Mater Academy Charter High School in Hialeah Gardens, FL. Aponte has now entered the professional ranks enlisting the support of acclaimed manager Peter Kahn.

DETROIT, MI (May 26, 2020) – Live televised boxing events are scheduled to return on the Impact Network in mid-July as negotiations for fights in Las Vegas, Detroit, Chicago, and Florida for the Bahamas, are all underway as particular cities reopen up for business amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

With social distancing guidelines still in effect, Impact will stage these live boxing shows without fans in attendance. The two-hour broadcast will feature relevant contenders and undefeated prospects who will be in step-up fights.

Impact senior management Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, Terry Arnold, and Royal Jackson agree with their programming partner, Steven Marcano, that it’s time to return to work.

“I’m very excited about the return of boxing programming to Impact Network,” said Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, CEO, and president of the Impact Network. “Our network is growing immensely, and boxing will be a stable of our channel for years to come. These young men are eager to get back in the ring and we can’t wait to showcase their talent. In July we’ll be broadcasting our next live boxing event on Impact.”

“We are seeing great success with our “Stars and Champions” programming and we believe that momentum will continue forth when we resume live boxing events to Impact in July,” said Royal Jackson, Impact executive producer. “I’m excited about what the future holds for boxing on the Impact Network.”

“We are ready to resume live boxing events and programming on the Impact Network,” stated Steve Marcano of SMM Boxing, whose company is responsible for Impact’s admittance into the sport. “Right now, we are working closely with city officials to bring boxing back in certain states as the COVID-19 lockdown loosens up. If all goes as planned, we will have our next show back on Impact in July.”

“Our next card is being planned for July with several undefeated fighters set to make their Impact debut,” said Rick Torres, head of business and legal affairs for SMM Boxing. “Showcasing rising young stars in the sport is a feature we plan on emphasizing as we march forward with Impact.”

The Impact Network airs across all major cable, satellite, and digital channels. Impact is now broadcasting 24-hours a day, seven days a week, on DIRECTV’s Channel 380 or Channel 268, DISH Network’s Channel 268, Fios TV Channel 787, and Comcast’s Xfinity TV’s Channel 400. In addition, Impact Network can be viewed digitally on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, Microsoft, and Sling. All live boxing events can be viewed on the Impact Network website and mobile app. Please check local listings in your area for more information.

DETROIT, MI (May 26, 2020) – Undefeated Super Lightweight World Champion, Jose Ramirez (25-0, 17 KOs), who is promoted by Top Rank, will be the featured guest on this week’s edition of “Stars and Champions”, airing this Friday, May 29, 2020, on the Impact Network. Veteran boxing writer Dan Rafael will host the 30-minute broadcast beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT.

Ramirez captured the WBC Super Lightweight title when he defeated Amir Ahmed Imam (22-3, 19 KOs) in March of 2017. He defended his WBC title twice in 2018 winning by unanimous decision against Antonio Orozco (28-2, 17 KOs), and by majority decision against Jose Zepeda (31-2, 25 KOs). In 2019 he won a unification bout against WBO champion Maurice Hooker (27-1-3, 18 KOs), becoming a two-time world champion. Ramirez is the current WBC and WBO Super Lightweight champion.

The Impact Network will air “Stars and Champions” across all major cable, satellite, and digital channels. Impact is now broadcasting 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and can be viewed on DIRECTV’s Channel 380 or Channel 268, DISH Network’s Channel 268, Fios TV Channel 787, and Comcast’s Xfinity TV’s Channel 400. In addition, Impact Network can be viewed digitally on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, Microsoft, and Sling. “Stars and Champions” can also be viewed on the Impact Network website and mobile app. Please check local listings in your area for more information.

DELIGHTED Hall-Of-Fame promoter Frank Warren has proudly declared that new signing Charlie Edwards can become a three-weight World Champion under his guidance.

In a joint interview, Warren insisted: “I’m sure he can become a double weight world champion, if not a triple weight world champion.”

Listening on, new boy Edwards beamed from ear-to-ear and said “that’s what I like to hear, Frank!”

The pair were speaking to Dev Sahni as part of Queensberry Promotions’ ongoing ‘Lockdown Lowdown’ YouTube series.

Warren was clearly happy with the new addition to his swelling roster of young stars but hinted it had come at a price.

“We fought very hard to get him on board and eventually got a deal done – we’re very pleased.”

Edwards was less shy about what helped get him over the line: “Frank was the top bidder”, he said.

In addition to a healthy pay packet, Charlie revealed Frank’s experience of developing fighters, the lure of BT Sport and fighting on the same shows as his brother Sunny all played a part in influencing his decision.

“I’ve seen how Frank has developed Sunny, from the start and all the way through his career and he’s a big name on BT Sport. I can’t wait to join him.

“It’s good. We can fight on the same shows which i’ve always wanted to do.”

Edwards last bout was in August 2019, after which he relinquished his WBC Flyweight World Title citing increasing difficulties in making the weight.

With a new start ahead of him, he was keen not to dwell on the past.

“It’s a new chapter. It’s good. I’ve put the past behind me. I’ve already won a world title at one weight, and I’m looking forward to becoming a two weight world champion. And what better place than coming on to BT Sport, with my brother!”

Edwards currently holds a #2 World ranking with the WBC at Super-Flyweight, a designation he’s keen to keep hold of, but he has also flirted with the idea of fighting at Bantamweight if the right opportunity arose.

“I can fight between the two. It’ll still be tough to get to the super-flyweight limit, but at world level you’ve got to make sacrifices and go that extra 1 or 2% into the danger zone.”

Acknowledging the difficulties in fighting international opposition during the current crisis, the former World Champion went on to say that he was keen to fight as soon as possible, even behind closed doors, adding “any British Super-flyweight or Bantamweight who wants to get it on, let’s do it.”

Promoter Warren echoed Charlies thoughts and stressed he was keen to get the Croydon man out again this Summer.

“There’s plenty of fights out there for him. We’ll probably get him out sometime in late August,” Warren said. “The name of the game is to keep him busy, let him settle at the weight. He was obviously struggling at flyweight – for guys in the lighter weight divisions, 1 or 2lb can make a tremendous difference.”

“Hopefully now moving up he can be stronger – he obviously did well at flyweight, he won the world title – and i’m sure he can become a double weight world champion if not a triple weight world champion.”‘

NEW YORK (May 26, 2020) – Split-T Management is pleased to announce the signing of highly coveted amateur Javier Martinez.

Martinez, 23, was the 2020 Olympic Trial Champion at middleweight, but has decided to turn professional under the guidance of Split-T Management’s Tim VanNewhouse. A five-time National Champion, and the number-one ranked fighter at 165 pounds in the USA Boxing Rankings, Martinez’s selection as an Olympic alternate despite his victory at the trials and various international experience caused shock-waves through the amateur system.

“Being a casualty of the new Olympic selection process just makes me that much more determined. I am going to show, time and time again why I was deserving of that spot. That said, I am excited to turn professional, and this is the perfect situation. Tim came at me with a good plan for my future and I have a great feeling about him and the whole Split-T family,” said Martinez.

The son of Mexican immigrants from Palos Altos, Jalisco, Martinez began boxing at the age of eight after following his older brothers into the gym.

“I want to make something big out of boxing, and provide a better life for myself and family – especially my son. At this point of my life, I feel that Split-T will move me the right way and guide me into becoming a world champion.”

A Milwaukee-native, Martinez is now training in Las Vegas, Nevada under the tutelage of renowned trainer Jorge Capetillo, and is expected to make his debut at Super Middleweight within the next couple of months.

“Javier has good physical attributes as he stands 6’1″. He has a fan-friendly, pressure style, who stalks his opponents behind a tight defense with well-selected combinations. He enjoys investing in the body, and shows a nice blend of aggression and power. Javier is a fundamentally complete fighter with balance, power and mobility. That is why there were so many people trying to recruit him. Javier’s the type of athlete that will be placed on a fast track and debut in a six-round bout. He will soon be paired with one of the best promoters in the world, and I can’t wait to see him on TV soon,” said VanNewhouse.

FORMER WBC World Flyweight champion Charlie Edwards has signed a multi-fight deal with Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren.

He joins brother Sunny in the Queensberry Promotions camp and believes it’s only a matter of time before ‘The Croydon Klitschkos’ are fighting in world title contests on the same bill.

Edwards, 27, said: “I was with Eddie Hearn for six years and I needed to freshen things up. I feel this is the next chapter of my career.

“I have seen what Frank has done for my brother Sunny. He has done very well for him from the start.

“Frank really looks after his fighters as well. I felt I was taken for granted and I am looking forward to getting started with Frank as my promoter.

“I have chatted to Frank at Sunny’s fights and the timing was right.  My management MTK sorted the deal, my adviser thought it was best for me and the offer is great.”

Edwards (15-1, 6KOs) will be moving up from Flyweight to either Bantamweight or Super-Flyweight where he is ranked number two by the WBC in their world rankings.

Charlie vacated his WBC world crown after being severely weight-drained for his defence against Julio Cesar Martinez last August that ended in a no-contest.

He added: “The next fight is likely to be a gage to see where I’m at regarding my best weight. The main thing is keeping my world ranking at Super-Flyweight for now.

“I look at the Bantamweight champions. I’m not deluded and say,  ‘I’m world level’ at that weight because that would be stupid.

“If I go to Bantamweight I wont be rushing to get in with world level fighters. It will be building up over a few fights.

“I have Frank behind me and he is not going to chuck me in at the deep end. It’s going to be building into the world title picture.”

Edwards insists he is more than happy to box on one of the behind closed doors extravaganzas Warren has planned this summer.

His big hope is to fight on the same bill as his brother Sunny, who also has serious world title aspirations at Super-Flyweight.

Charlie who trains alongside his brother under Grant Smith in Sheffield said: “Just mentioning me and my brother fighting for world titles on the same bill gives a tingle down my spine.

“I did a bucket list some time ago. Sunny and myself fighting on the same show has always been there. That was another thing that made it perfect sense to join Frank because it can happen.

“We still try to outdo each other when we train. That is the beauty of it. We’re brothers, we have ultimate love and want the best for each other.

“We want to beat each other whether we’re sparring or on the track. We have progressed because we always push each other.”

Warren said: “I am absolutely delighted that Charlie has joined our team and we will work out a plan for him to become a two weight world champion.

“We have often spoke at my shows when Sunny has been boxing. We always got on well and shared a joke.

“The two brothers fighting for world titles on the same show isn’t a pipe-dream. We deliver and It is a realistic prospect.”

Charlie turned professional in January 2015. In his fifth fight he won the English Flyweight title against Louis Norman and two fights later added the WBC International Silver championship.

In September 2016 he fell short against high class Filipino John Riel Casimero in a IBF Flyweight title challenge, his only professional defeat.

Seven months later, Edwards outpointed Iain Butcher to become British Super-Flyweight champion, a crown now held by his younger brother, Sunny.

Charlie upset defending champion Cristofer Rosales on points to become WBC Flyweight title holder in December 2018. He made one successful defence three months later in a points decision against Angel Moreno.

——————

Charlies’s first act as a Queensberry fighter was to speak alongside promoter Frank Warren to interviewer Dev Sahni as part of the ongoing Lockdown Lowdown series. That interview can be seen here.