Boxing Archives - Page 15 of 42

Terence Crawford has made no secret of the fact that he wants to jump up three divisions to challenge for Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’ undisputed super-middleweight title.

Despite only having just secured all the belts at 147, ‘Bud’ has urged Canelo to welcome him to 168 for a mega-fight.

Speaking on Pro Box TV, Paulie Malignaggi said he believes it’s a step too far for the Omaha man.

Malignaggi then said he’d rather see Crawford in other match-ups – presumably at super-welterweight or even middle – and said any fan pushing for the fight was a ‘casual.’

Neither man has announced his next fight. Crawford, although contracted for a rematch, hinted recently that his rivalry with Errol Spence Jr was over. Canelo is heavily rumoured to be facing Jermall Charlo next after beating his brother Jermell in September of last year.

BOXING

Angel Garcia Believes Spence Made a Mistake By Moving Forward With Crawford Fight

Errol Spence Jr. was on top of the boxing world. But just when he reached the peak of the mountain, he was violently thrown off it. (photo by Ryan Hafey)

Spence walked around the welterweight division like he owned the place but with just one title in his possession, he knew he needed more. Eventually, in 2019, he managed to get Shawn Porter into the ring for a WBC/IBF unification.

It wasn’t Spence’s typical easy night but, despite swelling and bruises protruding from various parts of his body, he walked out of that Los Angeles ring with two titles wrapped around his waist.

Once he left the arena, Spence celebrated. The good time he had wasn’t just a singular night. A few weeks later, Spence continued enjoying himself – apparently too much.

We’ve all seen the images of Spence being flung from his vehicle. We’ve also seen his miraculous recovery. It may have taken him over a year to come back, but once he did, he jumped into the ring with Danny Garcia.

Soft touches and tenuous opposition are something that Spence loathes. He believed he needed someone to push him, making Garcia the perfect opponent. He wasn’t exactly vintage but Spence had more than enough in the tank to take care of business.

Since then, Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) has been incredibly injury prone. He was forced to undergo eye surgery in 2021 due to a torn/detached retina. Still, even with his body breaking down, Spence continued to win, until he met up with Terence Crawford.

It was the fight we all wanted to see, one that figured to be a virtual coin flip. The hypothetical thoughts surrounding their back-and-forth showdown, however, were pushed down the wayside when Crawford dominated and stopped his man.

Angel Garcia, Danny Garcia’s father and trainer, didn’t necessarily feel bad for Spence but he does believe that his handlers don’t have his best interest as their number one agenda.

“If it was me, honest to God, I would never have taken that fight for him,” Garcia told YSM Sports Media. “He had come from a big accident. Dan should have beat him but he didn’t. He took a lot of shots from Dan.”

Boxing will always be characterized as a brutal sport. The fighters aren’t in their throwing powderpuff shots. Angel has watched his son send several fighters to the canvas. He’s also seen him take countless big-time blows as well.

The glory that’s associated with winning is salient but Angel admits that he will always be prudent when it comes to the punishment his son, or any other fighter, is in their taking.

“I know the fans wanted it because they pay for everything but at the end of the day, you gotta worry about your life. Who’s gonna visit you in the hospital when you f—– up? Nobody. When you die a week later, they sold your sh!t or trashed it.”

BOXING

“He Was Still Mad About the Packers, Cowgirls Game”: Terence Crawford Gives Cheeky Response After Tasting Defeat Against NFL WR Dez Bryant

While Terence Crawford does not really have a substantial opponent to look forward to for a fight, he has decided to keep active regardless with the NFL star, Desmond Bryant. Though he was up for a rematch with Errol Spence Jr after their one-sided bout last year, in a cryptic X message, he expressed a certain disinterest in ever facing Spence again. Canelo Álvarez, meanwhile, is another opponent that he wants to go up against. In the meantime, Dez Bryant is giving the Omaha native some much-needed competition.

In a video that Bryant posted on his X account, the two could be seen engaging in a fun game. Can the former Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver give the No.1 pound-for-pound boxer a juke? Well, that is exactly what he did.

Dez Bryant secures a win against the undefeated Terence Crawford

Bryant, who hasn’t officially retired from sports but took a hiatus due to a torn Achilles tendon in November 2018 that ended his season, engaged in a friendly 1v1 with Crawford in the video. Despite Crawford’s background in boxing, Bryant demonstrated superior skills, utilizing a ‘goosestep’ to maneuver past Crawford easily. “I went 1 on 1 with the champ! Had to show em it’s real @terencecrawford Made me wanted to get back out there!” Bryant captioned the clip.

Crawford then replied to the post, humorously suggesting that Bryant might still harbor feelings about the Cowboys vs. Packers game result. The Green Bay Packers played against Bryant’s former team Dallas Cowboys on January 15, 2024, at AT&T Stadium.

BOXING

Manny Pacquiao Eyeing Gervonta Davis, Now Abdul Wahid, for Farewell Boxing Match Is a Horrible Idea for Both

The allure of boxing hasn’t faded for Manny Pacquiao. The Filipino boxer, despite last fighting in 2021, is flirting with the idea of a comeback. While he has some illustrious names on the table, one peculiar name keeps popping up: Gervonta Davis. Their history goes back to 2019, and a recent call-out comes to mind. But is it worth the trouble for either of the two?

‘Tank’ ignited the flame of a potential match with ‘Pac-Man’ in 2019 when he demanded Al Haymon fix the dates. However, the heat soon fizzled out. The American boxer rose through the ranks while Pacquiao lost the charisma he had in his twilight years. The hypothetical fight got traction in October last year when Pacquiao expressed his eagerness to meet Davis at catchweight. And the traction of the fight hasn’t died yet, with Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO Sean Gibbons adding fuel to it recently. But is it a terrible business that has come too late for all the parties involved?

Manny Pacquiao vs. Gervonta Davis: Too much, too late

Surely Manny Pacquiao, at 62-8-2, wants to make his splendid comeback, but he needs to stick to one idea. He recently aired rumors of his much-coveted rematch with Floyd Mayweather. The talk of him facing Conor McGregor also made waves. Then there is his Olympic dream.

The Kibawe native is still hitting the pads and is in peak physical fitness. He is far from content with retirement. Despite this, he has to pick his battles and choose one path to pursue. At 45, he can’t afford to plan a fight with ‘Tank’ and then overlook his other plans, which certainly come with a shelf life.

In addition, there are lingering questions about Pacquiao’s boxing acumen. It has been almost three years since we saw him fight. A case can be made that he isn’t the same fighter today as he once was. If his twelve-round unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugás is any indication, he has already lost the speed, sharpness, and movement on his feet that established him as one of the modern-day greats. Therefore, taking a fight with one of the most devastating young boxers could be disastrous for Pacquiao and the same goes for Davis too.

A loss-loss situation for ‘Tank’

What does Gervonta Davis stand to gain by dismantling a depleted, aged Pacquiao? While the American boxer might be eager to fight the legendary boxer, a win doesn’t bolster his resume. Undoubtedly, Pacquiao is a popular choice, but there are more concerns attached.

Pacquiao, at this age, is a mismatch for a relatively younger Davis. If Davis wins the hypothetical fight, he will be bashed for putting an old Pacquiao on the canvas. The same is true even if he drops the fight. Finding a middle ground for the weight category is a hassle in itself.

Pacquiao wants the fight in the welterweight division. But he would be open to facing Davis at a catchweight of 145 lbs. Davis has been at lightweight except for one time when he ventured into light welterweight to fight Mario Barrios. Therefore, a fight at 145 might be too much of a leap for him. Also, on the negotiation table, he will hold very little power. On the other hand, there is nothing exciting in it for the traditional fans.

A disastrous farewell fight

Most likely, the hypothetical fight will be an exhibition fight, which might be a hard sell for traditional boxing fans. Exhibition fights are often close to extended sparring sessions or half-speed bouts. The fans are not keen to shell out money for not-so-thrilling encounters anymore

If Pacquiao and Davis end up exchanging blows in an exhibition match, they may just dance around and fail to entertain the fans. This is the scenario fans fear the most, especially when asked to pay for such an event. Only when the fight is for professional records, it might pique fans’ interest. On paper, it remains a fight with a predictable outcome. An image of a battered and bruised Pacquiao is not how the fans want the boxing legend’s farewell fight to be.

BOXING

WBA Regular Champ Calls Out Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua And Derek Chisora

The heavyweight division is thriving right now with lots of fights being made and even, for the first time in 24 years, a new undisputed champion set to be crowned when Oleksandr Usyk takes on Tyson Fury on February 17.

This has lead one man to try and get involved in the action by calling out lineal and WBC champion Fury, former two-time champion Anthony Joshua and fan favourite and perennial contender Derek Chisora.

Two of those men have big fights scheduled while at this late stage of his career, Chisora has admitted he will only take the biggest challenges in his last few contests.

But that won’t stop Manuel Charr from angling to get one of them in the ring. He hasn’t fought since beating Nuri Seferi in December 2022, and had only two contests in the five years before that when he claimed the regular version of the WBA world heavyweight title by beating Aleksandr Ustinov. Following extensive litigation with the WBA, he was re-awarded that title in 2023.

Speaking to IFL TV, the 39-year-old German fighter explained his ambitions ahead of his fight with Kubrat Pulev in Bulgaria.

He then made a big if not hopeful call out.

Anything can happen in the boxing world, but it would be rather surprising give his profile if Charr got a shot at any of those men.

BOXING

Joe Joyce Agrees With Lennox Lewis On Joshua-Ngannou Fight

Joe Joyce is soon to return to the ring after a difficult 2023 but before that he has been backing up comments made by Hall of Famer Lennox Lewis about Anthony Joshua’s upcoming fight with Francis Ngannou.

Lewis is a keen onlooker who always has plenty to say about the career of Joshua. Right now he is on the cusp of losing his honour of being the last undisputed heavyweight champion as a new one will be named when Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk meet next month.

It is maybe with that in mind that he has spoken out about what he sees as ‘spectacle’ fights that have defined the heavyweight division in the last few months. The first was Fury versus Ngannou in a year in which Fury failed to defend his WBC title.

The second is coming up on March 8 when Joshua faces the same man out in Saudi Arabia in a non-title contest over 10 rounds.

Speaking to Seconds Out, Joyce was asked about Lewis saying the winner of Joseph Parker versus Zhilei Zhang is more deserving of a shot at the winner of the undisputed fight than the winner of Joshua versus Ngannou

Having sparred both, he was then asked about the Joshua and Ngannou fight.

Next up for Joyce is a return following back-to-back losses to Zhang. He takes on Kash Ali on March 16 in Birmingham.

BOXING

“Future of Boxing”: Training Pictures and Devin Haney’s Funny Clip in Curmel Moton’s Recent Post; Fans Hype Him Up

After his professional debut in September last year, Curmel Moton certainly caught the attention of the boxing world. Although he has had only two fights in professional boxing, Moton has made several people believe in his abilities. And provided he won two of his bouts in spectacular fashions, fans wish to see him return soon to the ring.

On the other hand, Moton is confident and believes he will soon win a world title in the sport. In this connection, Moton decided to celebrate his journey so far in pro boxing on social media with a post. Undoubtedly, several fans hyped him up.

Curmel Moton celebrates his 2-0 record with fans

Just a few days ago, Curmel Moton declared he would soon announce his next fight and date. In this context, the 17-year-old also uploaded a brief clip of working out with a heavy bag. Anyway, although Moton did not reveal much about his next event, boxing fans expect he will likely fight on the undercard of Jaime Munguia vs. John Ryder. In this connection, as Moton recently celebrated his 2-0 pro record in yet another post, fans branded him the future of boxing. “Went to trial back to back b**ch I’m 2-0,” wrote Moton on Instagram.

In addition to a few training pictures, Moton also uploaded a clip of Devin Haney. In the clip, Haney is heard speaking to a woman. “Yeah, I’m legal. Do you like them young?” said Haney.

Anyway, in a reply to Moton’s post, one fan stated, “The future of boxing“.

Similarly, one wrote, “My compliments, you are definitely the future of this sport“.

Meanwhile, one expected him to be undefeated with 100 professional wins. “U gone be a 100-0 u the truth kid,” they said.

On the other hand, one wrote, “Congratulations youngen keep laying them bricks 1000“.

Finally, one exaggerated by expecting Moton to fight Devin Haney this year. “Curmel vs Haney 2024,” they added.

To be honest, although Moton shows the potential to achieve several victories in the sport, he has yet to be tested in fire. Only after we have seen him perform against the more mature and conditioned fighters, can we expect him to make a memorable contribution to boxing. As of now, given only two fights, it is unreasonable and hyperbolic to say he will remain undefeated with 100 fights.

Revisiting Moton’s two pro wins

Since Moton is celebrating his 2-0 record, it is worth revisiting his pro fights. In his debut against Ezequiel Flores, Moton threw a few jabs and always tried to follow up with a fast straight hand. Having found Flores against the ropes, Curmel hit his opponent with a right hand to the body. Once he understood Flores was hurt and afraid, Moton sped up and ended the contest with combinations.

On the other hand, against Hunter Turbyfill, Moton displayed explosiveness. He maintained a tall guard and controlled the center of the ring. Finally, Moton made Hunter quit with a powerful body shot. So, certainly, Moton has power and the ability to dominate space. Additionally, he understands when his opponent is intimidated in the ring. Of course, these qualities are commendable in a 17-year-old fighter. Hopefully, Moton will stay disciplined and better his craft. Anyway, what do you make of his latest post? Let us know in the comments below.

BOXING

“The Money Don’t Change Him”: Terence Crawford’s Gesture in Support of Green Bay Packers Draws Mixed Reactions From Fans

As it appears, things seem a bit dour for the Green Bay Packers. Following last week’s win over the Dallas Cowboys, they faced the San Francisco 49ers at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It’s certain to weigh heavily on the heart of one of its most devoted and die-hard fans. Early in the morning, Terence Crawford shared a few pictures of himself.

A keen follower of the Wisconsin-based football team, not long ago, ‘Bud’ entertained fans with whacky notes as the Packers went on to overpower the Cowboys. For today, the unified welterweight champion had worn a Packers outfit in the most resplendent green and gold. He said, “Yall know the vibes!!! Go Pack Go!!!” It didn’t take too long for reactions to pour in.

Terence Crawford goes Green and Gold

Among those who commented, a few questioned his choice of jersey. There were some who, for obvious reasons, stood at the opposite end of the fence and wished for the 49ers’ victory. Then a couple of fans stuck with what their icon does best, in the ring.

In an apparent dig at the world champion, the following user found it awkward that he couldn’t wear a jersey with his name.

But soon ‘Bud’ responded that gear was a gift he received from someone, and he found it fabulous to go with.

Echoing almost similar lines, this user also mentioned how one could simply miss taking any notice of Terence Crawford and then come to the realization that he is the best boxer in the world.

Clearly, that’s one ecstatic bunch. As far as the match is concerned, the Packers lost the divisional playoff to the 49ers, 21-24. Nevertheless, signing off for the day, ‘Bud’ Crawford wrote, “Dam, that was a good game. Wish we could have got the win, but dam, this one hurts. Good night!”

The 36-year-old Omaha-born boxing superstar recently announced his return to the gym. Fans last saw him in the ring on July 29, when he defeated Errol Spence Jr. As it appears, a mouth-watering line-up against middleweight champion Tim Tszyu could be underway. It’s a fight that’s seemingly feasible given ‘Bud’ needs to climb only a division above.

BOXING

Sugar Ray Leonard Details Why Errol Spence Jr. Should Get a Rematch Against Terence Crawford

After the brutal loss, Errol Spence Jr. activated the rematch clause against Terence Crawford in September last year. As per the updates, the rematch will take place at 154 lbs. On that note, Sugar Ray Leonard recently told the media why he was interested in the rematch between ‘Bud’ and ‘The Truth’.

Additionally, while several people have doubted Spence Jr.’s abilities against ‘Bud’, Ray Leonard showed faith in the pugilist from Texas. In his opinion, the rematch at 154 lbs should be interesting. Well here is why Sugar Ray Leonard would watch Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford II.

Sugar Ray Leonard expects a different outcome from Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford II

After the punishment that Errol Spence Jr. took against Terence Crawford on the night of 29th July, several people wanted ‘The Truth’ to retire from the sport. One of them was Stephen A Smith. Provided the serious accidents Spence Jr. had already suffered, Smith urged Errol to consider immediate retirement following the “a** whooping” against ‘Bud’. Similarly, former Heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs, claiming to love Spence Jr. to death, asked ‘The Truth’ to quit boxing and enjoy life. However, Sugar Ray Leonard feels otherwise.

In a recent interview with Fight Hub TV, on being asked if he was interested in Errol Spence Jr. rematching Crawford, the former four-division world champion answered in the affirmative. In addition, he expected a potentially different outcome from the rematch at 154 lbs. “Oh yes. I mean everyone deserves a chance. It may be a different story. We’ll see,” Ray Leonard said. “As we move up in weight, it gets tougher and tougher and tougher. You have to know your body,” he added.

At this, one must believe that Spence Jr. knows his body since, right after the loss to Crawford, ‘The Truth’ announced he would fight better should the rematch be at 154 lbs.

Spence Jr. hoped his body would respond better at 154 lbs

Following the loss to Crawford, Errol Spence Jr., who had fought 10 fights in a row at 147 lbs, claimed the weight cut was difficult. And while he did not want to cite excuses, ‘The Truth’ stated he was “a little off physically“. In addition, Spence Jr. felt his timing was off too. As a result, although he declared the “better man won tonight“, Spence Jr. hoped the rematch was at 154 lbs.

“I’m definitely open to the rematch, and hopefully it’ll be at 154 lbs,” said ‘The Truth’. In his opinion, he was a far better fighter than what he showed against ‘Bud’. Well, Errol Spence Jr. now has the nod from Sugar Ray Leonard for a rematch at 154 lbs. Do you think there will be a different outcome? Let us know in the comments below.

BOXING

Mayweather Promotions CEO Explains What’s Common Between Gervonta Davis, Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson sold events like people were getting paid to attend the fights! However, is that the case with Gervonta Davis? Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe thinks it’s the same with their now-separated starfighter Gervonta Davis.

As of today, ‘Tank’ hasn’t entered the ring for approximately nine months, having defeated Ryan Garcia in his last rendezvous to the ring. However, the fight was a spectacle to withhold, as it collected $119 million in revenue. Undoubtedly, Mike and Floyd were the face of boxing at the prime of their careers, similar to Davis today. But is that enough to justify the comparison? Here’s how Ellerbe justified it today on X!

Leonard Ellerbe lists the kind of people in attendance for Gervonta Davis’ fights

A handful of hours ago, Ray Jackson tweeted a picture of Gervonta Davis from one of his fights, highlighting Devin Haney in attendance. He wrote, “Whoever Tank Davis fights next, we can count on Bill & Devin Haney sitting ringside at the fight.” It’s worth noting that Turki Alalshikh offered to host a fight between Haney and Davis, but nothing has come out of it yet.

However, soon after the tweet from Jackson, Ellerbe retweeted the tweet, claiming, “Who [doens’t] want to be at the hot s**t. Tank fights resemble the Tyson fights back in the day, and the Floyd fights.” He went on to claim that rappers, pop artists, actresses/actors, models, ball players, hustlers, the fly ladies & the fly guys – all high-profile celebrities attend Davis’ fights.

It’s also worth mentioning that Floyd, Tyson, and Davis have produced the biggest money-making fights. Tyson’s clash against Lennox Lewis in 2002 collected $106.9 million. Floyd’s showdown against Manny Pacquiao produced over $600 million, and of course, Tank’s $119 million against Garcia. Undeniably, there are similarities between the three fighters, but when is Davis fighting next? In case it’s Devin Haney, here’s who Floyd’s former protege thinks will win!

Floyd’s Former Pupil Declares Shocking Winner

Yesterday, Mill City Boxing got a hold of Maurice Lee, Floyd’s former protege and starfighter in the welterweight division. Having witnessed a sparring match between Haney and Davis, Lee had the answer to who he believed would win if the fight ever happened. He began by suggesting, “It seems like ‘Tank’ doesn’t want to make the fight. I don’t know why ‘Tank’ ain’t hoped on the fight.”

Lee even revealed that he was present during the sparring match between them, claiming, “The sparring I had seen at the Mayweather gym, I would say Devin’s got the best of him.” When asked if Haney can mirror the results during a fight on the world stage, Lee agreed. “Devin is a really smart boxer skill-wise. So, I think he can outbox Tank,” said Lee.

While a potential fight between Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis hangs in the balance, Leonard Ellerbe lauds Davis’ ability to match Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather’s selling power. Do you agree with Ellerbe’s statement? Do you think Haney can beat Davis in a fight?