Boxing Archives - Page 39 of 42

With one perfectly placed left hand to the liver, Gervonta Davis sucked the air from Ryan Garcia’s lungs and simultaneously burst the young fighter’s bubble. The unbeaten record was gone, as was the notion that Garcia’s rise to the top was somehow pre-destined. There’s nothing quite like a body-shot knockout defeat to bring a fighter back to reality.

The good news is that “KingRy” returns to action against Oscar Duarte at the Toyota Centre in Houston on December 2. Garcia is heavily favoured to win the 12-round super lightweight non-title affair before moving on to bigger things. However, the 25-year-old Californian must up his game if he plans on punch-swapping with the likes of Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney, Regis Prograis, and Subriel Matias.

As a lightweight, Garcia had a quick rise, securing his position within the top 5 without even winning a world title. Shuddering first-round knockouts over fringe contenders Romero Duno and Francisco Fonseca went viral, and then Garcia proved there was substance behind the flash when he got off the floor to stop former Olympic champion Luke Campbell in January 2021. The latter was a career-best triumph, but the young contender lost a little momentum when he took time out to focus on his mental health. When he returned to the ring, routine victories over Emmanuel Tagoe and Javier Fortuna preceded the Davis defeat.

Can Garcia get back and win some defining fights? It takes character to overcome a loss, so we’ll need to see how he responds in the future. Having outgrown the lightweight limit, it’s realistic to assume that Garcia will be a lot more robust and durable in the new weight class. He’ll need to be because the elite-level opponents that await him will not be easily discouraged.

Garcia’s hand speed and reflexes are astonishing. We’ve all seen the Instagram videos displaying his mastery of the cobra bag and the shoe-shine flurries. That is fast-twitch muscle fibres at their optimum. But while these little exhibitions are good for securing more teenage followers on social media, one must question their usefulness when it comes to combat.

Against Davis, Garcia completely blew it. Similar to Evander Holyfield’s pre-ordained prediction that he would knock out Lennox Lewis in the third round of their first fight in March 1999, “KingRy” boldly stated that “Tank” would get crushed inside two rounds. Well, Holyfield couldn’t fulfil the prophecy and neither could Garcia.

Following a fairly even first round, Garcia came out blazing in the second. He roughed Davis up on the inside and made him uncomfortable, but quickly resorted to leading with wild power shots from the outside. Now, regardless of Garcia’s hand speed, this reckless aggression was an insult to an elite-level sharpshooter. You don’t attack Gervonta Davis like he’s a novice. Tank remained composed, avoided the incoming fire, and then floored his man with an armour-piercing left hand to the jaw.

While Garcia found his feet and remained competitive, he was now very leery of his opponent’s punching power and opted for caution. Davis stayed a step ahead for the remainder of the bout and closed out with the aforementioned knockout in Round 7. It was an excellent event, both fighters were paid handsomely, but it was back to the drawing board for a humbled “KingRy”.

One of the first things Garcia did was split from acclaimed trainer Joe Goossen, who, incidentally, is one of the best boxing minds in the world. If we take Goossen at his word, Garcia wasn’t listening to him anyway. Former Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year Derrick James has been brought in to fill the void, and while James has had mixed results over the past year, his knowledge is beyond reproach. Garcia would do well to listen this time.

First up is Duarte, and this looks like smart matchmaking from Golden Boy Promotions. The Mexican fighter built himself up to lightweight and is campaigning at super lightweight for the first time. Meanwhile, Garcia has been bursting at the seams at 135 and the move up is a necessity. Duarte’s best win probably came against ex-champ Roger Gutierrez in 2018, but every other victory has been against undistinguished opposition.

With all of that said, Duarte has had 21 knockouts in his 26 wins, so it would be unwise for Garcia to leave his chin out to dry… or his liver.

BOXING

Terence Crawford, Zab Judah, and Shawn Porter Showcase Their Singing Skills in Karaoke Night

Terence Crawford is absolutely enjoying the holidays! After hitting a KO with the best turkey he cooked for Thanksgiving, the current Unified Welterweight champion is now signing New Edition songs with Zab Judah and Shawn Porter.

Well, ahead of Christmas and his upcoming fight with Errol Spence Jr., with a karaoke performance, ‘Bud’ seems to be just in the mood he needs to be. And while the occasion of the performance remains unknown, one can confidently state that ‘Bud’ will make your day with this brief clip of him singing.

Did Terence Crawford just join a boy band with fellow boxers?

Terence Crawford will return in 2024 to face Errol Spence Jr. in their rematch. At this, while you may expect Crawford to spend most of his time inside the gym training, ‘Bud’ is actually having a blast enjoying holidays with his friends and family. Recently, he cooked a delicious turkey to celebrate Thanksgiving. And now, Crawford was spotted singing and vibing to New Editions’s If It Isn’t Love (1988).

In the brief clip that ESNEWS uploaded, Crawford is seen standing behind Zab Judah and Shawn Porter with a precious smile on his face. And while Judah is so passionate about his performance, Crawford is more than delighted to spend the time with those who care for him. However, be cautioned if you’re expecting the trio to be in sync with the background music.

Anyway, one must acknowledge Crawford’s love for music. Speaking of which, here is the time ‘Bud’ rapped Lil Wayne at the Spence Jr. weigh-in.

Crawford perfectly lip-synched to Lil Wayne’s Mr. Carter

The anticipation for Crawford vs. Spence Jr. was at its peak during the weigh-in. And since Crawford had earlier declared that he would catch the “big fish” that Errol claimed himself to be, boxing fans could not wait for the two to step inside the ring. At this, when Crawford was asked to appear on the stage and stand on the scales, he arrived vibing to Lil Wayne’s Mr. Carter.

Facing the camera and the crowd, the then-WBO-Welterweight champion of the world perfectly lip-synched to the mentioned song. Undoubtedly, the fans were delighted by the scene.

Anyway, what did you think of the group performance with Porter and Judah? And, what song would you like ‘Bud’ to perform next? Let us know in the comments below

BOXING

“These Fights Are Expensive”: Floyd Mayweather and Terence Crawford Roped in as David Benavidez Makes His Case for Being an Exciting Fighter While Chasing Greatness at the Same Time Published 11/27/2023, 1:25 PM WAT By PRACHI PRAVA SENAPATI

In a highly anticipated clash, undefeated two-time super middleweight world champion David Benavidez, boasting a pristine record of 27-0 with 3 KOs, stepped into the ring against the equally undefeated Demetrius Andrade (32-0, 19 KOs). The showdown unfolded at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada as Andrade’s team had to stop the fight and Benavidez won by a TKO.y

While Benavidez put his heart and soul into training for the fight, being just a great fighter is not enough for him. What he aspires to be is someone who can entertain as well. In an interview with FightHype.com, he explained why it is important to him.

David Benavidez explains his priorities in a fight

In the interview, the interviewer asks David Benavidez about the balance between being an exciting fighter and a great one. Benavidez emphasized the importance of both. Putting himself in the shoes of a fan, he said “Me as a fan, I don’t wanna spend my money and see something I don’t like to see at the end of the day, these fights are expensive to the regular person” highlighting that as a fan himself, he wouldn’t want to spend money on a fight that’s not enjoyable.

He expresses the desire for fans to find value in purchasing his fights. When asked about the approach of fighters like Terence Crawford and Floyd Mayweather, who ease into the early rounds to assess their opponents, Benavidez reveals that he’s followed a similar strategy throughout his career, recognizing the significance of pacing in a 12-round bout. This insight into Benavidez’s mindset reflects his commitment to delivering not only great performances but also an engaging experience for the audience. What are Benavidez’s plans moving forward?

If not Canelo Alvarez, who is the ‘Mexican Monster’ eyeing next?

In the aftermath of his recent victory, Benavidez has thrown down the gauntlet, suggesting he could step up to a higher weight class for a showdown if Canelo Alvarez hesitates to face him. The combat sports community is abuzz with anticipation for a clash between the two boxing titans. Benavidez, eyeing a super middleweight bout against the undisputed champion Alvarez, voiced his eagerness during the post-fight press conference.

However, he also entertained the possibility of a leap to the light heavyweight division, setting the stage for a potential face-off with WBA champion Dmitry Bivol. The intrigue deepens as Benavidez explores multiple avenues for his next formidable challenge, leaving fans eager to see which path unfolds in this gripping narrative.

Much of a boxer’s career depends on how well the fans receive them. Pleasing the fans ensures a good bag after the fight. However, it becomes important to strike an equilibrium between putting up a good show and putting the win on the line. Benavidez plans to strike the right balance between the two. Who would you like to see the fighter brawl with next?

BOXING

It is an experiment’ – Viddal Riley gives his verdict on Ben Davison training Anthony Joshua for Otto Wallin fight

There will be another new face in Anthony Joshua’s corner when he takes on Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia on 23 December.

After years standing alongside Rob McCracken, the two-time heavyweight champion has made changes to his team since losing his titles to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021. Robert Garcia was brought into the camp for the rematch but after Joshua came up short again against the undefeated Ukrainian, that partnership came to an end.

This year, Joshua linked up with Derrick James, the experienced American who also counts Errol Spence Jr, Jermell Charlo and Ryan Garcia among his stable of fighters.

Relocating his fight camps to Texas where James is based, Joshua got back to winning ways under his guidance, securing a points win over Jermaine Franklin in April before his vicious knockout victory over Robert Helenius in August.

With his pre-Christmas showdown with Wallin announced just six weeks before fight night, Joshua has remained in the UK to work in camp with Ben Davison, who he has been working with over the last few months, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn. While Joshua recently opted not to discuss the situation, Davison will reportedly be in his corner on the night.

Davison counts Tyson Fury, Billy Joe Saunders and Josh Taylor as the world champions he has worked with in the past with Leigh Wood – who vacated his featherweight title to move up in weight last month – part of his current stable.

He also has intimate knowledge of Joshua’s opponent Wallin, having been in Fury’s corner the night he fought the Swede four years ago in Las Vegas.

It has been reported James remains Joshua’s head trainer, with the arrangement with Davison a one-time deal brought on by logistical issues around the fight.

Viddal Riley, the reigning English cruiserweight champion, has first-hand knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes to prepare a fighter having trained YouTube stars KSI and AnEsonGib before shifting focus back to his own burgeoning career.

The Hackney fighter developed close connections with the men he put through their paces, believing Joshua and Davison can develop a similar understanding providing the latter can ‘get through’ to the former heavyweight champion.

‘It is an experiment,’ Riley told Metro.co.uk. ‘There is a lot on the line so it gets a lot of attention so people like to throw in their non expert views which they are entitled to do. Buts it is an experiment.

‘He could be a great coach for someone else and not be a good coach for Anthony Joshua. But then he could be great for AJ. Ben is a proven coach. At the end of the day, it is down to their personal communication and methods of teaching.

‘We can’t say Ben is a bad trainer or he is not qualified for the job because he is has shown he is, he has trained multiple world champions over multiple divisions. But can he get through to AJ? Only they and the people who are in the gym and around them will know that. Hopefully they can.

Viddal believes the fighter-trainer dynamic is the same for any athlete in sport looking of guidance and instruction. It applies no more so than in football where he likens the situation to that of former Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho, one of the game’s most celebrated coaches who hasn’t always found perfect harmony with his players.

‘That’s what every athlete is seeking, a coach who can get through to them,’ he continued. ‘A coach who can make the difference. It is not based on accolades. Jose Mourinho is a very accomplished manager but with certain teams, he can’t make it happen.

‘It doesn’t mean he is a bad manager, it just means he couldn’t connect with that group of players. It is all about communication and connection. So if he [Davison] has that relationship and AJ can absorb what Ben is saying like a sponge and they get on well, then I think we see a great outcome in December.

‘Finding the right coach can be as simple as finding the right pair of trainers. It is just the public eye is on it. It is hard to keep things under wraps because everything is just gossip. It isn’t fair, but it is part of the process and part of being a world class athlete. People care and that is the reason [these fighters] are in this position.’

BOXING

Anthony Joshua next fight date: UK start time for Otto Wallin bout

fights JosepJoshua fights for the third time this year on December 23 as he takes on Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia whilst Deontay Wilderh Parker at the same event

Anthony Joshua will look to set up a highly-anticipated clash against Deontay Wilder when he fights Otto Wallin on December 23.

Former two-time heavyweight world champion Joshua is back in the ring for the third time this year after beating Jermaine Franklin in April and Robert Helenius in August. ‘AJ’ looked set to return in the first quarter of 2024 but a short-notice fight with Wallin was agreed upon for a blockbuster card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The event will also feature the return of Wilder, who hasn’t fought since knocking out Helenius in a round last October. ‘The Bronze Bomber’ will need to get past Joseph Parker to keep up his side of the deal for a fight with Joshua. the likes of Daniel Dubois and Dmitry Bivol are also in action, so here’s all you need to know about the big event…

When is Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin and what time will it start in UK?

Joshua and Wallin will fight on Saturday, December 23. The rivals will not walk to the ring until around 11pm UK time, which is 1am on Sunday morning in Riyadh. There are seven fights taking place on the star-stacked undercard, which is set to get underway at 7pm. Fight times are subject to change depending on the results of the undercard bouts.

How to watch Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin in UK on TV channel and live stream

Joshua vs Wallin is being shown exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view and the event will cost fans in the UK £19.99. DAZN can be watched on multiple devices such as laptop, smart TV and the mobile app. Fans can start their subscription to DAZN for £9.99 a month, with a minimum term of 12-months, by clicking here.

Who is fighting on the undercard?

Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker

Daniel Dubois vs Jarrell Miller

Dmitry Bivol vs Lyndon Arthur – for WBA lightweight title

Jai Opetaia vs Ellis Zorro – for IBF cruiserweight title

Filip Hrgovic vs Mark de Mori

Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Agit Kabayel

Frank Sanchez vs Junior Fa

Quotes corner

Joshua: “People taken about I’ve peaked have never even seen what a peak looks like in their careers. I look forward to delivering my message to Wallin on December 23. I know where I want to go and I know what I want to do. I believe I’m going to be three-time heavyweight champion of the world.”

Wallin: “My manager and I spoke about this fight and we thought it made sense. We came to a conclusion in about two days, I’m coming into this fight after a great win against Gassiev. I’m in a great position and I’m on top of the world, I’ve been waiting for this fight for a long time.”

BOXING

Tyson Fury calls out Hollywood A-lister Ryan Reynolds for a FIGHT after Wrexham hammered his hometown club Morecambe 6-0 in League Two… following up a warning he sent the co-owner back in September

Tyson Fury has challenged Ryan Reynolds to a fight following Wrexham’s 6-0 victory over Morecambe.

Fury lives in Morecambe and wasn’t happy after his local side suffered a heavy defeat in League Two away to Wrexham, who are co-owned by Reynolds.

An own goal from Joel Senior saw Wrexham take an early lead, with Paul Mullin hitting a hat-trick, while Jacob Mendy and James Jones also managed to get on the scoresheet.

Wrexham are in second place in League Two, while Morecambe are 12th.

Following the game Fury took to Instagram and posted a mocked up image of himself fighting Reynolds’ Deadpool character.

BOXING

Eddie Hearn says Tyson Fury is in ‘DECLINE’ as he makes major U-turn on Oleksandr Usyk fight prediction

The Gypsy King looked a shell of his former self in his clash with former UFC star Ngannou

Fury, 35, was dropped by the former UFC heavyweight champion in the third round of their Riyadh Rumble, in which he looked devoid of ideas.

The Morecambe warrior will look to become the undisputed king of the heavyweights against Oleksandr Usyk in February following his horror show against Ngannou.

And Hearn reckons Fury will enter the unification fight somewhat of a shell of the fighter he was when he was his peak.

He told Boxing Social: “I think Tyson Fury, Look, there are a lot of signs that he might be in decline after the Ngannou fight.

That being said, Hearn believes Fury will be too much for former undisputed cruiserweight king Usyk too handle if he takes the fight seriously.

He continued: “But if he is back to his best, if he is firing on all cylinders, I do expect him to win that fight.”

Hearn’s latest prediction for the fight is in stark contrast to initial assessment of the dust-up.

He said: “Usyk is a special breed, we’ve [Anthony Joshua] had two cracks at him.

“Usyk-Fury is a mismatch, no one wants to see it.”

Hearn’s concerns about Fury’s recent displays are also shared by the WBC heavyweight king’s dad John.

He said: “The 17th February is the date they have got to work towards.

“But in my opinion, Tyson needs a bit more time to get his conditioning right and his weight right.

“For me, it looked like he had lost 20lbs of muscle last time. Something was wrong.

“For my money, his last three fights, I have seen a bit of decline. Not a decline in ability but a decline in strength, power and physical condition.

“I don’t know what they are doing up there, you have to address it. He didn’t look himself out in Saudi.

“He didn’t look right, everything had changed about him, his demeanour, his body. I was puzzled.

“He said he had been training but there is training and there is training.

“If you’re going at your own pace no one is going to tell you otherwise, no one is going to offend you or kick you up the backside.

“No one can teach Tyson how to box, or teach him more than he knows. All they can do is put some muscle on there and make his body rock solid.

“For my money he looked fat-thin, he should have been better, a bit heavier with a lot more muscle.

“Tyson is a mammoth fella. He needs to power up in the body department and the only way you do that is a proper course and they take time and we don’t have the time.”

BOXING

Fans Have A Field Day As Comedian Does Spot-On Impersonations Of Tyson Fury, Eddie Hearn And Katie Taylor In Recent Clip

With a comedic flair that adds a touch of humor to life, Al Foran showcased his exceptional talent through spot-on impressions of boxing icons Katie Taylor, Tyson Fury, and promoter Eddie Hearn, leaving boxing enthusiasts both amused and impressed. Foran’s prowess extends beyond the ring, as evidenced by his substantial social media following.

Boasting approximately 130,000 followers on Twitter and 117,000 on Instagram, he has cultivated a sizable fan base. Additionally, Foran shares his comedic genius with around 25,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel. The fans praised him for his talent and even pointed out their favorite impressions.

Fans react to Al Foran’s comical mimicry of Tyson Fury and Katie Taylor

Al Foran recently had an interview with Boxing Social, where he started with the impression of Tyson Fury. Then he did Eddie Hearn, proceeding to entertain more with a little Eddie Murphy. And then he imitated the deep baritone of John Fury. Later, he also did impressions of Mike Tyson, Conor McGregor, Tommy Fury, Kell Brook, and Chris Eubank and ended the segment with Katie Taylor. The fans were baffled by his skills.

Another fan stated that Foran needs to work on his Eddie Hearn impression, and they seemed to like the other ones. They wrote, “‘Eddie Hearn’ needs a bit of work.”

One fan wrote in the comments section that their favorite mimicry was of Katie Taylor, as they couldn’t control their laughter at that time. They wrote, “The Katie Taylor got me dying.”

A fan mentioned that they found the mimicry artist, Al Foran, quite funny and interesting. They wrote, “This bloke is so funny and good.”

An Instagram user mentioned that Foran’s impression of Eddie Murphy surprised him. They wrote, “Eddie Murphy was amazing that just wrong.”

The fans were greatly entertained by the antics of Al Foran. However, this is not the first time he’s amazed the world with his skills. He’s been doing it for years and had Anthony Joshua in splits.

Foran showcased his talent to Anthony Joshua

In a memorable encounter with ‘AJ’ in 2019, Al Foran brought his comedic prowess to the forefront, unleashing a cascade of laughter by engaging the former heavyweight champion in Robert De Niro‘s distinctive voice. From there, the talented mimic seamlessly transitioned into a series of athlete impressions, starting with a convincing rendition of Mike Tyson and then seamlessly shifting to a masterful imitation of UFC legend Conor McGregor.

BOXING

“Do you think Claressa Shields plays tennis” – Fans give Ariel Helwani flak for declaring Katie Taylor the best female boxer, ‘GWOAT’ reacts

Katie Taylor claimed Chantelle Cameron’s undisputed junior welterweight titles in their rematch on Saturday at the 3Arena in Dublin. With the win, the Irishwoman joined Claressa Shields as the only female boxer with undisputed titles in two-weight classes.

Reacting to Taylor’s monumental achievement, Ariel Helwani dubbed the 37-year-old the greatest female boxer of all time. In an Instagram post, the veteran MMA reporter wrote

Helwai’s bold proclamation didn’t go down without contention. Fight fans flooded his comments section, arguing that Claressa Shields was ahead of the Irishwoman in the greatest of all-time discussion, even prompting a reaction from the ‘GWOAT’ herself.

Katie Taylor calls for a trilogy against Chantelle Cameron at Croke Park

Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron are now 1-1 against each other after the rematch, opening the possibility for a trilogy fight.

During the post-fight interview at the 3Arena, the newly crowned two-weight world champion called for a third fight against Cameron, saying:

BOXING

How Subriel Matias blasts out Shohjahon Ergashev in five, calls out Tank Davis

IBF junior welterweight champion Subriel Matias 20-1 (20) retained his title with a fifth-round knockout of mandatory challenger Shohjahon Ergashev 23-1 (20) at the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican, who was making the first defence of the belt he won by fifth-round knockout against previously undefeated Jeremias Ponce 31-1 (21) in February, admitted before the fight that it takes him a few rounds to adjust to southpaws and that proved to be true against the left-handed Ergashev, a 31-year-old Uzbek who goes by the nickname ‘Descendant of Tamerlane’.

Ergashev started the fight well but once Matias got dialed in, it was only a matter of time.

Matias wrested control of the bout in the fourth round and increased the punishment in the fifth. A dazed and confused Ergashev returned to his stool and stayed there when the bell sounded to start the sixth.

Much of the bout was contested at close quarters with Ergashev clearly backing his own power to wilt Matias before the champion got to him. It was a game plan that ultimately did not work out in his favour.

Matias said he was happy to weather the early storm, confident that Ergashev could not hurt him.

“It’s my team that makes that happen,” he said. “I knew he didn’t have the power to knock me out… so that’s when I knew I could start to attack.

“For a southpaw I need three or four rounds to decipher them and then what you saw tonight is usually what happens.”

After the bout Matias called up a big name that lurks just one division south of where he campaigns.

“Gervonta Davis, come over here and fight!” he said.

Before the fight Matias said his loss to Petros Ananyan three years ago served as a wake-up call and forced him to rededicate himself to his career.

“The Subriel Matias that you saw in 2020 is nothing like the one that you’re gonna see right now,” he said.

“Like right now, I’m at 300 percent compared to the one that was in Vegas in 2020, where I admit that, you know, that I was smoking a lot of pot. I had vices that didn’t allow me to be at a hundred percent. But now, 300 percent and ready to show the fans that the champ is here and ready to put on a great show.”

Matias continued: “I can’t say that I consider myself the favourite. What I do have is the confidence in myself after what I’ve done in training camp. But to say that I’m a big favorite would be assuming a lot of things considering that boxing is unpredictable.

“Look at what Ananyan did in 2020. So I am not about to underestimate my opponent and I am gonna go out there and bear the fruits of my preparation.”