Tag: Anthony Dirrell

Video: Ak & Barak: Anthony Dirrell believes Canelo-Kovalev fight was fixed

Anthony Dirrell said on this episode of The Ak & Barak Show that he believes Sergey Kovalev took a dive in his fight with Canelo Alvarez.

Canelo Alvarez made history by moving up to light heavyweight and stopping Sergey Kovalev last November, giving the Mexican a major title in a third division.

Anthony Dirrell doesn’t believe the result was legitimate.

The former super middleweight titleholder said on this episode of The Ak & Barak Show, courtesy of DAZN, that he believes Kovalev took a dive in the fight.

Dirrell has been mentioned as a possible opponent for Alvarez in September.

Hosts Akin Reyes and Barak Bess discussed the surprising accusation and more with Dirrell.

The Ak & Barak Show is available on DAZN and Sirius XM Fight Nation, Channel 156.

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Video: Mannix, Mora: Is Anthony Dirrell a good option for Canelo?

Canelo Alvarez and his handlers are searching for the right opponent for a projected fight in September. And because it will have to take place in an empty arena because of the coronavirus threat – thereby sacrificing earnings generated by a live …

Canelo Alvarez and his handlers are searching for the right opponent for a projected fight in September.

And because it will have to take place in an empty arena because of the coronavirus threat — thereby sacrificing earnings generated by a live gate — they appear to be seeking a bargain option.

Enter Anthony Dirrell, the former two-time 168-pounder who is 35 and at least somewhat past his prime. He’s coming off a stoppage loss to David Benavidez this past September. The fight was stopped because of a cut above Dirrell’s eye but he was losing on the cards.

Is Dirrell the ideal opponent under these circumstances?

In this episode of Jabs with Mannix and Mora, DAZN commentators Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora discuss this topic.

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Golden Boy: Gennadiy Golovkin not option for Canelo Alvarez’s next fight

Golden Boy Promotions President Eric Gomez said Gennadiy Golovkin is not an option for Canelo Alvarez’s next fight.

The boxing world has been waiting for a third fight between Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin. It now seems as if it will have to wait a little longer.

What originally was teased as a possibility before the end of 2020 is likely to be pushed back to next year after the president of Golden Boy Promotions, Eric Gomez, said that a group of five or six fighters are being weighed by Alvarez and none of those options is Golovkin.

“There are five or six opponents, the names that always come out, and we are not ruling anyone out, but there is not one that sounds better than the other,” Gomez told ESPN Deportes. “There are several that have been mentioned, but Saul is going to decide who he wants to fight with.”

Gomez didn’t name any fighters in particular, but the three-division world champion has been linked to Billy Joe Saunders, Sergey Derevyanchenko, Anthony Dirrell and Callum Smith.

“We are looking at opponents, but there are no offers,” Gomez said. “We saw that some notes came out, but they are not true, there is no one, there are no offers, they are the same opponents, the best in the world, some of them champions. The difference is that the borders are not open, and people cannot travel freely as they would before, and that is another aspect that we have to look at.”

The Alvarez-Golovkin fight will not happen behind closed doors because of the money that would be sacrificed.

“Not with Golovkin,” said Gomez. “Economically, it is not convenient to do it without an audience. The two fights [between Canelo and GGG] produced very large gates in Las Vegas, and it would not be convenient to do that fight without an audience. But we will see when it can be done with the public. Both of them are open to fight, but it may not be until 2021.”

Gomez went on: “[Alvarez] is open to the idea [of fighting in an empty arena]. It is not yet confirmed, he has not confirmed that, we are just talking about the idea of fighting without an audience. We will see. He is open to it.

“But he wants to see all the details. In the next few weeks we will meet to discuss all the details, so he feels safe, that it’s going to be a safe place. He wants to know about the protocols. We will see in the coming weeks.”

Reports: Canelo Alvarez now considering Dirrell, Derevyanchenko for September

Canelo Alvarez reportedly is considering Anthony Dirrell and Sergey Derevyanchenko for September.

Canelo Alvarez’s handlers are getting creative in their search for his next opponent.

Alvarez had been tentatively set to face Billy Joe Saunders on May 2 before the coronavirus pandemic took hold. Now, faced with the prospect of fighting once without spectators, Alvarez and Co. might be looking for a less-expensive option than Saunders for a fight in September.

Enter Sergey Derevyanchenko and Anthony Dirrell, according to reports.

Alvarez and Derevyanchenko are “in talks,” according to The Athletic. BoxingScene.com is reporting that Dirrell is under consideration. The reports indicate that both fights would take place at 168 pounds, although Derevyanchenko – a middleweight – and Alvarez could conceivably fight at a catch weight.

One interesting aspect of these reports is that both Derevyanchenko, 34, and Dirrell, 35, are affiliated with Premier Boxing Champions while Alvarez is handled by Golden Boy Promotions, meaning the rival entities are working together.

Derevyanchenko (13-2, 10 KOs) is a 2008 Olympian from Ukraine who has lost only close decisions to Daniel Jacobs and Gennadiy Golovkin, the latter fight a memorable brawl in October that raised Derevyanchenko’s stock even in defeat.

Derevyanchenko also is considered a potential opponent for 160-pound titleholder Jermall Charlo.

Dirrell (33-2-1, 24 KOs) is a two-time super middleweight titleholder who is coming off a ninth-round knockout loss to David Benavidez in September, which cost Dirrell his belt. Dirrell was hampered by a cut from the sixth round on.

Alvarez is coming off an 11th-round knockout of Sergey Kovalev in November to win a light heavyweight title, which he vacated. He has come around on fighting Golovkin a third time but that won’t be next. Triple-G has committed to defending his 160-pound title against mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta first.

Fox Sports, PBC personalities thank coronavirus warriors

Fox Sports and Premier Boxing Champions put together a video featuring their biggest personalities to thank the coronavirus warriors.

Our health care workers and first responders have emerged as heroes in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus.

And that fact isn’t lost on those in the boxing world.

Fox Sports and Premier Boxing Champions took the time to put together a video (see below) featuring many of their biggest stars and personalities to thank those risking their lives.

Here are those who took part:

PBC Fighters

Manny Pacquiao, Errol Spence, Deontay Wilder, Leo Santa Cruz, Andy Ruiz Jr, Shawn Porter, Mikey Garcia, Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman, David Benavidez, Caleb Plant, Abner Mares, Erislandy Lara, Julian Williams, Tony Harrison, Anthony Dirrell, Andre Dirrell, Chris Eubank Jr, Andre Berto and Adam Kownacki.

PBC on FOX Personalities

Brian Kenny, Chris Myers, Joe Goossen, Kate Abdo, Jimmy Lennon Jr, Marcos Villegas, Heidi Androl, Jordan Plant, Steve Cunningham and Ray Flores.

Anthony Dirrell wants another shot at David Benavidez

Anthony Dirrell has realized his goal — becoming a world champion after beating cancer — but he says he has more to give in the ring.

Anthony Dirrell has already realized his goals.

The super middleweight contender wanted to bounce back from cancer and win a world title. He won two belts. So what keeps him motivated to continue fighting at 35, an age when many fighters have already walked away?

“I still love the game. When you still got it, you still got it. That’s basically how it is,” he said on The PBC Podcast.

Dirrell has another source of motivation: The result of his last fight.

He lost his 168-pound title to Benavidez in September when his corner stopped the fight because of a deep gash above his right eye, the result of a punch. Benavidez technically won by a ninth-round knockout.

Benavidez, the strapping 23-year-old from Phoenix, was leading on all three cards when the fight was stopped but Dirrell thought he gave a strong performance and felt strong when the fight ended prematurely.

He’d like another shot at Benavidez.

“You know I want a rematch,” he said. “I don’t think he’ll give it to me. … Why? Because he knows I was beating him. Truthfully, he knows I was beating him. He couldn’t do to me what he did to other fighters. I think it was because of my experience.

“Is the guy good? Yeah, he’s a good fighter. Everybody knows that. But I think I was beating him until that cut. But we’ll never know. A cut happens. You take the wins with the losses. Hopefully I’ll get another shot before I go out and show the world that I’m a true champion.”

David Benavidez has his opponent for April 18, Roamer Alexis Angulo: report

David Benavidez is scheduled to face Roamer Alexis Angulo (26-1, 22 KOs) on April 18 at Arizona Federal Theater in Phoenix on Showtime.

It looks as if David Benavidez is going home for the first defense of a super middleweight title he regained.

Benavidez (22-0, 19 KOs) is scheduled to face Roamer Alexis Angulo (26-1, 22 KOs) on April 18 at Arizona Federal Theater in downtown Phoenix on Showtime, The Athletic is reporting.

Angulo replaces Caleb Truax as the challenger for the 168-pound belt held by Benavidez, who came back from a six-month suspension for a positive cocaine test on September 29 with a unanimous decision over Anthony Dirrell on a card featuring welterweight Errol Spence Jr.’s victory over Shawn Porter.

Angulo, of Colombia, is the third opponent to move into the mandatory challenger’s spot for the belt. Initially, Avni Yildirim, of Turkey, was in line to fight the 23-year-old Benavidez. But he withdrew because of a shoulder injury.

Benavidez, the younger brother of former junior welterweight champion Jose Benavidez Jr., grew up in Phoenix. He fought three fights in his hometown in 2015 after making his professional debut in Mexico.

The Benavidez-featured card will be the first boxing event at the downtown Phoenix theater in several years. Acelino Freitas beat Daniel Attah in a junior lightweight title defense there in June 2002 when it was named Dodge Theater. Former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito stopped Hercules Kyvelos there on HBO in January 2004. Late Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward promoted a series of cards there in 2005.

Report: Caleb Truax pulls out of fight with David Benavidez

Caleb Truax reportedly has pulled out of a tentative matchup with super middleweight titleholder David Benavidez.

David Benavidez reportedly is in need of an opponent again.

The super middleweight titleholder was tentatively set to defend his belt against Caleb Truax, possibly on April 18, according to reports. However, according to ESPN, Truax has pulled out of the fight. No explanation was reported.

Benavidez (22-0, 19 KOs) is coming off an impressive ninth-round stoppage of Anthony Dirrell in September, which allowed him to regain the belt stripped from him when he tested positive for cocaine.

The Arizonan was supposed to make a mandatory defense against Avni Yildirim but Yildirim was injured, which gave Benavidez the opportunity to face someone of his choice.

Benavidez is expected to face fellow titleholder Caleb Plant as soon as this year but it’s too early for that showdown.

Report: David Benavidez to defend title against Caleb Truax on April 18

David Benavidez will defend his super middleweight title against Caleb Truax on April 18 on Showtime, according to The Athletic.

It’s not the Caleb many boxing fans would like to see David Benavidez fight but the deal reportedly is done.

Benavidez will defend his super middleweight title against former beltholder Caleb Truax on April 18 on Showtime, according to The Athletic. The site hasn’t been announced.

The fight could help build toward a title-unification showdown with the unbeaten Caleb Plant.

Benavidez (22-0, 19 KOs) is coming off an impressive ninth-round stoppage of Anthony Dirrell, which allowed him to regain the belt stripped from him when he tested positive for cocaine.

Truax (31-4-2, 19 KOs) won a super middleweight title when he upset James DeGale by decision in 2017 but lost it in the rematch four months later.

The Minnesotan is coming off a majority-decision victory over David Basajjamivule on Jan. 25.

David Benavidez’s dream opponent? Canelo Alvarez

David Benavidez wants to clean out the 168-pound division and then face Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez.

David Benavidez’s immediate goal is to get super middleweight rival Caleb Plant into the ring for a title-unification showdown. And his plan is to beat all the top 168-pounders, thus taking control of the division.

He also has a dream opponent, though: Canelo Alvarez.

“One of my dreams … if I win all the belts … the dream match for me would be Canelo [Alvarez],” Benavidez told The PBC Podcast. “But I don’t really speak on that fight too much because everybody is calling out Canelo now. I feel what I got to do now [is] beat everybody. I gotta make the people want that fight. …

“And if the people want that fight, I’m pretty sure it can be made. I feel like it’s maybe three years down in the future, but that’s definitely my main goal. But I still have a lot of great fighters to go through.”

Benavidez (22-0, 19 KOs) regained a version of the 168-pound title by stopping a bloodied Anthony Dirrell in nine rounds this past September.

The 23-year-old Arizonan expects to face No. 1 contender Avni Yildirim next, although nothing is set. And he mentioned British titleholders Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders as possible opponents.

What about Plant, with whom Benavidez has developed a contentious relationship on-line and beyond? That’s the one he wants most. And he hopes the fight can be made late this year or early next year.

“I feel like that’s the fight that’s going to define my career and that’s really what I want,” he said. “… This the fight I think about most. … I think about it all day, before I go to sleep. This is something I want. Just so I can prove I’m the best super middleweight in the world.”