Tag: Bob Bennett

Deontay Wilder accuses Tyson Fury of loading gloves, avoiding him

Deontay Wilder has accused Tyson Fury of loading his gloves in their fights and demanded that Fury give him a third fight.

Deontay Wilder finally had his say. And it got weird.

The former heavyweight titleholder, speaking on a Twitter video and also tweeting, accused rival Tyson Fury of loading his gloves before their two fights and “trying to weasel out of our agreement” to fight a third time.

Wilder and Fury fought to a controversial draw in 2018. Fury stopped Wilder in the seventh round in their February rematch, after which Wilder exercised a clause in their contract that reportedly requires Fury to give him a third fight.

They were originally scheduled to meet in July but the date was pushed back multiple times. Finally, when it appeared that the fight wouldn’t take place until next year, Fury decided to move on. He’s scheduled to fight on Dec. 5, although no opponent has been selected.

First, the alleged loaded gloves: “I saw in the first fight when Ricky Hatton was pulling down your gloves to put your fists in the improper position,” Wilder said on the video. “Y’all tried the same method the second time, but this time, you scratched flesh out of my ears which caused my ears to bleed.

“It’s impossible for a brand-new 10-ounce glove to bend, to keep a smushed-in form or to have loose space. I highly believe you put something hard in your glove. Something the size and the shape of an egg weight. It’s the reason the side of my face swelled up in the egg weight form and it left a dent in my face as well.

“But in the midst of all, you still couldn’t keep this king down. You would have had to kill me. In the end, it took a crap-in-a-bucket referee (Kenny Bayless) and a disloyal trainer (Mark Breland) to throw the towel in just to stop me.”

Fury dismissed the loaded-gloves conspiracy when Wilder’s brother made the same allegation earlier, saying Wilder trainer Jay Deas would have had to be in on plot because he watched Fury put on his gloves.

Bob Bennett, the Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, told ESPN that Wilder’s latest allegations are “absolutely false.” The official said gloves for championship fights are monitored from the time they arrive from the factory to the time they’re placed on the fighter’s fist, meaning it would be extremely difficult to doctor them.

And Bob Arum, Fury’s co-promoter, blasted Wilder in an interview with iFL TV.

“For him to castigate Kenny Bayless, the referee, and Mark Breland, his chief corner man, the way he did is disgraceful,” Arum said. “They acted properly and they saved Wilder’s life from taking any further punishment when he was completely out and getting thrashed by Tyson Fury.

“Secondly, this talk about the way gloves the way he did is disgraceful, because you have to understand the situation with the gloves in the state of Nevada where the fight took place. … Nobody, nobody, can tamper with the gloves.

“I mean, what he has done is taken something probably from a movie that used to happen maybe in the ’30s and ’40s and used that as a conspiracy to explain how he got beaten, and decisively beaten by Tyson Fury.

“It is reprehensible for him to do something like that, and it defies all belief for anybody that knows how these things happen. … What Wilder said is a sham.”

Wilder tweeted that Fury is trying to avoid him.

“When you were going through your darkest time, I told you that if you got yourself together I would give you a title shot,” he wrote. “Being a man of my word, I gave you the title shot. When that fight was a draw, I told you that I would give you a rematch.

“You know I was offered more money to fight [Anthony] Joshua than I was getting to fight you. Again, being a man of my word, I fought you like I said I would. In the rematch agreement, there was a rematch clause.

“Now it is time for you to be a man and honor your word, instead of trying to weasel out of our agreement.”

Deontay Wilder accuses Tyson Fury of loading gloves, avoiding him

Deontay Wilder has accused Tyson Fury of loading his gloves in their fights and demanded that Fury give him a third fight.

Deontay Wilder finally had his say. And it got weird.

The former heavyweight titleholder, speaking on a Twitter video and also tweeting, accused rival Tyson Fury of loading his gloves before their two fights and “trying to weasel out of our agreement” to fight a third time.

Wilder and Fury fought to a controversial draw in 2018. Fury stopped Wilder in the seventh round in their February rematch, after which Wilder exercised a clause in their contract that reportedly requires Fury to give him a third fight.

They were originally scheduled to meet in July but the date was pushed back multiple times. Finally, when it appeared that the fight wouldn’t take place until next year, Fury decided to move on. He’s scheduled to fight on Dec. 5, although no opponent has been selected.

First, the alleged loaded gloves: “I saw in the first fight when Ricky Hatton was pulling down your gloves to put your fists in the improper position,” Wilder said on the video. “Y’all tried the same method the second time, but this time, you scratched flesh out of my ears which caused my ears to bleed.

“It’s impossible for a brand-new 10-ounce glove to bend, to keep a smushed-in form or to have loose space. I highly believe you put something hard in your glove. Something the size and the shape of an egg weight. It’s the reason the side of my face swelled up in the egg weight form and it left a dent in my face as well.

“But in the midst of all, you still couldn’t keep this king down. You would have had to kill me. In the end, it took a crap-in-a-bucket referee (Kenny Bayless) and a disloyal trainer (Mark Breland) to throw the towel in just to stop me.”

Fury dismissed the loaded-gloves conspiracy when Wilder’s brother made the same allegation earlier, saying Wilder trainer Jay Deas would have had to be in on plot because he watched Fury put on his gloves.

Bob Bennett, the Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, told ESPN that Wilder’s latest allegations are “absolutely false.” The official said gloves for championship fights are monitored from the time they arrive from the factory to the time they’re placed on the fighter’s fist, meaning it would be extremely difficult to doctor them.

And Bob Arum, Fury’s co-promoter, blasted Wilder in an interview with iFL TV.

“For him to castigate Kenny Bayless, the referee, and Mark Breland, his chief corner man, the way he did is disgraceful,” Arum said. “They acted properly and they saved Wilder’s life from taking any further punishment when he was completely out and getting thrashed by Tyson Fury.

“Secondly, this talk about the way gloves the way he did is disgraceful, because you have to understand the situation with the gloves in the state of Nevada where the fight took place. … Nobody, nobody, can tamper with the gloves.

“I mean, what he has done is taken something probably from a movie that used to happen maybe in the ’30s and ’40s and used that as a conspiracy to explain how he got beaten, and decisively beaten by Tyson Fury.

“It is reprehensible for him to do something like that, and it defies all belief for anybody that knows how these things happen. … What Wilder said is a sham.”

Wilder tweeted that Fury is trying to avoid him.

“When you were going through your darkest time, I told you that if you got yourself together I would give you a title shot,” he wrote. “Being a man of my word, I gave you the title shot. When that fight was a draw, I told you that I would give you a rematch.

“You know I was offered more money to fight [Anthony] Joshua than I was getting to fight you. Again, being a man of my word, I fought you like I said I would. In the rematch agreement, there was a rematch clause.

“Now it is time for you to be a man and honor your word, instead of trying to weasel out of our agreement.”

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. under indefinite suspension

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been suspended indefinitely by Nevada and Arizona as a result of his alleged refusal to take a drug test.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. might be out of the ring for a while.

Chavez has been suspended indefinitely by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and Arizona Boxing and MMA Commission as a result of his alleged refusal to take a drug test before his fight against Daniel Jacobs in December.

The former middleweight titleholder was set to fight Jacobs in Las Vegas but, after failing to submit a sample, he was temporarily suspended in Nevada.  Chavez was granted an injunction by a Nevada court, which lifted his suspension by the commission.

That allowed the fight to take place in Phoenix, where Jacobs stopped Chavez in five rounds.

However, now a judge in Nevada has sided with the NSAC. Thus, his suspension is back in place and he will have to explain his alleged actions. Chavez reportedly will be on the agenda for the commission’s Aug. 5 meeting.

“The judge reviewed the case, and he ruled in our favor,” Bob Bennett, the executive director of the NSAC, told ESPN. “He’s now on temporary suspension pending a suspension and an administrative hearing from our commission.”

Bennett went on: “Right now, what’s going to happen is the commission will take a look at his suspension, and then continue his suspension, and then set a date for the administrative hearing for refusing to take a performance-enhancing drug test with us.”

Chavez has tested positive for banned substances twice, once for a diuretic in 2009 and again for marijuana in 2012.

Yenifel Vicente might face disciplinary action. He earned it.

Yenifel Vicente could face disciplinary action for repeated fouls against Jessie Magdaleno on Thursday in Las Vegas.

Yenifel Vicente had a golden opportunity against Jessie Magdaleno on Thursday night in Las Vegas.

The 33-year-old Dominican was at center stage, fighting in the main event on the second post-coronavirus lockdown card in the U.S. on national television. A victory over a big-name opponent like Magdaleno under those circumstances could’ve made him a player at 126 pounds.

What did he do with the opportunity? He punched it in huevos.

Vicente appeared to be thrown off his game the moment he went down in the first round, which signaled to the typically aggressive puncher that he could be hurt by a better fighter if he wasn’t careful.

And it opened the door to what appears to be his willingness to bend the rules, especially when things aren’t going well. A recent example: He lost two points for low blows in his one-sided loss to Tramaine Williams last July in Arlington, Texas.

Jessie Magdaleno lies flat on the canvas after Yenifel Vicente hit him low and then to the head after the referee tried to step between them. Mikey Williams / Top Rank

That might be why he lost control in Round 4 Thursday, first punching Magdaleno below the belt and then delivering a shot to the head as referee Robert Byrd tried to jump between them that sent Magdaleno crashing to the canvas.

As if that wasn’t enough, he went south of the border again later in the same round, did it again in Round 10 and then went there one last time before the final bell, prompting Byrd to DQ him.

The final tally was four point deductions, three for low blows and one for the late punch. That would be a hell of a night’s work if it were a street fight.  It wasn’t.

I’m making no judgment whatsoever about Vicente’s character in general. He certainly isn’t the first boxer to play rough. We saw what we saw, though, a boxer who lost his ability to fight fairly – putting Magdaleno in undue danger – in spite of numerous warnings from Byrd.

“I’m sore as hell,” Magdaleno told ESPN on Friday. “I’m telling you, I feel like the lower half of my body has been through a marathon, and it was 10 rounds, and it just felt like a marathon run I’ve been through. And just the whole marathon I’m being hit in my nuts.

“That’s what it felt like.”

Vicente might pay a price beyond the disqualification.

Bob Bennett, the executive director, didn’t return a call from Boxing Junkie immediately but he told ESPN he might recommend punishment, which could be meted out only after a hearing.

“There were several shots below the belt,” Bennett said. “Subsequent, referee Byrd took points and as the executive director I am considering moving forward with a recommendation of a suspension or a letter of reprimand to Vicente.”

Magdaleno would support some sort of disciplinary action.

“I think he should be penalized,” Magdaleno said. “I think he should be penalized for what he did. It was just a foul move that he did. He just couldn’t catch my rhythm. He couldn’t catch my speed or my power so, to me, I think he should be penalized for that. It was uncalled for.”

He went on: “They should suspend him for a while. It’s just, I don’t wish nothing bad upon him but something should happen. They should do something to either suspend him for the rest of the year or take something from his pay.

“It sucks to be in that position. I wouldn’t want any fighter to go through that. It does suck, and it does bring a lot of wear and tear on you.”

I wonder also wonder about his long term future in the sport.

If I were a promoter or television executive, I would think twice before featuring Vicente again. He doesn’t have a big enough name to be missed, as harsh as that sounds. Bottom line: We might’ve seen the last of him on TV.

That’s what he did with his golden opportunity.

 

READ MORE

Jessie Magdaleno got the job done but was disappointing

Jessie Magdaleno wins fight those in boxing would like to forget

Photos: Jessie Magdaleno-Yenifel Vicente debacle and more

Nevada approves Top Rank cards scheduled for June 9 and June 11

The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday approved Top Rank cards scheduled for June 9 and June 11.

Boxing in Nevada is a go.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday approved Top Rank cards scheduled for June 9 and June 11, as well as UFC events on May 30 and June 6, according to reports. The shows will be staged at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas without spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Both boxing shows will air on ESPN.

“I’ve been working with the executives from Top Rank,” said Bob Bennett, the NSAC’s executive director. “I’ve reviewed their operations plan. They’re still in the process of completing it. It’s very comprehensive. We’re moving in the right direction.

“I’m pleased to see that we are all working in concert with a closed-system event, and I expect it to be very successful.”

Featherweight beltholder Shakur Stevenson (13-0, 7 KOs) will be the headliner on June 9, the first boxing card in the U.S. since mid-March. He reportedly will face Felix Caballaro (13-1-2, 9 KOs) of Puerto Rico in a 130-pound non-title fight, although the matchup hasn’t been finalized.

On June 11, according to BoxingScene.com, former junior bantamweight titleholder Jessie Magdaleno (27-1, 18 KOs) is expected to face Yenifel Vicente (36-4-2, 28 KOs) of the Dominican Republic at 128 pounds.

The NSAC will rule later on proposed boxing cards for June 16, June 18, June 23, June 25 and June 30.

The UFC events will take place at its Apex facility in Las Vegas. UFC staged the first post-lockdown combat sports event – UFC 249 – in the U.S. on May 9 in Florida.

“We’ve been working hand in glove with the UFC,” Bennett told Yahoo Sports. “I’m aware of their operations plan and everything has been moving ahead (in accordance) with their operation plan and our protocols.”

UFC’s Dana White hits back hard at boxing promoter Bob Arum

UFC President Dana White used a number of expletives in his response to boxing promoter Bob Arum’s criticism of him.

Dana White responded to boxing promoter Bob Arum’s criticism of the UFC president’s plans to stage three shows this month. And he didn’t hold back.

Arum suggested that White is acting recklessly by scheduling the events before it’s safe to do so amid the coronavirus pandemic. UFC events are set for this Saturday (UFC 249), May 13 and May 16 without live audiences at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.

“Good luck to them. I just hope that they’re not endangering the safety of anyone. But this kind of cowboy behavior doesn’t do anybody any good,” said Arum, who has discussed staging events with no spectators in late June at the earliest.

White responded to Arum’s comments on the UFC Unfiltered podcast.

“Listen I think by now that everybody realizes that Bob Arum is a d—head,” White said. “This guy has been talking s— about the UFC and me for 20 years. He’s f—–g bankrupt, this guy, he’s f—–g bankrupt! You don’t want to put fights on, you can’t afford to put fights on, you f—–g j—off!

“You’ve been in this thing your whole life and you’ve completely destroyed the business and the sport. Congratulations Bob Arum, you’re brilliant.”

Arum said he plans to follow the lead of major sports leagues in the United States, not White, whom he called a “cowboy.”

“We’re looking now with Nevada, which we’ll do in a sensible way, or California,” Arum told BoxingScene.com. We’re working with [Nevada’s] Bob Bennett and [California’s] Andy Foster, and we’re talking to the Texas commission. We’re only gonna do this if it’s safe for the fighters and everyone involved, and if it’s approved by the medical authorities.

“We’re not gonna be cowboys, like Dana White. I don’t wanna get politics involved, but I have really very little respect for Dana and what he’s doing.”

He went on: “I think the behavior of people in sports we should be following are Adam Silver of the NBA, Roger Goodell of the NFL, people who are proceeding cautiously and safely, not people who are acting like cowboys.

“For example, [the UFC] wanted to do this fight in California and they were prevented by the governor [Gavin Newsom] and by senator [Dianne] Feinstein going to ESPN and having Dana pull [the plug].

“It turned out one of the fighters, in fact, tested positive afterwards for coronavirus. You know, if we get something like that on one of Dana’s shows, and God forbid there’s a serious incident of spreading the disease, it doesn’t do well for anybody who’s involved with sports.”

Lyman Good was on the UFC 249 card when it was scheduled to take place in Brooklyn but he pulled out and later announced he had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury will have say in choosing officials

The NSAC will give a list of officials to Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury and allow them to toss those with whom they aren’t comfortable.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission evidently isn’t taking any chances with officials for the Feb. 22 Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury rematch in Las Vegas.

The NSAC reportedly will give a list of at least three possible referees and 10 to 12 judges to the fighters and allow them to toss anyone with whom they aren’t comfortable.

“[NSAC Executive Director] Bob Bennett promised me everybody will be satisfied,” Fury co-promoter Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com. “The truth is, unlike what happened last time, the judges here are not going to matter. If it goes to a decision, Fury wins the fight. If it goes to a knockout, the judges don’t matter.”

The officials are an issue because of the 2018 fight between Wilder and Fury in Los Angeles, which was scored a draw. Fury, who went down twice but controlled much of the fight, thought he was robbed and some agree with him.

Also, some have suggested California referee Jack Reiss should’ve stopped the fight when Fury went down in Round 12 even though he appeared to beat the count.

As BoxingScene pointed out, the referee will be from Nevada and the judges will be configured in one of two ways: one British judge, one American judge and one neutral judge, or all three neutral judges.

 

Report: NSAC warns Eddie Hearn over handling of Chavez Jr. situation

The NSAC has objected to the way Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sports has handled the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. situation.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has made it clear that Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sports must follow Nevada law – or else.

Bob Bennett, the Commission’s executive director, sent a letter to Hearn objecting to the fact Chavez is scheduled to fight Daniel Jacobs in Phoenix even though Chavez is temporarily suspended for refusing to take a drug test in Nevada, according to a report by Thomas Hauser on BoxingScene.com.

The Chavez-Jacobs fight had been scheduled to take place in Nevada before Chavez declined to provide a test sample on October 24. The venue was then changed to Phoenix.

Bennett isn’t fooling around. He states in the letter, obtained by Hauser: “Grounds exist to bring disciplinary action against Matchroom before the NSAC. If Matchroom does not take the necessary action to come into compliance with Nevada law, our office will consider its options.”

The letter lays out Nevada law, including a portion that applies directly to this situation. It reads: “Under the Ali Act, no boxer is permitted to box while under suspension from any boxing commission due to, among other things, failure of a drug test.”

The issue is scheduled to be discussed by Nevada commissioners on November 20. Hauser explained the possible outcomes of that meeting this way:

“The NSAC placed Chavez on temporary suspension pending the result of a November 20 commission meeting. At that meeting, the five commissioners are expected to review the temporary suspension and set it down for a hearing on December 18.

“The key question is whether, in the interim, the NSAC commissioners will classify Chavez’s suspension as an administrative suspension or a suspension for refusing to submit to a sample collection. If they opt for the latter, the Arizona commission would be in violation of federal law if it allowed Jacobs-Chavez to be contested.”

Here are portions of the letter:

“Nevada law prohibits any promoter licensed by the NSAC from having any dealings related to unarmed combat with a person who has been suspended by the NSAC. Nevada law also prohibits a promoter from permitting a person under suspension from participating in any contest or exhibition of unarmed combat during the period of suspension. Any violation of Nevada or Federal law by a licensed promoter provides grounds for disciplinary action.

“In addition, under the Ali Act, no boxer is permitted to box while under suspension from any boxing commission due to, among other things, failure of a drug test. Under Nevada law, an unarmed combatant that refuses to submit to the collection of a sample or specimen upon the request of the NSAC or its representative, or otherwise evades the collection thereof, has committed an anti-doping violation and is subject to disciplinary action just as he or she would be if he or she failed a drug test.

“Based on Matchroom’s ongoing dealings with Chavez while he has been on suspension, it is apparent that Matchroom has violated Nevada law. Further, given that Chavez’s suspension is based on his refusal to submit to a drug test requested by the NSAC, and thus an anti-doping violation, it is apparent that the event scheduled to occur in Arizona on December 20, 2019, is in violation of the Ali Act. As such, Matchroom is promoting an event that potentially violates federal law.”

The letter goes on:

“On November 7, 2019, I contacted Shaun Palmer, Matchroom’s Head of Legal and Business Affairs, and informed him of the legal issues with Matchroom’s dealings with Chavez discussed herein. I further informed him of the potential consequences should Matchroom not take corrective measures to comply with Nevada law, including that a violation of Nevada law would be considered by the NSAC when deciding whether to renew Matchroom’s promoter’s license.”