Tag: boxing fight

Is Roman Gonzalez demanding unrealistic payday for Juan Estrada rematch?

Roman Gonzalez might be pricing himself out of an intriguing matchup with Juan Francisco Estrada.

Roman Gonzalez might be pricing himself out of an intriguing matchup with Juan Francisco Estrada.

Gonzalez is asking for $1 million for the fight even amid the coronavirus pandemic, which precludes the possibility of live audiences for the time being. And DAZN, which has deals with both fighters, reportedly is suffering financially.

Fernando Beltran, who promotes Estrada, says Gonzalez’s demand leads him to believe he doesn’t really want to fight his rival again.

“Sometimes it’s easier to say that [he wants an unrealistic payday] than saying that he doesn’t want the fight,” Beltran told ESPN Deportes. “And maybe he forgets the summary of his career in his last five fights.

“We as promoters want to give the public what they want and we take care of the economic conditions of our fighter. The priority here is to say that we are ready, the negotiations will come later.”

Gonzalez (49-2, 41 KOs) and Estrada (40-3, 27 KOs) fought in November 2012, with Gonzalez winning a unanimous decision in a competitive fight. A lot has changed since then.

Some figured Gonzalez, a four-division titleholder and former pound-for-pound king, was finished as an elite fighter when he lost back-to-back fights to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017, the second time by a brutal fourth-round knockout.

However, he rebounded to win three consecutive fights, the last an impressive ninth-round stoppage of then-unbeaten Kal Yafai on Feb. 29.

Meanwhile, Estrada, a two-division champion, has climbed onto some pound-for-pound lists. He’s 14-1 since the Gonzalez fight and avenged his only defeat during that stretch by outpointing Sor Rungvisai in April of last year.

Ryan Garcia, Oscar De La Hoya go at each other on Twitter

Oscar De La Hoya said Vergil Ortiz will be featured in Golden Boy’s return instead of Ryan Garcia, who complained about his purse.

Ryan Garcia and Golden Boy Promotions are at it again. And one wonders whether they can remain together long term.

Garcia, the hard-punching lightweight contender with a huge social media following, was supposed to have fought on July 4 in Indio, California, but he expressed his dissatisfcation with the purse offered by DAZN, $200,000. So Golden Boy is going a different direction.

It will now showcase another rising star, Vergil Ortiz, in late July, Oscar De La Hoya said in a pointed Tweet.

“Due to Team @KingRyanG decision not to accept a July 4th bout, we will now return in late July with the future of boxing, @vergilortiz,” De La Hoya Tweeted. “[M]ore exciting details to follow @GoldenBoyBoxing.”

Garcia responded quickly on Twitter. He said: “You do realize you’re supposed to be my promoter not hater right?” He later took the Tweet down.

Then Jermell Charlo, the junior middleweight titleholder, got in his two cents. He Tweeted: “Bruh [n]obody better than [adviser Al H]aymon. I left GBP making 100k got with Haymon made 10x more.. bruh you to[o] popular to be with them..DONT BE USED OR PUT ON THE SHELF.. [YOU’RE] YOUNG BE SMART.”

Garcia was critical of DAZN after receiving the $200,000 offer.

“That’s bulls—,” Garcia told DAZN commentator and Sports Illustrated writer Chris Mannix. “Why am I being held back financially? What is the problem here? Why is DAZN giving out big numbers to guys fighting nobodies? It’s f—ed up how I’m being treated. I’m not asking for $100 million. Just give me the check I deserve. How am I one of the biggest fighters in the world and I get bigger paychecks outside of boxing?

“I’m not saying anything about Golden Boy. I’m not going to worry about what Golden Boy is doing right now. I just want my direct line. I’m tired of going through middle men. DAZN needs to call me. I need to hear from them why stuff can’t happen. You have Shakur Stevenson going [last Tuesday] night. Why is ESPN going and not me?”

Garcia and Golden Boy had a public spat last year but ultimately reconciled and Garcia signed a multiyear deal to remain with the company.

No details about Ortiz’s fight were discussed.

Report: Jamal James vs. Thomas Dulorme set for July 25 on Fox

Jamal James will face Thomas Dulorme in a 12-round welterweight fight on July 25 on Fox, according to a report.

Boxing on Fox will resume on July 25, according to a report.

Jamal James will face Thomas Dulorme in a 12-round welterweight fight on that date in what BoxingScene.com described as a “studio setting” – without spectators — in the Los Angeles area.

They had been scheduled to fight on April 11 in Minneapolis but the fight was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 6-foot-2 James (26-1, 12 KOs) has won six consecutive fights since he lost a unanimous decision against Yordenis Ugas in August 2015. James outpointed Antonio DeMarco last July.

Dulorme (25-3-1, 16 KOs) rebounded from a decision loss to Ugas and draw with Jessie Vargas by easily outpointing then-unbeaten Terrel Williams in September.

The last main event on Fox was Robert Helenius’ upset knockout of Adam Kownacki on March 7.

USADA: Amateur Virginia Fuchs fails drug test because of sex, cleared

Virginia Fuchs was cleared of doping violations because banned substances in her system were transmitted during sex, USADA ruled.

A U.S. Olympic Team member was cleared of a doping violation for a novel reason.

Virginia Fuchs, who hopes to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics next year, evidently will not be punished after testing positive for two banned substances because they were transmitted by her boyfriend during sex, U.S. Anti-Doping Association ruled Thursday.

Fuchs, 32, learned in March that the banned substances were found in her system during an out-of-competition test the previous month. USADA determined during an investigation that her boyfriend had consumed products that contained the substances and that the levels of the substances in her system were consistent with sexual transmission.

USADA CEO Travis Tygart said in a news release that he believes no violation was committed.

“While the World Anti-Doping Code requires that this no-fault finding be considered a violation and be publicly announced, we strongly believe this case and others like it, including meat contamination and prescription medication contamination cases, should be considered no violation,” Tygart said.

“We will continue to advocate for changes to the World Anti-Doping Code so that where there is no intent to cheat and no performance benefit, an athlete should not face any violation or unnecessary public attention.”

The release continued: “During a thorough investigation into the circumstances of Fuchs’ case, USADA determined that Fuchs’ male partner was using therapeutic doses of letrozole and GW1516 and the low amounts of letrozole metabolite and GW1516 metabolites detected in her sample were consistent with recent exposure to the substances via sexual transmission. Additionally, a WADA-accredited laboratory confirmed that products possessed by Fuchs’ partner contained therapeutic amounts of letrozole and GW1516.

Fuchs reacted to USADA’s ruling on Twitter.

“I’m relieved that once USADA completed an extensive investigation, they found that my case was unique and therefore gave me a No Fault ruling, allowing me to return to competition,” Fuchs said. “This has been a huge lesson for me and now that [it’s] over, I’m fully focused on preparing for Tokyo.”

Fuchs, making her third attempt to make the U.S. Olympic team, and most of her teammates will take part in qualifying tournaments next year.

 

USA Boxing opens training camp for first time since March

USA Boxing’s elite fighters have returned to Colorado Springs, Colorado for their first training camp since the coronavirus shutdown.

USA Boxing is back in business.

Members of what USA Boxing calls its “elite high performance team” have returned to Colorado Springs, Colorado for their first training camp since the coronavirus shutdown in March. The camp was set for June 7-July 1 at Hotel Elegante.

The amateur fighters are preparing for the Continental Olympic Qualifier, although the event has been postponed. Olympic qualification events have been pushed back until next year.

All training sessions are divided into small groups and social distancing is being practiced, among other safety precautions, to protect the health of the athletes, according to USA Boxing.

The Olympics were pushed back until next year because of the coronavirus threat. Boxing is scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 8.

Head coach Billy Walsh is overseeing the camp. His assistants are Joe Guzman and Jeff Mays. Jose Polanco is the strength and conditioning coach.

Here is the camp roster:

51 kg: Virginia Fuchs, Houston
51 kg: Heaven Garcia, Los Angeles
52 kg: Anthony Herrera, Los Angeles
57 kg: Bruce Carrington, Brooklyn, N.Y.
57 kg: Andrea Medina, San Diego
60 kg: Rashida Ellis, Lynn, Mass.
63 kg: Charlie Sheehy, Brisbane, Calif.
69 kg: Delante Johnson, Cleveland
69 kg: Oshae Jones, Toledo, Ohio
75 kg: Naomi Graham, Fayetteville, N.C.
75 kg: Joseph Hicks, Grand Rapids, Mich.
81 kg: Rahim Gonzales, Las Vegas
91 kg: Darius Fulghum, Houston
91+ kg: Richard Torrez, Jr., Tulare, Calif.

 

Showtimes provides first look at documentary ‘Ringside’

Showtime has provided a sneak peek at its documentary “Ringside,” which premieres at 8:30 p.m. ET / PT on Friday.

Showtime has provided a sneak peek at its documentary “Ringside,” which premieres at 8:30 p.m. ET / PT on Friday.

The documentary, filmed over nine years, follows the lives of boxing prodigies Destyne Butler Jr. and Kenneth Sims Jr. on the rough South Side of Chicago.

The clip, which hasn’t been available until now, illustrates the different paths the young men took. Butler reflects on the mistakes he made in an emtional letter to his father from a correctional center. Meanwhile, Sims fulfills his dream of becoming a successful professional boxer.

The film, directed by Andre Hormann, won the Silver Hugo Award at the Chicago International Film Festival

Anthony Joshua seen on crutches at protest march in Watford

Anthony Joshua wore a knee brace and walked with crutches during a Black Lives Matter march Saturday in his hometown of Watford, England.

Anthony Joshua tweaked is left knee. How badly? Nothing to worry about, we’re told.

The  heavyweight titleholder wore a knee brace and walked with crutches during a Black Lives Matter march Saturday in his hometown of Watford, England, near London.

“Anthony felt a slight twinge in his knee whilst training,” a spokesman for the fighter said. “The brace is a precautionary measure on the advice of physios. It will be further checked by his doctors but there is no immediate concern.”

Joshua was seen on crutches and also on a scooter during one of many demonstrations worldwide on Saturday, which followed the death of George Floyd while a police officer knelt on his neck last months in Minneapolis.

Joshua, who holds three of the four major belts, was expected to defend his titles against Kubrat Pulev on June 20 at the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium. However, the fight was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

No date or site has been set but the fighters’ handlers say the fight will take place. It’s not clear whether the injury will impact the timing of the event.

Alejandra Jimenez suspended through Oct. 21 over positive test

Alejandra Jimenez has been suspended for nine months by the WBC after testing positive for a banned substance in January, ESPN is reporting.

Alejandra Jimenez will be out of action until at least late October.

The super middleweight from Mexico has been suspended for nine months by the WBC after testing positive for a banned substance in January, ESPN is reporting.

Jimenez defeated Franchon Crews-Dezurn by a split decision on Jan. 11 in San Antonio. However, a sample taken from Jimenez the day before the fight tested positive for stanozolol and the finding was later confirmed.

The fight was declared a no-decision and the title belts Jimenez won that night reverted back to Crews-Dezurn.

She was suspended retroactively to the fight date, meaning she can fight again after Oct. 21. She also will be on probation through October of next year.

READ MORE

Franchon Crews-Dezurn reinstated as titleholder, Alejandra Jimenez stripped

Alejandra Jimenez’s ‘B’ Sample reported to be positive

Alejandra Jimenez allegedly tests positive for banned substance

Alejandra Jimenez outpoints Franchon Crews-Dezurn to win title

 

Mike Tyson legend started at not-so-tender age of 13

Mike Tyson was only 13 and fighting for the first time when his punching power first raised eyebrows.

Mike Tyson was 13 years old – going on 19 – when he fought in a ring for the first time.

The troubled kid from the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, who was no stranger to street fights, ended up in the custody of trainer Cus D’Amato as a teenager. His assistants were Teddy Atlas and Kevin Rooney.

Tyson learned the basics of boxing and then was deemed ready for his first amateur fight. The problem was that he weighed as much as 200 pounds at 13. Who was  he going to fight?

Atlas told the story on his “The Fight” podast.

“I take him down to the Bronx smokers when the time came for him to finally be ready to fight,” Atlas said. “When I finally thought he was ready to fight I’ve gotta pick the opponent. By this time he was probably up to 195, 200 pounds. He was 13 years old, I think. How am I gonna find a heavyweight [his age to fight him]?

“I had to put him in with a 17-year-old. Everybody would lie and try to get an edge in these places. [An official] said, ‘OK, Teddy, put down his age.’ So I put down 13. And [he] said, ‘Teddy, come on, now you’re going too far.’ I said, ‘OK, you want me to make you happy? I’ll put down that he’s 18.’”

Atlas went on: “So I put him in this ‘exhibition’, it was called an exhibition, bigger gloves, bigger headgear. We agreed, ‘OK, we’re gonna box and we’re not trying to kill each other.’ But I knew I had to look out for Mike. I knew this other guy was older, I knew this other guy would not keep his word.

“So I just said, ‘Mike, be alert, see what he does.’ … The other guy’s looking to knock him out. So, within a minute, Mike made him miss and it’s over. He knocks this 17-year-old kid out. … Bang, bang, bang, hitting him with combinations, three-punch combinations.

“All of a sudden he pins him on the ropes. He hurts the guy, the guy goes against the ropes. Then he comes in, bang, he hits him with a left hook. The guy’s head goes like this (twists backward), his body goes like this (limp) and he falls outside the ring.”

“I mean, you talk about Hollywood. His mouthpiece goes flying, probably about 20 feet back and winds up in somebody’s lap. The legend of Mike Tyson was starting. But there was a problem right away, because now his trainer jumped in the ring to go after Mike.

“I went immediately after him. I was his father, big brother, whatever you wanna call it. Even though Cus D’Amato is the patriach of the whole thing, I was the guy there with him. I jump in the ring and go right after the trainer and we’ve got each other by the throat.

“He’s going right after Mike so I go right after him and I intercede. We got each other and I tell him, ‘I’ll freaking break your jaw.’ I push him off and he backs up. Mike says, ‘What’s gonna happen?’ He was still a kid. I said, ‘Nothing. Nothing’s gonna happen to you.’”

Seven years later, Tyson was heavyweight champion of the world.

Kevin McBride on Mike Tyson bout: ‘I fought the man … and won’

Kevin McBride acknowledges that the Mike Tyson he beat in 2005 — Tyson’s final fight — was well past his prime but he’ll take it.

Kevin McBride acknowledges that the Mike Tyson he beat was well past his prime but he’ll take it.

McBride, an Irish-born resident of Brockton, Massachusetts, stopped Iron Mike in six rounds on June 11, 2005 at MCI Center in Washington, D.C. Tyson, who would turn 39 weeks later, never fought again.

“I’m dancing and delighted and at the same time I know that wasn’t the Tyson of his prime,” McBride told The (U.K.) Mail. “But I fought the man on the night and won. … I remember to this day he hit me so hard in the sixth it was like leprechauns playing drums in my head.

“On instinct I said, ‘Is that all you got? You’re in trouble’. That’s when he tried things. First, he got my left arm in a hold and tried to break it. He tried to bite my nipple. Thank God he had his mouthpiece in. Otherwise I’d be the Irishman with one nipple.”

McBride’s name resurfaced because of Tyson is back in the news over his intentions to return to ring for exhibitions. Otherwise, his career was uneventful. McBride (35-10-1, 29 KOs) went 2-6 after the Tyson fight and never fought for a major title. He last fought in 2011.

However, he’ll always have his meeting with Tyson and everything surrounding it. One cherished memory: An encounter with Muhammad Ali after the fight.

“Next thing I know,” he said, “I have Ali throwing pretend punches at me, saying ‘I’m the greatest, you’re the latest’. A dream.”