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Video: Ak & Barak speak to Terence Crawford about fighting Pacquiao

In this episode of The Ak & Barak Show, Terence Crawford discusses the intriguing possibility of facing Manny Pacquiao.

The boxing world seems to be fixated on welterweight titleholders Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. meeting in the ring sometime soon.

Another juicy possibility? Crawford vs Manny Pacquiao.

Crawford has reiterated that he’s interested in fighting Pacquiao when he returns to the ring post-lock down and says the Filipino icon wants the same thing.

The question, as usual, would be the terms. And the fact boxing cards will be staged without spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic complicates matters, at least if they hope to fight before restrictions are eased.

In this episode of The Ak & Barak Show, courtesy of DAZN, hosts Akin Reyes and Barak Bess speak with Terence Crawford on this topic.

Here’s what Crawford and the hosts had to say.

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

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On-air broadcasters to call initial Top Rank cards from studio, homes

Joe Tessitore, ESPN’s blow-by-blow announcer, will call at least the first two Top Rank cards – on June 9 and 11 – from the ESPN studio.

The on-air broadcasters won’t be ringside when boxing resumes this month.

Promoter Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com that Joe Tessitore, ESPN’s blow-by-blow announcer, will call at least the first two Top Rank cards – on June 9 and 11 – from the ESPN studio in Bristol, Connecticut.

Tessitore’s partners Timothy Bradley, Andre Ward and Mark Kriegl will work from their homes for the time being.

The cards, the first in the U.S. since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in March, are subject to strict safety guidelines. That includes limiting the number of people who travel to and attend the shows.

“That’s a temporary thing,” promoter Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com, referring to broadcasting arrangement. “A lot of that had to do with the dangers of travel and so forth. Because the ESPN crew, when they come in, are staying in the bubble for two months.

“So, eventually, I think Joe and the rest of them will be in the arena. I know that Bernie [Osuna] and [Top Rank announcer] Crystina [Poncher] will be in the arena from the beginning. They will be able to interview the fighters and that kind of stuff.”

Members of the media also won’t be allowed to cover the events at ringside.

“We’re doing the first week without media,” Arum said. “And then, assuming everything works out well and we have a handle on everything, we may open it up to three to five media for the second week and gradually increase the number to more than that. But we’re being very, very conservative. We’re working one step at a time.”

Featherweight titleholder Shakur Stevenson and Jessie Magdaleno will headline the June 9 and 11 cards, respectively.

Stevenson (13-0, 7 KOs) will face Felix Caraballo (13-1-2, 9 KOs) in a non-title fight on the ninth. Magdaleno (27-1, 18 KOs) is scheduled to fight Yenifel Vicente (36-4-2, 28 KOs) on the eleventh.

Carlos Molina vs. Michi Munoz $5 PPV show set for Saturday

Carlos Molina will face Michi Munoz in a 10-round 154-pound bout in Mexico at 9 p.m. ET on the interactive Facebook series Fightnight Live.

Boxing returns to Mexico on Saturday. And you can watch for $5.

Former junior middleweight titleholder Carlos Molina, who is promoting the show, will face Michi Munoz in a 10-round 154-pound bout at 9 p.m. ET from Patzcuaro, Michoacan on the interactive Facebook series Fightnight Live.

The five-bout pay-per-view event will have no spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic and will have Spanish-language commentary.

“Amidst this global pandemic, we’re delighted to help boxers get back into the ring to entertain fight fans everywhere for only $5,” said Mark Fratto, principal and director of business development, Linacre Media. “We do hope that Fightnight Live PPV can be a path forward for regional promoters, and we have contracts coming in for our traditional shows in the coming weeks.

“For this first one, it’s a Spanish-language broadcast, so we hope everyone gets a chance to brush up on their Espanol, and of course our comments section will be rowdy with fans providing their own commentary.”

Molina (31-11-2, 10 KOs) stopped Nester Garcia in 10 rounds on Feb. 14 in Patzcuaro, Molina’s birthplace, which is about 225 miles west of Mexico City. He held a 154-pound title in 2013-14.

Munoz (27-10-1, 18 KOs) is coming of a sixth-round knockout loss to Clove Drolet in May of last year in Montreal. Molina is 37, Munoz 39.

“I’m excited for King Carlos Promotions to be promoting this live boxing event and grateful to have been able to create opportunities for other boxers to stay active and fight, as well as myself during these difficult times,” Molina said. “I’m thrilled that this show will be the very first on the new Facebook PPV platform and that we can bring boxing back to the fans.”

In the 10-round co-featured bout, Alejandro Davila (19-1-2, 7 KOs) will face Garcia (23-20-1, 17 KOs).

Here is the link to Fightnight Live: https://www.facebook.com/Facefightnightlive.

Anthony Joshua rules out Mike Tyson fight because ‘people would boo’

Anthony Joshua has ruled out the prospect of facing boxing great Mike Tyson on his return to the ring.

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on SportingNews.com.

***

Anthony Joshua has ruled out the prospect of facing boxing great Mike Tyson on his return to the ring as he believes no fan would want to see the current heavyweight champion prevail.

Former undisputed world champion Tyson, now 53, is reportedly ready to fight again in exhibition and charity bouts. And UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz and Joshua’s heavyweight rival Tyson Fury both claim to have been offered bouts against Iron Mike.

But Joshua, who reclaimed his belts against Andy Ruiz Jr in December, is not interested in facing a legend of the sport.

“With all due respect, I wouldn’t [fight Tyson],” Joshua told The Sun. “Even if I fought Iron Mike and beat him, I think I’d be the only one cheering. People would boo. He is a legend. He is the greatest boxer of the modern era. There are only two recognized champions the world knows of, [Muhammad] Ali and Mike Tyson, the most recognized faces in the world when it comes to boxing.”

Joshua also talked about a different Tyson — Fury.

The boxer insists he has respect for Fury, even as he aims to unify the division.

“I don’t want to be in that position where I am talking down Tyson Fury,” Joshua told The Sun. “He is a great person, and he has done great things in boxing, but until the day we fight, that is where it ends, and I don’t have anything else to say about him.

“I really want the belt, and that is where I stand with Tyson Fury.”

Dillian Whyte vs. Francis Ngannou in boxing ring? Dana White says no

Eddie Hearn is interested in staging a crossover boxing match between the UFC’s Francis Ngannou and heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, fighters have been busy on social media in an attempt to remain relevant and book the biggest fights possible once combat sports resume.

Arguably the biggest puncher in the UFC has been openly campaigning to try his hand at boxing, and Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn is interested in staging a crossover fight between that puncher, Francis Ngannou, and heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte.

Hearn told ESPN of his interest in co-promoting a fight with UFC President Dana White that would pit the two heavyweights against one another inside a boxing ring.

“I thought maybe me and Dana could put this night together where you’ve got a ring which also transforms into a cage between matchups,” Hearn said. “So you’ve got crossover fights, but you’ve got an MMA fighter against a boxer in a ring. Then you’ve got a boxer fighting an MMA fighter in a cage.”

Hearn has even gone as far as to schedule a special ePress conference with Ngannou and Whyte for the fifth edition of the “Rivals” series at 2 p.m. ET Saturday, during which the fighters were expected to discuss a potential matchup.

White, however, shot down the idea of the UFC’s No. 2-ranked heavyweight taking on Whyte in a boxing ring. White says his energy is being directed toward the UFC at the moment. He also suggested that Ngannou wouldn’t be a part of the ePress conference.

“I like Eddie Hearn,” White said at a media event in Las Vegas. “[But] I’m not interested in that. … I’m not thinking about boxing anymore, and I’m worried about [UFC] business right now.”

California establishes guidelines for resumption of boxing in summer

The California State Athletic Commission on Friday passed emergency regulations that would allow cards to be staged this summer.

California is a step closer to hosting post-lock down combat sports shows.

The California State Athletic Commission on Friday passed emergency regulations that would allow cards to be staged this summer, according to ESPN. The guidelines were forwarded to the California Office of Administrative Law for its review, after which combat sports could resume.

Andy Foster, the CSAC executive director, laid out the regulations for ESPN.

“The fighters will be tested between two and three weeks before their event for the COVID-19 virus,” he said. “If they’re clear, we’ll accept them on the bout card and we’ll approve the fights if they meet the other criteria.

“Then two days before they travel, they’ll fill out a questionnaire. And when they get to the hotel, they’ll be isolated and tested again with their fight camps. Everybody involved in the promotion will be tested on that day.

“Anybody that the promoter deems ‘essential’ to their promotion — and we approve them to be there, and that could be media — anybody that is in that building [who is] part of the promotion is going to need to be tested.”

Foster said California officials will use information gleaned from UFC 249, which took place on May 9. That included the fate of Jacare Souza, who tested positive for COVID-19 the day before the event.

“We learned from that event, and I want to be clear, that’s not to put down the UFC one bit, they had a great plan and everything,” he said. “We learned by watching that, just how contagious this virus could be. So we want to mitigate that risk.”

Golden Boy President Eric Gomez has said that his company hopes to stage a card as soon as July 4.

Report: Roman Gonzalez vs. Juan Francisco Estrada in works

Matchroom Boxing is planning to stage a 115-pound title-unification fight between Roman Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada.

A title-unification showdown between Roman Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada appears to be in the works.

The Athletic reported that Matchroom Boxing plans to stage its first post-lock down show in the United States in July or August. The Gonzalez-Estrada fight, a rematch of their 2012 fight, would take place sometime soon after that on DAZN.

Gonzalez defeated Estrada by a unanimous decision in a surprisingly competitive fight eight years ago, when Gonzalez was an undefeated junior flyweight titleholder and Estrada a less-known, but gifted contender.

A lot has happened since then. Gonzalez lost back-to-back fights to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017, the second loss ending in a brutal knockout. Gonzalez bounced back to regain a junior bantamweight title by stopping Kal Yafai in February but is no longer on pound-for-pound lists.

Estrada (40-3, 27 KOs) is on those lists. The Mexican is 14-1 since he lost to Gonzalez, winning titles in two divisions along the way. He won a 115-pound title by outpointing Sor Rungvisai in their rematch in April of last year.

Sor Rungvisai defeated Estrada by a majority decision in February 2018.

Roy Jones Jr. vs. Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield? Jones seems to be ready

Roy Jones Jr., 51, seems to be ready to join Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield as 50-plus-year-old fighters rejoining the active ranks.

Add another 50-plus legend to those who want to take part in old-timers boxing.

Roy Jones Jr., a former four-division titleholder, hinted during an Instagram interview with one of his fighters that he likes the idea of fighting Mike Tyson (53) or Evander Holyfield (57), both of whom have said they plan to return to take part in exhibitions for charity.

The difference between Jones and the two hall of famers, besides age, is that Jones has been active recently. He last fought two years ago, when he outpointed Scott Sigmon. Tyson hasn’t fought since 2005, Holyfield since 2011.

And it sounds as if Jones still has an edge.

“Let me tell you one thing, just so you all know,” Jones said. “I don’t really mess with people too much, I don’t like to bother nobody. I’m getting older, I love trying to pass what I know down to these guys so they can take what I did, what I knew, and try to add and build on to it.

“Chris Eubank, Shady [Gamhour], whole class of them, trying just to pass to them what I know and let them add what I know to what they do. But … I’ve had a few people bothering me lately. I ain’t gonna say a lot of names, but some pretty strong, big guys trying to bully me around.

“I don’t like being bullied. I will fight you. I know I’m 51 but I will fight somebody over 50. And I ain’t scared to fight nobody, nowhere, at no time. Headgear, no headgear, I don’t care. So just be aware, and be careful what you say.”

Jones didn’t provide details about the encounter to which he was referring but he’s obviously ready to lace ’em up.

Jones fought once as a heavyweight, moving up from 175 pounds to 193 to beat John Ruiz and win a heavyweight title in 2003. He went back down to light heavyweight and ultimately to cruiserweight after that but was never the same dominating fighter he had been.

Special feature: 10 victories that helped define Mike Tyson

These 10 fights helped shape Mike Tyson into the legend he is today.

Mike Tyson has attracted a lot of attention the past few weeks because of his plan to take part in exhibitions at 53.

Of course, one reason people today remain fascinated with Iron Mike is that he was once a legitimately great boxer. How great? Well, he was the youngest ever to win the heavyweight title, at 20, and had two reigns as heavyweight champion.

He beat a lot of good fighters along the way, most of them by knockout. Here are 10 of the fights that helped define him.

***

MARVIS FRAZIER

Date / site: July 26, 1986 / Civic Center, Glen Falls, N.Y.
Division: Heavyweight
Records: Tyson 24-0, Frazier 16-1
At stake: Nothing
Result: Tyson KO 1
Background: The limited Frazier was never destined to give Tyson significant resistance but he had a big name and a legend in his corner, dad Joe Frazier, which added intrigue to the matchup. And Frazier actually had some decent victories on his ledger, over James Tillis and Bonecrusher Smith, for example. There seemed to be some hope. Then the opening bell rang. Tyson landed a right uppercut seconds into the fight, followed by another uppercut and then a right and a left that left Frazier slumped in a corner. Referee Joe Cortez started his count but, after taking a good look at the motionless fighter, he waved off the fight. The end came after 30 seconds of action, the quickest knockout of Tyson’s career and one of the best examples of the destructive power that so captivated the world. “I’m confident I can beat any fighter in the world,” he said immediately after the knockout. He was right.

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Floyd Mayweather caught on video partying amid ongoing pandemic

Floyd Mayweather has been blasted for partying over the weekend in a Scottsdale, Arizona night spot in spite of the coronavirus pandemic.

Dancing with the devil?

Floyd Mayweather has been blasted for partying over the weekend in a Scottsdale, Arizona night spot in spite of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which was caught on video, courtesy of TMZ.

Mayweather can be seen dancing in a packed International Boutique Nightclub, in which apparently no one was wearing protective gear.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has allowed some restaurants to re-open but only with strict social distancing guidelines. He obviously didn’t have crowded clubs in mind when he made that move.

The mayor of Scottsdale, Jim Lane, wasn’t pleased with reckless gatherings in the area over the weekend. He was asked by TMZ to respond specifically to the Mayweather video and provided this statement:

“The images from Old Town Scottsdale this weekend are disturbing, and frankly show a real lack of common sense and civic responsibility.”

As of Wednesday, Maricopa County, in which Scottsdale is the fifth largest city, has had 8,379 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 385 deaths.