Tag: Bryant Perrella

Good, bad, worse: Demetrius Andrade, Jake Paul, unsatisfying draw

Good, bad, worse: Demetrius Andrade, Jake Paul, unsatisfying draw.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi0LwjB6hU8

Demetrius Andrade doesn’t necessarily look great when he fights but he couldn’t be much more effective.

That was the case once again on Saturday night, when he received spirited resistance from tough, determined Liam Williams yet won 10 of 12 rounds on two cards and eight on the third to retain his middleweight title in Hollywood, Fla.

Andrade put Williams down in the second round and looked as if he might win by knockout early — which would’ve been a strong statement for someone itching to lure another 160-pound champion into the ring — but he couldn’t finish the job.

Instead, Andrade merely boxed brilliantly most of the fight, moving laterally, stopping to fire off hard, accurate shots when the time was right and then quickly moving away. Williams tried to disrupt that pattern but largely failed.

The Welshman gave Andrade a compliment when he said afterward, “He was slipperier than he appears to be on TV.”

Andrade might not have been dazzling but, as he does, he won convincingly in his fourth title defense. That should keep him on track to face fellow titleholders and prime targets Jermall Charlo or Gennadiy Golovkin, assuming they’re willing.

And I’m not sure either is in love with the idea of facing Andrade, whose style and ability probably would make the life of even the best 160-pounders miserable.

[lawrence-related id=19531]

***

BAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAuF610gwDQ

Tony Harrison should be excused for a flat performance against Bryant Perrella on Saturday in Los Angeles.

The former junior middleweight titleholder hadn’t fought since December 2019, when he was stopped by Jermell Charlo. He probably was rusty. He lost his father/trainer Ali Salaam not long afterward. His brother worked his corner. And Perrella is a crafty boxer.

Harrison had a lot to overcome. The fact he emerged with a draw isn’t the end of the world for him, although it certainly was a small step backward.

It appeared to me as if he had one foot in the ring and one foot out of it, as he was strangely inactive much of the fight. He threw only 453 punches overall, 282 of which were jabs, according to CompuBox. And he landed only 60 of the jabs.

I had the feeling that Harrison was as much an onlooker as a participant in the fight.

Of course, Perrella, trained by Roy Jones Jr., had something to do with that. He boxed well and worked hard, throwing 692 punches. And he’s a southpaw, which Harrison had said before the fight would be a challenge for him.

As many as 10 of the 12 rounds were difficult to score, which explains the contrasting cards: 116-112 for Harrison, 117-111 for Perrella and 114-114. Boxing Junkie scored it 115-113 for Perrella.

In the end, neither fighter was cheated. But where does it leave them?

Harrison, who had hoped to jump right back into the title picture, can still get there but he can’t afford even one more slip-up. He better show up at his best next time out. Meanwhile, Perrella took a step forward. He demonstrated that he could compete with an elite 154-pounder.

That’s about all we can glean from an unsatisfying draw.

[lawrence-related id=19540]

***

WORSE

Jake Paul deserves credit.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer trained hard, said he was going to knock out Ben Askren and then he did it in less than one full round Saturday night in Atlanta. He proved a lot of people wrong, including me.

And Paul’s emotional reaction afterward is evidence that he takes his boxing career seriously. To him, this isn’t a game.

The knockout punch itself was impressive. It finished Askren’s night and probably would’ve gotten the attention of most cruiserweights, although he couldn’t land a punch as easily against a legitimate boxer.

Indeed, another winner on Saturday was whomever chose Askren as Paul’s opponent. The former MMA champ has a big name and small ability, at least in terms of boxing. Perfect matchmaking for a novice like Paul.

The problem for Paul will come if he decides to face a genuine boxer one day, not the Nate Robinsons and Ben Askrens of the world.

And my gut tells me he’ll take that step if he continues to beat non-boxers because of how he sees himself. He has said that he doesn’t want to be perceived as a side show. He fancies himself the real deal, a hot, young prospect.

Sadly for him, it’s highly unlikely that he’ll amount to much. The minute he finds himself face to face with an opponent who makes his living the boxing ring, he will be exposed for what he is: a late starter with crude skills.

Paul, 24, had no amateur career and has three pro fights. You can learn basics of the sport in a short time but the seasoning required to compete at a high level takes a number of years. Let’s compare it to baseball. You can’t take a few hitting lessons and then jump to the Major Leagues. Michael Jordan demonstrated that.

Again, Paul deserves props. He has some natural ability and is willing to put in the time to hone it, which has allowed him to enjoy success against fellow newbies. Let’s just not get carried away.

[lawrence-related id=19623,19620,19616,19581]

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

I won’t question referee Brian Stutts, whose stoppage of the Paul-Askren fight was somewhat controversial. Askren was hurt and Stutts was looking him directly in the eyes when he made the decision to end matters. Paul was probably correct when he said Askren was fortunate that the fight was stopped when it was. … The ending of the Regis Prograis–Ivan Redkach welterweight fight on the Paul-Askren card was about as strange as it gets. In Round 6, Prograis landed a punch to Redkach’s ribs yet Redkach fell to the canvas and grabbed his groin, claiming a low blow. The referee missed it. The fight was stopped and the punch reportedly was ruled a foul. Still, it somehow went to the scorecards and Prograis won a technical decision. It appeared to me that Redkach wanted out of a fight he was losing badly. He quit.

Good, bad, worse: Demetrius Andrade, Jake Paul, unsatisfying draw

Good, bad, worse: Demetrius Andrade, Jake Paul, unsatisfying draw.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi0LwjB6hU8

Demetrius Andrade doesn’t necessarily look great when he fights but he couldn’t be much more effective.

That was the case once again on Saturday night, when he received spirited resistance from tough, determined Liam Williams yet won 10 of 12 rounds on two cards and eight on the third to retain his middleweight title in Hollywood, Fla.

Andrade put Williams down in the second round and looked as if he might win by knockout early — which would’ve been a strong statement for someone itching to lure another 160-pound champion into the ring — but he couldn’t finish the job.

Instead, Andrade merely boxed brilliantly most of the fight, moving laterally, stopping to fire off hard, accurate shots when the time was right and then quickly moving away. Williams tried to disrupt that pattern but largely failed.

The Welshman gave Andrade a compliment when he said afterward, “He was slipperier than he appears to be on TV.”

Andrade might not have been dazzling but, as he does, he won convincingly in his fourth title defense. That should keep him on track to face fellow titleholders and prime targets Jermall Charlo or Gennadiy Golovkin, assuming they’re willing.

And I’m not sure either is in love with the idea of facing Andrade, whose style and ability probably would make the life of even the best 160-pounders miserable.

[lawrence-related id=19531]

***

BAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAuF610gwDQ

Tony Harrison should be excused for a flat performance against Bryant Perrella on Saturday in Los Angeles.

The former junior middleweight titleholder hadn’t fought since December 2019, when he was stopped by Jermell Charlo. He probably was rusty. He lost his father/trainer Ali Salaam not long afterward. His brother worked his corner. And Perrella is a crafty boxer.

Harrison had a lot to overcome. The fact he emerged with a draw isn’t the end of the world for him, although it certainly was a small step backward.

It appeared to me as if he had one foot in the ring and one foot out of it, as he was strangely inactive much of the fight. He threw only 453 punches overall, 282 of which were jabs, according to CompuBox. And he landed only 60 of the jabs.

I had the feeling that Harrison was as much an onlooker as a participant in the fight.

Of course, Perrella, trained by Roy Jones Jr., had something to do with that. He boxed well and worked hard, throwing 692 punches. And he’s a southpaw, which Harrison had said before the fight would be a challenge for him.

As many as 10 of the 12 rounds were difficult to score, which explains the contrasting cards: 116-112 for Harrison, 117-111 for Perrella and 114-114. Boxing Junkie scored it 115-113 for Perrella.

In the end, neither fighter was cheated. But where does it leave them?

Harrison, who had hoped to jump right back into the title picture, can still get there but he can’t afford even one more slip-up. He better show up at his best next time out. Meanwhile, Perrella took a step forward. He demonstrated that he could compete with an elite 154-pounder.

That’s about all we can glean from an unsatisfying draw.

[lawrence-related id=19540]

***

WORSE

Jake Paul deserves credit.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer trained hard, said he was going to knock out Ben Askren and then he did it in less than one full round Saturday night in Atlanta. He proved a lot of people wrong, including me.

And Paul’s emotional reaction afterward is evidence that he takes his boxing career seriously. To him, this isn’t a game.

The knockout punch itself was impressive. It finished Askren’s night and probably would’ve gotten the attention of most cruiserweights, although he couldn’t land a punch as easily against a legitimate boxer.

Indeed, another winner on Saturday was whomever chose Askren as Paul’s opponent. The former MMA champ has a big name and small ability, at least in terms of boxing. Perfect matchmaking for a novice like Paul.

The problem for Paul will come if he decides to face a genuine boxer one day, not the Nate Robinsons and Ben Askrens of the world.

And my gut tells me he’ll take that step if he continues to beat non-boxers because of how he sees himself. He has said that he doesn’t want to be perceived as a side show. He fancies himself the real deal, a hot, young prospect.

Sadly for him, it’s highly unlikely that he’ll amount to much. The minute he finds himself face to face with an opponent who makes his living the boxing ring, he will be exposed for what he is: a late starter with crude skills.

Paul, 24, had no amateur career and has three pro fights. You can learn basics of the sport in a short time but the seasoning required to compete at a high level takes a number of years. Let’s compare it to baseball. You can’t take a few hitting lessons and then jump to the Major Leagues. Michael Jordan demonstrated that.

Again, Paul deserves props. He has some natural ability and is willing to put in the time to hone it, which has allowed him to enjoy success against fellow newbies. Let’s just not get carried away.

[lawrence-related id=19623,19620,19616,19581]

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

I won’t question referee Brian Stutts, whose stoppage of the Paul-Askren fight was somewhat controversial. Askren was hurt and Stutts was looking him directly in the eyes when he made the decision to end matters. Paul was probably correct when he said Askren was fortunate that the fight was stopped when it was. … The ending of the Regis Prograis–Ivan Redkach welterweight fight on the Paul-Askren card was about as strange as it gets. In Round 6, Prograis landed a punch to Redkach’s ribs yet Redkach fell to the canvas and grabbed his groin, claiming a low blow. The referee missed it. The fight was stopped and the punch reportedly was ruled a foul. Still, it somehow went to the scorecards and Prograis won a technical decision. It appeared to me that Redkach wanted out of a fight he was losing badly. He quit.

Tony Harrison, Bryant Perrella fight to unsatisfying split draw

Tony Harrison and Bryant Perrella fought to unsatisfying split draw on Saturday in Los Angeles.

Tony Harrison took a small step backward while Bryant Perrella probably moved ahead somewhat. Neither fighter left the ring satisfied on Saturday.

Harrison, the former junior middleweight titleholder, and Perrella fought to a split draw in a 12-round fight that was difficult to score at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in downtown Los Angeles.

The wide disparity in the scoring was evidence of that. Judge Max DeLuca had Harrison winning 116-112, eight rounds to four. Lou Moret scored it for Perrella 117-111. And Zachary Young had it 114-114. Boxing Junkie scored it 115-113 for Perrella.

Harrison (28-3-1, 21 KOs) hadn’t fought since December 2019, when he lost his title by knockout to Jermell Charlo. That was the last time Harrison had in his corner his father/trainer Ali Salaam, who died of COVID-19 a year ago.

And perhaps the layoff and absence of a familiar voice played a role in his performance, which was so-so at best. He threw a lot of jabs but relatively few power shots, only 14 per round, according to CompuBox.

Perrella was the busier fighter overall, outpunching Harrison 692-453 overall and 396-171 in power shots. That obviously impressed Moret. However, Perrella outlanded Harrison only 150-138 and Harrison might’ve landed the cleaner punches, which apparently swayed DeLuca.

Perrella probably had to two biggest rounds in the fight, Nos. 3 and 6, during which the underdog clearly outworked and outlanded Harrison. One could argue that the remainder of the rounds could’ve gone either way.

Thus, the result was anyone’s guess in the period between the final bell and the announcement of the result. The fighters, both of whom hoped to move up in the line for a shot at a major title, were expressionless when they heard the words “split draw.”

No one seemed to object to the result, at least not openly immediately after they learned their fate.

The fighters shared more than a draw after all was said and done: The both are now winless in consecutive fights. Harrison was coming off the setback against Charlo, Perrella from his last-second knockout loss to Abel Ramos in February of last year.

Well, at least they didn’t lose back-to-back fights.

Tony Harrison, Bryant Perrella fight to unsatisfying split draw

Tony Harrison and Bryant Perrella fought to unsatisfying split draw on Saturday in Los Angeles.

Tony Harrison took a small step backward while Bryant Perrella probably moved ahead somewhat. Neither fighter left the ring satisfied on Saturday.

Harrison, the former junior middleweight titleholder, and Perrella fought to a split draw in a 12-round fight that was difficult to score at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in downtown Los Angeles.

The wide disparity in the scoring was evidence of that. Judge Max DeLuca had Harrison winning 116-112, eight rounds to four. Lou Moret scored it for Perrella 117-111. And Zachary Young had it 114-114. Boxing Junkie scored it 115-113 for Perrella.

Harrison (28-3-1, 21 KOs) hadn’t fought since December 2019, when he lost his title by knockout to Jermell Charlo. That was the last time Harrison had in his corner his father/trainer Ali Salaam, who died of COVID-19 a year ago.

And perhaps the layoff and absence of a familiar voice played a role in his performance, which was so-so at best. He threw a lot of jabs but relatively few power shots, only 14 per round, according to CompuBox.

Perrella was the busier fighter overall, outpunching Harrison 692-453 overall and 396-171 in power shots. That obviously impressed Moret. However, Perrella outlanded Harrison only 150-138 and Harrison might’ve landed the cleaner punches, which apparently swayed DeLuca.

Perrella probably had to two biggest rounds in the fight, Nos. 3 and 6, during which the underdog clearly outworked and outlanded Harrison. One could argue that the remainder of the rounds could’ve gone either way.

Thus, the result was anyone’s guess in the period between the final bell and the announcement of the result. The fighters, both of whom hoped to move up in the line for a shot at a major title, were expressionless when they heard the words “split draw.”

No one seemed to object to the result, at least not openly immediately after they learned their fate.

The fighters shared more than a draw after all was said and done: The both are now winless in consecutive fights. Harrison was coming off the setback against Charlo, Perrella from his last-second knockout loss to Abel Ramos in February of last year.

Well, at least they didn’t lose back-to-back fights.

Tony Harrison ‘fired up’ to start new chapter in his career

Tony Harrison said he’s “fired up” to start a new chapter in his career.

Tony Harrison will be fighting on Saturday without someone who has been his corner from day one: his father.

Ali Salaam, who has trained the junior middleweight contender for almost his entire career, died of complications related to COVID-19 in April of last year. LJ Harrison, his brother, has taken over the training duties.

Of course, the loss of his dad and mentor was difficult for Tony Harrison. However, he feels emotional fit entering his fight with Bryant Perrella at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles (Fox).

“I wouldn’t [fight] if I wasn’t ready,” said Harrison, who is coming off an 11th-round knockout loss to Jermell Charlo that cost him the title he won by outpointing Charlo a year earlier. “He taught me how to fight. All I can do now is relive what he told me in my mind to keep me going.

“Trust me, I wouldn’t be in the ring if I wasn’t ready to fight. It’s always hard losing a father but I’m ready.”

Jermell Charlo (right) stopped Tony Harrison in their rematch. Stephanie Trapp / TGB Promotions

Tony Harrison said he has confidence in his brother, a mainstay at Salaam’s SuperBad Boxing Gym in Detroit since he retired as a pro basketball player overseas in 2014. He has specialized in strength and conditioning but also learned the technical ropes from his father.

Salaam was an old-school disciplinarian, which obviously worked in his son’s case. LJ is a more modern, more subtle coach. Tony is comfortable with that approach.

“Our chemistry is good,” the fighter said, referring to LJ. “Just having youth on our side, just having him understand how times are rolling. My dad was a little strict in everything he did. My brother is a little more lenient. He was a professional athlete himself.

“He understands what I need and when I need it. He’s not so head strong that things be done his way.”

The brothers have a significant task in front of them: rebuilding after the loss against Charlo.

Harrison said he doesn’t think much about the setback but acknowledged that it gnaws at him when he does. He tells himself that he was doing well – the fight was close on the cards – and that victory was within his grasp.

And then it was over. A left hook led to two knockdowns and ultimately a stoppage.

Can Harrison bounce back from that kind of loss? Setbacks – even brutal ones – are part of the sport, he said. As long a fighter accepts that and focuses on what got him there in the first place, he should be just fine.

Can Harrison bounce back from his disappointment? Frank Micelotta / Fox Sports / Picture Group

“The fight game sometimes is a game of inches, like football,” said Harrison, whose cousin is former San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates. “A wrong inch one way or another can cost you a fight. That’s how it is.

“You just have to stay fundamentally sound, you just have to stay disciplined. And, at 30, I’m the most disciplined I’ve ever been.”

The comeback starts against Perrella (17-3, 14 KOs), a capable southpaw who is coming off a last-second knockout loss to Abel Ramos in February of last year. And it comes after a 16-month haitus, the longest of Harrison’s career.

He respects Perrella, who is moving up in weight to face him. And he’s as curious as everyone else about whether he’ll be rusty after the layoff, although he said he worked hard and felt during his first training camp with his brother as head trainer.

The only thing he knows for sure going into the fight? He’s excited, excited to get back into the ring, excited to have his hand raised again, excited to get back on a path toward a world title.

“To be honest I am itchy to get back in there,” he said. “Sparring has been tough, losing the weight has been tough. All in all, the journey has been worthwhile. I’m looking forward to getting back into the ring.

“I’m really fired up. I’m ready to do this for everyone, for me, for [my brother], for Ali. I’m ready to showcase what I can do.”

[lawrence-related id=19398,19259,8404,4362,6231]

Tony Harrison ‘fired up’ to start new chapter in his career

Tony Harrison said he’s “fired up” to start a new chapter in his career.

Tony Harrison will be fighting on Saturday without someone who has been his corner from day one: his father.

Ali Salaam, who has trained the junior middleweight contender for almost his entire career, died of complications related to COVID-19 in April of last year. LJ Harrison, his brother, has taken over the training duties.

Of course, the loss of his dad and mentor was difficult for Tony Harrison. However, he feels emotional fit entering his fight with Bryant Perrella at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles (Fox).

“I wouldn’t [fight] if I wasn’t ready,” said Harrison, who is coming off an 11th-round knockout loss to Jermell Charlo that cost him the title he won by outpointing Charlo a year earlier. “He taught me how to fight. All I can do now is relive what he told me in my mind to keep me going.

“Trust me, I wouldn’t be in the ring if I wasn’t ready to fight. It’s always hard losing a father but I’m ready.”

Jermell Charlo (right) stopped Tony Harrison in their rematch. Stephanie Trapp / TGB Promotions

Tony Harrison said he has confidence in his brother, a mainstay at Salaam’s SuperBad Boxing Gym in Detroit since he retired as a pro basketball player overseas in 2014. He has specialized in strength and conditioning but also learned the technical ropes from his father.

Salaam was an old-school disciplinarian, which obviously worked in his son’s case. LJ is a more modern, more subtle coach. Tony is comfortable with that approach.

“Our chemistry is good,” the fighter said, referring to LJ. “Just having youth on our side, just having him understand how times are rolling. My dad was a little strict in everything he did. My brother is a little more lenient. He was a professional athlete himself.

“He understands what I need and when I need it. He’s not so head strong that things be done his way.”

The brothers have a significant task in front of them: rebuilding after the loss against Charlo.

Harrison said he doesn’t think much about the setback but acknowledged that it gnaws at him when he does. He tells himself that he was doing well – the fight was close on the cards – and that victory was within his grasp.

And then it was over. A left hook led to two knockdowns and ultimately a stoppage.

Can Harrison bounce back from that kind of loss? Setbacks – even brutal ones – are part of the sport, he said. As long a fighter accepts that and focuses on what got him there in the first place, he should be just fine.

Can Harrison bounce back from his disappointment? Frank Micelotta / Fox Sports / Picture Group

“The fight game sometimes is a game of inches, like football,” said Harrison, whose cousin is former San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates. “A wrong inch one way or another can cost you a fight. That’s how it is.

“You just have to stay fundamentally sound, you just have to stay disciplined. And, at 30, I’m the most disciplined I’ve ever been.”

The comeback starts against Perrella (17-3, 14 KOs), a capable southpaw who is coming off a last-second knockout loss to Abel Ramos in February of last year. And it comes after a 16-month haitus, the longest of Harrison’s career.

He respects Perrella, who is moving up in weight to face him. And he’s as curious as everyone else about whether he’ll be rusty after the layoff, although he said he worked hard and felt during his first training camp with his brother as head trainer.

The only thing he knows for sure going into the fight? He’s excited, excited to get back into the ring, excited to have his hand raised again, excited to get back on a path toward a world title.

“To be honest I am itchy to get back in there,” he said. “Sparring has been tough, losing the weight has been tough. All in all, the journey has been worthwhile. I’m looking forward to getting back into the ring.

“I’m really fired up. I’m ready to do this for everyone, for me, for [my brother], for Ali. I’m ready to showcase what I can do.”

[lawrence-related id=19398,19259,8404,4362,6231]

Fight Week: Spotlight on Demetrius Andrade, Tony Harrison, Jake Paul

Fight Week: The spotlight is on Demetrius Andrade, Tony Harrison and Jake Paul this Saturday.

FIGHT WEEK

demetrius andrade, tony harrison and youtube personality jake paul all make their returns to the ring in separate locations on a busy saturday night.

***

JAKE PAUL (2-0, 2 KOs) VS.
BEN ASKREN (debut)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VZlTCLPVEY

  • When: Saturday, April 17
  • Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
  • TV/Stream: PPV and FITE
  • Division: Cruiserweight (eight rounds)
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Even (BetMGM)
  • Also on the card: Regis Prograis vs. Ivan Redkach, junior welterweights; Steve Cunningham vs. Frank Mir, heavyweights
  • Prediction: Askren KO 3
  • Background: Paul, the YouTube personality who fancies himself a legitimate boxer, will take on his third consecutive opponent with no boxing experience. This one is a little different, though. Askren is a real, seasoned fighter, albeit as a mixed martial artist. The former amateur wrestler isn’t known for his striking but he has considerable experience in the octogen, where he enjoyed success. He won multiple titles and reportedly finished with a record of 19-2 (with one no-contest). To his credit, Paul seems to be taking his boxing career – such as it is – seriously. He reportedly trains hard and takes pride in his progress. We’ll see whether that’s enough to overcome a genuine warrior. In a real fight on the card, junior welterweight contender Regis Prograis (25-1, 21 KOs) will face Ivan Redkach (23-5-1, 18 KOs) in a 10-round bout. Prograis rebounded from his majority decision loss to Josh Taylor in 2019, which cost him his world title, by stopping Juan Heraldez in three rounds last October. Redkach (23-5-1, 18 KOs) last fought in January of last year, when he lost a wide decision to Danny Garcia at 147 pounds.

[lawrence-related id=17553,17333,15857]

 ***

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE (29-0, 18 KOs) VS.
LIAM WILLIAMS (23-2-1, 18 KOs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMEIKnCwt_U&t=18s

  • When: Saturday, April 17
  • Where: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Fla.
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Middelweight
  • At stake: Andrade’s WBO title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Andrade 2½-1 favorite
  • Also on the card: Carlos Gongora vs. Christopher Pearson, super middleweights; Mahammadrasul Majidov vs. Andrey Fedosov, heavyweights
  • Prediction: Andrade UD
  • Background: Andrade will be making the fourth defense of the 160-pound title he won by nearly shutting out Walter Kautondokwa in October 2018. However, the talented Rhode Islander has yet to face a top-tier opponent at or near his weight. It’s not for lack of trying. He has called out everyone from Canelo Alvarez to Gennadiy Golovkin to Jermall Charlo and nothing has come from it. Enter Williams. The 28-year-old Welshman doesn’t have the name recognition of the champions mentioned above but he is no pushover. He has won seven consecutive fights since losing back-to-back outings against Liam Smith in 2017, the first as a result of a cut and the second a majority decision. He last fought in October, when he stopped Andrew Robinson in one round. Perhaps just as important as notching the wins, he seems to have improved considerably since the setbacks. That said, he has never tangled with anyone at Andrade’s level. We’re going to learn a lot about Williams in this fight. Andrade is coming off a ninth-round knockout of Luke Keeler in January of last year.

[lawrence-related id=5717,14611]

***

TONY HARRISON (28-3, 21 KOs) VS.
BRYANT PERRELLA (17-3, 14 KOs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvKpmK_-Wg4

  • When: Saturday, April 17
  • Where: Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, Los Angeles
  • TV/Stream: Fox
  • Division: Junior middleweight
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Omar Juarez vs. Jessie Roman, junior welterweights; Vito Mielnicki Jr. vs. James Martin, welterweights
  • Prediction: Harrison UD
  • Background: Harrison and Perrella will both be trying to bounce back from devastating losses. Harrison was stopped in the 11th round of his rematch with Jermell Charlo in December 2019, which cost him the 154-pound title he won by outpointing Charlo a year earlier. Perrella suffered a heartbreaking setback against Abel Ramos in February of last year, when he was stopped with one second remaining in a fight he was winning on the cards. Harrison is the more accomplished of the two but both of them are good, experienced boxers with some pop in their punches. One possible advantage for Harrison: Perrella will be fighting for the first time as a full-fledged 154-pounder, although he has said he had a terrible time making the 147-pound limit. Perrella began working with Roy Jones Jr. after the loss to Ramos, which he says has been a tremendous learning experience. He believes fans will see a much improved fighter on Saturday. Meanwhile, Harrison will be working for the first time without his father, Ali Salaam, who died a year ago. He’s now trained by his brother, L.J. Harrison.

[lawrence-related id=19259,9247,8404,4362,6231]

Also fighting this week: Fabio Turchi (18-1, 13 KOs) of Italy faces Dylan Bregeon (11-0-1, 3 KOs) of France in a 12-round cruiserweight fight on Friday in Milan (DAZN). Also on Friday, in Monterrey, Mexico, Miami-based featherweight prospect Neslan Machado (17-0, 8 KOs) of Cuba takes on Brandon Romero (11-1-1, 6 KOs) of Mexico in a scheduled 10-round bout (ESPN+).

Fight Week: Spotlight on Demetrius Andrade, Tony Harrison, Jake Paul

Fight Week: The spotlight is on Demetrius Andrade, Tony Harrison and Jake Paul this Saturday.

FIGHT WEEK

demetrius andrade, tony harrison and youtube personality jake paul all make their returns to the ring in separate locations on a busy saturday night.

***

JAKE PAUL (2-0, 2 KOs) VS.
BEN ASKREN (debut)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VZlTCLPVEY

  • When: Saturday, April 17
  • Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
  • TV/Stream: PPV and FITE
  • Division: Cruiserweight (eight rounds)
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Even (BetMGM)
  • Also on the card: Regis Prograis vs. Ivan Redkach, junior welterweights; Steve Cunningham vs. Frank Mir, heavyweights
  • Prediction: Askren KO 3
  • Background: Paul, the YouTube personality who fancies himself a legitimate boxer, will take on his third consecutive opponent with no boxing experience. This one is a little different, though. Askren is a real, seasoned fighter, albeit as a mixed martial artist. The former amateur wrestler isn’t known for his striking but he has considerable experience in the octogen, where he enjoyed success. He won multiple titles and reportedly finished with a record of 19-2 (with one no-contest). To his credit, Paul seems to be taking his boxing career – such as it is – seriously. He reportedly trains hard and takes pride in his progress. We’ll see whether that’s enough to overcome a genuine warrior. In a real fight on the card, junior welterweight contender Regis Prograis (25-1, 21 KOs) will face Ivan Redkach (23-5-1, 18 KOs) in a 10-round bout. Prograis rebounded from his majority decision loss to Josh Taylor in 2019, which cost him his world title, by stopping Juan Heraldez in three rounds last October. Redkach (23-5-1, 18 KOs) last fought in January of last year, when he lost a wide decision to Danny Garcia at 147 pounds.

[lawrence-related id=17553,17333,15857]

 ***

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE (29-0, 18 KOs) VS.
LIAM WILLIAMS (23-2-1, 18 KOs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMEIKnCwt_U&t=18s

  • When: Saturday, April 17
  • Where: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Fla.
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Middelweight
  • At stake: Andrade’s WBO title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Andrade 2½-1 favorite
  • Also on the card: Carlos Gongora vs. Christopher Pearson, super middleweights; Mahammadrasul Majidov vs. Andrey Fedosov, heavyweights
  • Prediction: Andrade UD
  • Background: Andrade will be making the fourth defense of the 160-pound title he won by nearly shutting out Walter Kautondokwa in October 2018. However, the talented Rhode Islander has yet to face a top-tier opponent at or near his weight. It’s not for lack of trying. He has called out everyone from Canelo Alvarez to Gennadiy Golovkin to Jermall Charlo and nothing has come from it. Enter Williams. The 28-year-old Welshman doesn’t have the name recognition of the champions mentioned above but he is no pushover. He has won seven consecutive fights since losing back-to-back outings against Liam Smith in 2017, the first as a result of a cut and the second a majority decision. He last fought in October, when he stopped Andrew Robinson in one round. Perhaps just as important as notching the wins, he seems to have improved considerably since the setbacks. That said, he has never tangled with anyone at Andrade’s level. We’re going to learn a lot about Williams in this fight. Andrade is coming off a ninth-round knockout of Luke Keeler in January of last year.

[lawrence-related id=5717,14611]

***

TONY HARRISON (28-3, 21 KOs) VS.
BRYANT PERRELLA (17-3, 14 KOs)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvKpmK_-Wg4

  • When: Saturday, April 17
  • Where: Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, Los Angeles
  • TV/Stream: Fox
  • Division: Junior middleweight
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Omar Juarez vs. Jessie Roman, junior welterweights; Vito Mielnicki Jr. vs. James Martin, welterweights
  • Prediction: Harrison UD
  • Background: Harrison and Perrella will both be trying to bounce back from devastating losses. Harrison was stopped in the 11th round of his rematch with Jermell Charlo in December 2019, which cost him the 154-pound title he won by outpointing Charlo a year earlier. Perrella suffered a heartbreaking setback against Abel Ramos in February of last year, when he was stopped with one second remaining in a fight he was winning on the cards. Harrison is the more accomplished of the two but both of them are good, experienced boxers with some pop in their punches. One possible advantage for Harrison: Perrella will be fighting for the first time as a full-fledged 154-pounder, although he has said he had a terrible time making the 147-pound limit. Perrella began working with Roy Jones Jr. after the loss to Ramos, which he says has been a tremendous learning experience. He believes fans will see a much improved fighter on Saturday. Meanwhile, Harrison will be working for the first time without his father, Ali Salaam, who died a year ago. He’s now trained by his brother, L.J. Harrison.

[lawrence-related id=19259,9247,8404,4362,6231]

Also fighting this week: Fabio Turchi (18-1, 13 KOs) of Italy faces Dylan Bregeon (11-0-1, 3 KOs) of France in a 12-round cruiserweight fight on Friday in Milan (DAZN). Also on Friday, in Monterrey, Mexico, Miami-based featherweight prospect Neslan Machado (17-0, 8 KOs) of Cuba takes on Brandon Romero (11-1-1, 6 KOs) of Mexico in a scheduled 10-round bout (ESPN+).

Bryant Perrella grateful to land Tony Harrison fight after KO loss

Bryant Perrella is grateful that he landed a fight with Tony Harrison immediately after his knockout loss to Abel Ramos.

Bryant Perrella isn’t inclined to look backward, particularly because of what’s in front of him.

Perrella is coming off an enormous disappointment, a knockout loss against Abel Ramos at 147 pounds that ended with one second remaining in the fight in February of last year. The Floridian was leading on all three cards at the time.

How does a fighter get past that?

Well, you get a new, high-profile team, you get another big fight and you keep your focus on the task at hand, which is a meeting at 154 pounds with former champion Tony Harrison on April 17 in Los Angeles (Fox).

“A victory changes my career trajectory a lot,” Perrella told Boxing Junkie. “Things will be going up and up from there. I’ll be highly ranked, I’ll have everything. It will help bring me to the next level, close to a world title.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09286olOZE8&t=2310s

Perrella (17-3, 14 KOs) was asked about the crushing loss to Ramos, which reminded everyone of Meldrick Taylor’s heart-breaking loss to Julio Cesar Chavez in their first fight. And he didn’t have much to say other than he didn’t feel like himself. He said he experienced fatigue that normally wouldn’t follow a good training camp, which is how he described his preparation for the fight.

Maybe the weight had something do with it. The 32-year-old said he had to work harder than ever to make 147, which is why he has moved up to 154 for the fight with Harrison.

He also ended up with a new team, headed by future Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr.

“I was on a quest for knowledge,” said Perrella, who lives in Fort Myers. “I wanted to learn, wanted to grow. I had a good performance against Ramos but I wasn’t really 100 percent who I truly am due to things that were overlooked, weight cutting, things of that nature.

“… I rented an RV and went on a sparring tour. I went to Roy Jones’ gym [in Pensacola, Fla.]. I sparred guys there. Roy was impressed. And I just stayed in Pensacola.”

The chemistry between fighter and trainer, he said, couldn’t be better.

“I fell in love with how much I was learning,” he said. “It’s been a whole new world for me. I was broken down and reconstructed. That’s what Roy has done. And I’m continuing to grow.”

The fact he landed the fight with Harrison (28-3, 21 KOs) also was an opportunity for which he’s grateful. He didn’t know what the future held after the setback against Ramos, which could’ve relegated him to a transition fight against a journeyman.

Instead, he’ll tangle with a former junior middleweight titleholder with a big name and an abundance of ability. If he can pull off an upset – Harrison is favored – no one will be talking about the loss to Ramos.

“I’m super grateful,” he said. “It’s a blessing, really amazing. I wanted to stay the course [after the loss to Ramos], stay focused, stay in the gym. I was still motivated, still confident, still had the right mindset.

“And then, boom!, this [fight] just landed. Perfect.”

[lawrence-related id=6284,6231]

Bryant Perrella grateful to land Tony Harrison fight after KO loss

Bryant Perrella is grateful that he landed a fight with Tony Harrison immediately after his knockout loss to Abel Ramos.

Bryant Perrella isn’t inclined to look backward, particularly because of what’s in front of him.

Perrella is coming off an enormous disappointment, a knockout loss against Abel Ramos at 147 pounds that ended with one second remaining in the fight in February of last year. The Floridian was leading on all three cards at the time.

How does a fighter get past that?

Well, you get a new, high-profile team, you get another big fight and you keep your focus on the task at hand, which is a meeting at 154 pounds with former champion Tony Harrison on April 17 in Los Angeles (Fox).

“A victory changes my career trajectory a lot,” Perrella told Boxing Junkie. “Things will be going up and up from there. I’ll be highly ranked, I’ll have everything. It will help bring me to the next level, close to a world title.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09286olOZE8&t=2310s

Perrella (17-3, 14 KOs) was asked about the crushing loss to Ramos, which reminded everyone of Meldrick Taylor’s heart-breaking loss to Julio Cesar Chavez in their first fight. And he didn’t have much to say other than he didn’t feel like himself. He said he experienced fatigue that normally wouldn’t follow a good training camp, which is how he described his preparation for the fight.

Maybe the weight had something do with it. The 32-year-old said he had to work harder than ever to make 147, which is why he has moved up to 154 for the fight with Harrison.

He also ended up with a new team, headed by future Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr.

“I was on a quest for knowledge,” said Perrella, who lives in Fort Myers. “I wanted to learn, wanted to grow. I had a good performance against Ramos but I wasn’t really 100 percent who I truly am due to things that were overlooked, weight cutting, things of that nature.

“… I rented an RV and went on a sparring tour. I went to Roy Jones’ gym [in Pensacola, Fla.]. I sparred guys there. Roy was impressed. And I just stayed in Pensacola.”

The chemistry between fighter and trainer, he said, couldn’t be better.

“I fell in love with how much I was learning,” he said. “It’s been a whole new world for me. I was broken down and reconstructed. That’s what Roy has done. And I’m continuing to grow.”

The fact he landed the fight with Harrison (28-3, 21 KOs) also was an opportunity for which he’s grateful. He didn’t know what the future held after the setback against Ramos, which could’ve relegated him to a transition fight against a journeyman.

Instead, he’ll tangle with a former junior middleweight titleholder with a big name and an abundance of ability. If he can pull off an upset – Harrison is favored – no one will be talking about the loss to Ramos.

“I’m super grateful,” he said. “It’s a blessing, really amazing. I wanted to stay the course [after the loss to Ramos], stay focused, stay in the gym. I was still motivated, still confident, still had the right mindset.

“And then, boom!, this [fight] just landed. Perfect.”

[lawrence-related id=6284,6231]