Tag: Ivan Calderon

Weekend Review: Devin Haney reached new level of excellence

Weekend Review: Devin Haney reached a new level of excellence in his shutout victory over Regis Prograis on Saturday.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Devin Haney

You have to consider the facts going into Haney’s victory over Regis Prograis to appreciate what he did on Saturday in San Francisco. He was moving up in weight (from 135 pounds to 140) to face one of the most respected fighters in the division, which should’ve been a significant challenge. It wasn’t. Haney gave the performance of his career, picking Prograis apart from a distance, dropping him and taking almost nothing in return in what amounted to a boxing clinic. Prograis landed a record-low 36 punches overall (compared to 129 for Haney), according to CompuBox. That’s how Haney was able to win every round on all three cards, giving him a major title in a second division and bolstering the case that he’s one of the best fighters in the world pound-for-pound. And remember: He’s only 25, an age when most elite fighters are only beginning to make an impact on the biggest stages. He probably hasn’t reached his peak, which might not be good news for the other top 140-pounders. Of course, not every fight will look like the one we saw on Saturday. Rivals like Teofimo Lopez, Gervonta Davis and Subriel Matias are tougher matchups for Haney than Prograis was. At the same time, it has never been more clear that the new champ is a genuine threat to anyone.

BIGGEST LOSER
Regis Prograis

Regis Prograis (left) gave Devin Haney credit after his victory. Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

How do you bounce back from that? Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs) was outclassed to the point of embarrassment, a fate that would’ve been unthinkable for a two-time titleholder whose only loss was a close decision against Josh Taylor in 2019l. He simply couldn’t get anything done against a far superior fighter. Haney controlled the fight by controlling the distance with his jab, hard right hands and footwork, creating a defensive wall that Prograis was unable to penetrate. That’s why the fight wasn’t competitive. The native of New Orleans was never a great technician but he was a solid one who excelled because of his fighting spirit and punching power. However, Haney laid bare Prograis’ limitations for all the world to see, which will have changed the way the now-former champion is perceived by pundits and fans. He’s a good fighter, not one of the best. And, at 34, he might not get many (any?) more opportunities to take part in big events. We probably have seen the best of Regis Prograis. If so, he has nothing to be ashamed of. Two-time titleholder is a nice legacy.

BIGGEST WINNER II
Rafael Espinoza

Rafael who? Now we know. The 6-foot-1, 126-pound Mexican delivered a massive upset on Saturday night in Pembroke Pines, Florida, where he survived a brutal knockdown in the fifth round and other harrowing moments to defeat two-time Olympic champion Robeisy Ramirez and win his first major title by a well-earned majority decision. And Espinoza (24-0, 20 KOs) punctuated the performance in dramatic fashion, forcing Ramirez to the canvas with a barrage of hard, accurate power shots to seal his victory in an entertaining fight. Espinoza’s physical dimensions, work rate and all-around ability – including punching power – will make him a handful for any opponent, but his grit stood out most in his break-through victory on Saturday. He refused to lose, a quality that could take him a long way. He now has one thing working against him, though: He’s not going to take anyone by surprise again.

RABBIT PUNCHES

Liam Paro (24-0, 15 KOs) has become the latest Australian to emerge as a major player in the sport. The native of Brisbane put capable Montana Love (18-2-2, 9 KOs) down twice and stopped him in six rounds on the Haney-Prograis card. Paro looked like he belongs among the Top 10 junior welterweights. … 2020 Olympic champion Andy Cruz (2-0, 1 KO) of Cuba stopped Jovanni Straffon (26-6-1, 19 KOs) in three rounds on the Haney-Prograis card. The 135-pounder, who beat Keyshawn Davis to win his gold medal, appears to have the kind of skill that will allow him to fight for a major title within a handful of fights. He’s special. … Chris Billiam-Smith (19-1, 13 KOs) retained his cruiserweight title against veteran Mateusz Masternak on Sunday in Bournemouth, England, forcing the Pole to quit on his stool with a rib injury after seven rounds of a brutal fight. The beltholder deserves credit for causing the damage with steady body work. However, the Bournemouth native took a great deal of punishment himself. He’s a capable, tough guy but he’s easy to hit, which could portend a short stint at the pinnacle of the sport. …

I’m happy with the recently announced International Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Michael Moorer was a dominating 175-pound champion who went on to become a three-time heavyweight titleholder, with a signature victory over Evander Holyfield. The late Diego Corrales is known for his epic come-from-behind knockout of Jose Luis Castillo but he was a two-division beltholder with a series of impressive victories, including back-to-back-to-back wins over Joel Casamayor, Acelino Freitas and Castillo. Ivan Calderon was a boxing wizard who ruled a division for most of a decade. And while Ricky Hatton might be best remembered for his knockout losses to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, he had a number of impressive victories. That included a knockout that retired the great Kostya Tszyu. Also, it’s always gratifying to see an old-timer get recognition. Argentine heavyweight Luis Angel Firpo is a boxing legend. He deserved to have a plaque bearing his name at the Hall. Watch his epic clash with Jack Dempsey. You won’t regret it.

[lawrence-related id=40037,40032]

Weekend Review: Devin Haney reached new level of excellence

Weekend Review: Devin Haney reached a new level of excellence in his shutout victory over Regis Prograis on Saturday.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Devin Haney

You have to consider the facts going into Haney’s victory over Regis Prograis to appreciate what he did on Saturday in San Francisco. He was moving up in weight (from 135 pounds to 140) to face one of the most respected fighters in the division, which should’ve been a significant challenge. It wasn’t. Haney gave the performance of his career, picking Prograis apart from a distance, dropping him and taking almost nothing in return in what amounted to a boxing clinic. Prograis landed a record-low 36 punches overall (compared to 129 for Haney), according to CompuBox. That’s how Haney was able to win every round on all three cards, giving him a major title in a second division and bolstering the case that he’s one of the best fighters in the world pound-for-pound. And remember: He’s only 25, an age when most elite fighters are only beginning to make an impact on the biggest stages. He probably hasn’t reached his peak, which might not be good news for the other top 140-pounders. Of course, not every fight will look like the one we saw on Saturday. Rivals like Teofimo Lopez, Gervonta Davis and Subriel Matias are tougher matchups for Haney than Prograis was. At the same time, it has never been more clear that the new champ is a genuine threat to anyone.

BIGGEST LOSER
Regis Prograis

Regis Prograis (left) gave Devin Haney credit after his victory. Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

How do you bounce back from that? Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs) was outclassed to the point of embarrassment, a fate that would’ve been unthinkable for a two-time titleholder whose only loss was a close decision against Josh Taylor in 2019l. He simply couldn’t get anything done against a far superior fighter. Haney controlled the fight by controlling the distance with his jab, hard right hands and footwork, creating a defensive wall that Prograis was unable to penetrate. That’s why the fight wasn’t competitive. The native of New Orleans was never a great technician but he was a solid one who excelled because of his fighting spirit and punching power. However, Haney laid bare Prograis’ limitations for all the world to see, which will have changed the way the now-former champion is perceived by pundits and fans. He’s a good fighter, not one of the best. And, at 34, he might not get many (any?) more opportunities to take part in big events. We probably have seen the best of Regis Prograis. If so, he has nothing to be ashamed of. Two-time titleholder is a nice legacy.

BIGGEST WINNER II
Rafael Espinoza

Rafael who? Now we know. The 6-foot-1, 126-pound Mexican delivered a massive upset on Saturday night in Pembroke Pines, Florida, where he survived a brutal knockdown in the fifth round and other harrowing moments to defeat two-time Olympic champion Robeisy Ramirez and win his first major title by a well-earned majority decision. And Espinoza (24-0, 20 KOs) punctuated the performance in dramatic fashion, forcing Ramirez to the canvas with a barrage of hard, accurate power shots to seal his victory in an entertaining fight. Espinoza’s physical dimensions, work rate and all-around ability – including punching power – will make him a handful for any opponent, but his grit stood out most in his break-through victory on Saturday. He refused to lose, a quality that could take him a long way. He now has one thing working against him, though: He’s not going to take anyone by surprise again.

RABBIT PUNCHES

Liam Paro (24-0, 15 KOs) has become the latest Australian to emerge as a major player in the sport. The native of Brisbane put capable Montana Love (18-2-2, 9 KOs) down twice and stopped him in six rounds on the Haney-Prograis card. Paro looked like he belongs among the Top 10 junior welterweights. … 2020 Olympic champion Andy Cruz (2-0, 1 KO) of Cuba stopped Jovanni Straffon (26-6-1, 19 KOs) in three rounds on the Haney-Prograis card. The 135-pounder, who beat Keyshawn Davis to win his gold medal, appears to have the kind of skill that will allow him to fight for a major title within a handful of fights. He’s special. … Chris Billiam-Smith (19-1, 13 KOs) retained his cruiserweight title against veteran Mateusz Masternak on Sunday in Bournemouth, England, forcing the Pole to quit on his stool with a rib injury after seven rounds of a brutal fight. The beltholder deserves credit for causing the damage with steady body work. However, the Bournemouth native took a great deal of punishment himself. He’s a capable, tough guy but he’s easy to hit, which could portend a short stint at the pinnacle of the sport. …

I’m happy with the recently announced International Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Michael Moorer was a dominating 175-pound champion who went on to become a three-time heavyweight titleholder, with a signature victory over Evander Holyfield. The late Diego Corrales is known for his epic come-from-behind knockout of Jose Luis Castillo but he was a two-division beltholder with a series of impressive victories, including back-to-back-to-back wins over Joel Casamayor, Acelino Freitas and Castillo. Ivan Calderon was a boxing wizard who ruled a division for most of a decade. And while Ricky Hatton might be best remembered for his knockout losses to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, he had a number of impressive victories. That included a knockout that retired the great Kostya Tszyu. Also, it’s always gratifying to see an old-timer get recognition. Argentine heavyweight Luis Angel Firpo is a boxing legend. He deserved to have a plaque bearing his name at the Hall. Watch his epic clash with Jack Dempsey. You won’t regret it.

[lawrence-related id=40037,40032]

Hall of Fame: Ricky Hatton, Michael Moorer, Diego Corrales, Ivan Calderon to be inducted

Hall of Fame: Ricky Hatton, Michael Moorer, Diego Corrales and Ivan Calderon have been elected and will be inducted in June.

Ricky Hatton, Michael Moorer, Diego Corrales, Ivan Calderon and Luis Angel Firpo have been elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Class of 2024, it was announced Thursday.

Also elected were Jane Couch and Ana Maria Torres.

Electees are voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and international boxing historians.

The latest class will be inducted into the Hall next June in Canastota, New York.

Hatton (45-3, 32 KOs) was a strong, gritty two-time 140-pound titleholder from England who is best known for stopping fellow Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu and being knocked out by the two greatest fighters of his generation, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Hatton, whose prime was in the 2000s, also has victories over Vince Phillips, Luis Collazo, Jose Luis Castillo and Paulie Malignaggi.

“That’s incredible,” Hatton said when he learned he had been elected. “You never think of when you lace the gloves on at 10 years old that you’ll end up in the Hall of Fame with some of the great fighters already there.

“I’m a bit speechless. There’s no greater honor. I’m delighted.”

Moorer (52-4-1, 40 KOs) was an unbeaten light heavyweight and three-time heavyweight titleholder in the 1990s.

The native of Brooklyn stopped all 22 of his opponents at 175 pounds, although he faced no big-name foes at that weight. And he outpointed once-beaten Evander Holyfield to become a heavyweight beltholder for a second time in 1994.

He famously lost his title in his first defense later the same year. He was leading 45-year-old George Foreman on the scorecards when he was knocked out in the 10th round.

“I appreciate this very much,” Moorer said. “The Hall of Fame Wall is the wall of the elite and I am so happy to be inducted alongside some of my favorite boxers like Salvador Sanchez, Alexis Arguello and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. I made it to the elite.”

The late Corrales (40-5, 33 KOs) was a dynamic boxer-puncher who took part in one of the greatest fights in history, his thrilling come-from-behind 10th-round knockout of Castillo in 2005.

He was a two-division titleholder who had a series of high-profile victims, including Derrick Gainer, Angel Manfredy, Joel Casamayor and Acelino Freitas. He was stopped by Mayweather in 2001.

Corrales’ wife was elated when she heard that he would be inducted.

“I’m over the moon happy to hear that Diego will be enshrined with his boxing peers and family that he loves so much at the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the Class of 2024,” she said. “Our entire family thanks the voting committee for recognizing the hard work and dedication that Diego gave the sport of boxing with the highest level of recognition a champion can ever ask for.

“I’m sure Diego is smiling from ear to ear as I accept this news on his behalf. Thank you.”

Calderon (35-3-1, 6 KOs) was one of the top little men in boxing in the 2000s.

The Puerto Rican southpaw and master technician was a strawweight titleholder from 2003 to 2010, one of the longest reigns at any weight during his era.

“This is something great, a dream come true,” Calderon said. “I dreamed to be a boxer. I dreamed to be a world champion. I especially dreamed to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. And now I’ve got everything!”

Firpo (31-4, 26 KOs) is best known for his brief, but epic encounter with heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey in 1923. The burly Argentine went down seven times in the first round, put Dempsey through the ropes with a huge punch late in the same round and then was stopped in Round 2.

“The Wild Bull of the Pampas”, who will enter the Hall in the Old Timer category, had a number of notable victories before his setback against Dempsey. That includes a knockout of former champ Jess Willard.

Couch (28-11, 9 KOs) won multiple world titles but probably made her biggest mark when she sued British officials for the right to fight in the U.K. and won. Women couldn’t compete there legally until she took her stand.

“Oh my God, I’m in shock over this news,” Couch said. “Wow! I can’t believe it. I’m so excited and cannot wait to get to Canastota and meet everyone during the Induction Weekend.”

Torres (28-3-3, 16 KOs) was a two-time 115-pound beltholder from Mexico known for her polished boxing technique.

“It is a great honor to be in the International Boxing Hall of Fame with great champions,” Torres said. “I am very happy! Thanks to my mom, who has always been with me. My husband, my children and I have taken this great news as another championship.”

Here are the other inductees:

  • Theresa Kibby (10-3-4, 3 KOs), boxer. Trailblazer fought in the 1970s.
  • Kenny Adams, trainer. Former coach of the U.S. National Team.
  • Jackie Kallen, manager. Worked with James Toney, among others.
  • Fred Sternburg, publicist.
  • Wallace Matthews, journalist.
  • Nick Charles, broadcaster.

Hall of Fame: Ricky Hatton, Michael Moorer, Diego Corrales, Ivan Calderon to be inducted

Hall of Fame: Ricky Hatton, Michael Moorer, Diego Corrales and Ivan Calderon have been elected and will be inducted in June.

Ricky Hatton, Michael Moorer, Diego Corrales, Ivan Calderon and Luis Angel Firpo have been elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Class of 2024, it was announced Thursday.

Also elected were Jane Couch and Ana Maria Torres.

Electees are voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and international boxing historians.

The latest class will be inducted into the Hall next June in Canastota, New York.

Hatton (45-3, 32 KOs) was a strong, gritty two-time 140-pound titleholder from England who is best known for stopping fellow Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu and being knocked out by the two greatest fighters of his generation, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Hatton, whose prime was in the 2000s, also has victories over Vince Phillips, Luis Collazo, Jose Luis Castillo and Paulie Malignaggi.

“That’s incredible,” Hatton said when he learned he had been elected. “You never think of when you lace the gloves on at 10 years old that you’ll end up in the Hall of Fame with some of the great fighters already there.

“I’m a bit speechless. There’s no greater honor. I’m delighted.”

Moorer (52-4-1, 40 KOs) was an unbeaten light heavyweight and three-time heavyweight titleholder in the 1990s.

The native of Brooklyn stopped all 22 of his opponents at 175 pounds, although he faced no big-name foes at that weight. And he outpointed once-beaten Evander Holyfield to become a heavyweight beltholder for a second time in 1994.

He famously lost his title in his first defense later the same year. He was leading 45-year-old George Foreman on the scorecards when he was knocked out in the 10th round.

“I appreciate this very much,” Moorer said. “The Hall of Fame Wall is the wall of the elite and I am so happy to be inducted alongside some of my favorite boxers like Salvador Sanchez, Alexis Arguello and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. I made it to the elite.”

The late Corrales (40-5, 33 KOs) was a dynamic boxer-puncher who took part in one of the greatest fights in history, his thrilling come-from-behind 10th-round knockout of Castillo in 2005.

He was a two-division titleholder who had a series of high-profile victims, including Derrick Gainer, Angel Manfredy, Joel Casamayor and Acelino Freitas. He was stopped by Mayweather in 2001.

Corrales’ wife was elated when she heard that he would be inducted.

“I’m over the moon happy to hear that Diego will be enshrined with his boxing peers and family that he loves so much at the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the Class of 2024,” she said. “Our entire family thanks the voting committee for recognizing the hard work and dedication that Diego gave the sport of boxing with the highest level of recognition a champion can ever ask for.

“I’m sure Diego is smiling from ear to ear as I accept this news on his behalf. Thank you.”

Calderon (35-3-1, 6 KOs) was one of the top little men in boxing in the 2000s.

The Puerto Rican southpaw and master technician was a strawweight titleholder from 2003 to 2010, one of the longest reigns at any weight during his era.

“This is something great, a dream come true,” Calderon said. “I dreamed to be a boxer. I dreamed to be a world champion. I especially dreamed to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. And now I’ve got everything!”

Firpo (31-4, 26 KOs) is best known for his brief, but epic encounter with heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey in 1923. The burly Argentine went down seven times in the first round, put Dempsey through the ropes with a huge punch late in the same round and then was stopped in Round 2.

“The Wild Bull of the Pampas”, who will enter the Hall in the Old Timer category, had a number of notable victories before his setback against Dempsey. That includes a knockout of former champ Jess Willard.

Couch (28-11, 9 KOs) won multiple world titles but probably made her biggest mark when she sued British officials for the right to fight in the U.K. and won. Women couldn’t compete there legally until she took her stand.

“Oh my God, I’m in shock over this news,” Couch said. “Wow! I can’t believe it. I’m so excited and cannot wait to get to Canastota and meet everyone during the Induction Weekend.”

Torres (28-3-3, 16 KOs) was a two-time 115-pound beltholder from Mexico known for her polished boxing technique.

“It is a great honor to be in the International Boxing Hall of Fame with great champions,” Torres said. “I am very happy! Thanks to my mom, who has always been with me. My husband, my children and I have taken this great news as another championship.”

Here are the other inductees:

  • Theresa Kibby (10-3-4, 3 KOs), boxer. Trailblazer fought in the 1970s.
  • Kenny Adams, trainer. Former coach of the U.S. National Team.
  • Jackie Kallen, manager. Worked with James Toney, among others.
  • Fred Sternburg, publicist.
  • Wallace Matthews, journalist.
  • Nick Charles, broadcaster.