Video: Jose Pedraza and Richard Commey on Friday made weight for Saturday’s 140-pound fight in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Jose Pedraza and Richard Commey on Friday made weight for their junior welterweight fight Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma (ESPN, ESPN+).
Pedraza (29-4, 14 KOs) weighed 139.8 pounds, .2 under the division limit. Commey (30-4, 27 KOs) came in at 138.8.
Commey, a former 135-pound titleholder from Ghana, is fighting for the first time as a full-fledged 140-pounder. This will be Pedraza’s sixth bout as a junior welterweight. The Puerto Rican won major belts at 130 and 135.
The fight is particularly significant for both boxers because they are coming off losses, Pedraza a unanimous decision against Jose Ramirez in March and Commey a wide decision against Vasiliy Lomachenko last December.
In the co-feature, heavyweight prospect Jared Anderson (11-0, 11 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio, will face Miljan Rovcanin (24-2, 16 KOs) of Serbia in a scheduled eight-round bout. Anderson weighed 241.4, Rovcanin 230.6.
Jared Anderson extended knockout streak to 11 by stopping Oleksandr Teslenko in the second round Saturday in New York.
Another fight, another knockout.
Jared Anderson, the 22-year-old heavyweight prospect, maintained his streak of stoppages by putting Oleksandr Teslenko away at 1:33 of Round 2 of a scheduled eight-round bout on the Vasiliy Lomachenko-Richard Commey card Saturday in New York.
Anderson has knocked out all 11 of his opponents.
The product of Toldeo, Ohio, fought aggressively from the opening bell, perhaps somewhat recklessly. He landed some power shots but so did his Ukrainian opponent.
Anderson was on the attack in the second round when he followed a left jab with a straight right to the temple that put Teslenko down and hurt him.
Teslenko, clearly in trouble, was able to get to his feet at the count of nine but the referee determined that he was in no condition to continue and stopped the fight.
On the undercard, 19-year-old junior middleweight prospect Xander Zayas (12-0, 9 KOs) of Puerto Rico stopped Alessio Mastronunzio (9-2, 3 KOs) of Italy in the first round of a scheduled six-round bout.
And Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (4-0, 3 KOs) of Norfolk, Virginia, dropped Jose Zaragoza (8-4-1, 2 KOs) of Mexico twice and stopped him at 2:51 of Round 2 of a scheduled a six-round junior welterweight bout.
Jared Anderson extended knockout streak to 11 by stopping Oleksandr Teslenko in the second round Saturday in New York.
Another fight, another knockout.
Jared Anderson, the 22-year-old heavyweight prospect, maintained his streak of stoppages by putting Oleksandr Teslenko away at 1:33 of Round 2 of a scheduled eight-round bout on the Vasiliy Lomachenko-Richard Commey card Saturday in New York.
Anderson has knocked out all 11 of his opponents.
The product of Toldeo, Ohio, fought aggressively from the opening bell, perhaps somewhat recklessly. He landed some power shots but so did his Ukrainian opponent.
Anderson was on the attack in the second round when he followed a left jab with a straight right to the temple that put Teslenko down and hurt him.
Teslenko, clearly in trouble, was able to get to his feet at the count of nine but the referee determined that he was in no condition to continue and stopped the fight.
On the undercard, 19-year-old junior middleweight prospect Xander Zayas (12-0, 9 KOs) of Puerto Rico stopped Alessio Mastronunzio (9-2, 3 KOs) of Italy in the first round of a scheduled six-round bout.
And Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (4-0, 3 KOs) of Norfolk, Virginia, dropped Jose Zaragoza (8-4-1, 2 KOs) of Mexico twice and stopped him at 2:51 of Round 2 of a scheduled a six-round junior welterweight bout.
A critical look at the past week in boxing GOOD Boxing fans dream all their lives of a fight like the one on Saturday in Las Vegas. Sound like hyperbole? I’ve been covering boxing for most of that past 30 years and have been a fan for much longer. …
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
Boxing fans dream all their lives of a fight like the one on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Sound like hyperbole? I’ve been covering boxing for most of that past 30 years and have been a fan for much longer. I’ve seen many great fights. And I don’t hesitate to say that Tyson Fury-Deonaty Wilder III was one of the best, particularly if you consider the division and magnitude of the event.
The ebbs and flows. The ability of both fighters to overcome extreme adversity, including four of five brutal knockdowns. The will to fight through exhaustion. And a dramatic knockout to cap off the night.
Those are the ingredients of a classic battle. And the fact it happened on a heavyweight championship stage made it all the more memorable.
Fury gave a truly remarkable performance, the greatest of his career. He wasn’t fighting the same man he overwhelmed and stopped in seven rounds last year. He was face to face with a warrior bent on revenge and the powerful right hand that could exact it.
The Englishman took a walk through hell, including two knockdowns in the fourth round that would’ve ended the night of most heavyweights. He withstood the assault, continued to battle and finally stopped his brave, but beaten nemesis in the 11th round to retain the title he took from Wilder in their last fight.
I can’t say with certainty but I believe Fury might’ve clinched a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Saturday night. These type of performance in these type of fights tend to create legends.
Wilder? The former champ lost a fight but undoubtedly gained legions of fans with his courageous effort. That might not mean much to him now but it will in time.
There were no losers in this incredible fight.
***
BAD
I hate the fact that Fury can’t fight Oleksandr Usyk immediately for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
That matchup would be best for the sport, having a single, recognizable king in the glamour division. No heavyweight in the four-belt era has ever possessed all the hardware. And, of course, the fans would embrace it.
Alas, Usyk is expected to face former titleholder Anthony Joshua sometime early next year. The relatively small, but talented cruiserweight-turned-heavyweight stunned Joshua and the boxing world by winning a unanimous decision and three of the four major belts last month.
Fury could fight the winner of the Usyk-Joshua rematch for heavyweight supremacy but that could be a year from now. And, as we know, anything can happen in that time to prevent the fight from taking place at all.
We have no choice but to be patient and hope.
In the meantime, Fury has some worthy potential opponents for the spring. Dillian Whyte would be a compelling foe, particularly in the U.K. Maybe Fury fights there next.
I also like Andy Ruiz Jr. or Robert Helenius for Fury, if promotional rivalries can be overcome. Ruiz has his history with Joshua, which makes him a compelling story. And Helenius has now destroyed Adam Kownacki in consecutive fights, rejuvenating his career.
You can bet that Fury will give us a show both before and during his next fight, whomever the opponent is. And, of course, he almost certainly will continue to build his legacy by having his hand raised.
Then, if we’re lucky, it will be on to either Usyk or Joshua.
***
WORSE
One must feel for Wilder.
The man swore that we’d see a different fighter from the one who was stopped in seven rounds by Fury in February of last year. And we did. However, he ended up suffering the same fate. He has now lost back-to-back fights to his rival, which is a significant step backward in his career.
Of course, we understand the bitterness he surely is feeling right now.
We can only hope that he will come to understand the gift he gave us on Saturday. Wilder lost a fight but he gained untold admiration from those who saw the fight, which might not lead directly to another title shot but is precious nonetheless.
Few believed Wilder could give Fury much of a fight after the beating he took the last time. In the end, he turned a mismatch into an unforgettable war through sheer determination.
Wilder is known primarily as a puncher. And we knew he was tough, as he showed in his first fight with Luis Ortiz and in the final moments of his last fight with Fury. He wanted to continue. However, we didn’t know he was this kind of warrior, the kind who would risk it all to emerge victorious.
How many times in that fight did he appear to be on the precipice of demise only to somehow find more energy and battle back? I doubt I was alone when I thought during one of those moments, “My God, how is he doing this?”
Indeed, he would’ve gotten up from his third and final knockdown. He simply couldn’t, which referee Russell Mora recognized immediately. Wilder had given more than enough.
If a fighter can lose by an 11th-round knockout and emerge as a winner, Wilder is that fighter.
***
RABBIT PUNCHES
I was impressed with heavyweights Frank Sanchez and Jared Anderson, who won their fights on the Fury-Wilder undercard. Sanchez (19-0, 13 KOs) fairly easily outboxed Efe Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs) en route to a unanimous decision. And Anderson (10-0, 10 KOs) stopped overmatched Vladimir Tereshkin (22-1-1, 12 KOs) in two rounds. Who’s most likely to win a heavyweight title? Tough one. Sanchez, a product of the Cuban amateur system, is an excellent boxer but doesn’t seem to have a warrior mentality. That could hinder him longterm. Anderson seems to be the complete package but he’s young, only 21. It’s too early to get a bead on him. I’ll be wishy washy: I won’t be surprised if both of them end up with a title one day. … Robert Helenius (31-3, 19 KOs) has brought his career as elite heavyweight back to life with back-to-back victories over Adam Kownacki (20-02, 15 KOs), including a beat down that ended by disqualification on the Fury-Wilder card. The 6-foot-6½ Finn seems to be better than ever 37, which might not be good news for other top heavyweights. This guy is a threat to anyone. …
Slugger Edgar Berlanga (18-0, 16 KOs) received a stiff test from Marcelo Coceres (30-3-1, 16 KOs), surviving a ninth-round knockdown to win a unanimous decision in a competitive fight on the Fury-Wilder card. Berlanga didn’t look like an elite fighter. It’s starting to look as if he won’t live up to the hype. … The biggest surprise on the Fury-Wilder card was former 154-pound titleholder Julian Williams’split-decision loss to Vladimir Hernandez (13-4, 6 KOs). The Williams who defeated Jarrett Hurd by a unanimous decision to win his belts in 2019 probably would’ve found a way to beat the relentlessly aggressive, but limited Mexican. The current version of Williams (27-3-1, 16 KOs) couldn’t do that. Maybe it was an almost-21-month layoff and a spirited effort on Hernandez’s part. Maybe he’s just not the same fighter after his knockout loss to Jeison Rosario in January of last year. … Another winner on Saturday night was new trainer Malik Scott, Wilder’s trainer. He produced a different fighter from the one who was dominated by Fury last year. His took a significant step in his career as a mentor.
A critical look at the past week in boxing GOOD Boxing fans dream all their lives of a fight like the one on Saturday in Las Vegas. Sound like hyperbole? I’ve been covering boxing for most of that past 30 years and have been a fan for much longer. …
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
Boxing fans dream all their lives of a fight like the one on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Sound like hyperbole? I’ve been covering boxing for most of that past 30 years and have been a fan for much longer. I’ve seen many great fights. And I don’t hesitate to say that Tyson Fury-Deonaty Wilder III was one of the best, particularly if you consider the division and magnitude of the event.
The ebbs and flows. The ability of both fighters to overcome extreme adversity, including four of five brutal knockdowns. The will to fight through exhaustion. And a dramatic knockout to cap off the night.
Those are the ingredients of a classic battle. And the fact it happened on a heavyweight championship stage made it all the more memorable.
Fury gave a truly remarkable performance, the greatest of his career. He wasn’t fighting the same man he overwhelmed and stopped in seven rounds last year. He was face to face with a warrior bent on revenge and the powerful right hand that could exact it.
The Englishman took a walk through hell, including two knockdowns in the fourth round that would’ve ended the night of most heavyweights. He withstood the assault, continued to battle and finally stopped his brave, but beaten nemesis in the 11th round to retain the title he took from Wilder in their last fight.
I can’t say with certainty but I believe Fury might’ve clinched a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Saturday night. These type of performance in these type of fights tend to create legends.
Wilder? The former champ lost a fight but undoubtedly gained legions of fans with his courageous effort. That might not mean much to him now but it will in time.
There were no losers in this incredible fight.
***
BAD
I hate the fact that Fury can’t fight Oleksandr Usyk immediately for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
That matchup would be best for the sport, having a single, recognizable king in the glamour division. No heavyweight in the four-belt era has ever possessed all the hardware. And, of course, the fans would embrace it.
Alas, Usyk is expected to face former titleholder Anthony Joshua sometime early next year. The relatively small, but talented cruiserweight-turned-heavyweight stunned Joshua and the boxing world by winning a unanimous decision and three of the four major belts last month.
Fury could fight the winner of the Usyk-Joshua rematch for heavyweight supremacy but that could be a year from now. And, as we know, anything can happen in that time to prevent the fight from taking place at all.
We have no choice but to be patient and hope.
In the meantime, Fury has some worthy potential opponents for the spring. Dillian Whyte would be a compelling foe, particularly in the U.K. Maybe Fury fights there next.
I also like Andy Ruiz Jr. or Robert Helenius for Fury, if promotional rivalries can be overcome. Ruiz has his history with Joshua, which makes him a compelling story. And Helenius has now destroyed Adam Kownacki in consecutive fights, rejuvenating his career.
You can bet that Fury will give us a show both before and during his next fight, whomever the opponent is. And, of course, he almost certainly will continue to build his legacy by having his hand raised.
Then, if we’re lucky, it will be on to either Usyk or Joshua.
***
WORSE
One must feel for Wilder.
The man swore that we’d see a different fighter from the one who was stopped in seven rounds by Fury in February of last year. And we did. However, he ended up suffering the same fate. He has now lost back-to-back fights to his rival, which is a significant step backward in his career.
Of course, we understand the bitterness he surely is feeling right now.
We can only hope that he will come to understand the gift he gave us on Saturday. Wilder lost a fight but he gained untold admiration from those who saw the fight, which might not lead directly to another title shot but is precious nonetheless.
Few believed Wilder could give Fury much of a fight after the beating he took the last time. In the end, he turned a mismatch into an unforgettable war through sheer determination.
Wilder is known primarily as a puncher. And we knew he was tough, as he showed in his first fight with Luis Ortiz and in the final moments of his last fight with Fury. He wanted to continue. However, we didn’t know he was this kind of warrior, the kind who would risk it all to emerge victorious.
How many times in that fight did he appear to be on the precipice of demise only to somehow find more energy and battle back? I doubt I was alone when I thought during one of those moments, “My God, how is he doing this?”
Indeed, he would’ve gotten up from his third and final knockdown. He simply couldn’t, which referee Russell Mora recognized immediately. Wilder had given more than enough.
If a fighter can lose by an 11th-round knockout and emerge as a winner, Wilder is that fighter.
***
RABBIT PUNCHES
I was impressed with heavyweights Frank Sanchez and Jared Anderson, who won their fights on the Fury-Wilder undercard. Sanchez (19-0, 13 KOs) fairly easily outboxed Efe Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs) en route to a unanimous decision. And Anderson (10-0, 10 KOs) stopped overmatched Vladimir Tereshkin (22-1-1, 12 KOs) in two rounds. Who’s most likely to win a heavyweight title? Tough one. Sanchez, a product of the Cuban amateur system, is an excellent boxer but doesn’t seem to have a warrior mentality. That could hinder him longterm. Anderson seems to be the complete package but he’s young, only 21. It’s too early to get a bead on him. I’ll be wishy washy: I won’t be surprised if both of them end up with a title one day. … Robert Helenius (31-3, 19 KOs) has brought his career as elite heavyweight back to life with back-to-back victories over Adam Kownacki (20-02, 15 KOs), including a beat down that ended by disqualification on the Fury-Wilder card. The 6-foot-6½ Finn seems to be better than ever 37, which might not be good news for other top heavyweights. This guy is a threat to anyone. …
Slugger Edgar Berlanga (18-0, 16 KOs) received a stiff test from Marcelo Coceres (30-3-1, 16 KOs), surviving a ninth-round knockdown to win a unanimous decision in a competitive fight on the Fury-Wilder card. Berlanga didn’t look like an elite fighter. It’s starting to look as if he won’t live up to the hype. … The biggest surprise on the Fury-Wilder card was former 154-pound titleholder Julian Williams’split-decision loss to Vladimir Hernandez (13-4, 6 KOs). The Williams who defeated Jarrett Hurd by a unanimous decision to win his belts in 2019 probably would’ve found a way to beat the relentlessly aggressive, but limited Mexican. The current version of Williams (27-3-1, 16 KOs) couldn’t do that. Maybe it was an almost-21-month layoff and a spirited effort on Hernandez’s part. Maybe he’s just not the same fighter after his knockout loss to Jeison Rosario in January of last year. … Another winner on Saturday night was new trainer Malik Scott, Wilder’s trainer. He produced a different fighter from the one who was dominated by Fury last year. His took a significant step in his career as a mentor.
Heavyweight prospect Jared Anderson put Vladimir Tereshkin away in two rounds on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder card Saturday in Las Vegas.
Jared Anderson, perhaps America’s best heavyweight prospect, continues to roll.
The product of Toledo, Ohio, knocked out the bigger Vladimir Tereshkin in the second round on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder card Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Anderson has stopped all 10 of his opponents.
The 21-year-old didn’t waste any time, attacking the U.S.-based Russian with hard shots to the head and body from the opening bell to easily win the opening round.
In Round 2, he picked up where he left off, outworking and outlanding Tereshkin (22-1-1, 12 KOs). Then, Tereshkin’s back against the ropes late in the round, Anderson landed a straight right that hurt his opponent and followed with a flurry of hard shots.
Referee Kenny Bayless allowed the onslaught to continue only for a few seconds before stopping the fight.
Tereshkin was unbeaten going into the fight but hadn’t faced elite opposition. Plus, he had been out of the ring for two years.
Heavyweight prospect Jared Anderson put Vladimir Tereshkin away in two rounds on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder card Saturday in Las Vegas.
Jared Anderson, perhaps America’s best heavyweight prospect, continues to roll.
The product of Toledo, Ohio, knocked out the bigger Vladimir Tereshkin in the second round on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder card Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Anderson has stopped all 10 of his opponents.
The 21-year-old didn’t waste any time, attacking the U.S.-based Russian with hard shots to the head and body from the opening bell to easily win the opening round.
In Round 2, he picked up where he left off, outworking and outlanding Tereshkin (22-1-1, 12 KOs). Then, Tereshkin’s back against the ropes late in the round, Anderson landed a straight right that hurt his opponent and followed with a flurry of hard shots.
Referee Kenny Bayless allowed the onslaught to continue only for a few seconds before stopping the fight.
Tereshkin was unbeaten going into the fight but hadn’t faced elite opposition. Plus, he had been out of the ring for two years.
Watch it: Jared Andreson’s one-punch annihilation of Kingsley Ibeh
Heavyweight prospect Jared Anderson did his best impression of Mike Tyson on Saturday.
The 6-foot-4, 249-pounder from Toldeo, Ohio, fighting on the Richard Commey-Jackson Marinez card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, was in the process of dominating Kingsley Ibeh when he turned in a breathtaking knockout-of-the-year candidate.
Anderson landed a thunderous left hook that knocked Ibeh (5-2-1, 4 KOs) — all 276 pounds of him — off his feet and flat on his back, prompting referee Russell Mora to wave off the fight at 2:19 of the sixth and final round.
“We worked day and night for this,” said an excited Anderson, who, at only 21, is barely old enough to be in the MGM Grand casino. “While they sleep, we’re working. We will keep fighting prospects and people who say they can’t be beat. I am here to fight the best. Since everyone wants it, why not give it to them?
“I wanted the Ibeh fight because I saw him push many prospects. The knockout came, and I made a statement.”
Stay tuned. There are more knockouts coming from Anderson.
Watch it: Jared Andreson’s one-punch annihilation of Kingsley Ibeh
Heavyweight prospect Jared Anderson did his best impression of Mike Tyson on Saturday.
The 6-foot-4, 249-pounder from Toldeo, Ohio, fighting on the Richard Commey-Jackson Marinez card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, was in the process of dominating Kingsley Ibeh when he turned in a breathtaking knockout-of-the-year candidate.
Anderson landed a thunderous left hook that knocked Ibeh (5-2-1, 4 KOs) — all 276 pounds of him — off his feet and flat on his back, prompting referee Russell Mora to wave off the fight at 2:19 of the sixth and final round.
“We worked day and night for this,” said an excited Anderson, who, at only 21, is barely old enough to be in the MGM Grand casino. “While they sleep, we’re working. We will keep fighting prospects and people who say they can’t be beat. I am here to fight the best. Since everyone wants it, why not give it to them?
“I wanted the Ibeh fight because I saw him push many prospects. The knockout came, and I made a statement.”
Stay tuned. There are more knockouts coming from Anderson.
Richard Commey bounced back from his knockout loss to Teofimo Lopez by stopping Jackson Marinez on Saturday.
Richard Commey is back.
The hard-punching Ghanaian, coming off a second-round knockout loss to Teofimo Lopez that cost him his 135-pound title in December 2019, took out his frustration on Jackson Marinez on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Commey broke Marinez down, put him on the canvas with a right hand and then ended the show with another, more-brutal right 2:35 into Round 6 of a scheduled 10-round lightweight bout.
“When I first started,” Commey said, “I started very slow because I’ve been away for more than a year, so I had to take my time a little bit just to get my rhythm.
“My corner was telling me to do something. They saw that punch that took him down.”
Commey (30-3, 27 KOs) was devastated by the loss to Lopez, which put an instantaneous stop to momentum that had built over years.
However, he didn’t fight like a man who was gun shy. He started firing off his vaunted right hand from the beginning of the fight.
Marinez, a good boxer who was coming off a disputed loss to Rolando Romero, coped fairly well for five-plus rounds. He used his jab, movement and slick defense to avoid taking a shot that could hurt him and landed enough of his own punches to keep it close.
Commey led on two cards after five rounds (48-47 and 49-46) while Marinez led on the third (48-47). Boxing Junkie had Commey leading 48-47.
All that became moot in Round 6, when Marinez (19-2, 7 KOs) seem to begin wilting under Commey’s pressure and power.
The Dominican went down the first time with around 45 seconds remaining in the round. He was able to get up and continue. However, moments later, Commey darted across the ring and landed a second vicious right hand that sent Marinez crashing into the ropes and down, prompting referee Kenny Bayless to end the fight.
One of the happiest onlookers was Lopez, who was standing near the ring at the time of the knockout. The two apparently became friends during their promotion and the aftermath.
Commey said he fed off the undisputed lightweight champion’s presence.
“After our fight, I saw him in the lobby and we chatted and hugged,” Commey said. “He always liked me, and it’s pure love. For him to come down to my corner, it was motivating. It showed tremendous love, and that’s how it’s supposed to be.
“We gotta love each other, regardless of where you’re from or who you are. I appreciated [his support].”
Commey’s goal is earn an opportunity to fight for another title. He took a significant step in that direction with a vintage performance on Saturday.
In other fights, 21-year-old heavyweight prospect Jared Anderson (8-0, 8 KOs) turned in a knockout-of-the-year candidate.
The gifted 6-foot-4, 249-pounder was in the process of dominating Kingsley Ibeh when he landed a monstrous left hook that knocked Ibeh (5-2-1, 4 KOs) flat on his back and out at 2:19 of the sixth and final round.
Anderson won the first five rounds on all three cards.
“We worked day and night for this,” said an excited Anderson, who is barely old enough to be in the MGM Grand casino. “While they sleep, we’re working. We will keep fighting prospects and people who say they can’t be beat. I am here to fight the best. Since everyone wants it, why not give it to them?
“I wanted the Ibeh fight because I saw him push many prospects. The knockout came, and I made a statement.”
And, in a 10-round featherweight fight, prospect Adam Lopez (15-2, 6 KOs) defeated Jason Sanchez (15-3, 8 KOs) by a majority decision.
