Jeison Rosario – Page 7 – Syndication Server

Erislandy Lara outclasses Greg Vendetti, wins one-sided decision

Erislandy Lara had his way with Greg Vendetti en route to a unanimous-decision victory Saturday at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Erislandy Lara didn’t throw many punches but landed more than enough.

Lara, the 37-year-old former junior middleweight champ, had his way with overmatched Greg Vendetti en route to a unanimous-decision victory Saturday at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Lara (27-3-3, 15 KOs) was economical with his punches but landed plenty eye-catching blows, including a number of hard straight left hands and uppercuts.

And while the game Vendetti (22-4-1, 12 KOs) was able to bull his way inside fairly consistently, he did little damage, as Lara held, spun out of harm’s way or generally got the better of inside exchanges.

Vendetti was able to land some shots to the body, which made a few rounds competitive, but he simply could do enough to make the fight truly competitive.

The scores arguably were closer than they should’ve been: 116-112, 117-111 and 117-111. Boxing Junkie scored it 118-110 for Lara.

With the victory, Lara maintained his position as a legitimate contender to any of the 154-pound titleholders. He’d like to face the winner of the Sept. 26 Jermell Charlo-Jeison Rosario title-unification fight and also has his eye on a rematch with Canelo Alvarez.

A young Alvarez defeated Lara by a split decision in 2014.

Erislandy Lara outclasses Greg Vendetti, wins one-sided decision

Erislandy Lara had his way with Greg Vendetti en route to a unanimous-decision victory Saturday at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Erislandy Lara didn’t throw many punches but landed more than enough.

Lara, the 37-year-old former junior middleweight champ, had his way with overmatched Greg Vendetti en route to a unanimous-decision victory Saturday at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Lara (27-3-3, 15 KOs) was economical with his punches but landed plenty eye-catching blows, including a number of hard straight left hands and uppercuts.

Vendetti was able to land some shots to the body, which made a few rounds competitive, but he simply could do enough to make the fight truly competitive.

The scores arguably were closer than they should’ve been: 116-112, 117-111 and 117-111. Boxing Junkie scored it 118-110 for Lara.

A young Alvarez defeated Lara by a split decision in 2014.

Pay-per-view card featuring Charlo twins ‘crown jewel’ of Showtime slate

Jermell and Jermall Charlo will headline one of the deepest pay-per-view cards in recent memory on Sept. 26.

Glance at the Showtime schedule of fights for the remainder of 2020 and your eyes are likely to focus on a specific date: Sept. 26.

That’s when the Charlo twins headline an unusual, split-session pay-per-view show behind closed doors at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Here are the featured fights on the show, which will be divided into two four-fight cards – separated by a break – on the same day for same price.

No decision has been made as to the order in which the Charlos will fight.

Card A:

Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario in a junior middleweight title-unification bout.
Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Karl for Barrios’ junior welterweight title.
Daniel Roman vs. TBA in a junior featherweight bout.

Card B:

Jermall Charlo vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko for Charlo’s middleweight belt.

Brandon Figueroa vs. Damien Vazquez for Figueroa’s junior featherweight title.
Diego Magdaleno vs. Isaac Cruz in a lightweight bout.

That lineup brings back memories of the legendary Don King pay-per-view cards of a generation or two ago.

“You have to go back to the marathon Don King pay-per-views of the 1980s,” said Stephen Espinoza, president of sports and event programming for Showtime Networks Inc. “And even those events, 30, 40 years ago, you didn’t see the array of talent you’ll see on Sept. 26.

“Jermell and Jermall are in arguably the toughest fights of their careers. That’s the crown jewel of the schedule right now.”

Espinoza answered questions in a virtual news conference shortly after the schedule was officially announced Wednesday morning.

One question posed to him centered on the timing of the pay-per-view show. Many people in the country are struggling economically as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which could affect the buy rate.

Espinoza didn’t reveal the price of the pay-per-view other than to say it will be comparable to previous shows.

“A lot of people are being squeezed financially,” he said. “That was one of the motivating factors in structuring it the way we did. We tried to provide not just value … but more value than you’ve seen on any recent pay-per-view.

“The reality is that pay-per-view is a tool to help fights happen that wouldn’t otherwise happen. We understand the financial pressure here. We feel this is a great value … and we think the market will respond.”

The combination of two compelling Charlo fights on one card is a strong selling point, particularly when combined with two more world title fights.

Jermell Charlo (33-1, 17 KOs) and Rosario (20-1-1, 14 KOs) are two of the hottest fighters in the world.

Charlo, who holds one 154-pound title, is coming off a sensational 11^th-round knockout of slick Tony Harrison to avenge an earlier points loss and regain his title. Rosario shocked the boxing world by stopping the highly respected Julian Williams in five rounds to win two belts in his most-recent fight.

“All I expect is for me to get that win, dominatingly,” said Charlo, who believes he was robbed in his first fight with Harrison. “… I won’t leave it up to the judges. I learned that in the past. I have to win very dominatingly or win by knockout.”

Jermall Charlo (30-0, 22 KOs) holds a 160-pound title but has been criticized for less-than-elite opposition. That shouldn’t be a problem against Derevyanchenko (13-2, 10 KOs).

The Ukrainian, who reportedly had around 400 amateur fights, pushed Daniel Jacobs to the limit in a split-decision loss in 2018 and gave Gennadiy Golovkin as much hell as Canelo Alvarez did in a close, unanimous-decision setback last October. Some believe he deserved the decision.

Jermall Charlo believes some fans will still find fault in a victory over Derevyanchenko but also thinks it will set up potential fights with Alvarez and Triple-G.

“[A victory] lets people know I’m ready for the big fights, ones against Canelo and Golovkin,” Jermall Charlo said. “[Derevyanchenko] has been in with tough competition but he’s lost both times. People will still doubt me. That’s part of boxing.

“[Still] this is a step up for me, I guess, in the eyes of some people. I’m ready to fight.”

Boxing Junkie Mid-year Awards: Tyson Fury is the man

Boxing Junkie presents its mid-year awards in six categories.

A most unusual year is half over. The coronavirus pandemic brought the boxing world to a halt in March and it has only begun to return in the past few weeks.

Still, some fighters have had enough time – particularly in the first few months of the year – to turn in performances worthy of recognition.

With that in mind, Boxing Junkie presents its mid-year awards in six categories. Here they are.

FIGHTER

Tyson Fury

Slam dunk. Fury and Deontay Wilder fought to a controversial draw in December 2018. The rematch, on Feb. 22 in Las Vegas, wasn’t even competitive. A bulked up Fury, employing a more-aggressive strategy, dominated the then-titleholder from beginning to end. He put Wilder down in Rounds 3 and 5 and finally stopped him in Round 7. Fury just never gave Wilder and chance to unload his big right hand. It was a virtuoso performance in a super fight, which made the accomplishment all the more spectacular.

Runner up: Jeison Rosario

FIGHT

Robert Helenius (right) took a giant step forward with his KO of Adam Kownacki. AP Photo / Frank Franklin II

Robert Helenius TKO 4 Adam Kownacki, March 7

Helenius vs. Kownacki was nuts from the opening bell, as most Kownacki fights are. The Polish-American came out firing away, as usual. The thought at that moment: “OK, here we go. How long is Helenius going to be able to survive?” Then, as the fight progressed: “Wait a second, Helenius doesn’t seem to be going anywhere and he’s fighting back.” In Round 4, the Finn put Kownacki down with a right-left combination and then followed with a flurry of hard shots and the fight was stopped. Whew. Crazy. Really fun to watch.

Runner up: Jeison Rosario vs. Julian Williams, Jan. 18

KNOCKOUT

Ryan Garcia KO 1 Francisco Fonseca, Feb. 4

Tyson Fury’s stoppage of Deontay Wilder was the most important knockout so far. Garcia gave us the most spectacular KO. Garcia, the charismatic 21-year-old lightweight contender, had already generated a great deal of intrigue with two early knockouts in 2019. He simply added to the excitement against the veteran Fonseca. A single left hook relieved the Nicaraguan from his senses and took our breath away only 80 seconds into the fight.

Runner up: Fury KO 7 Wilder

UPSET

Jeison Rosario was overwhelmed when his new championship belts were placed over his shoulders. Stephanie Trapp / TGB Promotions

Jeison Rosario TKO 5 Julian Williams

Williams’ stature going into the Jan. 18 fight was what made Rosario’s thorough victory special. Remember, Williams, the then-junior middleweight titleholder, was coming off a career-defining victory over Jarrett Hurd eight months earlier. He had climbed onto some pound-for-pound lists. And Rosario beat the you-know-what out of him. Rosario hurt Williams about two minutes into Round 5 and followed with a brutal barrage of hard shots that forced the referee to end the fight and give Rosario the title.

Runner up: Robert Helenius TKO 4 Adam Kownacki

COMEBACK

Roman Gonzalez

The former No. 1 fighter pound-for-pound had already won back-to-back fights since he lost consecutive bouts to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017, the second loss being a brutal knockout. Still, many had doubts about whether the 32-year-old Nicaraguan remained an elite fighter. He proved against then-unbeaten junior bantamweight titleholder Kal Yafai on Feb. 29 that he has plenty more to give. He gave Yafai a boxing lesson for eight-plus rounds and then stopped him in Round 9. Vintage Gonzalez.

Runner up: Mikey Garcia UD 12 Jessie Vargas, Feb. 29

BREAKOUT

Joseph Diaz Jr.

Diaz, the former U.S. Olympian, had failed in attempts to win a major title and a secondary one, losing a decision to Gary Russell Jr. and then failing to make weight before outpointing Jesus Rojas, which precluded him from winning the belt. Some wondered whether Diaz would ever get over the hump. And then he did. Then-junior lightweight titleholder Tevin Farmer was one of the hottest fighters around yet an inspired Diaz took him to school, winning a decision that wasn’t as close as the cards indicate to finally claim a belt.

Runner up: Jeison Rosario TKO 5 Julian Williams

The 2020 year-end award leaders as of today

These are the fighters to beat in selected year-end categories so far in 2020.

The year in boxing has been limited to two-plus months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

As a result, not many elite boxers have had the opportunity to fight in 2020. Some did, though. And a few of those made massive statements in the ring before the sport was shut down completely last month.

Of course, it’s too early to determine who will win year-end awards. After all, the sport almost certainly will resume sometime in the next several months.

That said, these are the fighters to beat in selected categories so far.

FIGHTER OF THE YEAR

Tyson Fury

Slam dunk. Fury and Deontay Wilder fought to a controversial draw in December 2018. The rematch, on Feb. 22 in Las Vegas, wasn’t even competitive. Fury, employing a more-aggressive strategy, dominated the then-titleholder from beginning to end. He put Wilder down in Rounds 3 and 5 and finally stopped him in Round 7. Fury just never gave Wilder and chance to unload his big right hand. It was a virtuoso performance in a super fight, which made the accomplishment all the more spectacular.

Runner up: Jeison Rosario

***

KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR

Ryan Garcia KO 1 Francisco Fonseca

Tyson Fury’s stoppage of Deontay Wilder was the most important knockout so far. Garcia gave us the most spectacular. Some background: Garcia, the charismatic 21-year-old lightweight contender, had already generated a great deal of intrigue with two early knockouts in 2019. He simply added to the excitement against the veteran Fonseca on Feb. 4. A single left hook relieved the Nicaraguan from his senses and took out breath away only 80 seconds into the fight.

Runner up: Fury KO 7 Wilder

***

UPSET OF THE YEAR

Jeison Rosario TKO 5 Julian Williams

Williams’ stature going into the Jan. 18 fight was what made Rosario’s thorough victory special. Remember, Williams, the then-junior middleweight titleholder, was coming off a career-defining victory over Jarrett Hurd eight months earlier. He had climbed onto some pound-for-pound lists. And Rosario, a Dominican, beat the you-know-what out of him. Rosario hurt Williams about two minutes into Round 5 and followed with a brutal barrage of hard shots the forced the referee to end the fight and give Rosario the title.

Runner up: Robert Helenius TKO 4 Adam Kownacki

***

COMEBACK OF THE YEAR

Roman Gonzalez

The former No. 1 fighter pound for pound had already won back-to-back fights since he lost consecutive bouts to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017, the second loss being a brutal knockout. Still, many had doubts about whether the 32-year-old Nicaraguan was still an elite fighter. He proved against then-unbeaten junior bantamweight titleholder Kal Yafai on Feb. 29 that he has plenty more to give. He gave Yafai a boxing lesson for eight-plus rounds and then stopped him in Round 9. Vintage Gonzalez.

Runner up: Mikey Garcia UD 12 Jessie Vargas

***

BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR

Joseph Diaz Jr.

Diaz, the former U.S. Olympian, had failed in attempts to win a major title and a secondary one, losing on the cards to Gary Russell Jr. and failing to make weight before outpointing Jesus Rojas, which precluded him from winning the belt. Some wondered whether Diaz would ever get over the hump. And then he did. Then-junior lightweight titleholder Tevin Farmer was one of the hottest fighters around yet an inspired Diaz took him to school, winning a decision that wasn’t as close as the cards indicate to finally claim a belt.

Runner up: Jeison Rosario TKO 5 Julian Williams

Julian Williams’ trainer: ‘He should be ready to go by August or September’

Stephen Edwards, the trainer of Julian Williams, believes his charge will be ready for a tune-up fight as soon as late summer.

It’s not if Julian Williams will fight Jeison Rosario again, it’s when.

Williams recently decided not to exercise his contractual right to an immediate rematch with Rosario, the Dominican contender who stopped him in five rounds in a significant upset on Jan. 18. However, Stephen Edwards, the trainer of Williams, says they have every intention of fighting Rosario again. Just not next. They need time to heal and regroup.

“Julian just had surgery [to repair damaged skin around] both of his eyes last week,” Edwards told BoxingScene.com. “He can’t even spar until May or June. We wouldn’t be ready for a rematch in a reasonable period of time.”

In the fight, Rosario (20-1-1, 14 KOs) opened up a large gash over Williams’ left eye, which immediately changed the tenor of the fight.

“It’s counterproductive to rush into a rematch without getting his eye fixed and his eye was a big reason he lost in the first place,” Edward said. “But Team Rosario has expressed to me personally that they are honorable and will give us the rematch very soon. Just not next because we won’t be ready.”

Sampson Lewkowicz, the promoter of Rosario, told Boxing Junkie that Rosario “100%” plans to give Williams a rematch whenever he is ready.

Edwards believes Williams (27-2-1, 16 KOs) should be ready for a tune-up fight by late summer.

“He should be ready to go by August or September,” he said.

Edwards does not know who the opponent will be yet. In the meantime, the trainers says Williams won’t be peddling any excuses.

“What I’ve learned is it’s no use talking about what went wrong publicly,” Edwards said. “It always sounds like an excuse and, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. The result is what matters.

“Julian just has to redeem himself. Jeison Rosario fought a great fight, and he got the win.”

Follow Sean Nam on Twitter @seanpasbon

Marcos Hernandez plans to use James Kirkland as springboard

Marcos Hernandez believes a victory over James Kirkland on Saturday will catapult him toward a shot at a title.

Marcos Hernandez knows a good opportunity when he sees one.

“Madman” has lost two of his last three fights – a ninth-round TKO against Jeison Rosario and unanimous decision against Kevin Newman II – but he believes he has what takes to be a contender. He’ll have a chance to demonstrate that when he faces James Kirkland in a 10-round middleweight bout Saturday in Oxon Hill, Maryland on Fox Sports 1.

“I’ve had a great camp and for the first time in my career I’ve added a strength and conditioning coach,” Hernandez said. “I’m constantly in the gym with [trainer] Henry Ramirez working hard every single day. I was super focused going into this camp, since I know this is a major opportunity to get me back in line for a world title shot. I know I have to take this seriously.

“Some people may have doubted me based on past fights, but that is only fueling my motivation. I miss my family a lot, but I know to be great, I have to do what it takes to go to the next level.”

Hernandez (14-3-1, 3 KOs) has faced mostly second-tier opposition but does have two fights against Rosario, who stopped Julian Williams to win a junior middleweight title in January.

The first meeting, a six-round middleweight fight, ended in a split draw. That might provide a hint of what the product of Fresno, California is capable of.

Hernandez, also known as Mark Anthony Hernandez, respects the punching power of the 35-year-old Kirkland (34-2, 30 KOs) but he believes he’s the more complete fighter.

“James Kirkland is a notorious fighter known for his power, but his time has come and gone,” Hernandez said. “This is a great opportunity for me since Kirkland is a popular fighter. And when I beat him, people will take notice.

“I watched Kirkland growing up and I have studied his mistakes. Kirkland only has one style, but I have many. This will be a great fight for the fans because both of us have our backs against the wall and must win.”

And if Hernandez wins?

“When I win, I want to get back in there with unified champion Jeison Rosario,” said Hernandez. “I have fought Rosario twice already, and the first time was a draw. I have unfinished business with him. I need to make a big statement and have a highlight-reel performance this Saturday night.

“I believe I can fight him this year. The fight would be a trilogy, and who doesn’t like trilogies in boxing?”

Julian Williams won’t ask for immediate rematch with Jeison Rosario

Multiple outlets have reported that Julian Williams is not interested in pursuing an immediate rematch against Jeison Rosario.

The future appears to be wide open for Jeison Rosario.

Former junior middleweight titleholder Julian Williams is forgoing his contractual right to an immediate rematch against Rosario, the Dominican contender who scored a shocking stoppage of Williams on Jan. 18 in the latter’s inaugural title defense in his hometown of Philadelphia, multiple outlets have reported.

The reason? Williams (27-2-1, 16 KOs) needs to recover from surgery on the cut he suffered over his left eye in the Rosario fight. Provided Rosario is still a titleholder, Williams has every intention of pursuing a rematch later in the year, according to BoxingScene.com. The feeling apparently is mutual.

“When Williams wants the rematch, Rosario will give it to him, 100%,” Sampson Lewkowicz, Rosario’s promoter, told Boxing Junkie. “For now, Williams has a medical problem.”

That leaves Rosario (20-1-1, 14 KOs), who turns 25 in April, with a few options in a division teeming with intriguing possibilities. He could face his mandatory in Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev (17-0, 13 KOs). Or, more compellingly, he could head straight into a unification against fellow titleholder Jermell Charlo (33-1, 17 KOs), who revenged his disputed loss to Tony Harrison (28-3, 21 KOs) last December. Both Charlo and Rosario are aligned with Premier Boxing Champions, so that would be a relatively easy matchup to make.

Rosario’s upset of Williams was just another eye-opening outcome in the ultra competitive 154-pound division. Last year, Williams upset multiple-belt titleholder Jarrett Hurd (24-1, 16 KOs) in impressive fashion. All in all, the division has produced some of the most interesting story lines of any weight class.

As for Williams, he is staring down at yet another attempt at a comeback. He was knocked out by current middleweight titleholder Jermall Charlo (Jermell’s twin brother) in 2016 before making a statement against Hurd last year. Williams’ trainer Stephen Edwards has set the bar high for his charge the second time around. Shortly after the upset loss to Rosario, Edwards was adamant about getting revenge.

“[Williams] cannot go out on his career losing to that kid, I’m sorry,” Edwards said on the TalkBox Boxing Podcast. “[The loss to] Jermall Charlo, I can accept that a little bit. You know, that guy may go to the Hall of Fame, and we can say we fought him when Julian was a little young at the time and that he caught Julian with a great shot.

“This fight (against Rosario), I can’t stomach that. I’m serious. I just can’t.”

Follow Sean Nam on Twitter @seanpasbon

Pound-for-pound: King Tyson can’t be denied after that performance

Tyson Fury climbs from honorable mention to No. 8 on the Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list after stopping Deontay Wilder on Saturday.

The pound-for-pound concept was devised as a means of comparing fighters regardless of weight.

For example, not so long ago, we could’ve asked: Who would’ve won a bout between Floyd Mayweather and Wladimir Klitschko had they been the same size? Easy. Mayweather, whose skill set was far superior to that of the big Ukrainian and everyone else.

So where does Tyson Fury fit into the equation after his tremendous performance against Deontay Wilder on Saturday in Las Vegas?

Fury, who has been an honorable mention on the Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list for some time, dominated a feared, previously unbeaten opponent en route to a spectacular seventh-round stoppage before a sell-out crowd at the MGM Grand.

That kind of performance — on that kind of stage — certainly works in Fury’s favor. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Fury would stack up favorably against the stars that make our Top 10 if they fought in same division.

In the end, we decided after some back-and-forth discussion that we had to elevate Fury into the Top 10 in light of his dominance on Saturday but we didn’t want to get carried away: He jumps to No. 8, behind Errol Spence Jr. but ahead of Juan Francisco Estrada. That pushes Kosei Tanaka (No. 15 on the most-recent list) to honorable mention.

Of course, another victory over Wilder or one over Anthony Joshua in an all-U.K. title-unification bout by Fury could push him even higher.

Check out our pound-for-pound list below. And let us know what you think.

BOXING JUNKIE

POUND-FOR-POUND

Vasiliy Lomachenko
Terence Crawford
Canelo Alvarez
Naoya Inoue
Oleksandr Usyk
Gennadiy Golovkin
Errol Spence Jr.
Tyson Fury
Juan Francisco Estrada
Mikey Garcia
Artur Beterbiev
Josh Taylor
Manny Pacquiao
Srisaket Sor Rungvisai
Leo Santa Cruz

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Miguel Berchelt, Mairis Briedis, Teofimo Lopez, Shawn Porter and Kosei Tanaka

Tyson Fury prepared to face Anthony Joshua if Deontay wilder opts out

Good, bad, worse: Tyson Fury had perfect game plan, perfect execution

Tyson Fury beats the heavyweight title out of Deontay Wilder

Julian Williams’ trainer: JRock has to KO Rosario in rematch

Stephen Edwards, the trainer of Julian Williams, believes his charge not only needs to beat Jeison Rosario, but do so by knockout.

The trainer of Julian Williams wants his charge to avenge his stunning upset loss to Jeison Rosario on Jan. 18. And he wants him to do so by knockout.

Stephen Edwards, Williams’ longtime trainer, set the bar high for Williams during an appearance on the Everlast TalkBox Podcast.

“I may get overruled on this, I don’t know,” Edwards said, “but for me being able to go to sleep at night and what I believe Julian is at, he gotta get that loss the f— back.

“I don’t care who don’t like this. He gotta fight that kid again and he gotta knock that kid out.”

Talk about pressure.

Williams made strong statement last May when he upset Jarrett Hurd to win two junior middleweight titles. It was a remarkable comeback for a fighter who had been written off by some after suffering a knockout loss at the hands of Jermall Charlo in 2016.

A rematch with Hurd was expected to take place in December but Hurd, for whatever reason, declined. In stepped Rosario, a hard-hitting, but relatively unknown Dominican who was expected to be something of a tune-up for Williams. There were even tentative plans to have Williams face a fellow titleholder in a unification bout this summer.

The 24-year-old Rosario had other plans. Rosario busted up Williams’ eye early in the fight and then stopped the Philadelphian in the fifth-round in front of his hometown crowd.

Edwards, still smarting from the loss, believes a knockout in the rematch will be the only way to conclusively put this episode behind them.

“If [Williams] don’t [knock out Rosario] I’m gonna be disappointed in him,” Edwards said. “I made it as clear as I can. I don’t know if [the rematch is] going to be next or whatever, but he gotta get that kid back.”

Edwards upped the ante.

“[Williams] cannot go out on his career losing to that kid, I’m sorry,” he said. “[The loss to] Jermall Charlo, I can accept that a little bit. You know, that guy may go to the Hall of Fame, and we can say we fought him when Julian was a little young at the time and that he caught Julian with a great shot.

“This fight (against Rosario), I can’t stomach that. I’m serious. I just can’t.”

Jeison Rosario scores stunning 5th-round KO of Julian Williams