Tag: Matchroom Boxing

Julio Cesar Chavez reflects on Cinco de Mayo fights and more

Julio Cesar Chavez spoke to host Jessie Vargas on a special holiday episode of the new Matchroom Boxing Spanish-language show “Peleamundo.”

Julio Cesar Chavez fought often in May – including on Cinco de Mayo weekend a number of times – and, he said, it always had special meaning for him.

The Mexican Hall of Famer, now 57, spoke at length with host Jessie Vargas on a special holiday episode of the new Matchroom Boxing Spanish-language show “Peleamundo” about that subject and more.

The episode will be available at 5 p.m. ET today on the Matchroom YouTube channel.

Among Chavez’s translated comments:

“It’s a very special day for all Mexicans,” Chavez said. “I fought many times in May representing all Mexicans. It’s something very, very special, something very beautiful feeling the love, the support from all the Mexican Americans that lived in the United States.

“Above all, the Mexicans, [they] truly are the ones who support other Mexicans who go and triumph in the United States. For them it’s something great that one can represent them. I always tried to represent them in the best way. Fortunately, I gained their respect, but above all, I won the love of the people. Nobody can take it away from me.

“They were great, they were huge for me because I always had the support of all the Mexicans that moved [to the U.S.]. I don’t even remember any more if I won or lost, I think I won more than I lost!

“The one thing I’m left with is with the joy that I gave to the Mexicans there, the euphoria with which they received me, they presented me, and they followed me. I always have that. …

“There are opponents that are complicated for us. The truth is that for me, Frankie Randall’s style was always complicated for me. Even in the third fight, because in the second fight, even though I beat him, the truth is that if it weren’t for the head butt no one knows how it would have gone for me because I was already really tired.

“Honestly in that fight, I had prepared like never before. My addiction was already very far along. But I stopped for a bit there because I had lost, I wanted to avenge my loss. I stopped a bit, despite the fact that my addiction was already very advanced. I stopped a bit, I tried to stop a bit in order to take back my title and that’s how it went. I think I went a bit too far, I prepared so well, that I went into the fight over-trained. In the second round, I felt that my arms were already falling.

“Fortunately, thank God, based on pure experience I took the fight. I had another fight against him in Mexico City where I already knew his style and there, I beat him more easily.”

Vargas also was joined by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman.

Eddie Hearn and Tony Bellew to team up for new digital show

Eddie Hearn and Tony Bellew to team up for new digital show each Monday evening on Matchroom’s YouTube and podcast channels.

Two of British boxing’s biggest personalities are teaming up to do a digital show called “Talk The Talk.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn and former cruiserweight titleholder Tony Bellew, who worked together when Bellew won his belt, will reunite each Monday evening on Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube and Podcast channels.

They will have guests (in and out of the boxing world), reminisce and discuss the topics of the day.

In the first installment, they discuss the current lock down situation. Also, television presenter Ant Middleton joins them to talk about Bellew’s involvement in “SAS Who Dares Wins Celebrity.” And Dereck Chisora will make an appearance.

“It seems like we’re coming up with a new show every day!’ Hearn said. “For our latest, I was trying to find someone who talks as much as me, but I’ve found someone who talks more. A person I’m proud to call a friend, Tony Bellew, will be joining me each week for ‘Talk The Talk.’”

Said Bellew: “I’ve got some big ideas for this show. It’s great to be back involved with Eddie and the Matchroom team. I hope it brings some enjoyment to the listeners, especially at such a challenging time.”

Eddy Reynoso has great expectations for Julio Cesar Martinez

Trainer Eddy Reynoso wants flyweight titleholder Julio Cesar Martinez to unify at 112 pounds and then move up to 115.

Is flyweight titleholder Julio Cesar Martinez a threat to Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez at junior bantamweight? His trainer, Eddy Reynoso, thinks so.

Martinez, an under-the-radar little man from Mexico, appeared to win a 112-pound title last August when he stopped Charlie Edwards in three rounds only to have the result declared a no-contest because he punched Edwards while he was down.

No problem. Martinez (16-1, 12 KOs) scored a ninth-round knockout of Cristofer Rosales four months later to win the vacant championship and successfully defended against Jay Harris in February.

Reynoso would like to see his 25-year-old protege unify against either Moruti Mthalane or Kosei Tanaka at 112 pounds and then move up to 115.

Julio Cesar Martinez earned a unanimous-decision victory over Jay Harris in the first defense of his flyweight title. Ed Mulholland / Matchroom Boxing USA

In Reynoso’s opinion, the sky is the limit with Martinez.

“He’s very disciplined,” Reynoso said in the second episode of Matchroom Boxing’s Spanish-language series “Peleamundo.” “He shows all the characteristics of a typical Mexican fighter. He likes to fight. He likes to train and more than anything, he’s a star.

“In such few fights he’s already won a world championship and I believe if he keeps on the same path, he’s going to do great things because he’s a good fighter who’s very fond of learning, he’s very technical. He’s there. He’s a great champion.

Reynoso went on: “He’s charismatic, he’s brave, he’s a very strong fighter for the division. He has lots of endurance. He’s not scared. Whatever fight you put him in, he’ll fight. He’s different than the other fighters. He has a few things to learn, but we’re going to vary the training to get him more technically sound fight by fight.”

Reynoso also likes Martinez’s demeanor.

“He’s always laughing and smiling,” he said. “He turns the fights into like a circus. He’s very positive. You never see him angry. He’s a very hard working, smiling, laughing, positive fighter.”

And, Reynoso added, Martinez is just getting started.

“We’re going to keep him at flyweight and try to defend and unify with Tanaka or Mthalane,” he said. “… We’re getting harder fights little by little. We’ll move up to 115 pounds to fight Estrada, [Carlos] Cuadras, Chocolatito, there’s so many good fighters. And I believe it’s step by step. We’ll keep him at featherweight then move up to super featherweight.”

The second episode of “Peleamundo” will hit Matchroom’s YouTube channel on Sunday. Welterweight contender Jessie Vargas is the host.

Juan Francisco Estrada, Roman Gonzalez discuss prospective showdown

Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez gave their thoughts on a prospective showdown during the first episode of “Peleamundo.”

Juan Francisco Estrada surprised many people when he gave Roman Gonzalez spirited resistance in 2012, losing a decision in his first title fight.

A lot has happened since then.

Estrada has won titles in two divisions and gained recognition as one of the best fighters in the world. He’s No. 9 on the Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list. Gonzalez, once No. 1 worldwide, lost back-to-back fights to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017 – the second time by brutal knockout – but is coming off a sensational KO of Kal Yafai in February.

Now Estrada (40-3, 27 KOs) and Gonzalez (49-2, 41 KOs) appear to be headed toward a title-unification rematch. The fighters gave their thoughts on the prospective showdown during the first episode of “Peleamundo,” Mathroom Boxing’s new YouTube show. Welterweight contender Jessie Vargas is the host.

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“I’ve had three losses and I’ve avenged two of them,” said Estrada, who last year regained the 115-pound title he lost to Sor Rungvisai in 2018. “I haven’t been able to avenge my loss to Gonzalez yet because we never fought again, but hopefully this time around, I will win, and that loss will be avenged as well.

“I’m the champ. I have a lot of respect for him. It’s a big fight and we both deserve big purses.
Everything looks and sound good but it’s all about the money. We’re friends and both fighting for our families. I want to unify if I’m given the opportunity. I’ll fight whatever opponent is available. I know there will be some good fights made by the promoters.

“I don’t know Yafai personally, however I do know Roman, and he’s a great champion. I know he had a lot of support from the people of Nicaragua. I was happy for him because he’s such a humble person. Without a doubt I was with Roman Gonzalez in that fight.

“It’s been eight years [since the first fight] and I’m very excited for this fight. I believe the people really want to see it as well. I’m a great fighter. It’s going to be a great show. It’s going to be a better and bigger fight than the bigger weight classes.”

Said Gonzalez: “I’m a lion in the ring. We put in the work to win but after we can be friends, and everything will go back to normal. It’s going to be a very good fight. Everyone talks before the fight but all that matters is the day of the fight.

“We both need to just demonstrate to the public that the lighter weight divisions can put on a good show. We’re the ones carrying boxing right now, the smaller weight classes, and if I fight Estrada, it’s going to be historical.”

Eddie Hearn pledges to donate free tickets to U.K. healthcare workers

Eddie Hearn has pledged to give away free tickets to Matchroom Boxing shows to National Health Service workers.

Eddie Hearn is trying to do his part during the global coronavirus pandemic.

The head of London-based Matchroom has pledged to donate 200 tickets for live boxing cards to the front line healthcare workers of the National Health Service, the publicly funded system that offers healthcare to all U.K. citizens, the promoter announced on his social media Saturday.

Some of the most vulnerable individuals to the COVID-19 virus have been healthcare professionals who have been working tirelessly to mitigate the epidemic. Hearn, who has been busy cancelling many of his boxing cards, recognizes that.

“We’ve been thinking lately how we can say thank you to the incredible NHS workers that have selflessly helped everyone through this COVID-19 crisis,” Hearn said in a video on Twitter. “It’s been absolutely incredible.

“From our side at Matchroom boxing, we’re announcing a new scheme for when we get back to our live shows where we’ll be giving away 200 tickets to NHS workers for every Saturday night fight night and pay-per-view shows around the country. From hopefully this summer forward.

“You are the pride of our country.”

 

Regis Prograis vs. Maurice Hooker, three PBC cards shelved

The Regis Prograis-Maurice Hooker fight and three PBC cards have been shelved as a result of the coronavirus threat.

Premier Boxing Champions is canceling cards through at least the end of April and Matchroom Boxing is calling off the Regis Prograis-Maurice Hooker bout because of the coronavirus pandemic.

PBC decided Monday to shelve three cards, including super middleweight David Benavidez’s homecoming scheduled for April 17 against Roamer Alexis Angulo at the Arizona Federal Theater in downtown Phoenix.

“The health and safety of the boxers, fans and those working the events are of utmost importance to us,” Tom Brown, president of TGB Promotions and lead promoter for the canceled PBC shows, said in a statement. “We are all disappointed, and as we get more information we will address future events.”

Prograis-Hooker, an intriguing junior welterweight bout, had been scheduled for April 17 at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn said he will try to re-schedule the bout.

Two other PBS cards were scheduled, one featuring  Luis Nery vs. Aaron Alvarado in a bantamweight bout on March 28 at the MGM’s Park Theater in Las Vegas and Jamal James vs. Thomas Dulorme in a welterweight bout on April 11 at The Armory in Minneapolis.

The MGM announced Sunday that it was closing its casinos and hotels in Las Vegas for “the foreseeable future.’’

Meanwhile, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an advisory Sunday that events with more than 50 people should not be held over the next eight weeks. That means there might not be any boxing in the U.S. until at least May 11.

Canelo Alvarez-Billy Joe Saunders fight still up in air amid pandemic

The spreading coronavirus threat continues to create chaos with boxing’s schedule, including the Canelo Alvarez-Billy Joe Saunders fight.

The spreading coronavirus threat continues to create chaos with cancellations and uncertainty about boxing’s schedule over the next several weeks, including Canelo Alvarez’s projected super middleweight bout against Billy Joe Saunders on May 2 in Las Vegas.

It still hasn’t been announced and it’s not clear when, or if, it will.

Not even Saunders promoter Eddie Hearn is sure, although he expects an announcement, perhaps early this week.

“I do think it will be announced early next week now,” Hearn told iFL TV Saturday. “Everyone is getting their head around [coronavirus] and putting a strategy together. Billy Joe and Canelo is done, and all of the terms are agreed on that fight.’’

President Donald Trump announced further travel restrictions for U.K. and Irish citizens Saturday. Hearn said Saunders, who lives outside London, is already in the United States.

“Billy Joe is actually in America training right now,’’ Hearn said.

But it’s not clear whether promoters would want to proceed with the fight if the restrictions would limit U.K. fans from traveling to the U.S. for the bout. Canelo Alvarez is tied to Golden Boy Promotions.

“There is supposed to be a press conference,’’ Hearn said. “We’ll see what happens.”

The Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended combat sports through March 25 at an emergency meeting Saturday. The state’s regulatory agency will decide on events after that date at a meeting scheduled for March 25.

“You’d like to think there is a very strong chance for May 2,” Hearn said. “Will it be postponed to the end of May, early June? Maybe. But that’s one for Golden Boy.”

Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev formally announced

A day after news broke that Wilder will fight Tyson Fury a third time, the Anthony Joshua-Kubrat Pulev fight is finally a done deal.

Deontay Wilder has lost his title, yet it looks as if he still has some power as a player in the heavyweight division.

A day after news broke that Wilder had formally exercised his option for a third fight with Tyson Fury, the Anthony Joshua-Kubrat Pulev fight is finally a done deal.

Joshua’s mandatory title defense against Pulev on June 20 at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was announced Monday by Matchroom Boxing, Joshua’s promoter, and Top Rank, Pulev’s promoter.

“I’m back in my home city after some time away,’’ Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) said. “A spectacular stadium has been built in North London, and I’m honored to bring the boxing community from all over the world to witness us make history with the stadium’s first heavyweight world title fight. The belts go back up in the air and nothing will stop me from being victorious.”

Negotiations for the bout had gone on for weeks. Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn said they had been held up by “silly things.’’

One of the “silly things’ appears to have been the contract clause that allowed the Fury-Wilder II loser to force a second rematch. With the third leg in the trilogy set and tentatively scheduled for July 18 in Las Vegas, the other key piece in the heavyweight division falls into place.

The Fury-Wilder III winner is expected to face the Joshua-Pulev winner barring something silly, something like a Pulev upset of Joshua, who holds three of the significant belts.

“I am happy to have the opportunity to show the world how strong I really am,” said Pulev (28-1, 14 KOs), a Bulgarian whose lone loss was to Wladimir Klitschko in November 2014 in Hamburg, Germany.

Japanese authorities cancel all boxing in March because of coronavirus

Japanese authorities have canceled all boxing cards through at least April 1 because of the coronavirus threat.

There will be no boxing in March in Japan because of the coronavirus threat.

The day after a card was postponed in northern Italy because of the spreading threat of a pandemic, the Japanese Boxing Commission and Japanese Professional Boxing Association announced in a joint statement Wednesday that they are “suspending all boxing during a one-month period, nationwide.’’

A card at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on Thursday will be the last boxing in Japan until at least April 1.

Fifteen cards were scheduled for March in Japan – nine in Tokyo, one in Osaka, one in Okayama, one in Fukuoka, one in Okinawa and two in Kariya in Aichi Prefecture.

The boxing decision came a day after International Olympic Committee Vice President Richard Pound sparked fears that the virus, a respiratory infection, could threaten the Tokyo Olympics.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Pound said that a decision would have to be made “two to three months” before opening ceremonies on July 24.

“You could certainly go to two months out if you had to,” Pound said. “By and large, you’re looking at a cancellation. This is the new war, and you have to face it. In and around there, folks are going to have to say: ‘Is this under sufficient control that we can be confident of going to Tokyo or not?’”

However, on Wednesday, a spokesman for the Japanese government said the IOC and those organizing the Games plan to stage them as planned. He said Pound can express his opinion but that it’s not the official view of the IOC.

On Tuesday, Matchroom Boxing announced that a card featuring a super-middleweight fight between Daniele Scardina (18-0, 14 KOs) and Andrew Francillette (21-2-1, 5 KOS) in Milan would be re-scheduled because of the virus.

Multiple deaths in Italy prompted authorities to place restrictions on public events in various regions, including Lombardy, where Milan is located. The Italian restrictions, which have forced postponements of soccer and rugby events, will last until March 1.

On Jan. 23, junior welterweight Jose Ramirez’s title defense against Viktor Postol on Feb.1 in Haikou, China, was canceled and then rescheduled for May 9 in Fresno, California, Ramirez’ hometown.

Matchroom card in Italy postponed because of coronavirus

A Matchroom Boxing card scheduled for Friday in Italy has been postponed, the second postponement within the last six weeks.

The coronavirus threat continues to impact boxing.

A Matchroom Boxing card scheduled for Friday in Italy has been postponed, the second postponement within the last six weeks.

Matchroom announced that a card featuring super middleweight Daniele Scardina (18-0, 14 KOs) in a defense of a secondary title against Frenchmen Andrew Francillette (21-2-1, 5 KOS) in Milan would be re-scheduled because of the virus, a respiratory infection.

The spreading virus has resulted in 11 deaths in Italy as of Tuesday evening, prompting Italian health authorities to place restrictions on public events in various regions. That includes Lombardy, where Milan is located. The Italian restrictions, which have forced postponements of soccer and rugby events, will last until March 1.

Junior welterweight Jose Ramirez’s title defense against Viktor Postol was scheduled for Feb.1 in Haikou, China, the country where the virus started. It was postponed on Jan. 23 and subsequently rescheduled for May 9 in Fresno, California, Ramirez’s hometown.

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Jose Ramirez’s title defense vs. Viktor Postol rescheduled for May 9