Tag: Rolando Romero

Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora: Unpacking a deep, interesting card

Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora: Unpacking a deep, interesting card.

The Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora pay-per-view card Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is unusually deep even though Tszyu lost his original opponent.

Tszyu had been scheduled to defend his 154-pound title against Keith Thurman but Thurman pulled out a few weeks ago with a biceps injury, after which Fundora agreed to take the veteran’s place in the main event.

Here is a look at the featured fights on the show, including the most interesting thing about each of them.

 

Tim Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) vs. Sebastian Fundora (20-1-1, 13 KOs)

Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
At stake: Tszyu’s WBO and vacant WBC titles
Most interesting thing about it: I would rather have seen Tszyu defend his belt against Thurman because of Thurman’s history. However, it will be fascinating to see whether the 5-foot-8½ Tszyu can chop down his 6-5½ opponent, as Brian Mendoza did in October. Fundora seems vulnerable after his first setback but he has had success at a high level.
Who wins?: Fundora’s only advantages are his height and reach, which won’t be enough against Tszyu. The beltholder will adjust to Fundora’s dimensions and break him down. Tszyu KO 8.

 

Rolando Romero (15-1, 13 KOs) vs. Isaac Cruz (25-2-1, 17 KOs)

Division: Junior welterweight (140 pounds)
At stake: Romero’s WBA title
Most interesting thing about it: Can Romero keep Cruz off of him? That’s the mission of everyone who faces the relentlessly aggressive Mexican, whose only loss since early in his career was a close decision against Gervonta Davis. Romero will have to use his jab and timely counter shots to get Cruz’s respect to have his hand raised. It won’t be easy.
Who wins?: Romero has the power to get Cruz’s attention but not enough to deter his unusually fit, durable opponent. Cruz will outwork Romero and win a clear decision.

 

Erislandy Lara (29-3-3, 17 KOs) vs. Michael Zerafa (31-4, 19 KOs)

Division: Middleweight (160 pounds)
At stake: Lara’s WBA title
Most interesting thing about it: What does Lara have left at 40? The possible future Hall of Famer from Cuba holds a major title and continues to win fights but his opposition has been suspect. Plus, he’s more willing to exchange punches with his opponents than he used to be. That presumably is the result of him losing a step in terms of his speed and reflexes.
Who wins?: Lara. He isn’t what he once was but he remains as clever as ever and has retained enough of his physical tools to beat Zerafa, a good, rugged but limited fighter.

 

Julio Cesar Martinez (20-3, 15 KOs) vs. Angelino Cordova (18-0-1, 12 KOs)

Division: Flyweight (112 pounds)
At stake: Martinez’s WBC title
Most interesting thing about it: Is Angelino Cordova the real deal? The Venezuelan came out of nowhere to deliver two eye-opening performances, decision victories over one-time title challenger Axel Aragon Vega and former champ Angel Acosta. However, Martinez, making his seventh title defense, is a significant step up in opposition.
Who wins?: Cordova’s impressive little run ends here. Martinez won’t overwhelm his capable opponent but he’ll wear him down with his relentless aggression and stop him.

 

Elijah Garcia (16-0, 13 KOs) vs. Kyrone Davis (18-3-1, 6 KOs)

Division: Middleweight (160 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Most interesting thing about it: This is a significant test for Garcia. The 20-year-old prodigy has overwhelmed second-tier opponents with his ability and power, which has generated excitement. Davis is a step up for him. The 29-year-old veteran is an excellent technician with experience in big fights. And he’s tough. Only the naturally bigger David Benavidez has stopped him.
Who wins?: Davis will give Garcia problems with his skillset but he doesn’t have the power to keep Garcia off of him for 10 rounds. Garcia will take him out late in the fight.

 

Brian Mendoza (22-3, 16 KOs) vs. Serhii Bohachuk (23-1, 23 KOs)

Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Most interesting thing about it: Power vs. Power. Mendoza demonstrated the destructive nature of his punches with his brutal knockout of Fundora. And all 23 of Bohachuk’s victories have come by stoppage, which leaves little doubt about his ability to hurt opponents. Thus, this could be the most entertaining fight on the card. Don’t blink.
Who wins?: Mendoza might be the more durable fighter. That will allow him to take Bohachuk’s punches and deliver his own. Mendoza by late KO.

[lawrence-related id=41166,41162,41119,36644,38284,37327]

Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora: Unpacking a deep, interesting card

Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora: Unpacking a deep, interesting card.

The Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora pay-per-view card Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is unusually deep even though Tszyu lost his original opponent.

Tszyu had been scheduled to defend his 154-pound title against Keith Thurman but Thurman pulled out a few weeks ago with a biceps injury, after which Fundora agreed to take the veteran’s place in the main event.

Here is a look at the featured fights on the show, including the most interesting thing about each of them.

 

Tim Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) vs. Sebastian Fundora (20-1-1, 13 KOs)

Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
At stake: Tszyu’s WBO and vacant WBC titles
Most interesting thing about it: I would rather have seen Tszyu defend his belt against Thurman because of Thurman’s history. However, it will be fascinating to see whether the 5-foot-8½ Tszyu can chop down his 6-5½ opponent, as Brian Mendoza did in October. Fundora seems vulnerable after his first setback but he has had success at a high level.
Who wins?: Fundora’s only advantages are his height and reach, which won’t be enough against Tszyu. The beltholder will adjust to Fundora’s dimensions and break him down. Tszyu KO 8.

 

Rolando Romero (15-1, 13 KOs) vs. Isaac Cruz (25-2-1, 17 KOs)

Division: Junior welterweight (140 pounds)
At stake: Romero’s WBA title
Most interesting thing about it: Can Romero keep Cruz off of him? That’s the mission of everyone who faces the relentlessly aggressive Mexican, whose only loss since early in his career was a close decision against Gervonta Davis. Romero will have to use his jab and timely counter shots to get Cruz’s respect to have his hand raised. It won’t be easy.
Who wins?: Romero has the power to get Cruz’s attention but not enough to deter his unusually fit, durable opponent. Cruz will outwork Romero and win a clear decision.

 

Erislandy Lara (29-3-3, 17 KOs) vs. Michael Zerafa (31-4, 19 KOs)

Division: Middleweight (160 pounds)
At stake: Lara’s WBA title
Most interesting thing about it: What does Lara have left at 40? The possible future Hall of Famer from Cuba holds a major title and continues to win fights but his opposition has been suspect. Plus, he’s more willing to exchange punches with his opponents than he used to be. That presumably is the result of him losing a step in terms of his speed and reflexes.
Who wins?: Lara. He isn’t what he once was but he remains as clever as ever and has retained enough of his physical tools to beat Zerafa, a good, rugged but limited fighter.

 

Julio Cesar Martinez (20-3, 15 KOs) vs. Angelino Cordova (18-0-1, 12 KOs)

Division: Flyweight (112 pounds)
At stake: Martinez’s WBC title
Most interesting thing about it: Is Angelino Cordova the real deal? The Venezuelan came out of nowhere to deliver two eye-opening performances, decision victories over one-time title challenger Axel Aragon Vega and former champ Angel Acosta. However, Martinez, making his seventh title defense, is a significant step up in opposition.
Who wins?: Cordova’s impressive little run ends here. Martinez won’t overwhelm his capable opponent but he’ll wear him down with his relentless aggression and stop him.

 

Elijah Garcia (16-0, 13 KOs) vs. Kyrone Davis (18-3-1, 6 KOs)

Division: Middleweight (160 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Most interesting thing about it: This is a significant test for Garcia. The 20-year-old prodigy has overwhelmed second-tier opponents with his ability and power, which has generated excitement. Davis is a step up for him. The 29-year-old veteran is an excellent technician with experience in big fights. And he’s tough. Only the naturally bigger David Benavidez has stopped him.
Who wins?: Davis will give Garcia problems with his skillset but he doesn’t have the power to keep Garcia off of him for 10 rounds. Garcia will take him out late in the fight.

 

Brian Mendoza (22-3, 16 KOs) vs. Serhii Bohachuk (23-1, 23 KOs)

Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Most interesting thing about it: Power vs. Power. Mendoza demonstrated the destructive nature of his punches with his brutal knockout of Fundora. And all 23 of Bohachuk’s victories have come by stoppage, which leaves little doubt about his ability to hurt opponents. Thus, this could be the most entertaining fight on the card. Don’t blink.
Who wins?: Mendoza might be the more durable fighter. That will allow him to take Bohachuk’s punches and deliver his own. Mendoza by late KO.

[lawrence-related id=41166,41162,41119,36644,38284,37327]

Tim Tszyu vs. Keith Thurman to headline March 30 card on Prime Video

Tim Tszyu, a 154-pound titleholder, will face former 147-pound champ Keith Thurman at a catch weight of 155 pounds on pay-per-view March 30.

Premier Boxing Champions first pay-per-view show under its new deal with Amazon’s Prime Video will feature several big names.

WBO 154-pound titleholder Tim Tszyu is scheduled to face former 147-pound champ Keith Thurman at a catch weight of 155 in the main event, Premier Boxing Champions announced on Thursday. The WBO reportedly refused to sanction the matchup as a title fight.

It will be the highest profile fight in the career of Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs), who emerged as a star after victories over Tony Harrison, Carlos Ocampo and Brian Mendoza last year.

“I’ve been ready and waiting to headline a historic event like this in the U.S. for a very long time and it’s an honor that I don’t take lightly,” said Tszyu, the son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu.

“My father did it and was at the top of the world for a decade. Now it’s my turn. Thurman is a great fight. He’s tricky, tough and he’s mixed it with the very best the sport has seen. This is a new era now. It’s the Tszyu era.

“On March 30, everyone who tunes into this pay-per-view is going to see for themselves.”

Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) hasn’t fought since February of 2022, when he easily outpointed Mario Barrios. That was his only fight in four-plus years.

“I’m back in action and I’m happy to be a part of this first event with PBC on Prime Video,” Thurman said. “Tszyu stands out as an exceptional fighter, and I’ve always held admiration for his performances.

“His distinctive style provides the perfect stage for me to exhibit the relentless dedication I’ve poured into training, refining my skills, and fortifying my mental game.”

Also on the March 30 card, 140-pound beltholder Rolando Romero (15-1, 13 KOs) will face Isaac Cruz (25-2-1, 17 KOs).

Romero won the vacant WBA title by stopping Ismael Barroso in nine rounds last May. Cruz is best known for a strong performance in defeat against 135-pound beltholder Gervonta Davis in 2021. The Mexican has won three consecutive fights since then.

“This is gonna be Rolly versus the Chihuahua in the ring on March 30. I’m gonna stay world champ and be the first superstar on Prime Video,” said Romero, who was stopped by Davis in 2022.

Said Cruz: “I’ve worked extremely hard to earn this shot. I’ve tried to fight other big names, but Rolly was the only one to step up and accept the challenge.

“He’s got power and courage, and he comes to knock you out. That’s going to make this a great fight on March 30.”

Sebastian Fundora (20-1-1, 13 KOs) and Serhii Bohachuk (23-1, 23 KOs) will face off in a battle of 154-pound contenders.

Fundora, who is 6-foot-5½, will be trying to bounce back from a seventh-round knockout loss to Mendoza last April. All of Bohachuk’s victories have come by knockout. He was stopped himself by Brandon Adams in 2020, after which he has reeled off five straight wins.

And WBA 160-pound champion Erislandy Lara (29-3-3, 17 KOs) will take on Michael Zerafa (31-4, 19 KOs).

Lara, who has fought only once a year since 2019, was last in the ring in May of 2022. Zerafa also hasn’t been particularly active, having last fought in November 2020. He has four consecutive victories since he lost a decision to former 147-pound champ Jeff Horn in 2019.

[lawrence-related id=39539,39372,39356,27911,37327,38284]

Tim Tszyu vs. Keith Thurman to headline March 30 card on Prime Video

Tim Tszyu, a 154-pound titleholder, will face former 147-pound champ Keith Thurman at a catch weight of 155 pounds on pay-per-view March 30.

Premier Boxing Champions first pay-per-view show under its new deal with Amazon’s Prime Video will feature several big names.

WBO 154-pound titleholder Tim Tszyu is scheduled to face former 147-pound champ Keith Thurman at a catch weight of 155 in the main event, Premier Boxing Champions announced on Thursday. The WBO reportedly refused to sanction the matchup as a title fight.

It will be the highest profile fight in the career of Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs), who emerged as a star after victories over Tony Harrison, Carlos Ocampo and Brian Mendoza last year.

“I’ve been ready and waiting to headline a historic event like this in the U.S. for a very long time and it’s an honor that I don’t take lightly,” said Tszyu, the son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu.

“My father did it and was at the top of the world for a decade. Now it’s my turn. Thurman is a great fight. He’s tricky, tough and he’s mixed it with the very best the sport has seen. This is a new era now. It’s the Tszyu era.

“On March 30, everyone who tunes into this pay-per-view is going to see for themselves.”

Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) hasn’t fought since February of 2022, when he easily outpointed Mario Barrios. That was his only fight in four-plus years.

“I’m back in action and I’m happy to be a part of this first event with PBC on Prime Video,” Thurman said. “Tszyu stands out as an exceptional fighter, and I’ve always held admiration for his performances.

“His distinctive style provides the perfect stage for me to exhibit the relentless dedication I’ve poured into training, refining my skills, and fortifying my mental game.”

Also on the March 30 card, 140-pound beltholder Rolando Romero (15-1, 13 KOs) will face Isaac Cruz (25-2-1, 17 KOs).

Romero won the vacant WBA title by stopping Ismael Barroso in nine rounds last May. Cruz is best known for a strong performance in defeat against 135-pound beltholder Gervonta Davis in 2021. The Mexican has won three consecutive fights since then.

“This is gonna be Rolly versus the Chihuahua in the ring on March 30. I’m gonna stay world champ and be the first superstar on Prime Video,” said Romero, who was stopped by Davis in 2022.

Said Cruz: “I’ve worked extremely hard to earn this shot. I’ve tried to fight other big names, but Rolly was the only one to step up and accept the challenge.

“He’s got power and courage, and he comes to knock you out. That’s going to make this a great fight on March 30.”

Sebastian Fundora (20-1-1, 13 KOs) and Serhii Bohachuk (23-1, 23 KOs) will face off in a battle of 154-pound contenders.

Fundora, who is 6-foot-5½, will be trying to bounce back from a seventh-round knockout loss to Mendoza last April. All of Bohachuk’s victories have come by knockout. He was stopped himself by Brandon Adams in 2020, after which he has reeled off five straight wins.

And WBA 160-pound champion Erislandy Lara (29-3-3, 17 KOs) will take on Michael Zerafa (31-4, 19 KOs).

Lara, who has fought only once a year since 2019, was last in the ring in May of 2022. Zerafa also hasn’t been particularly active, having last fought in November 2020. He has four consecutive victories since he lost a decision to former 147-pound champ Jeff Horn in 2019.

[lawrence-related id=39539,39372,39356,27911,37327,38284]

Ryan Garcia bounces back with eighth-round KO of Oscar Duarte

Ryan Garcia bounced back from his seventh-round knockout loss against Gervonta Davis by stopping Oscar Duarte in the eighth Saturday.

Everything is OK with Ryan Garcia in the ring.

The 140-pound contender looked a lot like the Garcia of old Saturday night at Toyota Center in Houston, where he knocked out Oscar Duarte late in the eighth round of a scheduled 12-rounder.

It was exactly the type of performance the social media star needed in light of recent events.

Let’s start with this past April, when he suffered the first loss of his career against Gervonta Davis. And it wasn’t pretty. “Tank” ended the fight with a single body shot.

He later moved on from trainer Joe Goossen and his hometown of Los Angeles, moving to Dallas to work with Derrick James.

Then came the latest episode in ongoing drama related to his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, only two days before the fight. Garcia said at a news conference that his handlers were backing Duarte.

Bad loss. New trainer, Sour relationship with your promoter. Everyone wondered what Garcia would bring to the ring.

Well, he fought like the man who brutally knocked out Luke Campbell and Javier Fortuna in pre-Gervonta Davis fights to earn the respect of the boxing world.

Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) used his impressive combination of stick-and-move boxing ability and punching power to control the fight against Duarte, a tough, hard-punching Mexican with limited skills.

“King Ry” used his jab as a range finder and followed with quick, mostly single power shots – including some nasty uppercuts – that often found the head of Duarte while continually moving around the ring, which generally frustrated the underdog.

Duarte had some success in Rounds 5 and 6, when Garcia became more stationery and got trapped against the ropes a few times. However, Garcia got back to moving in Round 7 and Duarte could get nothing done.

Duarte had demonstrated that he has a durable chin, taking many hard punches well leading into Round 8. However, a left hook to his temple with about 30 seconds remaining in the round finally hurt him.

Garcia followed with a flurry of punches that forced Duarte to take a knee, where he tried to recover. And while he popped up around 9.5 seconds into the 10 count, referee James Green stopped the fight.

“I have a killer instinct,” Garcia said afterward. “… It was pretty basic technically. I just step back, he reaches, I catch him with a counter left hook.”

And, he said, the victory was only his first step in a fresh start.

He expressed his gratitude to James, who obviously had his new fighter in good form for the fight. James also works with Jermell Charlo, Errol Spence Jr. and Anthony Joshua in Dallas.

“Shout out to Derrick James,” Garcia said. “We worked hard. This was our first fight together. We’ll build off of this and get better. I’m committed to becoming a world champion.”

Garcia is an attractive opponent for anyone because of his massive following, which generates a great deal of money.

And now, with an impressive victory under his belt and the setback against Davis farther in the past, he’s in a good position to face one of the top fighters in the deep junior welterweight division.

He called out Rolando Romero, the WBA titleholder. “If Rolly wants that, bring it on,” he said. “I know you’ve been talking a lot. Bring it on.”

However, he doesn’t want to look too far into the future.

“Yeah, let’s keep building and then go after Devin Haney and all the other dudes,” he said. “We got to take our steps, building with Derrick James – it was our first fight – and then go from there.”

Ryan Garcia bounces back with eighth-round KO of Oscar Duarte

Ryan Garcia bounced back from his seventh-round knockout loss against Gervonta Davis by stopping Oscar Duarte in the eighth Saturday.

Everything is OK with Ryan Garcia in the ring.

The 140-pound contender looked a lot like the Garcia of old Saturday night at Toyota Center in Houston, where he knocked out Oscar Duarte late in the eighth round of a scheduled 12-rounder.

It was exactly the type of performance the social media star needed in light of recent events.

Let’s start with this past April, when he suffered the first loss of his career against Gervonta Davis. And it wasn’t pretty. “Tank” ended the fight with a single body shot.

He later moved on from trainer Joe Goossen and his hometown of Los Angeles, moving to Dallas to work with Derrick James.

Then came the latest episode in ongoing drama related to his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, only two days before the fight. Garcia said at a news conference that his handlers were backing Duarte.

Bad loss. New trainer, Sour relationship with your promoter. Everyone wondered what Garcia would bring to the ring.

Well, he fought like the man who brutally knocked out Luke Campbell and Javier Fortuna in pre-Gervonta Davis fights to earn the respect of the boxing world.

Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) used his impressive combination of stick-and-move boxing ability and punching power to control the fight against Duarte, a tough, hard-punching Mexican with limited skills.

“King Ry” used his jab as a range finder and followed with quick, mostly single power shots – including some nasty uppercuts – that often found the head of Duarte while continually moving around the ring, which generally frustrated the underdog.

Duarte had some success in Rounds 5 and 6, when Garcia became more stationery and got trapped against the ropes a few times. However, Garcia got back to moving in Round 7 and Duarte could get nothing done.

Duarte had demonstrated that he has a durable chin, taking many hard punches well leading into Round 8. However, a left hook to his temple with about 30 seconds remaining in the round finally hurt him.

Garcia followed with a flurry of punches that forced Duarte to take a knee, where he tried to recover. And while he popped up around 9.5 seconds into the 10 count, referee James Green stopped the fight.

“I have a killer instinct,” Garcia said afterward. “… It was pretty basic technically. I just step back, he reaches, I catch him with a counter left hook.”

And, he said, the victory was only his first step in a fresh start.

He expressed his gratitude to James, who obviously had his new fighter in good form for the fight. James also works with Jermell Charlo, Errol Spence Jr. and Anthony Joshua in Dallas.

“Shout out to Derrick James,” Garcia said. “We worked hard. This was our first fight together. We’ll build off of this and get better. I’m committed to becoming a world champion.”

Garcia is an attractive opponent for anyone because of his massive following, which generates a great deal of money.

And now, with an impressive victory under his belt and the setback against Davis farther in the past, he’s in a good position to face one of the top fighters in the deep junior welterweight division.

He called out Rolando Romero, the WBA titleholder. “If Rolly wants that, bring it on,” he said. “I know you’ve been talking a lot. Bring it on.”

However, he doesn’t want to look too far into the future.

“Yeah, let’s keep building and then go after Devin Haney and all the other dudes,” he said. “We got to take our steps, building with Derrick James – it was our first fight – and then go from there.”

Ryan Garcia bounces back with eighth-round KO of Oscar Duarte

Ryan Garcia bounced back from his seventh-round knockout loss against Gervonta Davis by stopping Oscar Duarte in the eighth Saturday.

Everything is OK with Ryan Garcia in the ring.

The 140-pound contender looked a lot like the Garcia of old Saturday night at Toyota Center in Houston, where he knocked out Oscar Duarte late in the eighth round of a scheduled 12-rounder.

It was exactly the type of performance the social media star needed in light of recent events.

Let’s start with this past April, when he suffered the first loss of his career against Gervonta Davis. And it wasn’t pretty. “Tank” ended the fight with a single body shot.

He later moved on from trainer Joe Goossen and his hometown of Los Angeles, moving to Dallas to work with Derrick James.

Then came the latest episode in ongoing drama related to his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, only two days before the fight. Garcia said at a news conference that his handlers were backing Duarte.

Bad loss. New trainer, Sour relationship with your promoter. Everyone wondered what Garcia would bring to the ring.

Well, he fought like the man who brutally knocked out Luke Campbell and Javier Fortuna in pre-Gervonta Davis fights to earn the respect of the boxing world.

Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) used his impressive combination of stick-and-move boxing ability and punching power to control the fight against Duarte, a tough, hard-punching Mexican with limited skills.

“King Ry” used his jab as a range finder and followed with quick, mostly single power shots – including some nasty uppercuts – that often found the head of Duarte while continually moving around the ring, which generally frustrated the underdog.

Duarte had some success in Rounds 5 and 6, when Garcia became more stationery and got trapped against the ropes a few times. However, Garcia got back to moving in Round 7 and Duarte could get nothing done.

Duarte had demonstrated that he has a durable chin, taking many hard punches well leading into Round 8. However, a left hook to his temple with about 30 seconds remaining in the round finally hurt him.

Garcia followed with a flurry of punches that forced Duarte to take a knee, where he tried to recover. And while he popped up around 9.5 seconds into the 10 count, referee James Green stopped the fight.

“I have a killer instinct,” Garcia said afterward. “… It was pretty basic technically. I just step back, he reaches, I catch him with a counter left hook.”

And, he said, the victory was only his first step in a fresh start.

He expressed his gratitude to James, who obviously had his new fighter in good form for the fight. James also works with Jermell Charlo, Errol Spence Jr. and Anthony Joshua in Dallas.

“Shout out to Derrick James,” Garcia said. “We worked hard. This was our first fight together. We’ll build off of this and get better. I’m committed to becoming a world champion.”

Garcia is an attractive opponent for anyone because of his massive following, which generates a great deal of money.

And now, with an impressive victory under his belt and the setback against Davis farther in the past, he’s in a good position to face one of the top fighters in the deep junior welterweight division.

He called out Rolando Romero, the WBA titleholder. “If Rolly wants that, bring it on,” he said. “I know you’ve been talking a lot. Bring it on.”

However, he doesn’t want to look too far into the future.

“Yeah, let’s keep building and then go after Devin Haney and all the other dudes,” he said. “We got to take our steps, building with Derrick James – it was our first fight – and then go from there.”

Ryan Garcia bounces back with eighth-round KO of Oscar Duarte

Ryan Garcia bounced back from his seventh-round knockout loss against Gervonta Davis by stopping Oscar Duarte in the eighth Saturday.

Everything is OK with Ryan Garcia in the ring.

The 140-pound contender looked a lot like the Garcia of old Saturday night at Toyota Center in Houston, where he knocked out Oscar Duarte late in the eighth round of a scheduled 12-rounder.

It was exactly the type of performance the social media star needed in light of recent events.

Let’s start with this past April, when he suffered the first loss of his career against Gervonta Davis. And it wasn’t pretty. “Tank” ended the fight with a single body shot.

He later moved on from trainer Joe Goossen and his hometown of Los Angeles, moving to Dallas to work with Derrick James.

Then came the latest episode in ongoing drama related to his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, only two days before the fight. Garcia said at a news conference that his handlers were backing Duarte.

Bad loss. New trainer, Sour relationship with your promoter. Everyone wondered what Garcia would bring to the ring.

Well, he fought like the man who brutally knocked out Luke Campbell and Javier Fortuna in pre-Gervonta Davis fights to earn the respect of the boxing world.

Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) used his impressive combination of stick-and-move boxing ability and punching power to control the fight against Duarte, a tough, hard-punching Mexican with limited skills.

“King Ry” used his jab as a range finder and followed with quick, mostly single power shots – including some nasty uppercuts – that often found the head of Duarte while continually moving around the ring, which generally frustrated the underdog.

Duarte had some success in Rounds 5 and 6, when Garcia became more stationery and got trapped against the ropes a few times. However, Garcia got back to moving in Round 7 and Duarte could get nothing done.

Duarte had demonstrated that he has a durable chin, taking many hard punches well leading into Round 8. However, a left hook to his temple with about 30 seconds remaining in the round finally hurt him.

Garcia followed with a flurry of punches that forced Duarte to take a knee, where he tried to recover. And while he popped up around 9.5 seconds into the 10 count, referee James Green stopped the fight.

“I have a killer instinct,” Garcia said afterward. “… It was pretty basic technically. I just step back, he reaches, I catch him with a counter left hook.”

And, he said, the victory was only his first step in a fresh start.

He expressed his gratitude to James, who obviously had his new fighter in good form for the fight. James also works with Jermell Charlo, Errol Spence Jr. and Anthony Joshua in Dallas.

“Shout out to Derrick James,” Garcia said. “We worked hard. This was our first fight together. We’ll build off of this and get better. I’m committed to becoming a world champion.”

Garcia is an attractive opponent for anyone because of his massive following, which generates a great deal of money.

And now, with an impressive victory under his belt and the setback against Davis farther in the past, he’s in a good position to face one of the top fighters in the deep junior welterweight division.

He called out Rolando Romero, the WBA titleholder. “If Rolly wants that, bring it on,” he said. “I know you’ve been talking a lot. Bring it on.”

However, he doesn’t want to look too far into the future.

“Yeah, let’s keep building and then go after Devin Haney and all the other dudes,” he said. “We got to take our steps, building with Derrick James – it was our first fight – and then go from there.”

Weekend Review: Rolando Romero escapes with belt on forgettable night

Weekend Review: Rolando Romero escaped with a belt on an otherwise forgettable night Saturday in Las Vegas.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER?
Rolando Romero

What a disaster. Romero gave a weak performance, hit the canvas, was awarded a dubious knockdown himself and then received the ultimate gift by the referee: a knockout of Ismael Barroso he didn’t deserve in the ninth to win a 140-pound title that is tainted from the beginning Saturday in Las Vegas. On top of that the fight was boring as hell. The boxers landed a combined total of 104 punches over eight-plus rounds, according to CompuBox. It wasn’t a good night for anyone involved. Romero was overly cautious because he didn’t want to get caught by a big shot, which allowed Barroso to lead on all three cards at the time of the stoppage. The 40-year-old slugger from Venezuela didn’t do much either but he put Romero down in Round 3 and pushed the action for most of the fight. He seemed to have victory within his grasp. That’s why the events of Round 9 were particularly galling. First a knockdown that was the result of a push, not a punch. Then a stoppage by referee Tony Weeks even though Barroso was on his feet and defending himself. Bad fight, bad performance by Romero, bad miscue by Weeks. Rarely has a fighter accomplished so little by winning a major belt.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Ismael Barroso

Rolando Romero pushed Ismael Borroso down in Round 9.  Steve Marcus / Getty Images

You have to feel for Barroso. He did all he could in light of his advanced age to earn a 78-73, 77-74 and 76-75 on the cards after eight completed rounds, leaving him in a strong position to win his first world title late in the game. Then it was gone. The stoppage justifiably outraged many of those watching but that doesn’t do Barroso any good. He lost the fight as the result of a referee’s mistake and might never get another opportunity to challenge for a major championship, which makes Weeks’ actions all the more heartbreaking. Even Romero acknowledged afterward that the fight shouldn’t have been stopped. There’s only way Barroso can get a modicum of justice: a rematch. If anyone deserves it, it’s him after the debacle on Saturday night. Will Romero give him a second chance? He mentioned the names Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia afterward, not Barroso. Hopefully the new titleholder and his handlers will push higher-profile matchups up one fight and do the right thing. Barroso earned it.

 

BIGGEST LOSER II
Tony Weeks

Should Ismael Barroso (left) been allowed to continue?  Steve Marcus / Getty Images

Was the stoppage as bad as it looked? It’s tough to make a case for Weeks, who is a respected veteran referee who had an off night. Barroso might’ve been in a somewhat weakened state after Romero pushed him down and followed with a flurry of punches meant to end the fight. The problem is that few of those shots found the target. And Barroso never stopped fighting back, unloading — and landing — his own hard blows. That’s why Weeks’ ultimate decision was so shocking. The universal reaction surely was, “What?!” Weeks was physically closer to Barroso than anyone else – maybe he saw something we didn’t – but most will agree, based on what they could see, that Weeks blew it. And that was only Part II of this fiasco. The knockdown moments earlier shouldn’t have been a knockdown. Romero did land a left but Barroso took the punch. Replays made it clear that it was a push that sent him to the canvas. Of course, Weeks didn’t enjoy the benefit of a replay. And he would argue that Barroso wasn’t in condition to continue when he stopped the fight, according to his judgment. Still, it’s clear that it wasn’t Weeks’ best night in the ring.

 

WORST IDEA?
Romero vs. Davis or Garcia

Romero said he would like to defend his new title against Ryan Garcia, which makes sense on more than one level. Garcia’s fanbase would bring a great deal of attention to the fight. And Garcia is deemed beatable after his knockout loss to Gervonta Davis last month, although Romero also was stopped by Tank. My advice to Romero: Be careful what you wish for. Garcia would eat Romero alive. Garcia has the amateur foundation Romero lacks and is both quicker and more powerful than the titleholder. Romero wouldn’t last six rounds. Romero also said after his victory on Saturday that he wants a rematch with Davis, who stopped him in six. Forget it. He was competitive with Davis for five-plus rounds because Davis is a patient fighter who often eases his way into his fights, not because Romero has comparable abilities to that of Davis. Romero would be wise to give Barroso a rematch and continue to develop before tangling with Garcia or Davis a second time.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Janibek Alimkhanuly

Alimkhanuly (14-0, 9 KOs) gave a so-so performance in a unanimous decision victory over Denzel Bentley in November, raising questions about the former amateur world champion’s ceiling. He answered those questions Saturday. The 160-pound titleholder put overmatched Steven Butler (32-4-1, 26 KOs) down three times and stopped him, all in a wild, dominating Round 2. OK, we shouldn’t get carried away with Alimkhanuly’s victory. Butler (32-4-1, 26 KOs) was grossly overmatched, which limits the significance of the winner’s accomplishment. At the same time, the 30-year-old Kazakhstani’s spectacular performance on national television in the U.S. will have boosted his profile and increased his chances of luring a top middleweight into the ring. He called out fellow 160-pound titleholder Jermall Charlo and 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez in the wake of his knockout. I doubt he did enough to land one of those opponents but he certainly took a step in that direction.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

The best fight on the Romero-Barroso card was a brilliant, back-and-forth scrap between Kenneth Sims Jr. and Batyr Akhmedov that Sims won by a majority decision. Sims (20-2-1, 7 KOs) has long been considered an excellent technician with limited power who couldn’t quite reach elite status. He did that on Saturday, boxing well, withstanding Akhmedov’s relentless pressure and fighting hard until the end of the battle of 140-pound contenders. He is now a legitimate opponent for anyone. Akhmedov (9-3, 8 KOs)? I can’t blame him for feeling that the powers that be are working against him because he has now ended up on the wrong end of three close, disputable decisions. I hope he doesn’t give up. He’s obviously an excellent fighter. … Kudos to Jason Moloney (26-2, 19 KOs) on his perseverance. The Australian had failed in previous attempts to win major titles against Emmanul Rodriguez and then Naoya Inoue but finally got over the hump against Vincent Astrolabio (18-4, 13 KOs) on the Alimkhanuly-Butler card, winning a majority decision to claim the vacant WBO 118-pound belt.

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Weekend Review: Rolando Romero escapes with belt on forgettable night

Weekend Review: Rolando Romero escaped with a belt on an otherwise forgettable night Saturday in Las Vegas.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER?
Rolando Romero

What a disaster. Romero gave a weak performance, hit the canvas, was awarded a dubious knockdown himself and then received the ultimate gift by the referee: a knockout of Ismael Barroso he didn’t deserve in the ninth to win a 140-pound title that is tainted from the beginning Saturday in Las Vegas. On top of that the fight was boring as hell. The boxers landed a combined total of 104 punches over eight-plus rounds, according to CompuBox. It wasn’t a good night for anyone involved. Romero was overly cautious because he didn’t want to get caught by a big shot, which allowed Barroso to lead on all three cards at the time of the stoppage. The 40-year-old slugger from Venezuela didn’t do much either but he put Romero down in Round 3 and pushed the action for most of the fight. He seemed to have victory within his grasp. That’s why the events of Round 9 were particularly galling. First a knockdown that was the result of a push, not a punch. Then a stoppage by referee Tony Weeks even though Barroso was on his feet and defending himself. Bad fight, bad performance by Romero, bad miscue by Weeks. Rarely has a fighter accomplished so little by winning a major belt.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Ismael Barroso

Rolando Romero pushed Ismael Borroso down in Round 9.  Steve Marcus / Getty Images

You have to feel for Barroso. He did all he could in light of his advanced age to earn a 78-73, 77-74 and 76-75 on the cards after eight completed rounds, leaving him in a strong position to win his first world title late in the game. Then it was gone. The stoppage justifiably outraged many of those watching but that doesn’t do Barroso any good. He lost the fight as the result of a referee’s mistake and might never get another opportunity to challenge for a major championship, which makes Weeks’ actions all the more heartbreaking. Even Romero acknowledged afterward that the fight shouldn’t have been stopped. There’s only way Barroso can get a modicum of justice: a rematch. If anyone deserves it, it’s him after the debacle on Saturday night. Will Romero give him a second chance? He mentioned the names Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia afterward, not Barroso. Hopefully the new titleholder and his handlers will push higher-profile matchups up one fight and do the right thing. Barroso earned it.

 

BIGGEST LOSER II
Tony Weeks

Should Ismael Barroso (left) been allowed to continue?  Steve Marcus / Getty Images

Was the stoppage as bad as it looked? It’s tough to make a case for Weeks, who is a respected veteran referee who had an off night. Barroso might’ve been in a somewhat weakened state after Romero pushed him down and followed with a flurry of punches meant to end the fight. The problem is that few of those shots found the target. And Barroso never stopped fighting back, unloading — and landing — his own hard blows. That’s why Weeks’ ultimate decision was so shocking. The universal reaction surely was, “What?!” Weeks was physically closer to Barroso than anyone else – maybe he saw something we didn’t – but most will agree, based on what they could see, that Weeks blew it. And that was only Part II of this fiasco. The knockdown moments earlier shouldn’t have been a knockdown. Romero did land a left but Barroso took the punch. Replays made it clear that it was a push that sent him to the canvas. Of course, Weeks didn’t enjoy the benefit of a replay. And he would argue that Barroso wasn’t in condition to continue when he stopped the fight, according to his judgment. Still, it’s clear that it wasn’t Weeks’ best night in the ring.

 

WORST IDEA?
Romero vs. Davis or Garcia

Romero said he would like to defend his new title against Ryan Garcia, which makes sense on more than one level. Garcia’s fanbase would bring a great deal of attention to the fight. And Garcia is deemed beatable after his knockout loss to Gervonta Davis last month, although Romero also was stopped by Tank. My advice to Romero: Be careful what you wish for. Garcia would eat Romero alive. Garcia has the amateur foundation Romero lacks and is both quicker and more powerful than the titleholder. Romero wouldn’t last six rounds. Romero also said after his victory on Saturday that he wants a rematch with Davis, who stopped him in six. Forget it. He was competitive with Davis for five-plus rounds because Davis is a patient fighter who often eases his way into his fights, not because Romero has comparable abilities to that of Davis. Romero would be wise to give Barroso a rematch and continue to develop before tangling with Garcia or Davis a second time.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Janibek Alimkhanuly

Alimkhanuly (14-0, 9 KOs) gave a so-so performance in a unanimous decision victory over Denzel Bentley in November, raising questions about the former amateur world champion’s ceiling. He answered those questions Saturday. The 160-pound titleholder put overmatched Steven Butler (32-4-1, 26 KOs) down three times and stopped him, all in a wild, dominating Round 2. OK, we shouldn’t get carried away with Alimkhanuly’s victory. Butler (32-4-1, 26 KOs) was grossly overmatched, which limits the significance of the winner’s accomplishment. At the same time, the 30-year-old Kazakhstani’s spectacular performance on national television in the U.S. will have boosted his profile and increased his chances of luring a top middleweight into the ring. He called out fellow 160-pound titleholder Jermall Charlo and 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez in the wake of his knockout. I doubt he did enough to land one of those opponents but he certainly took a step in that direction.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

The best fight on the Romero-Barroso card was a brilliant, back-and-forth scrap between Kenneth Sims Jr. and Batyr Akhmedov that Sims won by a majority decision. Sims (20-2-1, 7 KOs) has long been considered an excellent technician with limited power who couldn’t quite reach elite status. He did that on Saturday, boxing well, withstanding Akhmedov’s relentless pressure and fighting hard until the end of the battle of 140-pound contenders. He is now a legitimate opponent for anyone. Akhmedov (9-3, 8 KOs)? I can’t blame him for feeling that the powers that be are working against him because he has now ended up on the wrong end of three close, disputable decisions. I hope he doesn’t give up. He’s obviously an excellent fighter. … Kudos to Jason Moloney (26-2, 19 KOs) on his perseverance. The Australian had failed in previous attempts to win major titles against Emmanul Rodriguez and then Naoya Inoue but finally got over the hump against Vincent Astrolabio (18-4, 13 KOs) on the Alimkhanuly-Butler card, winning a majority decision to claim the vacant WBO 118-pound belt.

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