Connect with us

Boxing

George Groves wonders if Oleksandr Usyk is number one pound-for-pound

Published

on

BECOME the undisputed champion in two weight classes where Oleksandr Usyk currently occupies a mythical position in the mythical pound-for-pound rankings?

The list of the 10 best fighters in the world divides the boxing community: some say it is a pointless exercise, while others enjoy the debate on who is the best fighter in the world.

The sport entered an era with future stars such as Naoya Inoue, Terence Crawford, Usyk, Canelo Alvarez and others. After watching the Ukrainian score a stunning victory over Tyson Fury on Saturday night, former WBA super middleweight champion George Groves was asked if the 37-year-old was the recent number one pound-for-pound ranking, replacing either Inoue or Crawford.

– It has to be there, right? It has to be there,” Groves said.

“Pound for pound is always arduous. It’s always a debate because you’ve got Crawford, you’ve got Canelo and you’ve got Inoue.

“He’s of that caliber now [Usyk]. In some ways it’s a pound-for-pound fight because he gave up so much weight and size and still got the job done.

“You can’t say that Crawford would be able to beat Canelo. I’ll put him down [Usyk] over there. Only time will tell where you place him on the all-time great list.

“He has to be there because he lives in the up-to-date era of giants and defeats them. The fact that Evander Holyfield did it, but he overcame it [Mike] Tyson, who is 5’10”, 5’11″. He is [Usyk] he came in and beat Tyson Fury, 6’9″. So you have to put it there. He is an exceptional talent.”


Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Boxing

The Trinidad vs. Sosa fight will take place on October 26 at the top of Hollywood Fight Nights

Published

on

Trinidad vs Sosa Oct 26

Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions presents the next exclusive Hollywood Fight Nights event, which will take place on Friday, October 26 at the famed Commerce Casino Events Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live worldwide on UFC FIGHT PASS, the world’s leading digital combat sports subscription service .

The main characters of the Hollywood Fight Nights gala, which will take place on October 26, will be undefeated Omar Trinidad (16-0-1, 12 KO) from Boyle Heights, California, who is in the world ranking (13th place IBF, 15th WBC) and undefeated Omar Trinidad (16-0-1, 12 KO) of Boyle Heights, California, who defends his WBC Continental Title America Featherweight Title for the second time against IBF world No. 4 Hector “La Maquinita” Sosa (17-2, 9 KO ) from Buenos Aires, Argentina in ten scheduled rounds. Trinidad vs. Sosa is presented in association with Sampson Boxing.

Hollywood Fight Nights advance tickets for $200, $150, $100 and $80 are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.360Promotions.us. Commerce Casino, “the world’s largest card room and home of the LA Poker Classic,” is located at 6131 Telegraph Road, Commerce, CA 90040. More information and directions can be found on their website.

“Omar Trinidad proves in every fight that he is one of the top featherweights in boxing, and his willingness to take on the toughest fighters in the division and his aggressive, action-packed style have made him one of the most popular fighters in California.” said Tom Loeffler. “Hector Sosa is a very solid, highly rated, world-class fighter with an impressive winning streak and represents Omar’s toughest opponent to date.”

Omar Trinidad started his 2024 campaign on January 27 with an eighth-round knockout of rival Jose Perez. Then, on July 26, he caused a sensational stoppage of Wiktor Sławiński in the tenth round. Both fights resulted in two game-changing knockdowns of his opponents and were fought in front of a sold-out crowd at the Commerce Casino filled with a legion of Trinidadian supporters.

Hector Sosa, currently riding a three-fight winning streak, returns to action following a 12-round unanimous decision over hometown challenger Keenan Carbajal on June 30, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2023, Sosa scored back-to-back wins over James Dickens (KO-10) in Dubai on July 22 and an impressive 10-round decision over undefeated challenger Laureano Sciuto on March 21 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Continue Reading

Boxing

Mylik Birdsong, boxer from Los Angeles, shot dead at the age of 31

Published

on

by Francisco Salazar |

Mylik Birdsong, a welterweight prospect who recently won a regional title, was shot and killed Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles.

Birdsong (15-1-1, 10 knockouts), a Los Angeles resident, was 31 years senior. On October 26 at the Commerce Casino in nearby Commerce, he was scheduled to fight Gor Yeritsyan in a fascinating clash of once-defeated welterweights. The fight was scheduled to be broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass.

Tom Loeffler, head of 360 Boxing Promotions and promoter of the October 26 card, was overcome with sadness upon learning of Birdsong’s death.

“We were thrilled to announce the return of Gor Yeritsyan during our October 26 show at Commerce Casino,” Loeffler told The Ring overdue Sunday evening. “He was supposed to take part in a great duel with Mylik Birdsong. Unfortunately, we have just received the tragic news that Mylik has died. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family and friends. We will definitely honor Mylik with an (honorary) 10 at our exhibition.”

According to the Los Angeles Police Department in a statement to KTLA5, the shooting occurred around 4:50 p.m. near the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. Birdsong was standing next to his car talking to his girlfriend, who was sitting inside, when a gloomy SUV drove up and opened fire on him. Birdsong was hit and ran toward the driveway of the house, where he was hit again by gunfire from two men chasing him.

Birdsong, who was hit a total of seven times in the torso. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The investigation, including determining the motive, is ongoing.

Birdsong last fought on March 23 at Saint John Bosco High School in nearby Bellflower, defeating Jerry Bradford by unanimous decision. With the victory, Bradford won the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) International welterweight title.

In his previous fight on November 11, Birdsong was knocked out by Jose Vargas Quintana in a clash of undefeated prospects.

Follow @FSalazarBoxing

Continue Reading

Boxing

Tyson Fury: “I have to knock out Usyk”

Published

on

Author: Sean Crose

“I didn’t think he beat me last time,” Tyson Fury said recently “and I sure as hell won’t let him beat me this time.” For those who don’t know, Fury lost his war against Oleksandr Usyk last May on cards in Saudi Arabia. He doesn’t want everything to be the same when the two men meet again in December in Saudi Arabia. “I have to knock out Usyk and I will train to knock him out well… and that is what I will do.”

Fury, who is celebrated for his outspoken and boisterous behavior, stressed that he would actually starch Usyk from afar. “This time I’m going to knock it out ct,” he said. “Believe it first. See it in your mind first and do it there. I can’t take anything away from ugly Usyk. I can’t say I didn’t prepare and train. I did what I had to do. He made a decision over me and we have to take it back.

Reflecting on the defeat to the immensely talented Usyk, Fury argued that it wasn’t entirely bad: “It makes sense to have a rematch and get the win back. I had already reached the point where I actually cared. This decision was probably made to wake me up and give me back that type of aggression where I feel like punching someone.

Fury has been known to go from acting enthusiastic to disinterested after doffing his symbolic hat… and he never lets it show if he engages in mind games or simply changes his mind frequently. However, at the moment he seems determined to avenge his defeat to Usyk – the first and only loss Fury has suffered in a 36-fight career.

“I have someone who can get the better of me,” he said, “who broke me, took my virginity, and stole it back where he lives.” And now the man wants to return the favor to Usyk. “That’s what I’m concerned about,” Fury said. “I don’t care about Anthony Joshua and what he does. I have a man who has me by the balls, let’s just say for now.

Without a doubt, Usyk-Fury 2 is one of the most anticipated fights of the year, if not the most anticipated fight, at least in part because it’s strenuous to predict a winner in advance – the first fight was so close.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending