Boxing
Follow the Leader: Captains play a key role in 5v5
Published
6 months agoon
By
J. Humza
CAPTAIN Deontay Wilder and Hamzah Sheeraz hope to lead their teams to victory when Matchroom and Queensberry fighters face off in a 5v5 battle this Saturday.
While the role of captain traditionally plays a larger role in other sports, GEA president Turki Alalshikh introduced leadership as a modern element in boxing.
Ten players from the stables of Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren will face each other in the next extravaganza of the season in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.
But in a sport where success is largely measured by individual skill, how much influence will Wilder and Sheeraz have on their teammates?
Well, there’s a good chance that their in-ring performances will determine which team comes out on top.
Their point total is doubled, with a potential four points up for grabs if either captain scores a half-time win over their opponent.
But beyond accumulating points, it’s worth considering the impact their contrasting personalities will have.
Wilder has all the qualities of a charismatic leader; someone who, as a powerful, captivating speaker, tends to command respect in almost any setting.
His noisy shouts of “BOMB SQUAD” can be heard in every building, regardless of shape or size, and his words echo down the halls, down the stairs and, to a more deafening degree, in the room from which they came.
However, for a low while this person went missing. The 38-year-old surprised everyone with an uncharacteristically composed approach to his last match against Joseph Parker.
This peaceful version of the once-dreaded “Brown Bomber” was complex to accept, but it all suddenly made sense when, before his punishing defeat to the Up-to-date Zealander, Wilder revealed that he had taken ayahuasca – a psychedelic drug – while on a break in Costa Rica.
Now that his boisterous self has seemingly been restored, the former heavyweight world champion looks to get back to winning ways when he faces Zhilei Zhang, who also lost to Parker.
If in the days leading up to tonight’s fight, Wilder can exude the same energy that he has harnessed throughout his career, then at an elite level in the sport where the margins are good, that could be enough to give the Matchroom team an advantage.
After all, who wouldn’t want to go out on the field and starch their opponent while hearing “Bomb Squad” every five minutes?
You could almost say the exact opposite about Sheeraz. The undefeated middleweight representing Team Queensberry has been heading towards greatness since his professional debut.
His composure combined with a ruthless killer instinct complements his style outside the ring. While he may never be the loudest in the room, Sheeraz, at 25, is beyond his years when it comes to the level of confidence he has built.
Many expected Warren to announce a senior member of his team, such as Zhang, as Queensberry’s captain. But in Sheeraz’s case, the Hall of Fame promoter has someone who can lead by example – a fighter with no blemishes on his record.
Sheeraz will face undefeated American Austin “Ammo” Williams in a mouth-watering matchup between two extremely talented operators. It would be impressive for both players to have a break in the match, but ultimately securing victory is far more crucial than scoring points for the teams.
Like Wilder, Sheeraz may be looking to implement his own leadership position in the build-up to Saturday. His teammates may even benefit from the composure he will inevitably display throughout fight week.
While in reality the differences between the two captains may not affect the outcome of each fight, the battle between Matchroom and Queensberry, reinforced by two opposing attitudes, could be defined as a clash of fire and ice.
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Boxing
The fight between Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel will take place on December 14 at the Toyota Arena
Published
8 hours agoon
November 23, 2024In a clash of forces between two world title contenders, NABO welterweight titleholder Alexis “Lex” Rocha (25-2-0, 16 KO) will put his skills to the test against undefeated knockout and NABF welterweight titleholder Raul “El Cugar “. Curiel (15-0, 13 KO).
The 10-round main event will take place on Saturday, December 14, live from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.
“‘The best versus the best’ is Golden Boy’s mantra and that’s what fans will see as Rocha and Curiel take on everything that’s on the table,” said President and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “Rocha is a veteran whose goal is to win the world title, Curiel is an undefeated blue-chip prospect with huge potential. It’s really a 50/50 fight and I’m looking forward to it.”
Tickets for the Rocha vs. match Curiel will go on sale on Friday, October 11 at 10 a.m. PT and will be priced at $100, $75, $50 and $25, excluding applicable service fees. A confined number of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available, including exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades. Standard and VIP tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, Toyota-arena.com, Goldenboy.com or at the Toyota Arena box office from Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 16:00
“I’ve seen Raul Curiel all these years and he never once mentioned my name,” Alexis Rocha said. “After my last defeat, he suddenly became interested in fighting me. If he thinks I’ve lost a step or somehow had an simple fight, he’s in for a rude awakening. I can’t wait to make a statement and show the world what I’m capable of.”
Santa Ana, California Rep. Alexis “Lex” Rocha comes from a struggling family. The younger brother of Ronny Rios, he was the youngest fighter to win a gold medal at the Junior Olympics at the age of 14 in 2012 and caught the attention of the boxing world by becoming a six-time national champion during his amateur career. Rocha signed with Golden Boy in January 2016 and made his professional debut in March 2016, defeating Jordan Rosario at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. Since then, he has amassed an enviable record of powerful knockouts over top contenders and plans to return to world title contention, with his last fight being a victory over undefeated Santiago Dominguez on July 19 last year.
“The fans can expect a war,” said Raul Curiel. “I’m going to prepare well to put on a great show. This will be the most essential fight of my career so far. I know Alexis is a great fighter, a good opponent and will also show up prepared. My focus is on Alexis and if I can beat him, I know it will give me a chance to fight for the world championship.
Boxing
George Kambosos moves up to 140, adds Eddie Hearn to team
Published
1 day agoon
November 23, 2024Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.
Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.
The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.
Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.
The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.
“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.
“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.
“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”
Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.
“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].
Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.
“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.
Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.
“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.
Boxing
Mike Tyson had absolutely no chance of knocking out Jake Paul
Published
2 days agoon
November 21, 2024One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.
WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.
Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.
“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.
“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.
“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.
He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”
Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.
Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.
Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.
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