Boxing
“Christian Mbilli or Sergiy Derevyanchenko will play with Canelo Alvarez”
Published
5 months agoon
By
J. HumzaCamille Estephan is hoping to get super middleweight title contender Christian Mbilli to Quebec City’s Videotron Centre in August, putting pressure on the biggest names in the weight class to fight him.
Mbilli is 27-0 (23 KOs) and defeated Englishman Mark Heffron in 40 seconds in May. However, on August 17 he will meet world-class Ukrainian veteran Sergiy Derevyanchenko made significant progress over the course of 10 rounds.
Estephan clearly has high hopes for Mbilli, but is aware of how essential a convincing victory is.
“To be straightforward, we don’t think we’ve seen his best side yet,” the promoter said. “I think we’ve Derevyanchenko, who is one of the best fighters at 168 – I don’t think there’s ever been a better fighter than this guy who has a record of 15 and 5. He should be 19 and 1 and in his last five fights he’s only fought world champions or former world champions, so he’s real. This is going to be a top-level fight and we’re sure Christian will show that he’s fit to fight Canelo [Alvarez]; [Jaime] Munguia…”
Respectable Derevyanchenko has 10 knockouts in 15 wins, and his last eight opponents include Danny Jacobs, Jack Culcay, Gennady Golovkin, Jermall Charlo, Carlos Adames and Jaime Munguia. In April, he significantly outscored Vaughn Alexander over 10 rounds, and the winner in August will be ready for a major fight in 2025.
“If the winner of Mbilli-Derevyanchenko fight, especially if it’s a fight in which he [Mbilli] can deliver what we know he has, people will be clamoring for that Canelo fight,” Estephan said. “People will want him [Canelo] fight with him [the winner].”
In the same organization in Quebec, heavyweights Guido Vianello and Arslanbek Makhmudov will face off in an fascinating fight of underdogs.
“It’s a great fight,” Estephan said. “They’re two boxers; two guys with solid jaws, both guys who can bring a lot of firepower to the ring. It’s going to be a war.”
“The winner has a great chance when you look at the gigantic fights and the heavyweight scene that’s happening and is going to happen, and then you go back to the game – and the guy who loses? It depends on how he loses. When you fight guys of that caliber, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but maybe it depends on the performance of each guy.”
Abdullah Mason, Top Rank lightweight contender from Ohio, 7-0 Belarus’ Dzmitry Asanau, a two-time Olympian named Estephan, is highly rated and is expected to challenge for promotion, also as a player.
But the show could be stolen by 11-0 (10 KO) Cuban talent Osleys Iglesias. Estephan’s Eye of the Tiger organization poses a solemn threat at 168. They also have Erik Bazinyan, who BoxingScene reported was supposed to fight Diego Pacheco next month. That has become unlikely, and his promoter would not comment on the Canadian-based Armenian’s next move, but he is pleased with the threat his trio poses at 168.
“Mbilli, Iglesias and Bazinyan are three of the five best super middleweights in the world, so we are in a very enviable position, and this guy [Iglesias]what we’ve seen in his last two fights is terrifyingly terrifying,” he said. “So we’re looking for an opponent who means something. He’s real. He’s got skills, strength, an incredible team, and also good coaches around him. He’s very solemn and very newborn. And he’s got terrifying strength that I’ve rarely seen.”
You may like
Boxing
The fight between Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel will take place on December 14 at the Toyota Arena
Published
22 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
2 days 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
3 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.
“DON’T LIKE BUD’S STYLE vs BOOTS” – Russell Brothers DEBATE WHO WINS Terence Crawford vs Jaron Ennis
‘ANTHONY JOSHUA REMATCH WILL NEVER HAPPEN!’ – Frank Warren on Dubois, PAUL VS TYSON
Lennox Lewis: How I Would Have Beaten Oleksandr Usyk
Trending
-
MMA6 months ago
Max Holloway is on a mission at UFC 212
-
Interviews1 month ago
Carl Froch predicts that Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
-
Interviews1 month ago
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
-
MMA6 months ago
Cris Cyborg ready to add a UFC title to her collection
-
MMA6 months ago
The Irish showed up in droves at the Mayweather-McGregor weigh-in
-
Boxing4 months ago
Lucas Bahdi ready to test his skills against Ashton Sylve
-
Interviews6 months ago
I fell in love with boxing again
-
Opinions & Features2 months ago
Dmitry Bivol: The story so far