Boxing
If He Looks Like a Duck: Murodjon Akhmadaliev Bypassed by Naoya Inoue?
Published
5 months agoon
By
J. HumzaINDIO, California – Puzzled, confused, concerned.
Murodjon “MJ” Akhmadaliev is all of the above as he contemplates events that will likely deny him the opportunity to win the World Boxing Association mandatory title in a fight against Japanese four-division champion and current undisputed junior featherweight king, Naoya Inoue.
“You just received the Fighter of the Year award. You’re considered one of the best fighters in the world, regardless of weight class. And you’re avoiding this challenge? It’s ridiculous,” Akhmadaliev told BoxingScene in response to Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs).
The 31-year-old Inoue is instead set to defend his title against veteran TJ Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs) in early September, and his American promoter Bob Arum said the two-time undisputed champion Inoue will likely move up to featherweight and try to grab that title as well.
29-year-old Akhmadaliev doesn’t understand this.
The former junior featherweight champion won the belts in 2020 with a split decision victory over Danny Roman, who had defeated Doheny by majority decision nine months earlier.
Northern Ireland’s Doheny made a name for himself in Japan, notching three straight wins there, and is now 37 years vintage.
Akhmadaliev stated that it is extremely crucial for a champion to honor his commitments, which as a champion he did three times.
“I respect all fighters, but this fight is four or five years overdue” [past Doheny’s prime]”- said Akhmadaliev. “It makes no sense for someone from [Inoue’s level] I would fight an vintage man who lost his title five years ago – when I beat the man who beat [Doheny] in my seventh professional fight. If so [Inoue’s] “proving his greatness, that’s just the way it is.”
Arum added salt to the wound by previously telling BoxingScene that “nobody knows who [Akhmadaliev] Is.”
This irritated the coach of Uzbekistan Akhmadaliev (12-1, 9 KOs), Joel Diaz.
“Listen, everything was going well until Bob Arum said this fight doesn’t make sense because MJ doesn’t have a name,” Diaz said Monday at the gym where Akhmadalieva trains.
“Look who [Arum’s fighter] Teofimo Lopez just fought… a guy I’ve never heard of in my life [Steve Claggett]I know why they do it. Because they know the only fighter they fear and who can beat Inoue right now is MJ
“They won’t fight MJ now. They want to keep their title and have an basic fight [against Doheny] this is for them. But MJ beat Roman, and Roman beat [Doheny]. MJ hurts his opponents. He has bulky hands, he’s very agile. They know Inoue would be tough for MJ, so they decided to go the other way.”
Arum responded on Tuesday.
“Saying I didn’t know him doesn’t mean he’s not a good fighter,” Arum told BoxingScene. “I have nothing against the kid. I mean, it’s a business and they know that.
“Instead of going to Inoue and asking him to bid and trying to get money from him, they should have come and talked to him [Inoue’s Japanese promoter Akihiko] Honda and asked for a fight.”
Akhmadaliev’s manager, Vadim Kornilov, said Inoue was overstepping his bounds and avoiding Akhmadaliev, asking the WBA for a “special permit to avoid Akhmadaliev.”
“I didn’t know Akhmadaliev was such a shunned boxer. He’s good, but that’s what being the best is all about: fighting the best opponent available,” Kornilov said. “It seemed [previous champion and Inoue victim Stephen] Fulton avoided the MJ fight out of pure curiosity.
“Now Inoue wants to fight TJ Doheny. We are not fighting for money. We can try to fight in the UK or Saudi Arabia [Arabia] if they think this fight is not good enough for the Japanese fans.”
Akhmadaliev lost his WBA and IBF titles in April 2023 in a fight with Marlon Tapales of the Philippines, losing by split decision despite one of the scorecards being 118-110 in favor of Akhmadaliev (the other scorecards were 115-113 in favor of Tapales).
Tapales was knocked out by Inoue in the 10th round of their fight on December 26 in Japan.
Meanwhile, Akhmadaliev could face the second WBA title challenger, Texas’ Ramon Cardenas (25-1, 14 KOs), if the WBA takes action to strip Inoue of his world title for failing to make a mandatory defense.
“I am in touch with my management team. If [Inoue’s] I’m going to resign and give up the title, I’ll fight whoever comes next. It’s nothing novel for me,” Akhmadaliev said.
“But as for the fact that I don’t have a name… I was the fastest in history [eight fights into his pro career] to be the unified champion. All my fights have been on a major network. It doesn’t make sense. I’m fit. I’m ready. Whoever’s next, I’m ready.”
One attractive option, given that both men are fighting for DAZN and Matchroom, is the return of junior bantamweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, who knocked out experienced former champion Juan Francisco Estrada in the seventh round on Saturday night in Phoenix.
“‘Bam’ is a great fighter. I know him personally. But he still weighs 115 pounds, so there’s no point in talking about it now. Maybe in the future,” Akhmadaliev said. “He’s a great fighter and has all the tools. I can make 118 pounds, so we could fight there.
“I’m not a gigantic guy. I feel comfortable at 122. But I can weigh up to 126 [and continue the pursuit of Inoue].
“If we talk about what is the priority? The priority is to win all the titles and take on the biggest challenges. Inoue is the biggest challenge. At this point, I prefer the Inoue fight. Who knows what the future holds? I’m open to fighting anyone. I’m here to fight the best guys in the same weight class.”
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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.
‘ANTHONY JOSHUA REMATCH WILL NEVER HAPPEN!’ – Frank Warren on Dubois, PAUL VS TYSON
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