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Alex Winwood looks for fairytale result in title match against Knockout CP Freshmart

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Alex Winwood always had substantial dreams.

Since turning professional in November 2022, Winwood has had a goal of winning a world title in fewer fights than International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Fenech, who needed seven fights to accomplish the feat.

Winwood (4-0, 2 KOs), 27, of Mandurah, Western Australia, will have the opportunity to break that record when she takes on multi-time WBA strawweight champion and Ring magazine’s No. 4 contender, Thammanoon Niyomtrong (24-0, 9 KOs), who fights under the ring name Knockout CP Freshmart, at the HBF Stadium in Perth, Australia on September 7.

The fight will be broadcast live and free on local streaming service 7plus as part of the Premier Boxing Series.

“It’s a dream come true, obviously,” Winwood told The Ring. “I came out and was very open about winning a world title very early on, and finally getting the opportunity is exactly what we wanted. I’m content to be in this position.”

Thailand’s Niyomtrong, who will be two weeks shy of his 34th birthday when they fight, is a mainstay in boxing’s lightest weight class. The former Muay Thai fighter, who is a 12-year veteran of the pros, won the WBA interim 105-pound title just two years into his career and was elevated to full champion by the Panamanian sanctioning body in 2016.

Niyomtrong has held the title ever since, defending it 11 times in eight years.

Photo from Dragon Fire Boxing

If there’s one criticism of Niyomtrong, it’s his inactivity. He hasn’t been through the ropes since his points win over fellow countryman and former long-time WBC titleholder Chayapon Moonsri (55-3, 19 KOs) two years ago.

“He’s got a lot more experience than me,” said Winwood, who had a successful amateur career and represented Australia in the flyweight division at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“He’s a very tough Thai, like all of them. He’s got a forceful guard, he’s content to sit in the pocket and carry them around a bit and then lead the opposition. He’s obviously forceful, but I think age might be getting to him a bit. He’s been on the sidelines for two years, so I think things might be a bit more in my favour. Speed ​​might outweigh strength.

“He might try to make up for it with his experience in the game, but I’ve been in the game for a long time. Obviously, he was a world champion when I started boxing, but I’ve fought some really good guys in the last two years as a pro and had some great results. I’m very confident going into this fight.”

Winwood is a classy boxer-puncher with quick reflexes that allow him to deliver quick, pointed blows. In his four professional fights to date, he has shown great versatility, sometimes pressing the action, other times looking for counters.

When asked to describe his fighting style to people who had never seen it, Winwood laughed: “I look like a combination of Roy Jones Jr. and Mike Tyson, but I’m only five-foot-two!”

Winwood has earnest support in his corner, with experienced manager Tony Tolj and retired former titleholder and Perth native Danny Green also providing guidance and advice.

“It’s unreal. I’m talking to someone who’s been there and done that, they’re not just like, ‘Yeah, I know how you feel.’ They really know the trials and tribulations you go through as a boxer and what it takes to get to the top,” said Winwood, who was named Sportsperson of the Year by the National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) last weekend.

“He gave me his inside knowledge and experiences of what worked and what didn’t work for him, and he tried to mentor and guide me as much as he could. That’s invaluable.”

It has not escaped Winwood’s notice how uncommon a chance it is for a boxer to fight for a world title on his home turf, but the proud Noongar man is not looking too far ahead.

“I always thought that if we got a chance at a world title, we would go overseas,” Winwood said. “But we have a great team behind us. There are a lot of people involved in making it happen, and the fact that they were able to bring the fight here is part of the story.

“I just have to get there and finish the job to make this fairy tale a reality.”

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Boxing

Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC

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Badou Jack Rozicki Mikaelian WBC

The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).

If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.

“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”

29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.

Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.

“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”

Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.

The next move is Badou Jack’s.

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Boxing

Floyd Mayweather’s record is not normal, it can’t happen in 70 years

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Floyd Mayweather 50-0

Floyd Mayweather’s incredible 50-0 record is not normal and cannot be repeated in sports for another seventy years.

This is the view of Saudi Arabian president Turki Alalshikh, who wants to adopt the UFC model in which fighters lose many fights during their career.

In a speech as he hosted the Ring Magazine Awards after acquiring the long-running boxing publication from Oscar De La Hoya, Alalshikh was unequivocal in his opinion.

“Now losing some fights in boxing must be normal,” he explained. “All fighters want a career similar to Floyd Mayweather – no losses. This may happen once every 50, 60 or 70 years.

“We need it [to be] like currently in the UFC model, where champions lose and win,” added the matchmaker during the Riyad season.

Mayweather rose through the sport in the tardy 1990s to become one of its youngest superstars. Mayweather’s professional success came after winning a bronze medal at the Olympics after losing to Serafim Todorov.

Winning world titles in five weight classes, Mayweather was untouchable. The Grand Rapids native only came close to defeat a few times. He dominated Manny Pacquiao and overtook Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya after heated debates, with decisions that should have been made unanimously.

Towards the end of his career, Mayweather chose to face Andre Berto and Conor McGregor, easily winning and ending his boxing career at the age of 50 without ever going out. Calling himself “the greatest of all time,” Mayweather earned first-ballot Hall of Fame honors and is widely considered one of, if not the greatest defensive fighter of all time.

However, Alalshikh says this type of career needs to end so that fans can get the most out of boxing, as is the case with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Boxing needs to become more attractive, and Alalshikh sees the failures of top stars as a way to keep interest at an all-time high.

In this sport, many boxers enjoy undefeated streaks, the most notable of which is Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian Pound for Pound King is 23-0 and has beaten the best he has to offer in his division and cruiserweight classification.

It remains a mystery how Alalshikh plans to make Usyk suffer while he dominates everyone else. By the time his grand plan goes into action, Usyk will be long gone, and Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney may be more realistic targets.

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Manny Pacquiao remains the favorite to win the title against Mario Barrios

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Manny Pacquiao vs Barrios

WBN understands that despite alternative options emerging, it is more likely that Manny Pacquiao will face Mario Barrios next.

Bob Santos, coach of WBC welterweight champion Barrios, told World Boxing News that he is currently in contact with Pacquiao’s team. Asked by WBN if he had spoken to Pacquiao or representatives of any other challenger, Santos replied: “Yes, Pacquiao’s promoter, Sean Gibbons.” Pressed on whether Barrios vs Pacquiao might happen next, he added: “It’s challenging to say. We’ll have to see how this plays out.”

WBN contacted Santos after Conor Benn emerged as a potential alternative to Barrios. The British fighter, who recently returned from a suspension following two positive drug tests, is keen to return to competition.

Benn showed favor with the World Boxing Council at the recent WBC Convention, the WBC Evaluation Committee and during an interview with the sanctioning body over the weekend. “The Destroyer” is ranked second in the rankings at 147 pounds, despite less than solid opponents during his time in exile, during which Benn competed twice in the United States while his career in the United Kingdom was in doubt.

As he battled to clear his name and with the British Anti-Doping Authority finding no evidence that Benn had intentionally taken ostarine, the 28-year-old’s career took a pointed nosedive. Despite this, he remains highly rated and at least one step away from fighting for an eliminator or one of the remaining championship titles.

However, Pacquiao remains Barrios’ favorite. Now it’s up to the boxing legend and Hall of Famer who got the first votes to secure his shot. WBN believes a July date – most likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – is the most realistic date for a Nevada swan song.

Pacquiao could extend his record as the oldest welterweight champion by six years if he can secure a huge victory over the 29-year-old world champion. At 46 years antique, such a scenario remains unlikely, but he can never be compared to one of the greatest players of this generation.

Unlike heavier boxers and his training regiment, Pacquiao looks in great shape despite his advanced age. Everything is set for a massive return to the boxing capital of the world, provided Pacquiao and his team can manage his political ambitions, which are expected to run from this month until May. After that time, Pacquiao could find himself in the summer finals and become the all-time champion, regardless of the result.

Barrios is based in the city, where he trained with Santos, and would be the perfect opponent to see out the career of one of the greatest fighters in history.

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