Boxing
Alvarez and De La Hoya exchange insults during a tense pre-fight press conference
Published
9 months agoon
By
J. HumzaCanelo Munguia press conference. Photo credit: Esther Lin, Premier Boxing champion
Oscar De La Hoya went overboard on his promise of verbal fireworks.
Tension was expected between the president of Golden Boy Promotions and his former major client, Ring, and undisputed 168-pound king Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. The two shared the stage for the first time since 2019, a year before their bitter promotional split for 2020. De La Hoya was on hand to support Tijuana’s Jaime Munguia, whom he co-promotes with Zanfer Boxing. Munguia will face Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 knockouts) this Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
During Thursday’s pre-fight press conference, there was a near-fight, although not between the champion and the challenger. Instead, it was De La Hoya who verbally chose violence after reacting to Alvarez’s insults throughout the promotion of the event.
“My only goal with this promotion is to promote Jaime,” De La Hoya said while standing at the podium. “An undefeated and incredible talent who deserves this stage and attention at this stage of his career. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t respond to the man I was promoting. He doesn’t seem to remember who helped him become a real world star.
“To be clear, I have nothing but respect for Canelo Alvarez as a fighter. His achievements and skills speak for themselves. But for the last two months he has been insulting me rather than promoting this fight… Golden Boy was built by Canelo Alvarez, period. The company you fought for [a decade] he has always had one name and it is mine. So give it some fucking respect.
Alvarez from Guadalajara had a lot to say in return. De La Hoya didn’t flinch, remaining a fighter forever, even more than 15 years after his last professional fight. The two were immediately separated by TGB Promotions boss Tom Brown and event host Miguel Flores.
Moments later, Alvarez returned the favor, speaking entirely in Spanish before turning to his former promoter. The four-division champion and reigning 168-pound king even interrupted translator Martin Bater to explain his ongoing dislike for De La Hoya.
“He tried to steal money. He’s a fucking asshole. That’s what I said,” Alvarez emphasized in English. “He’s a fucking asshole. He tried to focus on himself and not on Munguia. He’s a fucking asshole. He steals (from) his warriors. That’s what he does. Fucking pussy, motherfucker.
The juicier stuff was left in his native language.
“For this asshole I have on my left,” Alvarez said, extending his hand beyond Munguia to point at De La Hoya. “Let’s not forget that I already came to the United States as ‘Canelo’. He only made money off my name. He never lost a penny. Did you finally pay (Gennady) Golovkin for what you tried to steal from him? If I hadn’t brought my lawyers, you would have robbed me too. All this man does in boxing is scam people.
“To all the boxers who are with him, I am asking for assist from lawyers because he is definitely robbing you.”
The complaint was countered.
– Do you know who your dad is? De La Hoya asked, interrupting Alvarez.
This only fanned the flames.
“The only reason he came here was to distract Munguia,” Alvarez insisted. “He didn’t come here to promote it. She robs him like she steals kitchen utensils. They don’t know whether to exploit them as kitchen utensils or vibrators anymore because he likes to put them inside him.”
Munguia (43-0, 34 KO) was smiling throughout the exchange. He and Alvarez have great respect for each other and have never said a bad word about each other. A pair of top-level Mexican fighters predicted a knockout, but saved their energy for the ring.
Their scheduled twelve-round fight is headlined by a PBC on Prime Pay-Per-View/PPV.com event (Saturday, $89.95 + tax).
These are some novel features combined with a bit of history. This is the first meeting of two Mexicans in the undisputed championship this century.
Alvarez has not fought his compatriot since defeating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in May 2017. This is his first title defense against the Mexican since September 2012, when he defeated Josesito Lopez in five rounds.
Munguia hasn’t fought in Las Vegas since September 2018. This came after Alvarez scored points over then-undefeated Gennady “GGG” Golovkin in a rematch at T-Mobile. Their second act was scheduled to take place earlier in May. The date was removed when Alvarez tested positive for the banned substance Clenbuterol. The incident resulted in a six-month suspension issued by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
There was a brief attempt to save the series when Golden Boy offered the then 21-year-old Munguia as a replacement to fight Golovkin. The idea was rejected by the Nevada commission, which deemed Munguia too green at the time. Golovkin was the undefeated unified middleweight champion and one of the best fighters in the discipline.
Munguia won and defended the WBO 154-pound title, becoming a top contender at 160 and 168 pounds.
Recalling this history ultimately led Alvarez to join De La Hoya.
“Jaime… always had the courage to be great,” De La Hoya noted. “It comes full circle for him. Remember when Jaime was 21 years ancient? He volunteered to step in against Triple G [when] Canelo failed two drug tests. In 2018, Jaime was not allowed to fulfill his dream.
“On Saturday night he will fulfill his dream and become world champion.”
Alvarez will attempt to defend The Ring Championship for the seventh time and win at least two Alphabet belts. He earned top honors in the division following a victory over Callum Smith in December 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. The fight was his first after he and Golden Boy cut ties following a months-long legal battle.
Their relationship soured before Alvarez’s November 2019 knockout victory over Sergei Kovalev to capture the WBO airy heavyweight title. Golden Boy and DAZN entered into an agreement in 2018 that began with Alvarez’s third-round knockout of Rocky Fielding in December 2018.
Alvarez learned – or at least claimed – that there were discrepancies in the record-breaking contract he signed with DAZN. The two sides finally reached an agreement in November 2020, shortly before Alvarez’s victory over Smith.
Saturday will be his first fight with boxer Golden Boy since their acrimonious split. He plans to exploit Munguia to vent his frustrations in the ring. It must be admitted that he had been waiting for this moment to direct his anger at the designated target.
“He insulted me,” Alvarez told reporters after the news conference. “If he came closer to me, I would fuck him [up]. He’s a fucking asshole, he tried to steal money from the players. I don’t know about other fighters, but I know he tried to steal money from me and Golovkin. He’s an asshole.
“I will be very elated on (Saturday) night. You will see.
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Boxing
Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC
Published
4 days agoon
January 13, 2025The 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.
Boxing
Floyd Mayweather’s record is not normal, it can’t happen in 70 years
Published
5 days agoon
January 12, 2025Floyd 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.
Boxing
Manny Pacquiao remains the favorite to win the title against Mario Barrios
Published
2 weeks agoon
January 6, 2025WBN 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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