Boxing
Andreas Katzourakis will face Kudratillo Abdukakhorov at the OTX gala in May
Published
9 months agoon
By
J. HumzaAndreas Katzourakis is hoping to make a statement at the expense of a former top-flight player.
As officially announced on Wednesday, Katzourakis will face Kudratillo Abdukakhorov on May 31. A fight between Robert Terry and Vladimir Hernandez was also announced.
Both 10-round fights will take place at the Red Owl Boxing Arena in Katzourakis’ hometown of Houston, Texas, and will be broadcast live on DAZN (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).
Both fights are part of the OTX tournament, an eight-person competition in which two fights were decided in the first round. On April 19, Brandon Adams of Los Angeles knocked out Israel Villarreal of the Bronx, Up-to-date York, and Francisco Veron of Argentina scored a unanimous decision victory over Mexico’s Angel Ruiz.
Katzourakis (12-0, 10 knockouts), a native of Athens, Greece, last fought on Jan. 20, winning by third-round knockout after opponent Corey Caad failed to answer the bell in the fourth round. In his previous fight, which took place on August 25, Katzourakis stopped Raphael Igbokwe in the eighth round.
The 26-year-old has stopped seven of his last eight opponents. Katzourakis is managed by David McWater.
Most of Katzourakis’ career was fought at middleweight. He officially weighed 155 pounds in a win over goaltender Cameron Krael in October 2022.
Abdukakhorov (20-2, 12 KO), who lives in Andijan, Uzbekistan, was the No. 1 contender in the IBF welterweight division a few years ago. He faced Cody Crowley, losing by unanimous decision. Two and a half months later, Abdukakhorov lost a unanimous decision to Ve Shawn Owens.
The 30-year-old won his last two fights, the last one taking place on November 17, winning by knockout in the second round against Maono Ally.
The winner of the Katzourakis-Abdukakhorov fight will face the winner of the Terry-Hernandez fight, which is an attractive crossroads fight.
Terry (11-0-1, 4 KO), based in Jersey City, Up-to-date Jersey, last fought on November 11, defeating Luis Midyeal Sanchez by decision after six one-sided rounds. In Terry’s most notable fight, he drew against Raul Garcia in a clash of undefeated fighters that was part of the ShoBox telecast on April 7 last year.
Hernandez (14-6, 6 KO) lost a unanimous decision to undefeated prospect Troy Isley on November 16 in his last fight. In his previous fight on August 25, Hernandez scored an upset victory over top prospect Lorenzo Simpson.
Hernandez, 34, is from Ciudad Lerdo, Mexico and currently lives in Stockton, California.
The winners will meet in the semi-finals this summer, with the final tentatively scheduled for delayed 2024. In the event of a draw after the scheduled 10 rounds of fighting, an overtime round will be held to determine the winner.
The winner of the tournament will receive a cash bonus and a promotional contract with OTX Boxing.
On the card of the gala, Giovanni Marquez (9-0, 5 KO) from Houston will face Jason Limon (8-0, 2 KO) from San Antonio in an eight-round junior welterweight fight. Marquez is the son of former junior middleweight world champion Raul Marquez.
Demanding-hitting junior welterweight Breyon Gorham (16-0, 13 KO), another Houston native, will face Luis Baltazar (12-1-1, 5 KO) of Hidalgo, Texas, in a six-round fight.
You may like
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
6 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.
‘ANTHONY JOSHUA KNOCKS OUT TYSON FURY!’ – Derek Chisora PREDICTS Dubois vs Parker
TYSON FURY RETIRES after OLEKSANDR USYK GETS BIG AWARD! But WHAT NEXT for both men?
Israil Madrimov On Vergil Ortiz Jr Fight
Trending
-
MMA8 months ago
Max Holloway is on a mission at UFC 212
-
MMA8 months ago
Cris Cyborg ready to add a UFC title to her collection
-
Interviews3 months ago
Carl Froch predicts that Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
-
MMA8 months ago
The Irish showed up in droves at the Mayweather-McGregor weigh-in
-
Interviews3 months ago
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
-
Boxing6 months ago
Lucas Bahdi ready to test his skills against Ashton Sylve
-
Interviews8 months ago
I fell in love with boxing again
-
Opinions & Features3 months ago
Dmitry Bivol: The story so far