Boxing
Dana White slams MGM for ‘disrespecting’ UFC over September 14 fight
Published
4 months agoon
By
J. HumzaTwo titans of the martial arts, Canelo Alvarez and Dana White, will face off on September 14 in Las Vegas in a uncommon scheduling conflict between top boxing and MMA events.
Mexico’s Alvarez, boxing’s biggest star, defends his unified super middleweight title against Edgar Berlanga at MGM’s T-Mobile Arena. Two miles away, UFC will host the first live sporting event at the revolutionary Sphere venue, UFC 306.
Sean O’Malley defends his UFC bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of Riyadh Season Noche UFC as the MMA promotion plants its flag on Mexican Independence Day weekend, a established day for boxing’s biggest stars.
“Canelo is one of those guys I respect and hey, good job [PBC’s Al] Haymon,” UFC president White told ESPN on Friday. “Haymon ripped that date right off the bat. The guys at MGM have done nothing but disrespect me and the UFC for 20 years. That’s it. Here we go.”
UFC has held four pay-per-view events at T-Mobile Arena in the past two years. And MGM controlled all the live sporting event venues on the Strip until Madison Square Garden opened the Sphere in September.
That paved the way for White and the UFC to hold the major event on September 14, even after PBC and Canelo booked the date with MGM Resorts International. White beat Canelo to it last year and held the first iteration of Noche UFC (a Fight Night event at T-Mobile Arena) after the MMA promotion booked the date.
Instead, Alvarez fought two weeks later at the T-Mobile Arena and secured a victory over Jermel Charlo.
“PBC is excited to continue the 20-plus year tradition of bringing boxing to Las Vegas on Mexican Independence Day weekend with our friends and partners, MGM Resorts and T-Mobile Arena,” a PBC spokesperson told ESPN on Friday.
“This year it’s even more special as Canelo Alvarez, the biggest star in boxing, will face Edgar Berlanga on September 14th, marking the sixth time the Mexican icon will celebrate the holiday weekend in Las Vegas. We wish our friends at UFC the best of luck with their event.”
A spokesman for MGM Resorts International said he had nothing to add to PBC’s statement.
Before Alvarez took over the revered boxing date (along with Cinco de Mayo weekend), the two Mexican holidays were reserved for Floyd Mayweather (and Oscar De La Hoya before that). This year, the September weekend will be shared by Alvarez and the UFC.
This became possible when Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia, agreed to sponsor UFC 306, continuing to commercialize the season in Riyadh.
“We’ll eat him,” Alalshikh told ESPN about his event, which competed with Canelo’s.
White has repeatedly expressed how steep it is to stage an event at the Sphere, with its immersive screens and the artistic direction required to take advantage of the venue’s audio and video capabilities. The Sphere also boasts the world’s highest-resolution LED display, which wraps around, above, and above the audience.
Sponsorship money from Alalshikh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia allowed the UFC to become the first live sporting event at the Sphere. White admitted last month at a post-UFC 303 press conference that they had already spent $17 million on the event. He claimed that the experience the UFC provides at the Sphere “will never, ever be replicated… because it costs too much money.”
“This will be an incredible tribute to the Mexican people for their incredible contribution to combat sports,” White said.
Now, however, White and the UFC will have to face the biggest sports star in Mexico, Canelo Alvarez.
Canelo is expected to outshine Berlanga, a sedate outsider, and Alalshikh hopes it will support him secure the biggest fight in boxing: Canelo vs. Terence Crawford, ESPN’s No. 2 boxer regardless of weight class.
Crawford fights Israil Madrimov on August 3 in Los Angeles, in the main event of the first Riyadh Season event outside of Saudi Arabia. If Crawford is successful and wins the title in the third weight class, Alalshikh will look to tie him with Alvarez next year.
“I will give Canelo a price that I think is fair,” Alalshikh said. “If he accepts it, he will be with me directly to complete the transaction. I don’t want anyone in the middle. I guaranteed Crawford a huge fight, I want Canelo for Crawford, and Crawford wants Canelo. But if Canelo is crazy [with his financial demands] I will continue to guarantee Crawford any fight he wants.
Alalshikh has had five boxing fights since taking over the boxing industry in October with the Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou fight. His biggest boxing fight was the Oleksandr Usyk-Fury fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship in May.
Alalshikh and White hosted the first UFC event in Saudi Arabia in June.
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Boxing
The fight between Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel will take place on December 14 at the Toyota Arena
Published
18 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
1 day 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.
‘MIKE TYSON WON’T FIGHT EVER AGAIN!’ – Gareth A Davies
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