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Danny Garcia is grooming Philadelphia’s novel star in Johnny Rivera, and he drew a thousand viewers to prove it

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Danny Garcia with Philadelphia rising star Johnny Rivera Jr. and Johnny Rivera Sr. (Photo: Joseph Santoliquito/Ring)

by Joseph Santoliquito |

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — A week after one of Philadelphia’s greatest boxing accomplishments, drawing 14,119 fans to the Wells Fargo Center for the first defense of Jaron “Boots” Ennis’ IBF welterweight title against eventual replacement David Avanesyan, you might think Philadelphia is tired of boxing.

Not exactly.

Danny Garcia, the 36-year-old former two-division world champion, is shaping a novel rising star in Johnny “Different Breed” Rivera. On July 20, the back of the 2300 Arena in South Philly was packed to the rafters. The venue could hold 1,300 people. Rivera’s four-round welterweight decision victory over 19-fight veteran Nelson Morales, who came in at 154, was easily attended by 1,000 people.

Rivera, just 18, was the first fighter signed under Garcia’s Swift Promotions banner and is 3-0 with two knockouts. In the Morales fight, 32, the newborn welterweight might have to fight a bit more often than he would have liked, but the win, plus the turnout, bodes well for future fights in Philadelphia.

“It was a great night and 1,000 people showed up,” Garcia said. “Johnny weighed 147 and the kid weighed 154, but we believe in Johnny, he has the skills to win. It showed that people in Philadelphia still love boxing. It was a great start. Tonight we had 1,000 people and then we’ll start building more and get into bigger arenas where we can get 2,000 people in there. The goal is to build guys like Johnny and build their brand.”

There’s a lot going on in Rivera. He’s a handsome, striking welterweight. His family is the equivalent of the Philadelphia-based Fundoras. Johnny Rivera Sr. is his son’s trainer. Johnny Sr. has two younger children who are also fighters, ranking at the top of their weight classes and age groups. Riveras has had seven opponents who have turned down a fight.

After Ennis, Rivera Garcia may be the next favorite to play in Philadelphia.

“Morales made Johnny work difficult and it would have been nice to go six rounds, but this guy wanted to go four rounds and live, and we were cheerful he took the fight because no one else would have,” said Rivera Sr. “We want to get back in the ring on August 16th. This Morales guy was a much bigger guy, easily 160, 165 pounds, and my son came in tonight at about 149. That (weight difference) won’t happen again. Johnny’s 18 years ancient and he’s a 19-time national amateur champion. He’ll just keep learning and growing.”

The refreshing thing about Rivera is his responsibility.

“I’m not cheerful at all, I could have cut weight much better than I did and I would have given myself a C-minus because I did a lot more,” said Rivera Jr. “I didn’t train for it fully as I should have and I need to hold the weight better. I cut weight at the last minute. Next time I fight I’ll come in much stronger.”

Rivera is back in the gym two days after his fight on Monday. He knows he has to sharpen his defense. He knows he has to be more disciplined.

Garcia knows Rivera’s future looks glowing.

“I think Johnny has a lot of me in him,” Garcia said. “He’s a difficult worker, he’s dedicated to the sport and he’s only 18. He’s still got a lot to learn and I like that he knows that. He’s good now and he can be a lot better. We have time. We can be patient. I want to facilitate him with the experience I have in and out of the ring. There were 1,000 people there tonight. If you were delayed, it would take a while to park because the place was so packed. This is just the beginning for Swift Promotions and Johnny Rivera.”

Follow @JSantoliquito

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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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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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