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Gabriela Fundora beats Daniela Asenjo, wants a chance for an undisputed next fight

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LAS VEGAS – Gabriela Fundora defended her IBF flyweight world title with a dominant win over Daniela Asenjo, winning 100-90 on all three judges’ scorecards during the Vergil Ortiz Jr.-Serhiy Bohachuk fight on Saturday at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

Fundora, like her older brother — junior middleweight titleholder Sebastian — is very statuesque for her weight class, standing 5 feet 9 inches and weighing 109.8 pounds. Fundora, 22, of Coachella, Calif., used her height advantage and hand speed well in the first round, landing crosses and hooks from range, while Asenjo, 33, of Valdivia, Chile, struggled to close the distance.

Fundora continued to disorient Asenjo in the second and third rounds. Asenjo tried to jump early in the second but was caught. Asenjo then circled to her right, but that only put her in the path of Fundora’s left-handed left hand. Meanwhile, Fundora was able to maneuver Asenjo to the ropes and land.

Fundora took advantage of Asenjo’s desperation in the third round. When Asenjo missed one, Fundora threw three. Fundora soon scored with a pair of lefts. Then Asenjo threw wildly, which Fundora easily avoided.

In the fourth round, an altercation briefly broke out in the audience, with one fan knocking down another fan and paramedics carrying an injured man from the arena in a wheelchair.

Back in the ring with sanctioned action, Fundora maintained firm control in the fifth round. Several exchanges at closer range allowed Asenjo to finally land some punches, although she ate much more from Fundora in return.

Fundora increased her advantage and gained courage to open herself up even more in the eighth and ninth rounds, landing stronger and longer combinations.

The tenth round was just as one-sided as the previous ones, with the difference being that for those two minutes Fundora moved in close, constantly firing, unconcerned about what was coming back at her.

It was Fundora’s second successful defense of the IBF belt, which she won last October with a fifth-round knockout over Arely Mucino, and which she defended in January with a tenth-round technical knockout over Christina Cruz.

Fundora improves to 14-0 (6 KOs) and aims for the undisputed championship. The other women’s flyweight champion is Gabriela Celeste Alaniz, who won the WBA, WBC and WBO titles in April by winning a split decision in a rematch with Marlen Esparza.

“I want to break the record for the youngest undisputed champion,” Fundora said. “I feel like a fight with Gabriela Alaniz would be an action-packed fight.”

Asenjo dropped to 16-4-3 (2 KOs).

In the first fight broadcast on DAZN, welterweight upstart Joel Iriarte used his signature performance to dispatch underdog Miguel Ortiz in less than one round, pummeling him until the referee intervened.

Iriarte, who turned pro and signed with Golden Boy Promotions earlier this year, was fighting for the fourth time in five months. Ortiz, meanwhile, hasn’t fought in six and a half years.

Iriarte came out swinging, landing a powerful right hook and throwing with such force that Ortiz was pushed back even when the punches were blocked. Unfortunately for Ortiz, he blocked too few of them.

Iriarte began attacking the body to bring Ortiz’s hands down. He then threw a hook to the body and landed another hook, this time to the head, momentarily stunning Ortiz. Ortiz tried a left hook that Iriarte blocked and a right that connected with Iriarte’s back.

Iriarte responded immediately, missing with one left hook but landing another. Iriarte soon unleashed a barrage of punches that had Ortiz leaning back against the ropes until the referee stopped the fight with 10 seconds left in the round.

Iriarte, a 21-year-old from Bakersfield, California, is now 4-0 (4 KOs). Ortiz, a 29-year-old from Springfield, Massachusetts, is now 3-2 (1 KO).

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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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