Boxing
Israil Madrimov: I accept everything as it is and I was rewarded for my patience
Published
4 months agoon
By
J. HumzaTerence Crawford and Israil Madrimov face off for the first time in fight week ahead of their WBA World Interim WBO World Super Welterweight title fight in Los Angeles on August 3rd. Photo Credit: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing
Israil Madrimov always felt that such a chance would come to him sooner or later.
For a moment his only concern was the fight for the gate he had to overcome to get there, but he risked falling.
The undefeated Uzbek will defend his WBA junior middleweight title against Terence “Bud” Crawford, who is moving up a weight class, in a scheduled 12-round fight that will headline a Pay-Per-View event this Saturday at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
A series of circumstances nearly robbed Madrjmov (10-0-1, 7 knockouts) of the chance to win the belt he was fighting for. His fight for the vacant title against Magomed Kurbanov was postponed several times and faced a medical issue that took several extra days to resolve.
“I had a lot of thoughts in my head at that time,” Madrimov admitted in an interview with The Ring. “It was the longest time I’ve ever prepared for a fight, considering the many postponements. We were supposed to fight in the US, then in Mexico… all these places in the world, but we never got in the ring. Then they told me that in this last situation it might not happen at all.
“It was tough, and it lasted about four weeks from (March 8). We kept in shape, but when that last date came, my trainers came for that part of camp. Then at the last minute we got pulled from the flight because of this medical situation. “At that point, my mindset was, ‘If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.’ If it’s not going to happen, then I’m just going to have to accept it. So we got the word, we made it to the weigh-ins and then of course the fight.”
Madrimov was eventually allowed to fight, and he made the most of the opportunity, knocking out the undefeated Kurbanov in the fifth round on March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“Everything worked out. We got to the ring and I came out as the recent WBA champion. It wasn’t perfect how we got there, but it was an experience that made me stronger.”
With this feat, Madrimov became a contender in the recent junior middleweight division.
Jermell Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) was stripped of all four body-sanctioning belts and his Ring championship for a indigent defense. Madrimov was one of the beneficiaries of the belts that were up for grabs. The prize was a dream fight with Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs), the Ring welterweight champion and No. 3 pound-for-pound.
Saturday’s show largely revolves around Crawford, the favorite of Turki Alalshikh and the Riyadh Season group. Much of the pre-fight talk has included speculation about a future no-weight clash with Mexican Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs).
Madrimov, the No. 3 seed at 154, isn’t bothered by any talk of a mythical fight. He’s equally unhappy with his status as an outsider, despite Crawford moving up to a fourth weight class. Crawford is a -700 favorite at bet365, which prices Madrimov at +450 to successfully defend his title.
Crawford won the RING championship at 135, 140 and 147 pounds. He became the first undisputed champion in two weight classes with a knockout victory over Errol Spence on July 29 in Las Vegas.
Madrimov believes that the chance to correct Crawford’s mistake comes from the need for the universe to organize his struggles in the ranks of the organization.
A controversial knockout win over Michel Soro in December 2021 made Madrimov the WBA’s mandatory challenger. A rematch was scheduled for July of the following year but ended in a clash of heads after two rounds.
Madrimov waited another nine months for his next fight, which came on DAZN’s “Before The Bell” segment last April in San Antonio, Calif. A 10-round win over Raphael Igbokwe was his only fight of 2023. Then came the waiting game with the WBA as to when he would get a title shot.
The scheduled fight with Kurbanov was not confirmed for the full title when both sides agreed to the fight. It didn’t matter as it changed locations multiple times before ultimately threatening to be removed from the schedule entirely.
All that was left for Madrimov was faith that his time would come. When it did, he seized every second and now he is focused on fighting for the legacy he has longed for.
“I take everything I can get, and I was rewarded for my patience,” Madrimov noted. We went through six different opponents in the elimination fight and waited three years for my shot at the title.
“It finally happened and I was blessed with this result.”
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Boxing
The fight between Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel will take place on December 14 at the Toyota Arena
Published
16 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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