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It is impossible not to notice the similarities between Vergil Ortiz and Serhiy Bohachuk

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LAS VEGAS – Familiarity breeds contempt, and perhaps that was what motivated Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s decision not to shake Serhiy Bohachuk’s outstretched hand at the end of their final news conference on Thursday.

Ortiz tried to clarify the matter later that day in an “X” post. “You want me to shake someone’s hand after (Bohachuk’s) teammates called me unprofessional?” Ortiz asked. “I give respect where it’s due. Everyone here knows I’m a respectful person. You want to call me unsportsmanlike and switch sides? I really don’t give a damn.”

Sure, there’s tension. It’s obvious that Ortiz and Team Bohachuk have a history.

In 2022, Ortiz (21-0, 21 KOs) left the camp of his current coach Robert Garcia and began training in Southern California at coach Manny Robles’ gym, where Bohachuk trained.

The fighters estimate that they have fought a total of 50 fights.

Were trends revealed? Or was it just practice?

Was this simply a more grave form of exercise? Or had a fatal flaw been revealed?

We will find out on Saturday night at Mandalay Bay, where Ukrainian Bohachuk (24-1, 23 KOs) will defend the World Boxing Council junior middleweight title he won in March against his former sparring partner, who will soon face his own title fight.

“It’s invigorating. We’ve sparred before. I think we have that… chemistry,” Ortiz said. “Chemistry is a weird word, but you know, when two fighters don’t know each other, they have to get a feel for each other.

“I don’t think there will be a feel-out round. We’ll just pick up where we left off.”

Bohachuk was much less verbose: “Sparring is sparring. Fighting is fighting,” he said. “It’s different.”

Bohachuk’s promoter, Tom Loeffler, said his fighter learned valuable lessons from those sessions.

“Serhii feels very confident after this sparring,” Loeffler said.

Ortiz also showed what he can do training under Robles, a respected cornerman who helped reliever Andy Ruiz Jr. suffer a monumental defeat in 2019 when he defeated then-three-belt heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden.

This time, Ortiz is the bookmakers’ favorite with odds of just -275 as he faces those with knowledge of his talent and power.

Robles had Ortiz in training camp before his ninth-round TKO over Michael McKinson in 2022. That victory preceded health issues and the cancellation of his 2023 schedule, when he returned to Garcia’s camp and has won two fights this year, including a first-round KO over Thomas Dulorme in April.

“You have to be in tip-top shape — 100 percent. You can’t cut corners (against Ortiz),” Robles said. “(Bohachuk) has to be completely focused, mentally and physically. No distractions. You have to bring your ‘A’ game like in baseball,” Robles said.

Is it possible?

“That’s why we’re here. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t believe in it.”

Experts are preparing for a devastating battle that could begin with the dropping of bombs or an attrition in which one fighter will remain alive.

“Neither fighter is throwing bombs. They’re systematically breaking down their opponents,” Robles said. “You can’t predict when the knockouts are going to happen.

“For Serhiy, the best thing for us was to last the whole fight (against Brian Mendoza). Even his one loss (an eighth-round TKO loss to Brandon Adams in 2021) was great because you learn more from your losses than you do from your wins.”

Those in the boxing world are wondering how Ortiz will fare if Bohachuk manages to take him to the deep end after the ninth round, a round in which Ortiz never strayed.

“Every fight is different, and I’m sure both fighters are prepared for 12 rounds,” Robles said. “Even though Vergil Ortiz won all his fights by knockout, I’m sure he trained to fight 10, 12, 14 rounds. I know how he operates. Extremely dedicated, hard-working fighter. Same thing with my fighter.”

Robles said Bohachuk learned from Adams to never be negligent. He dominated Adams when the break came, winning every round.

“Catching him was so simple,” Robles said.

“My guy might deserve more respect… the writers, the fans see what they see. I know what I have and I’m working with a kid who believes in himself, like Andy believed in himself against Joshua.

“When a warrior believes, he is unstoppable.”

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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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