Thursday, September 26, 2024 – This morning, the eastern boxing community turned out in full force for the unveiling of the Nazareo Boxing Gym, renovated by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and Jake Paul’s Boxing Bullies Foundation.

Among those in attendance were former champions Juan “John John” Molina, McWilliams Arroyo, Subriel Matías and Nelson Dieppa, as well as Representative Carlos “Johnny” Méndez, NABO 140-pound champion Alfredo “Ojo” Santiago and Fajardo Mayor José Aníbal” Joey” Meléndez. Super middleweight boxer Edgar Berlanga was also on hand for his first public appearance since challenging WBO super middleweight champion Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez of Guadalajara on September 14 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“The facility was huge. I didn’t expect so many people to show up at the unveiling. We must thank Joey (Meléndez) and Representative Johnny Méndez for all the support they have given us on this project,” said OMB Chairman, Mr. Francisco “Paco” Valcárcel.

There are currently 12 gyms in Nazareo, which have been renovated and modernized by Boxing Bullies and the WBO. And it won’t be the last.

“We always appreciate the unconditional support of Paco and OMB. This crucial alliance provides our athletes with the opportunity to train in high-quality spaces,” said Francisco Correa, spokesman for Boxing Bullies.

“We want to continue to look for more sports facilities in Puerto Rico to continue our mission.”

Photos: Víctor Planas / WBO

Fernando Gaztambide
WBO spokesman

Mike Tyson could face a boxing ban if he repeats the approach he took against Roy Jones Jr in 2020. Former heavyweight champion Tyson is scheduled to face YouTube star Jake Paul in Texas in November.

The contest raised eyebrows considering Tyson, 58, is more than three decades older than his upcoming opponent. Paul boasts a 10-1 record when he took up the sport five years ago, and many top MMA stars have been unable to beat him in the ring.

Tyson and Paul were originally scheduled to split in July this year, but a recurrence of a peptic ulcer ruled Tyson out for health reasons and the fight was postponed.

The veteran has been open about his past exploit of marijuana and magic mushrooms, and claimed he takes them not only to aid recovery between training sessions for the fight with Jones Jr, but also to stay high during the fight itself.

Their 2020 showdown was sanctioned by the California Commission, a state where marijuana is legal for both medical and recreational purposes. However, continued drug exploit this time could put Tyson into pointed conflict with the Texas Commission, which considers marijuana a banned substance.

Tyson recently appeared on an American talk show Jimmy Kimmel Livewhere he was asked if he planned to get high before the fight with Paweł.

“I’ll be high on life, yes,” he replied. When asked if he would also be high on marijuana, Tyson replied: “That’s possible too.”

Time will tell whether Tyson’s statements were stern, but the Texas Commission has imposed penalties for positive marijuana tests in the past. Rising lightweight star Keyshawn Davis was suspended for 90 days last year for this very reason.

Plus, Tyson says he has his eye on the prize ahead of his meeting with Paul, and the six-hour training schedule will support him get into top shape.

“I want to change biology,” he said. “I want to change the way people think about age. People think that as people get older they get weaker, they become less physically energetic at a high level. It’s all psychological.

“If you believe that you feel bad and you feel ancient, then you feel bad and ancient. If you believe you feel great, you feel great. It all depends on what we see about ourselves.”

Chris Eubank Jr. has parted ways with Terence Crawford’s trainer Brian Bo Mac McIntyre and announced that Johnathon Banks will be his novel trainer.

Bo Mac, who guided Crawford to world titles in four weight classes, was the mastermind behind Eubank Jr’s win over Liam Smith in their rematch last September.

A Nebraska man was jailed shortly after the fight after a firearm was found in his luggage as he tried to leave the UK, but was later released.

Eubank Jr, who has named WBA super welterweight champion Crawford as a potential opponent, has parted ways with Bo Mac after just one fight and will instead have Gennady Golovkin’s former trainer Johnathon Banks in his corner when he fights Kamil Szeremata on the card preceding the undisputed lightweight heavyweight title fight between Artur Beterbiew AND Dmitry Bivol October 12 in Riyadh.

“I’m working on my power shots a little more than I used to,” the 35-year-old said George Groves Boxing Club.

“Especially with my novel coach Johnathon Banks.

“That’s his specialty and of course he, being a member of Triple G for years, knows all about powerful strikes, so it’s good to have someone like that on your side.

“He trained Triple G for the Kamil Szeremeta fight, so that was another huge reason why we wanted him in the camp because he knows the fighter.”

A Brighton man stole newspaper headlines during press conference in London on Wednesday to promote his fight with the Pole, slamming promoters Eddie Hearn, Frank Warren and Kalle Sauerland after revealing why he decided to sign with Ben Shalom’s BOXXER.

Warren said he would take legal action against him after he accused the Hall of Fame promoter of “lying and cheating in boxing” and called him, Hearn and Sauerland “scoundrels.”

However, later on Wednesday, Next Gen apologized and retracted the statements.

Eubank Jr. said in a statement: “Following today’s press conference in Riyadh on October 12th to mark a historic season, I would like to retract my false statements and apologise to Frank Warren, Eddie Hearn and Kalle Sauerland.

“Now I want to focus solely on boxing and preparing for the huge fight that will take place in Riyadh next month.”

Warren, who was considering a fight between Eubank Jr. and either Hamza Sheeraz or Denzel Bentley, accepted the apology.

“I accept Chris’s apology and correction.

“I have said certain things before as well and I also apologise to him if any criticism of him in the past has upset him.

“I can’t wait to see him at the huge event of the season in Riyadh.

“We expect there will be some potentially massive fights in the future.”