Boxing
Olympics 2024: Meet Team GB’s boxing hopefuls for Paris
Published
4 months agoon
By
J. HumzaTeam GB is the third most successful boxing team in Olympic history, behind the United States and Cuba, with a combined 18 gold, 13 silver and 25 bronze medals at all Olympic Games. Team GB won six medals in Tokyo three years ago, but in Paris they will have their smallest team since 17-year-old Amir Khan was the only British boxer at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he won silver.
With fewer men taking part in the tournament, fewer boxers travelled to Paris than at previous games, but Great Britain is still expected to be well represented on the podium at Roland Garros, where the boxing tournament will be held.
There will be more women boxing in Paris than in Tokyo three years ago, but there will be at least 63 fewer men in a reduced seven weight classes, the fewest since 1908.
The likes of James DeGale, Anthony Joshua, Nicola Adams and Lauren Price have gone from Olympic gold medalists to world champions in the professional game. Who are the six boxers who are trying to emulate their success in Paris and could become stars in the paid game?
Delicious Orie
Super Hefty (92kg+)
Age: 27
Record: 29-8 (2 KOs)
Instagram: @deliciousboxing
If the top names were to receive gold medals, super heavyweight Team GB would be a mighty contender. Team GB have a mighty tradition in this division, having won two gold medals (Audley Harrison 2000, Joshua 2012), a silver (Joe Joyce 2016) and a bronze (Frazer Clarke 2021).
Orie, a 6ft 1in son of a Nigerian father and a Russian mother, was born in Moscow. His family moved from Russia to the UK to escape racism and seek a better life when he was seven.
Wolverhampton-based Orie, who only started boxing at the age of 18, will probably have the biggest expectations of the team but has benefited from sparring sessions with two-time heavyweight world champion Joshua, who, like Orie, came to boxing delayed in life. Orie’s potential in Paris was underlined when he won a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, but he enters the Olympics having suffered three points defeats in four fights this year.
Outside of boxing, Orie graduated with an honours degree in Business and Management from Aston University and was named after singer Delicious Kennedy of American R&B band All-4-One.
Patrick Brown
Hefty (92 kg)
Age: 24
Record: 19-3, 4 KOs
Instagram: @patbrown__
Brown trained at the same amateur club (Sale West) as Ricky Hatton and will be trying to win Britain’s first heavyweight medal in over 100 years. He comes into the Games in good form.
The Manchester boxer has been a Great Britain international for two years and beat Mateusz Bereźnicki in a heavyweight bout at the first Olympic qualifiers to secure his place in the qualifying tournament. Now he will be looking to fulfil his dreams in Paris.
Lewis Richardson
Junior Middleweight (71 kg)
Age: 27
Record: 44-18, 1 KO
Instagram: @lewisjrichardson_
The Colchester boxer secured his place at the Olympic Games in June at the final qualifying event after the 75kg category was removed from the Olympic programme and he had to drop down to a lower weight class.
He only started boxing to keep fit for football, but won silver at the European Championships and bronze at the Commonwealth Games as an amateur boxer. Outside of boxing, he is studying part-time for a master’s degree in sports business management.
Chantelle Reid
Age: 26
Average weight (75 kg)
Record: 17-7, 2 KOs
Instagram: @chantelle_reid1_
Reid had to take a six-year break from boxing due to a degenerative disc condition before returning to the sport in 2023. She completed an internship in wealth management and mortgages, investments and pensions, but swapped sitting at a desk for a return to the gym, impressing at the National Boxing Championships the same year she returned.
The Derby fighter has lost her last three fights heading into the Games after qualifying in March, although her last two defeats have come by split decision.
Rosie Eccles
Age: 28
Welterweight (66 kg)
Record: 51-23, 9 KOs
Instagram: @rosieccles1996
The Welshwoman heads to Paris after missing the last Olympics due to three separate COVID-19 attacks and suffering nerve damage in her shoulder. Eccles, from Cardiff, won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and has an honours degree in sports studies and a master’s degree in sports psychology. She is a mighty contender for a medal in France.
Charley Davison
Age: 30
Bantam weight (54 kg)
Record: 35-12, 2 KOs
Instagram: @charley_sian_davison
Mother-of-three Davison is the only Team GB boxer with Olympic experience, having lost a medal in the quarter-finals in Tokyo three years ago, and has moved up from flyweight to bantamweight for Paris.
The Lowestoft boxer initially returned to boxing only to lose weight after giving up the sport to have children (Arnell, Armani and Amir). In April, she won four fights in the US, her only fights in 2024.
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Boxing
The fight between Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel will take place on December 14 at the Toyota Arena
Published
18 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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