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Oscar De La Hoya sees a shocking fight for Oleksandr Usyk
Oscar De La Hoya admits he is excited about the possibility of pitting WBA cruiserweight world champion Zurdo Ramirez against unified heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk in the future.
Usyk, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion, has previously spoken about his desire back to the division after fighting Tyson Fury in a rematch on December 21 in Saudi Arabia and De La Hoya believes Ramirez would be the perfect opponent for him.
“I think maybe after the rematch I will go down to cruiserweight,” said the 37-year-old Rule of 3 knockdowns podcast.
“I want tomorrow [fights at] cruiser weight.
“Maybe I’ll be undisputed in the cruiserweight division for a second time, that’s my plan.
“When I start preparing for training camp [as a heavyweight]I have to eat constantly. It’s demanding for me, I don’t like it.”
“Zurdo” secured the WBA belt with a unanimous decision victory over Arsene Goulamirian in March, making him a two-weight world champion.
The Mexican, who is preparing for a unification clash with WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith on November 16 in Riyad, recently spoke about his desire to move up to heavyweight to face the Ukrainian.
“Usyk is a diminutive heavyweight, but he’s right,” the 33-year-old said No seconds.
“I think it would be a good match.
“I watched him and followed him a lot and that’s one of my goals, to be undisputed at cruiserweight and then at heavyweight and I would probably fight him at heavyweight.”
Golden Boy founder and CEO De La Hoya admits he is intrigued by the prospect of his protégé fighting a two-weight world champion.
“I’m excited not because of his reunion,” the 51-year-old said DAZN.
“Yes, it’s quite exhilarating because it doesn’t happen often.
“But the fact that Zurdo is talking about Usyk.
“And Usyk returns to cruiserweight.
– It’s quite exhilarating.
Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez defended his unified super middleweight title with a major unanimous decision over Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas.
PBC promoted the Canelo vs Berlanga fight, with DAZN and Amazon Prime sharing broadcast rights.
The 27-year-old Puerto Rican entered the contest as a clear underdog and it seemed like he had a chance early on. He was immediately pushed onto his back leg by Alvarez, refused to let go of his hands and bit challenging at the champion’s feints.
In the third round, Canelo absolutely floored him with a left hook and passed Berlanga’s defender at a speed so quick it bordered on cartoonish. To his credit, “The Chosen One” didn’t look seriously hurt and survived the rest of the round well.
Getting him on the canvas seemed to somehow solidify Berlanga’s position in the contest, and he gradually gained confidence from there. While he didn’t win many rounds, the Brooklyn boxer had moments of success later in his career and showed impressive defense on the ropes—not to mention a forceful chin.
The left hook that dropped Berlanga was felt in San Juan 🇵🇷. #CaneloBerlanga pic.twitter.com/QP94bYobdc
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024
There were some violent moments, most notably when Canelo landed a pristine right hand after the referee called a stoppage, though it was somewhat of a justified response to the blatant utilize of the head by his youthful opponent.
However, at the end of the incredibly emotional final round, the pair immediately hugged, with Berlanga thanking the Guadalajara star for the opportunity before admitting that he is his idol.
Nothing beats boxing in Vegas during Mexican Independence weekend. 🇲🇽 RESPECT 🇵🇷#CaneloBerlanga pic.twitter.com/TxOiFmOp8i
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024
To the surprise of no one at T-Mobile Arena, Alvarez won by unanimous decision and marches on with his three-word titles. Berlanga, though well beaten, answered several long-standing questions that cast a shadow over him and proved he has plenty of substance to back up his fervor.
Lara defends herself against Garcia
In the veterans’ fight, Cuban Erislandy Lara (31-3-3, 19 KO) defended his WBA middleweight world title by defeating Danny Garcia (37-4, 21 KO).
Garcia looked a shadow of his former self and retired after nine rounds. Lara, 41, is still enjoying the Indian summer and has won six matches in a row.
Shipping plants or McCumby
Former super middleweight world champion Caleb Plant (23-2, 14 KOs) made his first fight since losing to David Benavidez last year with a ninth-round stoppage of unannounced Trevor McCumby (28-1, 21 KOs).
Plant, who survived an early knockdown, currently holds the interim belt at 168 pounds and could be in line for another world title fight in 2025.
IT’S OVER!! REVENGE TOURISM CONTINUES WITH ANOTHER KO BY @SweetHandsPlant! #PlantMcCumby
Order #CaneloBerlanga Now: https://t.co/TTL3b5uHde pic.twitter.com/thEITuxwpq
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024
Romero is back in form
Polarizing super lightweight Rolando Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) returned to action at T-Mobile following a loss to Isaac Cruz in March.
Manuel Jaimes (16-2, 11 KO), who had previously only fought in compact gyms, was forceful and powerful but found himself on the wrong side of a unanimous decision win over “Rolly,” who had been earmarked as a potential opponent for Ryan Garcia’s comeback.
Fulton squeaks fit for Castro
In his first fight at 126 pounds, former super bantamweight world champion Stephen Fulton (22-1, 8 KOs) found himself in a tougher fight than advertised against the rugged Carlos Castro (30-3, 14 KOs).
“Scooter” was clamorous on several stages and even fell challenging, but managed to clinch the victory by a split decision on the scorecards.
Lots of action in #FultonCastro with 💣s landed by both players and Castro gets the KD. How did you score that?
Order #CaneloBerlanga Now: https://t.co/TTL3b5uHde pic.twitter.com/lM78e5gis0
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 15, 2024
Villa surprised by Salas
It was a night to remember for Jaron Ennis’ former opponent, Romain Villa (26-3, 24 KOs), who suffered a shock third-round defeat to Ricardo Salas Rodriguez (20-2-2, 15 KOs).
Villa came out on the attack as usual but unleashed a devastating right hand that ended the contest.
Ricardo Salas makes his US debut with a KO finish over Romain Villa in RD3. #WillaSalas
Order #CaneloBerlanga Now: https://t.co/TTL3b5uHde pic.twitter.com/3FKD4ldCmw
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) September 14, 2024
Further Undercard Recap
In eight rounds, both Yoenli Hernandez (5-0, 5 KOs) and Laurence King (17-1, 14 KOs) scored second-round KO victories over Jose Sanchez Charles (21-6-1, 12 KOs) and Vaughn Williams (12-2, 8 KOs), while Jonathan Lopez (17-0, 12 KOs) had to settle for a decision victory over Richard Medina (15-3, 8 KOs).
Undefeated Kazakhstan’s Bek Nurmaganbet (12-0, 10 KOs) needed just two of six to dispatch Joshua Conley (17-7-1, 11 KOs) in the first set.
DAZN broadcast the Mayweather vs Gotti fight live on television.
The two met last June, with Mayweather outclassing Gotti with speed and timing before the referee threw both fighters out for constant trash-talking and fouls, leading to full-scale brawl between both boxing camps.
Mayweather, 47, retired in 2017 to take his place among the greatest laced-glove fighters of all time, but has since traveled the world for lucrative speaking engagements and exhibition competitions. Gotti fought primarily in mixed martial arts, with only two sanctioned boxing matches under his belt before facing Mayweather in 2023.
Dressed in the colors of the Mexican national flag, Mayweather was warmly welcomed into the arena as he entered the ring, and after the national anthems and eliminations, things got down to business.
Mayweather began with a pointed jab and a body kick to Gotti, who was initially cautious. In the second round, the referee admonished Mayweather for a shot to the back of the head, and the corners began to tie up again before the referee was replaced midway through the round.
The fight resumed and in the third Mayweather opened up on Gotti, landing multiple shots to the head and body of his opponent and although Gotti stepped forward Mayweather was able to avoid everything that came his way. The pace dropped and Mayweather continued to maintain control, landing his jab and remaining fluid on the defensive end and the pair locked horns as the fight went into the final two frames.
Mayweather let his hands go in round seven, landing several vicious body shots, and Gotti dared to meet them head on, and in the final round he covered up well under fire as the fight came to an end.
With no judges to score, Mayweather claimed a moral victory, and the two hugged after the fight.
Subcard Summary
Another exhibition took place on the undercard, and Victor Ortiz, Mayweather’s former foe and potential future exhibition opponent, failed to impress in his scoreless fight with Rodrigo Damian Coria.
Alan Picasso Romero (29-0-1, 16 KO) improved his class and regained the WBC Silver super bantamweight title with a points victory over former world title challenger Azat Hovhannisyan (21-5, 17 KO). It was a lopsided fight, but Romero won by unanimous decision.
In a ten-round super bantamweight bout, Luis Rodriguez Ocana (15-1, 14 KOs) suffered the first defeat of his career, defeating Cesar Vaca (17-1-1, 11 KOs) by majority decision. Vaca scored 98-92 and 97-94 on a 95-95 card.
In the super middleweight division, Aaron Silva (15-1, 12 KOs) stopped Alfonso Flores (13-3, 9 KOs) in the third round, and Cecilia Nino Rodriguez (13-1-1, 6 KOs) took care of the last fight. – notice the replacement opponent Arlenn Sanchez Aguirre (5-7-4, 1 KO) in the airy flyweight fight, who scored 80-72, 79-74 and 78-74 in eight rounds.
John Easter (7-0, 7 KOs) put in a great performance to beat Luis Morales Duran (5-2, 5 KOs) by stoppage in the airy heavyweight division, while Trenton Joseph Brown (3-0, 1 KO) did the same in his super welterweight fight against Jose Antonio Munoz Guadarrama (2-3, 1 KO).
Dutch lightweight Jursly Vargas (3-0, 2 KOs) maintained his unbeaten record with a points win over Brian Eduardo Carrillo (3-2, 2 KOs) in the lightweight division, while Sekaye Terry (1-0, 0 KOs) made his debut and scored a four-round victory over Carlos Rosas (1-2, 0 KOs) in the super featherweight division.
Denzel Bentley successfully defended his WBO International middleweight title, defeating Derrick Osaze in the second round of their meeting at York Hall.
Bentley (20-3-1, 17 KOs) lost his British title in a majority decision loss to Nathan Heaney last November, but won it back with a two-round stoppage over Danny Dignum in April. Osaze (13-2, 3 KOs) has been largely inactive since winning the BOXXER tournament in 2019, and was last seen in March stopping Joel Julio in a third-place finish in Bulgaria.
Both men got off to a busy start in the first round, with Osaze taking the fight to “2 Acute” in the second, causing problems for the champion until he found the surefire equalizer, flattening the 30-year-old with a powerful right uppercut that sent him face down to the canvas and the contest was abruptly ended.
Bentley, who is ranked second by the WBO, is in line for a rematch with the unified WBO and IBF champion, Janibek Alimkhanulywho defeated him on points in November 2022.
The 29-year-old could also target the winner of the September 21 clash between Tyler Denny and Hamzah Sheeraz.
Junior secures first lanes
Aloys Jr. won his first professional titles, winning the full ten rounds and capturing the vacant WBA and IBO Continental cruiserweight titles with a narrow points victory over Oronzo Birardi.
Junior (8-1, 7 KO) was tested by Birardi (8-1, 6 KO) but largely controlled the fight and edged the winner by two scores of 97-93 and a third of 98-92.
Defeat defeats Rodriguez
The only eighth-round contender was in the super welterweight division, where Ben Fail went the distance to defeat Omir Rodriguez on points.
A tiny left hand put Rodriguez (15-20-1, 6 KOs) on the deck in the second round, but a shootout ensued after that and it was Fail (7-0, 5 KOs) who secured the victory in a 77-74 judge’s score.
Remaining Undercard
Joshua Frankham (10-0, 2 KOs) had his first fight of 2024, and the super welterweight did as he pleased, taking all six sessions against Artjom Spatar (4-10-1, 1 KO).
In the super featherweight division, Billy Adams (4-0) impressed by winning all six rounds against Marvin Solano (24-19, 8 KOs).
William Hamilton (6-0, 3 KO) earned a narrow points victory in the heavyweight division against Perry Howe (5-17-1, 1 KO), triumphing 60-54 over six rounds.
Mykyle Ahmed (1-0, 1 KO) made his super flyweight debut and came away with a victory over Stephen Jackson (1-53-1, 1 KO), who has only lost twice early in his 54 previous fights.
Mason Payne (1-0) also bowed out and scored a points win in his welterweight fight against John Henry Mosquera (5-17, 1 KO).
Frankie Wood (1-0) was the third to make his professional debut, with the super featherweight winning all four rounds in his clash with the experienced Engel Gomez (8-35-3, 4 KOs).
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