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Analysis

Shakur Stevenson and Harutyunan, the last fight under the Top Rank contract

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Shakur Stevenson and Harutyunan, the last fight under the Top Rank contract

Shakur Stevenson will reportedly defend his WBC lightweight title on July 6 against Artem Harutyunyan Mike Coppinger of ESPN.comand the fight takes place in Stevenson’s hometown of Newark, Modern Jersey.

This is notable not because of the fight – which isn’t particularly noteworthy at all and will understandably be scrutinized by many – but because it is the last fight on Stevenson’s current deal with Top Rank, at which point he can test open boxing waters.

While Stevenson (21-0, 10 KO) isn’t the funniest action fighter in boxing, he has some value after years of aggressive promotional efforts from Top Rank and ESPN, and he’s got plenty of skill.

The 26-year-old Stevenson has talked about a potential fight with Ryan Garcia, but Garcia’s fight-to-fight life is a wild card at best and, of course, he is scheduled to face Devin Haney on April 20.

Harutyunyan (12-1, 7 KO) is a 33-year-old Armenian whom you may have only seen during his only defeat in his career, which was also his last fight. Harutyunyan lost a decision to Frank Martin in July 2023, and although he performed well in his first test at the regional level, it is a make or break world title.

If you’re wondering why perhaps Martin won’t face Stevenson, you can attribute it to a variety of factors, but the bottom line is that Martin is expected to be the June opponent should Gervonta “Tank” Davis return to action.

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Analysis

Noela Mikaelian vs Ryan Rozicki fight has been postponed to September 28 on PPV

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Noela Mikaelian vs Ryan Rozicki fight has been postponed to September 28 on PPV

Don King’s only champion, WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian, will meet Ryan Rozicki at the Sept. 28 event at King’s usual haunt, Casino Miami Jai Alai.

Future viewers will be able to watch the show “on Pay Per View via Triller TV, DonKing.com and Itube247.com”

Mikaelian (27-2, 12 KO) has fought just four fights since an extremely questionable decision defeat to Mairis Briedis in the WBSS tournament in 2018. After two victories over restricted opponents, he outclassed faded prospect Youri Kayembre Kalenga and earned a shot at champion Ilunga Makabu, whom he then brutally knocked out in three last November.

A June date with Rozicki (20-1, 19 KO) fell through after Mikaelian suffered an injury, making it his first fight in almost 11 months.

Canadian Rozicki has won seven in a row since losing to Oscar Rivas in 2021, but on paper his streak is better than it actually is. His biggest victory, a split decision over challenger Yamil Alberto Peralta, was such an egregious blowout that the WBC outright refused to let Rozicki hang on the alphabet trinket. He was last seen handing an exceptionally overcooked Olanrewaju Durodola his eighth stoppage-time defeat in December.

Pay-per-view worthy? Not at all, but at least the truly talented Mikaelian was back in action.

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Analysis

Oscar De La Hoya thinks the Canelo vs. Berlanga marketing is a bit off

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Oscar De La Hoya thinks the Canelo vs. Berlanga marketing is a bit off

Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya takes some time to answer a few questions about the recent major event of the season in Riyad, headlined by Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov, the upcoming Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga fight, and his desire to making a Shakur Stevenson vs. William Zepeda fight. Below you can read some fragments of his speech.

De La Hoya at Crawford vs. Madrimov

“Too bad for Jared, who got knocked out fighting the beast. This kid reminded me of George Foreman – a gigantic kid with weighty hands. I feel like Jared will be back. It was a great fight, there is no shame in his game, he is a great fighter.

“Pitbull, low end. It happens. He fought strenuous, but overall, I think Crawford closed out the show with a great victory. It was a tough fight that may require a rematch. We’ll see, but you know. I’m looking forward to Saturday’s fight against Vergil Ortiz because maybe the winners will fight each other, Crawford and Vergil.

“It could happen. We hope that Vergil will win this Saturday, he will be able to face Tim Tszyu at the end of this year, and then the winner of the Tim Tszyu vs Vergil Ortiz fight will face Terence Crawford.

Canelo vs. Berlanga fight

“I think one thing that’s not true that I feel is that they’re building this fight as Mexico vs. Puerto Rico. I don’t know. I don’t know if this is true because the last time I checked Berlanga was in Novel York. Last time I checked, I think I’m more Puerto Rican than Berlanga. I lived there for six years, so I know. I know what people love, I know who they will support… I think yes, it will be a good fight, but don’t make it a Mexico vs. Puerto Rico match.”

On if he believes Eddie Hearn is standing in the way of Shakur Stevenson fighting William Zepeda

“Oh well. I don’t think anyone will stand in the way of this fight. Look, I’m Zepeda’s promoter and I really want to do this fight. I think Shakur, skill-wise, is probably the best fighter in the world right now. Great, great skills, but he has to be able to sell tickets. His boxing style isn’t very genial to sell tickets, but I think the William Zepeda vs. Shakur Stevenson fight is a gigantic fight that will happen, but no, Eddie Hearn is not on track to fight that fight.

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Analysis

“I’ll put him on…”: Berlanga challenges Canelo to come out swinging

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“I'll put him on…”: Berlanga challenges Canelo to come out swinging

Edgar Berlanga gets the opportunity he’s been hoping for as he faces Canelo Alvarez in the pay-per-view main event on Saturday, September 2. 14 in Las Vegas.

Canelo, who made headlines this week for being the first major boxing fighter not to immediately bend the knee to the whims of Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh, is the clear favorite in this fight, currently valued at -1400 by DraftKings Sportsbook.

However, Berlanga (22-0, 17 KO) feels that he can continue his winning fight in his first professional fight as an underdog, and an extremely essential one at that.

“Tell him to come out swinging in the first round,” Berlanga told Matchroom cameras. “Look what will happen to him, I will put him on his ass. I give it six. It’s a fact.”

“I’ve already learned, he likes to run for the first two or three rounds to get a feel for you,” he continued. “But then let him try to open up. Let him try to open up and see what happens to him. You heard me, I’ll tell him I’m nasty.

Berlanga obviously gained momentum on ESPN and Top Rank when he started his career with 16 straight wins before first-round stoppages, but as soon as that streak inevitably came to an end in 2021, most of the hype rose with him.

He won five straight fights by decision before stopping Padraig McCroy in February this year, and along the way he parted ways with Top Rank to sign with Matchroom, with the Canelo fight his main goal.

That time has come for him and he will get what he has been talking about since he came to prominence a few years ago.

Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KO) will defend the WBC, WBA and WBO super middleweight belts in this fight. He has never been stopped in his career.

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