Kovalev-Mohammedi Kickoff Press Conference

Credit:  Photos by David Spagnolo/Main Events –

WBO, WBA and IBF light heavyweight champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev and IBF mandatory challenger Nadjib “Iron Jib” Mohammedi, along with their camps, addressed the media Saturday at a press conference in Los Angeles to formally announce their world title clash on July 25 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Sergey Kovalev: “Hello everybody. Thank you for comes here. What I can say? I already said enough for my side. I am sure it is going to be very interesting fight. Why? Because Nadjib has very good and big motivation to be champion and my desire is to get my four titles. I think that will happen this year, that I fight a unified fight. Fight against Nadjib is for me next step. I am not going to say that I will, I will and I will, is words of trash talkers. I am going to show what I can in the ring.

“Everyone welcome to Vegas July 25 to Mandalay Bay and have a nice time. Thank you very much for your attention, for my promoter, Kathy Duva, and manager [Egis Klimas] that they turn their attention to me, sign me and now my career is in their hands. I like it. Everything I have right now is good.

“Also I am very happy that my fight is on HBO. I am happy and I am going to be best in my division. I am not finished of my collection of all of my belts. I shoot and I must to get one more, WBC title. Just give me opportunity to fight against WBC Champion. I don’t care whether it be Adonis Stevenson or another guy. I don’t care. Right now I am not even thinking about this because my next fight will be big fight and not an easy fight against Nadjib Mohammedi. I think so enough to say. Thank you very much again.”

Nadjib Mohammedi: “For me is big opportunity. My first time in USA just one years now. I respect Sergey Kovalev now is champion of light heavyweight but I don’t come here for joke or for play or for game. I want be world champion. I work with Abel Sanchez in Big Bear for this. I am not stupid. I know what you think about me. I am not naïve. This fight is very, very difficult for me but I say it is very difficult for Sergey. It is not difficult just for me because I am very smarter, I am faster.

“On 25 of July I am ready with my team, I am ready for this fight. I am ready for Sergey. I am the new generation of light heavyweight because I don’t want the same fight of another opponent. Thank you very much to Kathy Duva, my promoter. Thank you very much my team. Thank you very much my co-managers, Vince Caruso and Jon Ali. Thank you, Abel Sanchez. I will see you 25 of July for the big fight. I promise you this is a big, big fight. Thank you very much.”

Main Events Promoter Kathy Duva: “Less than two years ago Sergey Kovalev was a struggling fighter trying to make a name for himself. Since then he has fought on HBO six times. He is about to go into his seventh fight on HBO. He has become, not just the light heavyweight champion of the world, but he has unified three of the light heavyweight titles. Last year he was named the fighter of the year by Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, The New York Post, USA Today, SherDog and UCN Live. Some of you are here today and thank you so much. It I a hell of an accomplishment to be the Fighter of the Year, you can’t do that every year, no matter who you are. To go from being completely unknown to being the man in the light heavyweight division in less than two years is a remarkable accomplishment.

“I don’t think any of us would be here without the support of the fine people at HBO. Today I get to proudly announce that Sergey Kovalev gets to remain with HBO, the company that has taken him this far. It is his intention and our intention to remain with HBO for the rest of his career, if that is possible. This is the company that has led boxing for the last 30 odd years in this country. It is unquestionably the #1 boxing network in the world. It is the place to be if you want to have a high-profile career in this sport and maintain it for a long time.

“About a year ago Nadjib Mohammedi came to the United States for the first time. He earned his shot at a title by becoming the #1 contender. He has worked hard over the last year to maintain that position and prepare himself for the opportunity to fight for the world title. Now he gets the privilege of fighting for all three of those belts.

“Now that Sergey has moved to the west coast and has made a home for himself and his family here in Los Angeles we are moving his home base. I had a lovely meeting with Richard Sturm at MGM a few weeks ago and he confirmed to me that MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay want to be in the Sergey Kovalev business. As I see a vacuum opening up in Vegas for big names I think Sergey Kovalev is the kind of guy who can step in there and fill that vacuum. His fights are electrifying and exciting and thrilling. That is what boxing fans should expect when they put their money down to come and see a fight.

“Main Events has a great history with Mandalay Bay which is one of the best facilities in the country, in the world. On a personal note it is great to be going back there. We brought Fernando Vargas there years ago and had some great, great nights there and some great, great memories there. We are going to make some new ones now. It is a new beginning. It is a new beginning with HBO. It is a new beginning with Mandalay Bay. Yet it all feels very familiar because this was the same team that was making Fernando one of the biggest box office attractions in the country.

“Peter Nelson from HBO is not here because of your famous LA traffic but if he were here he would tell you that the event will start at 10:00 PM on July 25 on HBO. There will be a co-feature and we are still working on what that is going to be and we will announce that when we know. The tickets will be going on sale next week and will be priced very affordably for the fans from $25 up to $300. We want to fill up the room. We want to encourage the true boxing fans. Something that I noticed when I went to the big fight a few weeks ago at MGM that the crowd was missing the true fight fans but I want to see those people come out for this fight. Those fans will be very pleased. I have had the great pleasure to be ringside a number of times for Sergey’s fights and it is thrilling.

“This will be a 12-round fight for the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Championships. It is an IBF mandatory bout. Sergey is 27-0-1 with 24 knockouts from Russia and Nadjib is 37-3, with 23 knockouts from France.

“To Vince’s point, that is one of the things that is great about boxing, everybody has a story. Everybody has been through adversity. If not for miracles I think everyone standing on this dais, myself included, would not be standing here right now. I think that is part of what keeps this sport alive and is what makes it so compelling is the stories behind everybody. The truth is Nadjib came here last June as an opponent basically. He came here and won a fight he wasn’t expected to win; he earned his place and has worked for a long time with Abel Sanchez. He has taken advantage of this time to work with a great trainer in Abel Sanchez and believe me we are very well aware of it. With an awkward style and a great trainer, his great heart and drive that this is not going to be an easy night for anybody.

“Having said that, Sergey Kovalev is something very special, we all know that. To me he is exactly what boxing is supposed to be, somebody who goes out there and gives their all gives 1,000% every time. He keeps the crowd entertained. He keeps the fight exciting. He makes it fun to be there. That is why we tend to focus on him and his future. We don’t mean it as an insult to anybody. That is what we have, it is called a star.”

Kovalev Manager Egis Klimas: “Good afternoon everybody. Thanks for coming for this press conference in the beautiful city of Los Angeles. Thank you Kathy [Duva]. She is doing a very good job. When I brought Sergey to Kathy a couple of years ago at that point nobody knew him. Some people knew Kovalev in boxing but not much and not like he is known today.

“Vince [Caruso] was talking about how we have not seen bad days in Sergey’s career but I would say it is completely the opposite. I brought Sergey in 2009 from Russia I put him in Don Turner training camp in North Carolina which is in the middle of nowhere. The closest store is about five miles away. All around there are corn fields, bugs, bears, snakes and he stayed where Don had built his boxing gym. At that time I had many fighters going to that camp and besides Sergey and Gradovich I would say the longest somebody was there was like three months before they would call me and tell me they were done. They would go to New York or Chicago and today they are nobody and I have not even heard about them. Some are taxi drivers now but this gentleman stayed there and didn’t complain a single word for a year and a half.

“I used to go to Don’s camp, me and Don would jump in a van and drive around the country just to get the fights. I saw big talent and Don Turner saw big talent in him but I could not convince any of the promoters. I talked to Top Rank. I talked to Golden Boy. I talked to Lou DiBella. I talked to everybody about giving him a chance until one day Don Turner introduced me to Kathy see said she would try and see what is going to happen.

“The biggest fight that we had in our career was Darnell Boone. Sergey wasn’t ready for it so it went all eight rounds and was not a good fight. Main Events asked me how I felt about fighting Darnell Boone again. I thought Sergey was no going to like that. I called Sergey and I told him, he said he it was great and he wanted to do that. He said, ‘I want to see how I improved from almost two years past. That’s a fight I want.’ That was when I realized I really had a good fighter here with a good heart. Of course the second time he did a great job with Darnell Boone. It was two rounds. He was a completely different guy. He was on TV. He was on the big stage. He has had hard times.

“I want to thank HBO for giving us this very good opportunity for the rest of his career. I wanted to thank again Kathy and Mandalay Bay for having us there. Don’t miss fight on July 25.”

Mohammedi Co-Manager Vince Caruso: “There is not much to say when you fight the #1 guy. Whether I like him or not Sergey Kovalev is the #1 guy in boxing today, especially after what we saw two weeks ago I would say he is undoubtedly #1. He is the top tier. He is a very bad dude and we are going in there with that in mind.

“I am not going to get up here and say that Nadjib is going to come in there and do this or we are guaranteeing a win. You can’t guarantee anything in this business. The only thing I can guarantee you is that on the 25th of July Nadjib Mohammedi is going to make the 175 pound contracted weight limit, that will be a guarantee. #2 he is going to come in there with a game plan that if he does execute and he does listen to Abel Sanchez, his trainer, he has a very good shot at winning this fight. Because even though Sergey might be stronger, and he might be bigger, and he might have been on the big stage a lot more than Nadjib has, there is one thing that I believe we have the edge in, and that is desire.

“When you have been held down your whole life, your whole career, a career that started in 2005, and you have to fight in rooms that are smaller than this, with no TV coverage, no press, that is hard times. I don’t think Sergey Kovalev goes through hard times. Nadjib Mohammedi has gone through hard times. He came to Big Bear before his fight on the Hopkins-Kovalev undercard back in November. His trainer that he has been with for 14 years got detained at the airport and could not get in for that fight. So me and his co-manager, Jon Ali, had to figure out who was going to work the corner. Sullivan Barrera, our friend who is also here today, was on that card already and he was working with Abel Sanchez. I have always said after I watched Nadjib on June 21st of last year, that he is the perfect style fighter for Abel Sanchez’s training methods. He fights that Mexican style. He is a straight-ahead blood and guts fighter. There is nothing really special about him. His strength is his heart. Show me a guy with heart who is sick and tired of being broke and sick and tired of getting the short end of the deal and I am going to show you a winner. Nothing ever lifts adrenaline more than the desire to change your life. That is what we need to look at going in against this guy because he is a killer. He is #1, the big cheese. That is what we want. We want high risk because we want high reward.

“With all due respect to Kathy, she talks about all these great future plans she has with Kovalev but I would have waited until this Mohammedi fight was in the books before you made any long term plans. I know nobody gives us a chance and he is probably a 15-1 underdog. We are the dog but everybody on this team has overcome something. This guy has overcome the temptations of the mafia-ridden streets of France. He went into the food business and took care of his mother and his brothers and his sister. He worked hard. He wanted to become a professional fighter. He is here. Jon Ali, my co-manager, is a professional singer. He is a great pop singer and that is why he is not here today. 11 years ago I was a junkie and I was in a Las Vegas rehab. I never thought I would be on the big stage again but I am. This team has a lot of desire. We are going to win this fight and we are going to win it with heart.”

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/kovalev-mohammedi-kickoff-press-conference-291330

Credit:  Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank –

Promoter Bob Arum announced today that the June 27 clash between former two-division world champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley Jr. and undefeated WBA super lightweight world champion Jessie Vargas will be for the vacant WBO welterweight championship. That belt was last on the line when Floyd Mayweather fought Manny Pacquiao on May 2. After the fight, Mayweather accepted the belt, but it was agreed beforehand that should he win the title would be vacant. Bradley-Vargas takes place under the stars at StubHub Center in Carson, California, and will be televised live on HBO.

Tim Bradley: I think this fight might be a candidate for fight of the year. I’m already calling it right now. A lot of you out there see this fight on paper and you guys are like ‘It’s an easy fight for you Bradley.’ And I’m like ‘Y’all crazy. What do you mean easy fight for Bradley?’ This fight is not easy whatsoever…I call StubHub ‘The War Ground,’ because overtime there’s a fight there, there’s always a war. And I think this fight’s gonna be a war.

Jessie Vargas: Everyone is expecting a great fight. We know that Timothy Bradley and myself always give it our all in the ring. We have the heart of a lion. On June 27th we both have to dig very deep and we’ll see who comes out with the victory.

Bob Arum: Tickets are on sale tomorrow. I don’t know why we’re not waiting for the week of the fight to put them on sale.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/bradley-vargas-for-wbo-welterweight-title-291349

Ruslan Provodnikov did it. So did Evgeny Gradovich. Even Gennady Golovkin followed through.

Like the aforementioned fighters, Sergey Kovalev has become the latest fighter from a former Soviet bloc country to call Southern California home.

The weather may be a reason but Southern California has become a hub in which elite fighters receive the best sparring and work with some of the best trainers in the sport.

Kovalev will be in Big Bear Lake, Calif., preparing for his light heavyweight title defense on July 25 against IBF mandatory challenger Nadjib Mohammedi at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.

The bout will be televised live on HBO.

Kovalev’s upcoming fight will mark a few milestones. It will be the first time he will headline a major card in Las Vegas and his first fight under a new contract with HBO.

“It is his intention and our intention to remain with HBO for the rest of his career, if that is possible,” said Main Events promoter Kathy Duva while addressing an assembled media on Saturday afternoon. “This is the company that has led boxing for the last 30 odd years in this country. It is unquestionably the number one boxing network in the world. It is the place to be if you want to have a high-profile career in this sport and maintain it for a long time.”

Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 knockouts) has mostly fought on the East Coast and Canada in recent years. Compared to Atlantic City, NJ., where he has fought three of his last four fights, the move west makes sense.

Duva confirmed her meeting with Richard Sturm, head of the MGM Grand Entertainment and Sports, who had expressed high interest in having the Russian fight on any of the properties on the Las Vegas Strip, including the MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay.

“I had a lovely meeting with Richard Sturm at MGM a few weeks ago,” said Duva. “He confirmed to me that MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay want to be in the Sergey Kovalev business. As I see a vacuum opening up in Vegas for big names, I think Sergey Kovalev is the kind of guy who can step in there and fill that vacuum. His fights are electrifying and exciting and thrilling. That is what boxing fans should expect when they put their money down to come and see a fight.”

Kovalev’s fights are indeed thrilling and exciting, including his last fight on March 14, when he stopped former RING light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal in the eighth round.

While possible fights with current RING champion Adonis Stevenson and Andre Ward loom on the horizon, Kovalev’s only focus is on Mohammedi, who has won his last 13 bouts in a row.

“I am happy and I am going to be best in my division,” said Kovalev, who will also be defending his WBO and WBA light heavyweight titles. “I am not finished of my collection of all of my belts. I shoot and I must get one more, the WBC title. Just give me opportunity to fight against WBC champion. I don’t care whether it be Adonis Stevenson or another guy. I don’t care. Right now I am not even thinking about this because my next fight will be big fight and not an easy fight against Nadjib Mohammedi.”

Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) will be fighting in the United States for only the third time. This will be his attempt at a major world title belt.

While some in boxing wonder whether Mohammedi warrants the credentials to be the IBF mandatory challenger, Duva believes the fighter from France has earned that opportunity.

“[Mohammedi] earned his shot at a title by becoming the number one contender. He has worked hard over the last year to maintain that position and prepare himself for the opportunity to fight for the world title. Now he gets the privilege of fighting for all three of those belts.”

Mohammedi’s co-manager, Vince Caruso agrees.

“The only thing I can guarantee you is that on the 25th of July, Nadjib Mohammedi is going to make the 175-pound contracted weight limit. That will be a guarantee. Number two, he is going to come in there with a game plan that, if he does execute and he does listen to [trainer] Abel Sanchez, he has a very good shot at winning this fight.”

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/389613-sergey-kovalev-and-nadjib-mohammedi-prepare-for-a-clash-in-vegas

El campeón mundial welter de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB), el filipino Manny Pacquiao, estará enfrentando al campeón mundial welter de la Asociación Mundial de Boxeo (AMB) y el Consejo Mundial de Boxeo (WBC), el estadounidense Floyd Mayweather Jr., en la Súper Pelea de este mismo sábado, 2 de mayo, en la legendaria Arena Grand Garden del Hotel MGM Grand de Las Vegas, Nevada. 

El invicto estadounidense Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. y el filipino Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao se encontraron este miércoles, al mediodía, en la última conferencia de prensa, previa a su mega pelea, en el teatro “KA” del Hotel MGM Grand. 

“Quiero agradecer a Dios por este día fabuloso para todos. También a todos los sponsors y promotores de este evento. Mi primera pelea fue aquí en el MGM en Junio del 2001 y mucho ha pasado desde entonces, el apoyo de los fanáticos y los medios. Agradezco y los invito a ver esta buena pelea este sábado. Quiero que sepan que todo lo que he logrado fue porque Dios me dio la fortaleza. Antes estaba hambriento en las calles y nunca imagine que llegaría a esta posición y todo es gracias a Dios. Los dos hemos trabajado duro y espero que logremos un gran espectáculo para la gente este sábado. Yo daré todo de mí, por la historia del boxeo,” dijo el campeón de la OMB, Manny Pacquiao. 

“Primero, quiero agradecer a Dios, que sin el, nada de esto es posible. Esto ha sido un evento increíble y mucha gente ha vendido. El entrenamiento fue increíble. Mi papa hizo un gran trabajo, con mi tío, tuvimos un gran campamento de entrenamiento. Agradezco a todos los fanáticos del mundo, que nos han apoyado en los últimos 19 años, quiero decirles ‘Gracias!’. Es tiempo de pelea ya. Han venido aquí a sentir emociones, a ser testigos de un gran evento y eso es lo que traemos a la mesa. Esta es pelea más grande en la historia del boxeo y yo soy parte de esto. Es algo muy grandioso. Me siento bien, me siento fuerte y los veré a todos el sábado. Gracias!,” dijo el campeón del CMB y súper campeón de la AMB, Floyd Mayweather Jr. 

Estaban presentes en la mesa principal, el promotor Bob Arum, el entrenador de Pacquiao, Freddie Roach, el presidente del CMB, el mexicano Mauricio Sulaiman y el presidente de la OMB, el puertorriqueño Francisco “Paco” Valcárcel. 

“Estoy honrado de estar aquí representando a mi padre, Jose Sulaiman. Estoy muy orgulloso y agradecido por todos en hacer esta pelea una realidad. Estarán peleando por el orgullo y por la eternidad. El CMB creo la faja esmeralda que ganar el ganador. Estoy muy contento que el CMB pueda contribuir con esta faja especial en una de las peleas mas importantes en la historia del boxeo,” dijo el presidente del CMB, Mauricio Sulaiman. 

“Cuando estaba caminando hasta este teatro, los fanáticos del boxeo me paraban y me preguntaban, ‘¿Paco, Paco, quien ganara esta pelea?’ y yo solo respondí ‘El Boxeo será el ganador’. En el boxeo todo puede pasar y al final, el ganador será el mundo del boxeo y sus fanáticos,” dijo el presidente de la OMB, Francisco “Paco” Valcárcel. 

Dos duelos de campeonatos del mundo del CMB y la OMB, que serán televisados en el PPV, son los principales del gran respaldo del Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, que incluye un total de seis peleas. 

El campeón mundial supergallo del CMB, el mexicano Leo Santa Cruz (29-0-1 y 17 KOs), estará exponiendo su titulo ante su compatriota, José Cayetano (17-3 y 8 KOs). 

El campeón mundial pluma de la OMB, Vasyl Lomachenko (3-1 y 1 KO), esatara defendiendo su cetro ante el retador boricua, Gamalier Rodríguez (25-2-3 y 17 KOs). 

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao es un duelo de Campeonato mundial unificatorio pactado a 12 rounds en peso welter y es una promoción de Mayweather Promotions y Top Rank Inc y será televisado por PPV (HBO y Showtime) en Estados Unidos, por Azteca y Televisa en México, desde las 9:00 p.m. Este/ 6:00 p.m. Pacifico desde el MGM Grand Garden Arena de Las Vegas.

http://notifight.com/mayweather-y-pacquiao-en-gigantesca-ultima-conferencia/

Report/Photos by Karl Freitag

IBF/WBO/WBA heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko hosted a media workout at the Lucky Street Gym in Hollywood, Florida on Tuesday. Klitschko is preparing to defend his 10-year title reign against top rated challenger Bryant Jennings on April 25 at Madison Square Garden. The event will be televised live on HBO.

Klitschko patiently answered the same questions over and over for the various media outlets, went through some painful looking stretching exercises, then looked sharp in sparring six rounds. Also on hand was unbeaten New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker, who worked the pads with trainer Kevin Barry. Unfortunately for reporters, Parker didn’t spar against Klitschko on Tuesday.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/klitschko-looks-good-in-workout-285309#more-285309

Sergey Kovalev,from Russia, holds up his belts after defeating Jean Pascal, from Montreal, with an 8th round TKO Saturday, March 14, 2015 in Montreal. Kovalev defends his World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization light-heavyweight titles.  Ryan Remiorz / THE CANADIAN PRESS –

Jean Pascal showed plenty of heart, plenty of guts — just as advertised. But he also appeared to be overmatched against Sergey Kovalev.

Kovalev retained his three light-heavyweight titles — the World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization — with an eighth-round technical knockout against Laval’s Pascal Saturday night before approximately 12,000 Bell Centre spectators.

The end came at 1:03 of the round. Kovalev scored with a left against the ropes, then quickly landed an overhand right, prompting Puerto Rican referee Luis Pabon to stop the bout. Moments earlier, Kovalev was dropped, but Pabon ruled it a slip.

Pascal looked on in disbelief, as though he was shocked, when the fight was stopped.

Kovalev remains undefeated and improved to 27-0-1 with 24 knockouts. Pascal slipped to 29-3-1.

Sergey Kovalev (right) lands a punch to the head of Jean Pascal during their unified light heavyweight championship bout at the Bell Centre on March 14, 2015 in Montreal.  Photo:  Richard Wolowicz /  Getty Images

Kovalev looked like he had Pascal finished in the third round, when he scored with a right hand. Pascal slipped slightly through the ropes and appeared in serious trouble.

But he survived and came on in rounds five and six, swinging from the fences and scoring with overhand rights. Pascal was wild and unorthodox, throwing punches from angles and landing as often as he could. But he also missed as frequently.

It was clear and obvious Kovalev was the more polished and accomplished boxer. Indeed, the Russian-born Kovalev had Pascal hurt with a left hook near the end of the seventh round. Pascal stumbled back to his corner.

Jean Pascal (right) lands a punch to the head of Sergey Kovalev during their unified light heavyweight championship bout at the Bell Centre on March 14, 2015 in Montreal.  Photo by Richard Wolowicz /  Getty Images

Kovalev was making the fifth defence of the WBO title he captured in 2013 against Nathan Cleverly, stopping him in the fourth round.

Kovalev has dismantled all opponents who have gotten in his way since then, although many have lacked star power. Those included Ismayl Sillakh, Cedric Agnew and Blake Caparello. The latter caught Kovalev off-balance, knocking him down in the opening round, before Kovalev roared back to stop him in the second. He defeated Sillakh in November 2013 at the Colisée Pepsi in Quebec City.

Kovalev had hoped for a unification bout against Blainville’s Adonis Stevenson, the World Boxing Council 175-pound champ. Indeed, a deal had been agreed upon according to Main Events and HBO. But things changed after Stevenson signed with Showtime.

Stevenson said he wanted a fight against veteran Bernard Hopkins. But Hopkins eventually pulled an about-face, signing to put his version of the light-heavyweight titles up against Kovalev last November in Atlantic City. The winner would control three of the division’s four titles.

Kovalev dropped Hopkins in the first round, scoring with the first decent punch of the bout, but never could provide the finishing salvo. Hopkins appeared to be in survival mode and lost a unanimous decision. It marked the first time Kovalev fought beyond the eighth round.

Pascal, meanwhile, lost his first title opportunity back in 2008, vanquished by Carl Froch when they met for Froch’s super-middleweight belt.

Undaunted, Pascal moved up to the light-heavyweight division, capturing the WBC title against Adrian Diaconu. Pascal beat him again in their rematch, then handed Chad Dawson the first defeat of his career before fighting Hopkins to a majority draw. When they met in the rematch five months later, Pascal lost a decision in May 2011.

Pascal scored a unanimous decision against Lucian Bute in January 2014, but had fought only once since then, capturing a two-round no-contest against Roberto Bolonti last December.

It was hardly the ideal way to tune-up for Kovalev.

http://montrealgazette.com/sports/sergey-kovalev-beats-jean-pascal-with-eighth-round-tko-at-bell-centre

No toda las conferencias de prensa tienen una alfombra roja. Floyd Mayweather Jr. y Manny Pacquiao la tuvieron ayer, lo que refleja la magnitud del combate que ambos están por enfrentar.

Mayweather Jr. y Pacquiao se vieron las caras el miércoles en el único frente a frente que tendrán hasta los días previos al mega pleito entre ambos el 2 de mayo en el MGM Grand de Las Vegas, Nevada.

Los campeones del peso welter, considerados como los mejores libras por libra de los últimos tiempos, se encontraron en un atestado Nokia Teather de Los Ángeles, lugar que recibió desde horas tempranas a los cerca de 500 miembros de la prensa que se congregaron para presenciar la histórica presentación.

Una enorme alfombra roja dirigió el camino de los púgiles desde la entrada del teatro hasta el escenario.

El anunciador insignia de HBO, Michael Buffer se encargó de presentar a Pacquiao, un diez veces campeón del mundo y un ocho veces reinante en divisiones diferentes.

Mientras que ‘El Clásico’, Jimmy Lennon Jr., voz principal de los eventos de Showtime, tuvo a su cargo la presentación del invicto, Mayweather.

Ambos púgiles no tardaron en posar frente a frente por cerca de un minuto desplegando una electrificante energía en el icónico recinto del Este estadounidense.

“Gracias a HBO y a Floyd, a Top Rank y a todos por hacer este combate posible. Creo que este es el combate que han estado esperando desde hace cinco años. Estamos bien contentos y trabajaremos lo más duro para éste combate”, dijo Pacquiao.

“Los haremos felices el 2 de mayo. Y lo más importante es que el nombre de Dios sea glorificado. Que la gente, sepa que es Dios, que hace que uno venga de la nada, y logre todo lo que soy hoy”, agregó el filipino que tiene marca de 57-5-2 y 38KO’s.

Fue un encuentro cordial entre ambos equipos. Las únicos que tuvieron un encuentro de ‘egos’ fueron los representantes de las televisoras, Stephen Espinoza (Showtime) y Ken Kershman (HBO), quienes dejaron en claro sus logros en las carreras de ambos peleadores.

“Ha sido un largo camino. Pero aquí estamos ahora”, dijo Mayweather Jr.

“El 2 de mayo, el combate del siglo, será entre los dos mejores peleadores. Creo que no pudimos escoger el mejor momento. Mi equipo buscará el mejor plan tal y como lo hemos hecho en todos mis combates. La acción hace las peleas, yo trabajaré hasta el límite de mis capacidades. Pero una cosa sí sé sobre cualquier deporte, cuando pierdes está en tu mente. Si pierdes una vez, o dos, es en tu mente. Desde el día uno he dicho que seré el ganador y así será”, aseguró Mayweather quien tiene foja de 47-0 y 26KO’s.

Pacquiao y Mayweather acordaron la última semana de febrero firmar el combate del que venían hablando desde el 2009. Floyd tendrá una garantía de $150 millones, mientras que Pacquiao obtendrá $100 millones.

Se espera que el choque genere más de $300 millones y que las ventas de ‘pague por ver’ superen las 3 millones.

Mayweather es campeón welter y súperwelter del Consejo Mundial de Boxeo (CMB), mientras que Pacquiao es titular de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB).

“Primero fue Alí-Frazier, luego Leonard-Durán, Leonard-Hagler. Y ahora es el momento para Mayweather-Pacquiao”, dijo el promotor Bob Arum. “Todo el mundo debe estar interesado en el combate. Senadores, presidentes, artistas, personalidades del deporte. Todo el mundo”, agregó el fundador de Top Rank.

Un total de 150 países podrán tener acceso al combate que será presentado en alianza entre las dos más grandes empresas de televisión, Showtime y HBO.

“Hubo grandes obstáculos. Pero luego de que ellos dos se encontraron, pues ahí fue que supe que el combate podría celebrarse”, comentó Stephen Espinoza, director de Shotime Sports, previo al frente a frente.

Leonard Ellerbe, representante de Mayweather Jr., dijo que los boletos del pleito comenzarán en los $1,500.00 hasta los $7,500.00.

Hace unos días el promotor Bob Arum comentó que todos ellos ya habían sido vendidos.

http://elvocero.com/prometen-ser-combate-del-siglo-mayweather-y-pacquiao-ver-galeria/

By Jeff Zimmerman
Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Although North Texas got hit with a large snowstorm late Wednesday evening it could not dampen the official press conference Thursday afternoon to announce the battle between undefeated WBO lightweight champion Terence Crawford (25-0, 17KOs) and #2 rated Thomas Dulorme (22-1, 14KOs) for the vacant WBO junior welterweight world title on April 18 at College Park Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington. The world championship fight will be televised as part of a split site doubleheader live on HBO.

Crawford, always cool as ice, fit right into the elements that covered the outside of the arena right on campus of UTA in the city of Arlington, a sometimes forgotten city in the middle of Dallas Fort Worth. Ironically, this arena sits only a few miles from AT&T Stadium aka Jerry World where another Top Rank fighter by the name of Manny Pacquiao fought a couple times to huge crowds. 

Any potential fight between Top Rank’s prized pupils may be scrapped for good now that the mega-fight has finally been made between Pacquiao and Mayweather. Crawford knows that for bigger fights to come, with Pacquiao or anyone else, he has to continue to deliver as he did in 2014 when he won BWAA Fighter of the Year.

Fightnews caught with both Crawford in an exclusive one-on-one interview.

How do you feel about moving up in weight? 

I feel good, feel comfortable already.

How do you end up in Dallas again after fighting in your hometown of Nebraska the last couple of fights?

Well this is the venue they have chosen, so this is the venue we are going to be fighting at.

What do you know about Dulorme?

He’s a tall, rangy type of guy. Puncher, ok boxer, you know that pretty much sums it up.

How do you feel about your breakout year in 2014 where you were BWAA fighter of the year and getting all this praise? Has it changed you?

Not at all, it makes me want to train even harder, because I know people want my spot. I know a lot of people are targeting me now to uplift their career so I know I have to be on my p’s and q’s every night of every fight.

What is your goal for this year?

Keep winning, you know, putting all those spectacular performances like that I had put on in 2014.

Are you targeting anyone? 

I don’t target fighters. I always felt like when you target fighters you are trying to be in the same place they are at and I feel like I’m getting to the point where they are calling me out, because they want what I got. And there’s no need to call anybody out.

On your Gamboa fight and how you turned some heads going from southpaw to orthodox – do you train that way?

I practice it sometimes but it mainly comes natural – something I have been doing as a kid, something I already transcend as a professional.

During the fight did you feel like you could get the advantage with your lead right when you switched to southpaw? 

Of course, of course I just always felt a great fighter always adjusts and I felt like I did that in that fight. I felt like it paid off.

Did you emulate or idolize any fighter growing up?

I always just looked up to boxers, anybody that boxed – Floyd, Pernell Whitaker, Sugar Shane Mosley when he was at lightweight, Marco Antonio Barrera after he beat Naseem Hamed – those are just a few, but anybody that boxed. I love the art of boxing.

Do you feel like you have to take it to another level this year for the general public to know who you are?

Not really. You know all I have to do is keep putting together performances that I have been putting on and keep winning and everything else is going to fall in place.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/qa-terence-crawford-281050

By:  Patrick Byrne (HBO) –

New York City (February 4, 2015) Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO will defend his 10-year title reign against top rated challenger BRYANT JENNINGS on Sat., April 25 emanating from the “The World’s Most Famous Arena”,Madison Square Garden and televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Said Klitschko about the highly anticipated battle, “I do have great respect for Bryant Jennings and his achievements. He has good movement in the ring and good technique. I know this will be a tough challenge.”

“I am extremely happy to fight in New York City again. I had my first unification fight there and a lot of great heavyweight matches have taken place at Madison Square Garden. It will definitely be a great fight night and I will do everything for it from my side.”

Stated undefeated contender Jennings, “This is the moment I have been waiting for,” now it’s time to bring the belts home.”

“For the fourth time Wladimir will be boxing in the world’s most famous arena.” said BERND BOENTE, CEO of the Klitschko Management Group. “It’s always something special to promote at Madison Square Garden, where legends such as Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield stood inside the ring. We are looking forward to another exciting fight and a great event.”

Continued TOM LOEFFLER, Managing Director of K2 Promotions: “Wladimir has proven to be the most dominant heavyweight champion in recent history and we are looking forward to another great performance on April 25.”

“We’re proud to present Jennings with the opportunity to win the Unified Heavyweight Title of the World,” said GARY SHAW, head of Gary Shaw Productions

“On April 25th at Madison Square Garden, Wladimir Klitschko defends his heavyweight championship for the first time in the United States since 2008,” said Peter Nelson, vice president, programming, HBO Sports. “Heavyweight is boxing’s supreme glamour division, and its champion could not be a better ambassador to the sport in a career heading toward historic landmark achievements. Bryant Jennings has an opportunity to halt those ambitions and become America’s first unified heavyweight champion in more than 13 years, challenging for the crown in the media capital of the world. HBO is thrilled to present the event live on our flagship World Championship Boxing series.”

“It is an honor to host the World Heavyweight Championship at Madison Square Garden and welcome back Wladimir Klitschko, who last fought at The Garden in 2008,” said Joel Fisher, executive vice president, MSG Sports. “Throughout our 135 year existence, The Garden has hosted the very best in sports and entertainment, and to bring the World Heavyweight Championship back so our passionate boxing fans can see Bryant Jennings challenge for the heavyweight title is a moment not to be missed.”

Holder of the IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO and “The Ring Magazine” world titles and undefeated over the last ten years, Klitschko returns to Madison Square Garden for the fourth time sporting a record of 63-3-0 (54KO’s).

On November 15, Klitschko scored a fifth round knockout over #1 ranked contender Kubrat Pulev in Hamburg, Germany. Looking as dominant as ever during his illustrious career, Klitschko dropped the heavy handed Bulgarian four times in front of a sold out crowd at the 02 World Arena.

Returning to HBO® for his third straight fight, Philadelphia native Jennings has compiled a record of 19-0-0 (10KO’s) over his five-year professional career.

Making his HBO and Madison Square Garden debut on January 25, 2014, the 30-year-old Jennings devastatingly stopped undefeated Polish contender Artur Szpilka in the tenth and final round.

Following up on his knockout victory over Szpilka, Jennings won a 12-round unanimous decision over top contender Mike Perez on July 26, 2014 setting up the showdown with Klitschko.

http://www.boxeomundial.com/wladimir-klitschko-vs-bryant-jennings-saturday-april-25-live-hbo/

Credit:  Photos by Rich Kane Hogan –

ATLANTIC CITY (Oct. 31) – As we inch closer to the epic “Alien vs. Krusher: Hopkins vs. Kovalev” fight night in Atlantic City, welterweight contenders Sadam “World Kid” Ali and Luis Carlos “Potro” Abregu are preparing hard for their co-featured fight on Saturday, November 8 live on HBO World Championship Boxing.

Both Ali and Abregu offered insight into how their training camps are going and what the fans can expect on November 8.

Q: Where did you train and whom did you train with?
Sadam Ali: I’ve been training at World Kid Sports for eight months, before this training camp started, it’s my little boxing cave. I’m here with my trainers Willie Vargas and Andre Rozier. My team has a close bond. We’re like family and we work together as a
team. It’s all about building and building.

Luis Carlos Abregu:  I have been training in Los Angeles for about a month – I train in the Rock Gym in Carson, Calif. and CMC Pro boxing gym in Marina del Rey with my trainer Hector Roca. My trainer when I was in Argentina was Nestor Jaime.

Q: What is your main motivation in training for this fight?
SA: Being on HBO. I’ve been growing up watching HBO and watching the most famous guys shine and I’ve always envisioned myself in that position. I want to be in everybody’s eyes and I want to be known as something special, that’s very important to me.

LCA: My motivation is to get this win, so that I will have a chance to fight for a world title again. This dream was put on hold after I hurt my hand in my fight with Tim Bradley, but I’m ready to go now.

Q: What do you like to do when you’re not training?
SA: I like to shoot pool, go bowling and maybe play some ping-pong. I like competition and I love winning.

LCA: I like to be with my family and make my parents proud with everything I do. I also like to spend time with my friends and have a good time hanging out with them.

Q: Have you been able to spend time with your family during training?
SA: I spend a lot of time with my family. My only job is boxing, so other than that I have lots of time with my family. Their support is really important and it’s always been there. Not everybody has that support, not everybody has a father that can be there for you 24/7 while you’re growing up. My family has helped put me in the position I’m in and I’m thankful for it.

LCA: My family is in Argentina, so here in the United States, I have only my team with me. But I will bring the victory home for them.

Q: What do you know about your opponent and what do you expect from him on November 8?
SA: I’m expecting a hungry fighter, a strong fighter. Somebody who sees nothing but winning, he wants to win and he wants to take me out of his way. He’s a great fighter and I have respect for him, but I’m ready to go out there and perform.

LCA: I know he is a boxer who had a very good amateur career. I hope that he engages with me so that it will be a good fight. I plan to give the fans their money’s worth and I will fight very hard. I hope that he will do the same so that everyone enjoys the fight.

Q: Do you feel any extra pressure fighting as the co-feature before arguably the biggest fight of the year?
SA: I’m used to the pressure because I’ve always seen myself in this position so it’s not really anything to get me nervous. I’m definitely ready and excited. To be on the Hopkins card is exciting, he’s such a great speaker and he says things that just inspire you.

LCA: I feel no pressure at all. I have been the main event in many important boxing shows. To the contrary, I love to be part of important cards that people want to see.

Q: With this being one of the first fights in a while between Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank fighters, do you feel any pressure company?
SA: In addition to representing myself, I always feel like I’m representing Golden Boy too. It’s great to bring everyone together, I think we should all work together. It’s for the boxing fans and everybody that’s watching.

LCA: I think it’s definitely a good thing when two important boxing companies work together. This opens more doors for boxers and it gives all of us better and bigger opportunities.

Q: What is something about you that fight fans don’t know?
SA: I’m going to win November 8.

LCA: I feel that many people don’t know about my power and what I am capable of doing in the ring and that I can beat the best boxers in the world.

Q: What is your prediction for you fight?

SA: I think it’s going to be a great performance. I’m going to fight a smart fight. It’s definitely going to be exciting, that’s just the way I am. I want to excite the fans and I want them to want to see me again. I know Abregu is coming to fight too so it’s going to be beautiful.

LCA: I predict that I will win the fight and that it will be a great fight, if we both come ready to do our jobs. I’m hoping that after the fight the real winner will be the fans.

Question for Ali: What does it mean to you to be a fighter from Brooklyn?
SA: Being a Brooklyn fighter means a lot to me, I was born and raised here. Everybody is hungry here and there have been so many great fighters from here. Even though it’s not like how it used to be, I’m trying to bring it back as well. There’s a lot of those guys I look up to, Mike Tyson obviously, I’m close with Paulie Malignaggi and Luis Collazo. Can’t forget about Riddick Bowe and Mark Breland, there are so many great ones I can’t remember them all.

Question for Abregu: What does it mean to you to represent Argentina?
LCA: I am very proud to represent my country and I also know that is a great responsibility. That is why I will do my best to take a win back to Argentina for all of the people there.

Alien vs. Krusher: Hopkins vs. Kovalev” is a 12-round unification bout for the IBF, WBA and WBO Light Heavyweight World titles, presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Main Events in association with Caesars Atlantic City, Corona Extra, AT&T, Hortitsia Vodka and Mexico, Live it To Believe It!. Ali vs. Abregu is a 10-round welterweight bout for the WBO Intercontinental Welterweight title and is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank.

The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT.

http://fightnetwork.com/news/51677:sadam-ali-vs-luis-carlos-abregu-training-camp-update/

Photo credit:  Stephanie Keith for NY Daily News –

Buboy Fernandez, the assistant coach for WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs), says Pacquiao is training to attack challenger Chris Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs) with nonstop punches in their fight on November 22nd at the Cotai Arena, Venetian Resort, Macao, Macao S.A.R., China.

Pacquiao will be looking to wash over Algieri like a Tsunami next month in their HBO pay-per-view televised fight on Championship Boxing.

Buboy figures that the all-out attacking style of fighting for the 35-year-old Pacquiao could produce a knockout early if the slender Algieri chooses to slug with him. Why Algieri would do that is unknown, because if he watched his last fight against Ruslan Provodnikov, you can see that Algieri was moving constantly and not mixing it up.

“We are training him for more head movements, more punching combinations and a non-stop assault,” Buboy said to Philboxing.com. “We expect a bigger and taller Algieri to run around the ring. We should be ready for that. But, just in case, Algieri decides to mix it up then much better. The fight would end earlier.”

Pacquiao always fights the same pretty much. If Buboy’s plan for Pacquiao to beat Algieri is for him to go and throw nonstop combinations then he’d better come up with a good plan-B, because that’s a style that is more suited towards stationary fighters like Brandon Rios rather than movers like Algieri.

You’d hate to think that Pacquiao will be spending 7 weeks working on trying to storm a stationary foe by throwing 100 punches per round. What Buboy and Pacquiao need to be work on is trying to cut off the ring against movers like Algieri. Pacquiao looked horrible each time Tim Bradley used any kind of movement in their fight last April, as he showed no improvement in cutting off the ring from their first fight. Pacquiao was able to beat Bradley only because he chose to stand and trade instead of using movement like he did in their first fight.

“We will employ non-stop pressure. Our fighting congressman will chase him wherever he goes. Then try to throw three to five punching combinations to the head and body,” Fernandez said.

Pacquiao’s ability to cut off the ring could be hampered by his tendency to cramp up when he moves a lot. If he gets a case of cramps against Algieri on November 22nd then it’s quite possible that Algieri is going to box circles around him.

I’m not sure that the judges will give Algieri a decision no matter how good he looks, but he sure will make Pacquiao look every bit the loser if he can’t cut off the ring. It almost doesn’t matter if Algieri gets robbed. If he can make Pacquiao fight like he has two left feet like Bradley did in 2012 then the boxing public will ignore any decision handed down by the judges and see Algieri as the winner.
http://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/buboy-pacquiao-will-be-attacking-algieri-with-a-non-stop-assault/34609#JF9VMSDrZsKg1udK.99

WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey Kovalev (Center) speaks wtih members of the media on October 2, 2014 in Big Bear City, California at his media day for his November 8, 2014 world title unification fight against WBA & IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard Hopkins at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey which will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®. Photos by Sergey Kovalev/Hoganphotos.

http://www.boxingscene.com/photos-sergey-kovalev-holds-media-day-big-bear–82781

Photos: Chris Farina/Top Rank –

WBO World Featherweight champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Vasyl Lomachenko works out in Oxnard,Ca. for his upcoming title fight against Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo of Thailand.

Promoted by Top Rank and Sands China Ltd., in association with MP Promotions, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, Banner Promotions and Tecate, Lomachenko fights on the undercard of the Pacquiao vs. Algieri world welterweight championship event that will take place Saturday, November 22, at the Cotai Arena in The Venetian Macao Resort in Macau,China. It will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/lomachenko-looks-sharp-in-workout-263340

OMAHA, NEB — Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight champion TERENCE “Bud” CRAWFORD, Omaha’s favorite son, will make an encore hometown title defense on the heels of his wildly successful victory over previously undefeated world champion and Cuban sensation Yuriorkis Gamboa.  Crawford will defend his title against No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger RAY BELTRAN on Thanksgiving weekend, Saturday, November 29, at the CenturyLink Center.  The fight will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank.

Crawford successfully defended his title on June 28, at the CenturyLink Center, knocking out previously undefeated world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa in front of an energized crowd. The fight, a candidate for Fight of the Year honors, was televised live on HBO®, and according to Nielsen Media Research, garnered an average audience of 1.208 million viewers to the live, first-time airing, making it the second most-watched fight of the year so far.  Crawford vs. Gamboa was the first world championship fight the city of Omaha had hosted in 42 years when Joe Frazier defended his World Heavyweight Championship crown against Ron Stander in 1972.

“It’s an honor to fight in my hometown during the holiday season in front of my fans and family who will be traveling to Omaha,” said Crawford.  “It’s great that Top Rank and HBO are coming back into town to promote another show on one of the biggest weekends of the year.  Beltran feels I have something – a world title belt – which belongs to him.  He thought he beat Ricky Burns and I thought Beltran won too.  But he didn’t and I did. Beltran can fight. We know that.  I am going to fight him like a bad dog, fight fire with fire. Let’s see if he really has a will to win in Omaha. My will to win is off the charts. He won’t be coming straight at me the way he did against Ricky Burns.  My team and I are training hard to put on a good show for everyone. No one will be disappointed.”

“Crawford has shown to be a talented fighter, someone I respect,” said Beltran.  “But I see this fight as an opportunity for me to achieve the recognition in the boxing world and the public’s eye.  This fight is Champion vs. Champion. It’s not about the belts. It’s about us.  Crawford is talented, has skill, but I have the ability to adapt and will be ready for what he brings.  The situation against Burns made me stronger, I felt the love of the crowd and all of their respect that night.  I feel blessed with my family and friends.  All of that will be with me when I fight Crawford in Omaha. I am the No.  2 fighter in the world. Crawford is No. 1. That is what this is all about.  I believe in me.  This is my moment.”

“This fight between Crawford and Beltran could very well be the fight of the year. The styles and skills of both fighters guarantee as much,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

“When Terence Crawford fought in front of his Omaha hometown crowd last June, the atmosphere produced one of the most spectacular fights of 2014 on HBO,” said Peter Nelson, vice president, programming, HBO Sports.  “The spotlight returns to the American heartland November 29, as the undefeated champ faces Ray Beltran, a challenger who has earned more opportunities than he’s been given and always gives the fans his all.”

“CenturyLink Center Omaha is honored to have the opportunity once again to host this world championship boxing event,” said Roger Dixon, President and CEO of the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority.  “The atmosphere was electric in June and we expect even more excitement this time around”

Crawford (24-0, 17 KOs), of Omaha, returns to the ring fresh from his dramatic and critically-acclaimed knockout victory of Gamboa.  Not only did Crawford retain his title, he also made himself a contender for Fighter of the Year.  He is only the second Nebraska native to be recognized as a boxing world champion.  Perry “Kid” Graves, from Rock Bluff, captured the welterweight crown, knocking out Johnny Alberts in Brooklyn, in 1914, according to the Omaha World-Herald.  After a short but impressive amateur career, which included victories over future world champions Danny Garcia, Mikey Garcia and one-time world title challenger Diego Magdaleno, Crawford made his professional debut on March 14, 2008 – a first-round knockout victory of Brian Cummings.  On March 1, 2014 – just 13 days short of the sixth anniversary of his pro debut, Crawford captured the WBO lightweight title, dethroning defending champion Ricky Burns on Burns’ home turf of Glasgow, Scotland. Scoring a powerful and unanimous decision, Burns put the boxing world on notice that with his virtuoso performance.  Crawford pulled out all stops in dismantling Burns as he rocked the defending champion throughout the fight, while switching back and forth between orthodox and southpaw stances.

Beltran (29-6-1, 17 KOs), a native of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, who now lives in North Hollywood, Calif.,  is one of the lightweight division’s toughest and most experienced fighters.  A former NABF and USBA lightweight champion,  Beltran enters this fight riding a two-year five-bout winning streak, which includes a disputed draw against defending WBO lightweight champion hometown favorite Ricky Burns in Glasgow, Scotland last year.  In that fight, Beltran fractured Burns’ jaw in the first two rounds and dominated the fight, consistently landing the harder punches.  Beltran scored a knockdown in the eighth round and finished the fight strongly.  Ringside observers and television viewers alike screamed “home cooking!” when the fight was declared a draw.  Beyond his professional fight, Beltran has had the benefit of being a main sparring partner for Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao for several years before becoming a top-rated contender in his own right.  In his last fight, on April 12,  he claimed the NABO lightweight title, winning  a 12-round unanimous decision against once-beaten Arash Usmanee on the undercard of the Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley Jr world welterweight championship rematch.

http://www.boxingscene.com/photos-terence-crawford-ray-beltran-go-face-face–82695

Manny Pacquiao’s next fight is considered as a “life-long dream” for opponent Chris Algieri as the WBO light welterweight champion opts to rely on his conditioning as he faces the eight-division world champion.

Manny Pacquiao’s next fight is scheduled for November 22, in what is considered to be Asia’s boxing Mecca, the Cotai Arena in Macau, China. While “Pacman” is coming off a definitive victory against Tim Bradley in April to recapture the WBO welterweight title, Chris Algieri is also fresh off a victory against hard-hitting Ruslan Provodnikov.

In an interview with HBO Boxing’s Jim Lampley, the undefeated New York boxer is still in awe that he is able to fulfill his life-long dream of facing a fighter like Manny Pacquiao.

“This is probably the millionth and one time, and now we’re here,” said Algieri, when asked about how many times he has entertained the thought of being in a pay-per-view main event.

Chris Algieri is a 14-1 underdog for Manny Pacquiao’s next fight, despite his undefeated slate. Many fans and media members alike have already predicted a Pacquiao victory, inclduing former rival Juan Manuel Marquez.

“He barely has a chance to win,” Marquez said in an interview with Boxingscene. “Algieri is strong and he’s durable. He also has boxing ability as shown against Ruslan Provodnikov but he doesn’t have the style to beat Pacquiao- who has great speed and power.”

“I believe that (Pacquiao) can win by knockout,” he added.

But Chris Algieri believes that it will not be as easy as how most people think it would be, as he promises to be the best fighter that he can be come fight night.

“I’m going to be an entirely different fighter when I fight Manny Pacquiao,” Algieri declared. “I’m different every time I fight, and I train specifically for my opponents, so we’re going to have a perfect game plan for Manny.”

Chris Algieri also revealed that he would be relying on his conditioning to hopefully get an edge against the eight-division world champion.

“I’m gonna use my conditioning to push the pace and set a pace that he is not used to at this point of his career and look to dominate down the stretch,” Algieri said.

http://www.kdramastars.com/articles/32987/20140813/manny-pacquiao-next-fight-lifelong-dream-opponent-chris-algieri.htm

Foto:  Boxeo Total.facebook page /

Por:  Aleudi Rosario Cotto –

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO- La Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB) anuncia  los oficiales que estarán trabajando este sábado, 2 de agosto, en la tercera defensa del campeón de peso semicompleto (175 libras), el ruso Sergey Kovalev, frente al australiano Blake Caparello, que cobrará vida en el Revel Resort de Atlantic City en New Jersey, Estados Unidos, en una presentación de Main Events.

El presidente de la OMB, Francisco “Paco” Valcárcel, informó que para el combate en el que Kovalev (24-0-1, 22 KOs) expondrá su correa semicompleta ante el décimo clasificado Caparello (19-0-1, 6 KOs), el árbitro será Sparkle Lee de Nueva York.

Entretanto, los jueces que trabajarán el choque Kovalev-Caparello serán los estadounidenses Julie Lederman (Nueva York), Glenn Feldman (Connecticut) y John Poturaj (New Jersey).

El supervisor de la OMB para este encuentro será John Duggan.

Esta pelea podrá verse a través de la telecadena HBO, que comenzará su transmisión a las 9:45 p.m.

Kovalev, quien ganó el título el 17 de agosto de 2013 cuando noqueó en cuatro asaltos a Nathan Cleverly, viene de una victoria por la vía rápida en el séptimo asalto sobre el entonces invicto Cedric Agnew el pasado 29 de marzo, en Atlantic City en la segunda defensa de su cetro.

Photo:  HBO –

Manny Pacquiao versus Chris Algieri is a done deal.

Algieri and his co-promoters, Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing and Banner Promotions’ Artie Pelullo, met for several hours on Tuesday and hammered out their remaining issues, resulting in an agreement that will see Algieri, a junior welterweight titleholder, get the opportunity to challenge Pacquiao for his welterweight world title.

The fight will take place Nov. 22 (HBO PPV) at the Cotai Arena at the Venetian Macao in Macau, China, where Pacquiao also fought in November 2013 and easily outpointed Brandon Rios, the promoters told ESPN.com.

“I have to talk to my lawyer, Dan Pancheri, who will spit out the contracts first thing (Wednesday) morning so they can have a copy of it in the afternoon,” Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said Tuesday night. “We have a deal. On my end, it wasn’t a hard deal at all. I came up pretty much with what they were looking for and then Joe and Artie had to sit down with Algieri and cut it up fairly amongst themselves.”

That is what Algieri, DeGuardia and Pelullo did for most of the day.

“We had a marathon lunch. We started out meeting in the morning, then went and had a long lunch together, came back to the office and finished it up,” DeGuardia said. “I called Bob to tell me we have a deal on our end. All the terms have been reached with Top Rank and we’re going to paper it up.

“We were able to sit down and go through everything Chris wanted to go over and put everything together. He’s gonna beat Pacquiao.”

Terms were not disclosed but DeGuardia said Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs) will earn a career-high payday of more than $1 million. It will be more than 10 times his previous biggest purse, which was $100,000 for his upset split decision win against Ruslan Provodnikov to win a junior welterweight world title on June 14 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Eleven months ago the 30-year-old Algieri was unknown and not even fighting regularly on televised cards. Now he is fighting one of the most famous fighters on the planet for a world title and a seven-figure payday.

“He’s very happy. He’s happy for the opportunity,” DeGuardia said. “I’m ecstatic we’ve been able to give him this. It’s a great feeling. You work hard you develop him up the ranks. He fought off TV for a long time, he got on TV and now this. It’s really rewarding to see him get this opportunity and a payday that will change his life.

“He’s wants the fight and has no problem going up in weight. He wants the welterweight championship. He wants challenges. He loves the idea. He wanted to fight for another championship and he loves that he is fighting Manny Pacquiao for it. He looks as Manny as an elite of the game. He wants to climb another mountain. If he wins this fight, you have the start of another era.”

Algieri, from the Long Island, New York, town of Huntington, got knocked down twice by Provodnikov in the first round and persevered through a grotesquely swollen right eye for most of the fight. He also has a background different from most boxers.

A former kickboxer, Algieri grew up in a middle class family, went to college and eventually earned a master’s degree. He says he wants to go to medical school when he is done with his boxing career. He also works as a nutritionist.

“I think it’s an interesting fight between him and Manny,” Arum said. “I’m excited. This is a college-educated kid, a good boxer, the kind of kid who will draw interest other than the just the hard core boxing fan,” Arum said. “And the kid can also fight.”

Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs), the 35-year-old Filipino icon, has won world titles in a record eight weight classes. On April 12 in Las Vegas, Pacquiao convincingly outpointed Timothy Bradley Jr. to regain the welterweight title he had lost to Bradley in June 2012 in a fight in which Bradley received a split decision in one of the most controversial calls in boxing history.

Pacquiao and Arum have had terms in place for his next fight since Pacquiao signed a two-year extension with Top Rank in May that will take him through 2016 with the company that has promoted him since 2005. Although terms for the fight with Algieri were not disclosed, Pacquiao has been making in the $20-million-plus range for recent fights.

Although the business side of Pacquiao’s next fight has been set, he didn’t know who he would be fighting. Arum said Pacquiao called him on Monday morning to check in on his health — Arum is recovering from a recent knee replacement surgery — and they also talked about Algieri since Arum was getting close to a deal.

“Manny is 100 percent for it,” Arum said. “I told him I was coming along with it. He said Algieri seems like a nice young man and he saw his fight with Provodnikov. Manny said he thought it would be a good fight and he was OK with fighting Algieri.”

Pacquiao could be motivated for the fight by wanting to seek revenge for his beloved trainer, Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, who is also Provodnikov’s trainer and was on the losing end of that in that June upset.

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/11221114/manny-pacquiao-fight-chris-algieri-china-nov-22

The Thai protested the stoppage. The crowd in Macao booed. (Chris Farina/Top Rank) – By Robert Ecksel –

With history as a guide, everyone expected Rigondeaux to waltz his way to a decision or late round stoppage…

Date:  Saturday, June 28, 2014

WBO Lightweight Championship Bout

Location:  CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Promoter:  Top Rank

Supervisor:  John Duggan

Referee:  Genaro Rodriguez

Judges:  Levi Martinez 78-72 | judge: Dennis Nelson 78-72 | judge:  Robert Hecko 77-73

Results:   Terence Crawford retained the WBO Lightweight Title by TKO on 9th. round against Yuriorkis Gamboa.

TV:  USA HBO

Date:  Saturday, June 14, 2014

WBO Jr. Middleweight Championship Title

Location:  Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA

Promoter:  Banner Promotions / Top Rank

Supervisor:   Jose Izquierdo II, Esq.

Referee:   Michael Griffin

Judges:  Julie Lederman (60-52); John Poturaj (60-51); Alan Rubenstein (60-52)

Results:   The Champion Demetrius Andrade retains the WBO Jr. Middleweight Title against Brian Rose by TKO in the seventh round.

TV:  USA HBO; Hungary Sport 1

This past Saturday, WBO Jr. Welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov and undefeated challenger Chris Algieri met with journalists at Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse in New York City to talk about their June 14 title bout at Barclays Center. Their world title bout will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 10 PM ET/PT.

Ruslan Provodnikov: My job on June 14 is to chase Algieri and hunt him down. He should be more worried about me. His style of fighting is not my favorite. I prefer an opponent who likes to engage and fight toe-to-toe, not a runner. I don’t have trouble with runners. They have trouble with me.

Chris Algieri: I was in a couple camps with Marcos Maidana and Brandon Rios, sparring for weeks. Both of them, like Ruslan are aggressive, very strong fighters who I had success against in training.

Below are more quotes and images from the media conference.

PROVODNIKOV QUOTES:

“Despite winning the title I still feel like a challenger and I train like one. The only thing that has changed for me now that I am a world champion is that I now have more responsibilities, like interviews and appearances.

“This is a very important fight to me because it will show how many fans I can attract. Brooklyn feels like a second home. I hope Barclays Center can become my home arena in the same manner Miguel Cotto has at Madison Square Garden.

“I am focusing on a shorter, more prominent career. I only want the big fights. The fights the fans want to see. I want to make an impact and leave. I do not want to outstay my welcome in boxing. Money has never been my primary goal. I want to make the most out of my abilities to be my best in the ring. The respect of the fans and my achievements mean more to me than a title belt.

“I did not have an easy time growing up in Siberia. I don’t know where my childhood friends are now. Most are probably in jail. I stole food, sniffed glue, smoked and drank. My amateur boxing coach saved my life and helped to redirect my life toward being a productive person.

“I don’t like to spend my money on frivolous things and I haven’t. My family is secure and our life has improved since I have become a champion. The governor of my region is having a sports complex dedicated in my name built. It should be completed in 2015.

“I like to recite Russian poetry to myself as I make my ring walk.

“Most of my original goals have been achieved. When I was younger I would watch Mike Tyson fight. It was my dream to meet him and I finally realized that dream at the BWAA Awards Dinner when he shook my hand and presented me with the Fight of the Year award. Now it is time to set new goals where I can help others.”

ALGIERI QUOTES:

“My training in Las Vegas was very good, we had terrific sparring and I’ve been finishing off the last two weeks of camp here in New York City.”

“I’m not in awe of fighting Ruslan at all. I’ve watched him fight in the past and I have a very strong game plan to beat him. I’ve seen what works against him and just as importantly what doesn’t.”

“Emmanuel Taylor who I beat in February was a hard punching, strong fighter who had knocked out a high number of opponents. I wasn’t supposed to beat him or Jose Peralta. The underdog role fits me perfectly.”

“I’ve always loved boxing, but I had success at kickboxing and initially pursued that. My favorite fighter was Oscar De La Hoya, at his peak he could do it all. But boxing has always been my passion, my love.”

“Yes, I’ve go options with my (clinical nutrition) degree, I don’t have to fight but I don’t think that should be a factor in wanting to win any less. I’ve wanted to be a world champion since I started boxing and I want to win just as badly as Ruslan does next Saturday.”

“Barclays is a beautiful venue and I’m sure both of us will have a large fan bases cheering us on.”

“Of course I said yes immediately when offered the fight, fighting for a world title and on HBO is a terrific opportunity. But, also I know that I can beat Ruslan.”

“Sure many people will be shocked when I win, but not me.”

“Long Island has been terrific to me with their local support, it would mean a great deal to the people of Huntington for me to win the world title.”

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/algieri-many-people-will-be-shocked-when-i-win-provodnikov-he-should-be-more-worried-about-me-249294

Photo: boxnews.com.ua.googleimages/

Fight Week for the WBO world junior welterweight championship fight between defending champion Ruslan Provodnikov and undefeated scholar-brawler and Long Island native Chris Algieri continued Wednesday with a media workout at the Everlast Lab in Hoboken, NJ. Provodnikov, his Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, Algieri, WBO junior middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, mandatory challenger Brian “The Lion” Rose and female star Heather “The Heat” Hardy where among those on hand.

“The Siberian Rocky” had a chilling message for unbeaten challenger Algieri.

Ruslan Provodnikov: Algieri seems like a smart man and I expect him to be a smart boxer. We’ll see how practical his boxing theories are in the ring on Saturday. If I have to die in the ring to win, that is what I will do. Is Algieri willing to do the same? He had better or he will not defeat me. I do not like fighting boxers who do not engage, like Algieri, but I am used to it. I will chase him and hunt him down. I am a hunter when I am in the ring.

Freddie Roach: He may be undefeated, but Chris Algieri has never faced anyone like Ruslan. He may be a good student in school, but Ruslan will be teaching Algieri a crash course on how to lose on Saturday night. Ruslan is going to pour everything he has into this fight. His sole mission is to turn out Algieri’s lights.

Chris Algieri: Pressure has always made me step up to the competition. I prepared, I am in shape. Fight night, I am going to show who I really am. Ruslan has this great power in his punches but if you can’t land them, the power really doesn’t matter. I have to go out there and control the center of the ring. Push the pace and go out there and use my boxing IQ. I have been preparing for the power by not getting hit. I am not much into prediction but all I can on Saturday, “AND THE NEW….”

Provodnikov-Algieri takes place This Saturday, June 14, at Barclays Center. The fight will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The co-main event will feature Andrade-Rose. A replay of Cotto-Martinez will also air on the telecast.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/provodnikovif-i-have-to-die-in-the-ring-to-win-that-is-what-i-will-do-is-algieri-willing-to-do-the-same-249324

Photos by Peter Frutkoff

“The Pride of Huntington” Chris Algieri recently allowed FightNews to photograph his workout at his gym in Bellmore, NY.

Algieri (19-0, 8 KOs) has over the last 18 months elevated himself to a world-class contender after accumulating significant victories over top prospect Jose Alejo, former USBA champion Mike Arnaoutis, and most recently highly-rated contender Emmanuel Taylor in February.

He’s as much a scholar as he is a brawler. He graduated from Stony Brook University with Honors in 2007 with a Bachelors of Science in Health Care Management and then went on to receive his Masters degree from the New York Institute of Technology.

He aspires to attend Medical School.

But before he hits the books to become a doctor, he will step into the ring this Saturday to battle WBO jr welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KOs).

Provodnikov is nicknamed the “Siberian Rocky” because of his savage style.

Algieri is a skilled fighter and it is his technical prowess that gives him a fighting chance against an all-out power-punching brawler such as Provodnikov.

Provodnikov versus Algieri will take place Saturday, June 14th, at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The fight will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 10p ET. Hot and horny teens and coeds masturbating, giving awkward and first blowjobs, posing and swallowing cum getting fucked in hardcore scenes! If need site to download onlyfans rips you are at right place. It have a lot of rips and premium videos from onlyfans and just casual porn megapack with a lot of young and old pornstar.

http://newmexicoboxing.com/fights2014/frutkoff.htm

By Keith Idec –

There was a time not much longer than a year ago when even diehard fight fans were about as familiar with Ruslan Provodnikov as they are today with Chris Algieri.

Like the powerful Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KOs) did against then-unbeaten Timothy Bradley, Algieri will attempt to make the jump from ESPN2 fighter to HBO staple against Provodnikov on June 14 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The 30-year-old Algieri is unbeaten (19-0, 8 KOs), but Provodnikov’s famous trainer doesn’t think the ex-kickboxing champion from Huntington, N.Y., is capable of upsetting his rugged Russian fighter.

“Algieri is a tough fighter,” Freddie Roach told BoxingScene.com. “He’s a good boxer and he’s a conditioning freak. I think Algieri will give us trouble at the beginning of the fight, but we’ll break him down and knock him out in the late rounds.”

The 12-round Provodnikov-Algieri fight for Provodnikov’s WBO junior welterweight title will headline HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” telecast two weeks from Saturday. HBO’s doubleheader will open at 10 p.m. ET June 14 with another 12-round bout between WBO junior middleweight champ Demetrius Andrade (20-0, 13 KOs), of Providence, R.I., and England’s Brian Rose (25-1-1, 7 KOs).

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=78278