The Boxing Diary

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Thursday, September 20, 2018

Saul Canelo Alvarez wins rematch against Gennady Golovkin in action fight

This is a late post on Canelo's victory over GGG on 15 September 2018.

Saul Canelo Alvarez wins rematch with Gennady Golovkin in action fight at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.

The 28-year-old Alvarez (50-1-2, 34 KOs) got the nod from two judges for the majority decision victory. Dave Moretti and Steve Weisfeld scored the bout 115-113 in favor of Canelo and Glenn Feldman saw it even at 114-114.

Boxing fans at T-Mobile Arena were treated with back and forth action from these middleweight rivals. The rematch produced more action compared to the first bout as Canelo stood his ground from the get-go.

Canelo's strategy on the first fight was a surprise for me. He adjusted from a boxer-puncher style to outboxing style. In the rematch, I expected Canelo to use the same strategy in the first fight. But Canelo stood his ground early and stayed in front of Golovkin. I doubt if Golovkin wasn't surprised in that approach even.

The change in strategy, I thought would just for the first couple of rounds, but Canelo did the same thing till the end. After the final bell, two judges saw the fight in favor of the Canelo.

It was a close fight, to say the least, I mean there were swing rounds which could go either way. I have no problem watching the third installment if there's any, but I would love to see a match-up though between Canelo and Jermall Charlo next.

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Watch David Lemieux's spectacular one-punch KO over Gary O'Sullivan



Watch Canada's David Lemieux's spectacular one-punch KO over Spike O'Sullivan during their middleweight clash at the undercard of GGG vs Canelo 2 at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Lemieux caught O'Sullivan in the very first round with a counter left hook that lands right on the pipe. O'Sullivan went down for good. The referee stopped the fight as O'Sullivan in no position to continue. Official time of the stoppage: 2:44 mark in the first round.

With all the trash talking leading into the fight, it was nice to see the fighters hug each other after the fight.

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Money vs Manny II in December?

Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr. crossed path with Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao in Japan and the undefeated Mayweather announces he's coming back to fight Pacquiao. Both men were attending a concert in Japan.

“I’m coming back to fight Manny Pacquiao this year. Another nine-figure pay-day on the way. I’m going to be back in December,” said Mayweather.

Pacquiao replied and said, "I have the belt."

Mayweather answered, “I don’t want to hear about your shoulder been hurt.”

So boxing fans, are you excited about it, or you still remember the amount you shell out for the first fight?

Well, for me I don't mind watching these aging fighter fight again, but at a lower cost. I think the entertainment value is still there for as long as Mayweather is willing to engage like the way he fought Maidana the first fight.



 










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Canelo vs GGG II: Official weights

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez arrived at T-Mobile Arena so serene and ready to go for his fight against Gennady Golovkin on Saturday night.

Canelo, (49-1-2, 34 KOs) stepped into the scales and weighed in at 159.4 lbs. The crowd in the full-packed arena were ecstatic to see their fighter posing for the cameras.  Canelo looks strong, relaxed, and in tip-top shape. There's no indication that he struggled to get the weight. Although there's a clip circulated online showing Canelo fell down after the weigh-in. Well, to me, it seemed someone pranked Canelo and took the chair from him.

Golovkin came into the scales first and weighed in at 159.6 lbs. As usual, Golovkin looks trim, strong, and ready to go.

So here we go, the fighters are ready for Saturday night's middleweight championship. Boxing fans around the world were excited about the fight. This will be the 13th round. A rubber match of their controversial fight that resulted in a draw.

I think both fighters wanted to win convincingly this time. GGG expressed he doesn't want the judges to write their verdicts on the scorecards. He's going out for the knockout tonight. Well, fight fans we'll gonna find out tonight. Stay tuned.

Below were the full card official weights:

  • Jaime Munguia, 154 lbs vs Brandon Cook, 153.2 lbs - Junior Middleweight title.

  • David Lemieux, 160 lbs. vs Gary O'Sullivan, 159.2 lbs - Middleweight title eliminator.

  • Roman Gonzalez, 114.8 lbs vs Moises Fuentes 116 lbs - Bantamweight, 10 rounds.

  • Virgil Ortiz Jr., 139.6 lbs vs Roberto Ortiz, 148 lbs - Super Lightweights, 10 rounds.

  • Alexis Rocha, 148.4 lbs vs Carlos Ortiz, 148 lbs - Super Welterweights, 8 rounds.

  • Jaba Khosistashvili, 166.6 lbs vs Lawrence King, 168.4 lbs - Light Heavyweight, 6 rounds.

  • Brian Ceballo, 146.5 lbs vs David Thomas, 146 lbs - Welterweights, 6 rounds.

Friday, September 14, 2018

Canelo vs GGG II: Undercard press conference quotes

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 13, 2018): The undercard of the spectacular Canelo vs. GGG 2 card hosted a press conference featuring Mexican star Jaime Munguia ( 30-0, 25 KOs), who will make the second defense of his WBO Junior Middleweight World Title against rugged Canadian contender Brandon "Bad Boy" Cook (20-1, 13 KOs) in a 12-round battle. Former IBF Middleweight World Champion David Lemieux (39-4, 33 KOs) of Montreal, Canada and Irish warrior Gary "Spike" O'Sullivan (28-2, 20 KOs) of Cork, Ireland will go head-to-head in a 12-round middleweight battle that has Fight of the Year candidate written all over it. Former pound-for-pound king and former four-division world champion Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez (46-2, 38 KOs) of Managua, Nicaragua will make his highly anticipated return against experienced Mexican warrior Moises "Moi" Fuentes (25-5-1, 14 KOs) in a 10-round super flyweight battle that will open the HBO Pay-Per-View telecast.

Below is what the fighters had to say at today's press conference:

JAIME MUNGUIA, WBO JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION
"I am very happy to be here.  I would like to thank my promoter, Fernando Beltran and Golden Boy. I am very happy to be here again and be a part of this tremendous card. I would like to tell you that I have an excellent opponent in front of me. He is a very good fighter. This is also my best preparation so far. I have corrected a lot of my mistakes and I am here to bring a great fight. Without anything else to say, I would like to thank you all and the media. I promise you a great fight, and I promise to leave the ring very warm for Canelo and GGG."

BRANDON COOK, JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CONTENDER:
"Thanks again. This is the biggest shot of my life. Munguia is the next up and coming star and I'm here to win. I've trained really hard. I've had 5 weeks to prepare. I want to thank Golden Boy for giving me this shot. I want to thank my whole team. I'm coming to fight. Make sure you buy that pay-per-view. This is the best place for boxing. I'm really going to enjoy this.

DAVID LEMIEUX, FORMER MIDDELWEIGHT CHAMPION:
"Vegas, we're back. The biggest fight of the year is here. The talk is done. Nlw it's time to walk the walk. His chin is going to be very warmed up for the fight - he's gonna need it. He's not going to stay in front of me, I'm ready for 12 rounds. If he passes 8 rounds, respect to him. He's just scared, that's why he talks to much. This Saturday he is going to get knocked out."

GARY "SPIKE" O'SULLIVAN, MIDDLEWEIGHT CONTENDER:
"Good afternoon. Thank you everyone for coming and putting on this magnificent event. Smell that? I smell fear. That greasy piece of shit. Saturday night, we're going to fight. The fight will be our careers. I'm coming for GGG or Canelo. I'm going to be coming for him Saturday night that greasy piece of shit."

ROMAN GONZALEZ, Former Four-Division World Champion:
"I would like to thank everyone that has been supporting me. I thank God for the opportunity. I'm very happy to be fighting a great champion, I'm ready to give a great fight. I feel very happy to be on this great card. I wish everyone a good day."

MOISES FUENTES, Super Flyweight Contender:
"Thank you all for this opportunity. I'm willing to die in the ring as long as I win. I'm going to walk away world champion on Saturday."

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Alberto Machado to defend title against Yuandale Evans

Daniel Jacobs (34-2, 29 KOs) and Sergiy Derevyanchenko (12-0, 10 KOs) will clash for the vacant IBF World Middleweight Title and Alberto Machado (20-0, 16 KOs) will defend his WBA Super Featherweight Title against Yuandale Evans (20-1, 14 KOs on Saturday, October 27 at the Hulu Theater from Madison Square Garden in New York. The doubleheader will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Jacobs, fighting out of Brooklyn, N.Y., is in hot form having taken the unbeaten records of Luis Arias and Maciej Sulecki in his last two outings at the Nassau Coliseum, Long Island and Barclays Center, Brooklyn respectively, punctuating his win over Sulecki with a knockdown in the final session.

The 'Miracle Man' is gunning to regain his world champion status having lost his WBA crown to Kazakh star Gennady Golovkin in a tight unification tussle in March 2017 in New York, and with Golovkin and Mexican hero Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez meeting in a rematch in September, Jacobs is hunting down the winner.

Derevyanchenko has his own designs on those blockbuster nights though. Born in Feodosia, Crimea, Ukraine, and now based in Brooklyn, NY, Derevyanchenko was a touted amateur, compiling an astonishing record of 390-20, as well as a 23-1 ledger in the World Series of Boxing, and representing Ukraine in the 2008 Olympics, before turning pro in July 2014. Known as "The Technician," Derevyanchenko is fundamentally sound with superb reflexes, deft defense and devastating power, having stopped 10 of his 12 professional opponents thus far.

In a final IBF eliminator for mandatory status, Derevyanchenko proved he could carry his power into the later rounds, halting Tureano Johnson in the 12th and final frame of their August 2017 clash. One year earlier, Derevyanchenko knocked out former world champion Sam Soliman, becoming only the second man to do so, inside two rounds in July 2016, in an IBF elimination bout for the #2 ranking. While awaiting his title shot, Derevyanchenko dusted off the experienced Dashon Johnson in six stanzas in his last bout on March 3. Co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Fight Promotions Inc., Derevyanchenko is thrilled that his shot at coronation will take place in his debut at Madison Square Garden, the Mecca of Boxing.

Jacobs and Derevyanchenko are familiar foes as they both hone their skills with trainer Andre Rozier, who will be in Jacobs' corner and camp for the bout, but Brooklyn hero Jacobs doesn't believe that will play a part in their clash - and predicts a triumphant return to World champion status in a tough fight. Gary Stark Sr. will take over head trainer responsibilities for Derevyanchenko as he prepares for his first world championship opportunity.

Jacobs vs. Derevyanchenko will top a stacked bill in New York as the main event of a world title double-header. In the co-main event, unbeaten Puerto Rican star Alberto "El Explosivo" Machadomakes the second defense of his WBA World Super Featherweight title against Cleveland's Yuandale Evans in a 12-round fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions and DiBella Entertainment.

Topping the non-televised bill is a rematch of the 2016 women's fight of the year as Heather Hardy (21-0, 4 KOs) and Shelly Vincent (23-1, 1 KO) renew their rivalry, with the vacant WBO World Featherweight strap on the line after Hardy edged their fantastic first meeting.

"I'm excited to be back in New York City fighting in my hometown," said Jacobs. "This opportunity for a world title is one I don't take lightly and I'm preparing myself to be in an incredible fight with Sergey Derevyanchenko. I've always felt that I was the best middleweight in the world with this type of fight I'm that much closer to all the that glory and to proving to the world I am the best "

"I'm a step away from my dream and I will not miss this chance," said Derevyanchenko. "From my time in the amateurs to my pro career, this has been a long time coming for me. I've beaten everyone they've put in front of me to earn this shot. Having trained with Danny, I know him very well and we are friends. However, it will be strictly business in the ring. I will not be denied. The belt will be mine."

"I feel excited to make the second defense of my title, but this time before all of my Puerto Rican brothers in New York," said Machado. "I'm anxious to get to Los Angeles to start the strong stages of preparation and solidify myself as a champion for the second time with a convincing win for all of Puerto Rico. Thank you to HBO for believing in me. Thank you to Peter Nelson, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. Yuandale Evans is a great fighter who comes with a lot of hunger after years of rest. But this time I will go into the ring with extra motivation to reward all my people in person and those watching at home with a great victory."

"I want to let Machado know that I am taking the belt home," said Evans. "Training has been going great and I've been doing my homework. Machado is tall and strong, but he's never fought a guy like me, who can hit like me. To fight for a world title at Madison Square Garden is a dream come true. I am going make the most out of this opportunity. This is my time to shine."

"One of the saddest things is that in 2016, Shelly and I put on the fight of the year, and so many people missed it," said Hardy. "We've been dying to do the rematch but under the right circumstances. This is a great time for women's boxing and a great event to showcase the rematch - and I'm going to bring home that title, don't worry about that."

"Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to shoot hoops at MSG - now I'm going to get to beat Heather's ass there," said Vincent. "The first fight was close, I thought I won it, Heather thought she won it, some people thought I won, some thought she won, some thought it was a draw.

"This time, you are going to see the old 'Shelito' - I've got more than just three weeks to get ready, and I think it'll be a repeat of the first fight, non-stop punching, and my hands are going to be all over Heather Hardy like she's my woman and I'm not leaving without that title."

"When we started working with Danny, the goal was always to become World Champion and now the time has come," said Jacobs' promoter Eddie Hearn. "This is brilliant match up but I strongly believe on October 27 at MSG Danny will be crowned champion and add another chapter to this Cinderella story.

"It's a powerful triple-header with unbeaten WBA Super-Featherweight champion Alberto Machado defending his crown against Cleveland contender Yuandale 'Money Shot' Evans and New York's own Heather Hardy meeting Shelly Vincent in a rematch of their 2016 Fight if the Year, with the WBO World Featherweight crown on the line. October 27 will be an electric night in New York."

"With over 400 amateur bouts, a trip to the Olympics, and experience in the World Series of Boxing, Sergiy was adamant with me that he wanted to fight for a world title against the biggest name available," said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment.
"I've known Danny since he was a kid. He is a great fighter in and out of the ring. Stylistically, this is a can't-miss action fight. Sergiy studies his opponents, finds their weaknesses, then breaks them down. That is why he has such a great chance to win this fight and become the IBF Middleweight Champion.

"Yuandale Evans has a tremendous opportunity in the co-feature to capture his first world title against champion Alberto Machado. Coming off the biggest win of his career, Evans is highly motivated to seize the moment and perform at his best. Both Machado and Evans can bang and like to brawl, so this should make for a very entertaining opening bout on HBO.

"Finally, Heather 'The Heat' Hardy and Shelly 'Shelito's Way' Vincent will get the chance to rematch their 2016 Female Fight of the Year. The first fight was a barnburner, and this promises to be nothing less. The stakes are higher this time, as both women will compete for the WBO Featherweight Championship of the World. A World Championship in boxing has been a lifelong dream for both, and I am thrilled that they will get this opportunity on October 27."

"Alberto Machado is determined to prove that he is the best super featherweight in the world," said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. "He beat a strong champion in Jezreel Corrales and defended his crown against a tough contender in Rafael Mensah. In both fight, he used his skills and power to obtain the victory, and I'm positive he will do the same against Evans before legion of Puerto Rican fans in New York. I have no doubts he will be recognized as one of the best champions that Puerto Rico has produced."

"Alberto Machado is building his own legacy fight after fight," said Miguel Cotto, President of Miguel Cotto Promotions. "He wants to be the best in his division and is hungry for the big challenges. He has the best opportunity to showcase his skills in front of his Puerto Rican brothers at The Garden in New York."