The Boxing Diary

Views and Opinions

Saturday, August 26, 2023

Collazo defends mini flyweight title, retires Diagan in Round 6

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (August 26, 2023) – In a history-making performance in front of a massive showing of thousands of Puerto Ricans in attendance at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Oscar "El Pupilo" Collazo (8-0, 6 KOs) kept his coveted WBO Mini Flyweight World Championship Title in his homeland. Garen "Hellboy" Diagan (10-4, 5 KOs) retired in his corner stool at the conclusion of the sixth round, handing Collazo the technical knockout victory.
“I want to thank God, my team, Miguel Cotto Promotions, Golden Boy, DAZN, and all of Puerto Rico for the support to get to this victory. I knew he was going to break down eventually. We had the strong jab, and the physical, and the mental pressure that got us the victory. Puerto Ricans know how to celebrate, and we will do a lot of it tonight,” said Oscar Collazo.

In a spectacular co-main event, Juan Carlos "El Indio" Camacho Jr. (18-1, 7 KOs) defeated Jorge Luis Orozco (17-4-2, 11 KOs) with a jaw-dropping, first-round knockout. Camacho took home the NABF super flyweight title.

Former world champion Angel 'Tito' Acosta (24-4, 22 KOs) defeated former world title contender Carlos 'El Chocorroncito' Buitrago (37-10-1, 21 KOs) via unanimous decision in a 10-round flyweight fight. The judges scored the bout 99-91, 99-91, 98-92.

Yan Carlos Santana (9-0, 9 KOs) of La Romana, The Dominican Republic stopped Jostin Ortiz (4-1, 3 KOs) of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico at 1:11 in the first round of a scheduled six-round super featherweight fight.

Monday, August 21, 2023

Spence vs Crawford: Views and Opinions

I was not able to watch boxing fights on screen as frequently as before. It's difficult to watch boxing when you are in a place where Friday is a holiday or rest day. Out here, Sunday is the first day of a work week. Friday and Saturday is the weekend. Boxing fights usually happen every Saturday night, and that's early Sunday morning here (7 hours ahead). That's when I'm preparing my ass off for work. I'm usually at my work desk when the main event started.

However, for the Spence-Crawford fight, I made sure I'm able to watch it live. I came to work late. I didn't care much that day.

I wanted to write a prediction about this fight but I'm afraid I will not give a thoughtful piece. I wasn't able to follow the careers of both boxers. So, I opted not to and instead, I wanted just to sit back, relax and watch the fight.

I had some expectations prior to the fight though. I thought the fight should be competitive. A chess match where both operators carefully push their wits against each other. But man, I was wrong! As early as Round 2, when Crawford scored a knockdown from a jab, I thought the fight is over.

In Round 1, Crawford (40-0-0, 31 KOs) was accurate with his loaded and committed jab. In Round 2, Crawford scored the first knockdown of the fight with a right jab. It was Errol's first knockdown in his career. 
Spence and Crawford posed for photographs during the weigh-in.
In Round 7, Crawford scored two knockdowns. At this point, he got Spence completely figured out. Spence's face was a mess and must have tried every trick on his sleeves but none of it was working. 

In the same round, Spence (28-1-0, 22 KOs) landed a hard overhand left that could inflict a staggering impact yet it was he who visited the canvas after being hit with a counter right uppercut from Crawford. Two things: 1. Crawford hits harder and 2. Is physically stronger than Spence. In an interview with Joe Rogan, Crawford said that "big don't mean stronger." 
He might be bigger than me,” Crawford said of Spence, “but big don’t mean stronger.” Not that everyone felt that Spence was going to win. “I was favored in Vegas,” Crawford said, “so Vegas must have had it right.
Well, if that was the case, which obviously was, what else Spence could do. Crawford's punches had a devastating impact whereas Spence's hardest shots were absorbed or stifled with well-placed counters. Crawford outclassed and outfoxed Spence, a one-sided beatdown.

Crawford scored a total of three knockdowns; one in Round 2 and twice in Round 7. Going into Round 8, and way behind in the scorecards. The urgency was massive for Errol to score a knockout but instead, he was technically knockout in Round 9 trying.

With the win, Crawford has indicated that he's willing to honor the rematch clause even at a higher weight class. But the question is: Is there a point in a rematch? Well, I expected the same outcome of the rematch if it happens. If it happens. Your thoughts.

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Naoya Inoue knocks out Stephen Fulton in Round 8

Naoya Inoue continued his winning streak knocking out previously undefeated Stephen Fulton to capture another weight class, on Tuesday night at the Ariake Arena, Koto-Ku, Japan for the junior featherweight championship. Naoya is now a champion in four weight divisions.

In Round 8, Inoue landed a two-punch combination, a stiff jab to the body followed by a crushing right straight to the head that hurt Fulton, then followed up by a left hook that sent him to canvas. Fulton (21-1-0, 8KOs) was able to get up and continued to fight. Naoya looking at his hurt prey unleashed power punches that prompted the referee to stop the fight.

From the get-go, it was obvious that the speed and power of Inoue (25-0-0, 22KOs) dictated the fight and it was indeed what was happening in the duration of the fight.

Inoue is now 10-0 against world champions and still undefeated in his fourth weight class. He's champion at 108, 115, 118 (undisputed), and now at the 122-pound division.

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence Jr. official for July 29

The matchup boxing fans have been waiting for is finally official. The Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence Jr. is finally official on Saturday, 29 July 2023 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada in a Showtime pay-per-view.  
This fight will be for the undisputed welterweight champion. The Transnational Boxing Rankings Board rated Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford as the top number 1 and 2 respectively. 

So far in 2023 boxing fans were in for a treat as the fights we've been craving have been happening. First, we had Garcia vs. Davis and then we had Haney vs. Lomachenko last week. 

Sunday, May 21, 2023

Devin Haney vs Vasiliy Lomachenko: Fight Highlights

Devin Haney routed Vasiliy Lomachenko to scores of 115-113, 115-113, and 116-112 over 12 rounds of boxing masterclass chess match. It's a highly competitive close fight--each fighter could make a good case argument for winning. However, the three judges look to Haney's direction.
Enjoy the below highlights from Top Rank.

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Ramirez vs. Padilla | Media Workout Quotes



INDIO, CA (February 21, 2023) - With his highly anticipated Golden Boy Fight Night on DAZN main event approaching quickly, one of boxing’s most energetic and fan-friendly fighters, NABA Super Flyweight Titleholder John “Scrappy” Ramirez (10-0, 8 KOs) of Los Angeles hosted a media workout at the Joel Diaz Training Camp in Indio. He will be fighting for the vacant WBA Continental Americas Super Flyweight Title against Luis “Callado” Padilla (15-3-2, 2 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico. The event will take place on Thursday, February 23 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN beginning at 6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET.

The first Golden Boy Fight Night on DAZN show of the year will also feature a special co-main event as Coachella Valley’s beloved, undefeated local fighter Manuel “Gucci” Flores (14-0, 11 KOs) will measure up against Franklin “El Abuelo” Gonzalez of Los Teques, Venezuela (25-1, 25 KOs). The eight-round bantamweight fight will be guaranteed action, as both fighters have a string of knockout performances.

Also on the card, Lorraine Villalobos (5-4, 2 KOs) of Los Angeles will participate in a six-round minimumweight fight against Katherine Lindenmuth (2-1) of Albuquerque, New Mexico. In another female bout, Stefani “Stefi” Cohen (2-1-1, 1 KO) of Miami, Florida will fight in a four-round bantamweight fight against Leanne Calderon (1-2-1) of Austin, Texas. Opening the DAZN broadcast with a four-round heavyweight match, Zachary Spiller (2-0, 2 KOs) of Houston, Texas will battle Kaleel Carter (3-3, 3 KOs) of Bellflower.

Opening the night, Grant Flores, cousin of Manny “Gucci” Flores and who trains with famed trainer Joel Diaz, will make his pro-debut in a four-round super welterweight fight against Jorge Lopez (0-1) of Queretaro, Mexico.

Here’s what some of the participants had to say from their media workout:

JOHN “SCRAPPY” RAMIREZ, NABA SUPER FLYWEIGHT TITLE HOLDER:
"There are people out there doubting that I can do it. I love it; I love the haters because they give me more motivation to prove them wrong.

"Fans can expect a great show on DAZN from me. I'm on my way up proving that I'm someone to watch."

MANUEL “GUCCI” FLORES, BANTAMWEIGHT FIGHTER:
"On fight night, we are going to come with a bang, baby! We're coming with fireworks, with explosiveness, something you guys haven't seen for a long time. We have a good opponent in front of us, so we're going to show you guys what we can do.

"My opponent is a wild guy - he likes to throw a lot of crazy punches. The first round, we're going to see what he does; if he is going to come forward with that aggressiveness or go backwards."

GRANT FLORES, SUPER WELTERWEIGHT PROSPECT:
"It's a great privilege to make my debut on a Golden Boy card, in my hometown, in front of my friends, family and supporters. Fans can expect me to show up and bring fireworks.

"I've been waiting for this opportunity to come - to be able to display my talent and my quality skills that I've been working hard on in the gym. I had a really great and extensive amateur career and the next stop is to become a world champion."