Month: March 2018

Canelo Tests Positive For Banned Substance

DEONTAY WILDER RETAINS WBC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE WITH THRILLING 10 TH ROUND TECHNICAL KNOCKOUT OF LUIS ORTIZ

 
 

DEONTAY WILDER RETAINS WBC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE WITH THRILLING 10

TH ROUND TECHNICAL KNOCKOUT OF LUIS ORTIZ SATURDAY ON SHOWTIME
® FROM BARCLAYS CENTER
 
Jose Uzcategui Stops Andre Dirrell to Become Interim IBF Super Middleweight World Champion in SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Co-Feature
 
Don’t Miss The Replay Monday at 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME
 
Click HERE for Photos from SHOWTIME
 
Click HERE for Photos from Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment
 
Click HERE for Photos from Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
 
Watch the Wilder KO : http://s.sho.com/2I0JWJB
BROOKLYN (March 4, 2018) – Undefeated heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder retained his WBC title in his seventh defense with a tenth round knockout over unbeaten challenger Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz in a thrilling back-and-forth SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING main event Saturday night from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING®.
Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) not only survived the toughest test of his career but also finished the job in spectacular fashion by unleashing a ferocious 10th round assault on Ortiz (28-1, 24 KOs). Wilder floored the Cuban challenger twice in the round, forcing referee David Fields to stop the fight at 2:05 of the round. Watch the knockout video HERE.
 
Oritz looked like he would dethrone Wilder in the seventh round, countering with a strong right hand that hurt the WBC heavyweight champion. Ortiz unleashed a barrage of punches against a stunned Wilder, who somehow managed to stay on his feet to close the round before being saved by the bell. Ortiz continued his assault on Wilder into the eighth round, who again managed to make it through the round.
 
In the ninth round, Wilder began to rebound as he knocked Ortiz off-balance with a straight right hand. America’s only reigning heavyweight champion was firmly back in the fight as he landed a strong combination on Ortiz to close the round, completely changing the momentum of the fight.
 
Both fighters came out strong at the start of the tenth round, landing simultaneous blows that made each fighter temporarily wobbly. But it was Wilder who capitalized on the moment, as the Alabama-native pounced on Ortiz, sending his opponent to the canvas for the second time of the night with a flurry of overhand right hands. A dazed Ortiz returned to his feet, but was unable to withstand a follow-up assault from a confident Wilder, who landed an uppercut that sent Ortiz to the canvas for the third and final time.
 
Following his third successful title defense at Barclays Center, an emotional Wilder spoke to SHOWTIME Sports reporter Jim Gray about the most difficult fight of his career.
 
“A true champion always finds a way to come back and that’s what I did tonight,” said Wilder. “Luis Ortiz is definitely a crafty guy.  He put up a great fight. We knew we had to wear him down.  I showed everyone I can take a punch.
 
“He was hitting me with those furious punches but they didn’t have sting on them.  He was throwing combos that knocked me off balance. I just had to get my range back and my fundamentals back. And I was able to do that.  I showed I was a true champion tonight.”
 
A proud but disappointed Ortiz, who was on the brink of a sensational seventh round stoppage of Wilder before the bell rang, also spoke to Gray following the fight.
 
“It was a great fight and I performed well,” Ortiz said. “I thought I was up on the scorecard going into the tenth round, but it’s heavyweight boxing and you never know what’s going to happen.
 
“I almost had him and I think I would’ve if there were a few more seconds in the round.”
 
Wilder out landed Ortiz 98-87, although Ortiz held a slight advantage in landed power punches, 63-60. 
In the co-featured event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, Jose Uzcategui (27-2, 23 KOs) defeated Andre Dirrell  (26-3, 16 KOs) via TKO two seconds into round nine, upon the request of Dirrell’s trainer, Virgil Hunter. The win, which makes Uzcategui the interim IBF Super Middleweight World Champion, puts the hard-hitting Venezuelan in position to fight for the super middleweight title that Caleb Truax earned via a majority decision over James DeGale in December.
 
Saturday night’s fight was a rematch of the hotly contested May 2017 bout, in which Uzcategui was disqualified for landing a punch after the bell sounded to end the eighth round. In the rematch, Uzcategui dominated the action from start to finish, using his powerful right hand to set the stage for the withering assault which led to Dirrell’s corner stopping the fight two seconds into round nine. Uzcategui out landed Dirrell 169-141 in total punches, including a huge 112-51 discrepancy in power punches landed.
 
“I was a little surprised they stopped it in the ninth,” said Uzcategui. “I had said it would be the third round that I would knock him out.  It took a little longer, but it finally came.
 
“I think it was very clear in the first fight that I did my job. In the second fight I showed even more, so there’s going to be a lot of Uzcategui from now on.”
 
Dirrell, a native of Flint, Michigan, found Uzcategui’s length and aggression difficult to deal with.
 
“I’ve been in there with long fighters before, but he was especially long,” said Dirrell. “I think I was a little heavier than I wanted to be tonight, but that’s no excuse. Uzcategui did a great job.
 
“We knew we needed a knockout. The way it was going I needed to at least pick it up. I felt a little sluggish and he hit all the right shots. None of them really hurt, but he hit me where he was supposed to.”
 
In a world title fight featured on the undercard, Long Island’s Alicia Napoleon (9-1, 5 KOs) won the Vacant Women’s WBA Super Middleweight world title with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Femke Hermans (6-1, 3 KOs).
 
“It’s hard to find words to describe this right now,” said Napoleon. “It’s so surreal it’s almost like a dream. I’m just glad I did it. This is one down, but there’s many more to go. The goal is to get all the belts.”
 
Napoleon controlled the action with her power and superior athletic prowess and wobbled Hermans in the final round before earning the decision by scores of 99-91 and 98-92 twice.
 
“I think this means a lot for women’s boxing, not just that I won the belt, but where I was placed on this great card,” said Napoleon. “People are going to continue to see and hear more and more from women boxers.” 
 
Saturday’s telecast will replay on, Sunday, March 4 at 8 a.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME and Monday, March 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. This event was sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina and promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TGB Promotions

S-8 Quick Peek….Wilder v. Ortiz

The Heavyweight Champ is fighting!!!! The Heavyweight Champ is fighting!!! There was a time when this statement attracted the attention of the world but in recent times, not so much. That said, the bigs have been making a comeback and look to gain more momentum this Saturday night. The Barclays Center in Brooklyn will be the venue when Deontay Wilder (39-0 38 KO) and Luis Ortiz (28-0 24 KO) scrap for Wilder’s WBC World Heavyweight Title. Will Bronze Bombs be the reason that King Kong topples from the Empire State Building?…..Read on……..

Tape Tales

Wilder- Age- 32, Height-6’7, Reach-83″ Orthodox

Ortiz-Age- 38, Height-6’4, Reach-84″ Southpaw

Last 3-

Wilder (3-0)

7-16-16 TKO 8 over Chris Arreola

2-25-17 TKO 5 over Gerald Washington

11-4-17 KO 1 over Bermane Stiverne

Ortiz (3-0)

11-12-16 UD Malik Scott

12-10-16 KO 7 over David Allen

12-8-17 KO 2 over Daniel Martz

Common Opponents May Provide A Bit Of Clarity

Malik Scott- While it was not quite the phantom punch, Wilder KO’d Scott in one round with a shot off the temple. Ortiz on the other hand went the distance with Scott in route to a UD.

Not much to take away from the Wilder fight other than when Wilder hits you in a venerable area, the fight is over.

In route to his UD, Ortiz had problems with the movement and speed of Scott and got touched up.

And The Winner Is……..

Speed never has a bad day. I’ll stop just short from saying that Ortiz is tailor-made for Wilder. If Wilder fights a disciplined game plan as he did in the first Stiverne bout this will end violently. Ortiz has decent head movement and overall skills for a big man but is a plodding fighter. Wilder is an above average counter puncher with speed and should catch Ortiz early and often. Doubt still hovers over the Wilder chin; however, we have seen him take some solid shots and has been no worse for the wear. Not Ortiz solid shots but it appears Wilder has been prepared for the journey.

Wilder will set the tone with his jab and keep the powerful Ortiz at distance teasing him at times by allowing him to come in and land a few shots. Wilder will also work his opponent’s body more than he ever has.  This will all be part of the gameplan. This will be his web. Wilder will look to unload the big right at the precise moment. This time, an uppercut to end it.

Heavyweight Champ John L. Sullivan once quipped, “I can whip any son-of-a-bitch in the house”

Wilder has the same mindset everytime out and seems like he is always looking for the respect that he believes he is due. This is what drives him. He trains and fights like the challanger and believes he is superior to anyone he faces. When the body’s mental and pysical faculties are in alignment the end product is rarely defeated.

Wilder by 5th Round KO.

Deontay Wilder vs. Luis Ortiz Final Press Conference Quotes & Photos
Deontay Wilder vs. Luis Ortiz Final Press Conference
Quotes & Photos
 
“I’ve always said I was the best and this is my chance
 to prove it,” – Wilder
 
“I looked into his eyes and I knew that I’m not going to lose
 this opportunity,” – Ortiz
(Photo Credit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME)
 
Heavyweight Title Showdown Headlines Action This Saturday,
March 3 Live on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center in Brooklyn & Presented by Premier Boxing Champions
 
Click HERE for Photos from Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME
 
Click HERE for Photos from Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment
 
BROOKLYN (March 1, 2018) – Unbeaten WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilderand unbeaten contender Luis Ortiz exchanged words and went face to face at the final press conference in Manhattan Thursday ahead of their main event showdown this Saturday, March 3 live on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™, and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
 
Also participating in Thursday’s press conference and opening the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT were super middleweight contenders Andre Dirrelland Jose Uzcategui, who meet in a rematch of their May 2017 matchup on SHOWTIME as they fight for an interim 168-pound world title in the co-feature.
 
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TGB Promotions, start at $50 and are on sale now. To purchase tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com, BarclaysCenter.com, or call 800-745-3000. Tickets for the event can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center.
 
Here is what the participants had to say Thursday:
 
DEONTAY WILDER
 
“The reason I wanted this fight is not only do I think Ortiz is one of the best technical fighters in the division, but he’s the boogeyman that everyone is running from. Champions have avoided him and I’ve always said I was the best and this is my chance to prove it.
 
“This result isn’t up to anyone but myself. Every time I get under the bright lights, I give the fans what they want to see. This is the best versus the best and that’s what boxing deserves.
 
“I had all the excuses in the world to run away from this fight after he failed the test. There are a lot of good, up-and-coming heavyweights out there, but I wasn’t interested in them. This fight is how I prove that I’m the baddest man on the planet.
 
“On March 3, with all the personal things put aside, it’s going to be an honor to fight Luis Ortiz, man to man and father to father. I know that family is his motivation, just like it is for me, and that’s why I blessed him with this opportunity.
 
“The exciting thing about Saturday night is for everyone to see what I’m capable of doing. Luis Ortiz is determined to get my WBC belt. This is my seventh defense of my title and I’ve enjoyed every one. It’s a lot of responsibility and I take it seriously. You’ll all see on Saturday night why I’ve said the things I’ve said.
 
“Everyone knows what I’m expecting Saturday night. I can’t say it enough. I have knocked every opponent out for a reason. I plan on continuing my knockout streak. That’s what I do and that’s what I’m best at.
 
“This is the best fight right here in boxing that can be made. It doesn’t get any better than this on Saturday night. You have to be here in person, because you won’t want to miss anything. You never know what you’ll see, but Saturday night will be bombs away.”
 
LUIS ORTIZ
 
“I never say anything bad about fighters because inside the ring, anything can happen. I respect everyone who steps into the ring. This is my opportunity. This is my time. Deontay is a great champion but this is my chance.
 
“Like I always say, this is my time and it’s going to be a great triumph. This is big for all of Cuban boxing and I will make my country proud.
 
“This is going to be like two trains on the same track about to collide. I’m going to win and I’m going to take his belt.
 
“This is not a video game. This is not using controllers. You have to actually step into the ring with me on Saturday night.
 
“Deontay is scared. He’s talking a lot of nonsense. He’s worried about what I’m going to do. This is my time. I’m going to show everyone.
 
“I’m 100 percent ready to go. Sparring has been amazing and I’m totally prepared for Deontay Wilder. Deontay’s biggest mistake is that he talks too much.
 
“I looked into his eyes and I knew that I’m not going to lose this opportunity. I’m going to be the first Cuban and the first Latino born outside the country to win a title. Saturday night will be historic.
 
“The public gave me this opportunity to fight for the title and beat you for your belt. I’m going to make the most of my chance and knock Deontay Wilder out.”
 
ANDRE DIRRELL
 
“It was a rocky start for me in our first fight. He caught me with a good shot in the early rounds, but I was able to fight through it. I started to dominate the second half of the fight but he had definitely thrown my game off. I still weathered the storm and made good things happen. This fight is very deserving of a rematch and I’m looking forward to it.
 
“This fight right here is one of the beautiful moments we have in boxing. There were two wrongs that night in the last fight. I’m really happy with everyone who has made this rematch and gave the sport what it deserves.
 
“Now Jose Uzcategui and myself both have chances to prove ourselves again. This is going to be the worst opportunity of Uzcategui’s life. But it will be the best opportunity for me.
 
“This is my opportunity to prove all of the critics wrong this time. I’m not the favorite, and it’s a beautiful thing. I’m going to change every single mind on Saturday night. I’m stepping up to the plate, and I’m preparing to hit a home run.
 
“Virgil Hunter has definitely helped me with my mental game. We’ve worked on a masterful game plan. Virgil is tough to work with but we did all of the necessary things we had to in order to accomplish what we have to on Saturday.
 
“The next two years or more will be the best years of my career. I’ve been blessed with an illustrious career. This is a new look for me and I feel good. I have a very tough, hungry fighter in front of me and I can’t wait to prove myself.”
 
JOSE UZCATEGUI
 
“We’re not doing anything differently heading into this fight. I’ve put the time in at the gym every day to make sure that the fight ends conclusively this time.
 
“Before I even got to the ring in the first fight I felt some animosity from the referee towards me and it kind of led to what happened in the fight.
 
“Saturday night you’re not just going to see that I’m a boxer-puncher, but you’ll see my full power on display.
 
“I’m happy to be in this rematch. I hope that Dirrell brings action like he’s talking about on Saturday. I don’t want to chase him around the ring all night.
 
“I’m ready to accomplish my dreams, and that involves beating Andre Dirrell more decisively than last night and leaving no doubt at all who the better fighter is.”
 
LOU DIBELLA, President of DiBella Entertainment
 
“Deontay Wilder put everything aside to face one of the greatest amateur heavyweights in the history of boxing. This fight is happening because Deontay is that good and he’s that proud. Deontay is ready to prove that he’s the baddest man on the planet.
 
“There is a sensational off-television undercard beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Barclays Center that includes a group of top contenders and prospects. It’s really a loaded undercard from top to bottom.
 
“That great undercard includes a woman’s title fight involving Alicia Napoleon. Everyone involved in this fight has made an effort to have women’s boxing represented on our cards and I’m proud to be able to deliver that for fans.
 
“This will be Deontay’s third defense of his title in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. He successfully defended against Artur Szpilka and Bermane Stiverne, with two frightening knockouts. I’m proud to work with Barclays Center and promote boxing in Brooklyn. This is certainly one of the best venues for boxing in the world and certainly a venue that is dedicated to bringing the fans consistently excellent programming inside the arena.
 
“This fight is getting the kind of reception that it deserves. If you want to get tickets for Saturday night, I would call now because they’re moving fast.”
 
STEPHEN ESPINOZA, President Sports & Events Programming, Showtime Sports Inc.
 
“When we have a fight card like this, the network gets a lot of credit but these fights truly don’t happen unless fighters like Wilder and Ortiz are ready to take the fights.
 
“When we announced our schedule back in January, there was one fight that jumped out to everyone, and it was Wilder vs. Ortiz. They have 67 fights between them, 67 wins, 0 losses and 62 knockouts. This is part of what we’re calling ‘March Madness’ on SHOWTIME. All four heavyweight titles, the top four heavyweights in the world, including Anthony Joshua vs. Joseph Parker on March 31, facing each other this month on SHOWTIME. There hasn’t been a lineup like that put together by any network in the history of the sport.
 
“The titles are great but these fights are about something else. They’re about legacy. When people look back and ask, ‘what kind of fighter was Deontay Wilder?’ This is the fight that they will talk about. More important than knockouts and unbeaten records, this is why fighters are remembered.
 
“Dirrell vs. Uzcategui 2 is good enough to be a main event and they deserve to have a great stage for this rematch. These are the kind of cards that people look back and say, were you there that night? If you’re not watching this card, you’re not a boxing fan. Because this is the best that the sport has to offer.”
 
BRETT YORMARK, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment
 
“I can’t tell you how excited I am for Saturday night. People are starting to realize how viable this sport is and that boxing is a sport on the rise. We’re thrilled to be a part of it
 
“Events like Saturday in Brooklyn are why this sport is thriving. It features a deep card from top to bottom, 50-50 fights and great fighters with magnetic personalities
 
“Deontay, even though you weren’t born in Brooklyn, we do consider you our own. We’re excited to have Luis Ortiz as well, for the first time, on Saturday night. This is a card from top to bottom that’s incredible and I’m thrilled to welcome Andre and Jose to Brooklyn.
 
“The seats are moving really quickly and this should be one of the biggest fights we’ve had at Barclays Center. We’re very excited for this show and look forward to seeing everyone there