Tag: Featured

Pacquiao v. Horn…Dissected…..A Deeper Look 60 Seconds At A Time

“Hey, don’t you worry, I’ve been lied to,
I’ve been here many times before..”

“But minute by minute by minute by minute
I keep holding on..”

-Doobie Brothers

No sooner did Michael Buffer bellow the words “And the new…….”, an old familiar adversary from the lexicon came calling…..ROBBED.

You could make a case to bag and tag the pen that entered the 117-111 score card and place it into the police evidence room but other than that, this was far from a robbery.

I did not score the fight while watching it live but believed Manny Pacquiao had done enough to win. Did I miss something? Did the judges have it right?  I needed a second look.

To follow up, I decided to take a deeper look than usual by reviewing each round a minute at a time. I would decide who I believed had the advantage in each third and then determine which body of work I favored for a particular round. By body of work I’m looking at the four criteria that are assumed are used in scoring a fight, defense, effective aggression, clean punching, and ring generalship. 

Protect yourself at all times…..

Round 1-

  • First Minute- Horn’s the aggressor to start the round, boxing in and out, exhibiting a live jab, both landing and missing the punches he throws. Pac lands a scoring shot of his own. Horn forces Pac to the ropes, at least 5 out of 7 punches score, both to the head and body.
  • Second Minute-Pac lands a solid punch, Horn’s movement is lively. Horn backs Pac to ropes and lands at least four scoring blows to the body. Pac lands off the ropes as the action navigates back to the middle of the ring. There are misses by both. Horn lands two counter rights due to Pac’s wildness.
  • Third Minute, not a lot of action, lots of feints by both, Pac lands several solid jabs.

Round to Horn, Horn 10-9

Round 2-

  • First minute-Not a lot of action. Both fighters are missing and are moving quite a bit.  Both are about even with a few landed punches. Horn forcing the action by his forward movement.
  • Second minute– Horn agian forcing the action by moving in with an active jab as Pac looks for counters and as Horn moves in Pac lands a few. Horn backs Pac down to the ropes lands a shot, grabs Pac, holds and hits. Horn is active in the clinch, punching anything he can until the ref breaks them. Both land a punch or two ending the second minute.
  • Third minute-Straight left by Pac, best punch by him in the first two rounds. A lot of movement by Horn. Both are landing a shot here and there. Pac is the aggressor now and lands another good left at 22 seconds to go. A flury by both the last 12 seconds, both land but Pac lands the better punches and his movement causes Horn to miss .

Round to Pac, 19-19, (Even)  

Round 3-

  • First minute-Horn starts out backing Pac to the ropes, hitting a lot of gloves. Horn using lots of in/out movement. Horn lands a solid left hook to the body, right hook to the head.
  • Second minute-Horn the aggressor, Pac countering with a straight left. Pac the aggressor now coming forward with an active jab, both land a few punches to close out the second minute.
  • Third minute-Pac with a counter right hook. Horn coming in hitting gloves then holding. Pac out landing Horn to close the round.

Round to Pac, 29-28 Pac

Round 4- 

  • First minute- Horn moving forward lands a straight right and a left to start the round; however, missing a lot. Pac lands two nice counter punches.
  • Second minute- Both are mixing it up a bit more. Pac is landing the better blows, a straight left, counter right hook, and a body shot to Horn’s  straight right.
  • Third Minute-Horn lands a lunging sneaky left short uppercut. Pac lands a counter right.

Round to Pac 39-37, Pac

Round 5- 

  • First minute-Horn moving forward and landing, backing Pac up, landing both high and low.
  • Second minute- Horn lands a nice right cross. Pac not doing much, looking to counter. A few cinches, the ref yells “hands free” Horn punches, Pac doesn’t. Both land left hooks to close out the minute.
  • Third minute-Pac lands several solid punches. Horn scores on a few but Pac was sharper and his defense led to missed punches.

Round to Pac 49-46

Round 6-  

  • First minute- Horn backs Pac to the ropes, lands a solid uppercut, a few scoring body shots, most other punches blocked by Pac’s high guard,
  • Second minute- Not a lot of action, both are landing, Pac with the cleaner sharper counters.
  • Third minute-Horn lands a few punchs to start the last-minute and is the aggressor moving forward forcing the action. Horn lands a straight right right on Pac’s chin at 33 seconds left in the round that gets the champion’s attention.

Round to Horn 58-56 Pac 

Round 7-  

  • First minute-  Several lefts by Pac to take this minute, Horn didn’t land much.
  • Second minute-  Horn lands the better punches in this frame to go with active movement.
  • Third minute- Very close last minute… slight edge to Horn winning him the round

Round to Horn 67-66 Pac  

Round 8-  

  • First minute- Pac lands the cleaner punches and has the better movement.
  • Second minute- Not a lot by either,  even minute.  
  • Third minute- A Pac Man left is the best punch of the minute to go with a few even exchanges.

Round to Pac 77-75 Pac  

Round 9-  

  • First minute- Horn opens up the round backing Pac to the ropes and lands a few scoring shots. Pac lands a counter left.
  • Second minute-  Pac lands several hard punches and has Horn stunned. Horn manges to land one good counter right as is forced to keep Pac off of him.  
  • Third minute- Horn fights defensively as Pac lands several more punches and has Horn reeling to the bell.

Round to Pac 87-84 Pac

(Note: There were some that argued that this could have been scored a 10-8 round, with some scoring it that way. Disagrrement here, as Horn was competative to start the round and landed a solid shot on PAC as he was being walked down. Pac missed a lot of punches in the final minute which was a credit to Horn’s movement and defense while hurt)  

Round 10–  

  • First minute- Horn comes out agressive while holding and hitting. About even the rest of the way. Horn’s movement backs up Pac.
  • Second minute- Not a lot here, both fighters missing punches, even minute,
  • Third minute- Horn backing Pac up, both landing. Horn takes over, better movement, landing jabs, straight right.

Round to Horn 96-94 Pac 

Round 11-  

  • First minute- Horn the aggressor again, backing up Pac. Horn is landing more punches with Pac landing one good punch the entire minute.  
  • Second minute-  Very close, edge to Pac for the cleaner punches.
  • Third minute- Even 

Round to Horn 105-104 Pac   

Round 12  

  • First minute- Horn starts the round backing Pac to the ropes and lands punches, that are mostly blocked. Even the rest of the way.
  • Second minute-  Many exchanges and landed punches, edge to Pac for scoring the cleaner sharper punches and raking Horn to the body with a flurry.
  • Third minute- More exchanges, Pac again, the sharper puncher.  

Round to  Pac, 115-113 Pac

After a thorough review, we still have Pacquiao as the winner. We believed this was a very close fight while watching the fight live and nothing changed in our minute by minute review if only to reinforce that fact.

A draw or slight edge to Horn would not have been out of the question if one favored his body of work in the close rounds.

Horn did outperform and exceed expectations from the opening bell. Was exceeding expectations enough to take the title from incumbent Manny Pacquiao? Apparently so; however, not on our score card or that of many others.

There have been worse calls in boxing and this was far from corruption, but damn it if Pacquiao isn’t always in the center of things.

As the adage goes…In order to take the champion’s title, you must beat the champion…. we did not feel that was the case here.

G’day.

Surprise Down Under..Horn By UD Over Pacquiao

Photo Credit-Chris Hyde, Getty Images

In order for a live dog to win in boxing, they must be mean and nasty and willing to win at any cost. 

On Sunday afternoon in Brisbane, Australia, Jeff Horn (17-0-1 11 KO) was a junk yard dog in defeating future Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs), by unanimous decision, 115-113 X2 and a What The Hell Fight Were You Watching score of 117-111. 

The new champion brought the fight to the Pac Man early and often showing no respect for his elder. Horn is awkward and it took Pacquiao a few rounds to get his timing down. 

In the 3rd, Pacquiao began to find his range but Horn made all of the ensuing rounds close with his awkward aggressiveness. Horn would hold and hit anything he could while in the clinch. 

Horn was visibly the bigger man and used his length well when he had to. He looked to rough up Pacquiao on the ropes every chance he got and obliged the former WBO champion in toe to toe exchanges.  

Pacquiao got cut on both sides of his hairline from head butts and returned the favor by brusing, swelling, and bloodying Horn’s face. 

Pacquiao had arguably his best round in the 9th where he pummeled Horn from pillar to post in true Pacquiao fashion. In between rounds, the referee told Horn and his corner that he would give Horn an opportunity to show something in the next round or he would stop the fight. 

The 38 year old Pacquiao was visibly weary in the tenth from his ninth round effort allowing Horn to work his way back into the good graces of the referee over the next two rounds. 

There was a bit of controversy after the scores were read and for good reason. Pacquiao outlanded Horn and arguably could have had at least one 10-8 round. Horn was aggressive but most of the effort wasn’t effective aggression which boxing is scored on.  

Horn was rough and tough, landed some good punches but again, questionable if it was enough to take the title. 

Maybe it was that he did better than most would have thought, outperformed expectations? The judges probably scored the close rounds for Horn because a less than dominating Pacquiao made it seem so. 

Standing-8 didn’t score the fight, but although very close, believed Pacquiao had done enough to retain his title. We’re going to have to go back and score this one, update to follow. 

It wasn’t a robbery, close yes, but the 117-111 score notwithstanding, the 115-113 scores for Horn (or had it gone the other way for that matter) were not outrageous in a fight with very close rounds. 

The word “robbery” once again rears its ugly head in the squared circle. A shame really after a competitive, tough, close fight. 

Is Andre Ward All In?  

Last November, Andre Ward (31-0 15 KO) defeated Sergey Kovalev (30-1-1 26 KO) in a very close fight. All three judges scored the fight 114-113. Standing-8 didn’t score the fight initially and had thought Kovalev had done enough to win especially with the 2nd round knockdown.

After scoring the fight I uncharacteristically had the same score as the judges, 114-113 Ward, giving him rounds 1,4,5,7,8,9, and 11.

There were cries of robbery and most boxing writers and media personnel had Kovalev as the winner, some by a wide margin. Again, the fight was close but it was far from a robbery.

Kovalev took to social media to vent his displeasure and got downright nasty with his posts on several occasions calling out Ward for a rematch and questioning his victory.

On the other end of the spectrum was Ward. About a month after the first fight with Kovalev, Ward stated this to http://www.fighthype.com/

“The rematch with Kovalev is definitely something I’m interested in, it’s definitely something we’re entertaining, but I’m the champion now,” said Ward. “If it’s not right and it doesn’t make sense, you know, absolutely, that may be a sign that it’s time to leave the sport and walk away and do some other things in my life. “I have to be fair to myself. I’ve put in a lot of hours, a lot of time, not just in these fights, but in this gym, my whole life, so it would be unfair to me to get into a ring at any point in time in my career moving forward if I’m not happy with the terms.”

Wow, really? Retirement? This is not the first time Ward has not been happy with the sport. Prior to the November fight with Kovalev, Ward had only fought three times in three years, a direct result of a promotional squabble. It has been suggested that Ward had wasted some of his peak years in the sport during the layoff but he returned to do what he always does..win. That said, at times in his career he has had an attitude that when it comes to boxing, he can take it or leave it.

You can never question his heart in the ring but you can question it when it comes to his desire to continue in the sport. To talk retirement after posting such a big win with statements that there could be signs that it’s time to walk away from the sport is enough to question his desire going forward.

Is Andre Ward all in? If he is, he wins the rematch. Ward has more tools in his tool belt and one of the best Ring I.Q.’s in the game. Give him seven months to review tape of the first fight and the execution of his game plan this time around is most likely to be much easier.

Ward will utilize his jab more in the rematch and will look to work the body early and often as he did in the first fight, while building upon the changes that he made in the second half. He’ll keep Kovalev at distance and look to counter him while tying Kovalev up when he rushes in with power shots. It also would not be a surprise to see Ward have to surivive an early onslaught by Kovalev. He has tasted Kovalev’s power so unless he gets careless he should be able to handle the big shots from the Russian.

Yes, Kovalev is a destroyer, wants redemption, and will look to knock Ward’s block off but his aggressiveness may be his downfall. Ward is the quicker fighter and the better counter puncher, sleep on his speed which is power and learn a rude lesson. It is not entirely out of the question that Kovalev tastes the canvas this time around on a flash knockdown due to his overaggressiveness.

There are reasons Kovalev did not move in for the kill throughout the first fight after having Ward down in the second. He tasted Ward’s underrated power, had to respect his quickness, and found the defense to be different from what he expected. Ward was able to adapt and find ways to change his strategy and steal rounds.

Kovalev has stated that he gave Ward too much respect the first time around and that he overtrained which affected the power of his punches. He has vowed to not make the same mistakes again but maybe we’ve seen signs of decline on some level from him in the past.

Before the first fight with Ward, Issac Chilemba gave him hell. That was the best damn Chilemba that we’ve seen in some time, or was it? And remember the first fight with Jean Pascal? Although he stopped the game Canadian, Kovalev was hit more than a pinata. Against a 49-year-old Hopkins? Kovalev rattled him early but couldn’t stop the legend while eating counter rights and lefts from the beaten future Hall of Famer the rest of the fight.

Ward is at his best when he is the underdog and when he feels disrespected. He proved it in the Super-Six Tournament and time and time again after coming back from long layoffs in the sport. There are many who do not believe he won the last fight and although he will enter the ring as a slight favorite, it doesnt feel that way in boxing circles.

 Kovalev is hungry after the loss and retirement is not in his vocabulary, Kovalev is all in.

On Saturday night from the Mandalay Bay In Las Vegas, we’ll find out if Ward is.

 

He’s Back….Mayweather To Return And Knuckle Up With The UFC’s McGregor

Guess who’s back, back again, Money’s back tell a friend…

It was only a matter of time until Floyd Mayweather (49-0 26 KO) returned to the ring, not a matter of if, but when.  

On Wednesday, all doubt was put to rest as it was announced that one of the greatest boxers ever will seek coveted win number 50. 

Several months of rumors became reality as on August 26 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Mayweather will face UFC and MMA star Connor McGregor in “The Notorious One’s” crossover boxing debut.

The fight will be contested at 154 lbs and fought under the sanctioning rules of boxing. 

More coverage to follow. 

World Boxing Super Series to feature Cruiserweight and Super Middleweight Divisions in Season 1 – Enrollment begins on May 15

Press Release 


Zurich, 9th May 2017

 

World Boxing Super Series to feature Cruiserweight and Super Middleweight Divisions in Season 1 – Enrollment begins on May 15

 

Comosa AG, the organiser of boxing´s first global knock-out tournament, is delighted to announce that the inaugural season of the World Boxing Super Series will feature the fiercely-competitive cruiserweight and super middleweight divisions. In each weight
class, eight fighters will battle it out in a bracket-style elimination tournament. The last man standing will receive the GREATEST prize in boxing, the Muhammad Ali Trophy.

 

“We are thrilled to kick off the World Boxing Super Series in style with two of the sport’s most exciting divisions,”said Roberto Dalmiglio, Comosa’s Head of Management Board.”The tournament will create never- seen before drama for fans around the globe.”

 

Richard Schaefer, Comosa’s Chairman of the Americas, believes the World Boxing Super Series will lift boxing to a new level. He said: “The cruiserweights and super-middleweight have time and time again thrown up thrilling contests – but nobody has ever pitted
the top fighters against each other in a fan-friendly, easy-to- understand way within a short period of time. Our revolutionary KO tournament will take less than a year and deliver the crème de la crème in these weights with a blend of past, present and future
from the world’s finest fighters.”

 

The tournament will kick off in September, with four quarter-finals per division. The semi-finals will be held in early 2018, and the winners will be crowned in May 2018. “We have an exciting format, two exciting divisions and now we will sign exciting fighters,”
said Kalle Sauerland, Comosa´s Chief Boxing Officer. “These weights give a great opportunity for us to deliver a huge geographic spread. On top of that, I can imagine champions and challengers from other divisions, such as light heavyweight, stepping up or
down in weight to join the quest for the Ali Trophy.”

 

A special boxer selection process has been put in place to determine the contestants for Season One.

 

On May 15, tournament enrollment will commence where all WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF Champions as well as all top 15 world-ranked contenders  (or their respective promoters,  agents,  managers or trainers with legal entitlement) can make their application
to enter the tournament via enrollment@WorldBoxingSuperSeries.com.

 

Enrollment closes on May 26. All applicants will be verified and evaluated by the board of Comosa. The Comosa Sports Division will then contract eight fighters per weight class as well as potential back-ups.

 

In early July, Comosa will stage an official Presentation Gala in Monte Carlo to publicly announce all 16 participants and determine the draw. In each weight class, the four top seeds will select their quarter-final opponents from the four unseeded boxers
in a live TV show.


For more information, please visit the newly-launched webpage

www.WorldBoxingSuperSeries.comor follow the tournament on Twitter (@WBSuperSeries), Facebook (@WBSuperSeries), Instagram (@WBSuperSeries) or Snapchat (@WBSuperSeries).

ABOUT THE WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES

Organised by Comosa AG, the World Boxing Super Series will kick off in September 2017, featuring the Cruiserweight and Super Middleweight divisions. In each weight class, eight elite boxers will battle it out in a bracket-style elimination tournament, with
four quarter-finals (fall 2017), two semi-finals (early 2018) and one final (May 2018). This makes for seven top fights per weight class, and a total of 14 fights in season 1 to be staged in premier venues around the globe. The winners of the World Boxing
Super Series will rightfully receive the GREATEST prize in boxing, the Muhammad Ali Trophy. For more information follow us on Twitter (@WBSuperseries), Facebook (@WBSuperSeries), Instagram (WBSuperSeries) and Snapchat (@WBSuperSeries) or visit our websitewww.WorldBoxingSuperSeries.com.

 

Million Dollar Ladies- The Resurgence Of Women’s Boxing

“Unless women get more recognition, we will be fighting just as a novelty for the rest of our lives. There will be no future.”

The words of former lightweight fighter Marian “Lady Tiger” Trimiar, back in 1987, while enduring a month-long hunger strike aimed at bringing better conditions, pay and recognition to women’s boxing.

Over the years, the glass ceiling in boxing has been cracked a few times, but sadly, has always been repaired. That said, we are in a time that may see the damn thing shattered. To know where we are going, we need to take a brief look back at where we’ve been.

Although women’s boxing was introduced and on display in the Olympics all the way back in 1904, it didn’t make the cut. It wasn’t until 2012 that women first stepped into the ring for the right to earn a medal. Let me say that year again…2012! That was just five years ago. It was the last “male only” sport in the Games to find gender equality. Ceiling cracks…..

There are traces of women’s boxing dating back to the 17 and 1800’s; however, it wasn’t until the 1950’s until there was significant movement. Barbara Buttrick, considered by most as the pioneer of women’s boxing, fought the first nationally televised female fight in 1954. As the legend goes, “The Mighty Atom of The Ring” also won the first women’s world championship.  It wasn’t all roses for the woman from Yorkshire, England. Through her career, she had to ignore critics who said her involvement in the sport was “degrading” and an “insult to womanhood”. Many would have crumbled under the pressure she endured but not the 4’11 Buttrick, a true pioneer with a warrior’s heart. A champion cut from every bit the same cloth of any male counterpart.

By the 1970’s and through the struggle of it all in this decade, there were positive signs of progress. Bans on women’s boxing were being removed with licences being issued and bouts being sanctioned. Names like Cathy “Cat” Davis, the first female boxer to be featured on the cover of The Ring magazine, the aforementioned Trimiar, and “The Female Ali” Jackie Tonawanda were all instrumental in fighting for a women’s right to be licensed to fight. Ceiling is cracking…..

One could argue that women’s boxing had its biggest rise in popularity or its golden age thus far in the mid 90’s. It was a “Coalminer’s Daughter” from West Virgina donning the cover of Sports Illustrated with the title “The Lady Is A Champ- Boxing’s New Sensation” that disrupted the status quo of the male dominated profession for what seems like now for only a brief moment.

Martin fought on the undercard of the baddest man on the planet, which by default put women’s boxing in millions of homes world-wide. Martin fought arguably the most memorable women’s fight ever against Deirdre Gogarty on the undercard of Mike Tyson v. Frank Bruno in 1996. The bloody affair against Gogarty is widely considered the beginning of modern-day women’s boxing.

In the years during that period of awakening, many quality fighters emerged. Pugilists such as Lucia Rijker, the first women inducted in the World Boxing Hall of Fame who retired undefeated without ever having a career defining fight. If you had a discussion on all-time greats in women’s boxing thus far they would have come from this time period, “The Dutch Destroyer” would no doubt start the conversation along with Ann Wolfe, Holly Holm, Laila Ali, Mia St. John, Mary Jo Sanders and Regina Halmich who was instrumental in the rise of women’s boxing in Europe.

Laila with the appropriate (sur)nickname of “She Bee Stingin” garnered huge attention as the daughter of “The Greatest” when she began to began to pursue the sweet science. The spotlight brightened even more when she entered the ring against Jackie Frazier-Lyde, yes the daughter of “Smokin Joe”, June 2001, Ali v. Frazier, IV as you will.  The first ever pay-per-view card headlined by women.

These fighters were boxers and brawlers and had skill-sets that rivaled their male counterparts. It is a shame that these highly skilled fighters were not showcased more than they were and matched up for some epic bouts. No takers for serious promotions or regular airtime. Additionally, it was suggested that they were more about themselves and less about the game. Crack repaired….

The spark was lit, women’s boxing should have taken off with the strongest group of fighters ever but there were still those skeptics that saw it as a side-show, the chauvinist views that women should be wearing makeup for beauty, not to cover the battle scars of last night’s fight.

Maybe back then, as Ms. Trimiar stated, it was a novelty; however, 2017 looks to be the year when recognition paves the road to the future. There is a current surge of female fighters with extraordinary skills and the timing appears to be right this go round. With the power of social media, something not available in past times, champions and contenders can be publicized to stimulate public interest and build a following. In addition, we have already seen progress through marketing and the showcasing of fighters through mainstream media.

We’ll take a look here at a few fighters that can sustain the sport going forward. Some were outstanding amateurs, some already champions, but both will impact the future. The list is most definitely not complete. No disrespect to the fighters not listed, while most of the below have Olympic pedigrees, this is not to suggest that these women are saving the day. There are many, many fighters never fortunate enough to have competed in the games or had an amateur background; however, their blood, sweat, and tears fighting in bars, halls, and the smallest venues around has not gone unnoticed. They are the ones that kept the dream alive for women fighters of today and tomorrow. 

No better place to start than with the lady considered the top P4P fighter in the game, undefeated and unified welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus (30-0 8 KO). “The First Lady” has made eighteen consecutive title defenses since capturing her first title in 2009. Braekhus longs for a defining fight in the US, as most of her fights have been in Germany. Kind of Mayweather like in her approach, she uses her jab extremely well to set up straight rights and her movement is some of the best I’ve seen.

The fighting pride of Ireland, Katie Taylor, utilizes fast hands, works the body, has a great left hook, and a solid right. A skill set so good that even Claressa Shields sings her praise saying Taylor is the only fighter that comes close to her in skill set. Quite an endorsement. Taylor is set to fight on the undercard of the Wladimir Klitschko v. Anthony Joshua bout and according to promoter Eddie Hearn, a world title fight in Dublin in November is a possibility.

Featherweight Heather Hardy (19-0 4 KO), holder of two titles in different weight classes has an outstanding skill set. While reviewing her fights, I see the strong jab, the movement, the timely uppercuts, the left hook, the overhand rights. Great stuff, a skillset as strong as anyone mentioned. Hardy, with a background in kickboxing and Muay Thai, has dabbled in a brief cross over into MMA motivated by the financial opportunities that come within the cage. No faulting her there, a fighter has to eat. That said, please don’t leave Heather, the sport needs you!

Claressa Shields put a crack in the ceiling this month headlining the first women’s card on a premium network. The two-time Olympic Gold medalist, Shields is a throw-back fighter. Great jab, straight right, left hook and very strong. She grew up in an old boxing gym, nothing fancy just serious training. Arguably, she is the current face of women’s boxing out of the group. While the others may be more popular in their specific country or area, Shields is most likely more well-known across the board.

Nicola Adams– Another two-time gold medalist and the first women to win an Olympic Gold Medal. This flyweight fighter, who just turned pro, signed with Frank Warren and will have her professional debut in April. What movement. Adams is adept at moving in and out with effortless motion while scoring. Her style looks well suited for the pro game.

Shelly Vincent, a highly talented featherweight out of Rhode Island, her only loss out of twenty bouts a MD to Hardy televised on the PBC network. A fight she campaigned for by showing up unannounced and calling Hardy out. A brawling type compact fighter who will be a handful for any opponent.

With a nickname like one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, you’d better be able to bring it.  Amanda “The Real Deal”  Serrano (31-1 23 KO) a southpaw junior featherweight titlist who does just that. An excellent boxer who is disciplined and can get you out of there with power. There is beauty in her brutality. Serrano is very accurate and hits with thudding power. Serrano last fought on the undercard of the Badou Jack-James DeGale bout in January. While the main and co-main aired on Showtime, Serrano’s bout aired on Showtime Extreme. Progress nonetheless. Serrano earned $17,500 for her trouble. A paltry sum for a world champion fighting on a premium network.

This new generation of fighters appears to be working towards a common goal of bringing the women’s game to the forefront and that is the stuff of champions that will make it a success this time around.

Matchups will be the key, as well as promotional companies willing to step up and take a chance. Credit to Showtime for bringing women’s boxing out of the dark ages and begin to regularly showcase these amazing athletes. The UFC has shown that there is a market and big purses for women in combat sports, they just need a chance in the sweet science. But boxing beware, if you lose these pugilists this time around, they may navigate to MMA for good. There needs to be an extreme marketing campaign to get this going in the right direction. The talent is there, it just needs the backing.

As I wrote this article, it became more and more difficult to keep referring to “women’s boxing”. These women are boxers first and foremost, gender be damned. I just love great boxing and boxing skills and these athletes provide just that.

It’s ok ladies, no more hunger strikes are needed, we see your dream…smash the damn ceiling, it is your time.

“It’s the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you”

-Million Dollar Baby

The Women Boxing Archive Network WBAN  http://www.womenboxing.com/historic.htm provided great insight and perspective into the subject matter.

World Boxing Super Series

World Boxing Super Series: Revolutionary $50-million elimination tournament launched in New York

(From Left, Matthew Hooper, Executive VP of MTG, Richard Schaefer, Comosa’s Chairman of the Americas, Kalle Sauerland, Comosa’s Chief Boxing Officer & Roberto Dalmiglio, Comosa’s Head of Management Board; Photo Credit:
Simon Lewis)



Click
HERE for Photos from Simon Lewis



Click
HERE for Press Conference Video


  • Winners to receive the GREATEST prize in boxing, the Muhammad Ali Trophy
  • Total Prize Money in Season One: $50 million
  • KO tournament to kick off in September 2017 featuring two weight classes with 16 boxers, setting up 14 top fights on 14 separate fight nights
  • Partners from the world of boxing, marketing and broadcasting behind the project

 


For further information please visit:
WorldBoxingSuperSeries.com

Email: Media@WorldBoxingSuperSeries.com




World Boxing Super Series: Revolutionary $50-million elimination tournament launched in New York


World Boxing Super Series: Revolutionary $50-million elimination tournament launched in New York


  • Winners to receive the GREATEST prize in boxing, the Muhammad Ali Trophy
  • Total Prize Money in Season One: $50 million
  • KO tournament to kick off in September 2017 featuring two weight classes with 16 boxers, setting up 14 top fights on 14 separate fight nights
  • Partners from the world of boxing, marketing and broadcasting behind the project

Comosa AG are pleased to announce the launch of the World Boxing Super Series, a revolutionary bracket-style elimination tournament featuring the world`s best boxers and a total of $50 million in prize
money. The winner will receive the GREATEST prize in boxing – the Muhammad Ali Trophy.

“The World Boxing Super Series will change the world of boxing,” said Roberto Dalmiglio, Comosa’s Head of Management Board. “The
tournament will set new standards, ensure coherent storylines and provide top-class boxing throughout the year. It is Comosa’s ambition to turn the World Boxing Super Series into the world’s biggest and best boxing tournament.”

The tournament will be organised by newly-founded Comosa AG, a Swiss-registered company with principal owners from the world of
marketing (Highlight Event & Entertainment), broadcasting (Modern Times Group) and boxing (Team Sauerland).

The tournament, the first of its kind, will kick off in September 2017. It will be taking place on an annual basis.
The inaugural season of the World Boxing Super Series will feature two weight classes, 16 fighters and a total of 14 main events. In each weight class, eight boxers will battle it out in a
bracket-style elimination tournament, with four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and one final. This makes for seven top fights per weight class, and a total of 14 fights in season 1 to be staged in premier venues around the globe. An expert panel will invite
the world’s best boxers, namely the  top 15-ranked fighters of the four big federations WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO.

Matthew Hooper, Executive Vice President, Modern Times Group, said: “The fighters can earn a lot of money
in the World Boxing Super Series and also prove that they are the number one in their division. We will set out a clear and consistent schedule and stick to it.”


The eight Quarter Finals – four in each weight class – will take place in September and October 2017, with the four Semi Finals scheduled for January and February 2018. The two Finals will then go
down in May 2018.

“Comosa is proud to announce a close cooperation with the family of the greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali, and we are delighted
to honour his legacy with this tournament,” said Kalle Sauerland, Comosa’s Chief Boxing Officer. “Whoever emerges as the winner of the World Boxing Super Series will rightfully receive the GREATEST prize in boxing, the Muhammad Ali Trophy.”

Added Richard Schaefer, Comosa’s Chairman of the Americas: “I have been involved in the sport for a long time and boxing has really been missing a big tournament like the World Boxing Super Series.
Every major sport has one. This is a fascinating project and I am thrilled to be involved. The quality of the people behind this tournament ensures it will be a success.”

The weight classes for the inaugural season of the World Boxing Super Series – as well as the respective participants – will be announced at the Draft Gala, a live-televised kick-off event in June
2017. To avoid each other in the Quarter Finals, the top four boxers will be seeded. During the Draft Gala, they will pick their Quarter Final opponents.

Comosa will partner up with boxers, promoters and managers from around the world, and in accordance with the four major World Boxing Federations, creating a new platform for the sport to thrive on.

Comosa has signed an agreement with MP & Silva, which is the exclusive sales agent of World Boxing Super Series tournaments for the next 3 seasons (2017/18, 18/19 and 19/20) on a world-wide basis excluding
USA and Scandinavia. The rights will be available for international territories on all broadcast platforms, including digital and OTT formats.

Alongside action-packed Fight Nights, there will be extensive TV & online programming produced for fans around the globe. More information will be announced in due course.


– – – End of Press Release – – –

 

For further information please visit:
WorldBoxingSuperSeries.com

Email: Media@WorldBoxingSuperSeries.com


World Boxing Super Series Press Release

Frequently Asked Questions – New York – 9th March 2017

1.    
Which Boxers will be participating in the World Boxing Super Series?

All professional licensed boxers, ranked in the top 15 of the four official federations, who have previously participated in the Seasons’ chosen weight classes will be invited to the Tournament. Any boxer, or their representative,
that fulfils these criteria can contact the World Boxing Super Series or will be contacted directly to be part of the Tournament.

 

2.    
How will World Boxing Super Series boxers be chosen?

Boxers rated within top-15 on the current World Rankings in the four main federations (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) will be considered. An expert panel will choose who to invite to the Tournament. The expert panel will be nominated by
the board of Comosa and will consist of former pros, journalists, respected experts and people with a strong and respected public connection to the sport.

 

3.    
Which weight classes will be in the tournament?

Each season, the weight classes will be decided by Comosa and announced several months before start of the Tournament.

 

4.    
How will World Boxing Super Series Match-ups be determined?

All 8 boxers will be seeded by an Expert Panel prior to the start of the Tournament. The Top 4 seeds will be kept apart in the Quarter Finals and will chose their opponent in a live televised broadcast
draft gala. The tournament directors will select the location of the fights.

 

5.    
When will World Boxing Super Series Seasons take place?

Season 1 is scheduled to commence with the Quarter Finals in September & October 2017 and complete with the Finals in May 2018. The Semi Finals will take place in January and February 2018. Season
2 will commence in September 2018 and follow the same cycle.

 

6.    
How many Fight Nights will there be in Season 1?

Each weight class will include 4 Quarter Finals, 2 Semi Finals and 1 Final. There will be 2 weight classes in Season 1, resulting in 14 Fight Nights in total.

 

7.    
Where will World Boxing Super Series Fight Nights take place?

The fights will take place around the globe, but mainly in USA and Europe. Seven Fights in Europe will start at 11:00 PM CET and the other seven fights in USA will start at 11:00 PM EST. There
will be one World Boxing Super Series fight per event plus undercard fights. Only first class arenas will host World Boxing Super Series events.

 

8.    
What happens if a World Boxing Super Series Boxer is injured, or must withdraw from the Tournament?

There will be a pool of ‘Reserve Boxers’, who will be contracted and made public. The Reserve Boxers will always be available at event the shortest notice should a Boxer have to withdraw for any
reason. The Boxers on the reserve list will be Boxers who didn’t quite make it in to the tournament, or, who performed well in previous rounds despite losing.

 

9.    
Who will Broadcast World Boxing Super Series Fight Nights?

Broadcast deals will be announced in the coming months, but the tournament will get TV coverage around the globe. Comosa has already completed a long term deal with leading sports rights agency MP and Silva who will represent
the media rights of the World Boxing Super Series outside the USA. The rights holders will receive plenty of shoulder-programming around each individual Fight Night to 

promote the tournament, the package available for the fans viewing pleasure will be second-to-none, featuring revolutionary ideas and add-ons, during the build-up to the event in fight week and
the event itself.

 

10. Will there be a World Boxing Super Series Anti-Doping programme?

Yes – all participants will be tested in accordance with WADA standards. No boxer can participate if they are in breach of any doping regulations and testing will run throughout the Tournament
schedule.

 

11.    
Who will Judge/Referee World Boxing Super Series Fight Nights?

World Boxing Super Series events will be refereed and judged in accordance with the local rules of each fight. All Fight Nights will take place under the jurisdiction of local Boxing and Legal
authorities (For example, events that take place in New York will adhere to the New York State Athletic Commission.)

 

12.    
Will the WBC, WBA, WBO & IBF (and others) be involved in the Tournament?

All four of the major federations will be invited to play an active role in the organization of the Tournament.  

 

13.    
Will the Fights be for Championship and/or Belts?

If a fighter brings a title into the tournament this title is respected by the World Boxing Super Series, and the fights where one of the existing belts are on the line will be regarded as a world
title fight within the World Boxing Super Series. The world title can then be carried on throughout the Tournament.

 

14.      
Which promoters are working with the Tournament?

World Boxing Super Series will seek to work with all promoters, ensuring the best possible Boxers are involved – creating an exciting tournament for fans. 


 15






.      
Will there be other seasons in future years?





Yes. The Tournament will become an annual event, with different weight classes participating each year.


 



16.      
Will World Boxing Super Series Boxers receive prize-money in the tournament?

Season one has a budget of USD 50,000,000 to be distributed to the participating boxers. The break-down of prize-money will be communicated before the start of each tournament but will include
bonusses for a win, so that fighters are not simply fighting for a purse but always competing for a ‘prize’ in every round of the tournament – the highest bonus will be paid out for winning the final.

 



17.      
What is the Muhammad Ali Trophy?

The winner of each Weight class in each season will receive the Muhammad Ali Trophy. The trophy was designed by Silvio Gazzaniga (the designer of the FIFA World Cup Trophy). It’s named after The
Greatest fighter in history, Muhammad Ali, to honour the ‘Greatest of All Time.’

 



18.      
How much will Muhammad Ali legacy and name be involved in the Tournament?



The Tournament has been designed to honour Muhammad Ali, his accomplishments and legacy. Crowning new champions each year and celebrating Boxers skills inside the ring serves as a fitting reminder as to how much Muhammad Ali
contributed to the sport of Boxing both inside and outside the ring.



 



19.    
How can I receive further information on the Tournament?



Everyone will be able to find further information and get news, videos etc. about the tournament on Facebook (www.facebook.com/WBSuperSeries), Twitter (twitter.com/WBSuperSeries) and online at
www.WorldBoxingSuperSeries.com. The full website will be launched following press events in Europe. Further information will be disclosed in the coming weeks and months.



 



For further information please visit WorldBoxingSuperSeries.com



Further enquiries should be addressed to info@WorldBoxingSuperSeries.com. 

KEITH THURMAN UNIFIES WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION WITH SPLIT-DECISION OVER DANNY GARCIA SATURDAY IN PRIMETIME ON CBS AT BARCLAYS CENTER

Press Release      For Immediate Release

KEITH THURMAN UNIFIES WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION WITH SPLIT-DECISION OVER DANNY GARCIA SATURDAY IN PRIMETIME ON CBS AT BARCLAYS CENTER

 

Erickson Lubin Knocks Out Jorge Cota in WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator:



VIDEO

 

Watch The Replay Monday at 10 p.m. on CBS Sports Network

 

Click
HERE
for Photos from Tom Casino/SHOWTIME &

HERE
for Photos from Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME

 

Click
HERE
for Photos from Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment

 

Click
HERE
for Photos from Andy Samuelson/Premier Boxing Champions

 

BROOKLYN (March 5, 2017) –
Keith Thurman is the unified welterweight world champion. Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) unified boxing’s glamour division with a split-decision victory over Danny Garcia (33-1, 19 KOs) on Saturday, defending his WBA belt and picking up Garcia’s WBC crown on boxing’s biggest stage in primetime on CBS from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™. 

 

The event, which was produced by SHOWTIME Sports® for the CBS Television Network, marked the highest-attended boxing event in Barclays Center history with 16,533 fans witnessing just the 10th
unification in division history.

 

The close affair, which was only the third time undefeated fighters unified the 147-pound division, was scored 116-112 Thurman, 115-113 Thurman and 115-113 Garcia. 

                                  

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS main event, which was presented by Premier Boxing Champions, was a tale of effective aggression and ring generalship. Thurman came out swinging and was the busier and more accurate fighter in nine of the 12 rounds.  “One Time” Thurman was more tactical in the second half of the fight, utilizing lateral movement and working off his jab.  Garcia picked up the pace and was more active in the final rounds, but it was too little
too late for the previously undefeated Philadelphia native.

 

“I thought I out-boxed him.” said Thurman, who likely earned a spot on boxing’s mythical pound-for-pound list with the impressive victory.  “I thought it was a clear victory, but Danny came to fight.  I knew when it was split and I had that wide spread, I knew it had to go to me.

 

“I was not giving the fight away. I felt like we had a nice lead, we could cool down.  I felt like we were controlling the three-minute intervals every round.  My defense was effective – he wasn’t landing.”

 

A former unified champion at 140-pound, Garcia was aiming to be the first fighter in history to unify titles at 140 and 147 pounds. 

“I came up short tonight,” said Garcia, who entered the bout with a 7-0 record in world title bouts.  “I thought I was the aggressor.  I thought I pushed the pace.  But it didn’t go my way. 

“I thought I won and I was pushing the fight.  But it is what it is. I’ll come back strong like a true champion. I would love a rematch to get these titles.” 

SHOWTIME Sports analyst and unofficial scorer Steve Farhood scored the fight 116-112 for Thurman. 

 

Undefeated super welterweight
Erickson Lubin (18-0, 13 KOs) knocked out Jorge Cota (23-2, 20 KOs) in a WBC 154-pound title eliminator, dropping the previously once-beaten Cota with a flush overhand left at 1:25 (TKO) of the fourth round. 

 

Lubin now becomes the No. 2 challenger to WBC Welterweight World Championship Jermell Charlo, who is due a mandatory bout against No. 1 contender Charles Hatley. 

 

The Orlando-native Lubin landed 47 percent of his power shots across four rounds of shutout boxing. 

 

“I baited him with the jab.  I knew he was going to come with the big shots early,” Lubin said to reporter Jim Gray.  “I put a few tricks on him, I landed that overhand and it was night-night.  I put my hands
down to bait him in, I did a squat and then it was night-night.  I was ready to follow-up with a right but he was already out.”

 

At just 21-years-old, Lubin now has an opportunity to become the youngest world champion in boxing today. 

 

“That would mean a lot to me; that would mean a lot to Orlando, Florida,” Lubin said.  “This is my second time knocking someone out in front of Ray Leonard.  He’s one of my favorite fighters of all time.  It’s
an honor to do this on CBS.”

#  #  #

ABOUT THURMAN vs. GARCIA

Keith Thurman vs. Danny Garcia is a welterweight world title showdown between undefeated 147-pound titlists. The 12-round bout headlines
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by
Premier Boxing Champions, Saturday March 4 from Barclays Center, the home of
BROOKLYN BOXING™. In the co-main event undefeated rising star
Erickson Lubin battles once-beaten knockout artist Jorge Cota in a super welterweight title eliminator bout on CBS at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow
on Twitter @SHOSports, @KeithFThurmanJr, @DannySwift, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at
www.Facebook.com/SHOSports,
www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment,
www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter.
PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

Mario Barrios Remains Undefeated With 6th Round TKO

           Photo credit Stephanie Trapp

Press Release            For Immediate Release

BROOKLYN, NY (March 5, 2017) – Last night at the Barclays Center in New York, San Antonio native, Mario Barrios (18-0, 10 KOs), remained undefeated with a stellar performance, defeated his opponent Yardley Suarez (20-7, 11 KOs) by sixth round TKO.

With newly acquired trainer, Virgil Hunter, in his corner, Barrios was able to execute his game plan to perfection from the opening bell.  After landing plenty of head shots early, Barrios went to the body and ended the fight with a barrage of punches, forcing the referee
to stop the bout in the sixth round.  With the victory, Barrios is now 2-0 at super lightweight. 

“I felt really strong going into this fight and it showed tonight as I was able to get the stoppage,” said Mario Barrios. “I was having success early in the fight, landing a lot of solid head-shots. Then I started going to the body and got him out of there.”

Barrios, who recently moved up from super-featherweight to super-lightweight, feels comfortable fighting at 140-pounds.  

“I plan to stay at this weight and make a run toward a world title in this division” Barrios continued. “I feel with a few more fights at super-lightweight, I’ll be able ready to fight for
a world title.  The road to the top is not going to be easy, but I’m certain I’ll be ready to fight any of the champions once I climb up the rankings.”