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Tag: Tony Harrison
Ishe Smith vs. Tony Harrison Media Workout Quotes & Photos
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Ishe Smith & Tony Harrison Training Camp Quotes & Photos
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Former World Champion Ishe Smith Battles Exciting Contender Tony Harrison in 154-pound Clash
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Ortiz VS Alexander Bout Sheet
Victor Ortiz vs. Devon Alexander Caleb Plant vs. Rogelio Medina Live in Primetime on Premier Boxing Champions
USA vs. MEXICO IN PRIMETIME DUELS ON FOX!
“Vicious” Victor Ortiz and Devon Alexander “The Great” Clash in Battle of Former Welterweight World Champions
Plus! Undefeated Contender Caleb Plant Duels Rogelio “Porky” Medina in Super Middleweight Showdown in Co-Feature
Photo by Suzanne Teresa – Premier Boxing Champions
Live in Primetime on Premier Boxing Champions on FOX & FOX Deportes from Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas on
Saturday, February 17 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
EL PASO, TX (January 8, 2018) – “Vicious” Victor Ortiz and Devon Alexander “The Great”headline a show topped by two USA vs. Mexico battles as the former welterweight champions meet in the 12-round main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes Saturday, Feb. 17 from Don Haskins Center on the UTEP campus in El Paso, Texas with televised coverage starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
In the co-main event unbeaten contender Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant will battle Rogelio “Porky” Medina in a 12-round 168-pound world title eliminator.
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $200, $100, $60, $40, $25 and will go on sale Friday. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
Also on the card, Tony Harrison (25-2, 20 KOs) takes on Jorge Cota (27-2, 24 KOs) in a super welterweight showdown and Karlos Balderas, a 2016 U.S. Olympian, will appear in a lightweight special attraction.
“This is a classic crossroads match in the truest sense. Both Devon Alexander and Victor Ortiz are battle-tested in one of the toughest, deepest divisions in boxing,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Alexander has overcome some serious health issues and is looking to regain the welterweight championship. Ortiz, also a former champion, has always come to fight and doesn’t back down from anyone. It promises to be an entertaining match for the fans in attendance at Don Haskins Center and those who tune in on FOX and FOX Deportes.”
Ortiz (32-6-2, 25 KOs), a former 147-pound champion, has split time between boxing and acting throughout his recent career and brings a certain flare every time he steps into the ring. The 30-year-old native of Garden City, Kansas who now lives in Ventura, California, has faced some of the top names in the 147-pound division during his career.
Ortiz won the welterweight title with unanimous decision victory over Andre Berto on April 16, 2011. Five months later he lost the title to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. by knockout. Ortiz, 30, suffered a knockout loss to Andre Berto in 2016 on FOX and bounced back with a knockout victory over Saul Corral in his last fight on July 30 on FS1.
“I’m ready to give all I have to defeat Devon Alexander and get my crown back,” said Ortiz. “My priority is to make a strong comeback and putting myself in a position to have my straps once again. I demonstrated what I was made of and did what I said I was going to do in my last fight. I’m facing a great fighter in Devon Alexander and someone I’ve known since we were kids. I don’t hate him, but I will not be his friend on fight night and he won’t be mine. I’m ready to prove everyone wrong starting on Feb. 17.”
Alexander (27-4, 14 KOs) emerged on the scene with a unanimous decision victory over Randall Bailey for the welterweight title in 2012. He defended the title once before losing it to Shawn Porter in 2013. Since then, the 30-year-old Alexander of St. Louis, Missouri has been on a mission to regain the title. After losing to Amir Khan and Aaron Martinez, Alexander suffered another setback when he sought treatment for an addiction to painkillers. Fully healthy for the first time in three years, Alexander returned to the ring with a unanimous decision victory over Walter Castillo on FS1 on Nov. 21.
“I’m excited to get back in there against a fighter like Victor Ortiz,” said Alexander. “We’ve known each other a long time but never fought in the amateurs, so this should be interesting. My speed, quickness and smarts will win me this fight. Victor checks out sometimes when he can’t hit you, so my skills will be the difference. I’m ready for any challenge that’s brought my way. When I’m 100 percent, nobody can beat me.”
Plant (16-0, 10 KOs) won eight of his first nine fights by knockout, demonstrating power in both hands to go along with his boxing abilities. The 25-year-old climbed into the top ten of the 168-pound rankings with his last victory – a unanimous decision over Andrew Hernandez in Las Vegas on Sept. 8. Medina represents a major step up for Plant and will give him an indication of just where the Ashland, Tennessee native stands in the division as he looks to become a mandatory challenger for the IBF title.
The 29-year-old Medina (38-8, 32 KOs) has squared off against some of the toughest boxers in the division, including current champion David Benavidez and former champions James DeGale and Badou Jack. Fighting out of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico lost by knockout to Benavidez on May 20, and bounced back with a knockout victory over Daniel Eduardo Yocupicio on Sept. 1.
The FOX prime time broadcast will kick off a full night of boxing, leading into a doubleheader on SHOWTIME that features two-division world champion Danny Garcia versus Brandon Rios and 168-pound champion David Benavidez defending his title in a rematch against Ronald Gavril from Las Vegas.
Snippets On Arguably The Hottest Topics In The Sweet Science This Week
Sweet Home Ala…. BAM
Deontay Wilder ( 38-0 37 KO) stopped Gerald Washington (18-1-1 12 KO ) in the fifth round with a big right hand to successfully defend his WBC title. Wilder didn’t look great prior to the knockout and a little amateurish at times. He is still a bit raw but as long as he has the one-punch KO power he’ll continue to refine the other areas through on the job training. In his defense, this was his first fight after an almost eight month lay off due to bicep and hand injuries sustained in the Chris Arreola fight.
In the Bermane Stiverne fight when he won the title, Wilder looked like he had figured it all out. He boxed beautifully and landed his power in spots. He showed that he didn’t need to rely on only his power to be successful; however, in every fight since, there have only been glimpses of that Bronze Bomber.
After the fight, the talk was a matchup with WBO titlest Joseph Parker (22-0 18 KO); however breaking news is a rumoured WBC mandated rematch with Stiverne.
The wish here is a matchup with Luis Ortiz (27-0 23 KO) and/or the Anthony Joshua Wladimir Klitschko winner.
Unsustained Effort
Back in 2015, Tony Harrison, rising undefeated prospect, was handily out-pointing Willie Nelson through eight rounds but got caught and stopped in the ninth round. Going into Saturday’s fight with Jarrett Hurd, Harrison had won three straight, two by stoppage, including an impressive victory over hard punching Fernando Guerrero.
Through the first eight rounds, Harrison (24-2 20 KO) exhibited a nice skill set on Saturday night. Early on, Harrison was doing all of the things that you’d want him to do, good lateral movement, an active jab, and combination punching; however, it would again be his defense that would be his demise.
Harrison was controlling most of the first eight rounds but Hurd (20-0 14 KO) slowly started to impose his will. If was almost as if Hurd conceded the rounds to Harrison and chose to look for one perfect counter, which he found in round nine.
As he had done in 2015, Harrison failed to sustain his effort throughout the fight.
Hurd captured the vacant IBF World Super Welterweight belt with the victory.
Lobby Rumble
Later after the fight, Wilder goes after Heavyweight Dominic Breazeale because Breazeale had an altercation with Wilder’s brother. Wilder and his camp were alleged by the Breazeale camp to have “sucker punched” Breazeale and his coach in front of his wife and kids.
Both Wilder and Breazeale took to social media with their version of the events regarding the ordeal.
Breazeale Link-
Check out @TroubleBoxing’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/TroubleBoxing/status/835843249529049090?s=09
Wilder Link-
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRAXThmgVfr/?taken-by=bronzebomber
Breazeale was on the Wilder undercard stopping heavyweight prospect Izu Ugonoh in the fifth after coming off the canvas in the fourth.
Save it for the ring gents.
Hold Off Judgement, It May Be Good
It has been announced that Manny Pacquiao (59-6-2 38 KO) and Amir Khan (31-4 19 KO) will knuckleup in April. There was a lot of grumbling after the announcement but this is actually an intriguing matchup.
Sweet Hands
Caleb Plant (15-0 10 KO) a top prospect in the Supper Middles dominated veteran/journeyman/gatekeeper Thomas Awinbono. Plant dropped Awinbono in the first and cruised the rest of the way. We’ve been following Plant and he seems to improve each fight. Smart matchmaking by his team, they are bringing him along at a great pace. His competition gets a bit tougher while he tightens up his game. From Tennessee, Planr recently relocated to Las Vegas to focus on his craft.
Fight Week
Danny Garcia v. Keith Thurman- Sneak Peak coming soon.
David Haye (28-2 26 KO) v. Tony Bellew (28-2 18 KO) Does the natural cruiser stand a chance here? Does Haye have memories of being dropped to a knee by him in traning years ago as sparring partners? Is it the power of Haye that will end things in brutal fashion or is it the boxing and speed of Bellew that can make things interesting?
Bellew was in a Rocky movie….maybe life imitates art??
We’ll find out on Saturday at the O2.
Detroit Rising, Tony Harrison’s Journey Continues With Another Stoppage Win
Junior middleweight rising prospect Tony “Super Bad” Harrison (21-0 17 KO) extended his stoppage streak to ten defeating Pablo “Sepulturero” Munguia (20-7 11 KO) by third round TKO on Friday Night Fights from the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Munguia was game from the opening bell, moving forward and having some success in landing overhand punches on the taller Harrision; however, the difference in skill set was a mismatch. Towards the end of the second round, Harrison landed a short crisp right which floored Munguia and had him visibly wobbled. Munguia made it to his feet and survived to the bell. It was evident the end was near. Harrison attacked a still hurt Munguia to open round three landing multiple shots causing referee Arthur Mercante Jr. to stop the fight.
Some wound have preferred to see the Kronk Gym product fighting a higher caliber of opponent but that is the beauty of bringing a young highly skilled fighter along at the right pace, you simply don’t have to rush.
Munguia is not your typical opponent but is a gatekeeper of sorts to provide Harrison and his Team another opportunity to gauge how they handle every type of style before moving on to a higher quality of opposition. The “Gravedigger” has an approach that was no doubt forged from the repetitive motions of his job outside of boxing
Munguia is used to working in confined spaces while digging graves. He employed that strategy against Harrison moving underneath his reach and putting himself in the “hole” of Harrison’s guard. Further, when you are excavating dirt, you throw it out of the hole by moving the shovel overhead, a similar motion while throwing overhand punches. Munguia tried his best to align his job with his craft.
Said Harrison
“He’s definitely one tough cookie but I had to sit down with him to let him know you can’t just walk me down, we can make it this type of fight all night long”
“He was gaining a little courage, so you know me being the warrior that I am, it was time to sit down with him, I can’t keep letting him gain momentum, take some to give some, I know I’m the harder puncher and that’s what happens”
Harrison attacked the body of his shorter and less fit opponent from the opening bell while landing right hand power shots although his usually active jab was nonexistent. Although Munguia’s awkward style contributed to Harrison getting hit more solidly than he has in the past, the defensive component of his game will need to be addressed going forward.
After the fight, Harrision spoke about his body work, lack of jab, and his defense:
“We worked on going to the body all camp, when you get in front of him, he’s definitely a lot shorter, then what the pads look like”
“Tonight means nothing, it’s over with, I did what I was supposed to do against a veteran, a tough cookie who nobody stopped within the last fifteen fights, that says a lot about me, a lot of these guys are getting the same kind of opponents and going ten rounds with them, twelve rounds with them, I did it in three. We definitely have a lot to work on, we got hit a little bit too much, you know just being lazy and not wanting to use my jab, like I said, we did what we’re suppose to do, I don’t let anybody back me up, at the end of the day, we going to make it a fight, let’s make it that.”
Harrison on what is next,
“Al Haymon has the blue print to the car, my dad, he’s driving the car, me and my team are just riding in it and I’m the machine, I’m going to get on the phone with Al Haymon and see what he has next, hopefully he has good plans for me, I’m knocking everything in front of me out, even though I’m getting hit, I’m giving the fans what they want to see”
Harrison is ranked #12 by the IBF and will no doubt be on the move throughout the alphabet soup. Perhaps bouts against the likes of a Vanes Martirosyan, Austin Trout, or a Carlos Molina will be in his immediate future?
Don’t criticize the choice of opponent here, there are lessons learned from every outing. The Detroit fighter with the superstar potential and dazzling skills did what he was supposed to do. Like a player moving through levels in a video game, he defeated the boss on this level and will now move on his journey to the next where another boss awaits, hopefully one residing in the top ten bringing out the best we’ve yet to see from “Super Bad”.
Motown Destroyer, Super Bad Dominates In Vegas
Tony “Super Bad” Harrison (20-0 17 KO) stopped Antwone Smith (23-6-1 12 KO) in the second round on ESPN Friday Night Fights from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Wearing Spartan green, the Motor City slugger displayed a quick piston like left jab while mixing in left hooks and sneaky rights from the opening bell.
Late in the first round, Harrison landed a stiff jab that he followed with a crushing right hand dropping Smith. Smith was hurt badly but able to beat the count and wobbled to his corner at the bell.
At the start of the second, Referee Robert Byrd watched closely as Harrison quickly attacked Smith. Seeing that Smith was going to take severe damage, Byrd jumped in and stopped the fight about nineteen seconds in.
After the fight was stopped, Harrison got a little cardio session in, taking a victory lap around the ring.
In his post fight interview with ESPN’s Bernardo Osuna, Harrison shared his thoughts on a few topics,
On being TV ready- “I feel like we still have work to do, that was just a small step to where we’re trying to get, to replace and reform Detroit how it used to be”
On why he was able to walk through Smith who many figured would be his toughest opponent to date- “I don’t know how to swim, if I go to the beach, I just want to put my feet in, that’s like my one and two rounds”
“Why would I want to go to the deep end where the sharks and stuff are at, when I can just put my feet in get paid quick and give the fans what they want to see and that’s knockouts?”
On what he needs to work on going forward- “I just have to work on, just keep me being me, you know, me and my team keep getting stronger, you know we’re looking for stronger opposition and we’re just going to continue to grind hard, humbling saying that, we came from the mud we’re trying to make it out, I want to be in Floyd Mayweather’s shoes one day and I’m going to keep working until that day comes”
On what it would mean to become a world champion for Detroit and for Emanuel Steward- “It means everything, I fight for Detroit, it means everything, Emanuel gave me the opportunity to platform myself to be with Al Haymon, my mom and my dad took real good care of me my family, my cousin, my brothers, you know we’ve been grinding since we were kids for this moment”
“It means everything for me to be able to reform Detroit and give the other kids in Detroit the opportunities that we didn’t have to make their ride a little bit easier”
That is now nine straight stoppages for Harrison, he is ready for the next step in his career. As the level of Harrison’s competition increases, we will no doubt see even more of what this rising star has to offer, he’s only just begun.
Detroit Strong, Tony Harrison-Junior Middles Rising Star
Emanuel Steward’s memory and profound effect on the sweet science is still being felt through those he taught, not only through training, but in life. Memories of the Kronk Gym legend resurface many times as you look around the sport but more so when you see current champions Wladimir Klitschko, Andy Lee, and Adonis Stevenson in the ring utilizing the skills instlled in them by the Hall Of Fame trainer.
However, it’s not only the current crop of champions who bring back these memories; there is a junior middleweight prospect that can be added to the list as well. Detroit’s Tony “Super Bad” Harrison (19-0 16 KO) is one of the last protégés of the late great “Godfather of Detroit Boxing” and a rising star in the game.
If you’ve not yet had an opportunity to see Harrison in action you’re in luck, he headlines this week’s ESPN2”s Friday Night Fights from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas against Miami’s Antwone Smith (23- 5 12 KO).
Harrison, a 6’1 orthodox fighter, comes from strong pugilistic bloodlines. His father, Ali Salaam, is a former fighter turned trainer, and his Grandfather “Hammering” Henry Hank, was a hard punching middleweight in the 50’s & 60’s who faced the best fighters of his era including five International Boxing Hall of Famers: Joey Giardello, Dick Tiger, Bob Foster, Harold Johnson and George Benton.
Harrison went 75-12 as an amateur while winning Michigan Golden Gloves titles and reaching the National semi-finals. Shortly after, Harrison briefly considered pursuing the Olympics but it was at this time that his bond with Steward began to form and redirected his journey. Steward became his trainer and Harrison opened up his career with a first round knockout on the undercard of Klitschko vs. David Haye in Hamburg, Germany.
After starting out his career with eight straight stoppages, Harrison then won his next three fights by unanimous decision, since then, Harrison has not let any of his fights go to the cards. Harrison enters Friday’s bout as he did to start his career on the strength of eight straight stoppages. Nine of his sixteen knockouts have been in the first round.
Harrison had three strong performances in 2014. He opened the year in February against Grady Brewer and stopped him in two rounds. Brewer is a very tough out who had taken Matt Korobov the distance in his previous fight. While Brewer had been stopped several times before in his career, Harrison matched Kelly Pavlik as the only fighters to dispatch Brewer that quickly.
In his next fight in May, Harrison stopped rugged veteran and fellow Michigander Bronco McKart in the first round. McKart had stopped his two prior opponents before facing Harrison but had never been stopped as fast as the hard punching Motor City slugger did it. To close out the year, Harrison blew out Tyrone Brunson (22-3-1), in one round in December.
Harrison has a destroy or be destroyed mentality. He’s a throwback fighter of sorts who wants to end his opponent quickly, but don’t let the power fool you into thinking he’s one dimensional, the kid can box when he has to.
“It is a dream come true that I get to really display my abilities to the world,” said Harrison. “I want to let the world fall in love with a fighter that they haven’t had a chance to see and I think this is the chance I need. You have to be able to entertain and I think I bring that. Antwone has fought some great contenders and he is tough to stop but my game plan doesn’t change. I’m going to go out there, do my thing, put on a show and knock him out.”
Smith, a pro since 2006 hasn’t fought since August of 2013 when he was knocked out by Jermall Charlo in the second round.
“I’ve been out for a while and I feel like this is a great opportunity. It’s like I never left. I’m motivated and ready to go,” said Smith. “I’m coming to fight, I’m ready to go 10 rounds. He hasn’t been that deep. I know I can go the distance so all the questions are on him.”
All up and coming fighters have to continue to answer questions as they move along their journey, questions that to this point Harrison has answered with exclamation points. When you grow up the youngest of eight siblings battling the hardships of Detroit and sometimes not knowing if you’ll have a roof over your head or clothes on your back, your internal fortitude is shaped at an early age preparing you for the challenges that lie ahead.
As Harrison continues to pass each phase of a young fighter’s initiation, the stage in which he showcases his talent will get bigger. Take Al Haymon’s new series, the Premier Boxing Champions on NBC, the inaugural show debuts on Saturday the day after Harrison’s bout. Harrison is in Haymon’s stable and continued success would no doubt see Harrison competing in a PBC event in the future.
There is a “Super Bad” slugger ready to earn his way to the honor of being called champion and by doing so ignite the flame of Steward’s memory once again.
Standing-8 