By Elisinio Castillo - Via Boxing Scene
On Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Cuba's Yordenis Ugas scored a seventh round knockout over Ray Robinson in an IBF welterweight eliminator.
Read MoreBy CROWN BOXING
#SIGNUP4KOS is the movement. 22-year old Rolando Romero, no stranger to attention has no problem backing it up. He has power in both hands, and a mouth that'll draw anyone's attention. With the guidance of his father, a praised Cuban amateur, and support from world champion Rances Barthelemy, legendary Cuban trainer Ismael Salas, and head trainer Crowmell "Bullet" Gordon Rolando Romero is on his climbing the ladder of success and he's one fighter to keep an eye on.
Read MoreBy CROWN BOXING
February 17th 2018, stood a crowd full of fans on their feet shouting and cheering inside Mandalay Bay, as 2x world champion Danny Garcia made his way to the ring for his first battle since his split decision loss to Keith Thurman in a Welterweight unification match last March. It was a different Danny this time, he was refreshed and confident you could feel his energy all week leading up to this night, he was war ready.
Read MoreBy CROWN BOXING
Former Olympian and-new IBF Welterweight mandatory, Yordenis Ugas, and Crown Boxing team up to create the official "Team Ugas" fight apparel. The collaboration was seen on Ugas and his entire team during Garcia vs. Rios fight week, as Ugas prepared for the biggest fight of his career against Ray Robinson for the IBF Welterweight mandatory spot, Saturday, February 17th at Mandalay Bay.
Read MoreVia Showtime
Former two-division world champion Danny Garcia returned with a vengeance, knocking out Brandon Rios in a WBC Welterweight Title Eliminator in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday on SHOWTIME from Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
Read MoreBy CROWN BOXING
Shawn Porter and Keith Thurman get into a heated confrontation about a possible rematch backstage during Garcia vs. Rios in Las Vegas, at Mandalay Bay.
Read MoreBy Lem Satterfield - Premier Boxing Champions
Both former welterweight world champions are adamant they defeated each other in Saturday's showdown—but both are willing for a rematch, or to go down a different path in the stacked 147-pound division.
Ortiz vs Alexander Highlights: PBC on FOX - February 17, 2018
Victor Ortiz and Devon Alexander are former 147-pound champions at similar points of career urgency. They entered the ring with a measure of desperation on Saturday night at the Don Haskins’ Center in El Paso, Texas.
Ortiz was looking to overcome his reputation of coming up just short in major fights, losing to Marcos Maidana, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and a rematch against Andre Berto, whom he had defeated earlier in his career for the welterweight world title.
Alexander had overcome a 25-month ring absence recovering from an addiction to painkillers with a victory over Walter Castillo. Both needed a victory to move into the circle to challenge 147-pound champions Keith Thurman and Errol Spence Jr.
After battling to a majority draw (114-114 twice, 115-113 for Ortiz) in the main event of Saturday’s FOX-televised card—in a fight that featuring no knockdowns, but plenty of action—it remains to be seen if either accomplished their goals.
“In my eyes, I thought I pulled it out. I thought I won in rounds, 9-3 or 8-4. It’s my first draw and it don’t feel good,” Alexander said. “A rematch would solidify who won, but I feel I can move on from this without that if I have to. I feel like I’m still in the prime of my career. I’ll fight anybody.”
Alexander (27-4-1, 14 KOs) landed the cleaner combinations throughout the early rounds, highlighted by right hooks, crosses and uppercuts that caused swelling around Ortiz’s left eye.
To his credit, Ortiz (32-6-3, 25 KOs) remained aggressive and determined down the stretch, showing no signs of quitting.
“Third round on, I started feeling that my pressure coming forward was making him back up and that I was neutralizing his speed,” Ortiz said. “I was making it tougher for him and landing a lot more punches. I thought I won the last half of the fight. At the end of the day, I strongly feel and believe that I won the fight.”
At worst, the duo remains name opponents for top contenders, if not, potential challengers for Thurman or Spence, who have yet to select opponents for their scheduled returns on May 19, and, June 16, respectively.
“ I’d love a rematch with Devon Alexander. At the same time, I would love to fight Danny Garcia or Keith Thurman. Errol Spence, I’d love that one with another southpaw. Shawn Porter? Absolutely. Andre Berto? Definitely. We need a trilogy. ”Former welterweight world champion Victor Ortiz
There is also former two-division champion Danny Garcia, winner of a ninth-round stoppage of ex-champion Brandon Rios on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
“I would love to fight Danny Garcia. I see a lot of flaws in him that can be exposed,” Alexander said.
“I would love to fight Keith Thurman. He’s wide open when he punches, so he’ll get exposed, too. Errol Spence, absolutely, I’ll come up with a tremendous game plan for him. I'm sure they all believe they see flaws in me, also, so why not fight me?”
Where Alexander had lost three of four fights prior to Castillo, Ortiz had fallen in four of five bouts before stopping Saul Corral in the fourth round of his previous fight in July.
“I’d love a rematch with Devon Alexander. He’s a helluva fighter, I’m a helluva fighter, we put on a helluva war,” Ortiz said.
“At the same time, I would love to fight Danny Garcia or Keith Thurman. Errol Spence, I’d love that one with another southpaw. Shawn Porter? Absolutely. Andre Berto? Definitely. We need a trilogy.”
Ortiz, whose son, Royal, turned a year old last month, still has plenty to fight for.
“I’ve already been a champion, but at this point in time, I have a son, and I want him to know me as a champion and to be able to say that his Daddy is a world champion and not that he was a world champion,” said Ortiz.
“Everybody else is running, but I don’t run and I don’t hide from anybody. I’m having a good time with this sport. I’m 31 and I’m not done. I’m working hard to achieve that goal of becoming a world champion once again. There is a lot of fight left in me.”
For a complete recap of Ortiz vs Alexander, visit our fight page.
By CROWN BOXING
Photos courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions
Boxing Scene - By Keith Idec
Caleb Plant didn’t exactly excite the crowd in El Paso, Texas, but he boxed well and picked apart Rogelio Medina on Saturday night.
The tactical Plant peppered Medina with jabs, used his athleticism to consistently move out of Medina’s punching range and won their 12-round super middleweight match by unanimous decision. Each of the three judges credited Plant with a wide win (120-108, 119-109, 117-111).
FOX televised Plant’s win as part of the Devon Alexander-Victor Ortiz undercard from the Don Haskins Center.
The Ashland City, Tennessee native’s victory over Medina improved Plant’s record to 17-0 (10 KOs). Mexico’s Medina (38-9, 32 KOs) has lost three of his past five fights.
Medina, 29, was considered a step up in competition for Plant based on the level of opponents Medina has fought during his 10-year pro career. Current or former super middleweight champions David Benavidez, James DeGale, Badou Jack and Gilberto Ramirez all have defeated Medina.
His experience notwithstanding, Medina seemed sluggish a day after failing to make weight for their IBF 168-pound elimination match. He came forward from the opening bell to the final bell, though, because Plant couldn’t hurt him and Plant was content to stick and move his way to victory.
Plant’s plan was obvious in the first two rounds, when he mostly moved away from Medina and flicked occasional jabs.
By the third round, Plant seemed more relaxed and began throwing more punches against his plodding opponent. A right hand by Plant in that round drew blood from Medina’s nose.
Medina continued following Plant around the ring during the fourth and fifth rounds, and he didn’t have much success. Plant continued to control the action in the sixth round, until Medina landed a left to the body that made Plant hold briefly just before that round ended.
Plant fell to canvas after the bell sounded to end the seventh round, but because their legs got tangled.
A frustrated Medina often challenged Plant to stand and fight. Plant ignored his opponent’s taunts and stuck to his game plan.
Medina managed to land several hard head and body shots during the 11th round that slowed down Plant. The rugged veteran pressured Plant throughout the 12th round as well, but Plant moved, ducked and held his way to the final bell.
Following FOX’s broadcast of the Plant-Medina match, unbeaten lightweight prospect Karlos Balderas went the distance for the first time as a pro.
The 21-year-old Balderas (4-0, 3 KOs) clearly out-boxed Mexico’s Jorge Rojas to win a four-round unanimous decision, but he wasn’t able to put his opponent down. Balderas won all four rounds on each scorecard (40-36, 40-36, 40-36).
Balderas, a 2016 Olympian from Santa Maria, California, rocked Rojas with a right hand to the side of his head barely 20 seconds into their scheduled four-round bout. Despite that early difficulty, Rojas became the first out of Balderas’ four pro opponents to make it out of the first round.
He didn’t land many flush punches in the bout, yet Rojas showed Balderas that he won’t be able to tear through every opponent. Balderas landed a very low left hand that caused a brief break in the action with 38 seconds remaining in the second round.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
By CROWN BOXING
Highlights of Caleb Plant's dominant performance over Rogelio "Porky" Medina.
Video courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions
Video courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions [Youtube]
By CROWN BOXING
Video courtesy of Olympic (YouTube)
By Lance Pugmir - Via Los Angeles Times
Conflicts over dates could prevent super-featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko from making his next fight against World Boxing Assn. lightweight champion Jorge Linares, promoters said Thursday.
Read More
Former welterweight world champions "Vicious'' Victor Ortiz and Devon Alexander "The Great'' went face-to-face for the first time Wednesday at a press conference in El Paso, Texas to discuss their showdown that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes Saturday, Feb. 17 from Don Haskins Center on the UTEP campus in El Paso. Photos Ruben Ramirez.
Also in attendance at Wednesday's workout were undefeated contender Caleb "Sweethands'' Plant and Rogelio "Porky'' Medina, who battle in a super middleweight world title eliminator. Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and also features 2016 U.S. Olympian Karlos Balderas battling Jorge Rojas.
Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features unbeaten contender Caleb "Sweethands'' Plant battling 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.
TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions
"It's great to be back in El Paso with a big fight like this. It is truly a great fight town. I'm really looking forward to this card and I think the fans here are going to love it.
"Our main event is a true crossroads fight. Victor Ortiz and Devon Alexander are battle-tested in one of the toughest and deepest divisions in boxing. The winner of this fight will be back on the path to a world title.
"Victor Ortiz brings an exciting, aggressive style and he always comes to fight. That's why he's one of the most entertaining fighters in the sport today. Devon Alexander has overcome some health issues and is back in the ring with one thing on his mind, to regain a world title."
By Kevin Iolen- Via Yahoo Sports
Fighting for a world title for the first time can be overwhelming for a boxer, even an experienced one. There are more demands on your time. The stakes are the highest. The opponent is elite.
For a 20-year-old who has never been through anything remotely like it, it can be a career-killer.
Read MoreBy Kevin Iole - Via Yahoo Sports
Floyd Mayweather is considered, and rightly so, by many boxing experts as the greatest fighter of his generation. Mayweather debuted in 1996 after winning a bronze medal in the Atlanta Olympics that year, and went on to unimaginable greatness.
Read MoreVia Yahoo Sports - By Kevin Iole
For the last few years, the fight that boxing fans kept calling for was a middleweight unification bout between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez. Eventually, that fight happened and now the fighters are scheduled to have a rematch.
Read MoreVia Yahoo Sports - By Kevin Iole
March will be a huge month for boxing’s heavyweight division, as all four major belts will be defended. Showtime will be the place to catch it all.
Read More
By CROWN BOXING
Sweet Hands putting in work at Johnny Tocco's Boxing Gym in Las Vegas ahead of his IBF title eliminator with Rogelio "Porky" Medina on 2/17 on FOX.
Photography courtesy of Sean Michael Ham / Premier Boxing Champions
By CROWN BOXING
Checking in with Caleb "Sweet Hands" Plant as he prepares to battle the always tough Rogelio "Porky" Medina on February 2 live on FOX.
Photography courtesy of Sean Michael Ham / Premier Boxing Champions
