Charlo: I Don’t Give a Sh*t What Centeno Did; I'm No Aleem!

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Boxing Scene By Keith Idec

The last time Hugo Centeno Jr. encountered an unbeaten opponent, Centeno knocked him out with one punch.

Centeno cracked Immanuwel Aleem with a counter left hook that knocked Aleem silly in the third round of their August 25 fight in Miami, Oklahoma. Aleem fell to the canvas like a chopped tree and couldn’t continue.

That spectacular sequence made Centeno’s victory a candidate for “Knockout of the Year.” That dramatic victory also moved Centeno into position to fight for the WBC’s interim middleweight title March 3.

His opponent that night, Jermall Charlo, isn’t impressed.

“I’m no Aleem and I’ll let you all see that whenever March 3rd get here, that I’m no Aleem,” Charlo said during a conference call Thursday. “It’s a whole other ball game and when you face a Charlo, you’ve gotta be ready for power yourself. So I hope they’re ready for it.”

Centeno’s lone loss was a 10th-round technical knockout defeat to Maciej Sulecki in June 2016.

Poland’s Sulecki (26-0, 10 KOs) drilled Centeno with a straight right hand that dropped him. Centeno got up, but didn’t protest when referee Mark Nelson determined he shouldn’t continue.

The 27-year-old Centeno (26-1, 14 KOs, 1 NC) also settled for a no-contest against Julian Williams in September 2013.

Centeno suffered a cut near his left eye, caused by an accidental clash of heads with Williams in the fourth round. A ringside physician stopped that fight because Centeno indicated he couldn’t see properly.

Philadelphia’s Williams (24-1-1, 15 KOs, 1 NC) was ahead by the same score, 30-27, on all three cards when that fight ended inconclusively.

“I don’t give a sh*t what he did,” said Charlo, who knocked out Williams in the fifth round of their December 2016 bout. “I don’t care if he improved, how many miles he ran. I don’t care what trainer he switched to, it don’t matter. Whenever I get in the ring, they’re gonna see what I’m really made of and what I really come to do.

“I’ve been working my ass off since they didn’t give me no credit for the Heiland fight. I’m the best 160-pounder out there. They’re not gonna give me the credit until I keep whopping they ass, and that’s what I’m here to do.”

The 27-year-old Charlo (26-0, 20 KOs) stopped short of predicting a knockout in a scheduled 12-round bout Showtime will televise from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“If he’s able to [withstand] this power, this speed, this athleticism, the glory that God gave me, then yeah, he gonna make it the distance,” Charlo said. “If not, I’m gonna hurt him real bad – real bad.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing. 

Lucas Matthysse Ready For Thurman, Pacquiao, Danny Garcia

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By Miguel Rivera

WBA "regular" welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse (39-4, 36 KOs) is about to begin training for his next potential fight.

The Argentine puncher is ready to face Manny Pacquiao, WBC/WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman or even do a rematch with Danny Garcia.

Last month in Los Angeles, Matthysse captured the WBA belt with a knockout victory over undefeated Tewa Kiram. The win places Matthysse in line for a world title shot against the 'super' champion - which is Thurman.

 

Thurman is scheduled to return on May 19th at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and no opponent has been set of yet.

Garcia, who last weekend knocked out Brandon Rios, won a twelve round decision over Matthysse in 2013.

Pacquiao is scheduled to fight on April 14th, with Mike Alvarado as the frontrunner opponent to face him.

Among all of the options, Matthysse's manager, Mario Arano, says Pacquiao would be their dream fight.

"There have been some conversations but nothing has come about as of yet. We are ready for Pacquiao, Thurman, Garcia, for whatever," said Arano to ESPN Deportes.

"The truth is that Lucas is ready for anyone. Those who know us know that he has never liked to pick his opponents, and we of course like the fight with Pacquiao."

Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, has already stated to BoxingScene.com in a recent interview that he's not going to match his fighter with Matthysse in April. He would be open to making that fight at a later point in the year - possibly.

Thurman is making a voluntary defense when he returns, and then he's been ordered to make two mandatory defenses - according to a directive from the WBC. He must face his first mandatory, which is Shawn Porter, and then the second mandatory challenger is Danny Garcia. The door could open for Matthysse - if Porter and Garcia decided to fight each other.

VIDEO: ROLANDO ROMERO VS RYAN GARCIA SPARRING PT. 2

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By CROWN BOXING 

Part 2 of the infamous sparring footage that fueled the beef between young prospects Rolando "Rolly" Romero and Ryan "Kingry" Garcia.

Clips of this video sparked a debate of who the best of the other between fans of the two fighters that included weeks of bad blood and an Instagram Live video call between Romero and Garcia in which they threw verbal punches at each other on a split screen feed for their followers to see.

Who do you think got the best of this particular sparring session? Did Ryan outbox Rolly for 6 rounds? Would Rolly KO Ryan in a real fight? And if Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy ever decided to make this fight, who do you got? Comment below and let us know your thoughts. 

Video courtesy of Rolando Romero's YouTube account

Showtime Sports To Debut New Digital Show on February 28

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Via Boxing Scene - By Random Hits

SHOWTIME Sports continues to expand its position at the intersection of combat sports and culture with a first-of-its-kind, sports talk show, BELOW THE BELT hosted by Brendan Schaub. The twice-monthly, 30-minute show debuts on Wednesday, February 28 on SHOWTIME Sports digital platforms, days before American heavyweight Deontay Wilder defends his WBC title against Luis Ortiz. The announcement was made today by Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports and Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.

BELOW THE BELT premieres each new show on the Below the Belt YouTube Channel and the Below the Belt Facebook Page. The program explores the latest news in combat sports and pop culture, with Schaub delivering candid thoughts in his unique and unfiltered style. BELOW THE BELT features interviews with the biggest names in combat sports and entertainment, road trips, fight camp visits, sketches, animation and pop-culture spoofs.

The initial guest list of combat sports athletes and entertainers scheduled to appear on BELOW THE BELT includes Stone Cold Steve Austin, Paulie Malignaggi and Joe Rogan.

“Brendan brings an edge that resonates with today’s fight fans,” said Espinoza. “He has a fresh voice that is equal parts knowledgeable, funny and opinionated. BELOW THE BELT will complement SHOWTIME Sports programming to a broad audience on our digital platforms.”

This multi-platform program is unique in that it includes a weekly podcast and a composite program that airs once per month on SHOWTIME EXTREME. Following the digital debut on February 28, new shows launch on March 14, March 28, April 11, April 18, May 2 and May 16. The BELOW THE BELT podcast premieres on March 6, and the composite program premieres on March 29 on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

Schaub is a multi-platform entertainer, best known for his career in the UFC and as a personality in podcasting and comedy. Following his successful fighting career, where he was the runner-up of Spike TV's “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights,” Schaub has served as an expert analyst for both ESPN and Spike TV. Schaub currently co-hosts the popular podcast “The Fighter and The Kid” averaging over nine million downloads per month. His “Big Brown Breakdown” podcast, averaging over four million downloads per month, transitions under the BELOW THE BELT franchise. Parlaying his hosting talent from podcasts to television, Schaub was named a correspondent on “After Party” for the E! Network, and co-hosted this year’s Golden Globes and Grammy Awards after-shows. Schaub is set to reprise his role in the upcoming Academy Awards after-show. Additionally, Schaub performs sold-out live comedy shows across North America, Australia, London and Dublin, including regular solo stand-up sets at the world-famous Comedy Store, Hollywood Improv and The Laugh Factory.

BELOW THE BELT is produced by SHOWTIME Sports with Embassy Row.

Canelo-Golovkin Rematch Finalized For T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

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Via Boxing Scene - By Random Hits

Lineal and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) and WBC/WBA/IBF/IBO Middleweight World Champion Gennady "GGG" Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) will return to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for a highly anticipated rematch on Cinco de Mayo. The first fight between the two world-class athletes sold out in only two weeks, and tickets will surely be in even higher demand as both fighters have promised they will not leave the rematch in the judges' hands. Canelo vs. GGG 2 will take place Saturday, May 5 and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.
 
Tickets for Canelo vs. GGG 2 will go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 10:00 a.m. PT, and are priced at $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, $500 and $300, not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of 10 per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800 and $700 price levels with a limit of two (2) per person at the $500 and $300 price levels. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.
 
The two fighters will meet for the first time since last September's controversial draw at an event at Microsoft Square at L.A. LIVE Tuesday, Feb. 27. More details will be announced shortly.
 
"I am happy to return for the fourth time at T-Mobile Arena for this historic rematch against [Gennady] Golovkin," said Canelo. "I opened the doors of this place to the world of boxing, and it has become my favorite venue. This is where the fight started, and this is where I'll end it by doing what I and my fans most desire: knocking him out."
 
"It feels right that the rematch returns to the scene of the crime," said Golovkin. "This time there will be no drama with a decision. I won the first fight and left the ring as world champion wearing all the belts. And I am going to win the second fight. It is going to be a record fight and a golden night for me and boxing at T-Mobile Arena."
 
Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya, said, "There is no better place to host the historic rematch between Canelo and Golovkin than T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Las Vegas on a fight weekend during Cinco de Mayo is electric, and I know fans will travel from around the world to be here to participate in the celebratory atmosphere. Historic boxing matches like Canelo vs. GGG 2 belong in a place like Las Vegas, which offers fans the full and rich experience they are looking for on a big fight weekend."

"The last time they met in the ring, the tie went to the runner -- Canelo Alvarez," said
Tom Loeffler, promoter of Golovkin. "I think there is only one place to settle this dispute between the two best middleweights. The most appropriate place for the rematch is back at T-Mobile Arena. The venue was a sensational host to Team Golovkin and the fans were terrific. We'll see if T-Mobile Arena remains Canelo's favorite venue after he becomes Gennady's twentieth and record-tying title defense."  
 
Richard Sturm, President of Sports and Entertainment for MGM Resorts International, said, "T-Mobile Arena is the ideal venue to host a championship boxing event of this magnitude.  We look forward to celebrating Cinco de Mayo weekend with sports fans in Las Vegas and worldwide for what should be one of boxing's premier rematches."

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, "THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING," Hennessy, "Never Stop, Never Settle," Fred Loya Insurance, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, May 5 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Mike Tyson: Deontay Wilder Could Beat Me? I Don't Think So!

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Via Boxing Scene - By Boxing Clever

Late last month, WBC champion Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) caused quite a stir when he stated in several interviews that he was fully capable of destroying a prime, 1986 version of Mike Tyson, who at the time seemed unbeatable and captured his first heavyweight title (also WBC) and eventually unified the entire division.

Wilder was speaking with TMZ Sports, during a press conference last week to announce his March 3rd showdown with Luis Ortiz.

"Me vs Tyson in 86, I'd kick the hell outta that guy," said Wilder. "Listen, I've got to keep it real I know people always go back to the old school or look at the new school and there's no school where I'm not no. 1 on earth."

After some critics lashed out at Wilder, he stood firm on his comments - not backing down from his belief of beating a prime Tyson.

"My hand speed, I'm too long, I'm too tall, my athleticism, my foot work, all that gives me an advantage, it plays a big part," Wilder said.

"No disrespect to Mike Tyson, in his era he was the best but this is a new era. No old school fighter should beat a new school fighter. Look at the technology we have.

"Nobody has a natural killer instinct as I do, ain't anybody could ever knock me out. I'm very confident in what I say and I speak what I do."

Now Tyson himself has been approached on the matter by TMZ Sports and basically gave a simple comment to Wilder's recent chatter.

"I don't think so," Tyson told TMZ Sports.

Former undisputed champion Lennox Lewis had previously weighed in on the debate -- taking Tyson over Wilder.

"I like Wilder but he’s never been in there with someone that ferocious who truly wants to break his ribs with every punch. I don’t see it," Lewis said.

Jacobs: Sulecki is Game; Let's See if He Can Take the Punches

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Via Boxing Scene - By Keith Idec

NEW YORK – Daniel Jacobs laughed out loud when informed Maciej Sulecki called Luis Arias a clown.

Jacobs respects Sulecki and expects the Polish contender to give an honest effort when they fight April 28 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Neither Jacobs nor Sulecki could say the same for Arias.

Milwaukee’s Arias (18-1, 9 KOs) trashed Jacobs throughout the promotion of their November 11 bout at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. When they squared off, however, Arias refrained from exchanging and lost a one-sided, 12-round unanimous decision in Uniondale, New York.

“Arias definitely didn’t give the fans a good show and he didn’t give the fans his best effort,” Jacobs told BoxingScene.com before a press conference Tuesday. “So in that regard, yeah, he was a clown. This guy [Sulecki], he will be game. Whether or not he can take the punches and what he’ll do after that will tell the tale.

“Because you can think you can go in there until you get hit, and then you become a clown. So you can’t really call somebody else a clown until you actually go in there and experience it, and try to figure out the puzzle yourself.”

Regardless, Brooklyn’s Jacobs (33-2, 29 KOs) anticipates more competition from Sulecki (26-0, 10 KOs) in a 12-rounder HBO will broadcast.

Arias was unbeaten but mostly untested. Sulecki stopped Hugo Centeno Jr. (26-1, 14 KOs, 1 NC) in the 10th round of their June 2016 bout.

Centeno, of Oxnard, California, is scheduled to encounter Houston’s Jermall Charlo (26-0, 20 KOs) for the WBC interim middleweight title March 3 at Barclays Center (Showtime).

“I’m excited about this opponent,” Jacobs said during the press conference. “This gentleman [Sulecki], unlike this other guy we had [Arias], he’s gonna come and he’s gonna put his best foot forward. So don’t sleep on this guy. You’ve never heard of him, but he’s tall, he’s rangy, he’s a middleweight and he’s not gonna back down. So I know, for sure, it’s gonna be an action-packed fight.”

Jacobs-Sulecki will air after HBO’s opener April 28, a heavyweight bout between Brooklyn’s Jarrell Miller (20-0-1, 18 KOs) and France’s Johann Duhaupas (37-4, 24 KOs).

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing. 

Brook: Fighting Khan Means More Than Winning Another Title

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Boxing Scene - By Keith Idec

Kell Brook doesn’t downplay how much he wants to beat Amir Khan.

The former IBF welterweight champ told The Star, his hometown newspaper in Sheffield, that fighting Khan would mean more to him at this stage of his career than winning another world title. Brook (36-2, 25 KOs) is set to battle Belarus’ Sergey Rabchenko (29-2, 22 KOs) in his debut as a full-fledged junior middleweight March 3 in Sheffield.

A long-discussed domestic meeting with Khan is the big fight Brook seeks, though, even more than a title shot at 154 pounds.

“That’s a very hard one,” Brook told The Star for a story that appeared on its website Thursday. “I think I have to say, right now, it would be Khan. That would be the more exciting of the two. Also, it’s probably easier winning a world title than it is to get him to sign a contract.”

Securing what would be a lucrative showdown with Brook is believed to be one of the primary reasons Khan signed a three-fight contract with promoter Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing last month.

Khan (31-4, 19 KOs) is scheduled to face Canada’s Phil Lo Greco (28-3, 15 KOs) in his Matchroom debut April 21 at Echo Arena in Liverpool, England. The former IBF/WBA super lightweight champion hasn’t fought since Mexico’s Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) knocked Khan unconscious in the sixth round of their WBC middleweight title fight in May 2016.

The Khan-Lo Greco fight will be contested at a catch weight of 150 pounds. A Khan-Brook bout likely would be fought at the junior middleweight limit, one pound less than the catch weight at which Khan challenged Alvarez (155 pounds).

“I am going to be there at his next fight, so it will be good for me to be seen there,” Brook said. “Then we’ll see what happens. You never know what’s going to happen in boxing.”

Brook just hopes he can fight Khan while both boxers remain in their physical primes. Khan and Brook are the same age (31).

“I want to get round the table with him and get it done,” said Brook, who has been stopped by Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence Jr. in his past two fights. “I have been a world champion and loved it, but the buzz of fighting Khan would be beyond even that. Everybody would want to see that fight. I just hope we can do it. We are not getting any younger.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.

Adonis Stevenson Very Confident He'll KO Badou Jack: Don't Blink!

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Boxing Scene - By Ryan Burton 

BoxingScene.com and ATG Radio teamed up earlier this week to speak to WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (29-1) who takes on former two-division champion Badou Jack (22-1-2) on May 19th likely at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

The fight will be televised in the United States by Showtime.

Jack and Stevenson recently traded words on social media but Adonis took the insults in stride. He said it is one thing to fight with words and an entirely different animal when you fight in the ring.

 

"You know all of the fighters talk trash," Stevenson said with a laugh.

"As soon as he gets in the ring with me it is different. I said to Badou Jack that I am going to knock him out. You know me, I am from the Kronk Gym and at the Kronk Gym we train for the knockout. I am looking for the knockout. This is what I always do. I am not going to change nothing and I am looking for the knockout. It is very good that he is looking looking for the knockout too. It is exciting but the difference is I am an artist. I am a knockout artist and that is a big difference," Stevenson explained.

The 40-year-old Quebec resident said that he doesn't spend much time studying his opponents and let's his trainer handle that. His trainer is Emanuel Steward's nephew Javan "Sugar" Hill who is very familiar with Jack having been in the opposite corner of Jack when he faced Flint, Michigan native Anthony Dirrell in 2015.

"Sugar Hill knows Badou Jack very well. I don't need to worry about that. Sugar Hill will take care of it. Badou Jack fought Anthony Dirrell. He knows him very well. I will do the same training that I always do. I am not going to change nothing. He is going to change but I won't change nothing because I will be going for the knockout. I love knockouts. They are exciting and Emanuel Steward always told me that knockouts sell and that is what I am going to do. Don't blink. It is very important that you don't blink," Stevenson stated.

Stevenson-Jack will be part of a Showtime split site doubleheader.  Keith Thurman will headline the other co-feature bout at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn against an opponent to be determined.

Send questions or comments to ringsidewriter@gmail.com You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ringsidewriter

 

GEORGE GROVES: JAMES DEGALE'S VALUE HAS DIMINISHED SIGNIFICANTLY

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Via Boxing Scene - By Boxing Clever

Back in 2011, George Groves shocked the odds when he handed James DeGale the first defeat of his pro career.

At that time, DeGale was being groomed as a rising star who captured Olympic gold.

After a years went by, DeGale captured the IBF middleweight crown and put in several performances that rose his status above Groves, who suffered a few defeats over the years.

Their positions have switched enormously over the last twelve months.

Groves is the WBA middleweight champion, is heading to the final bout of the World Boxing Super Super tournament at 168, and put together a solid run of wins over fighters like Fedor Chudinov, Jamie Cox, Chris Eubank, Martin Murray and others.

DeGale on the other hand has not won a bout since April 2016, which saw him win a much tougher than anticipated decision over Rogelio Medina.

He then fought to a twelve round draw with Badou Jack in January 2017, and some felt he was lucky to escape with the draw verdict. During the fight he suffered numerous injuries.

And then in December of last year, DeGale lost his IBF title in a massive upset when he lost a twelve round majority decision to Caleb Truax - who some bookies listed as a 100-1 underdog.

Groves is still willing to face DeGale in the future, but admits his career rival's value has plummeted after the December loss to Truax.

"DeGale will always be a good opponent, but as it stands right now, obviously after his last performance his value has diminished significantly," Groves exclusively told Sky Sports.

"Even if he regains the IBF title, and does it behind closed doors in the States somewhere against a guy he should have beaten anyway in the first place, it's going to make negotiations difficult. But that fight, I'm sure he will be craving it. It will always be a good fight for me, so we will have to wait and see."

Mikey Garcia's Coach Feels Errol Spence Fight is The Wrong Move

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By Radio Rahim - Via Boxing Scene

During a recent interview with BoxingScene.com, three division world champion Mikey Garcia (37-0, 30 KOs) revealed that the welterweight division is certainly in his immediate future.

Before he can even think about moving up in weight, Garcia must overcome his upcoming challenge.

On March 10th, Garcia will attempt to capture his fourth divisional title in a showdown with undefeated junior welterweight champion Sergey Lipinets.

Garcia made a shocking comment, regarding his willingness to move up to 147-pounds and take on the boxer who most experts have pegged as potentially being the best fighter in the division, IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence (23-0, 20 KOs).

"It's a bigger challenge, a bigger weight class. People may not take me serious, but I'm coming to welterweight later. That's going to happen. Whether it's at the end of this year or next year - I'm coming," Garcia told BoxingScene.com.

"I have to get done with these fights first at lightweight and super lightweight. But I'll be at welterweight soon, and if the opponent is offered and presented - I might be there even sooner. I would love the opportunity to fight Thurman or Spence.  If you are going to challenge for a championship, you may as well do it against the best fighter.

"I don't want to take easy fights. I want something that's excites me, that motivates me. A title and a big name motivates me. And if its Spence or Thurman, those are the biggest names at welterweight."

But his head trainer, who also happens to be his older brother, Robert Garcia, is not exactly on board with that kind of fight.

He views Spence as a very, very difficult opponent - and believes that it would be a huge mistake if his younger brother rushed up to the welterweight division and fought Spence in his first bout at 147. 

"I think Mikey will eventually move up in weight. And like a lot of other fighters who move up in weight, sometimes it's not really because they are too big for their weight division and they have to move up - its because of the business and their skills are good enough to compete at a higher division," Robert Garcia explained to BoxingScene.com.

"We have fighters who have won titles in five or six divisions and it was because of their skills.... Oscar De La Hoya did it, Mayweather, Pacquiao, Cotto. It's not because they were that big - its because of their skills. And I think that Mikey will eventually be able to do that, but I think right now I think it would be a mistake to go right out there and challenge Errol Spence. Spence I think is the best fighter in the division. He's very strong, very talented. I think we have to take it easy on that fight.

"Mikey might be able to beat a few welterweights - but if we pick the right welterweights Mikey might be able to compete in that division. It would have to be the right welterweight and not Errol Spence. But if at the end of the year Mikey decides to make that move [to fight Spence] - then we are going to support him and train him to do everything that he could do to beat him, but I personally would not push for that fight."

Rigondeaux's Coach: Rigo Should Not Suffer Over One Bad Night

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By Elisinio Castillo - Via Boxing Scene

Veteran trainer Pedro Diaz has stated that although he accepts some criticisms and comments, the prestigious coach affirms that there is still a lot left for former world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Last December at New York's Madison Square Garden Theater, Rigondeaux suffered his first career at the hands of fellow two-time Olympic gold medal winner Vasyl Lomachenko.

Rigondeaux (17-1, 11 KOs) was dominated in the fight and then claimed that his hand was too injured to continued fighting after six rounds. Several tests were done and it was determined that Rigondeaux's injury was nothing more than a bruised hand - which raised the criticism level even higher.

Diaz believes his fighters is getting too much heat from the public over the loss - which saw him rise by two full weight divisions to challenge Lomachenko at super featherweight.

After the loss, the WBA stripped Rigondeaux of their super bantamweight championship.

"We do everything in favor of boxing. Anyone can have a bad day. Anyone can suffer an injury. A boxer with the type of history that he's had, they should respect his career," Diaz told George Ebro.

"I have no problem of any kind with Rigo, with his family, or with Rigo's team. He comes [to the gym], he is training, he is once again inserting himself into the work regime and we expect good things from him.

"[I'm going to leave his return] to his manager and his promoters, I can only emphasize that Rigo... for us, for Mundo Boxing and for Pedro Díaz, he is always going to be a great champion. The important thing is his history.

"He's like a home run hitter, and sometimes he hits and sometimes he strikes out in the ninth with two outs and the bases loaded, and that's not why you're not going to downplay him. Sometimes a basketball star misses a shot at the basket at the last minute and you should not downplay him over that. Criticism is a part of the business. It was not a great night for Rigo, but he's going to come back, and for us he's always going to be a champion."

David Benavidez: I Hope To Fight Gilberto Ramirez, George Groves

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By Miguel Rivera - Via Boxing Scene

Proud of his Aztec" roots, WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez (20-0, 17 KOs) wants to be the best in his division and face the biggest names, but the fight that most attracts him is a unification against countryman Gilberto "Zurdo "Ramirez, who holds the WBO world title.

"That fight I want the most. In a year it can be done. I think in a year that fight is going to happen," Benavidez told Fox Deportes.

Visiting Mexico City, three days after making the first defense of his world title against Romanian Ronald Gavril, the boxer made it clear that making two more fights this year is his goal, in addition to clashing with the other champions.

 

The son of Jose Benavidez, who was born in Arcelia, Guerrero, and brother of the former interim-junior super lightweight champion of the WBA, Jose Benvaidez Jr., the blooming super middleweight indicates that being a world champion has been his dream since a young child.

"I want to fight twice more this year and see if next year that I can fight for another belt or another champion. We'll see what happens. Ramirez is very good and I want that fight, or a fight against [WBA champion] George Groves," Benavidez said.

"The title means a lot to me, I've worked a lot to get here, since I was a child it was a dream and now that I have it I do not want to let it go."

While recovering from the swelling he suffered in his hands after the fight with Gavril, Benavidez made it clear that he could return on a date in June or July, although he expects to get a more solid confirmation from his promoter Sampson Lewkowicz.

Lewkowicz will also try to get his boxer in the ring with Ramirez, who is promoted by Top Rank.

"Benavidez is the WBC champion and that is the only that matters. Until something very important comes up, he will defend this 'green and gold' until the end. If Ramirez is not interested in a unification, [Benavidez] will defend the title," Lewkowicz concluded.

Canelo Will Hit Colorado in March To Prepare For Golovkin

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By Miguel Rivera - Via Boxing Scene

As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) will switch things up for his upcoming rematch with IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs).

The fight is scheduled to take place on May 5th as part of Cinco De Mayo weekend, with the venue still to be determined.

The first contest too place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and saw the two boxers battle to a controversial twelve round split draw - with scores of 118-110 for Canelo, 115-113 for Golovkin and 114-114.

The boxer usually starts his camp in Mexico and then heads over to San Diego in California, but this time around he's traveling over, along with his team led by Chepo and Eddy Reynoso, to begin a high altitude camp on March 3 or 4 in the mountains of Colorado.

They feel the high altitude camp is necessary to be in the very best condition for the rematch.

"We will arrive in Colorado on March 3 or 4. There we intend to take advantage of the high altitude. We already have the sparring ready, now Saul is working with Alexis Salazar, an middleweight we have in the gym and with whom we have have been moving. Once we are over there [in Colorado], the European sparring will arrive," said co-trainer Chepo Reynoso to ESPN Deportes.

The decision to make this training camp change is vital, from the point of view of the team, because they want the highest level of physical preparation.

"I believe that he only needs to arrive in excellent physical condition, he needs to throw more punches, which in my opinion was exactly what was missing in the close rounds, which he could have taken by throwing 5, 6 or 10 more punches... that would have been the difference for the closes rounds give them to him (Canelo) and there would be no room for doubts," said Chepo.

*FULL FIGHT* RANCES BARTHELEMY VS ANTONIO DEMARCO

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June 21st, 2015 - PBC on CBS: Rances Barthelemy secured a convincing victory over Antonio DeMarco by unanimous decision. Visit PremierBoxingChampions.com for info. 

By CROWN BOXING

Today we're throwing it back to June 21, 2015 when defending IBF 130 lbs champ Rances Barthelemy took apart the always game former champion Antonio Demarco. This was Barthelemy's first match at 140 lbs as his awkward switch-hitting style proved to be too much for the former champion, flooring DeMarco on the way to a UD win at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

FULL FIGHT courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions. 

Golovkin Reaches Deal With Tecate Ahead of Canelo Rematch

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Golovkin Reaches Deal With Tecate Ahead of Canelo Rematch

By Random Hits - Via Boxing Scene

NEW YORK -- Today, Tecate, the official beer of boxing, announces its sponsorship of GGG Promotions' global sensation, reigning unified WBC, WBA (Super), IBF, and IBO world middleweight champion, Gennady "GGG" Golovkin, in advance of the most anticipated rematch of 2018 between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin on May 5, 2018.

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