Category Archives: Articles
21
Mar
Mar
Welterweight Champion Shawn Porter Retains Belt in First Defense Amid a Controversial Split Decision
While it was a chilly fight night in the Dignity Health Sports Park outdoor arena in Carson, California, the crowd became heated when Welterweight World Champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter seemed to survive several bouts by dancing out of the way of top-ranked contender Yordenis Ugas. Between a few slips by Porter and several unexciting rounds, the crowd booed the champion and rallied around the contender by chanting his name.
After a slow start, Round 5 set the arena on fire when the gladiators aggressively went toe-to-toe. Ugas landed 53 punches compared to Porter’s 45.
In the end, on March 9, 31-year old Porter (30-2-1, 17 KOs) won his first WBC title defense in a split decision against 32-year-old Ugas (23-4, 11 KOs). Two of three judges scored Porter at 116-112 and 115-113. The third judge had it 117-111 in favor of Ugas.
“The crowd was expecting a big brawl, but that’s not the way this fight needed to go tonight. That style that we used left the fight close. We got the win, we’re still champion and we’re looking forward to what is next,” said Porter. “I was very focused the entire fight and just listening to my corner.”
Porter talked about his only disappointment of the night. “I was a little frustrated I couldn’t get to the body as much as we had planned,” he said. “As the clock ticks, you do what is working.”
Kenny Porter commented his son by stating, “Shawn was doing a beautiful job.” According to the champ, “ It may have thrown the judges a little bit. I thought we fought a good, smart fight. We fought very consistent.”
Porter was asked about the critics questioning if he really thought he won. “ I have to take a look at the fight to determine how many rounds Ugas won but right now I don’t think it was very many,” he responded.
When responding to a question about fighting in the cold weather, Porter said, “My team is great.” In between rounds, Porter’s corner draped a blanket around his shoulders. “When you are in the midst of the fire that adrenaline is pumping, you don’t feel anything outside of what you’re brain is thinking.”
Ugas who won the bronze at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing felt he won 8 or 9 rounds.
“There’s no doubt about it, I was robbed tonight. After the first round I figured him out and dominated the fight,” said Ugas. “He had no answer when I was pushing him back. I dominated the fight in my opinion.”
At the post-fight conference, the consensus among the Ugas team was he 100% won the fight. “I pushed the pace the whole fight. I was backing him up. He didn’t throw no punches. I landed the cleaner, harder punches,” he said. “This hurts boxing.”
Ugas and his camp felt that Porter’s slip was a knockdown in Round 12.
“It was a very close fight,” said Lennox Lewis, the undisputed world heavyweight champion. “Both fighters boxed well but it’s really down to the judges. When you are coming to take a belt you have to do a little bit more.”
Ugas spoke with confidence, “I showed tonight that I belong with the elite fighters at welterweight. All I can say is that I’m ready to fight any of the top names in the division. I’ll be back.”
The fight highlights tell a story of a good fight and a difficult decision.
The co-main event featured an exciting 10 rounds of boxing between 147 pound fighters Abel Ramos who outboxed Francisco Santana. Despite Santana sending Ramos to the canvas in round 2, Ramos returned aggressively, landing 174 punches to Santana’s 158 in the seventh round and continued to dominate over Santana.
“He caught me on a flash knockdown in the second round. I didn’t see the punch coming and he caught me a little bit off balance,” said Ramos. “ As soon as I got up, I was good.”
After going the distance, the judges, Alejandro Rochin, Fernando Villareal, Lou Moret, scorecards were tallied at 95-94, 97-92, and 98-92, declared Ramos the winner in an unanimous decision.
“I was very surprised by the scorecards. I thought I did enough to win,” said Santana. “It was very competitive but I was landing more significant punches.”
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Marie Y. Lemelle, MBA, journalist, and public relations and boxing event consultant.
21
Mar
Mar
Gervonta “Tank” Davis Takes Out Hugo Ruiz, Successfully Defends WBA Title Becoming Youngest US Born World Titlist
Referee Jack Reisser raises Gervonta “Tank” Davis’ hand in victory. The young champion, donning his WBA Super Featherweight Belt, covered his tatted body with a statement T-shirt “Free 21 Savage.” The Platinum-Selling British Rapper is fighting deportation. Photos Credit: Sean Michael Ham/Mayweather Promotions
Like a Rock Star, WBA Super Featherweight Champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis entered the ring to the sounds of Mega Star Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” with dancers. The fast-rising boxing super star demonstrated a cool, calm swag as the crowd rose to their feet in anticipation of the main event. Davis took his place in the blue corner of the ring with World Champion, Promoter and Mentor Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Words were exchanged between the two, which seemed to further ignite the hype already exploding in the outdoor arena.
The light rain that dropped on and off throughout the night during the clash between Davis and Ruiz certainly did not dampen Davis’ parade. The first round TKO delivered by Davis put an abrupt end to Ruiz’ chances to showcase his boxing savviness demonstrated in his past bouts. Ruiz, 32 years old, has had 18 first-round knockouts with a record of 39-5, 32 KOs.
Saturday night was a different outcome for Ruiz from his prediction made at the press conference. “At 130-pounds I feel more power than ever and I will demonstrate that on Saturday night,” said Ruiz. “This is a big challenge for me. This is the opportunity that I’ve been waiting for throughout my 12-year career. I don’t plan on wasting it.”
The sell-out crowd at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California witnessed Ruiz eat his words and the excitement and determination that Davis brings to the ring. Ruiz missed being saved by the bell when Referee Jack Reiss stopped the fight about one second before the 1st round would have officially ended.
“Ruiz didn’t answer me. I told him clearly in the dressing room what he needed to do,” said Reiss. “When I asked him in Spanish if he wanted to continue he didn’t answer. He was really hurt. He basically made the decision. If he just (nodded his head) we would have kept going.”
Ruiz left the ring a bloody mess after he was hit by Davis with a flurry of punches and a powerful right hook to his face.
The youngest title holder as an American, Gervonta “Tank” Davis was born for the path of
boxing superstardom. In true rock star fashion, Davis walked to the ring on the world’s best-selling album, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Photos Credit: Sean Michael Ham/Mayweather Promotions
“I’m very confident that I will be more active this year. I have three, probably four fights lined up this year,” said Davis. I’m happy with my team and ready for the next.” With his longtime trainer and mentor Calvin Ford and a promotional team spearheaded by Mayweather, Jr., the world’s best fighter pound-for-pound, Davis’ future is bigger than life.
At the press conference, Mayweather said, “This is a great matchup and the kind that people want to see. It’s all about putting on great shows and Saturday will be another blockbuster.”
The 24-year-old Davis remains unbeaten and advances to a record of 21-0 and 20 Kos.
“I’m so excited to come back strong in 2019,” said Davis. “This is the year that could put me over the top and put me at the highest level.”
No doubt.
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Marie Y. Lemelle, MBA, a journalist, and public relations and boxing event consultant, is the owner of Platinum Star PR. She can be reached on Twitter @PlatinumStar or Instagram @PlatinumStarPR. Send sports questions or stories ideas to info@platinumstarpr.com
28
Jan
Jan
KEITH THURMAN SETS SIGHTS ON MANNY PACQUIAO: ‘I’D FIGHT HIM IN THE PHILIPPINES IF I HAD TO’
NEW YORK — Shortly after hearing the scorecards for his majority decision victory over Josesito Lopez, the topic turned to what the future holds for Keith Thurman. He just had his first fight in 22 months, and the world of boxing had changed a lot since his previous fight.
Manny Pacquiao, the eight division champion who’d been with Top Rank since before Thurman turned pro, was now a Premier Boxing Champions fighter, opening up a number of matchups that hadn’t been possible before.
When the question came over the plate, Thurman took his swing.
“Bring it in the ring. Maybe Brooklyn, maybe Vegas, wherever Manny Pacquiao wants it. I’d fight him in the Philippines if I had to,” said the WBA welterweight titleholder Thurman (29-0, 22 knockouts).
Pacquiao, 40, made his return to the United States a week ago, outpointing Adrien Broner by unanimous decision in his first fight since aligning with Al Haymon. Afterwards, Pacquiao voiced his interest in a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who had defeated him in 2015 by unanimous decision. Pacquiao has claimed an injury to his right rotator cuff had limited him in the fight, and wants an opportunity to run their record-setting financial blockbuster back.
Mayweather, who hasn’t fought a pro boxer since 2015, showed no indication either way about his willingness to take the fight, and Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe insists he’s retired and no longer interested in fighting.
Thurman knows a thing or two about injuries. After defeating Danny Garcia by split decision to annex the WBC title, Thurman went on the injured reserve, undergoing surgery on his right elbow in 2017, and then missing 2018 as well due to a left hand injury. Thurman admitted afterwards that his hands were swollen due to the impact on Lopez’s forehead, but says it’s nothing he isn’t used to.
Thurman has said that 2019 is a “get back year,” but asked whether he’d prefer to reclaim the WBC belt he vacated from his ex-foe Shawn Porter, or wanted the biggest name in the division, Thurman seemed to indicate he’d want a fight with Pacquiao first.
“Manny Pacquiao is not gonna be here for the years to come,” said Thurman. “Just fighting a legend, I just feel like the clock is ticking,” said Thurman.
“Later this year if that fight presents itself, I would definitely be open for negotiations and I would love an opportunity to fight a legend.”
Sean Gibbons, who works as the matchmaker for Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, said Pacquiao is still relaxing after his most recent win and will begin looking at possible opponents next week.
“The Senator told me ‘I only want to fight the best at this point in my career,’ and Keith Thurman 1000% qualifies for that at 147 pounds,” said Gibbons in a direct message.
Thurman says that Pacquiao “easily outpunched” Broner and showed exceptional stamina, even if he’s “not the young Manny Pacquiao that he once was.”
It wasn’t just Thurman’s hands that were bruised. His face had swollen up, and Thurman was buzzed in round seven, in part because he underestimated the reach of Lopez and thought he was out of range when he wasn’t. Thurman admits he was a punch or two away from going down for the first time in his career in that round, but says he didn’t expect to be at his best form after being inactive.
Lopez’s trainer Robert Garcia says Thurman was expected to stop Lopez inside six rounds, and that nearly being stopped by a big underdog doesn’t bode well for his immediate chances against Pacquiao.
“It doesn’t make Thurman look too good,” said Garcia, the 2012 Boxing Writers Association of America Trainer of the Year.
“He had a two year layoff, so maybe one or two more fights before he can even say he can fight Pacquiao. I think he needs a couple more fights.”
Even as an undefeated fighter, Thurman embraces his vulnerability. Of the seventh round, Thurman says the sequence when he was hit by a left hook along the ropes and then had his head popped back by a right hand wasn’t the most he’d ever been hurt in a fight, but says it was the best an opponent had ever followed up once he was stunned.
He compares it to the body shot he took against Luis Collazo in their 2015 fight, and when he was wobbled by an overhand right from Jesus Soto Karass in 2013. He even brings up being knocked down on a body shot in sparring against his former training partner Winky Wright in Lake Tahoe years ago.
He didn’t go down this night, which he jokes is progress.
“The name ‘One Time’ isn’t something that I can do to them. It’s something that they can do to me,” said Thurman.
BY RYAN SONGALIA