British bantamweight champion Andrew Cain (13-1, 12 KOs) delivered a dominant performance against late replacement Lazaro Casseres (11-1, 4 KOs) on the undercard of Nick Ball’s title defense against Ronny Rios. Cain, 28, wasted no time getting to work, launching a barrage of heavy shots from the opening bell, pushing the traveling Colombian into every corner of the ring and showcasing his power with frightening hooks.

It quickly became apparent that Casseres would struggle to withstand Cain’s onslaught. Early in the second round, Cain landed a precise right uppercut that sent Casseres crashing to the canvas. The Colombian managed to rise to his feet before referee Victor Loughlin’s 10-count, but he was visibly shaken. Cain continued his relentless attack, and after a vicious left hook rocked Casseres, Loughlin intervened to save the fighter from further punishment, stopping the bout at 1 minute 48 seconds of the second round.

In an earlier bout, Joe Cooper (2-0, 0 KOs) earned a hard-fought victory over the tough Lukasz Barabasz (4-14, 2 KOs) in his second professional fight. Cooper utilized a stiff left jab to land punches to both the head and body, displaying impressive skills and countering Barabasz’s attacks with ease.

However, the 35-year-old Barabasz sought to disrupt Cooper’s rhythm in the second round, managing to land some shots while absorbing punches from the younger fighter. Cooper’s movement slowed in the third round as he opted to counter Barabasz off the ropes with sharp hooks, though they seemed to have little effect on the resilient Pole.

The fourth round showcased the best action of the fight. As Cooper began to tire, Barabasz increased his work rate, pushing the younger fighter back and exchanging heavy hooks. Both men swung away with what little energy remained, sinking into their respective corners as the final bell sounded.

Referee Steve Gray awarded Cooper the victory with a score of 40-37. While the young fighter expressed disappointment with his performance, he will surely appreciate the valuable experience gained from sharing the ring with the tough Barabasz.

#AndrewCain #LazaroCasseres #Bantamweight #BoxingNews #Knockout #JoeCooper #LukaszBarabasz #Liverpool #FightNight #BoxingHighlights

Cuban southpaw starlet Jadier Herrera, 16-0 (14 KOs), highlighted, underlined, and scrawled rings around his potential when he stopped the seasoned but still ambitious Oliver Flores, 31-6-1 (20 KOs), in Round 3 in Liverpool.

Herrera, wearing sparkly black shorts, attempted to take control early, but his experienced foe, chosen as the opponent to teach the young gun some lessons, refused to give ground in the ring center. However, by the end of the opening round, there were ominous signs for the 33-year-old as Herrera’s jab began to find its target.

Some range-finding fencing ensued in Round 2 before the end came suddenly at the beginning of the next session.

A right hook whipped home, followed quickly by a sharp left before Herrera—still only 22 years old—plunged a right hand into Flores's stomach. As the Nicaraguan instinctively sought shelter on the canvas, the wind left his lungs instantly. It was all over after just 30 seconds of the third round.

In another bout, Walter Fury, the cousin of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, dominated his four-round match against 126-fight veteran Dale Arrowsmith. Sporting bleach blonde hair and a thick black beard, Fury pinged the jab from a southpaw stance early on while Arrowsmith chose to stay back and see what his opponent had to offer.

Lancaster, England’s Fury, now 2-0, largely controlled the pace, switching stances and learning on the job, as Arrowsmith—a journeyman employed to survive—only sporadically attacked.

At the end of four, the score in Fury’s favor was a somewhat predictable 40-36 from referee Mark Lyson.

#JadierHerrera #WalterFury #BoxingNews #LiverpoolFightNight #Knockout #CubanBoxer #TysonFury #BoxingHighlights #RisingStars #FightRecap #Southpaw #BoxingLife #FutureChampions

In some respects, the most remarkable thing about Raging Bull is how unremarkable it is. 

The bare bones of the story - boxer battles marital problems and family strife as well as the Mob as he seeks glory in the ring - do not necessarily make for the most original plot in the world. And the movie's protagonist is not exactly a sympathetic character: misogynist, suspicious, and quick to anger, he drives away the loyal brother who had been at his side through thick and thin; after leaving his wife for a young girl whom he makes his second wife, he becomes convinced she is having an affair, beats her, and drives her away, too.

What makes the movie widely regarded as one of the very greatest works in the history of American cinema is that it is simultaneously sparing and unsparing: unsparing in its close and critical examination of the aforementioned protagonist, former middleweight champion Jake LaMotta; and sparing in the way the acting and direction are stripped of glamor and spectacle, creating an air of verisimilitude that, combined with the black and white photography, at times makes it feel as if the viewer has simply been deposited into a tenement in the Bronx circa 1948.

The movie's director, Martin Scorsese, initially wanted nothing to do with it. He found the story unremarkable and he didn't like boxing, or indeed sports generally. The idea had been brought to him by Robert De Niro, who had read LaMotta 's autobiography. Somewhat reflective of the movie's troubled gestation, De Niro didn't actually much like the book or the way it was written, but found himself coming away from it with a borderline obsession with LaMotta and his life.

De Niro pressed the issue with his frequent collaborator; that he did so not only perpetuated the career of one of Hollywood's greatest ever auteurs, it probably saved his life, because prior to yielding to the actor's persistence, Scorsese was at his lowest ebb. Depressed by the muted commercial and critical response to his previous theatrical release, New York, New York , he buried himself in piles of cocaine, convinced his career was over. When he finally agreed to film Raging Bull, he threw himself into every last detail with gusto, expecting it to be his directorial swansong.

The first draft of the screenplay was summarily rejected. A second draft by Paul Schraeder, who scripted a previous Scorsese-De Niro collaboration, Taxi Driver , was closer to the mark, but it took intensive and uncredited rewrites from De Niro and Scorsese to create the finished product. Upon release, Raging Bull received mixed reviews and performed poorly at the box office, although it took little time for it to undergo a significant critical reassessment. 

One wonders how Raging Bull might perform in 2024, when a generation of moviegoers has been conditioned to expect action sequences and uncomplicated heroes. There would be a place for it, surely: quality movie making continues to shine its light through the fog of Marvel franchises, after all. (The bigger obstacle, validly, would be the fact that the movie's antihero hits women and goes to jail for enabling the prostitution of a minor; it would be a daring director, or one bent on career suicide, who attempted to extract pathos from a character with such traits today.)  

In a way, Raging Bull feels very much a snapshot of its eras. Of the 1940s and 1950s, when it is set, when the only non-white characters are boxers and the only women are largely subservient and at risk of violence when independent or confrontational. But also of the 1970s and early 1980s, when directors like Scorsese, Coppola, and Cimino crafted masterpieces around examples of flawed masculinity, from Martin Sheen's Captain Willard to Al Pacino's Michael Corleone or De Niro's own Mike Vronsky. 

Raging Bull is a movie for people who like boxing, yes, but also for people who like movies, who admire the craft of understated storytelling and crisp acting. Joe Pesci, in only his second credited movie role, is magnetic as LaMotta’s brother Joey; and debutant Cathy Moriarty, a mere 19 years old, displays the husky world-weariness of a young Lauren Bacall in her Oscar-nominated turn as LaMotta's second wife, Vikki. The movie's fulcrum is, of course, De Niro, who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of LaMotta, perfecting his trademark conveyance of menace through subtlety and restraint. Today, an actor portraying LaMotta's later life and associated middle age spread might rely on a combination of prostheses and CGI to convey his aging bulk; De Niro went to Paris for three months so he could eat an extra 60 pounds onto his frame the hard way.

Raging Bull received plaudits for its fight sequences, which by the standards of boxing movies convey at least an element of authenticity, even when clearly dramatized, such as the beautifully-composed sequences of LaMotta's loss to Sugar Ray Robinson in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. But in a way, its spirit is perhaps best conveyed by its closing scene, in which LaMotta, now a stage performer, sits in his dressing room and works his way through Terry Malloy's soliloquy from ‘On the Waterfront.’

On the one hand, LaMotta has lost it all: his career, his wealth, his wife, his brother, his boxer's physique. He is performing on small stages for punters who laugh at him rather than with him. He is a subject of pity, if he even deserves that much. On the other hand, he refuses, as he did in the ring, to be knocked down, let alone knocked out. He continues to display the indomitable spirit that took him to the top before and, he hopes, will again. If ever a movie scene can be said to convey the ambiguity and misplaced optimism that courses through the sport and business of boxing, it's that one. 

Kieran Mulvaney has written, broadcast and podcasted about boxing for HBO, Showtime, ESPN and Reuters, among other outlets. He also writes regularly for National Geographic, has written several books on the Arctic and Antarctic, and is at his happiest hanging out with wild polar bears. His website is www.kieranmulvaney.com.

Local talents Brad Strand and Lucas Biswana made a significant impact on the Liverpool crowd at the M&S Bank Arena, providing a thrilling undercard for Nick Ball’s title defense against Ronny Rios. The Everton Red Triangle gym saw a successful start to the night, with hopes high for victories from both Ball and fellow fighter Andrew Cain.

In the super bantamweight division, Strand (12-0, 4 KOs) bounced back from a previous defeat with a spectacular sixth-round knockout against Marvin Solano (24-20, 8 KOs). Strand controlled most of the bout but struggled to penetrate Solano’s tough defense until the end of round six. With a perfectly timed right hand, he sent Solano crashing to the canvas, securing the knockout at 2:47 of round six.

Super featherweight Nelson Birchall (6-0, 3 KOs) continued to impress, delivering a third-round stoppage against Mark Butler (3-13, 1 KO). Birchall, trained by Joe McNally in Liverpool, ramped up the pressure in the third round, punishing Butler to the head and body. Referee Steve Gray stepped in to halt the action at 1:22 of the round, recognizing Butler's unsteady state.

Heavyweight Boma Brown (5-0, 3 KOs) achieved a notable sixth-round finish over the resilient Amine Boucetta (8-17, 0 KOs). Brown found it challenging to corner the awkward opponent but finally landed a powerful right uppercut, knocking Boucetta out for the full count at 0:36 of round six.

Lightweight prospect James McGivern (10-0, 3 KOs) shone on his Queensberry debut, dominating Reuquen Cona Facundo Arce (17-17, 7 KOs) over eight rounds. Utilizing his southpaw jab and quick footwork, McGivern secured an 80-72 points victory.

Lastly, super lightweight Lucas Biswana (1-0, 0 KOs) kicked off his professional career with a unanimous decision victory over Jakub Laskowski (4-32, 2 KOs). The 2024 ABA welterweight champion started strong, applying pressure from the outset. Though Laskowski managed to endure the full four rounds, referee Mark Lyson scored the contest 40-36 in favor of the debutant.

As the night progressed, the local fighters left an impression, raising anticipation for the main events ahead.

#LiverpoolBoxing #LocalTalents #BradStrand #LucasBiswana #FightNight #BoxingHighlights

The war of words between Terence Crawford and Teofimo Lopez is heating up. The tension escalated quickly after Lopez made disparaging comments about Crawford and Gervonta Davis, referring to them as "monkeys" during an online interview. This inflammatory remark sparked outrage, drawing parallels to xenophobic language and triggering a strong backlash.

In response, Terence Crawford didn’t hold back, dismissing Lopez as “a little kid screaming for attention.” It’s clear that there’s no love lost between these two fighters.

On Thursday evening, Lopez took to social media, stating, “Boxing is a sport! Please stop trying to make the business more important than us fighting for the best against the best.” This comment reflects Lopez's desire for meaningful matchups rather than getting caught up in promotional politics.

Crawford quickly fired back on Twitter/X, using colorful language to take a jab at Lopez. “@TeofimoLopez looks like you’re the one in a f***ed up situation with Top Rank! You want to fight? What’s you contracted to fight for?” This reference to Top Rank—Lopez’s current promotional company—implies that Crawford believes Lopez’s contract may be holding him back from bigger fights.

Crawford's tweet included a laughing emoji, and his questions were direct: “Do you want to fight?” The clarity of his challenge indicates a growing intensity between the two.

Teofimo Lopez has been vocal about wanting to fight Crawford, Gervonta Davis, or Devin Haney, especially as he looks to secure a significant payday. With Crawford’s attention firmly on him, it appears that the groundwork for a potential collision in the ring is being laid.

One thing is certain: the animosity is palpable, and the boxing world is watching closely as this rivalry develops.

#CrawfordLopez #BoxingRivalry #FightNight #TerenceCrawford #TeofimoLopez #BoxingDrama

For Tyson Fury, the upcoming rematch with Oleksandr Usyk on December 21 has striking similarities to his storied rivalry with Deontay Wilder. Fury envisions this fight as the second in a potential trilogy with Usyk, just as he had with Wilder from 2018 to 2021. This possibility excites Fury because it would mean he’s won the rematch, setting up a third fight. But, based on his Wilder experience, Fury knows he needs more than a technical victory—he needs to make a statement in the ring, rather than leave it in the hands of the judges.

In his trilogy with Wilder, Fury’s first bout ended in a controversial draw, but he later silenced doubts with two emphatic knockout wins. Against Usyk, however, Fury wasn’t haunted by poor judging but by his own lack of dominance in their first fight. He acknowledges that allowing the match to go the distance was a mistake he won’t repeat in December. This time, Fury intends to capitalize on every moment and finish Usyk before the fight reaches the scorecards.

“There’s no secret—I’m going in there to knock him out because I don’t think I’m going to get a decision no matter what I do,” Fury said in an interview with Undisputed. “I’ve got to take it out of the judges’ hands like I did in America. I’ve got to get him out of there.”

However, knocking out Oleksandr Usyk is no easy task. With a spotless 22-0 (14 KOs) record over an 11-year career, Usyk has never come close to losing, let alone being stopped. His intelligence, adaptability, and counterpunching abilities make him a dangerous opponent for anyone who tries to overwhelm him. Many fighters have hesitated to push for a knockout against Usyk, knowing that his sharp instincts can turn aggression into opportunity. For Fury to become the first man to stop the Ukrainian, he’ll need the performance of a lifetime.

Only time will tell if Fury can rise to the occasion and deliver the knockout he’s determined to achieve, but one thing is certain: the stakes couldn’t be higher.

#FuryVsUsyk #HeavyweightRematch #BoxingShowdown #UndisputedChamp #FuryKnockoutMission #UsykDefense

When Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois step into the ring again, there will likely be even more anticipation than there was for their first fight. Dubois’s dominant performance, which resulted in a knockout of AJ, sent shockwaves through the boxing world. Now, the pressing question on everyone's mind is: what’s next for Joshua?

From his camp, it's clear that a rematch with Daniel Dubois is Joshua's top priority. But what could that rematch look like?

Promoter Eddie Hearn has provided some insight into the situation. In a recent interview with FightHubTV, Hearn revealed that there is a clause in the contract for a rematch scheduled for February. Despite speculation about Joshua potentially facing the loser of the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury rematch, it appears AJ is eager to secure another fight sooner rather than later.

The initial match between Joshua and Dubois took place at Wembley Stadium in London, drawing a record-breaking 96,000 fans and making history for UK boxing attendance. However, it seems the rematch may not occur in London. When asked about the location, Hearn suggested it’s more likely to be part of the Riyadh Season, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Riyadh Season runs from October to the end of February or early March, meaning the rematch would be staged in Saudi Arabia rather than England. Hearn also mentioned that he is currently awaiting AJ’s decision on his next steps. It’s possible that more details will emerge once Joshua's suspension from boxing is lifted.

With all signs indicating that Joshua is keen to rematch Dubois and rectify the mistakes from their first encounter, Saudi Arabia appears poised for a blockbuster showdown in February 2025.

#AnthonyJoshua #DanielDubois #BoxingRematch #EddieHearn #MatchroomBoxing #BoxingNews #RiyadhSeason #SaudiArabia #WembleyStadium #AJVsDubois #BoxingAnticipation #SportsEvent #Knockout #HeavyweightBoxing

Sky Sports have had a long standing relationship with boxing.

From the mid 90s, the television broadcaster has been projecting boxing to the UK audience.

Famously, Sky Sports held the first ever pay-per-view event in the UK.

It was the Mike Tyson vs Frank Bruno fight and they’ve never looked back since.

With such support and interest in the sport, it’s no surprise that boxing fans still makes up such a large contingent of their audience.

So bringing boxers onto their platform only makes sense.

However, getting athletes on a live microphone doesn’t always go well.

And that just so happens to have been the case today.

Jai Opetaia is set to meet Jack Massey in Saudi Arabia this month and was on Sky Sports to talk about the fight.Espinoza vs. Ramírez rematch: purse bids to be held on Friday

The 29-year-old Opetaia, the current Ring Magazine and lIBF lineal cruiserweight titles holder, went a bit too far and was instantly admonished by the presenter.

“I used to think that mindset, once I win a world title it’s going to fix all my problems,” Opetaia said.

“But unfortunately I’ve had a few run-ins with some dirty promoters and things haven’t always worked to plan.

“I won a world title and the next day I woke up the same. You can’t eat f***ing gold belts.”

“The broadcasting rules are slightly different here, you can’t swear,” the Sky Sports presenter said while interrupting Opetaia. “Apologies.”

Australian Opetaia brushed the riposte off and continued talking about the fight.

His opponent, Jack Massey, is the current European and Commonwealth cruiserweight champion and they’ll be facing off on the undercard for the Dimitri Bivol v Artur Beterbiev event in Saudi Arabia next week.

If Jai Opetaia is just as aggressive in the ring as he was on the mic, then he’s got a chance to emerge the victor.

Tyson Fury has been in the boxing game a long time.

From an amateur career that stated in the mid 2000s to making his professional debut at age 20, the Gypsy King has met a lot of opponents in time.

Just at a professional level, he’s had a total of 36 fights with only one defeat.

That came against Oleksandr Usyk in his last bout.

Ukrainian Usyk beat Fury in a unanimous decision and became undisputed heavyweight champion in the process.

Attention has now turned to their rematch that is due to take place in December.

Tyson Fury has now

Despite being beaten by only one boxer in his career, Fury didn’t name Usyk as his toughest opponent.

Instead, that accolade went to the only other boxer that Fury has not beat.

Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury controversially drew their first bout together in 2018.

After that, there were two more fights between the pair.

The second fight ended in a TKO victory for Fury, with the third ending in knockout for Fury as well.

“I’m gonna have to say Wilder,” Fury said in an interview in response to who his toughest opponent has been.

The video was part of the promotion of new boxing video game Undisputed.Eddie Hearn replies to Oscar De La Hoya rant

“When I fought Wilder he was in his prime, he was the man to beat and he was a dynamite puncher.

“One mistake and it’s over in any round, round one or round 12. From maybe 2007, me and Wilder had a pact together.

“We met in Sheffield at one of the boxing fights on Channel 5 and we always said that we’ll talk up a good fight and we’ll have a good fight for the championship down the line.

“He was always my target, but I used to look at him and think, ‘wow’.

“I’d see him hit people and their legs would be shaking, out cold on the floor.

“They’re terrifying knockouts. The highlight reel knockouts that he has are up there with anybody’s, if not the best.

“Going in there with him I never once thought about going to sleep or getting hit by them punches, I just thought I’ll box and do what I got to do. I always do.

“I never really think, ‘well I’ll keep my hands up for this one’.

“My hands have been down behind my back for the majority of my career and they will continue to be there.

“Unfortunately, that’s just the way I am and if I’m going to get punched in the face then so be it. I’ve had plenty in the face before.”

Deontay Wilder has garnered a reputation of being one of the hardest punching fighters in the game.

But it’s still a shock to see Tyson Fury name him as more of a difficult opponent than Oleksandr Usyk.

When the pair meet again in December, it will be interesting to see if Usyk puts on a performance that changes Fury’s mind on the matter.

In this week’s mailbag, Philadelphia coach Stephen “Breadman” Edwards is asked about his thoughts on the upcoming light heavyweight undisputed fight between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev, the December bout in Houston between Tank Davis and Lamont Roach, and he also weighs up how best to set up a fighter, looking at their physical attributes and fighting gifts

Hi Breadman.

I pray God is blessing and continues to bless you and your family and the fans of your mailbag and their families. Can’t wait for Bivol vs. Beterbiev. I don’t see anyway that this fight won’t be a classic confrontation. I like Beterbiev by late stoppage or UD, but I would be more confident if he wasn’t coming off of an injury. I see a lot of people still want to see Joshua vs Fury. Would you want to see that fight? I have absolutely no interest and that was a fight I was starving to see it years ago but now they both along with Andy Ruiz look like they are just about done in their careers. I wish fighters would fight each other when they are at their best and not their worst. I still feel boxing fans got robbed by Pac Man and Mayweather for not fighting that fight years earlier than when they did fight. Your fighter Plant should be all in the media calling out Crawford. Basically, saying that prove you deserve the fight with Canelo by fighting me first at 168. Boots should be calling out Crawford, too. That’s how fights get made. Sometimes you must come out of your comfort zone and shame people into fighting you. Tarver did it with Roy Jones and other fighters have done it. It’s like the scene with Mr. T in Rocky 3.  Plant, unlike Boots, seems to be a trashtalker so he might get under Crawford’s skin enough to make it happen. 

I don’t know who Lamont Roach is and I don’t want to see him vs Tank Davis. What the hell is going on with the business of boxing God bless and take care,                                                     Blood and Guts from Philly

Bread’s Response: I love the Beterbiev vs Bivol match up. Bivol has been looking great in training and Beterbiev’s injury bothers me. But I’m taking Beterbiev to get the win. I don’t know if he will stop him but I believe he will beat him. This is a historically significant match up. The winner becomes a HOF lock and an ATG at 175.

I wouldn’t mind seeing Joshua vs Fury within the next year. 

Taking fights when your opponent is depleted is part of the trickery of the era. Fight your opponent at his weakest and not at his best. It’s hard to go after greatness when just about everyone is doing it. Oh well. The only way it will change is if the world’s best and most popular fighter sets a trend where he goes after the best at their best on a consistent basis.

Caleb Plant is not going to call out a junior middleweight. That would look foolish and corny. Amir Khan who was an ex champion at 140lbs, never won a title at 147 or 154, got a shot at Canelo for the lineal MW crown. Crawford has had 10x better career than Khan. If they can justify Khan getting a shot, Crawford’s shot can be justified. 

Boots has already stated that he wanted to fight Crawford. If it’s not in his nature to be loud about those things then it’s not in his nature. Madrimov didn’t have to call Crawford out to get a shot. The A-side fighter can pretty much make a fight if he wants to… Crawford has stated he’s looking for bigger fights than Boots. And I understand that. I think Crawford is a special fighter and he was on the outside looking in for years. But that’s not on Boots. All Boots needs to do is keep being himself. And keep winning. And what’s for him will get to him.

I know who Lamont Roach is. He’s a solid fighter. And he’s a real champion at 130lbs. I don’t have an issue with this fight. But I do wish that Tank fought a superfight vs Shakur or Teofimo. Tank could justify a showcase fight here and there if he fought three times per year. I think this will be his second fight this year. When the fans don’t see you often, they want you to fight big fights every time out. Personally I’m just glad he wasn’t one and done for 2024. I enjoy seeing him fight. Along with Inoue, he’s the most dynamic KO puncher in boxing.

Hello Breadman,

Let’s say I have a guy who has solid fundamentals, good educated footwork although shows some vulnerability getting dropped every once in a while, has hammers for hands but is slow-twitch and not a one-punch knockout type of guy. Hypothetically what style would I need to keep him away from to get him to 20-0 with 20 knockouts?

He’s simply not the same guy now. Bivol has the IQ, the foot and handspeed, the chin, the athleticism, is fresher and has the style advantage and ability to fight more than one way. The power and the timing is with Beterbiev, but he relies on imposing his will on and breaking everybody he fights. Beterbiev’s best punch and a key to the way he breaks people down is his straight right to the body. He may be the best with this punch in all of boxing right now. Interestingly, I noticed that Canelo hit Bivol with a right to the body at the start of their fight then never landed it again. 

And therefore, maybe the thing that most tells me to pick Bivol is the way he reacted to getting hit by Joe Smith Jr. at the end of the 10th round, along with how disciplined a fight he fought on the biggest stage against Canelo. Bivol stayed completely calm and composed in both of those scenarios, which can itself be a form of imposing will. I like the younger faster Bivol to get it done, for Beterbiev to win he probably has to do it with one punch and he’s not really a one punch guy. Have you seen the Beterbiev-Koelling fight, and are you still picking Beterbiev over Bivol?

Bread’s Response: Everything you said is true. But I don’t let people talk me out of my picks. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. But I’m picking Beterbiev. Bivol has not come close to losing. But I don’t feel like Beterbiev has either. He’s never been hopelessly down on the cards and needed a miracle comeback to win. He’s usually up or even on the cards and most importantly he’s been in control of the fights he’s won at the time of the stoppages. And he’s won them all. 

I don’t know who has the better chin. Just because we have seen Beterbiev down, doesn’t mean Bivol has the better chin. Beterbiev takes more risks, he fights differently. He’s in the danger zone more. I’ve always wondered about Bivol’s chin. He seems to allow inferior fighters to go the distance. And I wondered was it because he was a pure boxer. Or because he doesn’t like getting hit…

I don’t break down fights like you and neither of us is wrong. Checking boxes are for someone who is doing a camp or a hypothetical match up. Who wins head to head is simply about who is more effective at doing what he does. Tommy Hearns checks more boxes than Iran Barkley but yet lost to him. I’m not saying checking boxes doesn’t matter. But I’m saying Beterbiev has that Rocky Marciano type of way about him. Most of Marciano’s opponents checked more boxes than him. Yet none beat him. 

I also feel like Beterbiev can be a one punch KO guy. But he just tries to touch you, chip away at your resistance, then he stops you. It’s a form of discipline to not try to punch hard. But to just make solid contact. It’s a sign of reassurance and confidence. I have been around thousands of fighters. Most of the hard punchers scream and yell when they punch in a form of intimidation. Beterbiev just simply touches you. I think it’s a gift that’s in his favor, in terms of beating a boxer on the level of Bivol. Because not loading up allows you touch the target. 

However, stylistically I admit Bivol has an advantage. But I feel like Beterbiev has seen and overcame this style before, or he wouldn’t have been such a standout amateur. I’m taking Beterbiev.

Sup Breadman,

My question is about fighters’ physical attributes. As a trainer, do you consider certain fighters physical attributes advantageous, despite them not using them as such? For example, a fighter with a long reach, would push for them to fight at a distance? Would you like a more compact fighter to fight on the inside? Do physical attributes really make a difference? Thank you. 

Hope you and yours are doing well.

Bread’s Response: I am more inclined to evaluate a fighter’s physical gifts moreso than his attributes. Paul Williams was a 6ft 2ins welterweight with freakishly long arms. Everyone wanted him to be Tommy Hearns. If he had Hearns’s gift he wouldn’t have lost a fight. But he didn’t. In fact Pernell Whitaker was a better out fighter than Williams and Whitaker was 5ft 5ins with a 70 inch reach. 

In boxing, this mistake is made often. When we see a short muscular fighter, we expect him to fight like Mike Tyson or Joe Frazier. When we see a taller fighter we expect him to fight like Muhammad Ali or Tommy Hearns. And while true at times, I feel like what the fighter’s gifts are, should be valued over his physical attributes.

What are your thoughts on Tank fighting a guy from his hometown in Houston? I would assume they would fight in the DMV area. Also who would you favor in Tank vs Loma and do you consider it a duck that Loma didn’t want to fight at this moment?

Bread’s Response: I thought Tank vs Roach would be in Washington DC. But if it’s not, then it’s not. I don’t really have an opinion on why it’s in Houston because there is so much that goes on behind the scenes, that I don’t even indulge in unless I’m directly involved. As the fight approaches, Tank and his team will explain why they went to Houston. I honestly don’t know and I haven’t really thought about it. Let’s wait and see what they say before we criticize the move. 

I don’t think Loma ducked Tank. Ukraine is in a bad place right now. Loma loves his country. Loma is also an older fighter. He’s 36 and he’s had some tough nights. After his last two fights, he was filled with indifferent emotions. I can see him not fighting again, period.

It’s not just about fighting Tank. It’s going into camp in a clear state of mind and then performing vs Tank. If he went in and got creamed, and brought up he wasn’t right mentally, then you all would say he’s making excuses. But he has had one foot out the door for the last two fights. Besides that, there was a time when Loma wanted to fight Tank and for whatever reasons, the fight didn’t happen. Now many years later the shoe is on the other foot. But I remember...

I’m never going to say a man ducked another man, when he wanted to fight him when he was at his peak. But now that he’s clearly past his best day, the fight gets revisited and he doesn’t want it. I think Loma respects Tank. He knows he has to be at his best to beat him. 

I would favor Tank at this point. I don’t see Loma beating Tank at 36 years old. I think a prime Loma would have had a tough night vs Tank and it would’ve been 50/50ish. And I think while this Loma is still very capable, he’s not the same guy that say, Nicholas Walters fought many years ago.

I can’t believe Devin Haney is suing Ryan Garcia. This is some bitch shit. Just fight him in a rematch and beat him. Real fighters don’t sue. Devin and his dad act like gangsters. But now they want to go to court and sue a fighter for cheating. There wasn’t enough of whatever was in Ryan’s system to have an effect on his performance. What has boxing come to?

Bread’s Response: Boxing has come to a place where people like you can say these stupid things without repent. Devin Haney is not a b****. During the fight he was hurt several times and never stopped trying to win. Did you watch it? 

And this is not about his dad. This is about Devin. Devin is an adult. I don’t care what his father has said or done. Devin is taking the punches. So he decided to sue. It’s his choice. When someone wrongs you in business, that’s what you do. Boxing is a business. So if Devin decided to get a baseball bat an exact revenge on Garcia, then you’re the same person who would call him a thug and say this is a business. 

I don’t have an opinion on if Devin should’ve sued or not. I have on opinion on his right to do what he wants to. If he chose not so sue, I would say the same thing. But everyone is clowning him for suing is just wrong in my opinion. 

Ryan Garcia tested positive for a banned substance. Period! People are trying to justify it by saying it wasn’t enough in his system. Or it doesn’t effect his performance. Or he wasn’t using it to get an advantage, he was using it to cut weight. 

All of these excuses are misguided. Here is why. None of them matter. The testing guidelines are what matters. And if there was enough of it in his system to trigger a positive result, then it was too much. And let’s not psychoanalyze Garcia. We can’t give him an excuse. Let him come up with his own. 

And how would anyone know if he took it just to cut weight? How could anyone know if it effected him in a positive way? And not only is it irresponsible to say it, it’s irrelevant. He took something he wasn’t supposed to take, he came back positive for it and that’s that. 

And one more thing, let’s say Devin does decide to fight Garcia again. How can he trust him to do the honorable thing and not take anything banned? Are Garcia’s ethics and morals so high that anyone can be sure he won’t take a banned substance. I don’t know either way. And surely Devin doesn’t know. 

All of the heat that Devin Haney is catching, proves exactly what I have already said. No one in boxing cares about PEDS. They only care of their favorite fighter gets caught. Devin is well within his rights to do what he feels he needs to do.

Hello Breadman, I can see Bud Crawford’s point of view. He is not interested in proving anything. He is interested in the Canelo fight for money and maybe legacy, but first and foremost money. He is ready to cash out. He mostly likely will not get the Canelo fight. So what is the second biggest cash out fight Bud could make? I think it would be to rematch Spence. I would love to see the rematch at a higher weight.

Also what is going on with Boots Ennis? Do we really need this rematch with Chukhadzhian? A fighter who never won a round. I am a big Boots fan, but look at his resume. Who is the best fighter he has faced? He is twenty seven years old and can’t get fights? Doesn’t seem the promoter change has helped much so far. Has to fight in his hometown like Crawford to get a crowd. I totally believe you when you say he is the goods but he should have had major fights and a title fight three or four years ago. He didn’t even win his title in the ring. Something has to give here. Brian Norman Jr and Stanionis don’t want to fight him, or there is not enough interest to raise the money. Boots needs SRL chrisma and management. I want to see Boots fight Crawford, Spence, Stanionis, Brian Norman Jr, Vergil Ortiz. How do you fight the best guy available and unify and clean out the division when no one will fight you? Something has to give. Time waits on no man.

Bread’s Response: I don’t think we can use the term cash out when it comes to Bud. He’s a winner. If he were a cash out guy, he would take the Conor McGregor money. Bud is an ATG and he’s undefeated. He wants to win and he thinks he can beat Canelo. I don’t remotely consider that a cash out.

I think Boots needs to be Boots. His team inherits his personality. However, I think a good blueprint to take is the one GGG used. Stay active. Fight the best available and top rated contender. Stay in the public’s eye. And even if you have to overpay opponents, do it. GGG became one of the biggest stars of the last 20 years and it didn’t start out that way. 

I want you to observe something very closely. The fighters from the class of 2016. Teofimo Lopez, Charles Conwell, Shakur Stevenson, Devin Haney, Richardson Hitchins and Ryan Garcia. Even Tank Davis who is slightly older.

They all may trash talk each other. They all insult each other. Rarely do you hear them disrespect or say anything negative about Boots. There is a reason for that. They know how good he is! They have seen him up close and personal. Some have fought or sparred him. They know! Just like you don't hear fighters in Philly disrespect him. He’s not a bully. He doesn't try to intimidate fighters. He's just that good that in an era full of disrespect, he rarely gets disrespected. 

His team. And when I say team, I mean management, marketing, branding and promotion have to all raise their level of their games to match his talent. He’s doing his job...

What up Breadman?

Didn’t Roach call out Davis? I don’t see anything wrong with that fight. In Roach you have a fighter who is daring to be great and fight the best. By no means is this a Davis cherrypick. If it is then be prepared for the unexpected. As a boxing fan, this fight makes sense as Davis takes on another fluid style fighter. Roach appears hungry and not just a seat filler opponent. This can be “Danger”....

I like that. Time for David to face a legit threat. I can see upset. Nobody should be willing to face Roach, actually your "0" might go. No weight drain issues, bro is moving up to take the new “Face of Boxing” fighter’s crown. Roach may shake shit up and cause a “disturbance in the force”.

Respect,

Michael “Precise” Blount

Bread’s Response: Here is my objective take. I think Davis vs Roach is a decent match up. It’s not a great match up but it’s decent. Davis wants to stay busy. Loma is not available. Stevenson is injured. I guess Teofimo is around but you never know how those negotiations will go….. My point is there aren’t as many options for Davis as you would think. El Rayo is at 140 and he’s not ready to fight in December. 

If Davis vs Roach was in the DMV area it would be cool because Davis is from Baltimore and Roach is from DC. The fight looks like it’s in Texas. I don’t know why and I’m not criticizing because for all we know, they could be getting some money from someone to put it on down there. Who knows?

I don’t hate the fight. And I don’t love it. I’m glad Davis is staying busy. And I’m even more happy that Roach, who is a tough fighter, is getting a nice payday. I will be honest, however. I don’t think Roach will win. I think he’s going to fight hard and not lay down. But Davis is one of the 10 best fighters in the world. He’s also one of the three or four best punchers in the world. Roach can fight but in my opinion he doesn’t have the talent or physical attributes to move up in weight and beat a Davis. But listen, that’s why they fight the fights. I’m happy for Lamont and I wish him well. Let’s see what happens. You can’t win a fight that you don’t take. And he took the smoke.                        

In a hard-fought matchup between seasoned welterweights, Quinton “Quickdraw” Randall, 33, from Houston, improved his record to 15-2-1 (3 KOs) with a unanimous decision victory (96-94, 97-93, 99-91) over Janelson “Jawbreaker” Bocachica, 25, who now stands at 17-3-1 (11 KOs). The bout headlined Red Owl Boxing’s BOXFEST XI, streamed on DAZN from the “Owl’s Nest” in Houston.

“I give myself a C+ performance,” Randall assessed. “It’s not my best, man. Not my best. He’s a dog. He’s a warrior. I knew he was coming to fight, and I appreciate him for even accepting the fight knowing he’s away from home. But honestly, no matter where we were, we were gonna get the same result."

Randall showcased his speed advantage early in the fight, effectively mixing up his attacks to the head and body while controlling the pace. As the rounds progressed, Bocachica struggled to find openings, growing visibly frustrated as he failed to establish a rhythm.

In the later rounds, Randall maintained the upper hand, applying pressure and utilizing a strong jab to set up powerful right hands, leading to his unanimous decision win and his second consecutive victory.

Tipton Walker Jr. Claims Decision Over Marquis Moore in Co-Main Event

In the co-main event, Tipton “Rose Gold” Walker Jr. (10-0-1, 6 KOs) secured a unanimous decision victory (77-75, 77-75, 78-74) against “Marvallis” Marquis Moore (11-2, 7 KOs) in an eight-round contest. After a fast-paced first round, Walker began implementing his game plan, leveraging his height and reach advantages.

Walker, who had not fought since 2021 and had not competed in 2022 or 2023, started to pull away in the second half of the bout, landing significant body shots and searching for uppercuts. Moore continued to press forward, attempting to find openings, but ultimately fell short, as Walker emerged victorious.

“I could’ve done better,” Walker admitted. “I could’ve done more. But he’s a good fighter, so I don’t take anything from him. To get to the next level, I had to get past him, so back to the drawing board.”

Giovanni Marquez Shines in Hometown with TKO Victory

Rising super lightweight prospect Giovanni Marquez (11-0, 6 KOs) electrified the crowd with a second-round TKO victory over Thomas Guillemette (8-3, 4 KOs) at 140 lbs. The 23-year-old Houston native, son of former junior middleweight champion Raul Marquez, delivered a powerful performance.

“That’s what the fans want to see,” Marquez said after the fight. “I come to give the fans a show, and that’s what I did today. To be a star, you’ve got to do star stuff like this.”

Marquez began strong, establishing his jab, and finished the fight with a brutal right hand that floored Guillemette. Though Guillemette managed to get up, he was deemed unable to continue, prompting the referee to stop the bout. Marquez has called out Kurt Scoby and former world champion Ryan Garcia for future bouts.

Kumar Prescod Dominates in Professional Debut

Earlier on the DAZN card, 17-year-old Kumar “The Raw One” Prescod (1-0), a nine-time amateur champion, made a strong impression in his professional debut, scoring a second-round TKO victory over Skyler Mauller (0-2). Prescod showcased his superior skills, evading pressure and landing power shots.

The second round proved decisive as Prescod upped the tempo, dropping Mauller twice before forcing his corner to stop the fight.

Dayan Depestre Earns Unanimous Decision in Rematch

In the opening bout of the main card, Dayan “The Cuban Sniper” Depestre (5-0-1, 3 KOs) defeated Trevon Smith (2-4, 1 KO) in a rematch, scoring a unanimous decision victory (40-36, 39-37, 39-37).

Depestre started strong, landing impactful body shots and combinations, ultimately controlling the fight. Smith, who took the bout on short notice, showed heart but could not overcome Depestre’s skill, leaving the judges to declare Depestre the winner.

#QuintonRandall #JanelsonBocachica #BoxfestXI #TiptonWalkerJr #GiovanniMarquez #KumarPrescod #DayanDepestre #HoustonBoxing #DAZN

Anthony Yarde will return to the ring on October 19 at London’s Copper Box Arena, with a promotion organized by Boxxer. The 33-year-old light heavyweight has been inactive since his impressive third-round stoppage of Marko Nikolic back in February.

Yarde was originally slated to face Joshua Buatsi but found himself in a dispute with Queensberry Promotions, which had supported him throughout his career. This disagreement led to legal threats from Frank Warren, but Yarde’s upcoming fight under Boxxer’s banner has reignited hopes for a potential showdown with Buatsi, who is also a Boxxer fighter, should Yarde secure a win on the undercard of the Adam Azim-Ohara Davies bout.

“I’m back in my home city, and I can’t wait,” Yarde expressed, although an opponent for his comeback fight is still to be confirmed. “Everything about it – the occasion; the journey; the arena; the whole event – I’m very excited. The Copper Box Arena is a special venue for me. It’s near where I grew up, and I’ve had some great nights there. I’ve been training hard and waiting to get back in the ring to deliver another explosive knockout performance.”

Boxer’s Ben Shalom shared his enthusiasm for Yarde’s return, stating, “We are excited to introduce the electrifying talent of Anthony Yarde to our High Voltage fight night on Saturday, October 19. It’s a huge addition to an already stacked fight card. Fans can look forward to an incredible atmosphere and an action-packed night of boxing at the Copper Box Arena in London.”

Yarde’s divisional rival, Dan Azeez, will also be on the same undercard, fighting Lewis Edmondson. The card will feature several other exciting matchups, including Michael McKinson taking on Tulani Mbenge at welterweight, Jeamie TKV facing Franklin Ignatius at heavyweight, and Francesca Hennessy’s next bantamweight contest.

Meanwhile, Buatsi remains on track for a potential fight with the winner of the upcoming Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol matchup for the undisputed title on October 12, having recently defeated Willy Hutchinson via split decision at Wembley Stadium.

As Yarde prepares to make his highly anticipated return, the boxing world will be watching closely to see if he can deliver the explosive performance he promises.

#AnthonyYarde #BoxingReturn #CopperBoxArena #Boxxer #LightHeavyweight

Nick Ball and Ronny Rios have officially weighed in below the 126 lbs featherweight limit for their highly anticipated fight for the WBA title at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Saturday.

Ball (20-0, 11 KOs), at just 27 years old, is set to make the first defense of his title in his home city. Rios (34-4, 17 KOs), aged 34, is seeking to capture a world title for the third time and his first at featherweight. Ball tipped the scales at 125.1 lbs, while Rios weighed in slightly heavier at 125.6 lbs.

Weigh-In Results:

WBA Featherweight Championship - 12 Rounds

• Nick Ball – 125.1 lbs
• Ronny Rios – 125.6 lbs

British and Commonwealth Junior Welterweight Title - 12 Rounds

• Henry Turner – 139.7 lbs
• Jack Rafferty – 139.7 lbs

Bantamweight - 10 Rounds

• Andrew Cain – 117.1 lbs
• Lazaro Casseres – 116.1 lbs

Lightweight - 10 Rounds

• Jadier Herrera – 134 lbs
• Oliver Flores – 134.6 lbs

Bantamweight - 6 Rounds

• Jack Turner – 120.1 lbs
• Gonzalo Corinaldesi – 118.1 lbs

Junior Welterweight - 6 Rounds

• Nelson Birchall – 130.5 lbs
• Mark Butler – 129.9 lbs

Welterweight - 4 Rounds

• Lucas Biswana – 145.1 lbs
• Jakub Laskowski – 144.1 lbs

Lightweight - 8 Rounds

• James McGivern – 135.1 lbs
• Requen Facundo Arce – 135.4 lbs

Middleweight - 4 Rounds

• Joe Cooper – 159.1 lbs
• Lukasz Barabasz – 159.1 lbs

Junior Featherweight - 4 Rounds

• Brad Strand – 122.5 lbs
• Marvin Solano – 125.7 lbs

Junior Middleweight - 4 Rounds

• Walter Fury – 156.1 lbs
• Dale Arrowsmith – 155.1 lbs

With both fighters making weight, the stage is set for an exciting night of boxing as they prepare to battle for the coveted WBA featherweight title. Will Ball successfully defend his championship in front of his hometown fans, or will Rios finally capture the world title he has long sought?

#NickBall #RonnyRios #WBAChampionship #Boxing #FightNight #LiverpoolBoxing

The European super-welterweight champion Abass Baraou (16-1) has seen Milan Prat (24-1) installed as his mandatory challenger. The EBU has set a deadline of October 16 for purse bids, or for an agreement to be made.

The roles were reversed when Prat was champion and Baraou his challenger; they were set to meet in November 2022, until a postponement. Prat then lost to Slawa Spomer, and Baraou beat Sam Eggington to finally become champion. 

Prat has recorded four straight wins since the loss to Spomer, but against inferior opposition.

*

Mahmoud Charr (33-4) will defend his version of the WBA heavyweight title against Kubrat Pulev (31-3) on December 7 in Sofia, Bulgaria. 

Their fight was first set for March 30, before Charr suffered an injury. 

Charr will turn 40 by the time they enter the ring, should they do so as scheduled. Pulev is 43.

* 

Former IBF featherweight champion Sarah Mahfoud (14-2) has been sidelined with pneumonia, contributing to her fight against Danila Ramos (13-3) that was set for October 12 in Copenhagen, Denmark being postponed. A new date for the entire promotion will be announced soon. 

*

Former IBF middleweight champion Vincenzo Gualtieri (22-1-1) will fight on October 19 in Falkensee, Germany. His opponent is to be confirmed. On the same Agon Sports-Kuc Boxing promotion are the heavyweights Dusan Veletic (8-1-1) and Sanel Hasanovic (7-1-1). Veletic fights Tomas Salek; Hasanovic has been matched against Christian Demaj (7-3).

William Scull-Vladimir Shishkin headlines contest the vacant IBF super-middleweight title in the main event.

While it is not unusual to hear that an amateur boxer about to turn pro has options from which to choose, rarely do these options include a completely new direction; a handbrake turn so sharp it would lead not only to whiplash but the end of one career and the start of another. 

Then again, perhaps the difference between boxer and professional wrestler is minimal these days. Perhaps in recent years the lines between the two have blurred, with boxing veering more and more into pro wrestling territory and boxers in turn developing a kinship with their Lycra-clad counterparts. 

Whatever it is, to hear Delicious Orie, Britain’s next heavyweight hope, reveal that he is considering a move to the WWE rather than turn professional as a boxer should be more surprising than it is. Suddenly, though, it seems almost sensible, at least to consider it, and logical for this option to now exist for a boxer in 2024. 

Indeed, should Orie take up the WWE on their offer, he would not be the first to curtail a boxing career in favor of choreographed fights. Anthony Ogogo, another boxer who represented Great Britain at the Olympics, also made the same move, albeit his move to pro wrestling was largely the result of an eye injury he sustained while boxing. 

In the case of Orie, the motivating factor here is quite different. Here, the motivation to wrestle is presumably to safeguard his future, lower the risk of damage, and express his personality, or a version of it, with the aim of becoming a star. It is a path not without its own difficulties, nor indeed the potential for damage, yet, when weighed up against all that is at stake when a boxer enters the ring, it is easy to see its appeal. 

“I’ve been invited to potentially join the WWE, as mad as that sounds,” Orie said on Sky Sports’ Toe2Toe podcast. “I just went out there to see what it’s all about and it was a fantastic experience. I learnt so much over the few days I was there. It’s definitely something that I have got on the table as an option.”

Asked by presenter Andy Scott if the offer was serious, Orie then said, “It’s real. I got the message during the Olympic Games and at the time I wasn’t really looking at my messages or anything like that. I was purely focused on the Games. 

“Afterwards I was on holiday and that was when I saw the message. Initially I just thought it was a scam. Then I looked more into it and it was legit. They said, ‘We see your potential and we would like to work with you.’”

Orie, born in Moscow, Russia to a Russian mother and Nigerian father, moved to England at the age of seven, later to settle in Wolverhampton. He was a good student, by all accounts, and graduated with a degree in Economics and Management from Aston University in 2020. He also boxed alongside his studies, winning gold medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 European Games. 

The big one, of course, was the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, with Orie tipped to go far in the tournament and bag a lucrative professional contract off the back of it. However, that dream would end in disappointment when Orie, one of the favorites, was beaten by Amenia’s Davit Chaloyan in the first round. 

Now 27, Orie is a good age for a professional heavyweight, yet will no doubt feel that he has little time to waste. Had he a chunk of gold around his neck, his decision as far as turning pro would have been a quicker one, but still a decision will soon need to be made. 

“Ultimately I do have a decision to make,” he said. “It’s not a decision I’m taking lightly. It’s something I’ve got to really take my time with. At the end of the day this will shape my whole career and influence it. It’s going to be huge. 

“I’m at the stage now where I am waiting for the offers, including the WWE as well, and looking at the contract and seeing what is expected from me from the (boxing) promoters and the WWE side. I just want to have all the options on the table so I can then make my full decision. Whatever it is I decide to do, I’m going to put my 100 per cent commitment into it and will sacrifice everything to be the best.”

Although Orie speaks with a maturity and intelligence, and although he is sensible to assess his options and not count any out, one could argue, perhaps, that the answer for Orie lies in the very fact he is even taking the time to deliberate. In other words, given that the sport in which he currently competes is a sport rife with uncertainty and danger, surely the last thing you want is to be uncertain yourself or distracted by outside influences. It is, after all, neither a part-time job nor a hobby, this boxing lark. It is instead something that demands from its participants full commitment and focus. It is not something you choose to do necessarily, but rather something that chooses you; something you absolutely have to do. 

For Delicious Orie, maybe there isn’t quite the same burning need or desire. Maybe, by virtue of him even considering another option, he has inadvertently arrived at his decision and should be led now as much by his gut as either his head or heart. 

For all his talent, he won’t want to become the latest amateur star to turn professional simply because it is deemed the prescribed next step in a fighting life. Do that and you are falling into the trap of the student who enrolls at university without a clue as to what they want to study or do in the future. You instead go for the experience, then come away with that, a student loan debt, and potentially a drink problem, as well as the feeling of being even more lost upon graduating than you were when you enrolled. 

Besides, if you don’t need to box, why on earth would you?

As the film “The Featherweight,” about the life of boxing great Willie Pep, enters wide release, this week a different BoxingScene contributor will reflect on a boxing biopic that resonates with them. Today: "Bleed for This."

At a cinema in the West End of London in 2016, Vinny Pazienza – or Vinny Paz, as he was by then known – was the guest of honor at the British premiere of “Bleed For This,” the biopic that charted his scarcely believable comeback from a broken spine.

“I didn’t think it was going to turn out that good,” Paz told me back then. “It’s a fabulous movie. It’s 99 per cent on the money. In fact, they had to under-exaggerate things because my life is so crazy, you wouldn’t even believe it.”

Indeed, without the “based on true events” prefix, “Bleed For This” would seem so far-fetched, and so plainly ridiculous, that the scriptwriters would still be trying to escape from their straightjackets.

I mean, imagine trying to get that story over the line.

“OK, tell me again – he has what fitted to his head?”

“A halo, essentially a big metal cage.”

“Right, right. And how does that stay in place?”

“Screws.”

“Screws?”

“Yep. Four long ones that are drilled into his skull.”

“Right. And then what happens?”

“He starts weightlifting in secret.”

“In secret?”

“Yep. In his basement.”

“What, with a cage screwed to his head?”

“Big time.”

“Right. And then he has the cage unscrewed from his head?”

“Yep. While refusing to take a single painkiller.”

The movie begins with a naked woman watching a clingfilmed Paz working out on an exercise bike – as good a place to start as any – while he struggles to make the junior welterweight 140-pound limit ahead of his 1988 loss to Roger Mayweather. It then focuses on his alliance with Kevin Rooney (played by Aaron Eckhart) and the 1991 leap to junior middleweight, after which he beat Gilbert Dele to win the WBA title. (By the way, seemingly fading fast at 140 and then jumping up two weight classes to win a second world title is an impressive resurrection all on its own).

Those early plot lines give us a taster of Paz’s mischievous and always-loveable character, of which Miles Teller does a terrific job depicting. Facially, Teller and Paz are not hugely similar, but squint during certain scenes – particularly those in which sunglasses are worn – and it’s easy to make the leap. What Teller struggles with, however, is looking like a fighter. The stance is wrong, the way he holds his hands is wrong, the way his arms flail when he throws punches is wrong, and even the way his eyes swell is wrong. Teller is likely not helped by the fact he shares a ring with real boxers in every fight scene (Peter Quillin plays Roger Mayweather, Jean Pierre Augustin plays Gilbert Dele, and Edwin Rodriguez plays Roberto Duran).

He’s not the first actor to have those issues, of course, but when boxing is on screen, this film is at its weakest. Or at least it is for the likes of you and me. That’s the curse of being a boxing fan watching a boxing movie. Very simply, we know too much. That’s also why boxing fans are not generally the target audience for boxing movies. If we were, we’d also have an issue with the factual inaccuracies and misrepresentation of “true events.”

Unfortunately, but not unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of that here. We go straight from the Roger Mayweather fight to the Gilbert Dele fight as if mere months have passed, when, in reality, those two contests took place three years and seven fights apart. There’s no mention, for example, of Pazienza tuning up at 154 before he took on Dele. That is completely forgivable, however. Things on screen need to zip along at a good pace. The last thing we need is a cinematic reproduction of Paz outpointing Ron Amundsen.

Not so forgivable, however, is turning a podgy 43-year-old Roberto Duran, who hasn’t won a meaningful fight in years, into some kind of indestructible monster in the final scenes. Not only was Duran far from an indestructible monster when he took on Paz, he was certainly not Pazienza’s first comeback opponent. Worse is when Lou Duva, who is depicted throughout like a heartless mobster boss, proudly tells Paz the fight is for the “IBC world super middleweight title” and Paz reacts like he has just been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. For us grizzled boxing fans, that’s when everything that was so very good and so wholesome about the previous 88 minutes is almost undone. Thankfully, everything before that is indeed so good and so wholesome that even the wisest of wiseasses should be able to get over it.

There are other inaccuracies dotted around, but it seems churlish – just too wiseass-ish – to list them all here. Because what this film is really about is not dates and times and titles but the lengths to which the human spirit can stretch. And what Paz achieved in those days, weeks and months after his car crash is heroic in the extreme.

“I never once considered giving up,” he said at the premiere. “I looked in the mirror, I cried quite a bit. I said, ‘What are you doing, Vinny Paz?’ The same second after, I said, ‘You’re gonna do this or you’re gonna die trying,’ and that’s how I felt.”

By some distance, the most terrifying character in “Bleed For This” is not Roger Mayweather or Gilbert Dele or Roberto Duran, or even Lou Duva, but that steel halo that Paz has screwed into his head following a car accident that left doctors uncertain if he would be able to walk again, let alone fight.

He chose the halo over any other treatment because it was the only option that offered any hope of returning to the ring, and the fitting and removal of it – not reenactments for the squeamish – look more like something from the “Saw” franchise than a biopic. Scenes of him banging the halo on a car door, weeping with despair and refusing a wheelchair as he shuffles to the house where his family will see this hellish contraption for the first time, are genuinely moving because we know, from photographs and home videos from the time, they must depict something very close to real-life events.

Very strictly told to not exercise, Paz then sets his alarm for 3:30 a.m. every day so he can do so without his family hearing. This road to recovery, and the impossible nature of it, is every bit as uplifting as Rocky training in the snow in “Rocky IV,” and the relationship between Paz and Rooney every bit as charming as Rocky and Mick. Eckhart, thanks in no small part to dutifully having a sizable chunk of his hairline hacked off, does a solid job of representing Rooney at a time in his life when alcoholism was threatening to take over. After six months, a fit and ready Paz then has the halo removed, refusing to take painkillers as they unscrew it from his skull.

“I was an idiot for doing that,” Paz later reflected. “If I knew what it was going to be like, I’d have been shot up with morphine. I had screws in my head for months and months, and then they had to take them out – it was a crazy moment.”

So crazy and downright wondrous is Paz’s recovery, in fact, that the film didn’t need to go any further than that. It didn’t need an IBC title, and it didn’t need Roberto Duran. Paz alone is more than inspiration enough.

Welterweight Quinton Randall is eager to climb into contender status as he prepares to face Janelson Figueroa Bocachica in his hometown of Houston tomorrow. At 34 years old, Randall has longed for this opportunity since watching Bocachica battle a previous opponent, Brian Norman Jr.

The bout, which will headline a DAZN broadcast, takes place at the Red Owl Boxing Arena.

Randall (14-2-1, 3 KOs) usually heads out of town for training camps, but this time, he opted to stay in Houston, collaborating with coaches Bobby Benton and Aaron Navarro. The Houston-based team has an action-packed month ahead, with Austin Trout competing in a bare-knuckle fight, Regis Prograis facing Jack Catterall in the U.K. on October 26, and O’Shaquie Foster looking to reclaim his WBC junior lightweight title from Robson Conceição on November 2.

“This by far has been one of my better camps, probably the best camp I've ever had at home,” Randall said. “I usually leave for camp to avoid distractions, but this time, everything has been full-fledged, down to the science — the road work, swimming, strength and conditioning, boxing training, sparring, yoga, recovery, food, and hydration. Everything has been perfect. I’ve been stress-free.”

Randall faced setbacks with a unanimous decision loss to then-titleholder Norman last November, followed by another unanimous decision defeat to Gor Yeritsyan in February. He bounced back with a local win in Humble, Texas, in May and is now determined to show that those defeats were merely lessons on his journey.

“I learned a lot, man,” Randall reflected. “I learned to take care of my body. If you're not feeling well, don't fight. That loss will set you back. I’ve got a new coach, Bobby Benton, and everything’s been going great. I haven’t lost faith in myself.”

Bocachica (17-2-1, 11 KOs), 25, from Detroit, enters this fight following a no-contest against Norman in March due to an accidental foul that halted the bout before the end of the fourth round. Prior to that, Bocachica faced challenges, losing consecutive unanimous decisions to Alberto Palmetta and Roiman Villa and drawing with Shinard Bunch in a match many believed Bunch won.

“I see him as a solid, tough guy,” Randall said of Bocachica. “As far as him having a lot of skills, I don’t see a lot. But his style can upset someone like me if I don’t stay sharp and take him seriously.”

Randall's match against Bocachica comes after his scheduled October 6 bout in Dallas was postponed due to ticket issues. With his coaches unavailable for the rescheduled October 26 date, Randall seized the chance to face Bocachica.

“I wanted to fight him after seeing his performance against Brian Norman Jr.,” Randall said. “Lo and behold, I’m fighting him. Everything happened for a reason.”

#QuintonRandall #JanelsonFigueroaBocachica #Welterweight #HoustonFightNight #Boxing #DAZN #FightPreparation #BoxingNews #BoxingCommunity

Australian junior middleweight star Tim Tszyu has been honing his skills in Thailand alongside his Hall of Fame father, Kostya Tszyu, as he gears up for a significant matchup. Tim is set to face former 154 lbs champion Bakhram Murtazaliev on October 19 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida.

Kostya, a legendary former 140 lbs champion, has played a pivotal role in Tim's training camp, helping him prepare for this crucial fight. He will be observing ringside in Orlando, marking the first time he’s seen his son compete in person since Tim’s professional debut. Leading Tim’s corner will be his uncle and lifelong coach, Igor Golubev.

#TimTszyu #KostyaTszyu #BakhramMurtazaliev #Boxing #JuniorMiddleweight #OrlandoFightNight #AustralianBoxing #FightPrep #BoxingFans

In April, Dennis McCann added the European junior featherweight title to his British and Commonwealth straps by outclassing the dangerous Ionut Baluta over 12 rounds. Last August, McCann and Baluta engaged in a bloody, technical draw after battling through nine intense rounds.

The way McCann, now 16-0-1 (8 KOs), approached and dominated the rematch demonstrated his growth both personally and professionally. At just 23 years old, he is eager to continue gathering experience and knowledge.

McCann has set his sights on a couple of veteran former champions whom he believes could help him reach the next level. “I’d like to fight TJ Doheny. I think that’s the fight to make. It would be well-paid for both of us. Out with the old and in with the new,” McCann told BoxingScene.

“He’s a former world champion and everything. I’m also looking to fight Nonito Donaire in the middle of next year. He’s still very dangerous and a legend in boxing. It would be great to share the ring with him.”

This ambition seems to contradict rumors that McCann is set to defend his British and European titles against Peter McGrail on another Queensberry Vs. Matchroom 5 Vs. 5 show.

Last weekend, McGrail, now 10-1 (6 KOs), recorded arguably the most impressive win of his career by defeating former British champion Brad Foster in two rounds with a picture-perfect left hook to the body. The former Olympian has rebounded from a shocking knockout loss to Ja’Rico O’Quinn last November and has been mandated for a shot at McCann’s titles by both the British Boxing Board of Control and the EBU.

“Yeah, well, obviously if they pay right, no problem at all. I’ll happily knock him out; I really believe I’ll knock him straight out,” McCann said. “He just got knocked out by a journeyman. He has nowhere to go. He needs me; I don’t need him. What’s he got to offer me? No one even knows who he is. But listen, as I said, money talks. If the money's right, no problem at all. I’d knock him straight out, and I’d be happy to do so.”

While McCann waits for his next move to be finalized and McGrail enjoys a couple of weeks of celebration, two more of Britain’s leading junior featherweights are getting closer to meeting in the ring.

On November 2, Liam Davies and Shabaz Masoud will headline a TNT show at Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena.

Davies, now 16-0 (8 KOs), has put together an impressive run of form over the past couple of years, elevating himself to the top of the domestic pile at 122 lbs. A series of clinical stoppage victories over competitive opponents has earned Davies the fringe IBO title and underscored his aspirations for genuine world-level competition.

The unbeaten Masoud, 13-0 (4 KOs), is a talented and strategic fighter who holds two amateur victories over Davies. However, he will need to elevate his game to pose a significant threat to the man from Donington. There is considerable intrigue surrounding this matchup, as Masoud has shown flashes of ability that suggest he could be capable of more.

McCann, however, is not among those who doubt Davies’ capabilities.

“I fancy Liam Davies,” he said. “I’d like to see how Liam performs as the rounds go on because I know he’s tight at the weight. I’d like to see if he holds the power and the engine late in the fight, but I think he could get the stoppage.

“Shabaz is a bit flashy; he’s a solid fighter, but nothing I haven’t seen before in my whole career, to be honest. I’m not writing him off, but I have to fancy Davies, 100 percent.”

#DennisMcCann #Boxing #JuniorFeatherweight #TJDohety #NonitoDonaire #LiamDavies #ShabazMasoud #BritishBoxing #FightNight #BoxingFans

Trainer Adam Booth was satisfied with Josh Kelly’s recent victory over Ishmael Davis at Wembley Stadium, which took place a fortnight ago. He hopes this win will pave the way for Kelly to secure significant domestic fights or even pursue world titles.

Originally, Kelly was scheduled to face Liam Smith, but the Liverpool star withdrew just a week before the bout due to illness. Davis, previously undefeated, stepped in on short notice. Kelly's record improved to 16-1-1 (8 KOs), and although he was largely impressive, he had to fend off a late charge from Davis. The majority decision in Kelly’s favor raised eyebrows, with Booth fuming at the narrow margin of victory; the decisive scorecards read 115-113 and 115-114 for Kelly.

“He did okay, but he beat a very good fighter in first and second gear. I scored it 9-3,” Booth stated.

Booth expressed particular satisfaction with Kelly’s mindset throughout fight week, emphasizing how the fighter remained focused despite the change in opponents.

“That was the most impressive thing of all—he’s now proved that all these mental problems that he had in the past, which were affecting him in his profession, have been dealt with. He didn’t blink once,” Booth added. “He really didn’t, in terms of, ‘If it’s not him, it’s him.’ That was genuine. It wasn’t bravado. It wasn’t just an act. He genuinely believes in himself now and that he’s got the skills to deal with any style. That was probably the most pleasing thing for me because we’d completed the training. We were about to do the last session when we got the news about Liam. I’m really impressed with him and how he stayed the consummate professional.”

While Booth had long wanted the Smith fight for Kelly, he now considers the Liverpool man too “unreliable.”

“We were left, having trained… It wasn’t just the pull-out; the fight itself took ages to put together, and the communication wasn’t flowing. We weren’t getting answers on whether the fight was happening or not. We committed to it, but he wasn’t reliable at the start. We were told it was March, then April, then May, and it just dragged on until Spencer Brown put it together for September and got it contracted.

“Had Spencer not got Ishmael Davis approved, then Josh wouldn’t have fought on the Wembley show, and we would have trained for eight, nine months for nothing. That’s the hard thing to stomach. I’m well aware injuries happen, but the whole situation has left a bad taste. Ideally, I’d like Smith to be in the rear-view mirror and focus on bigger names and fights.”

Booth remains confident that Kelly, a 2016 Olympian, will fulfill his potential. When asked how much more there is to see from his talented contender, Booth explained: “If you look at his career and even the last fight, if you take the highlights from each round and put them together, you can see a selection of a lot of stuff because he has so many different styles. He spins a lot of plates, and the game plan for Liam Smith was really set and wouldn’t have looked the same as it did for Ishmael Davis.”

Booth is also working with David Adelaye, who could potentially be paired with Solomon Dacres in a fight that was supposed to take place earlier this year. He believes Kelly could secure a significant fight that will allow him to deliver on his potential.

“The big domestic fights, as well as the title fights,” Booth stated regarding what he hopes for next. “Josh can do anything between 154 and 160. We all love the big domestic names: [Chris] Eubank, [Conor] Benn, [Hamzah] Sheeraz. I keep hearing rumors about Kell Brook wanting to get back in the mix. Then there are the world champions and the elites. He [Kelly] is in his prime at 30 years old, and it’s time for him to take these big fights, the ones he can’t just win in first and second gear.”

#JoshKelly #BoxingNews #WembleyVictory #DomesticFights #TitleContention #AdamBooth #LiamSmith #BoxingFuture #KellyVsDavis #BoxingFans