This yearโs had a lot of ups and downs for me. Watching my brother-in-law walk with minimal assistance today for the first time since May was definitely a high point.
@FINALLEVEL
Was really hoping Munch would've popped in when you (Fin) mentioned him on last week's SVU ep. Hopefully a tribute episode is coming.
RIP Richard Belzer.
Stephen Fulton and Naoya Inoue are set for blockbuster WBC/WBO Jr. Featherweight championship and pound-for-pound showdown at the highest level - and did so through direct negotiations. My
@boxingscene
story:
Oleksandr Usyk is now a two-division, four-time championโฆ and all four title wins have come in his opponentโs home country. Just in case you were doubting his pound-for-pound credentials
#JoshuaUsyk
"He called me all sorts of names, even said 'I'll never let a white boy beat me.' Let me explain something... skin color don't win fights." - Caleb Plant
#PlantDirrell
WBO has officially ordered welterweight title fight between Terence Crawford and Shawn Porter. The two sides will have 30 days to work out terms to avoid purse bid.
Canelo demanding that Felix DeJesus finish the translation to make sure the world knows he is "Sorry about the motherf***er incident" ๐๐
#CaneloPlant
#boxing
BREAKING: Told that Bill Haney has been approved for a travel visa. Efforts are being made to get him on a flight to Melbourne in time to at least be ringside for Devin Haney's undisputed lightweight clash with George Kambosos.
#HaneyKambosos
Pleased to announce that I have accepted an offer to join
@ringmagazine
, effective March 1.
I'd be remiss if I did so without giving a huge thanks to Rick Reeno and especially
@Idecboxing
for providing a home for me at
@boxingscene
for the past 17 years.
Onto the next one...
Miguel Cotto, Roy Jones Jr. and James Toney are officially Hall of Fame boxers. All three were voted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2022. Jones gets in on 1st try, Cotto and Toney 2nd year on ballot.
Tyson Fury: "Jake Paul hasn't really done anything yet."
Jake Paul: "Just two months ago, you and John (Fury) said I was (a breath of) fresh air. So, which is it?"
Tyson: "Well, that was two months ago. Now, I think you're a wanker."
#FuryPaul
#OneWillFall
Best news of the night... not this fight but WBA president Gilbertico Mendozaโhere at ringsideโhas confirmed that Eimantas Stanionis has agreed to step aside from mandatory title fight, paving the way for Errol Spence-Yordenis Ugas three-belt unification fight in 2022 1Q.
BREAKING: Boxing champ Gervonta Davis has been taken into custody for an apparent violation of his home detention in '20 hit and run case; will serve out rest of his sentence in jail
The obvious fight to make at this point is Devin Haney vs. JoJo Diaz. Both the WBC AND DAZN have the power to make it happen. Winner can face Garcia once he's healed and ready to return. This shit ain't hard.
Any other sport, and Teofimo would be benched and facing disciplinary action for all the ridiculous (and, yes, racist) bullshit he and Sr. spouted. Instead, this becomes instant press (bad or otherwise) for a championship fight where he'll earn a seven-figure payday.
Terence Crawford emphasizes he has chance to be first male boxer to win 4-belt undisputed at two weights. Derrick James tries to correct him, insists Teofimo Lopez did it last weekend. ๐คฆ๐ปโโ๏ธ
#SpenceCrawford
Jeff Horn 117-111 over Manny Pacquiao
Jaime Munguia 116-112 Dennis Hogan
Danny Garcia-Jose Benavidez Jr. 114-114
One hell of a legacy that Waleska Roldan is leaving behind
#GarciaBenavidez
Leo Santa Cruz-Leigh Wood mess is FINALLY resolved, no purse bid required. Santa Cruz has officially relinquished his version of title, Leigh Wood now sole recognized WBA featherweight titlist. LONG OVERDUE, Leo was never returning back to featherweight.
Errol Spence brutally honest on stage when asked if he believes he can stop Yordenis Ugas in April 16: โWeโll see. I donโt think Iโve stopped anyone in a while.โ ๐
Notes that he added a nutritionist which has helped in easier making weight
#SpenceUgas
Deontay Wilder-Robert Helenius finally confirmed by PBC to headline Oct. 15 Fox Sports PPV. Co-feature pits former super middleweight champs Caleb Plant and Anthony Dirrell in WBC title eliminator. Show airs live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
#WilderHelenius
#PlantDirrell
Hasim Rahman Jr. has (un)officially weighed 206.6 pounds during his own staged weigh-in Friday afternoon at famed Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn. "Where you at, Jake Paul?" asks his team, in response to their canceled Showtime PPV event this Saturday.
BREAKING ๐จ
@boxingscene
has learned that
@ShakurStevenson
team has contacted
@WBCBoxing
to enforce mandatory status vs. undisputed 135 champ
@Realdevinhaney
. Stevenson team also makes argument for 50-50 purse split should the matter head to purse bid. My story:
Saddened to hear of the passing of Gary Russell Sr., who died just days after his 63rd birthday. Gary Sr. battled Type 2 diabetes for years & was forced to have his leg amputated last December. Thoughts are with Gary Jr., Gary Antuanne, Gary Antonio and the entire Russell family.
Assuming that Inoue sticks to his year-long plan and his next two fights are Sam Goodman and MJ Akhmadaliev... will give him a clean sweep of Top 5 at 122.
Regardless of what you think about Floyd, one thing that isn't noted enough is that not only did he never win an interim title, but also never fought for a vacant title. Every belt he won, he claimed off a reigning titleholder/champion.
"Unification fights is more interesting. It's more inspiring. I'd rather unify." - Artur Beterbiev, when asked about facing Dmitry Bivol for undisputed championship or Anthony Yarde in pointless mandatory defense.
#BeterbievSmith
There is a strong argument to be made for Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano serving as THE best fight of 2022, regardless of gender. At the bare minimum, their April 30 superfight at MSG was the runaway favorite for
@boxingscene
's 2022 Women's Fight of the Year. My story:
Not sure I understand the narrative that Ryan Garcia left Eddy Reynoso's gym because he wasn't willing to put in the work. It's not like Joe Goossen runs a day care center.
Robert Helenius went from getting knocked out by Gerald Washington, to upsetting Adam Kownacki and becoming mandatory challenger to Anthony Joshua's WBA title all in eight months. "It's the heavyweight division, one punch puts you right back in the mix."
#PBConFox
Jesus, I thought it was ridiculous when people were slamming Canelo-Makabu yesterday. Weโre STILL complaining about that today?? Crawford fighting a PBC welterweight. Four title fights on Fridayโs DAZN show. Seriously, move the f**k on already!
They are now tending to Caleb Plant, who has a cut under his right eye. Just in case anyone thought the skirmish w/ Canelo was staged. These two truly do not like each other.
#CaneloPlant
We are exactly two months out from the targeted April 15 date for the biggest fight to be made. Still no confirmation of all terms reached but all signs pointing in the right direction.
#DavisGarcia
Matchroom Boxing won purse bid for WBA "World" featherweight title fight between Leigh Wood and Michael Conlan. Matchroom bid $1.5 million, outbidding Top Rank's offer of $1.2 million. Wood entitled to 55% as defending titlist ($825k), Conlan 45% ($675k).
#WoodConlan
โI ainโt no sore loser..โ says Teofimo Lopez as he interrupts George Kambososโ interview to repeat that he felt he won the fight.
#LopezKambososJr
Derrick James has filed a lawsuit against Errol Spence with the Dallas County District Court. James, the 2022 Trainer of the Year, seeks damages in excess of $5,000,000, nearly half from what he believes he's still owed from Terence Crawford fight last July.
Felix Verdejo is officially being charged with:
- Kidnapping resulting in death
- Carjacking resulting in death
- Killing of unborn child
Feds claim to have a witness with first-hand knowledge implicating Verdejo's involvement in each of the aforementioned charges.
Felix Verdejo has turned himself into federal authorities, according to Telemundo. The boxer remains under investigation surrounding the murder of Keishla Marlen Rodriguez Ortiz whose body was discovered in Laguna San Jose on Saturday after having been missing for two days
Told that Demetrius Andrade will no longer move forward w/ ordered WBO MW title consolidation clash with Janibek Alimkhanuly. Andrade instead plans to revisit interim 168 title fight w/ Zach Parker. Janibek to be elevated to full WBO champ. Story to come on
@boxingscene
...
BLOCKBUSTER fight signed and sealed, as
@MikaelaMayer1
and
@alyciambaum
will collide in massive three-belt 130-pound unification bout.
Date and location TBD, but multiple sources inform
@boxingscene
it will air on an ESPN platform in US and SKY Sports in UK.
#MayerBaumgardner
This yearโs had a lot of ups and downs for me. Watching my brother-in-law walk with minimal assistance today for the first time since May was definitely a high point.
"I said [Kambosos] ainโt shit. He ainโt make weight. Heโs sucked up. Heโs dry. It is what it is. Weโre still gonna go in there and fight. Iโm a true champion and true champions make weight." - Devin Haney
#HaneyKambosos
#KambososHaney
@BOXINGFOTY
@SweetHandsPlant
It's not breaking. It was from last summer. It just recently got leaked for whatever reason (some corny ass nonsense, if I'm being real).
Artur Beterbiev (175) and Joe Smith (174.6) both make weight for highly anticipated lineal/WBC/IBF/WBO light heavyweight unification.
WE HAVE A FIGHT - and a hell of a fight at that.
Can't wait for this one!
#BeterbievSmith
For those claiming Jermall Charloโs career is over & heโs out of the Canelo running:
Sergey Kovalev was arrested in June 2018 on felony assault and fought FOUR times while up on said changes. Among them, a Nov 2019 lucrative fight w Canelo.
Also, innocent until proven guilty.
Multiple sources tell
@boxingscene
that a major hurdle has been cleared in moving forward with Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua superfight that will allow for every major title to be at stake without fear of winner being stripped. Story to post soon (or eventually)...
#FuryJoshua
BREAKING ๐จ
@boxingscene
has learned that the Nonito Donaire-Alexandro Santiago bantamweight title fight will no longer take place this weekend. Will now land on
#SpenceCrawford
undercard. My story:
BREAKING: Julio Cesar Martinez is still well over the limit after second attempt. Discussion now taking place on how to proceed w Saturdays main event versus Roman โChocolatitoโ Gonzalez, who was 114.7 on first try.
#ChocolatitoMartinez
Respect to Gervonta 'Tank' Davis, probably could've gotten away with taking a soft touch with Ryan Garcia fight already done (in principle) for April. Hector Garcia is the exact opposite of a gimme, especially coming off the year he's had. Looking forward to 1/7.
#DavisGarcia
I appreciate those who feel the need to defend me but since I didnโt ask, nor do I mind the feedback, time to deliver my overdue public statement on what took place this past weekendโฆ
Yes, I was made aware Sunday morning of the hateful, vile, discriminatory, and divisive
WBO has officially ordered Jermell Charlo-Tim Tszyu mandatory title fight, as expected. As previously reported by
@boxingscene
, Charlo & Castaรฑo were informed prior to rematch that winner would have 120 days to face Tszyu, the mandatory challenger in waiting.
Jermell Charlo's revenge-fueled 11th round of Tony Harrison was a hit in the ring and with viewers. Averaging 2.223 million viewers and peaking at 2.233 million, it was the 2nd most watched boxing match of 2019. My
@boxingscene
story:
All due respect to Dre and Tim, I donโt get the narrative that the fight couldโve gone either way. There was no other way to score it. Judges got it right.
#ShieldsMarshall
Been a fun week for Tyson Fury. First claimed 3rd fight w/ Chisora in play & w/ Isaac Lowe as new trainer.
Now on 34th birthday, claims to be retired. Again.
At this point, I don't even believe it's really his birthday.
I'll believe the retirement once WBC belt is vacant.
All of my Olympics stories have been filed and published. That's a wrap. Two-plus weeks and 276 fights later, I have never been prouder of the work I have contributed as a boxing writer. Next stop... HOME!
#HumbleBrag
#TokyoOlympics
#Boxing
The May 14
#CharloCastano2
Showtime main event delivered in every sense. Leading Fight of the Year contender drew average of 756,000 viewers according to Nielsen Media Research. Best-performing Showtime main event since Wilder-Breazeale three years ago, almost to the day.
Unsurprisingly, entire post-fight narrative focused on undisputed championship next. Callum Smith is WBC mandatory and not interested in stepping aside. Call me crazy (and I've been called worse), I'm not entirely convinced Beterbiev gets past Callum.
#BeterbievYarde
All due credit to Rafael Espinoza for the big upset win... but need an explanation for how he magically went from 21-0 (18KOs) to 24-0 (20KOs) in the past 24 hours?
WE HAVE A FIGHT! Julio Cesar Martinez is 122.6 during same day weigh-in, well within 10% limit to move forward with tonightโs main event vs Chocolatito Gonzalez
#ChocolatitoMartinez
All we need now is for the WBC to place Dillian Whyte on medical suspension and permit Tyson Fury to take a voluntary defense, as the perfect plot twist.
#WhyteWallin
For my money, I thought Amanda Serrano was far classier in defeat in a fight many had her winning last week, than Canelo claiming Bivol only won 4-5 rounds tonight. But that's just me.
To be clear:
Fury-Joshua talks were never "off." Queensberry Promotions and Matchroom Boxing have worked surprisingly well through this entire process and talks are ongoing. Fury's fake deadlines are all that has been "off" during this entire process.
#FuryJoshua
Lots of people clamoring for a Bam-Chocolatito fight next. Bam has openly said (at least to me) that it would be a last resort for him, as they both fight for Teiken and are like brothers. That's the beauty of being able to compete in multiple weight divisions, plenty of options.
I get that Conor Benn is entitled to move forward with his career as seen fit.
HOWEVER...
Adding him last minute to a show without any proof of extensive drug testing after a year-long (and ongoing) drug testing scandal does not send the best message.
.
@Gervontaa
continues to show he is a champion in and out of the ring, acquiring nine properties in his old Baltimore neighborhood to renovate for affordable housing. ๐
(Video:
@HustleManFatz
)
To me, the most revealing part of Bud's IG Live was his admission/claim that neither he nor Errol pay for PPVs, that they "got the Fire Stick" for that.
#SpenceCrawford
"I'm waiting for (Caleb Plant, Jermall Charlo, Canelo, David Morrell) to sign the contract. Them bitches know what's up." -
@Benavidez300
#BenavidezLemieux
Shakur Stevenson has some work to do to keep his WBC/WBO 130 lb. titles. First weight attempt 131.6 pounds, will have two hours to shed 1.6 pounds to avoid being stripped of belts ahead of Friday's ESPN main event in Newark.
#StevensonConceicao
BREAKING: Told that Demetrius Andrade will NOT go through with interim super middleweight title fight against Zach Parker. Deadline was Wednesday to commit to the fight, which Queensberry claimed as lone bidder ($305,000) of purse bid held last week.