World championship boxing returns the “Biggest Little City in the World,” Reno Nevada! No. 1 world-rated lightweight contender RAY “Sugar” BELTRAN, fighting for his first world championship belt and his green card to stay in the U.S. with his family, will headline an all-action card on Friday, February 16, in the Grand Sierra Resort’s Grand Theatre.
Ray Beltran
Crawford-Diaz, Stevenson & Beltran quotes for Sat.
Undefeated World Junior Welterweight Champion and top pound for pound fighter TERENCE “Bud” CRAWFORD (30-0, 21 KOs), of Omaha, Neb., will make his 2017 debut, This Saturday! May 20, at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden. This will also be his debut headlining in the big room — a testament both to his talent and his growing popularity. Crawford will be defending his unified World Boxing Organization (WBO) / World Boxing Council (WBC) / Ring magazine titles against former Olympic gold medalist and top-rated contender FÉLIX DÍAZ (19-1, 9 KOs), of Brooklyn by way of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in a marquee all-action fight. It will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.
truTV & Top Rank Partner to Exclusively Televise Live Friday Night Primetime Boxing Series
truTV and Top Rank will partner to exclusively televise a live Friday night primetime boxing series beginning Friday, May 1, at 10 p.m. ET. The new boxing series, in association with Turner Sports and HBO Sports, will launch on the eve of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao pay-per-view fight with a card featuring two title bouts inside The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Maximizing visibility, the inaugural series on truTV will feature three consecutive weeks of boxing coverage in May – all airing on the evening prior to a Saturday night HBO fight event – along with a slate of five additional fights to be scheduled over the remainder of the year.
Crawford vs Beltran Preview & Prediction
The first came over seas in Scotland when Crawford took on the 135 pound Champion Ricky Burns. Once Crawford got past some early slow moments he dominated the Scot, in the process it put him on the lightweight map.
In his first defense Crawford took less money to give his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska its first major title fight since the 1930’s (Check). His opponent was a decorated Cuban amateur Yurioirkis Gamboa, who like Terrence came in with an unblemished record intact.
Burns vs. Beltran: Fight Day Predictions
Scotland’s two-weight world champion Ricky Burns (36-2) returns to the ring tonight to face the tough Mexican native Raymundo Beltran (28-6). Coatbridge fighter Burns will be making the third defence of his WBO lightweight title in front of an army of hometown fight fans at the Scottish Exhibition Centre, Glasgow.
Ricky will be eager to put on an impressive display after admitting he was far from his usual best in his win against the awkward Jose Gonzalez last time out.
Ray Beltran ready for Ricky Burns
To say Beltran earned this opportunity is an understatement as the native of Phoenix, Arizona via Los Mochis, Mexico has had to fight his way to this opportunity.
Beltran turned pro in 1999 took some losses early in his career but he was determined to realize his dream of becoming a world champion.
Beltran who lost a controversial decision to Sharif Bogere and a close loss to undefeated Luis Ramos Jr. before a magical three fight run where he defeated Number-one ranked contender Henry Lundy, former world title challenger Ji-Hoon Kim and Alejandro Rodriguez that catapulted him into this opportunity.
Ray Beltran: “I think the body shots were the key for me in the later rounds”
Exclusive Interview by Geoffrey Ciani – I was recently afforded the opportunity to speak with lightweight contender Ray Beltran (26-6, 17 KOs), who is coming off an impressive upset victory against Hank Lundy (22-2-1, 11 KOs) last Friday night at the Resorts Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The veteran fighter, who was once viewed as a highly rated prospect, has resurrected his career following his majority decision win over Lundy. Beltran spoke about his victory and also talked about his career and his future plans in boxing. Here is what Beltran had to say:
GEOFFREY CIANI: Hello everyone. This is Geoffrey Ciani from East Side Boxing, and I am joined by lightweight contender Ray Beltran who is coming off of an upset victory against Hank Lundy last Friday night. How’s everything going today, Ray?
RAY BELTRAN: I’m great man. Thank you.
CIANI: Great! Now Ray, you’ve had a few days to reflect on your victory. Looking back on it, what did you think of the fight and how would you evaluate your perfomance?