HBO Boxing

Manny Pacquiao vs. Tim Bradley 2: “Boxing 411 video preview”

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Tonight from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Tim Bradley and Manny Pacquiao will compete for the WBO Welterweight title in the main event of a four bout HBO PPV, presented by Top Rank, Inc.

The broadcast is slated to begin at 9PM EST/6PM PST, and can be viewed through regional cable and satellite distribution, as well as online streaming access through http://www.toprank.com/livestream for $59.95 in SD, and $69.95 in HD viewing.

The reigning title holder is coming into this fight brimming with confidence after decisively out pointing four division world champion and Mexican fight legend Juan Manuel Marquez last year. Despite not getting the recognition of many fight fans and boxing critics after getting the split decision win over the Pacman in 2012, Tim Bradley remains one of the more confident fighters in the entire sport.

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Boxing 411: “Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Gennady Golovkin” on tap for 2014?

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After Julio Cesar Chavez Jr’s convincing unanimous decision victory over Bryan Vera this past Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, shockwaves were felt throughout the offices of HBO, Top Rank, Inc, and K2 Promotions, regarding a potentially explosive super-fight between WBA Middleweight Champion Gennady Golovkin and the former WBC Middleweight title holder.

When “Boxing 411” caught up with Triple G’s trainer, Abel Sanchez, in the Alamo City, the veteran fight mentor couldn’t confirm anything concerning his fighter’s next appearance on HBO, except that it more than likely wouldn’t be taking place on April 26th as originally planned.

“At this point there’s some breaking news about Triple G’s future that you’ll have to talk about with managing director of K2 Promotions Tom Loeffler.

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Chavez makes weight, Salido doesn’t

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From the concourse in front of the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Julio Cesar Chavez Junior dodged the first bullet from the proverbial gun of his detractors by comfortably making the contracted Super Middleweight limit of 168 pounds.

Both Chavez and Vera weighed in at approximately 167.5 pounds, with both men looking strong and having more than enough time to replenish and rehydrate, due to the unusually early 2PM EST weigh in time. After the former WBC Middleweight title holder successfully made weight, Junior held a giant replica of a voided cashiers check made out to Bryan Vera to the sum of $250,000.00.

Chavez Junior had very little to say after the official weigh in concluded.

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Salido vs. Lomachenko: “Boxing 411″ analysis and video presentation

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Radio show host and ring announcer Joseph Herron joins talented, young trainer Rick Morones Jr. in this comprehensive video analysis of “Salido vs. Lomachenko”, as they break down the upcoming Top Rank, Inc. special event.

This Saturday night, March 1st, from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, WBO Featherweight Champion Orlando Salido (40-12-2, 28 KOs) will defend his title against two time Olympic Gold Medal winner Vasyl Lomachenko (1-0, 1 KOs).

In this very historic bout, the highly decorated and much younger fighter will be competing for a major world title in only his second professional outing against the hard nosed veteran and proven three time world champion.

After dominating and stopping rugged Featherweight contender Jose Ramirez in his pro debut, which took place on the undercard of the Top Rank PPV event, “Marquez vs. Bradley”, the Ukrainian born technician controversially put himself in line for the highly anticipated showdown with the Mexican born title holder.

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Ruslan Provodnikov…feared man at Junior Welterweight

Ruslan Provodnikov…feared man at Junior Welterweight

After winning the WBO Junior Welterweight Championship by stopping heralded tough guy and incumbent title holder “Mile High” Mike Alvarado in the reigning champ’s hometown of Denver, Colorado, on October 19th of last year, most fight fans would have guessed that big fight opportunities would be easily attainable for undefeated Russian native Ruslan Provodnikov in 2014.

With sledgehammers for fists and an iron chin to match, the irresistible force at 140 pounds always displays violent drama in the ring whenever he graces the light blue canvas…the kind that brings enthusiasm to arenas and excites fight fans around the world.

The 30 year old champ represents the kind of warrior that most avid boxing enthusiasts are willing to support.

So with a fan friendly style and a piece of coveted hardware around his waist, why is the HBO featured title holder still searching for a suitable challenger?

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James Kirkland vs. WBO Junior Middleweight Champion Demetrius Andrade in 2014?

001AndradeIMG_7429After impressively knocking out formerly undefeated Junior Middleweight Glen Tapia this past Saturday night on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, could James Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs) be looking at an immediate title opportunity in 2014?

Current WBO 154 pound title holder Demetrius Andrade (20-0, 13 KOs) could be making his first defense against the Austin, Texas native according to the former Olympian’s co-promoter, Artie Pellulo of Banner Promotions.

“Yesterday I left a message for 50 Cent, Kirkland’s promoter, and offered them the opportunity to face Demetrius Andrade for his WBO Junior Middleweight title,” insists the twenty-five year fight promoter. “Demetrius has to defend his title against the WBO’s mandatory challenger, but I believe I can make this voluntary defense against James Kirkland first.”

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Ronnie Shields: “Edwin ‘La Bomba’ Rodrgiuez is cut from the same cloth as Holyfield, Tyson, and Whitaker”

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Video by Carlos Sacriste – On November 16th, at the Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, California, undefeated Super Middleweight contender Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (24-0, 16 KOs) will take his first step in achieving boxing immortality when he challenges incumbent title holder Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (for his Super WBA 168 pound championship.

In this revealing and intimate video featurette, Edwin Rodriguez, legendary trainer Ronnie Shields, and expert conditioning coach Danny Arnold discuss the Super Middleweight title challenger’s preparation for the highly anticipated championship contest.

While most fight fans and boxing writers are heavily favoring the reigning title holder on November 16th, Edwin’s prolific trainer truly believes that his fighter is unlike anything Ward has ever seen in the ring.

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Nonito Donaire proves his mettle in stopping Vic Darchinyan…again

donaire8Although four division world champion Nonito Donaire had tasted defeat for the first time in twelve years when last seen in the ring, the Filipino Flash remained one of boxing’s premier fighters and an HBO attraction going into Saturday night‘s Featherweight grudge match with longtime nemesis Vic Darchinyan.

Since the disappointing loss to two time Olympic gold medal winner and Super Bantamweight Champion Guillermo Rigondeaux on April 13th, 2013, Nonito welcomed his first born son, Jarel Donaire, into this world and reconciled with his father, trainer, and mentor, Nonito Donaire Sr.

With the time away from the squared circle, the 30 year old fighter felt genuinely excited about the sport once again, and wanted to use the return bout with “The Raging Bull” as a gauge in which to measure his current level of boxing proficiency.

While most fight fans and boxing writers may not be able to determine his stature among the elite of boxing with last night’s performance, Nonito’s heart, grit, and physical durability was off the charts inspirational. Despite being a heavy favorite leading into the long awaited rematch, the Armenian born fighter gave Donaire Jr. everything he could handle in the squared circle.

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Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade: And the new…

andrade67If anyone asked the newly crowned WBO Junior Middleweight Champion how he envisioned the opening stanza of his first major title opportunity playing out prior to Saturday night‘s match-up with Vanes Martirosyan, “getting floored” would have been the furthest scenario from the former Olympian’s mind.

Although no fighter wants to overcome the adversity of getting caught by a sneaky left hand in the first round, it was the best thing that could have happened to the crafty southpaw.

In the outset of the highly anticipated contest, the fighter more affectionately known as “Boo Boo” seemed to be loading up on shots, while throwing just one punch at a time. After falling out of position while anxiously trying to land hard leather on Martirosyan’s chin, the Armenian-born fighter countered with a perfectly timed left hand that dropped Andrade.

“He caught me early, but I stayed focused,” admitted the 25 year old title holder. “I started using the jab from that point forward and began to pick him apart.”

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Nonito Donaire vs. Vic Darchinyan II: Revisionist historian

_MG_9679On July 7th, 2007, a scarcely known Filipino fighter named Nonito Donaire challenged the consensus regarded “Lord of the Flies”, Vic Darchinyan, for his IBF 112 pound title, and defeated the heavily favored champion with one swift left hook in the fifth round of their scheduled twelve round contest.

Today, it’s hard not to recognize the ripple effect of that impactful punch. Both fighters ended up going in two different directions professionally as a result of that significant blow to the chin of the formerly undefeated and highly regarded champion.

Since that fateful day, Nonito Donaire has gone on to compete in many lucrative bouts on the biggest stage of boxing, picking up three more division world titles and becoming one of the more highly regarded fighters in the entire sport.

In contrast, the “Raging Bull” from Armenia has garnered a respectable record of 11-4-1 with six knock-outs since the initial bout with the “Filipino Flash”, but has fallen short of most initial observations as one of the most feared pound for pound punchers in the entire sport, circa 2007.

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