Golovkin-Rubio “Mexican Style” Kick Off

On October 18th at the StubHub Center in Carson California, Gennady “GGG” Golovkin makes his west coast debut against rugged veteran Marco Antonio Rubio. The Mexican is a serious underdog, yet he rides the momentum of a six fight winning streak and should draw love from the southern California crowd. While Golovkin, the German based Kazakhstan native, is yet to taste defeat as a professional prize fighter. This afternoon the two fighters and their teams met in downtown Los Angeles to officially announce their promotion, which is being dubbed “Mexican Style”.

Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions emceed the event and was clearly excited to be bringing his star middleweight to the LA area. “We’ve had a great response for bringing Gennady Golovkin here”, said Loeffler, “the presale at the StubHub Center has been the biggest we’ve ever had.” Sampson Lewkowicz, who represents Rubio, was very complimentary of K2 and their ability to make the negotiation process drama free. “K2 is A to Z one of the best promoters and easy to work with”, said Lewkowicz. He also promised Golovkin that he’d have his hands full ‘Mexican style’ and that this would be his toughest fight to date.

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The Mayweather-Pacquiao Business Paradox

The Mayweather-Pacquiao Business Paradox

In 1964 Walter Neale presented the Louis-Schmeling paradox. Named after two World War II-era heavyweight champions, the Louis-Schmeling paradox describes sports business as different from any other business when it comes to the potential benefit of a monopoly.

Generally speaking, monopoly is the ideal market position of any given business. Under a monopoly, competition is either comparatively weak or non-existent. This position allows the dominant business to absorb the lion’s share of potential customers. However, the same position is detrimental to a prize fighter. As the old adage “it takes two to tango” implies, Joe Louis could not sell out a big fight venue without formidable competition such as Max Schmeling.

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Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Mayweather/50 Cent Beef, Kell Brook, & More!!!!

Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Mayweather/50 Cent Beef, Kell Brook, & More!!!!

Kalvin N. (Washington, DC): I’ve watched this whole Mayweather/50 beef and as an African American man who has sacrificed a great deal, I think it’s absolutely sad to witness. I’d like to know, what are your thoughts, culturally, and personally, on this topic?

Vivek W. (ESB): I think the term “sad” is a major, understatement. It’s a very troubling sight to watch unfold, and although some don’t want to hear this, I’m gonna be very pointed in my assessment that it’s not only distasteful, but it’s a kryptonite that’s only present in one cultural demographic, and it speaks for why that demographic continues to fall apart. This may not be a popular position to some, but I’d rather be hated for being honest than loved for lying. These words need to spoken, and today, I’ve volunteered to be the messenger.

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Kell Brook: Patience is a Virtue

Kell Brook: Patience is a Virtue

Flash back to mid-April 2013, when Kell Brook was cruelly forced to withdraw from his IBF World Welterweight title clash with then ruler Devon Alexander in Atlantic City with a stress fracture to the foot, you couldn’t help but think that sadly that might have been it for the unbeaten Sheffield stylist. At that stage 29-0, Brook was forced to watch on from home as Golden Boy looked elsewhere, with no room for further postponements, with the fight being rescheduled twice already due to injuries on both sides. The game but ultimately outclassed Lee Purdy stepped in to fill the void, while Brook found himself seemingly at the back of the queue in what is widely understood as boxing’s hottest division.

Only Brook and those close to him will know just how dark it got over those next couple of months, as everything he had worked so hard to achieve began to crumble around him. Not long after in a candid interview with former stable mate Johnny Nelson, Brook confided that at one stage he consider his future in the game. Thankfully, this never materialised, due to a mixture of family, friend and promotional support, but most of all due to a personal fortitude that would serve him so well in the future.

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Trout gets off the canvas and back into the win column

Trout gets off the canvas and back into the win column

In the 2014 ESPN Friday Night Fights season finale, Austin Trout looked to get his career back on track at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California squaring off against Daniel Dawson. It was a mismatch on paper with 25:1 odds in Vegas. But in the sport of boxing, the only thing one should expect is the unexpected.

Former kickboxer and muay thai fighter Daniel Dawson traveled all the way from his native Australia for the biggest opportunity of his boxing career. New Mexico native Trout, a southpaw, was not only the stronger man, but the younger, fresher fighter as well. The 28 year old was in cruise control against his 36 year old opponent through the first two rounds. However things changed in a big way in the third as Dawson lured his man in and dropped him twice with two hard right hand counters.

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Brook Upsets Porter to take home the title

Brook Upsets Porter to take home the title

There’s something about the atmosphere at the StubHub Center when the sun has fallen and it’s time for the main event! Over 7,000 fans came out to watch American Shawn Porter defend his welterweight title against England’s Kell Brook. The Brit made his way to the ring first, practically jogging his way through the crowd and between the ropes, looking eager to get it on. Porter’s ring walk was slow and calculated, making his opponent wait for him. Jimmy Lennon announced the fighters in his classy, unique way. Brook drew boos from the partisan crowd, yet had plenty of British supporters making their presence felt.

Porter came out with a lot of energy, trying to get inside on his taller opponent and work the body. Brook seemed content to hold and back up; while Porter looked like a pit bull in the early going. In the second round a clash of heads caused a small cut over Brook’s left eye, yet his cut man did a great job with it.

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Figueroa stops Estrada in an exciting fight

Figueroa stops Estrada in an exciting fight

Another great night of boxing at the StubHub Center in Carson, California! After an entertaining undercard featuring Deontay Wilder, Jorge Linares and other notables, the tripleheader broadcast kicked off with Texas native Omar Figueroa defending his lightweight title against Daniel Estrada of Mexico City. It was an exciting opening to another solid tripleheader from Showtime Boxing, which was criticized for the one-sided Al Haymon showcase in Brooklyn they broadcast last week (topped off with the Garcia-Salka fiasco).

Figueroa started cautiously in the early going, attempting to move his head and responsibly. It didn’t last long. By the end of the first round both men were exchanging blows on the ropes. Figueroa stalked forward and seemed to do the better work, yet Estrada stood his ground and made his presence felt. A low blow in the third round seemed to really bother Omar, as he took a long break at the suggestion of referee Raul Caiz to recover.

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Dirrell wins rematch with Bika, takes home the belt

Dirrell wins rematch with Bika, takes home the belt

(Photo credit: Esther Lin/Showtime) The first time these two fought in Brooklyn last December, a rough and rugged contest ended in a controversial draw. Bika, of Australia by way of Cameroon, held onto his title but the sanctioning organization mandated a rematch take place. It’s clear to anyone who’s paid attention during the build up to this rematch that Bika and Dirrell don’t like each other, as they jawed back and forth at the presser and weigh-in earlier this week. But how would all that animosity translate into the ring? It didn’t take long to find out.

The first round of this boxing match looked more like a wrestling match, as the fighters took turns slamming each other into canvas. Referee Jack Reiss tried to establish control of the fight early and told the fighters to knock out the rough stuff or he’d take a point. Dirrell, the quicker, slicker boxer, attempted to confuse his opponent by switching between the southpaw and orthodox stance.

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Samuel Peter takes on Alex Leapai on October 24 in Queensland Australia

Samuel Peter takes on Alex Leapai on October 24 in Queensland Australia

In news which will surprise some, and seems standard to others, former WBC heavyweight champion of the world Samuel Peter has signed to fight recent title challenger, and popular contender, Alex Leapai. The 10 round bout is scheduled for October 24 of this year, given the former champion barely two months to prepare, and is set for Leapai’s home country of Australia. The news has been confirmed by several media outlets and the bout is listed on the usually reliable boxrec.com.

Rumours have been circulating since December of last year that Peter was planning a ring return. The always popular Nigerian powerhouse was reportedly said to be struggling with the idea of retiring off of two back to back losses, the last being a particularly shocking, and painful to watch, knockout at the hands of Robert Helenius three years ago. The nature of that loss and the fact that Peter has not boxed in three years will give his former fans a rather ominous sense of foreboding ahead of this fight. Does Peter really want another crack at the big time? Or is it simply another sad case of a former star and champion secretly battling financial losses and succumbing to acceptance of the role as the ‘opponent’ on another fighter’s card. As with the Helenius fight, this bout is going to be an Alex Leapai show in front of his fans. Peter has been chosen by team Leapai as a big name to build upon after a hopelessly one sided title defeat to Wladimir Klitschko.

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Showtime Tripleheader Preview & Weigh-In Results

Fans, media, fighters and their teams gathered at the StubHub Center in Carson, California this afternoon, as the official weigh-ins for tomorrow’s Showtime Boxing tripleheader took place.

Omar Figueroa 23-0-1 (17KO) vs. Daniel Estrada 32-2-1(24KO)
Lightweight title bout

Figueroa returns to the StubHub Center, where he narrowly escaped with a controversial split decision victory over Jerry Belmontes in April. For Estrada, this is his first bout outside of his native Mexico, and easily the biggest stage he’s ever fought on. Estrada hit the scales first, weighing in at 134.5 pounds; while Figueroa came in right at the lightweight limit of 135 pounds.

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