As Advertised: Juanma Lopez and Daniel Ponce de Leon give us a mini-classic (but a controversial ending tarnishes things)

03/16/2014 James Slater

Going into the rematch fight, we knew super-featherweights Juan Manuel Lopez and Daniel Ponce de Leon would exchange bombs in a can’t miss fight. And last night in “Juanma’s” homeland of Puerto Rico, on a card that was headlined by Danny Garcia’s controversial points win over a determined Mauricio Herrera, we saw a blisteringly exciting battle that was, unfortunately, tarnished somewhat by yet more controversy; this controversy coming by way of a premature stoppage.

Back in 2008, a new star burst onto the world stage down at super-bantamweight, as Lopez iced defending WBO boss De Leon inside a round. A lot has happened to both power punching fighters since, and last night the rematch, up at 130-pounds, was largely seen as the last roll of the dice for both men, Lopez especially. Many experts, including Lopez’ former promoter Bob Arum, openly called for Juanma’s retirement after his TKO loss to Mikey Garcia last year. De Leon, who is the older man by three years at 33, was also looked at as a fine fighter who had seen better days, yet he was deemed to have had more left than his fellow southpaw.

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Danny Garcia defeats Mauricio Herrera; Deontay Wilder dazzles with first-round knockout over Malik Scott

03/16/201403/16/2014 Showtime Boxing

(Photo credit: Tom Casino/Showtime) BAYAMON, Puerto Rico (March 16, 2014) – Unified Super Lightweight World Champion

Danny “Swift” Garcia (28-0, 16 KOs) defeated Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera (20-4, 7 KOs) via a majority decision to remain undefeated on Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®.

Garcia established himself in the first round, landing the bigger punches against Herrera. But it was quickly clear that the challenger wasn’t going to let Garcia off easy, peppering the champion with strong shots to his body and head.By the end of round four, Garcia’s corner, specifically his father and trainer, Angel Garcia, could be heard telling the champion urgently to step-up his game and take control. Herrera, of Riverside, Calif., pressed on and proved himself as a worthy opponent with both fighters exchanging vicious shots throughout the extremely close match.

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29 Year Old Sensation “Czar” Glazkov Defeats Veteran Tomasz Adamek

03/16/201403/16/2014 Main Events

(Photo Credits: Rich Graessle/Main Events) Bethlehem, PA: “Czar” Glazkov did what only two out of 51 men before him managed to do – defeat veteran brawler Tomasz “Goral” Adamek. In a twelve round unanimous decision the 29 year-old Olympic Bronze Medalist from Lugansk, Ukraine (17-0-1, 11 KOs) remains undefeated as he upsets the 37 year-old veteran from Gilowice, Poland, Tomasz “Goral” Adamek (49-3-0, 29 KOs) to win the NABF North American Heavyweight Title and secure the #2 position in the IBF.

Two judges scored the bout 117-111 and one judge scored the bout 116-110. Glazkov landed an amazing 37% (212 of 580) of his shots on the veteran Adamek, who landed only 21% (161 of 761). Czar said, “I would like to thank Main Events and Kathy Duva for giving me this opportunity and taking me to this road. I also want to thank Tomasz Adamek for taking this bout and giving me this opportunity. He was risking more than I did. Tomasz was not a guy who was backing up, he was coming forward. It was a very good bout.”

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Bellew defeats Brudov; Brook stops Robles

03/16/201403/15/2014 Rob Smith

Making his first fight at cruiserweight, Tony Bellew (21-2, 13 KO’s) was able to stop former WBA interim cruiserweight champion Valery Brudov (41-5, 28 KO’s) in the 12th round tonight to win the vacant WBO International cruiserweight title at the Echo Arena, in Liverpool, UK. Bellew showed good power in dropping Brudov three times in the fight.

In the 12th, Bellew caught the 37-year-old Brudov with a perfectly timed left hook to the head that dropped him on his backside. Brudov tried to get up, but he was far too hurt and the fight was immediately stopped. Bellew also knocked Brudov down once in the 2nd round and another time in the 6th.

Bellew will need to improve dramatically if he’s going to go anywhere in the division. Brudov was an old small guy without a ton of power, and there are much better contenders in the division than this guy and Bellew had major problems against him.

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Boxing 411: “Danny Garcia vs. Mauricio Herrera” video preview and pre-fight analysis

03/16/201403/15/2014 Joseph Herron

Tonight from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, universally recognized Junior Welterweight Champion Danny “Swift” Garcia (27-0, 16 KOs) will defend his titles against 140 pound contender Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera (20-3, 7 KOs) in a twelve round scheduled bout, slated to be broadcast on Showtime Championship Boxing with a start time of 9PM EST/6PM PST.

The championship bout could surprise a lot of people who aren‘t expecting a competitive contest. Fighters who move well and use the entire ring effectively will often give Danny Garcia problems. If the incumbent title holder isn‘t taking this fight as seriously as he should, he could have a very difficult and frustrating night in front of the Puerto Rican faithful.

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Boxing 411: “Deontay Wilder vs. Malik Scott” video preview and pre-fight analysis

03/15/2014 Joseph Herron

American prospects Deontay Wilder (30-0, 30 KOs) and Malik Scott (36-1-1, 13 KOs) will square off in this superb “must win” for both competing fighters, which is scheduled to be televised in the opening bout of the Showtime Championship Boxing broadcast with a start time of 9PM EST/PST.

The highly anticipated showdown will take place at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and is scheduled for twelve rounds.

Although the explosive favorite from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, ostensibly has everything fight fans look for in a potential Heavyweight Champion, the 28 year old former Olympian has never been tested as a professional and has only been taken past the third round three times.

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Garcia vs. Herrera: Can Mauricio spoil the Garcia Klan’s homecoming?

03/14/201403/13/2014 Chris Carlson

This Saturday night from Bayamon, Puerto Rico Danny Garcia faces Mauricio Herrera on Showtime in what will be a homecoming of sorts for the Garcia Klan.

The fighting pride of Puerto Rican roots runs deep in the sport of boxing. The once proud and best pound for pound island for producing champions has recently hit a rough patch of fighters to support at the world level.

Miguel Cotto will no doubt fill the Mecca of boxing to the rafters when he takes on lineal middleweight title holder Sergio Martinez the eve of the Puerto Rican parade at the Garden.

The promising prospect Felix Verdejo is knocking on the door of stardom and soon enough will kick that door down in an attempt to fill the void left by Juanma Lopez’s once promising career.

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Hopkins-Shumenov Announce Light Heavyweight Unification Bout

03/13/201403/12/2014 Paul Jones

By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones & Justin Jones: Washington, DC—IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins (54-6-2, 32 KOs) and WBA/IBA Champ Beibut Shumenov (14-1, 9 KOs) were in the nation’s capital this afternoon to formally announce their April 19th showdown at the DC Armory (Washington, DC). Based on their remarks made at the kick-off presser for this light heavyweight unification bout, both fighters are aware of the significance of this match-up.

At 49-years-old, an age where most late (baby) boomers are thinking more about their retirement portfolios than about trading leather with bloodthirsty opponents, the self-proclaimed “Alien” has another shot to rewrite boxing’s record books. A victory over Shumenov qualifies Hopkins as the oldest boxer in history to unify world championships.

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Froch/Groves – Promotion for Dummies?

03/13/201403/12/2014 Ben Thomsett

So, again, a promoter announces “The biggest domestic fight in history”. This time it’s different faces, but the same old schtick is still there like an itch right in the middle of your back – just between the shoulder blades. This time, going against the grain of the Promoter, they could well be near the mark. I’m referring to the May 31st bout between Carl Froch and George Groves.

Froch/Groves 1 was a great piece of entertainment and some consider it one of the best UK boxing events for many, many years. I’m no different in that regard; for my part, and from the viewing position of my kitchen, I found the fight a real roller-coaster of all that can be great about boxing. From the early knockdown, to the early stoppage and the abject fickleness of the largely partisan crowd, the bout had all the hallmarks of a fight destined to be contested again; which meant leaving itself open to the wild vagaries of building more hype, tackling money in oak paneled offices, and planning the future – whatever the outcome.

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Carl Froch: The Reluctant Warrior

03/13/201403/11/2014 Nathan Laryea

By Nathan Laryea: A professional prize fighter can be slave to many things. Commercial interests, fan pressure and promotional greed will push fighters into situations, and opponents, they may not have chosen for themselves. The power to choose, then, is a rare and valued commodity in this most dangerous of sports.

Few genuinely hold it. The pantomime surrounding Floyd Mayweather’s next choice of opponent is perhaps as clear an example there is of a fighter calling the shots in own career. Mayweather’s unique ability to bring masses of revenue into the sport has rendered him master of his own destiny, but that situation is significant because it is rare.

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