Left-Hook Lounge: Mikey Garcia, Malignaggi/Broner, & A Look at Puerto Rico’s Struggling Talent

lopez543Cristian G. (Coral Gables, FL): Can you give your thoughts on Mikey Garcia’s performance and discuss whether or not you think it’s time for us to start putting Mikey Garcia in the P4P debate?

Vivek W. (ESB): I think Garcia has consistently given us the same product, time and time again. He’s not fundamental in the sense of the Mayweather’s, Ward’s, etc, of the world; but he has totally given life to the notion that Mexican warriors, under the right tutelage, are far better than the stalk-til-they-can’t-walk variety. He has some of the best shot selection I’ve seen anywhere in the sport. He places his punches properly, and they all come with vicious intentions. I absolutely love what I see, and as a future star of the sport, I love having him on the scene, because you don’t have to guess what you’re gonna get when the bell rings.

continue

Exclusive Interview: Adonis Stevenson

“If I fight Andre Ward at 168, I can go fight in his home town. Then we can have a rematch at 175 and he can come to my home town to fight. That’s what I’m proposing.”—Adonis Stevenson

Adonis StevensonAdonis “Superman” Stevenson (21-1, 18 KOs) made a huge statement when he scored an explosive first round knockout against “Bad” Chad Dawson (33-3, 17 KOs) to become the new light heavyweight king. This dazzling display of sheer strength and power catapults Stevenson into the spotlight of an already interesting 168-175 pound landscape, which includes Andre Ward, Carl Froch, and living legend Bernard Hopkins to name a few. Stevenson suddenly finds himself in a unique position where a slew of lucrative opportunities are likely to surface. I was recently afforded the opportunity to speak to Stevenson about his championship winning performance, his future in boxing, and his opinions of some of the other big names who reside in and around his weight class. Here is what the new champ had to say.

GEOFFREY CIANI: Hello boxing fans. This is Geoff Ciani from East Side Boxing, and I am joined here today by the newly crowned light heavyweight champion of the world, Adonis Stevenson. Adonis, first of all, congratulations on your outstanding victory.

ADONIS STEVENSON: Thank you very much.

Audio:

continue

Garcia vs. Lopez: Engaging, Explosive, or at the very least Entertaining

YouTube video
Mikey Garcia made a statement in his last fight when he disarmed tough as nails pressure fighter Orlando Salido from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 19th. The same Orlando Salido that took Juan Manuel Lopez’s “0” in a battle of Mexico vs. Puerto Rico in 2011 and followed that performance up just short of 11 months later with another TKO victory. Which Juanma will show up to the ring this Saturday for his fight versus unbeaten Mikey Garcia at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas?

Bob Arum had to have a tear in his eye the night of April 16th 2011. One of his prized pupils from Puerto Rico had his boxing heart ripped out of his chest, in what was a nightmare scenario to any Puerto Rican boxing fan, by the hands of a Mexican fighter. Yeah Bob Arum made money that night and the fight set up a rematch that also filled the Top Rank coffers. Fight fans were happy with the war that added to yet another classic installment to the Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry. But deep down inside Arum had to feel the pain Lopez felt in his boxing soul, only it wasn’t his soul but a hole he felt in his deep pockets considering what was at stake that night.

continue

Boxing’s 10 Most Exciting Fighters Today

pac433More than just a trending revival, thanks to recent exciting fights and big bouts on the horizon, boxing is seemingly back as one of the most watched and profitable sports on earth. Carl Froch vs Mikkel Kessler had the whole of Britain enraptured, while the announcement of Floyd Mayweather fighting Saul Alvarez in September has made every sports fan around sit up and take notice. All over, boxing is far away from the days where many stated it was ‘dying’.

It is probably true that the rise of MMA gave boxing the kick up the backside it needed to ensure the best fights were getting made regularly and made accessible to as many as possible. But there are also powerful new promoters that have helped boxing rise back to prominence, with the likes of Golden Boy Promotions and Matchroom Boxing in particular wrestling control away from the old-school promoters that called all the shots and thus stifled the sport.

continue

“Twice Bitten,” The Story Of Holyfield-Tyson II A KO Read

holyfield_tyson6442Review by James Slater: New York Post writer George Willis has delivered a fine read regarding the true story regarding one of the blackest days in boxing history. Willis, having done impeccable research, has produced the definitive read on the infamous second meeting between heavyweight legends Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson.

Known universally as “The Bite Fight,” the spectacle that unfolded in Las Vegas in June of 1997 shocked everyone; fans, experts and casual viwers alike. Willis, in his addictive book, explains why.

More than just a book to cash in on the shocking behaviour of the then hugely unhinged Tyson, “Twice Bitten” also serves as a comprehensive biography of both heavyweight greats. With good coverage devoted to the formative years of both men, including when Tyson and Holyfield met for the first time, and the time the “obsession” Holyfield had of fighting Tyson first reared its head, Willis gives readers plenty of new information: such as, how a member of Team Tyson took to dying his white shorts black when no black ones were at hand, and what Holyfield trainer Don Turner feels about religion and boxing, and his take on God “picking the other guy to win.”

continue

Left-Hook Lounge: Dawson, Lara, & Maidana vs Broner!!!

dawson100Virgil B. (Liberty City, FL): Chad Dawson is a very good fighter, in terms of skills. But he has looked worse in the last few fights and I just don’t get it. Is his heart no longer in the sport? Is there outside distractions? What do you think the reason for this really is?

Vivek W. (ESB): I always like to look at things by measuring the total picture. There are times when it’s best to analyze certain elements exclusively; but when trying to determine probable cause for flaws, on a wide scale, I always like to look at the total picture. When I look at the evolution of Chad Dawson, particularly scanning over my catalog of notes over the years, two things in particular stand out. Back in 2008, I remember watching Dawson take on Glen Johnson. Decent performance, but it left me with a few questions. From that point through 2010, I remember criticizing him for taking part in what I termed the “Senior Tour”, facing aged veteran after aged veteran.

continue

Ronnie Shields: “Erislandy Lara deserves to fight for the universally recognized Junior Middleweight Championship”

Erislandy Lara winsOn Saturday, June 8th, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, top rated Junior Middleweight Erislandy Lara became the 154 pound interim WBA title holder when he retired the aggressive minded Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo in the tenth stanza of a scheduled twelve round contest.

After getting off of the canvas twice within the bout, the thirty year old southpaw displayed great physical and mental toughness by fighting through adversity and stopping his granite chinned opponent late in the fight.

The Cuban native’s world renowned trainer, Ronnie Shields, believes his fighter proved a great deal during his entertaining scrap against one of the hardest hitters in the talent enriched Light Middleweight division.

continue

Stevenson destroys Dawson in 1st round TKO: Gamboa and Lemieux victorious

dawson1Adonis Stevenson (21-1, 18 KO’s) snatched the title from WBC light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson (31-3, 17 KO’s) tonight by knocking him out in the 1st round with a vicious left hand to the head in the 1st round at the Bell Centre, in Montreal, Canada.

Although Dawson got back to his feet after the knockdown, there was no way he was going to be able to survive the round. The referee stopped the fight after noticing that Dawson wasn’t all there.

It was a miracle that Dawson got up from the knockdown because he was really tagged by that shot. He was trying to land a punch of his own and he leaned into a big left hand from Stevenson.

continue

Maidana stops Lopez; Lara defeats Angulo

YouTube video
Welterweight Marcos Maidana (34-3, 31 KO’s) was simply too strong for Josesito Lopez (30-6, 18 KO’s) tonight in stopping him in the 6th round in a back and forth fight at the Home Depot Center, in Carson, California, USA. Maidana unloaded on a hurt Lopez in the 6th with a blizzard of punches until referee Lou Moret called a halt to the fight at 1:18 of the round.

Maidana was hurt in the 4th round, but came back to knock Lopez down in the 6th round with a scorching right hand to the head. Lopez climbed off the canvas and continued to fight, but he was way too hurt to fend off Maidana’s powerful shots being thrown with both hands. Lopez backed up to the ropes and took some really mean looking shots. At that point the referee stopped the fight because Lopez wasn’t throwing anything back at Maidana.

continue

Weigh-In Photo Gallery: Maidana-Lopez, Angulo-Lara, Charlo-Hopkins

_DSC2284Ladies and gentlemen…it’s Showtime!

The historic Placita Olvera in downtown Los Angeles, CA was host to the anticipated Welterweight showdown between hard-punching Marcos Maidana and tough-as-nails Josesito Lopez this Saturday night 06/08/2013.

The Showtime Championship Boxing series is scheduled to deliver yet again another stacked fight card in the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. Given their past fights and performances, the main event easily promises to deliver fireworks.

The co-main event fight between Alfredo Angulo and Erislandy Lara is another matchup that generates intrigue. Can “El Perro” Angulo find a way to use his punching power, along with the new skills acquired with a new trainer, to stop the slick Erislandy Lara? Or…will Erislandy Lara just be too slick, too quick for Angulo and deliver a boxing clinic?

continue