Oscar Valdez, Jessie Magdaleno tell fans why they should buy Nov. 5 card that includes Pacquiao-Vargas in main event

Jessie Magdaleno

Jessie Magdaleno/Photo courtesy of Top Rank Inc.

 

The heck with the naysayers. According to Oscar Valdez and Jessie Magdaleno, there are plenty of reasons why fans should buy their Nov. 5 pay-per-view card that will be headlined by Manny Pacquiao challenging Jessie Vargas for his welterweight title at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Indeed, there is not as much buzz for this Pacquiao fight as usual. Valdez and Magdaleno are in title fights on the undercard, and when asked why fans should fork over the $59.95 for the Top Rank-produced feed, they let everyone know why this is a worthwhile purchase.

“Why shouldn’t they?” Magdaleno said Thursday during a workout at Jackrabbit Boxing Club in Long Beach. “They’ve got great, young talent that’s in that ring. They’ve got myself, they’ve got Jessie Vargas, they’ve got Oscar Valdez – two-time Olympian who is now a world champion. They’ve got great upcoming historical guys who are going to make history in the boxing world, and who are going to put on great shows as the years go on.

“… We are the future of boxing and we are action-packed guys who want to put on great shows as great Mexican guys. We want to live to that legend. And that’s what we’re doing. That’s why people should continue buying this pay per view card.”

Magdaleno (23-0, 17 KOs), of Las Vegas, will challenge Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (37-3, 24 KOs) for his super bantamweight title.

Mexico’s Valdez (20-0, 18 KOs) will make the first defense of his featherweight world title when he squares off with Hiroshige Osawa (30-3-4, 19 KOs) of Japan. Valdez put his own colorful spin on why this is a solid purchase.

“First of all, you’ve got Jessie Magadaleno,” Valdez said. “Hungry lion, as they say, fighting Nonito Donaire, which, Nonito is still a tough, tough fighter. He’s one of the top fighters out there, so that;s going to be a great, great fight. Me, as a fan, I would love to see that fight. In my case, I’m fighting the WBO ranked No. 1 – Osawa. A lot of people don’t know this guy because he mainly did his career in Japan. But he’s still a tough fighter. I don’t take him lightly at all and I never will take a fighter lightly.

“In my case, I’m going to give it my best. … And then, finally, you’ve got this fighter, Pacquiao, fighting Jessie Vargas. Jessie Vargas is not easy. He could beat Pacquiao. Anyone that knows boxing knows that Jessie Vargas could beat Pacquiao. Pacquiao’s still Pacquiao. I still think Pacquiao is going to put up a good fight, he always puts up a good fight. And I think that’s why everyone should buy this fight.”

There is a fourth world-title fight on this card. It will match Zou Shiming (8-1, 2 KOs) of China against  Prasitsak Papoem (39-1-2, 24 KOs) of Thailand for a vacant flyweight title.

 

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Trainer Manuel Robles believes Oscar Valdez can become an all-time great

Oscar Valdez/Photo courtesy of Top Rank Inc.

 

Oscar Valdez on Nov. 5 will make the first defense of his featherweight world title when he takes on Hiroshige Osawa (30-3-4, 19 KOs) of Japan underneath the welterweight title fight between champion Jessie Vargas and Manny Pacquiao at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas (on Top Rank pay-per-view, $59.95).

Valdez’s trainer, Manuel Robles, on Thursday spoke as if boxing fans are on the cusp of witnessing another fighter who soon will be considered among boxing’s elite.

“I’ve trained champions like Reggie Johnson, Martin Castillo, Israel Vasquez, Mike Anchondo and now Oscar,” Robles said during a media workout at Jackrabbit Boxing Club in Long Beach. “All of those champions have similarities in how they are focused and how hard they want it. Oscar has all of that. I think he will become one of the greatest champions of all time.”

Valdez’s desire to be all he can be is what will get him there, Robles said.

“Oscar is a world champion for these reasons – dedication, determination, will to win, wants to be the best ever,” Robles said.

Valdez (20-0, 18 KOs) of Mexico, won his title with a second-round stoppage of Matias Rueda of Argentina in July at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

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HBO’s ‘My Fight: Kovalev/Ward’ will make its debut on Oct. 29

Sergey Kovalev/Photo courtesy of Main Events Boxing

 

HBO’s “My Fight: Kovalev/Ward” will debut on Oct. 29. The documentary will take an in-depth look at the upcoming light heavyweight title fight between champion Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward that will take place Nov. 19 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (on HBO pay-per-view).

Kovalev, of Russia, is 30-0-1 with 26 knockouts. More importantly, he is 9-0 with seven knockouts in world-tltle fights.

Ward, of Oakland, is a former super middleweight champion with a record of 30-0 and 15 knockouts. He went 7-0 with just one knockout in super middleweight world-title fights before moving up to light heavyweight in 2015.

The documentary will air several more times on HBO as well as HBO2 leading up to the bout.

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Tickets for Vasyl Lomachenko-Nicholas Walters go on sale Wednesday

Vasyl Lomachenko

Vasyl Lomachenko/Photo courtesy of Top Rank Inc.

 

If ever there was a case to use the term “potential Fight of the Year candidate,” it would be regarding the Nov. 26 super featherweight title fight between champion Vasyl Lomachenko and Nicholas Walters at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas (on HBO).

Lomachenko, who won gold medals for Ukraine in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, will be making the first defense of the title he won with a fifth-round knockout of Roman “Rocky” Martinez in June at Madison Square Garden. Lomachenko (6-1, 4 KOs) also has held a world title in the featherweight division.

Walters, of Jamaica, is  a former featherweight champion who once stopped Nonito Donaire in the sixth round of a title fight in October 2014. Walters is a vicious fighter with a record of 26-0-1 and 21 knockouts.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. for this Top Rank Inc. card. They are priced at $50, $75, $100, $150 and $200 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling 800-745-3000 or by going to www.ticketmaster.com. Another avenue is going to www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/.

 

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Promoter Bob Arum uses ticket sales for Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas to take another shot at Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump

Donald Trump second debate (Saul Loeb / Associated Press)

Donald Trump speaks to Hillary Clinton during a debate/Photo by Associated Press

 

Bob Arum has not hid his disdain for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, so it’s not surprising the veteran promoter is using ticket sales for the upcoming Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas welterweight title fight Nov. 5 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas as a platform to further make those feelings known.

“Our ticket sales are great with Las Vegas fighters on this card in significant world championship fights,” said Arum, who is promoting Pacquiao-Vargas. “Fans in Las Vegas can still buy their tickets online or by phone. And to Mr. Trump’s chagrin, the only drug-testing taking place at Thomas & Mack, between now and Nov. 5, will be the ones given by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to the fighters on the Pacquiao-Vargas card.”

That was a shot at Trump calling for drug-testing for himself and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton ahead of their next debate, which will take place Wednesday at Thomas & Mack.

Ticket prices for Pacquiao-Vargas are $50, $100, $300, $500, $700 and $1,000. They can be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center box office, which is currently closed and won’t reopen until Thursday because of the debate. Tickets also can be purchased by calling 732-739-3267 or 866-388-3267. Another avenue is www.unlvtickets.com.

Pacquiao-Vargas will be televised by Top Rank pay-per-view for $59.95. Three other world-title fights will fill the undercard, led by Nonito Donaire of the Philippines defending his super bantamweight belt against Jessie Magdaleno of Las Vegas.

Also, Oscar Valdez of Mexico will defend his featherweight belt against Hiroshige Osawa of Japan. And Zou Shiming of China and Prasitsak Papoem of Thailand will square off for a vacant flyweight title.

 

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Luis Ortiz, Malik Scott will square off Nov. 12 in Monte Carlo on HBO

December 19, 2015; Verona, NY; Luis Ortiz and Bryant Jennings during their HBO Boxing After Dark bout at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY.  Photo: Ed Mulholland/HBO

Luis Ortiz/Photo courtesy of Matchroom Boxing

 

Top-rated heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz of Cuba will take on Malik Scott of Philadelphia on Nov. 12 from Monte Carlo, and it will be televised on HBO.

“Fans know Luis Ortiz as a heavyweight knockout machine, and we’re happy to announce his showdown with Malik Scott from Monte Carlo live on our network on Nov. 12,” said Peter Nelson, executive vice president of HBO Sports.

Ortiz (25-0, 22 KOs) is 37. He previously boxed under the Golden Boy Promotions banner, but recently signed with Matchroom Boxing.

Scott, 36, is 38-2-1 with 13 knockouts.

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Bernard Hopkins’ final fight will be against Joe Smith Jr. on Dec. 17 at Forum

Kovalev dominates Hoplrins

Sergey Kovalev, left, lands a punch to the head of Bernard Hopkins during their fight in November 2014/Associated Press file photo

 

Living boxing legend Bernard Hopkins has been saying he wants to fight one more time, even though he’s 51. Hopkins will get his wish when he takes on Joe Smith Jr. in a light heavyweight bout Dec. 17 at the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood (on HBO).

Eric Gomez, president of Golden Boy Promotions, confirmed late Monday morning that a verbal accord had been reached for the bout.

“We just got a deal done,” Gomez said.

Hopkins is a partner in Golden Boy, whose CEO and chairman is Oscar De La Hoya. De La Hoya, inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014, began his pro career at the Forum in 1992.

That irony is not lost on Gomez.

“It’s pretty cool that Oscar started his career at the Forum and now Bernard is going to retire at the Forum,” Gomez said.

Hopkins, of Philadelphia, is 55-7-2 with 32 knockouts. He hasn’t fought since losing a wide decision to light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in November 2014. Smith, 27, is from Long Island, N.Y. He is 22-1 18 knockouts.

Hopkins-Smith would have taken place on the same card as the interim super featherweight title fight between Orlando Salido of Mexico and Takashi Miura of Japan. But Salido sustained a back injury this past week and pulled out Monday.

“Now we’re either going to replace Salido with a suitable replacement, or replace the entire fight,” Gomez said. “We don’t know yet.”

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Danny Garcia looking forward to food drive, fight with Samuel Vargas in Philly

Danny Garcia, left, throws a punch at Robert Guerrero during their WBC championship welterweight bout, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Danny Garcia, left, lands a left hook to the jaw of Robert ‘The Ghost’ Guerrero in January at Staples Center/AP photo by Mark J. Terrill

 

Danny Garcia of :Philadelphia won the vacant welterweight world title with a unanimous decision over Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero on Jan. 23 in Los Angeles. But Garcia won’t make his first defense until next year.

In the meantime, Garcia will take on Samuel Vargas (25-2-1, 13 KOs) of Colombia in a non-title bout Nov. 12 from Liacouras Center in Philiadelphia (on Spike). It is expected to act as a tune-up for a title-unification bout with Keith “One Time” Thurman in 2017. The fight will also be part of a charity drive Garcia is fueling.

Garcia is teaming up with Philabundance – the region’s largest hunger relief organization – on a regional food drive. Fans are being encouraged to drop off canned goods at the fight venue as well as a local boxing gym. Also, $10 from each ticket sold will be donated and provide 20 meals per ticket for the needy.

Garcia (32-0, 18 KOs) is stoked about the package.

“My dad (trainer Angel Garcia) and I wanted to get one more fight in before the end of the year and there was no doubt in my mind it had to be in Philadelphia,” said Garcia, who has also been a champion at junior welterweight. “My team got it done and it’s a great feeling to fight at home over the holidays. I’m excited to use this opportunity to give back to the community and put on a show. This city means everything to me. I hope everyone comes out, but shows up with cans of food, too.

“I’m gearing up for a big fight with Keith Thurman next year that’s going to be a can’t-miss event.”

 

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Welterweight contender Taras Shelestyuk headlines Showtime card at Omega Products in Corona

Image result for photos of taras shelestyuk

Taras Shelestyuk celebrates after knocking out Antonio Fernandez in the first round in January 2015 in Verona, N.Y./Getty Images

 

Undefeated welterweight contender Taras Shelestyuk of the Ukraine will take on Jaime Herrera of Franklin Park, Ill., in the main event Nov. 4 at Omega Products International Event Center in Corona. It is part of a tripleheader that will be televised by Showtime as part of its ShoBox series.

Shelestyuk (14-0, 9 KOs) is ranked as high as No. 9 by one organization. He won a bronze medal in the 2012 London Games for Ukraine.

Shelestyuk, 30, did not make his pro debut until he was 27, so time is of the essence for him if he’s going to make a big splash in the pro ranks.

“My training is going great, I am more powerful and my speed is better,” said Shelestyuk, who is trained by Eric Brown at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood. “Herrera is a rough fighter, but it doesn’t matter to me because I am looking to step up and get into championship-level fights.”

Herrera (15-3-1, 8 KOs) knows this is a terrific opportunity for him to make his name bigger.

“Taras is a great fighter and I know I’m the underdog, but I’ve surprised some fighters before and I’m confident and ready to give it my best and win again,” Herrera said. “I’m coming into this fight with the same mentality I had in those fights against the other unbeaten guys. The way I see it, Taras has everything to lose and I fight as (if) I have nothing to lose.”

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Tyson Fury relinquishes remaining major belts he won from Wladimir Klitschko

Challenger Tyson Fury, right, and world champion Wladimir Klitschko, left, stand on the podium after the Official Weigh-In in Essen, Germany, prior their heavyweight boxing fight, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. The title clash will take place in Duesseldorf's LTU arena on Saturday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissne

Tyson Fury, right, and Wladimir Klitschko pose after weighing in for their heavyweight title fight this past November in Germany/Associated Press photo by Martin Meissner

 

The much-maligned Tyson Fury on Wednesday gave up the two remaining major heavyweight championship belts he won from Wladimir Klitschko this past November in Germany.

Fury since has twice pulled out of scheduled rematches with Klitschko, and recently Fury admitted to doing cocaine. He is also reportedly suffering from depression.

His promotional company, Hennessy Sports, released a statement. It read, in part, that Fury was giving up his titles “to fully focus on his medical treatment and recovery.”

Fury said, “I feel that it is only fair and right and for the good of boxing to keep the titles active and allow the other contenders to fight for the vacant belts that I proudly won and held as the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world when I defeated the long-standing champion Wladimir Klitschko. I won the titles in the ring and I believe that they should be lost in the ring, but I’m unable to defend at this time and I have taken the hard and emotional decision to now officially vacate my treasured world titles and wish the next in-line contenders all the very best as I now enter another big challenge in my life which, I know, like against Klitschko, I will conquer.”

Fury, 25-0 with 18 knockouts, won three major titles from Klitschko. Fury, 28, had already been stripped of one of them for agreeing to fight Klitschko in a rematch rather than his mandatory challenger – Vyacheslav Glazkov.

 

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