Bob Arum: If Vasyl Lomachenko beats Nicholas Walters, he should be candidate for Fighter of the Year

Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo: TV Fight Time, Date and Live Stream

Vasyl Lomachenko will defend his title Saturday against Nicholas Walters in Las Vegas/Photo by Stephen Dunn, Getty Images

 

Vasyl Lomachenko (6-1, 4 KOs) of Ukraine on Saturday night at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas will put his super featherweight world title on the  line against Nicholas Walters (26-0-1, 21 KOs), a mean, hard-hitting hombre from Jamaica.

Not only does this fight have tremendous potential for great excitement, it could be absolutely vicious.

Promoter Bob Arum explained the reasoning during a conference call Monday.

“Well, they call Walters the ‘Axe Man’ for a reason,” Arum said. “I mean, he searches and destroys, you know, he’s a tremendous puncher. And he’s in with a technician who has enormous ability in boxing not only defensively, but offensively. So I mean, this is a
can’t miss fight and I want people to realize that not only do I believe that it will be a Fight of the Year candidate, I believe that if Vasyl Lomachenko is successful, he should be right up there in the consideration for Fighter of the Year.”

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Virgil Hunter believes mental toughness will make Kovalev-Ward ‘a great fight’

Andre Ward/Photo courtesy of Roc Nation Sports

 

It’s possible Saturday’s light heavyweight title fight between champion Sergey Kovalev of Russia and Andre Ward of Oakland at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas could be a terrific fight. It could be the opposite if Ward looks to box all 12 rounds in crafty mode, frustrating Kovalev and fans alike.

During a sit-down with the respective trainers Wednesday, Virgil Hunter – Ward’s trainer – told reporters one reason why he believes this bout will be worth every cent fans spend.

“Do I believe that Ward will exhibit mental toughness? Yes, without a doubt,” Hunter said. “Do I believe that Kovalev will exhibit it? I’m sure he will as well. And that’s the making of a great fight.”

Ward is 30-0 with 15 knockouts. Kovalev is 30-0-1 with 26 knockouts. Their bout – and three others – will be available on HBO pay-per-view.

 

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Andre Ward says focus in training always the same, regardless of opponent

Andre Ward/Photo courtesy of Roc Nation

 

If you have followed the career of Andre Ward, it’s easy to tell how well prepared he has been for all of his fights. That, he says, is because even though the fighters are different, his level of concentrations is the same.

“Regardless of who I’m fighting — (Sullivan) Barrera, (Alexander) Brand, (Sergey) Kovalev, whoever — there’s always different game plans and nuances when it comes to preparation and training,” said Ward, who Nov. 19 will challenge Kovalev for his light heavyweight belts at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (on HBO pay-per-view). “The reality of it is, every fight is a must-win for me. I prepare for each fight as if I’m facing the most difficult opponent of my career. That’s always been my approach, and I think you’re playing with fire if you don’t adopt that mentality in this sport.

“I know this is a big fight, the biggest of my career. But my mindset and my focus have been consistent no matter the opponent, and that’s an invaluable asset.”

Ward, 32, is from Oakland. He’s 30-0 with 15 knockouts. Kovalev, 33, is from Russia. He’s 30-0-1 with 26 knockouts.

 

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Joseph Diaz Jr. takes another positive step toward his first major title shot

Southpaw Joseph Diaz Jr., right, lands a right hook to the head of Andrew Cancio during their fight Saturday in Arlington, Texas/Photo courtesy of Hogan Photos, Golden Boy Promotions

 

Joseph Diaz Jr. of South El Monte figures to be fighting for his first major title sometime next year, providing he keeps winning. That makes every fight for Diaz vital. A slip, and his plans are disrupted.

Diaz – ranked as high as No. 3 in the world – took another step forward this past Saturday when he stopped Andrew Cancio of Blythe in the ninth round of their featherweight bout slated for 10 rounds. They tangled underneath the junior middleweight title fight between Liam Smith of England and Canelo Alvarez of Mexico; Alvarez won via 9th-round knockout at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“This is a great victory, it will open up so many doors for me moving forward,” said the 23-year-old Diaz, who is 22-0 with 13 knockouts. “I felt very comfortable. I was the better puncher, I was faster and was able to cut the ring more efficiently. I knew that Cancio was going to be a strong guy, I knew he was going to be tough and try to push me around, so I had to be the better fighter. I was able to display my defense and my power.”
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Dominique Dolton, Justin DeLoach pop off ahead of Friday’s fight in Vegas

Domonique Dolton

Domonique Dolton/Photo courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions

 

It’s funny how opponents can have the same unflattering thoughts about one another.

Domonique Dolton and Justin DeLoach will square off Friday in the middleweight semi-main event from The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas (on Bounce TV). In sizing up one another, each spoke as if the other isn’t good enough to win.

“From what I saw, he looks like a tough guy,” Dolton said. “We are not on the same level, though. He’s fought a couple of undefeated guys, but it doesn’t compare to my level of fighting. My skills will speak for me.”

Said DeLoach: “This fight is not going all night. I will break him down early in the fight. I have been studying him and I know Domonique better than he knows himself.”

Dolton, of Sterling Heights, Mich., is 17-0-1 with nine knockouts. DeLoach, of Augusta, Geo., is 15-1 with eight knockouts.

Their bout will come underneath the junior middleweight main event between Ishe Smith (28-8, 12 KOs) of Las Vegas and Frank Galarza (17-1-2, 11 KOs) of Brooklyn.

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Liam Smith believes he has a better chance against Canelo Alvarez than Kell Brook does against Gennady Golovkin

Liam Smith/Photo courtesy of Queensberry Promotions

 

Two British boxers are coming up on the biggest fights of their respective careers. Welterweight champion Kell Brook will move up in weight and challenge middleweight Gennady Golovkin of Kazakhstan on Sept. 10 in England (on HBO). A week later, on Sept. 17, Liam Smith will be defending his junior middleweight title against Canelo Alvarez of Mexico at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (on HBO pay-per-view).

Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs) believes he’s the Brit with the best chance to emerge victorious.

“Yes, 100 percent,” Smith said Thursday during a conference call. “I like my chances because I’m 100 percent confident I’m going to win this fight, and Canelo’s the favorite to win the fight. And I’ll be rooting for Kell Brook, but I think it’s a step too far for him. But I don’t think it’s a step too far for myself.”

 

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Robert Guerrero believes Max DeLuca’s 116-112 score Saturday was ‘crazy’

Robert Guerrero

Robert Guerrero/Photo courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions

 

Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero didn’t like the decision that went against him
Saturday in his welterweight fight against David Peralta of Argentina at Honda
Center. A very close fight, Peralta won a split-decision by scores of 113-115,
115-113 and 116-112.

Guerrero didn’t speak to reporters immediately following the fight, instead
making his way to his dressing room. From there did come a comment that
spelled out what he thought about the scores – especially the 116-112 that
came from Max DeLuca.

“I thought I clearly won the fight,” Guerrero said. “For the judge to say I lost 8
rounds sounds crazy to me. Peralta was very awkward, but I felt I won. I won
the rounds when I boxed. This is very disappointing, but I’ll be back, that you
can count on.”

This newspaper – along with a couple of other publications – scored the bout a
114-114 draw. DeLuca’s score did seem out of line.

Guerrero, 33, is 33-5-1. Peralta, who will be 34 on Wednesday, is 26-2-1.

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Robert Guerrero, David Peralta make weight for their fight Saturday

Robert Guerrero

Robert Guerrero/Photo courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions

 

Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and David Peralta on Friday made weight for their welterweight main event Saturday at Honda Center (on Spike).

Guerrero, of Gilroy, weighed 146.8 pounds. Peralta, of Argentina, came in at the 147-pound limit.

Guerrero, 33, is 33-4-1 with 18 knockouts. Peralta, also 33, is 25-2-1 with 14 knockouts.

 

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Gennady Golovkin tired of hearing about guys who say they want to fight him

Gennady Golovkin

Gennady Golovkin/Photo courtesy of K2 Promotions

 

Gennady Golovkin is a respectful kind of guy. But the middleweight champion can be pushed too far, and this week he sounded off about those who say they want to fight him, but don’t.

Golovkin is preparing to defend his belts against Kell Brook on Sept. 10 in Brook’s native England (on HBO). Golovkin was playing host to reporters at the Big Bear camp owned by his trainer, Abel Sanchez, and answered a variety of questions.

He said that he does want to unify his division, but “I don’t know if WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders will fight me.”

How about a move from middleweight to super middleweight for a high-profile fight?
“Move up to 168, for what? Who is going to fight me there?” he said. “Which champion at that weight will agree to fight me for a big fight?”

Good question.

He’s fed up, it seems, and it all came out.

“Just too much talking about fighting me – Canelo, Eubank, Saunders, (Carl) Froch – they are acting like clowns with no respect for the sport,” Golovkin said. “I’m here now, sign the contract and fight me. Any of them, doesn’t matter which one.”

Canelo Alvarez recently gave up his middleweight belt rather than face Golovkin this year. Highly ranked middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr. seemed all set to sign to fight Golovkin, then backed out.

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U.S. lightweight Mikaela Mayer opens Olympics with victory

Lightweight Mikaela Mayer  began her Rio Olympics journey on the right foot with her

Mikaela Mayer opens the Olympics with unanimous decision victory.

Mikaela Mayer opens the Olympics with unanimous decision victory.

unanimous decision victory over Jennifer Chieng (Micronesia), Friday. The scores were 40-35, 40-35, 39-37.

Mayer will next face Anastasia Beliakova, Monday. If she’s victorious she will clinch at least the Bronze medal.

In other U.S. Olympic action, Carlos Balderas lost a unanimous decision to Cuba’s Lazaro Alvarez in a lightweight fight. All three judges scored the fight 30-27.

Nico Hernandez also suffered a defeat, falling to Uzebekistan’s Hasanboy Dusmatov (30-27, 29-28, 29-28). Hernandez had already clinched the Bronze Medal, making him the U.S. first medalist in boxing since Deontay Wilder in 2008.

Hernandez will receive his Bronze Medal Sunday following the light flyweight Golf Medal fight.

Claressa Shields has her first fight Wednesday.

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