Saturday night is step one for Lara to regain his position at 154

By Luis A. Cortes III

Heading into this Saturday night's fight with Ramon Alvarez (27-7-3)(16 KO’s) (1 NC), Erislandy Lara (27-3-1)(11 KO’s) will set out to prove that he is still one of the top fighters in the talent rich super welterweight division (Fox 8 p.m. ET).  For the 36-year-old former Cuban amateur champion and former WBA champion, a victory in this fight could easily put him back in place to challenge for one of the major championships.  It wasn’t long ago that Lara was the man viewed as the best fighter and champion at 154-pounds prior to his loss to former champion Jarett Hurd in April of last year.  It was a loss that some felt was controversial after what turned out to be twelve grueling and entertaining rounds of action.   

With father time not on his side, along with Hurd all but set to have a rematch with Julian Williams (current WBA/IBF champion) in December of this year, it seems that a victory for Lara on Saturday means future major pay days and the chance to reclaim the number one spot.  It also helps that the WBC portion of the title is held by Tony Harrison, who should be facing the man he beat for that, title Jermell Charlo, in a rematch.  These fighters mentioned compete under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) banner, which means that making a championship fight for Lara, if he were to be victorious, much easier.

While this fight for Lara is an important moment in his already successful career and may dictate just where the rest of his career goes, one boxing promoter who has dealt with the PBC shed some light as to why so many fighters remain loyal to the PBC and its lead advisor, the always elusive Al Haymon. “Al is a genius at getting fighters paid on a constant basis.  He is great at recycling fighters and putting them back into competitive fights,” stated the promoter.  “Just look at what he did for Chris Arreola.  Most of the other promoters would have felt that his career was over.  That his best days were behind him.  They may have even just used him as a stepping stone for younger prospects in their stable.  He (Al Haymon) allowed Arreola to earn more money with more fights and Arreola proved that he is far from a shot fighter.”

Haymon is technically just an advisor and none of the fighters are under promotional contract with the PBC.  Over the years, many of the PBC fighters have been offered lucrative contracts with large lump sums of money to jump ship and join the other major promotional outfits.  However, most of the fighters remain faithful to the PBC and Haymon due to what the promoter stated above.  In the case of Lara, due to his advanced age and being on the cusp of yet another title shot, and despite the sense of security in knowing that a loss doesn’t necessarily mean that his time in the lime light is over, Lara won’t be taking any chances against Alvarez and doesn’t want to find out what awaits his career should he lose. 

“I came (to the United States) and I achieved almost everything that I have asked of myself,” stated Lara.  “I was world champion for many years and the most important thing is that now I feel very happy because they gave me another chance for the world title and to be crowned again.” 

One can’t really blame Lara for having the mindset that he carries in that he is an undefeated fighter.  All three of his losses have been close decisions.  They include a majority decision loss to former two division champion Paul Williams in 2011 and a split decision loss to the sports current biggest box office draw Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in 2014.  While most felt that Alvarez did enough to win the fight, it was a fight that saw Lara confuse the younger Alvarez at times with his boxing skill.  Aside from Alvarez’s loss to Mayweather and two recent fights with Gennady Golovkin, his fight with Lara was the toughest of his career. 

This adds a bit of intrigue to this fight on Saturday night.  Ramon Alvarez is the older brother of Canelo Alvarez, and is himself trying to capitalize on this opportunity to take his own career to the next level.  For all the praise that his younger brother has received as one of the best fighters and the sports biggest star, Ramon has yet to have a truly career defining victory of his own.  “I will work to make things very clear to Lara that I am not my brother and that this fight will not be the same,” stated Alvarez.  “This is everything for me.  To make my own legacy.  My own path and show I got here with nobody’s help.”

After his fight with Hurd last year, a fight that many felt was the fight of the year, Lara returned to the ring and fought the always dangerous Brian Castano of Argentina.  It was yet another fight that Lara thought he won, but it ended in a draw, which again adds more meaning to this fight with Alvarez.  Despite those constant opportunities to make money that are given to fighters that make them stay loyal to PBC, those types of opportunities and paydays will eventually run their course if a fighter can no longer produce positive results. 

With the added pressure of what a victory would mean for both careers and the underlining story of a type of revenge for Lara against another Alvarez, Saturday nights fight between these two veterans could easily turn into an exciting battle and should have fans tune in to this night of action.   

  

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Errol Spence Jr. vs Mikey Garcia - Live Updates

By Milo Taibi, Ringside

PBC/Magna Media: Unbeaten IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol "The Truth" Spence Jr. defends his title against undefeated four-division champion Mikey Garcia in a highly anticipated and historic showdown for pound-for-pound supremacy that headlines a Premier Boxing Champions on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View event on Saturday, March 16 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The Weigh-In will be ringside at AT&T Stadium providing live updates and results! Stay tuned here for undercard and main card action from Arlington, TX.

Jose Valenzuela vs Christian Velez 

• Walkout bout time! Thanks to the slew of early stoppages tonight, only one of 17 bouts will follow the main event. Valenzuela secured a knockdown in round one, Velez looking unsteady entering the next frame. Valenzuela floored Velez again 1:40 into the 4th round, and the referee waved off the contest. Jose Valenzuela improves to 3-0, which caps an action-packed evening in Arlington, TX.

Errol Spence Jr vs Mikey Garcia 

• Feel-out round to open things up. Mikey has his moments in the second frame, but we've got two evenly matched rounds entering the third. Spence targets the body with more frequency in the third, he holds a 2-1 lead on my scorecard entering the 4th. 5-1 Spence at the halfway mark. Errol was really busting up Mikey in the 6th, and could run away with the fight unless Garcia switches up strategy. The pro-Mikey contingent has fallen silent at AT&T Stadium, as Garcia's getting picked apart. 6-1 Spence entering the seventh, with "The Truth" showing no signs of wearing down. We reach the final bell, and judges render 120-107, and 120-108 x2 scorecards for Errol Spence Jr. Dominant performance, but let's see Spence against a guy of his caliber next time...preferably a welterweight. 

David Benavidez vs J'Leon Love

•  J'Leon Love and David Benavidez come out cracking in this 10-round co-feature. Biggest shot of the round was a left hook that wobbled Love. Benavidez (21-0) whales away on Love (24-3-1) to open the second round, and the fight is stopped 1:14 into the frame. Grumblings of an early stoppage on press row, but Love had nothing for the younger Benavidez- likely time for J'Leon to consider hanging 'em up.

Lindolfo Delgado vs James Roach 

• This bout was added to the PPV after a string of early stoppages. 2016 Olympian Lindolfo Delgado (9-0) continued this trend, stopping Roach (5-2) at 2:59 of the first round. Wipeout from the opening bell.

Luis Nery vs McJoe Arroyo

• The long, lean southpaw Nery makes his PBC debut after a controversial run in Japan. Arroyo and Nery feel one another out in the opening round. Arroyo is knocked down in the second round. He beats the count, but Nery inflicts further punishment before the bell rings. All Nery entering the third round. Arroyo was knocked down again in the third, and the former titleholder is facing an uphill battle to win on points. Arroyo is floored by another Nery flurry in the 4th, and this has turned into a blowout. He beats the count, but hits the canvas again shortly after. Referee Laurence Cole lets Arroyo continue, but his corner does the right thing by stopping the fight between rounds. Luis Nery improves to 29-0 in his US and promotional debut.

Chris Arreola vs Jean Pierre Augustin

• Augustin comes out in a southpaw stance. He's looking to tangle up and frustrate Arreola, who would prefer to slug it out. Jean Pierre hits the canvas during the first round but it's ruled a slip. Augustin out-landed Arreola through two rounds, but ate a straight-right from Arreola to open the third round, and was staggered badly. Arreola secured a knockdown shortly after, and then stopped Augustin standing up when the fight resumed. Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola improved to 38-5-1, proving he still has gas left in the tank. 

Charles Martin vs Gregory Corbin

• Martin busting Corbin up through the first two rounds. The 38-year-old Corbin is resilient, but plodding as he maneuvers the ring. Corbin has a point deduced for low blows in the fourth round, no warning given. Another point deducted from Corbin in the 5th round, he's getting routed and almost certainly will need a knockout to win tonight. Corbin has a THIRD point deducted for low blows in the 6th round. The most recent infraction could have been a DQ, Corbin's facing an insurmountable deficit on scorecards. Through seven rounds, Corbin had landed 24 punches...woof. Good grief, Corbin goes low again in the 8th, and this fight is mercifully stopped. Charles Martin (26-2-1) picks up a much-needed W, albeit a painful one. Corbin had three points deducted for low blows and landed 26 total punches over 7+ rounds...shameful performance.

Marsellos Wilder vs Mark Sanchez

• Mark Sanchez (0-3) provided little resistance in a 90-second TKO loss to Marsellos Wilder (4-1). Marsellos, Deontay Wilder's little brother, needed a get-back win after his January upset loss to William Deets. 

Fernando Garcia vs Marlon Olea 

• Fernando Garcia (12-0) remains undefeated with a TKO win over Marlon Olea (14-5). Stoppage came 2:50 into round five. Olea now on a 2-5 skid over his last seven bouts.

Amon Rashidi vs Gabriel Gutierrez 

• Gutierrez was down three times in a TKO loss to Amon Rashidi (6-0). Stoppage came 24 seconds into the sixth round. 

Jesse Rodriguez vs Rauf Aghayev

• Rodriguez (9-0) picks up a TKO after Aghayev was unable to continue in the third round. 

Thomas Hill vs Limberth Ponce

• Thomas Hill (8-2) beat Limberth Ponce (17-4) via split decision. Scorecards were 60-54 Hill, 59-55 Ponce, 58-56 Hill. Very entertaining scrap between the two super welterweights.

Aaron Morales vs Fernando Robles

• Morales scores a 2nd round knockdown. Robles beats the count, and makes it through the round. Morales (6-0) would go on to pick up a wide decision with 60-53 x2, 59-54 scorecards. Robles (2-1) gritted it out to hear the final bell.

Adrian Taylor vs William Deets 

• Nebraska native William Deets (7-13) scored an upset TKO of Marsellos Wilder in his last outing, but had no such luck against Adrian Taylor (9-1) tonight. Taylor picked up a UD win with 40-36, 39-37 x2 scorecards. 

Luis Coria vs Omar Garcia

• Garcia dropped in the first round by the heavy-handed Coria. Omar hits the canvas again early in the second round, and the referee waves the bout off. Luis Coria improves to 11-2 with a TKO 53 seconds into the second round. 

Burley Brooks vs Randy Mast

• Randy Mast, whose nickname is "The Exterminator," gets dropped by a body shot early in the fight. Mast writhed in pain on the mat, and was quickly stopped on his feet when the action resumed. Burley Brooks (1-0) picks up a win 1:16 into the first round of his debut.

Robert Rodriguez vs Fernando Ibarra De Anda

• The 2-0 Rodriguez fights out of a southpaw stance, with "BIGGIE" emblazoned on his trunks. Rodriguez outclassed Ibarra en route to a unanimous decision; 39x37, and 40x36 scorecards twice.

Don't Sleep on "My-Time"! Pride of Reading, PA faces biggest test

By Chris Mealey

Heavyweight boxing in America just may takeover and once again be spectated as the the most vital essence of the sport, as we lead up to the anticipated main event on December 1st between WBC World Champion Deontay Wilder and the undefeated Lineal Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury, live from Staples Center in Los Angeles. However, the opening bout for this venue appears to be "under the radar," but still a bout that's actually a stellar matchup in the same division of the towering giants.

We're talking about two men who have delivered entertainment through thrill, undoubtable grit, and excitement in their most recent bouts to say the least. Two warriors that will raise the blinds this weekend. The Cuban boxer Luis "King Kong" Ortiz and Travis "My Time" Kauffman from Reading, Pennsylvania bring a lot of energy to kick off the fights this weekend for various reasons. Ortiz, recently coming off a KO loss to current WBC Champion Wilder on March 3rd, had provided Wilder with all he could handle, virtually winning every round of the fight until dramatically failing to rise from a haymaker in round 10. The ferocious, yet tactical, Kauffman may be considered one of the most under looked opponents, as Ortiz eyes a rematch with Wilder in the event he defeats Tyson Fury.

Travis Kauffman is known for his undeniable heart and alluring adjustments, most recently against Scott Alexander and more notable boxers consist in - Chris Arreola and a fight of the year candidate with Amir Mansour. It is worth noting that the victory over Scott came after a 15 month layoff, followed by the close thriller with Mansour. On top of the ring rust, Kauffman proceeded to emerge victorious over Alexander, who he had little time to prepare for as his original opponent Antonio Tarver failed a drug test.

A lot of boxing fans tend to underestimate certain matchups, and professional fighters are no different. Luis Ortiz has made it very clear that he is eyeing up a second go against Wilder, but that may be his biggest mistake, as he has the big man from Reading, Pennsylvania in his way. fans of late and to this current era have experienced dramatic shifts in the art of pugilism, and we may well be witnessing another ruffle in the dynamic, most iconic, and legendary division - the heavyweights.

Ortiz is the favorite, Kauffman the dark horse. The most certain aspect revolving around Travis Kauffman and Luis Ortiz is that they will entertain and provide the spectators with lightning, thunder, and dynamic action to open the first adequate heavyweight boxing card in many years.

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Fury vs. Wilder: Is it Worth $74.99?

By Steve Ward

This Saturday the Staples Center in Los Angeles will play host to what many boxing pundits have tabbed the fight of the year…of course I’m referring to Tyson Fury (27-0, 19 KOs) vs. Deontay Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) with the Bronze Bomber’s WBC title on the line. The pay-per-view broadcast presented by Showtime (so at least we’ll have an elite broadcast team) will be composed of four fights. Aside from the main event, the card will also feature Jarrett Hurd vs. Jason Wellborn in a super welterweight clash, as well as, two heavyweight bouts that will feature Luis “King Kong” Ortiz vs. Travis Kauffman and Joe Joyce vs. Joe Hanks.

The main event certainly has several captivating narratives to explore. First we’ll take a look at Wilder. There’s no denying his imposing stature and explosive power which have carried him to 39 KOs in his 40 bouts but when you dig a little deeper I will dare to play devil’s advocate and ask the question, “Is his record really that impressive?” Wilder’s resume is not exactly a "who’s who" of heavyweight talent and the current landscape is by no means what one would label a "golden age of heavyweights" as the division is devoid of fighters that have the charisma and talent of such greats like Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis, and Foreman, just to name a few.

Wilder didn’t face any real adversity until he faced Bermane Stiverne to earn the WBC title in underwhelming fashion by unanimous decision, and unfortunately when Stiverne was finally granted a rematch, he was out of shape and quite frankly appeared disinterested in fighting as he was knocked out in round one. After the fight, Wilder celebrated over Stiverne in a poor display of sportsmanship like he had just won the gold medal…oh wait, he never did that.

Wilder followed this performance with a fight against Luis Ortiz that I found, quite frankly, to be frustrating to watch. Ortiz was clearly the more refined boxer and one could make the argument that when he had Wilder asleep on his feet late in the fight, the ref probably would have stopped the fight had he been in the ring with anyone else. Essentially with Wilder, you have a fighter who’s not going to box, is constantly going to drop his guard and stick his chin out, but will also lull his opponent into a false sense of security, and then use his power to put you away with one well placed shot.

On the other hand we have the eccentric “Gypsy King” Tyson Fury who is entering his third fight of 2018 following a two and a half year layoff-a layoff filled with the type of activities that would make my esteemed colleague Justin Dohnson proud. (The same Justin Dohnson who once shared a Tecate-fueled night of debauchery at a fight in Cabazon with Matt Ward and me, where he delighted our fellow fight fans as he serenaded his favorite Corona ring girl with a vivid narrative of what their life together could/would be-ranging from their house with a white picket fence to their impressive 401k plans.)

When we examine Fury’s resume it is mostly reminiscent of Wilder’s except for one glaring difference. Fury can boast one thing Wilder cannot and that is he stood toe-to-toe with Wladimir Klitschko, a man who along with his brother Vitaly, absolutely dominated the heavyweight division for well over a decade and took his titles. While this was three years ago, it is still a testament to what Fury is capable of when he is focused. Tyson Fury appears to be in phenomenal shape for this fight, matches Wilder in stature (he actually has two inches in height on him), is deceivingly quick, and he can box. While many are picking Wilder as the clear favorite, I personally think if this is the Tyson Fury who defeated Klitschko and Dereck Chisora, then he has a legitimate chance to leave L.A. as the new heavyweight champ.

As we continue our in depth cost benefit analysis of this pay-per-view’s price, we’ll take a brief look at the undercard. Jarrett Hurd is another fighter I find frustrating to watch. Hurd, much like Wilder, does not believe in utilizing much defense but there is no arguing that he has a cast iron chin-one that was prominently displayed when he was outboxed by Austin Trout who eventually wore himself out as he threw everything at Hurd for ten rounds with Hurd seemingly unfazed. Hurd will take his frosted tips into a contest with the lesser known Jason Welborn from the UK.

King Kong Ortiz will also appear on the pay-per-view telecast in his third fight of the year against the gritty Travis Kauffman with the winner potentially vaulting himself into the title shot conversation. The last fight on the pay-per-view will pit the 2016 British Olympic silver medalist Joe Joyce against Joe Hanks-who you know is going to be tough because he’s from the mean streets of Newark, New Jersey.

Now for a few gripes I hold with the event. The returns of Chris Arreola and Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero have been advertised for the card, however, neither will be featured on the pay-per-view telecast. Additionally, Showtime will be airing a pre-pay-per-view warm-up of sorts with what was originally advertised as a split site event. One of the bouts featuring Adonis Stevenson fighting in Canada and the other originally scheduled as Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo. Unfortunately, Chavez backed out of the fight earlier this week on the advice of his legendary father leaving Angulo to fight the equivalent of a WWE enhancement talent in Eduardo Flores (26-30-4, 15 KOs)-and no shocker here, this fight will not be featured on Showtime now.

Now we revisit the question, “Is this fight worth $74.99?” Well that depends…if you are a boxing head chomping at the bit to watch a heavyweight clash with a big fight feel reminiscent of those supplied by Mike Tyson in his heyday, then perhaps you could spend $1.75 instead and rent Iron Mike’s new feature film The China Salesman co-starring Steven Seagal (yes, this is a real thing…see Matt Ward’s feature on it).

Or maybe you would find $74.99 better spent on a front row seat for Justin Dohnson squaring off in an old school 16 round grudge match with his estranged twin brother Brian Scalabrine? If that doesn’t suit you, then perhaps you could be enticed by Matt Ward making his House of Hardcore debut as the son of Akeem with his manager Luis Cortes at his side. All joking aside, who am I to say if $74.99 is worth it? After all, Magna Media didn’t find your favorite West Coast correspondent for The Weigh-In worthy of a media credential. Nonetheless, this card should play a significant role in molding the heavyweight division moving forward and perhaps determine the next opponent for Anthony Joshua. The pay-per-view start time will be 9 p.m. ET, 6 p.m PT, and 7 p.m. AZ and in case you missed it, the price is $74.99.

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