DANNY GARCIA SAYS HE WAS MENTALLY AT 15% BEFORE ERROL SPENCE FIGHT

Video by Luis A. Cortes III

The Road to Undisputed Lightweight King Begins

By Luis A. Cortes III

On Saturday night from Temecula California, Top Rank Promotions and ESPN (10 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT) will broadcast a fight card that’s main event will feature the beginning of the path towards an undisputed king.  The quest for lightweight supremacy begins as IBF lightweight champion Richard Commey (28-2, 22 KO’s) defends his title for the first time against former world champion and grizzled veteran Ray Beltran (36-8-1, 22 KO’s).  When Mikey Garcia decided to vacate the WBC portion of the lightweight crown back in April after his loss to welterweight champion Errol Spence, it meant that the biggest fight in the division between Garcia and the WBA/WBO champion Vasiliy Lomachenko would have to once again be placed on hold.

With Garcia now set to face Danny Garcia at welterweight, it meant that the division could now move on from the unification fight between Garcia and Lomachenko and allow for the rest of the world class talent a chance to stake their claim as the king of the talent rich division.  Lomachenko (a top pound-for-pound fighter) and already a unified champion in the division is clearly the proverbial favorite to be the last man standing when the dust settles.  This brings us back to what will take place this weekend between Commey and Beltran. 

Commey, the hard-punching champion from Ghana, won the IBF portion of the crown in February when he blasted Isa Chaniev with power shots in two rounds to earn the knockout win.  It was supposed to have set up Commey with the chance to unify his titles with Lomachenko in April.  However, due to a hand injury sustained during his title winning victory, it caused a need for surgery and Lomachenko to look elsewhere for his next opponent.

Beltran himself has had to navigate a twisting path towards this opportunity to have his name listed as the divisions king.  It was just last year that Beltran, after a long career that had seen its ups and downs, finally captured a world championship when he defeated Paulus Moses.  In his first defense of the WBO title in August, he dropped a decision to Puerto Rico’s Jose Pedraza.  Going into that fight (like the Commey situation this year), it was believed that with the victory over Pedraza, Beltran would be next in line for Lomachenko and the seven-figure payday that accompanies that type of fight.  Unfortunately for Beltran, Pedraza not only won the WBO title but would get the fight last December with Lomachenko.  With a comeback knockout victory last February, Beltran has now placed himself into a prime position to challenge Commey for another portion of the lightweight crown.   

“Being a world champion is great.  I went back home, and everyone welcomed me at the airport.  It was like a hero’s welcome, it was unbelievable,” stated Commey during the final press conference this week.  “I never try and knock out my opponent.  It comes when it comes.  I believe he’s a strong guy, a tough guy, and so am I.  It’s going to be a good fight, but I’m the champion, and I’m going to keep my belt.”

It’s clear that Commey has taken to the role of favorite for this fight as the champion, but for Beltran being an underdog is par for the course for him at this point in his twenty-year career.  “I feel like I made it the hard way.  Even when the sport or boxing world didn’t believe in me, that’s when I had to believe in myself,” expressed Beltran.  “Nobody gave me an opportunity, I had to go and take it.  I became a world champion and I am fighting for another world title.  It’s not about if people believe in you.  You must believe in yourself.”

Both fighters are clearly focused on the task at hand and through their words one can tell that they are not taking this opportunity to prove that they are elite lightly.  Having both missed out on an opportunity to fight for bigger fight purses, each fighter clearly is aware what victory and defeat can mean to their careers.  What should also be promising for fans is the fact that both men are hard nosed both in their approach to the sport in terms of preparation, but also in how they fight inside of the ring.  They do not shy away from trying to find their opponents and are happy to exchange power shots to inflict punishment.  In other words, get ready for a fight that has the potential to provide fireworks and bombs for as long as the warfare lasts. 

With a fight between the sport’s top young sensation lightweight Teofimo Lopez and veteran Masayoshi Nakatani scheduled for July 19^th as an IBF title eliminator, whoever survives the fight on Friday night and steps out of the ring with the IBF title will have his eyes focused on that ring in July.  In fact, Lopez will have his eyes on the ring Friday since he is scheduled to be in California to watch Commey and Beltran do battle from ringside. 

Lopez has not been shy about wanting to prove to the world that his days as “top prospect” are behind him.  He has been vocal in calling out the unified champion Lomachenko and with this road to crowning an undisputed lightweight king getting underway.  Lopez will have his chance with just two victories during the remainder of the year to not only fulfill his dream of becoming a world champion, but also, to put himself in the prime position to challenge Lomachenko to become undisputed champion.

A wild card has been thrown into the mix since there still is that issue of the WBC title being vacant.  While it seemed that Luke Campbell, the former 2012 Olympian, would somehow be involved as one of the fighters with top contender status in the WBC rankings, what became interesting was that the WBC named Lomachenko also as a top contender in their rankings despite holding two other portions of the crown.  As a result, there have been plenty of news circulating that a unification fight between Campbell and Lomachenko tentatively scheduled for late August in London is all but set.  Campbell could walk into a London ring with no titles, and if he were to pull off the mega upset, would walk out of that ring with three of the four portions of the undisputed lightweight crown. 

However, if all goes as expected late this summer across the pond, Lomachenko will add that WBC title to the other two portions of the crown he already holds and will await the fighter who survives this small tournament that gets underway Friday night to decide the IBF title.  Whichever way things will pan out in the division, by this time next year, barring any drastic changes or outside of the ring mishaps, fans of the sport should be happy to know that finally a talent rich division will have the elite champions and contenders fight to crown one undisputed king at lightweight. 

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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.

Mikey Garcia Reaches for Greatness

By Luis A. Cortes III

Throughout the promotional build up for the mega showdown between IBF Welterweight Champion Errol Spence (24-0)(21 KO’s) and current WBC Lightweight Champion Mikey Garcia (39-0)(30 KO’s), the common theme has been that Garcia is simply put too small to contend with Spence.  Granted Garcia, while going for a world championship in a fifth weight class, will be jumping up two weight classes from where he currently holds a championship.  Garcia has fought at the 140-pound limit before, winning the IBF version of the championship, and while Spence will indeed be the biggest natural fighter that Garcia has ever faced, he is an experienced fighter that has been across the ring from every type of fighter that you can think of stylistically.

It’s this type of experience that Garcia believes will guide him to victory over the supremely talented Spence.  Six years ago, while still fighting under the Top Rank promotional banner, Garcia took on Juan Manuel Lopez for a portion of the featherweight title.  Garcia was defending his title but wound up losing his title on the weight scale when he failed to make weight.  While the fight went on (ironically in Dallas), Garcia wound up re-hydrating 14 pounds over night and entered the ring the much larger man at 142 pounds.  Since that fight, over the next six years, Garcia has consistently taken on tough challenges as his career continued to rise both in the pound-for-pound rankings and heavier weight divisions. 

Having flirted with the welterweight division before competing against a couple of naturally bigger fighters at 140 pounds, Garcia recognized an opportunity to fight the current welterweight champion that many within the boxing industry have dubbed the next great champion.  Spence presents not just the biggest challenge in terms of physical size, but it’s also the type of challenge that will plant Garcia atop the pound-for-pound tree of the best fighters in the world.

For this challenge, Garcia enlisted the help of SNAC (Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning) to help his body, gain the proper type of strength for this monumental challenge.  “We had to build more mass, a little more muscle, leading up to this fight.  But we don’t want to compete against Errol with just size and muscle.  I want to use my other talents.  I want to use my other attributes, like my speed, reaction time, my explosiveness,” Stated Garcia during a recent phone interview.  It’s that type of skill set that has gotten Garcia to this point in his career. 

Garcia throughout his career has established himself as a fighter with some of the best timing during a fight.  He may not have the most powerful jab, the fastest jab, but he knows exactly when to throw it.  His foot movements along with the jab have helped him to control both the pace of the fight and the range.  The fact that he has been able to do this against every style he has faced thus far makes it even more impressive.

“We want to make sure that we kept all of my feet and muscle work and I feel very good with the results.  We had a great training camp and I don’t think the size is what I’m going to be using.  So that’s what we have focused on and making sure that everything else was done in the right way,” stated Garcia.  This is what makes this fight such an intriguing matchup.  We will find out just how much all of the work with SNAC in order to truly gain the right type of size to compete with Spence will translate into the actual fight. 

“We had to make adjustments, we had to figure out how to use my range and my timing against a bigger guy, against a left-handed fighter.”  Garcia also went on to mention that before the boxing training took over this camp, and he was still working with SNAC, his weight got up to 160 pounds.  It was the work back at his brother's boxing gym that helped him to shed the extra pounds of muscle and to get his weight back to the welterweight division.  While Spence will be taking fight week to make weight getting the extra pounds off and re-hydrating once the limit is met, Garcia will most likely only gain a couple of pounds between the weigh-in and the start of round one.     

Granted, Errol Spence is indeed the biggest fighter Garcia has ever faced when they fight.  However, size doesn’t always mean victory.  Even if the size is accompanied by a tremendous body attack and the type of power that any fighter would love to possess, skills and a high ring I.Q. also have their place in boxing, especially when you are dealing with fighters on this, the highest level of the sport. 

Garcia will look to establish the range against Spence with his well-timed jab.  It’s his jab along with a hard-right hand after he pivots to his left to avoid the return punch from Spence that Garcia will use early to score and warm up in the fight.  If he can land his hard jab consistently on Spence, whom for his part has never really shown that he naturally moves his head as he moves forward, he may be able to start to lock up Spence’s neck and this can have the same effect on an opponent that a vicious body attack can.

If Garcia sees this working in his favor and he is controlling the range and dictating the pace of the fight, look for him to start trying to get inside of the longer arms of Spence and once on the inside rip power punches on angles.  It’s the common opinion of many experts and boxing insiders that Spence’s body attack, hard left hands, and good right jab will not allow any of this to play out in Garcia’s favor.  Although this may be the case, the whole world of boxing agrees about one thing:  Garcia reaching out to take on this challenge to cement his legacy in the sport is something that makes the sport so unique from every other one.  It’s the reason why people are true fanatics of the sport, because we all enjoy witnessing when a fighter like Garcia reaches for greatness. 

Garcia vs. Spence: Fight Predictions

By Luis A. Cortes III

With the big fight between two of the top pound-for-pound ranked champions taking place this weekend in Dallas, TWI reached out to different members from the world of boxing to get their take on what is going to go down in the Lone Star state. 

Ray McCline – Atlantic City Hall of Fame

I love Mikey, but I just think Spence is going to be too big for him.  Spence does get hit, to try and counter with his excellent body work.  Mikey will score on Spence and it will be a close fight, but I think the size and power of Spence gets him the win. 

Joey Eye – Cutman

For some reason I like Mikey in this fight.  Garcia on points. 

Bozy Ennis – Trainer

Its not going to be easy for Errol and people are counting Mikey out.  Not me, he has a real good chance even though people are looking at the size factor.  I think Mikey can pull it out. 

Stitch Duran – Cutman

I don’t like to make predictions.  I’m horrible at it and as a cutman, I look to see who has the possibility of getting cut or swollen.  I think both fighters will be okay, and it shouldn’t be a problem in the fight. 

Stephen Bird – Lineal TV (England)

Mikey by decision

Catherine Lebron – Kings Promotions

50/50 fight, but I’m going with Spence.  Mikey is flat footed; Spence is going to aggravate him with his skills.  Spence by unanimous decision. 

Jeremy Cuevas – Lightweight

I think Garcia can outbox and outsmart Spence.  Make him miss and make him pay.  Garcia on points. 

Kelly Pavlik – Former middleweight King

I got it a 50/50!  This is one of them fights I just want to chill and watch.

Jason Gonzalez – Writer

Errol wins by decision

Gene Pantalone – Writer

A good big guy beats a good smaller guy, unless he is another Duran.  Should be a great fun fight to watch.  Spence wins by decision.

Thomas LaManna – Jr. Middleweight

Mikey has underrated footwork and timing.  He creates the space very well, in a way that people don’t notice.  I think Spence is very slow and Mikey will use his size disadvantage and turn it into an advantage.  So, I’m going with Garcia, size matters, but skills pay the bills. 

   

Frankie Carto – Manager

I think I’m going to have to go with Spence.  I really like Mikey’s skill set, but I feel the size difference may be too much to overcome. 

Joey Dawejko – Heavyweight

I got Errol winning this one by decision.

George Hanson – Writer

Spence wins by TKO.

John DiSanto – Writer

As skilled as Garcia is, I think Spence is just too big and too good to lose this one. 

Matthew Ward – Editor in Chief of TWI

A lot of fans and analysts are writing off Mikey.  You can’t do that with a talented guy like that.  Spence is a great fighter, but Mikey has proven himself too.  This is going to be a great main event with an average undercard.  Fights like this are great for our sport though!  All I ask is that the judges don’t screw it up.  With that said, realistically both fighters can win... I’m sticking with Mikey though. Garcia wins by UD. 

James Dominguez – Writer & Co-host of the Punchline w/ Kelly Pavlik

I’m going to take Mikey by split decision.

Luis Cortes III – Feature Writer of TWI

Feature story on the fight and why I’m picking Mikey to win on points coming tomorrow. 

Adam Weiner – Low Cut Connie

I’m going to go with Spence by unanimous decision.  Mikey ends on his feet but loses a clear decision.  Should be a great fight.  I love Mikey, but I think Spence will be too much. 

Jerome Conquest – Lightweight

Spence wins this one by TKO

*After surveying 18 different people, Spence pulls out to get the most votes.  Could the fight on Saturday night be just as close and full of action?  We here at TWI sure do hope so.  Enjoy the fight - from the TWI family! 

Spence: 10

Garcia: 8

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Strolling Along Flatbush Ave.

By Frank Bartolini

All the marquee arenas in the western hemisphere that host boxing are located in cities of reputed glamour and glitz. London’s Wembley Stadium, Manhattan's Madison Square Garden, and any large arena in Las Vegas are renowned for different reasons. Las Vegas' lights and glitter, Madison Square Garden’s illustrious history plus it’s midtown address, and Wembley’s enormity and raucous fans within a gentlemanly behaved London, England. Brooklyn, New York is not as cultured as London or glamorously Manhattan trendy. “Forget about it!”, Brooklyn will never match the gilded gaudiness of Vegas. With its endemic personality Brooklyn can boast, there is no other place like it on the planet. Located in ethnically diverse Downtown Brooklyn, the Barclays Center holds its own at hosting pro prizefighting events with any of the aforementioned sites. A walk up crowd on the evening's affairs, always fills any remaining seats with enthusiasm. 

The lobby at the Hampton Inn filling up with undercard prizefighters and their crews awaiting to grab shuttle ride to the Barclays Center. Striding through the revolving doors onto the concrete, in front of me an idling mini bus AKA “The Shuttle”, to my right a block away, the Manhattan Bridge that crosses the East River connecting Downtown Brooklyn to what was formerly known as the “Five Points District” and currently named “China Town.” Google Maps informs, in the opposite direction from that span, it is just over a mile and a half down Flatbush Ave onto Atlantic Ave for a pedestrian to arrive at the Barclays Center. I forsook a free lift and decided to hoof it. A blatant lie about this choice would suggest getting some fresh air, but the soot stained facades of the tall buildings would imperiously disprove that phrase. 

Lights changing, voices rising, humans strutting and jogging, as automobiles roll in both directions. Downtown Brooklyn is in constant motion. 

A twenty something guy approaches me from the rear, “excuse me sir. I’m sorry to bother you. My mother is sick and I have to see her. I lost my wallet with my paycheck in it. Could you please give me fifteen dollars for the bus to Long Island?” 

I examine a lucid, cleared eyed inquisitor, and deduced he was no junkie. Further inspection found him wearing a pair of suede, leather accented Timberland boots. My thoughts, were that this grifter did have a job and his billfold, and scored chump change scheming. Interesting that a cheap flim flam artist chose me as an easy mark. A bit insulted, I replied “NO” and brushed off this millennial conman. 

As always, I purchased a pretzel and diet coke from a Kurdish looking street vendor, and sat in front of the arena and chowed, as a queue formed outside of the Barclays Center. 

DiBella Entertainment in association with Premier Boxing Champions put on aa night of fights here. Assuredly these two associates are always going to deliver a quality slate. 

Polish countrymen come in multitudes to Barclays supporting any native who climbs between the ropes. When heavyweight Adam Kownacki of Poland crushes foes, the P.A. system churns out Poland’s national anthem, initiating a resounding vocal harmonizing in unison among the faithful. 

The pound-for-pound coronation of Errol Spence Jr., as the best in the land, has been supported by this venue. Deontay Wilder has also proven before the Barclays' faithful he can whip anyone he hits with his concrete shattering right hand. 

Brooklyn has a unique style and it’s residents have an accented speech that is recognized globally. Sporting fans world wide should acknowledge the Barclays Center importance to paid fist trading. 

The following morning…...Bumps, bruises, scratches, stitches, and hurt ego’s indulged in the Hampton Inns' continental breakfast. Managers and trainers discussed future moves and possibilities over syrup soaked waffles and sausages. Some defeated boxers smile and enjoy the meal with friends. Other conquered pugilists chew their food with bowed heads until some good natured fellows see their discourse and pull up next to him with assuring words, that everything will be alright. Within moments this beaten man sits up in his seat and grins as he shovels grub through a pair of fat lips. When it is time to leave, the victors jump up and rush to the shuttle anxious to get home and tell tales of grandeur. Boxing close knit fraternal members bid adieu to one another. Back through the revolving doors for the last time this weekend, carrying a suitcase and briefcase, I walk to a fifty dollar a night parking garage, get my car, pay my fee, and eventually cross the Verrazano Bridge on my way home to “Champions Rest,” as Brooklyn maintains it’s perpetual motion. 

I finished 2018 where I started it at the Barclays Center. I began 2018 last January, when Errol Spence defended his welterweight world championship laurels throwing Lamont Peterson a beating. I have ended the year watching the Charlo twins fill the venue with a near sellout crowd that booed disputed decisions in both their bouts. 

The boxing future is bright as the blue lettered marquee of the Barclays Center. The sport is filled with talent globally and a billion dollars of revenue is being invested from media outlets DAZN, Fox network, ESPN+, and Showtime cable. All this cash makes bouts happen and combatants will square off in first rate matchups. No need for a fortune teller's crystal ball to see 2019 will be a great year for pugilism…...Until next time...Keep Punching!

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Who will Errol Spence Jr. Face Next?

Errol Spence Jr. (23-0, 20 KOs) decisively defeated Lamont Peterson (35-4-1, 17 KOs) via TKO on Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Peterson, a former two-division world champion, was hurt in the second round by a barrage of Spence body shots. In the fifth round, Peterson was sent to the canvas by Spence right and left hands. In the sixth round, Peterson's right eye showed the effects of Spence's powerful punches, as it was nearly swollen shut. Peterson was examined by the ringside physician just after the bell marking the beginning of the seventh round rang. At the conclusion of the seventh round, Peterson was being swept by Spence on the judges' scorecards. By this point, Peterson's trainer, Barry Hunter, had seen enough and asked for the fight to be stopped. This was Spence's first defense of his IBF World Welterweight Title, and tenth straight career victory by knockout.

Who will Errol Spence Jr. face next?

The talented 28-year-old welterweight sits on top of the IBF's 147 pound division rankings, and holds a major title in a weight class that is crowded with some of boxing's biggest names and talent. Keith Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) holds the WBC and WBA titles in this weight class, while Jeff Horn (18-0-1, 12 KOs) holds the WBO World Welterweight Title. Keith Thurman is coming off of a March 4th victory over former champion, Danny Garcia (33-1, 19 KOs). Jeff Horn is scheduled to make his second title defense on April 14th against super lightweight boxing star, Terence Crawford (32-0, 23 KOs).

Bad Left Hook recently reported that Spence wants to fight Thurman in 2018. However, it is likely that Thurman will schedule a tune up fight before agreeing to a showdown against the IBF champ. Before a bout can be scheduled between Spence and Thurman, Spence may have to defend his title against other highly ranked, IBF welterweights, such as Carlos Ocampo (22-0, 13 KOs) and Konstantin Ponomarev (32-0, 13 KOs).

Who do you think is Errol Spence Jr.'s next opponent? Make your voice heard by replying in the comments section!

MW

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Errol Spence Jr. vs. Lamont Peterson

This Saturday, January 20th, IBF World Welterweight Champion, Errol Spence Jr. (22-0, 19 KOs) will defend his title against Lamont Peterson (35-3-1, 17 KOs) in a 12 round bout at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. This bout is part of an 11 bout Premier Boxing Champions' card that will air on Showtime. Spence is coming off of an 11th round knock out victory over Kell Brook (36-2, 25 KOs) in Brook's hometown of Sheffield, England last May. Peterson won his last two fights, since losing a controversial majority decision to Danny Garcia (33-1, 19 KOs) on April 11, 2015. He bounced back from this loss with two victories over Felix Diaz (19-2, 9 KOs) on October 17, 2015 and David Avanesyan (23-2-1, 11 KOs) last February.

The card also features an exciting 12 round match between lightweight fighters Robert Easter Jr. (20-0, 14 KOs) and Javier Fortuna (33-1-1, 23 KOs). The two men will fight for Easter's IBF World Lightweight Title. Easter captured this title in 2016 with a split decision victory over Richard Commey (25-2, 22 KOs) in Reading, Pennsylvania. Since winning this title, he successfully defended the title twice in 2017, beating Luis Cruz (22-5-1, 16 KOs) and Denis Shafikov (38-4-1, 20 KOs) both by unanimous decision. Fortuna, the former WBA World Super Featherweight Champion, is looking for his fifth straight win since losing his title to Camden's Jason Sosa (20-3-4, 15 KOs) on June 24, 2016 in China. Fortuna's most recent victory was a ten round unanimous decision victory over Nicolas Polanco (17-1, 10 KOs) on September 14, 2017.

The card also features the following bouts:

Marcus Browne (20-0, 15 KOs) vs. Francy Ntetu (17-1, 4 KOs) - 10 rounds, light heavyweights

Adam Kownacki (16-0, 13 KOs) vs. Iago Kiladze (26-1, 18 KOs) - 10 rounds, heavyweights

Anthony Peterson (37-1, 24 KOs) vs. Luis Eduardo Florez (23-8, 19 KOs) - 10 rounds, junior welterweights

Ivan Golub (13-1, 11 KOs) vs. Fidel Monterossa Munoz (38-15-1, 30 KOs) - eight rounds, welterweights

Richardson Hitchins (3-0, 1 KOs) vs. Preston Wilson (4-2-1, 3 KOs) - six rounds, welterweights

Mathew Gonzalez (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. Alexander Serna (1-1, 1 KO) - six rounds, middleweights

Desmond Jarmon (3-0, 2 KOs) vs. Charles Clark (1-4-1, 1 KO) - four rounds, junior lightweights

Keyshawn Williams (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Denis Okoth (1-0, 1 KO) - four rounds, welterweights

Dylan Price (4-0, 4 KOs) vs. Nestor Ramos (7-7-1, 3 KOs) - four rounds, bantamweights

MW

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