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Added to Calendar: 05-18-24

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https://www.boxingscene.com/spence-arum-doing-crawford-dirty-promotes-lomachenko-more--138408

Spence: Arum Is Doing Crawford Dirty; Promotes Lomachenko More

By Keith Idec

LAS VEGAS – Errol Spence Jr. couldn’t help himself.

The unbeaten IBF welterweight champion chastised promoter Bob Arum once Spence learned that the Terence Crawford-Amir Khan fight likely drew less than half the pay-per-view buys as his win against Mikey Garcia produced last month. A satisfied Spence smiled as he discussed that situation with BoxingScene.com on Friday following a weigh-in for the Robert Easter Jr.-Rances Barthelemy fight Saturday night at The Cosmopolitan.

“His promoter needs to do a better job promoting him, I guess,” Spence said, referring to Crawford. “I feel like he was a failure on the promotional side, so I think Bob needs to get back to the drawing board if he thinks me and Crawford’s gonna be a 50-50, down-the-middle deal. If I’m bringing in probably over 400,000 pay-per-view buys and he’s doing a hundred and something, why should we split it if we fight each other?”

Neither FOX, which distributed the Spence-Garcia fight March 16 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, nor ESPN, the distributor of Crawford-Khan a week ago from Madison Square Garden, have officially announced buy rates for those fights.

Spence (25-0, 21 KOs) and Garcia (39-1, 30 KOs) reportedly drew between 350,000 and 400,000 buys. Multiple sources have indicated to BoxingScene.com that Crawford-Khan produced less than half the buys Spence-Garcia generated.

Crawford (36-0, 25 KOs) was a heavy favorite over Khan (33-5, 20 KOs), who declined to continue during the sixth round, once Crawford hit him with what was ruled an unintentional low blow. According to Spence, a diminished Khan wasn’t the only obstacle that made Crawford’s second pay-per-view fight a difficult sell.

“It’s not just the opponents he’s fighting, but the whole promotional thing behind him,” Spence said. “Like when Showtime promotes and FOX promotes, they really put everything into it. With the Crawford fight, you really didn’t hear nothing until the week of the fight. I kind of forgot about it. I didn’t hear nothing about it until the week of the fight. They started promoting it probably Thursday or Friday. That’s when it really got out there like that. So, I feel like they could’ve done a better job of promoting it.”

Crawford-Khan did receive a sustained promotional push on all of ESPN’s linear and digital platforms. Spence still feels Arum should spend more time promoting the three-division champion than Top Rank’s other elite-level star, Vasiliy Lomachenko.

The 31-year-old Crawford, of Omaha, Nebraska, and the 31-year-old Lomachenko (13-1, 10 KOs) are generally regarded as two of the top three boxers, pound-for-pound, in the sport.

“With Crawford, it’s a lack of promotion,” Spence said. “I feel like Bob doesn’t promote Crawford like he should. I don’t know what that’s about, but I feel like he promotes Lomachenko way better than they promote Crawford. Even with the lead-up to the promotion of the Crawford fight, they were talking about Lomachenko in the same sentence with Crawford. Why are you talking about Lomachenko, when you’ve got your pay-per-view fighter fighting Saturday night? Every time they mentioned Crawford, they mentioned Lomachenko. What are you doing that for, when you’ve got Crawford fighting?

“When I fought on pay-per-view, they didn’t mention guys. They didn’t mention Keith Thurman, they didn’t mention Pacquiao. They mentioned me. They mentioned me versus Garcia, not, ‘Keith Thurman, Keith Thurman, Keith Thurman, Keith Thurman.’ Or, ‘Pacquiao, Pacquiao, Pacquiao, Pacquiao.’ If somebody mentioned Pacquiao and Keith Thurman, it was me who mentioned them, who I would like to fight next. I feel like the proof is in the pudding, how they handled the whole promotion. Me, I wasn’t even watching like that, and I noticed how they were handling the promotion, keep bringing up Lomachenko. Even after Crawford’s fight, they kept bringing up Lomachenko. Why? They’re not even in the same weight class. Why do you keep bringing this guy up? So, I feel like they’re over-promoting him, overkill, and Terence is not a guy who’s gonna speak up. He’s a guy who just wanna fight.”

Spence suggested Friday that he won’t fight Crawford, the WBO 147-pound champion, in a highly anticipated welterweight title unification fight until sometime late in 2020, at the earliest.

The 29-year-old Spence expects to battle WBC champion Shawn Porter (30-2-1, 17 KOs) in his next fight. If he tops Porter, Spence then would like to box the winner of a probable July 20 bout between Manny Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 KOs) and Keith Thurman (29-0, 22 KOs, 1 NC).

Arum said before Crawford defeated Khan that he would call Al Haymon this past Monday to initiate negotiations for Crawford to fight Spence next. The 87-year-old promoter proceeded to lambaste Haymon in the immediate aftermath of Crawford’s win over Khan

“I like Terence,” Spence said. “I feel like Terence is a great fighter. I’ve nothing but respect for Terence. I’ve got Terence’s number in my phone right now. He wished me good luck in my last fight. I’ve got nothing but respect for him. I just feel like they’re doing him dirty. They gave Tyson Fury that big-ass deal, and then they give Terence Crawford a $3 million deal. Come on! That’s a slap in the face right there.”
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https://www.boxingscene.com/crawford-trainer-insists-there-nobody-else-we-want-spence--138443

Crawford Trainer Insists: There is Nobody Else, We Want Spence!
By Victor Salazar

New York - Terence Crawford (35-0, 26 KO’s) did his part of on his pay-per-view by taking care of Amir Khan (35-3, 20 KO’s) last Saturday. His counterpart Errol Spence (25-0, 21 KO’s) did the same when he took care of Mikey Garcia on their pay-per-view last month.

It was openly voiced by Crawford’s promoter Bob Arum, his head trainer Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, and Crawford himself - they want Spence next.

At the post fight presser, McIntyre made it known, its Spence or “sh*t.”

“I don’t see why the fight can’t happen,” McIntyre told BoxingScene.com. “I don’t see any other alternative. Who else is there to fight out there? There’s nobody else to fight. Come on Spence come out the closet. We want Spence. You see what we did to [Khan]"
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https://www.boxingscene.com/hearn-andy-ruiz-try-beat-joshua-i-want-see-war--138446

Hearn: Andy Ruiz Will Try To Beat Joshua, I Want To See a War
By Radio Rahim

Eddie Hearn, promoter for IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, views once-beaten Mexican contender Andy Ruiz as a very dangerous opponent to face on short-notice.

Ruiz is a frontrunner to face Joshua on June 1 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

"Andy Ruiz will come to win. He doesn't look physically pleasing, but he can really fight. He's Mexican, he can punch, he has fast hands, and he knows how to fight," Hearn said.

Joshua was scheduled to face Jarrell Miller, who was pulled from the contest after failing three pre-fight drug tests.

According to Hearn, Joshua is not worried at all about his next opponent.

"[He's] Absolutely fine. He’s the ultimate pro. He’s impressed me so much. He hasn’t even asked me. It’s been nearly eight days or nine days since [Miller’s first failed drugs test]. I’d have liked to have announced it a couple of days ago but it won’t be long.”

Hearn believes Ruiz or Michael Hunter would come in there and really make it a way with Joshua.

“Don’t fight him for the money, fight him for the world heavyweight title because you think you can win. Those are the people I want. I don’t want to go to Madison Square Garden and watch him bowl someone over in a round, I want to see him in a war, I want to see someone trying to take his head off - legally," Hearn said.

“I want someone that thinks they can win rather than someone who goes, ‘If you give me this much, I’ll take it.’ I’m not interested in that. I know you’ve got to get as much money as you can but come to win, because it’s a life-changing moment. The world heavyweight championship at Madison Square Garden, that’s something you dream of.”
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JUDAH said:
Jacobs is gonna beat Canelo...

And get robbed on the cards.

The only way he leaves with the belts is with a KO
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Yeah, it's going to be very difficult for Jacobs to beat Canelo on points. Close rounds and Canelo will most likely get the benifit of the doubt. Canelo is a great fighter but I feel like the judges are always in his corner .

Even when Floyd schooled Canelo one of the judges had it a draw lol.
 
https://www.boxingscene.com/hearn-andy-ruiz-tougher-test-joshua-miller--138554

Hearn: Andy Ruiz is Tougher Test For Joshua Than Miller Was

Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua will defend his titles against California-based Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr in New York on June 1, the Briton's promoter announced on Wednesday.

Joshua, the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO world champion, had been scheduled to fight Jarrell Miller but the New York State Athletic Commission refused to sanction the fight after Miller failed a drugs test.

Ruiz is hoping to become Mexico's first heavyweight world champion.

The fight will be 2012 Olympic super-heavyweight champion Joshua's first title bout outside of Britain.

The 29-year-old has a professional record of 22 wins, which includes 21 knockouts.

Ruiz, also 29, has a record of 32 wins, 21 by knockout, and one defeat -- his loss coming in a majority decision against New Zealander Joseph Parker in Auckland in 2016 for the vacant WBO belt.

Parker then lost that title to Joshua in a unanimous points decision in Cardiff in March last year.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said Ruiz, who has looked more paunchy than punchy in some recent photographs, could prove a tougher test than Miller.

“After a tricky week I am delighted to announce Andy Ruiz Jr. as AJ’s opponent for his US debut at MSG on June 1,” said Hearn. “People talk about fighting AJ, some even have to fill their bodies with PEDs to try and beat him up, but very few genuine fighters step up and take the challenge.

“When we selected the opponent, I wanted someone with fire in their heart, someone who genuinely believed that they can win and become world heavyweight champion. Andy showed that desire.

“In my opinion, this is a tougher test than Jarrell Miller. Andy punches harder and is much faster – this is going to be a war. Andy brings Mexican heart but he will meet the best heavyweight in the world on June head on at the Garden. Do not blink!”
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https://www.boxingscene.com/hearn-sounds-off-on-luis-ortiz-his-team-over-joshua-talks--138552

Hearn Sounds Off on Luis Ortiz and His Team Over Joshua Talks
Anthony Joshua will defend his WBA, IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight titles against Andy Ruiz at Madison Square Garden on June 1, it was officially announced on Wednesday.

Joshua, who is undefeated in 22 fights, was originally due to face Jarrell Miller in his American debut in New York.

However, Miller was ruled out due to failed drugs tests, leaving Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn needing to find a replacement.

While Michael Hunter and Luis Ortiz were rumoured as possible options to fill the void, Californian Ruiz (32-1) has now signed a deal to take the bout.

The 29-year-old fought for the WBO title against Joseph Parker in December 2016, losing by majority decision in New Zealand.

Eddie Hearn, promoter for Ruiz, tried his best to get Ortiz, but claims they dropped the ball on the money.

"I got two phone calls when the [Miller] news broke straight away. One was Don King and one was Jay Jimenez who is Luis Ortiz’s manager. Jay Jimenez phoned me up and said, ‘I can’t believe this, I don’t think Luis will be ready.’ I think I spoke to 'AJ' an hour or so before and he said to get him anyone," Hearn told IFL TV.

"I said, ‘Find out if Luis will be ready.’ He came back the next day or two days later and said, ‘Make us an offer.’ I made them an offer $6 million – that was my first offer… He didn't come back to that offer. I like Jay Jimenez so I don't want to out him too badly because I don't think it's his fault but I just want to get the facts right...

"No reply, this was on Friday. Monday I said, ‘I’ll call you.’ Later on that day I came back and said, ‘Right, this is it, $7 million for June 1. [If he wins, he gets] a rematch for quite a bit more and if he loses, I’ll give you another fight for a lot of money for security.’ Nothing back."

"Not only were you offered $7 million, but you tried to out us in the public eye, in the media. To try and f*** our reputation and discredit us when you got offered $6 million and then $7 million for a fight. And how much did you get when you fought Deontay Wilder? I don’t know, $1 million? If that? So you got offered seven times more to fight Anthony Joshua."
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https://www.boxingscene.com/nsac-calls-bullsht-on-claims-canelo-gets-favoritism-vegas--138546

NSAC Calls 'Bullsh*t' on Claims Canelo Gets Favoritism in Vegas

Bob Bennett, Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, has thrown water at the claims of Canelo Alvarez receiving favoritism in the city of Las Vegas.

Some have claimed that Canelo has received preferential treatment from the judges, after winning close fights against Erislandy Lara and Gennady Golovkin, going to a controversial draw with Golovkin in their first bout, and somehow having one judge score a draw in his one-sided loss to Floyd Mayweather.

On Saturday night, Canelo returns to Las Vegas when he clashes with Daniel Jacobs in a showdown for the WBA, IBF, WBC middleweight titles at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Bennett defended his organization against the allegations, which claims that the NSAC has an agenda to assist Canelo due to his financial value to the city.

“I had 24-and-a-half years in the FBI and I indicted a boxing case for a fixed fight and I traveled all over the country to interview fighters who took a dive to get money under the table and it was proven in a court of law, do you think for one second I would say, ‘Hey, we’re going to favor Canelo here because he comes here often and he gives us a lot of business?’” Bennett said to Yahoo Sports.

“Or, ‘We’re going to favor Floyd because he is here so often?’ Hell no. Floyd was a world champ and he worked hard. It’s not up to me whether Floyd wins or loses. It’s up to Floyd. If I felt any of my judges were prejudiced or biased and I could prove it, I would report them to the FBI. We have no vested interest in the outcome.

"The Nevada State Athletic Commission’s only goal is to be fair and to get it right. We employ officials who have performed well under pressure and come up with the correct scores even in the biggest, most important and closest fights. Fighters want to come here and fight because they know we will go above and beyond to do that. Any suggestion otherwise is bullsh*t.”
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https://www.boxingscene.com/gary-russell-santa-cruz-reckless-fighter-id-knock-him-out--138521

Gary Russell: Santa Cruz is a Reckless Fighter - I'd Knock Him Out

WBC featherweight world champion Gary Russell Jr. feels confident that he'll score a knockout victory over Leo Santa Cruz, who holds the WBA title.

Both boxers are fighting under the Premier Boxing Champions banner.

Russell (29-1, 17 KOs) will be making the fourth defense of his belt against Kiko Martinez (39-8-2, 28 KOs) on Saturday, May 18, at Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Center. The bout will be the co-feature to Deontay Wilder's defense of the WBC heavyweight crown against mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale.

Russell faced Santa Cruz when they were in the amateurs.

"I believe it was in the Olympic qualifiers of 2006 or 2007. I did what I wanted to with Santa Cruz. He’s a flat-footed fighter who comes straight forward. He’s a “Rock Em-Sock Em” robot who can’t do nothing with me, and that’s the reason why they’re keeping him away from me," Russell told Premier Boxing Champions.

And if they collide right now, Russell expects to put his lights out.

"If I fight Leo now, I knock him out. I don’t know what round, but it could be early. Leo is a reckless fighter who throws punches just because someone is closing the distance on him," Santa Cruz said.

"If you do that against an in-shape, sharp, mentally prepared Mr. Gary Russell Jr., you’re gonna get stopped. Leo throws wasted punches and leaves them in the air, so he’s gonna end up getting knocked out."

And why hasn't the fight happened? Russell believes Santa Cruz's handlers are keeping the boxer away from the fight.

"I don’t think it’s just him. I think it’s his coach and his team...I just don’t think they feel as though it’s in their best interest or his career to compete against Mr. Gary Russell Jr," Russell said.

"They call me “The Boogeyman” of my division. I’m one of the most dangerous guys in the sport. Nobody wants to see me. If they do, my name is only whispered here and there. You don’t see nobody calling me out. They don’t wanna fight me, and I’m getting to the point where I’m getting tired of it."
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https://www.boxingscene.com/mares-holds-nose-over-gary-russells-next-fight-wants-title-shot--138531

Mares Holds Nose Over Gary Russell's Next Fight, Wants Title Shot

Abner Mares, a former three division champion, has no problem with taking a very tough fight in his first ring return from injury.

Mares was scheduled to face WBA super featherweight champion Gervonta Davis earlier this year, but he was forced to withdraw due to a serious eye injury.

The Mexican boxer, 33-years-old, is no stranger to eye injuries. He had a detached retina to his left eye in 2008, and the same injury has now happened to his right eye.

But he expects to return to the ring this coming fall.

Mares underwent surgery and he recently received some positive news from his doctor.

“I will be back this year for sure,” Mares said to Premier Boxing Champions. “Our estimated time, I hope, is September, the latest, October.”

“I just saw my ophthalmologist yesterday to get updates on my eye and it looks good. “He had some really good news. The progress since surgery has been great. It’s mainly about recovery for me. I’m telling you from experience because I’ve had an eye injury in 2008. The same injury. Eleven years later, I’m still fighting. That’s all I have to say. I will be back. People need to understand. It’s like any injury. An open wound. You need to let it heal and close. We’re just waiting to be 100%.”

And Mares has his sights set on facing WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr - who returns next month in defense against Kiko Martinez.

Mares has no idea why Russell is facing someone like Martinez and wonders why he doesn't face top competition.

“It’s not anything against him, he’s a great fighter, but he should be fighting top-notch opponents like myself,” Mares said. “I don't know why he’s not doing that. He fights once every two years for some reason. I don’t know if it’s because he doesn’t like boxing. I don’t know why. I don’t know why.

“Nothing against the guy, but [Martinez is] a dude who was stopped by Leo Santa Cruz. Why would you want to fight someone at that level? I just don’t get it. If you want to be considered one of the best you gotta fight the best. Hopefully when I come back he’ll be available and he’ll consider fighting me."
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https://www.boxingscene.com/wilder-manager-deontay-full-slate-joshua-2020--138517

Wilder Manager: Deontay Has Full Plate, Joshua in 2020

Shelly Finkel, the co-manager for WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, has indicated that his boxer has a full plate of fights in the works for 2019 - and a unification with Anthony Joshua is more likely for 2020.

Wilder is back against mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale on May 18th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

And Joshua is back to defend his IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO titles on June 1 at Madison Square Garden in New York, with the opponent likely being Andy Ruiz.

Following the bout with Breazeale, there is talk that Wilder will collide with either Luis Ortiz in a rematch or a voluntary defense against Adam Kownacki.

Finkel also hopes things can get worked out for a co-network pay-per-view fight against Tyson Fury, who signed an exclusive deal in the United States with Top Rank and ESPN.

Fury will first return on June 15, in a clash with Tom Schwarz at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

While Finkel would like to see the second fight take place in 2019, Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum has stated in several interviews that a Wilder-Fury rematch is more likely for next year.

"He's fighting his mandatory now, then we have a pretty full slate for this year, then we will discuss fighting Joshua next year. The name calling, the immaturities that are in the press, they won't help but won't hinder making the fight," Finkel told Tha Boxing Voice.

"They are all in the works. There is nothing confirmed at this point, the only thing that is locked in is the fight with Breazeale on May 18. If everything goes the way we hope it will, we will then discuss his next fight.

"I have spoken with [DAZN top executive] John Skipper more than once. Him and I are developing a very good relationship, I'm very fond of him. Those talks will continue, and eventually it will lead to a fight of Deontay and Joshua."
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