Monthly Archives: February 2015

Photos: Chris Avalos training for title shot vs. Carl Frampton

Chris Avalos training hard for his Feb. 28 title shot vs. IBF junior featherweight champion Carl Frampton (Photo: Chris Farina – Top Rank)

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By Chris Robinson

Photos from Lancaster, Ca. as young contender Chris Avalos prepares for his challenge of IBF junior featherweight champion Carl Frampton on Feb. 28 at the Odyssey Arena in Frampton’s backyard, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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Exclusive photos: Zab Judah back to work inside of Bones Adams’ Gym in Las Vegas

Zab Judah training in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

Exclusive photos as former two-division world champion Zab Judah gets back to work inside of Bones Adams’ Gym in Las Vegas.

Judah (42-9, 29 KO’s) hasn’t fought since a December 2013 loss to Paulie Malignaggi and I was unsure where he moved his training bases following the closing of the H.I.T. Factory.
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Tim Lee signs with Al Haymon; eyes pro debut following memorable amateur ride

Flashing back to May 2013 with Tim Lee at the Mayweather Boxing Club (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

Standout amateur and aspiring professional Tim Lee has signed with powerful advisor Al Haymon, he revealed today. Taking to Facebook, Lee stated the following.

“Signed my contract with the best in the business & became a Professional Boxer today. I want to thank my team & God for all the opportunities and blessings he’s giving me, now it’s time to work harder on my journey on achieving all my goals and becoming a World Champion someday.” 
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Exclusive photos: An inside look at the recently opened City Athletic Boxing Club

Arman Van Damme, Dontae Williams, Stephane Malenou, and Mike McCallum inside of the recently-opened City Athletic Boxing Club in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

There’s always a special kind of buzz in the air when something new hits the boxing circuit out here in Vegas.

Such has been the case with the recently opened City Athletic Boxing Club in Las Vegas.
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Thomas Hill sparring Charvis Holifield at the Mayweather Boxing Club [February 2015]

Prospects Thomas Hill and Charvis Holifield putting in work in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

A quick stop by the Mayweather Boxing Club this past week saw junior middleweight prospect Thomas Hill and welterweight upstart Charvis Holifield putting in some work ahead of their scheduled matches next month.

Holifield (1-1) is coming off of a 4th round disqualification loss to David Thomas this past November. In a fight he looked to be winning. Holifield’s mouthpiece came out one too many times shortly after he dropped Thomas in the 4th.
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Jean Pascal dismisses Adonis Stevenson as ‘irrelevant’

Jean Pascal inside of the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

During a recent conversation with former light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal, the confident Haitian-born Canadian star dissed his countryman Adonis Stevenson.

Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KO’s) will look to bounce back into the championship ranks on March 14 when he tangles with the division’s IBF/WBA/WBO champion Sergey Kovalev on HBO in Quebec.
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Simeon Hardy’s journey continues with Boxcino showdown vs. Vito Gasparyan this weekend

Simeon Hardy faces Vito Gasparyan on ESPN2 

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By Chris Robinson

It was a few years back when I crossed paths with Guyanese-born Simeon Hardy in Las Vegas.

At the time Hardy was getting a feel for the city, both from putting in work inside of local gyms as well as checking out the Brandon Rios-Mike Alvarado rematch from the Mandalay Bay, and you could tell instantly of his deep desires in boxing.
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Exclusive photos: A closer look at the Tesla Model S P85D

Las Vegas transplant and entrepreneur Dan Wettlaufer standing with his new Tesla Model S P85D (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

By now you’re surely heard plenty of talk about the new Teslas.

The all electric Teslas are definitely all the rage these days and we were fortunate enough to get an up-close view of a Model S P85D, courtesy of our good friend Dan Wettlaufer, who is always close to all of the action going on with The Money Team out in Vegas and other parts of the globe.
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Exclusive photos: Action continues to heat up during First Friday Exhibition Sparring at Johnny Tocco’s

Unbeaten lightweight contender Lydell Rhodes was in town to support First Friday Exhibition Sparring this past Friday at Johnny Tocco’s (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

When Luis Monda told me he  was going to start staging exhibition sparring matches inside of the famed Johnny Tocco’s Boxing Gym in Las Vegas on the first Friday of every month, I knew instantly it had the chance  to be something special.

And so far that has been just the case.
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Following Fredrick Lamar Clothing

Designer Fredrick Lamar, pictured right, with his friend and client, lightweight world champion Mickey Bey

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By Chris Robinson

Stick around the boxing game long enough and you are bound to find your share of personalities outside of the ropes as well as inside.

To anyone familiar with recently-crowned IBF lightweight champion Mickey Bey, they will tell you that the Cleveland, Oh. native likes to keep a small circle.
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Jean Pascal: ‘The way I’m going to beat Kovalev is simple…’

Former light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal inside of the Roy Jones Jr. Fight Academy in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

Training camp continues to push forward in Las Vegas for  former champion Jean Pascal ahead of his dangerous challenge of unified light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev.

Pascal, who once held the WBC crown, will vie for Kovalev’s WBA/IBF/WBO belts on March 14 from the Bell Centre on HBO’s airwaves.
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VIDEO: Floyd Mayweather tells Manny Pacquiao face to face ‘We have to make this fight happen’

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in Miami (Photo: Instagram)

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By Chris Robinson

On Saturday night, Feb. 7, Floyd Mayweather took to his personal Instagram to show off a video from his recent face to face encounter with Manny Pacquiao.

The clip, recorded by Bad Medina, reveals Mayweather pleading with Pacquiao’s side in an effort to make them realize how important it is for the boxing world to see them fight.
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17-year old ‘Sugar’ Vasquez’s progression continues despite Lorenzo Trejo fallout

Damien ‘Sugar’ Vasquez, right, sparring with Sergio Lopez at the Top Rank Gym before a scheduled defense of his NABF flyweight title (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

Later tonight, inside of the Masonic Temple in Detroit, Mich., 17-year old Damien ‘Sugar’ Vasquez was scheduled to make the first defense of his NABF flyweight title vs. Lorenzo Trejo.

We swung through the Top Rank Gym late last month to check out Vasquez in training and he was definitely sharp, as he put in work with tough local fighter Sergio Lopez while his team of Ismael Salas, Miguel Diaz, and Richie Sandoval watched on.
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Lanardo Tyner set to join Keith Thurman’s camp ahead of Robert Guerrero fight

Lanardo Tyner with Floyd Mayweather at his annual BBQ Cookout prior to his rematch with Marcos Maidana (Photo: Chris Robinson)

Tyner again

By Chris Robinson

Lanardo Tyner is set to join the training camp of WBA interim welterweight champion Keith Thurman, who faces Robert Guerrero on March 7 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The rugged and raw Detroit native confirmed the news to HustleBoss.com on Wednesday night.
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Dissecting Seattle’s heartbreaking Super Bowl loss to New England

Malcolm Butler and the New England Patriots are again Super Bowl champions (Photo: Instagram)

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By Kyle Hutchison

With Super Bowl XLIX in the books, the arm-chair quarterbacks have sat up, put down their beers and voiced their opinions. You can second guess just about every call or play made in this game, but none will be more popular then the now infamous pass play that lead to Seattle’s fourth quarter loss.

After a miraculous catch by Seattle wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, and a tough run to the one yard line by Marshawn Lynch, Seattle offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell called a pass play on the one yard line. The play was a slant route ran by wide receiver Ricardo Lockette underneath a “pick” route ran by wide receiver Jermaine Kearse.
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Wayne McCullough on Mayweather-Pacquiao: ‘If it doesn’t happen this year it will never happen”

Former champion Wayne McCullough inside of the newly-opened City Athletic Boxing Club in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

As the days pass by, the boxing world continues to wait on any kind of announcement in regards to a Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao matchup.

Despite premature reports on the matchup being set, the buzz continues to remain high that we’ll see the two best from this generation square off sometime in 2015.
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Exclusive photos: 17-year old Damien ‘Sugar’ Vasquez training for Feb. 6 bout in Detroit

Damien ‘Sugar’ Vasquez training at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

Exclusive photos from the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas, Nevada, as 17-year old talent Damien ‘Sugar’ Vasquez trains ahead of his Feb. 6 bout inside of the Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan.
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Jessie Vargas thinks May is too soon for Mayweather-Pacquiao; wants to face Manny himself

Las Vegas’ Jessie Vargas still wants a big date with Manny Pacquiao (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

With no announcement of a Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao having yet  taken place, the boxing world continues to sit on the edge of its seat for any kind of news.

For reigning WBA junior welterweight champion Jessie Vargas, he still is holding on to hope that it is he, not Mayweather, who ends up dueling with Pacquiao.
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