Monthly Archives: June 2015

Antonio Margarito contemplating a ring return; eyes Cotto III or Canelo

Will we see Antonio Margarito in the ring again? (Photo: Chris Farina – Top Rank)

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By Vitali Shaposhnikov

It has been three and a half years since Antonio Margarito (38-8, 27 KO’s) has entered the ring as a fighter. On December 3 2011, he fought and lost his rematch with Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden in New York. Since then, he has been hiding out, staying out of the spotlight of the press, and enjoying family life.

For Margarito, boxing came not only with the financial rewards of being a champion, but also with the embarrassment of trying to hide an illegal attempt at victory via his hand-wrapping debacle. Boxing is the kind of sport where cheating doesn’t just put your opponent at a risk of losing by points, but possibly permanent physical injury. Being a part of something like that will most likely result in banishment from the sport.
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VIDEO: Rashad Ganaway vs. Joseph Macedo [First Friday Exhibition Sparring at Tocco’s]

WBC USNBC lightweight champion Rashad Ganaway faces off with upcoming amateur prospect Joseph Macedo inside of Johnny Tocco’s in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

As Hustle Boss previously reported, Rashad Ganaway recently got his career back on track by winning the WBC USNBC lightweight title with an eight-round unanimous decision over Leon Spinks III in Salt Lake City, Utah.

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Ganaway now calls Las Vegas his home and could recently be spotted putting in some rounds inside of Johnny Tocco’s during the famed gym’s First Friday Exhibition Sparring earlier this month.
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PHOTOS: Deontay Wilder stops Eric Molina in the ninth round in Alabama

Deontay Wilder is still undefeated (Photo: Stephane Trapp – SHOWTIME)

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By Chris Robinson

Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (34-0, 33 KOs), may have had to work harder than expected before dismantling Eric “Drummer Boy” Molina (23-3, 17 KOs) on Saturday night inside of the Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala., but he still managed to come away with a ninth round knockout and a successful first defense of his WBC heavyweight title.

Check below for ringside photos from SHOWTIME’s Stephane Trapp.
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Foxwoods prepares for the return of ‘The American Dream’ Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson is getting ready for a ring return this August (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

There is no denying true talent and that’s why I’ve always had a soft spot for former WBC USNBC light heavyweight champion Ron Johnson.

Sporting an 11-1 record with 3 knockouts, it’s hard for me to believe that we haven’t seen the Cleveland, Oh. inside of the squared circle competing as a professional for more than five years. Johnson’s last match took place in November of 2009 inside of the Palms Casino in his adopted hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, a 2nd round “No Contest” vs. Dumont Welliver.
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PHOTOS: Nicholas Walters regroups to control Miguel Marriaga over 12 rounds

Nicholas Walters defeated Miguel Marriaga this weekend in New York (Photo: Naoki Fukuda)

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By Chris Robinson

This past weekend, inside of the Madison Square Garden’s Theater, former WBA featherweight champion Nicholas “Axe-Man” Walters surrendered his title on the scales after coming in weighing 127 pounds, one over the featherweight division limit.

And while he may be returning to his native Jamaica without his title, not was all lost for the powerful prizefighter.
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#HOPE4NARLEY: Attitude Is Everything for Antoine Powell

Antoine Powell aka ‘Narley’ is one of the more positive souls you will meet out in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

Las Vegas is a city full of a little bit of everything and I’ve met some interesting characters since moving here in late 2009.

One of the things that you get to learn about Las Vegas when you become situated is just how many transits come and make the city their new home in an effort to change their life.
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Deontay Wilder survives early scare; regroups to drop Eric Molina four times en route to 9th round KO

WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and his team celebrate following his victory over Eric Molina (Photo: Instagram)

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By Chris Robinson

In front of a sold out crowd of 8,500 inside of the Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala., WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (34-0, 33 KO’s) scored a successful first defense of his title vs. tough Eric Molina (23-3, 17 KO’s).

Wilder was a huge favorite heading into the fight but actually had some rocky moments when he was caught in the third round. Following that stanza, Wilder regrouped and scored a knockdown in the fourth, two in the fifth, before finishing the match off with a big overhand right that put his opponent out and on his back.
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Exclusive Photos: Ganaway vs. Macedo highlights Tocco’s Exhibition Sparring in June

Joseph Macedo and Rashad Ganaway working inside of Johnny Tocco’s (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

As I walked inside of Johnny Tocco’s Boxing Gym this past Friday, I knew something good was in store.

The famed facility began hosting Exhibition Sparring matches on the first Friday of every month and thus far the action has been top notch. This was exactly the case when I saw lightweight veteran Rashad Ganaway and upstart amateur prospect Joseph “El Bandito” Macedo facing off and trading blows.
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‘Dangerous’ Don Moore vs. Cameron Kreal looms for July 24 in Las Vegas

Cameron Kreal training inside of the Las Vegas Fight Club (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

A high-stakes junior welterweight bout appears to be a go for July 24 in Las Vegas, as it looks like undefeated “Dangerous” Don Moore (17-0-1, 11 KO’s) will tangle with tough Cameron Kreal (7-7-1, 1 KO) inside of the Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino.

Both Moore and Kreal are known well in the Las Vegas area and the fight is sure to answer a lot of questions about each man.
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Undefeated prospects Luis Arias and Sonny Fredrickson to see action on the Andre Ward-Paul Smith undercard in Oakland

Luis ‘Cuba’ Arias is gunning for 12-0 (Photo: Manny ‘Mitts’ Murillo)

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By Chris Robinson

On Saturday night, June 20, inside of the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., a pair of undefeated prospects will return to the ring on the undercard of the Andre Ward vs. Paul Smith BET-televised showdown.

Both Luis Arias (11-0, 4 KO’s) and Sonny Fredrickson (8-0, 5 KO’s) will be on the show, looking to bolster their unblemished marks.
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PHOTOS: Deontay Wilder and Eric Molina face off at final press conference ahead of SHOWTIME title bout

WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder faces off with challenge Eric Molina ahead of their fight on Saturday (Photo: Stephane Trapp – SHOWTIME)

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By Chris Robinson

Photos from Embassy Suites in Birmingham, Ala. as undefeated WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” (33-0, 32 KO’s) faces off with challenge Eric Moina (23-2, 17 KO’s) two days prior to their SHOWTIME-televised duel this Saturday night.

Wilder captured the WBC belt this past January in Las Vegas by defeating Bermane Stiverne over 12 rounds and he will be looking for a first successful defense inside of the Bartow Arena in Birmingham this weekend.
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A$AP Rocky set to perform on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Thursday, June 11

Keeping up to date with A$AP Rocky (Photo: Instagram)

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By Chris Robinson

A$AP ROCKY, one of the game’s top rappers and member of the hip-hop collective A$AP Mob, will be performing on Thursday night, June 11 to perform a medley of his new tracks “L$D” and “JUKEBOX JOINTS” on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

A$AP’s debut studio album, 2013’s Long.Live.A$AP, topped the Billboard 200 Albums chart upon its release. His sophomore album, At.Long.Last.A$AP, was released on May 26 and became his second No. 1 album.
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Danny Garcia vacates WBC title at 140 pounds; Lucas Matthysse vs. Victor Postol next?

Danny Garcia, pictured right, won a close one vs. Lamont Peterson in April (Photo: Naoki Fukuda)

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By Chris Robinson

Looks like Philadelphia’s Danny Garcia has elected to relinquish his WBC junior welterweight title that he captured in March of 2012 after defeating Erik Morales.

Garcia’s last two contests, a majority-decision over Lamont Peterson in April and a 2nd round knockout over Rod Salka this past August, were fought above the junior welterweight limit of 140 pounds and those in the industry knew well ahead of time that it was time for the young champion to move up.
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Hrunov is convinced Wilder will do everything to postpone facing Povetkin

Deontay Wilder will be defending his WBC heavyweight title this weekend in Alabama (Photo: Stephane Trapp – SHOWTIME)

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By  Vitali Shaposhnikov

Deontay Wilder has certainly carved quite a name for himself. In the day and age when the heavyweight division seems dry, it is always refreshing to see someone with the dedication to come in swinging, especially when that results in a 97% knockout rate.

A respectful 33 victories and no losses puts Wilder in a very beneficial position. While some argue that he has not yet proven himself due to lack of top-rated competition, others claim that while that may be so, there isn’t a huge roster of exciting talented heavyweights to pick from.
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Miguel Cotto pushing forward, could Canelo Alvarez be next?

Puerto Rican superstar Miguel Cotto is coming off of another big TKO victory (Photo: Naoki Fukuda)

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By Vitali Shaposhnikov

Why do so many boxing fans respect Miguel Cotto? The answer is as simple and as direct as could be: because he always comes to fight.

Daniel Geale was a formidable challenge, anyone would agree, and Cotto knew that as well. But coming into their fight this past weekend in New York, Cotto was fighting for something that he had tasted before: a colossal event, a mega-fight.
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VIDEO: Hustle Boss’ Chris Robinson – vs – Zappos’ Miguel Barragan [FULL FIGHT]

HustleBoss.com’s Chris Robinson surrounded by the City Athletic Boxing crew following his 3rd round TKO victory over Miguel Barragan at Zappo’s in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)

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By Hustle Boss

Part 1 of 2Hustle Boss Owner and Co-Founder Chris Robinson,  stepped into the boxing ring on Tuesday night, January 9, to take on Zappo’s Miguel Barragan as part of Derrick Harmon’s ‘Vegas Night Life Fights’ at Zappo’s in Downtown Las Vegas.

Known primarily for his skills in the media field, Robinson has been putting in a lot of work behind the scenes out in Las Vegas with a bevy of trainers and fighters in  recent months and was able to showcase what he’s learned against a young, tough opponent.
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Exclusive: Adrien Broner’s sparring partners speak on the big Shawn Porter fight

Four of Adrien Broner’s sparring partners recently opened up from Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson)

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By Chris Robinson

Abdul Musawwir Muhammed always has a lot of people coming in and out of his barber shop out in Las Vegas.

Located within walking distance of the Mayweather Boxing Club, several local and visiting fighters go to Musawwir’s to get a cut, and even some mitt work on occasion.
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PHOTOS: Miguel Cotto stops Daniel Geale in the 4th round in Brooklyn

Miguel Cotto stopped Daniel Geale last night in Brooklyn (Photo: Naoki Fukuda)

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By Chris Robinson

Four-division world champion Miguel Cotto proved to be too much for Daniel Geale last night, stopping the brave Australian inside of the 4th round of their middleweight title fight last night from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Cotto (40-4, 33 KO’s) now looks to a possible fight later in the year with Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez, while Geale (31-4, 16 KO’s) will have to go back to the drawing board once again.
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Bianka Thompson gets advice from Floyd Mayweather Sr. inside of City Athletic Boxing

Bianka Thompson working with Floyd Mayweather Sr. inside of City Athletic Club in Las Vegas (Photo: Domo TC)

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By Chris Robinson

www.HustleBoss.com and Domo TC step inside of City Athletic Boxing as 20-year old female amateur talent Bianka Thompson works with her trainer Monyette Flowers as well as getting some advice from the famed Floyd Mayweather Sr.

Bianka just recently returned to the sport full-time and is already a great fit inside of the gym. Stay tuned for more details on her next move.
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PHOTOS: Tim Bradley training ahead of HBO showdown with Jessie Vargas

Tim Bradley training for Jessie Vargas (Photo: Chris Farina – Top Rank)

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By Chris Robinson

Photos from Palm Springs, Calif. as two-division world champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley works out with trainer Joel Diaz ahead of his upcoming clash with WBA junior welterweight titlist Jessie Vargas, set for June 27 inside of the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

The matchup, for the vacant WBO welterweight title, will see whether Vargas can live up to all the expectations that were bestowed upon him early in his career.
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