Category Archives: Boxing

Yordenis Ugas Addresses Rumored Keith Thurman Fight [VIDEO]

Yordenis Ugas is rumored to be in line for a fight with Keith Thurman [Photo: Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions]

By Chris Robinson

Former WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas last saw action inside of the ring in April of last year, as he bravely battled unbeaten Errol Spence Jr. inside of AT&T Stadium, in Arlington, TX.

Ugas fought valiantly, but began taking damage at the midway point of the fight, and was ultimately stopped in the 10th round. Spence holds the IBF, WBA, and WBC titles and will be facing off with WBO champion Terence Crawford later this month.

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VIDEO: Undefeated Andres Cortes Trains for Feb. 3 Return in Glendale, AZ

Andre Cortes Trains in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)

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By Chris Robinson

Hustle Boss recently caught up with undefeated junior lightweight prospect Andres “Savage” Cortes inside of the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas, NV.

Cortes instantly caught our attention years back as an amateur, and he has since continued on with an impressive run as a professional, going 18-0 with 10 knockouts thus far. Cortes will be facing off with Puerto Rico’s Luis Melendez (17-2, 13 KO’s) on Feb. 3 in Glendale, AZ on the undercard of two-division world champion Emmanuel Navarette (36-1, 30 KO’s) as he faces off with Australia’s Liam Wilson (11-1, 7 KO’s) for the vacant WBO junior lightweight title.
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PHOTOS: Unbeaten Michel Rivera Trains for Frank Martin Clash in Las Vegas

Michel Rivera training in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)

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By Chris Robinson

Later tonight, from The Chelsea inside of the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, a pair of unbeaten lightweight contenders will collide on SHOWTIME.

Michel “La Zarza Ali” Rivera and Frank “The Ghost” Martin will clash in an intriguing WBA Lightweight Title Eliminator that also serves as one of the most important fights on boxing’s forthcoming schedule.
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PHOTOS: Open Try-Outs for Team Combat League Get Underway in Las Vegas

Team Combat League held open try-outs for their forthcoming 2023 season on Thursday and Friday. Pictured in this photo are TCL co-owner Ahmed Sheikh, former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, and former fighter and trainer Dewey Cooper (Photo: Hustle Boss)

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By Chris Robinson

On Thursday afternoon, inside of the hybrid Split-T Boxing Gym / One Kick’s Gym in Las Vegas, NV, Team Combat League held open try-outs ahead of the launch of their official sports combat league.

We had spoken with trainer Dewey Cooper about the try-outs last month, and he informed us about a “new professional boxing league starting”, with a concept that was similar to the NFL, NBA, and other team sports.
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What is Team Combat League? Open Trials for New Boxing League to Take Place Oct. 6-7 in Las Vegas

Team Combat League Tryouts Take Place in Las Vegas, starting this Thursday, Oct. 6

Road to the Ring

By Chris Robinson

Dewey Cooper has been a very busy trainer in recent weeks, whether working out of his personal gym on the east side of Las Vegas or meeting up with his fighters at other locations within the city.

Speaking recently from within the hybrid Split-T Boxing/One Kick’s Gym, Cooper informed us of a new professional fighter’s league that he will be playing a big part in.
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PHOTOS: Deontay Wilder Trains at UFC Apex Gym in Las Vegas Ahead of Robert Helenius Fight

Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)

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By Chris Robinson

On Thursday afternoon, former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder hosted the media at the UFC Apex Gym in Las Vegas ahead of his latest ring appearance, vs. Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius.

The Wilder vs. Helenius bout will be a heavyweight title eliminator, set to air on FOX Sports pay per view, from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Wilder is returning from his riveting bout with Tyson Fury late last year, the third in their memorable trilogy.
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Photos: Bubba Jenkins Puts Finishes Touches on Training Camp Ahead of PFL Bout vs. Ryoji Kudo

Bubba Jenkins finished training camp last week in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)

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By Chris Robinson

This Saturday night, Aug. 20, PFL veteran Bubba Jenkins returns to the ring to face off with Tokyo’s Ryoji Kudo in a featherweight semifinal showdown. The Jenkins (18-5) vs. Kudo (11-3-1) showdown will air on ESPN and ESPN + as part of a 13-bout card from the Copper Box Arena in London.

We caught up with Jenkins and trainer Dewey Cooper out in Las Vegas, NV, as they put the finishing touches on camp inside of the newly renovated Split-T Boxing Gym.
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Teofimo Lopez Ready for Another Takeover: ‘I Want to Shoot for the Titles!’

Teofimo Lopez stopped Pedro Campa on Saturday (Photo: Mikey Williams – Top Rank)

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By Chris Robinson

This past Saturday night, in front of a sold-out crowd of 3,553 at Resorts World Las Vegas, former unified lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez made a successful junior welterweight debut.

Lopez (17-1, 13 KO’s) stopped Mexico’s Pedro Campa (34-2-1, 23 KO’s) in the seventh round, despite a bit of a slow start. Lopez was returning from his only setback as a professional, when he lost his lightweight titles to George Kambosos Jr. over 12 fast-paced rounds this past November.
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PHOTOS: Dewey Cooper Training his BKSS Squad Inside of Split-T Boxing

Dewey Cooper working with Javid Basharat and Timmy Cuamba  (Photo: Hustle Boss)

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By Chris Robinson

We recently swung by Split-T Boxing in Las Vegas, NV, to catch up with former multi-sport champion and current day trainer Dewey “Black Kobra” Cooper.

During his fighting days, Cooper competed in Kickboxing, Boxing, Muay Thai, and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and you can always count on Cooper training a bevy of talented athletes across different genres of sports.
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VIDEO: Lanardo Tyner Reflects Back on His Memorable Career And Recalls All The Great Fighters he Shared The Ring With

Lanardo Tyner and Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)

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By Chris Robinson

When looking back at the career of Lanardo Tyner, you have to appreciate all of the fighters he fearlessly faced in the ring, and all the great work that he gave some top level prospects and champions along the way.

Tyner compiled a 35-16-2 record with 22 knockouts during his 15 years as a fighter, but that ledger doesn’t speak to just how resilient, durable, and gritty Tyner was. Tyner scored some notable victories, including entertaining stoppages over Charles Hatley and Antwone Smith. Tyner also gave good accounts in losing efforts vs. the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Mike Arnaoutis, and Lamont Peterson.
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VIDEO: Errol Spence and Yordenis Ugas Face off Following Weigh-in Ahead of SHOWTIME PPV Bout

Errol Spence Jr. (left) and Yordenis Ugas face off on Saturday night in Arlington, TX (Photo: Amanda Westcott – SHOWTIME)

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By Chris Robinson

Later tonight, from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, IBF/WBC welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. and WBA champion Yordenis Ugas will face off in a unification showdown set to be aired on SHOWTIME pay per view.

At Friday’s weigh-in, Spence (27-0, 21 KO’s) came in weighing 146.5 pounds while Ugas (27-4, 21 KO’s) hit the scales at 146.75 pounds. Both men appear to be in tremendous shape and this should figure to be a fast-paced, high-level action fight.
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PHOTOS: Yordenis Ugas Training for April 16 Errol Spence PPV Clash

Yordenis Ugas trains for Errol Spence Jr. (Photo: Hustle Boss)

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By Chris Robinson

WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas recently hosted a media workout in Las Vegas, NV ahead of his April 16 clash vs. IBF/WBC champion Errol Spence Jr. The two men will face off inside of the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, in a Premier Boxing Champions event set to be aired on SHOWTIME pay per view.

Ugas is preparing for the Spence clash inside of the Salas Boxing Academy in Las Vegas, NV, with trainer Ismael Salas. The pair have had a great run of success, which has included Ugas (27-4, 12 KO’s) going on a very formidable streak over the past five years that has seen him defeat a bevy of undefeated fighters, while also challenging some of the division’s biggest names.
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Enigmatic Keith Thurman Remains Intriguing Player at the Elite Leve

Keith Thurman defeated Mario Barrios earlier this month (Photo: Ryan Hafey – Premier Boxing Champions)

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By Chris Robinson

No matter how you cut it, it’s always great having someone like Keith Thurman around the sport of boxing.

Thurman (30-1, 22 KO’s) is quite the enigma. I recall the Clearwater, FL native making some noise back in the Tampa area in the late 2000’s, and that buzz carried over as Thurman began piling up wins, fighting more and more outside of his home state, and marching up boxing’s ladder.
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PHOTOS: Abram Martinez and Omar Juarez Sparring Inside of the Salas Boxing Academy

Omar Juarez and Abram Martinez sparring in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)

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By Chris Robinson

Fast-paced sparring between Abram Martinez and Omar Juarez inside of the Salas Boxing Academy in Las Vegas, NV earlier this week.

Martinez (9-0-1, 7 KO’s) is scheduled for a January 28 return against Orestes Velazquez at the Hialeah Park Racing & Casino in Hialeah, FL. Fans can remember his entertaining, back-and-forth fight with fellow undefeated Luis Arcon last year in Los Angeles.
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PHOTOS: Gervonta Davis Overcomes Tough Challenge From Isaac Cruz in Los Angeles

Gervonta Davis defeated Isaac Cruz on Sunday night (Photo: Esther Lin – SHOWTIME)

Gervonta Davis vs Isaac Cruz

By Chris Robinson

On Sunday night, Dec. 5, WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis was faced with a stiff test in the form of once-beaten contender Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz. Davis emerged victorious after 12 fast-paced rounds in front of a sold-out, star-studded crowd inside of the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

Scorecards read 116-112 and two scores of 115-113, all for Davis. Cruz came out the gates and set a fast pace that Davis happily obliged. There were several moments of intense action, with much of the fight being a physical battle.
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PHOTOS: Reliving Stephen Fulton’s Thrilling Battle with Brandon Figueroa

Stephen Fulton and Brandon Figueroa went to war on Saturday (Photo: Esther Lin – SHOWTIME)

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By Chris Robinson

This past Saturday night, from Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas, NV, Stephen Fulton narrowly defeated fellow champion Brandon Figueroa via hotly contested split decision. The fight air lived on SHOWTIME as the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions telecast.

Fulton (20-0, 8 KO’s) and Figueroa (22-1-1, 17 KO’s) put on a memorable display over 12 rounds, throwing over 1,700 punches according to CompuBox. Scores of 116-112 twice and 114-114 saw Fulton, from Philadelphia, capture the victory to add the WBC junior featherweight title next to the WBO title he won in his previous contest.
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What is Next for Terence Crawford Following His Emphatic TKO Victory Over Shawn Porter?

Terence Crawford stopped Shawn Porter in the 10th round on Saturday night (Photo: Mikey Williams – Top Rank/Getty)

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By Chris Robinson

This past Saturday night, inside of the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV, we saw Terence Crawford perform under his biggest stage against his most accomplished opponent to date in Shawn Porter.

And Crawford definitely delivered, ultimately scoring a 10th round TKO victory, but nothing came easy on this night. With the win, Crawford (38-0, 29 KO’s) also scored a fifth successful defense of this WBO welterweight title, yet Porter (31-4-1, 17 KO’s) also has much to hold his head high about after another valiant effort vs. another elite fighter.
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Canelo Alvarez (168) and Caleb Plant (167) Weigh in Ahead of Historic Unification [VIDEO]

Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant facing off on Friday at their weigh-in  (Photo: Amanda Westcott – SHOWTIME)

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By Chris Robinson

Later tonight, WBA/WBC/WBO super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and IBF champion Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant will meet inside of the MGM Grand Garden Arena in a historic unification showdown. SHOWTIME pay per view will televise the Premier Boxing Champions event.

Canelo (56-1-2, 38 KO’s) came in at 168 pounds, while Plant (21-0, 12 KO’s) came in weighing 167. Both men appear to be in tremendous physical shape and this figures to be a real tactical, intense affair.
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VIDEO: Tyson Fury Discusses Trilogy Showdown With Deontay Wilder

Tyson Fury in Las Vegas (Photo: Mikey Williams – Top Rank)

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By Chris Robinson

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury returns to the ring this weekend in Las Vegas, where he will settle a long-running rivalry with former champion Deontay Wilder.

Fury (31-0-1, 21 KO’s) will meet Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KO’s) inside of the T-Mobile Arena in a joint ESPN/FOX pay per view venture that will surely shake up the division once again. The two men fought to a hotly-contested split-draw in December of 2018 in Los Angeles, as Wilder scored two knockdowns but appeared to be outboxed much of the fight. The rematch saw Fury score two knockdowns and register a commanding seventh-round TKO victory.
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