Middleweight prospect Luis ‘Cuba’ Arias is back in Las Vegas for a brief visit (Photo: Chris Robinson)
By Chris Robinson
Over the weekend of June 19-21, there was a lot of boxing taking place in various parts of the globe.
On the Andre Ward vs. Paul Smith undercard in Oakland, Calif. undefeated middleweight prospect Luis ‘Cuba’ Arias improved to 12-0 with 5 knockouts after disposing of overmatch Tony Brinson with an onslaught of punches to the body and head.
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Hustle Boss inside of the Mayweather Boxing Club with Zach Cooper and J’Leon Love (Photo: Chris Robinson)
By Chris Robinson
If there was ever a duo that was sure to get me some positive reaction to the June 20 Adrien Broner vs. Shawn Porter matchup and aftermath, upcoming talents Zach Cooper and J’Leon Love fit the bill.
Porter pulled off perhaps the biggest victory over his career thus far when he handled Broner over the course of 12 rounds. Porter was aggressive and calculated throughout the match and outside of a big knockdown he suffered in the 12th and final round, the Akron native was in control.
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Mikayla Nebel, right, getting her hands wrapped by trainer Armin Van Damme inside of City Athletic Boxing in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson)
By Chris Robinson
It was about a year and a half ago when I first crossed paths with budding female talent Mikayla Nebel out here in Las Vegas.
Then training at the Mayweather Boxing Club, it was easy to spot talent in Nebel as well as passion, as we spoke in-depth about her early career learning lessons and how she fought on despite feeling robbed in several of her professional matches.
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Shane Mosley defeated Jason Kelly via 1st round TKO on Saturday night (Photo: Getty Images for DIRECTV)
By Chris Robinson
It was a successful night on Saturday for Shane Mosley Jr. as the son of the living legend scored a victory in his official debut competing under BKB (Big Knockout Boxing) inside of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.
The 24-year old Mosley, 4-1 as a professional boxer and 1-0 now while competing under BKB, was simple too strong and powerful for his opponent Jason Kelly. Mosley struck fast, registering a knockdown following a left to the body, and later ended the bout with a flury against his hapless foe.
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Tim Bradley overcame Jessie Vargas on Saturday night (Photo: Chris Farina – Top Rank)
By Chris Robinson
Photos from the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. as two-division world champion Timothy Bradley (32-1-1, 12 KO’s) pulls out a 12-round unanimous decision victory over previously-undefeated junior welterweight titlist Jessie Vargas (26-1, 9 KO’s).
In a very competitive and fast-paced matchup, Bradley was a little too busy for Vargas, but had to survive a big scare in the final round when he was rocked in the closing seconds. The fight was stopped seven seconds prematurely in the final frame by referee Pat Russell, all the reason enough for Vargas and his team to cry foul and call for a rematch.
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Shane Mosley Jr. scored a big victory during BKB3 at the Mandalay Bay on Saturday night (Photo: Scott McDermott/Getty Images for DIRECTV)
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night, June 27, pro boxer Shane Mosley Jr. made a successful transition into the world of BKB (Big Knockout Boxing) with a crushing 1st round TKO over Jason Kelly inside of the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
Mosley, 4-1 as a boxer and now 1-0 in the BKB pit, was simply too sharp, strong, and powerful for Kelly from the outset, as he registered a knockdown off of a left hook and then again from a follow up combination, as the second left Kelly on the deck for good.
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Armin Van Damme and the City Athletic Boxing crew spotted inside of King’s Boxing Gym in Oakland (Photo: City Athletic Boxing)
By Chris Robinson
Received an update from City Athletic Boxing Owner Armin Van Damme, as it looks like the CAB crew has invaded Oakland for the weekend.
Turns out that five of the gym’s amateurs have bouts today, taking place from within the renown King’s Boxing Gym, the home of super middleweight king Andre Ward.
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Shane Mosley Jr., pictured center in between his father Shane and grandfather Jack, makes his BKB debut on Saturday night (Photo: Chris Robinson)
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night, Shane Mosley Jr. will make a new transition in his life when he steps inside the BKB pit for the first time.
Mosley, the son of the living legend by the same name, has been learning on the job thus far in the pro boxing game, as he has compiled a 4-1 record while getting work all over Las Vegas and California.
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Floyd Mayweather, center, with Rihanna and P Reala during the madness of the NBA Finals in Golden State earlier this month (Photo: Instagram)
By Chris Robinson
I will never accuse Kenny Porter of holding back his thoughts.
Still basking in the aftermath of his son Shawn’s big victory over Adrien Broner this past weekend, we caught up with the outspoken coach during the BKB weigh-ins at the Mandalay Bay on Friday afternoon.
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Eduardo Galindo and Maurice Hooker face off in Dallas later tonight (Photo: Stacey Verbeek)
By Chris Robinson
Update from Dallas, Tex. as it looks like the Maurice Hooker vs. Eduardo Galindo matchup for the vacant WBO NABO junior welterweight title will still be taking place despite Galindo coming in overweight at yesterday’s weigh in. Hooker vs. Galindo takes place from the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center later tonight.
Hooker (17-0-2, 13 KO’s) weighed in just under the junior welterweight limit of 140 pounds but it was Galindo (10-0-1, 7 KO’s) who was five pounds over at 145 pounds. Galindo refused to attempt to lose the weight in the allowed 2-hour period after weighing over and was advised that he needed to weigh in no more than 150 pounds this morning under the supervision of NABO president Porfirio Betegon.
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16-year old amateur prospect Devin Haney inside of City Athletic Boxing in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson)
By Chris Robinson
During any big fight, there are always all kinds of subplots and such was the case with Shawn Porter’s big victory over Adrien Broner this past weekend inside of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Following the match, Floyd Mayweather, a man Broner looks to as a mentor, suggested the fighter should have probably rested following his weigh in for Porter, as he instead was inside of the famed Mayweather Boxing Club checking out some sparring on the eve of his 32nd professional boxing match.
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Tim Bradley has arrived in Los Angeles ahead of his HBO matchup vs. Jessie Vargas this weekend (Photo: Chris Farina – Top Rank)
By Chris Robinson
It’s about that time again for two-division world champion Timothy Bradley, who faces off with undefeated junior welterweight titlist Jessie Vargas this Saturday night inside of the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
The HBO-televised battle, set for the interim WBO welterweight belt, will show us how much Bradley (31-1-1, 12 KO’s) has left heading into a duel with a younger, seemingly fresher Vargas (26-0, 9 KO’s), who enlisted the services of the great Erik Morales for this camp after difficulties in finding time with his previous coach, Roy Jones Jr.
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Vince Parra and Maurice Hooker are eyeing a Dallas showdown (Photo: Instagram)
By Chris Robinson
It seems like just the other day when I first crossed paths with upstart junior welterweight hopeful Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker out in Las Vegas.
A native of Dallas, Tex., Hooker was around Las Vegas in late 2013, during a brief stint in the city with his trainer and former fighter Vince Parra. And although his time in the city was short, what I was able to see from the young fighter in that time left an impression upon me that hasn’t been forgotten.
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Oscar De La Hoya on Father’s Day. Will we see the champ in the ring again? (Photo: Instagram)
By Vitali Shaposhnikov
The crowd effect, the motivation, the drive, the adrenaline that floods your body with unparalleled vigor, and the thousands of fans cheering for you when you emerge from below the arena, all are a champion’s addiction. Many retired champions make a comeback to the ring because its home, it’s something that endless sweat and dedication earned them.
For Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya, the man that had a very exciting boxing career as well as a turbulent retirement, these feeling are no different.
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Tommy Smalls speaking in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson)
By Chris Robinson
While inside of City Athletic Boxing in Las Vegas earlier today, I crossed paths with Tommy Smalls, a man known best to some in boxing circles for his connection to the Mayweather Boxing Club a few years back.
Smalls is now working closely with top flight amateur prospect Devin Haney, who was also in the building finishing up a workout ahead of what he hopes to soon be a professional debut.
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Floyd Mayweather always causes a scene wherever he goes (Photo: Chris Robinson)
By Vitali Shaposhnikov
With Gennady Golovkin now being in the mix of viable challengers for Mayweather, the boxing community has been talking. Is this fight actually possible? Would Mayweather agree to face one of the most feared fighters in the sport? If so, what would be the demand for such a fight?
According to Golovkin’s trainer, Abel Sanchez, “GGG” would be able to come down to 154 to face Mayweather. The fans would undoubtedly accept that fight with arms wide open, but unfortunately, Mayweather doesn’t see Golovkin as a challenge.
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Rances Barthelemy was in control over Antonio DeMarco on Sunday afternoon (Photo: Naoki Fukuda)
By Chris Robinson
Photos from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev. as “Premier Boxing Champions” on NBC showcased Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy’s domination of former lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco. by way of Sinaloa, Mexico on Sunday afternoon.
Barthelemy, who held the IBF belt briefly at 130 pounds, served notice to the junior welterweight class with this performance, as he is now compaigning at 140 pounds. In his new division, Barthelemy looks very strong and he was simply too quick and powerful for DeMarco.
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Has Shawn Porter earned the right for a fight with Floyd Mayweather? (Photo: Chris Robinson)
By Chris Robinson
Shawn Porter was Shawn Porter on Saturday night.
Inside of the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., the 27-year old came away with a big victory over Adrien Broner after 12 rough and awkward rounds. Porter simply showed himself to be too determined, conditioned, and poised throughout the match, capturing the verdict on all three scorecards by tallies of 118-108, 115-111, and 114-112.
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Errol Spence in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson)
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night, June 20, welterweight star Errol Spence continued to stamp himself as one of the division’s emerging contenders with a one-sided 3rd round TKO over Phil Lo Greco inside of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Now 17-0 with 14 knockouts as his career continues to push forward, Spence is on the verge of a big fight anytime now as was actually in line for his biggest test to date against Roberto Garcia before the Weslaco, Tex. native withdrew just days prior to the match due to personal reasons.
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Shawn Porter came away with a big victory over Adrien Broner in Las Vegas (Photo: Naoki Fukuda)
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday, June 20, former welterweight titlist Shawn Porter (26-1-1, 16 KO’s) produced another strong performance in handling Adrien Broner (30-2, 22 KO’s) over 12 rounds for a unanimous decision victory.
Porter’s sheer will and tenacity appeared to give Broner a lot to think about and Shawn proved himself to be the busier and more focused fighter in the ring. Scores of 118-108, 115-111, and 114-112 were all read in the Akron native’s favor, as he produces his second straight victory following his lone defeat to Kell Brook this past August.
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