Tag Archives: Showtime Championship Boxing
PHOTOS: Luis Ortiz Overcomes a Brave Christian Hammer in Brooklyn
Luis Ortiz defeated a game Christian Hammer on Saturday night (Photo: Stephanie Trapp – SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
Former WBA interim heavyweight champion Luis Ortiz notched another victory on Saturday night, but not without some struggle. Ortiz (31-1, 26 KO’s) captured a unanimous decision over Christian Hammer (24-6, 14 KO’s) to keep his name relevant in the heavyweight discussion.
After ten rounds of action, scorecards reading 100-90 and 99-91 twice gave the Cuban heavyweight another important win. But those wide scores weren’t a true indicator of how much grit Hammer showed during the match, as both men were bloodied and bruised at various times during the fight.
PHOTOS: Erislandy Lara and Brian Castano Battle to 12-Round Split=Draw at The Barclays Center
Erislandy Lara and Brian Castano (Photo: Stephanie Trapp – SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night, March 2, former junior middleweight champion Erislandy Lara and current WBA junior middleweight champion Brian Castano battled to a highly-competitive 12-round split-draw that was extremely hard to score. The action took place on SHOWTIME from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, with scorecards reading 115-113 Castano, 115-113 Lara, and 114-114.
Castaño (15-0-1, 11 KOs), was able to outland his opponent (181-103) with power shots, yet Lara (25-3-3, 14 KOs) was the far more effective boxer, as he dictated the pace of the fight while landing 34% of his shots compared to 27% for his Argentinean foe.
PHOTOS: Gervonta Davis Returns And Blasts Out Hugo Ruiz in One Round
Gervonta Davis is back with another dominant win (Photo: Dave Mandel – SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night, WBA junior lightweight champion Gervonta Davis defended his title with a dominant first-round TKO of former world champion Hugo Ruiz before a sellout crowd of 8,048 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA. The one-sided contest aired on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing, as Davis raised his mark to 21-0 (20 KO’s) while Ruiz fell to 39-5 (32 KO’s).
With his promoter Floyd Mayweather watching from ringside, Davis made quick work of his late-replacement opponent.
What Are the Odds We See Floyd Mayweather Return to Face Manny Pacquiao in 2019?
Manny Pacquiao dominated Adrien Broner but will we see him face Floyd Mayweather this year? (Photo: Esther Lin – SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
This past weekend, inside of the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV, eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao successfully defended his version of the WBA welterweight title with a dominating 12-round unanimous decision over former champion Adrien Broner.
Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 KO’s) was simply too accurate, too busy, and too determined for the talented Broner (33-4-1, 24 KO’s), who was held to throwing under 300 total punches the entire duration of the bout. This win comes on the heels of Pacquiao’s impressive drubbing of Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse, who he dropped three times and stopped in the seventh round this past July.
Problem Solved: Pacquiao’s Legacy Continues After Dominant Performance Over Broner
Manny Pacquiao defeated Adrien Broner on Saturday night (Photo: Esther Lin – SHOWTIME)
by: Dennis Guillermo
Boxing’s only eight-division world champion, Manny Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 KOs) successfully defended his WBA welterweight crown against Adrien Broner (33-4-1, 24 KOs) Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in front of a sold out pro-Pacquiao crowd in his return to Las Vegas after more than a two-year absence.
The 40-year-old fighting senator from the Philippines turned back the clock as he overwhelmed the much-younger 29-year-old Broner with his signature relentless style right from the opening up to the final bell en route to a unanimous decision win. The three judges scored it ringside 117-111 and 116-112 twice. On my most generous night, I’d give Broner one round, two at the most as he simply didn’t do enough to convincingly win any round as evidenced by Compubox numbers.
PHOTOS: Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury Come Face to Face in London
Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury face off in London on Monday afternoon (Photo: Mark Robinson – SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
On Monday afternoon, inside of the BT Sport Headquarters in London, WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder came face to face with former lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, and there was no shortage of theatrics. The two men meet on Dec. 1 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles in a SHOWTIME pay per view telecast that serves as one of the biggest events of the year.
Amidst the back-and-forth trash talk, the 6’7″ Wilder and the 6’9″ Fury had to be separated by promoter Frank Warren, as Wilder shoved his British foe.
PHOTOS: 19-Year Old Prospect Devin Haney Cruises Past Juan Carlos Burgos in Temecula
Devin Haney was sharp vs. Juan Carlos Burgos on Friday night (Photo: Dave Mandel – SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
On Friday night, 19-year old lightweight prospect Devin “The Dream” Haney continued his march towards a championship as he impressively out-boxed former title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos inside of the Pechanga Casino Resort in Temecula, Calif. Haney (20-0, 13 KO’s) was too talented, sharp, and athletic for the rugged Mexican, as he dominated on another installment of ShoBox: The New Generation.
Two judges scored the fight 100-90 for Haney while a third had it 97-93 in the undefeated prospect’s favor. Burgos (33-3-2, 21 KO’s) is known best for being a capable and durable fighter, yet he had no answer for Haney on this evening.
What Was Learned in The Aftermath of Shawn Porter’s Victory Over Danny Garcia
Shawn Porter overcame Danny Garcia on Saturday night (Photo: Amanda Westcott – SHOWTIME)
By Hassnain Tariq
This past Saturday at the iconic Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, we had a thrilling contest between two of the top welterweight fighters of the world, as Shawn Porter overcame former champion Danny Garcia and will now look to go on to bigger and better things.
The beginning of this matchup showed how this thrilling contest was going to be an exciting, action-packed fight where controversy would loom. Both fighters had suffered losses to reigning WBA champion Keith Thurman, but coming into this match they were still top, elite-level fighters in the prime of their careers. The contradictory styles of each man was on display as they were battling in a high-stakes contest for the prestigious WBC title.
PHOTOS: Shawn Porter Overcomes Danny Garcia Via Close Unanimous Decision to Capture WBC Welterweight Title
Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia delivered a great, tactical battle on Saturday night (Photo: Amanda Westcott – SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night, Shawn Porter produced one of his most complete performances to date in defeating former world champion Danny “Swift” Garcia via close unanimous decision. Taking place inside of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and aired by SHOWTIME, Porter was a little bit busier and more consistent throughout the 12-round showdown, winning by scores of 116-112 and 115-113 twice.
Porter (29-2-1, 17 KO’s) captures the WBC welterweight title with the victory while Garcia (34-2, 20 KO’s) suffers his second defeat in his past three bouts, despite putting up another very strong effort.
PHOTOS: Devin ‘The Dream’ Haney Trains Inside of City Boxing Club Ahead of 9/28 ShoBox Return
Devin Haney working out in Las Vegas inside of City Boxing Club (Photo: Mario Serrano – Devin Haney Promotions)
By Chris Robinson
This past Thursday afternoon, inside of City Boxing Club in Las Vegas, Nev., undefeated lightweight prospect Devin “The Dream” Haney hosted an open media workout in advance of his Sep. 28 bout vs. former title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos. The Haney vs. Burgos matchup is set to air on SHOWTIME’s ShoBox: The New Generation series from the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif.
At 19 years old, Haney (19-0, 13 KO’s) continues to impress and he believes the Burgos fight is the perfect opportunity for him at the moment.
PHOTOS: Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia Come Face to Face At Press Conference Ahead of Sep. 8 Bout
Angel Garcia, Danny Garcia, Shawn Porter, and Kenny Porter at Monday’s presser (Photo: Amanda Westcott – SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
On Monday afternoon, inside of the Dream Hotel in Downtown Manhattan, former world champions Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter came face to face ahead of their big Sep. 8 showdown. The Porter vs. Garcia clash will take place from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and will be aired on SHOWTIME, with the vacant WBC welterweight title at stake.
After coming face to face at the presser, and exchanging a few words with one another, the two men appear ready to go, as they will be heading back to their respective training camps for the time being. For Garcia (34-1, 20′s), who is coming off of a ninth round knockout over Brandon Rios in February, he’s eager to get back in the ring and show who’s boss.
PHOTOS: Mikey Garcia (135) vs. Robert Easter Jr. (134.5) Official Weigh-In From Los Angeles
Robert Easter Jr. Faces Mikey Garcia on Saturday Night (Photo: Scott Hirano – SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
On Friday afternoon, WBC lightweight champion Mikey Garcia came face to face with IBF lightweight champion Robert Easter Jr. at the weigh-in ahead of their unification showdown. Garcia (38-0, 30 KO’s) faces Easter (21-0, 14 KO’s) on Saturday night from the Staples Center in Los Angeles in a Premier Boxing Champions telecast that will air on SHOWTIME.
As the two men stared one another down, Easter seemed far more animated while Garcia was stone-faced.
PHOTOS: Errol Spence Jr. Demolishes Carlos Ocampo In One Round in Frisco, TX
Errol Spence Jr. was dominant again on Saturday night (Photo: Stacey Verbeek)
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night, inside of the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Tex., undefeated IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. retained his title with a viscous and dominating 1st round knockout over mandatory challenger Carlos Ocampo. Spence (24-0, 21 KO’s) was heavily favored heading into the match for good reason vs. Ocampo (22-1, 13 KO’s), who he had little trouble dealing with.
Towards the end of the first round, Spence pinned Ocampo against the ropes and unloaded a series of punches, the last being a body shot that sent his overmatched foe to the ground for the count. And, just like that, Spence again delivered a star-turning performance.
PHOTOS: Erislandy Lara (153.5) vs. Jarrett Hurd (153) Official Weigh-In
Erislandy Lara and Jarrett Hurd Face Off on Saturday night (Photo: Stephanie Trapp - SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night, April 7, IBF junior middleweight champion Jarrett Hurd will face off with WBA junior middleweight champion Erislandy Lara in a classic unification match to be aired on SHOWTIME from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. It’s a match showcasing the power and aggression of Hurd (21-0, 15 KO’s) vs. the finesse, experience, and sharp-shooting of Lara (25-2-2, 14 KO’s).
“They are over here saying I’m not ready,” Hurd stated at the weigh-in. ” I’m more than ready. This is my time right now. I’m ready to get on that stage and show the world why I’ve been asking for this fight. We know he’s going to use the entire ring, but you can’t run from ‘Swift’ Jarrett Hurd for 12 rounds. We know we are going to be in his face and know he’ll have to engage at some point.”
PHOTOS: Anthony Joshua Defeats Joseph Parker Via Unanimous Decision in Wales
Anthony Joshua Defeated Joseph Parker on Saturday Night (Photo: Esther Lin – SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
Anthony Joshua is still undefeated, having recently defeated former WBO champion Joseph Parker over the course of 12 rounds. The bout took place inside of the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, and Joshua was able to retain his WBA/IBF belts while collecting Parker’s WBO strap with the win. Joshua, 28 years old now, went the distance for the first time yet was still able to come up with enough to score the win. The bout was aired live on SHOWTIME and other worldwide outlets.
Scores read 119-109 and 118-108 twice in Joshua’s favor, as he moves ever forward with his popular career, as the 28-year old champion raises his record to 21-0 with 20 knockouts. Parker, 26, the solid former WBO champion from New Zealand, gave a solid account of himself and sees his record go to 24-1 with 18 knockouts.
PHOTOS: Errol Spence Jr. Stops Lamont Peterson After the Seventh Round in Brooklyn
Errol Spence Jr. defeated Lamont Peterson on Saturday (Photo: Amanda Westcott – SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night in Brooklyn, New York, former IBF welterweight champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. dominated a very game Lamont Peterson, stopping the rugged former champion after the seventh round inside of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Aired on SHOWTIME, Spence (23-0, 20 KOs) was too skilled, too tough, and too busy and precise for Peterson (35-4-1, 17 KO’s), as he registered a successful first defense of his title.
Spence now sets his sights towards a hopeful showdown with WBA/WBC champion Keith “One Time” Thurman, but it remains to be seen whether we will see that fight anytime soon.
PHOTOS: Claressa Shields Defeats Tori Nelson Via Unanimous Decision in Verona; is Christina Hammer Next?
Claressa Shields, right, lands on Tori Nelson on Friday night (Photo: Stephane Trapp – SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
On Friday night, Jan. 12, IBF/WBC female super middleweight champion Claressa Shields successfully defended her titles with a dominant 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated contender Tori Nelson. The bout took place inside of the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York and was aired on SHOWTIME’s ShoBox: The New Generation series.
Shields was in command from the outset until the final bell, as three 100-90 scorecards were read in her favor as she improves to 5-0 with 2 knockouts. Shields, a 2012 and 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist, outland Nelson 225-81 in total punches and landed at a 44% rate.
PHOTOS: Errol Spence Hosts Media Day Ahead of Lamont Peterson Showdown
IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Trains in Dallas, Texas (Photo: Stacey Verbeek)
By Chris Robinson
On Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 9, IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence hosted the media ahead of his Jan. 20 fight vs. former world champion Lamont Peterson. Working out inside of the R&R Boxing Gym in Dallas, Tex., Spence (22-0, 19 KO’s) looked sharp and in tremendous shape, with the match being less than a few weeks away.
Peterson (35-3-1, 17 KO’s) is a very experienced and worthy opponent, and any way you break the match down it figures to be entertaining. Spence vs. Peterson will be a Premier Boxing Champions telecast that will air live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
PHOTOS: Danny Garcia vs. Brandon Rios & David Benavidez vs. Ronald Gavril Los Angeles Press Conference
Danny Garcia and Brandon Rios in Los Angeles (Photo: Chris Farina – Mayweather Promotions)
By Chris Robinson
On Tuesday afternoon, inside of the Conga Room at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, two division world champion Danny “Swift” Garcia (33-1, 19 KO’s) came face to face with former world champion Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios (34-3-1, 25 KO’s) for the first time ahead of their scheduled Feb. 17 showdown. Garcia and Rios will square off on SHOWTIME in a Premier Boxing Champions telecast that will take place from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
Also present for the press conference were WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez (19-0, 17 KO’s) and top contender Ronald Gavril (18-2, 14 KO’s), who will square off in a co-feature rematch of their thrilling world title bout this past September in Las Vegas. Benavidez defeated Gavril by split-decision and it’s a rematch many are clamoring for.
Deontay Wilder Lashes Back in Brooklyn Ahead of Rematch With Bermane Stiverne
Deontay Wilder returns to the ring on Nov. 4 in Brooklyn (Photo: Stephane Trapp/SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
Once again, WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has found himself amidst some kind of controversy, despite not doing anything other than wanting to fight the sport’s best.
Wilder was scheduled for a Nov. 4 showdown vs. former interim WBA champion Luis Ortiz, but saw the fight scratched when the Cuban tested positive for banned diuretics chlorothiazide and hydrochlorothiazide, via a letter obtained from VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) president Dr. Margaret Goodman. This marks the third time in the past 18 months that Wilder has seen an opponent test positive for a banned substance ahead of a potential fight.