Yahu Blackwell scored a victory in Tijuana (Photo: Team Blackwell)
By Chris Robinson
A few days ago we posted that Cruiserweight prospect Yahu “Rock” Blackwell would be fighting in Tijuana, Mexico against Alvarez Vasquez.
Sure enough, last night Blackwell would end up scoring a 2nd round knockout, albeit against a different opponent. A last-minute switch saw Benjamin Hernandez jump in to face off with Blackwell, but he wasn’t able to offer much resistance.
Continue reading
Yahu Blackwell returns to the ring on April 6 in Tijuana (Photo: Instagram)
By Chris Robinson
I first started hearing about Yahu Blackwell earlier this year and I admit that he was, at first, a bit of enigma to me.
But as I began finding out more information about him, I soon realized he has a story to tell and is looking to make a big run in the boxing game in 2017.
Respected former pro boxer/referee Joe Cortez spoke to me about his connection to Yahu a few months back in Las Vegas and I’ve been keeping up with the Hebrew fighter ever since.
Continue reading
Keandre Gibson and Antonio Orozco are ready for battle on Saturday night (Photo: 1Tarrell)
By Chris Robinson
On Friday afternoon, March 31, undefeated junior welterweight contenders Keandre Gibson and Antonio Orozco weighed in ahead of their matchup from the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Gibson (16-0-1, 7 KO’s) held camp in Las Vegas, at the nearby RJJ Fight Academy, and is in obvious excellent shape heading into the biggest test of his career. So too does Orozco (25-0, 16 KO’s) look to be ready to go, and there was no real animosity as the two faced off with on another.
Continue reading
Angel Heredia, far right, is in training camp with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in Mexico
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday, May 6, former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will play the role of underdog when he faces off with fellow Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez inside of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. in an HBO pay per view attraction.
Chavez (50-2-1, 32 KO’s) and Canelo (48-1-1, 34 KO’s) figure to give fireworks, and with the match taking place at a catch weight of 164.5 pounds, there are those intrigued whether or not Junior can make the weight. It’s been over four years, dating back to Sept. of 2012 when he faced Sergio Martinez, that Chavez has weighed under 165 pounds.
Continue reading
What happened to Rock and Roll’s place in the music world? (Photo: Instagram)
By Carly Levy
At the end of the year 2016, it was discovered by Spotify that the top artists of the year included rappers such as Drake and Kanye West, pop stars such Justin Bieber, R&B stylings of Rihanna, and even electro-pop from Twenty One Pilots. Hip-hop/Rap and Pop music continues to take over the award ceremonies, the radio, streaming sites, and the ears of many Americans today. My question is, where has the rock music genre gone to; the music that would get your head banging as you belt out the lyrics feeling invincible?
The Nielsen 2016 survey said that rock music was more successful than any other genre in album sales with bands like Metallica, Disturbed, Bon Jovi and may other bands. What seems apparent is how we do not see these bands very often make the headlines that the top five Spotify artists make. Has the rock genre become so nonexistent that bands like Twenty One Pilots are filling in the blank for this category now? I believe that rock music is not buried in the ground gathering dust but just living in obscurity because a new generation of people are seeking to hear something different than previous generations wanted to hear.
Continue reading
Hustle Boss was present for the first 2017 ASD Market Week at the Las Vegas Convention Center (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
This week in Las Vegas, ASD Market Week took place, and I knew this year was one that I wasn’t going to miss.
Inside of the Las Vegas Convention Center just North of the Strip, one of the year’s top retail merchandise trade shows took place, and I was able to discover a wide array of brands during my three days on the scene.
Continue reading
Will we see Gennady Golovkin and Danny Jacobs fight again? (Photo: Ed Mulholland – HBO)
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night, March 18, WBA/WBC/IBF world middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin defeated former world champion Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs via unanimous decision after twelve rounds inside of Madison Square Garden in New York.
Golovkin (37-0, 33 KO’s) got off to a cautious start through three rounds, but was able to register a knockdown of Jacobs (32-2, 29 KO’s) in the fourth round courtesy of a pair of right hands. Jacobs wasn’t rattled however, as he picked himself up and fought courageously the rest of the match, often troubling Golovkin with movement and sharp-punching in the face of one of boxing’s most dangerous punchers.
Continue reading
Shawn Porter at the fight in Las Vegas on Saturday night (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
Last night, inside of the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, Roy Jones Jr. Promotions returned with another installment of their “Fight Night at the D” series, which saw former junior featherweight champion Rico Ramos defeat upset-minded Erik Ruiz over ten rounds.
While the card was taking place, former IBF welterweight champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter could be found in attendance. Always one to host interviews with the press, Porter spoke backstage with Hustle Boss and other outlets on the latest news regarding his career.
Continue reading
Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia ready for their bout on Saturday (Photo: Amanda Westcott – SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
Earlier today, in Brooklyn, New York, Keith “One Time” Thurman and Danny “Swift’ Garcia weighed in ahead of their welterweight unification matchup, set for the Barclays Center on Saturday night. The showdown between Thurman (27-0, 22 KO’s), the WBA welterweight champion of the world, and Garcia (33-0, 19 KO’s), the division’s WBC champion, will air on CBS as part of a Premier Boxing Champions telecast.
As both men hit the scale at Friday’s Official Weigh-In, Thurman came in weighing 146 1/4 while Garcia was 146 1/2 pounds. At the face-off, the two men had to be separated.
Continue reading
Keith Thurman is ready for his battle with Danny Garcia (Amanda Westcott – SHOWTIME)
By Chris Robinson
Keith “One Time” Thurman is a few days away from a potentially-career defining fight.
Thurman (27-0, 22 KO’s), the WBA welterweight champion of the world, will face off with WBC champion Danny “Swift” Garcia (33-0, 19 KO’s) inside of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The matchup, set to air on SHOWTIME, is one of the best fights in the sport to make and will go a long way to determining who is the best in the sport at 147 pounds.
Continue reading
Yahu “Rock” Blackwell, seen here with Floyd Mayweather, is back in action March 9 (Photo: Team Blackwell)
By Chris Robinson
This past month in Las Vegas, I came across legendary boxing figure Joe Cortez.
Now retired as an official, Cortez is known best for having been a referee during some of the sport’s biggest matches over the years. These days, Cortez stays busy with commentating, as well as advising those in the sport.
Continue reading
Sena Agbeko sparring inside of Johnny Tocco’s against amateur Jamey Swanson (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
Earlier this month, inside of Johnny Tocco’s Ringside Gym in Las Vegas, Nev., undefeated super middleweight prospect Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant (14-0, 10 KO’s) and once-beaten super middleweight Sena Agbeko (15-1, 15 KO’s) visited the gym to get in some sparring ahead of their respective bouts.
Plant fights on Feb. 25 inside of the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Al., against Ghana’s Thomas Awimbono (25-6-1, 21 KO’s) on the same card that WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder faces off with contender Gerald Washington. The following month, on March 17, Agbeko returns against journeyman Rashad Jones in Nashville, Tennessee.
Continue reading
Erickson Lubin fights on March 4 in Brooklyn, New York (Photo: Douglas DeFelice/Prime 360 )
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday, March 4, undefeated rising star Erickson “Hammer” Lubin will face off with once-beaten contender Jorge Cota in a 12-round junior middleweight bout from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Lubin (17-0, 12 KO’s) and Cota (25-1, 22 KO’s) will see their bout aired live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, as part of a Premier Boxing Champions telecast.
Lubin held a media day inside of his gym in his hometown of Orlando, Fl. this past Thursday and he appears to be as sharp and focused as ever heading into the biggest assignment of his career. The Lubin-Cota bout will take place on the Danny Garcia vs. Keith Thurman card, which is one of the biggest matches of the year.
Continue reading
Alex Thiel, left, sparring Rahim Gonzales in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
Top sparring continues to take place inside of Johnny Tocco’s Ringside Gym in Las Vegas, Nev. as the gym’s monthly “First Friday” sparring exhibition series also continues to gain steam.
This past Friday, Feb. 3, more action was taking place inside of Tocco’s, as we caught up with two of the nation’s top amateurs, Rahim Gonzales and Alex “ATG” Thiel, while they were putting in some work.
Continue reading
Leo Santa Cruz regained his championship status this past Saturday night (Photo: Premier Boxing Champions)
By Chris Robinson
There was a great buzz throughout Las Vegas this past week, as the city hosted Leo Santa Cruz’s victory over Carl Frampton in their rematch bout inside of the MGM Grand Garden Arena. With over 10,000 people in attendance, Mexico’s Santa Cruz and Belfast, North Ireland’s Frampton gave the fans their money’s worth yet again.
In July, Santa Cruz was upset by Frampton over 12 rounds in Brooklyn via majority-decision, but he turned the tables this past Saturday night, boxing and brawling his way towards a majority-decision victory of his own. The crowd was full of supporters for each man and it was another memorable one for the books.
Continue reading
Referee Joe Cortez in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
In many ways, Joe Cortez is an unassuming man.
The famed referee, who coined the term “Fair but firm” during his officiating days, is somewhat of an icon in the boxing world due to all the memorable championship fights he officiated over the years, including bouts with the likes of Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya, Lennox Lewis, Roberto Duran, and several others. Cortez is a low-key individual, however, and is never one to seek any extra attention when around the fight game.
Whenever he is asked to share a few thoughts on the sport, Cortez has also made time graciously.
Continue reading
Another fight week has hit Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
Later tonight, inside of the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., WBA featherweight champion Carl Frampton will defend his title in a rematch with the man he beat this past July, three-division world champion Leo Santa Cruz.
Each man has their share of supporters in town from Frampton’s native Belfast, North Ireland, as well as plenty of Mexican supporters in town showing love to Santa Cruz. It figures to be a lively one on Saturday night.
Continue reading
Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz will collide again tomorrow night in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
Moments ago, inside of the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., WBA featherweight champion Carl Frampton and former three-division world champion Leo Santa Cruz weighed in ahead of their heavily-anticipated rematch.
The SHOWTIME-televised duel between Frampton (23-0, 14 KO’s) and Santa Cruz (32-1-1, 18 KO’s) figures to be a barnburner once again, as the two men waged a tremendous battle this past July in Brooklyn, New York inside of the Barclays Center, as the Irishman claimed a majority-decision victory.
Continue reading
Shawn Porter says he’s facing Andre Berto sometime in April (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
On Friday, Jan. 27, former IBF welterweight champion “Showtime” Shawn Porter announced to the press inside of the MGM Grand that he will be facing off with former WBC champion Andre Berto sometime in April.
Porter (26-2-1, 16 KO’s) last saw action inside of the ring this past June, as he dropped a razor-thin unanimous decision to WBA champion Keith Thurman over 12 rounds. In his last appearance, Berto (31-4, 24 KO’s) won in emphatic fashion, as he rose from a second-round knockdown to stop his rival Victor Ortiz via knockout in the fourth round.
Continue reading
Carl Frampton faces Leo Santa Cruz in a rematch on Saturday night
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night, Jan. 28, WBA featherweight champion Carl Frampton will face off with former three-division world champion Leo Santa Cruz in a heavily-anticipated rematch set to take place from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev.
Frampton (23-0, 14 KO’s) lost a hotly-contested majority-decision to Santa Cruz (32-1-1, 18 KO’s) this past July inside of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and the second encounter is expected to be just as lively as an affair as the first.
Continue reading