Stacy Mayweather, pictured right, always keeps it moving (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
Las Vegas is a transit destination for several people from the globe over and the city plays host to a wide range of characters.
In getting to know Grand Rapids native Stacy Mayweather, I’ve grown to appreciate how he has adapted and thrived during his three-plus years in Las Vegas.
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Stephon Young, right, lands against Juan Antonio Lopez in their bantamweight bout at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center (Photo: 1Tarell of #ClockInNotOut)
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night, Sep. 30, another installment of “Knockout Night at the D” returned to the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, with several notable matchups taking place.
As we mentioned in a previous post, Oxnard’s Erik Ruiz shined against Hanzel Martinez in a mild upset, and there were other prospects who left their mark as well.
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Oxnard’s Erik Ruiz backstage after defeating Hanzel Martinez in Las Vegas (Photo: Team Ruiz)
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night, Sep. 30, Oxnard, Calif. native Erik Ruiz notched another highlight victory in pulling a mild upset over Mexico’s Hanzel Martinez inside of the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
Ruiz (16-5-1, 6 KO’s) was a little busier than Martinez (23-3, 18 KO’s) from the outset and you could tell that he was completely geared up for this challenge. Ruiz actually was a late replacement for Ghanaian-born Emmanuel Quartey, who was unable to secure a visa in time before his match.
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Micko Zizic, right, sparring with unbeaten Will Clemons in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
On Sep. 30, once-beaten Milorad “Micko” Zizic will step back into the ring when he faces unbeaten John Vera inside of the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. The Vera-Zizic clash will air on CBS Sports and serves also as the biggest date in Zizic’s career.
Zizic (12-1, 6 KO’s) has been training in Las Vegas under the watchful eye of his trainer Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, as well as his father Veselin Zizic, who was a former amateur standout himself. Vera (14-0, 9 KO’s) is coming off of a sixth-round TKO victory over Joey Ruelas this past May and figures to be full of confidence coming into the match.
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Kenny Porter speaking in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
On Friday night, inside of the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, Hustle Boss caught up with trainer Kenny Porter.
Kenny’s primary fighter, his son, former IBF welterweight champion Shawn, is coming off of a rousing performance this past June 25, where he dropped a razor-thin unanimous decision to WBA titlist Keith Thurman.
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Floyd Mayweather, pictured center, was inside of the Cosmopolitan this past Friday night (Photo: Stephanie Trapp)
By Chris Robinson
On Friday night, Sep. 16, light heavyweight contender Lionell “Lonnie B” Thompson got back in the winner’s circle with a clear-cut eight-round unanimous decision over Chicago’s Donovan George. Thompson (17-4-1, 10 KO’s) was too sharp and agile for George (25-6-2, 222 KO’s), and registered a knockdown late in the match before claiming his victory.
Watching from ringside, amongst others, was Thompson’s promoter Floyd Mayweather of Mayweather Promotions. Mayweather defeated Andre Berto in September of last year and walked away from the sport afterwards, with no indication that he will be returning.
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Canelo Alvarez was too much for Liam Smith on Saturday night
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night, Sep. 17, Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez captured the WBO junior welterweight title from Liverpool’s Liam “Beefy” Smith via ninth round TKO inside of the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex.
Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KO’s) was precise throughout the contest, building up an early lead off of his combination-punching and work to the body. Smith was a brave opponent in the face of such firepower, but was never able to get his game plan on track.
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Ishe Smith and Frank Galarza meet on Friday night in Las Vegas (Photo: Stephanie Trapp)
By Chris Robinson
Later tonight, inside of the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, former IBF junior middleweight champion Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith will return to the ring when he faces contender Frank Galarza on a Premier Boxing Champions card aired by Bounce TV.
It’s the first bout for Smith (28-8, 12 KO’s) since his December victory over Tommy Rainone. Galarza (17-1-2, 11 KO’s) too will be retruning from a layoff, as he suffered his first loss this past November to Jarrett Hurd, who stopped him in the sixth round.
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Seniesa Estrada was victorious this past weekend in Inglewood (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
This past Saturday, Sep. 10, offered up my first opportunity to witness unbeaten junior female flyweight prospect Seniesa Estrada in action from ringside as the East Los Angeles native battled Mexico’s Nancy Franco over eight rounds from within the Forum in Inglewood, Calif.
Estrada (8-0, 1 KO) offered up a master class performance in out-hustling Franco, a former IBF minimumweight champion, over eight rounds of action. Along the way, the 24-year old showed great movement, speed, and athleticism, clearly winning every round.
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Roman Gonzalez defeated Carlos Cuadras on Saturday night (Photo: Chris Farina – K2 Promotions)
By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night, Sep. 10, Nicaragua’s Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez overcame a spirited effort from former champion Carlos “Principe” Cuadras, winning a unanimous decision inside of the Forum in Inglewood, Calif.
Gonzalez (46-0, 38 KO’s) and Cuadras (35-1-1, 27 KO’s) gave the estimated 6,714 partisans in attendance a great show that including plenty of back-and-forth action. After 12 rounds of action, scores of 117-111, 116-112, and 115-113 were read in Gonzalez’s favor, as he captures the WBC super flyweight title, his fourth belt in as many weight classes.
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Manny Pacquiao and Jessie Vargas facing off in Los Angeles (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
There didn’t seem to be too much tension in the air on Thursday afternoon, Sep. 8, as WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas (27-1, 10 KO’s) and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao (56-8-2, 38 KO’s) came face to face inside of the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, Calif.
Vargas and Pacquiao will face off on Nov. 5, inside of the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
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WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas is deep into training with Dewey Cooper in Las Vegas ahead of his Nov. 5 bout vs. Manny Pacquiao (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas has officially kicked off his training camp for his Nov. 5 bout vs. eight-division titlist Manny Pacquiao, whom he meets inside of the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
Vargas (27-1, 10 KO’s) may be the one holding the title, but he is regarded as the underdog to many against Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KO’s), who still looks sharp at 37 years old.
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Stacy Mayweather always keeps it 100%, seen here with Hustle Boss’ own Chris Robinson (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
Stacy Mayweather is often an unassuming individual, but always a man with some deep knowledge and insight.
I remember first asking Stacy for an interview roughly a year ago and from there the seed was planted.
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11-year old Robert Meriwether III and 9-year old Young Money Mar recently sparred in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
Some of the best upcoming talent in the boxing game continues to come from the city of Las Vegas.
This past week, while inside of the Mayweather Boxing Club, Hustle Boss caught up with two of the top amateurs in the city prior to some spirited sparring.
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The United States Women’s Soccer Team (Photo: Instagram)
By Alexandria Cannon
The United States Women’s soccer team traveled to Rio to attempt to win Olympic Gold. Leading up to their defeat they played with confidence each game, starting from the preliminaries.
They started with a 2-0 victory over a talented New Zealand team; then beat France 1-0 to advance to the quarterfinal round of the Olympic Games.
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Rashad Ganaway returns to the ring this weekend vs. Hylon Williams (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
This weekend, Rashad Ganaway will return to the ring in a very important matchup against the underrated Hylon Williams Jr.
Ganaway (17-5-1, 10 KO’s) and Williams (16-2-1, 3 KO’s) will meet inside of the Clear Channel Metroplex in Little Rock, Ar. on Saturday night, Aug. 20, with the IBF/USBA lightweight belt on the line.
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Top contender Carson Jones is in training for a bout this weekend (Photo: Abel Sanchez)
By Chris Robinson
This weekend will see top contender Carson Jones step back into the ring, as the Oklahoma City native will be following up on an April victory over Mikel Williams.
Jones’ 38-11-3 record with 28 knockouts is very deceiving, as he started his career at the age of 18 and was thrown to the wolves early, suffering some early setbacks that ended up becoming learning lessons.
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Jesus “Chuy” Gutierrez training inside of Pound 4 Pound Boxing Gym in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
When I swung through the Pound 4 Pound Boxing Gym in Las Vegas earlier this week, I noticed only a few key figures training and lurking inside of the gym.
I didn’t notice at the time, but shadowboxing inside of the Southwest corner of the gym was former WBC USNBC lightweight champion Jesus “Chuy” Gutierrez. Never one to talk too loud, the modest Gutierrez (14-1-1, 4 KO’s) was getting down to work and in his own space.
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Alex Thiel and Jeremy Nichols recently put in some work inside of Johnny Tocco’s in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
Inside of Johnny Tocco’s Ringside Gym in Las Vegas, you will find a great group of emerging prospects, both pro and amateur, during all times that the gym is open.
Earlier this week, Hustle Boss caught up with two of the gym’s top fighters, undefeated welterweight prospect Jeremy “J Flash” Nichols (5-0, 2 KO’s) and top amateur Alex “ATG” Thiel, as they put in some rigorous work with one another.
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The 2016 Nevada Boxing of Fame has officially hit Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
Early images from the 2016 Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame weekend in Las Vegas, Nev.
Check below for shots from Friday’s meet and greet inside of Caesar’s Palace and stay tuned for more coverage.
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