By Chris Robinson
It was many years when we first crossed paths with Kevin “Thunderstorm” Johnson out in Las Vegas.
Then an aspiring amateur fighter with high hopes, Johnson was training out of the Mayweather Boxing Club and still only 18 years of age.
Johnson was both ambitious and fearless as a fighter, and picked up valuable experience learning from Roger Mayweather, Otis Pimpleton, and through sparring quality fighters at the gym.
Continue readingFloyd Mayweather Sr., Roger Mayweather, J’Leon Love, and Ishe Smith at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas, NV (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
The boxing world suffered a tremendous loss last month, as former two-division world champion Roger “The Black Mamba” Mayweather passed away.
Mayweather, 58, had a tremendous professional career that saw him compile a 59-13 record with 35 KO’s, while also winning titles at junior welterweight and junior lightweight. Along the way he faced the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez, Rocky Lockridge, Freddie Pendleton, Pernell Whitaker, Vinny Pazienza, Livingston Bramble, Kostya Tszyu, and others.
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Devaughn Lucas, center, flanked by All-Pro Offensive Tackle Trent Williams (left) and trainer Otis Pimpleton (right) after some more tough sparring(Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
It was just a month ago when I crossed paths for the first time with aspiring amateur prospect Devaughn Lucas. Fighting out of Texas, Lucas is ranked #1 in the country at 125 pounds and I was able to catch him in action inside of Johnny Tocco’s Ringside Gym during their monthly First Friday Exhibition Sparring series.
Lucas is very strong physically and also very much poised for his age. He went some rounds with fellow amateurs Jacob Cuevas and Cesar “Frijolito” Cardona and the action was fast-paced. Lucas seems right at home when he is on the inside banging away at his opponents, but when noticing his style further, there are a lot of unique movements that he makes.
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Josue Vargas is back training in Las Vegas (Photo: ClockInNotOut)
By Chris Robinson
Young Josue Vargas is officially back in Las Vegas training for his return to the ring.
Vargas, 18, has been training inside of the Mayweather Boxing Club the past few weeks and recently spoke with my colleague 1Tarrell of www.ClockInNotOut.com.
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Denis Douglin training in Las Vegas with his mother Saphya (Photo: 1Tarrell)
By Chris Robinson
No matter what curveballs the sport of boxing throws him, super middleweight contender Denis “Momma’s Boy” Douglin continues to keep high hopes.
The last time we caught Douglin inside of the boxing ring fighting professionally, he was stopped in the tenth round by rising prospect David Benavidez. That bout saw Douglin’s record move to 20-5 with 13 knockouts, yet he is still as upbeat as ever.
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Thomas Dulorme finishing up training camp in Las Vegas ahead of his Jan. 14 return to the ring (Photos: 1Tarrell)
By Chris Robinson
This coming Saturday, Jan. 14, Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme returns to the ring, as he will be facing off with Los Angeles’ Brian Jones in a welterweight attraction set to air on the Badou Jack vs. James DeGale super middleweight unification undercard. The Dulorme-Jones bout will take place from within the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The bout marks Dulorme’s debut for Mayweather Promotions and he has spent his camp in Las Vegas, training at the Mayweather Boxing Club. Dulorme is working with well-known strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza for this particular fight and he appears to be in great physical shape.
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Caleb Plant in training at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas (Photo: 1Tarrell)
By Chris Robinson
Undefeated super middleweight prospect Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant is likely in store for a busy 2017 campaign.
Plant (14-0, 10 KO’s), still just 24 years old, is signed with advisor Al Haymon and has shifted his training base to the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas. Originally from Tennessee, Plant went 3-0 with two knockouts last year and has always stayed close to the gym.
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Badou Jack training for his Jan. 14 clash vs. James DeGale (Photo: 1Tarrell)
By Chris Robinson
Badou Jack is officially a week away from the most important fight of his career.
On Jan. 14, Jack will face off with London’s James DeGale (23-1, 14 KO’s) in one of the biggest and most significant fights that will take place this year. The matchup is set to air on Showtime, from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
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Prospect Ahmed Mahmood and WBC silver flyweight champion Muhammad Waseem working (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
Some nice sparring the other day took place between unbeaten junior lightweight prospect Ahmed Mahmood (6-0-1, 3 KO’s) and WBC silver flyweight champion Muhammad Waseem (4-0, 3 KO’s).
You can tell both men were not going at each other hard, more so working on angles and technique at a modest pace. Still, up close and in the trenches you could see both men playing chess with each other as they picked their shots.
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“Prince” Albert Bell working out in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
I had been hearing good things about Toledo, Oh. prospect “Prince” Albert Bell the past few months in Las Vegas and after checking out some of his work inside of the Mayweather Boxing Club recently, I can attest that his talent is for real.
Bell, 23, carries with him a 6-0 record with 2 knockouts in the junior welterweight class and he possesses a very elusive style. He darts in and out and counter-punches well enough.
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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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Fighters from the Mayweather Boxing Club speak on the May 7 Canelo Alvarez vs. Amir Khan bout (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
When it was announced that WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez would be defending his title against former junior welterweight champion Amir Khan, it was met with much surprise.
With so much talk talk immediately following the matchup, it was only natural to get some thoughts on the contest.
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Demetrius Andrade seen working with undefeated junior middleweight prospect Will ‘Knockout’ Clemons in Las Vegas this past December
By Chris Robinson
Not as much has been heard from former WBO junior middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade these days.
Andrade has fought just twice over the past two years, with his recent outing being a second round TKO over Argentina’s Dario Fabian Pucheta this past October in Connecticut.
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J’Leon Love training inside of the Mayweather Boxing Club (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
2016 should pan out to be a big year for J’Leon Love.
In 2015 Love got his career back on track with three victories, over Scott Sigmon in March, Jason Escalera in June, and Marcus Upshaw in September. Those wins came on the heels of his first career defeat in August of 2014 against Rogelio “Porky” Medina.
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10-year old amateur Robert Meriwether, right, putting in work inside of the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
Inside of the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas this past week, you could spot some of the city’s top amateur prospects getting down to work.
Often as the gym nears its closing towards the late afternoon part of the day, you can swing by and scout some of the area’s best upcoming talent putting their skills on display.
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Latondria Jones training inside of the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas (Photo: Hustle Boss)
By Chris Robinson
The 2015 calendar year has come and gone and with it, so too did several fighters in the boxing game make moves towards the next step of their career.
Having trained in Las Vegas the past few years as she honed her skills, Latondria Jones was already a staple inside of the Mayweather Boxing Club due to her positivity, energy, spirit, and talent.
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Jayvon Garnett inside of the Mayweather Boxing Club (Photo: Chris Robinson)
By Chris Robinson
There are always new faces emerging inside of any top gym across the globe and the Mayweather Boxing Club is no different.
A few weeks back I crossed paths with budding featherweight prospect Jayvon Garnett, from Cincinatti, Oh. Sporting a 3-0 record with three knockouts, Garnett is low-key figure inside of the gym and he’s far more into his work than talking, so he was easy to slightly overlook at first.
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Inside the Mayweather Boxing Club (Photo: Chris Robinson)
By Chris Robinson
While Floyd Mayweather may have retired, that certainly hasn’t slowed down the hustle and bustle inside of his personal gym these days.
Hustle Boss swung through the doors of the Mayweather Boxing Club on Monday, Nov. 30 and it was a packed scene.
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Sparring in Las Vegas with 10-year old Robert Meriwether and 9-year old Keith ‘Mighty Lion’ Jordan
By Chris Robinson
The first time I spotted Keith ‘Mighty Lion’ Jordan Jr. I knew the kid had something special inside of him.
Just eight years old at the time and in his first year of boxing, Jordan captured a state championship at the junior golden gloves to get ranked #2 in the world at 50 pounds and he is getting ready to return for an encore this weekend at 9 years old as he eyes another belt.
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Curmel Moton and Robert Meriwether put in some good work recently in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson)
By Chris Robinson
There is always a lot of talent of all ages lurking around the city of Las Vegas.
Inside of the Mayweather Boxing Club there is always a steady flow of young up and comers. On Tuesday afternoon, 8-year old Curmel Moton laced up and went some rounds with promising 10-year old Robert Meriwether.
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