Boxing, just as many other activities, has slowed down or stopped globally. However, this is is not a reason for the protagonists to stop improving every day. Even boxing referees can continue working, as Luis Pabón explained in a video made for the World Boxing Association (WBA), and which is part of the set of activities that the WBA Academy has been developing for months to train referees worldwide.

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The referee’s work is very important in the ring. Pabón says that imagining different situations and how to proceed in some of them can help referees do their jobs better. Continue reading “WBA “Stay at Home” Referee Training”

Update: Muhammad Ali knocked out late sub Sonny Liston in round five in today’s eWBSS fantasy heavyweight tournament semi-final and will face the winner of tomorrow’s semi-final between Mike Tyson and George Foreman on Sunday.

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This is bizarre. World Boxing Super Series organizers have announced that Ali-Frazier 4 is off due to unforeseen circumstances. Replacing Smokin’ Joe against Muhammad Ali in the eWBSS fantasy heavyweight tournament will be Sonny Liston today at 3PM ET/noon PT.
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So far, six people have contracted coronavirus during the suspended Olympic boxing qualifying tournament in London. Three boxers from Croatia, and two boxers and a coach from Turkey.
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The AIBA, currently frozen out of the 2020 Olympics, is looking to get back into the good graces of the IOC. AIBA Interim President Mohamed Moustahsane says the organization is waiting for information from the IOC to have an ability to put a new plan for major events 2021.
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Oscar De La Hoya and his wife Millie Corretjer have donated $250,000 to Adventist Health White Memorial Hospital to assist with COVID-19 expenses.

Trainers, Champion Makers

On Thursday, the World Boxing Council and WBC University presented their fourth WBC Talk, which aims to bring knowledge and support to the world boxing family during these hard challenging times. There were two separate panels.

Panelists:
Robert Garcia (trainer)
Joe Gallagher (trainer)
Ismael Salas (trainer)
Manny Robles (trainer)
Former world champion Jessie Vargas
Mauricio Sulaiman, WBC President.
Pepe Sulaiman, WBC LA Office head
Victor Silva – Moderator

Continue reading “WBC Talks: Episode 4”

With no boxing currently going on, networks have been forced to replay “greatest hits” fights. On Monday night ESPN presented both Fury-Wilder fights, and Wednesday night it was a five-hour telecast featuring Tyson Fury, Terence Crawford, Teofimo Lopez, Michael Conlan and Mayweather-Pacquiao.

On Saturday night, Showtime will re-air three of the epic Israel Vázquez vs. Rafael Márquez fights, apparently leaving out their fourth meeting.

Of course, there are lots of boxing replays for DAZN and ESPN+ subscribers, and tons of full matches and extended highlights on YouTube, so there is no shortage of boxing to watch. But as Chicago promoter Bobby Hitz is fond of saying…

“Boxing… It’s Better Live!”

Today: George Foreman scored a fifth round KO over David Haye in the eWBSS fantasy heavyweight tournament. Big George now faces Mike Tyson in one semi, while Muhammad Ali meets Joe Frazier in the other semi.

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WBA/IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is under self-quarantine after a March 9 meeting with Prince Charles, who later tested positive for coronavirus. A.J. is not showing any symptoms and he is scheduled to defend his titles against mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev in London on June 20.
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A boxer and trainer from the Turkish boxing team have been infected by the coronavirus. Both were at the Olympic qualifier in London. The IOC said in a statement that it’s “not possible to know the source of infection.”
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Amir Khan has offered a new 60,000 square foot four-story building due to be a wedding hall and retail outlet to the UK National Health Service to help people affected by the coronavirus. Thank you Amir.

Referees

The WBC Talks Round 3 offered Wednesday a magnificent conversation involving top WBC Ring Officials providing us with a lot of important information in order to understand our sport and fighter’s protection. Continue reading “WBC Talks: Episode 3”

By Mauricio Sulaimán
Son of José Sulaimán / WBC President

Our sport is the one that has the highest representation in all forms of art worldwide, but especially in cinema as boxing has given us incredible scripts based on boxing, the lives of legendary fighters, fictional stories and even unknown stories.

Legendary artists have participated in boxing movies. From Charlie Chaplin in City Lights to Rocky’s character creator Sylvester Stallone, who has given the world great moments of excitement for five decades! Continue reading “Boxing in Movies”

By David Finger

Former world-ranked heavyweight contender Derrick Jefferson is fighting for his life in Michigan after testing positive for COVID-19.  According to WXYZ in Detroit, 52-year-old Jefferson is currently in a medically induced coma and a ventilator after being admitted to Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.  However, family members told WXYZ that his condition is nonetheless improving. Continue reading “Derrick Jefferson in fight for life against coronavirus”

With the world currently focused on fighting the Coronavirus pandemic, Salita Promotions has made the decision to postpone and reschedule the Claressa Shields vs Marie-Eve Dicaire undisputed world championship fight, originally slated for May 9 at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center in Flint, Mich., and live on Showtime.

Salita Promotions will continue to monitor the circumstances closely and work diligently with Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center, Showtime and state officials to announce a new date as soon as conditions are favorable.

From his home in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, WBC super featherweight champion Miguel “Alacrán” Berchelt spoke to reporters via “Facebook Live.” Berchelt (37-1, 33 KOs) said he was keeping fit by exercising at home and going running in the mornings “with proper precautions, keeping safe distance, running alone and meeting hygiene measures.”

Berchelt stated he wants to face undefeated former featherweight champion Oscar Valdez next and the contract signing is close. “It’s a fight that we both want, we are both represented by Top Rank and it’s a fight that people want to see, a war that makes one of us transcend, and it’s Mexico versus Mexico,” he said.

He added that it’s also a fight to see who’s the best trainer, Eddy Reynoso (Valdez) or Alfredo Caballero (Berchelt).

Update: Mike Tyson knocked out Butterbean in round two of their eWBSS heavyweight fantasy clash. Iron Mike moves to the semis against the winner of tomorrow’s George Foreman vs. David Haye showdown.

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MTK Global has confirmed a management deal with heavyweight Dave Allen (18-5, 15 KOs), who was last seen knocking out Dorian Darch, having previously recorded a famous stoppage of former world champion Lucas Browne when headlining The O2.
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Zanfer Promotions says discussions are underway for a rematch between WBA super flyweight champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez and WBC super flyweight champion Juan Francisco “Gallo” Estrada. They met eight years ago with Chocolatito winning a hard-fought decision.
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Looks like the proposed July 18 date for Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder will be pushed back due to the coronavirus situation. Promoters are reportedly looking at an OCTOBER date.
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Heavyweight Alexander Povetkin has completed the first stage of training in the Russian resort Sochi, but there are difficulties with the arrival of booked foreign sparring partners and Povetkin needs Russian replacements. He is training for a May 2 clash in the UK against Dillian Whyte, although that date is certainly in jeopardy.

Hand-Wrapping

During these challenging times, the WBC and the WBC University combine to offer interesting live discussions, addressing important matters, counting on the participation of specialists.

Panelists
Pepe Sulaiman; WBC LA Director
Xochitl Lagarda, WBC University Director
Jaime Lera
WBC super middleweight champion: David Benavidez
Jose Benavidez; trainer and father of David Benavidez
Dr. Ricardo Monreal
Mediator: Victor Silva, WBC subdirector.

Continue reading “WBC Talks: Episode 2”

The traditional “WBC Tuesday Coffee” continued in spite of the Coronavirus, being transmitted via Facebook to a huge audience. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, who from home, informally donned a blue sweatshirt and a red cap embossed with MEX in red white and green.

Mauricio said that life goes on during the pandemic with no illness from the virus yet throughout the boxing community, urging colleagues to plan ahead in blocks of fifteen days. Due to the ongoing and unfolding events, he said it`s unlikely that WBC Franchise champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is going to be able to fight on the traditional Cinco de Mayo festival holiday. Continue reading “WBC Tuesday Coffee”

Stephen Espinoza, President of Showtime Sports and Event Programming, appeared on Showtime’s boxing podcast and said the network’s boxing programming will come out guns blazing once the coronavirus hiatus comes to an end.

“It’s going to be a wild ride,” said Espinoza. “There’s a lot to be made up. There are a lot of fighters that need fights to happen, and I think we could be in for a pretty interesting period of time where there’s a lot of activity in a relatively short window … I think we’re going to see an action-packed, jam-packed schedule whenever we return, whether it’s in three, six or nine months – and we may see people taking a different tact on taking fights.”