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Knockdown only boosts Lomachenko’s fast rise
After being floored for the first time as a pro on Saturday night, Vasiliy Lomachenko elevated his stature with a 10th-round TKO that signals big things ahead for the lightweight champion.
Mikey Williams for Top Rank
TOP RANK ON ESPN
Lomachenko stops Linares with 10th round TKO
Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Lomachenko finishes Linares with liver shot
1:04
Vasiliy Lomachenko has just 12 professional fights and has won titles in three different divisions. Unreal.
Arash Markazi, ESPN Senior Writer2d ago
LINARES-LOMACHENKO POST-FIGHT
Lomachenko makes history with ‘perfect’ body shot
Vasiliy Lomachenko overcomes being knocked down to finish Jorge Linares in the 10th round, winning a title in his third weight class.
2:58
Atlas would like to see Loma fight Mikey Garcia
Teddy Atlas would rather see Vasiliy Lomachenko move up in weight class to face Mikey Garcia over a rematch with Jorge Linares.
1:44
Former champion and ESPN boxing analyst Timothy Bradley would like to see a fight between Vasiliy Lomachenko and Mikey Garcia.
Andres Ferrari, ESPN Editor2d ago
BOXING
Munguia KOs Ali with left hook
Jaime Munguia captures Sadam Ali’s junior middleweight title via fourth-round TKO.
0:34
LINARES-LOMACHENKO PRESS CONFERENCE
Lomachenko said Linares was a good fighter and that he relaxed a little bit in the sixth round “and he caught me.”
Andres Ferrari, ESPN Editor2d ago
Robert Diaz of Golden Boy, Jorge Linares promoter, said there were no losers tonight, just winners.
Andres Ferrari, ESPN Editor2d ago
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said the fighters have a great show without trash talking or foul language.
Andres Ferrari, ESPN Editor2d ago
TOP RANK ON ESPN
Full coverage: Top Rank on ESPN
Photo provided by Mikey Williams/Top Rank
TOP RANK ON ESPN
At the time of the stoppage, the fight was a draw. One judge had the fight for Lomachenko 86-84, one for Linares 86-84 and the third 85-85.
Andres Ferrari, ESPN Editor2d ago
IT IS OVER!! LOMACHENKO TKO10 AS REF WAVES IT OFF!! Terrific fight! Lomachenko is the new lightweight world champion!!
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer2d ago
BOXING
Linares knocks down Lomachenko in sixth
Jorge Linares lands a right hand flush to Vasiliy Lomachenko that sends him to the mat. Lomachenko gets up and survives the round.
0:59
LINARES-LOMACHENKO ROUND-BY-ROUND ANALYSIS
Round 10: LINARES IS DOWN!!!!
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer2d ago
Round 9: Lomachenko round 10-9. Linares’ face is looking bad too, swelling and red over his eyes. Lomachenko 87-83.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer2d ago
What a great fight!!! Lomachenko is Lansing pinches in Round 8, but Linares responds every time. Crowd is entertaining, reacting to every punch.
Andres Ferrari, ESPN Editor2d ago
TOP RANK ON ESPN UNDERCARD
Adames, Conlan stay unbeaten with UD victories
Welterweight Carlos Adames and featherweight sensation Michael Conlan dominated their respective opponents for unanimous-decision victories on the Jorge Linares-Vasiliy Lomachenko undercard at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
CARLOS ADAMES VS. ALEJANDRO BARRERA ROUND-BY-ROUND
We go the cards in Adames-Barrera: 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 all for Adames.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer2d ago
Round 10: Good finish! Adames 10-9 and I have him winning a good battle 98-92. He’ll learn from that kind of rough fight.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer2d ago
Round 9: Pretty close round with edge to Adames 10-9. I have him up 88-83.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer2d ago
BOXING
Lopez celebrates KO with Fortnite dance
Teofimo Lopez Jr. lands a grazing right hand that sends Vitor Freitas to the canvas and uses the “Take the L” dance from Fortnite.
0:59
MICHAEL CONLAN VS. IBON LARRINAGA
We go to the scorecards for Conlan-Larrinaga: 80-72 on all three cards for Conlan.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer2d ago
Michael Conlan is using his left jab perfectly to set up his right hand but when he waits too long, Ibon Larrinaga is able to land his right hand. Three rounds down, five to go.
Andres Ferrari, ESPN Editor2d ago
Michael Conlan walked into the ring at Madison Square Garden wearing a personalized New York Knicks jersey.
Arash Markazi, ESPN Senior Writer2d ago
BOXING
Lightweight world titleholder Jorge Linares arrives at Madison Square Garden for his fight against junior lightweight world titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko. Video by Bernardo Osuna.
Andres Ferrari, ESPN Editor2d ago
BOXING WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA AWARDS CEREMONY
Former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko remembers the first time he fought at Madison Square Garden in New York, after receiving the 2018 “Good Guy Award” from the Bowing Writers Association of America at Fridays’ award ceremony. “My parents told me the good guy award is not a profession, you have to do something,” said Klitschko.
Andres Ferrari, ESPN Editor3d ago
ESPN boxing writer/analyst Mark Kriegel won two first-place awards from the Boxing Writers Association of America in the boxing feature category (“With a title shot on the line, undefeated Jose Ramirez ready to make another statement” and “A father’s touch: The relentless regimen of Vasiliy Lomachenko”.)
Andres Ferrari, ESPN Editor3d ago
ESPN senior boxing writer Dan Rafael, left, won three Honorable Mentions at the Boxing Writers Association of America awards ceremony, for Boxing Column, Boxing News Story and Boxing Investigative Reporting. ESPN boxing writer and analyst Mark Kriegel won two first places in the Boxing Feature categories. “I got three but he got two heavy ones,” said Rafael.
Andres Ferrari, ESPN Editor3d ago
BOXING
Saunders-Murray exclusive on ESPN+ in U.S.
Billy Joe Saunders’ title defense against Martin Murray, scheduled for June 23 at the O2 Arena in London, will have live and exclusive coverage on ESPN+ in the United States.
BOXING
Light heavyweight prospect Willy Hutchinson (3-0, 2 KOs), 19, one Scotland’s best amateurs and the only Scotsman to win a world amateur title, signed a co-promotional deal with Frank Warren, on Wednesday. Hutchinson, who is trained by Dominic Ingle alongside middleweight world titlist Billy Joe Saunders, will have his first fight of the deal on the undercard of the Lee Selby-Josh Warrington featherweight title fight at Elland Road in Leeds, England on May 19. “I’m thrilled to have signed a promotional deal with Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren,” Hutchinson said. “Fighting on the undercard of such a huge world title show at a football stadium will be a brilliant experience for me. I have faith that I can go all in the way in this sport.” Said Warren: “I’m delighted to have done a deal to add Willy Hutchinson to our ranks. Managed by Shelly Finkel and co-promoted by Richard Schaefer, Willy has an outstanding amateur pedigree and I’m confident that he will be a huge success in the paid ranks. He has an exciting future ahead of him.”
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer3d ago
BOXING
Chat: Dan Rafael talks boxing, noon ET
Senior writer Dan Rafael answers your questions about the sweet science, including this weekend’s fights and much more.
BOXING
At promoter Eddie Hearn presser in New York. Announces 8-year, $1 billion deal to stream fights on DAZN beginning in September. 16 shows a year. “An unrivaled rights budget,” Hearn says.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer4d ago
Hearn of his new deal says if you’re a good boxer and are available and you want to make a lot of money he wants to sign you to be on these DAZN cards. The U.K. and U.S. Matchroom cards will be on it.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer4d ago
MORE BOXING NEWS
Light heavyweight world titlist Sergey Kovalev’s fight with Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (23-0, 11 KOs) now has a date and site. It will take place Aug. 4 at the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Main Events’ Jolene Mizzone told ESPN on Wednesday. The fight will headline the first major boxing card in the city since Kovalev (32-2-1, 28 KOs) unified three world titles in a one-sided decision against Bernard Hopkins in November 2014 at Boardwalk Hall. Kovalev will be making the second defense of his second title reign. Main Events will host a news conference to formally announce the fight on Saturday in New York.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer5d ago
Light heavyweight contender Joe Smith Jr., idle since suffering a broken jaw in his last fight in July, is returning June 30. He’ll fight an opponent to be determined in a 10-rounder at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, Star Boxing promoter Joe DeGuardia announced Wednesday. “I cannot wait to get back in the ring on June 30th,” Smith said. “I have been looking forward to this day since I was told I needed surgery. I plan on showing why I am still one of the best in the light heavyweight division.” Long Island, New York native Smith (23-2, 19 KOs), 28, construction worker, made a name for himself in 2016 by knocking out Andrzej Fonfara in the first round in a major upset and followed with an even bigger upset six months later when he sent the great Bernard Hopkins into retirement by knocking him out – and out of the ring – in the eighth round of Hopkins’ farewell fight. Then Smith faced Sullivan Barrera last July and knocked him down in the first round but suffered a broken jaw in the second round. He fought valiantly for eight-plus rounds with the injury and lost a unanimous decision in the HBO-televised fight. Smith then had surgery and he has been out of the ring since. His jaw was wired shut for more than six months. “Joe Smith Jr. turned the boxing world on its head in his wins against Fonfara and Hopkins. I believe he is the hardest hitting light heavyweight, and he proves it every time he is in the ring,” DeGuardia said. “I am very excited to have him back.”
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer5d ago
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who has called a news conference for Thursday afternoon in New York to announce a “groundbreaking partnership,” will announce a long-term deal with the United Kingdom-based Perform Group’s DAZN streaming service to carry most of his boxing events – his cards under the Matchroom USA banner as well as his European shows — in the United States, a source with knowledge of the deal told ESPN. Fighters such as Daniel Jacobs, who has an exclusive contract with HBO, would not be part of the deal. No word yet on whether unified heavyweight world titleholder Anthony Joshua’s fights would stream on the service in the U.S., where networks such as Showtime, whose contract with him recently expired, and HBO are interested in signing him.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer5d ago
BOXING
Warren: GGG claims over Saunders not true
Claims made by Gennady Golovkin’s team that Billy Joe Saunders will not fight GGG in a middleweight unification fight have been rubbished by promoter Frank Warren.
GENNADY GOLOVKIN
If not Canelo, who should GGG fight next?
After Gennady Golovkin’s demolition of Vanes Martirosyan, now comes the difficult task of putting the rematch with Canelo Alvarez back together. But what if the deal doesn’t get done? Dan Rafael has a list of opponents for GGG’s 21st title defense.
GGG handles business, Canelo next?
1:31
GGG wants random drug screening on Canelo
After tying the middleweight title defense record with an easy night’s work, Gennady Golovkin is ready for a rematch with Canelo Alvarez. But first he wants the Mexican, whose drug suspension canceled their bout, to be randomly tested.
BOXING
Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin hadn’t been live on HBO since his stoppage of Kell Brook in September 2016, fighting both of his 2017 fights on HBO PPV. So when he returned live to HBO Saturday for a second-round destruction of overmatched late replacement Vanes Martirosyan fans tuned in. The fight averaged 1.249 million viewers (1.361 million peak) for the live telecast, according to Nielsen Media Research. That makes it the most watched fight on premium cable so far in 2018, topping the March 3 Showtime-televised fight between heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder and Luis Ortiz (1.055 million average). It’s also the most watched premium cable fight since GGG’s second-round KO of Dominic Wade on April 23, 2016 (1.325 million viewers). Saturday’s HBO opening bout — undisputed women’s welterweight champion and pound-for-pound No. 1 Cecilia Braekhus in a hard-fought 10-round decision over Kali Reis — averaged an impressive 904,000 viewers (1.024 million peak) for the first women’s bout on HBO in its 45 years of boxing coverage.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer6d ago
DIVISIONAL RANKINGS
Rankings: Menayothin, GGG solidify spots in their divisions
Wanheng Menayothin is now 50-0 and Gennady Golovkin extended his title defenses to 20 in a row. But what other changes have been made in ESPN’s boxing divisional rankings? Dan Rafael reveals his new world standings and what’s next for the fighters.
BOXING
While the first two World Boxing Super Series tournaments are headed to the finals at cruiserweight and super middleweight, organizers are getting ready to unveil a second season of tournaments. There will be three tournaments with one taking place at junior welterweight and one at bantamweight, multiple sources told ESPN. The fields are not 100 percent complete but, according to sources, the eight-man junior welterweight field will likely include Regis Prograis, Ryan Martin, world titleholder Kiryl Relikh, who would take on mandatory challenger Eduard Troyanovsky in the quarterfinals, and Ivan Baranchyk and Anthony Yigit, who would fight for a vacant world title in the quarterfinals. The bantamweight field is expected to include at least three of the world titleholders, Zolani Tete, Ryan Burnett and Emmanuel Rodriguez, who won a vacant belt Saturday.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer6d ago
GGG KOS MARTIROSYAN
GGG ties Hopkins mark with KO of Martirosyan
Gennady Golovkin, denied his lucrative rematch with Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas, knocked out Vanes Martirosyan in the second round Saturday night at StubHub Center in Carson, California.
With the victory over Vanes Martirosyan on Saturday, Gennady Golovkin ties future hall of famer Bernard Hopkins’ record of 20 consecutive title defenses in the middleweight division.
Andres Ferrari, ESPN Editor8d ago
MORE BOXING NEWS
Super middleweight world titleholder David Benavidez (20-0, 17 KOs), 21, of Phoenix, who cruised to a near-shutout victory against Ronald Gavril in their rematch on Feb. 17, likely will make his second title defense on July 28 on Showtime, two sources with knowledge of the plan told ESPN. The fight against an opponent to be determined would be on the undercard of the lightweight world title unification fight in the works between Mikey Garcia and Robert Easter Jr., which is supposed to take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer7d ago
Once again the purse bid for the fight between junior welterweight titlist Jose Ramirez (22-0, 16 KOs) and interim titlist Regis Prograis (21-0, 18 KOs) has been delayed but this time with no new date scheduled. It was slated for this past Friday in Los Angeles, but was postponed until Monday. But it was called off again with no new date scheduled. Prograis won the vacant interim belt by second-round knockout of ex-unfied titlist Julius Indongo on March 9 and Ramirez outpointed Amir Imam for the vacant title March 17 with the winners ordered to fight next on a 50-50 purse bid split, per a deal made at least year’s WBC convention. However, with a second delay of the bid plus Ramirez promoter Top Rank on record saying it doesn’t want to do the fight next and Prograis one of the names heavily rumored to be joining the second season of the World Boxing Super Series, which intends to do an eight-man tournament at 140 pounds, it seems likely there won’t be a purse bid and the fight won’t happen.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer7d ago
The final elimination bout between super middleweights Caleb Plant (17-0, 10 KOs), 25, of Las Vegas, and Rocky Fielding (26-1, 14 KOs), 30, of England, who are supposed to meet for the right to challenge for the belt presently held by James DeGale, was supposed to go to a purse bid on Tuesday. However, the camps asked for more times to make a deal and the IBF granted a one-week extension on Monday. The purse bid is now scheduled to take place at IBF headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey on May 15 at noon ET.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer7d ago
BOXING
Flyweight prospect Nico Hernandez (4-0, 3 KOs), 22, a 2016 U.S. Olympic bronze medalist, will face Szilveszter Kanalas (14-7, 9 KOs), 19, of Hungary, in a scheduled 12-round fight on May 19 at Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kansas, close to Hernandez’s hometown of Witchita, Kansas. The fight will headline a card that will be available on an Integrated Sports pay-per-view ($19.95). Hernandez’s first three bouts were scheduled for six rounds and his fourth was an eight-rounder. Now he is jumping into a 12-rounder. “I look at every fight the same and I never underestimate my opponent,” Hernandez said. “I’ve been training just as hard for this fight as for any of my other fights. The only difference this fight is that I’m training to go more rounds. … I’ll see how I’m feeling after the first round. I’m not going into the ring looking for a knockout, but I don’t plan on this fight going 12 rounds.”
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer7d ago
BOXING
When featherweight world titlist Gary Russell Jr. faces mandatory challenger Joseph Diaz Jr. on May 19 (Showtime, 10 p.m. ET/PT) in a home region fight at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, two of Russell’s younger brothers will box on the card, as they did on his previous undercard last May. On Monday, their eight-round bouts were made official. Junior welterweight Gary Antuanne Russell (5-0, 5 KOs), 21, a 2016 U.S. Olympian, will face Wilmer Rodriguez (9-2, 7 KOs) and bantamweight Gary Antonio Russell (10-0, 8 KOs), 25, will fight Esteban Aquino (12-4, 7 KOs). The Russell brothers will also be celebrating their father and trainer Gary Russell Sr.’s birthday, which is the day after the fight.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer7d ago
BOXING
GGG ‘absolutely’ wants to fight Canelo again
1:33
BOXING
Frampton unlikely to ever fight Conlan
Two-weight world champion Carl Frampton expects Michael Conlan to emulate his success in the ring, but says they are not on a collision course.
BOXING
Bellew calls out Fury, Ward after beating Haye
Tony Bellew says he wants to ‘fight the world’ after winning his rematch with rival David Haye.
0:38
BOXING
Braekhus defeats Reis in hard-fought bout
Welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus picked herself up off the canvas to win a unanimous decision over Kali Reis on the Gennady Golovkin-Vanes Martirosyan undercard Saturday.
BOXING
At ringside is UFC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, who came to watch Braekhus. Cyrborg, wearing a “Cyborg vs. Braekhus 2019” T-shirt, said she has aspirations to fight Braekhus in a boxing match. Cyborg, speaking to ringside media, said she has two fights remaining on her UFC contract and then hopes to come over to boxing and challenge Braekhus.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer9d ago
BOXING
Bellew ponders his future, urges Haye to retire
Heavyweight Tony Bellew admitted that he is unsure about the direction of his career after his fifth-round stoppage of David Haye on Saturday. But Bellew has a few opponents in mind, just in case he decides to continue fighting.
BOXING
In rematch, Bellew stops Haye in fifth round
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Tony Bellew stops David Haye in their heavyweight rematch Saturday night in London, England. Bellew dominated the fight and dropped Haye 3 times before stopping him in Round 5.
Andres Ferrari, ESPN Editor9d ago
Rodriguez wins bantamweight world title with impressive victory on the road
Puerto Rico’s Emmanuel Rodriguez traveled all the way to London and enjoyed a comfortable decision victory over Paul Butler to win a vacant bantamweight world title on the undercard of the Tony Bellew vs. David Haye heavyweight rematch on Saturday.
GGG-MARTIROSYAN
Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin (GGG) getting ready to take on Vanes Martirosyan tonight at the StubHub Center.
Raajik Shah, ESPN9d ago
Vanes Martirosyan with promoter Don King preparing to take on Gennady Golovkin (GGG)
Raajik Shah, ESPN9d ago
BOXING
At the last minute undisputed women’s welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus has made a trainer change for tonight’s defense call Kali Reis. She was trained by Lucia Rijker, who has been with her all week. Some time between Friday’s HBO fighter meeting and today she split with Rijker and brought in her previous trainer, Jonathon Banks. No reason has been given for the change.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer9d ago
BOXING
Per the California State Athletic Commission, official contract purses for Saturday night’s HBO card at StubHub Center in Carson: Gennady Golovkin $1 million, Vanes Martirosyan $225,000, Cecilia Braekhus $50,000, Kali Reiss $20,000. On the non-TV part of the card: Ryan Martin $25,000, Breidis Prescott $10,000.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer9d ago
Top Headlines
- Adames, Conlan stay unbeaten with UD victories
- Kovalev-Alvarez set for Aug. 4 in Atlantic City
- Klitschko on boxing return: ‘Never say never’
- Ramirez-Prograis on hold to build ‘bigger fight’
- Saunders-Murray exclusive on ESPN+ in U.S.
- Hearn has big U.S. plans with $1B DAZN deal
- GGG relishes tying Hopkins for division record
Boxing fight schedule
2018 Boxing Schedule
Want to know what fights are on the horizon? Check out the boxing schedule for 2018.
Best of 2017
Fight of the Year
The choice for ESPN’s fight of the year was an easy one: the slugfest between heavyweights Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko.
Divisional Rankings
Ranking all boxing divisions
Check out boxing senior writer Dan Rafael’s rankings within each division.
Champions list
Boxing champions
All boxing champions and titleholders for the four major organization.
Pound-For-Pound Rankings
Best fighters in boxing
Who is the world’s best fighter regardless of weight class? Check out ESPN’s latest top 10.
Remembering Muhammad Ali
The Greatest
Remembering Muhammad Ali, one the greatest athletes to ever live.
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