IN order to get in the ring and actually fight and look to hurt another human being, a boxer will try – and need – to feel nothing towards them. Ideally, they will see them as just an opponent, a cardboard cutout they have to, in the name of their profession, knock down. Yet if
Month: July 2024
On a weekend that also featured Teofimo Lopez, two Latino warriors were primed to make a statement as Juan Francisco Estrada placed his WBC super-flyweight title on the line against Jesse Rodriguez, a weight-hopping 24-year-old talent who had already beaten Sunny Edwards, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras. Rodriguez’s thrilling KO victory, closed with a
ON Saturday July 26, 1890, a challenge appeared within the pages of the Sporting Life with the following words, “Harry Peter of Islington says he is surprised at Joe Caly challenging him for the third time, he having already defeated him twice, once with the raw-‘uns and once with two-ounce gloves. Peter, however, will have
Results: Yamileth Mercado UD-10 Ramla Ali (98-92, 98-93, 97-93) Arturo Cardenas MD-10 Danny Barrios (95-95, 97-93, 96-94) Juan Francisco Estrada returns to defend his WBC super flyweight title tonight, facing rising star Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez in a DAZN main event. Estrada, who is bound for the Hall of Fame, will try to be the first
Teofimo Lopez rather easily retained his WBO super lightweight title, winning a near-shutout decision over Steve Claggett tonight in Miami. Teofimo (21-1, 13 KO) took the fight on scores of 119-109, 120-108, and 120-108. Claggett (38-8-2, 26 KO) brought his usual pressure and effort, but just couldn’t get control of the fight, and Teofimo was
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez became the first man to knock out Juan Francisco Estrada, finishing off Estrada in the 7th round to reclaim the WBC super flyweight title. Rodriguez reclaimed the belt, which he held before surrendering it to drop down to 112 pounds, by knocking out Estrada, a future hall-of-famer that Bam says he grew
Saturday, July 6 DAZN, 2:00 pm ET, Johnny Fisher vs Alen Babic. Johnny Fisher’s first main event as he faces the ferocious and limited Babic in what should be a slugfest for however long it lasts. BLH will have live updates. ESPN+, 6:10 pm ET, Stevenson vs Harutyunyan prelims. DAZN, 8:00 pm ET, William Zepeda
Gennady Golovkin may or may not be retired from the ring – he hasn’t entirely closed the door on the prospect of returning for the perfect opportunity – but he certainly hasn’t finished fighting. His latest challenge, however, isn’t defeating an overmatched middleweight contender but battling to keep boxing in the Olympics. With Paris 2024
On Saturday at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, the main event featured 230 pounds of pure badassery – in this case, divided between two men. Future Hall of Famer “El Gallo” Juan Francisco Estrada, 34, sent rising star Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, 24, to the canvas for the first time in his career. Rodriguez answered back
Lightweight Giovanni Cabrera is one of the bright young talents out of Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing club. However, three years ago he was an inactive fighter who had fired his longtime trainers and managers. Although he had defeated several undefeated prospects during his rise, Cabrera was given his big break by Roach and Manny
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s traditional date of fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend in September is around the corner, but an opponent has not been announced yet for the undisputed super middleweight champion. If Alvarez plans on fighting on Sept. 14, an opponent must be named soon for the event to be properly promoted. For Alvarez’s
By: Sean Crose Teofimo Lopez defended his WBO junior welterweight title against the 38-7-2 Steve Claggett Saturday night in Miami. Although he was expected to win, the 20-1 Lopez had a lot riding on his performance against Claggett, for numerous high profile fights loomed just over the horizon. Claggett had an impressive first while Lopez
By: Sean Crose The WBC junior bantamweight title was on the line Saturday night in Phoenix as the 44-3 defending champion Juan Francisco Estrada slipped between the ropes to face the 19-0 undefeated upstart Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez. The highly anticipated fight was scheduled for 12 championship rounds. The crowd was electric right from the opening
Jun 30, 2024, 01:49 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez knocked out Juan Francisco Estrada in the seventh round to win the WBC junior bantamweight title Saturday night at the Footprint Center in Phoenix in a candidate for fight of the year. Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs), who entered the fight as a -550
Mike Coppinger, ESPN Boxing InsiderJun 30, 2024, 01:17 AM ET Close Mike Coppinger has covered boxing since 2010 with roles at USA Today, Ring Magazine and The Athletic before he joined ESPN in 2021. You can follow him on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger Open Extended Reactions MIAMI — Teofimo Lopez retained his WBO junior welterweight title with
Mike Coppinger, ESPN Boxing InsiderJun 30, 2024, 02:41 AM ET Close Mike Coppinger has covered boxing since 2010 with roles at USA Today, Ring Magazine and The Athletic before he joined ESPN in 2021. You can follow him on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger Open Extended Reactions MIAMI — Teofimo Lopez entered the night with grandiose plans. Perhaps