Jake Paul vs Hasim Rahman Jr. Is Off...
That was weird.
During Saturdayâs telecast, it was announced that Jake Paulâs main event PPV fight against the son of a former world champion boxer, Hasim Rahman Jr., was called off due to Rahman Jr. being unable to make the weight of 190, which was then rescheduled to 205 lbs. Rahman Jr., in a form of a press conference, explained that he could make 205 lbs by this Friday further mudding the situation.
Paul is a master politician. If Lyndon B. Johnson was the master of the senate, Paul is the master of the conversation. Some might think of it as astute business acumen, but in reality, Paul will probably have a good chance at running for president one day, as he will be a world champion. Paul built a system and world in which Rahman Jr. was doomed from the start.
Let me explain.
Paul picked Rahman Jr. after Tommy Fury pulled out of their fight due to being unable to come to America. Rahman has been fighting at 225 lbs, bridgerweight by an accord of the WBC, and heavyweight with every other sanctioning body, but the fight was set at 190 lbs. The lowest weight Rahman Jr has made as a pro is 220 lbs.
Add to this Rahman was technically knocked out by James McKenzie Morrison in his last bout, as Rahman Jr.âs kryptonite showed again, as he was unable to sustain the pace needed for the full duration.
In short, Rahman Jr. was coming off his worst performance ever and having to make a weight class 25 lbs south of what he was used to fighting for the biggest purse of his career in a take it or leave it type deal. On Saturday, it was announced NYSAC would not allow Rahman Jr. who had only lost one pound over the past three weeks to fight at anything below 205 lbs., Paul agreed, but Rahman Jr.âs team pushed back, and now the fight is off. Or at least this is the dominant narrative currently.
The situation is ongoing, but it shows the power of Paul, as not just his microphone and platform are larger, but he has a chess-like ability to counteract any criticism and place blame on his rival. Paul jumped out in front of this to an extent that Rahman Jr. has a
That being said, Rahman Jr., after signing the contract bout agreement, had an obligation to fulfill making the weight he agreed upon. Also said, we donât know what is true, and what isnât.
Vergil Ortiz vs. Michael McKinson
Saturday, August 6th - 6 PM PST | DAZN
Welterweight Vergil Ortiz is not getting the credit he deserves. The guy feels like a legend in the making, a legendary power puncher who looks the part of the new era of boxing. Even better Ortiz speaks of legacy more so than money, a welcomed change in an era in which weâre lucky to get a few good fights with great fighters.
His upcoming bout, is a trap fight against a U.K. fighter, who has a style only a mother could love, as McKinson has two knockouts across twenty-two fights, but is a southpaw who just looks to spoil and negate what the other fighter does.
In a homecoming bout for Ortiz Jr., fighting for the third straight time in Texas as a main eventer, along with his second time at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The only thing working against Ortiz is that in 2019 he fought four times, and since 2020 he has fought three times with this fight making his fourth. Earlier this year, Ortiz Jr. was set to face McKinson, but a health issue forced him out of the fight.
I truly reccomend watching Ortiz as he could turn into a legend of the sport, he just isnât getting the acclaim as of late.
undercard
Originally set for the return of Seniesa Estrada, but with Estrada leaving Golden Boy and DAZN for Top Rank Inc., Marlen Esparza, who I somewhat assume was on the card, got promoted to the co-main event to face Eva Guzman, as the former 2012 Olympian Esparza will look to defend her WBC and WBA womenâs flyweight title.
The fight no hardcore fight fan should miss a welterweight crossroads bout between Maurice Hooker and Blair Cobbs. Hooker, a local guy, who I believe doesnât have a promoter currently, is a former world champion with his lone losses coming to Jose Ramirez and Vergil Ortiz, in short, world-class opposition. Cobbs is the x-factor, a dynamic personality who resembles not just a boxer, but a pro wrestler and/or entertainer, who wins the fights you assume he might lose but is coming off a massive loss to Alexis Rocha, who stopped him.
The bout signifies a chance for the top of the division for either guy and a long road back to this point for the loser. In short, this is the fight of the weekend.
The revival of Bektemir âBek The Bullyâ Melikuziev will continue against Sladan Janjanin at super middleweight. âBek The Bullyâ is a fighter who was being fast-tracked but saw a brutally knockout to Gabriel Rosado derail his career essentially, as he is now fighting anonymously on undercards.
Alex Martin, who lost to Michael McKinson on a couple of daysâ notice will face game veteran Hank Lundy in a 140 lbs bout. Once again an interesting bout to see who has a bit more in the tank.
Boxing In Sacramento, CA
A future star of boxing and the next face of Northern California in the modern era, Amari Jones, signed to Devin Haney Promotions, a junior middleweight who has won all six of his fight by knockout and is a major ticket seller, seemingly everywhere. Jones has been living and training with Devin Haney and is slowly building up his record to become a name in the sport. This is a good chance to see a young star in a local market show.
Other notables, Sacramentoâs Cain Sandoval who is a big puncher with a deep amateur pedigree is on the card, and middleweight Joeshon James who can be described the exact same as Sandoval with experience and power will face a one-loss fighter, Angel Chavez will be on the card as will the return of Sergio Vega.
A good card for the local market with a lot of fighters destined to be at the fight as well.
ProBox On Friday
Friday, August 5th, 6 PM PST | ProBoxTV.com
The main event will see Antonio Moran taking on Michael Dutchover with the winner facing the co-main event fighters in the last-chance tournament final at 140 lbs. Moran, a tough durable pressure fighter will face Dutchover, the more accomplished pro, who has just had some bad breaks in his career. The bout is not unlike all of ProBox TVâs cards - which is good.
The co-main event will see Kendo Castaneda take on Joseph Fernandez. Of all the fighters Castaneda made the biggest footprint after his first fight getting a viral knockout. Letâs see if Castaneda can follow that up with another big performance.
Olympian Darrelle Valsaint is moving quickly and looks solid so far. I liked him as an amateur and like him as a pro, and love the fact that he is getting ring time as a young fighter.
One of my favorite young fighters, Najee Lopez who will be a cruiserweight world champion at some point is slowly becoming must-see TV. Lopez has the chance to be a legitmate star in the sport of boxing. Keep this guy on your radar.
Club Shows
Tom Loefflerâs 360 Promotions has been putting on some great weekday shows, but the platform it is on is hurting as UFC Fight Pass isnât a network a lot of hardcore boxing fans have.
Loefflerâs homegrown newcomer 154 lber Callum Walsh will main event the card. Walsh is getting a heavy buzz in terms of word of mouth but is still young in his development as only a six-round fighter. We still have yet to see the disappointments, and adversities as well as trials and tribulations that define a fighter. Walsh, who works with Freddie Roach and Wild Card Boxing Gym has all the makings of being a great fighter, but now he just has to prove it.
A make-or-break undercard fight will see undefeated Omar Cande Trinidad take on formidable contender Javier Padilla in a six-rounder. Padilla has been training with the Garcia family, Max and his son Sam, training alongside Ruben Villa, a real blue-chip prospect.
Cem Kilic has been on a roll as of late, since losing to Steven Nelson, and despite two developmental wins, Kilic has been mentioned with bouts with Aaron Coley, and now is fighting Modestoâs own spoiler Marco Delgado in an eight-round fight. Kilic is working his way back to a world-class level, but fighting tough fighters on the regional circuit.
Chelsey Anderson and Aida Satybaldinova will be an eight-round womenâs lightweight bout that should steal the show. Anderson is trained by fighter Erin Toughill who fought on 360 Promotions cards prior and has a story based around her strong commitment to sobriety. Satybaldinova was brutally knocked out by Selina Barrios, only to rebound, and make it back to the point of competing against top-tier competition. With lightweight being the division that Katie Taylor fights at this fight should get the winner in a position towards the top of the division.
One of the more exciting fighters in the sport Jordan Panthen will finally make his pro debut after an exciting amateur career. Panthen screams of a fan favorite, and has a very good punch output as well
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Dalton Smith will face Sam Oâmaison for the vacant British junior welterweight title. This is the biggest test of Smithâs young career - and will show us stuff. 140 lbs is a real division, with top-tier fighters so this will answer the question of how many years away is Smith from the top of the division. My guess is probably at least two-to-three years.
The most interesting bout will be Erica Anabella Farias rematching Sandy Ryan at 140 lbs. Ryan lost the first fight, as Sandy Ryan was being moved very fast only for that to be derailed, this is a big moment in her career, and speaks to who she is to want it right away.
Hopey Price, a 130 lber, who many in the U.K. view as one of the next guyâs up, will be in a ten-round fight. I like Price, and I am curious to see how he does with the next tier even, a fight against a world champion like Joe Cordina. Price seems a tad different than most U.K. prospects based on the eye testâŚ.
Campbell Hatton will return as it is noticeable over the past year he is falling further and further down the card which is probably a good thing taking unfair pressure of his fatherâs name off him.
Big ticket seller Johnny Fisher will be in an eight-round heavyweight bout. Fisher makes things fun.
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Michael Conlan will return in Northern Ireland against Miguel Marriaga at featherweight. This is a tough fight for Conlan who should outbox Marriaga, but Marriaga has a lot of power and is a tricky guy. This is a tough comeback fight for Conlan after being stopped by Leigh Wood.
Tyrone McKenna, a welterweight will be in action on this card after his loss to Regis Prograis.
Olympian Kurt Walker, a featherweight will fight on this card as well.
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Demond Nicholson, the first super middleweight to go all the rounds with Edgar Berlanga is going to look to bounce back this weekend against Christopher Brooker. He is a viable name who should be in against a prospect soon, and has a good team behind him.
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Two of the toughest 140 lbers in the history of Canadian boxing will fight for an interesting affair as Tony Luis, a staple of the Friday Night Fights series, and Steve Claggett will do battle. This is a hardcoreâs dream fight.
MMA In 500 Words Or Less
The UFC will feature a card this weekend on ESPN, with Thiago Santos vs. Jamahal Hill facing each other. I guess, the Ultimate Fighter TV show will be decided on this card as well, but I stopped watching that a long-time ago. As with most of the UFC content, this is for the people who love or work in the sport, and for those who casually watch - this one might get skipped.
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Anthony Pettis will also headline the PFL Playoffs during the weekday on ESPN. It just shows how much fight content we get when a talented fighter like Pettis doesnât move the needle anymore.