by Tim Harrison While it is still relatively new in Macau, China, boxing makes a huge splash this weekend when global icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs) returns from a devastating KO loss to Juan Manuel Marquez last December, to face brash young Mexican brawler, Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios (31-1-1, 23 KOs). Operating as the main support to Pacquiao’s return will be the … [Read more...]
Eleider Alvarez vs. Allan Green: Friday Night Fights Preview
by Tim Harrison 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions steps out from the shadow of the established promoters with which it has partnered in all of its previous shows to promote its own show this Friday, July 5 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut. ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights will broadcast a night of fights featuring a ten-round light heavyweight bout between … [Read more...]
Gradovich upsets Dib (and 50 Cent) for Bizarro World Title on Friday Night Fights
Coming into this Friday Night Fights main event at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut, Billy "The Kid" Dib (35-2, 21 KOs) was a world champ of the "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" variety, only. After Friday, his people can't even claim that. Evgeny "The Mexican Russian" Gradovich (16-0, 8 KOs), trained by Robert Garcia, would outwork and outfight the … [Read more...]
Bill Dib vs. Evgeny Gradovich: FNF Preview
by Tim Harrison ESPN Friday Night Fights delivers its second straight world title fight when Billy “The Kid” Dib (35-1, 21 KOs) defends his IBF featherweight strap against late replacement Evgeny Gradovich (15-0, 8 KOs) at the Foxwoods Casino in Mashantuckett, Connecticut. The co-feature pits Willie Nelson (19-1-1, 11 KOs) against Michael Medina (26-3-2, 19 KOs) in a battle … [Read more...]
What 50 Cent Means to Boxing; Magno’s Monday Rant
The biggest story from my vacation time was the emergence of rapper 50 Cent as an active participant in the sport. In the span of about two weeks' time, "Fiddy" announced the creation of TMT (The Money Team) Promotions, gay-bashed Oscar De la Hoya on Twitter, and picked up a nice stable of world class fighters. To say the least, it was a meteoric rise for the … [Read more...]