Boxing Insider Notebook: Dana White, Floyd Mayweather, Deontay Wilder, Danny Jacobs, Claressa Shields and more…
Compiled By: William Holmes
The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of February 7th to February 14th, covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.
Photo Credit: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
Dana White Tells TMZ There is No Deal Between Mayweather and McGregor
Speculation has been running rampant on social media that Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are closing to finalizing a deal to have McGregor face Mayweather inside a boxing ring.
However, McGregor is under contract to the UFC and Dana White told TMZ Sports that there is no deal in place for Mayweather to fight McGregor.
Read more at: http://www.tmz.com/2017/02/14/dana-white-mayweather-mcgregor-no-deal/
Deontay Wilder Media Workout Quotes
Unbeaten heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder discussed his upcoming world title defense and more on Wednesday in New York ahead of his showdown with unbeaten Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington Saturday, February 25 from Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama.
Televised coverage on FOX and FOX Deportes begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and also features a pair of exciting matchups as rising super welterweight contenders Tony Harrison and Jarrett Hurd meet in a 12-round world title eliminator, plus hard-hitting Dominic Breazeale battles undefeated Izuagbe Ugonoh in heavyweight action.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TBG Promotions in association with Bruno Event Team, start at $25 (not including applicable fees) and are on sale now. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and by visiting AlabamaTitleFight.com.
Here is what Wilder had to say Wednesday:
DEONTAY WILDER
“There are a lot of heavyweights who say they want me, but at the end of the day, do they really want this? Everybody knows that Deontay Wilder comes with power.
“I fight for the people, that’s what I’m all about. I like to give the fans a great fight at a reasonable price. Each fight I’m in I’m always exciting and well-prepared. I come to give people what they want to see when they see a heavyweight, and that’s a knockout.
“Gerald Washington is a big guy I’ve seen fight a few times. I don’t think he’s ready to fight me, but he thinks he is. We’ll find out on February 25. I chose him because he’s always been respectful while always wanting the opportunity. He’s going to come ready to fight.
“My preparation stays the same, even with the opponent change. I’ve been in situations where I’ve had to change a lot after an opponent dropped out, but Gerald being as good as he is and similar to Wawrzyk makes it easier. They have different styles but we’ll work on how to break him down.
“When I knocked out Artur Szpilka, I thought he was dead for a few seconds. That’s just from natural, Alabama country power.
“I’m still training while I’m here in New York. I have Mark Breland here with me helping me get a lot of good work in. I’m staying focused. When February 25 comes, I’ll be ready.
“I definitely feel 100 percent, but we’ll see what it’s going to feel like in the ring when I apply this force to a human skull. When I’m in the gym doing work, I feel great.
“I never really let my hand properly heal until this injury, because the bicep takes longer to heal than the hand. The time gave me an opportunity to really improve my left hand. I feel more polished now than I’ve ever been.
“You have to have patience in this sport. The big fights that people want to see will be coming. I’m not scared of anyone and I won’t run for anyone. My team is on the same page and we’re going to keep working together and moving forward.
“It’s all about adjusting. Each and every time I go through something inside or outside of the ring, it just makes me better and better.
“Chris Arreola’s style was perfect for mine. Even with the injuries that I was suffering, I could still get the job done. I also had to fight through the injuries with Stiverne, because I hurt my hand in the third round of that fight. Being able to have these experiences has made my confidence even higher.”
Daniel Jacobs Media Day Quotes
WBA Middleweight World Champion and Mandatory Challenger DANIEL “THE MIRACLE MAN” JACOBS, (32-1, 29 KO’s) held court with the Northern California media at his training camp in Oakland yesterday in preparation for his highly anticipated showdown with Unified Middleweight World Champion GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN, (36-0-0, 33 KO’s) on Saturday, March 18 at The Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
DANIEL JACOBS
“Gennady is a great fighter; we’ll have multiple game plans to approach the fight. They can plan ahead or overlook me but I’m coming to be victorious on March 18..”
“Getting away has been great for me, there’s a lot less distractions in Oakland than if I stayed in Brooklyn.”
“I’ve been down twice in my career but I’m but not worried about my chin. He’s a very strong guy but it’s up to me to prove I’m quicker and better.”
“I don’t know how hard he punches, I’ve never faced him but anybody can be hurt and I’m confident in my power that I can hurt him. All the questions about my chin and heart will be answered on March 18.”
“I’m really a boxer, I’ve just become known as a knockout artist with all my stoppages.”
“Having Andre Ward here in my camp is terrific. I have a great deal of respect for him, he’s a role model for me, we’ve known each other since the amateurs. I greatly appreciate his support.”
“It’s the biggest fight of my career so I have to make sacrifices by leaving home and coming here, there’s too many distractions in New York. Being away adds to that motivation, it’s a sacrifice missing my 8-year-old son, but it makes me know that everything is worth it.
“Being around so many world class fighters here at Virgil’s gym helps push me and focus. We have smart sparring sessions, not wars.”
“In addition to having Andre Rozier as my trainer, bringing aboard Chris Algieri was a great addition. He’s able to help with my nutrition plus he’s fought on the biggest stages in the biggest fights which helps me.”
“It feels like home out here, I’ve been here for so long. It won’t feel like home during fight week, I won’t be in Brooklyn before the fight. I’m a true underdog fighting at Madison Square Garden, although I’ve fought there in the past it’s really Gennady’s home.”
“I have no idea how it ends, whether by decision or knockout but I will be victorious.”
Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields to Make Professional Television Debut
Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields will make her professional television debut on ShoBox: The New Generation, a series that has sparked the careers of 67 future world champions, on Friday, March 10, live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT) from MGM Grand Detroit Event Center in Detroit, Michigan.
Shields (1-0) is facing Hungary’s Szilvia “Sunset” Szabados (15-8, 6 KOs), a former world title challenger, in the first women’s boxing match to headline on premium television. The fight will take place down the road from Shield’s hometown of Flint, Mich.
Shields is the most accomplished amateur boxer in U.S. history – male or female – and the only American boxer to capture back-to-back gold medals at the Olympic Games.
“It is a dream come true to be the first woman to headline a boxing card on premium television,” said Shields. “March 10 will be a historic night for boxing and all of the women who give so much to advance our sport.
I am proud to be fighting for the NABF title in my second pro bout. I want to thank SHOWTIME, MGM Grand Detroit and Salita Promotions for this opportunity, and I will do everything to give my home state fans and the viewers a night to remember.”
Szabados said, “Fighters always say their next fight is the most important one of their career, but you get an opportunity like this, and it really is. This is an unbelievable dream. I am very happy to be receiving this opportunity. I know this fight is important for Claressa also, and I don’t really know what will happen in the ring. We both want to win. Claressa has more amateur experience, but I have more experience as a professional. It’s going to be an exciting night.”
Caribe Promotions and Warriors Boxing Announce Co-Promotional Agreement with WBA Interim Cruiserweight World Champion Yunier Dorticos
Warriors Boxing and Caribe Promotions proudly announce they have teamed up to sign Miami via Cuba’s interim WBA World Cruiserweight Champion, Cuba’s Yunier Dorticos, to a co-promotional agreement.
The power-punching Dorticos (21-0, 20 KOs), originally from Cienfuego, Cuba, won his interim championship with a “Fight of the Year” candidate TKO 20 over France’s tough Youri Kayembre Kalenga in May of last year.
In his seven-year career, the 30-year-old slugger has also held the WBC Latino, WBA Fedelatin and USBA Cruiserweight Championships. Dorticos was also a heavily decorated amateur before defecting to the United States and had 257 bouts. He stands 6′ 3″ with a massive 80″ reach.
“I have worked hard in my career and Caribe Promotions has helped get me to where I am now. I am a world-class fighter, and that comes with making choices to benefit my career and my team,” said Dorticos. “I am excited to join Warriors Boxing as my co-promoter along with my Caribe Promotions, because it gives me to opportunity to be under the guidance of a world-class championship team and take my career to new heights. Together with Caribe Promotions and Warriors Boxing, I will become the best 200-lb undisputed Cruiserweight Champion in the World.
Dorticos is slated to further legitimize his title by facing the WBA’s “Regular” World Cruiserweight Champion Beibut Shumenov in his next fight. “My exiting fighting style and punching power will once again show all my fans and the world why I’m called ‘The KO Doctor’ and my next patient that I will prescribe my medication to is Beibut Shumenov!”
“We are very happy to be working with such a top talent like Yunier Dorticos, whom I consider to be the closest thing to the great Joe Louis in boxing today,” said Luis DeCubas, Chief Operating Officer of Warriors Boxing. “I’d like to thank our partner Boris Arencibia for trusting Warriors Boxing to help guide his career. Dorticos will beat Shumenov. He’s another terrific Cuban fighter with a very bright future.”
“Caribe Promotions is proud to sign Yunier Dorticos to a co-promotional partnership with Warriors Boxing,” said Boris Arencibia, President of Caribe Promotions. “With the knowledge, experience and boxing network of Luis DeCubas and Warriors Boxing, we will be able to put our champion Dorticos on top of the world. ‘The KO Doctor’ is coming to clean up the cruiserweight division and will be recognized has one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world very soon!”
Dominican Boxers Payano, Marrero and Vicente Sign Long-Term Agreements with King Kong Boxing Management
Well-known Florida-based manager/trainer Herman Caicedo proudly announces the signing of three of his world-class Dominican fighters, former WBA Super World Bantamweight Champion and WBA #2, WBC #11 contender Juan Carlos Payano, WBA #3 featherweight Claudio “The Matrix” Marrero, and well-respected featherweight contender Yenifel “The Lightning” Vicente, to multi-year managerial agreements with Jay Jimenez of King Kong Boxing Management.
The deal frees Caicedo, who formerly held both duties with the three fighters since their amateur days, to focus solely on training, while Jimenez takes the reins over furthering their careers in the professional boxing business.
32-year-old southpaw Payano (18-1, 9 KOs) won the WBA strap in September 2014 by stopping long-time world champion Anselmo Moreno. He then defeated and lost a rematch to Ohio’s Rau’shee Warren. He was last seen scoring a TKO 7 over Isao Gonzalo Carranza in January of this year.
“King Kong Boxing exploded on the scene with (former interim WBA Heavyweight Champion) Luis Ortiz and has fast-tracked the careers of several Cuban fighters,” said Payano. “I am very happy to be working with Jay Jimenez. And my trainer Herman has always been very honest with us and protected us from the sharks in boxing. Through his philosophy of hard work and dedication, I became a world champion. I am happy he will now be able to concentrate on training, which he is the best in the world at.”
Marrero (21-1, 15 KOs) will face Peru’s Carlos Zambrano for his interim WBA World Championship, as well as the IBO World Championship, on February 24 in Palm Springs, California.
“Joining the King Kong team is great, but as we see it, we have been part of this team for some time,” said Marrero. “Jay has always helped us with anything we needed. It’s just official now. King Kong Boxing Management is looking to bring more superstar elite fighters to boxing’s forefront, through aggressive marketing and strategic alliances with top promoters in the business.”
Vicente (30-3-2, 22 KOs) is one of the world’s most exciting fighters. Currently riding a five-fight winning streak, the power-punching 30-year-old is a television favorite for his all-action fighting style.
“Herman has done a great job with my training and my career,” said Vicente. “He has worked very hard for me and all his fighters. Now he will get some expert help from King Kong Boxing Management. I am looking forward to a very bright future working with these two great men.”
Payano, Marrero and Yenifel Vicente are superstar, elite-level fighters,” said Jimenez. “Payano is a former champion, Marrero a soon to be champion and Vicente on a fast track to becoming a champion as well. This is exactly what King Kong Boxing is interested in signing: the very best. I have no doubt that Payano will once again become champion this year. Working with Herman is easy and inspiring. He brings the same approach to his training that I do to management. He is professional, smart, and a no-nonsense worker.”
“I am very sad and ecstatic at the same time,” said Caicedo. “I have been a trainer/ manager for over 23 years and believe that the only way to develop a champion is to avoid the distractions in boxing, such as when some managers change coaches like they change underwear. Unfortunately, most of the time fighters don’t have a say due to financial restraints or influence the manager might have. I did away with that as much as possible by doing most of the managing myself. King Kong Boxing is, by far, the best management team in the business. These three fighters are special to me because we debuted as pros and became champions together. But I have zero doubt I made the right decision for the guys’ career and future. I want to thank Jay from King Kong Boxing for the trusting in me to work with his fighters over the past few years and for having the vision in the signing of his newest additions.”