Boxing Insider Notebook: Jay Z, Floyd Mayweather, Tyson Fury, Tarver, Shumenov, and more…

By: William Holmes

The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of December 2nd to December 9th, covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.

Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports and Fox Sports Reach Three-Event Agreement

Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports and Fox Sports have reached an agreement on a three-event package, the first ever presented by the promoter, under the Throne Boxing banner.

Their first event is scheduled for Friday, January 9th, 2015 and airs on Fox Sports 1, live from the Madison Square Garden in New York City, and will feature boxing’s brightest young stars in compelling match-ups.

In the 10-round main event, undefeated Washington, DC native Dusty Hernandez-Harrison will take on Tommy Rainone for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Championship.

“All of us at Roc Nation Sports are thrilled to announce our first boxing event along with our first series and television deal,” said Roc Nation Sports’ COO of Boxing David Itskowitch.

“The January 9th event at The Theater at Madison Square Garden will be an event unlike anything boxing fans have experienced in the past, whether they’re at The Garden or watching at home on FOX Sports 1. An evening of exciting fights, great music and fantastic entertainment will be a fitting way to kick off throne boxing, a series that will stand alone on the boxing landscape.”

Tickets will be available online at www.thegarden.com

Floyd Mayweather Witnessed Murder-Suicide on FaceTime

Rapper Early Haye is allegedly a part of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s Money Team, but last night he shot his wife, VH1 star Stephanie Moseley, and then turned the gun on himself and killed himself. TMZ reported that Floyd Mayweather Jr. was on face time with Earl Hayes when the incident happened and witnessed the entire thing.

More information on this can be found here.

Fury on Target for Klitschko and World Title

Promoter Frank Warren has said that media reports of plans to make a fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are both inaccurate and wide of the mark.

Tyson Fury’s next scheduled fight is in February in London. Following that bout, Klitschko is the target and negotiations will open in March and if an agreement isn’t reached, the fight will go to purse bids and will take place within 120 days thereafter.

Antonio Tarver Not Concerned About Ring Rust

Antonio Tarver (30-6) won’t be concerned about ring rust this Thursday night when he fights for the first time in more than a year against veteran Johnathon Banks (29-2-1). This ten-round heavyweight fight will air live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes from Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California.

The bout was scheduled to take place on September 29th, but it had to be postponed due to fractured thumb in Tarver’s left hand. Tarver has only had five fights in the last six years.

“I’m not concerned with rust,” the cagey southpaw said.

“If I’m rusty, it will only be until I’m hit. I’ve been trying to wear off ring rust with intelligent sparring but that’s not like getting reps of a fight. I have to beat a solid heavyweight with power like Banks to get where I want to be. I will become the oldest world heavyweight champion in boxing history! He will be surprised by a lot of what I bring into the ring.”

“Every fight is independent in itself,” Tarver noted, “so, I can’t say I’ve fought anybody like Banks. I have fought a lot of guys with power who know how to box. Everybody has two hands and two feet but he can only use one hand at a time. I simplify things. I will be in my best shape and I won’t be surprised by whatever he brings into the ring.”

Willie Monroe Jr. to Take on Bryan Vera for NABA and NABO Middleweight Titles

Willie Monroe Jr. will defend his NABA and NABO Middleweight titles on January 16th when he takes on Bryan Vera as part of an ESPN Friday Night Fights telecast at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. Monroe is 18-1 and is riding an eight-fight win streak. He catapulted up the rankings by winning the Boxcino tournament.

“This fight is a step up,” said Monroe. “I have a lot of respect for Bryan Vera. Vera has fought a lot of top contenders. A fight like this will show the boxing world that I belong at the top of the Middleweight division.”

“I am excited for this fight on January 16,” said Vera. “Monroe has a high ranking and with a big win on January 16, it will catapult me into another big fight and will set the tone for a big year in 2015.”

Beibut Shumenov Gets New Trainer

Beibut Shumenov (14-2) was known for being self-trained, but now the former WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion is working with highly-regarded Cuban head trainer Ismael Salas.

Salas has trained world champions such as Guillermo Rigondeaux, Yuriokis Gamboa, Danny Green, Jesse Vargas, and Jorge Linares. Salas is now preparing Shumenov for his fight against Bobby Thomas Jr. on Saturday on the Golden Boy Promotions Amir Khan vs. Devon Alexander card.

“I’ve had a lot of changes after my last fight,” the 31-year-old Shumenov said. “I trained myself for the last three fights, but now I have added a great trainer, Ismael Salas, to my team.”

“I come from Kazakhstan and I was taught the Soviet Union boxing program. The Cuban boxing program has a lot of similarities, so, for me it was easy to pick up Ismael’s teaching method. The addition of Ismael to my team, along with a few other minor changes, has brought about a real positive environment. I look forward again to going to the gym every day and having fun.”

Gary Hyde Signs Bulgarian Amateur Star Blagoy ‘Golden Boy’ Naydenov

International boxing manager Gary Hyde has announced that his company, Nowhere2Hyde, has signed 18-year- old Bulgarian amateur star Blagoy “Golden Boy” Naydenov to a long-term contract. Naydenov’s goal is to become the first Bulgarian born male world champion of a major boxing organization.

Naydenov captured a gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, to go along with his championship winning performances at the Under-19 World Championships and Under-17 European Championships.

Naydenov was considered a favorite to win the light heavyweight division in the 2016 Olympics but decided to turn pro instead.

“I am absolutely delighted to add one of the best amateurs in the world to our team,” Hyde said. “I reached out to Team Naydenov during the past two years to sign this ‘Wonder-Kid’ and I am obviously very excited that he had decided to turn pro under my guidance. At the tender age of 18, Blagoy will be a major force in the light heavyweight division in a couple of years.”

Hurd Decisions Sanchez in Main Event at Harrahs Philadelphia

Some of the best young prospects in the country were featured on a six-bout card promoted by King’s Promotions and XFE.

Jarred Hurd held on to defeat late replacement Emmanuel Sanchez via a six-round majority decision in a middleweight bout. Sanchez took the fight on two days notice, and did well in the later half of the fight. But, Hurd still won on the scorecards with scores of 59-55, 58-56, and 57-57 to raise his mark to 14-0.

Lightweight prospect Omar Douglas stopped Osnel Charles in the first round in the co-feature of the night. Douglas improved to 13-0. Eighteen year old Milton Santiago Jr. also boxed well and defeated Travis Thompson 40-36 on all three score cards.

Ismael Barroso Smashes Another Foe

Veteran lightweight Ismael Barroso (16-0-2) stopped Mexican veteran Maximiliano Galindo in three rounds on Friday night.

Barroso dropped Galindo four times in Galindo’s hometown of Sinaloa, Mexico before the referee stopped the bout.

His promoter, Greg Cohen, stated the following, “”Galindo had fought some decent foes, but no one is ready for the kind of power my fighter brings to the table. He’s punching lightweights with the power of a heavyweight.”

“It’s time to unleash him on the US,” continued Cohen. “He’s a terrific talent from South America and pretty soon he’ll be known all over the world. We’re putting together a series of fights for Ismael that will land him at the top of boxing, where a fighter with his power belongs.”