Boxing in 2017 – Oh What a Year! The Future Looks Bright, Despite the End of an Era

Boxing in 2017 – Oh What a Year! The Future Looks Bright, Despite the End of an Era

By Justin Jones: First, let me start off by giving the fighters, promoters, advisers, trainers, TV networks & executives, media members, and of course, the fans, a big round of applause (claps in circular motion)!

After a rather dull 2016, boxing fans were treated to a number of competitive and compelling matchups, seemingly every weekend this year. We witnessed history – Terrance Crawford (32-0, 23 KOs) fully unifying the 140-pound division and two 2-time Olympic gold medalists get it on (Vasyl Lomachenko [10-1, 10 KOs] vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux [17-1, 11 KOs]). We were also treated to a number of pound-for-pound fighters willing to test their mettle against one another – Andrew Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) vs Sergey Kovalev (31-2-1, 27 KOs), Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) vs Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (49-1-2), and Lomachenko vs. Rigondeaux.

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Roach Jr. Cruises Past Perez at the MGM National Harbor

Roach Jr. Cruises Past Perez at the MGM National Harbor

By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones |Photos © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones

OXON HILL, MARYLAND – Headlining his first nationally-televised card, 22-year-old Golden Boy prospect, Lamont Roach Jr.(16-0, 6 KOs) made the most of his opportunity by cruising past Rey Perez(21-9, 6 KOs) on Thursday night at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

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The Third Time’s The Charm: Russell Jr. Thumps Escandón by TKO, Tacks on 4th Consecutive Win

The Third Time’s The Charm: Russell Jr. Thumps Escandón by TKO, Tacks on 4th Consecutive Win

By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones and Justin Jones |Photos © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones

OXON HILL, MARYLAND –After two failed attempts, WBC Featherweight Champion Gary Russell Jr.(28-1, 17KOs) finally got his chance to take on former Interim WBC titlist Óscar Escandón (25-3, 17 KO)on Saturday night at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

And Russell Jr. didn’t disappoint.

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Photo Gallery: Official Weigh-In Results for Gary Russell Jr. (125.5) vs. Óscar Escandón (125.75)

Photo Gallery: Official Weigh-In Results for Gary Russell Jr. (125.5) vs. Óscar Escandón (125.75)

By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones | Photo © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones

OXON HILL, MARYLAND–After two false starts, reigning WBC Featherweight Champion Gary Russell Jr. (27-1, 16 KOs) and Interim WBC titlist Óscar Escandón (25-2, 17 KO) are set to reboot their match-up for a third time on Saturday.

Russell and Escandón’s first scheduled fight (November 14, 2015) was scrapped due to a cut Russell suffered during training; Escandón pulled out of their second scheduled fight (March 11, 2017) due to a back injury. However, both fighters were on target at Friday’s weigh-ins at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. 

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Bivol Breaks Down Clarkson, Continues to Rise Through the Light Heavyweight Ranks

Bivol Breaks Down Clarkson, Continues to Rise Through the Light Heavyweight Ranks

By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones and Justin Jones | Photo © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones

OXON HILL, MD – 26-year-old, WBA Interim Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol (10-0, 8 KOs)put Americanfans,the boxing media, and his divisional counterparts on notice after shellacking Samuel “The Main Event” Clarkson (19-4, 12 KOs) en route to a4thround TKOin the main event of SHOWTIME’sSHOBOX: The New Generationcard at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

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Why Bivol vs. Clarkson Could Be a Fight Without an Underdog – Ward, Kovalev, More!

Why Bivol vs. Clarkson Could Be a Fight Without an Underdog – Ward, Kovalev, More!

By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones – In a division with well-known fighters and perennial pound-for-pound entrants, including Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev, up-and-coming WBA Interim Light Heavyweight ChampDmitry Bivol (9-0, 7 KOs) is intent on building his own legacy on American soil.

Bivol, 26, will be featured on his first major televised card when he steps into the ring as the favorite against Samuel “The Main Event” Clarkson (19-3, 12 KOs) on Friday at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

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The Debate Continues… Should Roy Jones, Jr. Fight On Despite Latest TKO Victory Over Bobby Gunn?

The Debate Continues… Should Roy Jones, Jr. Fight On Despite Latest TKO Victory Over Bobby Gunn?

You can’t question his future Hall-of-Fame status and storied career, but many are weighing in on whether Roy Jones, Jr. should continue boxing.

By Justin Jones and Paul “Paparazzi” Jones | Photo © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones

Wilmington, DE —There was a time – 10 to 15 years ago – that whenever Roy Jones, Jr.(65-9, 47 KOs) fought it was must-see TV.  People would purchase his pay-per-view(PPV)bouts without hesitation so they couldwitness and admire the masterful skill of the then #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

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‘As long as I’m fighting, I’m happy’: Lamont Peterson on fighting David Avanesyan – Crawford, Thurman, García, More!

‘As long as I’m fighting, I’m happy’: Lamont Peterson on fighting David Avanesyan - Crawford, Thurman, García, More!

By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones | Published: February 11, 2017| Photo © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones

WASHINGTON, DC– Former two-time world champ Lamont ‟Havoc” Peterson (34-3-1, 17 KOs) faces (Interim) WBA Welterweight Champion David Avanesyan (22-1-1, 11 KOs) on February 18 in the co-main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING card featuring Adrien “The Problem” Broner and Adrian “El Tigre” Granados.

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Lamont Peterson: “I’m a Full-Blown Welterweight and I’m ready to Mix it Up”—Avanesyan, Mosley, Warren, More!

Lamont Peterson: “I’m a Full-Blown Welterweight and I’m ready to Mix it Up”—Avanesyan, Mosley, Warren, More!

By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones | Published: February 7, 2017| Photo © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones

WASHINGTON, DC–Saturday, February 18 marks the returnof former two-time world champ Lamont Peterson (34-3-1, 17 KOs) who challenges (Interim) WBA Welterweight Champion David Avanesyan (22-1-1, 11 KOs) in a primetime match-up.

The bout, which is the co-main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s tripleheader from Xavier University featuring Adrien “The Problem” Broner and Adrian “El Tigre” Granados, is an opportunity for Peterson to show his critics that heis still a force to be reckoned with.

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