Top Rank Boxing

Salido vs. Lomachenko: “Boxing 411″ analysis and video presentation

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Radio show host and ring announcer Joseph Herron joins talented, young trainer Rick Morones Jr. in this comprehensive video analysis of “Salido vs. Lomachenko”, as they break down the upcoming Top Rank, Inc. special event.

This Saturday night, March 1st, from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, WBO Featherweight Champion Orlando Salido (40-12-2, 28 KOs) will defend his title against two time Olympic Gold Medal winner Vasyl Lomachenko (1-0, 1 KOs).

In this very historic bout, the highly decorated and much younger fighter will be competing for a major world title in only his second professional outing against the hard nosed veteran and proven three time world champion.

After dominating and stopping rugged Featherweight contender Jose Ramirez in his pro debut, which took place on the undercard of the Top Rank PPV event, “Marquez vs. Bradley”, the Ukrainian born technician controversially put himself in line for the highly anticipated showdown with the Mexican born title holder.

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Floyd Mayweather Jr.: “None of the Above”

Floyd Mayweather Jr.: “None of the Above”

On last night’s episode of ESPN’s sports talk show “Olbermann”, eight division world champion and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao gave the former political satirist an opportunity to probe the Filipino Congressman, concerning the future and past of his legendary fight career and his life as a politician.

The seven minute interview predictably ended with the always intriguing question regarding a mammoth and potentially historic fight with the pound for pound king of boxing, Floyd Mayweather Jr.

When asked if he would ever fight Money Mayweather, the Filipino Congressman had much to say.

“I want the fight, but it’s up to him (Floyd Mayweather),” admitted Manny Pacquiao. “Our line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If he calls and says yes, the fight will be made.”

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Nonito Donaire proves his mettle in stopping Vic Darchinyan…again

donaire8Although four division world champion Nonito Donaire had tasted defeat for the first time in twelve years when last seen in the ring, the Filipino Flash remained one of boxing’s premier fighters and an HBO attraction going into Saturday night‘s Featherweight grudge match with longtime nemesis Vic Darchinyan.

Since the disappointing loss to two time Olympic gold medal winner and Super Bantamweight Champion Guillermo Rigondeaux on April 13th, 2013, Nonito welcomed his first born son, Jarel Donaire, into this world and reconciled with his father, trainer, and mentor, Nonito Donaire Sr.

With the time away from the squared circle, the 30 year old fighter felt genuinely excited about the sport once again, and wanted to use the return bout with “The Raging Bull” as a gauge in which to measure his current level of boxing proficiency.

While most fight fans and boxing writers may not be able to determine his stature among the elite of boxing with last night’s performance, Nonito’s heart, grit, and physical durability was off the charts inspirational. Despite being a heavy favorite leading into the long awaited rematch, the Armenian born fighter gave Donaire Jr. everything he could handle in the squared circle.

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Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade: And the new…

andrade67If anyone asked the newly crowned WBO Junior Middleweight Champion how he envisioned the opening stanza of his first major title opportunity playing out prior to Saturday night‘s match-up with Vanes Martirosyan, “getting floored” would have been the furthest scenario from the former Olympian’s mind.

Although no fighter wants to overcome the adversity of getting caught by a sneaky left hand in the first round, it was the best thing that could have happened to the crafty southpaw.

In the outset of the highly anticipated contest, the fighter more affectionately known as “Boo Boo” seemed to be loading up on shots, while throwing just one punch at a time. After falling out of position while anxiously trying to land hard leather on Martirosyan’s chin, the Armenian-born fighter countered with a perfectly timed left hand that dropped Andrade.

“He caught me early, but I stayed focused,” admitted the 25 year old title holder. “I started using the jab from that point forward and began to pick him apart.”

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Nonito Donaire vs. Vic Darchinyan II: Revisionist historian

_MG_9679On July 7th, 2007, a scarcely known Filipino fighter named Nonito Donaire challenged the consensus regarded “Lord of the Flies”, Vic Darchinyan, for his IBF 112 pound title, and defeated the heavily favored champion with one swift left hook in the fifth round of their scheduled twelve round contest.

Today, it’s hard not to recognize the ripple effect of that impactful punch. Both fighters ended up going in two different directions professionally as a result of that significant blow to the chin of the formerly undefeated and highly regarded champion.

Since that fateful day, Nonito Donaire has gone on to compete in many lucrative bouts on the biggest stage of boxing, picking up three more division world titles and becoming one of the more highly regarded fighters in the entire sport.

In contrast, the “Raging Bull” from Armenia has garnered a respectable record of 11-4-1 with six knock-outs since the initial bout with the “Filipino Flash”, but has fallen short of most initial observations as one of the most feared pound for pound punchers in the entire sport, circa 2007.

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Ruslan Provodnikov: “I don’t think we need a rematch with Mike Alvarado”

ruslan titleMoments after his title winning effort against former champ Mike Alvarado, newly crowned WBO Junior Welterweight Champion Ruslan Provodnikov spoke candidly about a possible rematch with the Denver, Colorado, resident.

Although Ruslan’s promoter and president of Banner Promotions, Artie Pellulo, stated that an opportunity for a rematch would be extended to Mike Alvarado out of courtesy and respect, the Siberian native doesn’t really feel that a return bout would be appropriate after the way the highly anticipated title fight played out.

Despite being a competitive and entertaining battle of attrition, Ruslan was winning the fight on every judge’s scorecard at the time of stoppage. The judges’ scorecards read 98-90, 97-90, and 96-92; all in favor of the new WBO Champion.

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Mike Alvarado vs. Ruslan Provodnikov: Weigh in results

pro yelling finalRuslan Provodnikov – 139.8 pounds

Mike Alvarado – 139.8 pounds

This Saturday evening, the city of Denver, Colorado, will be throwing a party, and the current WBO Junior Welterweight Champion, Mike Alvarado (34-1, 23 KOs), will be the guest of honor.

It’s been a long time coming for the nine year fight veteran.

After paying his dues and climbing up the pugilistic ladder, “Mile High Mike” is finally reaping the benefits of his hard labor. His unique brand of intelligent brutality has endeared him to fight audiences around the world, and HBO, as well as promoter Top Rank Inc, feels that Alvarado is quickly developing into one of the biggest stars of the sport.

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Bryan Vera: “Here we go again”

Brian Vera1During his casual media workout before the now drama riddled, 173 pound, non-title, ten round attraction, Austin, Texas, resident Bryan Vera told anxious media members in attendance at the Fortune Gym in Los Angeles, California, that it was just business as usual leading into what could be the most impactful bout of Vera’s nine year professional career this Saturday night when he finally squares off against a “heavily” favored Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

“I can only do what I can do,” stated a very relaxed Bryan Vera. “I can’t concern myself with the added drama that Chavez brings to the event. I have to stay focused, and hopefully give the fans a great fight on Saturday night.”

Most ringside observers are holding their collective breaths in anticipation for what could be a promotional meltdown on Friday, September 27th, during the customary pre-fight weigh in, which is slated to be held at 6PM EST/3PM PST later this afternoon inside the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California, if “La Estrella de la Noche” doesn’t make the abridged weight limit of 173 pounds.

Will we see the dramatic “Novella” come to an anticlimactic conclusion this afternoon on the scales?

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