VERONA, N.Y. — As mild heavyweight global titlist Dmitry Bivol continues to win and entertain while combating excellent opponents, his recognition is developing, and he has made as a minimum one famous fan.
He is Pernell Whitaker, the all-time exceptional International Boxing Hall of Famer, former pound-for-pound king, and four-department international champion. As it turns out, Whitaker has long been one of Bivol’s preferred opponents, one of the men he has spent hours watching on video. Whitaker, perhaps the most excellent protective fighter in records — he is at the least within the conversation — made the trip to the Turning Stone Resort Casino this beyond weekend to fulfill the opponent he has come to be a big fan of and to be ringside to look at as Bivol retained his name for the 5th time with a one-sided selection over Joe Smith Jr. On Saturday night. Bivol took aside the difficult-punching contender by using scores of 119-109, 119-109 and 118-one hundred ten in combat that Bivol ruled alone from getting buzzed employing a proper hand inside the fourth round and by way of some other smooth one appropriate at the end of the tenth round. Otherwise, it changed into all Bivol (16-zero, 11 KOs), 28, who almost stopped Smith (24-3, 20 KOs), 29, from New York’s Long Island, with an onslaught of blows within the very last seconds of the fight.
Whitaker has remained close with Main Events, the organization that promoted him for his complete 1984 to 2001 career. Main Events is also a co-promoter of Bivol, and CEO Kathy Duva invited Whitaker to come to the combat. He spent a while on Saturday at the casino doing a meet-and-greet with combat fans. However, he changed into just as pleased to get a risk to satisfy Bivol at the same time as he broke into there and, as this sort of mythical defensive fighter, paid him the remaining compliment. “I suppose he is a great defensive fighter,” Whitaker advised ESPN at ringside after the bout. “I think he has tremendous abilities. His defense is remarkable. He’s were given a depraved left hook and an excellent right hand. And he can nevertheless analyze. He’s studying from every combat he gets. I turned into satisfied with what I saw. I’m blessed to be here to see it.” Whitaker won an Olympic gold medal for the USA in 1984, and while Bivol in no way boxed in the Olympics, he becomes 268-15 as a celeb novice on the Russian national crew. So far he is also extraordinary inside the pros. But how ways can Bivol go? “He can go to the top,” Whitaker stated, relating to the pound-for-pound list. “I think he’s the real deal.”
Indeed, apart from taking a few solid pictures, Bivol befuddled Smith, a worthy challenger, round after spherical together with his pace, movement and his crisp personal punches. It changed into a defensive performance worthy of Whitaker. While Bivol landed 208 of 714 punches (29 percentage), he restrained Smith to landing a pathetic 39 of 395 shots (10 percent). “I love his protection,” Whitaker stated. “It’s a remarkable feeling when you can hit a man, and they cannot hit you returned. I understand lots approximately that. “Main Events added me up here to see him due to the fact they said this youngster loved Pernell Whitaker. So, I wanted to come and spot what he was all about. I were given a danger to fulfill him, and I see a whole lot of myself on this youngster.” Bivol becomes thrilled to meet certainly one of his idols and changed into in particular humbled while informed on the postfight information convention of the compliments Whitaker had given him. “First of all, Pernell Whitaker’s protection is better than mine,” Bivol said with a laugh. “I saw a lot of his fights. He is one among my favorite opponents due to the fact once I saw his combat, he had [so] a whole lot a laugh. I like warring parties like him, and, of the route, it’s properly for me. I even have in no way concept that a fighter like Pernell Whitaker might say true things about me. I am glad.” Porter or Ugas? Being a boxing judge isn’t always for the faint of heart, specifically due to fights just like the one which occurred between international welterweight titlist Shawn Porter and obligatory challenger Yordenis Ugas within the main event of the Premier Boxing Champions on Fox card Saturday night in Carson, California. It changed into incredibly tough combat to score, with several near rounds that could have long past both manners. Both fighters had their moments, but in the long run, Porter, making the first protection of his second name reign, got the split-selection verdict. Judges Steve Morrow (116-112) and Max DeLuca (one hundred fifteen-113) scored it for him, and Zach Young had it 117-111 for Ugas. It wasn’t mainly actual combat, as their styles didn’t mesh thoroughly, and it lacked for a motion for lengthy durations. Porter (30-2-1, 17 KOs), 31, of Las Vegas, normally a mauler, changed things up and boxed extra than typical, but there wasn’t a whole lot for the judges to move on as some distance as creating a definitive choice on most of the rounds, despite the fact that Porter changed into barely more active. In the final seconds of the eleventh spherical, Porter had his nice moment while he wobbled Ugas with a stiff left jab. But Ugas (23-4, eleven KOs), 32, a 2008 Cuban Olympic bronze medalist fighting out of Las Vegas, should are become credit for a knockdown within the twelfth round. He hit Porter with a proper hand, and Porter went down, but referee Jack Reiss, one of the great in the enterprise, ruled Porter had slipped. DeLuca especially gave the twelfth spherical to Porter, which gave him the win. Ugas felt he changed into robbed. Prospect of the weekend I: Efe Ajagba Heavyweight Efe Ajagba (9-zero, eight KOs), 24, become a 2016 Nigerian Olympian and has fast grown to be certainly one of boxing’s pinnacle prospects. At 6-foot-five, 240 kilos, he positive seems the part and has displayed unfavorable power, which includes his bout at the Porter-Ugas undercard. Ajagba, who fights out of Houston, where he is skilled with the aid of Ronnie Shields, confronted without problems the best opponent of his quick career to this point in Amir Mansour (23-four-1, 16 KOs), 46, of Wilmington, Delaware, and destroyed him. Adding to the impressive fashion of the victory turned into that Mansour became the first southpaw Ajagba has faced in the pros. He dropped Mansour twice in the first round, first with a proper hand after which with a left hand. Mansour had taken this beating through the stop of the second one round that the referee Thomas Taylor stopped the fight with Mansour on his stool and not able to preserve. It turned into tough no longer to be inspired using Ajagba’s performance. The next step: Richard Schaefer of Ringstar Sports, Ajagba’s promoter, instructed ESPN that Ajagba will be lower back inside the ring on May 18 at the undercard of global heavyweight titleholder Deontay Wilder’s probable protection in opposition to Dominic Breazeale. Ajagba and his team are willing to step him up in opposition to better opposition, but it will be tough finding opponents willing to face him. Prospect of the weekend II: Israel Madrimov Junior middleweight Israel Madrimov (2-0, 2 KOs), 24, a former novice standout from Uzbekistan, turned into extremely spectacular in a hellacious second-spherical knockout of Frank Rojas (24-three, 23 KOs), 31, of Venezuela. Rojas is no contender, but as an opponent for a kid in his 2nd seasoned fight, he becomes a huge step up. But Madrimov, who fights out of Indio, California, where he is trained using Joel Diaz, shredded Rojas earlier than completing him with a virtually brutal left-hook knockout that rendered him out bloodless and sent him to the sanatorium as a precaution. The instantaneous evaluation made using some at ringside become that Marinov, who also showed swagger with a publish-knockout cartwheel and backflip, reminded united states of America young Gennady Golovkin. Marinov is already being moved quickly through co-promoters Matchroom Boxing and World of Boxing. His first fights have been scheduled for ten rounds, and he gained a nearby title towards Rojas. He looks as if the actual deal. The next step: Manager Vadim Kornilov is aware of he has a fighter who does now not need a great deal of seasoned seasoning. He and the rest of the crew trust he is equipped to stand top opposition now. “Israel wanted to fight for a global identity in his professional debut, and his performances hold to validate that he’s prepared,” Kornilov said. “We’d like to fight [junior middleweight world titlist] Jaime Munguia this 12 months. Both fight on DAZN, so there is no network or promotional boundaries, and this would be very great combat in Southern CaliforniaIndeed, other than taking a few strong shots, Bivol befuddled Smith, a worthy challenger, spherical after round together with his velocity, movement, and his crisp personal punches. It was a protecting performance worthy of Whitaker. While Bivol landed 208 of 714 punches (29 percentage), he constrained Smith to touchdown a pathetic 39 of 395 shots (10 percentage). “I love his defense,” Whitaker stated. “It’s a lovely feeling while you can hit a man and that they can’t hit you again. I recognize loads about that. “Main Events added me up here to peer him because they said this youngster cherished Pernell Whitaker. So, I desired to return and see what he was all about. I got a risk to satisfy him, and I see a whole lot of myself in this child.” Bivol became pleased to meet one among his idols and become in particular humbled when informed on the postfight news conference of the compliments Whitaker had given him. “First of all, Pernell Whitaker’s defense is better than mine,” Bivol said with fun. “I saw many of his fights. He is certainly one of my preferred warring parties due to the fact when I saw his combat; he had [so] a lot amusing. I like fighters like him, and, of course, it’s suitable for me. I have never thought that a fighter like Pernell Whitaker would say top things approximately me. I am satisfied.” Porter or Ugas? Being boxing decide is not for the faint of coronary heart, especially due to fights like the one that passed off between global welterweight titlist Shawn Porter and mandatory challenger Yordenis Ugas inside the main occasion of the Premier Boxing Champions on Fox card Saturday night time in Carson, California. It became exceedingly tough combat to attain, with several near rounds that could have long past either way. Both fighters had their moments, but in the end, Porter, making the first defense of his 2d identify reign, got the cut up-choice verdict. Judges Steve Morrow (116-112) and Max DeLuca (115-113) scored it for him, and Zach Young had it 117-111 for Ugas. It wasn’t a particularly correct fight, as their patterns failed to mesh thoroughly, and it lacked for action for long intervals. Porter (30-2-1, 17 KOs), 31, of Las Vegas, typically a mauler, changed matters up and boxed more than typical, however there weren’t lots for the judges to head on as a ways as making a definitive selection on most of the rounds, despite the fact that Porter become barely greater energetic. In the final seconds of the eleventh round, Porter had his quality second while he wobbled Ugas with a stiff left jab. But Ugas (23-four, 11 KOs), 32, a 2008 Cuban Olympic bronze medalist fighting out of Las Vegas, must are become credit for a knockdown within the 12th round. He hit Porter with a right hand, and Porter went down, but referee Jack Reiss, one of the excellent in the business, dominated Porter had slipped. DeLuca noticeably gave the 12th spherical to Porter, which gave him the win. Ugas felt he changed into robbed. Prospect of the weekend I: Efe Ajagba Heavyweight Efe Ajagba (9-zero, eight KOs), 24, was a 2016 Nigerian Olympian and has fast grown to be one in all boxing’s top prospects. At 6-foot-five, 240 kilos, he positive appears the part and has displayed damaging power, consisting of his bout on the Porter-Ugas undercard. Ajagba, who fights out of Houston, where he is educated through Ronnie Shields, faced without problems the excellent opponent of his quick profession so far in Amir Mansour (23-4-1, sixteen KOs), 46, of Wilmington, Delaware, and destroyed him. Adding to the marvelous style of the victory turned into that Mansour changed into the first southpaw Ajagba has confronted in the execs. He dropped Mansour two times in the first spherical, first with a right hand after which with a left hand. Mansour had taken such a beating via the cease of the second spherical that he referee Thomas Taylor stopped the fight with Mansour on his stool and unable to preserve. It became tough no longer to be impressed using Ajagba’s performance. The next step: Richard Schaefer of Ringstar Sports, Ajagba’s promoter, advised ESPN that Ajagba may be again in the ring on May 18 on the undercard of global heavyweight titleholder Deontay Wilder’s in all likelihood defense towards Dominic Breazeale. Ajagba and his crew are inclined to step him up in opposition to higher opposition, but it’ll be very tough finding combatants inclined to face him. Prospect of the weekend II: Israel Madrimov Junior middleweight Israel Madrimov (2-0, 2 KOs), 24, a former newbie standout from Uzbekistan, changed into extremely surprising in a hellacious 2nd-round knockout of Frank Rojas (24-3, 23 KOs), 31, of Venezuela. Rojas is not any contender, but as an opponent for a kid in his 2nd seasoned fight, he turned into a huge step up. But Madrimov, who fights out of Indio, California, where he is educated with the aid of Joel Diaz, shredded Rojas earlier than finishing him with an certainly brutal left-hook knockout that rendered him out cold and sent him to the health facility as a precaution. The immediate assessment made by a few at ringside was that Madrimov, who also confirmed swagger with a submit-knockout cartwheel and backflip, reminded united states young Gennady Golovkin. Madrimov is already being moved quick by using co-promoters Matchroom Boxing and World of Boxing. His first two fights had been scheduled for 10 rounds and he received a regional identify in opposition to Rojas. He looks like the actual deal. The subsequent step: Manager Vadim Kornilov knows he has a fighter who does not need a great deal pro seasoning. He and the relaxation of the crew trust he’s equipped to face top competition now. “Israil desired to combat for a international identify in his expert debut, and his performances hold to validate that he is geared up,” Kornilov said. “We’d love to combat [junior middleweight world titlist] Jaime Munguia this year. Both combat on DAZN, so there’s no community or promotional boundaries, and this will be a very big fight in Southern California
Fights you might have neglected
In boxing’s return to the famed Royal Albert Hall for a card that streamed on ESPN+ in the United States, Yarde, 27, of England, pounded on Reeves, 38, of Baltimore, in a one-sided fight. Yarde, couldn’t drop Reeves, but he landed numerous hard punches on Reeves, who confirmed coronary heart and determination before referee Marcus McDonnell had visible sufficient and stopped the fight forty eight seconds into the fifth spherical. Yarde is close to becoming the required challenger for global titlist Sergey Kovalev, a combat that Yarde hopes to have later this year.
Dubois, 21, of England, persisted to electrify as he violently took out former global identify challenger Cojanu, 32, a Romania local primarily based in Los Angeles, conveniently. Dubois was taking a chunk of a step up in opposition but had no problems before trapping Cojanu on the ropes in the 2nd round and unloading. He completed the onslaught with a left hook to the jaw and a right hand in the back of it that dropped Cojanu in a heap, and referee Steve Gray counted him out at 2 minutes, 48 seconds. Cojanu lost his fourth fight in a row, all towards excellent competition.
