Saturday, October 29, 2011

Rico Ramos Is Ready To Defend His Title

Darren Velasco
Boxing-Hype.blogspot.com

The Bantamweight and Super Bantamweight divisions are more than blessed with quality fighters from the Pound-For-Pound tenant Nonito Donaire, the controversially tested Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares, and more recently WBC Super Bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka.While most fight fans have only become familiar with these big names within this potent division, one fighter is breaking the shell from prospect to champion. Rico "Suavecito" Ramos recently entered the realm of world champions by way of knockout victory over Akifumi Shimoda in July to acquire the WBA Super Bantamweight Title.

Ramos with a record of 21-0 with 11 knockouts remains one of the few undefeated fighters atop the Super Bantamweight division. The other two notable undefeated fighters are Guillermo Rigondeaux (8-0, 6 KOs) and Scott Quigg (23-0, 16 KOs) where Rigondeaux is ranked 6 in The Ring rankings while Ramos holds the number 2 spot.

Boxing Hype was able to speak with the WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Ramos recently in Los Angeles outside the Staples Center. Ramos stated "I'm ready for anybody, we want the best out there at 122, but next we got Rigondeaux".

Ramos was clearly aware that fans did question his last victory because of its comeback fashion but the fighter wanted to make it clear to his fans that "you'll see a different Rico Ramos". Look for the champion to keep his record blemish-free against the undefeated Guillermo Rigondeaux.

The 24 year old Ramos is the only fighter in the division's top 10 to be under the age of 25. He looks to dominate an already aging division but remains ready for the up and coming fighters at 118 that are looking to move up. With the likes of Nonito Donaire, Abner Mares, and Anselmo Moreno looking to possibly move up, Ramos has some real challenges ahead. Assuming that he manages to defeat Rigondeaux, a possible fight with WBC Champion Toshiaki Nishioka may also be in talks. Great things do lie ahead for this rising star.

Darren Velasco can be reached at darrenvelasco@yahoo.com or tweet to/follow @Darren_Velasco or @BoxingHype. Any suggestions, questions, or problems can be sent to boxinghype@yahoo.com.


Thursday, October 27, 2011

Eloy Perez Headlines Bay Area Solo Boxeo Card

Darren Velasco
Boxing-Hype.blogspot.com

Friday's Telefutura Solo Boxeo card may be the only flames to possibly heat up the slow boxing weekend. The Bay Area influenced card will take place in Salinas, California, 1 hour north of San Jose at the Sherwood Hall. With a confirmed six fights along with a possible extra two, the televised night of fights looks to give a promising end to the month of October.

The main event welcomes the current WBO NABO Super Featherweight Fighter of the Year Eloy Perez(22-0-2, 6 KOs) to his adopted hometown of Salinas, CA. In his 5th title defense, Perez faces a battle-tested Ira Terry (24-6, 14 KOs). Terry, who began his career winning 24 out of his first 26 bouts, looks to reverse his recent misfortune after being knocked out within the first four rounds in each of his last four fights.

Terry looks to upset Perez' climb up the Super Featherweight rankings in order to remain relevant once again in the division. With recent talks by Perez about a possible bout with top prospect Adrian "The Problem" Broner(21-0, 17 KOs), Perez hopes to prove that his lack of power will be shadowed by technical precision and systematic dismantlement behind his consistent left jab.

Look for the fight to end in typical fashion for either fighter. In both scenarios, the arm raised at the end will be accompanied by hometown pride and cheering but the question is whether it will end due to an early knockout which Terry is used to or a typical beautifully drawn out unanimous decision by Perez.

Bottom Line:
Perez Wins by Unanimous Decision

What Else To Look For:
Light Heavyweight: Paul Mendez(6-2, 2 KOs) vs Loren Myers(8-13-1 2 KOs)
Heavyweight: Magomed Abdusalamov(10-0, 10 KOs) vs Masataka Takehara(6-5, 2 KOs)
Women's Flyweight: Carina Moreno(23-1, 6 KOs) vs Sharon Gaines(11-12-1, 3 KOs)
Light Heavyweight: Rudy Puga Jr.(1-0, 1 KO) vs Jose Jesus Hurtado(3-4, 3 KOs)
Light Welterweight: Jonathan Zamudio(0-0-1, 0 KO) vs Ulises Soriano(Debut)
Super Bantamweight: Roman Morales(7-0, 5 KOs) vs TBA
Light Welterweight: Jonathan Chicas(3-0, 2 KOs) vs TBA

Darren Velasco can be reached at darrenvelasco@yahoo.com or tweet to/follow @Darren_Velasco or @BoxingHype. Any suggestions, questions, or problems can be sent to boxinghype@yahoo.com.


Thursday, October 20, 2011

A Minute With Wayne McCullough

Darren Velasco
Boxing-Hype.blogspot.com

Boxing Hype caught up with boxing great Wayne "Pocket Rocket" McCullough this weekend at the Staples Center. See what he thought of the match between Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson and also his opinion of upcoming Irish boxer Andy Lee



Follow Wayne McCullough at @WayneMcCullough and his daughter @TheWyMac.

Darren Velasco can be reached at darrenvelasco@yahoo.com or tweet to/follow @Darren_Velasco or @BoxingHype. Any suggestions, questions, or problems can be sent to boxinghype@yahoo.com.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Mares/Agbeko II Press Conference

Darren Velasco 
Boxing-Hype.blogspot.com





















On Saturday, October 15th, Boxing Hype watched on as IBF and WBC Silver Bantamweight Champion Abner Mares(22-0-1) and former IBF Bantamweight World Champion Joseph Agbeko(28-3) had their first face off for the second time around. Mares and Agbeko meet on December 3rd to truly decide who the Bantamweight belt belongs to.

After a controversial Majority Decision win by Mares in August, Agbeko, his camp, as well as upset fans all over the world demanded an immediate rematch for what was considered to be one of the worst officiated fights that the sport of boxing has produced. The fight on December 3rd at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California will not only be a redemption fight for Joseph "King Kong" Agbeko but a chance for boxing to redeem its recent history of poor officiating and unruly decisions.

Joseph Agbeko was passionate in his conversation with BoxingHype regarding the upcoming rematch.

"It was definitely obvious that I won the last fight," said Agbeko. "Talk is cheap, I can say whatever I want to say today, but I will get into that ring to do my job."


Champion Abner Mares did not leave the press conference without giving BoxingHype a prediction of his own.

"I'm always ready for twelve rounds but this time is going to be different. I'm going in there for a knockout."

When asked about his controversial win, Mares fired back at BoxingHype by saying, "If you watch the fight over again, put it on mute, you can see how I beat him." Mares continued on by pointing at his belts, "It proves it, I got the belts, and I will beat him again."

Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares are both ready for war to determine where the belt rightfully belongs. Agbeko plans to bring his usual aggressive arsenal in hopes that Mares stays away from his recent submarine warfare tactics. The battlefield is set and both fighters look to clear the smoke of controversy that surrounded the first fight.


Darren Velasco can be reached at darrenvelasco@yahoo.com or tweet to/follow @Darren_Velasco or @BoxingHype. Any suggestions, questions, or problems can be sent to boxinghype@yahoo.com.   

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Hopkins vs Dawson: Predictions

Bernard Hopkins(52-5-2) vs Chad Dawson(30-1)

Darren Velasco
Boxing-Hype.blogspot.com

On Saturday, October 15th, 2011 live from the Staples Center, Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins makes his first defense of the lineal light-heavyweight championship against "Bad" Chad Dawson. Along with a promising undercard, the entire Pay-Per-View does not look to disappoint. Hopkins comes into the fight with a 17 year age disadvantage granting him, by what many consider, to be the slight underdog coming into the fight. With Dawson's quickness, southpaw stance, and age advantage, Hopkins is looking to use his experience and ring generalship to prevent a "Bad" finish.

Look for Dawson to take a subtle early advantage in the fight as the older Hopkins takes his time to figure out his opponent. Hopkins' typical early round defensive maneuvers usually lead to him picking it up midway through the fight and essentially winning the cards late. Although it proved successful against Pascal in his most recent fight, expect Hopkins' age to limit this typical occurrence from happening tomorrow.

This will be a clear chess match since both fighters are accustomed to hearing the final bell. Unfortunately some chess matches may be considered more exciting than this Saturday's championship bout. It has been 4 years since either fighter has lifted their hands in victory because of a ten count of referee wave off so do not expect fireworks. Hopkins' most recent knockout took place 12 fights ago in 2004, while Dawson barely edges out the post-prime champion with his most recent knockout being 7 fights ago in 2007.

The two main keys that will decide this fight are simply Hopkins' age and Dawson's stance. Believe It Or Not, these factors can go either way. Hopkins will either live up to his Executioner name for the last time and silently inject his opponent through the scorecards since he can no longer rely on his former firing squad execution methods, or his chronologically tested physique may crumble as many expect it to against the younger fighter. Dawson is a southpaw and this stance will surprisingly come at a disadvantage for him. Hopkins most recent defeat came from the hands of another left-handed warrior Joe Calzaghe but putting Dawson in the same kingdom as the Pride of Wales is ludicrous and an injustice to the former champion. Hopkins has defeated 9 out of the 10 southpaws he has faced in his career with the exception of Calzaghe. The sensational right hand crosses and leads from Hopkins will dictate the fight, clinch the Executioner's bid for fighter of the year, and be an almost perfect ending for the 46 year old champion.
Bottom Line:
Bernard Hopkins, Unanimous Decision


Predictions for the Undercard:
Paulie Malignaggi(29-4) vs Orlando Lora(28-1-1)
With Lora's most recent fights being an eight-round unanimous decision, a six-round fight with a second-round TKO, and a technical decision loss, I think I might have a better chance at beating Paulie Malignaggi. Look for the Magic Man to outclass the 157th ranked welterweight in this 10-round bout.
Bottom Line:
Paulie Malignaggi, Unanimous Decision


Jorge Linares(31-1) vs Antonio Demarco(25-2-1)
*FIGHT OF THE NIGHT*
Both fighters come in with slightly inaccurate records. Linares' only defeat came from a first round knockout by Juan Carlos Salgado, a power puncher from Mexico. This leaves Linares' jaw in question against a slugger like Demarco. Demarco comes in with a brutal loss from the late Edwin Valero, another Venezuelan from Tokyo, and a sixth-round majority decision in only his ninth fight as a pro. Linares comes in as a huge favorite but will come out with an even bigger upset loss. A puncher's chance will give Demarco a late stoppage in what will be the fight of the night on this extraordinary fight card.
Bottom Line:
Antonio Demarco, TKO 9


Danny Garcia(21-0) vs Kendall Holt(27-4)
Although Holt only has 15 knockouts under his belt expect one or two knockdowns from the New Jersey native. Similar to his fights against Timothy Bradley and David Diaz, Holt will come out strong and give some surprising knockdowns but Garcia will prevail in the end by keeping his composure to maintain his young yet mature prospect status.
Bottom Line:
Danny Garcia, SD

Darren Velasco can be reached at darrenvelasco@yahoo.com or tweet to/follow @Darren_Velasco or @BoxingHype. Any suggestions, questions, or problems can be sent to boxinghype@yahoo.com.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Welcome to Boxing Hype

The Official Blog of upcoming Boxing Writer and Columnist Darren Kevin Velasco.

Will be bringing important updates as well as in depth analysis on the past, present, and future of boxing.

Follow Me on Twitter: Darren_Velasco and like Boxing Hype on Facebook.