Tag: Boxing

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Jake Paul vs Anderson Silva Boxing Match Announced

Jake Paul Anderson Silva cover

After weeks of rumors, it appears that Jake Paul has his next opponent. 

On Tuesday, TMZ Sports reported that Paul is set to take on MMA legend Anderson “The Spider” Silva on October 29th. 

This would be a MAJOR step up in competition for Paul. I like to think that I have been rather reasonable throughout this whole Jake Paul fiasco. Is he a world-class boxer? No. But I truly commend anyone who is willing to step in a ring with Tyron Woodley, let alone knock him out cold. 

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How Tough of an Opponent is Silva?
Jeff Bottari / Contributor

Anderson Silva however, is no joke. This is as serious of a pro boxing appearance as it can be, without it being a widely ranked opponent. Silva’s MMA resume is second to none. He has 11 KO/TKO finishes in the UFC, 11 title fight wins, and holds the longest win streak in UFC history at 16 wins. At one point in time, Silva was rumored to take on Roy Jones Jr. at the peak of Silva’s UFC run. 

Beyond the MMA resume, Silva has left fans seriously wondering if he made a career mistake by not pursuing boxing. Since leaving the UFC, Silva has looked nothing short of impressive in multiple boxing matches. To be fair, his win against Tito Ortiz doesn’t hold much merit. I respect people for putting it on the line, but Ortiz was terribly overmatched. 

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It was Silva’s win against Julio Cesear Chavez Jr. that really caught fans attention. In 2017, Chavez Jr. challenged Canelo Alvarez for champion status, but lost in a one-sided beatdown. Still, the degrees of separation between Paul and legitimate boxing have shrunken mightily.

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Paul has flirted with any weight between 190 and 205 pounds for his previous fights, with Silva fighting a majority of his career at 185. Unlike Woodley and Ben Askren, Silva is certainly near Paul’s stature. 

For the first time in Paul’s boxing venture, he will be an underdog. The moment that this fight started to gain some traction, oddsmakers and sportsbooks jumped at the opportunity to provide some betting insight.

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So yes, Paul is taking a step up undeniably. It is probably worth mentioning that when this fight is discussed, people will bring up the age gap between the two – Silva turned 47 in April. And they are totally fair in doing so. But, while I recognize that Silva is almost 50 – he is a dangerous man. 

For more Jake Paul and boxing content:
What Is Jake Paul’s Net Worth?
Celebrity Fights, Middleweights and “Transformers”
The 10 Best Undefeated Boxing Records and Who Owns Them
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Sports

From Homeless To Heavyweight Contender: A Conversation With Boxer Antonio Zepeda

antonio zepeda

The sport of boxing has taken some interesting reshaping in the last 5 years. For generations boxing occupied the hearts and homes of virtually the world. Names like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson helped grow the sport into a global phenomenon. The popularity of professional boxing dipped in the 90’s, but with the rise of celebrity boxing the sport in general is starting to gain momentum and has become a staple again. 


As the boxing world continues to evolve, an opportunity has arisen for a newcomer to take the sport by storm. Former UNLV defensive lineman Antonio Zepeda has taken full advantage of that opportunity and has put the boxing world on notice. Zepeda has been training with the Mayweather camp and has put up a 5-0 professional record, all coming by way of knockout. Ahead of his next big fight on September 3rd against Trevor Kotara (3-2, 1 KO) in Las Vegas, we sat down with Antonio Zepeda to talk about his harrowing journey to get to this point.

Change In Sports
(Antonio Zepeda)

ONE37pm: You played football at UNLV before injuries forced you to retire, can you tell us a little bit about that injury and how it led you into boxing?

Antonio: So I got hurt in September of 2017. It was the second game of the season, we were at Idaho. I was playing defensive end and I made a move at the quarterback on a pass and the quarterback stepped up and ran. I planted my leg to turn and chase him, and when I did my defensive tackle dove for the quarterback and completely missed. He hit me right on the knee, my knee-brace exploded and right away I knew this was bad. I was just praying it wasn’t my ACL, obviously that would’ve been career ending. My goal was to still play so I ended up missing five weeks, came back and they wanted me to play defensive tackle. Fresh off of a knee injury I wasn’t going to play d-tackle, it would just be detrimental to my health. We were playing Air Force and it was a tuesday, I was just sitting in my locker thinking “man, do I really wanna go out there? Do I even love this game anymore that I’ve been playing since I was nine years old? Do I have the passion for it anymore?” Ultimately right then and there, at 7 in the morning on a Tuesday I decided that was it. I got up and I left. I got surgery in December and then I knew I had to do something. I was gonna do MMA but then my father in law introduced me to Floyd and we ultimately decided on boxing. 

ONE37pm:  You said you were considering MMA, did you have any fighting background before you pursued boxing professionally?


Antonio: I was actually a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I did it from the age of nine to seventeen. I did it when I lived in the group home, I trained occasionally out in a gym in Glendale, Arizona. Right before I left for college I was granted a brown belt. I haven’t trained in that discipline for over 10 years now so it would’ve taken too much catching up. At the end of the day we realized boxing was going to pay more in the long-run career wise inside the ring, and outside the ring through sponsorships.

Challenges Growing Up
(Antonio Zepeda)

ONE37pm: You mentioned growing up in a group home, you’ve had to overcome countless hurdles of adversity to get to where you are. Can you tell us a little about those early struggles you dealt with and what’s pushed you the most throughout those tough times ?

Antonio: My entire life has been adversity since the day I was born. From being born with crack in my system, my mother was a drug addict, overcoming that. Being homeless, abandoned, abused, physically abused, mentally abused. Anything you can think of I pretty much endured it. Never knew my father. He was imprisoned when I was three months old for murder, never met him, don’t know anything about him. I was taken away from my mother at the age of 8 and placed into CPS (child protective services). I bounced around from group home to group home, juvenile detention. I was an angry kid, obviously being taken away you’re going to be an angry kid. On April 9th, 2004, I was placed in a group-home out in Phoenix and it ended up being my long-term home. I was the longest tenured kid there, obviously I did a lot of bad things growing up. I ended up going to jail for a few months, lost all my scholarships and got kicked out of the group home I thought would never get rid of me. I was the only kid who was going to go to college, they’d never had a kid do that because statistically you end up dead, homeless, or in prison and I was going to be the kid who defied those odds. I got put into another group home, I was on house arrest for about five weeks, ultimately my high school coach took me in and I lived with him my senior year. Bounced back, rehabilitated, finished top of my class with straight A’s and gained my scholarship back. I went to UNLV and played football there. 

ONE37pm: I think it’s really one of the most incredible comeback stories in sports. When you’re out there fighting you’re fighting for the millions of kids who are in those same circumstances. Thank you for continuing to keep fighting for those who can’t. 


Antonio:  There’s about 400,000-500,000 kids in the system in the United States alone. I don’t know the numbers exactly world-wide but that’s in the United States alone. I’m very passionate about being a role model for those kids. If they can look up to me and say “If he was able to overcome this and defy those odds why can’t I?” Everyone has their own story with what they’re dealing with. Whether it’s worse than what I endured or if it’s better it doesn’t matter, everyone has their own story. If I can be that light at the end of the tunnel for these kids and they can look up to me, that’s what I care about. If I can make a difference in these kids’ lives, that’s truly something I’m passionate about and I will never stop fighting for that cause.

Fatherhood
(Antonio Zepeda)

ONE37pm: You recently became a father, how big of a motivation has being a father been every time you step in the ring?

Antonio: It’s huge. How I grew up, I always wanted to have that family environment and atmosphere but I didn’t have it. I didn’t have a family. One day I knew I was going to have my own family and I was always scared of that. No one teaches you how to be a dad, you just learn on the go. I always looked at it like this, I’m probably not gonna know how to be a dad, but I’ll know what not to do. Everything I witnessed and experienced as a kid is something you’re not supposed to do. You’re not supposed to inflict that type of paint emotionally or physically on a child. I knew at least what not to do so I was optimistic about it right. Once my son was born I said “Hey, it’s time,” and it lit another fire under my ass. It motivated me more, so now when I go to these fights I’m fighting for a bigger cause. I’m fighting for MY son. I want to make sure he never experiences, not even .1% of what I experienced. I want him to live the lift I dreamt for as a kid. 

Next Big Fight
(Antonio Zepeda)

ONE37pm: You’re 5-0 with 5 knockouts, is there any added pressure to keep that knockout streak going?

Antonio: There’s no pressure. I personally take a unique approach. When I fight I look at it like this. There’s nine ways to win a boxing match. Knock out, technical knockout, ref stoppage, RTD or retired when the corner throws in the towel, split decision, majority decision, unanimous decision, a disqualification, or a technical decision. I realized that I can win a fight any of those nine ways. I don’t go in looking for the knockout, that means I’m putting all my eggs into one basket. I’m going to win the fight by any means. However the fight is won will be determined at the end of the fight. Obviously I’m a big guy, I have knockout power, the knockouts just came naturally. I don’t go in with the goal of knocking someone out, some guys are durable and some guys can take a punch. If you have to outbox them and beat them on points then so be it, that’s my mentally. 

ONE37pm: Any preview of what we can expect from your fight with Trevor Kotara on September 3rd?


Antonio: He’s 3-2, he’s a Southpaw. He’s actually the first Southpaw I’ll be fighting in my professional career. My first amateur fight was against a Southpaw so I have some experience, but my first pro fight against a Southpaw. I’m excited, I think it’ll be an amazing show. I’ll be able to show a side of me that hasn’t been seen yet. Everything in my game is going to be the opposite so it’s gonna be amazing. Obviously I would like to go out there and knock him out, but there’s many ways to win the fight. As long as the victory is secured and I remain unbeaten I’ll continue to climb in the rankings. I will tell you… I’m going to put on a show this Saturday.

Antonio Zepeda will face off against Tervor Kotara on September 3rd at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. You can purchase the PPV event through DFTV Sports website. 

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Sports

Why You Should Be Watching This Youtube Boxing Event

Creator-clash-youtube-boxing-idubbbz


If you’ve ever watched a youtube/influencer boxing event you’ve probably thought the same thing. These guys look like they have no idea what they are doing and why is there so much fake beef? These events are usually hyped up with press conferences where opponents will wager tattoos or in some cases lump sums of money. Reformed troll and meme connoisseur Idubbbz has transformed the youtube boxing scene by putting together an event that dismisses both these recurring issues. Here’s why Creator Clash is a youtube boxing event you should be watching.

On May 14th, some of the biggest names on youtube took to Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida for the first ever Creator Clash. In most youtube boxing events, the emphasis is always on who is fighting. Creator Clash however wanted to put the focus on boxing itself. They went through a long vetting process to ensure that those who competed would train properly and be in shape for a full exhibition fight. In turn, the event was a huge success selling out over 10,000 in-person tickets and raising over $1.3 million dollars for charity. Here are the most memorable moments of the night.

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Graham Stephen vs. Michael Reeves

The first notable fight took place between two of the most unlikely competitors. Graham Stephen is a 30 year old real estate agent and finance youtuber who regularly produces videos on stock market trends. Michel Reeves is a 24 year old youtuber/engineer who goes viral for his videos building robots and teaching them how to do… well this. Both these guys are known for their brains not their brawn, so when they agreed to fight it shocked both their audiences. Michael Reeves proved to be robotic with his jabs and was able to secure a TKO in the late second round.

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Minx vs. Yodeling Haley

The only fight on the Creator Clash card headlined by two Women took place against lifestyle streamer/youtube JustaMinx and Tik Toker YodelingHaley. If you wanted a fight full of wild haymakers, bloody combos, and even mid-fight emoting, this fight delivered all that and more. The most memorable moment of this fight was watching Minx deliver a deadly combo of shots with the biggest smile on her face while Haley fights to stay on her feet. Minx won the fight by TKO in the fourth round.

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Harley of Epic Meal Time vs. Arin Hanson of Game Grumps

In the early days of youtube there was one channel that sat at the mountain top of viral content: Epic Meal Times. The youtube cooking show where a couple of buddies in Canada would put together large concoctions of fast food horror and then feast like kings, hosted by Harley Morenstein. Arin Hanson on the other hand, hosts the youtube channel Egoraptor where he makes parody cartoons of different video games. Harley proved to possess killer footwork and poise as he took the fight in the second round by TKO. After taking the win, Harley knew exactly how to draw a crowd for the rumored second Creator Clash. First he gave props to his competitor, then poetically name dropped who his next opponent should be… DrDisrespect.

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Idubbbz vs. Dr.Mike

The headlining fight of the night was highlighted by Creator Clash founder Idubbbz and Physician/Youtuber Dr.Mike. Dr.Mike is known for his youtube channel where he gives health advice while breaking down health myths and has built a following of nearly 10 million users on the platform. Idubbbz has been a staple in the youtube meme community since its conception. Dr.Mike dominated the match and won the fight by unanimous decision. Idubbbz showed a level of resiliency that no one expected, not getting knocked down a single time during the fight. 

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Although Idubbbz has been looked at as an infamous character on the platform, he put that ego aside and engineered what I believe to be the most well put together youtube boxing event to date. All the competitors put in a high level of training to get their mind and body in the right shape and it showed. An aspect of this event I found enjoyable was the mutual respect shown between fighters. Every post-fight you could see the two warriors embrace in the middle of the ring, unlike the back and forth barking we see in other influencer boxing events. In a recent press release it was announced that Creator Clash 2 is in the works for spring 2023 and I could not be more excited. The potential this event has to raise a significant amount of money for charity and introduce a new audience to the sport of boxing is what distances it from other similar events. Keep your eye on Creator Clash 2, because your favorite YouTuber may just be fighting in it.

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Get Your Boxing Precision WIth These Double End Bags on Amazon

Those that do boxing training at home will often go straight to a standard punching bag to get their training in. While those are great and have a long list of benefits, there’s also a bunch of other equipment out there that can help you in ways a punching bag won’t. One of those is the double end bag, which can help with accuracy, timing, reflexes and hand-eye coordination. Even then though, different double end bags have different benefits so to help you make your choice, here are some of the best ones around.

How to pick the best double end bag for you
  • Consider size – Double end bags can come in anything from 6 to 9 inches. The general consensus is that beginners should go for a bigger size so that there’s a bigger target to hit at first, but depending on your level of experience, you could go for a smaller target and really refine those skills too.
  • Consider material – Double end bags are generally either genuine leather or PU leather. The former is considered the better material because it’s stronger and more durable, but it’s also harder to clean and more expensive.
  • Consider design – This doesn’t exactly have an impact on your training per se, but if you’re going to have a double end bag at home, you want something that fits in too.
  • Consider adjustability – If your double end bag allows you to adjust the height on it, that’s great because you can have it a little lower and work the body or even have the family try it out. Changing the tension on the cable also makes a difference to how quickly it moves and how easy or hard it is to hit.
1. BOXERPOINT Double End Bag Boxing Set
Top Pick
Amazon

This double end bag from BOXERPOINT comes with a carry bag, a pump, an instruction manual, a needle, ring locks, hooks, hand wraps and bungee cords—which is basically everything you could ever need when using one. For that reason, it’s a great beginner’s set. The bag itself is about 7 and a half inches wide and made from high quality PU material. The bungee cord adjusts for any ceiling height and any height you’d like to punch at. Keep in mind that because this is an inflatable bag, you might have to put more air into it before every session which can be annoying.

Pros:

  • Comes with everything you need
  • Good adjustability
  • High quality material

Cons:

  • Can deflate after a session
Buy now, $29.99
https://amzn.to/3GM0hPv
2. MaxxMMA Double End Ball
Great Material
Amazon

This double end bag from MaxxMMA has an outer shell of high grade synthetic leather and a latex bladder on the inside, which means it’s not totally hollow and feels like you’re really hitting a target. It weighs just 0.55 lbs and in the package comes the bag along with a hand pump, two wall mounts and two bungee cords. It’s also 8 inches, which makes it that much better for some light training or a beginner. In fact, some have stated that if you use the double end bag in long sessions or with too much power, its lack of durability could start to show, so keep that in mind.

Pros:

  • Latex bladder inside
  • High quality PU leather
  • Comes with what you need

Cons:

  • Pump can be weak
  • Not so durable for professionals
Buy now, $28.99
https://amzn.to/3gDvABx
3. Brace Master Double End Punching Bag
Great For Beginners
Amazon

If you’re a total beginner, then you might need a bigger target while you get used to how a double end moves. If so, then this bag might be perfect for you because it has a diameter of 11.8”, which is massive compared to most other bags on the market. It’s also an inflatable bag, which means it won’t be too harsh on your hands and you won’t need as much power to move it at all. In terms of the build of the bag, the faux leather is good quality and importantly, so is the stitching. The pump that comes with the bag definitely could be better, so perhaps you’ll want to use your own.

Pros:

  • Big target
  • Not harsh on the hands

Cons:

  • Included pump is not great
Buy now, $32.99
https://amzn.to/3GK6YBu
4. Everlast Double End Striking Bag
Great For Precision
Amazon

Everlast is a trusted brand in sports training and especially boxing. Their double end striking bag is made from premium synthetic leather so whether you use gloves or just wear wraps over your hands to punch it, it should last a long time and be easy to wipe down. It’s also quite small, so it’s great for working precision. Some have stated that if you have high ceilings, the bungee cords can be a little short and might require creativity to use, but this shouldn’t be a problem for most.

Pros:

  • Premium synthetic leather
  • Great for precision

Cons:

  • Bungee cords can be short
Buy now, $28.95
https://amzn.to/33hHi1F
5. PRIZE FORM Double End Punching Bag
Also Consider
Amazon

Last up is Brace Master’s double end bag which comes with two elastic cords, four carabiner clips, an air pump and even a nice gift box. There’s reinforced stitching, which is great for long term durability. It’s also available in both 7” and 9”, so you can pick whichever one is the best for your experience level. It’s made of genuine leather, which will require some extra care but is good quality. Do note that the elastic cords have proven to be too short for some.

Pros:

  • Genuine leather
  • Good stitching
  • Good size options


Cons:

  • Elastic cords can be too short for some
Buy now, $29.95
https://amzn.to/3uMcVMa
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The Five Things We Learned Most About Sports In 2021

Sports tend to teach us incredible lessons on any occasion throughout a year, but what we learned in 2021 may have been the most taught to us in a long time. If there’s anything I took away from sports this year, it’s that not everything is what it seems, and anything is beyond possible. Below are the five things we learned most from watching sports in 2021.

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Dominance comes in different shapes and sizes

At the beginning of our relationship with sports, we were constantly presented with images of what dominant athletes looked like– all in great shape and deemed “perfect.” But in 2021, the likes of Tyson Fury and Nikola Jokic showed you could achieve dominance in your field even if that weren’t the case.

Fury, the undefeated world heavyweight boxing champion, and Jokic, the reigning NBA MVP, dominated their opponents with their unique blend of size, mental toughness, and intelligence despite lacking in other areas that some fans, and even their peers, believe are the most important to have.

Sports is now positionless

While positions in team sports will always exist, this past year really proved there are simply labels for the identification of players. In sports such as basketball and soccer, we watch everyone possess a similar skillset and push the boundaries for where the game is going next– a reality that was incomprehensible for some even a decade ago.

The Olympics allowed every country to have their moment

Despite the Tokyo Olympics being delayed a year because of the initial start to this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the world’s most significant athletic competition was back in action this past summer. And among the various things we witnessed, it was the dominance a multitude of countries had in any sport.

As the United States maintained its lead in sports such as basketball, Great Britain excelled in boxing, and China shined the most in diving, with an extensive trail of countries putting the world on notice in their respective sports.

Women’s athletics is the home of trail blazers

While naysayers will continue to hate women’s athletics in any way possible wrongfully, this was an excellent year for women’s athletics. Sports such as basketball, gymnastics, and tennis saw their talent level get advanced on every level. A new wave of exciting talent got introduced in mixed martial arts and softball.

But most importantly, a majority of women’s athletics utilized their platforms to highlight issues in race relations, pay disparity, and equal rights.

Age is nothing but a number if you’re Tom Brady or LeBron James

Earlier this year, sports fans marveled (or groaned) at the sight of quarterback Tom Brady winning his seventh Super Bowl title. At the age of 44-years-old, Brady is balancing the act of dominating his competition and still improving, a situation 37-year-old LeBron James is going through in the NBA.

This is a massive development as the narrative around an athlete’s prime and longevity is revised. It will get accepted that their “prime” is much longer than everybody else for some players.

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Tyson Fury Knocks Out Deontay Wilder, All Hail The Gypsy King

This past weekend, two of the best heavyweight boxers in the world, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder put on one of the greatest title fıghts in boxing history. Consider the stats: 

  • Five knockdowns (two for Wilder, three for Fury)
  • Round 3: Fury knocks down Wilder 
  • Round 4: Wilder responds with 2 vicious knockdowns with his patented right hand 
  • Fury gets up and dominates the rest of the next six rounds outlanding Wılder 150-72 (BoxScene, October 10, 2021)
  • Which leads to Wilder gettıng knocked down twice in the 11th round and the eventual TKO victory for the Gypsy King Tyson Fury.
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Even if this marked the third act of a trilogy between two boxing titans, the run-up to this fight lacked the pomp and circumstance that usually accompanies a heavyweight title bout. Whereas most third acts function as rubber-matches between two evenly-matched fighters, Fury outboxed Wilder in their first fight which ended in a tie and then thoroughly dismantled Wilder in their February 2020 match-up. Wilder may have proven his bonafides as a champion, but most fans thought he didn’t deserve another title shot. Still, due to issues caused by promoters and convoluted politics, Fury was forced to fight Wilder for a third time. Accordingly, Wilder was largely underestimated because he didn’t seem capable of executing a game plan that could trouble Fury.  

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From the opening bell, Wilder came out looking like a different fighter–at least for the fırst three rounds. At 238 pounds, Wilder was 25 pounds heavier than he was in the trilogy’s second installment back in February 2020. Already one of the hardest hitters in boxing history, Wilder doubled down on his power at the cost of some stamina and endurance, realizing that his best shot to win would be via knockout.

Despite packing on extra weight and strength, Wilder adopted a surprisingly measured approach during the first three rounds, peppering Fury with body blows in an attempt to lower Fury’s hands and set up a knockout blow. Moreover, Wilder established himself as the aggressor and controlled the fight, consistently pinning Fury against the ropes. 

After a knockdown in the fourth by Fury, Wilder went back to his roots and started headhuntıng. Even if Wilder’s aggression allowed him to knock Fury down twice in the fifth round, this undisciplined approach caused Wilder to lose the ability to control the ring. 

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As such, after getting knocked down twice in the fifth, Tyson Fury slowly took over the fight, using his lightnıng-quıck 1-2 combinations and his own sheer mass to methodically drain Wilder of any power or energy. At 277 pounds, Fury possesses a rare combination of size and agility. Last February, Fury outclassed Wilder with his footwork, technical brilliance and tactical wherewithal, frustrating the Alabama native by dancing around the cage like a British Muhammad Ali. This time, though, Fury relied on his gigantitude, leaning on Wilder throughout the fight. In doing so, Fury revealed the fatal flaw of the bulked-up Wilder’s plan of attack, exploiting Wilder’s lack of stamina and leading to the eventual TKO. This diversity of boxing ability and technique is what makes the Gypsy King the greatest heavyweight of the generation. 

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While fight #3 initially seemed less interesting than the previous two, it was by far the best. With his heart and newfound stylistic diversity, Deontay Wilder proved that he’s more than a one-handed knockout merchant; by lasting 11 rounds against the hulking Fury, he demonstrated incredible resilience and even managed to deliver damage in the later rounds. This talent—the potential to end a fight at any moment, no matter how woozy or hobbled he may be—is what makes Wilder such a special fighter.

As for Fury’s next move, Oleksandr Usyk is the clear fight, since this would offer the opportunity to unify the heavyweight titles. By beatıng Anthony Joshua last month, Usyk proved that he can compete with bigger heavyweights after moving up from the cruiserweight division. If Fury can overwhelm Usyk the same way he did Wilder, he would not only become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, but etch his name in the history books as one of the greatest boxers of all time.

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The 10 Best Undefeated Boxing Records and Who Owns Them

Boxing is the longest-running combat sport in terms of household sports that can be caught on television. Being undefeated in combat sports comes with a certain respect that’s different from other sports. We’ve already looked at some of the best winning streaks in MMA where it is hard enough to keep that “0” at the end of a record. But in the sweet science of boxing, staying undefeated comes with bragging rights, and a target of its own for the record bearer.

Here are some undefeated boxers that should be on your radar. Some based their performance thus far, and some based on ESPN’s pound-for-pound and divisional rankings:

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1. Tyson Fury Record: 30-0-1
  • Years active: 2008- present
  • Division: Heavyweight (champion)
  • Most Recent Win: Defeated Deontay Wilder for WBC, The Ring Heavyweight titles

Born into pugilism in the UK, Fury’s career will likely be something Hollywood will want to make a movie out of in the future. His first match against Wilder where he was knocked down, and seemingly out had him stand up as if getting a second wind is symbolic of how he has lived his life. His struggles with drug use and depression are something he’s bounced back from and brought that mindset back into the ring, making him a champion to others struggling with their own demons. Fury will face Wilder for the third time in October.

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2. Terence Crawford Record: 37-0
  • Division: Welterweight (WBO Champion)
  • Years active: 2008- Present
  • Most Recent Win: Defended WBO title against Kell Brook, November 2020

The Nebraska native Crawford’s list of matches is long, especially since he moved up in weight to welterweight in 2017. He has a dominant match in that division where he dismantled Amir Khan, but according to Crawford in a 2016 interview, his toughest match was at lightweight in his first WBO lightweight title defense against Yuriorkis Gamboa. His win over Brook last November added his  28th T/KO to his undefeated record.

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3. Errol Spence Jr. Record: 27-0
  • Division: Welterweight (WBC, IBF Champion)
  • Years active: 2012-Present
  • Most Recent Win: Defended WBC, IBF titles against Danny Garacia December 2020

Spence was scheduled to face the legendary Manny Pacquiao recently but had to undergo eye surgery for a torn retina that would have jeopardized the 31-year old’s career. Yordenis Ugás will be stepping in to face Pacquiao in August but for now, Spence’s “0” is safe. The Long Island native’s rise to prominence could be marked by a lot of his boast bouts. Being young and undefeated can be an albatross for some fighters when the names get more recognizable but when he scored a T/KO against Chris Algieri in 2016 it was time to take Spence seriously.

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4. Josh Taylor Record: 18-0
  • Division: Junior Welterweight ( Undisputed Champion)
  • Years active: 2015-present
  • Most recent win: Defended WBA(Super), IBF titles & won WBC, WBO light-welterweight titles May 2021

With all the titles in boxing and all the various weight classes, it can be hard to be considered an undisputed champion. However, Scotland’sTaylor has not only been able to do it, but he has managed to stay undefeated while pursuing greatness. He may not have gotten a finish when he earned his undisputed status against Jose Ramirez last May but staying undefeated while becoming champion is no easy task. He is scheduled to face Jack Catterall on December 18.

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5.Oleksandr Usyk Record:18-0

Division: Heavyweight (WBO Inter-continental champion)

Years active: 2013-present

Most recent win: Won the WBO title from Derek Chisora in October of 2020

The Ukrainian pro boxer has 13 knockouts as part of his undefeated record. He compiled his record as a cruiserweight, conquering that division and winning the WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring cruiserweight titles before making his move to heavyweight. He is scheduled to face unified heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua in September.

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6. Caleb Plant Record: 21-0
  • Division: Super-middleweight (IBF Super-middleweight champion)
  • Years Active: 2014-present
  • Most recent win: Defended IBF title against Caleb Truax last January

The Tennessee-born Plant is known as “Sweet hands’ ‘ and this was backed up when he made his first IBF title defense against Mike Lee back in 2019. Lee was the underdog leading up to the match and rightfully so as Plant dominated him in the match before putting him away in the third round. Plant and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez are going to face one another in November for the undisputed super middleweight title.

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7. Claressa Shields Record: 11-0
  • Division: Super-middleweight, light-middleweight, middleweight (champion)
  • Years active: 2016-present
  • Most recent win: Defended WBC and WBO while winning IBF, WBA titles against Marie-Eve Dicaire in March of 2021

Shields has done almost everything there is to do in boxing. She is the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic medals and has multiple professional titles in various weight classes in boxing. At 26-years-old, Shields still has plenty of time to return to boxing provided she gets paid what she’s worth. In the meantime, she’s getting her feet wet in MMA where she’s currently 1-0 and scheduled for her next MMA bout in October over at the Professional Fighters League.

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8. Teofimo Lopez Jr. Record: 16-0
  • Division: Lightweight (Unified Champion)
  • Years active: 2016-present
  • Most recent win: Defended WBA title and won IBF, WBO titles with a decision victory over Vasyl Lomachenko in October of 2020

The 24-year-old New Yorker has done a lot in boxing in a very short amount of time. Even though he was born in New York, he represented Honduras in the 2016 Olympic games and as boxing fans know by now, that is the path to greatness as a pro-boxer. He won a decision against Lomachenko which many saw as his biggest test to date, but he handed Lomachenko the second loss of his career. His next title defense is scheduled for October against George Kambosos Jr.

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9. Naoya Inoue Record: 21-0
  • Division: Bantamweight (WBA, IBF Champion)
  • Years active: 2012-present
  • Most recent win: Defended WBA, IBF titles against Michael Dasmariñas last June

The Japanese champion’s division is not one casual fans will be flocking to see, but if they happen upon any of his past matches, they would definitely start tuning into Inoue’s bouts. His power and body punching technique are examples of what makes boxing great. Currently, the 28-year-old has no bouts scheduled, but it might be a good idea to add his name to your boxing news alerts. Inoue is known as “Kaibutsu” in Japan which means “monster.”

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10. Floyd Mayweather Jr. Record 50-0
  • Division: Light middleweight, Welterweight, light-welterweight, lightweight, Super Featherweight (Champion, retired)
  • Years active: 1996-2017 
  • Most recent profession win: Defeated Conor McGregor via TKO in 2017

It would be a mistake to leave Mayweather Jr. off this list as he will likely go down as the very best defensive boxer in the history of the sport. While not active as a pro-boxer anymore, the recipe of his last pro bout against McGregor seemed to create a new market in the sport of boxing where athletes from other sports can compete for high purses under the rules of boxing. Since he’s retired, he’s done exhibitions against MMA and kickboxing champion, Tenshin Nasukawa whom he defeated in one round, and most recently, Logan Paul in a non-scored bout, all under boxing rules. Some may be critical of his defensive style and opponents he chose, but he seems to have a knack for making casual and hardcore fans of boxing tune in.

With the number of divisions and weight classes in boxing, this list might be found lacking but losses come in all sports. In combat sports losses are lessons and some of the greatest and current champions usually taste defeat before their career ends (Mayweather excluded). In fight sports, the young eventually eat the old but carrying that “0” for a long time will always count for something. 

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Categories
Popular Culture

What Is Jake Paul’s Net Worth?

Say what you want about Jake Paul, but for someone who gets criticized a lot, he’s definitely doing something right. He only just entered his mid-twenties in January of this year when he turned 24 and to date, he’s achieved success on Vine and YouTube along with music and professional boxing. Through it all, he has amassed a net worth of $20 million.

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Vine & Disney

Jake Paul started on Vine when he was just sixteen years old. His older brother Logan was also on the platform, which certainly gave him a head start. When Vine was shut down in 2017, Jake had 5.3 million followers and a total of a mind-blowing 2 billion views.

His Vine success caught the eyes of Disney, who hired him for their Bizaardvark series. In many ways, his character was reflective of who he would become in real life. Jake played Dirk Mann, the star of Dare Me Bro, who did any dare that he was given. It reflected his role in YouTube and boxing, someone willing to push the limits for attention and acclaim.

He played on the show for one and a half seasons before he was fired. In 2017, the year he started the show, Forbes estimated his earnings at $11.5 million, putting him at number 7 on their list of the highest-paid YouTube stars.

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YouTube & Music

Although he started to get more known on YouTube after Vine became a thing of the past, Jake had a YouTube account since 2014. Things really popped off for him when he launched Team 10 and put out a single called ‘It’s Everyday Bro.’ In one month, it had 70 million views. To date, it boasts over 285 million views. This contributed greatly to the $11.5 million he reportedly earned that year.

While vlogs make up some of Jake’s most viewed YouTube videos, the majority is music. In fact, seven of his top ten most viewed videos are songs. Jake has had enough success with music that in the summer of 2018, he toured the United States with Team 10, performing music. That year, Forbes estimated he made $21.5 million, putting him at #2 on their list of highest-paid YouTube stars, behind Ryan ToysReview by just $500k. Forbes credits his earnings largely to his merchandise and the 3.5 billion views he had on his channel.

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Boxing

Despite his success in his other avenues, Jake has been most focused on boxing for the past 2-3 years. His first fight was an amateur fight, where he and Deji fought as the co-main event on their brothers’ headlining fight. There’s no word on what Jake was paid for that fight specifically, but it was estimated to bring in $3.5 million in ticket sales and sold just over 1 million PPV buys. Jake certainly made hundreds of thousands of dollars in base pay, and perhaps he got a cut of the buys too.

For his next fight, Jake took on AnEsonGib in his first pro fight. He won the fight in the first round via the three knockdown rule.

His next fight against former NBA player Nate Robinson was another co-main event under the Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. exhibition fight. It was reported that Jake earned a guarantee of $750k for the fight, which he also won in the very first round. Jake said that he had a deal that got him paid based on how well the event did, and he claims he paid $10 million+ from it.

In March of this year, Jake fought former UFC fighter, Ben Askren. It was the first time Jake had been the main event on a card, and he showed up and showed out. He was guaranteed $690k with PPV points. It was reported that the Triller event did a massive 1.45 million buys, but this was heavily disputed, with many pointing out Triller’s history of exaggerated numbers. Either way, the backend money certainly took Jake’s purse into the millions.

At the time of writing, Jake is set for his biggest fight at the end of the month. On August 29th, he takes on former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. There’s no word on exact purses, but Jake will undoubtedly walk away with millions, win or lose.

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Categories
Sports

Anthony Smith Explains What “Lionheart” Is All About

One of the very cool things about combat sports is the different people that you will meet along the way. Some of those people are nice, and some aren’t so. I’m not the first person to say it, but I will gladly echo what other people have said for years:

Anthony Smith is one of the “good guys.”

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Smith joined ‘In The Fight” during a live event for GCX (Gaming Community Expo). The event went incredible and ONE37pm raised $6,900 for St. Jude’s Children Hospital.

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When “Lionheart” fights, he brings the action. He is notorious for action-packed scraps. He has 10 wins in the UFC and his last nine have all come by way of submission or TKO.

“For a while, I was the only fighter who fought in a major promotion who had 40 fights, who had never gone to a decision. On one hand, that’s cool. On the other, that means I get in fiery spots sometimes. I’ve never really chased a finish. I just put my foot on the gas and go.”

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Smith has been in the game a long time. He’s seasoned. He has dealt with everything that comes with fighting, and that includes the media. So as a younger member of the media, I thought this would be a good opportunity to ask him about the questions that really bother him.

“The first one is, ‘I know you don’t want to give us a game plan, but what is your prediction?’ Like, I don’t know man. I’m just trying to win… that’s the fun. When the ref asks if I am ready… I don’t know. He is lighting a bomb in the middle of the cage and we have to go stand on it.”

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Smith is on a two-fight win streak and is scheduled to get back into the Octagon in September.

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Categories
Sports

Muhammed Ali’s 10 Best Fights, Ranked

61 pro fights. 56 wins. One unforgettable career. Out of all those incredible fights, it’s hard to pick which may be the best, but we took a crack at it. Let’s look back at Muhammed Ali’s 10 Best Fights. 

10) Muhammed Ali vs Henry Cooper 2
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May 21, 1966

Arsenal Stadium, London, England 

One thing you have to admire about Ali was his willingness to perform anywhere, anytime. There are a ton of variables that need to be accounted for when fighting out of the country. And Ali took every single one of those fights in stride. 

I had a hard time deciding what would take the final spot on this list. I ultimately decided on a fight in the first half of Ali’s career, because that’s where I believe the magic was. Every description you have heard of Ali’s style was true. He did float. He did sting. 

When Ali rematched against the British champion, Henry Cooper, the crowd was backing Cooper hard. With every thrown punch by Cooper, the crowd roared. But Ali remained laser-focused. After a few rounds of effective jabbing, Ali started to land on the courageous Cooper. In round six, Ali landed a nasty right hand that cut open the left eye of the Brit. It was graphic. The fight was called off shortly after.

9) Muhammed Ali vs Jerry Quarry 1
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October 26, 1970

Municipal Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia 

This fight meant more than just a win or loss. Ali hadn’t fought in three years due to his stance on the Vietnam war. People were wildly curious about how Ali would look after the long layoff. Would he be the same fighter? Would he experience ring rust? 

No. He looked sharp as ever. The snapping jab was still there, and it did the damage. By the end of the third round, Quarry’s right eye was busted up, and the fight was stopped. 

This proved… Ali was back.

8) Muhammed Ali vs Brian London
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August 6, 1966

Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, England

I have tons of respect for anyone who enters the ring. The possibility of humiliation and severe physical damage is daunting. 

However, Brian London brought nothing to the table for Ali. While he was game and tough, Ali proved there are levels to this profession. It is also commonly known that taking on a fighter on their home turf can be costly if the fight goes to a decision. 

Well, Ali didn’t let it go that far. In round three, Ali provided one of his most sensational moments in the boxing ring. After hurting London and pressuring him into a corner, Ali threw a barrage of punches all in a matter of seconds. It is a combination straight out of a movie. London went down and couldn’t recover.

7) Muhammed Ali vs Joe Frazier 3
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October 1, 1975

Philippine Coliseum, Quezon City, Philippines

It might not have been one of his “best” performances, but this fight is a landmark moment in Ali’s career. Until October of 1975, Frazier gave Ali trouble. After losing the first fight, and only edging out Frazier in a close decision in the rematch—Ali still needed to prove that he was the better man.

 One of the most fun dynamics of rematches and trilogies are the adjustments made by the fighters. In the second fight, Ali lessened the number of straight right hands thrown. For Ali, he wanted two things in this fight. The first thing was a larger ring size. This allowed Ali to dance and use his supreme footwork. The second thing was to capitalize on Frazier’s notoriously slow starts. 

Again, this was not Ali’s most dominant performance. But it may have been his most impressive. This match was violent, bloody, and brutal. Ali said it was the closest to death he’d ever felt. After a grueling 14 rounds, Frazier’s corner called off the fight. And although Ali had asked his corner to do the same, they ignored his wish. This was a fight of mythological proportions.

6) Muhammed Ali vs Zora Folley
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March 22, 1967 

Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York 

The biggest bummer about Ali’s career was that we most likely missed the prime years of his career. So this bout is interesting because it was the final fight before he served time in prison. At 25 years of age, and a few years of experience as the champion of the heavyweight division, it is possible that this was the fight in which Ali was at his peak. 

And it showed. Ali’s speed was as prominent as ever. He was developing a savviness in the ring. In round four, Ali delivered one of his patented over-the-top counter right hands. Folley hit the canvas as Ali stood over him. Folley made it back to his feet for the ten counts, but Ali knew he could hurt him. In the seventh round, he would deliver a similar punch that would put Folley out for good. 

Aside from the fight itself, this is a really cool match because of the high-quality footage available online.

5) Muhammed Ali vs Cleveland Williams
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November 14, 1966

Astrodome, Houston, Texas 

There are a few things that standout in this fight. 

Like the last entry, this could have been Ali’s physical prime. He looked in incredible shape for this bout. He had defended his belt a few times by this point and was now gathering experience in the ring. 

From round one, this was a matchup nightmare for Williams. Ali’s footwork and speed was almost unfair. Williams appeared stiff as stone, missing almost every punch that he threw. For most of round one, Ali spent his energy processing Williams’ timing and habits. By round two, the story was already written. Ali peppered jabs and left hooks until Williams dropped. The Ali shuffle was on display on multiple occasions and Ali appeared to be enjoying himself in the ring. With just seconds remaining in the second round, Ali landed a sensational blow that hurt Williams badly. He was saved by the bell, but was finished shortly after in the third round. 

Many people recall the image of Ali standing over Sonny Liston as the most iconic photo in his career… but this fight may have given us the runner-up.

4) Muhammed Ali vs Floyd Patterson 1
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November 22, 1965

Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada 

Ali was coming off of back-to-back, career-defining performances against Sonny Liston. You know what they say, right? “It is easy to get to the top. It is harder to stay there.” And this fight proved Ali wanted to stay.

Some of the footage from these fights aren’t great. Most of it is in black and white, but even then, Ali’s flair and style is undeniable. His footwork was so ahead of its time, it is mind boggling. 

These old-school, 15 round affairs were no joke. And Ali knew that. He took his time and waited for the perfect opportunity. In round 12, it was nothing but cruel and unusual punishment. Ali’s speed stayed with him, while Patterson faded. To my surprise, the referee actually did the right thing and stopped the bout after Patterson ate numerous unanswered punches. 

3) Muhammed Ali vs Sonny Liston 2
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May 25, 1965 

Civic Center, Lewiston, Maine

Oh yeah. It’s *THAT* fight. 

You know… the one. 

Sure, there is plenty of controversy surrounding the fight. It is called the “phantom” punch for a reason. Do I think it landed? Yes. But you can’t watch that round one and not have some suspicion. 

The results are the results. Ali delivered an iconic first round knockout in the rematch against Liston. 

Hell yeah, I am putting it in my top five.

2) Muhammed Ali vs Sonny Liston 1
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February 26, 1964

Convention Center, Miami Beach

Sometimes in fighting, there is a feeling-out process in the first couple of rounds. Sometimes, a fighter’s strategy is hidden until they feel their opponent let their guard down. However, during the first bout between Ali and Liston, the two strategies were obvious from the get-go. 

In round one, Liston pressed forward. Ali did as he often did… dance. And oh, was it beautiful. Liston continuously missed on big, looping left hooks. Ali’s head movement was next level. 

In round three, Ali cut Liston. From that moment on, the great one took complete control. It really did look like fighters from different generations. Liston was trying to grit his teeth and swing wildly. Ali peppered Liston with a snapping jab for every attempted punch. Ali had trouble in the middle rounds with his eyesight, which was attributed to a substance placed on Liston’s gloves. 

Ali was 22 years old. He won his first heavyweight championship. He delivered an iconic performance. Considering all of those dynamics, it would be hard to not to consider this to be one of the greatest performances in Ali’s history.

1) Muhammed Ali vs George Foreman
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October 30, 1974

Stade du 20 Mai, Kinshasa, Zaire

This fight is full of great mythology. 

Ali disobeyed his corner. 

He did the opposite of what people thought he should do. 

He trash talked Foreman for the duration of the bout, asking the power puncher if that was all he got. 

And… although it may have existed before this fight, this bout was THE textbook example of the “rope-a-dope.” For most of the fight, Ali welcomed the power puncher to lead the dance. He would lean against the ropes, hoping Foreman would punch himself out. And it worked. By the sixth, seventh, and eight rounds, Foreman was gassed. After a few wild punches from Foreman, Ali fired back a series of punches from off the ropes and Foreman collapsed. Too tired to get up, the fight was over. 

There are many great performances in his history but this stands out among the rest.

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