3,425 stories on BoxingScene are published under the Cliff Rold byline.
Every story follows our editorial policy. To report a mistake, use our corrections form; for anything else, contact us.
Being a warrior takes a toll. It doesn’t matter how endearing it is. If there is a fan in the last couple years that doesn’t count Francisco Vargas amongst their favorite fighters to watch, they might not be watching the right sport. He’s everything that makes boxing special.
Leo Santa Cruz was clearly a very good fighter even before he found a way to turn the tables on the lone man to beat him to date. In victory, he expanded his own ceiling while setting the stage for what could be a compelling rubber match.
It’s the curse of the remote control. We’re in the mood to laugh, flipping channels, and find Wedding Crashers at one stop of the dial, Dazed and Confused on another. Both are hilarious, classic comedies. One was big time star fare, the other an independent gem.
The easiest road to a rematch, the one we probably expect more, is the sequel meant to resolve a controversy. One fighter or another loses a nail biter, or the public cries foul to an outrageous decision. The promoters print the tickets and we pay to see it again.
By Cliff Rold - This weekend, boxing fans with subscriptions to premium cable outlets HBO and Showtime can complain that the two shows will run head to head. They can’t complain about what they’re getting. Both networks have the sort of matches that can provide fight of the year type action in the main event...
30-year old WBA women’s Minimumweight titlist Anabel Ortiz (24-3, 4 KO), 108, of Mexico City, Mexico, won her fourteenth fight in a row in the non-title main event Saturday night at the Deportivo Benito Juárez in Mexico City, winning a ten-round decision over Brenda Ramos (9-5, 4 KO), of Monterrey, Mexico. It was Ramos’ third loss in four starts. The referee was Lupe Garcia.
Super middleweight: The initial intent here was to elevate Badou Jack to the top slot after securing a draw in a fight where he appeared to win more rounds. Jack’s decision to vacate his alphabet title was consistent with his commitment to compete at light heavyweight and he exits the top ten. James DeGale moves over Gilberto Ramirez. WBA titlist Tyron Zeuge enters the top ten.
By Cliff Rold - Given his age, over three years away from the ring, and an already tough 51-fight career, it might not be the best decision for former undisputed welterweight champion Zab Judah (42-9, 29 KO) to embark on a comeback. That doesn’t make it a surprising decision. Fighters fight, even when it looks like long odds to get back to form at age 39. Judah will begin his attempted...
Once again a super middleweight unification bout delivered the goods. For the third time in the division’s history, it failed to deliver a winner. Through twelve compelling rounds, Badou Jack and James DeGale showed guts, fire, and character in pursuit of victory. Jack was down in the first, DeGale in the twelfth, and there was plenty to remember for ten rounds in between.
One was a fighter predicted for stardom almost from the start of his career, a Gold Medalist with personality. The other is an understated professional, the sort of fighter who learns his craft with less fanfare at the start and matures into his big chance.