Cliff Rold

3,425 articles published

About

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.

Articles by Cliff Rold: page 195

BoxingScene.com's Television Picks of The Week

Cliff Rold

•Apr 18, 2013

One week after fans were treated to some of the sweetest sweet science of the year so far in Rigondeaux-Donaire, boxing twists its way towards a wildly packed weekend with network TV and a massive unification on showtime. Throw in an Epix card and an outstanding Jr. Featherweight title clash and…damn…that’s just Saturday. Friday night on ESPN2 (10:30 PM EST/7:30 PM PST), fans can also catch rising Featherweight Javier Fortuna (21-0, 15 KO). On a weekend this packed, it doesn’t make the cut.

Cult of Rigondeaux…Rise!: The Post-Fight Report Card

Cliff Rold

•Apr 16, 2013

Maybe Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes were fortunate that Teofilo Stevenson stayed in Ciba after all. Joel Casamayor has, in this generation, been the strongest argument that the best of the long-dominant Cuban amateur program had the potential to find wild professional success. Casamayor never quite had a win like Guillermo Rigondeaux did last Saturday. Make no mistake: that was a complete undressing of one of the most accomplished fighters of the last six years. Those who wondered if Rigondeaux, at 11-0, was taking too big a step up in competition saw that thinking turned on its ear.

BoxingScene.com's Television Picks of The Week

Cliff Rold

•Apr 13, 2013

It’s hard not to be excited when one of the real action stars hits the mountaintop. While not having seen the fight yet, reading the result of Monday’s lineal Flyweight title bout was worth a smile. Akira Yaegashi finished yet another week of satisfying action, one that also saw unified Flyweight titlist drop a nod to Juan Estrada in an excellent clash. Is this the week where the action finally wanes just a bit? There are those who think the biggest fight of the week won’t be as exciting as what we’ve gown accustomed to over the last month. Given the quality of the fighters, and the stakes, a pleasant surprise would be no real surprise at all. These are the picks of the week.

Oscar Gonzalez Gets His Career Back on Track

Cliff Rold

•Apr 13, 2013

32-year old Featherweight Oscar Gonzalez (21-2, 14 KO) of Mexico City, Mexico, bounced back from a loss in his last outing to score unanimous decision in a mild upset over 25-year old former WBA Super Bantamweight titlist Rico Ramos (21-3, 11 KO) of Watts, California, on Friday night at the Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton, Washington. It was Gonzalez’s second career win over a former major titlist, having bested former 108 lb. titlist Roberto Vazquez on points in 2011.

Donaire vs. Rigondeuax: Pre-Fight Report Card

Cliff Rold

•Apr 13, 2013

by Cliff Rold - This is the sort of fight hardcore fan are always calling for. They were pleasantly surprised to find out they’re getting it. From the moment Cuban defector Guillermo Rigondeaux officially won the WBA belt from Rico Ramos and began calling for Nonito Donaire, this one has been building. Rigondeuax, arguably the finest amateur of the Cuban Communist era, says he wants it. Now he gets it. No matter the number of amateur fights, and he had more than 400, this is a massive step up in the professional ranks. His demeanor exudes focus and calm without much in the way of the butterflies a younger man might express in his first genuinely big fight. Will he keep his cool if, when, he tastes the power of Donaire? Let’s go to the report cards.

The Cult of Rigondeaux is Poised for Expansion

Cliff Rold

•Apr 11, 2013

by Cliff Rold - From the perspective of a professional boxing fan, it has to be considered among the great tragedies of fistiana. Kid Chocolate, Kid Gavilan, Jose Napoles, Luis Rodriguez; Cuba had given the sport some of its finest. After the rise of Castro, Cuba continued to do just that. They just kept them almost entirely contained to the amateur ranks. For hardcore fight followers, it can be a nice parlor game to play ‘what if’ with some of the great Cubans of the last fifty-plus years who couldn’t turn professional. Heavyweights Teofilo Stevenson and Felix Savon, Middleweight Ariel Hernandez, Lightweight Mario Kindelan…what’s if’s all around. There have been just enough defections over the years to make cases, positive and negative, for what might have been. Joel Casamayor had a borderline Hall of Fame career, winning titles at 130 and 135 lbs. Odlanier Solis ate himself out of the running early in his Heavyweight tenure. Right now, Jr. Featherweight Guillermo Rigondeuax, Jr. Lightweight Yuriorkis Gamboa, and Jr. Middleweight Erislandy Lara are all trying to get to the top of their divisions. All look capable of doing it.

Igarashi-Yaegashi/Yamanaka-Tunacao: Report Card

Cliff Rold

•Apr 7, 2013

by Cliff Rold - While most US fights fans are readying themselves for work or school in the wee hours of dreaded Monday morning, a stellar fight card will likely be in full gear on the other side of the pacific. The two best fights on the card will see the lineal Flyweight crown on the line and the Bantamweight belt of one of the best in the world at 118 lbs. They will be challenged by men who held titles two classes below and who appear to be live threats to upend their reigns. It’s hard not to root for Yaegashi here. Despite a badly damaged eye, he made it razor close and fell just short in his 105 lb. unification clash with Kazuto Ioka last year. Combined with winning the 2011 BoxingScene and ESPN Fight of the Year versus Porpramook, Yaegashi is as hardcore friendly as it gets.

Brian Viloria-Juan Francisco Estrada: Pre-Fight Report Card

Cliff Rold

•Apr 6, 2013

by Cliff Rold - Sometimes, you can win for losing. Last November marked one of the most anticipated Flyweight clashes in the U.S. since the heyday of Michael Carbajal. Former Olympian Brian Viloria was set for a main event unification clash with Tyson Marquez. As the narrative went, superlative Jr. Flyweight titlist Roman Gonzalez would be featured on the undercard. Gonzalez has become, for the most part, that automatic at the lower ranks. One just sort of assumes that when he’s facing a generally anonymous opponent, he’s going to whack them out sooner or later. Juan Francisco Estrada was a generally anonymous opponent. Little seen outside of his native Mexico, he had a nice record but little of real quality on it. He didn’t appear to belong in the ring with Gonzalez…until the bell rang. In a fight that ended up stealing the show from the anticipated main event, Estrada came up short but gave Gonzalez everything he could handle and gave the fans a candidate for Fight of the Year. There are those who would like to see Viloria-Gonzalez. It wasn’t going to come as part of the suddenly very interesting global spectacle that is the debut of Zou Shiming (HBO2, Saturday, 2 PM EST). Instead we get the best sort of comparison-shopping, boxing style. Estrada, the man who gave Gonzalez hell, gets rewarded for his efforts. Viloria will be fighting not just to win but, one would think, to prime the pump and further imaginations about a future clash with a looming rival.

BoxingScene.com's Television Picks of The Week

Cliff Rold

•Apr 4, 2013

Don’t go thinking it’s over yet. The hot streak boxing has been on the last few weeks? It appears well on its way to continuing. This Saturday, HBO will distribute a show from Macau that has two potential wars. Next Monday, in Japan, there is a tripleheader on tap with at least memorable clashes possible. It’s a good time to be a boxing fan These are the picks of the week.

Boxing On A Roll: BoxingScene Review and Ratings Update

Cliff Rold

•Apr 4, 2013

There are plenty of months where Timothy Bradley-Ruslan Provodnikov would have been plenty. March 2013 has been that and, now, much more. In the two weeks since, fans have been treated to a three-round thriller and twelve round war in big name action. The really hardcore types also know about another must-see gem: Saul Roman-Jose Pinzon. It happened on the 23rd and it’s out there on YouTube for those who missed it. Next week, Brian Viloria is back in action against the man who waged a classic with Roman Gonzalez on the Viloria-Tyson Marquez undercard. Boxing is on a hot streak. Viloria versus Juan Estrada should keep it there. Until then, there are two big fights to look back at.

Loading more stories…

Boxing News

Cliff Rold

About

Articles by Cliff Rold: page 195

BoxingScene.com's Television Picks of The Week

Cult of Rigondeaux…Rise!: The Post-Fight Report Card

BoxingScene.com's Television Picks of The Week

Oscar Gonzalez Gets His Career Back on Track

Donaire vs. Rigondeuax: Pre-Fight Report Card

The Cult of Rigondeaux is Poised for Expansion

Igarashi-Yaegashi/Yamanaka-Tunacao: Report Card

Brian Viloria-Juan Francisco Estrada: Pre-Fight Report Card

BoxingScene.com's Television Picks of The Week

Boxing On A Roll: BoxingScene Review and Ratings Update

Boxing News

Eddie Hearn urges Diego Pacheco to take Darius Fulghum rematch after shock defeat

Darius Fulghum springs the upset on Diego Pacheco

Anthony Olascuaga wins a 'war' against Yuberjen Martinez

Carlos Adames wins a dud against Gerome Warburton

Jose Nunez hammers out upset of Bryan Flores in El Paso

'Would you bet your mortgage against Floyd Mayweather beating Ryan Garcia'

Eddie Hearn makes pitch to Shakur Stevenson over boxing future

Anthony Joshua's destiny against Tyson Fury is in his hands, not Ben Davison's

Eddie Hearn reveals Naoya Inoue demands regarding Bam Rodriguez showdown

Chantelle Cameron-Mikaela Mayer rematch set for Christmas Eve in Dubai

Gerome Warburton will make history against Carlos Adames – regardless of the result

Naoya Inoue-Bam Rodriguez talks underway, says Eddie Hearn

Diego Pacheco may be only a step away from Lester Martinez

Floyd Schofield Jnr-Jose 'Rayo' Valenzuela ordered by WBA

WBA orders Teofimo Lopez vs Jack Catterall amid Ryan Garcia talks

Jaron Ennis-Josh Kelly three-belt unification confirmed for February 27 in Atlanta

Chris Eubank Jnr-Kell Brook close to agreement for 2027, says Ben Shalom

Martin Bakole returns on Fury-Joshua undercard alongside rising Da’Mazion Vanhouter

Manny Pacquiao definitely off the Joshua-Fury Netflix card

Arnold Barboza Jnr-Oscar Duarte official for January 23 in Anaheim

Lester Martinez latest at risk to be sidestepped by Canelo Alvarez

Diego Pacheco chases his destiny in down-and-dirty L.A.

Jarrell Miller-Tony Yoka to headline December 20 show in Ghana

Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua 1am start hinges on Cardiff Council decision

Ryan Garcia vows to hospitalize Floyd Mayweather as he 'announces' February 6 showdown

Jaron Ennis-Josh Kelly unification nearing completion for February 27

Willy Hutchinson reveals Canelo Alvarez contact and vows to 'box his head off'

Larry Goossen, influential trainer and Big Bear pioneer, dies at 75

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have unfinished business beyond December 11

Willy Hutchinson being 'analysed' as potential next fight for Canelo Alvarez

Denzel Bentley willing to travel to Ireland for Aaron McKenna title shot

Dana White holds court at White House but tells Donald Trump: 'I do not want to be in politics'

Darius Fulghum sees second chance, and pressure on Diego Pacheco

Six fights, six knockouts: Albina Moldazhanova signs with MVP

Brock Jarvis hopes third time's the charm against Jermell Charlo

Caroline Dubois warns Alycia Baumgardner against stopping short of undisputed

Dana White job offer was a joke, claims Donald Trump

Floyd Mayweather eyes ‘big fight’ in 2027, names four potential opponents

Alycia Baumgardner dominates Elif Nur Turhan; Ramla Ali, Skye Nicolson also victorious

Donald Trump wants Dana White as his new press secretary

Is 'Rocky' a boxing movie? Furthermore, is 'I Play Rocky' a Rocky movie?

Abraham Perez defends flyweight title against Yankiel Rivera

Willy Hutchinson earns revenge, a world title in rematch win over Joshua Buatsi

Cheavon Clarke stuns Chris Billam-Smith with sensational seventh-round stoppage

Denzel Bentley drops Shane Mosley Jnr en route to unanimous decision victory

Caroline Dubois and Stephanie Han to unify Feb. 20 in Texas

Joshua Buatsi, Willy Hutchinson make weight for WBC title rematch

Chris Billam-Smith, Chev Clarke make weight; Shane Mosley Jnr needs second attempt

Tyson Fury fears for Deontay Wilder, says he is 'shot to bits' ahead of Jai Opetaia fight

Conor Benn reveals Manny Pacquiao offer, fight targeted for 2027

Cliff Rold

About

Articles by Cliff Rold: page 195

BoxingScene.com's Television Picks of The Week

Cult of Rigondeaux…Rise!: The Post-Fight Report Card

BoxingScene.com's Television Picks of The Week

Oscar Gonzalez Gets His Career Back on Track

Donaire vs. Rigondeuax: Pre-Fight Report Card

The Cult of Rigondeaux is Poised for Expansion

Igarashi-Yaegashi/Yamanaka-Tunacao: Report Card

Brian Viloria-Juan Francisco Estrada: Pre-Fight Report Card

BoxingScene.com's Television Picks of The Week

Boxing On A Roll: BoxingScene Review and Ratings Update

Eddie Hearn urges Diego Pacheco to take Darius Fulghum rematch after shock defeat

Darius Fulghum springs the upset on Diego Pacheco