827 stories on BoxingScene are published under the Lyle Fitzsimmons byline.
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By Lyle Fitzsimmons - It wasn’t too long ago that Tom Loeffler had the most dominant stable in boxing. Not only is the California-based managing director of K2 Promotions responsible for steering the career of middleweight KO machine Gennady Golovkin, but he’s also the man behind the stateside scenes for the 21st...
By Lyle Fitzsimmons - A week ago, the mere mention of Money-Pacman II drew held noses. A week later, it’s drawing desirous sighs. Though both nicknamed combatants from last May’s windfall/snoozer have said they plan now to focus on other things, it’s difficult to imagine the drumbeat not getting louder for an encore in...
By Lyle Fitzsimmons - Nearly a year after laying a Money-encrusted egg in his last trip to Las Vegas, Manny Pacquiao is back on the MGM Grand’s main stage for the 13th time this weekend against a familiar adversary. And just when you thought two decisive victories by the Filipino over Timothy Bradley were sufficient to retire...
By Lyle Fitzsimmons - When it comes to forecasting fights, I go one of two ways. Sometimes I’m as sure as sure can be. One guy will win. And my view doesn’t change. Other times, it’s just the opposite. Depending on the hour, I can see a different conclusion. Mayweather-Pacquiao was an example of the former. Makes no difference to...
By Lyle Fitzsimmons - When it comes to street cred, Andre Ward’s clearly got collateral. Though the 2004 Olympic champion and consensus professional elite has fought for pay just three times in the last 51 months, he’s managed to maintain the sort of lofty regard most full-timers would kill for. He’s considered the...
By Lyle Fitzsimmons - He’s a dual-belted world champion at 105 pounds and a former belt-holder one weight class up at 108, but South African slugger Hekkie Budler is far from content with what he’s already done. In fact, just a few days out from his next title defense – against road-tripping Nicaraguan challenger Byron Rojas on Saturday...
By Lyle Fitzsimmons - It’s good to be Gennady Golovkin. After all, the 33-year-old is unbeaten in a decade-long pro career, he’s got a TV-friendly style that’s yielded a swelling international fan base and he’s considered by most significant boxing know-it-alls to be the best full-time. middleweight on the planet. Problem is, for the very same reasons, it’s not so good to be Gennady Golovkin. Thanks to the violent qualities he’s...
By Lyle Fitzsimmons - Terence Crawford has officially reached the level Frank Sinatra used to sing about. He’s made it there. And now it appears he might make it anywhere. The amiable Nebraskan took his Midwestern act to midtown Manhattan on Saturday night and emerged one step closer to superstardom after a fifth-round...
By Lyle Fitzsimmons - As long as we’re here, let's go ahead and blame it on Manny Pacquiao. Though, unlike other stories these days in which the Filipino politician plays the protagonist, this one touches neither on bald-faced homophobia nor maddeningly inconsistent damage control. This one, instead, has only to do with Pac Man’s penchant...
By Lyle Fitzsimmons - Buster Douglas and Mike Tyson had another birthday this week. They turned 26. And while consoling myself to the idea I'm old enough to clearly recall an event a more than a quarter-century ago, part of me still reacts with the same slack-jawed shock I displayed upon initially learning the fateful Tokyo result...