128 stories on BoxingScene are published under the Michael Rosenthal byline.
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By Michael Rosenthal - Let’s first talk about what the Canelo Alvarez-Rocky Fielding fight isn’t. It isn’t much of a fight at all. It’s a Top 10 pound-for-pounder against a fighter who, by all accounts, has ordinary ability. Alvarez is moving up to 168 pounds to face a natural super middleweight but the disparity in talent...
By Michael Rosenthal - A colleague I respect was in mid-tirade over the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury scoring when I weighed in with my own score: 113-113. He instinctively – and audibly – scoffed, his way of dismissing any validity my opinion might have. He’s not alone. Many angry would-be judges would place anyon...
LOS ANGELES – Tyson Fury kept saying “it is what it is” but “it” bothered him a great deal the morning after his draw with Deontay Wilder. Fury, his face bruised but his confidence soaring, believes wholeheartedly that he did enough to beat the WBC titleholder even though he down twice Saturday night at a packed Staples Center. Many experts and outraged fans agree with him.
LOS ANGELES – Neither Deontay Wilder nor Tyson Fury had his hand raised after their fight but, in effect, Fury was the winner. A year ago The Gypsy King weighed God knows how much -- 350 pounds? 375? – and was out of boxing because of substance abuse and mental health issues. There were no guarantees he’d ever return to the sport.
LOS ANGELES – Chris Arreola, hoping to get one more shot at a heavyweight title, stopped journeyman Maurenzo Smith at the end of the sixth round on the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury card Saturday at Staples Center.
Joe Hanks was a hot heavyweight prospect as recently as 2013, when his record stood at 21-0 (14 knockouts). And then, in a 10-month span, his career went south. The strapping, 6-foot-4 product of Newark, New Jersey, was stopped that year by then-unbeaten Andy Ruiz in four rounds in Macao and in his next fight in 2014 he lost a majority decision to Derric Rossy in Montreal.
By Michael Rosenthal - LOS ANGELES – The noise before every high-profile fight – the bravado of the participants, the endless analysis, the chatter by fans, even the betting line – can cloud your judgment when it comes to predicting a winner. The best approach to take, I always say, is to trust your gut the minute you hear the fight has been made. My gut told me at that moment that Deontay Wilder will knock out Tyson Fury to...
LOS ANGELES – Deontay Wilder was on a rant against those who have dodged his former opponent Luis Ortiz out of fear. Oritz is big, skillful and has a habit of inflicting pain on his opponents, all reasons that few heavyweights – even the top ones – haven’t been eager to tangle with the Cuban defector. Ortiz almost stopped Wilder before falling himself in March.
LOS ANGELES – Tyson Fury acknowledges what is generally believed to be Deontay Wilder’s greatest strength, his punching power. Wilder has stopped all 39 of his opponents, having KO’d the only fighter to take him the distance – Bermane Stiverne – in their rematch.
By Michael Rosenthal - Manny Pacquiao’s decision to fight Adrien Broner on January 19 was sound, but make no mistake: It’s risky. Pacquiao, who turns 40 on December 17, wants to make as much money as possible before the aging process forces him to hang up his gloves. That’s why the ultimate fight for him is a remat...