Golden Boy Promotions: record, next fight and profile →
The final HBO boxing telecast of 2015 pits heavyweights Luis Ortiz and Bryant Jennings in a dangerous crossroads bout. The two collide Saturday evening at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.
A failed drug test is bound to be a low point in any fighter’s career. For Luis Ortiz, the potential crisis instead turned out to be a reminder of the strong support system by which he’s surrounded. The unbeaten Cuban southpaw was riding high following what at the time served as a 1st round knockout win over Lateef Kayode last September. With the win came an interim version of the heavyweight title, a reign he briefly enjoyed before learning a little over one month later that he tested positive for a banned substance. Two separate hearings followed before ultimately receiving a fine and nine-month suspension, retroactive to the night of the fight. The win was changed to a No-Contest and his reputation was immediately tarnished. While most in the industry were ready to move on from the now 36-year old heavyweight, Golden Boy Promotions stood by his side.
The expectation heading into the World middleweight championship clash between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Miguel Cotto was that the winner would have 15 days to decide on whether to honor a mandatory title fight with Gennady Golovkin or vacate the title. Of course, rules are made to be broken in boxing – although it was a good thing in this particular instance, as long as all parties ultimately act in good faith.
All fighters made weight for the next installment of Golden Boy Promotion’s LA Fight Club, which takes place Friday evening at Belasco Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The show will air live on Estrella TV. In the main event, local favorite Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez puts his unbeaten record on the line as he faces Alejandro Ochoa in a scheduled eight-round battle. Gonzalez (11-0, 10KOs) weighed 130.4 lbs., while Ochoa checked in at 134 lbs., significantly heavier but still within the lightweight limit.
LOS ANGELES - Fidel "The Atrisco Kid" Maldonado Jr. (20-3, 17 KOs) of Albuquerque, New Mexico, signed a multi-year multi-fight promotion contract with Golden Boy Promotions today. Fresh off a victory against Lowell Brownfield in September, Maldonado Jr. is ready to continue on his journey to championship glory.
Yvon Michel, promoter for WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (27-1, 22 KOs) was disappointed with Ring Magazine's decision to strip his fighter of their light heavyweight title. The magazine explained that their decision was based on Stevenson not facing any boxers ranked in their top five in the last two years.
It wasn't the fight of the year that was promised, nor was it even the fight of the night. In the end, however, it was enough for Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez to make history for Mexico. The 25-year old superstar became the first from his nation to capture the World (lineal) middleweight championship after outpoitning Miguel Cotto over 12 rounds Saturday evening at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Francisco Vargas walked through hell in order to claim his first major title, overcoming a knockdown and cuts under and over his right eye to stop Takashi Miura in the 9th round of a thriller Saturday evening at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. The super featherweight title fight was deemed by many experts as a potential show-stealer leading into the main event between Miguel Cotto and Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. Both fighter did their part, overcoming adversity in a thrilling title fight featuring several momentum shifts.
Ronny Rios turned in a career-best performance, dominating the second half of his 10-round featherweight bout with Jayson Velez to take a well-earned unanimous decision. Scores were 95-94, 96-93 and 97-92 in favor of Rios, in a bout that kicked off the HBO Pay-Per-View telecast live from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A matchup that has been two years in the making, Miguel Cotto and Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez are finally ready to collide in the ring. Many fans and boxing experts consider Saturday's middleweight championship bout - which will be contested at a maximum catchweight of 155 lbs. - to perfectly encapsulate the storied boxing rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico. The latest chapter headlines a four-fight HBO Pay-Per-View telecast live from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.