Tag Archives: Jared

Posted on 12/26/2017

Compiled By: William Holmes

The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of December 19th to December 26th covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.

USA Boxing Nationals Champion Jared Anderson America’s Next Great Heavyweight?

Christmas came early for Jared Anderson, who not only won the heavyweight title at the recent USA Boxing National Championships, the 18-year-old also captured the Most Outstanding Boxer Award in the Elite Division.

Seeded No. 7 in eight-boxer field at The Nationals, Anderson, in order, defeated No. 2 Jesus Flores in the opening round, 5-0, edged No. 3 Adrian Tillman in the semifinals, 3-2, and upset five-time national champion Cam F. Awesome, 5-0, in the championship final.

In USA Boxing’s most recently listed heavyweight ratings (Nov. 17, 2017), Tillman and Awesome are ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, Flores is No. 5, and Anderson is unranked.

“I think that’s going to change,” Anderson noted. “Winning the heavyweight title and Most Outstanding Boxing Award meant the world to me. Maybe some people had never heard of me, but I’ve been boxing since I was eight, and I’ve faced a lot of different styles.

“I had a vendetta going with Tillman and, instead of boxing, I tried to take his head off. Simple work allowed me to beat Awesome. He is a good fighter. Cam does what he wants in the ring — throws jabs, sits there and builds up points – and intimidates some opponents. I took the fight to him. Not wild, though, because he’d have been there in the ring, calm and smiling, and I would have lost. I used my jab more than anything against him.”

One of 11 siblings in two households, Anderson is another USA Boxing success story. Growing up in Toledo, Ohio, Anderson was constantly getting into trouble in school and boxing eventually saved him. His mother convinced her son to meet a local boxing coach, who introduced Jared to boxing, drilling discipline into him, something Jared desperately needed at that point in his young life.

Boxing in Toledo has also aided his overall development in boxing. “We push each other,” Anderson explained. “We support each other and perfect our crafts. There’s a lot of support here at all the gyms in Toledo.”

Anderson represented Team USA at this past August’s 2017 Bradenburg Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, at which Anderson won the heavyweight title, as well as the Most Outstanding Boxer Award, which should have been a warning for other leading U.S. heavyweights.

As a young boxer, Anderson admired three legends who were all products of USA Boxing, U.S. Olympians and Olympic medal winners: 1. Sugar Ray Leonard – “Fast hands, speed, a phenomenal boxer.” 2. Evander Holyfield – “A warrior who could bang or box. Moved up successfully from cruiserweight to heavyweight.” 3. Muhammad Ali — “Not just because he was a great boxer, but more so because of his life.”

Right now, Anderson stand 6′ 2 and weighs 200 lbs., but he’s only 18 and should continue growing even larger. Ultimately, he wants to be heavyweight champion of the world, but Jared does have a plan.

“I want to stay as active as possible next year, competing in tournaments, and turn pro but not until after the (2020) Olympics,” Anderson concluded. “I’m not turning pro until after the (2020) Olympics. I want to win a gold medal, turn pro and win the world heavyweight title, so I can move my mother out of the ‘hood.”

Remember the name, boxing fans, Jared Anderson has the potential to be America’s next great heavyweight.

Eddie Hearn Releases Potential 2018 Fight Dates for Anthony Joshua

Boxing superstar Anthony Joshua has been the target for many of the world’s top heavyweights, including American rival Deontay Wilder.

Eddie Hearn recently indicated that they are close to confirming the next opponent for Anthony Joshua. They are looking for date on a Saturday night either near the end of March or the beginning of April.

“We’re getting there,” Hearn recently told Sky Sports. “As AJ says, he wants the belts, he wants to be the undisputed king of the division. That’s the aim, and to do that he has to win two belts.”

He continued, “We’re looking at March 24, March 31 and April 7 as potential dates for his next fight, with various different venues in London and Wales, even other venues and cities around Europe as well.”

Joseph Parker looks like the next likely opponent for Anthony Joshua.

Danny Garcia to Face Brandon Rios

Danny Garcia is scheduled to face Brandon Rios on Saturday, February 17th. This fight will be taking place on Showtime. The Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada is the announced venue.

Garcia hasn’t been seen inside a ring since his close split decision loss to Keith Thurman in March of 2017 and will have sat out for nearly a year in between fights. Rios only fought once since his loss to Timothy Bradley Jr. in November of 2015.

A loss for either fighter will likely remove them from future title shots.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Challenges Kobe Bryant to a Game of 1 on 1

Kobe Bryant, one of Basketball’s all time greats, recently had the honor of having both of his jersey numbers retired by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant posted on instagram thanking his fans, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. responded to his post. He wrote, “@ kobebryant I’m ready to play you one on one for $1,000,000”.

It’s not yet clear if this post was made in jest or if it’s for charity, but Mayweather has thrown out the challenge to Kobe.

Amir Khan Receives Death Threats for Photo of Christmas Tree

British Boxer is a practicing Muslim who recently posted a photo of a Christmas tree on his instagram.

Khan posted the Christmas tree on Instagram with the following caption, “While everyone’s asleep, daddy put the Christmas tree up. Lamaisah’s going to be happy. #Christmas #MerryChristmas2017

However, some of Khan’s followers were not happy and posted threatening messages in response.

He was accused of betraying Islam and many told him to go to hell. One person wrote, “Allah is definitely judging him for that and will surely punish those who imitate the kuffar by celebrating and joining in their pagan festivals.”

Another wrote, “You must be dead and your family will be death I promise and Allah must promise I and Allah see you and check you your angel death came to see you.”

However, some people wrote positive messages such as, “He lives in England in a western culture where Christmas is celebrated. It’s about respect just like if you were in another country. It’s for his daughter.”

Posted on 10/04/2017

By: Ken Hissner

At the end of this article this writer will talk about the three boxers in Philadelphia who hold the future of Philly boxing in their hands!

For some time Philadelphia writers, trainers, boxers and promoters have said Philadelphia is the “boxing capitol of the world!” Currently Philadelphia does not have a world champion. Only seven of Philadelphia’s boxers are in the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF ratings.

The most recent world champion was Danny “Swift” Garcia, 33-1 (19), who is currently now ranked No. 2 by both the WBC and WBA. He lost his WBC welterweight title by split decision to WBA champion Keith Thurman in March and hasn’t fought since. His manager is Al Haymon and his promoter is Golden Boy Promotions. He is trained by his father Angel Garcia at their DSG gym in North Philadelphia.

Steve “USS” Cunningham, 29-9-1 (13), the former two-time cruiserweight champion is listed at No. 15 by the IBF. He recently lost a lack luster decision. No one keeps in better condition than “USS” does. Newark, NJ, is having a cruiserweight title match and the opponent is a former opponent of his. “USS” should be on that show! He is trained by Naziim Richardson and promoted by Main Events.

Jesse “Hard Work” Hart got his opportunity recently coming off the canvas early in the fight but made a strong second half finish in losing but will probably keep his No. 1 WBO status among super middleweights but isn’t ranked anywhere else. How can that be? If he comes down to earth after that loss he still has potential to be a world champion but you can’t split his time between two gyms with two different trainers and expect results! It’s Fred Jenkins, Sr. at the ABC Recreation Center in North Philly and it’s his father Eugene “Cyclone” Hart in Joe Hand’s South Philly gym.

Super welterweight Julian “J Rock” Williams, 23-1-1 (15), lost in a WBC title attempt in December of 2016 to Jermell Charlo but is still ranked No. 6 in the WBC, No. 9 in the IBF and No. 15 in the WBO. He is still young and still has a future. Stephan “Bread Man” Edwards is his manager and trainer at Shuler’s Gym in West Philly.

Welterweight southpaw “The New” Ray Robinson, 24-2 (12) due to inactivity has dropped in the ratings but is still No. 10 in the WBO, No. 11 in the IBF and No. 13 in the WBC. He can make anyone look bad. So why doesn’t the Garcia people consider a Philly bout with him? He is trained by “Bozy” Ennis at “Bozy’s Dungeon” in North Philly. He is managed by David McWater.

“Hammerin” Hank Lundy, 28-6-1 (14), is No. 10 in the WBC lightweight rankings and has fallen to the “Philly Jinx” on more than one occasion. He’s 3-3 in his last 6 fights. “Cornbread” Ramsey was back in the corner last fight. He trains out of the Marion Anderson Gym in South Philly. Tevin “American Idol” Farmer, 25-4-1 (5), is No. 2 in the WBC, No. 5 in the IBF and No. 9 in the WBO. Coming off an injury he should be ready to go again soon. Marc Cipparone is his manager while “Chino” Rivas trains him in Cherry Hill, NJ.

Now let’s get to the “future” of Philadelphia. The best prospect since 1984 Gold Medal Olympia is welterweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis, 15-0 (13), who at age 20 is on the verge of stepping up the competition. Promoting his fights with Victory Promotions is Chris Middendorf who has him either in Philly October 21st or in DC October 14th. To have him in fifteen fights in eighteen months is impressive. He was an Olympic Alternate in 2016. His father “Bozy” trains him at “Bozy’s Dungeon” North Philly Gym over the Harrowgate Gym.

Bantamweight Christian Carto, 12-0 (11), finally got some rounds in this past week in the main event defeating a 14-1 Mexican opponent. He has had twelve fights in fifteen months of boxing and is a former National Golden Gloves Champion. He lost his manager recently to a death and still doesn’t have a promoter. His trainer is Mickey Rosati, Jr. whose gym Carto trains at over Rosati’s Auto Repair garage. He’s had ten fights with Hard Hitting Promotions and two with King’s Promotions. He’s one white boxer that even the most negative black boxing people love him in Philly.

The third is a 17 year-old super lightweight named Brandon Pizarro, 8-0 (4), who will be turning 18 this month. “Gifted” is a crowd pleaser trained by “Bozy” Ennis and his father Angel Pizarro, Sr. at “Bozy’s Dungeon” in North Philly. He is promoted by Hard Hitting Promotions.

On Sunday October 18th John DiSanto is holding his 8th Annual “Briscoe Awards” where most of these boxers along with this writer will be in attendance. It will be held at the Xfinity Live facility at 1100 Pattison Avenue in South Philly.

Posted on 08/31/2017

By: Benny Henderson

The Montgomery brothers were raised on boxing, all three, Maliek, Mikhail and Michael were decorated amateurs. With a combined record of 419-44, and countless awards and trophies, all three have decided to take the plunge as a professional in the bang for your buck sport. Both, Maliek, a super featherweight, and Michael, a welterweight, are 1-0 (1 KO) as a professional, as Mikhail awaits to step in the pro ranks, but should see action shortly as a pro. All three were recently signed by Witness Sports Management, and are excited to see what the future holds.

Sports Management has some major credibility behind the newly formed company, it is ran by boxing veterans, Greg Hannely, founder of the Prince Ranch Boxing facility, who also helped guide the careers of former world champions, Clarence Adams and Steven Luevano. And Jared Shaw, the son of famed boxing promoter, Gary Shaw.

The future looks bright for the Montgomery brother’s, who may be young in age, but have been battle tested in the ring. With youth, talent, the willingness to learn, hunger for success, their father/trainer Michael Montgomery Sr. and Sports Management by their side, it is going to be a thrill to see what is in store for the Montgomery brothers.

In this exclusive interview, Maliek and Mikhail speak out on various topic concerning their boxing career, they both talk about their styles, each other’s greatest accolades, what separates them from other young prospects, and more.

Posted on 08/13/2017

By: Eric Lunger

Jared Shaw, son of Gary Shaw, long time boxing promoter and former NJ commissioner, has been around boxing and boxers since he was a kid. As an adult, Jared worked for his father, Main Events, Roc nation, Al Haymon, and others. He has extensive experience in MMA as well, having been vice president of EliteXC and the promoter of internet sensation Kimbo Slice.

Most recently, Jared founded Witness Sports Management (WSM) along with Greg Hannely, founder of the Prince Ranch boxing facility in Las Vegas. WSM has just signed three exciting prospects from Georgia who happen to be brothers: Mikhail, Maliek, and Michael Montgomery. Brought along by their father, Michael, Sr., the three brothers have extensive amateur experience, but are now looking to make their marks in the pro game under WSM guidance. “If you like pressure fighters with knockout power, then you will love the Montgomery brothers,” Jared said.

Boxinginsider.com caught up with Jared this week, and he shared his insights on the up-coming mega fights Mayweather vs. McGregor and Canelo vs. Golovkin.

Boxinginsider.com: Jared, thanks for talking with me. You have a ton of experience in both the boxing and the MMA world, let’s get right to it. Does Conor McGregor have a chance against Floyd Mayweather, one of the all-time greats?

Jared Shaw: Everyone who gets in a ring or a cage has a chance, just as much as they have a risk. But you want to break it down to “styles make fights,” which is essentially what they do in boxing, and Conor McGregor has zero chance. The reason I put him at absolute nothing is because, in MMA – and there is no doubt that Conor McGregor is outrageously entertaining, an offensive fighter, he has great hands for MMA – the reason it doesn’t translate is the same reason a boxer does not translate to Mixed Martial Arts.

MMA is meant to be this hybrid between all fighting styles, but you notice how boxing is not really in there. In order to be a good mixed martial artist, you have to be able to defend the take-down, work out of submissions, and counter not only a punch, but a leg check, a take-down. So that already changes the way you stand, whereas a boxer is already way more “angled up.” So, a boxer is able to put that much more mustard into his punches.

Some people are going to say, why doesn’t Conor McGregor have a chance, you know, a puncher’s chance. But it actually works the opposite way. Just because he gets angled up and it looks like there is power, it depends who is on the other side. In this case, he is fighting maybe the best boxer who ever lived, maybe not the greatest fighter, but boxer? One hundred percent! Boxing is a dance, it’s “hit or be hit.” And Floyd is going to show movements to McGregor that he not only has never seen, but that McGregor is not even going to realize that Mayweather is tiring him out, exhausting him.

The way I see the fight is McGregor coming in – and Floyd invites everyone in – but then he is going to crowd his punches so he can feel it. People say, “Well, what if he lands a punch?” Well, that’s the thing! No one has ever landed a punch on Floyd.

BI: Even Canelo Alvarez couldn’t touch Floyd.

JS: Right. I don’t care if you want to talk about Zab Judah, or Jose Luis Castillo – nobody finished Mayweather. If they could not finish him, then I don’t think Conor McGregor is going to finish him. And let’s go back to the third round of the Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor fight, to me McGregor was punched out, he was exhausted. Nate almost had him out in the third, but Conor came back to win. But for me, there were these small things [in that fight] that Mayweather doesn’t do. Taking it to boxing, now, where they are wearing 8 or 10 ounces gloves. Was that decided?

BI: I know they made some noise about going to 8 ounces, but the Nevada Commission is going to vote on the matter on August 16.

JS: Now [assuming they stay at 10 ounces] you have a guy wearing five ounces more in each hand. That is an enormous difference. Add to that the ring generalship of Floyd, leaning on you, making you work. You are going to be gassed out, my guess is, by the fourth round. If you are a bettor, you are going with Floyd Mayweather by stoppage.

BI: Is there a worry in the Mayweather camp that, if there is a quick knock out, the PPV audience is going to feel cheated? Does that go into their calculus at all, or do they just game plan to win?

JS: Look, that is more of a business question. In this situation, no. First of all, Floyd lives to be the greatest. The only thing he knows is how to box, he had a tough childhood, and so, wining is what fills him. I happen to like Floyd, and he is a marketing genius. They both are. But in this case, he wants to embarrass MMA. He does not want any challenge to his throne, you know what I mean? The other reason is this: if he finishes him quickly and there is a backlash, like the Pacquiao fight, does he really care anymore? Who is left for him?

BI: Taking a step back for a second, the old cliché that there is no such thing as bad publicity: is this fight good for boxing?

JS: Truthfully? I think it is great for boxing. Boxing has had a hard path since the late 1990s and the era of the great heavyweights. We have been clamoring for stars. But boxing is having a great year, some really good fighters and some really good fights. There happens to be a lot boxing on television, but it still doesn’t feel like it did in the nineties and late eighties. I think for our community, we are pretty happy. But for the mainstream audience, boxing is not making its mark. But this fight does make a mark. It puts the eyeballs back on boxing, period. It puts eyeballs on Canelo vs Golovkin, and so on. It remains to be seen, of course, but how can this not be good for the sport with all the publicity and circus sideshow?

BI: Switching gears, can you comment on the Canelo vs. Golovkin bout? Do you think Golovkin was exposed in some way against Jacobs? Danny Jacobs is a great fighter, a great middle weight. Did he expose GGG or was it just a tough, close fight?

JS: An interesting question. I like to think about how a fight will play out, and Canelo vs Golovkin is one I just go back and forth on. At first, I favored Canelo a bit, because I thought they hurt him business-wise fighting Mayweather so early, but they didn’t really hurt his career. He has done a very good job of disposing of every fighter that has come his way. The difference is, I have shaken Golovkin’s hand, and we are pretty much the same size, but his hands are enormous. Like Kovalev, like Duran even, these guys have heavy hands that are game changers. The question becomes: can Canelo handle that power? This is not 154 pound power.

BI: That’s the criticism against Canelo, isn’t it? That he is a catchweight fighter and not a true middleweight?

JS: Right, and my point is that Golovkin is hitting harder even than a 160 pounder. But let’s go back to what you asked about Danny Jacobs. I think Jacobs is underrated, because when you go back to his whole body of work, he is tremendous. He was impressive as an amateur, and when he beat cancer, that was a whole other level of victory. Peter Quinlin is no joke, and he demolished Peter Quinlin. When he fought Golovkin, that was a very hard fight. Not only is Danny Jacobs a very good boxer, but he is an underrated puncher. I give Golovkin a lot of credit because I think Jacobs can stop most guys.

BI: But don’t you think that Canelo re-hydrates well? He is big when he comes back into the ring.

JS: He does, but what Canelo has not been prepared for is someone who can sit in the pocket with him and make it a Mexican brawl. He hasn’t been given that treatment, hasn’t felt that pressure. I have more questions in that fight for Canelo than I do for Golovkin.

BI: I was really fascinated with GGG’s performance against David Lemieux, where he clearly changed his style and fought behind the jab for a long time. Do you see him doing that against Canelo?

JS: I do. That’s exactly what I see him doing. Look, we are all expecting Canelo to out-box him, but I think that is [Golovkin’s] game plan. They are going to take the boxing to Canelo. I would say, for three to four rounds, Golovkin is behind that jab until a fight breaks out. It’s an interesting fight, it’s a great fight for the sport.