Tag Archives: maidana

Posted on 11/12/2019

By: Hans Themistode

It’s been a long time since anyone has seen former two division world champion Marcos Maidana. Five years to be exact.

Maidana had a very successful career that spanned a little over a decade. He’s shared the ring with some of the best fighters of his generation and also picked up some big wins along the way.

In 2009, he knocked out former champion Victor Ortiz to win the vacant WBA Super Lightweight title. He followed that up with impressive wins against DeMarcus Corley and Erik Morales. He did lose his fair share of fights as well as he was beaten by both Devon Alexander and Amir Khan in competitive contest.

Still, Maidana’s resume is littered with great wins. Who could forget his wars against Josesito Lopez and Jesus Soto Karass? Those fights will always be remembered.

No matter how many notable victories he has picked up, none will compare to the 2013 beating he dished out to the then undefeated and flamboyant Adrien Broner, handing him his first defeat. Maidana picked up even more notoriety as he took on all-time great Floyd Mayweather Jr in back to back contest in 2014. Maidana lost both encounters and subsequently has not been seen in the ring since.

Maidana was rumored to have become a very rich man in fighting Mayweather. So much so, that he no longer needed boxing in order to support his family.

Earlier in 2019, Maidana reportedly signed a deal with Premier Boxing Champions and was scheduled to make a ring return. However, those plans were scrapped due to a combination of issues.

Maidana was never heard from again until recently. He will reportedly end his five year retirement and return to the ring. His return has been penciled in for April of 2020 against 46 year old Heavyweight kickboxer Jorge Cali.

Yes, you read that right. Maidana will be taking on a kickboxer, but the bout will be contested under boxing rules. More shockingly, is the weight in which this bout will take place. It hasn’t been quite clear but Maidana could return to the boxing ring somewhere near the Cruiserweight division. Remember, Maidana fought at Super Lightweight and Welterweight for his entire career. Making his return at nearly 60 pounds over his original fighting weight class is an eye opener.

As for what exactly made this contest become a reality is a simple one. The two have been sending videos and messages to antagonize each other. Now, they officially made the fight a reality.

Cali is excited to be sharing the ring with someone the caliber of Maidana, and although he might be at a disadvantage because of the rules of this bout, he is confident of the outcome.

“It is clear that I am at a disadvantage in this because it will be under the rules of boxing,” said Cali. “But in my career fighting with an athlete of Maidana’s status motivates me. It drives me to train and be in the best shape possible.”

On the official Twitter account of Maidana Promotions, they posted a video highlighting the event.

At this present moment, it is unknown whether or not this will be a one off for Maidana or if he will officially return to the ring for good. A press conference in mid November has been scheduled for Maidana and Cali to announce their bout.

It is strange that Maidana has chosen to make his return to boxing in this fashion. Both as a much larger fighter and against such an obscure opponent. However, Maidana has always possessed a fan friendly style, so his return to the ring will provide plenty of fireworks for as long as it lasts.

Posted on 02/14/2019

By: Sean Crose

After close to a half decade out of the ring, former WBA Welterweight, and (regular) Junior Welterweight Champion Marcos Maidana has announced that he’s returning to the fight game. The 35 year old Argentine brawler, who had accumulated a record of 35-5 after his last fight in 2014, hasn’t boxed professionally in well over four years. The announcement for his return was reportedly delivered to numerous Spanish language outlets and showed Maidana chilling out in a tub while letting the fight world know he was coming back. An exact opponent, location or date has not been set for his return. What is clear, however, is that Maidana has now signed a lucrative deal with Al Haymon’s Premiere Boxing Champion’s organization (PBC).

According to Forbes, Maidana’s return fight will net him a million and a half dollars and may either occur in the junior middleweight or middleweight divisions. The idea is reportedly for Maidana, who let himself go in retirement, to get back into premium shape and then meet a major challenge later this year after an initial comeback bout. Maidana is said to have been inspired by Manny Pacquiao’s and Keith Thurman’s latest PBC matches. An exciting, rugged, sometimes dirty fighter, Maidana has previously faced a who’s who of big names.

The last time Maidana was active in the sport, he faced pound for pound great Floyd Mayweather in two 2014 pay per view bouts. The first match, in the spring of that year, was a high octane, highly competitive affair. Mayweather was more dominant in the second go-round the following autumn, but Maidana clearly emerged as one of Mayweather’s toughest opponents. After losing both Mayweather fights by decision, Maidana gave the impression of being happily retired with his pay per view money. Like many retired fighters, however, Maidana has gotten the comeback bug.

Aside from battling Mayweather, Maidana fought and bested Adrien Broner, then a rising star, in a thrilling 2013 affair, handing the Cincinnati native his first loss. Maidana also faced Amir Khan, who he lost to in a seesaw 2010 bout. Among the popular fighter’s best wins are matches against Victor Ortiz, DeMarcus Corley, Erik Morales, Jesus Soto Karass, and Josesito Lopez. Maidana is reportedly interested in rematching Broner, the loser of what was arguably his most famous bout. It’s unclear whether or not Maidana will reteam with Robert Garcia, the trainer he has enjoyed the most success with.

Posted on 04/17/2018

Compiled By: William Holmes

The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of April 10th to April 17th; covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.

Photo Credit: Ryan Garcia Twitter Account

Ergashev to Face Wang for WBA International Junior Welterweight Title

The previously announced 10-round clash between fast-rising, unbeaten knockout artist SHOHJAHON ERGASHEV, (11-0-0, 11 KO’s), a native of Uzbekistan, now fighting out of Brooklyn, NY and China’s ZHIMIN WANG, (10-2-0, 3 KO’s), has now been elevated to a WBA International Junior Welterweight Title bout, it was announced today by Matchroom Boxing USA, promoter of “Straight Outta Brooklyn”,the massive international boxing event set for Saturday, April 28 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

The 26-year-old Ergashev, training out of the famed Kronk Gym in Detroit, has quickly impressed boxing fans in the United States with two recent show-stopping knockouts and 100% knockout ratio, building a huge following in the New York City area.

In his U.S. debut, the hard-hitting southpaw stopped Marquis Hawthorne in the second round on November 11, 2017 at NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Making his nationally televised debut on January 12, 2018 in roaring style, Ergashev knocked out undefeated, highly regarded contender Sonny Fredrickson in the third round in Verona, New York. He is promoted by Salita Promotions.

Wang will be looking to stay in the win column returning to action following a dominant 10-round decision over Anthony Sabalde on December 10, 2017 in Guangzhou, China. The victory capped a four-fight campaign for Wang last year which included two additional decision victories.

“I had a great training camp at the Kronk Gym in Detroit and look forward to making a statement on April 28,” said Ergashev. “I pushed myself to the limits because I know that a world title is in my destiny. Zhimin Wang is a very skilled, strong fighter and I look forward to this great match-up and an opportunity to win my first title.”

Said Eddie Hearn, President of Matchroom Boxing USA, “I watched this young man at our last show in Long Island and he immediately caught my attention. He is a pure puncher and is going to be a real danger to the division. He has a great following already and I’m looking forward to watching him challenge for his first title in Brooklyn on April 28.”

“Shohjahon has all the ingredients to dominate the junior welterweight division and be a star in the ring,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “His work ethic, punching power and desire for greatness is very special. Zhimin Wang is a very skilled, durable fighter and I expect a great fight on April 28.

Advance tickets for ‘Straight Outta Brooklyn’starting at $42 may be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com, BarclaysCenter.com, or calling 800-745-3000. Tickets for the event can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. For information on group sales, call 844.255.9647.

Raushee Warren and Fabian Maidana to Compete on April 21st

Former bantamweight world champion Raushee Warren and top prospect Fabian Maidana will step into the ring at Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™, on Saturday, April 21 in separate attractions as part of an exciting night of undercard fights.

The Premier Boxing Champions event is headlined by four-division champion Adrien Broner battling former welterweight world champion Jessie Vargas. The SHOWTIME telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features undefeated former world champion Jermall Charlo clashing with once-beaten Hugo Centeno, Jr. for the interim 160-pound world title and former champions Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Jesus Cuellar as they square off for the vacant WBA 130-pound Super World Championship.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, DiBella Entertainment and TGB Promotions, start at $50 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

Warren (15-2, 4 KOs) will return to action in an eight round bantamweight fight against Juan Medina (10-2, 9 KOs), whileMaidana (14-0, 10 KOs) steps in for a 10-round super lightweight showdown against Hevinson Herrera (22-14-1, 16 KOs). The undercard attractions also include popular local female contender Heather “The Heat” Hardy (20-0, 4 KOs)as she competes in a featherweight contest against Mexico’s Paolo Torres (10-2-1, 3 KOs).

The action inside the arena will also feature a pair of 2016 Olympians in separate six-round super lightweight attractions as U.S. Olympian Gary Antuanne Russell (4-0, 4 KOs) enters the ring against Andrew Rodgers (4-2-1, 2 KOs) and Haitian Olympian Richardson Hitchins (4-0, 2 KOs) battles Alexander Charneco (4-4, 4 KOs).

Brooklyn’s unbeaten Chordale Booker will step into the ring for a six-round super welterweight fight against Daniel Calzada while the Bronx’s undefeated heavyweight George Arias competes in an eight-round attraction against Tyrell Wright.

The action rounds out with unbeaten super featherweight Desmond Jarmon battling Kendrick Latchman in a four-round showdown, unbeaten prospect Shyngyskhan Tazhibay in a four-round welterweight contest against Justin Savi (31-15-2, 21 KOs) and undefeated prospect Dylan Price, who meets Edson Noria for a six-round super flyweight bout.

The 31-year-old Warren became a world champion in 2016 when he defeated Juan Carlos Payano to capture the WBA Bantamweight World Championship. The Cincinnati-native represented the U.S. three times at the Olympic games during a prolific amateur career and most recently defeated former champion McJoe Arroyo last July at Barclays Center. He returns to Brooklyn to face the 25-year-old Medina, who fights out of the Dominican Republic.

The brother of former welterweight champion Marcos Maidana, Fabian will look to remain unbeaten when he makes his 2018 debut on April 21. The 25-year-old from Santa Fe, Argentina most recently defeated former interim champion Johan Perez by unanimous decision last November in his first fight to go 10 rounds.

The First Biography of Rocky Graziano in 60 Years

Jeffrey Sussman, boxing author, has written another hard-hitting exciting biography. It is of Rocky Graziano, juvenile delinquent, middleweight boxing champion, and comedic actor, who was the last great fighter from the golden age of boxing, the era of Joe Louis, Jake LaMotta, and Sugar Ray Robinson.

In Rocky Graziano: Fists, Fame, and Fortune (published March 10 by Rowman & Littlefied), Jeffrey Sussman tells the rags-to-riches story of Tommy Rocco Barbella, who came to be known as Rocky Graziano. Raised by an abusive father, Graziano took to the streets and soon found himself in reformatories and prison cells. Drafted into the U.S. Army, Graziano went AWOL but was eventually caught, tried, and sent to prison for a year. After his release, Rocky went on to have one successful boxing match after another and quickly ascended up the pyramid of professional boxing. In one of the bloodiest battles in the history of the middleweight division, Rocky beat Tony Zale and became the middleweight champion of the world. Rocky retired from boxing after he lost his crown to Sugar Ray Robinson and went on to have a successful acting career in two acclaimed television series. Rich and famous, he was no longer the angry young man he once was. In his post-boxing life, Rocky became known for his good humor, witty remarks, and kindness and generosity to those in need.

Rocky Graziano’s life is not only inspiring, it is also a story of redemption, of how boxing became the vehicle for saving a young man from a life of anger and crime and leading him into a life of happiness and honesty. The first biography of Graziano in over 60 years, this book will bring his story to a new generation of boxing fans and sports historians.

Bill Calogero, boxing historian and host of the Talkin’ Boxing with Billy C, TV & Radio Program, wrote: “Rocky Graziano was one of my all-time favorite fighters. Being in the boxing business for over thirty-five years, I thought I knew it all about Rocky. That was until I read Jeffrey Sussman’s new book, Rocky Graziano: Fists, Fame and Fortune. Sussman tells Graziano’s story like no other ever written. I learned things about Rocky I never knew before. Sussman’s writing style not only educated me more about Rocky Graziano, he put me there with him. Page after page, I felt I was with Graziano, feeling his pain as a child and his triumphs as World Champion. I could not put it down! This book is a must read for all, not just boxing fans.”

In Booklist, Wes Lukowsky wrote: “Sussman does a fine job with the biographical details from start to finish, but he really nails the fight descriptions, creating a sensory experience in which the reader can almost feel the punches and hear the crowds. A vivid slice of boxing history.”

Jeffrey Sussman is also the author of the 2017 best seller: Max Baer and Barney Ross: Jewish Heroes of Boxing, published by Rowman & Littlefield.

Ryan Garcia to Face Jayson Velez

Ryan “The Flash” Garcia (14-0, 13 KOs), the 2017 consensus prospect of the year and pride of Victorville, Calif., headlines a very special edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. Garcia, who is the brightest rising star in the sport of boxing today, will kick off the Cinco de Mayo festivities as he faces seasoned Puerto Rican contender Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez (26-4-1, 18 KOs) in a 10-round super featherweight fight in this spectacular arena that has become the home for great battles.

ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will air the fights beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT, and stream live on ESPN3 starting at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

At only 19 years of age, Garcia is the future superstar of boxing. After winning multiple national championships as an amateur and several professional fights in Mexico, Garcia signed with Golden Boy Promotions in Nov. 2016. Since then, he has won every fight by knockout, including a highlight-reel knockout of Miguel Carrizoza to win the Junior NABF Super Featherweight Title. In his most recent performance, Garcia defeated Fernando Vargas on the March 22 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN via a stunning first-round knockout victory.

“I’m back already and with high expectations,” said Ryan Garcia.”I’m glad to be headlining two times in a row and excited to be fighting in an iconic venue where there have been many wars. I’ve said all along that I was destined for greatness. I’m speaking it to existence, and I will show that on May 4.”

Velez is an experience contender of the Island of Enchantment, Puerto Rico, home of former world champions such as Wilfred “El Radar” Benitez, Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez, Felix “Tito” Trinidad and Miguel Cotto, among others. The 30-year-old pugilist has faced the toughest fighters of the competitive 126-pound division, including Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, Jr. and Ronny Rios. Velez is coming off three impressive victories, including a unanimous decision win against the previously undefeated Alberto Mercado and back-to-back stoppage victories over former contender Giovanni “El Ruso” Caroand former world champion Juan Manuel Lopez.

“I will not let my country down as it is a powerful force in boxing,” said Jayson Velez. “If anyone believes that I am only going for the paycheck, they are wrong. As I have proved before, I always give my best and this will not be the exception against Garcia. In the face of all predictions, I will defeat him.”

“Ryan Garcia is going to prove that he’s the next superstar in the sport of boxing,” said Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “After an amazing performance in March, Garcia will now make his debut in an arena that is slowly becoming a legendary battleground for boxing, the StubHub Center.”

In the co-main event, Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan (27-2, 19 KOs), the incomparable and explosive Irish contender, will make his Southern California debut in a 10-round middleweight fight presented in association with Murphy’s Boxing. O’Sullivan has faced the likes of current WBO Middleweight World Champion Billy Joe Saunders and Chris Eubank, Jr., and he’ll returning after his most significant and impressive victory against Antoine “Action” Douglass via seventh-round technical knockout. O’Sullivan will be next in line for a middleweight title shot if successful on May 4.

Welterweight knockout artist Alexis “Lex” Rocha (11-0, 8 KOs), who without a doubt will be the first world champion to come out of Santa Ana, Calif., will participate in an eight-round 147-pound fight. Rocha has many tools in his southpaw arsenal as he can both fight at the distance and knock people out from the inside.

Ferdinand Kerobyan (8-0, 4 KOs) of North Hollywood, Calif. will battle across a scheduled six-rounds of action in the super welterweight division. Kerobyan is the latest prospect to be signed to the exclusive Golden Boy Promotions stable and the first fighter under the management of former UFC fighter and current WWE Superstar Ronda Rousey.

Richard “Kansas Kid” Acevedo (1-0, 1 KO), a prospect originally out of Garden City, Kansas, will participate in a four-round super welterweight fight. This exciting puncher out of the Westside Boxing Club promises fireworks as he initiates this exciting card.

Posted on 08/10/2016

Now Officially Retired, Marcos Maidana Will Be Missed
By: Sean Crose

Adrien Broner had pretty much gotten under everyone’s skin by that point. Okay, perhaps not everyone’s, but at least a great many people’s. Loud, uncouth and thoroughly arrogant, this master of mind games had the fight world eating out of his hand. If his goal was showmanship, then Broner was a certified A lister. Here, it was claimed, was the heir to Mayweather’s throne. For the 27-0 Ohio native had jumped from lightweight to welterweight and was, it seemed, on the verge of very big things. Now Broner was scheduled to fight the hardened Argentine Marcos Maidana smack dab in the middle of Christmas season in the main event of a stacked Showtime card. Needless to say, it was a very big occasion for the guy known as “The Problem.”

Things, however, didn’t go as planned that night in the Alamodome. For the 34-3 Maidana took it to the brash and showy Broner in a way only he could. By implementing a rough and grueling assault, Maidana was able to drop Broner twice and overcome a fierce challenge (fight fans tend to forget that Broner is actually very talented) to emerge victorious via a unanimous decision win. Merry Christmas, Marcos. Now, almost three years later, with Maidana having announced his retirement this week, it’s clear that the Broner win was a crowning achievement in a very colorful career.

Oh, Maidana would move on to face Floyd Mayweather for two fights, and those would be big moneymakers for him, but they weren’t the Broner matchup. While it’s true Maidana came close to besting Floyd the first time around (closer than Manny Pacquiao did, in fact), he ended up losing a decision this author felt could have gone either way before losing more soundly in the rematch. Needless to say, the guy hasn’t fought since then and it’s hard to find a reason to fault Maidana now for retiring.

For here’s an individual whose had quite a career for himself. No, he didn’t have an 0 to protect for a large part of it, but he didn’t have to. He simply brought the heat over and over again. Even when Maidana lost, like he did to Amir Khan in their terrific, back and forth 2010 showdown, he was always in the fight. Want to see a somewhat oldie but goodie? Check out Maidana’s dismantling of Ortiz back in 2009. Madiana may not have ever been as decorated as Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao were, but one thing is certain – he gave fans their time and money’s worth over and over again.

And for that, the man called El Chino should be honored.