Tag Archives: nation

Posted on 11/17/2016

In Defense Of Andre Ward – Grown Up
By: Sean Crose

I know, I know, we’re all supposed to hate Andre Ward. He’s not exciting, after all. What’s more, he doesn’t fight nearly as much as he should (as least he hasn’t until recently). Perhaps worse still, he’s openly religious and takes the whole “appearing humble” thing seriously. What a loser. Give us videos of Floyd throwing money at a bunch of twerking strippers. Or of UFC star Conor McGregor gloating essentially for the sake of gloating. After all, we want fighters who celebrate the Self above all else, am I right?

Well, no, I’m not.

Some people, though certainly not all, like fighters who have a degree of maturity about them. That doesn’t mean these individuals don’t like flash. Everyone likes flash. It’s just that they like something more than mere showiness. Muhammad Ali, after all, stood for something. Hell, so did Jack Johnson, for that matter. Can the same be said of Floyd…or even of his PR apprentice, McGregor? Of course not. Those guys appear to stand for themselves…and not much else.

This isn’t to say they’re bad men at heart. It’s simply to say their public images kind of suck…no matter how popular they may be. Which, of course, brings us back to Ward. There are those in this era of Kim and Kayne who undoubtedly believe any semblance of modesty is indicative of false modesty. Yet there are those who actually find Ward’s lack of swagger refreshing.

Count this author among their numbers.

Look, it’s obvious Ward is far from perfect – just like the rest of us. And the fact that Ward sticks to what he does best – winning – rather than gloating, speaks volumes. Not acting like Mayweather doesn’t equate to false modesty, as some bewilderingly seem to think. It just means Ward doesn’t have a desire to exert all his energies exalting his own awesomeness. Truth be told, he doesn’t have to. He’s a grownup. Besides, Ward, in case you don’t know, is also an amazing fighter. A 30-0 record, a super six championship, and appearances on numerous pound for pound lists can attest to that fact.

And, should Ward best the terrifying Sergey Kovalev this weekend in their battle for light heavyweight supremacy (sorry, Adonis, you’ve taken all the oomph out of your own lineal championship), he will unquestionably be regarded as one of the greats. Of course, there’s no guarantee Ward will pull off such a career defying win. Kovalev is an absolute device of destruction in the ring. Like Ward, he’s undefeated, but he can also take an opponent out with a mere jab – and has boxing skills which, believe it or not, might come close to matching his power.

Needless to say, some will smile in satisfaction if they end up seeing Ward splattered on a Las Vegas canvas this weekend. Fair enough. Boxing is a tough sport, after all, and no one watches it for willowy flights of fancy. In other words, Ward knows full well what he’s getting himself into. Win, lose or draw, however, you won’t see the guy peacocking around after the fight (and, in fairness, the same can most likely be said for Kovalev, who is basically too much of an all-around bad ass to engage in such silliness).

Some may find that lack of showmanship boring. Some may find it hypocritical – again, cynics will always be cynical. Yet others will actually be happy to see a well known individual acting over the age of seventeen. Seriously, guys like Mayweather, McGregor, and others behave like kids sometimes. And in a word of grownup problems, it’s nice to see the grownups take center stage every once in a while.

Posted on 11/15/2016

Why Kovalev-Ward Is Pay Per View Worthy
By: Sean Crose

First things first – Andre Ward is talented. Very talented. Supremely talented. Here is one the best combat sports athletes in the world. Just how renowned is the man called “Son of God”? Well, renowned bad boy and MMA bad ass Nate Diaz has nothing but love for the man. That’s right, the guy who shut the loudmouthed Conor McGregor up – at least temporarily – is a huge Andre Ward fan. Sure, Diaz has helped train Ward by acting as a sparring partner for the guy, but the fondness goes beyond professional courtesy. Mastery of a craft, after all, is mastery of respect.

Onto Ward’s opponent this Saturday night in Vegas, one Sergey Kovalev. The Russian light heavyweight champion is, for lack of a better word, scary. Seriously, the dude’s frightening. He seems to get off, at least at times, on hurting people, and although he’s not proud of it, he’s already killed a man due to his ring acumen. He also has a far, far greater skill set than many think he does. He’s also, for what it’s worth, a pretty good guy to speak with. Still, speaking with a guy who can literally knock you out with a jab is a far cry from having to face the man in the ring.

Make no mistake about it, Kovalev-Ward is a major fight. What’s more, it’s a relevant fight. And that’s why it’s hard for me to complain that the bout is going to be aired via pay per view rather than on pay cable. Seriously gang, if this bout doesn’t deserve to be on pay per view, then what bout does? Neither of these men may be the pound for pound best fighter on earth – but then again, one of them may indeed be. That counts for something. Or at least it should. Truth be told, the fight might not even be exciting. And honestly, I don’t care.

If Ward can slick his way past Kovalev, it will still be worth it for me. Why? Because I will see an athlete of the highest order performing at the highest level. Of course, the same will ring true if Kovalev dusts Ward in exciting fashion. Seriously, this is a no-lose situation. This fight, to me at least, sums up what boxing should be all about. In other words, it promises to answer the simple question of who the better man is. And when a question is being answered at this kind of level, you most certainly can count me in.

This here is a big one.

Posted on 08/11/2016

Team Kovalev, Team Ward Have “Found A Way To Move Past The Impasse”
By: Sean Crose

“We found a way to move past the impasse on the site,” Kathy Duva informed Boxing Insider this morning. “We are working hard,” she continued, “on the draft contract with the MGM Grand and the T- Mobile Arena and hope to get it signed and tickets on sale as soon as possible.”

Thus may endeth one of the more frustrating boxing stories in recent weeks – friction between Roc Nation, which represents Andre Ward, and Main Events, which represents Sergey Kovalev, in the leadup to a November light heavyweight extravaganza.

Indeed, the match, which may well be to decide who the number one pound for pound fighter in the world is in the minds of many analysts, much less light heavyweight supremacy, seemed like it may actually have been in danger of falling through. For neither Ward nor his team showed up for a press gathering this week to kick off the festivities. What’s more, Main Events honcho Kathy Duva was clearly exasperated by what she felt was Roc Nation’s dragging of its feet (willingly or not) on behalf of Ward.

The issue at hand was the impending fight’s location – which was supposed to be at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas – and it was one that immediately got the fight world buzzing as to whether the much anticipated matchup between the two top level fighters would come to fruition. Both Ward and Roc Nation, after all, have been said to be extremely difficult to deal with when it comes to making fights happen. With Thursday’s news from the Main Events team, however, it appears all is well at the moment and that things are moving as originally planned. And so, as it stands, it looks like what may be the most significant fight of the year is back on track to becoming a reality.

Ward, the 30-0 former super middleweight kingpin, has recently moved up to the light heavyweight division. By facing the hard hitting (and sneakily skilled) Kovalev, 30-0-1, the master boxer will be stepping up against a master puncher in a fight that’s hard for even the sharpest minds to predict a winner of. In short, it’s a classic stylistic matchup between two fighters who may well be at the top of their games. That’s not hyperbole, it’s just the truth.

Here’s hoping this bout sees its way through to fruition. In an age of ducking and margination, fans deserve to see a match between two fighters of this caliber.

Posted on 08/02/2016

BOXING INSIDER INTERVIEW WITH RAQUEL MILLER
By: John Freund

On Saturday, August 6th, Bay Area native Raquel “Pretty Beast” Miller squares off against Gabrielle Holloway in front of her hometown fans at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, on the Andre Ward/Alexander Brand undercard. Miller, who was the 2012 Women’s World Championship Silver Medalist, 2012 USA Boxing Women’s National Champion, and 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Bronze Medalist, will be fighting in her second professional fight, after scoring a TKO over Sara Flores in just 74 seconds. This fight represents the first women’s boxing match on a Roc Nation card.

Boxing Insider: How does it feel to be fighting in front of your hometown crowd?

Raquel Miller: I’m so excited. This is an amazing opportunity and I worked so hard, and I’m just ready to shine! I’m from the Bayview-Hunter’s Point area… and my community needs something positive. I’m happy to be that light.

Boxing Insider: This is your second professional fight, but a much larger stage than your first fight given that you’re on the Andre Ward undercard. How do you prepare mentally for a fight like this?

Raquel Miller: I’ve been blessed to have an extensive amateur career; I’ve been to the world championships, to the Olympics as an alternate, so I feel like I’ve worked really hard for this opportunity and I deserve it. I’m sure when I get there I’ll be freaked out a little bit (laughs), but right now I’m like, ‘Let’s do this!’

Boxing Insider: You and your opponent are the first females to fight on a Roc Nation card. Why hasn’t women’s boxing received more attention – the way women’s MMA has – and do you think that is changing?

Raquel Miller: I definitely think that it’s changing, and I’m very thankful to Roc Nation for giving us this amazing opportunity. I think the tide is changing, I think that with women’s skill level rising and there being more exposure to the sport, I think it’s only a matter of time before it takes off to the next level. The only thing that’s missing is a couple of superstars, a couple of rivalries, and a couple of fights that the fans are excited to see. It’s just a matter of time and I feel like the tides are turning.

Boxing Insider: Do you think that women’s MMA is in competition with women’s boxing, or do the two help each other?

Raquel Miller: I think it helps. Any woman in combat sports – it’s almost like we’re related in a sense, because we’re all fighting for our chance to be seen and be heard on the big screen. So I think that when women shine in the MMA, that gives us a chance to shine as well. It all helps.

Boxing Insider: How does it feel being a woman in such a highly masculine sport like boxing?

Raquel Miller: I feel like as a woman you’re fighting for your shot to be heard. Of course it’s hard, of course I feel like you have to work twice as hard for people to understand that it’s not just a phase, we’re not just here temporarily. We’re here, we’re strong, we’re working day in and day out, and it’s time for us to be able to take that next step.

Boxing Insider: What first brought you into boxing, and what do you hope to achieve in the sport?

Raquel Miller: I’ve always been athletic. I’ve always been rough and into combat sports. So I feel like it was always meant for me to take this route. As far as what I want to achieve, I want to help other women make their mark in boxing. I want to show people who are just like me – I don’t have any silver spoons, I’ve just been grinding – I want to show them that if you believe in yourself, if you trust in your journey, all things are possible.

Boxing Insider: So what’s the prediction for this fight?

Raquel Miller: I’m going for the knockout! I’m going to be composed and box, but if it comes, I’m definitely going to take it. I’m just looking to give a good show, and show them that we came to light up the stage.

Boxing Insider: You’re not gonna be Ali for me, and tell me the exact round you’re going to KO?

Raquel Miller: (Laughs) No, no! I can’t do that! Honestly, I’m hoping to show off some of my skills, but we’ll see how it goes. I’m just very excited and thankful for this opportunity. I just hope people come out and have a good time, and I’ll show them all the hard work I’ve put in.

Catch this fight – along with the Andre Ward/Alexander Brand fight – live on Saturday, August 6th, at the Oracle Arena in Oakland California. Miller’s fight time is scheduled for 3pm (PST). Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/roc-nation-present-ward-vs-brand-miller-vs-holloway-tickets-26907040683

Posted on 05/14/2016

Throne Boxing on BET Results: Hernandez-Harrison Gets a Lucky Draw, Del Valle and Rock Win
By: William Holmes

Dusty Hernandez-Harrison fought in his home town of Washington, D.C. for a Roc Nation Throne Boxing event live on the BET network. The D.C. Armory was the host site for tonight.

The first fight of the night was between Orlando Del Valle (20-2) and Thomas Snow (18-2) in the featherweight division.

The opening round was a slow one, with Del Valle trying to press the pace but Snow kept him at bay with an occasional counter. Del Valle was missing most of his shots, but he finally connected with a clean straight right hand in the second round that hurt Snow and sent him to the mat. Del Valle tried to swarm Snow when he got back to his feet, but Snow was able to survive.

Del Valle started off the third round aggressively and connected with a hard left hook to the temple of Snow that sent him down for the second time of the night. Snow got back to his feet again, but took hard shots to the body from Del Valle and tried to tie up to slow down the assaults of Del Valle.

Snow was able to avoid another knockdown in the fourth round and fifth rounds as the action had slowed down, but it was Del Valle who had the rounds won comfortably.

Snow’s best round came in the seventh round when he momentarily hurt Del Valle with a crisp straight left hand, but he wasn’t able to capitalize on it with a knockdown.

The fight went the full twelve rounds all three judges scored it 76-74 for Orlando Del Valle.

The next bout of the night was between Darmani Rock (0-0) and Carlos Black (1-3) in the heavyweight division.

Rock is considered by many to be a high ceiling prospect, and the Philadelphia native wasted little time in showing that he is worth the hype.

Black was able to touch Rock with a few jabs in the first round, but when Rock’s first left hook connected he had Black backing up and he followed it with another hard left hook followed by a straight right left hook combination that sent Rock to the floor.

Rock’s eyes are glassy and he was stumbling when he got back to his feet and the referee wisely stopped the fight.

Darmani Rocks wins by TKO at 1:54 of the first round.

Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (29-0) and Michael Dallas Jr. (21-3) met in the main event of the evening in the welterweight division.

Dallas had been in the ring with some good boxers before and he did not look intimidated at the sight of Hernandez-Harrison. He was active with his jab in the opening frame and clearly outworked the patient Hernandez-Harrison.

Dallas’ hustle continued in the second round and he constantly kept a fist in the body and head of Hernandez-Harrison, who seemed hesitant to let his hands go.

Dallas began to throw some power behind his punches in the third round and he had bruised up the left eye of Hernandez-Harrison. Dallas is consistently the first person to throw a punch whenever they are within range of each other.

Hernandez-Harrison tried to pick up the pressure in the fourth round, but Dallas’ faster hands continued to give him problems and Dallas was more accurate with his high volume of punches.

Hernandez-Harrison fought with more urgency in the fifth round and he had a decent round as he was able to land a few good right hands to the body and head, but Dallas fired back whenever he was punched. During one exchange Hernandez-Harrison was cracked with a hard right hand to his chin and he went to the floor. He got up at the count of eight, but looked like he was still hurt when he got back to his feet.

Dallas opened up the sixth round by throwing very hard shots to the head and body of Hernandez-Harrison and was connecting. Hernandez-Harrison could not keep up with the activity of Dallas and the power edge that Hernandez-Harrison showed that he had in some earlier exchanges had disappeared.

Despite keeping a high work rate, Dallas still looked fresh by the seventh round and was able to rip some hard digging shots to the body of Hernandez-Harrison. Hernandez-Harrison frustration began to show by the end of the seventh round and landed shots to the liver and threw a punch after being told by the referee to separate.

Hernandez-Harrison seemed to be way behind on the scorecards of most observers, but he scored a questionable knockdown in the eighth round when he struck Dallas with a low blow which forced him to take a knee. Dallas however, won the remainder of the round by landing looping hooks and short shots to the body.

Dallas looked like he was tiring by the ninth round but he was still winning the rounds and outworking Hernandez-Harrison. It looked to many that Hernandez-Harrison needed a knockout in the final round to win the bout, but that knockout never came despite the fact Hernandez-Harrison probably won the final round.

Despite the fact Dallas outworked Hernandez-Harrison for a majority of the fight, the judges wrongly scored the fight 96-92 Dallas Jr., 95-94 Hernandez-Harrison, 94-94 for a draw.