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Articles by Michael W. Baca
Cameron Jordan credits father's work ethic as key component to his own iron man-like quality
NFL.com Caption By Michael Baca | NFL.com Cameron Jordan has forged a legendary career in New Orleans as one of the NFL's premier iron men. The Saints defensive end has collected 115.5 career sacks to become the franchise's all-time leader, a feat he accomplished in 2022 during his 12th season in the league. Jordan has done it all having missed just two games along a Hall of Fame-worthy career, and the 33-year old knows exactly where he got that dependable trait.
Saints safety Marcus Williams accepts franchise tag for 2021 season
By Michael Baca | NFL.com Marcus Williams will officially be playing in New Orleans this year. Williams has accepted his franchise tag tender for the 2021 season, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports, per a source. Williams is set to make $10.612 million under the franchise tag. The two sides will continue to work toward a long-term deal, according to Rapoport. The deadline for teams to sign franchise-tagged players to a long-term extension is July 15.
Saints DE Jordan recovering from core muscle surgery
By Michael Baca | NFL.com Saints DE Jordan recovering from core muscle surgery Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan is proving to be a true iron man in the NFL. Jordan told NFL Network's Michael Silver on Saturday that he is currently recovering from core muscle surgery he had two days after the Super Bowl, and played injured for the final five weeks of the Saints' season. The injury -- an adductor muscle that tore off the bone -- was sustained on a Dec.
Hollywood Fight Nights results: Serhii Bohachuk keeps record perfect with a first round KO
Serhii “El Flaco” Bohachuk kept his perfect record alive after knocking out Ronald Montes in the first round on Tuesday night. The middleweight contest was the main event of a 360 Promotions “Hollywood Fight Nights” club show held at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood, California. “Gracias, muchachos,” said the Ukrainian prospect to the crowd after an easy night at the office. Bohachuk, 11-0 (11), got the shot he was looking for with unrelenting pressure off the jab.
Regis Prograis and Ivan Baranchyk notch wins in WBSS quarter-final
Regis “Rougarou” Prograis outboxed Terry Flanagan to a dominant unanimous decision (119-108, 118-109 and 117-110) win on Saturday night – advancing himself to the World Boxing Super Series junior welterweight tournament semi-final – and the southpaw contender showed a different dynamic in the process. The fight was the main event of a card streamed live on DAZN. “I went out there and I wanted to box. I boxed my ass off,” Prograis said after the win. “Most people say I can’t box.
Tyson Fury: ‘The Tyson that beat Wladimir Klitschko is dead and gone’
At the midway point of an eight-week camp in Big Bear, California, lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury came down the mountain for a media workout in Santa Monica, on Wednesday afternoon, and gave everyone an update on how training is going ahead of his December 1 fight with WBC titlist Deontay Wilder. “Everything is going well in Big Bear,” Fury said in a media scrum. “There’s not much distraction up there; the air is thin, clean, cold…It’s very hard training.
DAZN results: Demetrius Andrade beats Walter Kautondokwa, wins vacant WBO middleweight title
Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade won the vacant WBO middleweight title with a unanimous decision (120-104 twice, 119-105) win over Walter Kautondokwa, on Saturday night in Boston, Massachusetts. The fight was the main event of a Matchroom Boxing USA card held at the TD Garden Arena and streamed live in the United States on DAZN. Wide scorecards reflected the mismatch that took place and the four knockdowns scored by Andrade only furthered the notion.
Boss player: Canelo Alvarez signs with DAZN
Just as the dust had finally settled, intrigue in the middleweight division had already been drummed up in wake of a championship bout one month ago and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is still reaping the benefits.
Terence Crawford closes the show with 12th round TKO of Jose Benavidez Jr.
Terence “Bud” Crawford closed the show with a stunning 12th round technical knockout of Jose Benavidez Jr. on Saturday night, in his first defense of the WBO welterweight title. “I had been seeing it rounds ahead of time but I seen him pulling back,” Crawford said about the stellar right uppercut that ruined Benavidez in the final round. “Then he started getting tired because I was touching him to the body.
Zolani Tete successfully defends title to set up a bantamweight unification
Successfully defending his WBO bantamweight title a third time, Zolani “Last Born” Tete beat Mikhail Aloyan via unanimous decision for a win that gets him into the semi-final round of the World Boxing Super Series 118-pound tournament. Taking place in Ekaterinberg, Russia, the event was streamed live on DAZN Saturday afternoon in the United States. “Aloyan proved that he is one of the best,” Tete said after the fight. “That’s why he went a full 12 rounds with me.
LA Fight Club results: Ferdinand Kerobyan and Azat Hovhannisyan earn knockout wins
Ferdinand “Lucky Boy” Kerobyan delivered a quick first round knockout of Rolando Mendivil on Friday night to remain undefeated. The junior middleweight contest was the main event of an “LA Fight Club” card streamed live on RingTV.com and televised on Estrella TV, live from the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles, California. Kerobyan, 11-0 (6), needed only 49 seconds to dispose of his opponent, in the prospect’s first fight scheduled for eight rounds.
On call: Terence Crawford vs. Jose Benavidez Jr.
Kicking off his fight week, Terence “Bud” Crawford was given the perfect plug on Monday night, during a nationally-televised football game on ESPN between the Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints. Joe Tessitore – the long-time blow-by-blow man for boxing on the network – has been mixing in boxing lingo and similes throughout every call so far in his first season at the helm of a heralded broadcasting gig.
Full DAZN undercard results from Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois
In her hometown, Jessica McCaskill became the new WBC female junior welterweight titleholder after beating Erica Farias by unanimous decision (98-92, 97-93, 96-94). One of the better fights of the early undercard, McCaskill, 6-2 (3), had to make up for a slow start against an experienced Mexican champion, who was out-boxing her in the early rounds with compact shots and a composed attitude. Farias, 26-3 (10), was exploiting the aggressor but eventually started to bend in the middle rounds.
Tyson Fury: ‘I’m welcoming Deontay Wilder into big-time boxing on December the 1st’
After the ballyhoo of a three-city press tour with WBC heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder came to an end Wednesday afternoon in Los Angeles, Tyson Fury commenced a print media sit-down with an impromptu serenade of Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey,” as he basked in the afterglow of what he described as a win in the three-day promotional kick-off. “That was three, nil,” Fury proclaimed about the tour’s fictionalized score between the two.
ESPN2 results: Oscar Negrete and Joshua Franco fight to an exciting draw
After 10 great rounds of sustained action, Oscar “El Jaguar” Negrete and Joshua “The Professor” Franco fought to a split-draw (96-4, 94-96, 95-95) on Thursday night and them settling the score will be something to look forward to. In the main event of a Golden Boy Promotions card on ESPN2, Negrete (1,111) and Franco (1,146) combined for the second-most punches thrown in the history of the bantamweight division, according to CompuBox.
Prospects Joshua Franco and Jousce Gonzalez look to shine on ESPN2
Thursday night is the unofficial kick-off of a busy month in October and, if inclined to watch that ESPN2 card (10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT) – the first of 18 events scheduled to be either televised or streamed this month – there’s a real fight and a prospect worth a gander. In the main event, Oscar “El Jaguar” Negrete and Joshua “The Professor” Franco will square off in a 10-round bantamweight bout for a WBC regional title.
ESPN+ results: Jose Uzcategui easily decisions Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna
Jose Uzcategui earned a wide unanimous decision (98-92, 100-90 twice) win over Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna on Saturday night, in a stay-busy, non-title, light heavyweight bout. The fight headlined a Top Rank card held at the Oracle Arena, in Oakland, California, and was streamed live on ESPN+. “I just played around and got some rounds,” Uzcategui said after the 10-rounder.
Jorge Linares seeks a new opportunity at 140 pounds
Turning the page in a tome that’s already chronicled a successful boxing career, Jorge Linares will make his junior welterweight debut this Saturday night, with the hope of running into another big opportunity. “It was an excellent fight with (current WBA lightweight champion Vasiliy) Lomachenko,” the Venezuelan stylist told UCNLive.com, Tuesday afternoon, four months removed from partaking in one of the finest fights of 2018.
Anthony Joshua defends heavyweight titles with TKO of Alexander Povetkin in seven
Anthony Joshua successfully defended his unified heavyweight crown with a seventh round technical knockout of Alexander Povetkin, on Saturday night, in London, England. The fight was the main event of a Matchroom Boxing card held at Wembley Stadium and streamed live in the United States on DAZN. “He’s a tough challenger; he proved that tonight but I came in here to have fun and do my best.
ShoBox results: O’Shaquie Foster shocks Jon Fernandez
O’Shaquie Foster upset Jon Fernandez on Friday night by wide unanimous decision win and the Houston, Texas, native pulled it off in a way in which you might ask if this was even a spoiler to begin with. The junior lightweight contest was the main event of a “ShoBox: The New Generation” card, from the Firelake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma, televised on Showtime.
Cecilia Braekhus makes history as The Ring Magazine’s inaugural female pound-for-pound champion
Amid the biggest event on boxing’s calendar year in 2018, Cecilia “First Lady” Braekhus – the undisputed and wholly unified female welterweight champion – showed up to Las Vegas last week to mark another event that adds to her legacy of many firsts.
Canelo Alvarez edges Gennady Golovkin to win world middleweight championship
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez received a majority decision win over Gennady “GGG” Golovkin in their rematch, Saturday night, and, much like their first fight a year ago, there was debate to be had about whom won and what certain rounds were scored respectively. However unlike their first encounter that sparked a contemptuous rivalry, the lasting impression wasn’t that of an outright robbery but the adrenaline rush of watching a thrilling fight.
Jose Ramirez aims to please in first title defense
One week ahead of their fight, Jose Ramirez and Antonio Orozco held a joint media lunch in downtown Los Angeles to avoid getting lost in the fray of this weekend’s Gennady Golovkin-Canelo Alvarez II pay-per-view event. This Friday night, in Fresno, California, they will square off in the main event of an ESPN (10:00 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) card, in hopes of setting the table for a big boxing weekend.
SuperFly 3 results: Juan Francisco Estrada beats Felipe Orucuta
Juan Francisco Estrada shined against Felipe Orucuta on Saturday night, beating him via 12-round unanimous decision (117-11 twice, 118-110) in the main event of “SuperFly 3.” The fight was featured in an HBO tripleheader at The Forum, in Inglewood, California.
Regis Prograis gets ready for the World Boxing Super Series
Two weeks removed from roaming the jungles and beaches of Brazil, Regis “Rougarou” Prograis was spotted in Santa Monica, California, on Wednesday afternoon to start training camp for his next fight. On Thursday, the event was officially announced by the World Boxing Super Series but the first round match-ups for its Season 2 junior welterweight tournament were decided weeks ago.
Facebook Watch results: Ryan Garcia edges Carlos Morales in majority decision win
The growing pains of the popular junior lightweight prospect Ryan “The Flash” Garcia continued on Saturday night, as he earned a victory via majority decision over Carlos Morales, after 10 rounds of competitive action, then summing up his win with a humble post-fight interview. “First I want to say, much respect to Carlos Morales. I felt like the fight was closer than the scorecards say,” Garcia said about the two 98-92 scores in his favor that got him the victory. “He did a great job.
A cautious Ryan Garcia awaits Carlos Morales tonight
In all likelihood, Golden Boy Promotions must’ve had Ryan Garcia in mind when it struck an unprecedented deal with Facebook over the summer to stream its live shows. Tonight in the second edition of “Golden Boy Fight Night,” on Facebook Watch (9:00 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT), Garcia – boxing’s social media darling – will headline a card at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California, on a platform tailor-made for the following he’s managed to cultivate.
Mutual contempt (Part two): Canelo Alvarez seeks a knockout in Gennady Golovkin rematch
Please click here to read Part One. Within an hour of the first fight being made public last year, Oscar De La Hoya tentatively named Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin “Bombs Away.” That wouldn’t have aged well had they gone forward with that billing, not because of the shell-shock over one judge’s misguided scorecard but because there were very few bombs landed that night in the ring.
Mutual contempt (Part One): Gennady Golovkin yearns for great fight in Canelo Alvarez rematch
The rivalry between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Gennady “GGG” Golovkin wasn’t always so bitter. When their initial fight was first made public, Alvarez even called Golovkin his friend, to end a post-fight interview and cue the lights to shine at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, prompting a pro-wrestling style announcement of their fight, as Golovkin made his way to the ring with walk-out music.
ESPN results: Jose Pedraza outboxes Ray Beltran to claim WBO lightweight title
Jose “Sniper” Pedraza captured the WBO lightweight title from Ray Beltran on Saturday night, after receiving a deserved unanimous decision win (117-110 twice, 115-112) after 12 rounds. The fight was the main event of an ESPN card from Glendale, Arizona. There was a good crowd of 4,502 at the Gila River Arena in support of Beltran, 37, who was looking to make the first defense of a world title that eluded him for most of his eventful career.
PBC on FS1 results: Jamal James wipes out Mahonry Montes
Welterweight Jamal “Shango” James earned his moment, Friday night, by delivering a second round knockout of Mahonry Montes in front of a hometown crowd, headlining a Premier Boxing Champions card, on FS1, that produced several memorable instances. James, 24-1 (11), attracted a sold out crowd of 3,574 at the Minneapolis Armory and, in the final minute of the second round, the 30-year-old put together some great offense to force it to its feet before the final blow.
Every step of the way: Isaac Dogboe vs. Hidenori Otake
Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe is poised to make the first defense of his WBO junior featherweight title this Saturday night and, four months removed from making landfall in the United States, the self-proclaimed “Warrior from Africa” hopes to further his first impression. “I’m making my first defense against Hidenori Otake, a Japanese warrior. It’s going to be fireworks,” Dogboe said in a press release, when the fight was announced. “I’m not stepping back.
ESPN2 results: Andrew Cancio beats Dardan Zenunaj in an exciting action fight
Andrew “Chango” Cancio earned a unanimous decision over Dardan Zenunaj, on Friday night, but had to dig deep to get the victory over the course of ten action-packed rounds. The junior lightweight contest was the main event of a Golden Boy Promotions card televised on ESPN2 and held at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.
Ryan Martin to face Josh Taylor in first round of World Boxing Super Series
The pro boxing career of Ryan “Blue Chip” Martin hasn’t always had the ideal structure but, by entering the World Boxing Super Series junior welterweight tournament, the framework has been put in place for the 25-year-old to make a name for himself. “Big wins in the tournament will definitely be like, ‘Wow, where did this kid come from? Who is this Ryan Martin kid?'” Martin mused last week at a media scrum in Hollywood, California.
Facebook Watch results: Joseph Diaz Jr. edges Jesus M. Rojas
After a tough 12-round affair with Jesus M. Rojas, Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. earned a unanimous decision (117-111, 116-112, 115–113) to put himself back in the win column on Saturday night. The featherweight contest was the main event of a Golden Boy Promotions card held at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood, California, and streamed live for the first time on Facebook Watch. Diaz, 27-1 (14), had to work every second of every round in order to get the edge in many close stanzas.
LA Fight Club results: Emilio Sanchez stops Christopher Martin
Emilio Sanchez got the type of win he needed coming off his first defeat, dominating Christopher Martin for five rounds until the bout was stopped before the sixth round. Scheduled for eight, the featherweight contest was the main event of an “LA Fight Club” card, at the Belasco Theater, in Los Angeles, California, on Friday night. Sanchez, 16-1 (11), wasted no time finding his range and pouncing on the experienced 32-year-old who had taken the fight on short notice.
Kazuto Ioka leads the charge into ‘SuperFly 3’
It was only a couple of months since he abruptly announced his retirement from boxing but Kazuto Ioka still had enough interest in the sport to attend February’s “SuperFly 2” card under his own accord, buying his own ticket and sitting quietly among the American fans, as the second go-around of a newfound tradition for the smaller weight classes played out.
‘Hollywood Fight Nights’ results: Ali Akhmedov wipes out Jorge Escalante
Making his West Coast debut, Ali Akhmedov, a light heavyweight prospect from Kazakhstan, gave a sample size of his fighting style and talent, in his fourth round stoppage win over Jorge Escalante, on Wednesday night. The contest was the main event of a “Hollywood Fight Nights” club show, at the Avalon in Hollywood, California, and promoted by Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions.
HBO results: Eleider Alvarez knocks out Sergey Kovalev, wins WBO light heavyweight title
Eleider “Storm” Alvarez had been more known for being an avoided mandatory opponent for the past few years, and, when finally given a shot on Saturday night, the Canadian from Colombia knocked out Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev in the seventh round to win the WBO light heavyweight title. The contest was the main event of an HBO telecast from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
All is not lost: Sergey Kovalev vs. Eleider Alvarez
It wasn’t all that long ago when Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev was at the height of his powers. The Russian sat atop the light heavyweight mountain with three unified titles, a perfect rival, a palpable presence of destruction and a persona that resonated with boxing fans, for better or worse. At any rate, there was a reason to care about Kovalev fights, and, while that remains true, in terms of him being an important player in the current landscape, there’s no mistaking things have changed.
Showtime results: Mikey Garcia defeats Robert Easter Jr., unifies lightweight titles
Mikey Garcia became the unified IBF/WBC lightweight titleholder, after beating Robert Easter Jr. via unanimous decision (116-111, 117-110, 118-109), on Saturday night, and the Mexican-American star is still looking for a challenge. The unification was the main event of a live Showtime telecast, from the Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California. “It’s a great accomplishment. Now we’re back.
Story lines: Coast-to-coast title bouts and ‘King Kong’ returns
Tonight on Showtime (10:00 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), Luis “King Kong” Ortiz will make his return to the ring after giving Deontay Wilder – the reigning WBC heavyweight titleholder – all he could handle last March in a “Fight of the Year” candidate. The 39-year-old Cuban spoke with UCNLive.com after Thursday afternoon’s Los Angeles press conference. “For the better, 100 percent,” Ortiz responded on how his life has changed, since the 10th round stoppage loss to Wilder, “regardless of the loss.
Karlos Balderas: Making virtue a necessity
It’s been a little over a year since undefeated lightweight prospect Karlos Balderas made his professional debut, and entering his sixth pro bout, this Saturday night, at the Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California, the 2016 U.S. Olympian has already felt his growth as a fighter. “When I first started, had my pro debut, I was kind of rushing things,” Balderas told UCNLive.com, at a media workout, in downtown L.A., Wednesday afternoon.
Oleksandr Usyk wins undisputed cruiserweight championship and Muhammad Ali Trophy
Oleksandr Usyk became the undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world, on Saturday, in Moscow, Russia, outboxing Murat Gassiev for 12 rounds to a unanimous decision (120-108, 119-109 twice) victory, collecting all four major cruiserweight titles and hoisting the Muhammad Ali Trophy given to him, for winning the World Boxing Super Series.
HBO results: Jaime Munguia decisions Liam Smith
Jaime Munguia successfully defended his WBO junior middleweight title for the first time,, Saturday night, after earning a unanimous decision (116-111, 119-110, 119-108) over Liam Smith, and the Mexican showed his true potential in the process. The contest was the main event of an “HBO Boxing After Dark” telecast, from the Hard Rock Casino & Hotel, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
ShoBox results: Jaron Ennis powers through Armando Alvarez
Jaron “Boots” Ennis sent Armando Alvarez to the canvas four times in the third round, to earn a knockout win on Friday night. The contest was the main event of a “ShoBox: The New Generation” card on Showtime, live from the WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa. A welterweight prospect out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ennis, 21-0 (19), showcased himself well against an unbeaten opponent.
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Murat Gassiev for the Muhammad Ali Trophy in World Boxing Super Series final
Today in Moscow, Russia, the final round of the inaugural World Boxing Super Series tournament will play out as Oleksandr Usyk and Murat Gassiev put their unified cruiserweight titles on the line, to crown an undisputed champion. Here in the United States, the event will come and go, unseen and uncelebrated, just as it’s been for the division historically, and for the tournament’s entirety, since it began last year.
ESPN results: Regis Prograis stops Juan Jose Velasco
Regis “Rougarou” Prograis took full advantage of his homecoming, Saturday night, dropping Juan Jose Velasco three times before forcing the opposing corner to throw in the towel, in the eighth round. Scheduled for 12, the junior welterweight contest was the main event of an ESPN telecast, from the Lakefront Arena, in New Orleans, Louisiana. “This dude came in unknown and he’s gonna go down to the world as being known,” proclaimed Prograis in the post-fight interview, with ESPN’s Bernardo Osuna.
ESPN results: Joet Gonzalez edges Rafael Rivera in split decision win
After 10 competitive rounds of featherweight action, Joet Gonzalez edged Rafael Rivera on the cards and received a split decision win, Friday night, to remain unbeaten. The fight was the main event of a Golden Boy Promotions card held at the Novo at L.A. Live, in downtown Los Angeles, California. “I felt like I dominated the majority of the fight, at least seven of the rounds,” said Gonzalez afterward. “This was definitely my toughest fight, going all the 10 rounds.
Joet Gonzalez: ‘Rafael Rivera is a dangerous fighter coming off a loss, so I know he’s hungry’
Two days from the biggest night of his professional career so far, undefeated featherweight Joet Gonzalez feels ready for the impression he’s about to make. “Down the line it will get bigger but this is as big as it’s getting right now,” Gonzalez told UCNLive.com, at a media workout, on Wednesday afternoon. “I’m really happy with Golden Boy (Promotions) and my manager Frank Espinoza for putting this together, and giving me the opportunity. Right now it’s my moment.
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