Massive notebook: Haney, Diaz come face to face to announce showdown

Crawford-Porter, Paul-Fury undercards set; Benn steps up to face Algieri; Steward on Fury-Whyte possibility; Jessie Vargas running for Congress; much more

Nov 10, 2021

It was touch and go and Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn admitted he was not sure if the deal would get done to bring the fight between WBC lightweight titlist Devin Haney and interim titleholder Joseph Diaz Jr. to fruition.

The fighters had gone back and forth on social media and both wanted the fight. Fans and media were interested in the fight also, but business is business and sometimes deals don’t get done.

But Haney-Diaz finally did get signed and all involved sounded happy and relieved.

“I thought we wouldn't get there, plenty of talk on social media,” Hearn said during the kickoff news conference on Saturday in Las Vegas, where the fighters came face to face. “I'm delighted that these two fighters have put pen to paper for an incredible fight here in Las Vegas.”

Indeed, it shapes up as an outstanding fight, which will take place on Dec. 4 in a DAZN main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

It came about when Ryan Garcia injured his hand, which forced him out of a fall fight with Diaz, who was in need of an opponent just as Haney was. They began to snipe at each other on Twitter and eventually the fight, which always made sense since they both fight on DAZN and hold titles in the same organization, was put together.

Former junior lightweight titlist Diaz (32-1-1, 15 KOs), 28, a southpaw fighting out of Downey, California, is coming off a unanimous decision over perennial contender Javier Fortuna to claim the vacant interim belt on July 9. He is confident his rugged style will trump the skills of Haney.

“This is going to be a tremendous night and an action-packed fight,” Diaz said. “I know Devin Haney is a really skilled elusive fighter, but I’m a dog. I’m the type of person that has already been in there and dealt with that experience and adversity. I know what it is to kill or be killed.

“I’m just going to go out there and do what I’ve got to do to become victorious, no matter what it takes. If he wants to try and box, I’m just going to hunt his ass down. If he wants to come and bang, I’m just going to bang it out as well. Whatever he wants to bring to the table I’m going to bring it.

“I feel like I’m at my prime. I feel like I’ve already took all the steps I needed to take to be at this point in my life and my career. As far as taking fights with Jesus Rojas, Tevin Farmer, Gary Russell Jr., Javier Fortuna, I’ve already fought those top-tier (opponents). I feel like Devin Haney is a young fighter, a hungry fighter. He has a lot of experience and ego to go out and put on tough challenges. I feel like he doesn’t have the experience I have, and I feel that’s going to be the key factor to my victory

“When I say (I’m a) dog, it’s not just throwing punches and stuff like that. I’ve got all the skills and resume in the back of my mind and career. I’m a 2012 Olympian. I’ve fought all these tough fighters already. I’m not just going to throw punches to throw them. I’m going to break his ass down.”

Haney (26-0, 15 KOs), 22, of Las Vegas, will be making his fourth defense and is coming off a unanimous decision win over former titlist Jorge Linares on May 29. He believes his skills will too much for Diaz to handle.

“I’m so thankful that the fight finally came, and I just can’t wait to show JoJo Diaz Jr. that he can be a dog, but at the end of the day skills pay the bills,” Haney said. “If that’s his only approach that he’s going to dog me, come on. I’ve been seeing that my whole career. If that’s his plan A and I’m going to let him dog me, it’s going to be a long night.

“None of them are in a rush to fight me. JoJo wasn’t in a rush to fight me. I feel like we had to corner him to make him take the fight. All these other guys it’s the same thing. They know my skill set, how much I bring to the table. If JoJo didn’t take this fight the world would have known what it really was. Dec. 4, they’re going to see.”

Crawford-Porter undercard

Top Rank has made the undercard of the Terence Crawford-Shawn Porter welterweight title bout official. On the ESPN+ PPV card on Nov. 20 (9 p.m. ET) at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, southpaw Esquiva Falcao (28-0, 20 KOs), 31, a 2012 Brazilian Olympic silver medalist, will face Patrice Volny (16-0, 10 KOs), 32, of Montreal, in an IBF middleweight title eliminator in the co-feature.

“I have waited for an opportunity like this for a long time, and I will grab it with both hands,” Falcao said. “I have an Olympic medal, and now it’s time to add a professional world title to my trophy case.”

Said Volny: “I had several major opportunities fall through, but I am ecstatic that the fight with Falcao is happening. It won’t be an easy fight, but I have been training for a long time, and I will do whatever it takes to earn my shot at the title.”

Also on the PPV: fast-rising middleweight contender Janibek Alimkhanuly (10-0, 6 KOs), 28, a 2016 Olympian from Kazakhstan, will face former titlist Hassan N’Dam (38-5, 21 KOs), 37, of France, in a 10-rounder and unbeaten lightweights Raymond Muratalla (12-0, 10 KOs), 24, of Fontana, California, and Elias Araujo (21-3, 8 KOs), 34, of Argentina, will meet in the eight-round opener. Araujo, who is coming off a 10-round decision loss to Omar Juarez in April, replaces the injured Steven Ortiz.

Before the start of the PPV, two undercard fights will air live on ESPN2 (7 p.m. ET):

Former junior featherweight titlist Isaac Dogboe (22-2, 15 KOs), 27, of Ghana, will face former featherweight and junior lightweight title challenger Christopher Diaz (26-3, 16 KOs), 26, of Puerto Rico, in 10-round featherweight bout.

Featherweights Adam Lopez (15-3, 6 KOs), 25, of Glendale, California, who is coming off a majority decision loss to Dogboe in June, and Adan Ochoa (12-2, 5 KOs), 23, of Downey, California, will meet in an eight-round rematch. Lopez beat Ochoa by four-round decision in April 2017.

Additional preliminaries will stream on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET, including 2016 U.S. Olympian Karlos Balderas (10-1, 9 KOs), 25, of Santa Maria, California, against Julio Cortez (15-3, 11 KOs) in a six-rounder at junior lightweight and 2020 U.S. Olympian Delante “Tiger” Johnson, 23, of Cleveland, who recently signed with Top Rank, will make his professional debut in a four-round welterweight fight with Antonius Grable (3-1-1, 3 KOs), 29, of Sarasota, Florida. Johnson reached the Olympic quarterfinals in Tokyo before losing a decision to eventual gold medalist Roniel Iglesias of Cuba.

Jake Paul undercard

Two fights are set for the Showtime PPV undercard of the Jake Paul-Tommy Fury cruiserweight fight on Dec. 18 at AMALIE Arena in Tampa.

Seven-division world titlist Amanda Serrano (41-1-1, 30 KOs), 33, a Puerto Rico native fighting out of Brooklyn, New York, will fight on a Paul undercard for the second time in a row when the reigning featherweight titlist moves up to lightweight to take on Miriam Gutierrez (14-1, 6 KOs), 38, of Spain, in a 10-rounder.

“Miriam is an extremely tough opponent, with her only loss coming to one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world,” Serrano said. “I am looking forward to stepping in the ring with her and proving why I’m at the top of women’s boxing.”

Gutierrez’s lone loss came two fights ago by lopsided decision challenging Katie Taylor for the undisputed lightweight title last November.

“Amanda Serrano is an icon in the sport and when I step into that ring on Dec. 18, it will be a pivotal moment in my career,” Gutierrez said. “I respect what she does, but it’s a risk coming up to 135. I’ve been competing at this level for most of my career and the competition is tough.”

Also, three-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Deron Williams will take on former San Francisco 49ers star running back Frank Gore in a four-round heavyweight fight contracted at 215 pounds. Both men will be making their professional debuts.

“Combat sports have been a part of my life since my youngest days. Before I was a basketball player, I was a wrestler,” Williams said. “Since 2015, I have had the privilege of owning an MMA gym, and through that I have trained in various martial arts to stay active. Over the last year, I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to translate my training into a professional debut. I’m making that happen on Dec. 18 against Frank, one of the physically strongest NFL players in history.”

Williams led the University of Illinois to the 2005 Final Four and then played 12 seasons in the NBA from 2005 to 2017, mainly for the Utah Jazz.

Gore played 15 NFL seasons from 2005 to 2020, the first 10 with the 49ers, and is third on the all-time rushing yards list. He was a five-time Pro Bowler, won a rushing title and played in Super Bowl XLVII.

“I’m excited to be fighting on this card and can’t wait to show the world what I’ve been working on,” Gore said. “Boxing has me excited.”

Benn to face Algieri

Welterweight up-and-comer Conor Benn, the son of British legend Nigel Benn, will face his most notable opponent when he meets former junior welterweight world titlist Chris Algieri on Dec. 11 (DAZN) at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England, Matchroom Boxing announced.

Benn (19-0, 12 KOs), 25, of England, is coming off a one-sided decision win over Adrian Granados on Sept. 4 and excited to face his first former world titlist.

“Chris has done it all, a former world champion and exactly the opponent I need to gain experience from,” Benn said. “We expect Algieri to bring his best, but I want him deep in the trenches with me. I want to use this opportunity to display my skills and ability against a quality fighter to prepare me and take another step closer to a world title. A former world champ versus a very, very hungry contender. I can’t wait for Dec. 11.”

Algieri (25-3, 9 KOs), 37, of Huntington, New York, has won four fights in a row since getting stopped by Errol Spence Jr. in a 2016 welterweight bout and taking 2½ years off. He is coming off a lopsided 10-round decision win over former junior welterweight title challenger Mikkel LesPierre on Aug. 3.

“This has a big fight feel to it and I’m thrilled to be back on this type of stage,” Algieri said. “The U.K. has brilliant fans and I’m looking forward to performing in front of those legendary crowds. Dec. 11 will be a master class with me utilizing my deep bag of skills and experience. Benn is hungry and tough but this is a huge step up in class for him. I’m coming to show that it’s not his time yet. I still got the goods and the world will see it once again come fight night.”

Steward likes Fury-Whyte

If SugarHill Steward, the trainer of lineal and WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, had his way, “The Gypsy King” would next face three-belt titleholder Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed crown.

The WBC would permit that fight to trump Fury’s mandatory defense, but only if it is contracted in the next few days, which is won’t be since there are no talks going on between the camps and Usyk will next be facing former unified titlist Anthony Joshua, most likely in March, after Joshua invoked his contractual right to a rematch after losing a decision and the belts to Usyk on Sept. 25.

So, that leaves Fury to next face mandatory challenger and WBC interim titleholder Dillian Whyte, which is also fine by Steward. I spoke to Steward when I was in Las Vegas for Canelo Alvarez-Caleb Plant — Steward had Anthony Dirrell on the undercard — and he gave me his thoughts on the likely Fury-Whyte fight. I wrote about it for World Boxing News, so please read that story here: https://www.worldboxingnews.net/2021/11/10/sugarhill-tyson-fury-whyte/amp/

Vargas running for Congress

When former two-division world titlist Jessie Vargas knocked out Sadam Ali in the ninth round to claim the WBO welterweight belt in March 2016, he did so at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C. Now, Vargas is hoping to spend a lot more time in Washington, but not for any boxing reasons.

Although Vargas, 32, of Las Vegas, still has plans in the works for his next, possibly against Liam Smith early next year, on Monday he announced that he is running for the United States House of Representatives for the seat in Nevada’s 4th Congressional District in the 2022 election.

At the same time, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn is trying to finalize a fight between Vargas and Smith he is targeting for January in Las Vegas to headline a DAZN card. I wrote about Vargas’ congressional run and the prospect of the Smith fight for World Boxing News. Please read that story here: https://www.worldboxingnews.net/2021/11/08/jessie-vargas-congress-liam-smith/amp

WBA purse bids

As part of its plan to get down to one titleholder in each division, the WBA has scheduled two purse bids since the parties have not yet made a deal.

One will be for a junior featherweight title elimination fight between Ra’eese Aleem (18-0, 12 KOs), 31, of Las Vegas, and Azat Hovhannisyan (20-3, 16 KOs), 33, an Armenia native fighting out of Los Angeles. It is scheduled for Nov. 12 via Zoom video conference. Aleem was one of the 11 WBA interim titleholders stripped when the organization terminated all interim titles as part of its title reduction plan and placed those fighters in mandatory positions or eliminators.

The deadline for them to reach an agreement was Nov.5. The winner of Aleem-Hovhannisyan, if it happens, would become mandatory for the winner of the fight between unified titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Ronny Rios, who meet Nov. 19. The purse split would be 50-50.

Also scheduled is a purse bid for the fight between junior flyweight titlist Hiroto Kyoguchi (15-0, 10 KOs), 27, of Japan, and secondary titlist Esteban Bermudez (14-3-2 10 KOs), 26, of Mexico. It is also scheduled for Nov. 12 via Zoom. The winner will leave the WBA with a single titlist at 108 pounds. The split is 65-35 in favor of Kyoguchi.

Probellum world title card

Upstart promoter Probellum announced its first world title doubleheader scheduled for Dec. 11 at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, where Sunny Edwards will make his first IBF flyweight title defense against mandatory challenger Jayson Mama and John Riel Casimero will defend his WBO bantamweight title against Paul Butler.

Edwards (16-0, 4 KOs), 25, was due to face Mama (16-0, 9 KOs), 24, of the Philippines, on Sept. 11 in Edwards’ hometown of London, but suffered an ankle injury shortly before the bout and had to postpone it.

Probellum recently signed former bantamweight titlist Butler (33-2, 15 KOs), 32, of England, and then won the purse bid for the fight with Casimero (31-4, 21 KOs), 32, of the Philippines. Probellum was the only bidder at $105,000.

Casimero will be making his third title defense and is coming off a decision win over former junior featherweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux in August.

Probellum also announced that former four-division titlist Donnie Nietes (43-1-5, 23 KOs), 39, of the Philippines, who recently signed with the company, will appear on the undercard in a junior bantamweight title eliminator against an opponent to be determined. Former junior lightweight title challenger Jono Carroll (20-2-1, 5 KOs), 29, of Ireland, will be on the show.

“We made it clear from the outset that we have massive plans in store for Probellum, and this world title doubleheader shows just that,” Probellum president Richard Schaefer said.

Quick hits

Top Rank announced it has signed 2020 Tokyo Olympian Kurt Walker, 26, of Northern Ireland, to a promotional contract. Walker, a featherweight, is co-managed by Top Rank featherweight contender Michael Conlan and his brother, Jamie Conlan. Their father, John Conlan, coached Walker as an amateur. “Kurt Walker is someone who stood out at the Tokyo Olympics, as he has a devoted fan base back home and a style suited to the pro game,” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said. “He has a great team behind him, and with his skills and demeanor, he can become a major star in the sport.” Walker lost to fellow Top Rank fighter Duke Ragan in the Olympic quarterfinals. Ragan claimed a silver medal.

Erika Cruz (13-1, 3 KOs), 31, of Mexico, will defend her WBA women’s featherweight title for the first time when she faces Melissa Ezquivel (12-1-1, 4 KOs), 27, of Mexico, on Nov. 26 (DAZN) at the International Convention Center in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Matchroom Boxing announced. It will be Cruz’s first fight since signing with Matchroom Boxing after winning the title in April. The card is the second one of a deal that DAZN made with Matchroom and Canelo Promotions to put on four events in Mexico. In the co-feature, Mexico’s Angel Fierro (18-1, 14 KOs), 23, will also have his first fight since signing with Matchroom. He will face Cristian Bielma (18-3-1, 7 KOs), 28, of Mexico.

Show and tell

If you are a reader of “Show and tell” you should know by now I have obsessed for most of my life over the round-robin of nine fights between Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran and Marvelous Marvin Hagler that carried boxing in the 1980s. One of those fights matched undisputed middleweight champion Hagler with Duran at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. It was a tough fight for both but Hagler ground out a 15-round decision win. Here is a full mint ticket in my collection from the fight, which took place on Nov. 11, 1983 — 38 years ago on Wednesday.

More Show and tell

Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley were two of my favorite fighters to cover. I loved them as fighters because they always gave fans their monies worth, never ducked opponents and were excellent to deal with from my perspective as a journalist. Over the years I covered dozens of their fights and grew to like them personally. Eventually, they faced each other with an absolutely prime Cotto defending his welterweight title against a rejuvenated Mosley, who was riding a five-fight winning streak, including two knockouts of Fernando Vargas and a lopsided decision over Luis Collazo. I was ringside for Cotto-Mosley, which was an outstanding fight at a packed Madison Square Garden, where Cotto won a close decision. Here is a scarce thin cardboard site poster from the fight, which took place on Nov. 10, 2007 — 14 years ago on Wednesday.

Haney-Diaz photo Melina Pizano/Matchroom Boxing; Serrano/Paul photo: Matt May/Showtime

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