Notebook: Warrington focused on avenging upset knockout loss to Lara
De La Hoya hospitalized with Covid-19, out of Belfort fight; Valdez speaks out on drug test issue; Fulton preps for unification
Former featherweight titlist Josh Warrington is ready to put Feb. 13 behind him.
It was on that date that Warrington was shockingly — and quite brutally — knocked out in the ninth round by the unheralded Mauricio Lara in a massive upset in London.
Soon after the fight Warrington exercised his right to an immediate rematch and he will get his chance for revenge when they meet again on Saturday (DAZN, 2 p.m. ET), at Emerald Headingley Stadium in Warrington’s hometown of Leeds, England, where a crowd of 20,000 is expected.
“What happened on Feb. 13 happened,” Warrington said at Thursday’s final news conference. “It was a hard lesson to take, but this is where the next stage goes on, the next chapter begins. I’ve been about the game a long time and I can’t wait to redeem myself.
“I take him very seriously. I think the first time he said that he saw fear in my eyes. There’s not fear in there. I was just looking straight through him. I didn’t think that he could bring what he delivered and that’s my mistake, that’s me being too cocksure of myself. I won’t make that same mistake again. I have the fear factor about this one.”
Lara (23-2, 16 KOs), 23, of Mexico, dropped Warrington (30-1, 7 KOs), 30, in the fourth and ninth rounds before finishing him in an absolute stunner seven months ago.
Warrington, who had vacated his world title rather than make a mandatory defense in a rematch with Kid Galahad, was expected to easily beat the unknown Lara and move on to fight for another organization’s belt. But he lost his perfect record and came away with shoulder and jaw injuries against an opponent traveling to his home country and taking a big step up in competition.
Warrington said he hopes to follow in the footsteps of countryman Anthony Joshua, who got knocked out by Andy Ruiz and lost his unified heavyweight title in June 2019 but outboxed him in a one-sided decision to regain the belts in an immediate rematch six months later.
“When Anthony Joshua got his redemption against Andy Ruiz Jr., it was done and forgotten about and that’s going to be the same Saturday night,” Warrington said. “I’m sure he’s come over with a bit of an entourage. He looks smart today, had a haircut, but once he’s been done, he’ll have given me a massive lesson in my career but that will be it. We’ll move on.
“I’m a proud man and it would have made my toes curl to see and watch somebody else fight Mauricio Lara. I want to get my redemption. I feel that Lara is a great fighter, a strong fighter, but I feel like I’ve been at a higher level for such a long time and beaten fighters that are such a higher level than what he is.”
Lara, however, is planning on notching another victory.
“Warrington said that I got lucky,” Lara said. “Believe me, there’s no luck in boxing. I’ve never won anything with luck. I won with hard work and a lot of discipline. Of course, since I beat him I feel I’m the champion. Like they say in my town, I’m a champion without a crown. It sounds nice and I think I’ve earned it with hard work. I want to be No. 1 in the world and I’m going to achieve that.
“I knew I had to win decisively in the first fight. This time it will be different. I’ll win, but you’ll see a totally different Mauricio Lara. I’ll be a different person. I have more drive in this fight because Warrington has been saying a lot of things and he’ll regret it. We think he’s going to be very careful with his face and his jaw so we’ll watch out with his strategy. But believe me, it doesn’t matter what strategy he has because I’m coming to destroy him.”
In the co-feature, undisputed women’s lightweight world champion Katie Taylor (18-0, 6 KOs), 35, of Ireland, makes her 11th title defense when she faces IBF mandatory challenger Jennifer Han (18-3-1, 1 KO), 38, of El Paso, Texas.
Also, rising welterweight star Conor Benn (18-0, 12 KOs), 24, of England, and Adrian Granados (21-8-3, 15 KOs), 32, of Chicago, meet in a fight that was postponed from July 31 when Benn came down with Covid-19.
DLH hospitalized with Covid-19
Oscar De La Hoya’s exit from 13 years in retirement will have to wait. He has been ill for the past few days with Covid-19 and forced to pull out of his fight with MMA legend Vitor Belfort.
They were scheduled to meet in the main event of a Triller Fight Club pay-per-view card on Sept. 11 at Staples Center in De La Hoya’s hometown of Los Angeles. But now De La Hoya, who was vaccinated this past spring, is in the hospital.
Triller hopes to have the show go on and has made an offer to former four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield to replace De La Hoya, according to a source with direct knowledge of the discussions. I wrote about the situation for The Ring magazine website and encourage you read that story here: https://www.ringtv.com/626591-oscar-de-la-hoya-is-out-of-sept-11-date-vs-vitor-belfort-due-to-contracting-covid-19/#.YTJ21eH6IdY.twitter
Also, here’s the video De La Hoya posted to Twitter from the hospital:
Oscar Valdez fallout
One day after the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission allowed WBC junior lightweight titlist Oscar Valdez’s first defense against Robson Conceicao to go forward despite Valdez testing positive for the stimulant Phentermine in a random test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association on Aug. 13, the post-decision comments came forth on Friday.
Valdez made his first public remarks in a video posted to social media.
“My people, I have never used banned substances to enhance my performance,” Valdez said. “I have never done it. I have been respectful of the anti-doping rules since I was an amateur, Olympian, and now professional. Since I became (WBO featherweight) world champion in 2016, I have been VADA-tested more than 30 times. I insisted — in writing — on VADA testing for myself and Robson Conceicao for this fight.
“I would like to thank my manager Frank Espinoza, Top Rank, (trainer) Eddy Reynoso and my entire team for standing by me throughout this process. I would also like to thank the Pascua Yaqui Boxing Commission for the due process in hearing my case. I will happily comply with the stipulations set forth by the World Boxing Council, to collaborate in the programs, tests and other activities required of me. See you on September 10th in the first defense of my WBC world title in Tucson, Arizona.”
Valdez and amateur nemesis Conceicao will meet in the main event of a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card on Sept. 10 at the AVA Amphitheater at Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona, where Mexico’s Valdez grew up.
The commission and WBC said they determined Valdez did not gain a competitive advantage by having a trace amount of the substance in his system, which is allowable under World Anti-Doping Association rules for an athlete out of competition, which is defined by WADA as being from 11:59 p.m. the day before competition through the post-fight sample collection. By that standard, Valdez did not commit a doping violation.
WADA does not conduct testing but sets rules for what is allowable and what is not, and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Athletic Commission adheres to WADA rules. However, Phentermine is not allowed in the system at any time under VADA rules, which does not differentiate “in competition” or “out of competition.” VADA also tests and reports results but does not adjudicate.
The Association of Boxing Commissions issued a statement in support of the decision.
“At the 2012 Association of Boxing Commission meeting in Clearwater, Florida, the ABC unanimously voted to adopt (Pascua Yaqui Tribe was present) the World Anti-Doping Prohibited List and took an important step in the prevention of abuse of performance enhancing drugs in combat sports.
“President of the ABC Board, Mike Mazzulli has announced the Association of Boxing Commissions concurs with the findings of the Pascua Yaqui Tribal Athletic Commission and its Executive Director Ernie Gallardo in allowing WBC World Champion Oscar Valdez to fight on September 10, 2021. … The drug in question regarding Oscar Valdez, Phentermine, is not a prohibited substance unless there is a positive test taken during the period of the ‘in competition’ testing. Mr. Valdez tested positive for that drug on August 13, 2021, which is over (sic) one month prior to the fight on September 10, 2021. He tested negative on subsequent tests. Again, the ABC supports the ruling by the Pascua Yaqui Tribal Athletic Department in allowing Oscar Valdez to fight.”
Here’s the full release:
The WBC, which contracts with VADA to oversee its Clean Boxing Program, nonetheless supported the tribal commission’s adherence to WADA code and said it would still sanction the fight for its title. Keep in mind, the WBC controls only the title, but has no authority to suspend a fighter or stop a fight.
Here is part of the WBC’s statement on the situation: “Upon learning of Oscar Valdez’s adverse analytical finding, the WBC formed a panel that included scientific and nutrition experts to investigate, analyze and evaluate all the available facts and evidence, and to recommend to the WBC how to proceed in this particular case. The WBC panel held an inquiry hearing with all the interested parties, including champion Valdez and his team, and representatives of the overseeing commission and of the promoter. Champion Valdez and his team have been 100% cooperative at all times during the process. The WBC panel also held internal meetings to analyze the information and materials it received, so the recommendation to the WBC could be well informed, educated and fair.
“Among the factors the WBC panel considered are: (1) a urine sample collected from Champion Valdez on August 13, 2021, yielded an adverse analytical finding for Phentermine; (2) samples collected on July 22, 2021 and on August 30, 2021, tested negative; (3) Phentermine is an appetite suppressant prescription medication with no documented in-competition performance enhancing effect or advantages; (4) Champion Valdez has been a boxer for 19 years with a long and celebrated amateur career, which included participating in two Olympic Games; (5) during his heralded trajectory as an amateur and professional boxer, Champion Valdez has tested negative in numerous anti-doping tests, including more than 30 as a professional; and (5) Champion Valdez has insisted in enrolling in the WBC-CBP, and has demanded anti-doping testing in all his bouts.”
The WBC said it will donate the sanction fees from that bout into the Clean Boxing Program. Further, it said Valdez would have to take “a substantial number of random anti-doping tests in the next six months” and that he would be “in probation status for a period of 12 months. Any whereabouts failure or adverse analytical finding during the probationary period will result in an indefinite suspension from all WBC activity,” including being stripped of the title.
Fulton on the move
WBO junior featherweight titlist Stephen Fulton Jr. is leaving nothing to chance in preparation for his much-anticipated unification fight with WBC counterpart Brandon Figueroa on Sept. 18 (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET) at Park MGM in Las Vegas.
Instead of arriving in Las Vegas a week before the fight, as is typical, Philadelphia’s Fulton has relocated his camp there two weeks ahead of time.
“I am trying to get used to everything in Vegas,” said Fulton, who will be fighting in Las Vegas for the first time as a professional. “I wanted to get away from home, be away everyone and get myself a little uncomfortable to finish up camp.”
Fulton (19-0, 8 KOs), 27, will be making his first title defense after routing Angelo Leo in January to take his 122-pound belt. Figueroa (22-0-1, 17 KOs), 24, of Weslaco, Texas, will also be making his first defense, having knocked out Luis Nery in the seventh round to claim the WBC belt in May.
“I don’t feel any extra pressure going into this fight,” Fulton said. “I don’t know why people expect me to feel more pressure entering my first defense and this huge unification fight, but I don’t let any of that get to me. I know there are people doubting me and I can’t wait for them to watch what happens on Sept. 18.
“I feel like this is a classic boxer-brawler matchup, but I showed in my last fight that I can brawl too. He can’t become a pure boxer now though. It’s too late in the game to teach him that. I am more than prepared for him to come in and try to walk me down, but if he has a different game plan, I have the adjustments ready.”
Quick hits
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn and DiBella Entertainmen’s Lou DiBella announced a series of fights that will stream on DAZN and produce an undisputed women’s junior welterweight champion. Although the dates and venues are to be determined, they said WBC titlist Chantelle Cameron (14-0, 8 KOs) will fight IBF titlist Mary McGree (27-3, 15 KOs) in a unification bout and WBA titleholder Kali Reis (18-7-1, 5 KOs) will face Jessica Camara (8-2, 0 KOs) in defense of her belt and for the vacant WBO title. The winners will meet for the undisputed crown. “If we can work together to find one champion for every division then it would be a massive moment for the sport and we have a great opportunity to do that in the 140-pound division,” Hearn said. “Lou and I have been heavily committed to women’s boxing for a number of years now and it’s great to see them finally getting the plaudits and the rewards they deserve.”
Premier Boxing Champions announced it will have cards on Fox Sports 1 on back-to-back nights — Sept. 18 and Sept. 19 — from Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield, California. However, even though the cards are just two weeks away PBC announced only ticket information and not a single fight or fighter that would appear on either show.
Show and tell
One of the bigger fights I have covered in my career was the first massively anticipated HBO PPV blockbuster between then-unified middleweight titlist Gennadiy Golovkin and superstar Canelo Alvarez. The showdown between two of boxing’s pound-for-pound best and most exciting fighters was by far the fight fans and media wanted most at the time. It took about a year or so to finally be put together and when it was they delivered a classic battle at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sept. 16, 2017 — four years ago later this month. The result was a highly disputed split draw in a fight most thought Golovkin won. I was ringside and had him winning 116-112. Anyway, I was looking through some of the tickets in my collection in search of something else when I came across one from Canelo-GGG I that obtained after the fight. It’s a really nice ticket, not just a computer generated paper one. It’s large and made out of plastic (like a credit card). It’s also glossy and adorned with the attractive official fight artwork.
Lara-Warrington photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing; Fulton-Figueroa photo: Esther Lin/Showtime
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There are several aspects of the Valdez decision that I have issue with.
That Valdez has tested negative on other tests, apart from being irrelevant to THIS test, does NOT in no way indicate that he's a clean fighter in a sport where the drug testing protocols are so pathetic eg: commission testing is poor, it's usually done at the wrong time and they don't test for everything, the WBC CBP is grossly underfunded and doesn't do anywhere near the number of tests needed for a good random testing protocol and it now transpires that enrolling in it does not commit you to the VADA banned list at all.
Even if we accept that the stimulant Phentermine only helps to suppress appetite, which I strongly suspect isn't the case, then isn't using this to drop pounds an unfair advantage over an opponent trying to drop weight naturally?
Also as Valdez accepts he was using Phentermine he will have known that he was gonna be popped when VADA took the sample on August 13th and so of course he stopped taking it after that just in case VADA returned - so imo the negative August 30th sample simply confirms that Valdez knew he'd been caught. The negative July 22nd sample simply shows Valdez hadn't starting using Phentermine yet - big deal.
The WBC ruling imo reads like the WBC committee and Team Valdez gathered in a room and brain-stormed "how many excuses can we make so that Oscar can be let off the hook?".
What is the point of the WBC CBP if a fighter admits to taking a drug on the VADA banned list but gets off because the local commission recognises the weaker WADA banned list?
Also Dan writes that "the WBC controls only the title, but has no authority to suspend a fighter or stop a fight." - I have to say that I find that hard to believe.
How then has the WBC suspended other fighters in the past that have been popped for a drug eg: Povetkin, Dillian Whyte, David Benavidez etc.
As far as I'm aware the WBC stopped the Wilder vs Povetkin WBC heavyweight world title fight from taking place in Russia while it took the time to come to a decision on Povetkin's case and eventually they suspended Povetkin, issued him with a $250K fine which they pocketed with nothing going to the WBC CBP.
Also if the WBC can't suspend a fighter or stop a fight - then how is it that, in a very similar situation to the Valdez affair, the WBO stripped Saunders of his WBO160lb title which cancelled his forthcoming fight with Andrade and suspended Saunders for 6 months (the fact that Saunders was let back in earlier being irrelevant to the WBO's power to do it), does the WBO have more power over its fighters than the WBC?
The whole affair stinks to high heaven but hopefully it will show boxing fans once and for all that the WBC is not serious about getting rid of drugs in boxing.
Sorry about the rant but I can't believe that the WBC can ignore its own anti-doping rules.
I've been around boxing since the 70s and think this is certainly one of the most worrying times for the sport. The main problem? Financial greed:-
The best won't [or aren't allowed - by broadcasters and/or promoters and/or managers] to fight the best unless the sums are astronomical. Hence the schedule is so poor.
Among the biggest bucks are paid to youtubers [I don't buy the 'bringing more eyes to the sport' rhetoric - how many of these fans will tune in for the Lara/Warrington card?].
Similar for the old-timers [who really wants to see De La Hoya in the ring after what he's put himself through over the years? He needs addiction help]. And at 59 years old next month and with countless wars on his resume, Holyfield should only be in a boxing ring as a trainer or referee.
Crazy amount of belts - franchise, regular, super, interim, continental, intercontinental, ring, lineal, 4 governing bodies. And how many weight classes?
Then of course there's the peds nonsense. Certain trainers have been regularly linked to suspicious activity or irregular results. Names such as Fury, Joshua, Whyte, Alvarez [all active and at the top of the paydays] have either tested positive or had issues with TUEs. The people who control boxing or influence views about it [broadcasters, trainers, promoters, journalists, 'governing' bodies, etc won't do anything about it. Why? $$$