Tim Tszyu sparring partners
By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
With the help of three American sparring partners, WBO #1 Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) is pulling out all the stops to defeat undisputed super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo (35-1, 19 KOs) on January 28 in Las Vegas. Hand-picked by Team Tszyu are IBF #4, WBC #5 super welterweight Charles “Bad News” Conwell (17-0, 13 KOs), middleweight D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard (21-1-1, 13 KOs), and 19-year-old amateur star Quincy Williams, the 2022 National Golden Gloves champion.
Results from Cleveland, Ohio
WBA #8, WBC #13, WBO #13, IBF #14 featherweight Raymond “Savage” Ford (13-0-1, 7 KOs) successfully defended his WBA Continental Americas title with a spectacular eighth round knockout against Sakaria Lukas (25-2-1 17 KOs). Ford laid out Lukas with a huge right hand at 2:20.
Super featherweight Thomas “Gunna Man” Mattice (20-3-1, 15 KOs) upset previously unbeaten Christian Tapia (15-1, 12 KOs) by ten round unanimous decision. Mattice dropped Tapia in round two, then rocked him him in round three. Tapia rallied, but was rocked by Mattice again in round seven. Scores were 97-92, 96-93, 96-93.
2020 Olympic female silver medalist Beatriz “The Beast” Ferreira won her much anticipated professional debut against previously unbeaten Tanya Cardoso (5-1, 1 KO) over four THREE-MINUTE rounds in a super featherweight clash. Ferreira looked powerful, dropping Cardoso in rounds one and three. Scores were 40-34 3x. She is being fast-tracked to a world title and a possible showdown with Amanda Serrano.
Super welterweight Nikoloz Sekhniashvili (8-1, 6 KOs) bludgeoned previously unbeaten David Rodriguez (6-1, 2 KOs) for three rounds, after which the bout was stopped by the ring doctor.
2008 Olympian Raynell Williams (14-1, 7 KOs) dropped Ryizeemmion Ford (8-3, 6 KOs) in round one, then cruised to a 60-53 3x win over six rounds. Williams is Montana Love’s older brother.
In a clash between unbeaten cruiserweights, Khalil Coe (4-0-1, 2 KOs) took a six round unanimous decision over Bradley Olmeda (5-1, 3 KOs). Olmeda down in round five. Scores were 60-53 3x.
Upset: Spark defeats Love by DQ
Super lightweight Steve Spark (16-2, 14 KOs) won by sixth round disqualification against previously unbeaten IBF #6, WBO #7 rated Montana Love (18-1-1, 9 KOs) on Saturday night at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Sparks dropped Love in round two, but Love was able to recover. Spark was able to rough up Love in round five. A head clash in round six left Love with a cut. Both fighters came at each other aggressively and Love flipped Spark over the top rope and was disqualified. Time was :25. Spark won the WBA Intercontinental title.
Love is a punk. Complained to the ref that he couldn't see after a head butt that he initiated. Then he threw the Aussie over the ropes and onto his back. He coulda been seriously hurt. Love is all style and no substance.
I saw the fight. Love was still in the fight and was not getting beaten up. There was a headbutt, and he complained he couldn't see. His eye was fine, but he was probably dizzy. Shortly after that, he threw Spark. I think he was very frustrated, and acted on the spur of the moment.
In saying that, Hearn was wrong. It was a clear disqualification, and Eddie knew it. He was protecting his fighter. And keeping the peace, as it looked like Love was about to hit the ref. He had already put his hands on him.
Tszyu wanta Gausha as sparring partner
By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
WBO #1 Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) is looking to secure former opponent Terrell Gausha as a sparring partner to help him prepare for WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF 154 pound champion Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) on January 28 in Las Vegas. Tszyu told the Herald newspaper, “If I get Terrell for sparring, that would be incredible. He’s got great defense, great experience, great timing. He’s aware of all the punches and has great skill. I think Brian Castano used him for his Charlo fight, so that would be perfect.
“Terrell is right up there, skill-wise. For someone to be in the American national team and an Olympian, that speaks a lot about where his skill is at. The pro game is a bit different, there’s politics and money and that stuff involved, whereas amateurs are based on who is the more skillful fighter. At one stage he was the best in America.”