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Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Alaverdian to Fight in Mexico on April 3

Super flyweight David Alaverdian is scheduled to face Daniel Pacheco at Polideportivo Centenario in Los Mochis, Mexico on April 3. Both boxers have had all their fights take place in Mexico.

Alaverdian is 2-0 with two first round stoppages. Slick defensively, Alaverdian has shown power early in his career. He often focuses on a hellacious body attack. The 27-year-old's last fight came over a year ago just before the pandemic shut everything down.

Pacheco (4-5, 2 KOs) is a bit of a step up for Alaverdian, who fought more-experienced but winless opponents in his first two fights. The 25-year-old is from nearby Culiacan, about a three-hour drive from Los Mochis, which is also located in the state of Sinaloa. Almost all of Pacheco's fights have been in his hometown.

Pacheco started his career in 2016 and lost four of his first five fights. He has won three out of his last four, an unusual turnaround for a boxer. Nicknamed Woku, Pacheco has two losses to Jose Javier Torres, who was undefeated both times they met. He also lost to Jose Alejandro Burgos, who was 7-1 at the time. The loss to Burgos and the second defeat to Torres were the only two times Pacheco has been stopped, both in the first round.

In his second pro fight, Woku lost to Javier Cruz Alvarez, who was 0-2 at the time. Pacheco avenged that loss the next year- in 2018- by way of fourth round TKO. Pacheco won twice in 2019, a fourth round TKO over 1-0 Bryan Ayala in July and a slightly troubling majority decision victory over 0-7-1 Jose Ivan Lopez Sotelo (who has won twice since).

Alaverdian is the naturally bigger man. He has fought as a super flyweight in his career while Pacheco has fought mostly at light flyweight. BoxRec lists this bout at flyweight. Pacheco is more experienced. He's fought two six-rounders and has swapped punches in 34 rounds for money. David has fought a grand total of four minutes and 55 seconds as a prizefighter. This one is scheduled for four rounds.

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Sinakin to Face King on April 3

Light heavyweight Benny "The Jewish Bulldog" Sinakin is scheduled to face Afunwa King at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA on April 3. Boxing is always an unpredictable sport, a reality exacerbated by the covid-19 pandemic, but if this fight happens, it's good  tough matchmaking for Sinakin.

Sinakin is 6-0 with three KOs. The Philadelphia-native had been fighting regularly since turning pro in 2018 before the pandemic shut down the sports world. This will be the 5'11" 23-year-old's first fight since he swept the cards against Leroy Jones a year ago.

King (2-1, one KO) marks the third fighter with a winning record Sinakin would face. King is a 32-year old from Nigeria who resides in Bronx, New York. The 5'10" King has faced prospects with a combined 4-0 record. In each fight King was expected to lose. His opponents have gone a combined 6-0 since facing him. King is better than his record suggests.

The New York man possesses several strengths. King keeps his hands moving and throws punches from unorthodox angles. He has shown enough power to wobble his foes. In his lone loss, King's overhand rights bothered Juan Carrillo, a 2016 Olympian. Carrillo, a southpaw, scored with some superb right hooks and overhand lefts, but King proved he owns an iron chin.

Sinakin should be able to take advantage of King's weaknesses if Benny is on his game. King is often open to be countered while in the midst of throwing a punch. Carrillo beat him by boxing, landing crisp potshots. King's last opponent, Nadim Salloum, was too defensive and didn't take advantage of the openings in their fight a year ago. King was also a little bit more defensively responsible in that fight.

Sinakin is a better technical fighter. Though he has a tendency to load up and throw wide at times, the Philly fighter should have the option to stand and trade relying on his better punch technique or to box and move relying on his better balance and superior jab. But King's activity, toughness, and awkwardness should pose a legitimate challenge.

This bout is scheduled to be both fighters' first six rounder.

Monday, March 8, 2021

Yuri Foreman Tests Positive for Covid-19

Yuri Foreman announced on his Instagram page that he tested positive for coronavirus-19 last night. Foreman began experiencing symptoms on Friday night. He still felt ill on Saturday and he and his wife Shoshana (who is also his manager), and his coach Ilya Mesischev called off his scheduled fight with Jimmy Williams in Louisville, Kentucky.

Shoshana tested negative when taking a rapid test, but Yuri announced that she is sick as well. The Ring reports that the couple had been following protocols in the run-up to the fight, and they suspect the packed flight to Kentucky may have been the source. The Foremans canceled their flight home and drove a rental car back to Brooklyn.

Yuri and his team made the right decision in canceling the fight. Covid-19 is highly contagious, and its effects vary greatly. While some people feel mild symptoms or none at all, others- even professional boxers such as Jamel Herring- become very ill. Nearly 400,000 Americans and over 2,500,000 people worldwide have died from the virus.


Saturday, March 6, 2021

Foreman-Williams Called Off

The fight card at Louisville's Kentucky African American Heritage Center went on without its originally scheduled main event. Rabbi Yuri Foreman had been set to fight Jimmy "Quiet Storm" Williams tonight, but the fight was called off a couple of hours before it was to take place. Foreman began feeling sick Friday night, and still was ill Saturday. With covid-19 still at the forefront in the U.S., he and his wife, who also serves as his manager, felt it was appropriate not to chance things, and they called off the fight.

Both men were excited at the opportunity. Foreman weighed in at 150 pounds yesterday, one of the lightest of his 19-year career. Williams was 152.25 pounds at the weigh-in, which was one of the heaviest of his career.

At 40 years old, Foreman doesn't have a lot of time to waste on postponements and cancelations. He had a proposed date for a comeback fight called off last summer due to covid-19. He fought in December winning by decision over Jeremy Ramos.