Bob Velin
249 articles · USA Today
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Olympian Shakur Stevenson makes celebrated pro debut with Top Rank Saturday
By Bob Velin
Legendary promoter Bob Arum likes to compare his newest Olympic boxing signee, Shakur Stevenson, with a young Sugar Ray Leonard, who won a gold medal in Montreal 40 years before Stevenson took…
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With GGG-Jacobs’ PPV sales not looking good, promoter touts live gate, international revenue
By Bob Velin
As early returns indicate that the pay-per-view numbers for last Saturday?s Gennady Golovkin-Daniel Jacobs middleweight title unification bout at Madison Square Garden may not exceed 150,000, revenue from the live gate was…
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Golovkin vs Jacobs at Madison Square Garden. Gennady Golovkin taken to 12 rounds in unanimous decision victory over Danny Jacobs
By Bob Velin
NEW YORK ? Daniel Jacobs defeated cancer. But he could not defeat Gennady Golovkin. At Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, Golovkin remained undefeated with a unanimous decision that was met with…
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Fighters, writers (and trainers) predict outcome of Keith Thurman vs Danny Garcia unification bout
By Bob Velin
As the highly anticipated welterweight title unification showdown between Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia draws near, here?s a look at how some fighters, trainers and boxing writers see the main event of…
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For Keith Thurman, maturity inside and outside the ring will carry him past Danny Garcia on Saturday
By Bob Velin
When he all but turned the other cheek to Angel Garcia?s vicious, nasty and racist verbal assault last month during a New York press conference, Keith Thurman revealed his maturity outside the…
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Keith Thurman vs. Danny Garcia: A rare battle of undefeated welterweight champs
By Bob Velin
To boxing fans, Keith Thurman?s eagerly anticipated showdown with Danny Garcia on March 4 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., is seen as a rare, epic battle of undefeated welterweight champions unifying…
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Uncommon friendship of Leo Santa Cruz and Carl Frampton is what boxing is all about
By Bob Velin
LAS VEGAS ? The photo stuck in my mind last night, and reminded me once again what it is that is so wonderful about the sport of boxing. It?s two young guys…
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Looking for action? Francisco Vargas vs. ‘The Scorpion’ on HBO a great place to start
By Bob Velin
It?s the weekend before Super Bowl LI, and you?re trying to figure out what to do on a mid-winter Saturday night. But you don?t want to leave the couch. So you grab…
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David Haye, Richard Schaefer join forces to form new promotional company
By Bob Velin
Former heavyweight champion David Haye and onetime Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer announced a joint venture Friday that will create a new global boxing promotional company. Schaefer?s recently formed company, Ringstar, and…
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‘On Someone Else’s Nickel’: Tim Ryan’s memoir filled with boxing gems
By Bob Velin
For more than two decades, he was the voice of boxing in the USA. Partnered with Hall of Fame trainer Gil Clancy, Tim Ryan brought some of the greatest fights in the…
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Erislandy Lara KOs Yuri Foreman with vicious uppercut to retain title
By Bob Velin
On a night of mismatches Friday night, the main event might have been the biggest mismatch of all at the Amphitheater at Hialeah Park in South Florida. WBA super welterweight champion Erislandy…
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Erislandy Lara resumes chase for ‘American Dream’ Friday vs. Yuri Foreman
By Bob Velin
His nickname is ?The American Dream,? but life hasn?t always been a dream for Erislandy Lara, before or after his two harrowing defections from Cuba ? a failed attempt in 2007 and…
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Terence Crawford picks John Molina Jr. apart before finishing him in 8th
By Bob Velin
Super lightweight champion Terence Crawford put on an exhibition of spectacular boxing and punching skills Saturday night in his hometown of Omaha, hitting his vastly overmatched opponent John Molina Jr. at will…
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John Molina Jr. prepared to go to the woodshed against champion Terence Crawford
By Bob Velin
The quintessential John Molina Jr. first seeped into the boxing public?s consciousness on July 9, 2010, during his lightweight fight against undefeated ?Hammering? Hank Lundy in a small venue in Rhode Island,…
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Vasyl Lomachenko faces biggest challenge in hard-punching, unbeaten Nicholas Walters
By Bob Velin
More than 50 years and 1,999 events later, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum believes he has a fighter in his stable worthy of comparison to his very first client, Muhammad Ali.…
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Andre Ward upsets Sergey Kovalev to wins light heavyweight title
By Bob Velin
In a fight that lived up to its billing, Andre Ward overcame an early knockdown and edge Sergey Kovalev by unanimous decision to win Kovalev?s three 175-pound title belts on Saturday night…
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Manny Pacquiao: If fans want Mayweather rematch, then why not?
By Bob Velin
LAS VEGAS ? A day after Manny Pacquiao officially ended his retirement with a unanimous decision victory against WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas, the 37-year-old fighting senator from the Philippines appeared relaxed,…
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How Manny Pacquiao beat Jessie Vargas round by round
By Bob Velin
LAS VEGAS ? Manny Pacquiao, now a senator in the Philippines, made a triumphant return to boxing Saturday, easily outclassing WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas in a 12-round title bout at the…
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Only one man fought Vargas and Pacquiao: How Timothy Bradley sees it
By Bob Velin
LAS VEGAS ? Only one man has been in the ring with both Manny Pacquiao and Jessie Vargas when it counted, and that man says both fighters have plenty going for them.…
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Champion Jessie Vargas confident he can upset Manny Pacquiao and vault to stardom
By Bob Velin
A few days away from the biggest fight of his career, Jessie Vargas is supremely confident he will pull off an upset against former eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao and become boxing?s next…