Cliff Rold

Anthony Joshua - Phase 3

By Cliff Rold - The third phase in the career of the biggest heavyweight ticket seller in boxing begins this Saturday (DAZN, 2 PM EST). It could end up being the most interesting phase of Joshua’s career. Or could it play out as an epilogue? The firs...

Undisputed Contender: Weekend Afterthoughts

Lineal and undisputed aren’t always the same thing but when they align one thing is certain in the weight class where they do: there is only one world champion for everyone to chase. At super middleweight, that lineal and undisputed champion is Saul...

David Benavidez-Caleb Plant: Stats and Stakes

Boxing hasn’t had many ‘undisputed’ champions since the WBC and WBA started settling into a state of disrepair in the 1960s. There have been plenty of lineal kings, recognized figureheads…but guys with all the major and most recognized belts (whether...

BoxingScene.com's Television Pick of The Week - March 24

Pick It: TBRB #1 David Benavidez vs. #2 Caleb Plant (Saturday, Showtime PPV, 8:00 PM EST) - TBRB, Ring, ESPN…they all agree. There is an undisputed super middleweight champion Saul Alvarez. His top two contenders are 26-year old David Benavidez (26-0...

Super Middleweight: The Best of Excess

By Cliff Rold - Boxing without super middleweight for most of what are now two generations of fans would be hard to imagine. This weekend will provide the latest example. Despite there being no titles on the line, the momentum is picking up for this...

Gesta Reminds a Career Can Retrack: Weekend Afterthoughts

There was a time, and if it feels like a long time ago now it’s because it kind of is, but there was a time when Mercito Gesta was considered one of the young guns to watch in boxing. Saturday night, with a win over former titlist and Olympian Joseph...

BoxingScene.com's Television Pick of The Week - March 17

Pick It: TBRB #5 Gilberto Ramirez vs. Gabriel Rosado (Saturday, DAZN, 8:00 PM EST) - This weekend is a bit of a breather between more notable weekends as a heavy slate from late March until May is ready to launch. Some of the best of boxing is coming...

If Not Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk, Then…

By Cliff Rold - It’s easy for folks to have their hopes up. Lineal and WBC heavyweight king Tyson Fury and his number one contender, unified WBA/IBF/WBO titlist Oleksandr Usyk, have kept the chatter up with exchanges on social media over the last wee...

Tim Tszyu, Serious Contender: Weekend Afterthoughts

In order to avoid any offense, his muthaf------ name was stated right off the top in the title. Given the performance Jr. middleweight Tim Tszyu had on Saturday, respecting his most adamant of post-fight wishes seemed only fair.

Tim Tszyu-Tony Harrison: Stats and Stakes

Earning title shots can happen a lot of different ways. There are systems in place that can be worked to get to cracks at alphabet titles. They have merit elements but aren’t inherently about merit as much as participation in the structures of the sp...

Junior Middleweight: Which Way Does This Era Stretch?

By Cliff Rold - No matter who wins this weekend in the clash between 32-year old former WBC super welterweight titlist Tony Harrison (29-3-1, 21 KO) and 28-year old Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15 KO), the sport of boxing will still come out ahead. That doesn’t...

Brandon Figueroa Makes a Move at Featherweight: Weekend Afterthoughts

Featherweight has seen a lot of shake-ups in the last year or so. Gary Russell Jr. lost, Emanuel Navarrete left, and a new trio of titlists (Rey Vargas, Luis Lopez, and Mauricio Lara) were crowned. Vargas got there by way of Mark Magsayo, the man who...

Mark Magsayo-Brandon Figueroa: Keep The Run Going?

If the old adage “when it rains it pours” were applied to boxing, then it would be fair to say we’re in the midst of a storm. It’s been raining the best kind of leather almost since the New Year’s ball dropped.  Last Saturday was the latest addition...

Brandon Figueroa-Mark Magsayo: Stats and Stakes

By Cliff Rold - Boxing’s in-ring product is red hot right now. The biggest stars haven’t aligned yet, though we’re getting to some of those dates, but if one is just looking for entertaining violence then 2023 is nothing to complain about.  Saturday...

BoxingScene.com's Television Pick of The Week - March 3

Pick It: TBRB #3 Mark Magsayo vs. #5 Brandon Figueroa (Saturday, Showtime, 9:00 PM EST) - A clash of former titlists gets center stage this weekend in a featherweight division without a clear centerpiece. The 27-year old Magsayo won and lost the WBC...