Multi-division world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarezwas honored with his own statue by Mexico in the boxer’s hometown on Monday evening. Presented by the Mexican government, Canelo marks the second fighter to receive a statue in 2022, following Deontay Wilder in May.
In Juanacatlian, Mexico, surrounded by family, friends, and fans, the 32-year-old champion was honored for his many accomplishments during his ongoing 17-year boxing career. The honor comes on the heels of Canelo latest win against longtime rival Genndaiy “GGG” Golovkin over the Summer.
Canelo is the biggest draw in today’s boxing, with high-profile brand endorsement deals with Hennessy, Louis Vuitton, Tecate, and Under Armour. Alvarez is currently ranked #5 on ESPN boxing’s pound-for-pound list with a record of 57 wins and 2 losses.
DEVELAN ESTATUA DE “EL CANELO” ÁLVAREZ EN JUANACATLÁN
La tarde de ayer se develó la estatua de Saúl “el Canelo” Álvarez en Juanacatlán, Jalisco, para rendir homenaje a sus logros y su carrera.
Alvarez is currently in negotiations for a rematch against Dimitry Bivol, who gave Canelo the second defeat of his career in early 2022. A laundry list of others who want a shot at Canelo includes Jermall Charlo, David Benavidez, Caleb Plant, and Demetrius Andrade.
In related news, Canelo is set to appear in the upcoming film Creed 3, starring and directed by Michael B. Jordan.
Undefeated lightweight boxing star-on-the-rise Frank “The Ghost” Martin(16-0-0) is one fight away from a title shot. But before the knockout artist can receive his first title shot, he must fight his toughest challenger yet in the popular and also undefeated Cuban boxing star Michel Rivera (24-0-0).
The two next-up contenders are set to main event the WBA eliminator on Saturday evening in Las Vegas on Showtime Boxing. One must let go of the undefeated title and the opportunity to fight for a title in the 12-round lightweight bout. The fight is Martin’s most important night of his career yet.
Martin spoke with The Source’s Bryson “Boom” Paul last week via Zoom on the importance of this bout. Throughout the conversation, The Ghost shares Errol’s promise to him following his last victory, Rivera’s skill, being the most wanted fighter in the lightweight division, if he is the most dangerous man in the lightweight division, more
Read the full interview below.
[Bryson “Boom” Paul”]:This is a big deal, man. This is a WBA eliminator, man. So after this, it’s the title shot, man. How do you feel?
[Frank Martin]: I feel good. I’m working. I’m ready to go out there and do what I do.
Now, this is also a special moment for you, something that you probably haven’t even thought about. This is your third time fighting in Vegas, and this’ll be your third time fighting an undefeated fighter. So tell me about the experience that you’re going to take into this fight, being that one 0 must go.
Just my grind. My grind, with me having Derrick James behind me, that coaching, that’s definitely going to take me over the top. And then just my natural ability, just my skills. But like you say, somebody 0 got to go, and I feel like it’s one of them things, it’s going to be who want it. When we in there, it’s going to be like, which one of them going to bite down and go get it? I’m known for doing it, so it ain’t nothing. It ain’t going to change.
You are fighting Michel Rivera on December 17th at the Cosmo in Las Vegas. They have him ranked number two and got you ranked at number 10. How do you feel going into this being the favorite, though?
Man, I ain’t really looking at it like that. They can rank it how they want to rank it, but it all depends when we get in there in that ring. So I got to just go in there and just do what I do. I don’t let the rankings or none of that play with my head. I’m going for the number one spot. So I got to go ahead and handle my business.
Now, what a lot of people don’t know is this is a fight that was promised to you by Errol Spence Jr, who’s also helping you promote the fight. Can you add some clarity to that promise? Where does this promise come from? How did they make sure you got this fight that you wanted so bad?
From the jump, he told me he was going to give me big fights, “I’m going to get you the big fights you want,” and everything like that. So this one, it had got mentioned earlier in the year, but there was some stuff going on with me or whatever, so we wasn’t able to make it happen. But it came back around once Chris Colbert didn’t end up taking the fight or whatever, he said he wasn’t ready.
So this came back around. So I’m like, “I’m with it, but what this for? Is it something that we fighting for?” And it was, it’s the title eliminator to get me closer to the WBA belt. So with that, that’s all I needed to hear. I’m like, “Let’s get it.”
Because a lot of people ain’t going to fight me. None of the top guys going to just be like, “All right, yeah, we’re going to fight him.” I’m going to have to work. I got to earn it.
So this one of them things that I’m like, “Yeah, it’s the opportunity, I have to take this to get me in that door with them top dogs or whatever, and get me in that position.” So they can’t say, “What’s his ranking? Where he at?” I’m right there. I’m in the number one spot.
That’s why he was promising me that, basically, he was going to give me the big fights and give me a belt or whatever. So this is the perfect setup. This is the perfect opportunity for me.
Now, this is your third fight this year. How do you like this activity? Do you want to take this into next year, where you fight three times a year?
Right now, I’ll fight more. If I could fight four times, four, three. I would really like to fight four. Give me four quarters. Give me four quarters, and I’m going to rock with it. Three good, but four, if I can get four next year, or three, either/or, cool.
You got a lot of fighters in the lightweight division, a lot of them got their eyes on you, and a lot of them have big fights that also involve you in the future. But when other enthusiasts that do these interviews ask you about future fights, ask you about this person, that person, does it ever bother you that they don’t sit here and focus on the fight at hand? Obviously, you are not overlooking anybody. You sitting here like, “Rivera is the one in front of me right now, and then we’ll deal with the rest later.” But do you ever get annoyed or frustrated with people asking you questions as far as future fights or future fighters?
Sometimes. Sometimes, because a lot of times people jump ahead of what’s in front of them. I try to be in that moment. I try to focus on what’s right there right now. Because a lot of those fights they talking about might not even happen. Sometimes it’s a waste of energy to even talk about it. I feel like I’m going to respect my opponent that I got right now, and handle my business with him. And then I would prefer, I like to talk more about other fights when I don’t got no fight booked up, something like that. But talking about another fighter, I would prefer to just stick on my man.
Rivera, is he your biggest challenge so far?
Yeah. I would say fighting style, and record wise and all of that, yeah, I’d say that he’s the more skilled fighter. He is similar to the last dude I just fought, I feel like. Might be just a little slicker, but I feel like he similar to the last guy I fought.
Speaking on Jackson, and your last fight, you obviously won, TKO in the 10. But I want to ask you, looking back at the tape, what were some things that you noticed about yourself that you worked on this camp?
Man, there was a lot. I can’t tell you what I’m working on now, you’re going to have to see that. That fight, I didn’t really have a lot of time to prepare for. I probably found out 10 days before the fight. Energy low, so really the game plan, we worked certain things, but some of the stuff wasn’t sticking with me. Energy low, can’t really register everything.
So that fight, I feel like it was a lot of mistakes that I made in that fight. And also, I felt like it was an off night for me, just within. Just my body, there was some stuff that wasn’t working for me that night or whatever. My timing, I was just off a tad bit.
But I figured it out. Derrick gave me good instructions in the corner or whatever, to get me in that zone that I needed to get in. But I had to figure it out, and find it, that fight. But there was some things that I didn’t lock down on, some shots I got hit with that I wasn’t supposed to get hit with. I was real stationary that fight.
Just really trying to get what I got, get that knockout, but I wasn’t doing it. I wasn’t doing it the smooth way. I made it harder than what it had to be.
Obviously, this is a bigger fight, so everything is amped up, and everything’s a little bit different as far as training. Going into training camp now, how has training been for you this time around?
Yeah, it been good, man. My sparring partners, I got a lot of good sparring partners for this camp. Real good sparring partners. I’ve got a nutritionist. Added on extreme conditioning. EJ been real hands-on with me, just as far as we’ve been locked in together, running, working out, everything. We just been locked all the way in. I done added quite a few things different in this camp.
Now your promoter, how has your relationship with Errol Spence grown in and out of the ring?
Oh, it’s good. Me and EJ’s relationship always been good. With this camp, with this fight, he been making sure I’m good with everything. If it’s anything that I need, or anything that could help me, he asking me, like, “Tell me what you need, whatever.” He just making sure I’m all the way mentally where I need to be, physically. Whatever I need, he making sure I’m getting that, so I can be all the way prepared for the fight. He been tapped in with me.
You are going to be a top dog one day yourself. Like you said, EJ has taken care of you, made sure you got everything you need. In the future, when you on top, are you going to be also reaching back to a fighter like yourself? What is something that you’ve learned from EJ that you plan to take on into the future when you reach back for other fighters?
Man, a lot. It’s like little stuff. Some people take things differently though. Some people may be like, little things help him out the most, like if it is a conversation, if it’s showing somebody a move, if it’s whatever. Just how he is with, not even just me, it’s fighters who ask him stuff.
We just went to a fight over the weekend, and it’s a lot of fighters who admire him. So just how he cool, he real social with his fans, and then with other fighters. Not too many fighters, but if it’s a fighter he rock with, you know he going to support him. He going to support him.
So just that right there, just being real supportive of the up-and-coming fighters that I like, that I rock with. Just being supportive of them, and giving them the motivation, if it’s words … Just certain things go a long way.
You have all the abilities and attributes to become one of the greatest lightweights of all time. But I want to ask you, in your opinion, who are your top five lightweights of all time?
I switched it up a lot. I switch mines up a lot. I like Roberto Duran. I pick up a little bit from everybody though, so it’s something from everybody.
Roberto Duran. Pernell Whitaker. Meldrick Taylor. I like Meldrick Taylor. Floyd. Who else? Let me rock out with my four. Let me rock out with my four.
You said this time you got a nutritionist and whatnot. I want to ask you, what have you learned about your eating habit with this nutritionist?
For the most part, I be on point when it come to eating good and everything. Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to eat when … I like seafood a lot. But I don’t just be eating and get out of shape, and just be, “Oh, I got to …” I’m always in shape.
But, with this nutritionist, it’s just everything that I’m eating, I ain’t really gaining too much weight. I’m having energy, I’m eating all the right stuff that I’m supposed to eat, everything balanced. He know exactly like, “All right, I’m going to cut the carbs off this week, and I’m going to take up the protein.” He knowing what to do. I don’t know how to do that on my own.
I normally cook on my own, but he making it easy. Making sure, in the morning, breakfast made as soon as I get up. Lunch, when I get out the gym, done. Dinner, same thing, when I get back, everything done. So I’m eating, and I can do what I got to do.
In training camp right now, but you still have your downtime, so I want to know, what are you doing to stay relaxed in the downtime? Are you watching anything? Reading anything? Meditations? What are you doing in the downtime?
I was doing yoga. I’ve been doing hot yoga. I be doing that cryo. I be doing that cryotherapy, the compressions, and all of that stuff. I got this book I’ve been reading, it’s called … You going to know what it is. What’s the name of the book? The Way of the Superior Man. I’ve been tapped into that book or whatever. I got to tap back in, I ain’t read it in about two weeks though, so I’m going to get back into it. That keep me my mental on point.
This is The Source. Of course, we have to talk about the music. Who are you listening to in the gym, training?
I’ll be listening to that new Lil Baby. That new Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch. Got some NBA. I got some NBA in there, for sure. We be having a little bit of everything going in the gym.
In the gym, it’s not always serious. Boxers often crack jokes on each other a lot in training. Now honestly, who brings the heat?
EJ got the heat. Errol got the heat. Errol got the heat. He got the heat, for sure. He don’t get on me. We be on Reece, we be on Maurice’s head.
Rivera is arguably the toughest you will face yet, but definitely not the toughest opponent that you will face in your career, I’m sure. One 0 must go. Are you worried at all about losing your 0, whether it’s now or in the future?
Nah. Nah, I’m not. I don’t want to lose it, so I’m working, I’m working, working, working. Doing everything I got to do so I can keep it. I’m into, whatever going to get me to where I got to get to. So I ain’t like, “Man, this is a tough fight. I don’t want to lose.” No. I’m fitting to challenge myself. I’m going to do everything I got to do to get this W, but for the most part I’m fitting to challenge myself and go get it. So winning is the only thing right now in my mind.
How does it feel with Showtime Boxing and Premier Boxing Champions getting behind you as a promising main event headliner?
Man, it’s dope. It’s dope. All the hard work is right here now. It’s up to me to go out here and do what I’m supposed to do to keep it going. All the hard days, all of that, is right here, so I just have to go out here and do what I do to keep this momentum going.
You have to set the record straight. Is Frank Martin, the ghost himself, the most dangerous man in the lightweight division?
Yeah.
Watch Martin vs. Rivera at 9PM ET/6PM PT on Saturday, December 17, on Showtime
The trial between the state of California vs. Tory Lanez over the 2020 shooting incident of Megan Thee Stallion began yesterday. Already the case is heating up after the defense revealed some previously unknown information to the jury, and some information regarding Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons.
According to the defense, Tory Lanez told Megan’s former best friend Kelsey Harris that the Traumazine artist had been going behind her back and sleeping with the same men that her best friend slept with. Tory included himself, DaBaby, and Ben Simmons in that list of men.
Shortly after the internet found out that Ben Simmons had been sleeping with Meg and Kelsey, the Brooklyn Nets star decided to take to Instagram where he shared a recent meme of Rick Ross screaming “Accusations! False accusations,” during an AEW wrestling promo.
Ben Simmons posted this to his Instagram story in response to the defense’s opening statement regarding Megan and Kelseypic.twitter.com/36BbMwGSHo
While prosecutors try to establish that Tory Lanez shot Megan Thee Stallion in the feet and yelled “dance bitch” out of the car, the defense is saying that there is a lot to the story that the prosecution is withholding. The defense argues that Lanez, Kelsey, and Megan were at Kylie Jenner’s house, and Meg and Kelsey got mad at Tory when she saw him in the pool with Kylie. Meg however caused a scene and Kylie told her to leave.
The three got in the car and Tory questioned Kelsey why she was defending her friend even though Meg was going behind her back and sleeping with the same men she was involved with. A fight between the two former best friends would ensue, and the rest is history.
Bally Sports officials says Atlanta Hawks announcer Bob Rathbun is “in great spirits” after an on-air medical emergency during a live broadcast of the Hawks vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder sent him on an express trip in an ambulance.
The 68-year-old Hawks play-by-play announcer lost his consciousness during the preview of the Hawks vs. Thunder game alongside NBA HOFer Dominique Wilkins when he fell back in his chair and began having convulsions.
Medical personnel rushed to tend to him before the cameras were able to cut.
According to Bally Sports officials, Rathbun was suffering from dehydration and was taken to a local medical facility. They said he’s now both “stable and responsive.”
Dipset general Cam’ron recently took on a new gig as a sports reporter for his newly launched talk show It Is What It Is and in one of the show’s very first episodes, Cam reports live from Harlem about former NBA star Ben Gordon, who was arrested by several officers after he allegedly tried to stab people with sewing needles.
“It’s ya boy Killa Cam, reporting for It Is What It Is Talk, outside of Harlem Hospital where former NBA player and Sixth Man of the Year Ben Gordon seems to be having some mental issues. Trying to stab people. Weapon of choice? Sewing needles,” Cam said before the camera panned to the hospital behind him.
“Police took him to Harlem Hospital, where he tried to make a brazen escape and leave the hospital,” Cam’ron reported.
Killa also took to thew streets of Harlem to speak with eyewitnesses who were at the scene. “So listen, there you have it. Mental health is no joke. Let’s hope this n**** Ben Gordon gets the help that he really needs. Reporting live from Harlem, It Is What It Is.”
Deion Sanders came to Jackson State University 3 years ago with the goal of changing the trajectory of their football team for the better. Since he became head coach, he did just that, turning them into an undefeated team while at the same time shining a light on other HBCU football teams and athletics.
However, his recent departure to the University of Colorado has left many divided, with some siding with Coach Prime, and others disappointed at his decision to leave JSU, especially the students at Jackson State. A recent video caught a student defacing a mural of Coach Prime while an onlooker throws obscenities directed toward Sanders.
There is no new information regarding the defacing of the mural, or if the student has or will receive any punishment for it.
Many sports anchors have sided with Coach Prime’s decision to take the head coaching gig at the University of Colorado. Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe defended Coach Prime’s decision on a recent episode of Undisputed where he said he’s more excited for Deion than he is sad for Jackson State.
“I was more excited for him [Deion] than I was sad for Jackson State,” Sharpe said on a recent episode of Undisputed. “And I think Jackson State should be happy for him because he gave you a blueprint and showed you what you could be, what you could become,” Sharpe added. He went on to say that Deion leveraged his relationships to better the football team criticized people who are mad at Prime for his departure.
Unc Shannon sharpe talks about Deion sanders accepting the head coaching job at Colorado pic.twitter.com/7mBieDLff0
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) December 5, 2022
Todd Snyder honors his title as the king of collaboration as he broadens his reach into the basketball realm through a new partnership with the NBA. With a number of collaborations with adorned teams such as the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and San Francisco Golden State Warriors, already under his belt, Snyder is doing things differently this time around.
The limited-edition partnership, titled the Todd Snyder x NBACurtsied Collection, puts a spin on the teams’ original logos. These contemporary interpretations are seen across French terry sweatshirts and turtlenecks, cashmere sweaters and leather varsity jackets. Within the mix of key items, the varsity jacket is reworked in Melton wool with leather, raglan sleeves, a quilted satin lining and a leather tab at the cuffs. In addition, there is a convenient two-tone cashmere sweater with satin lettering on the chest and raglan sleeves.
In describing his intentions and inspirations around the collection, Snyder said, “I wanted to create some fan gear that was sophisticated — styles that you could wear to the game and around town. The Curtsied Collection is kind of a dream come true because growing up in Iowa, I played basketball every day. When I moved to New York during the ’80s, I fell in love with the Knicks and finally had a hometown pro team. One of my career highlights was winning a design contest when I worked at The Gap to design the jerseys for the Indiana Pacers. To see them play in something you designed…that was something else.”
WGSN reported that “Collegiate Classic” fashion is being restored as consumers balance daily fluidity and routine. This offering embodies range, providing a modern take on classic logos and silhouettes, delivering the adaptability consumers are seeking out.
The collection will drop on Thursday at 10 a.m. EST on the Todd Snyder retail stores and online. Retail prices include $248 for the hoodie, $258 for the sweatshirt, $268 for the turtleneck, $498 for the sweater, $528 for the cardigan and $1,500 for the varsity jacket.
Several reports have confirmed that Nike has severed all business partnerships with NBA star Kyrie Irving, just one month following his Nike contract’s “suspension,” which stemmed from a perceived anti-Semitic video reposted by the Nets star on social media.
With Irving offering no apology for posting the video, his suspended contract with Nike was paired with a suspension from the Brooklyn Nets. Nike also decided to shelf the release of its signature shoe, the Kyrie 8.
The sides have parted ways one month after Nike suspended its relationship with the Nets star. Sports reporter Shams Charania tweeted, “Kyrie Irving is no longer a Nike athlete, Nike spokesperson says. Irving has one of the most popular signature shoes in the NBA and is now a sneaker free agent.”
Owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Mercury, Robert Sarver announced he’s started the process to sell both franchises.
In a statement, Sarver said in “our unforgiving climate,” it’s clear that whatever good he could do in the future is outweighed by things he’s said in the past.
Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver announces that he has started the process to sell both franchises.
This comes after Sarver was suspended for one year and fined $10 million by the NBA after an independent investigation into the Suns’ and Mercury’s workplace. The investigation found he used racist language and conducted unequal treatment of female employees as well as harsh treatment of employees that was related to bullying.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he “fully supports the decision” by Sarver to sell both teams. “This is the right next step for the organization and community,” Silver said.
Statement from NBA commissioner Adam Silver in response to Suns/Mercury owner Robert Sarver announcing he will sell both teams: “I fully support the decision by Robert Sarver to sell the Phoenix Suns and Mercury. This is the right next step for the organization and community.”
The Boston Celtics say they knew of allegations against Head Coach Ime Udoka in the summer. Udoka was suspended by the team for the entire upcoming season after confirming he had an improper intimate and consensual relationship with a woman on the Celtics’ staff, which is a violation of organizational guidelines.
The team said once it heard about the allegations, it immediately hired an independent law firm to investigate the claims. After going over the firm’s findings, Celtic executives decided to suspend Udoka for the season.
Udoka released a statement and said he’s sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation.
“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down,” Udoka said. “I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment.”
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: Vanessa Flores pic.twitter.com/3EOOlVZfjg
