Boxing Challenge: Russell retains, Hitchins drops out

    The undercard of the Ryan Garcia-Mario Barrios was supposed to feature two defenses of junior welterweight championships, but only one would be defended.

 In the scheduled co-feature, Richardson Hitchins claimed food poisoning combined with the IBF's re-hydration clause (in IBF title fights, the fighters must weigh in at ten pounds or less over the division limit on the day of the match) rendered him unable to defend the title as scheduled against Oscar Duarte.

The situation is muddled as the IBF could strip Hitchins and schedule a vacant title fight between their two contenders, Duarte and Lindolfo Delgado, or demand Hitchins fight his mandatory (Delgado) or face Duarte as planned.

Gary Antuanne Russell retained his WBA version of the 140-pound championship with a close and hard-fought unanimous decision over his mandatory challenger, Andy Hiraoka.

Russell was the busier fighter and built a sizable lead on the cards, but lost several rounds in the second half of the fight and held off the late rush of Hiraoka.

Hiraoka was deducted a point for a low blow in the tenth, which ended any hope of a comeback win.

Judges' scores for Russell were 117-111, 116-112, and 116-112, while I had Russell winning 115-112.

Former lightweight title challenger Frank Martin and Nahir Albright slugged for ten even rounds in a junior welterweight match.

So even, all three judges and I scored it the same, 95- 95, a draw.

It was an easy fight to score with Martin controlling the first half and Albright the second.

A rematch would be welcomed, but Martin is affiliated with PBC, as is Gary Antuanne Russell, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a Russell title defense against Martin.

In a super middleweight ten-rounder, Bektemir Melikuziev fought through a severe cut over his left eye to stop Sena Agbeko in the seventh round.

There were several head clashes between the two, and one caused the cut in the middle rounds.

Melikuziev scored a knockdown in the seventh, and after Agbeko rose, Melikuziev drove Agbeko into the ropes, forcing the referee to end the fight.

In Manchester, England, Leigh Wood dominated Josh Warrington in their junior lightweight rematch, winning a unanimous decision.

Boxing Challenge

Vince Samano: 23 Pts (5) 

Ramon Malpica: 22 Pts (4)
TRS: 20 Pts (2)

Boxing Challenge: Garcia dominates Barrios, Stevenson next?

   The boxing weekend's main event from Las Vegas wasn't an entertaining thriller, but it did return Ryan Garcia as a potential participant in future big fights and might have finally removed one of boxing's least talented champions from the scene.

I've been speaking for years about the mediocrity of Mario Barrios (and yes, I picked him to win, but my defense is Ryan Garcia sleepwalked through a loss to Rolando Romero, who is just as mediocre as Barrios in his last fight) and his title 'defense" draws against journeyman Abel Ramos and the ancient Manny Pacquiao didn't fill me with confidencce either.

The enigmatic Garcia has always been talented, but his form in borderline quitting against Gervonta Davis, his juiced-up "win" (later changed to a no-contest) against Devin Haney, and his walking down defeat to Rollie Romero made me wonder how much Garcia had left or what type of fighter would show up in Las Vegas.

Garcia sent Barrios down with a right hand in the first round and was never threatened thereafter, as neither his jab nor his right could miss Barrios.

I scored the fight 120-107, same as judge David Sutherland, with the remaining judges giving Barrios one and two rounds respectively

The victory gave Garcia his first world championship, the WBC welterweight title, and he immediately called out Shakur Stevenson, who recently defeated Teofimo Lopez for the WBO junior welterweight title, and that fight makes sense.

Garcia will always have the rematch against Devin Haney in his back pocket.

A Haney return would be a unification match (Haney recently won the WBO title from Brian Norman), that fight is viable at any time, IBF champion Lewis Crocker wouldn't be a draw in the USA, and while another rematch against WBA boss Rolando Romero would make sense, their first fight was very boring, with few lining up for an immediate second go.

And Stevenson doesn't have a big fight waiting in his division unless he wants to fight WBC champion Dalton Smith in the United Kingdom, which would be big there, not in America, so meeting Garcia would be a large payday for Stevenson.

I'm still lukewarm on Ryan Garcia's future, although this win is enough to keep him viable as a top name for a few more fights.

It just always seems that there's something with Garcia you can't count on. Despite his dominant win over Barrios, Garcia wasn't able to completely dispel that problem because of the disparity in talent between them.

Garcia-Stevenson only has one small issue, and it depends on how much Garcia values his new WBC belt.

Stevenson refused to pay the WBC a six-figure sum for "allowing" him to meet Lopez for the WBO title in another division and was stripped of his WBC lightweight title.

Stevenson claimed he will never fight for another WBC title, and it's a consideration, but this is boxing, and never is a word we never use!

The WBC wouldn't like that fight unless there was a change of heart from Stevenson, but I'm sure if Garcia was willing to pay the sanctioning fee, the organization could get past it, especially if there was a caveat that Garcia could keep the belt with a win and would become vacant should Stevenson grab the victory.

As for Mario Barrios, he's had a nice career filled with a world title and solid paychecks despite winning just one fight against a top opponent (Yordenis Ugas), and it would be nice to see him walk away.

Barrios will retain a name and will be a fighter in demand for young challengers and champions to add to their record book, but his days as a top boxer are over if he ever had them.

I'll be back next time with the undercard, a fight from England, and the unprofessional behavior of Richardson Hitchins, who was supposed to fight in the co-main event, only to drop out hours before his scheduled bout vs Oscar Duarte.

Boxing Challenge

Vince Samano: 18 Pts (0) 

Ramon Malpica: 18 Pts (0)
TRS: 18 Pts (0)

Boxing Challenge-Dragnet Edition

   WBC Welterweight Title. 12 Rds 

Mario Barrios vs Ryan Garcia

Ramon Malpica: Barrios Split Decision
TRS: Barrios Majority Decision

Vince Samano: Barrios Unanimous Decision

IBF Junior Welterweight Title. 12 Rds

Richardson Hitchins vs Oscar Durate

All: Hitchins Unanimous Decision

WBA Junior Welterweight Title 12 Rds

Gary Antuanne Russell vs Andy Hiroka

R.L: Russell KO 9

TRS: Hiroka Split Decision
V.S: Russell Unanimous Decision

Junior Welterweights. 10 Rds

Frank Martin vs Nahir Albright

All;: Martin Unanimous Decision

Super Middleweights 10 Rds

Bektimir Melikuziev vs Seka Agbeko

All: Melikuziev Unanimous Decision

Junior Lightweights 12 Rds

Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington

R.L and V.S: Wood Unanimous Decision
TRS: Wood KO 10

Just how good was the Browns 2025 draft?

    The main reason Jimmy Haslam and the Cleveland Browns consistently give for retaining Andrew Berry is his tremendous 2025 draft.

After the mediocre drafts run by Berry before 2025, an average draft would look good, but how good was the 2025 draft for Cleveland?

Let's take a look:

Round One: Mason Graham (5th overall) Defensive Tackle, Michigan.

Graham was obtained with the pick from Jacksonville in the trade that dropped the Browns from fifth to second and included Jacksonville's 2026 first-rounder.

Graham started every game and dropped runners for losses seven times, but only notched four hits on the quarterback and finished with only a half-sack on the year.

If you are picking a defensive tackle fifth overall, you expect an impact player, and I'm not sure Graham is that type of player.

He may make a Pro Bowl or two, but I still think he was overdrafted.

Two excellent wide receivers had strong rookie seasons (Tetairoa McMillan to Carolina and Emeka Egbuka to Tampa Bay), and the Browns have the league's weakest receiving corps; they could have used either of those two.

Round Two: Carson Schwesinger LB, UCLA

This is where I give Andrew Berry his first good grade, as I was concerned about Schwesinger as the first pick in round two.

Schwesinger was the deserving defensive rookie of the year, finishing with sixty-seven solo tackles, two and a half sacks, and two interceptions in sixteen games.

Schwesinger has a motor that never stops, and is a player who is fun to root for.

If he doesn't become beaten down by the organization, Schwesinger could be a stalwart for a long time in Cleveland.

Round Two: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State

Judkins would have likely finished with over one thousand yards rushing if not for a late-season injury, but still finished with 827 yards and seven touchdowns as the person every defense focused on every week.

Judkins will be the main back for the Browns in 2026 and hopes to up his 2025 average of 3.6 yards per carry.

Round Three: Harold Fannin, TE, Bowling Green

This was the pick  I liked most after the draft, and another big hit for Andrew Berry.

Fannin caught 72 passes for over 700 yards and, as a rookie, was the only pass catcher Cleveland quarterbacks could depend on to catch the ball.

Fannin is still learning the position and has the type of potential to be a long-term standout.

Round Three: Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon

I hated this pick when the Browns made it, and even though it was an "extra" third-round pick (Obtained from Buffalo for Amari Cooper), the Browns gave it away.

Gabriel appeared in 10 games, throwing 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, but those numbers are deceiving, as he rarely threw the ball more than a yard or two downfield.

Two picks later, Atlanta chose Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts, who intercepted five passes and was a challenger to Carson Schwesinger as defensive rookie of the year.

A blown opportunity for the Browns, who now will either give Gabriel away before the draft, or he will have to beat someone out next season to be the third-stringer.

Round Four: Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee

Used as a pass-catching back (33 catches, 271 yards, and two touchdowns) more than as a runner (175 yards on 65 carries), Sampson didn't dazzle anyone in his playing time.

Rather than a second running back, Cleveland could have taken Iowa State tackle Jalen Travis, who showed promise for the Colts and could have been a starter for the Browns next year since all of their  2025 starters on the offensive line could be elsewhere.

Round Five: Shedeu Sanders, QB, Colorado,

Sanders showed occasional flashes of talent but just as often seemed lost against the speed of NFL play, and for all the touting about his accuracy, he completed fifty-six percent of his passes (nothing special) and threw ten interceptions against seven scores.

Sanders struggles against the pass rush, and while he needs to develop patience in the pocket, he never gives up on a play.

This was a low risk high reward selection, and while the jury is still out on Sanders being the long-term answer at quarterback, I'm in on giving him the chance to be the starter in 2026 to find out.

My scores are as follows

Home Runs: (2) Carson Schwesinger, Harold Fannin

Solid Base Hits: (1) Quinshon Judkins,

Base Hits: (2) Mason Graham, Shedeur Sanders

Meh: (1) Dylan Sampson

Strikeouts: (1) Dillon Gabriel.

That's a very good draft class with a chance of being excellent, if Mason Graham improves, and especially with development from Shedeur Sanders.

But I still wince at the selection of Dillon Gabriel, and taking Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders wasn't fair to either of their development.

Overall, give Andrew Berry credit, but I'll still have to see Berry do it again before I'm convinced the Browns are on the proper track.

Road Trip: Day Three- Taking Home Vince

    We got up early for what was scheduled to be the busiest day of the trip.

I've written about Jungle Jim's International Market several times here, but it's not a trip to the Cincinnati area without a stop at Jungle Jim's.

I admit that I love taking my travel companions to Jungle Jim's because I enjoy telling them about the store, listening, and watching them think It's just a grocery store, like Wegman's, right?"

And then to see them be amazed when they first walk through and take in what there is to see, I get quite a chuckle out of it.

Fred was just as amazed as everyone else and, as in the past, walked away wanting to show someone else Jungle Jim's someday.

Down the road a bit from the Jungle is the Ohio Valley Antique Mall, where I had some luck in the past, most notably a Cincinnati Royals program for the collection.

I found a 1979 Street and Smith's baseball preview with a J.R.Richard cover and a 1973 program from the Cincinnati Reds, but the big find was near the end of the facility tour.

Inside a glass case rested the trophy above.

In 1971, an award featuring a bronze cast of Vince Lombardi was presented to a former NBA All-Star and basketball Hall of Famer Jack Twyman.

Twyman is the namesake of the NBA's Twyman-Stokes award for best teammate and is named for the two for the care that Twyman provided Stokes after an accident that ended Stokes's career.

Sidebar- I can't believe with all the remakes and reboots in Hollywood, no one has made a film about the Twyman-Stokes saga since the 1973 film "Maurie" starring former NFL star Bernie Casey and Bo Svenson of Walking Tall fame.

The trophy was presented by Mack Trucks CEO, Zenon Hansen, to Twyman and was available for purchase.

I have been unable to find anything further about the trophy (If anyone knows anything further, please contact me!). Although I suspect it came from the family (Jack Twyman passed away in 2012) or perhaps one other owner.

The case's consignor had a note of twenty percent off, which made it still expensive but feasible, and the light bulb went off on where this trophy belonged.

Only one person I know combines the love of Vince Lombardi and basketball history, and I began to try to figure out how to land this big fish.

After I purchased my items, Fred bought his and said goodbye to an employee he had been talking with while I looked around, we drove down the road to eat lunch at Roosters.

While we waited for our food, I called Omaha, explained what it is to Ryan, and sent a few photos.

After hearing the price, even after the discount, Ryan wanted it, but money is always tight around the Christmas season, and he reluctantly had to pass.

Then I asked him this: If I were to provide some of the money as his Christmas gift, would he be interested in obtaining it?

Ryan liked that idea, and after lunch, Fred and I returned to Ohio Valley to see if perhaps a deal could be made.

I walked in and found the guy Fred had talked with to ask if he could call the seller with an offer, as I wanted to try to save Ryan and myself a few dollars.

He said that he couldn't do that, which I found odd.

Usually, at antique malls, the management will call a seller, but only if the item is over a specified number, which I understand because sellers don't want to be bothered by someone wanting to pay 2.50 for a five-dollar item.

So, I countered by asking to see the manager, whom he said was eating lunch.

I thought she would want to be consulted on this, so I asked him if a call could be made.

He wasn't thrilled but asked her, and he came back saying that the call would be made and apologized to me for being incorrect earlier about not being allowed to call.

He then asked for my offer and if I wanted to add anything else, which I did- I wanted him to tell the seller that I was traveling through from Maryland and that there wouldn't be a second chance tomorrow.

That happened to me once on an item, and the seller (who was in the store) said, "Oh, you'll be back tomorrow, you know you want it." So I wanted to be sure that the seller knew that this was the only opportunity.

The offer was accepted, so we saved some money, but I was happier to land a unique item for Ryan and his collection.

It's a good feeling to do something for someone you love and care for.

Fred and I drove to Columbus to spend the night before going home the next day.

When I brought Vince home, Cherie looked at him and, with the weight of the award, thought that he would be residing in our dining room for a long time.

However, Ryan visited in January and took Vince with him.

Vince is now exactly where he belongs- Omaha with Ryan and Archie. 

Boxing Challenge: Ajagba flattens Martin

  Charles Martin fought well for two rounds in the heavyweight main event for Zuffa Boxing in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Unfortunately for Martin, the fight was scheduled for ten, and once Efe Ajagba began landing, Martin's night became difficult and ended in round four.

Ajagba knocked Martin down once in the third round, but Martin fought back well to survive the round.

Ajagba landed his big right again early in the fourth, dropping Martin, and after Martin rose in worse shape than the first knockdown, Ajagba battered Martin along the ropes to force the stoppage.

Ajagba is reported to be a huge puncher, but when he has stepped up in class (Frank Sanchez, Martin Bakole, and Guido Vianello), he is just 1-1-1 and his power hasn't carried with his rise in opposition.

This doesn't bode well for Martin, who hadn't fought since 2024 before this loss.

Ajagba called for top contenders in the division but I'm not sure that will happen with his commitment to Zuffa, who lacks any other top heavyweights, wants to ignore the sanctioning bodies (which takes Ajagba out of title eliminators) and is unlikely to allow him to fight outside their cards other than the "Ring Magazine" supercards, which has the same owner as Zuffa.

Ajagba could receive more exposure with Zuffa, but fight less-than-great competition.

Boxing Challenge

Vince Samano: 18 Pts (0) 

Ramon Malpica; 18 Pts (1)
TRS: 18 Pts (1)

Boxing Challenge:

   For the second week in a row, we have a one-fight week in the boxing challenge with Zuffa Boxing's main event on Paramount+ Saturday night.

Heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba meets former IBF champion Charles Martin in the main event, and while it's not the most scintillating match, it's worth a watch with Ajagba's standing as a top ten heavyweight.

Ajagba was thought to be a big puncher as a prospect, but has struggled to score knockouts as his opposition improved.

Ajagba drew with Martin Bakole in his last fight, which he deserved the decision, and won a split decision over Guido Vianello, which he didn't in his outing before that.

Martin has fought just twice since 2022, losing almost every round but badly stinging Jared Anderson in 2023 and scoring a first-round KO over a journeyman in 2024.

Boxing Challenge

Heavyweights. 10 Rds 

Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin

Ramon Malpica and TRS: Ajagba Unanimous Decision

Vince Samano: Martin Unanimous Decision

Cleaning out the Inbox: Passings

   It's time for us to pay our respects to a few people of note who have recently passed away.

Goodbye to Mickey Lolich at the age of 85.

The portly lefthander won three games in the 1968 World Series for the Detroit Tigers' upset win over the St.Louis Cardinals, winning the Series MVP for his efforts.

Lolich led the American League in wins (25) and strikeouts in 1971, made three All-Star teams, and won fourteen games or more every season from 1964 through 1974.

Lolich finished his career with 217 wins and a 3.44 ERA after he played his final three seasons with the Mets and Padres.

Goodbye to Sonny Jurgensen at the age of 91.

A fourth-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957, Jurgensen would win an NFL title ring as Norm Van Brocklin's backup in 1960.

After being traded to Washington in 1964 for Norm Snead, Jurgensen would hit his prime, leading the league in passing yards three times (he led the league twice as an Eagle) and throwing 179 touchdown passes in his years in Washington.

Jurgensen was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1983 and is a member of both Washington and Philadelphia's team Halls.

Jurgensen was a longtime member of Washington's radio crew and worked in Washington media for decades.

Goodbye to Barry Wilburn at the age of 62.

Wilburn is one of only ten (as of 2025) players to have won a Super Bowl (Washington) and a Grey Cup (Saskatchewan) in a career spanning 1985-99.

Wilburn led the NFL in interceptions in 1987, picking off nine passes and being named All-Pro.

Wilburn also holds the Washington team record for longest interception return when he intercepted a Minnesota pass in 1987 and returned it 100 yards for a score.

Goodbye to King T.Leatherbury at the age of 92.

One of the "Big Four" in Maryland horse racing in the 1960s and 70s, Leatherbury is fifth all-time in victories in American racing.

With Richard Dutrow, Bud Delp, and John Tammaro, Leatherbury dominated Maryland racing through "claiming" (buying horses in special races) ,,earning him the title "King of the Claimers".

Leatherbury was named to the Racing Hall of Fame in 2015.

Goodbye to Elroy Face at the age of 97.

The "fireman" for the 1960 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates, Face led the National League in saves three times and finished second on three more.

In 1959,  Face finished 18-1 with all decisions in relief, and to this day, Face s the all-time Pirates leader in appearances and saves.

Face saved three of the four Pirate wins over the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series, except for the famous Bill Mazeroski walk-off home run in game seven.

Face spent all but a year and a half of his sixteen-year career with Pittsburgh, moving to Detroit and expansion Montreal in 1968 and 69 to finish his career. 

Boxing Challenge: Figueroa knocks out Ball in 12th

 Brandon Figueroa landed a crushing left hand seconds into the final round to drop Nick Ball, and after Ball bravely rose, drove the champion down into the ropes to force the stoppage in Liverpool, England, and give Figueroa Ball's WBA featherweight crown.

The fight was an entertaining but awkward battle with the diminutive Ball swapping punches with the much taller Figueroa.

The scores were divergent entering the final round, with two judges having Figueroa ahead by three points and the other scoring Ball ahead by five points.

I had Figueroa ahead slightly, 105-104, and the scores from around the net had many scoring for each fighter.

Figueroa convincingly closed the show in the final round and will take the title back to PBC, while the other three champions have an affiliation of some sort with Top Rank: WBO champion Rafael Espinoza, WBC king Bruce Carrington, and IBF boss Angelo Leo.

Boxing Challenge

Vince Samano: 18 Pts (1) 

TRS 17 Pts (0)

Ramon Malpica: 17 Pts (0)

PPM-Super Bowl

 It is time for the end of the PPM as the Super Bowl concludes the football season!

Last Week: 2-0

Overall: 169-81

Super Bowl

Seattle over New England 24-13

Boxing Challenge

 WBA Featherweight Title 12 rds

Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa

Ramon Malpica and TRS: Ball Unanimous Decision 

Vince Samano: Figueroa Unanimous Decision

Cleaning out the Inbox: Passings

  The time has arrived for another batch of tributes to those who have recently left us.

Goodbye to Wilbur Wood at the age of 84.

Wood was a journeyman pitcher for the Red Sox and Pirates until being acquired by the Chicago White Sox in 1967, where he fine-tuned a seldom-used knuckleball with the help of future Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm, who was on the Chicago staff.

The rarest of rare as a lefthander knuckleballer, Wood would win the Fireman of the Year award for relievers in 1968, but would truly flourish as a workhorse after being moved to the starting rotation in 1971.

Wood would win 20 games or more in each of the seasons from 1971 to 1974, led the American League in victories twice, made the All-Star team three times, and started over 40 games in each of those seasons, as well as in 1975.

Wood was off to a strong start in 1976 when he was line-driven by Detroit's Ron LeFlore, who broke his kneecap. As a result, Wood never regained his previous caliber upon his return in 1977 and 1978.

Goodbye to Bobby Duncum at the age of 81.

Duncum was drafted by the then-St. Louis Cardinals as a linebacker from West Texas A&M in 1967 and would play in four games for the football Redbirds in 1968, but would earn more fame in the wrestling ring as a heel cowboy.

Duncum would receive title chances against both Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund for the WWWF crown, would hold titles in Florida, Georgia, and the AWA, and as part of the "Black and Blue Express, with Ken Patera, who were one of the more underrated teams of their era.

Duncum's son, the late Bobby Duncum Jr, was a wrestler with WCW as part of the "West Texas Rednecks" faction.

Goodbye to John Brodie at the age of 90

The 1970 MVP, Brodie, was the third overall pick in the 1957 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers from Stanford, and would spend his entire seventeen-year career in the Bay Area.

Brodie was one of the better NFL announcers after his retirement with NBC Sports, forming a great duo with Don Criqui, and was an excellent golfer.

Brodie was on the Senior PGA Tour for thirteen years and won one tournament, the 1991 Pacific Senior Classic.

Brodie was one of the players credited with getting the AFL-NFL merger talks rolling when he signed a huge future contract with the AFL's Houston Oilers.

Those contracts forced the NFL to negotiate the truce, which would lead to the two leagues becoming one.

Goodbye to Floyd Vivino at the age of 74.

Known professionally as "Uncle Floyd, Vivino was the star of the "Uncle Floyd Show" from 1974-1998, a parody of children's shows which was aimed at adults.

Mostly seen in the New York City/New Jersey market, The Uncle Floyd Show did have a period where it was syndicated in other East Coast markets, which is where I saw it following SCTV on Saturday late nights in the early 1980s.

Vivino often appeared in programs filmed in the NYC area and worked as a comic, musician, and radio host after the demise of his show.

Vivino set a Guinness World Record in 1999, when he played a piano continuously for over 24 hours and ran twice as a write-in candidate for Governor of New Jersey in a campaign parody.

Goodbye to Scott Laidlaw at the age of 72.

A fourteenth-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1975 NFL Draft, in one of the best drafts ever by one team (twelve players made the team, including five future Pro Bowlers, and Randy White in the Hall of Fame), Laidlaw was the backup fullback to Robert Newhouse and a standout on special teams.

Laidlaw played in three Super Bowls, winning one, for the Cowboys, and in 1978, Laidlaw replaced an injured Newhouse on Thanksgiving Day for their game against Washington, with Laidlaw rushing for 122 yards and two touchdowns to defeat Washington.

Cavaliers trade Lonzo Ball to Utah

      The Cleveland Cavaliers' mid-season revamp continued with the one move that most saw coming.

Cleveland needed to make roster space for Nae'Qwan Tomlin, who had exceeded his usage on a two-way contract after the trade that brought Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to the Cavaliers.

Lonzo Ball was expected to be the replacement for Ty Jerome as the third guard, and with a questionable health record, keeping him on the floor was the concern.

Ball stayed relatively healthy but didn't play well, averaging less than five points per game in thirty-five games

Considering the roster spot and the attempt to continue to get out of the second apron of the salary cap, Ball and his ten-million-dollar cap number were the easiest place to cut.

But who would be willing to take Ball and for what?

The answer was the Utah Jazz, and nothing, as Cleveland literally traded two second-round picks with Ball for nothing but cap relief.

The two second-rounders leave Cleveland without those bargaining chips for years, as Cleveland doesn't have a second rounder until the 2030s, but it was needed to try to move off the apron and make space for a more productive player.

Utah is expected to waive Ball, with Charlotte and Washington expected to have interest in signing him.

Cleveland wanted to keep Tomlin, a young player who is exceeding expectations, and didn't have the time or cap room to nurture Ball and hope he showed improvement.

Not every trade works out, and Cleveland cut their losses before they became too large.

Sometimes, that's the way the ball bounces.

Cavaliers deal Garland for Harden

   The Cleveland Cavaliers are continuing their roster revamp on the run with the acquisition of James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers.

Cleveland sent Darius Garland and its second-round draft pick in 2026 to the Clippers for Harden.

The thirty-seven year old Harden is far from washed up, averaging twenty-five points and eight assists per game for the Clippers this season.

Darius Garland is ten years younger than Harden, but has struggled with toe injuries over the last two seasons.

Garland has played in only twenty-six games,averaging eighteen points and just under seven assists per game.

I can see pros and cons to the Cavaliers making this trade.

Even at 37, Harden is a better player than Garland.

Harden is a much better passer, will improve Cleveland with the "give and go", will improve Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen down low, and Harden is able to stay on the floor.

Garland as a smaller guard (6'1) has had defensive issues with Donovan Mitchell and although Harden isn't known as a defensive demon, Harden does bring a different dynamic with his size and strength.

However, Garland is ten years younger, and in theory, stay around longer.

Harden has never won a championship and has been noted for his postseason failings, so it's fair to consider that for a team in championship-now mode.

Harden has a player option for 42.9 million for next season and has been seeking a longer term contract.

Cleveland could reach an arrangement with Harden where Harden declines the option but then signs a longer contract for a more reasonable number for the cap-cuffed Cavaliers.

Cleveland is getting closer to getting out of the "Second-Apron" cap penalty, dropping to six million above the level and working out an agreement with Harden along with a potential salary dump of Lonzo Ball and/or Max Strus could move them into the "First-Apron" which would allow further moves.

I don't love the deal but I don't hate it either.

The Cavaliers could be selling Darius Garland low with his injuries dropping his value but it's also possible that they could be receiving something of value before he drops even more.

James Harden brings a gifted offensive player, who I think will make the Cavaliers top three players better.

Will he be enough to lift the Cavaliers into the Eastern Conference title chase?

Maybe, Cleveland will be a dangerous team to play in the playoffs but is he enough to win a title?

Perhaps an Eastern Conference title but not an NBA title.

Boxing Challenge: Junior Middleweight Madness!

    The non-New York side of the boxing weekend was centered around the junior middleweight division, with two titles being unified and another changing hands in a surprising upset.

The upset occurred in Newcastle, England, when former Olympian Josh Kelly upset Bakhram Murtazaliev to win the IBF version of the title via majority decision.

Kelly entered his pro career with plenty of hype, but was stopped by David Avanesyan and while on a seven fight winning streak, had beaten no one of note, while Murtazaliev had destroyed Tim Tszyu in three rounds fifteen months ago.

Kelly was the quicker and sharper fighter and when he survived a fourth round knockdown, Kelly began to take control and even scored a flash knockdown of his own in the ninth.

My issue is the scoring of Steve Gray, not for his scoring of the fight which was 114-113 Kelly same as mine.

It's for his scoring the final round even. 

I hate even rounds and to score the final round of a close fight even is a travesty.

Had Gray scored the final round for Murtazaliev, the fight would have ended in a draw with thee champion retaining the title.

The other scores were 115-111 for Kelly, a bit wide for my tastes, and even at 113-113.

The other title bout in the 154 pound division was in San Juan, Puerto Rico as Xander Zayas unified the WBA and WBO championships with a split decision over Abass Baraou.

Neither fighter was seriously hurt in the fight but I thought Zayas had the better of the action and agreed with the 116-112 scores on two cards for Zayas and the score for Baraou of 116-112 was surprised.

Sunday was the second card for Paramount+ and Zuffa Boxing for a very strong card.

In the main event, former WBC junior welterweight champion Jose Valenzuela fought through a severe cut to win a unanimous decision over Diego Torres.

Torres had his moments, including wobbling Valenzuela in the sixth round but his superior skils allowed him to counter the walk-down aggression of Torres.

All three scores were 99-91 for Valenzela, which I agreed with.

The co-feature was a cracker as Serhii Bohachuk rebounded from his second defeat to Brandon Adams, to win a split decision over Radzhab Butaev.

This fight was contested in front of the other throughout the fight with Bohachuk landing the harder punches and Butaev scoring more often.

Scorecards read 96-94 twice for Bohachuk and 96-94 for Butaev.

My scores was 95-95 even.

In the opener, former WBC light heavywweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk knocked down Radislav Kalajdzic down in the first and fourth rounds and badly hurt him in the fifth to build a huge lead on the cards before a stunning seventh round with Kalajdzic dropping the former champion and finishing him off in the seventh.

Kaladzic has always been an exciting fighter and his win might move him into contention in the division.

Gvozdyk's comeback will have to start over and at his age (38), I wouldn't be surprised to see "The Nail" consider retirement.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 17 Pts(3)

Vince Samano: 17 Pts (3)

Ramon Malpica: 17 Pts (4)

Boxing Challenge:Stevenson dominates Lopez

      The boxing weekend was packed with matches, so packed that the weekend previews were split into two; we will do the same with the results.

We start with the biggest show of the weekend and the performance of the weekend, as Shakur Stevenson ended Teofimo Lopez's reign as the WBO junior welterweight champion with a unanimous decision victory in New York City.

Lopez had struggled against mobile boxers like Sandor Martin and Jamaine Ortiz, and with Stevenson's movement, it was natural to think Lopez would struggle against Stevenson.

Instead, Stevenson stood in front of Lopez and still made himself unable to be hit in a performance so dominant that Lopez appeared to be on a different level.

Stevenson won on all three cards (and mine) at 119-109 and now will have to choose between keeping his WBC lightweight title, WBO junior welterweight title, or even moving to welterweight for a potential bout with Conor Benn, whom Stevenson invited into the ring after the fight.

As for Lopez, I'm not sure he has the strength or the power at welterweight, but the division isn't strong at the moment, so it's possible he could succeed.

In the co-feature, Keyshawn Davis returned as a junior welterweight, knocking out Jamaine Ortiz in the twelfth round.

Davis dropped Ortiz in the eleventh round and finished him in the final stanza.

Ortiz had lost close decisions to Vasyl Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez and was expected to test Davis, which didn't happen with the best performance of Davis's career.

Davis called out Devin Haney for a fight this year, and that would be interesting.

The best fight of the night was Bruce Carrington winning the vacant WBC featherweight title with a sudden ninth-round knockout of Carlos Castro.

Castro gave Carrington all that he wanted and had the favorite wobbled in one instant, but Carrington was leading on my card 77-75 at the end, and the fight was swinging his way before the knockout.

Heavyweight Jarrell Miller won a split decision over Kingsley Ibeh in a match that will be remembered by most for Miller losing his hairpiece during the fight and fighting the rest of it with a ring of glue around his head for the remainder of the match.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 13 Pts (7)

Vince Samano: 13 Pts (6)

Ramon Malpica: 12 Pts (4)

Cavaliers acquire Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroeder from Kings

   The Cleveland Cavaliers had been a disappointment this season but had improved of late, winning eight of their last ten games, including a five-game winning streak before a loss in Phoenix on the first day of a five-stop West Coast road swing.

Still, with the team tied for fourth with Toronto for fourth place in the Eastern Conference and with a recent calf injury to Evan Mobley (the second this season), Cleveland seemed like a possible player at the NBA trade deadline, even if their status as a "second-apron" team at the salary cap could make a trade harder to make.

Cleveland found a way to make things work as they sent swingman De'Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings and a 2027 second-round draft choice to the Chicago Bulls (for their help in making the dollars work) for guards Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder.

Cleveland released Luke Travers to free up a roster spot for the new arrivals.

Hunter was the Cavaliers' big deadline acquisition last season, and while he was decent after coming to Cleveland, I thought that with training camp and a better understanding of his teammates, Hunter would break out.

I was wrong, as despite Hunter averaging fourteen points last season and this season, Hunter's shooting has been dreadful, dropping in percentage from 48 percent to 42 overall and from 42 percent down to 30 percent from three point range.

Still, Hunter was excellent last season with Atlanta before being traded to Cleveland, and I'd bet he turns it around with the Kings.

Hunter could be one of those players who play better for a lesser team than he does for a contender, because he is better suited to be one of the focal points of the offense than as a supporting cast member.

Sacramento is doing some cleaning of its own, and Hunter could become one of their top options.

Keon Ellis's numbers are down this season ( eight points to five and forty-eight to thirty-nine percent shooting), but he was playing seventeen minutes a game off the bench, and he's not a bad shooter, averaging forty-six percent and forty-one from three for his career.

Ellis is a top-notch defender, and he'll be a big help on that end of the floor. Ellis is eligible for free agency at the end of the season, so it's possible that Ellis could be a rental player.

The well-traveled Dennis Schroder joins the Cavaliers as his eleventh team in his thirteen year career.

I could see Schroder staying as the third guard, especially if the Cavaliers could find a taker for the tremendously disappointing Lonzo Ball, but I could also see Schroder being moved in another trade if the team isn't finished dealing.

Schroder does bring a veteran's attitude and attitude to a team that could use some nastiness.

Schroder is under contract for three more seasons but only 2026-27 is with guaranteed money.

Schroder is averaging just under thirteen points a game for Sacramento and is shooting forty percent on the year.

Cleveland saves some money under this trade, swapping De'Andre Hunter's 23 million for the sixteen million paid to Ellis and Schroder, which doesn't quite move the Cavaliers out of the second apron but does move them closer to the mark and lessens the current season's luxury tax penalty by a significant margin.

This is a key factor for a team with the highest-paid roster in the league and should Cleveland look at Dennis Schroder (or Lonzo Ball) as a disposable asset in an attempt even get out of their cap level, Cleveland may not be finished trading.

On the whole, I understand the move as the Cavaliers were paying De'Andre Hunter a sizable chunk of money to be disappointing on the floor and didn't want to enter the playoffs gambling on Hunter and Lonzo Ball turning their season around.

Still, despite the lack of production from Hunter, I liked him as a player and I'm sad to see him leave.

I have tons of boxing to write about over the next few days, so I'll be working on those posts next.

Boxing Challenge: Part Two

  We move to the second part of the boxing weekend and the half that isn't at Madison Square Garden, with three of the four junior middleweight titles at stake at two sites.

In Newcastle, England, Bakhram Murtazaliev defends his IBF junior middleweight title against former Olympian Josh Kelly on DAZN.

Murtazaliev knocked out Tim Tszyu in the third round in October 2024 to retain his title in an upset win.

Kelly was knocked out in six by welterweight contender David Avanesyan in 2021 in his only fight above the European level, so Murtazaliev is a deserved heavy favorite.

Top Rank on their FAST channel moves to Puerto Rico for Xander Zayas meeting Abass Baraou in a junior middleweight unification of the WBO (Zayas) and WBA (Baraou) titles.

Both Zayas and Baraou will making their first defenses of titles won last year, and in a division with several solid fighters in need of a standout, the winner could shove their way near the top.

Sunday night in Las Vegas, Zuffa returns with its second card on Paramount+ and a much-improved one with three crossroads bouts.

The main event pits former WBA junior welterweight champion Jose Valenzuela, returning to the ring for the first time since losing the title to Gary Antuanne Russell last year.

Opponent Diego Torres has just one loss, but it was to his best opponent, current IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla, who stopped Torres in eight rounds in 2023.

Two former contenders meet at middleweight as Serhii Bohachuk battles Radzhab Butaev.

Bohachuk was the mandatory challenger for WBC champion Sebastian Fundora before attempting to avenge a loss to Brandon Adams in a stay-busy fight last September.

Adams surprised Bohachuk for the second time, knocking him out of a title chance.

Butaev has fought just twice since his only loss in 2022, a split decision to Eimantas Stanionis.

The winner will move up the ladder, and the loser will take a step back.

Two former victims of Artur Beterbiev face off in the opener as former WBC light heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk meets Radivoje Kalajdzic.

Both are attempting to rebound from recent losses, Gvozdyk to David Benavidez, Kalajdzic to David Morrell.

This appears to be a good style match, so it might be a very entertaining fight.

Boxing Challenge

IBF Junior Middleweight Title 12 Rds

Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly

Ramon Malpica: Murtazaliev Unanimous Decision
TRS and Vince Samano: Murtazaliev KO 6

Unification WBA vs WBO Junior Middleweight Titles, 12 Rds

Abass Baraou vs Xander Zayas 

All: Zayas Unanimous Decision

Lightweights 10 Rds

Jose Valenzuela vs Diego Torres

R.L: Valenzuela Unanimous Decision
TRS: Valenzuela KO 9
V.S: Valenzuela KO 4

Middleweights 10 Rds

Serhii Bohachuk vs Radzhab Butaev

R.L and TRS: Bohachuk Unanimous Decision
V.S: Bohachuk KO 4

Light Heavyweights, 10 Rds

Oleksandr Gvozdyk vs Radivoje Kalajdzic

All: Gvozdyk Unanimous Decision

Boxing Challenge- Part One

   It's the first big weekend of the 2026 boxing calendar, and when I say big, I mean it with ten matches in the boxing challenge.

The biggest of the bunch is part of the DAZN/Ring Pay-Per-View, with two of the biggest names in the sport, as Teofimo Lopez defends his WBO junior welterweight title against WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson at Madison Square Garden.

Lopez is an underdog to the talented Stevenson, and he has struggled the most against boxers, winning questionable decisions to Sandor Martin and Jamaine Ortiz, but Lopez seems to fight his best when he's the underdog, with his best victories over Vasyl Lomachenko and Josh Taylor in that role.

Stevenson continues his move up in weight in a career that started at featherweight and he was even fun to watch in his most recent win (and arguably best) in his unanimous decision nod over William Zepeda.

Style-wise, I'll pick Stevenson all day, but Lopez always surprises most when he's counted on least, so I'm open to either man getting the duke!

Former WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis returns to the ring for the first time since losing his title on the scales last year and then getting into a brawl behind the scenes against Jamaine Ortiz in a junior welterweight match.

Ortiz is known for his close losses to Vasyl Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez, and his boxing could give Davis, who has been off for close to a year (a knockout win over Denis Berincyk in four rounds), problems if Davis is rusty.

Davis, a former Olympic silver medalist, could use an impressive win to wipe the stench of his fiasco last June away a small amount.

The vacant WBC featherweight title, vacated by Stephen Fulton, will be contested between top prospect Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington and Carlos Castro.

Carringron received lots of attention on the Top Rank cards on ESPN and is an excellent young fighter, but has yet to face a contender in his short career.

Castro has failed against his best opposition but was robbed against Stephen Fulton in his last fight (September 2024), losing a majority decision when he knocked Fulton down in the fifth round and deserved the victory.

Carlos Adames and mandatory challenger Austin "Ammo" Williams have a recent common opponent in their fight for Adames's WBC middleweight title- super middleweight contender Hamzah Sheeraz.

Sheeraz stopped Williams in the eleventh round in 2024, but Williams has won three straight bouts since that loss.

Adames drew with Sheeraz last February in a fight that most thought Adames won.

Editor's Note: Adames was unable to make weight due to dehydration and was forced to drop out of the fight.

Heavyweight Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller continues his comeback against Kingsley Ibeh.

Miller drew with Andy Ruiz in August 2024 in his first fight since his initial career loss to Daniel DuBois.

Ibeh has won eleven straight since a 2021 loss to Jared Anderson.

In part two of the challenge, we'll write about this weekend's fight outside the MSG PPV.

Boxing Challenge

WBO Junior Welterweight Title. 12 Rds

Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson

Ramon Malpica: Stevenson Split Decision
TRS and Vince Samano: Stevenson Unanimous Decision

Junior Welterweights 12 Rds

Keyshawn Davis vs Jamaine Ortiz

All: Davis Unanimous Decision

Vacant WBC Featherweight Title. 12 Rds

Bruce Carrington vs Carlos Castro

R.L: Carrington Unanimous Decision
TRS: Carrington KO 9
V.S: Carrington KO 8

Heavyweights. 10 Rds

Jarrell Miller vs Kingsley Ibeh

R.L: Miller KO 5
TRS: Miller KO 8
V.S: Miller Unanimous Decision

Browns hire Todd Monken as head coach

    After a month of searching, the Cleveland Browns came up with a coach they could have hired three weeks ago: Baltimore offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

Monken had been the offensive coordinator for Baltimore for the last three seasons but had struggled in 2025 with Lamar Jackson, both on and off the field.

The soon-to-be 60-year-old Monken has been a head coach only once in his career, compiling a 13-25 record in three seasons with Southern Mississippi, though after winning one game in his first season there, He won nine games in his final season before moving to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their offensive coordinator.

Monken was with the Browns before, serving as their offensive coordinator in 2019 during the one season that Freddie Kitchens was Cleveland's top man.

Monken's offenses with Baltimore were at the top of the league in their first two seasons, but slid in 2025 due to injuries to Lamar Jackson and an offensive line that was worse than in past seasons.

The Browns have had several candidates remove themselves from consideration due to the team's insistence on the new head coach keeping Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator, but Schwartz is reported to have said his goodbyes inside the Browns headquarters and isn't interested in returning to the Browns.

The Browns have bungled this beyond even the Browns' usual screwups.

I wasn't thrilled with the Browns going too young with Jacksonville's Grant Udinski or the Los Angeles Rams Nate Scheelhasse, but I could see why they would decide on that path.

Monken, who has been described by The Athletic's Zac Jackson as a "Grumpier Kevin Stefanski," doesn't bring youth, a dynamic personality, or a winning head coaching background and might have been the compromise candidate between Jimmy Haslam and Andrew Berry (Berry, who shouldn't be here to begin with) as a coach who would take the job with Jim Schwartz, only to see that go awry when Schwartz (rightfully so) is angry about not getting the job and doesn't want to return.

In the end, the Browns took over a month to hire a coach who no one else interviewed (sound familiar?) because it was so important to keep Jim Schwartz, yet not important enough to give the head job to Schwartz, who now wants to leave the team and cause the one unit that has worked (the defense) to be in an uproar.

 I just don't understand the decision or rationale in hiring Todd Monken.

The Browns somehow took the worst-case scenario and made it their own.

Keeping Andrew Berry as GM, hiring another candidate no one else is looking to hire, losing Jim Schwartz, turning off their players, and sending their fan base into "business as usual" mode is clown show material.

Clownshow- meet Brownshow.

Devils obtain Tsyplakov for Palat

  While watching the New Jersey Devils 4-3 loss against the Winnipeg Jets (I haven't seen many games and written about what I have watched), the Devils announced a trade that will help the team under the salary cap next season.

New Jersey sent veteran winger Ondrej Palat, with 2026 third, and 2027 seventh-round picks, to the New York Islanders for right winger Maxim Tsyplakov.

Maxim Tsyplakov is twenty-seven years old and is in his second season in the NHL after playing several years in Russia's KHL.

Tsyplakov scored ten goals with twenty-five assists for the Islanders last season, but has scored just one goal with one assist in twenty-seven games this season.

Ondrej Palat was in his fourth season with the Devils after the team signed him as a free agent from Tampa Bay in 2022.

Palat scored four goals and six assists in fifty-one games for New Jersey this season, and with the trade, the Devils will save six million dollars on next season's salary cap.

The savings on the cap are why the Devils had to add the draft picks to make the deal, as Tsyplakov will be under contract for next season at a more palatable 2.25 million.

Road Trip: Day Two

       Day two started with us heading to Springfield, Ohio, and the Springfield Antique Center.

I've had luck there in the past, and I would again this time as I grabbed the pictured Sesame Street clubhouse from 1977 for Archie.

It came with a few figures, but it gives me a project to work on for when he visits.

I found a few programs, most notably a 1971 Ohio State vs Michigan State and an Arkansas vs Navy game from 1982, but the big find was for Archie.

Fred found a silver dollar for his collection, so both of us were pleased leaving Springfield.

We drove to another place in Dayton, Antiques Village, but I didn't make a purchase there.

We grabbed a light lunch at a combined A&W Root Beer/Long John Silvers which was up the street from Antiques Village.

I've always liked LJS, but in recent years, all of the local stores, with one exception (Martinsburg, WV), had been closed, so this was a nice treat.

We then drove to the Cincinnati area for our evening stay at the Fairfield Hampton Inn.

Located next to the former Cincinnati Mills Mall, which was in the midst of demolition during our visit, the Hampton was a little different, as many of the lights weren't functioning!

The front desk person was helpful and gave me some bulbs, but the issue must have been with the lights or wiring, as none of the new bulbs worked either!

I gave Fred the choice of our dinner location and, befitting the name Landucci, Fred chose an Italian chain, "The Old Spaghetti Factory." 

It wasn't very good, and the service was slow.

It was actually so bad that Fred gave me a future "Chip" to cash in on a place that Fred might not select, but I'd like to try!

We returned to the hotel to watch the Browns 31-29 loss to the Tennessee Titans from earlier in the day and rested for the third day, which would see one of the favorite items that I've ever found, and it wouldn't even be mine!

Boxing Challenge: Muratalla Shades Cruz

    Raymond Muratalla used an aggressive yet controlled style to force the superior boxer, Andy Cruz, to engage more and move less, winning a close majority decision to retain his IBF lightweight title in Las Vegas.

The fight reminded me a lot of the two Artur Beterbiev-Dimtri Bivol fights, as it was a fight that had plenty of action but was done with skill, not with crude punches.

Muratalla was the slightly harder puncher, had the advantage in the final few rounds, and deserved the very close decision, which he won by scores of 118-110 and 116-112 for Muratalla and 114-114 even.

I thought Muratalla won by a tight 115-113 score and believe the 118-110 card was out of touch with reality.

Muratalla was making a mandatory defense and was the visiting fighter (Muratalla is promoted by Top Rank) on a Matchroom/DAZN card.

Muratalla surprised me a little with the win and is going to be a tough out for anyone in the division but unification fights may have to wait a while with the WBA title being vacated (Gervonta Davis had the title removed due to his out of the ring issues) and the WBC title could be vacated should champion Shakur Stevenson win his junior welterweight championship match with Teofimo Lopez next week.

WBO champion Abdullah Mason is also promoted by Top Rank but is still relatively untested, and Top Rank may not be in a hurry to have a prized prospect meet Muratalla too early.

Cruz fought well, and after a close loss, I wouldn't be surprised to see his name in the mix for vacant titles.

Former WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov returned to the ring after a long absence but didn't thrill anyone in a rout of Luis David Salazar.

Madrimov won on all three cards (and mine) 99-91 and hurt Salazar in the final round, but otherwise trudged his way to the easy win.

Khalil Coe blew weight by an astonishing eight pounds before his light heavyweight fight against Jesse Hart, lost a point for bodyslamming Hart, and appeared to be defeated by Hart, a former super middleweight title challenger.

Yet, Coe was rewarded with a majority decision that he didn't deserve, winning by scores of 96-92, 95-93, and 94-94.

Hart didn't help his cause when he lost a point for holding in round six, but it didn't cost him the fight on those cards.

I scored Hart the winner 95-93.

Boxing Challenge

Ramon Malpica; 8 Pts(4)

Vince Samano: 7 Pts (3)
TRS:  6 Pts (2)

PPM

  The college season is over, and we move to the NFL's conference finals to determine who will be playing in the Super Bowl! 

Last Week: 4-1 

Overall: 167-81

AFC Championship

New England over Denver 24-14

NFC Championship 

Seattle over Los Angeles 37-35

 

Boxing Challenge: Zuffa Boxing Debut

     The debut card for Zuffa Boxing on Paramount+ showed that there is much work for the infant promotion to do, but one thing was definite: the fighter who was hoped to be their first homegrown star has a long way to go to become a standout.

Junior middleweight Callum Walsh outclassed former title challenger Carlos Ocampo in winning an easy unanimous decision. Still, for the second fight in a row, Walsh was given a prime stage to shine and instead proved to be simply workmanlike.

Walsh won by scores of 98-90 on two scorecards and 97-91 on the third (I scored Walsh the winner 97-91).

Ocampo was deducted one point while Walsh's glove touched the canvas in the sixth round, which gave Ocampo a knockdown, but Walsh wasn't hurt in the slightest.

Walsh appears to be a solid if unexciting fighter who could contend for a title in the right situation but is unlikely to develop into a star.

I did watch the broadcast with interest as Zuffa started its production.

The commentary was mixed as Joe Tessitore moved over from ESPN for blow-by-blow with Max Kellerman and Andre Ward providing the analysis.

Tessitore isn't a favorite of mine, but he's not terrible.

I've always liked Max Kellerman, but I'm not thrilled to see Andre Ward back.

Everything with Ward revolves around how great he was, and his analysts tend to fall into the trap of complementing him at the cost of the match in the ring.

I liked Tim Bradley's work at ESPN, and he improved a lot after Ward left, simply because he could call the fight rather than talk about Ward.

Kellerman was always a Ward admirer when Ward was active, and I fear he is falling into the same habits as Tim Bradley had when he worked with Ward.

I didn't see much of the pre-fight or desk portions of the broadcast, but I'll try to see those when Zuffa returns with what appears to be a much better slate of fights on February 1st.

Boxing Challenge

Ramon Malpica: 4 Pts (2) 

Vince Samano: 4 Pts (2)

TRS: 4 Pts (1) 

Boxing Challenge

    The boxing challenge will feature three intriguing fights from Matchroom/DAZN, as well as the first event from newcomer Zuffa Boxing on Paramount+. 

Las Vegas will host the only world title bout of the weekend as Raymond Muratalla defends his IBF lightweight title against Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz.

Muratalla won the vacant title last May with a unanimous decision win over Zair Abdullaev, while Cruz last fought only six times as a pro, his most recent win a fifth-round knockout of Hironori Mishiro last June.

 Muratalla has met the better competition of the two, but that's balanced by Cruz's extensive amateur experience at the highest level.

Cruz has the better skills, but he also has questions about his chin, having never faced a puncher as a professional.

I think this is a close fight, and I lean slightly toward Cruz, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Muratalla grab the win.

The co-feature will see the middleweight debut of former WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov.

Madrimov has lost his two recent fights by close decisions to Terence Crawford and Vergil Ortiz, so he has no shame in those defeats.

Madrimov's opponent is 20-1 Luis David Salazar, who is untested and has only seven KO's in his twenty wins and was stopped in his only loss, in which he was dropped four times.

The other challenge event from Las Vegas is an interesting light heavyweight match between prospect Khalil Coe and former super middleweight contender Jesse Hart.

Coe avenged his only loss when he knocked out Manuel Gallegos in six rounds last summer, while Hart has won five straight against lower competition since his 2020 split decision defeat to Joe Smith.

This one could be very entertaining.

The Friday action is also in Las Vegas with Zuffa Boxing's first show on Paramount as unbeaten junior middleweight Callum Walsh meets former world title challenger Carlos Ocampo.

Walsh trudged to a dull unanimous decision over then-unbeaten Fernando Vargas Jr. on the Crawford-Canelo undercard in his last win.

Ocampo has lost each of his three attempts at the world-class level, losing to Errol Spence, Sebastian Fundora, and Tim Tszyu.

Boxing Challenge

Junior Middleweights. 10 Rds 

Callum Walsh vs Carlos Ocampo

Ramon Malpica and Vince Samano: Walsh Unanimous Decision
TRS: Walsh KO 4

IBF Lightweight Title. 12 Rds

Raymond Muratalla vs Andy Cruz

R.L: Muratalla Unanimous Decision
TRS and V.S: Cruz Unanimous Decision

Middleweights 10 Rds

Israil Madrimov vs Luis David Salazar

R.L and V.S: Madrimov Unanimous Decision

TRS: Madrimov KO 6

Light Heavyweights 10 Rds

Khalil Coe vs Jesse Hart

All: Coe Unanimous Decision

Forgotten Superstars: Jose Luis Castillo

    Some people have just been unlucky in life.

It's hard to call Jose Luis Castillo unlucky in his career. 

After all, Castillo was a two-time lightweight champion and is remembered as one of the two participants in the greatest fight of all time. So how could he be unlucky?

Well, Castillo lost the greatest fight of all time, possibly due to a referee error, may have beaten the never-defeated Floyd Mayweather, only to be denied on the scorecards, and defeated five world champions during his career (Six if you count Floyd). Yet, he's not in the boxing hall of fame.

Castillo has wins over Diego Corrales, Joel Casamayor, Juan Diaz, Stevie Johnston, and Jorge Paez, and has fought world champions Ruslan Provodnikov, Ricky Hatton, Cesar Soto, and Floyd Mayweather, all in losing efforts.

Castillo's credentials make him deserving of the Boxing Hall of Fame, but there are a few reasons that he's missing his plaque.

First, he didn't receive the decision he deserved against Floyd Mayweather.

That evening and the resulting ripple effect would affect boxing for years.

I've always thought that if Castillo had won, Mayweather's career might have been even better. As his career advanced, Floyd would have been a fighter rather than a businessman, not worrying about protecting an unbeaten record.

It would also have raised Castillo in the eyes of boxing historians as the only man to have defeated an all-time great, and adding that victory to an already-qualified resume would have put him over the top for induction.

I think Castillo's win is held against him, which sounds silly, but allow me to explain.

Castillo badly missed weight for his rematch against Diego Corrales, and after paying a fine to Corrales, Corrales agreed to fight, and the much bigger and stronger Castillo stopped Corrales in the fourth round.

It was one of the first cases of what has become a problem in the sport, weight bullying, where a fighter doesn't try to make the weight, accepts his punishment (which in a title fight means the title is no longer at stake, pays a fine to the opponent, and often gives himself a better chance of winning.

Castillo had a huge advantage in the second Corrales fight (Corrales made the weight), and when the third fight saw Castillo miss the mark by an even larger number, Corrales, who again made the weight, refused to fight under those conditions, and the fight never happened.

I believe missing weight is held against Castillo (he also missed weight for a fight against Timothy Bradley, forcing a cancellation) by Boxing Hall of Fame voters(In which I'd do a far better job as a voter than many, by the way), and it shouldn't be.

While Castillo wasn't always professional about making the contracted weight, those issues shouldn't keep him from the Hall.

After all, Castillo moved from the top sparring partner for the great Julio Cesar Chavez to a successful two-time lightweight champion with several prominent victories and an exciting, fan-friendly style, so it has to be held against Castillo for the two blown weights against Corrales, because I can't think of another reason.

Jose Luis Castillo deserves a spot in boxing's hall. For now, he will have to settle for being the latest to enter the Forgotten Superstars universe. 

Hagerstown receives Soccer Franchise

     I was scrolling the internet recently and stumbled upon the logo to your right.

Hagerstown will host a minor league soccer team, although it's unclear whether it is a true minor league or semi-pro team, with the season running from May through July.

The Hub City Football Club (Black Roses) will start play in May as a member of the National Premier Soccer League, which is listed as a Tier One league, the top level of amateur soccer in the country.

I have become quite an ardent admirer of the English leagues (all four levels, which can be streamed on the Peacock (Premier League) or Paramount (EFL) ), I haven't followed the other top European leagues (Spain, Germany, France, or Italy), the U.S.-based MLS, or the national competitions such as the World Cup.

I'm intrigued, at least for now.

Much would depend on where their games would be (It would almost have to be either Meritus Park, where the Atlantic League Boxcars play, or one of the two Hagerstown high school stadiums), and when the games would take place (Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays would be out due to work commitments) would be a factor in how many I could attend.

North Hagerstown's Mike Callas Stadium is newer and nicer than South Hagerstown's School Stadium, and they have the advantage of not being located where people can watch the game from the Pizza Hut parking lot for free, so if I had to guess on where the team will play, I'd pick North Hagerstown.

I enjoy soccer, although I don't write about it often here.

I don't have enough knowledge about the sport to feel like I'm adding anything valuable to discourse, or I'd write about Newcastle United here at TRS.

I watch all their games, but I would be re-warming other people's work because I don't know enough about the nuances of the game.

Still, I'm interested in the arrival of HCFC, and I could see a world (presuming things fall the right way) where I attend some games and cover them here.

Hopefully, things work out for a successful debut.