COMMISSIONER’S CORNER By Randy Gordon
Giant Killer” because his handlers are confident he’ll one day be ready for much-bigger standouts of the division. Time will tell. He is just 20 years old and still at the six-round level of his development. Amari Jones (middleweight) 2024 record: 2-0 (2 KOs), overall: 13-0 (12 KOs). This 22-year-old talent may wind up back at 154, another reason to keep your eyes on that division in the years to come. Jones is an explosive puncher with solid skills and serious potential. Moses Itauma (heavyweight) 2024 record: 3-0 (3 KOs), overall: 11-0 (9 KOs). Itauma wasn't extended beyond Round 2 in 2024, ending the year with his dazzling first-round destruction of Demsey McKean in December. His hope is to win a major heavyweight title belt before his 21st birthday. Paddy Donovan (welterweight) 2024 record: 2-0 (2 KOs), overall: 14-0 (11 KOs). From Limerick, Ireland, this 25-year-old southpaw’s next fight is scheduled for March 1 in Belfast against hometown hero Lewis Crocker, who will bring a 20-0 record into the bout. It will be the main event on DAZN in front of a packed and boisterous SSE Arena. Callum Walsh (junior middleweight) 2024 record: 3-0 (3 KOs), overall: 12-0 (10 KOs). Promoted by veteran Tom Loeffler, this hard-hitting southpaw from Cork, Ireland, by way of Hollywood, California, is one of the most promising young (23) fighters in the sport. Loeffler plans to keep Walsh very busy in 2025. His first fight of the year will take place on St. Patrick’s Day Weekend
several fights in 2024. One was supposed to be on the undercard of the first Usyk-Fury fight, but when that fight was postponed, Team Safar waited for the rescheduled date. On that May 18 card, Safar one-sidedly outpointed former light heavyweight champ Sergey Kovalev.
to packed audiences. Kudos to his matchmaker, Eric Bottjer , who is unquestionably one of the busiest and best in the sport. We all should be taking notice of 19-year-old super middleweight Marco Romero . From Overland Park, Kansas, Romero turned pro in April 2024 and ended the year at 4-0 (3 KOs). “We are in no rush with Romero at all,” said manager John Brown. “He is a phenomenal talent, and he is learning every time he goes into the gym. We intend to take it nice and slow with him.” I’ve seen him. I’ve announced one of his fights. He is truly one of the most gifted boxers I have ever seen. And I’ve seen many!
Randy’s Estrada-Rodriguez wish came true in 2024.
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brief thoughts on where their careers are at the moment. 1. Andy Cruz (lightweight) 2024 record: 2-0 (1 KO), overall: 4-0 (2 KOs). This 29-year-old Cuban Olympic gold medalist is now with A-list manager Peter Kahn and is promoted by Matchroom Boxing. His next fight is scheduled to take place on January 25 in Las Vegas.
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QUICK HITS: Top referee Jack Reiss and undefeated world champion Seniesa Estrada have both announced their retirement from their positions while at the top of their respective games, but friends and fans will be seeing and hearing plenty from both of them. Estrada, who does a tremendous job on the mic, will most likely be ringside very soon. She is also a friend of any camera pointed at her, and companies with products to endorse are taking notice. As for Reiss, who has judged more than 500 bouts in addition to being the referee for 1,152 fights, according to BoxRec.com, will stay on the California State Athletic Commission as a judge. In this corner’s opinion, he would also be an excellent head of the Instant Replay Review Committee, which the CSAC believes (and rightfully so!) can be an important tool in the regulation of boxing. Speaking of the California and New Jersey commissions, I think their executive officers – Andy Foster and Larry Hazzard Sr. – are the two finest in the world at their jobs. I’d also like to add the knowledgeable Matt Delaglio of the New York State Athletic Commission, who, since having the shackles removed after working for years without proper support, has blossomed into a fine chief executive. Larry Goldberg , the owner of BoxingInsider.com and the president of Boxing Insider Promotions, has turned heads in the last two years with his explosion onto the promotional scene in both New York City and Atlantic City. He has been running excellent shows from the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City and from Sony Hall in Midtown Manhattan, both
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He is an exceptional defensive boxer with two of the quickest hands in the sport. A world title could well be in his future. Ernesto Mercado (junior welterweight) 2024 record: 3-0 (3 KOs), overall: 16-0 (15 KOs). “Tito” stopped all three of his opponents in 2024 inside three rounds. At 5-foot-10, he is tall for his weight class. Mercado’s team has scheduled the 23-year-old to face former titleholder Jose Pedraza on January 25. Emiliano Vargas (junior welterweight) 2024 record: 4-0 (3 KOs), overall: 12-0 (10 KOs). One of the three fighting sons of former world champion Fernando Vargas and promoted by Top Rank. Just 20 years of age. Emiliano is another young star in good hands. They are letting him learn and perfect his skills before he steps in with the best in the world. Freudis Rojas (welterweight) 2024 record: 2-0, overall: 14-0 (11 KOs). This 26-year-old southpaw looks to have it all: hand speed, power in both fists, solid defense, stamina and foot speed. Right now, his toughest fight has been finding opponents. Lorenzo Medina (heavyweight) 2024 record: 2-0 (1 KO), overall: 11-0 (9 KOs). Though 6-foot-2 is considered small for a heavyweight nowadays, Medina is called “The
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In 1989, as chairman of the NYSAC, I, along with Floyd Patterson, Carmen Basilio and Billy Backus, cut the ribbon to open the International Boxing Hall of Fame museum in Canastota, New York. The following year, in that same position as Chairman of the NYSAC, I stood at the podium with luminaries such as Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Willie Pep, Sandy Saddler, Basilio, Bob Foster and a lot more on both sides of me, and I gave a short speech to officially begin the IBHOF’s first induction ceremony with the words: “... and now, it gives me great pleasure to announce the opening of the dream which has come to life, the first year of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.” In June, another dream will become reality. I will be a part of the Class of 2025. Dreams do indeed come true. Randy Gordon is an inductee in the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 in the Observer category. He is a former Editor-in-Chief of The Ring and has been Host of SiriusXM’s “At the Fights” with Gerry Cooney since 2009. He can be reached via email at TheCommishRandyG@gmail.com; Twitter (X) @CommishRandyG; Instagram @RandytheCommishGordon
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W hen 2023 was coming to an end, I was asked by so many of you what fights I hoped to see in 2024. Much of my “Wish List” came to fruition, with the exception of one fight: Canelo Alvarez vs. David Benavidez. I think most of us wanted to see that one. However, these fights from my list (in no order of preference) DID happen:
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1. Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2. Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury (we even got this fight twice!) 3. Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia (we only wish there were an even playing field that night) 4. Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano II 5. Seniesa Estrada vs. Yokasta Valle 6. Jesse Rodriguez vs. Juan Francisco Estrada 7. Naoya Inoue vs. Luis Nery 8. Canelo Alvarez vs. Jaime Munguia 9. Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois 10. O’Shaquie Foster vs. Robson Conceicao For 2025 , here are the fights I am hoping for (a few are already in place, but until both contestants are in the ring and the fight starts, I’m still hoping!):
1. Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol II 2. Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano III 3. Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani 4. Canelo Alvarez vs. David Benavidez 5. Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois II 6. Terence Crawford vs. Vergil Ortiz 7. Gervonta Davis vs. Shakur Stevenson 8. Devin Haney vs. Teofimo Lopez 9. Richardson Hitchins vs. Jack Catterall 10. Fabio Wardley vs. Moses Itauma My top prospects of 2023 all had undefeated records (albeit small ones) in 2024. Let’s take a look at who they are, their weight division, what their record was in 2024 and what their overall record is as 2025 begins, along with my
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in New York’s Madison Square Garden. His talent is enormous, though his love of the sport is second to his love for MMA. 10. Robin Safar (cruiserweight)
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2024 record: 1-0 (0 KOs), overall: 17-0 (12 KOs). Safar and his team, which includes veteran manager Steve Nelson, planned on having
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