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Morocco World
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Five Facts About Moroccan Muay Thai Star Elmehdi El Jamari
Morocco's Elmehdi El Jamari hopes to cement his status as a world-class Muay Thai fighter and a serious contender in ONE Championship's strawweight division in his second promotional bout. El Jamari is set to face Thailand's rising star Aliff Sor Dechapan in a Strawweight Muay Thai contest that could decide the next challenger to Prajanchai PK Saenchai at ONE Fight Night 32 which kicks off at 2 a.m. (WET) on Saturday, June 7. Before El Jamari returns to Bangkok's iconic Lumpinee Stadium, we look at five facts about the 27-year-old Moroccan. Muay Thai changed his life El Jamari was born and raised in the Taqaddoum neighborhood in Morocco's capital city of Rabat where he watched many of his peers sink into drug addiction and a life of crime. However, Elmehdi found martial arts as a welcome gateway to a healthy lifestyle. 'I would say martial arts saved me from so many things. I grew up in a tough neighborhood with a high crime rate. It was a difficult neighborhood. Most of the young men used to do drugs. Martial arts saved me. By practicing martial arts, I stayed away from bad friends and drugs,' he said. Elmehdi's older brother and fellow ONE athlete Zakaria inspired him to attend Muay Thai training sessions. Elmehdi joined a local gym when he was eight years old – and he instantly found his passion in Muay Thai. Their eldest brother Mohammad had led the way for both into Muay Thai, but unlike his younger brothers, he never turned professional due to an injury he suffered early on in training. He is a proven Muay Thai champion After showcasing his immense talent in more than 120 amateur Muay Thai bouts, El Jamari turned professional where he has amassed a 27-1. Most recently, the Moroccan star picked up an impressive debut victory in ONE Championship over Thai counterpart Thongpoon PK Saenchai via a first-round knockout. Before joining ONE, El Jamari had already proven his credentials as a top Muay Thai fighter, winning the Moroccan Muay Thai championship seven times, the Arab Muay Thai championship twice, and the African Muay Thai championship twice as well as Muay Thai titles at K-1 and the World Boxing Council (WBC). He has fought around the world After dominating the Muay Thai national and regional circuits, El Jamari traveled to the UAE and then to Barcelona where he started working under his manager Hamza Ostoura. In the following years, The Sniper rose to his nickname picked up impressive wins as he fought in UAE, Spain, Belgium, France, and Thailand. He recently revealed that he was especially thrilled to fight inside the Lumpinee Stadium and highlighted it as 'a dream come true'. He is aiming to become a ONE World Champion With a wealth of experience and an impressive overall record, El Jamari knows he could be one win away from challenging for the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai world title. Despite focusing on his preparations for his fight against the talented Aliff, the Moroccan already has one eye on two-sport world champion Prajanchai's Muay Thai belt. 'I think Prajanchai is a very experienced fighter. But his time is up. He is aging and this is the time for a new generation of fighters. I hope I will defeat Aliff first and then Prajanchai, too,' El Jamari said. Tags: El Jamarifightingmuay thaiONE Champion
Los Angeles Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Jake Paul and Julio César Chávez Jr. question each other's skills ahead of Anaheim bout
One of Jake Paul's nicknames is the 'Problem Child,' but that nickname could just as easily fit Julio César Chávez Jr. After becoming World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion of the world in 2011, Chávez defended his crown three times and came to be considered on the same level as his contemporary Saúl 'Canelo' Álvarez. But a disappointing loss to Sergio Martínez in 2012, lack of discipline needed to train properly and make weight, as well as a crushing defeat to Álvarez in 2017, sent his career into a free fall. From 2019-21, he picked up three losses in four fights, including falling to former champion Daniel Jacobs and mixed martial arts veteran Anderson Silva. Now at 39, Chávez will face Youtuber turned boxer Jake Paul in a cruiserweight contest scheduled for June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Chávez (54-6-1, 34 KOs) has fought 61 professional bouts since his debut in 2003 and could be the toughest test of Paul's (11-1, 7 KOs) career to date, although it all depends on the level of the Mexican's fitness for the matchup. During a press event held at The Avalon in Hollywood on Wednesday, Paul strongly criticized Chávez while mentioning the addiction problems Chávez has faced as well as his 'lack of mentality.' 'I'm going to embarrass him and run him down like he always does,' Paul said. 'I'm going to expose him. He will be the embarrassment of Mexico. There are two things you can't beat — me and your drug addiction.' Outside the ring, Chávez's personal life has not been free of problems. The Culiacan native was arrested in January of last year in Los Angeles and charged with illegal possession of weapons, specifically an assault rifle, which was found in his home. He eventually pleaded not guilty and committed to entering a rehabilitation program. On Wednesday, the legendary Julio César Chávez Sr. stood by his son's side to support him in the face of Paul's verbal attacks. For Chávez Sr., if his son continues to train the way he has seen him lately, the American doesn't stand a chance. Chávez Jr. will be looking to be the second opponent to beat Paul after Tommy Fury scored a win in 2023. 'He's an overrated fighter. He hasn't fought anybody. He only fights old guys,' said Chávez Jr., who added he will arrive in Anaheim as the best version of himself and that the first five rounds will be difficult, but that he will tip the scales in his favor from the seventh round on. Chávez Sr., as on many occasions, has mentioned that his son is training like never before. 'There is no way Jake Paul can beat my son, the way he is training,' Chávez Sr. said. Paul responded he could beat Chávez Jr. and his legendary father, criticizing Chávez Jr.'s lack of discipline. 'It's not a champion's mentality to only train hard when you have a big fight. I train hard every time I have a fight, no matter who I'm facing. That teaches you the type of person he is,' Paul said. After the news conference, Chávez Jr. noted that he expected Paul to pick on his dad, but understood it was a mental tactic by his opponent. 'In boxing you learn step by step, and he is missing several,' Chávez Jr. said. Paul, a 28-year-old from Cleveland, will return to the ring since he last fought in November, when he outpointed heavyweight legend Mike Tyson in an eight-round bout in Arlington, Texas. The event disappointed many due to a lack of competitiveness from 58-year-old 'Iron Mike.' During this fight, Paul will likely have much of the crowd against him by choosing to fight a Mexican star in Southern California, although he believes there are many who will support him. 'Mexicans love me. People love me more than they love him. Mexico doesn't even love him. I'm going to show him who the real Mexican warrior is,' Paul said. The showdown between Paul and Chávez Jr. comes after a proposed showdown between the Youtuber and Álvarez fell apart earlier this year. Paul could be close to a fight against Álvarez, although before that he could consider a matchup against Mexico's Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramírez, who will be defending his cruiserweight crown against Cuban Yuniel Dorticos (27-2, 25 KOs) on the Anaheim card. 'He has done a good job. Maybe someday we can fight for titles. Now I'm the champion,' Ramírez, 33, said about facing Paul. Ramírez (47-1, 30 KOs) said he would prefer to unify the Boxing Assn. title against Jai Opetaia, the International Boxing Federation champion. But before that, he will have to dispatch Dorticos, who is known for his powerful punch. 'Los Angeles is going to shake. The knockout doctor is back,' said Dorticos, 39. The card is promoted by Most Valuable Promotions in conjunction with Golden Boy Promotions, and will air on pay-per-view via DAZN. This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español.
Express Tribune
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Waseem new WBA bantamweight champ
"It was a dream that has come true and I can't thank my people enough for it," the newly crowned World Boxing Association World Gold Bantamweight champion Mohammad Waseem said in his hometown, Quetta which staged Pakistan's first professional boxing event. Waseem has been chasing not only another world title but also his ultimate dream to win it in front of his home crowd in Pakistan, to give them a taste of proper boxing bouts. The former three-time World Boxing Council Silver Flyweight Champion grabbed his title against Venezuela's Wiston Orono in front of a crowd of thousands. He knocked out Orono in the ninth round after a flurry of body shots, culminating in a final knockout punch. "I felt so good was also because this is my natural weight," Waseem admitted, while his previous world title bouts included International Boxing Federation fights against Sunny Edwards in 2022, and Moruti Mthalane in 2018 has been in the flyweight division. With his result, a decision given by judges who were in Pakistan from Germany, Spain, France, Venezuela, and Panama, Waseem registered his 10th knockout win of his professional career. "Orono was so good in the first three rounds, and he was just dominating, I felt," Waseem told this correspondent on Monday Morning, after soaking in the historic victory over the weekend. "My opponent was too good, but then I felt I started to get more ground in the fourth round, and by the sixth round, I could intuitively tell that he was wearing out. By the time I returned to my corner after the sixth round, my coach Danny Vaughn said that Orono looks like he wants to get out of the fight. So I capitalised on it. I was sure that he would not last beyond the ninth or tenth round with the way he was moving." The show went on despite the India-Pakistan conflict. The event took place, featuring boxers and officials from around 13 countries on Saturday night. The constant preparations for it began in January. "I'm feeling very good, I could not have done this without the help of DHA Quetta, the Chief Minister of Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, has been very kind, and so was the Corps Commander for Quetta, Lieutenant General Rahat Naseem Ahmed Khan. "The CM Balochistan sent his private jet to make sure that the boxers get to Quetta safely, on Friday, when there were news of war between India and Pakistan everywhere, our boxers were stuck in Dubai for two days and then they managed to land in Pakistan, but from Islamabad they were brought through private plane," he disclosed. The event saw eight bouts, including the WBA Asia South Super Lightweight title won by Tarik Zaina. Alex Dilmaghani won the WBA Asia Middle-East Lightweight title. Jesus Saracho won the bout for the WBA Asia Middle-East Welterweight title. Two women's boxing title bouts also took place. The 2010 World Combat Games gold medallist and the 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Waseem, feels that the challenges to hold the event did not deter him from giving his best in the ring. "I have had 300 amateur bouts and now in my professional career I have won my 14th fight, so I am used to facing difficulties and I don't get nervous or lose my focus," said the resilient pugilist who has seen it all from troubles with Pakistan Boxing Federation, to lack of sponsorships, bad managements, to constant visa issues in the past. 'It meant everything' The success of the event was more personal for Waseem. "I trained in Liverpool for two months, but the day I was leaving for my training, my wife gave birth to our daughter, and that was the hardest thing for me to be away from my newborn, but I had to train," he explained. "I got to experience my daughter for the first time since her birth on May 3, when I returned to Pakistan. "Boxing can be so lonely. But I am glad I won this world title, and I feel my daughter is very lucky for me. My wife and kids couldn't be there because of the complete airspace shutdown. But my parents, my siblings, and my relatives saw me win the world title at home, among my people of Quetta, Balochistan, and that felt like a dream." He thanked American matchmaker Roberto A Diaz and Chris Glover, who helped bring the international event to Pakistan.
TimesLIVE
06-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Bridgerweight a blessing for South Africa's smaller heavyweight boxers
The World Boxing Council's (WBC) newly-established bridgerweight division, its 18th weight class, has come as a blessing to South African fighters, especially those who have been campaigning in the heavyweight division. Established by WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán in 2020, the division sits between the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. It caters for small heavyweight fighters, with a weight limit of 106kg. Former IBO cruiserweight champion Kevin Lerena rules the division with an iron fist after his stunning defeat of Ukrainian Serhiy Radchenko in Pretoria on Thursday. South African heavyweight champion Shaun Potgieter and former national heavyweight champions Chris Thompson and Keaton Gomes are also rated in that weight class. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐭 🤜💥🤛 Kevin Lerena successfully defends his WBC Bridgerweight title on home soil 🇿🇦 #TheReckoning — SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) May 1, 2025 Gomes won his debut match in the division in the WBC Grand Prix Series in Saudi Arabia last month. Former Gauteng and WBA Pan African cruiserweight champ Akani Phuzi won his first fight in that weight class last weekend. His trainer/manager, Damien Durandt, said: 'The plan is to campaign at international level.' South Africa has always struggled to produce fully-fledged heavyweight boxers, except for Gerrie Coetzee, whose weight was about 115kg. Coetzee's size made it possible for him to stand and trade blows with the likes of John Tate, Mike Weaver, Greg Page, Michael Dokes and Frank Bruno, though most of these stopped him within scheduled distances. Corrie Sanders was a small heavyweight at 109kg. He defeated fringe opponents en route to winning the WBU belt, which he defended successfully three times against average opponents. The moment he met a credible, fully-fledged heavyweight contender in Hasim Rahman, who weighed 129kg, Sanders' size was exposed. He just could not hurt the American, who stopped him in round seven in 2000. Sanders' hand speed was his best weapon, and it helped him win the WBO title in 2003 via a second-round stoppage of Wladimir Klitschko. Sanders' reign was short-lived. Kitschko's brother, Vitali Klitschko, stopped him in eight rounds the next year. Pierre Coetzer was similar to Sanders in track record. Coetzer reigned supreme as the national heavyweight champ. However he was knocked out in round one by American Bernard Benton, a full-blown former WBC and The Ring cruiserweight champion, who made his debut in the heavyweight division against Coetzer at Standard Bank Arena on September 28 1987. Coetzer made the biggest mistake of his life in facing George Foreman, who severely punished him, ultimately winning by a technical knockout in the eighth round. Foreman dominated the fight with his powerful punches, knocking Coetzer down twice and causing significant damage. The referee stopped the fight after the second knock-down. Francois Botha, who weighed 118kg, was not deterred by his smallness. He mixed it with the likes of Axel Schultz, Mike Tyson, Shannon Briggs, Lennox Lewis and Michael Grant in his illustrious career, which saw him win the IBF and WBF belts.
Los Angeles Times
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
What time does the Canelo Álvarez vs. William Scull fight start?
Saúl 'Canelo' Álvarez will put his World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization belts on the line Saturday at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, against Cuban William Scull, an International Boxing Federation champion. Before the bout was announced, Álvarez seemed poised to face Jake Paul, but the Mexican star instead signed a four-fight contract and agreed to take on Scull. Álvarez's next bout is expected to be against Terence Crawford in September. Scull is not very well known, but 'El Indomable' hopes to surprise and make himself known to the world. The fight is scheduled to begin at about 6 a.m. in Saudi Arabia so that Álvarez's fans in the United States and Mexico can watch at the more traditional time — around 8 p.m. PDT. The fight card will be available exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view. Álvarez should have faced Scull, his mandatory opponent, last year, but he decided to vacate the IBF belt to face Edgar Berlanga in September. The bout against Scull will give Álvarez a chance to regain the IBF crown. The other top bout will feature Mexico's Jaime Munguia (44-2, 35 KOs) facing Bruno Surace (26-0, 5 KOs) in a rematch after the Tijuana native was knocked out by the Frenchman in December. This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español.
