This Week in Boxing: Cheats, COVID & Shock Draws
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As a new month has approached the sport of boxing, this week was no different as more doping scandals happened and fight rumors circulated. Here’s what happened this week in boxing (August 29 – September 5, 2021).
Oscar Valdez Tests Positive for Illegal Substance
It’s always a sad day in the boxing world when an elite fighter fails a drugs test. However, this story has created a divide in opinion following the actions from the WBC.
Oscar Valdez, who is the holder of the WBC super featherweight title, showed A and B samples positive of a banned substance phentermine in a recent test carried out by VADA.
The champions attorney claimed, “Mr Valdez had no knowledge he was taking phentermine. We believe at this point it has come from an herbal tea.”
The WBC who then complied in controversial actions announced that Valdez will not be stripped of his title and will continue with his scheduled defense against Robson Conceicao on September 10th. The sanctioning body also went on to confirm that they only play by the rules with WADA not VADA and that the substance isn’t illegal in their ‘program’.
It is safe to say fellow boxers didn’t agree with the events that happened this week –
Warrington-Lara 2 Demands Fans Wanting More
The much anticipated rematch between Josh Warrington and Mauricio Lara took place this weekend but due to an accidental clash of heads in the second round the fight was judged a technical draw.
Lara, who was victorious earlier in the year after stopping Warrington in the ninth, suffered a gruesome cut over the eye and was deemed unfit to carry on from the doctors at ringside.
The decision resulted in many boo’s from Warrington’s home crowd of Leeds, but sometimes these things happen in boxing. Shown live on DAZN, Eddie Hearn shared his plans for Warrington after the technical draw –
“I’ll be honest with you, the cut was absolutely horrific.“
“I wanted to see more rounds! That’s never happened to me before in a main event, I’m gutted for Josh.“
“We’d love to do the fight again, but there are other options out there for Josh Warrington and I’d like to get him back in the ring as soon as possible. He’s fresh and only done two rounds tonight.”
On the undercard it was action packed all night. Conor Benn, Katie Taylor and Ebanie Bridges were all victorious on points. The performer of the night was undoubtedly the punch perfect Maxi Hughes who defeated Jovanni Straffon over 12 rounds to win the IBO lightweight title in front of his home crowd.
De La Hoya Tests Positive for COVID
Ahead of his return to the ring on September 11th against Vitor Belort, the Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya has been ruled out due to contracting COVID 19 this week.
According to speculation, Evander Holyfield will be the replacement on the Triller Fight Club show.
De La Hoya who is currently hospitalized from the virus gave his fans an update on his return –
“I am currently in the hospital getting treatment and am confident I will be back in the ring before the year is up.“
DAZN Increases Membership Prices
The super popular and very youthful streaming platform DAZN announced earlier this week that they will be increase their prices of £1.99 ($2.76) to £7.99 ($11.07) per month.
The inevitable increase received mixed opinions but DAZN is beneficial for the sport and stands at the helm of the changing times in how we consume sports entertainment.
In partnership with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, DAZN has the biggest and best boxers in its stable including the likes of; Anthony Joshua, Canelo Alvarez, Devin Haney and Gennadiy Golovkin.
DAZN definitely receives The Scrap’s stamp of approval.
Fights Announced
Plenty of mouthwatering clashes were announced this week as the rest of 2021 is gearing up to deliver some fantastic fights.
Jamel Herring will defend his WBO super-featherweight title against Shakur Stevenson on October 23rd in Atlanta.
Muhammad Ali’s grandson Nico Ali Walsh will also appear in his second professional outing on the undercard.
The undisputed super-lightweight king Josh Taylor will defend all of his belts for the first since winning them against Jose Ramirez.
He will take on Jack Catterall on December 18th in Glasgow.
Chris Eubank Jr. will face Sven Elbir at the SSE Arena, Wembley on October 2nd. The fight will be boxer’s first Sky Sports show.
David Avanesyan will face Liam Taylor on the undercard.
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