Arash Usmanee: Time for Barthelemy to Do the Right Thing and Face Me Again!

A True Champion Takes on His Best Challengers Afghani-Canadian super featherweight contender Arash Usmanee wishes to congratulate new IBF Super Featherweight Champion Rances "Kid Blast" Barthelemy for his title-winning decision over Argenis Mendez last Thursday (July 10) in Miami. "Barthelemy looked good taking it to Mendez and he deserves the belt," said Usmanee. But now that the dust has settled on the Barthelemy/Mendez rivalry, Usmanee (21-2-1, 10 KOs) says the new champion has only one thing he can do to prove he deserves his spot on top. "Barthelemy himself knows he didn't beat me when we fought. If that fight was anywhere but his backyard, he would have never even gotten the chance to fight for the title. If he's a true champion, he will face me in his first defense and try to erase what everyone but the three judges saw as a loss for him." Usmanee and Barthelemy faced off in January of last year in the Cuban Barthelemy's adopted hometown of Miami and, after 12 rounds, the nearly unanimous consensus was that Usmanee had come on in the second half of the fight to dominate and deserved a clear decision. Unfortunately, the three judges saw it another way and awarded Barthelemy the unanimous verdict. The fight was an IBF title eliminator for the #2 spot in their rankings. "If our fight was held anywhere but his backyard, he would have never gotten the chance to win the belt," continued Usmanee. "If he wants to be a true world champion, then he can't pretend that didn't happen. A true champion would want to try to erase that blemish on his record immediately and I hope that's what he chooses to do in his first defense." Usmanee's promoter, Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions, says he is waiting to hear from Barthelemy's promotional team. "They know how lucky their guy got in Florida against my guy. And I know they're all honorable people, so I expect they'll take a little time to enjoy the belt and then we can all get to work on establishing the true champion of the IBF at super featherweight. My guy isn't just going to go away. They need to make this fight to establish their own legitimacy as champion." In August of last year, Usmanee, established his performance against Barthelemy was no fluke by fighting to a draw with then-champion Mendez in his only world-title try. In April of this year, Usmanee took an over-the-weight and short-notice fight (less than one week) against a much bigger Rey Beltran and lost a decision after a valiant effort as the co-feature on the Pacquiao vs. Bradley II undercard. Since then, Usmanee won a decision June 13 over the durable Juan Ruiz and is laser focused on securing the much-deserved rematch with Barthelemy.  Cohen stated, "Usmanee vs. Barthelemy II is a fight that must be made to establish who the true king is at 130 lbs in the IBF. I'm eagerly awaiting hearing from Barthelemy's people to start negotiations."

Arash Usmanee Returns to Action Defeats Durable Veteran Juan Ruiz in Edmonton

Quest for 130-lb Championship Resumes Last Friday night (June 13) at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, one of the world's best super featherweights, Afghani-Canadian Arash Usmanee (21-2-1, 10 KOs) returned to action with an eight-round decision over California's Juan Ruiz (23-13, 7 KOs). In the ring for the first time since his brave showing against WBO #1 ranked lightweight Raymundo Beltran in April, Usmanee fought off frustration over Ruiz's veteran tactics to clearly win seven rounds. Usmanee's promoter, Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions, says he was happy to see the Ruiz fight serve its purpose. "Ruiz has gone the distance with a long list of top fighters and, true to form, he gave Arash eight rounds of work. One of the judges scored it a draw, but the other two were watching the fight and gave Arash a wide decision." The victory puts Usmanee back into contention at his natural weight of super feather. Against Beltran, Usmanee started out quite well, but fighting on short notice against a larger opponent, he eventually tired and dropped a unanimous decision. "Arash deserves another shot at the super featherweight championship and that's what we're after," continued Cohen. "He beat Rances Barthelemy everywhere but the scorecards and had a draw against the then-champion Argenis Mendez. Those are the top two guys in the IBF at 130 lbs. We're going to keep him busy and wait for the winner of the upcoming Barthelemy vs. Mendez rematch or a fight against any of the other top super featherweights in the world."

Manny Pacquiao Vs. Timothy Bradley Walkout, Intro, and Decision Videos Live at the MGM Grand

Cohen Congratulates Usmanee for Gutty Performance Against Beltran

Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions wishes to congratulate his fighter, Afghani-Canadian super featherweight contender Arash Usmanee (20-2-1, 10 KOs) who stepped up in weight on short notice to face WBO #1 ranked Raymundo Beltran (29-6-1, 17 KOs) for the WBO NABO Lightweight title last Saturday night, April 12. Fighting in the co-main event of the HBO Pay-Per-View card featuring the Timothy Bradley vs. Manny Pacquiao rematch at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Usmanee put in a brave performance against the larger Beltran, but became understandably fatigued as the fight progressed. Although it was Beltran who was awarded the unanimous decision by scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 117-111, Usmanee made many new fans with his courage in taking on a larger man on short notice and hanging in for 12 tough rounds. "Arash never ceases to amaze me with his toughness," said Cohen. "How many fighters in the world could step up a weight class on less than a week's notice and go toe-to-toe for 12 grueling rounds with a top fighter like Ray Beltran?" With the victory, Beltran earned the right to face unbeaten WBO lightweight titleholder Terence Crawford, while Usmanee will return to his natural weight of 130 lbs and continue to campaign for another shot at the world championship. "Arash will fight anyone in the world at super featherweight," continued Cohen. "He beat (top contender) Rances Barthelemy everywhere but the scorecards and had a draw with (current IBF champ) Argenis Mendez. He's an elite super featherweight and his short-notice foray into the lightweight division, and the guts he showed doing it, only further solidify what a world-class warrior he truly he is. I'm very proud of him and he will be back at 130 lbs very soon."

PACQUIAO vs. BRADLEY 2 ** In-Depth Preview and Analysis **

By: Tony Penecale

Moments after the final bell rang throughout the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, most observers felt that Manny Pacquiao clearly defeated Timothy Bradley in their first fight, eliminating Bradley's unbeaten record in the process.  While it looked to be a one-sided victory, it was not going to be remembered as a highlight performance for the great Filipino warrior.  Bradley had injured one foot in the early going and later twisted his other ankle.  Pacquiao had essentially dominated a hobbled opponent.   

Then, the announcer read the decision.

When first announced it was a split decision, the crowd reacted with shock.  It was unimaginable that one of the judges awarded the bout to Bradley as the consensus among most boxing pundits was that Pacquiao won as many as 11 of the 12 rounds.  The shock was even more evident as the announcement was made awarding Bradley a highly controversial decision, with judges Duane Ford and CJ Ross favoring him by a two-point margin.

Nearly two years have passed since that controversial result.  Pacquiao suffered a major setback when he was brutally knocked out six months later by his long-time rival, Juan Manuel Marquez.  Pacquiao was boxing aggressively but got reckless attacking his seemingly wounded prey and ended up face-first on the canvas, not moving for several minutes.  He has since rebounded with a convincing win over Brandon Rios.

Bradley was out to prove his detractors wrong in his first defense against Ruslan Provodnikov, which nearly became his last.  He went iron-for-iron with the Siberian warrior and paid a heavy price, suffering a severe concussion in a winning effort.  His next effort was much more disciplined, as he did what Pacquaio failed to do, beating Marquez cleanly and winning a decision disputed by only one judge.

It has come full circle now and it comes back to Pacquiao and Bradley in a long-awaited rematch.  Can Pacquiao again turn in a dominant performance and this time earn the win that most felt he deserved in their first encounter?  Or is his time in the spotlight truly over?  Bradley contends he was deserving of that victory and believes he won 8 of the 12 rounds.  Can he improve upon that and prove his doubters wrong?  The answers will come in the center of the ring at the MGM Grand.

AGE, RECORD, AND STATS

Pacquiao:               

Age:  35 years old

                                    Record:  55-5-2 (38 Knockouts)

                                    Height:  5’6”

                                    Weight:  145 ** Weight for last bout (11-24-13)

                                    Reach:  67”

Bradley:                  

Age:  30 years old

                                    Record:  31-0 (12 Knockouts)

                                    Weight:  146   * * Weight for last bout (10-12-13)

                                    Reach:  69”

RING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Pacquiao:               

WBC Flyweight Champion (’98-‘99)

                                    IBF Super Bantamweight Champion (’01-’03)

                                    WBC Super Featherweight Champion (’08)

                                    WBC Lightweight Champion (‘08)

IBO Junior Welterweight Champion (’09)

WBO Welterweight Champion (’09-‘12)

                                    Ring Magazine Pound-4-Pound #1 Boxer (’08-‘12)

                                    Ring Magazine Pound-4-Pound #7 Boxer (Pres)

                                                                                   

Bradley:                  

WBC Junior Welterweight Champion (’08-‘12)

                                    WBO Junior Welterweight Champion (’09-‘12)

                                    WBO Welterweight Champion (’12-Pres)

                                    Ring Magazine Pound-4-Pound #3 Boxer (Pres)

                                   

                                                                       

STYLE

Pacquiao:      

Pacquiao boxes from a southpaw stance, moving forward while bobbing and feinting his way in.  Once in close, he uses his right hand to find the range and then unleashes his powerful left, either straight or looping, and will often double and triple it to the body and head.  Uses quick head shifts to slip punches while moving forward.  Has soundly developed under the tutelage of Freddie Roach, developing a decent right hook, either as a lead punch or thrown behind the left.  Uses quick head shifts to slip punches while moving forward. Is no longer the feared finisher he once was earlier in his career.

Bradley:         

Bradley is a quick but physical boxer, who likes to use his footwork to apply steady pressure.  Possesses a good jab that can be used to open up opportunities or disrupt his opponent’s rhythm.  Attacks the body well, but best punch is the overhand right.  Often leads with his head but overall has a solid defense.  Sometimes he will let his pride get in the way and fight toe-to-toe instead of boxing smartly and using his considerable skills.

STRENGTHS

Pacquiao:      

* Unorthodox Style – Pacquiao is very unorthodox, even for a southpaw.  He moves straight in but is hard to time with his bobbing and head feints.  Before most opponents can time his onrushes, he is throwing whirlwind punches from a variety of angles.

                           * Speed – Pacquiao is fleet of foot and the owner of very fast hands, especially for a boxer with such considerable power.  He quickly moves into position and fires rapid one-two combinations and has expanded his arsenal to include blinding combinations of hooks, uppercuts, and double or triple left hands.

                           * Stamina – Pacquiao is always in tremendous shape and fights just as hard in the last round as he does in the beginning.  He applies a lot of pressure and is constantly punching, wearing opponents down in the process.

Bradley:         

* Physicality – Bradley is a supremely conditioned and physical boxer.  He is adept at using his physical nature to force opponents backwards and wear them out with his strength on the inside.

                           * Boxing Ability – Not only is Bradley a very strong fighter, he is also an intelligent and quick-fisted boxer.  He uses exceptional footwork to create angles and openings to land punches.  Also works very effectively as a counter-puncher.

                           * Overhand Right – Despite notching only 12 knockouts in 28 wins, Bradley is a better puncher than his record indicates.  His money punch is a tremendous overhand right.  Following a slight upper-body dip, he launches the punch from a high angle, crashing it down on his opponent’s jaw.

WEAKNESSES

Pacquiao:    

 * Killer Instinct – Pacquiao was once regarded as a ruthless buzzsaw, cutting through opponents until they succumbed.  He has since lost that edge, failing to win a fight by stoppage since 2009.  More of a concern is on several occasions, he eased up on outclassed opponents, allowing them to survive the last few rounds.

                           * Invincibility Gone – The controversial loss to Bradley did not deflate Pacquiao’s aura of invincibility.  However, his crushing knockout loss to rival Marquez was a devastating blow to Pacquiao’s mystique. 

                           * Age – Pacquiao is no longer the phenom he was in his 20s.  He is now in his mid-30s.  As he has physically aged, he has also taken on a super human schedule with political aspirations in his home country, numerous personal appearances, and several difficult bouts. 

Bradley:         

* Pride – While pride is usually a good thing, sometimes it can be a negative.  Bradley can be too proud for his own good.  He was determined to go toe-to-toe with the dangerous but less-talented Ruslan Provodnikov and suffered a lot of punishment in a gallant but damaging winning effort.  He also steadfastly proclaims he rightly won the first fight with Pacquiao, and that belief could leave him with the mindset that improvement is not necessary.

                           * Dirty Fighter Reputation– Bradley often leads with his head, which has caused head clashes in several of his bouts.  Since his opponents have often suffered the worst of these clashes, Bradley is quickly gaining a bad reputation.  The referees are constantly on the lookout for dirty tactics, so warnings and point deductions are always a threat.

                           * Punching Power – Despite being a physically-powerful specimen, Bradley is lacking in pure punching power.  In 31 career victories, Bradley has only notched 12 victories by way of TKO.  He has only stopped 1 out of his last 13 opponents, and that was a well-past-his-prime Joel Casamayor.

PREVIOUS BOUT

Pacquiao:      

(11-24-13) Pacquiao got back in the winners column with a dominant decision victory over the tough-but-limited Brandon Rios.  Pacquiao pounded Rios throughout, turning his face into a lumpy, crimson mask. Still, he failed to finish off his victim late in the fight when the time was ripe.

Bradley:         

(10-12-13) Bradley scored his career-best victory against one of the premier boxers of this generation: Future Hall-of-Famer Juan Manuel Marquez.  Despite only winning by a split decision verdict, it was a clear Bradley victory.

3 BEST PERFORMANCES

Pacquiao:      

* Oscar De la Hoya (12/06/08) – It’s hard to imagine now, but the consensus at the time was that De la Hoya would destroy the smaller Pacquiao in a landslide.  It was a landslide, alright, but it was Pacquiao dishing out the beating, ripping De la Hoya apart with both hands.  After eight one-sided and brutal rounds, a swollen and bloodied De la Hoya was beaten into permanent retirement.

                           * Miguel Cotto (11/14/09) – Pacquiao impressively dismantled the larger and more physically imposing Cotto.  Pacquiao dropped the Puerto Rican superstar twice early and had him in a defensive shell from the 6th round on, battering him until the referee stopped the bout in the 12th round.

                           * Ricky Hatton (05/02/09) – Pacquio ran through Hatton in fast and destructive fashion.  Hatton, while still an underdog, was expected to provide a challenge with his strength and mauling tactics.  Pacquiao unveiled an improved right hook and had Hatton down twice in the 1st round before crushing him with a devastating knockout in the 2nd.

Bradley:         

* Juan  Manuel Marquez (10/12/13) – After two consecutive rocky performances, Bradley clearly outfought Pacquiao-conqueror Marquez, winning a split decision that was not as close as the scores indicated.  Bradley controlled the action, boxing well on the outside, and superb on the inside, en route to the most dominant win of his career.

                           * Ruslan Provodnikov (3/16/13) – The 2013 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year is most remembered for the periods when Bradley was on the receiving end.  He was rocked badly in the 2^nd and 6^th rounds and dropped with seconds remaining in the 12^th.  What is most impressive is how he responded, boxing brilliantly for the majority of the contest and earning a hard-fought unanimous decision.

                           * Junior Witter (5/10/08) – Bradley ventured over to England and shocked the hometown favorite Witter, winning his first world championship in the process.  After a tactical first few rounds, Bradley broke through in the 6th round, landing a sweet overhand right that floored Witter hard.  Bradley was able to ride the momentum on his way to a split decision victory, the scores being much closer than the bout actually was.

QUESTIONS

Pacquiao:      

* Can he regain the killer instinct of his prime?

                           * Will he try too hard to impress?

                           * Has he lost confidence in his chin?

Bradley:         

* Will he abandon a smarter game plan and try to knock Pacquiao out?

                           * What will he do if he falls behind on the cards?

* Does he truly believe he won the first fight?

                          

PENECALE PREDICTION

Bradley will open the bout using plenty of rapid movement. He'll be jabbing from a distance, trying to dictate the pace and tempo, while keeping Pacquiao from setting his feet.  Pacquiao will jab and feint a few times with his left, hoping to get Bradley to react and leave himself open.  The few times Pacquiao gets close, Bradley will tie him up on the inside.

The cautious pace will continue in the 2^nd round with Pacquiao throwing more punches but nothing significantly landing.  Bradley will land a few counter punches.  During the early stages, there will be more feinting and moving than actual punches landed.

Pacquiao will land a few hard single lefts in the 3^rd and 4^th rounds but will be unable to mount a consistent offense.  Bradley will fight a rough style on the inside, holding and using his free hand to bang to Pacquiao’s body, using his superior strength to back Pacquiao up.

The middle rounds will alternate between Pacquiao’s flashier and harder single punches and Bradley’s steady and consistent boxing attack.  Bradley will land more punches and control the action, but Pacquiao will get the crowd’s attention and reaction with a few single left hands that snap Bradley’s head back, causing the sweat to fly.

Pacquaio will have his best round in the 8^th, stunning Bradley with a right hook-straight left combination.  Bradley’s legs will buckle as he is trying to steady himself, and Pacquiao will attack with swarming punches.  Several will land, and in Bradley’s attempt to clinch the combatants will clash heads, halting Pacquiao’s momentum.

After surviving the 8^th round scare, Bradley will keep his distance during the 9^th and 10^th rounds, jabbing, pivoting, and keeping Pacquiao at bay.  Pacquiao will feint and try to throw combinations, but each time Bradley will tie his arms up and force him back.  It will not be pretty, but it will be effective.

Pacquiao will land a left uppercut followed by an arching left in the 11^th, and again it will be Bradley on the defensive.  Try as hard as he might, Pacquaio will press but find it difficult to penetrate Bradley’s defense.

The 12^th round will see the long-awaited fire fight as both fighters know how close it is.  Pacquiao’s sneaky left hand will collide with Bradley’s face and chin several times.  Bradley will respond with two-fisted counter punches as the final bell rings.

Many in attendance will feel that Bradley is deserving of the victory by the narrowest of margins.  But this time it will be Pacquiao winning a majority decision by scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-114, setting up the potential rubber match.

Top Contender Arash Usmanee Lands Huge Opportunity in Pacquiao vs. Bradley 2 Co-Main

Will face Raymundo Beltran for WBO NABO Lightweight title this Saturday in Las Vegas Afghani-Canadian super featherweight contender Arash Usmanee (20-1-1, 10 KOs) will step into the highest-profile fight of his life on short notice and face WBO #1 ranked Raymundo Beltran (28-6-1, 17 KOs) for the WBO NABO Lightweight title this Saturday, April 12, in the co-main event of the HBO Pay-Per-View card featuring the Timothy Bradley vs. Manny Pacquiao rematch at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. An extended illness suffered by former two-time world champion Roman "Rocky" Martínez forced him to cancel, creating the huge opportunity for Usmanee, who was already in the gym preparing for another fight. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions and Tecate, Pacquiao vs. Bradley 2 will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Pacquiao vs. Bradley 2 tickets, priced starting $435, are now available for purchase at Ticketnetwork. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Buy Tickets Center at (855) 859-4045. Usmanee is ranked #9 at super featherweight by the IBF. Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, he and his family moved to Alberta, Canada, when he was three years old. He now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. The aggressive 32-year-old's career has been marred by controversy thus far, as his two biggest career fights have both ended with questionable outcomes. In his only defeat, Usmanee dropped a highly controversial 12-round decision to Rances "Kid Blast" Barthelemy on January 4 of last year. Fighting for the IBF #2 ranking and live on ESPN Friday Night Fights, Usmanee appeared to take the fight over at the midway point and grew more dominant as the rounds wore on. However, the judges saw it another way. And then, in August of last year, Usmanee missed winning a world championship by a single point when he fought to a draw with Dominican champion Argenis Mendez at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York. Beltran has also seen his share of hard luck in the ring. He was last seen fighting to a very debatable draw with then-world champion Ricky Burns in September of last year. Burns was down in the eighth and suffered a broken jaw in the second round that subsequently required the insertion of a titanium plate to repair. And yet it was not enough to sway the judges, as the fight was held in Burns' homeland of Scotland. As tough as they come, 32-year-old Beltran was born in Los Mochis, Mexico, but now lives in Phoenix, Arizona. The pair will not only be vying for the WBO NABO Lightweight title, but also a place in the front of the line to face new champion Terence Crawford, who defeated Burns by decision in March of this year. Usamanee's promoter, Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions, says the match-up has explosive written all over it. "Neither of these guys take many backwards steps in the ring. It's going to be a war of attrition from the first round. You could easily say this is a battle between the uncrowned IBF Champion and the uncrowned WBO Champion. It's a very high-level match-up between two of the toughest guys in the sport. It's going to be a sensational slugfest!"