<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="72494" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Floyd-Mayweather">Floyd Mayweather</keyword> gives the red-carpet treatment to everybody, not just fighters.</li><li>That's according to the <keyword id="2831575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mayweather-Promotions">Mayweather Promotions</keyword> CEO, who said Floyd is hands-on with his athletes.</li><li>"I'm proud to be a partner of his," Leonard Ellerbe said. "We've got big things ahead with these young fighters."</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/floyd-mayweather" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Floyd Mayweather</a> knows how to roll out the red carpet for everybody, not just fighters.That's according to <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/leonard-ellerbe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leonard Ellerbe</a>, the CEO of the Las Vegas-based talent agency Mayweather Promotions, which brands itself as the past, present, and future of <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boxing</a>.Mayweather, a former five-weight world champion, provides <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">boxing</keyword>'s past. But because the 44-year-old plays an active role in training, and offering advice to athletes at the Mayweather Boxing Club, he is also the present.With <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/gervonta-davis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gervonta Davis</a>, Rolly Romero, and <keyword id="3560540" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="richardson-hitchins">Richardson Hitchins</keyword>, Mayweather Promotions has fighters who are capable of carrying the sport forward in the coming years, while <a href="https://www.insider.com/floyd-mayweather-american-fighters-futures-champs-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">five recent signings - from Dorian Khan Jr. to Jalil Hackett - are the teenage novices of today</a> who can grow into the sport's stars of tomorrow.<a href="https://www.insider.com/the-incredible-journey-of-richardson-hitchins-floyd-mayweather-protege-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hitchins told Insider last year that Mayweather has gone above and beyond</a> when it comes to making young talent like him feel like a million bucks.Mayweather drove Hitchins around Vegas in his fast, luxury cars, gave him the keys to a condo in the city, and told him he had the skills to beat Errol Spence Jr. - America's best boxer.This is par for the course for athletes Mayweather represents, Ellerbe told Insider more recently."With being a promoter and being a fighter himself, he knows what the fighters like," Ellerbe told us when we asked him about the treatment he gave Hitchins ahead of the 140-pounder's December win over Algenis Mendez."He was once that age, an upcoming fighter, coming from the amateurs," said Ellerbe. "He knows what that's like."All the fighters look up to him. All the credit to Floyd for that. He knows how to roll out that red carpet for everybody, not just the fighters. What he does - he's different, in a great way."There are so many accolades I could give Floyd, but I'm proud to be a partner of his, doing this thing, and we've got big, big things ahead of us with all these young fighters. And I'm just tickled to death."<h2>Hitchins will return to the ring in the 'next couple months'</h2><div type="image" title="Richardson Hitchins boxing" height="624" width="1250" msid="82276100" hostid="261"></div>Insider spoke to Ellerbe again in April, after it was announced <a href="https://www.insider.com/gervonta-davis-looks-to-knock-your-head-off-leonard-ellerbe-2021-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Tank" Davis will fight Mario Barrios in a super lightweight bout June 26</a> as part of an Atlanta mega event on Showtime.We asked him then when some of his other athletes will compete. "Richardson Hitchins will be fighting," Ellerbe confirmed. "We'll be making an announcement soon. He'll be fighting in the next couple months."Hitchins is only 23 years old with an unbeaten pro boxing record of 12 wins (five knockouts), but Ellerbe has already seen enough in the gym and under the lights in the ring, to regard him as a future world champion at 140-pounds."He's continually developing," Ellerbe told us. "I was impressed with his last performance against a tough, rugged world champion [Mendez]."Ellerbe said he could see Hitchins apply things he'd directly learned from his time with Mayweather during the fight with Mendez."Richardson got the chance to work with Floyd up close and personal for this last camp. Floyd worked with him quite a bit in the gym, and I saw instantly in the fight some of the things Floyd had taught him."And that just shows how much a fighter can improve from one fight to the next, when they're getting great guidance from TBE [The Best Ever], and be able to execute that in the ring."That's part of developing and taking those steps into being a professional and a young veteran."Ellerbe continued by remarking that Hitchins is taking the necessary steps toward challenging for a world championship in the future."Those are the things that help you develop as a prospect turning into a contender," he said."Those are the steps to take, the opponents, in your career as they prepare you for the future when you get that opportunity to fight for a world title."You want to make sure you've got everything covered, across the board. Experiencing those things, tough veterans, who'll continue to put pressure on you."Boxing is a thinking man's game, especially at the elite level. And that's one of the great things I love about Richardson - he's a thinking fighter, blessed with a great skill set."

Floyd Mayweather knows how to roll out the red carpet for everybody, not just fighters, CEO Leonard Ellerbe says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A red-hot <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">boxing</keyword> prospect says he's living proof that <keyword id="72494" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Floyd-Mayweather">Floyd Mayweather</keyword> vs. <keyword id="2199400" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Logan-Paul">Logan Paul</keyword> exhibitions can create new boxing fans.</li><li><keyword id="3560540" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="richardson-hitchins">Richardson Hitchins</keyword>, a Mayweather protege, was introduced to the boxer not through boxing, but via the WWE.</li><li>Hitchins didn't know what boxing was when he was eight years old, but watched Mayweather break Big Show's nose during an appearance with the world's leading pro wrestling firm.</li><li>He then became fascinated by Mayweather, learned to box because of him, and signed professional terms with <keyword id="2831575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mayweather-Promotions">Mayweather Promotions</keyword> in 2017.</li><li>Hitchins fights Saturday on Showtime.</li></ul>A red-hot boxing prospect called Richardson Hitchins says he's living proof that exhibitions like Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul can create new generations of boxing fans."People think it's bad for boxing, but I think it's good for boxing!" Hitchins told Insider this week, ahead of his super lightweight match against Argenis Mendez at the Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, on Saturday.Exhibitions like Mayweather vs. Paul, scheduled for February 20, 2021, have been criticized by some boxing reporters.The combat correspondent Kevin Iole damned the event <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/floyd-mayweather-logan-paul-farce-just-another-low-blow-to-boxing-world-053621559.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in a recent Yahoo! Sports column</a>. "This is starting to turn boxing into a farce," Iole wrote.<a href="https://www.insider.com/weve-entered-a-golden-era-of-boxing-exhibitions-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insider took a different stance</a> and said people like Mayweather, Mike Tyson, and the YouTube creator Jake Paul are ushering in a golden era of boxing exhibitions.When kept as a sideshow - a different entity to boxing - showbiz boxing is popular, lucrative, and, above all, fun, we said at the time.Now Hitchins is saying people who watch exhibitions because they're fans of other forms of entertainment, may become boxing fans - or fighters - as a result.Hitchins himself had never even seen a fight at eight years old, he told us. He was, however, a huge fan of WWE. And so when Mayweather made a pro wrestling appearance and broke Big Show's nose, Hitchins became fascinated with the cocky boxer he saw in front of him.Hitchins then started following Mayweather's career and was inspired to pick up boxing gloves and learn to box as a result.Approximately a decade later, Hitchins became an Olympian, signed professional terms with Mayweather Promotions, and regularly visits Mayweather in Las Vegas."It's dope I was introduced to Floyd by WWE," Hitchins told us. "And some people might think that [WWE] was a gimmick, but a lot of guys, Logan Paul fans, might want to get into boxing as a result of all this, just like I did."The Mayweather Promotions athlete Hitchins fights Mendez on Showtime.Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/the-incredible-journey-of-richardson-hitchins-floyd-mayweather-protege-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The incredible journey of 23-year-old American boxer Richardson Hitchins, one of Floyd Mayweather's most-treasured students</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/weve-entered-a-golden-era-of-boxing-exhibitions-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We've officially entered a golden era of showbiz boxing, and it's all down to Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, and Floyd Mayweather</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/clay-collard-wants-world-titles-in-boxing-and-mma-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lockdown cult hero Clay Collard wants to be one of those rare beasts who wins belts in boxing and mixed martial arts</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/chris-colbert-young-american-boxers-are-taking-over-the-sport-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Colbert says young Americans like him are 'taking over boxing' and will soon force the older heads to step back</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/americas-got-talent-shakur-stevenson-wants-to-worlds-no1-boxer-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shakur Stevenson wants to shake off comparisons to Floyd Mayweather and become the world's No.1 boxer on his own terms</a>

A red-hot boxing prospect says he's living proof that Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul exhibitions can create new boxing fans

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Meet <keyword id="3560540" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="richardson-hitchins">Richardson Hitchins</keyword>, a 23-year-old American who has the backing of some of the most powerful figures in <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">boxing</keyword>.</li><li>As a kid, Hitchins wasn't a fight fan but regularly watched WWE.</li><li>That changed when he saw Floyd Mayweather appear on a wrestling show, and he became fascinated with the cocky boxer in front of him.</li><li>Within a decade, Hitchins signed pro terms with Mayweather Promotions, had the keys to Mayweather's condo, and was wowing crowds at Floyd's fight club.</li><li>This is the Hitchins story, a young athlete who fights Saturday in a bout broadcast on Showtime.</li></ul>Richardson Hitchins was eight years old when he saw Floyd Mayweather for the first time.It was 2008 and Mayweather had just broken Big Show's nose during a chaotic appearance with the world's leading professional wrestling firm WWE.Hitchins had a boxing-mad grandfather but the young boy had never seen a fight himself.As a kid, he knew all about RKOs, choke slams, and tombstone pile-drivers but probably thought the Philly Shell was something you found at the beach.Mayweather's cockiness and unbeatable aura piqued Hitchins' interest in the sport, and around 10 years later he signed professional terms with Mayweather Promotions, had the keys to Floyd's condo, and was being hailed as a fighter who could have the beating of Errol Spence Jr. - <a href="https://www.insider.com/who-are-the-best-pound-for-pound-boxers-in-the-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">America's best boxer according to Insider</a>.It is quite a journey for Hitchins, a 23-year-old American who excites Mayweather Promotions so much the company keeps inviting the New Yorker back to Las Vegas so it can try and develop him into one of boxing's stars just like its cross-state ticket-seller Gervonta Davis.Hitchins returns to the ring Saturday, fighting Argenis Mendez during the three-bout <keyword id="9692340" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="premier-boxing-champions">Premier Boxing Champions</keyword> event broadcast on Showtime.Ahead of the fight, he told Insider he wants to put on a big show himself, move up the super lightweight world rankings in 2021, and challenge the likes of Mario Barrios for a championship.<h2>Hitchins first met Mayweather four years ago at the Olympics</h2><div type="image" title="Gary Russel and Richardson Hitchins" height="1124" width="2000" msid="79687142" hostid="261"></div>Hitchins, fighting for Haiti thanks to parental heritage, lost to the USA's Gary Russell in a preliminary bout at the 2016 Olympic Games.After that defeat in Rio de Janeiro, Hitchins knew his amateur career had come to an end.He called Sam Watson - a talent manager in California who has the gift of the gab, and is one of the most trusted confidantes to Premier Boxing Champions founder Al Haymon.Hitchins told Watson he wanted to turn professional, but said he only wanted to sign with one firm - Mayweather Promotions."Floyd's at the Olympics right now," Watson told him. "When you see Floyd, call me, and put his security on the phone. I'll get you next to Floyd."Hitchins struggled to believe what he was hearing.Excitement replaced frustration as he forgot about the loss to Russell and focused on meeting the man who he'd seen in WWE all those years ago, and who inspired him to pick up gloves and learn to box in the first place.When he finally saw Mayweather face-to-face, he acted like an unashamed fanboy and brought Mayweather-mania to Brazil all by himself."I see Floyd and I'm like, 'Floyd! Floyd! Floyd! I know Sam Watson! Sam Watson said this! Sam Watson said that! I want to turn pro!'"Mayweather and Hitchins exchanged phone numbers on the spot.<h2>Hitchins was always destined for Mayweather Promotions</h2><div type="image" title="Richardson Hitchins" height="1333" width="2000" msid="79687143" hostid="261"></div>Hitchins told us Mayweather had his eye on <a href="https://www.insider.com/shakur-stevenson-wants-to-become-the-worlds-number-one-boxer-2020-12">Shakur Stevenson</a> at the time, an Olympic silver medal winner in the bantamweight division.Mayweather invited Stevenson out for dinner in Rio. Stevenson apparently asked his friend Hitchins if he wanted to tag along and meet the former five-weight champion."Shakur's like: 'You want to go eat with Floyd?' And I was all: 'What?! Hell yeah!' So we went out to eat with Floyd, and he told us all about the pro game."Hitchins said that although Mayweather didn't know too much about him at first, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions Leonard Ellerbe had long identified him as a talent destined for their stable.Ellerbe has been by Mayweather's side for decades, and has since nurtured Gervonta Davis into an emergent star and one of boxing's most popular fighters today.At a press conference ahead of Davis' 2017 fight with Jose Pedraza, which "Tank" later won by seventh round knockout, Ellerbe told Hitchins behind-the-scenes that he should sign terms with Mayweather Promotions."Leonard was saying: 'You need to turn pro with us. I'm going to get you active.'"Weeks later, Hitchins signed a multi-year contract in front of Mayweather, wearing clothes from Mayweather's lifestyle brand, TMT.<h2>Mayweather began marveling at Hitchins' abilities</h2><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BP1pa45BYlr" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Richardson Hitchins (@richardsonhitchins)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></div></blockquote>Within years, Mayweather began to get increasingly excited about the talent Watson found and Ellerbe secured."Floyd knew I could fight but he didn't know I was special until I fought at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas," Hitchins said."That's when he knew I was going to be a champion, a top guy."This realization came in 2020, with Mayweather now convinced his promotional vehicle had a potential star on its hands. One who could defeat all the best fighters at super lightweight and at welterweight.Mayweather even believed Hitchins could compete with Spence - <a href="https://www.insider.com/errol-spence-jr-writes-boxing-comeback-tale-of-the-year-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the undefeated 147-pounder who wrote boxing's comeback tale of the year</a> when he defeated Danny Garcia a year after wrecking his Ferrari at high-speed.While Gervonta Davis was preparing for his Showtime pay-per-view bout with Leo Santa Cruz on October 31, Hitchins was training in the background.Neither went without Mayweather's attention.After Hitchins had finished one session of sparring, bag-work, and pad-work, he walked out to the Bugatti-laden parking lot where Mayweather ran out after him."He came up to me when we were by my car, looked me in the eyes, and said, 'Do you want me to lie to you, or tell you the truth?'"Hitchins wanted the truth but did not expect to hear what Mayweather was about to say."You're the best boxer in that gym right now," Mayweather said, according to Hitchins."My trainer said, 'What? Floyd, stop playing, there's all the top guys in that gym - everybody.' And Floyd said, again, 'You're the best boxer in that gym.'"I thought he was kind of joking," Hitchins said. "But word got around, and Gervonta's people said, 'Yo, Floyd was watching you spar, and he kept saying, 'Damn, that's Richardson right there and that boy can box!'"<h2>Mayweather told Hitchins he's got the beating of Spence</h2><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CHI87m6nNS_" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Richardson Hitchins (@richardsonhitchins)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></div></blockquote>Hitchins returned to New York days later. He was firmly on Mayweather's radar, and he was happy.One morning his phone buzzed at 3 a.m. with a message from Mayweather."I'm on my jet and I want to have a private conversation with you," the text said."So, I waited up, he called me, and said, 'I think you can beat all the top guys at 140, compete with all the top guys at 147, and I think you can beat Errol Spence Jr.'"He was telling me how special I was. And that he wanted me to fly back out to Vegas."According to Hitchins, Mayweather went on: "Let's get you back out to Vegas as your fight is in a few months and I don't want you in New York, partying. Stay away from all the bull-s---. I want to get you a house. Come out here."When Hitchins returned, his friend Shakur Stevenson - now a Top Rank fighter - picked him up from the airport as Mayweather was asleep.Stevenson took Hitchins to the boxing manager J.Prince's house, where Mayweather picked him up and took him to the Mayweather Boxing Club.Hitchins apparently begged Mayweather to spar Stevenson, but the veteran held him back and just wanted to see him work-out for a few days first.Mayweather then gave him keys to a condo and they were almost inseparable for his entire stay, training, eating, and watching boxing together."He was just in the gym with me, training me, watching me spar, and even if he wasn't in the gym he'd bring me over to his house," Hitchins said."We'd watch boxing together, talk about what we did that day in sparring, and what I could have done better."He was just very hands-on with me," he said.<h2>Hitchins is targeting future fights with boxing's other young kings</h2><div type="image" title="Richardson Hitchins boxing" height="1333" width="2000" msid="79687144" hostid="261"></div>Hitchins sparred the Matchroom athlete Devin Haney and appeared almost offended when we asked what he had learned from the training sessions."It was iron sharpening iron. It was just … go work - two young fighters sparring each other," he told us. "I didn't learn anything from Devin Haney. At all."Regardless, a future bout with Haney is one Hitchins has his eye on. He also wants to take on other core members of boxing's stacked roster of 25 and under fighters."Teofimo Lopez would be a great fight for me in the future," Hitchins said. "And a fight involving me and Ryan Garcia would be a great fight in the future."Haney, Lopez, and Garcia all compete in the lightweight division, but Hitchins said as they're all young and growing, it won't be long before they join him at the super lightweight limit."I'm comfortable at 140-pounds as of right now, and it's never been a problem to fight at 140."I don't have a nutritionist [yet], and when I'm going to be going away on camps, to get the weight off easier and doing things even more properly, I'll be at 140 for a while."So when those guys come up, those are going to be great fights."<h2>He first fights Saturday against Argenis Mendez</h2><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIi2Q7uHreH" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Richardson Hitchins (@richardsonhitchins)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></div></blockquote>Some young fighters might not focus too much on their opponents. But Hitchins is aware of who he is up against, and has assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the man he'll be sharing a ring with Saturday."I know what Argenis does best. He's got great patience and is a good counter-puncher. But I think he's flat-footed and a lot of fighters he beat are flat-footed."He beat Ivan Redkach, that's a pressure Ukrainian who's flat-footed, and Rob Easter … who, I don't think at the time, is on the level that I'm on right now."What I do know is that Argenis ain't on that top echelon level, and I know I am on that top echelon level."I box champions and have done since a kid, fighting top fighters since a kid, and have sparring matches with top, young fighters."I done fought a lot of top guys, and beat top guys. I bring a lot of experience to the table, too, and I'm focused on what I do Saturday night - I'm a sharpshooter, a sharp boxer, that's who I am."Hitchins is visualizing victory at the weekend and told us his goal in 2021 and beyond is to fight for a world championship."I want to fight Mario Barrios," Hitchins said. "He's young, I'm young, and there's not many people out there for him apart from Regis Prograis and me."But before I worry about Regis Prograis and Mario Barrios, I got to get past Argenis Mendez and whoever else is in front of me after that."Considering the combined muscle of Mayweather and Ellerbe behind him, it would not be a surprise to see him go all the way.Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/chris-colbert-young-american-boxers-are-taking-over-the-sport-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Colbert says young Americans like him are 'taking over boxing' and will soon force the older heads to step back</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/americas-got-talent-shakur-stevenson-wants-to-worlds-no1-boxer-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">America's got talent: Shakur Stevenson vows to become the world's No.1 boxer</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/errol-spence-jr-writes-boxing-comeback-tale-of-the-year-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Errol Spence Jr. writes the boxing comeback tale of the year as he wins gloriously a year after wrecking his Ferrari at high-speed</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/shawn-porter-fancies-wbo-title-fight-with-terence-crawford-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shawn Porter fancies a fight with Terence Crawford but says he has other welterweight world title options, too</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/weve-entered-a-golden-era-of-boxing-exhibitions-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We've officially entered a golden era of showbiz boxing, and it's all down to Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, and Floyd Mayweather</a>

The incredible journey of 23-year-old American boxer Richardson Hitchins, one of Floyd Mayweather's most-treasured students

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="2944528" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Conor-McGregor">Conor McGregor</keyword> may have been skeptical at first when it came to competing during the coronavirus pandemic.</li><li>"I think when I said I was going to go through COVID, a lot of people were skeptical and wanted to see how this thing played out. And Conor was probably one of them," the <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> boss <keyword id="1358348" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Dana-White">Dana White</keyword> said Wednesday.</li><li>McGregor returns to the Octagon on January 23 as the Irish striker fights Dustin Poirier in a lightweight match, which is likely heading to <keyword id="9060271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fight-island">Fight Island</keyword> in Abu Dhabi.</li><li>White expects a slobberknocker. "Conor looks damn good, and Poirier is always in shape."</li></ul>Conor McGregor was "probably" skeptical about competing when the UFC said it would hold events through the coronavirus pandemic, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H-e_zrLtxY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dana White told BT Sport on Wednesday</a>.McGregor returns to the Octagon on January 23, headlining the UFC's third <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/fight-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fight Island-branded residency</a> in Abu Dhabi.The Irishman's lightweight bout with Dustin Poirier will likely serve as a finale to a two-week and three-event stay in the Middle East, as the UFC uses a sanitized hub on Yas Island - built in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism - to host international events safely.Before 2020, McGregor had ambitions of fighting three times. He called it a McGregor season and wanted his 40-second victory over Donald Cerrone at the start of the year to mark a period of fierce combat activity.However, <a href="https://www.insider.com/conor-mcgregor-announced-shock-retirement-moments-after-ufc-250-2020-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he abruptly retired</a> before the summer, citing <a href="https://www.insider.com/conor-mcgregor-retired-because-hes-bored-and-tired-of-fighting-2020-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boredom, tiredness, and a lack of excitement</a> at options the UFC was presenting to him."He was frustrated with things that were beyond our control, and it gets to the point where you [just think], 'I'm not going to deal with this aggravation right now, I'm not going to let this drive me crazy when the world is shutting down and other things are going on,'" White said."Again, that's my opinion. Ask Conor, and he'd probably have a different answer. I don't know, but that's what I'm thinking."White added: "It definitely sucks not having Conor fight with fans, but that wasn't the reason [his] fights didn't happen. It just didn't work out."I think Conor originally … when it first happened, Conor was like, 'I don't know about fighting without fans,' and then he saw how the fights were going."There's always these things which happen in the sport. And everybody likes to sit and watch, see how this plays out."I think when I said I was going to go through COVID, a lot of people were skeptical and wanted to see how this thing played out. And Conor was probably one of them."<h2>White expects the Poirier bout to be a slobberknocker</h2><div type="image" title="Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor" height="624" width="1250" msid="79783206" hostid="261"></div>McGregor and Poirier fought once before - a featherweight match in which McGregor won by first-round knockout at UFC 178 in 2014.Both combatants have grown physically and technically in the six years since then, and White is envisioning "a completely different fight" next month."Obviously Conor McGregor is a much different fighter than when he was when he first faced him, and Poirier is a much better fighter, too," he said."I don't know how that plays out now in the fight, but it's definitely interesting."You can't look at the first fight, and go, 'Oh this is exactly the way it's going to go again.' Because it won't. And it's in a different weight class."Conor looks damn good and Poirier is always in shape. I expect this to be a good fight."<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-jake-paul-drop-sweary-50-million-conor-mcgregor-offer-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jake Paul offers Conor McGregor $50 million to fight him in an insult-filled, expletive-laden video posted on social media</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/weve-entered-a-golden-era-of-boxing-exhibitions-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We've officially entered a golden era of showbiz boxing, and it's all down to Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, and Floyd Mayweather</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-claressa-shields-could-master-mma-in-pfl-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Claressa Shields could master MMA at a 'rapid rate' as she's already got the mind of a warrior, PFL stablemate Clay Collard says</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/anthony-joshua-dropped-kubrat-pulev-4-times-en-route-to-a-9th-round-ko-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anthony Joshua dropped Kubrat Pulev 4 times en route to a 9th round knockout but there's 2 reasons the Tyson Fury mega-match might not happen for at least another year</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/the-incredible-journey-of-richardson-hitchins-floyd-mayweather-protege-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The incredible journey of 23-year-old American boxer Richardson Hitchins, one of Floyd Mayweather's most-treasured students</a></li></ul>

Conor McGregor was 'probably' skeptical about competing when the UFC said it would hold events through COVID, Dana White said

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="1109160" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Claressa-Shields">Claressa Shields</keyword> could master mixed martial arts at a "rapid rate" as she's already got the mind of a warrior, her <keyword id="1715557" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="PFL">PFL</keyword> stablemate <keyword id="9579757" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="clay-collard">Clay Collard</keyword> told Insider.</li><li>A former UFC athlete, Collard — a striker — has competed in six <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">boxing</keyword> matches but will make his PFL debut when the new season begins in April 2021.</li><li>Shields will fight twice for the PFL away from its regular season format, and as she will be transitioning from championship boxing to MMA, Collard offered advice for which skills she should look to upgrade.</li><li>Rather than drill aggressive wrestling techniques and seek submissions, Collard said Shields could do what he does — takedown defense and anti jiu jitsu — before looking to take the fight back to the feet.</li></ul>Boxer Claressa Shields could master mixed martial arts at a "rapid rate" as she's already got the mind of a warrior.That's according to her Professional Fighters League (PFL) stablemate Clay Collard, who told Insider last week that there's a number of things Shields can do to become a well-rounded fighter in a short period of time.Collard, like Shields, is a striker by trade - he's even competed in six boxing matches this year as a way to stay busy after the PFL postponed its 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic.The New York-based MMA firm returns to operations with its 2021 season from April.Collard will compete in the lightweight division, while Shields is expected to fight two bouts as she transitions to MMA from boxing - where she is a three-weight world champion and a former two-time Olympic gold medalist."I'm excited to see what she can do," Collard told us."More MMA fighters go into boxing than boxers go into MMA, so it's going to be really cool to see what she does and if she can be well-rounded."Collard said Shields' biggest challenge will be to get up from the ground after she's been taken down, and stopping submissions."People are going to try and take her down," he said. "If they don't, I don't think they're very smart. But when you have that mind of a fighter, whether it's boxing or mixed martial arts, you're going to be able to learn at a very rapid rate."I'm sure she's taking it very serious and putting the work in and I'm excited to see what she's going to do in the cage."Considering Shields is already 25, and could go on to compete in the 2022 PFL season, Insider asked Collard whether the American boxer would be better off getting to grips with takedown defense and anti jiu jitsu, as opposed to aggressive wrestling and seeking submissions."That's what I would say … it's all about the anti," Collard said. "Anti jiu jitsu is one thing my coaches are really big on because I'm a striker."I'm still a white belt, I've never tested, but I've been training jiu jitsu since I was 18 years old. His big thing is anti. Anti jiu jitsu, anti submissions."Getting back up to the feet, and working back up to the feet, because that's where I want to take the fight."So I would say defense, defense, defense on the ground, and work back up and get to where you're comfortable."Shields has an unbeaten pro boxing record of 10 wins (two knockouts and eight decisions).She will compete in pro boxing and in pro MMA in 2021.Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/anthony-joshua-dropped-kubrat-pulev-4-times-en-route-to-a-9th-round-ko-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anthony Joshua dropped Kubrat Pulev 4 times en route to a 9th round knockout but there's 2 reasons the Tyson Fury mega-match might not happen for at least another year</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/the-incredible-journey-of-richardson-hitchins-floyd-mayweather-protege-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The incredible journey of 23-year-old American boxer Richardson Hitchins, one of Floyd Mayweather's most-treasured students</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/chris-colbert-young-american-boxers-are-taking-over-the-sport-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Colbert says young Americans like him are 'taking over boxing' and will soon force the older heads to step back</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/americas-got-talent-shakur-stevenson-wants-to-worlds-no1-boxer-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shakur Stevenson wants to shake off comparisons to Floyd Mayweather and become the world's No.1 boxer on his own terms</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/weve-entered-a-golden-era-of-boxing-exhibitions-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We've officially entered a golden era of showbiz boxing, and it's all down to Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, and Floyd Mayweather</a>

Claressa Shields could master MMA at a 'rapid rate' as she's already got the mind of a warrior, PFL stablemate Clay Collard says

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6130340" type="DEFINITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jake-Paul">Jake Paul</keyword> on Monday dropped a sweary, insulting callout video in which he said he had a $50 million fight offer for <keyword id="2944528" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Conor-McGregor">Conor McGregor</keyword>.</li><li>In the 58-second clip, the YouTube creator insulted McGregor's fiancée, his opponent next month, and his <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> boss, Dana White.</li><li>An apparent bout proposal suggests the fight should take place using <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">boxing</keyword> rules and 10-ounce gloves and fought at 185 pounds for eight three-minute rounds.</li><li>McGregor hasn't responded.</li></ul>In an insulting and expletive-filled callout video on Monday, Jake Paul offered $50 million to entice Conor McGregor back into a boxing ring.The YouTube creator released a 58-second video in which he insulted McGregor's fiancée, Dee Devlin; his next opponent, Dustin Poirier; and his UFC promoter, Dana White.Perched on the edge of his $350,000 Lamborghini Huracan, Paul began his video by saying, "What the f--- is up, you Irish c---?"Smoking a cigar with an Irish flag wrapped around his shoulders, Paul added: "Good morning, Conor McGregor. I know you're probably beating up old dudes in a bar right now, or maybe you're j---ing off because you're sick of f---ing your wife. I mean, she's a four, Conor, you could do a lot better. But happy Monday."My team sent you a $50 million offer this morning: $50 million cash, proof of funds. The biggest fight offer you've ever been offered. But you're scared to fight me, Conor. You're ducking me because you don't want to lose to a f---ing YouTuber. You're 0-1 as a boxer. I'm 2-0 as a boxer."He described the success of the pay-per-view event he recently competed in: Paul <a href="https://www.insider.com/jake-paul-scored-a-highlight-reel-ko-for-the-ages-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brutally knocked out the former NBA player Nate Robinson</a> in the second round of the Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. exhibition.Paul also falsely claimed in the video that his dog had more Instagram followers than <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dustinpoirier/?hl=en">Poirier</a>, McGregor's opponent on January 23, whom Paul called "Dustin Prober."The 23-year-old then turned to White. "Dana White, you're a f---ing p---- too, you ugly f---ing bald b----," he said. "You said there's 0% chance of this fight happening, but there's 0% chance of you getting some f---ing p----."Conor, you're scared. Dana, you're scared. Sign the f---ing contract, you idiots. Jesus f---ing Christ. Irish b----. F--- these guys."Watch the video here. (WARNING: The video contains extremely foul language.)<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Jake Paul (@jakepaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1338625939392012289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2020</a></blockquote>Paul also called out McGregor in <a href="https://www.insider.com/jake-paul-says-hes-confident-he-can-beat-conor-mcgregor-2020-11">an interview with Insider in November</a>, saying he planned to stay in combat <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> and would love to fight McGregor and other MMA stars in boxing matches."I'm bigger than Conor, I weigh more than Conor, and he's out of his prime, sort of washed-up," Paul said."He wants to fight Manny Pacquiao in the ring? He would get worked by Manny Pacquiao. He'd be an 0-2 boxer."But me and Conor would be a more even fight. And when the fight happens, everyone will read this back and say, 'Damn, that kid's out of his mind, but he called this. Predicted this.'"Paul <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIy-JuRBUTv/">posted a statement on Instagram</a> on Monday that said his offer to McGregor was for a boxing-rules contest over eight three-minute rounds.It would take place at a catchweight limit of 185 pounds - 30 pounds heavier than McGregor's fight with Poirier next month - and the men would be permitted to use 10-ounce boxing gloves.The statement said that Paul had "acquired backing for this event" and that the backer was "willing to guarantee a purse of Fifty Million Dollars" for McGregor to participate. It said McGregor would also receive an upside from the event's pay-per-view sales.McGregor had not responded as of Tuesday morning.<ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/weve-entered-a-golden-era-of-boxing-exhibitions-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We've officially entered a golden era of showbiz boxing, and it's all down to Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, and Floyd Mayweather</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/jake-paul-says-hes-confident-he-can-beat-conor-mcgregor-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jake Paul, a YouTube star who has fought once, is confident he can defeat 'washed-up' Conor McGregor, a former two-weight UFC champion</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-claressa-shields-could-master-mma-in-pfl-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Claressa Shields could master MMA at a 'rapid rate' as she's already got the mind of a warrior, PFL stablemate Clay Collard says</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/anthony-joshua-dropped-kubrat-pulev-4-times-en-route-to-a-9th-round-ko-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anthony Joshua dropped Kubrat Pulev 4 times en route to a 9th round knockout but there's 2 reasons the Tyson Fury mega-match might not happen for at least another year</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/the-incredible-journey-of-richardson-hitchins-floyd-mayweather-protege-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The incredible journey of 23-year-old American boxer Richardson Hitchins, one of Floyd Mayweather's most-treasured students</a></li></ul>

Jake Paul offers Conor McGregor $50 million to fight him in an insult-filled, expletive-laden video posted on social media

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e56a438fee23d7fec197535-2000/floyd%20mayweather%20and%20leonard%20ellerbe.jpg" alt="Floyd Mayweather and Leonard Ellerbe" /><a href="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/floyd-mayweather-jr-talks-with-leonard-ellerbe-ceo-of-news-photo/1096831426">Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images</a>Floyd Mayweather and Leonard Ellerbe.<ul class="summary-list"><li>Mayweather Promotions is already scouting amateur athletes who could make an impact at the upcoming 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.</li><li>The company CEO, Leonard Ellerbe, has long been a trusted advisor to Floyd Mayweather. He has also been responsible for the soaring popularity of the American lightweight Gervonta Davis.</li><li>Ellerbe told Business Insider in Las Vegas last week that "character" is one of the top traits a young man or woman can have when it comes to transitioning from an amateur into a professional.</li><li>Ellerbe intends on promoting many shows throughout the year, and has an event on Friday where he is matching his young prospects in tough fights.</li><li>Whoever can thrive in such tough environments stands a good chance of becoming the next Davis or Mayweather, Ellerbe said.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>LAS VEGAS - Leonard Ellerbe said he's already scouting US Olympic hopefuls as he looks to sign young talent which he can develop into the next Floyd Mayweather or Gervonta Davis.As the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, Ellerbe, 54, appears to have the upper hand when it comes to talent identification. He was, after all, by Mayweather's side when the boxer grew from a boxing prospect to a five-weight world champion and, finally, into <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/floyd-mayweather-now-a-billionaire-2017-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of sport's few billion dollar athletes</a>.Ellerbe first met Mayweather when the fighter was a teenager, training in Las Vegas. After Mayweather won a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympic Games, he turned pro, and, before long, Ellerbe provided security detail, became a trusted advisor, and then his right hand man and CEO of a company Mayweather founded in 2007 to heighten his own earning capabilities.Though Mayweather has retired from boxing after a flawless 50-0 pro career, Mayweather Promotions continues to polish boxing diamonds. None is as tough right now as "Tank" Davis, a two-weight world champion southpaw who has proven to be a bona fide ticket-seller in Baltimore, as well as Atlanta, and is a fighter who will soon be headlining his own pay-per-view shows on the Viacom-CBS owned broadcaster Showtime.<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d3dbfa7100a247c874109c3-2000/gervonta%20davis%20floyd%20mayweather.jpg" alt="Gervonta Davis, Floyd Mayweather" /><a href="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/gervonta-davis-punches-ricardo-nunez-during-the-second-news-photo/1158190200?adppopup=true">Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images</a>Gervonta Davis.Speaking to Business Insider at the VIP Lounge in the MGM Grand last week, Ellerbe told us about the characteristics a teenage amateur athlete must possess to catch his eye, about his Las Vegas show on Friday, February 28, and the future of Mayweather Promotions.Ellerbe said he'll "definitely" be attending the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo so that he can scout the top athletes competing in boxing. When asked who he's got his eye on, he said, "there's several [Americans]."USA Boxing recently <a href="https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/stories/news/detail/usa-boxing-roster-tokyo-2020-americas-qualifiers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced its 13-strong team</a> for the upcoming Olympics, which features promising names like the 2019 World Amateur Championship silver medalist Keyshawn Davis, the 2019 Pan American Games champion Oshae Jones, and the Las Vegas native Rahim Gonzales, who trains out of the local City Athletic Boxing club.An Olympic medal tends to provide a solid foundation for success should that athlete turn professional. Of the three US medalists at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro two are already world champion pros - Claressa Shields and Shakur Stevenson - while the third, Nico Hernandez, fought seven pro bouts before joining the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, which we previously dubbed <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/paulie-malignaggi-artem-lobov-bareknuckle-fc-safety-2019-6?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"the bloodiest show in town."</a>On potential American medalists at this summer's tournament, Ellerbe said: "There's always opportunities every time you step up in there, you just have to continue to work hard. There's a number of excellent young fighters who are moving forward and competing for the same thing [a medal]."Ellerbe will looking at one personality trait in particular in the months ahead.<h2>You've got to have 'character'</h2><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e57b9acfee23d3135184572-2000/mayweather%20promotions%20sin%20city%20showdown.jpg" alt="Mayweather Promotions Sin City Showdown" />Mayweather Promotions"Times have changed now," Ellerbe said. "Character plays a big role, it's a big part of it. Obviously, the talent-level [needs to be high]."There's a number of factors that are involved when it comes to evaluating how you are going to obtain young fighters."On character, Ellerbe said it's how you are "as a man or a woman."Any novice athlete Ellerbe signs could end up competing on regional shows like his upcoming event "Sin City Showdown" on Friday at Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall in Vegas.Fellow promoter Michelle Rosado said on Twitter this week that Friday's event is "a Mayweather Promo card … they match their guys tough."Should be a good one."Those who continue to win in tough match-ups and thrive on these shows could end up on a fast-track to success, joining the likes of Mayweather Promotions stand-out Davis, who is unbeaten in 23 fights (22 KOs) and is one of the top 15 boxers on the planet right now, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-boxers-in-the-world-right-now-pound-for-pound-2019-12?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to this Business Insider list</a>."Our show on Friday, a ShoBox show, is a showcase for a couple of our young, rising stars and top prospects," Ellerbe said.Ellerbe originally had Malik Hawkins in the main event, a 6-foot welterweight Mayweather Promotions signed last year. A medical issue prevented Hawkins from competing this weekend and he has been replaced by Sanjarbek Rakhmanov who fights Keith "The Bounty" Hunter in a 10-round rematch at super lightweight."In the co-main event we have Richardson Hitchins who was on the Haitian Olympic team in 2016. Then in the opening bout we have Kevin Newman, a young rising super middleweight who is very flashy."Both Hitchins and Newman have world title aspirations. Ellerbe said: "We're looking forward to the progress these young prospects are making."As for the future, Mayweather Promotions intends on putting on many shows this year, Ellerbe said. "It's just a question of putting together the strategy, what we're doing now. We're consistently building [more shows each year] and we're always open to working with new fighters."I'm not looking at working with an overabundance of fighters, but enough of a stable to manage fighters effectively - their careers, and staying very hands-on.""We're a top tier promotional company," he said.Read more:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nobody-beats-canelo-alvarez-at-super-middleweight-mikey-garcia-says-2020-2?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez is unbeatable at super middleweight, DAZN stablemate Mikey Garcia says</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eddie-hearn-would-love-to-sign-saul-canelo-alvarez-2019-12?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canelo Alvarez could become boxing's greatest free agent since Floyd Mayweather, and Eddie Hearn says he would work with him 'in an absolute heartbeat'</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conor-mcgregor-would-get-knocked-out-quick-by-manny-pacquiao-2020-2?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor would get 'knocked out pretty quick' by Manny Pacquiao, the boxer's former promoter says</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shakur-stevenson-young-champ-is-a-mirror-floyd-mayweather-2020-2?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A 22-year-old from New Jersey is the mirror-image of Floyd Mayweather, and could 'exceed' the boxing legend's achievements, his promoter claims</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bob-arum-would-sell-top-rank-for-the-right-price-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One of boxing's most powerful executives says he is open to selling a stake in Top Rank, and 3 heavyweight companies have talked to him about buying</a><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Shobox card this Friday. It's a Mayweather Promo card. They match their guys tough. Should be a good one. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/boxing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#boxing</a>- Raging Babe (@RagingBabe) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1232748286521434112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2020</a></blockquote> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fighting-nhl-hockey-violence-sports-code-referee-2017-2">Why fighting is allowed in pro hockey - and why the NHL has no plans to ban it</a></h3> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/CYSyhgc4-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;"></iframe>

The CEO of Mayweather Promotions is scouting boxers on the US Olympic team to try and find the next Floyd Mayweather

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="576793" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Anthony-Joshua">Anthony Joshua</keyword> dominated <keyword id="2231817" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kubrat-Pulev">Kubrat Pulev</keyword> in a ninth-round shut-out in which he dropped the Bulgarian four times.</li><li>It was hoped victory would tee-up a mega-money match involving Joshua and <keyword id="867422" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tyson-Fury">Tyson Fury</keyword> — a bout which would determine the undisputed heavyweight champion.</li><li>However, it is clear <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">boxing</keyword> politics will get in the way and fight fans, writers, and promoters might not be able to see the all-British contest for another year.</li></ul>Anthony Joshua dropped Kubrat Pulev four times en route to a ninth-round knockout in front of approximately 1,000 fans at the SSE Arena in London on Saturday.Joshua was patient, methodical, and when openings presented themselves, the Brit clobbered Pulev with a variety of shots, felling the top 10-ranked opponent again and again.It is hoped victory tees-up a lucrative match involving Joshua, the WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight boxing champion, and the WBC incumbent Tyson Fury.Joshua vs. Fury is one of the greatest bouts combat <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> can produce as it would determine the undisputed champion in boxing's glamour division in a fight that generates hundreds of millions of dollars.Representatives of both fighters have spoken positively about fight negotiations, however, there are two big obstacles in the way of making it happen, and so fight fans may have to wait an entire year before the first fight can even begin.<h2>Joshua dominated Pulev</h2><div type="image" title="Anthony Joshua boxing" height="936" width="1873" msid="79709742" hostid="261"></div>Anthony Joshua's worldwide fame rocketed with the up-and-down, 11th round knockout win over Wladimir Klitschko in 2017.It was the first legacy-shaping win of Joshua's career, and the back-and-forth nature of the fight - with Joshua climbing off the canvas to finish the Ukrainian - helped retain a fierce interest in heavyweight boxing.His record rose to 19 knockouts from 19 wins but as he reached top-tier championship bouts, an evolution in style began to shape the way he fought.Before Klitschko, 44% of Joshua's punches on a per-round average were jabs, as he preferred instead to throw, and land, power shots like hooks, straights, and that signature uppercut of his (56%), according to Compubox data.The five fights Joshua fought after Klitschko, 60% of Joshua's punches were jabs, compared to 40% power shots.Joshua's evolved style was clear in the Andy Ruiz Jr. rematch when, wary of the Mexican's fast hands and stinging power - things which had beaten him in humiliating fashion earlier in 2019 - he boxed cautiously around the ring, picking up points, happy to win a decision.Against Pulev, a 39-year-old marginally flirting with title contention, Joshua again boxed with caution, didn't rush the Bulgarian even when he had him hurt with big shots in the third round, and instead let the finish come to him - a deft pull-counter in the ninth.Aside from near-constant rabbit punches (blows to the back of the head), Pulev rarely troubled Joshua. He had brief moments in the middle of the fight, but was out-boxed, out-maneuvered, and out-punched through the contest.<h2>Floyd Mayweather called Joshua 'a helluva fighter'</h2><div type="image" title="Floyd Mayweather at Anthony Joshua's fight" height="750" width="1000" msid="79709743" hostid="261"></div>The retired boxer Floyd Mayweather, who founded Mayweather Promotions in 2007, flew to England to watch Joshua retain his world titles from ringside.As he made his way into the venue, Mayweather told the UK broadcaster Sky Sports that Joshua "is one of the best heavyweights out there."The American said: "His career is going great, he is a helluva fighter."Said Joshua: "I play a smart game and I make the right moves at the right time. Round nine, I got the knockout and onto the next."The next fight the boxing world wants is the Fury vs. Joshua match.Though Joshua appeared to loathe naming Fury specifically, he asked the fans at Wembley Arena who they wanted to see him box next.Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn, the group managing director of Matchroom, could be seen rubbing his fingers together at the prospect of booking the money fight of 2021, though.And Fury's representative, the Top Rank CEO and founder Bob Arum, said his company will open talks for the fight Monday.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Bob Arum (@BobArum) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1337905687502807040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2020</a></blockquote>Fury also pledged to knockout Joshua during a video call-out that night. "I want the fight. I want the fight next. I'll knock him out in three rounds," Fury said.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1337906555581325312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2020</a></blockquote><h2>But there are 2 obstacles in the way of Fury vs. Joshua, though</h2><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1337907637548101632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2020</a></blockquote>Despite fight fans, fight writers, and fight promoters seemingly in unison about which heavyweight championship bout needs to happen next, boxing politics will likely get in the way.A trilogy bout involving Fury and long-time rival Deontay Wilder could be closer than we might have thought, <a href="https://www.insider.com/tyson-fury-deontay-wilder-trilogy-bout-remains-an-option-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as Insider previously reported</a>.Fury defeated Wilder with an aggressive masterclass in February, after a disputed draw in 2018.The contract for the rematch included a third fight, one which became difficult to organize when the coronavirus pandemic forced boxing to operate behind-closed-doors for many months.Recent reports suggest Fury will fight once before meeting Joshua and will compete in Q1 2021, and Sky Sports executives said that the opponent could well be Wilder.As a champion of three-belt champion, Joshua is obligated with each organization to defend each title with a mandatory challenger.Pulev was the mandatory challenger with the IBF, and Joshua is due to meet his mandatory challenger with the WBO - Oleksandr Usyk.This was confirmed by the WBO president Paco Valcarcel on Saturday."Anthony Joshua looked sensation against Kubrat Pulev," Valcarcel said. "As to the WBO belt, Eddie Hearn knows the meaning of commitment; the ball is in Hearn's court."<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Paco Valcárcel, Esq. (@PacoValcarcel) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1337926662411984897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2020</a></blockquote>Should Fury be forced to fight Wilder in a contracted trilogy bout, and Joshua mandated to defend the WBO belt against Usyk, then it might not mean the Fury vs. Joshua fight materializes until this time next year.Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/the-incredible-journey-of-richardson-hitchins-floyd-mayweather-protege-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The incredible journey of 23-year-old American boxer Richardson Hitchins, one of Floyd Mayweather's most-treasured students</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/chris-colbert-young-american-boxers-are-taking-over-the-sport-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Colbert says young Americans like him are 'taking over boxing' and will soon force the older heads to step back</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/americas-got-talent-shakur-stevenson-wants-to-worlds-no1-boxer-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shakur Stevenson wants to shake off comparisons to Floyd Mayweather and become the world's No.1 boxer on his own terms</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/errol-spence-jr-writes-boxing-comeback-tale-of-the-year-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Errol Spence Jr. writes the boxing comeback tale of the year as he wins gloriously a year after wrecking his Ferrari at high-speed</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/weve-entered-a-golden-era-of-boxing-exhibitions-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We've officially entered a golden era of showbiz boxing, and it's all down to Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, and Floyd Mayweather</a>

Anthony Joshua dropped Kubrat Pulev 4 times en route to a 9th round knockout

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="9579757" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="clay-collard">Clay Collard</keyword> returns to the ring Saturday for a middleweight match against former foe Quincy LaVallais.</li><li>The American fighter, a former UFC athlete, has become a cult hero in <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">boxing</keyword> during the coronavirus pandemic because of his exciting fighting style in the <keyword id="2349386" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="top-rank">Top Rank</keyword> bubble.</li><li>He told Insider he's confident of victory against LaVaillais and believes the focus on boxing will benefit his <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> fighting style when he returns to the cage with the Professional Fighters League next year.</li><li>Collard said he wants to continue to compete in MMA and in boxing, and win titles in both <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword>.</li></ul>Lockdown cult hero Clay Collard wants to be one of those rare beasts who can win world titles in boxing and mixed martial arts.The former UFC athlete is signed to the Professional Fighters League (<keyword id="1715557" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="PFL">PFL</keyword>), but as the PFL postponed its 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic, Collard fought under Top Rank's boxing banner through its residency of events at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas - colloquially known as the bubble.Collard's exciting fighting style and winning ability attracted the wider boxing industry's attention, and he returns to the bubble Saturday for his sixth match of the year."I've been working hard since a young kid at this, so it's great to finally get a bit of credit," Collard told Insider ahead of his middleweight fight against Quincy LaVallais, which is a rematch from a 2019 draw the 27-year-old disputes to this day.Before 2020, Collard's boxing record was four wins (one knockout) against one loss and three draws.Bektemir Melikuziev last stopped him in November 2019. Collard told us he took the fight on two days' notice at a weight he does not normally campaign at - 175-pounds. "It always sucks to lose," he said.But fast forward a year and he's now tallied nine wins (four knockouts) in total, has a hard-fought victory over David Kaminsky, and has captivated the attention of fight fans as "one of the most popular boxers of the summer," <a href="https://www.insider.com/clay-collard-former-ufc-becomes-one-of-boxings-biggest-hits-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as recently reported by Insider</a>.For Collard, there's no real secret to his success. "I just keep winning, keep taking tough fights. I'm going after the tough guys and I'm not trying to pad my record."I want to fight the top competition and sometimes that means you're going to lose. We win and we learn."Collard returns to the ring Saturday for his fight with Lavallais. He is confident of victory as he believed he had the beating of the Louisianan the first time around and said he's only improved since then."Honestly, I thought I had the fight won," Collard told us. "When they called the draw, I was really surprised."Every single fight, you get better and for me, the message was to just slow down. I think I was rushing and trying to make things happen. I was trying to force things in the fight that weren't there."Now it's about being calm and going with the flow, I guess. I've been working hard. I'm well-prepared. I just need to land my shots, and I'll eventually hurt him, so I'm just going to fight like Cassius Clay fights. I'm all in, man."<h2>The boxing experience has massively benefitted his MMA game, Collard said</h2><div type="image" title="Clay Collard MMA" height="1327" width="2000" msid="79698089" hostid="261"></div>Though he's continued to practise mixed martial arts in the background, Collard has enjoyed the six training camps this year where he's been drilling boxing techniques.This, he told us, will benefit him when he returns to MMA next year when the PFL 2021 season begins in April."Honestly, I think getting back to my roots and back to my boxing has benefitted my all-round game," Collard said."I still haven't stopped training mixed martial arts but I can tell the difference in sparring. My eyes are better. I can see things coming at me sooner, I'm hitting harder, and my hand-speed is faster."So, I think it's improved my fight game tremendously. I'm just excited to get back to PFL, MMA, and showcase my skills."Though he's a striker at heart and has not tested beyond a white belt in jiu-jitsu, Collard said he remains confident of finishing MMA fights on the ground or the feet."I think everybody in PFL is going to try to take me down - they're stupid if they don't," he said."I think I am one of the best strikers in the game today, and I decided to go to PFL to prove that but I still think I'm dangerous anywhere."If they want to lean more toward the striking, that definitely benefits me. I consider myself more a striker but you got to be well-rounded and well-prepared for anywhere the fight goes in mixed martial arts."Unlike other mixed martial arts firms where athletes vie for rankings in standalone matches, the PFL has a league structure with a play-off and a post-season.Every year builds toward a big New Year's Eve show where 12 fighters compete against one another in different weight classes. The six winners leave the arena with a $1 million check each.The lightweight division's current champion is Natan Schulte, and Collard wants to fight - and beat - Schulte straight away."Obviously, I want to take down the champ and I hope I match-up with him first so I can take him out early," Collard said, living up to that statement he only wanting tough fights.Collard added that he'd then want to fight his friend, Johnny Case, as the PFL recently signed his Las Vegas training partner."Mr. Hollywood and I trained together, sparred together, rolled together, and so it'll be fun to get in there and actually fight," said Collard."Those are the two I'm excited to fight. One, because he's the champ and I'm excited to take him out, and the other because we've exchanged blows as friends, and I hope we can do that in a fight."That's just the business, man," Collard said when we asked whether it would be awkward punching a buddy in the face."It's just another day in the office. I don't care if we're friends. That's my belt we're working towards and he wants that belt, too. When we get in the cage, it's just business, I'll beat you up, and then I'll shake your hand after."<h2>Collard targets titles in boxing and MMA</h2><div type="image" title="Clay Collard knockout boxing" height="1449" width="2000" msid="79698090" hostid="261"></div>Though he is contractually obliged to compete in the PFL, Collard told us he'd love to balance his MMA day job with one in which he could venture into the boxing ring and build enough momentum where he can secure a title shot."I would like to box, still, throughout the year when we have break [in the PFL season]," he said."Eventually, I'd like to win a belt in boxing and mixed martial arts."So I'll focus on the PFL season, win that belt, then come back to boxing, talk a little crap and hopefully get a big fight."Collard fights LaVallais in an eight-round middleweight match on ESPN+ before the broadcast shifts to ESPN for a three-bout main event.Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/the-incredible-journey-of-richardson-hitchins-floyd-mayweather-protege-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The incredible journey of 23-year-old American boxer Richardson Hitchins, one of Floyd Mayweather's most-treasured students</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/chris-colbert-young-american-boxers-are-taking-over-the-sport-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Colbert says young Americans like him are 'taking over boxing' and will soon force the older heads to step back</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/americas-got-talent-shakur-stevenson-wants-to-worlds-no1-boxer-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shakur Stevenson wants to shake off comparisons to Floyd Mayweather and become the world's No.1 boxer on his own terms</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/errol-spence-jr-writes-boxing-comeback-tale-of-the-year-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Errol Spence Jr. writes the boxing comeback tale of the year as he wins gloriously a year after wrecking his Ferrari at high-speed</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/weve-entered-a-golden-era-of-boxing-exhibitions-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We've officially entered a golden era of showbiz boxing, and it's all down to Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, and Floyd Mayweather</a>

Lockdown cult hero Clay Collard wants to be one of those rare beasts who can win belts in boxing and mixed martial arts

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="72494" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Floyd-Mayweather">Floyd Mayweather</keyword> and <keyword id="261849" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Leonard-Ellerbe">Leonard Ellerbe</keyword> have been busy signing teenage boxers to their company.</li><li><keyword id="2831575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mayweather-Promotions">Mayweather Promotions</keyword> signed five young American fighters in recent weeks.</li><li>Ellerbe told us about the Las Vegas-based company's USP, and why they're investing in the future.</li></ul>Bugatti supercars worth millions of dollars decorate the parking lot of a large, sun-kissed building in the Chinatown district of Las Vegas - a city of sin, neon lights, and games of chance.Inside the Mayweather <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">Boxing</keyword> Club, though, nothing is left to luck.Coaches with years of experience guide young fighters who want to crack the combat <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> world by drilling punch routines until it becomes an old habit.<a href="https://www.insider.com/category/floyd-mayweather" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Floyd Mayweather</a> spends hours there every day.During his years as the planet's pound-for-pound No.1 boxer, he'd wail hook shots into heavy bags for minutes on end and then throw pitty-patter shots while talking to the nearest camera so he could promote a fight. Floyd never met a lens he didn't love."Hard work, dedication!" he'd scream as millions of fans around the world watched his every move.At 44 years old, Mayweather still keeps himself fighting fit. The difference is that now he is overseeing the hard work inside his club instead of participating.Mayweather and his business partner Leonard Ellerbe, the Mayweather Promotions CEO, have been getting increasingly excited about the talented teenagers who keep showing up at their front doors.These kids started by idolizing Mayweather. They asked for his signature, and they posed for photographs as he vehemently stuck to a camp structure ahead of the fight game's best-selling bouts.Then, with skills they'd learned back in their home states, they'd return to Nevada as older teenagers wanting to impress Mayweather, who was retiring from competition and focusing on his promotional vehicle and boxing gym.They'd hit the pads and spar some of the club's top fighters as they wanted to show they were dedicating themselves to boxing just like Floyd had through decades of top-tier combat.Now they're signing contracts that have the potential to change their lives forever.In recent weeks, Mayweather Promotions signed five young guns:<ol><li>David Lopez: A 17-year-old from Oakland in California.</li><li>Dorian Khan Jr.: An 18-year-old from Buckeye in Arizona.</li><li>Jalil Hackett: An 18-year-old from Washington, D.C.</li><li>Micky Scala: An 18-year-old from Mesa in Arizona.</li><li>Adrian Benton: A 21-year-old from Cincinnati in Ohio.</li></ol><h2>Investing in the future of Mayweather Promotions excites Ellerbe</h2><div type="image" title="Floyd Mayweather, Dorian Khan Jr., and Jalil Hackett" height="750" width="1000" msid="81769878" hostid="261"></div>Ellerbe told Insider what caught his attention with each new addition to his roster.This is what Ellerbe said about Lopez:<blockquote class="blockquote"><section class="blockquote-wrapper">I watched him closely and was impressed. It's one thing watching him in amateur competitions - he was the No.1 in the US in 2015 and 2016 - but when you put a young fighter in there with another fighter who is on the rise, you can see skills over a number of rounds, and what the talent is like.</section><section class="blockquote-wrapper">He's a tremendous talent with good power, great speed, and makes adjustments on the fly.</section></blockquote>Regarding Khan Jr., Ellerbe said:<blockquote class="blockquote"><section class="blockquote-wrapper">Dorian Khan is one of those who has been around us for years. He's got blinding speed, great power, and is tall for the weight. He'll develop into an exciting young fighter.</section><section class="blockquote-wrapper">Gervonta 'Tank' Davis watched Dorian box and he came over to me and said, 'L, you better sign that kid … he can fight, he can grow!' And I said, 'He's going to be with us, don't you worry.'</section></blockquote>And on Jalil Hackett, Ellerbe said:<blockquote class="blockquote"><section class="blockquote-wrapper">Jalil Hackett is from my hometown so I know him really, really well. I know talent when I see it. The eyes don't lie and he'll be something special.</section><section class="blockquote-wrapper">I've seen him box Tank for a couple of camps. He's boxed a number of top fighters out there, and they all say the same thing [about how good he is].</section><section class="blockquote-wrapper">Tank's seen Jalil up close for a couple camps. You know Tank doesn't want easy work which is why he kept in camp because Jalil kept pushing him - even at 16! That just shows you the level he's at."</section></blockquote>This is what Ellerbe said about Benton:<blockquote class="blockquote"><section class="blockquote-wrapper">"All these guys have won multiple titles at junior or national levels, and Adrien Benton has had more than 300 amateur fights.</section><section class="blockquote-wrapper">Seeing him box a couple of our fighters in our stable I could see he has great hand speed, power … the whole nine.</section><section class="blockquote-wrapper">He also talks a lot of trash and I love fighters who talk a lot of trash. Some fighters are quiet, and I respect that, but the guys who talk trash and can back it up? Ooooh, man, I love that!"</section></blockquote>On Micky Scala, Ellerbe said:<blockquote class="blockquote"><section class="blockquote-wrapper">"Micky Scala is a young man who can fight his behind off. He's tall, rangy, and with a skill set so good he can do it all. He's in the prime weight class of 147-pounds and 154-pounds, and that's where a lot of the action is."</section></blockquote><h2>How it feels to change the lives of five young fighters</h2><div type="image" title="Leonard Ellerbe boxing Mayweather Promotions" height="1001" width="1500" msid="81769879" hostid="261"></div>The official website of Mayweather Promotions describes itself as the past, present, and future of boxing.Mayweather - one of the finest fighters from the recent past - has a hands-on role with his prizefighters from the present like Gervonta Davis, Richardson Hitchins, and Rolly Romero.He is also a magnetic recruiting tool as boxing's budding stars - Lopez, Khan Jr., Hackett, Scala, and Benton - are drawn to his legend and dream of being handled like Tank, a two-weight world champion at 26 with his best years ahead of him."All of these young fighters … what I love about them is that they're very confident," Ellerbe told Insider.Ellerbe said each of his athletes has personal goals, but they are all determined to reach the top of their weight class or weight classes.This provides him with "a great problem to have as a promoter" as he looks to book them in the right bouts at the right times en route to a championship opportunity while mindful of the faster pace the fighter may want to have.Ellerbe gets so animated when he's talking about novice talent that it's easy to ask just how much job satisfaction he gets offering a young man a life-changing contract."Man, it's so exciting for me," he said. "These five guys … they're all super young. It's a tremendous feeling as a promoter to have this young talent. But the great thing about it is these guys can actually fight."We've had a chance to see these guys in front of some of my other fighters in the gym, with Floyd sitting in the corner just watching them and correcting them."These are really exciting times for our company, and we have a bright future with all this talent that I just look at and think, 'Wow. We've got a starting five right there.'"<h2>Young fighters are drawn to Floyd Mayweather</h2><div type="image" title="Leonard Ellerbe and Floyd Mayweather" height="1077" width="1500" msid="81769880" hostid="261"></div>Ellerbe previously told Insider that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/leonard-ellerbe-is-scouting-us-olympians-for-floyd-mayweather-talents-2020-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of the biggest traits he looks for when it comes to talent identification is character</a>.He refined this when we spoke to him last week, adding that the question really is finding out why they want to specifically sign a deal with Mayweather Promotions."All of them said the same thing," according to Ellerbe. "They want to be in with the best. And Floyd, like I keep saying, is the face of the company."He's also hands-on with these fighters. So just think about that because there's nothing like it. Imagine you're a young basketball player, and you have a chance to be nurtured by Michael Jordan or LeBron James. That's everything."In a statement sent to Insider, Hackett, one of Ellerbe and Mayweather's young proteges, said he wanted to sign with "someone who looks like me."The welterweight added: "It was important to me that I signed with a Black-owned company, and I'm with the best one, which is Mayweather Promotions."His father, Bernard Hackett, said: "I'm happy he's with a Black-owned company who understands what he will encounter as a Black athlete both in and out the ring."Insider asked Ellerbe what Hackett will encounter and how he, as the CEO, can help."Obviously, being African American, we've experienced different things that some other races haven't," said Ellerbe."I don't need to go into detail, but we see what's going on in the world today. It's been highlighted by police brutality and all the racism. These are problems that have been going on for quite some time."But in his particular case, being a young African American growing up in Washington, D.C. and seeing the crime rate, I know first-hand as I came from the same background."So to be able to persevere through those challenging times and experience those things as a young man, he's looked up to guys like Floyd, myself, and [boxing manager] Al [Haymon]."They see we've had a lot of success in this sport, especially with Floyd, who we use as the example - the face. He's had an impact on these young men's lives since they were kids."They see he can make it out of that and that they have the opportunity to do the same thing while developing under the best to ever do it. What young fighter wouldn't want that?"I'm really proud of Floyd as he helps young fighters, and he wants to see them one day surpass him. But that's a tall task, let me tell you!"It's just a great feeling to know you can have an impact on a young man's life. This is for all of our fighters who look up to him and especially to Jalil and his dad, who respect Mayweather Promotions, respect us, and trust us to guide their careers."It means a lot that we're making an impact. This is more than just business to me and to Floyd. These are relationships we'll have for the rest of our lives."

Floyd Mayweather and Leonard Ellerbe signed 5 young Americans hoping to become world champions in the future

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="9054105" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ryan-garcia">Ryan Garcia</keyword> is one of world <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">boxing</keyword>'s youngest stars.</li><li>The 22-year-old is rising in popularity and stature in the fight game and competes in the biggest fight of his life Saturday when he takes on Luke Campbell in Dallas.</li><li>Garcia told Insider that Christmas is his favorite holiday because it conjures up magical memories from his childhood, but he sacrificed the holiday season to focus on fight night.</li><li>Victory means sweeter Christmases in the future and tees up big-money bouts against three of the sport's other popular young kings — Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney, and Gervonta Davis.</li><li>Garcia has a dream to fight them all, and win, when they are all in their athletic primes.</li><li>But before he gets there, he has to make a statement this weekend.</li></ul>Gen-Z superstar Ryan Garcia, 22, endured a Christmas period like no other he had experienced before.The Garcia family tradition involves gingerbread houses, Santa costumes, and festive spirit throughout December. It's the fighter's favorite holiday.Garcia even recalled to Insider his fondest Christmas memory. "Back when I was younger, I finally got this video game 'Rock Band' where you become a band member, and I got my family to play drums, guitar, and somebody sings."I wanted that game so bad and we all spent hours playing it. That was the best Christmas."The Californian told us he normally "turns things up" around New Year's Eve, and even traveled to New York City to meet the singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes so the pair could usher in 2020 together, one year ago.These days, things are completely different. Garcia knew all along he'd avoid leftovers on Christmas Day as his diet is so strict, and likely have an early night December 31.There'd be no party in The Big Apple with Canada's newest music sensation this year, as he'd instead be in Texas, ready to make weight at 135-pounds. "It sucks," he told us.But that's the life a fighter sometimes has to live when they're training for the biggest bout of their life.And Garcia's first big fight arrives Saturday as he takes on the former gold medal-winning Olympian boxer Luke Campbell at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, which is a Golden Boy-promoted event that'll be broadcast on <keyword id="6970799" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="DAZN">DAZN</keyword>.Victory over Campbell would mark Garcia's coming-out party as a world-level fighter, and tee-up big-money showdowns against other young boxers like Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney, and Teofimo Lopez.Golden Boy hopes Garcia can be the athlete to carry the company, and the sport, forward throughout the 2020s.The stakes, this weekend, are high.<h2>The Campbell fight will be a coming-out party as a championship-caliber fighter, Garcia said</h2><div type="image" title="Ryan Garcia boxing" height="1333" width="2000" msid="80062790" hostid="261"></div>Garcia has had to make sacrifices during the holiday season because of the scheduling of his January 2 fight, but he says it's not all bad because he sees Saturday as the beginning of a new chapter in his career.Campbell is a step-up in class for Garcia, who <a href="https://www.insider.com/ryan-garcia-knocks-opponent-out-with-single-punch-2020-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took the industry by storm when he bounced his opponent's head off the canvas</a> with a left hook knockdown 11 months ago.The DAZN commentator Sergio Mora tweeted "a new star is born" at the time, and even Mayweather Promotions boss Leonard Ellerbe - who represents Garcia's rival Gervonta Davis - was impressed.Garcia has not fought since then but he is tipped to win when he returns to the ring for the Campbell match, which will be "a very important moment" in Garcia's career to date, the fighter said."I took Christmas as just another day as I'm focused on January 2. There'll be a lot of good Christmases when I come out on top."I just have to give this my all, and my family and everybody around me understand that because they know what my dream is. I'm not in the best Christmas spirit, I'm hungry - they understand."When asked if a Campbell win marks his coming-out party as a championship-caliber fighter ready for his lightweight rivals like Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney, and Gervonta Davis, Garcia said: "I definitely see it as that."He added: "This is a moment that will be very defining in my career, and probably the most important in my career so far."This is gonna set me up for the fights that can make me a legend one day, so I have to win this fight. I've put my whole heart into this. This is it. Guys, I'm so excited."Campbell is a good fighter, a good boxer. I like how he fights and the tools he has. He obviously doesn't have the power, or the best speed, in my opinion. But he's a very good technical fighter."Garcia said he's spotted flaws in Campbell's fighting style through his losses to Yvan Mendy in 2015 and Jorge Linares two years later.These are things Campbell cannot fix, Garcia told us. "I see little things and I'll see in the ring a little better. I might see a shot even faster than I thought. I think this fight can potentially bring that dog out of me. And if I've got to take it to him to win this fight, I will. So, whatever I've got to do, I'll go in and do it."<h2>Garcia harnessed the power of social media to become as popular as he is today</h2><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@kingrygarcia/video/6901780450725924098" data-video-id="6901780450725924098" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@kingrygarcia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@kingrygarcia">@kingrygarcia</a> January 2nd the reign begins watch from anywhere on Dazn @dazn_usa <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Ryan Garcia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6901780395390470914">♬ original sound - Ryan Garcia</a> </section> </blockquote> Combined with his unbeaten boxing record of 20 wins (17 knockouts), Garcia has amassed a substantial following on multiple social media channels.<ul><li>He has 7.8 million followers on Instagram</li><li>3.1 million followers on Tik Tok</li><li>751,000 subscribers on YouTube</li><li>470,000 followers on Twitter</li><li>And 402,000 followers on Facebook</li></ul>"There's definitely a key to success on social media, and it's all about finding it," Garcia told Insider. "What's your thing on social media? [Whatever it is] you can't be afraid of what people say because there'll always be negative comments."Maybe that stops a lot of young fighters from doing it. As people say, 'Oh, you're just this, you're just that,' but that's not going to stop me from working hard or being successful in the ring."You just have to battle through it, and you'll gain your supporters. It all benefits you because the more people who know about you, the better it is for your fights when you win and become bigger."You have to have tough skin when it comes to social media. When I was first coming up, they tried to bash me, tried to say I'm overrated, and that's just because they're scared of what I will become."Slowly, they'll be more scared as I keep winning."<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/37TPvlVBvu0" frameborder="0"></iframe>"My favorite platform is starting to become YouTube because you don't have to be on it so much, and can relax and put out good content. Make sure it does good, promote it."But then my second [favorite] is Instagram. And my third is Tik Tok because it's fun."Garcia is one of the few fighters to really embrace the power of social media, and told us it's "an untapped resource" as he speaks directly to other people in his generation - all of whom are potential fans."This is this generation," he said. "This is what we're about. We learn everything through social media. We don't learn it that much from the regular media anymore."That's how kids nowadays gets their news. They didn't know the new President became President through the TV, but because they saw a post where somebody on Instagram said that. That's just how it is."<h2>Garcia is one of a number of youngsters who can carry the sport through the 2020s</h2><div type="image" title="Ryan Garcia boxing Luke Campbell win" height="1404" width="2000" msid="80062794" hostid="261"></div>The most exciting thing in world boxing is the presence of dozens of young athletes who are years away from their respective primes, but are approaching world championship status if they aren't title-holders already.There's the Puerto Rican teenager Xander Zayas, a Floyd Mayweather protege in Richardson Hitchins, and top tier prospects like Charles Conwell and Elvis Rodriguez.There's the flyweight champion Junto Nakatani, flashy slickster Chris Colbert, and first-round knockout artist Edgar Berlanga.There's also Erickson Lubin, Jaron Ennis, Vergil Ortiz, Jaime Munguia, Shakur Stevenson, and David Benavidez.The list, as you can see, goes on and on before we've even gotten to the the most interesting thing about this new generation.The pound-for-pound talent Teofimo Lopez, ticket-selling attraction Gervonta Davis, and unbeaten Matchroom pro Devin Haney all compete in and around the 135-pound weight class - the division that is Garcia's current home.Should boxing politics not get in the way, it would mean this fabulous foursome - Lopez, Davis, Haney, and Garcia - can fight one another again and again when they are all in their 20s, in the roaring 2020s.This is not lost on Garcia, who wants to beat Campbell this weekend in style, and then lure "Tank" Davis into the ring so the pair can build on one of boxing's great modern day rivalries."I have a dream to beat four fighters in their prime," Garcia said."I want to beat Luke Campbell, who says he's in his prime right now."I want to beat Gervonta Davis who is in his prime, I want to beat Teofimo Lopez in his prime, and I want to beat Devin Haney in his prime."This would help make my case as one of the greatest fighters of my time, not beating these guys at the right time but at the time when people are saying, 'Damn, you probably shouldn't fight that guy.'"The more pressure, the better chance I have of becoming a diamond. I want to be up there with Muhammad Ali on the Mount Rushmore of all-time great boxers."It's exciting times," he said. "I have the chance to do something great and all four of us do if we all get into the ring pretty soon."We have social media and can a fight get hot real quick - I know how to do it. I can make these fights happen, and I refuse to wait. I want to get this done."I won't be in the sport long and I just want to make the biggest statements straight away against these deadly fighters."A knockout on Saturday against Campbell would be the first of those big statements. After that, few may bet against him from doing it again and again.Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/shawn-porter-fancies-wbo-title-fight-with-terence-crawford-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shawn Porter fancies a fight with Terence Crawford but says he has other welterweight world title options, too</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/conor-mcgregor-probably-skeptical-about-fighting-in-covid-white-said-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor was 'probably' skeptical about competing when the UFC said it would hold events through COVID, Dana White said</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/richardson-hitchins-is-proof-logan-vs-mayweather-creates-boxing-fans-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A red-hot boxing prospect says he's living proof that Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul exhibitions can create new boxing fans</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/pfl-hopes-to-reimagine-combat-sports-with-new-season-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PFL MMA hopes to continue its mission of reimagining the world of combat sports when its new season begins in April 2021</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/weve-entered-a-golden-era-of-boxing-exhibitions-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We've officially entered a golden era of showbiz boxing, and it's all down to Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, and Floyd Mayweather</a>

You Searched For "richardson hitchins" and got 11 results

Floyd Mayweather knows how to roll out the red carpet for everybody, not just fighters, CEO Leonard Ellerbe says

Alan Dawson

A red-hot boxing prospect says he's living proof that Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul exhibitions can create new boxing fans

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The incredible journey of 23-year-old American boxer Richardson Hitchins, one of Floyd Mayweather's most-treasured students

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Conor McGregor was 'probably' skeptical about competing when the UFC said it would hold events through COVID, Dana White said

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Claressa Shields could master MMA at a 'rapid rate' as she's already got the mind of a warrior, PFL stablemate Clay Collard says

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Jake Paul offers Conor McGregor $50 million to fight him in an insult-filled, expletive-laden video posted on social media

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The CEO of Mayweather Promotions is scouting boxers on the US Olympic team to try and find the next Floyd Mayweather

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Anthony Joshua dropped Kubrat Pulev 4 times en route to a 9th round knockout

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Lockdown cult hero Clay Collard wants to be one of those rare beasts who can win belts in boxing and mixed martial arts

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Floyd Mayweather and Leonard Ellerbe signed 5 young Americans hoping to become world champions in the future

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Gen-Z superstar Ryan Garcia sacrificed Christmas so he can try and take the world by storm in the biggest bout of his life

Alan Dawson