Billy's Boxing Blog

By William Trillo
Photo: Cris Esqueda – PBC

Did you actually pay $79.99 for Teofimo Lopez-Rolly Romero?

Really?

In 2026?

Congratulations. You just helped finance another installment of,
Boxing: The Slow, Sad Decline of a Once-Great Sport.

And before somebody tells me I’m being too negative, let’s be honest about what happened Saturday night. The fight was exactly what far too many people expected it to be: a $79.99 pay-per-view built around two fighters who spent large portions of the night looking like they had somewhere else to be.

Romero barely engaged. Lopez did just enough to win, but this was hardly the kind of performance that makes anyone want to throw another $80 at the television next weekend.

And yet fans will complain.

They always do.

“Boxing isn’t what it used to be.”

You’re right.

But then the next big fight is announced, the promotional machine starts cranking, and the same fans who swear they are done with boxing pull out the credit card.

Why would the promoters change?

You are paying them not to.

Promoters have spent years teaching fighters that the biggest payday doesn’t necessarily require the biggest performance. Put a recognizable name on the poster, attach a championship belt, call it a major event and charge $79.99.

The fight doesn’t have to be great. It only has to sell.

And Saturday night was another reminder of how broken that formula has become.

The problem isn’t simply Rolly Romero. It isn’t simply Teofimo Lopez. It isn’t even simply PBC.

The problem is the business model.

Promoters continue to push expensive pay-per-views because fans continue to buy them. Fighters continue to command enormous purses while fighting once a year or less because somebody continues to pay those purses. And fans continue to accept mediocre fights because they have convinced themselves that maybe, just maybe, this one will finally be worth the money.

Then the fight happens.

Then everybody complains.

Then the next $79.99 fight comes along.

And we do it all over again.

Boxing has always found a way to crawl out of the holes it digs, but this time it’s going to need a rescue team, a crane and maybe a miracle. As long as promoters worship at the altar of Riyadh Season and slap their logos on everything from ring posts to toilet seats, and keep overpaying fighters while passing the bill to fans through endless PPVs, boxing will stay exactly where it is:

Swirling The Drain.

At some point, fans have to accept that they have more power than they think.

Stop buying every PPV.

Stop rewarding mediocre matchups with premium prices.

Stop flying to Las Vegas for another supposedly can’t-miss Mexican Holiday event that turns into a glorified sparring session with Margaritas and Mariachis.

And stop pretending that paying for it while complaining afterward is somehow sending a message.

It isn’t.

The only message promoters understand is when the money stops.

Boxing has survived bad promoters, bad decisions, bad matchmaking and bad business before. It will probably survive this too.

But it won’t happen because somebody in a boardroom suddenly discovers common sense.

It will happen when the people paying for the product finally decide they’ve had enough.

Because somewhere, in some dusty local gym, there’s a kid with real talent dreaming of becoming a champion.

Do it for him — before the wolves drag him into the same broken system and shred his career like they’ve shredded the sport.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing truth

By William Trillo

Heavyweight boxing finally cleared the hurdle it has spent years tripping over.

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury both won their tune-up fights, keeping alive plans for a long-awaited showdown later this year.

Whether that’s still a fight the public has been anxiously waiting for is another matter.

Joshua’s evening nearly unraveled before it had a chance to begin.

He was dropped just 20 seconds into the opening round by Kristian Prenga, then found himself on the canvas again before the round was over. It was the kind of start that momentarily had promoters wondering whether another lucrative heavyweight matchup was about to disappear before contracts could even be announced.

Joshua recovered quickly, stopping Prenga in the second round.

But the result raised as many questions as it answered.

If Joshua could dispatch Prenga one round after being dropped twice, it says as much about Prenga as it does Joshua. For one brief round, the previously unknown challenger looked capable of producing one of boxing’s biggest upsets. Moments later, he looked every bit the overmatched opponent many expected.

Joshua deserves credit for keeping his composure and finishing the job.

His chin, however, remains an entirely different conversation.

At this point, comparing it to glass almost feels too generous. Glass can be strengthened. Fine china at least carries some value. Joshua’s durability is beginning to resemble an old adobe clay pot—perfectly functional until the slightest bump sends cracks running in every direction.

That concern isn’t going away.

Meanwhile, Fury’s outing against Mariusz Wach provided little more than seven rounds of work before a stoppage.

It was described by many as a glorified sparring session.

The “sparring session” part was accurate.

The “glorified” part may have been overstating things.

The fight was never in doubt, never particularly compelling and, because it wasn’t televised, offered little evidence that Fury has suddenly rediscovered the form that once made him the division’s most fascinating heavyweight.

It served its purpose.

Nothing more.

Cheerio.

Promoter Eddie Hearn continues to insist the Joshua-Fury fight is signed, legally binding and finally ready to happen.

Forgive boxing fans if they’re reluctant to celebrate.

We’ve heard this before.

For years.

Contracts have been announced, negotiations declared complete and dates discussed, only for another obstacle to appear before anyone ever made the walk to the ring.

Perhaps this time is different. Saudi backing, Netflix involvement and legally binding agreements certainly suggest there’s more substance than previous attempts.

We’ll know for certain when the opening bell rings.

The larger question is whether the fight still carries the significance it once did.

Five years ago, Joshua versus Fury was the defining heavyweight matchup of its era.

Today, it feels more like an overdue appointment.

Outside of the Hertfordshire-versus-Manchester bragging rights—and a healthy dose of British pride—it’s difficult to imagine this matchup generating the same excitement it would have at either fighter’s peak.

It will still draw enormous attention.

Heavyweight boxing always does.

But after Joshua survived two knockdowns against an opponent few expected to threaten him, and Fury completed what amounted to little more than a controlled workout, it’s fair to wonder whether this fight is arriving just a few years too late.

Or, as they might say across the pond…

Bloody hell…what took so long?

By William Trillo

In boxing, the spotlight usually belongs to champions, promoters, and the chaos under the bright lights. But every so often there is someone working just outside the ropes whose influence runs just as deep. Bill Caplan was one of those people.

For decades, Caplan was one of boxing’s most respected publicists and trusted architects behind the scenes, a rare figure who could move comfortably between fighters, promoters, writers and television executives, all the while somehow earning the affection of nearly all of them — no small feat in this sport.

He was, of course, best known as George Foreman’s long-time publicist and close confidant, helping shape one of the greatest reinventions in sports history. Foreman’s remarkable second act — from heavyweight champion reborn to beloved global icon — did not happen by accident. Caplan helped build that image with the same care others devote to training champions.

But his imprint stretched far beyond Big George. His tenures with Don King Productions, Top Rank, and later Golden Boy Promotions placed him at the center of multiple generations of boxing history. Big fights, bigger personalities, title nights that became folklore — Bill Caplan seemed to be around all of it.

The Los Angeles Times once called him “boxing’s warm-hearted friend in a world of pirates.” It may be the most accurate line ever written about a boxing publicist.

I first met Bill at the World Boxing Hall of Fame luncheon in 2002, the year I was just beginning what was then a fledgling journalism career with Fightnews. George Foreman was being inducted that same year, and naturally Bill was there at his side — where he so often was.

Through the years we crossed paths often at cards in Southern California and Las Vegas. And every time, without fail, he would greet me with a smile and a cheerful, “Hello Memo,” using the Spanish nickname for William. I’d grin and answer back, “Hello Memo,” and that became our running joke — our shorthand for good to see you, have a great weekend at the fights.

Then Bill would saunter off toward the press room, usually stopping to greet what seemed like every person in it.

That was Bill. He made people feel seen. He made boxing feel a little smaller, a little friendlier. And in a sport not always known for warmth, that mattered.

There are publicists who promote events. Bill Caplan promoted relationships. He built trust. He built legacies. And in many ways, he helped humanize a business that often resists it.

Both Bret Newton and I were deeply saddened to hear of his passing. He was one of the good ones — and there are darn few of them left.

He will be missed by his boxing family.

And I suspect every time I think of Bill, I will hear that familiar greeting.

Hello, Memo.

This time, though, it feels tough to have to answer another way.

Good-bye, Memo.

By William Trillo

Let’s not get carried away here.

Yes, the heavyweight scrap between Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora this past weekend was entertaining. It had drama, knockdowns, and just enough chaos to keep people from checking their phones. By modern boxing standards, that apparently qualifies as an “epic.” Some have even floated “Fight of the Year,” which is either wildly generous or a sign that expectations have quietly been lowered to ankle height.

Because what this really was—once you peel away the noise—was a fairly even fight between two heavyweights who are well past their expiration dates.

Coming in, Wilder had dropped four of his last six fights, getting stopped three times. Chisora wasn’t exactly riding a wave either, losing four of his last eight. These aren’t résumés screaming “title implications.” These are the kind that usually headline a decent night at your local club, somewhere between the raffle drawing and the main event chili.

And yet, here we are.

The fight itself played out about how you’d expect. Wilder, now more plod than shock, managed to score knockdowns in rounds eight and eleven—moments that ultimately carried him to a split decision win. Two judges had it for Wilder (115-113, 115-111), while a third somehow saw it for Chisora, because boxing judging remains the sport’s most consistent wildcard.

To his credit, Chisora did exactly what Chisora always does: show up, absorb punishment, and give everything he has until there’s nothing left in the tank. It’s admirable, even if it’s no longer particularly competitive at the highest level. He’s said he’ll retire after his 50th fight, which feels less like a plan and more like a mercy rule waiting to be enforced.

As for Wilder, yes, he won. And yes, he looked slightly better than in recent outings. But let’s not pretend this was a resurrection. The version of Wilder who once terrified the division—the one who turned fights off like a light switch—was nowhere to be found. This was a diminished “Bronze Bomber,” still dangerous in spots, but a clear shadow of the fighter he used to be.

Which makes the post-fight chatter all the more puzzling.

Names like Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua have already been tossed around as potential next opponents. Seriously? Based on what, exactly? Beating a 40-year-old Chisora in a competitive fight? That’s not a springboard to the top—it’s a reminder of how far removed both men are from it.

In a better, more coherent era of boxing, this fight would have been appreciated for what it was: a gritty, entertaining clash between two veterans on the downside. Respectable, even admirable in its own way—but nowhere near elite.

Instead, it’s being inflated into something it clearly wasn’t.

None of this is to take away from the fighters themselves. Stepping into a ring at that level—at any level—is something most of us wouldn’t consider on our bravest day. And the mutual respect they showed afterward, speaking warmly to and about one another, might have been the best moment of the entire night. That kind of perspective is worth more than another 12 rounds of punishment.

But the reaction to this fight? That tells you everything you need to know about the current state of professional boxing.

When a glorified club fight gets dressed up as must-see, top-tier action, the issue isn’t the fighters.

It’s the product.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing truth.

By William Trillo
Photo: Al Applerose

As with most Ryan Garcia fights, the spectacle often overshadows the substance. And since no one else seems willing to say it, here it is: Ryan Garcia fights feel less like sporting events and more like reality TV episodes that occasionally include punches.

So yes, congratulations to Garcia for finally grabbing a world title. But let’s not pretend this was some heroic climb up the mountain. He did it against Mario Barrios, a fighter who, even on his best day, simply does not have the athleticism or skill to beat him.

That’s not a knock on Barrios. In fact, quite the opposite. Here’s a fighter who used hard work, grit, and stubborn determination to reach the top of the sport. He should always be proud of that. But when Barrios stepped up against elite competition—against Keith Thurman and Gervonta Davis—he came up short. That’s not opinion. That’s history.

History will also tell you that Garcia hasn’t exactly thrived when the level rises. Gervonta Davis stopped him. Rolando Romero dropped him in the second round and went on to win a clear-cut unanimous decision.

Yes, Garcia did step up against Devin Haney. But let’s not rewrite history. Officially the fight went down as a No Contest. That result came with controversy, failed tests, and enough baggage to make the outcome permanently debatable. So, if we’re being honest, it’s hard to treat this as the defining proof of elite status his supporters want it to be.

If you don’t think the moment Barrios beat Yordenis Ugas for the welterweight belt that the executives at Golden Boy Promotions started mapping out a title shot for Garcia, then you might want to log off social media and learn how boxing actually works.

In my opinion, the “fix” was in the moment the contract was signed. No, I’m not talking about mob bosses, envelopes of cash, or some 1930s backroom deal. I’m talking about matchmaking. Everyone involved knew the odds of Barrios beating Garcia were slim at best. In boxing, that’s as close to a guarantee as you’re going to get.

As for the fight, Garcia dropped Barrios in the first round with a crushing right hand. It looked like it might be a short night. Instead, Barrios showed exactly why he made it this far in the first place—he got up, and lasted all twelve rounds. Garcia never came close to finishing him again.

And if you watched the buildup, you already knew how this was going to go. Most of Garcia’s training clips showed him sparring friends in his penthouse, sometimes in a living room setting that looked more like influencer content than championship preparation. He clearly didn’t expect much of a challenge. The scorecards—119-108, 120-107, 118-109—confirmed he didn’t get one.

Truthfully, in the boxing circles I run in, almost everyone was quietly hoping for the upset. Garcia is not nearly as respected among serious boxing people as he believes. TikTok reporters and content farms will crown him the next king because clicks matter more than credibility. Garcia’s social media reach is massive, and that means money. And in modern boxing, money usually wins.

He won’t be the first fighter fans love to hate. He won’t be the last.

But now he may have become something even more dangerous for the sport: a star who is bigger than the system that built him. With promotional uncertainty looming, Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy may have created their own version of Frankenstein’s monster—a champion with leverage, attention, and options.

The question now isn’t whether Ryan Garcia can win fights. It’s whether boxing can control what comes next.

Stay tuned.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing truth.

By William Trillo



The 2025 Golden Turkey Award Winner

With a 100% degree of certainty, whenever I have a conversation with anyone who loves the sport as much as I do, the first thing they want to know is, “What the hell is wrong with boxing? It’s just not the same anymore?” Before I can answer that question, they will say something about the circus headlined by “RuPaul”, and who is buying into that sideshow?

“It’s simple”, I tell them. “Most of the people that are eating up that nonsense, are not real boxing fans to begin with and have just bought into the hype and hysteria that is being fed to them by…you guessed it…the so-called boxing media.”

I have been in this business for over 20 years now. It just kills me to see my peers, guys I have come to know and respect, giving any credibility to the carnival we are witnessing.

But I get it, (sort of), these “Influencers” and Fightschlub.com stars are willing to sell their souls if it means a couple more views on their social media platforms.

Whatever! You’re killing he sport. Yes YOU.

Check out what my friend and peer, Dave from Placentia, had to say about the current situation:
“Boxing completely ignored the opportunity to capitalize on the Crawford v Canelo fight and went right back to the exhibition YouTube crap. All of us “Boxing” fans were so energized by that Crawford v Canelo fight, but the shine wore off quickly as the garbage just kept coming immediately. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done as formerly legitimate Boxing sites and such embrace the nonsense….”

Did you read that?

He said, “formerly legitimate Boxing sites.”

That’s nail on the head stuff right there. He is talking about you boys, and so am I.

I don’t care who you are, where you received your education or who you work for. You have compromised your integrity, and boxing is the worse for wear because of that.

Take your Turkey of the Year Award.

Y’all should be very proud of yourselves.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing truth.

By William Trillo
Photos: Cris Esqueda – Golden Boy

I am not normally big on making fight predictions, and more often than not, I am wrong, but I couldn’t help but weigh-in on the DAZN WBC Interim Super Welterweight Title Main Event that will be taking place in Fort Worth, Texas tonight.

For whatever reason, as soon as I heard that Vergil Ortiz was taking on Erickson Lubin, the first thing that popped into my head was the 2013 fight between Lucas Matthysse and Mike Dallas Jr. The fight was coincidentally also for an Interim Title, that one being in the Super Lightweight division.

To make a short story even shorter, Matthysse bludgeoned and stopped Dallas Jr. in the very first round, it wasn’t even a contest. Those who thought Dallas Jr. stood even the slightest chance of defeating Matthysse found out they were gravely mistaken.

I expect to see a similar outcome tonight with Ortiz manhandling Lubin and stopping him in dramatic fashion. Lubin might last a little longer than three minutes, but I fully expect Ortiz to be dominant and should stop Lubin inside of six rounds.

Now, before you gambling degenerates run off to your favorite bookie thinking that once again my prediction won’t pan out, take heed. I am very confident Ortiz will be more than Lubin can handle.

Ortiz in six or less…Book It!

Check out http://www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing news.

By William Trillo
Photos: Gavin Bond – Netflix & William Trillo

A little over a week ago I was working a local boxing show just outside of Los Angeles California. As per usual, I made it a point to get there for the opening bout because you just never know if the next future Super Star is making his professional debut. The second fight of the night was a four rounder. Jorge Ruiz (2-0, 2 KOs) knocked Prince Martin (1-3, 1 KO) via body punch in round two. Refereeing the bout was California Ref Tom Taylor. About halfway through the first round it occurred to me, the last time I saw Taylor was in Las Vegas just a few weeks prior. He was the third man in the ring for the most anticipated fight of 2025, that being the undisputed Super Middleweight championship between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford. When the bell rang for the first round to begin, there were well over 70,000 fans in the arena. The night I saw Taylor in Los Angeles, there may have been 250 fans in attendance…maybe.

After the bout in Los Angeles, I requested an interview with Taylor to discuss the afore mentioned fights. He was quick and gracious to oblige.
Check out what Tom had to say:

Pound4Pound: If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you how it feels to go from a house full of fans, some 70,000, that are anticipating the Fight of the Year to less than a month later, refereeing the second fight of the night, a four rounder, in front of maybe 250 fans at the time the bell rang.

Tom Taylor: Honestly, once the bell rings, whether its 70,000 screaming fans, or 250, my focus is on red corner, blue corner and calling the fight fairly. I love the big shows and small shows just the same. That 4-rounder debut is nothing different from the 12 round main event world title fight. It’s just important to both fighters and I treat them equally. I love what I do and the size, or lack there, of the event doesn’t matter. As long as I am refereeing, I am in my element.

P4P: To follow up, can you speak to the mindset and focus it takes to give your 100% best for both a four round prelim fight and/or a 12-round world title fight.

TT: Great question. As I addressed, the 4-round fight may as well be a 12-round title fight and treated as such. The 4-round fight is the most important fight to those fighters, no different from the 12-round title fight. My mindset doesn’t change from either. My focus is exactly the same for both as I believe every fighter deserves 100% from us regardless of the event size, number of rounds or any other contributing factor. Every fighter works their ass off in order to be able to step through those ropes, and we as officials owe them our very best every time.

Taylor has become one of the more visible and high-profile refs in boxing at the present time. From Saudi Arabia to Las Vegas to Los Angeles, when Taylor is in the ring, the fighters and the fans can rest assured the battle is in good hands.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing news.

By William Trillo

No road trip to the Boxing Capital of the World, Las Vegas, would be complete if I didn’t stop by my favorite California roadside diner to check in with “The King” and get his thoughts on the Canelo vs. Crawford Super-Fight that would take place at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday night. It was good to see my old friend and get his prognostication on the Super Middleweight Championship battle.

“This one is going to baffle the experts”, said Elvis, “Canelo’s reign as boxings top dog in boxing is in huge jeopardy on Saturday night.”

“How so?”, I asked.

Alvarez will start out quickly against Crawford and might even hurt him early, but a resilient “Bud” will turn the tide in a big way at the mid-point of the fight.”

Surprised by what Elvis had to say, I asked if he was suggesting that Crawford would stop Canelo.

“Crawford is going to put a pretty good beating on Canelo in the later rounds,” answered Elvis, “but he just won’t have the power to stop Alvarez. It’s going to go the distance, but Crawfords dominance in the second half of the fight should give him the victory via decision.”

“Should?”, I asked.

“Yes, should. My Crystal Ball also warned me that one of the judge’s scorecards might already be written. The two remaining judges will give Crawford a razor thin edge on their scorecards. With that, Canelos’s stranglehold on the 168 division will come to an end as Crawford will be awarded a Split Decision victory”, predicted Elvis.

“That is going to have a lot of people “All Shook Up” and leaving the arena very unhappy on Saturday night,” I replied.

With a coy smile Elvis said, “Yes, but tell them “The King” said not to worry. Canelo will get his chance to seek revenge in May of 2026.”

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing news.

By William Trillo
Photo: Chris Suchánek

The Cinco De Mayo fight weekend that boxing fans have come to know and love was saved by Naoya “The Monster” Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs) and Ramon Cardenas (26-2, 14 KOs), who were headlining the Main Event inside the Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena on the Top Rank promoted card on Sunday night.

With all of Inoue’s 122-pound belts on the line, these two went at in with non-stop action. Inoue was dropped by a left hook in round two, but got back up on his feet, turned up the heat, and then rallied to stop Cardenas via eighth round TKO.

The fight was a boxing fans dream, and best of all it wasn’t PPV. Longtime boxing enthusiast, Dave from Placentia, said it perfectly, “Take note dumb PPV Boxing shows. I just watched a great fight with a future Hall of Famer on ESPN regular TV.”

No doubt Dave was firing a blast at the PPV crap that transpired this weekend in New Yorks Time Square on Friday night and in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. And if he wasn’t taking aim…allow me.

First of all, whose idea was it promote Cinco de Mayo fights on the streets on New York or the dunes of Saudi Arabia instead of its home of Las Vegas, Nevada? Certainly not anyone with respect for one of boxing’s time-honored traditions. That was your first mistake, both of those cards were doomed from the onset.

Next, someone is paying these fighters an inordinate amount of jack, and in doing so you put out their competitive fire. What’s their motivation?

All William Scull had to do is run around the ring for twelve rounds, collect a huge paycheck, go back to Cuba and never be seen again.

All Canelo had to do was cut off the ring and…oh…umm…I forgot, Canelo has been paid enough money for three lifetimes, why would he do anything more than go through the motions? I mean, what’s the point, where’s the motivation? Right Saul?

Moving on, both Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney need to go away, and I mean forever. Ryan really doesn’t want to fight and looking over the punchstats of the Haney fight…neither does he. But trust me, they both want some more of that Turki money and are bound to beg for more in the not-too-distant future.

Shelling out this kind of money has turned most of today’s so-called Super Stars into entitled brats.

Don’t take my word for it. Just check out these unsolicited texts I got from boxing fans during Friday and Saturday nights shows;

“These are the amazing undisputed champions of the day? They get paid millions and do nothing. Boxing makes me sick now!”

“This is horrible. This whole thing is very awkward.”

“Over-hyped PPV nonsense.”

To sum things up, your shows on Friday and Saturday night sucked and the fans are very displeased.

Thank goodness Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions put on a fight worthy of the Mexican holiday. Otherwise, this weekend would have gone down as one of the worst Cinco De Mayo boxing events ever.

Check out www.Pound4Pound.com for all the latest boxing truth.