Sports
Boxing: Garcia Grabs Belt, and Much Needed Win
Published
5 years agoon
By
FNN NEWSFRISCO, Tx. (FNN SPORTS) – Late Saturday night, The Ford Center pumped with excitement and anticipation of the return of one of boxing’s premier fighters, Mikey Garcia. With a seemingly sold out venue and pro-Garcia crowd, the big questions on everyone’s mind was how would Garcia bounce back after his first loss? And could he prove he belong in a division that seems just a one size too big?
For Jesse Vargas, the question was simple: Can you finally take that step in your career to beat a top contender and get a defining win that puts you over the hump of being labeled “opponent”?
Both men came out focused, but Garcia’s body tightened, once again looking uncomfortable with his opponent. Garcia, known for his rhythm, timing, and great angles, looked out of sorts and took some big shots. Vargas pressed early, fighting with a controlled chaos, determined to take the fight to Garcia. After most of the first three rounds, Vargas was in control, and it seemed like Mikey once again bit off more than he could chew.
By the forth round, however, Garcia seemed to find his timing. His jab landed more effectively setting up his right, and he was moving a lot better, avoiding some of those big punches he was previously taking. It seemed that for every punch Vargas scored, Garcia tried to respond with two or three more of his own, making for an exciting round as both men traded punches.
The tables turned in round five. Garcia used some serious clout to floor and all but finish Vargas, landing multiple hooks to Vargas’ head. It was as if that was what Garcia had been searching for–proof that he could hurt one of these guys, and it gave him all the confidence he needed as he returned into prime Garcia form, pressuring, stalking and punishing Vargas with some heavy blows as he piled up winning rounds. Vargas rallied late, making the fight a bit more interesting, but it wasn’t enough. Mikey Garcia won a unanimous decision victory (114-113, 116-111, 116-111) and gained the WBC Dimond belt.
In what was a decent fight to watch, Garcia did exactly what he was supposed to do, and to Vargas’s credit, so did he. The problem with this fight wasn’t that Garcia looked bad in victory. He didn’t. He actually looked pretty good at points. But therein lies the problem–he looked good at points against a guy who is not great, and he didn’t look complete. It’s hard to remember a time when Garcia, especially over the course of the last two fights, took so many hard punches. In combination with no head movement, and just looking a step behind Saturday night, it’s very possible that whoever Garcia’s next opponent is will once again be too much for him to handle.
This welterweight division is the most stacked division in boxing. The amount of talent in this class, not to mention who can come up from 135, has a lot of boxing fans excited for how this landscape will play out. There was a lot of talk about a potential showdown with living legend and WBA Super Welterweight Champion Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) as Garcia’s next move. But if camp Garcia really wants to cash in on the welterweight cow, it might be smart to look elsewhere first because at this point I cannot see Garcia out-pointing Pacquiao anytime soon.
______________________________________________
Antonio Campana is a Florida National News sports contributor. | sports@floridanationalnews.com
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Sports
Orlando City SC to Host Inter Miami CF in 2025 Preseason Florida Derby at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Published
4 days agoon
November 4, 2024By
FNN SPORTSORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Orlando City SC announced that the Lions will reignite their rivalry with Inter Miami CF in a preseason Florida Derby showdown at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on February 14, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. ET. This much-anticipated clash, organized in collaboration with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, brings the excitement of the Florida Derby to Tampa for the first time, expanding the reach of Major League Soccer within the state.
“We can’t wait to bring the excitement of the Orlando/Miami rivalry down the road to our neighbors in Tampa,” said Orlando City SC President of Business Operations Jarrod Dillon. “We’re excited to partner with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission on this event and look forward to it being a great addition to our 2025 MLS preseason calendar.”
Ticket Sales and Fan Experience Orlando City SC season ticket members and Recognized Supporter Groups will receive presale access starting on November 12. An additional presale will open for Orlando City email newsletter subscribers on November 13, with general public sales beginning November 14 at SoccerInTampaBay.com.
Fans attending the game will also enjoy a pregame fan festival outside of Raymond James Stadium. The festival, which is free for ticket holders, offers an engaging experience to kick off the highly anticipated Derby, welcoming fans with activities and entertainment before the big match.
The Rivalry Continues Since the inception of the intrastate Derby in 2020, Orlando City SC has held a slight edge, leading the series with five wins, four losses, and four draws against Inter Miami CF. This historic meeting in Tampa adds a new chapter to the rivalry, drawing fans from across Florida for a thrilling display of MLS talent.
Current Season Updates Orlando City SC is also focused on its current playoff run. The Lions will face Charlotte FC on November 9 at Inter&Co Stadium in Round One of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. The teams are tied with one win each in the best-of-three series. The decisive match will kick off at 6 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with the winner advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinal.
Key Takeaways:
- Florida Derby 2025 Preseason Match: Orlando City SC vs. Inter Miami CF at Raymond James Stadium on February 14, 2025.
- Ticket Presales: Available to season ticket members on November 12, with general sales on November 14.
- Fan Experience: Pre-game fan festival free for ticket holders outside Raymond James Stadium.
- Orlando Holds Rivalry Edge: Orlando City SC leads the Florida Derby series against Inter Miami CF.
Sports
Top Seeded Orlando Pride To Host Chicago Red Stars In Clubs First Ever Home Playoff Match
Published
4 days agoon
November 4, 2024By
FNN SPORTSORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The No. 1 Orlando Pride now knows its opponent for the Club’s first-ever home playoff match, with the team set to battle against No. 8 Chicago Red Stars in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 NWSL Playoffs. The match, presented by Orlando Health, will air on Prime Video with kickoff set for 8 p.m. ET. Tickets for the match are available at the link here. With home field advantage secured through the semifinal round, fans are able to take advantage of the “We Win, You Win” package, which also includes a ticket to the semifinal match should the Pride advance. Packages start as low as $20 and are available here. The Pride wrapped a historic 2024 regular season with a 3-2 win over Seattle Reign FC on Saturday, breaking multiple NWSL records over the course of the year. Set to make their first appearance in the postseason since 2017, the Pride finished the regular season and set NWSL records for most points in a single season (60), wins in a single season (18), longest unbeaten streak (24) and longest win streak (8). The Pride also went unbeaten at the friendly confines of Inter&Co Stadium throughout the entire 2024 season and will look to keep that intact in the playoffs. Eight clubs qualified for the 2024 NWSL Playoffs and as part of this year’s expanded postseason format, the playoffs now consist of four quarterfinal matches, eliminating byes to the semifinals. The quarterfinal round will take place the weekend of Nov. 8-10 with matches airing live across CBS, ESPN/ABC and Prime Video platforms. The semifinal round, set for the weekend of Nov. 16-17, will feature matches on CBS and ESPN/ABC. The 2024 NWSL Championship, presented by Google Pixel, will take place on Saturday, Nov. 23 and be played at CPKC Stadium, home of the Kansas City Current and the world’s first soccer stadium purpose built for a women’s professional team. |
Sports
Orlando City’s shootout loss to Charlotte FC in Game 2
Published
6 days agoon
November 2, 2024By
FNN SPORTSCHARLOTTE, N.C. – No. 4 Orlando City SC dropped a penalty kick decision on Friday night to No. 5 Charlotte FC in the second game of Round One of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. After 90 minutes of scoreless soccer, the two sides went immediately to the penalty shootout after regulation, with the home side ultimately winning 3-1 on penalties.
The two sides will next meet in the final, third game of Round One – the decider in the best-of-three series. The match, presented by Orlando Health, will return to the City Beautiful, with a 6 p.m. ET kickoff at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9. Tickets for the game can be purchased at the link here.
Lions’ goalkeeper Pedro Gallese stood tall in the net on the night, totaling three saves including two point-blank stops in the first half to keep the clean sheet.
Orlando seemed to have found a breakthrough late in the second half after Facundo Torres found the back of the net, but the goal was ultimately called off due to a tight offside decision.
Scoring Summary:
None
Penalty Summary:
ORL – Nico Lodeiro (Saved)
CLT – Patrick Agyemang (Goal)
ORL – Robin Jansson (Missed)
CLT – Karol Swiderski (Goal)
ORL – Luis Muriel (Goal)
CLT – Ashley Westwood (Goal)
ORL – Duncan McGuire (Saved)
Head Coach Oscar Pareja:
“Overall, it was a rocky game for both teams. Our second half was much better and, at the end, we could have won it and we have that sensation [of winning]. The other game, that is the PKs, is obviously frustration but it’s part of this game. It’s something that I want to stick with, and the players have to have the [positivity] and courage that we always have to go and finish our game at home [next week]. We’re ready for all of our fans to be there [Inter&Co Stadium] to finish this game at home. It will be fine.”
Match Notes:
- With the start, Martín Ojeda made his 50th appearance for Orlando City across all competitions.
- Head Coach Oscar Pareja made no changes to his starting XI from his side’s first match of the series against Charlotte FC.
Next Match: Orlando City will return to Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9 for a 6 p.m. ET kickoff against Charlotte FC. The match will be the deciding Game Three of the best-of-three Round One.
Teams | 1 | 2 | F |
Charlotte FC | 0 | 0 | 0 (3) |
Orlando City SC | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) |
Scoring Summary:
None
Misconduct Summary:
ORL – Robin Jansson (Yellow Card) 35’
CLT – Liel Abada (Yellow Card) 45’
ORL – Rodrigo Schlegel (Yellow Card) 90+2’
ORL – Wilder Cartagena (Yellow Card) 90+7’
Lineups/Substitutions
Orlando City SC – GK Pedro Gallese; D Dagur Dan Thórhallsson (David Brekalo 84’), Rodrigo Schlegel, Robin Jansson (c), Rafael Santos (Kyle Smith 74’); M Iván Angulo (Luis Muriel 88’), César Araújo, Wilder Cartagena, Facundo Torres; F Martín Ojeda (Nico Lodeiro 74’), Ramiro Enrique (Duncan McGuire 56’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Javier Otero; D Mikey Halliday; M Heine Gikling Bruseth, Felipe
Charlotte FC – GK Kristijan Kahlina; D Tim Ream, Nathan Byrne, Adilson Malanda; M Ashley Westwood (c), Brandt Bronico, Djibril Diani, Andrew Privett; F Liel Abada (Iuri Tavares 72’), Kerwin Vargas (Karol Swiderski 75’), Patrick Agyemang
Substitutes Not Used: GK David Bingham; D Jaylin Lindsey, Bill Tuiloma, Jere Uronen; M Jamie Paterson, Júnior Urso; F Tyger Smalls
Details of the Game:
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Clear
Date: Nov. 1, 2024
Attendance: 40,238
Stats:
Possession:
CLT – 44.5%
ORL – 55.5%
Shots:
CLT – 13
ORL – 2
Saves:
CLT – 1
ORL – 3
Fouls:
CLT – 14
ORL – 8
Corners:
CLT – 11
ORL – 3
Heineken Star of the Match: Pedro Gallese
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