LOS ANGELES (Maart 21, 2024) – Toronto se onoorwonne Wêreldboksvereniging (WBA) Interkontinentale Ligswaargewig Kampioen Kareem “Supreme” Hackett (12-0, 6 Uitklophoue) sal sy eerste titelverdediging Maart maak 30ste teen Rowdy Legend Montgomery (10-5-1, 7 Uitklophoue) in 'n 10-ronde-wedstryd op 'n Golden Boy Promotions-kaart met die hoof van die WBA Cruiserweight World-titelgeveg tussen die verdedigende kampioen Arsen Goulimarian en Hackett se stalmaat, voormalige wêreld-supermiddelgewigkampioen Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez.
Al die aksie sal regstreeks op DAZN vanaf YouTube-teater in Los Angeles gestroom word.
WBA No. 13 wêreldgegradeerde Hackett het verlede September sy kroon verower 20ste in Plant City, Florida, toe hy oorheers 4-1 gunsteling en voorheen onoorwonne Clay Waterman (11-0, 8 Uitklophoue) op pad na 'n 10-ronde eenparige besluit, waarin hy alles gewen het 10 rondes op twee van die beoordelaars se telkaarte en nege op die ander beoordelaar s'n.
“Ek sou graag vroeër wou baklei, maar dit is hoe hierdie besigheid gaan,"Hackett het gesê. “Dit is moeiliker om gevegte te kry nadat ek my titel gewen het as wat dit was. Baie goed het gebeur sedert my laaste geveg. Ek verstaan. Ek het 'n titel en ek is op die wêreldranglys. Ek het 'n duideliker pad na 'n wêreldtitelskoot. Ek waardeer enige geleentheid om in die ring te kom.”
“Ek kry meer respek sedert ek my vaardighede op ProBox.TV vertoon het. (Omroepers) Juan Manual Marguez, Paulie Malignaggi en Chris Algieri het vir my baie rekwisiete gegee en dit was baie bekragtig.”
Hackett het onskatbare ervaring opgedoen om wêreldkampioene soos "Zurdo" Ramirez te spartel, Dmitri Bivol, Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin, Sergio Mora, Mathew Macklin en David Benavidez.
Hackett het reeds eerstes gevestig deur 'n Toronto-bokser in terme van veg op 'n Golden Boy Promotions-kaart en om WBA Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight titelhouer te word.
"Ek is 'n voorloper vir Toronto-boks,” promosie gratis agent Hackett het met groot trots verduidelik. “Ek wil die eerste wêreldtitel huis toe bring, vir seker, en eendag die onbetwiste en verenigde titels, te, Toronto is 'n groot stad met baie natuurlike talent, maar ek weet nie hoekom boks nie daar gefloreer het nie.”
Hackett word opgelei deur die vinnig opkomende Julian Chua by Brickhouse Boxing Club in Noord-Hollywood (SOOS) en bestuur word deur 3 Puntbestuur (3 PM).
"(Dmitri) Bivol is aan die hoof van die ligswaargewig-afdeling, en ek weet hy is 'n sterk ou,” het Hackett opgemerk. “Ons het ’n paar dinge verander sedert my laaste geveg met die einde in gedagte. Ons het verdriedubbel, sterkte-gewys, want wanneer ons hom raakloop. Dit is die belangrikste verandering. Ek voel dat ek die mees ratse vegter in ons afdeling is en ek werk daaraan om sterker te word om my vaardighede en ring-IK te pas.”
In 2024, Hackett wil hardeware byvoeg en 'n top-10 teenstander beveg, maar, ten minste vir nou, hy is bly om in sy tweede huis in sy stryd met Montgomery te wees, Los Angeles.
“Ek is mal daaroor dat hierdie geveg in LA is,” het Hackett afgesluit. “Ek is gemaklik in Los Angeles. Ek voel tuis hier en baklei op ander plekke in Kalifornië. Ek is ook opgewonde om te baklei op 'n kaart wat deur een van my naaste vriende in boks opskrif is (Hotklou)."
LAS VEGAS (Februarie 2, 2022)– Undefeated Toronto light heavyweight prospect Kareem Hackett (8-0, 7 Uitklophoue) het 'n bestuursposisie kontrak met onderteken 3 Puntbestuur (3PM), which also manages 43-0 Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez, the former World Super Middleweight Champion, and today the top-ranked World light heavyweight contender.
“Kareem is a great talent that just needs an opportunity,” het Ramirez gesê. “He’s been a good sparring partner for me in the past and I’m glad he can be in the same stable as I am, 3 Point Management.”
In Canada, Hackett participated in combat sports like kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, and boxing. He had a 40-6 amateur boxing record, including a pair of Ringside International boxing titles, as well as being crowned a Canadian National kickboxing champion.
Now a resident of Los Angeles, where Kareem trains at Brickhouse Boxing Club, in which “Zurdo” is part of its ownership. Hackett is coached by Ramirez’ head trainer, Julian Chua.
“I met ‘Zurdo’ through Julian,” Hackett explained. “We have the same trainer, Julian. Sparring with ‘Zurdo’ is great. Afterwards, we always talk about boxing. He has a lot of experience and he’s taught me so many different things. It also adds to my competitiveness. I try to bring different things I’ve learned from him into our sparring, and that’s been great for me.
“I work with Julian; he is here in Los Angeles. Because of the pandemic, it’s been complicated for me, so I haven’t been going home a (Toronto) is much as I used to or want to. We’re super spoiled at Brickhouse. I grew up in a classic gym, and I was used to its griminess. I can’t believe how nice Brickhouse is.”
“Kareem is a very skillful fighter that has been under the radar too long,” Chua remarked. “He’s one of the best strategists in the ring I’ve ever seen. We started his professional career together and we’ve built a brother bond. He knows he can trust my eyes in the corner like I can trust his skills in the ring.”
Hackett, 31, is a southpaw from Toronto, who has learned from sparring sessions with world boxing champions such as “Zurdo,” Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, Sergio Mora, Mathew Macklin, David Benavidez, and Dmitry Bivol. Hackett’s 3PM stablemate, “Zurdo” Ramirez, is the mandatory challenger for Bivol, the reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) Light Heavyweight World Champion.
“What I’ve learned most from sparring all these world champions is, unlike a lot of guys who believe they need to knockout their opponent in one round,” het Hackett opgemerk, “it’s not a one-round fight and could go as long as 12 rondes. I’ve learned long-term strategy. Boxing is more like a marathon-like mindset than a sprint.”
In his most recent action, Hackett stopped 2-0 Giovanni Lizarraga Garate midway through the opening round last April in Mexico. Self-described as using a strategic violence style, Hackett is a smart, elusive, accurate, and opportunistic. Sounds as if he’s describing “Zurdo.” “We do have the same coach,” Hackett added.
Hackett’s goals in 2022 includes knocking out each opponent he faces, as well as capturing U.S. or Canadian regional titles. His first fight of 2022 is tentatively set for February 17 in Texas against an opponent to be determined.
“Kareem is a smart, intelligent fighter with a gifted physic to be a force in this game,” Ramirez concluded.
