لوس انجليس (مارس 21, 2024)– Toronto’s undefeated World Boxing Association(رابطة الملاكمة العالمية) Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Champion Kareem “Supreme” Hackett (12-0, 6 كوس) will make his first title defense March 30عشرagainst Rowdy Legend Montgomery (10-5-1, 7 كوس) in a 10-round match on a Golden Boy Promotions card headlined by the WBA Cruiserweight World title fight between defending champion Arsen Goulimarian and Hackett’s stablemate, former world super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez.
All the action will be streamed live on DAZN from YouTube Theater in Los Angeles.
WBA No. 13 world-rated Hackett captured his crown last September 20عشرin Plant City, فلوريدا, عندما تهيمن 4-1 favorite and previously undefeated Clay Waterman (11-0, 8 كوس) en route to a 10-round unanimous decision, in which he won all 10 rounds on two of the judges’’ scorecards and nine on the other judge’s.
“I would have liked to fight sooner but that’s the way this business goes,” Hackett said. “It’s harder to get fights after winning my title than it was. A lot of good has happened since my last fight. أنا أفهم. I have a title and I’m world ranked. I have a clearer path towards a world title shot. I appreciate any opportunity to get in the ring.”
“I’m getting more respect since I displayed my skills on ProBox.TV. (Announcers) Juan Manual Marguez, Paulie Malignaggi and Chris Algieri gave me a lot of props and that’s been very validating.”
Hackett has gained invaluable experience sparring world champions such as “Zurdo” Ramirez, ديمتري بيفول, بيتر "كيد الشوكولاته" كويلين, سيرجيو مورا, Mathew Macklin and David Benavidez.
Hackett has already established firsts by a Toronto boxer in terms of fighting on a Golden Boy Promotions card and becoming WBA Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight title holder.
“I’m a trailblazer for Toronto boxing,” promotional free agent Hackett explained with great pride. “I want to bring the first world title home, بالتأكيد, and one day the undisputed and unified titles, أيضا, Toronto is a big city with a lot of natural talent, but I don’t know why boxing hasn’t thrived there.”
Hackett is trained by fast-rising Julian Chua at Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood (مثل) and managed by 3 Point Management (3 رئيس الوزراء).
"(ديمتري) Bivol is at the head of the light heavyweight division, and I know he’s a strong guy,” Hackett noted. “We’ve changed some things since my last fight with the end in mind. We’ve tripled down, strength-wise, for when we run into him. That’s the main change. I feel that I’m the most agile fighter in our division and I’m working on getting stronger to match my skills and ring IQ.”
في 2024, Hackett wants to add hardware and fight a top-10 ranked opponent but, at least for now, he’s happy to be in his fight with Montgomery in his second home, لوس انجليس.
“I love that this fight is in LA,” Hackett concluded. “I’m comfortable in Los Angeles. I feel at home here and fighting in other places in California. I’m also excited to be fighting on a card headlined by one of my closest friends in boxing (الأعسر)."
LAS VEGAS (فبراير 2, 2022)– Undefeated Toronto light heavyweight prospect Kareem Hackett (8-0, 7 كوس) وقعت عقدا إداريا مع 3 Point Management (3رئيس الوزراء), which also manages 43-0 جيلبرتو "Zurdo" راميريز, 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,قال راميريز. “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. كان لديه 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, جوليان تشوا.
“I met ‘Zurdo’ through Julian,” Hackett explained. “We have the same trainer, جوليان. 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 (تورونتو) 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, سيرجيو مورا, Mathew Macklin, ديفيد بينافيديز, and Dmitry Bivol. Hackett’s 3PM stablemate, “Zurdo” Ramirez, is the mandatory challenger for Bivol, the reigning World Boxing Association (رابطة الملاكمة العالمية) ضوء بطل العالم للوزن الثقيل.
“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,” Hackett noted, “it’s not a one-round fight and could go as long as 12 جولات. 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.
