Eddy Pronishev

Eddy Pronishev has been covering the sport since 2001, known for his deep technical breakdowns, sharp industry insight, and no-nonsense analysis of boxing’s biggest fights and promoters.

Odlanier Solis ready for “epic battle” against Tony Thompson

Odlanier Solis ready for "epic battle" against Tony Thompson

Cuban heavyweight contender Odlanier Solis has spent the last two weeks in Turkey to get ready for his WBC international heavyweight championship bout this Saturday (March 22nd) in Tekirdag against US veteran Tony Thompson. Promoter Ahmet Oner used the long and proud history of his home country to get Solis heated up for the clash of former Klitschko foes.

“We went to the cinema to watch ‘300: Rise of an Empire’. The next day I took Solis to ancient graves from the times of the Ottoman empire”, says Oner. “I wanted to show Solis that he is in a country which has seen a lot of big and important battles over thousands of years. I expect him to enter the ring on Saturday with the same attitude of old Ottoman fighters when they went to war. This is a do or die fight. If Solis beats Thompson I will lead him to another world title fight. But if he loses it might be all over.”

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Tony Thompson to face 2004 Olympic gold medalist Odlanier Solis this Saturday, March 22nd in Tekirdag

Tony Thompson to face 2004 Olympic gold medalist Odlanier Solis this Saturday, March 22nd in Tekirdag

Tony “The Tiger” Thompson arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, this afternoon for his WBC International Championship bout against 2004 Olympic gold medalist Odlanier Solis this Saturday (March 22nd) in Tekirdag. The ring veteran from Washington, D.C. is used to traveling. The clash with Solis will be Thompson’s fifth consecutive fight outside of the USA. His last bout on home soil has been a third round TKO win over Maurice Harris almost three years ago.

While “The Tiger” lost his last fight on the road – a lopsided 12 round unanimous decision to IBF #1 Kubrat Pulev in Schwerin in August 2013 – he also had some success fighting abroad recently, knocking out British prospect David Price twice in February and July 2013.

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The story of world heavyweight championship contender Alex Leapai

The story of world heavyweight championship contender Alex Leapai

THE message from the judge was like one of his jabs.

Short and succinct.

The man in the dock was 25 years old. He’d had something of a charmed life. He had a beautiful wife – Theresa, his high school sweetheart. She had given him three of the most precious things in his life – daughters Cyanne, Maria and Menime.

But there he was, very quickly coming to terms with the fact that for the first time in a long time, his fate was no longer in his own hands.

It was 2005, and Alex Leapai was in the court room facing a grievous bodily harm charge after his brutal attack on a couple of local bouncers.

The judge said the brutality – which left one of the men badly injured – warranted a four year prison term – and that’s what was delivered – but with a caveat. The judge, taking into account Leapai’s children, wife and his good work record gave him some hope. “If you behave yourself inside for six months, you will be released…”

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Juan Carlos Gomez calls out Yoan Pablo Hernandez

PanteraGomez“The Black Panther” reunited with championship coach Fritz Sdunek

Last year former WBC cruiserweight champion Juan Carlos Gomez successfully returned to his old weight division at 200 lbs. after campaigning at heavyweight for more than 10 years. Now “The Black Panther” is eyeing another world title shot for 2014. “I would love to fight against Marco Huck because I think he is the best cruiserweight in the world right now – at least until I beat him”, states Gomez.

Because Huck is set to defend his WBO championship against Firat Arslan on January 25 in Stuttgart, Gomez is now calling out fellow Cuban defector and IBF titlist Yoan Pablo Hernandez.

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Jones Jr: Pascal has a strong plan B for Bute fight

bute343By Matt Earnst: Roy Jones Jr. is mentoring former WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (28-2-1, 17 KO’s) for his upcoming bout against Lucian Bute (31-1, 24 KO’s) this month on January 18th at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. Jones Jr. says that Pascal will try to box Bute initially to see how that goes.

They don’t want to go out quickly and try and overpower the soon to be 34-year-old Bute immediately in the same way that Carl Froch did in stopping him in the 5th round two years ago in May of 2012. With Pascal’s hand speed and boxing ability, he has other options available to him that the slow-fisted, slow-moving Froch didn’t have to use in his fight against Bute. So what Jones Jr. wants Pascal to do is to try and box Bute, and if that doesn’t work then he wants him to switch to plan B to look to blast him out the way that Froch did.

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Mayweather: Pacquiao fight will not happen as long as he’s still promoted by Bob Arum

Mayweather: “We all know the Pacquiao fight, at this particular time, will never happen, and the reason why the fight won’t happen is because I will never do business with Bob Arum again in life, and Pacquiao is Bob Arum’s fighter. Bob Arum gives Pacquiao a date, whereas Floyd Mayweather gives Floyd Mayweather his own date. I will be fighting again in May and I will be fighting again in September,” stated undefeated pound-for-pound Floyd Mayweather, who made it crystal clear that he won’t be fighting multi-division world champion Manny Pacquiao as long as he’s still promoted by Bob Arum. Mayweather has long had a strained relationship with Arum, after breaking free from his former promoter to start his own promotional company with the help of powerful adviser Al Haymon.

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Video: Peter Fury on Tyson Fury retirement, Haye, Wilder, More; Hughie Fury Interview

YouTube video
Video by britishboxers.co.uk – Peter Fury, the uncle and trainer of unbeaten heavyweight contender Tyson Fury, has has denied the boxer has retired from fighting and will be back in the ring, after having Christmas off in the light of his fight against David Haye being called off for a second time. Fury and Haye were set to go head to head on February 8, at the Manchester Arena after the original September fight was postponed after Haye suffered a cut eye in sparring.

The contracts were signed for early next year, but again, Haye was forced to pull out after having shoulder surgery, putting and end to Fury’s biggest fight and frustrating him to the point that he announced his early retirement after becoming despondent with boxing. Listen to Peter Fury and his views on team Haye after pulling out of the fight again, a potential fight for Tyson Fury against Deonaty Wilder, he slams Golden Boy promoter Richard Schaefer, tells us about his son Hughies progress, and speaks about his traveller fighting background.

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Team Wilder open letter to Team Fury

deontay32 - Copy (2)Tyson, I know you are frustrated with the whole Haye situation. You are a top heavyweight with top people behind you. You want to fight the best and have always stepped up to the plate. Forget retirement. You have a long and bright future in front of you.

We at Team Wilder understand. We believe you and Deontay are the two best young heavyweights in the World and a fight between the two of you would put true heavyweight boxing back on top. We want to make this happen. This is the single biggest heavyweight fight that can be made now and the fans deserve it. You deserve it. Deontay deserves it.

You both should be paid accordingly and in line with the magnitude of the event. Every single person or corporation that would have attended, bought pay per view, sponsored, advertised or otherwise supported you vs. Haye would jump on board for you vs. Wilder.

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Juan Carlos Gomez calls out Marco Huck!

Gomez_ÖzenGomez: “I want to fight the best – and Huck is the best cruiserweight at the moment!”

“The Black Panther” back in action this Saturday in Hamburg

Only three weeks after his successful return to cruiserweight, former WBC world champion Juan Carlos Gomez will be back in action this Saturday (Nov. 23) in Hamburg, Germany, against Czech journeyman Jindrich Velecky. Velecky should surely be no serious test for Gomez but “The Black Panther” feels that he needs a high level of activity to get rid of the ring rust from his 14-months-lay-off. 

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Juan Carlos Gomez stops Buharalija, Alexander Petkovic KOs Chipindi

PanteraGomezJuan Carlos Gomez kept his word when returning to the cruiserweight division with a bang on Friday night in Dachau, Germany.

“The Black Panther” seemed to feel very comfortable back at 200 lbs. landing nice combinations at will against an overmatched Adnan Buharalija from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Gomez dropped his opponent with a nice left hook at the end of round one and followed up in the second flooring Buharalija again. Only seconds before the end of round two the referee stepped in to stop the one-sided fight to save Buharalija from further punishment.

“I said it – and I did it! “The Black Panther” is back! This was only the first step on my way back to the world championship. I will take back what’s mine. I will be cruiserweight champion of the world again!”, said Gomez smiling and celebrating with his fans.

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