Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov celebrates new world heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev

07/07/2014 ESB

When he realized that he had really done it again, former heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev went down to his knees on Sunday night at Ahmat Arena in Grozny, Russia. It was legendary Michael Buffer who announced Chagaev’s close but well deserved majority decision win (115:113, 115:113, 114:114) over Fres Oquendo which earned the 35-year-old Uzbek the WBA heavyweight championship for the second time in his career.

No other but Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov was the first to congratulate Chagaev in the ring. While the fight lasted Kadyrov even took charge as chief second coaching “his” champion in the corner. It was the leader of the Chechen Republic who brought this world title fight to Grozny along with promoter Timur Dugazaev (TEREK Box Event). Accordingly Chagaev thanked the President for all his help and support.

Ruslan Chagaev “sparring” with Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov

06/26/201406/26/2014 ESB

Former world heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev is wrapping up training camp for his July 6th WBA world championship bout against Puerto Rican veteran Fres Oquendo on Grozny, Russia. The “White Tyson” has done most of his preparation in the Chechen capital training not only with head coach Artur Grigorian and his manager Timur Dugazaev but also with a “political heavyweight”: Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov who is a huge boxing fan and used to be a decent amateur fighter himself.

Kadyrov is one of the main factors of the world title fight landing in Chechnya. The President and his government support the promotion and are turning Grozny into a huge boxing ring for the event

Andy Lee Scores Devastating KO Win at MSG on His Path to Title Shot

06/09/201406/08/2014 ESB

Andy Lee, Irish light middleweight contender (33-2, 23 kos) scored a massive 5th round KO win over John Jackson, WBC #4 to win the vacant NABF light middleweight (154lb) title last night at Madison Square Garden, New York City.

The courageous Lee showed character and determination in the early going following a knockdown in the first round caused by a heavy overhand right hook delivered by Jackson.

The Irishman was behind on the judges’ scorecards 39:36 as the 5th round commenced. Jackson launched a vicious assault with Lee against the ropes at the start of the round; Lee moved to his left out of the danger zone and quickly re-established his shape and composure. As Jackson moved in again Lee countered with a devastating right hand counter. Bang! Jackson was out cold as he slumped to the canvas.

Video: Tyson Fury talks Chisora, Haye, Wilder, Klitschko and his Gypsy Curse

06/06/2014 ESB

BritishBoxers.co.uk caught up with the enjoyable and entertaining Tyson Fury; the young man who is clearly working hard, thinking about his future, and is learning to have fun with the media. Tyson admits to hating press conferences, “Being lucky” in every single one of his fights, having limited skills, being scared of Dereck Chisora, and to simply “being in it for the money”. He even attributes his wins to a mysterious Gypsy Curse. And if you believe any of it, I’ve got some magic beans I want to sell you.

Tyson talks candidly (does he know any other way?) about Wladimir Klitschko not wanting to spar him, Deontay Wilder being more deserving of a world title shot than himself, and says he is up for a fight with David Haye despite a fight between the pair already falling through twice before.

Froch vs. Groves: Carl Froch Could Retire If Defeated

05/03/201405/02/2014 ESB

· Fighters both believe they’ll get the job done within twelve rounds
· Froch says retirement is ‘probable’ if he were to lose – as Groves would ‘never give me a re-match’

With under a month until the hugely anticipated re-match between IBF and WBA Super middleweight champion Carl Froch and challenger George Groves, the duo came face-to-face in front of the Facebook cameras today, and – finally – they agreed on something.

Both Froch and Groves made it clear that a points decision won’t be necessary – as both pledged to finish off the other within 12 rounds:

Ron Lipton remembers ‘Hurricane’ Carter

04/27/2014 ESB

By Kevin Gleason, recordonline.com – Ron Lipton asked about the photo of the guy up on a wall at the famed Mooksie’s Gym in Newark, N.J. “That’s Hurricane Carter,” said Lipton’s trainer, who had also trained Carter.

“Why don’t you get him to come to the gym?” Lipton asked.

“Because he doesn’t like white guys,” the trainer said.

The trainer set up a meeting anyway. Lipton, a talented boxer with 145 amateur bouts, was young and fearless and crazy, apparently the perfect combination for middleweight title contender Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. “I hear you need to beat up another white guy,” Lipton said when Carter showed up, “and I’m here for the job.”

Juergen Braehmer getting ready for Enzo Maccarinelli fight

03/26/201403/25/2014 ESB

By Gerhardt Foath: In a battle of aging 175lb fighters, WBO light heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer (42-2, 31 KO’s) is getting ready for his title defense against 33-year-old former WBO cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli (39-6, 30 KO’s) at the Stadthalle, Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

Braehmer picked up the vacant WBA World light heavyweight title last December with a 12 round unanimous decision win over Marcus Oliveira. This was the idea way for Braehmer to win a world title, because his chances of beating the other top fighters in the division were pretty much zero. Braehmer is a good Euro level fighter, but he’d stand no chance against light heavyweights like Bernard Hopkins, Sergey Kovalev, Adonis Stevenson and probably even Beibut Shumenov.

Odlanier Solis ready for “epic battle” against Tony Thompson

03/19/201403/19/2014 ESB

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.”

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

03/17/201403/17/2014 ESB

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.

The story of world heavyweight championship contender Alex Leapai

02/07/2014 ESB

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…”