Queensberry Promotions received news today that WBO World Middleweight Champion, Billy Joe Saunders had suffered a muscle injury and would be unable to defend against Artur Akavov on 22nd October at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena. Unfortunately, on the same day British Super-Welterweight Champion, Liam Williams also suffered an injury in sparring that prevents him from defending his British title against Ahmet Patterson on the same bill.
British Boxing
British Boxing News
Tyson Fury vacates world heavyweight titles
Statement from Hennessy Sports: Tyson Fury has this evening announced that he has voluntarily vacated his WBO, WBA and IBO World Heavyweight titles with immediate effect to fully focus on his medical treatment and recovery.
Tyson defeated the then linear world champion Wladimir Klitschko in Germany last November in one of the biggest ever upsets in sporting history to claim the unified world titles. However, due to a serious medical condition, Tyson was forced to withdraw from defending his titles against Klitschko in the rematch scheduled for October 29th in Manchester.
Luke Campbell – Derry Mathews in Liverpool on Saturday
Luke Campbell MBE says beating Derry Mathews is a must if he wants to prove he’s ready for world titles in 2017 as they clash at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.
Campbell defends his WBC Silver Lightweight title against the experienced Liverpool favourite, whose last fight – his 50th – was here for the WBO World title against Terry Flanagan.
Peter Fury says the WBA/WBO titles should “be freed up” while Tyson recovers; says the troubled champ will be back in training in “March or April”
Peter Fury, trainer and uncle of troubled heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, said on BBC Sport that the two belts Fury still holds but is widely expected to be stripped of shortly due to his well-documented drugs and mental health problems, should “not be held up.” Fury’s WBA and WBO titles are expected to be declared vacant soon (although WBA President Gilberto Mendoza told BBC Sport that no decision has yet been made by he and his organisation) and Peter himself says “let people fight for them.”
However, the trainer added how Tyson, upon his return, should be “held in regard so that when he does come back to box he should be available to move straight into position to fight for those world titles.”
Walsh Dominates Klimov; Ready For Pedraza
Cromer hero Liam Walsh moved a step closer to facing IBF World Super-Featherweight Champion Jose Pedraza after outclassing Andrey Klimov over twelve rounds last night at the Harrow Leisure Centre. Walsh produced a punch perfect performance to take a unanimous decision with scores of 119-108, 120-107 and 120-107 from the judges.
After a cagey opening round the classy Walsh began to take control of the fight, doubling up on his jab and landing some well-timed shots. It was more of the same in the third as Walsh looked the quicker and more agile of the two.
Eddie Hearn teases: Fingers crossed we will have some good news next week that will blow your mind
Why is promoter Eddie Hearn smiling? Well, we won’t know until next week, but Hearn has gone on record as saying he hopes to have some huge news in the coming days regarding the next fight for Anthony Joshua, and that if things come off – things that currently have him smiling with optimism – we will be in store for “good news that will blow our minds.”
Speaking with ESPN.com, Hearn said that Wladimir Klitschko is now “favourite” to fight Joshua next, with the probable date being December 10 (interestingly, the same night David Haye is set to return to action according to his recent Tweet).
Fury Vs. Klitschko ……… an unfinished rivalry
Though nobody will ever say the first, and as it will now no doubt be, the only, meeting between heavyweights Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko produced a great fight, there was a potentially great rematch of a fight awaiting us, and maybe a memorable trilogy of a rivalry. But now, due to Fury’s plethora of out of the ring problems, this particular rivalry has ended in a frustratingly unresolved manner.
Who knows what would have happened had Fury and Klitschko met in a rematch of last November’s bout, won on points by Fury.
BJS “100 percent will fight Canelo or GGG next” – if he gets past Artur Akavov later this month
Unbeaten middleweight Billy Joe Saunders, holder of the WBO belt, says it’s time to “find out how good I am.” Next up, the talented southpaw will meet Russian unknown Artur Akakov, in what will be Saunders’ first fight of 2016. Next up afterwards, as long as he comes through with belt safely in hand, will be a mega-fight against either Saul Canelo Alvarez or Gennady Golovkin.
This is the word according to promoter Frank Warren, who told Sky Sports how Saunders will meet one of these two juggernauts in his next fight, as long as he beats the once-beaten Akakov.
George Groves vs Eduard Gutknecht on Nov 18
Cyclone Promotions, in association with Team Sauerland, are delighted to announce that George Groves will defend his WBA International super middleweight title against Germany’s two-time world title challenger Eduard Gutknecht at the SSE Arena, Wembley on Friday November 18, live and exclusively on Channel 5, sponsored by Maxi-Nutrition.
Hammersmith’s ‘Saint’ George Groves is currently on an impressive win streak having swept aside Manchester’s former world title challenger Martin Murray in his last bout.
Weights: Ricky Burns 139.2 vs. Kiryl Relikh 140
Ricky Burns says he’ll handle the power of big-hitting mandatory challenger Kiryl Relikh – but questioned whether Relikh has the temperament for the big stage as Burns defends his WBA Wold Super Lightweight title at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on Friday night, live on Sky Sports.
Burns became Scotland’s first three-weight World champion in May when he stopped Michele Di Rocco in front of a fever-pitch crowd in the same arena.