Superstar Manny Pacquiao was widely expected to defeat reigning and defending WBO welterweight champ Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas last night, the only real question going in was: would the returning 37 year-old be able to register a KO, his first since way back in 2009? Pac-Man got the win, via 12-round UD (with one judge somehow having it crazily close at 114-113, the other two officials on the ball at 118-109 each) but he failed to get the knockout.
James Slater
Kubrat Pulev-Sam Peter, December 3rd in Sofia
Kubrat Pulev, the reigning European heavyweight champion who was recently in the running to be the next challenger for IBF boss Anthony Joshua, has another fight set instead. According to Pulev’s Twitter page, he will face none other than former WBC heavyweight champ Sam Peter in Sofia, Bulgaria on December 3rd.
Tickets are on sale now apparently.
What to make of this match-up? A few years ago, when Peter was still fighting regularly and was in good shape, weight-wise, this one would have been a big attraction. Maybe it still will pull in the fans in Pulev’s homeland, but what can we expect from Peter, now aged 36 and having had just two fights since 2011 (both low-key wins)?
Floyd Mayweather Jnr on a possible return to the ring: “Absolutely, the door is always open”
Will he or won’t he? Will boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Junior return to the ring for a 50th fight or not? The 49-0 master recently returned to the gym to spar, once again sparking off suggestions that his ring return is imminent. Mayweather, who turns 40 next February, is said to have looked as sharp as ever in the spar session and the thinking is, he must be back sparring for a reason.
And many people think that reason is, Floyd is getting himself ready to rumble; once more at least. It is of course no coincidence that fellow megastar Manny Pacquiao fights tonight, at least Floyd’s returning to the gym to spar so close to Pac-Man’s ring return is no coincidence in the minds of some people.
Kell Brook: If the Amir Khan fight is nailed and all signed, that’s when you’ll see me back at 147
Sometimes a possible big fight that proves to take a long time getting made runs the risk of passing its sell-by date. Fans will only remain interested in a certain match-up for so long. Right now, the all-British showdown that is Amir Khan-Kell Brook still interests fans, in Britain especially, but if it doesn’t happen soon – say by next summer at the latest – both fighters will be running the risk of alienating the fans.
Maybe it’s too late already, and fans have cooled on the welterweight fight? But both fighters are still talking about it happening.
Deontay Wilder wants title fight unification with Anthony Joshua next year: “2017 is all about risk-taking”
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder says he wants a big 2017. Currently still out of action healing after injuring his hand and biceps during his summer fight with Chris Arreola, Wilder tells Sky Sports how he wants to “take risks” next year. Wilder also stated how he wants to “come back with a bang” next year.
And “The Bronze Bomber” feels that he and IBF champ Anthony Joshua meeting in a ring would produce such a bang. Wilder says Joshua’s upcoming defence against Eric Molina is “build-up” to a fight with him.
Tony Thompson calls David Price out for third fight – “No chance,” says Price
Tony Thompson, the very man many fans feel either ruined, or at least severely affected, David Price’s once hugely promising pro career, has called Price out for a third fight. Thompson, who seemed to have decided on retirement after his heavy stoppage loss to Luis Ortiz back in March, told Sky Sports that he would “love to come back to the UK.”
Anthony Joshua-Eric Molina card has already sold 15,000 tickets, another AJ sell-out extremely likely
It’s either down to the sheer star-power of IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua, or it’s down to the Dec 10 card in Manchester being a pretty stacked one, but 15,000 tickets have already been sold for the card that will be topped by Joshua’s second title defence against dangerously determined challenger Eric Molina.
The two stars of the main event met today at a press conference and, unlike Dereck Chisora and Dillian Whyte who met yesterday, both men had nothing but respect for each other. Joshua said he is anticipating a “game” Molina, while the 34-year-old Mexican/American said he is aiming to “take what Joshua has,” and that, “I can win the fight with one punch at any given moment.”