Twenty years ago today at The Texas Station Casino in fabulous Las Vegas, one of the most enormously successful, talked about and controversial boxing careers of recent years began at pro level, as a 19-year-old Floyd Mayweather Junior scored a second-round KO over a guy named Roberto Apodaca. Nicknamed “Pretty Boy,” the 130-pounder, trained by his uncle Roger (as his father was currently in jail, soon to be released) earned the first of many pay checks.
James Slater
Hearn says Joshua-Klitschko is “almost there,” puts an end to rumors that say Haye will face AJ next
While promoter Eddie Hearn will not jump the gun in prematurely announcing the big heavyweight match-up he really wants to make, in Wladimir Klitschko-Anthony Joshua, the Matchroom boss has squashed all rumors that, until today, continued to build, saying David Haye Vs. Joshua would happen next for both British stars.
Speaking with Sky Sports, Hearn said that, no, Haye (who recently tweeted that he will be fighting again on Dec 10, a possible date for Joshua-Klitschko if it is made) will NOT be next for the reigning IBF heavyweight champ.
BJ Flores warns Tony Bellew: I’m coming for the KO!
This Saturday night in Liverpool, WBC cruiserweight champ Tony Bellew will make the first defence of his title, and he will make it against a man he did not have to fight, but wanted to simply because, by his own admission, he does not like him, not one bit. “Bomber” Bellew will face BJ Flores and these two have had a serious war of words, going back to long before the fight was even close to being signed.
Flores, who at age 37 will go down as one of the oldest fighters to have won his first world crown if he is to take Bellew’s belt, is sure he has what it takes to win, and win by KO.
Can Bermane Stiverne defeat Alexander Povetkin, in Russia?
As fight fans have probably read by now, Alexander Povetkin’s team won the purse bid for the clash for the vacant interim WBC title, against Bermane Stiverne. This, most people think, means the fight will almost certainly be staged somewhere in Russia. We should have seen “real” WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder face Povetkin in Russia this summer, only for the fight to fall apart due to well-documented and disappointing reasons.
Now, with an injured Wilder awaiting the Povetkin-Stiverne winner, former WBC boss “B-Ware” faces the daunting task of taking the long trip to Russia to face Povetkin. It could very well be a big ask of Stiverne, now aged 37 (he’ll turn 38 in November) to come home with the interim version of his former belt.
R.I.P Aaron Pryor: “The Hawk” takes his final flight
In sad and shocking news, it has been reported by ESPN that boxing legend Aaron Pryor has passed away at the age of just 61. No news has yet been confirmed regarding what the cause of death was (Aaron was battling heart disease but this has not yet been confirmed as the cause of his untimely death), but fight fans the world over are certain to be moved by this loss. Pryor, a fabulous talent who engaged in a number of thrilling, unforgettable bouts, is one of the finest and most celebrated fighters to have come out of Cincinnati.
Born in October of 1955, Pryor, an amateur standout who met, amongst other future stars, Thomas Hearns (a win for Pryor) and Howard Davis Junior (a loss) turned pro in late 1976. Knocking out a guy named Larry Smith in his hometown, Pryor was paid the handsome sum of $400. Greatness, and a fair amount of controversy, awaited “The Hawk.”
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.”
Arum says Joseph Parker-Andy Ruiz fight “is gonna take place,” prefers January 2017 date
Top Rank boss Bob Arum says a deal is very close for his fighter, unbeaten Mexican/American Andy Ruiz Jr, to face unbeaten New Zealander Joseph Parker, for the soon to be vacant WBO heavyweight title. Arum, speaking on Radio Live, said there are a couple of things still to be worked out – the date, for example, with Arum preferring a January date over a December date – but he added he is “optimistic” the fight will get made.
“It’s gonna take place,” Arum stated. “We’re going to make a deal, I’m sure. The WBO, everybody’s agreed, will sign completely neutral officials. Hopefully we’ll have an announcement shortly. It makes sense – Parker and Ruiz are two top contenders and the WBO will have a great champion.”
Julio Chavez Jr wants to fight GGG at 168, confident he can take his power, even knock him out
While middleweight king Gennady Golovkin wants to clean up the 160-pound division and hold all the major belts there before making a move up in weight, this doesn’t stop 168-pound fighters from calling him out. One big name at super-middleweight who says he wants a fight with the undefeated, 36-0(33) puncher, is Mexican star (or former star) Julio Cesar Chavez Junior.
Chavez Jr has been pretty much out of circulation for the past few months – last fighting in July of last year, and having problems getting in tip-top shape, and picking up a hand injury – but he told ESPN Deportes how he thinks “I’m the only one who could withstand the punches of Golovkin,” and how, given the fact that the much smaller Kell Brook, “hurt him,” Chavez Jr says that up at 168, he could, “even knock him out.”