Might we have seen the end of two formerly formidable, now faded heavyweights last night? We’ve surely seen the last of Bermane Stiverne, who has no possible way back from the quick first-round blitzing he fell victim to against WBC ruler Deontay Wilder, and we may have seen the end of British heavyweight Dereck Chisora – at least at top level.
James Slater
Tyson Fury: I opened up the whole division, never get any credit for it
Tyson Fury insists he is ready to regain his status as the world’s premier heavyweight – a position he held for just a few months after upsetting Wladimir Klitschko two full years ago. As fans know, it wasn’t long after the big win in Germany that Fury all but imploded: battling depression, alcohol and drugs and food.
The long and largely entertaining career of Ricardo Mayorga surely comes to an end with stoppage loss to Andrey Sirotkin
He fought, he drank beer, he smoked cigarettes, and he gave us plenty of entertaining nights and fights along the way, but “El Matador” Ricardo Mayorga surely reached the end last night in Russia.
The 44 year old, having actually won his previous fight this past April (over a 12-17-1 Jaudiel Zepeda who he TKO’d) retired on his stool after nine rounds against unbeaten Russian Andrey Sirotkin, now 14-0(4). Mayorga, who gave it a go while he was able, in the early rounds, falls to 32-10-1(26) and it is to be hoped this will indeed be the final tally for the wild man from Nicaragua.
Bermane Stiverne, at 254 pounds, will have a big weight advantage over Deontay Wilder, 220 – but will it help him?
As fans may have seen, the weights are in for tomorrow’s return meeting between Deontay Wilder and Bermane Stiverne. WBC heavyweight ruler Wilder came in at 220 pounds, which is about normal for him, but Stiverne raised plenty of eyebrows by tipping in at a hefty 254.
Luis Ortiz is banned from WBA-sanctioned fights for one year; removed from ratings
Unbeaten Cuban heavyweight Luis Ortiz really blew it when he tested positive for a banned substance a few weeks ahead of his scheduled WBC title challenge of Deontay Wilder. Not only did the 38 year old southpaw ruin that intriguing fight, but Ortiz has now lost the mandatory status he had with the WBA – meaning Ortiz can no longer challenge current WBA (and IBF) ruler Anthony Joshua; not for a year anyway.
Ten years ago today: Joe Calzaghe beats Mikkel Kessler in his “finest fight”
Joe Calzaghe, arguably the finest super-middleweight in history, scored a huge win a decade ago today when he decisioned Danish hero Mikkel Kessler over 12 gripping rounds. Today when looking back, Calzaghe, who of course retired at a perfect 46-0, has a number of fights to look back on and feel very, very proud.
But Joe has one fight as his pick for his finest, his best; the one he is most proud of. It is the win over Kessler that took place in Cardiff in front of around 50,000 fans. Some fans may point to Calzaghe’s great win over Jeff Lacy as his finest showing, some to his win over Bernard Hopkins.
Bellew-Haye II under-card shaping up: Joe Joyce, Skoglund-Fielding and more to come
Will the December rematch between bitter rivals Tony Bellew and David Haye prove to be … read more
Shannon Briggs says he’s been in talks with Warren for a fight with Fury; says he’s nobody’s tune-up!
Shannon Briggs has taken to social media (again) to announce how he has been in talks with promoter Frank Warren regarding a bout between he and the possibly set to return Tyson Fury. It goes without saying that absolutely nothing is close to close to concrete as far as these two great talkers are concerned (will Fury ever fight again? Will Briggs get a license to box in the UK himself?) but Briggs is eager to be the first man Fury faces upon his will-it-won’t-it-happen comeback.
Will Deontay Wilder have to face the winner of Dominic Breazeale-Eric Molina if he gets through Stiverne return?
WBC heavyweight ruler Deontay Wilder wants a big unification showdown with Anthony Joshua, the reigning WBA and IBF champ – as Wilder has made clear many times. Joshua, straight after Saturday’s tougher than expected win over Carlos Takam, said the Wilder fight “has to happen.”
Tyson Fury compares his coming back to Ali’s epic return to the crown versus Foreman
It’s just talk and will remain as such until he gets his license back, but former and unbeaten heavyweight ruler Tyson Fury is busy calling out not only his rival Brit Anthony Joshua, but also Deontay Wilder.
As convinced as ever that he has the beating of both the reigning WBA/IBF champ along with the current WBC king, Fury has declared, once again, how he will be back. And this time, via his twitter page, Fury has said his return to glory by “taking down” Joshua will be just like the great Muhammad Ali’s return to the crown against George Foreman back in 1974.