Tonight in Russia, cruiserweights Dmitry Kudryashov and Olanrewaju Durodola met in a rematch of their 2015 slugfest – and this time they surpassed the excitement stakes, big time. Tonight’s war saw Kudryashov avenge his sole pro loss via 5th round stoppage, his brutal left hand sending Durodola down and then, after shaking the Nigerian, forcing the referee’s stoppage.
James Slater
Ali at his peak: Unbeatable?
A half century ago, the world was being dazzled, baffled and entertained by a heavyweight champion who fought like no heavyweight before him. Muhammad Ali, aged 24 and approaching his absolute peak, had won the crown a couple of years earlier and he had made the title retentions he registered since shocking the greatly feared Sonny Liston look almost easy.
New book counts the number of punches “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali took
Today, June 3rd, marks the first anniversary of the death of the one and only Muhammad Ali; without a single doubt the most famous boxer of all time. The tributes continue to come in thick and fast for the three time world heavyweight champion who would have been 75 today had he not lost his long and extremely brave battle with Parkinson’s.
The books continue to roll in, too – even though, as has been pointed out by more than a few boxing aficionados, there surely cannot be anything to write about Ali that hasn’t already been written. We’ve had “The Real Story,” with Ali’s autobiography, released way back in 1975, we’ve had another endorsed account of Ali’s life, with the 1991 effort by Thomas Hauser, and we’ve had hundreds, if not thousands of Ali books since.
Pacquiao-Horn fight tops Nelson-Fenech; becomes Australia’s biggest ever fight with 40,000 tickets sold
Manny Pacquiao’s global popularity is not in doubt. At all. USA Today reports how Pac Man’s upcoming July fight in Australia, against local hero Jeff Horn, has already shifted 40,000 tickets, this making it the biggest fight in the country’s history – the previous record of 38,000 tickets sold for the big super-featherweight rematch battle between Azumah Nelson and Jeff Fenech.
Tony Bellew still craves revenge over Adonis Stevenson; says he’d go back down to cruiserweight if Stevenson came up
A whole lot has happened to Liverpool’s Tony Bellew since his 2013 stoppage loss to defending WBC light-heavyweight champ Adonis Stevenson – most of it good. Shortly after the painful loss, the sole stoppage loss “Bomber” has suffered as a pro, he moved up, Bellew subsequently capturing the WBC cruiserweight belt and even having some odds-defying success as a heavyweight.
Marco Antonio Barrera: Heading to The Hall!
One of Mexico’s finest, smartest and most resilient fighters, the great Marco Antonio Barrera will be inducted into The Hall of Fame in Canastota next week (along with, for one other true great, Evander Holyfield). Barrera thrilled millions of fans a number of times, his incredible fights lighting up the lower weight classes in a huge way.
Chris Eubank Jr. to fight Arthur Abraham next?
Rumours are almost always popping up in boxing and this one may turn out to be nothing more than a rumour, but there is growing word that Chris Eubank Jr. will next face Arthur Abraham, possibly in June. A good fight, an interesting fight, this one, if it actually goes ahead, will mark a step up for the former British middleweight champ who, in his last fight in February moved up to capture the lightly regarded IBO strap at 168.
Warren wants red-hot heavyweight prospect Daniel Dubois to fight for British title in fourth or fifth fight
Remember when talented Audley Harrison, fresh off his 2000 Olympic gold medal win and with a seemingly glorious pro career waiting for him, boasted how he could win the British heavyweight title after just five fights? Well, as we know, “A-Force” never managed it; but 19 year old Daniel Dubois might try soon.
Abel Sanchez convinced Canelo will “wear down” in fight with GGG: “I see Golovkin winning going away”
Abel Sanchez, trainer of world middleweight king Gennady Golovkin is expecting an exciting and entertaining fight between his star and Mexican star Canelo Alvarez, who will of course clash in the biggest fight of the year in September (in either Dallas or Las Vegas according to promoter Oscar De La Hoya). But Sanchez, quite naturally, sees only one winner: GGG.
Evander Holyfield: Heading to the Hall of Fame
Heavyweight great – and cruiserweight greatest – Evander Holyfield is likely to be putting the finishing touches to his Hall of Fame enshrinement speech right about now; “The Real Deal” set to be immortalized in Canastota in a few days’ time. If ever a fighter was/is worthy of going into The Hall, it is the former undisputed cruiser king and the former four-time heavyweight ruler.