Back in 1969, a young fighter who had managed to capture an Olympic gold medal was not assured the million dollar contracts that abound for such talent today. No, the sport was different to young talent such as Cassius Clay, Joe Frazier and George Foreman – to mention three Olympic gold medallists from the swinging sixties. Back then, a young Foreman was paid a few hundred bucks (if that) for his debut – far, far less than guys and gals like Anthony Joshua Nicola Adams, Katie Taylor and other budding superstars got when they went pro.
James Slater
Despite spurious nature of his “world” title win, Manuel Charr’s heroic comeback is one to be applauded
Despite the legitimacy of the belt he won with his unanimous decision win over the towering Alexander Ustinov on Saturday night, Lebanon-born Manuel Charr made one quite astonishing comeback. Charr, long based in his adopted country of Germany – the country giving him, he says, “everything” – claimed a version of the WBA heavyweight title on Saturday night, but the win itself meant way more than the belt.
“Krusher” is back; Kovalev destroys Shabranskyy – Beterbiev, Bivol, Stevenson next?
Once the most feared man in the light-heavyweight division, Sergey Kovalev went at least a little ways towards regaining that status last night in New York. In totally destroying the decent if not great Vyacheslav Shabranskyy inside two short rounds, “Krusher” regained a portion of the belts he lost to Andre Ward (the Russian dropping a controversial decision to the now-retired Ward last year and being stopped in this year’s return fight).
Wanheng Menayothin, AKA Chayaphon Moonsri – the (active) fighter with the best record in boxing today
He’s far from a household name anywhere apart from in his homeland of Thailand, but reigning, undefeated WBC minimumweight champion Wanheng Menayothin, AKA Chayaphon Moonsri, has the best pro record in boxing today – as far as active fighters go.
The 32 year old who stands 5’2” improved to 49-0(17) yesterday (Nov. 25) with a close but unanimous decision victory over Japanese southpaw Tatsuya Fukuhara, 19-6-6(7).
Yuriorkis Gamboa keeps his career alive – just; Gamboa awarded controversial decision win over Jason Sosa
Going into last night’s super-featherweight fight with Jason Sosa, one-time potential superstar Yuriorkis Gamboa was under no illusions: it was a fight he had to win or his career was over. Well, the former WBA and IBF featherweight champion got the win, but it was mighty close. And controversial.
Gamboa faced a determined former WBA super-featherweight champion in Jason Sosa and after ten rounds the New York crowd firmly felt the younger man’s hand should have been raised. Instead, 35 year old Gamboa (the Cuban will turn 36 next month) was awarded a ten-round majority verdict after an exciting, drama-filled bout.
Manuel Charr wins unanimous decision over a game Alexander Ustinov
Tonight in Germany, Manuel Charr won a 12 round unanimous decision over the huge Alexander Ustinov. Winning by commanding scores of 116-111, 115-111 and 115-112 Charr improved to 31-4(17), Ustinov fell to 34-2(25). Oh, and Charr picked up a version of the WBA heavyweight crown.
The “world” title fight was much maligned for being just this (we all know Anthony Joshua is the real WBA heavyweight champ) but tonight’s action was actually pretty good. 40 year old Ustinov was the aggressor in the early rounds, backing 33 year old Charr up. Both men swapped plenty of leather, there wasn’t too much clinching and the action proved enjoyable.
Gennady Golovkin still eyeing possible move up to super-middleweight “if there is a big fight at 168”
Though he has a number of big fights to shoot for at middleweight, his current weight class, world ruler Gennady Golovkin says he is still looking at a potential move up eight pounds to the super-middleweight division. Speaking with ESPN Deportes, as quoted by RingTV.com, Triple-G says he would move up “if there is a big fight at 168.”
Fans are of course hoping, hoping, hoping that GGG will be able to get it on with Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez in his next fight; so as the two best 160 pounders out there can finally settle their differences (no-one being happy with the drawn verdict that was handed in at the conclusion of September’s big fight). But if talks stall, or maybe after the fight has taken place, GGG could make that move up.
37 years ago today: The infamous “No Mas” fight shocked the world
Boxing fans across the globe have asked, and will continue to ask, if Sonny Liston took a dive, or dives, in his two bouts with Ali, and to this day we have no definitive, universally accepted answer. However, there is one other fight that is still even more of a mystery so many years ater it took place. What really happened that November 25 day of 1980 when Duran and Leonard met in their New Orleans rematch?
Anthony Joshua-Joseph Parker fight “close,” Hearn says he’s hopeful for next spring
It’s looking quite likely how rival heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker could meet next spring. As fans may be aware, WBO champ Parker and his team have pressed very hard for a unification fight with Joshua, the WBA/IBF ruler – this week holding a quite bizarre press conference where footage was shown of AJ being troubled and knocked down in fights; a “reward” offered to anyone with video evidence of Parker being decked at any time – and it seems Joshua has bitten.
Freddie Pendleton interview: I was robbed of my world title
Former IBF lightweight champ Freddie Pendleton had some career; facing the biggest and best names of the 1980s and ’90s. “Fearless” was the Philly warrior’s nickname and fearless Pendleton really was.