Fans everywhere loved “The Contender,” the boxing reality TV show that made stars out of fighters like Peter Manfredo, Ishe Smith, Sergio Mora, Alfonso Gomez and others, and was presented by mega-stars Sly Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard. Now, according to various reports, the show is set to make a comeback later on this year on premium cable network Epix.
James Slater
45 years ago today: “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!”
A long 45 years ago today, a young and undefeated fighter from Texas named George Foreman met a near 3-1 betting favourite in the form of the likewise unbeaten “Smokin’” Joe Frazier, as the Philadelphia warrior attempted to defend his world title for a fifth time.The two punchers met in Kingston, Jamaica in a bout dubbed “The Sunshine Showdown,” and those fans who witnessed the fight saw a shockingly violent affair, where the 24-year-old challenger with the 37-0 record utterly annihilated the 29-0 world ruler.
The welterweight division: Today’s ‘Three Kings’ – Spence, Thurman, Crawford
Today, the welterweight division is as hot as can be and the weight class is almost certainly THE most talent-rich and exciting in boxing right now. Back in the glory days of Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran, there were ‘Four Kings,’ greats who all fought one another, over a number of weight divisions.
Today, the welterweight division can boast ‘Three Kings,’ and one of them has not even boxed at 147 yet. Errol Spence, unbeaten champ, Keith Thurman, unbeaten champ, and Terence Crawford, unbeaten pound-for-pound No-1 in the opinion of many. Which of these three hugely talented fighters will emerge as the very best should they all fight one another?
30 Years Ago Today: Tyson crushes old champ Holmes in passing of the torch
Three full decades ago today, “Iron” Mike Tyson, at his absolute peak, scored a crushing, somewhat disturbing to watch KO over former champ and all-time great Larry Holmes. The fight, staged in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was dubbed “Heavyweight History,” and though the match-up was much maligned in certain quarters, it did prove to be a passing of the torch – a most graphically violent one.
Undefeated Adam Kownacki making a name for himself as more than just a fun fighter
Polish fan favourite Adam Kownacki improved to 17-0(14) on last night’s Errol Spence-Lamont Peterson card, the 28 year old slugger stopping Ukrainian Iago Kiladze in the sixth-round of an entertaining slugfest. Kownacki, very much a what you see is what you get type of warrior, came forward all night, looking to put on pressure and sling bombs.
Errol Spence Jr. is the best welterweight in the world, but he needs to beat Keith Thurman to prove it
Errol Spence looked superb in beating down a tough and game Lamont Peterson last night, scoring an ultra-dominant victory that came at the start of round-eight. The IBF welterweight king retained his belt for the first time since ripping it from Kell Brook and many people are fully expecting “The Truth,” as the hugely talented southpaw is known, to enjoy a long, long reign.
Roy Jones Junior picks a live foe in Scott Sigmon, “final one” set for February 8
Living legend Roy Jones Junior, 65-9(47) will either have the final fight of his career that will be staged in his home town of Pensacola on February 8, or the all-time great will have his final fight period on February 8.
Dubbed as “history,” Jones’ final bout (either held in Pensacola or period) will see the former multi-weight king go in against a foe who could be referred to as a live foe. 30 year old Scott Sigmon, 30-11-1 (16) is no world beater, and the career middleweight, super-middleweight will be going up in weight quite a bit to face Jones at cruiserweight, but even so, the man known as “Cujo” just might spoil the party next month.
Lomachenko – Pacquiao talk won’t go away; Arum says it could happen at 140 this year
It seems we cannot quite put talk of a catch-weight Super Fight between Vasyl Lomachenko and Manny Pacquiao to bed. As fans know, this week Pacquiao got us all talking when he stated how he was “in negotiations” for a fight with pound for pound king Lomachenko; the weight of the fight being the big sticking point. But then, mere hours later, Lomachenko manager Egis Klimas shot down any notion of such a fight taking place or even being seriously discussed.
The Floyd Mayweather who crushed Diego Corrales: Pretty enough to have beaten any 130 pounder ever?
Some fight fans point to Floyd Mayweather’s commanding decision win over Canelo Alvarez, others to “Money’s” brutal dismantling of the much loved Arturo Gatti. But many other boxing fans say there is one commanding choice when it comes to the 50-0 master’s finest, most exceptional and – perhaps most importantly – fan-friendliest ring performance: his 2001 annihilation of the late, great Diego Corrales (for those fight fans who believe, how great must it be, Diego and Arturo, talking and comparing their great wars and great fights, as they share memories up above!)
BJ Saunders vs Martin Murray: A good fight or a predictable fight?
According to a piece via BT Sports’ website (BT Sports in conjunction with BoxNation being the platform for the fight), WBO middleweight champ Billy Joe Saunders will make his next defence of the belt against fellow Brit Martin Murray, on April 14 at The O2 in London. To support this fight, Terry Flanagan will move up to super-lightweight and face Maurice Hooker for the WBO belt.