The stakes may well have risen for tomorrow night’s already interesting heavyweight clash between unbeaten contender Jarrell Miller and the experienced Mariusz Wach. Promoter Eddie Hearn, who may or may not sign Miller up (and co-promote along with Dmitry Salita and Greg Cohen) says that if “Big Baby” puts on a big show he might just get a crack at Anthony Joshua next year (if the Wilder and/or Joseph Parker talks stall).
James Slater
Amir Mansour to fight unbeaten Sergey Kuzmin in Russia Nov. 27
An interesting and potentially explosive heavyweight match-up will take place in Russia on the 27th of this month as unbeaten Sergey Kuzmin, 11-0(8) will take a step up against tough and hungry Amir Mansour, 23-2-1(16).
30 year old Kuzmin, a decent amateur who went pro three years ago and has compiled a nice record whilst boxing mostly in Russia but also fighting in the US and in Canada, has stopped useful heavyweights like Darnell Wilson, Irineu Costa Junior and Malcolm Tann. Some people have quite high hopes for the unbeaten puncher.
Eddie Hearn arrives in New York; talks for Joshua-Wilder to begin today
It’s the heavyweight fight, arguably THE fight, regardless of weight, we all want to see: Deontay Wilder Vs. Anthony Joshua. And promoter Eddie Hearn is right now in New York, set to try his best to make it happen some time in 2018.
As per a tweet by Hearn: “I am opening negotiations here tonight for AJ to box Wilder in 2018.”
“Creed II” on its way – will it rank alongside these great boxing films?
All these years after the original “Rocky” film came out, fans simply love the Sly Stallone creation; even if some of the more hard nosed film critics enjoy slating the over the top theatrics of the series (having been guilty of totally missing the point). Bottom line: “Rocky” is a great film; as are some of its sequels.
Mikey Garcia-Jorge Linares not happening as Garcia turns down offer to fight
As per a news piece by Dan Rafael of Espn.com, talks had begun a weeks or so ago for a lightweight unification clash between Mikey Garcia and Jorge Linares, to have taken place early next year some time. Well, it ain’t gonna happen after all.
Eric Gomez of Golden Boy met with Garcia himself and, surprisingly, Garcia turned the fight, or the fight offer down.
Alexander Povetkin’s WBC suspension lifted; former champ must pay $250,000 fine
It seems former WBA heavyweight champ Alexander Povetkin is right back in business. Though the Russian star was “indefinitely suspended” by the WBC after testing positive for an illegal substance (Ostarine) ahead of his December 2016 fight with Bermane Stiverne, he has now seen his suspension lifted.
Will it be Joshua-Parker or Joshua-Wilder next?
It’s all down to the money side of things now. This is certainly how it looks, anyway. Deontay Wilder, as relentless as ever with his calling out of rival heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua – now telling BBC Sport he will come to England to fight “little girl” Joshua if he has to do so – wants to fight, as he puts it “ASAP.”
Joshua too says he wants the fight, but Wilder is not so sure AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn wants it: “I think Eddie is ducking more so than Joshua,” the WBC ruler said. So, as the two sides argue over the cash split (Hearn is, as we know, extremely reluctant to give Wilder anything close to a 50-50 split) WBO boss Joseph Parker enters the scene in a major way.
The immortal Sugar Ray Robinson: Who hit him the hardest? The answer might surprise you
During his legendary, and very long career, the simply incomparable Sugar Ray Robinson fought many hard-hitters – fellow greats like the recently departed Jake La Motta, Rocky Graziano, Gene Fullmer and many, many more.
Despite his willingness to face the most dangerous, heavily-equipped sluggers of his day, however, Robinson was stopped just once: this by light-heavyweight Joey Maxim, when the torturous heat got the better of Robinson, forcing him to remain on his stool after the 13th-round of a fight he was winning handily on points.
Tyson, Bowe, Briggs: All from Brooklyn, all became heavyweight king – Jarrell Miller says he’s next in line
There have been three prominent latter day heavyweights to come out of Brooklyn; one of which achieved true greatness. Now, unbeaten Brooklyn heavyweight Jarrell Miller has vowed to become “next in line” and join Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe and Shannon Briggs.
Dmitry Bivol, Artur Beterbiev: Can the two Russian terrors rule the light-heavyweight division?
With the recent departure via retirement of Andre Ward and with Adonis Stevenson coming towards the end at age 40, the light-heavyweight division needs a new star to come along to light up the weight class. Fortunately, there are two 175 pounders who are, between them, either already holding a major belt or set to challenge for one very soon.
And both of these unbeaten and hard-hitting light-heavyweights come from Russia. Dmitry Bivol (born in Krygyzstan and relocating to Russia at the young age of 11) is the WBA champ, and he showed again on Saturday night in Monaco – with his first-round icing of Trent Broadhurst – how hard he hits and how ruthless he is.