Things should hot up in the heavyweight division this year, this March in fact. There are two fights that, while not yet 100% done and dusted, are very much in the works; in fact almost definite for March: Anthony Joshua Vs. Joseph Parker in a unification clash that will see the winner emerge with three belts, and Deontay Wilder-Luis Ortiz in a WBC defence, arguably the toughest yet for “Bronze Bomber” Wilder.
James Slater
Carl Froch hot on Dmitry Bivol, admits he wouldn’t have liked to have stood in front of him
The pundits over at Sky Sports have been listing their ‘One To Watch for 2018,’ with the likes of Johnny Nelson, Tony Bellew, Paulie Malignaggi and Carl Froch picking their hot prospects for the coming year. What Froch had to say was most interesting. “The Cobra,” happy and content in looking back on a career that saw him define himself as one of the toughest, most durable of warriors, one who consistently fought the very best, is hugely excited about Russian light-heavyweight Dmitry Bivol.
Mayweather says Davis has asked him a couple of times about a fight with Lomachenko
When Vasyl Lomachenko easily defeated Guillermo Rigondeaux and was left looking for his next opponent – one who would hopefully give him a testing fight the way Rigondeaux never did – plenty of fight fans put forth the name Gervonta Davis. The classy and skilled 22 year old has already won a major belt and he has the kind of speed that might just give Lomachenko some problems.
Who has a better chance of ruling the world again: Amir Khan or Kell Brook?
British stars Amir Khan and Kell Brook both had a tough time of things back in 2017 (Happy New Year!) – Brook being beaten by Errol Spence in losing his IBF welterweight title and then being sent to hospital (again, with a broken eye socket) and Khan, though not fighting at all, taking something of a hammering from factions of the press due to the events in his personal life and because of his Australian adventure in the jungle (reality TV strikes again!).
No more Mr. Nice Guy from Joshua: I don’t respect Tyson Fury
Fans have both read and heard the various insults Tyson Fury has hurled Anthony Joshua’s way; the soon to return, unbeaten lineal heavyweight champ vowing to do all manner of things to the reigning WBA/IBF champion when they meet, possibly next summer. And Joshua, usually a reserved, polite and fully respectful person, has had enough of it. AJ says he is no longer able to respect Fury and that Fury has discredited everything he has accomplished.
Wilder – Ortiz probable slug-fest looking good for March: Can “King Kong” defeat the “Half Human, Half Hybrid!”
Heaven knows what the tag-line will be for this one! Reports, originating from RingTV.com, say a Deontay Wilde-Luis Ortiz rumble is close to happening – again – this time on March 3 in New York. Fans know all about the hows and whys that went into seeing that this match-up fell apart back in November – Ortiz testing positive for a banned substance, the WBC later accepting his plea of taking nothing but medication for high blood pressure – but it now looks to be back on.
Naoya Inoue crushes game but over-matched Yoan Boyeaux in three-rounds to retain WBO super-flyweight title
Earlier today in Japan, reigning WBO super-flyweight king Naoya Inoue made predictably short work of challenger Yoan Boyeaux of France. “The Monster,” a big star in his homeland, showed brutal body work throughout the three rounds the fight (almost) lasted – knocking the challenger down no less than four times.
Roy Jones Jr. will fight his “Last Day at The Bay” on February 8th; the all-time great to have final fight in Pensacola
All-time great and future Hall of Famer Roy Jones Junior is still not yet ready to call it quits and walk away from the perils of the ring. However, the living legend who will turn 49 next month (January 16) IS ready to have the final fight in his home town of Pensacola. Jones, 65-9(47) will fight TBA, at cruiserweight, on February 8, it has been announced on Jones’ twitter page.
Klitschko, Ward, Bradley, Cotto: They all retired this year, but which great will you miss the most?
Four great fighters, all of them world champions, three of them at more than one weight class, retired from the sport this year: heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko, super-middleweight and light-heavyweight ruler Andre Ward, four-weight ruler Miguel Cotto and light-welterweight and welterweight champ Tim Bradley.
Anthony Joshua – Wladimir Klitschko: 2017’s Fight of The Year
Fight fans the world over experienced a truly special night at Wembley on April 29 of this year. There have been some great fights this year, a number of them Fight of The Year candidates – Srisaket Sor Rungvisai-Roman Gonzalez, fight-one, Badou Jack-James DeGale and Gennady Golovkin-Canelo Alvarez being real highlights from 2017 – but the heavyweight rumble has to be the pick for FOTY.
But although there was no shortage of fan interest ahead of the two-belt showdown, some people did worry the fight might prove to be a dull affair. Klitschko, in the past, had given us some less than thrilling affairs, and some fans were concerned the hype would not be matched by the actual action once the 41 year old former champ got in the ring with new star AJ. No way were such worries necessary.