Frampton-Quigg: pre-fight tensions ensure both sides are warned about their conduct ahead of tonight’s big fight

02/27/2016 James Slater

(Photo credit: Matchroom Boxing) Not long to go now until Carl Frampton Vs. Scott Quigg, one of the biggest fights to take place in the UK in some years, finally gets underway. Frampton, the reigning and defending IBF super-bantamweight king, remains an ever so slight betting favorite to win the fight and take Quigg’s WBA 122-pound belt, but no fan – despite what they may say now or what they might say after the fight – is at all sure what will happen when the bell rings in Manchester.

This, of course, is the sign of a great match-up; with two of the best in the division squaring off with one another. The pre-fight hype and build-up has been quite something, with the two camps being notably prickly with each other – to the point where there has been pushing and shoving (between not only the two fighters, but also rival trainers, Joe Gallagher and Shane McGuigan) and threats of pulling out of the fight due to a dressing room spat.

Lee Selby to defend IBF featherweight title against Eric Hunter in either London or Cardiff

04/06/201602/27/2016 James Slater

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has just announced another big world title fight: Lee Selby, the reigning IBF featherweight champion, will defend against Philadelphia’s Eric Hunter in the UK this Spring. Hearn, talking to BBC Wales, said the fight will definitely take place in the UK, it is just a matter of the fight going ahead in either London, when the date would be April 9th, or Cardiff, when the likely date would be some time in May.

Either way, Selby-Hunter is a good fight, arguably the biggest test yet for the classy 29-year-old Welshman. Selby, 22-1(8) won the title with an 8th-round TD against Evgeny Gradovich in May of last year and he has retained the belt once, winning a 12-round UD over Fernando Montiel. The Montiel fight took place in Arizona but now “The Welsh Mayweather,” as Selby has been dubbed by some, gets ready to defend once again at home; or maybe in London.

Big names in support of the petition to get Muhammad Ali Knighted, thousands sign up in support of The Greatest

02/27/201602/26/2016 James Slater

Due in large part to former WBA heavyweight ruler David Haye, a petition designed to get the one and only Muhammad Ali a honorary Knighthood in Great Britain is gaining plenty of momentum. According to a report in The Mail, 12,000 people have already visited Change.org and signed their support – included amongst these people, fellow boxers Anthony Joshua and female Olympic gold medal winner Nicola Adams.

Joshua, who captured his Olympic gold medal some 52 years after the then Cassius Clay first rose to prominence by winning his, says Ali had a huge influence on his life and career:

Deontay Wilder-Alexander Povetkin purse bid: won by Team-Povetkin with $7.15 million bid

02/26/2016 James Slater

Earlier today in Miami, the respective sides of Deontay Wilder and Alexander Povetkin engaged in purse bids for the mandated WBC heavyweight title defence by Wilder. As reported by ESPN.com, Povetkin’s people won the bid with a big $7.15 million bid. Lou DiBella, representing Wilder, bid a little over $5 million and 100,000.

Fans are now wondering where the fight will take place, if at all? Will Wilder opt to vacate the WBC belt, perhaps to concentrate on trying to land a huge money fight with Tyson Fury should Fury repeat his win over Wladimir Klitschko? Wilder did recently say how he has no plans of giving up the green belt he won just over a year ago and has successfully defended three times. But will “The Bronze Bomber” travel over to Russia if Povetkin’s people decide to stage the fight there?

Guillermo Rigondeaux taunts Carl Frampton, Scott Quigg ahead of British Mega-Fight

02/27/201602/26/2016 James Slater

Walk down any street in the UK right now, and chances are, you will hear someone talking about the upcoming British mega-fight that is Carl Frampton-Scott Quigg in Manchester for the IBF/WBA super-bantamweight titles. This fight, proud British fans are saying with plenty of justification, proves that the best still face the best. Frampton-Quigg is widely seen as an incredibly tough to pick, 50-50 affair.

Tony Burton, co-star in six of the Rocky movies, dies at age 78

02/26/2016 James Slater

Okay, it’s movie news not boxing news; but it’s boxing movie news. Actor Tony Burton, who co-starred in six of the seven Rocky films as trainer, Tony “Duke” Evers, has passed away at age 78. Burton’s cause of death has not been made official, BBC News reports, but Burton’s sister, Loretta Kelly said her brother had been in and out of hospital a number of times over the past year.

Canelo Alvarez-Amir Khan fight gets the press tour treatment; but will the fans buy the May 7th catch-weight clash?

02/25/2016 James Slater

You know it’s a big fight when the respective promoters are paying to take the two fighters to a number of cities around the world to add further promotion and glamour to the event. And, later this month, the hugely intriguing, potentially thrilling middleweight title fight between Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Amir “King” Khan will be treated to the press tour glitz.

In an effort to attract even more attention and ensure additional pay-per-view buys for the May 7th bout set for Las Vegas, Canelo, Khan and Oscar De La Hoya will visit London, New York and Los Angeles, and what’s more, the fans are invited to come out and meet them.

Frampton and Quigg engage in tense final press conference ahead of Saturday’s unification clash

02/25/201602/25/2016 James Slater

Fight fans may have grown accustomed to, or are even bored of, two fighters getting in one another’s face at a pre-fight press conference, but it’s still entertaining to some when it happens. And today, just two days before the IBF/WBA super-bantamweight unification clash between unbeaten rivals Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg, the obligatory, ‘I’ll grab you, you grab me’ theatrics were witnessed.

Happy Birthday, Floyd Mayweather Junior – ranking “Money’s” three best performances

02/25/201602/24/2016 James Slater

“Retired” boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Junior celebrates his 39th birthday today. The word retired is in quotes because, well, practically everyone who follows the fight game is all but certain Mayweather, currently 49-0, WILL fight again – it’s just a matter of time, the general line of thinking goes, until Floyd comes back in search of pro win number-50.

And, despite the fact that age 39 is somewhat advanced for a top class prize fighter (greats Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Louis and many others were finished well before closing in on age 40), Mayweather has proven that age is literally just a number to him. Eventually, if he were to fight on and on, his reflexes would fade or his punch resistance (never tested too much as it is!) would desert him, but there wouldn’t be too many people willing to bet against Mayweather managing to put at least one more result in his win column if he did/does box again either later this year or early next.

David Haye sure the British public will demand a fight between himself and Anthony Joshua if AJ beats Charles Martin; says he might KO Joshua in one-round!

02/25/201602/24/2016 James Slater

It’s no secret that comebacking former WBA heavyweight champ David Haye wants a big, all-British showdown with unbeaten fellow Londoner Anthony Joshua. Haye, who returned to the ring in January and next fights, against TBA, in May, has been interested in a potential blockbuster with “A.J” for months now. And Haye is quite right when he says the fight would only be that much bigger if a world title were on the line.