Photo credit @ringtoneboxing – More than a few fans may have been unaware that Kevin Johnson is still fighting, with “KingPin” announcing his retirement from boxing after his quick stoppage loss to Anthony Joshua back in 2015. But the former world title challenger is indeed still fighting, overseas mostly, and last night in Munich, Germany Johnson picked up the first meaningful win of his career in quite some time in stopping Francesco Pianeta in the seventh-round.
James Slater
George Groves-Chris Eubank Junior: Who wins?
Chris Eubank Junior wore a stern face as he watched his rival George Groves drill Jamie Cox with one humongous body shot last night at Wembley. The two British super-middleweights are all set to rumble early next year in the next phase of the thoroughly enjoyable World Boxing Super Series tournament.
Groves will also defend the WBA 168 pound title he retained inside four-rounds last night. But Eubank, unbeaten as a super-middleweight (his sole loss coming via decision to Billy Joe Saunders down at 160 pounds) insists he saw nothing last night to concern him or his chances of winning in the fight that is now targeted for January.
Dillian Whyte finally has a dance partner, will face Robert Helenius on Joshua-Pulev card
After a couple of frustrating months during which he saw big fights with both Deontay Wilder and Dominic Breazeale fail to materialise, British heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte has finally got an opponent: Whyte, who is referred to by his promoter Eddie Hearn as one of the most avoided fighters out there today, will face Robert Helenius on October 28.
Errol Spence-Lamont Peterson set for January 13 in New York on Showtime
IBF welterweight ruler Errol Spence Junior will make the first defence of his title against tough and experienced contender, former 140 pound titlist Lamont Peterson, so reports RingTV.com – the fight set for January 13 at Barclays Centre in New York, the fight to go out on Showtime.
Unbeaten southpaw Spence, 22-0(19) snatched the belt from Kell Brook in Sheffield back in May, stopping the defending champ in the eleventh-round of a good fight. Now, after what seems like quite a stretch of time, the Texan finally has his first title challenger within reach. Spence wants the big fights but first comes the capable Peterson, 35-3-1(17).
Miguel Berchelt Vs. Orlando Salido to clash with Lomachenko-Rigondeaux: which fight will you watch?
Sean Gibbons, manager of teak tough Mexican warrior Orlando Salido, has spoken to The Los Angeles Times about his fighter going up against countryman and reigning WBC super-featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt on December 9 – yes, the exact same night pound-for-pound stars Vasyl Lomachenko and Guillermo Rigondeaux fight.
And Gibbons got off a good line when speaking about the two fights and how they will compare: “It’ll come down to, ‘Do you want to see real boxing or ballerina boxing, two guys playing chess?” Gibbons asked in promoting his fighter’s fight. It may or my not be a good question. In terms of blood and guts action, then yes, the battle of Mexicans with the crowd-pleasing styles will be your pick of the two fights. The again, if you like pure boxing, the clash of southpaws, the pair of them being dual Olympic gold medal winners, will be more your bag.
Denis Lebedev-Fabio Maldonado: “Russia’s Mayweather-McGregor fight!”
This August’s huge Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor crossover Super Fight sure has started a trend. In light of the staggering amount of money and interest the Boxing Vs. MMA fight generated, a number of other fighters from both disciplines are set to follow suit.
Marco Huck set to continue fighting – as a heavyweight
Last seen losing via tenth-round TKO to Oleksandr Usyk in the cruiserweight WBSS tournament, former long-reigning WBO 200 pound champ Marco Huck says he is not finished and that he can be expected to be back in the ring next year – possibly up at heavyweight.
Tyson Fury hits twitter again: “I’ll have three fights in 2018”
Former heavyweight king Tyson Fury has teased us before, with messages put out on social media promising “a big announcement,” only for none to come. Tyson has also vowed to retire, telling us via twitter how he will never fight again. And just recently, the never-beaten former champ announced via his twitter page how he would not be seeking a new license to box from the British Boxing Board of Control.
Anthony Joshua Vs. Deontay Wilder: Today’s Ali-Frazier?
While almost all fight fans and boxing historians feel there will NEVER be another fight or night as epic and as truly special as the happening that was the Joe Frazier-Muhammad Ali super-fight from 1971, reigning WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder says that a fight between he and rival champ Anthony Joshua would rank right up there with “The Fight of The Century.”
Like Ali and Frazier were at the time of their monster fight, Wilder and Joshua are unbeaten, close to their respective peak, and each boasts a genuine claim to the crown. There the similarities end but Wilder, in speaking with GQ, is adamant a fight between he and the IBF/WBA ruler will be the biggest fight in the division’s history for some time.
Lomachenko says he’ll “Squash” Rigondeaux, Rigo out to make statement
In what may well turn out to be the best, most fascinating fight of the year, saved for the end of the year as it has been – Vasyl Lomachenko-Guillermo Rigondeux has attracted fan attention in one big way; hence the December 9 fight selling out two full months ahead of bell-one.
UK fans can catch the action live on Box Nation, and it was via a short piece with the boxing channel’s web site that Ukraine’s Lomachenko, 9-1(7) declared how he will “squash” the unbeaten Cuban when they clash in New York. As fans know, “Rigo” will be making quite a step up in weight: from super-bantam to super-featherweight, and for this reason, “Hi-Tech,” feels he will not get too much credit for beating the naturally smaller and older man.