Floyd Mayweather Junior asks his fans who he should fight next: Khan or Maidana

02/03/2014 James Slater

Boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Junior didn’t do as was widely expected and use the platform of the always huge Super bowl weekend to announce who his next fight would be; instead Mayweather took to his Twitter account and asked his fans do do the choosing of his next opponent for him. But fans have just two names to choose from: Britain’s Amir Khna and Argentina’s Marcos Maidana.

“I’m going to let the fans vote,” wrote Mayweather. “Tell me who I should fight next. Khan or Maidana?”

It’s a pity Mayweather’s list has just two fighters on it – just think how many votes Floyd would receive if Manny Pacquiao was on the list! But as it is, it’s almost guaranteed, in my opinion anyway, that the lion’s share of the fans vote for Maidana. Ever since the possibility of Mayweather facing Khan was brought up, fans everywhere have complained of the fight being “an obvious mis-match,” or “an easy pay day for Floyd.” It’s a no-brainer that these same fans will now ask for Mayweather to get it on with the dangerous if somewhat crude at times Maidana.

The “Atomic Bull” keeps raging: Oliver McCall upsets Polish prospect Rekowski to notch up 70th pro bout!

02/02/201402/02/2014 James Slater

It was a big night of boxing in a number of countries last night, yet flying somewhat under the radar was a card that took place in Poland. In action was former WBC heavyweight champion Oliver McCall – a fighter and a man who has been through just about as many ups and downs as can be imagined during his 48-years – and the old “Atomic Bull” proved his is amazingly not quite finished yet.

Facing the much younger and unbeaten, 12-0(10) coming in, Marcin Rekowswki, McCall dropped his man in the 3rd-round and ultimately won an eight-round split decision (77-75 twice, with the loser getting a 76-75 nod on the third card) – this after the result was initially and erroneously announced as a win for the Pole. McCall, in improving his astonishing record to 57-13(37) boxed his 70th pro fight. An added bonus for the tough old geezer (McCall has never been close to hitting the mat, in the ring or in the gym and has never been legitimately stopped in almost 30-years of paid fighting) came in the form of revenge, as Rekowski had previously beaten Oliver’s fighting son, Elijah.

Freddie Roach says his former charge Amir Khan can upset Mayweather!

01/30/2014 James Slater

The fight has still not been announced as official yet, but most boxing people seem to think superstar Floyd Mayweather Junior WILL do as expected and next fight British star Amir Khan. Boxing fans are waiting patiently for Mayweather’s announcement, and maybe over the Super Bowl weekend, Floyd will put an end to any and all speculation.

But one man has a very good idea of what will transpire in the ring if Mayweather does indeed fight Khan on May 3rd: Khan’s former trainer Freddie Roach. Roach was a guest on Sky Sports’ Ringside: Toe to Toe podcast this week and he said he feels his former pupil can cause the shock and upset Mayweather “if he fights the correct fight.”

Juan Manuel Lopez-Daniel Ponce De Leon to clash in rematch on Garcia-Herrera card in Puerto Rico

01/29/2014 James Slater

A very interesting and potentially explosive card is all set to go down in Puerto Rico on March 15th. Topping the bill will be light-welterweight champ Danny Garcia, defending his Ring Magazine and WBA/WBC 140-pound belts against tough Mexican Mauricio Herrera. Also on the card will be the heavyweight meeting between puncher Deontay Wilder and boxer Malik Scott.

Both these fights intrigue, yet the third fight confirmed for the card caught my eye. Remember back in the summer of 2008, when an unbeaten 25-year-old “Juanma” Lopez blasted onto the world stage with a bang in the form of a 1st-round KO over Mexico’s Daniel Ponce De Leon? Lopez of Puerto Rico snatched the WBO super-bantamweight belt with the win and superstardom seemed to be in his future. Things didn’t quite work out that way for the southpaw slugger, even if he did thrill millions of fans in his subsequent fights.

Malik Scott-Deontay Wilder in the works for March

01/25/201401/25/2014 James Slater

Fans have been wanting to see exciting KO artist Deontay Wilder take a step up in competition for some time now, and it looks as though these fans will get what they want this coming March. According to a news piece in The Tuscaloosa News, the 30-0(30) heavyweight contender will face the world ranked and highly skilled Malik Scott on March 15th.

“I can tell you it’s a fight we hope gets made,” Jay Deas, Wilder’s trainer told the publication. “It’s a great fight for both guys and hopefully a great fight for the fans. I’m hopeful it will [happen].”

Wanting to know more, I contacted Malik Scott, who improved to 36-1-1(13) last night with a rust-removing 2nd-round TKO over Grover Young. The win over Young was Scott’s first fight back since his controversial (counted out in the act of rising and appearing to be up before the count of “ten” in the 6th-round) fight with Dereck Chisora at Wembley. And Scott did confirm to me that he is all set to fight his friend Wilder next.

Unbeaten welterweight Antonio Orozco stops Miguel Angel Huerta in two sizzling rounds

01/25/201401/25/2014 James Slater

Last night in Indio, California in a fight that went out on Fox Sports, unbeaten welterweight talent Antonio Orozco scored a thrilling if short TKO win after being hurt badly in the opening round of a violent slugfest with fellow Mexican Miguel Angel Huerta.

Orozco, managed by Golden Boy and looked at by many as a future world champion, was cracked hard by a full-blooded left hook to the jaw in the opening session. The 26-year-old held the shot well, in doing so proving he has a chin, and then had to take another left hand. Orozco overcame the toughest moment of his now 19-bout pro career.

In the 2nd, 35-year-old veteran Huerta went for it but, in breathtaking fashion, Orozco completely turned the fight around with a blistering left hook of his own.

Carl Froch says a Vegas fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Junior motivates him more than a Groves return

01/23/2014 James Slater

It seems Carl Froch will not be facing bitter British rival George Groves in a rematch – not in his next fight, anyway. “The Cobra,” who says he has many options, told Sky Sports Ringside that a fight with Mexico’s Julio Cesar Chavez Junior is “closer to being made than a Groves rematch.” Froch also said that the idea of facing Chavez in Las Vegas, where he has never boxed, motivates him hugely.

Under fierce pressure from Groves to grant him a rematch – with many fans also asking for a second slice of the action that ended prematurely back in November – Froch says he is not all that interested in “going over old ground and beating George Groves again.”

Froch said that should he fight twice this year, as he usually does, he will look at facing Groves and Julio Chavez Junior but, “not in that order.”

Foreman Vs. Cooney – Foreman’s attempt to “make Tyson shiver!”

01/15/202301/15/2014 James Slater

Exactly 24-years ago today, an unlikely heavyweight comeback was well underway. In fact, on this … read more

Eddie Hearn says Froch-Groves II could sell out an 80,000 arena in UK! (but will it happen?)

01/13/2014 James Slater

Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn spoke with Sky Sports today, on the subject of whether or not we will see a return bout between bitter British rivals Carl Froch and George Groves. Fans everywhere have craved a sequel ever since the November clash between the two super-middleweights thrilled and then ended controversially, with Froch retaining his super-middleweight titles via what was widely viewed as a premature 9th-round TKO.

Hearn says he feels a return will take place:

“I think there’s a great chance,” Hearn told Sky Sports on the possibility of a Froch-Groves II. “I think it comes down to pride and ego at the end of the day, and of course a lot of money. As a fan and a promoter it’s the biggest fight out there. I know we could have this at a huge stadium and have 60, 70, 80,000 people. It was a tremendous fight last time and taking away the controversy, it was one of the best fights I’ve ever seen. A rematch could be even bigger. If I was a betting man I think we are going to get there. I hope we do.”

Heavyweight legend George Foreman turns 65 – “Big George” now a senior citizen

01/10/201401/10/2014 James Slater

George Foreman, undeniably one of the most amazing prize fighters of all-time, celebrates his 65th birthday today. Having now been retired for well over fifteen years, Foreman has probably forgotten all about the rigours of heavyweight boxing, and is thinking only about his religious and business enterprises. But on this day of his birthday, this article asks the question: where exactly does the two-time heavyweight ruler rank in the history of heavyweight greats?

Foreman, a freakishly strong (both mentally and physically) human being, proved himself against the best in both chapters of his astonishing career. In fact, George shocked us and defied all common logic many times in both of his careers. Back in the 1970s, Foreman was a terrifying brute of a fighter, a man capable of intimidating the very best. And if an opponent wasn’t scared, Foreman’s powerful fists and underrated ability at cutting off the ring got the job done.