In the list of infamous, never to be forgotten fights, the world heavyweight title fight taht took place 35 years ago next month – between defending champ Larry Holmes and unimaginably tough challenger Randy “Tex” Cobb – holds its own distinctive place in fans’ memories.
James Slater
WATCH: Bizarre scenes leave Hasim Rahman Jr. without a fight; his opponent literally runs away!
The story of what took place in Durham, North Carolina last Thursday really is making its rounds on the internet. As per a new piece by Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, Hasim Rahman Junior – son of course of the former heavyweight king who shocked the great Lennox Lewis to briefly rule the world in 2001 – was to have fought debutante Joseph Coats in what would have been Rahman Jr’s third pro bout.
James “Buster” Douglas: Could he have been great?
Defining fights: they’re something all great fighters have on their record. But when you hear the name James Douglas, or Buster as the former heavyweight king was/is known, it’s tough to pick his defining fight. Was it that stunning night in Japan when Douglas fought his defining fight, or was it that weak night in Las Vegas, a few months later when Buster gave us the fight he is today best remembered for?
Dillian Whyte predicts Joshua-Takam outcome: It will be done in four or five rounds
Though Dillian Whyte has his own fight to concentrate on – against the dangerous and determined Robert Helenius – Whyte also has major interest in Saturday night’s headline fight between Anthony Joshua and late replacement foe Carlos Takam.
Whyte (who, interestingly, AJ told Eddie Hearn was the man he would most liked to have fought after Kubrat Pulev was forced to pull out due to a shoulder injury) told Sky Sports how he sees this Saturday’s fight as “an easy fight” for WBA/IBF ruler Joshua.
Newly crowned WBA middleweight “regular” champ Murata already looking at fight with Golovkin
Yesterday in Tokyo, Japan, Ryota Murata pleased the many thousands of his homeland fans in attendance as he ripped the WBA middleweight “regular” title from Hassan N’Dam, the Frenchman remaining on his stool after seven torrid (for him) rounds.
As jubilant and as emotional as he was in becoming the first Japanese fighter to win a version of the middleweight title in over twenty years, Murata, 13-1(10) was also very respectful when speaking about the man he knows he must defeat if he’s to become the universally accepted middleweight king: Gennady Golovkin.
Eddie Hearn: Over my dead body is a 50-50 split for Joshua-Wilder ever happening!
It’s arguably THE biggest fight fans want to see take place aside from a return between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez: it’s Anthony Joshua-Deontay Wilder in what would be a monster heavyweight unification showdown. But the promoter of one of the two fighters says the fight will only go ahead if Wilder agrees to take substantially less than a 50-50 purse split.
Ryota Murata stops Hassan N’Dam in seven, wins WBA middleweight belt
Earlier today in Tokyo, Japan local hero Ryota Murata stopped Hassan N’Dam to take the WBA middleweight title and also avenge an earlier, controversial loss to the man from France. Murata, in total control of the fight, forced N’Dam to remain on his stool after seven completed rounds.
Now 13-1(10) the 31 year old from Tokyo has arrived as a major player in the 160 pound weight class. 33 year old N’Dam, who was never in the fight, falls to 36-3(21).
Josh Warrington stops Dennis Ceylan to earn shot at Lee Selby’s IBF featherweight title
Last night in his home town of Leeds, unbeaten featherweight contender Josh Warrington improved to 26-0 and scored a rare KO (his sixth in total) in halting Denmark’s Dennis Ceylan in the tenth-round. With the win over the previously unbeaten Dane who is now 18-1-2(8) Warrington earned himself a shot at Lee Selby’s IBF crown.
The Comeback Kings: Seven greats who made it all the way back
Comeback: “a return by a well-known person, especially an entertainer or sports player, to the activity in which they had formerly been successful”
7. Sugar Ray Robinson.
Sugar Ray had more than earned the accolade as the finest boxer in history pound-for pound, as a welterweight and a middleweight. But Ray wanted more. He moved up to light heavyweight and in June of 1952 challenged Joey Maxim for his world title. Robinson was way ahead on the scorecards, but going into the latter rounds of the fight – fought under a temperature of 104 degrees – Robinson hit the wall. He was suffering from heat prostration and had to quit on his stool at the end of thirteen rounds. Sugar Ray announced his retirement afterwards. It stuck for two and a half years.
Joe Joyce wins pro debut, stops Ian Lewison in eighth-round
Tonight in London on David Haye’s Hayemaker Promotions card at The O2, 2016 Olympic silver medal winner Joe Joyce made his pro debut a successful one, the red-hot heavyweight prospect taking on and halting experienced 16-fight pro Ian Lewison in a scheduled ten rounder. The end came at the 2.35 mark of round-eight, as a battered Lewison was pulled out by his corner when under fire.