James Slater

Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko: The Richest Fight in Boxing History – or certainly the most expensive

Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko: The Richest Fight in Boxing History – or certainly the most expensive

Boxing history could be made on April 29th at Wembley in London, in a number of ways. The heavyweight title clash between reigning and defending IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua and former lineal king Wladimir Klitschko – which will also contest the vacant WBA belt – could smash the record for most tickets sold for a boxing match. The current record of almost 80,000 tickets sold was set by Carl Froch and George Groves a couple of years back, but now there are realistic expectations of 90,000 tickets being shifted for the clash of generations next April.

If Klitschko wins he will be one of the very few three-time heavyweight champions in history, and as far as ticket prices go for the big fight, the record for the most expensive ringside seat will be broken next April. How much for a VIP ringside seat? £800? No. £1,000? No. £1,500? No again. A VIP seat at ringside can be yours for, get this……£2,000 (approx $2,490 US). A regular ringside ticket will set you back the considerable sum of £800.

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Dillian Whyte-Dereck Chisora rematch would be BIG says Hearn, could sell out The O2

Dillian Whyte-Dereck Chisora rematch would be BIG says Hearn, could sell out The O2

Fight fans roared their approval over the December 10 under-card at The Manchester Arena; both during the action that supported the headline act that saw Anthony Joshua blast out Eric Molina and afterwards. There have been no complaints about having parted with pay-per-view cash for the card, despite the disappointing (if predictable) headline fight.

The fan approval largely stemmed from the quite fantastic FOTY candidate that was the heavyweight war between bitter British rivals Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora. Indeed, this fight stole the show, leaving fans, pundits and experts alike breathless. The call for a rematch began almost immediately and promoter Eddie Hearn says it is definitely a possibility for next year – only this time, the fight will be deservedly elevated to headline status.

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Watch: Povetkin vs Stiverne: Weigh-In Video

Watch: Povetkin vs Stiverne: Weigh-In Video

Weigh-In Results: Povetkin – 101,5 kg (223,7 lbs), Stiverne – 113,1 kg (249 lbs)

Former WBC heavyweight champ Bermane Stiverne could well be having the last big fight of his career on Saturday night in Ekaterinburg. The 38-year-old faces Russian hero Alexander Povetkin in an attempt at becoming the interim WBC champ and Stiverne says he knows he needs a KO to win.

Speaking with RT Sport just after the official press conference, a smiling and relaxed-looking Stiverne, 25-2-1(21) said there is no way he will get a decision over Povetkin should the fight go the full 12 rounds, and that he has trained for the KO.

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Deontay Wilder wants Klitschko-Joshua winner – winner the best heavyweight on the planet?

Deontay Wilder wants Klitschko-Joshua winner - winner the best heavyweight on the planet?

As reigning WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder says, the heavyweight division is coming alive again. And Wilder, who is itching to get back in the ring, says he wants to keep it that way. Speaking at the WBC convention, Wilder said he wants to fight the winner of the April clash between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko.

The April 29th fight, set for Wembley, promises to be a huge event – with promoter Eddie Hearn speaking about the possibility of 90,000 tickets shifting – but Wilder against the winner could be even bigger.

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De La Hoya gives us his word GGG-Canelo happens next year; Canelo could face Chavez Junior first

De La Hoya gives us his word GGG-Canelo happens next year; Canelo could face Chavez Junior first

Oscar De La Hoya was a guest on “First Take” last night – and guess what the topic of conversation was? Yes, that still in-the-works super-fight all of boxing wants to see: Gennady Golovkin Vs. Canelo Alvarez. And, in response to being asked if the fight will happen in 2017, the Golden Boy head gave us his word no less that, yes, it will happen in September of next year.

“Canelo truly is a ’54-pounder. I mean, he is,” De La Hoya said. “He can make the weight no problem, and Canelo and I and the team have that for 2017 he will move up to middleweight, full-fledged middleweight, and fight the middleweight champions of the world, and that’s including Triple-G. At 160, that’s it. You have my word, and Canelo is not afraid of Triple-G. September, we’re hoping he signs the contract and it will happen.”

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Bernard Hopkins: One Of A Kind – ranking his finest wins

Bernard Hopkins: One Of A Kind – ranking his finest wins

Like him or not and whether you find his fighting style boring or entertaining, fans everywhere have to admit Bernard Hopkins has had some incredible career – and some eventful life. Hopkins, at almost 52, will see out his long and incredibly successful career this Saturday, against young, ambitious and dangerous punching Joe Smith Junior.

Hopkins promises this will be “The Final 1,” and that he will then exit the sport satisfied – “I’m about to be 52 with more than 60 fights and I can still hold a sentence. I’m most proud of that,” B-Hop, AKA The Alien, AKA The Executioner told The Las Vegas Review Journal this week. Hopkins hopes a movie will be devoted to his life, and let’s face it, there’s plenty of material there.

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“The Big Fight Live” to return to ITV in the UK – on pay-per-view

“The Big Fight Live” to return to ITV in the UK – on pay-per-view

Slightly older British fight fans will remember “The Big Fight Live.” Back in the day, in the 1980s and ’90s, with the great Reg Gutteridge doing the commentary, the show, going out on terrestrial channel ITV, was THE place to watch the big fights. Now, according to an interesting piece on the ITV website, the boxing show will return to TV screens next year – on pay-per-view.

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Gennady Golovkin goes into the record books: Guinness Book of Records recognise GGG as having the highest KO percentage in middleweight championship history

Gennady Golovkin goes into the record books: Guinness Book of Records recognise GGG as having the highest KO percentage in middleweight championship history

World middleweight king Gennady Golovkin picked up three awards at the annual WBC convention in Hollywood, the most prestigious possibly being the distinction of being recognised by The Guinness Book of Records as having THE highest KO percentage in the history of middleweight world championship boxing.

GGG, who fought just twice this year, also picked up two WBC awards – one for Event of The Year, for his dominant stoppage victory over Kell Brook in September, the other, a special award, for being Most Dominant Boxer. The place he now occupies in the prestigious Guinness Book of Records arguably made GGG feel most proud though.

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Joseph Parker’s promoter open to doubleheader on April 29: Joshua-Klitschko and Parker-Wilder

Joseph Parker's promoter open to doubleheader on April 29: Joshua-Klitschko and Parker-Wilder

New WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker seems to have plenty of options now that he has made his mark as the first New Zealander to have won heavyweight gold. Parker may have to face Hughie Fury in a mandatory first defence next spring, but the 24-year-old’s promotional outfit Duco Events are looking at all options – some of them massive.

David Higgins of Duco spoke with Sky Sports yesterday and he discussed everything from a Parker-Fury fight, to a Parker-Wilder unification fight, to a Joshua-Parker doubleheader on April 29, when AJ will fight former champ Wladimir Klitschko.

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