Shannon Briggs: Is it all over?

Shannon Briggs: Is it all over?

As fight fans have surely read by now, super vocal former heavyweight champ Shannon Briggs failed a recent pre-fight drugs test; the coming up positive ruining the 45 year old’s spurious WBA “world ” title chance of a lifetime against fellow veteran Fres Oquendo.

This title bout, though much maligned, would likely have seen to it that Briggs would win a slice of a belt; possibly getting himself into position for bigger fights down the road – and of course in line for one last big payday before the “Let’s Go Champ” chants would fall silent. But now, his career and reputation in dire straights, Briggs’ fighting days may have come to an end. Sans the last big pay day.

continue

Deontay Wilder-Joseph Parker: Is there only one possible outcome?

Deontay Wilder-Joseph Parker: Is there only one possible outcome?

It’s a fight that could happen this summer (although it is also possible Wilder could fight Wladimir Klitschko ) and fans would certainly tune in to see a heavyweight unification bout between Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker.

Wilder, the reigning WBC champ and unbeaten, has called out Parker, the WBO ruler and also unbeaten, a few times, and going by Parker’s recent fight – a points win over unheralded Razvan Cojanu, it’s easy to see why.

continue

The legendary Roberto Duran lists his top five all time fighters

The legendary Roberto Duran lists his top five all time fighters

Recently, the great, the immortal, the legendary ( and also the most down to earth boxing superstar one could wish to meet) Roberto Duran paid a visit to this writer’s home town. Duran, for many millions of fans, THE greatest living fighter (above Ring Magazine’s recent choice for the honour; Sugar Ray Leonard ) dropped in at Henry Wharton’s gym in York.

continue

Yuriorkis Gamboa, Juan Manuel Lopez: Coulda woulda shoulda

Yuriorkis Gamboa, Juan Manuel Lopez: Coulda woulda shoulda

Both electrifying fighters in their prime, Cuba’s Yuriorkis Gamboa and Puerto Rico’s Juan Manuel Lopez seemed to have superstar status ahead of them. Both men managed to win a world championship – in fact both fighters won a couple of belts each – but overall the lofty heights that were expected were never reached.

Today, with both fighters trying to fight on whilst being way past their best (Gamboa recently suffering a shock stoppage defeat at the hands of Robinson Castellanos, “Juanma” having suffered a number of especially gruesome KO defeats) there is a big sense of ‘what if?’

continue

James Toney victorious in his “final” fight, stops Mike Sheppard to win WBF belt

James Toney victorious in his “final” fight, stops Mike Sheppard to win WBF belt

Last night in Michigan, in a fight that was barely covered, 48 year old future Hall of Famer James Toney improved to a quite amazing 77-10-3(47) with a TKO win over veteran journeyman Mike Sheppard. Toney, weighing a hefty 249 pounds, unloaded some hurtful body shots, sending Sheppard down.

The younger man (Sheppard is 41) got up but was counted out in the act of rising, the fight waved off. Sheppard is now 24-21-2(10).

continue

It will be Kubrat Pulev next for Joshua if Klitschko retires, says Hearn

It will be Kubrat Pulev next for Joshua if Klitschko retires, says Hearn

Anthony Joshua, the recently crowned IBF/WBA heavyweight king, is arguably THE hottest fighter in the sport right now, yet his next fight will be decided by the man AJ beat in stunning fashion last month.

Wladimir Klitschko, the proud ex-champ who, despite losing in an heroic effort, raised his game to tremendous heights on April 29, has a rematch if he wants to take it. It is now up to the 41 year old: will he retire, or will he demand the rematch, maybe in October or November of this year? Joshua says he is happy to fight “Dr. Steel Hammer” a second time – and the entire boxing population wants to see a sequel, the April battle was so great – even in Germany.

continue

Golovkin-Canelo: The Super-Fight everyone is talking about; and here are a few reasons why

Golovkin-Canelo: The Super-Fight everyone is talking about; and here are a few reasons why

It’s the biggest fight of the year, no doubt, and already fight fans everywhere are talking about the September 16 showdown between middleweight king Gennady Golovkin and star challenger Canelo Alvarez. And there are plenty of things to talk about with this mega-fight.

Aside from discussing who will win the big fight, fans are currently mulling over the following things:

The fight will not be fought at a catch-weight.

continue

Golovkin vs Canelo Is Official At Last!!

Golovkin vs Canelo Is Official At Last!!

From a dud comes an explosion of an announcement: GGG-Canelo is official at last!

Though yesterday’s heavily hyped “Battle of Mexico” showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Junior failed to deliver the great fight we were hoping for – the one-sided nature of Canelo’s performance and the perceived poor effort of Chavez Jr. forcing the fans in attendance to boo frequently – fans did not leave the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas totally unhappy.

continue

Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker: Worlds Apart

Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker: Worlds Apart

It was always going to be a tough job for Joseph Parker: he was never going to be able to send fight fans home as happy and as excited as they were last Saturday night. Parker’s rival, WBA and IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua, gave the world a thrill with his terrific rumble with Wladimir Klitschko, and today Parker had the far less interesting task of dealing with late replacement foe Razvan Cojanu.

Parker, the WBO champ won okay, but the New Zealander looked far from impressive in labouring to a 12 round decision win. Worst still, Parker, 22-0 (18) put fans to sleep. No, it wasn’t all Parker’s fault – Cojanu was a replacement for Hughie Fury (who pulled out of the Parker fight with a bad back ) and the unheralded challenger used all of his 6’7″ to lean on smaller man Parker. It made for a dull fight.

continue

Exclusive Interview: Shawn Porter

Exclusive Interview: Shawn Porter

Shawn Porter: The most exciting fighter today? The best welterweight in the world without a world title?

Former IBF welterweight champ Shawn Porter scored an impressive stoppage win over fellow former champ Andre Berto recently, earning himself a shot at the WBC crown currently held by Keith Thurman.

Thurman and Porter went to war in a thriller last summer, with Thurman winning a close and hard-fought 12 round decision. Porter craves a shot at revenge against “One Time;” even more than he wants a second fight with Kell Brook, the only other man to have beaten him.

continue