David Haye: “Joshua beats Klitschko easily, all he needs is a fair referee”

10/14/201610/13/2016 James Slater

Former WBA heavyweight champ David Haye, who was soundly out-pointed in a disappointing challenge of Wladimir Klitschko way back in 2011, says that should Anthony Joshua fight Klitschko next, it will be the 40-year-old ex-champ who is soundly beaten – maybe even disqualified! Speaking with Sky Sports, Haye said he feels Joshua “wins that fight easily.”

Klitschko-Joshua has not yet been made official, but promoter Eddie Hearn has said numerous times how the fight is “close” and an official announcement should be forthcoming soon. But Haye sees only one winner, and it’s the man he wants to fight; hopefully next summer at Wembley.

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Hearn outlines plans for Luis Ortiz, says he could fight Joshua next year

10/14/201610/13/2016 James Slater

Promoter Eddie Hearn has gone into more detail regarding his plans for unbeaten heavyweight Luis Ortiz, who he recently signed to his ever growing Matchroom stable, and as he explained to Sky Sports, Ortiz could fight IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua next year some time.

Hearn said that, assuming the Cuban southpaw gets past Malik Scott in Monaco next month in what will be Ortiz’ debut under the Matchroom banner, he will then box a TBA on the under-card of Joshua’s next fight (both exact date and opponent still to be confirmed, but likely for December) and then, next year, Ortiz will fight again in the US; again against TBA.

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Danny Garcia to fight Samuel Vargas on November 12, Thurman super-fight next year?

10/13/201610/12/2016 James Slater

Reigning WBC welterweight champ Danny Garcia’s next bout has been confirmed: he will face Canadian-based Colombian Samuel Vargas in Philadelphia on November 12. The fight will be a non-title affair. Garcia, 32-0(18) has been somewhat disappointing in his choice of opposition lately – with fights against the likes of Rod Salka, Paulie Malignaggi and now Vargas cluttering his CV. Fans are certain to be far from happy with the choice of Vargas, 25-2-1(13) in what will be “Swift’s” second and final fight of 2016.

The good news, though, is Garcia, if victorious next month (and he will win, unless we see a candidate for Upset of The Decade) will likely face WBA welterweight king Keith Thurman in a big unification showdown sometime in the first quarter of next year. This is the word according to reports anyway. But first comes the fight against 27-year-old Vargas, in what can only really be called a tune-up bout for Garcia, primed and peaking as he is at age 28.

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Can Malik Scott ruin Luis Ortiz’ big plans?

10/12/2016 James Slater

As fans have no doubt read, unbeaten and avoided heavyweight Luis Ortiz has recently signed to UK Matchroom Promotions, having severed ties with Golden Boy earlier in the year and, for a time, being left on the sidelines, with nothing like a big fight in sight. Now, with Eddie Hearn looking to keep the Cuban southpaw busy, the 37-year-old’s chances of realizing his potential before it’s too late look a whole lot better.

Ortiz, 25-0(22) and inactive since March when he stopped and likely retired Tony Thompson, will have his first fight under the Matchroom banner on November 11 in Monaco, when he will face experienced long-time contender Malik Scott on a stacked card. Then, if he comes though okay against Scott – who, in his own most recent fight, defeated Thompson, defeating him last October – Ortiz is scheduled to fight again, against a TBA, in Manchester (in what will be Ortiz’ UK debut) on December 10.

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Adrien Broner-Ricky Burns likely for February, Broner looking to have another fight first

10/12/2016 James Slater

It’s looking as though Ricky Burns and Adrien Broner will finally meet – in a fight that has been talked about for a few years – next February. Burns, the WBA 140-pound champ, is looking at making big money in his first title defence and the Scottish warrior’s manager Alex Morrison told STV that the Broner fight is “99 percent certain, in Las Vegas.”

Burns, 41-5-1(14) had a war with Keryl Relikh earlier this month, with Broner watching the battle won by the Scot, and soon Broner will get a chance to regain the belt Burns now holds. But first, “The Problem” wants to have a fight in December; itching to fight as he is after having spent time in jail and having been largely inactive this year.

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David Haye says Joshua-Klitschko is on, says the match-up reminds him of Ali’s ill-fated fight with Berbick

10/12/201610/11/2016 James Slater

Though British promoter Eddie Hearn is at pains to insist how the huge Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko (or should that be the other war around, with “Dr. Steel Hammer’s” name being given top billing?) fight is “close” but not yet done, former champ David Haye has Tweeted a congratulatory message to the reigning IBF heavyweight belt-holder over having got the fight.

“Great to hear Joshua-Klitschko is done. Timing is everything & the time now is perfect for AJ. Reminds me of Ali-Berbick. #Father Time,” Haye wrote today.

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20 years ago today, Pretty Boy Floyd fought for money for the first time

10/11/2016 James Slater

Twenty years ago today at The Texas Station Casino in fabulous Las Vegas, one of the most enormously successful, talked about and controversial boxing careers of recent years began at pro level, as a 19-year-old Floyd Mayweather Junior scored a second-round KO over a guy named Roberto Apodaca. Nicknamed “Pretty Boy,” the 130-pounder, trained by his uncle Roger (as his father was currently in jail, soon to be released) earned the first of many pay checks.

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Hearn says Joshua-Klitschko is “almost there,” puts an end to rumors that say Haye will face AJ next

10/10/2016 James Slater

While promoter Eddie Hearn will not jump the gun in prematurely announcing the big heavyweight match-up he really wants to make, in Wladimir Klitschko-Anthony Joshua, the Matchroom boss has squashed all rumors that, until today, continued to build, saying David Haye Vs. Joshua would happen next for both British stars.

Speaking with Sky Sports, Hearn said that, no, Haye (who recently tweeted that he will be fighting again on Dec 10, a possible date for Joshua-Klitschko if it is made) will NOT be next for the reigning IBF heavyweight champ.

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BJ Flores warns Tony Bellew: I’m coming for the KO!

10/10/201610/10/2016 James Slater

This Saturday night in Liverpool, WBC cruiserweight champ Tony Bellew will make the first defence of his title, and he will make it against a man he did not have to fight, but wanted to simply because, by his own admission, he does not like him, not one bit. “Bomber” Bellew will face BJ Flores and these two have had a serious war of words, going back to long before the fight was even close to being signed.

Flores, who at age 37 will go down as one of the oldest fighters to have won his first world crown if he is to take Bellew’s belt, is sure he has what it takes to win, and win by KO.

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Can Bermane Stiverne defeat Alexander Povetkin, in Russia?

10/10/201610/10/2016 James Slater

As fight fans have probably read by now, Alexander Povetkin’s team won the purse bid for the clash for the vacant interim WBC title, against Bermane Stiverne. This, most people think, means the fight will almost certainly be staged somewhere in Russia. We should have seen “real” WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder face Povetkin in Russia this summer, only for the fight to fall apart due to well-documented and disappointing reasons.

Now, with an injured Wilder awaiting the Povetkin-Stiverne winner, former WBC boss “B-Ware” faces the daunting task of taking the long trip to Russia to face Povetkin. It could very well be a big ask of Stiverne, now aged 37 (he’ll turn 38 in November) to come home with the interim version of his former belt.

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