Let’s face it: the fast approaching heavyweight extravaganza between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko – which has already shifted an amazing 90,000 tickets – doesn’t really need much of an under-card; at least not in terms of pulling in any extra sales.
James Slater
Make way for the new stars: Lomachenko, Crawford, Thurman are today’s pound-for-pound best
Manny Pacquiao’s star is fading, Andre Ward has been labelled dull by fight fans so many times he has stopped caring, and Sergey Kovalev may well see himself closely, narrowly outboxed and outscored by S.O.G in their June return. So who today is deserving of the mythical but also lofty title of pound-for-pound king?
It seems we have to make way for the new guard, for the news stars: Vasyl Lomachenko, the pick for many even before this past weekend’s utter dismantling of a very good fighter in Jason Sosa, and Terence Crawford, he of the speed, accuracy and power, and also Keith Thurman, a throwback in terms of constantly seeking out the very best opposition and thus far beating them.
Can Anthony Joshua become boxing’s first billionaire?
Maybe we should call him Anthony “Money” Joshua. That nickname is of course exclusive property of one Floyd Mayweather Junior; currently the richest, most successful prize fighter in boxing history. However, as stinking rich as he is, Mayweather never earned himself the staggering total of a $billion.
But Joshua, in speaking with GQ Magazine, says that this is now the goal he has to aspire to. Reflecting on how the status of having made it big has changed drastically in today’s world, Joshua says that becoming a millionaire is no longer the huge achievement it once was.
WATCH: Fury & Charr get into altercation in Cologne
Manuel Charr wants a big fight. Perhaps any big fight. Today, in Cologne, Germany, at the fitness expo FIBO, “Diamond Boy” Charr had his game face firmly on as he sought out Tyson Fury. Fury was all smiles, offering his hand to the more serious looking Charr, but soon enough the duo had to be separated.
Charr, who has seen big fights fall through in the past (he was, like Fury, supposed to land a lucrative fight with David Haye a few years back) referred to Fury as a “mad man,” in a clear attempt to rile the out of shape, today easy going former world champ. There was a shove, security dived in, and the two fighters went their separate ways.
Vasyl Lomachenko looks unbeatable in stopping a brave Jason Sosa
Reigning WBO super-featherweight king Vasyl Lomachenko looked utterly unstoppable in halting a brave but outclassed Jason Sosa last night. Forcing Sosa’s corner to retire their warrior after nine wholly one-sided session, “Hi-Tech” looked for all the world like an unbeaten fighter.
As we know, however, Lomachenko, 8-1(6) is not unbeaten; as hard as it may be to believe when you see such utter dominance over good fighters who are made to retire on their stool against him – Sosa being retired this time, Nicholas Walters quitting last time. One man has beaten Lomachenko as a pro, in tough Mexican warhorse Orlando Salido, but that came in the dazzling Ukraine boxer’s second pro outing.
Chudinov-Groves clash agreed for UK – Can George Groves become a world champ at the fourth time of asking?
British warrior George Groves is determined to not go down in history as one of the best fighters from these shores never to have won a world title. Groves, skilled, powerful and full of heart and guts, has failed to lift world honours on three occasions: being stopped twice by Carl Froch (controversially/prematurely in the first fight) and losing a close decision to Badou Jack.
Now, the Londoner will face Fedor Chudinov for the WBA 168 pound belt in his next fight.
“Dangerous” Daniel Dubois crushes over-matched foe Marcus Kelly in pro debut
Tonight in Manchester, 19 year old heavyweight sensation Daniel Dubois of London made his pro debut; winning a quite pathetic mismatch inside a minute of the very first round. Going up against an extremely fleshy Marcus Kelly, 1-0, the amateur standout had nothing to beat and put his debut win in the bank at the .35 second mark of the opener.
Kelly, so much the shorter man against the 6’7” Dubois, came out swinging, giving it a go of sorts, but the magnificently conditioned Dubois, known as “Dangerous,” cracked his advancing target with a tasty left hook to the chin, his follow-up shots soon sending Kelly down. Kelly beat the count, even laughing as he did so, but he was deemed to be in no shape to continue by the referee.
Adonis Stevenson-Andrzej Fonfara II set for June – a worthy rematch?
WBC light-heavyweight king Adonis Stevenson has officially announced his next fight: “Superman” will face tough Polish warrior Andrzej Fonfara in a return bout on June 3 in Canada.
Fonfara, as fans may recall, made a big name for himself back in May of 2014, when, as a 25-2 contender, he pushed Stevenson hard, dropped him late, and lost a highly competitive 12 round decision. A lot has happened to both fighters since.
Liev Schreiber transformed into “Bayonne Bleeder” Wepner for boxing flick, “Chuck”
Boxing fans will be familiar with actor Liev Schreiber; or at least they will be familiar with his voice. The film star regularly does the narration on HBO 24/7 countdown shows. Now, in a film that has been over five years in the making, Schreiber will appear as heavyweight brawler Chuck Wepner in the movie, “Chuck.”
Dillian Whyte shopping for a big name for June fight: Jennings, Wach, Szpilka, Washington all possible
British heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte, last seen going to war in an absolute thriller with fellow Brit Dereck Chisora, is aiming for a big name to fight in June. Whyte, beaten only by current IBF champ Anthony Joshua, believes he is “just a fight or two from a world title.”
The tough and skilled contender has told ESPN that his preferred choice of opponent for his June bout is twice-beaten Philly fighter Bryant Jennings, but how other former world title challengers Mariusz Wach, Artur Szpilka and Gerald Washington are also on his current hit list.