Does superstar boxer turned senator Manny Pacquiao really want to fight again, or is it just his promoter Bob Arum who wants him to do so? Arum recently revealed how he had put the date of October 15th “on hold” for a Pacquiao ring return. Arum stated how he believes the former eight-weight king wants to fight again, and he reserved the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas for Oct. 15th, “just in case.”
James Slater
Anthony Joshua expecting a good fight between Wilder and Arreola
It’s a pretty quiet upcoming period for fight fans, with not too much scheduled between now and the July 23rd unification clash between rival 140-pound champions Terence Crawford and Viktor Postol, and then not too much set for the month of August. This coming Saturday, July 9, we should have all been settling down to the eagerly awaited rematch between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko, but due to Fury’s injured ankle, it looks like we will have to wait and wait for this one.
Jessie Vargas losing patience with Kell Brook fight, looking at fighting return with Tim Bradley instead
WBO welterweight ruler Jessie Vargas is losing patience with regards to his supposed upcoming (but still not officially announced) unification clash with IBF 147-pound champ Kell Brook. Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn has admitted to some “frustrations” in getting the fight finalised with a set date – due in large part to trying to make the GGG-Eubank Junior fight for around the same time period of late August/September – but Vargas is beginning to look elsewhere.
DeMarcus Corley still chopping away at 42, wins Jamaican “Contender” tournament
Arguably the single most experienced, seen-it-all-done-it-all active fighter in the sport today, former WBO 140-pound champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley’s pro record really does read like a who’s who of the 140 and 147-pound divisions. The amazing southpaw from Washington DC has, during his 20 year pro career, fought the following big and recognisable names: Randall Bailey X2 (a win and a loss), Zab Judah (a loss), Floyd Mayweather Junior (a loss), Miguel Cotto (a loss), Ener Julio X2 (two wins), Junior Witter (a loss), Devon Alexander (a loss), Marcos Maidana (a loss), Paul McCloskey (a win), Ruslan Provodnikov (a loss) and Viktor Postol (a loss).
“Suspended” Erkan Teper to return to action tomorrow, will face tough Derric Rossy
Fight fans will likely know the name Erkan Teper. The powerful 6’5” heavyweight from Germany scored what was initially viewed as an impressive 2nd-round KO over Britain’s David Price in July of last year. But later, Teper failed a drugs test and the win was changed to a no-decision by some (although not all). Price is still rightfully angered at the way he was cheated – only recently returning to the ring, picking up a win on May 29 and subsequently being reinstated in the top-15 with the IBF where he was ranked prior to the “loss.”
Golovkin vs Eubank Jr: What If Eubank Pulls It Off And Defeats GGG?
If Chris Eubank Junior pulled off the seemingly impossible and defeated GGG, where would it rank all-time in great British wins?
The fight hasn’t been finalised yet, let alone officially announced, but all involved in getting the Gennady Golovkin-Chris Eubank Junior fight done are optimistic it will happen, possibly as soon as August, maybe in London. Golovkin has said he likes the fight and is willing to come to the UK, while Eubank Jr has been calling for the fight for some time. Now, if all the money issues, the TV rights issues and other things can be settled, with respective promoters Eddie Hearn and Tom Loeffler currently working hard to make it so, the fight could well happen.
Canelo-Smith under-card could be value for money – Ortiz-Ustinov, Saunders possible to co-feature
Those US fight fans who don’t really fancy having to part with the substantial sum of $70 to see the Saul Canelo Alvarez-Liam Smith clash in Las Vegas (UK fans with BoxNation will be able to tune in without shelling out any dollars!) might have a change of heart if the ongoing plans for the supporting bouts come to fruition.
According to Golden Boy’s Eric Gomez, who spoke with RingTV.com, WBA heavyweight titlist Luis Ortiz could face his mandatory, Alexander Ustinov on the card, and WBO middleweight champ Billy Joe Saunders could face a TBA on the September 17th bill.
Antonio Margarito’s comeback to continue…..against Ramon Alvarez
Though he didn’t look good, not a bit like he did in his prime, against Jorge Paez Junior in his comeback fight in March of this year, former welterweight king Antonio Margarito will continue his comeback with a reported fight against Ramon Alvarez in Baja, California on August 13th. Margarito, 39-8(27) and fighting for the first time since December of 2011, got up from a knockdown to out-point Paez Jr, but he put his decidedly dodgy showing down to ring-rust.
Hearn says Anthony Joshua is likely to box in November or December – Parker, Stiverne, Jennings, Pulev all possibilities
Who will IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua fight next? His promoter Eddie Hearn, in speaking with the Daily Mail, said we can “expect an AJ return in November or December,” and that there are four names currently in the mix as far as possible challengers. Hearn said Joseph Parker, Joshua’s mandatory challenger, will be accommodated, possibly on the November or December date, or if not then, early next year.
Eddie Hearn: “After the Kell Brook-Jessie Vargas fight we’ll look to make a fight with Thurman or Garcia”
Promoter Eddie Hearn has admitted to frustrations in getting all the I’s dotted and all the T’s crossed with the upcoming IBF/WBO welterweight unification clash between Kell Brook and Jessie Vargas. The fight has still not been officially announced, even though Vargas has signed the contract. Speaking with the Daily Mail, Hearn said the fight “will happen,” and that when it does, unbeaten Brook “will underline that he is the best welterweight in the world.”