With Deontay Wilder’s potentially exciting mandatory defence against Alexander Povetkin now off – due to the Russian star coming up positive for an illegal substance in case anyone didn’t know – fans are wondering who WBC heavyweight king Wilder will fight next. Next in line in the WBC rankings is Bermane Stiverne, the man Wilder beat back in January of 2015 to take the green belt. Could we soon be seeing a rematch?
James Slater
Mark de Mori on Haye’s ongoing comeback: “His power is ridiculous”
David Haye has his critics, plenty of them in fact, but two things cannot be denied: Haye’s punching-power and his box-office appeal. This Saturday (on terrestrial channel ‘Dave’ for UK fight fans) the 35-year-old former champ will continue his comeback as he aims for a shot at regaining at least a slice of the heavyweight crown.
Haye, 27-2(25) and beaten only by Carl Thompson (down at cruiserweight and seemingly an eternity ago now in 2004) and Wladimir Klitschko, will face unbeaten but largely unknown Arnold Gjergjaj in London and, assuming all goes well, he will then face vocal former WBO heavyweight champ Shannon Briggs in September.
Haye defends his choice of opposition: “Gjergjaj is perfect preparation and then I’ll look at a big fight with Briggs”
David Haye, the former undisputed cruiserweight ruler and a former WBA heavyweight champ, continues his comeback this Saturday, against unbeaten but little-known Arnold Gjergjaj in a scheduled 10-rounder at The O2 in London. Gjergjaj is young at age 31 and he has a good-looking 29-0(21) record. However, the critics have, well, criticised Haye’s choice of opponent, some even saying Gjergjaj represents a step down from Haye’s first comeback foe, Mark de Mori.
Carlos Takam and team re-watch losing fight to Povetkin: “It’s strange because in the last rounds Povetkin was more fresh suddenly”
Has Alexander Povetkin’s reputation been forever ruined due to his coming up positive for a banned substance, causing the postponement, perhaps cancellation of his title fight with Deontay Wilder? Already, past Povetkin opponents are second-guessing their fights with the Russian star.
Could Tyson Fury become another Buster Douglas? David Haye fears the worst
It’s been said before now, by a number of fans, that heavyweight ruler Tyson Fury – who partied and partied after winning the crown and piled on a ton of weight as a result – could go down in history as “another Buster Douglas.” Douglas of course, smashed “invincible” heavyweight king Mike Tyson to defeat in a truly stunning performance, then ate himself up to around 300-pounds and almost lost his life after falling into a diabetic coma.
Hopefully Fury will not follow such a path, but there are fresh concerns in light of his terrible physical appearance at “that” press conference in Manchester last month. Fury has since shifted a substantial amount of the excess weight he packed on and hopefully he will be fully focused going into his July 9 rematch with Wladimir Klitschko.
Lee Haskins retains IBF bantamweight crown with UD over Ivan Morales
Last night in Cardiff, Wales Lee Haskins retained his IBF bantamweight title for the first time with a comprehensive 12-round unanimous decision over once-beaten challenger Ivan Morales. Crafty and tricky southpaw counter puncher Haskins won by scores of 119-108 and 118-110, 118-110. Now 33-3(14) the 32-year-old will next face mandatory challenger and former foe Stuey Hall. Morales, younger brother off Mexican living legend Erik Morales, falls to 29-2(17).
Joseph Parker’s trainer Kevin Barry twice turned down “risky” fight with Carlos Takam
It is a sign of how dangerous a task unbeaten New Zealand heavyweight contender Joseph Parker faces a week today against Cameroonian Carlos Takam, that his trainer Kevin Barry twice turned a possible fight with Takam down, as he was “all risk and no reward.” This was a few months back, when Parker needed, in the words of Barry, who was speaking with Stuff.co.nz earlier this week, “more time to develop and mature.”
Rigondeaux reinstated as WBA super-bantamweight ‘super’ champ; tournament planned to crown one man as WBA 122-pound ruler
Gifted Cuban southpaw Guillermo Rigondeaux has been given back his status as the WBA “super” champion at 122-pounds. As fans may recall, “Rigo” was stripped of the belt back in November of last year due to inactivity. Scott Quigg of Britain was elevated to “super” champion ahead of his fight with IBF boss Carl Frampton. Frampton won, adding the WBA strap to his collection, but then he himself was stripped as he chose to move up in weight – for a huge fight with featherweight king Leo Santa Cruz – and now Rigondeaux has the belt back. Phew!
Deontay Wilder-Alexander Povetkin fight in jeopardy as Povetkin reportedly fails pre-fight drugs test
In breaking news from Dan Rafael of ESPN.com it seems the WBC heavyweight title fight between champ Deontay Wilder and challenger Alexander Povetkin could be called off as Povetkin has reportedly tested positive for Meldonium.
“Status of the #WilderPovetkin fight is unclear at the moment after Povetkin’s test,” Rafael Tweeted earlier today.
Rafael later wrote:
Enzo Maccarinelli to face Dmytro Kucher for vacant Euro cruiserweight title, McKenzie withdraws with illness
BBC sport in Wales is reporting how former WBO cruiserweight champ Enzo Maccarinelli will face Dmytro Kucher in June, for the vacant European 200-pound title. Ovill McKenzie, a former two-time opponent of the Welshman, has been forced to withdraw from the Kucher fight due to illness. Maccarinelli, 41-7(33) and a former European champ at cruiser now gets a chance to become a two-time Euro ruler at York Hall in London on June 10th.