It was just over 42 years ago when promoter extraordinaire Don King’s vision of having the great Muhammad Ali try and regain his crown from an unbeaten George Foreman in the African jungle became reality. And it was 15 years ago this year when Hasim Rahman shocked Lennox Lewis in South Africa. Now, promoter Eddie Hearn says it is possible that IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua could follow in the footsteps of Foreman and Lewis and defend his title in Africa.
James Slater
Video: Out of shape Sam Peter no match for Kubrat Pulev, quits after three rounds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tot5Vj1SLzs
Last night in Sofia, Bulgaria, heavyweight contender Kubrat Pulev enjoyed an easy homecoming as he bashed around an out of shape Sam Peter in front of his adoring fans. Pulev, basically having nothing to beat, landed punches on the overweight, slow-footed 36-year-old at will. Peter threw a few punches, off balance as he was, but nothing ever came close to troubling 35-year-old Pulev.
As Shannon Briggs turns 45 he’s still looking for a fight
Former lineal and one-time WBO heavyweight champ Shannon Briggs hits 45 today, yet far from being content in retirement (Briggs did, after all, turn pro way, way back in the summer of 1992) the former champ is restlessly looking for a big fight. With his “Let’s Go, Champ” mantra always at the ready, Briggs wants one more big one before he’s ready to call it a career.
And whether you feel Briggs is merely chasing one last payday as opposed to one last shot at inspirational glory, you have to admit that Briggs’ career has been quite a journey. Now, attempting as he is to become the second-oldest heavyweight king (after George Foreman, the one-time loser to Briggs, winning back the crown at the age of 45 years and ten months back in 1994) Briggs insists he simply needs the opportunity.
Murat Gassiev out-points Denis Lebedev to take IBF cruiserweight crown
Tonight at The Ice Palace in Moscow, unbeaten challenger Murat Gassiev scored a 12-round split decision victory over defending IBF cruiserweight champ Denis Lebedev. The new champion, now 24-0(17) prevailed via scores of 116-112 and 116-111, the third judge had it 114-113 for Lebedev, who is now 29-3(22).
A very tough, hard-fought battle, tonight’s main event saw both men take plenty of punches. Lebedev, the older man by a substantial 14 years at age 37, used his underrated boxing skills when he could, using plenty of movement and pumping out his sharp southpaw jab. Gassiev, so dangerous a puncher, stalked his man and though he was guilty of being one-paced at times, the challenger was both catching Lebedev with shots and making the older man work.
Dmitriy Kudryashov ices Santander Silgado inside a round in Moscow
Tonight at The Ice Palace in Moscow, Russia brutal puncher Dmitriy Kudryashov scored yet another highlight reel KO as he iced Colombia’s Santander Silgado in the very first round. The stern-faced, bearded Kudryashov came out stalking right away, backing the 31 year old up from the get-go.
A hard left hand put Silgado down as he was along the ropes and he went down heavily. Bravely beating the count, Silgado was soon laid flat out by another left to the chin. As soon as the punch landed, Silgado was out, landing on his back, his arms outstretched. It was yet another chilling display of one-punch power from Kudryashov, who is now 20-1(20). Silgado, who has now been stopped on three occasions, falls to 27-4(21).
Slugfest in Moscow! Maksim Vlasov stops Rakhim Chakhkiev in knockdown-filled war
The action in the chief supporting bout to the Denis Lebedev-Murat Gassiev fight in Moscow, Russia delivered as advertised, as cruiserweights Maksim Vlasov halted Rakhim Chahkiev in a thriller of a slugfest. The two punchers went at it and exchanged knockdowns before Vlasov finally got the KO win early on in the 7th-round.
Now 37-2(19) and never having been stopped, 30 year old Vlasov has won his last seven fights, all at cruiserweight with him having moved up from 168 almost two years ago. 33 year old Chakhkiev, who falls to 26-3(19) has now lost two of his last four and the southpaw may struggle to get back into title contention.
Conor McGregor still talking Mayweather fight; says he’d go in there to KO Floyd
MMA star Conor McGregor continues to talk and talk about a potential fight with Floyd Mayweather – this despite that fact that Mayweather and Dana White, with whom McGregor is contracted, say there is no real chance it will take place. The UFC champ remains hopeful the fight will happen and at an appearance in Belfast, McGregor spoke to the media about how he sees his chances against Mayweather.
“If I focus with the work ethic I have solely on the sport of boxing, there’s no telling what I could do,” McGregor said. “I would not go in there [against Mayweather] just to show up, I’d go in there to knock [Mayweather] out. He can be hit. He’s been hit before. Age waits for no man. I know the size is on my side. I know the reach is on my side. I know the youth is on my side.”
Canelo Alvarez could make a 154-pound title defence in next fight, middleweight debut planned for May
Golden Boy’s Eric Gomez spoke with RingTV.com today, the subject of conversation being the plans for Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez’s next move. As Alvarez continues to heal – he fractured his right hand during his September win over Liam Smith – he also looks forward to his next fight. Gomez says Alvarez will not vacate the WBO 154-pound belt he won from Smith, as his next fight could be a defence of the strap.
That’s if Canelo is fit and ready to fight in the first quarter of next year; if not then Alvarez will return to action in May – at middleweight. Gomez also said that the ultimate plan remains the same: for Canelo to fight middleweight ruler Gennady Golovkin in September of 2017.
WBA: seven-day deadline for Golovkin and Jacobs to make a deal, purse bids after that if no deal reached
It’s proven far longer than initially expected for the middleweight title fight between world ruler Gennady Golovkin and secondary WBA middleweight champ Danny Jacobs to get done, but it looks like the new working date of March 18 will see the fight take place. As Dan Rafael of ESPN.com reports, the WBA sent a letter to both teams this week, informing them that they now have seven days in which to come together with a deal – if no deal is reached the fight will go to purse bids.
Denis Lebedev 199.7 vs. Murat Gassiev 198.4
Weights from Moscow:
Edward Trojanowski 139.75 vs. Julius Indogo 138.25
Dmitry Kudryashov 199 vs. Santander Silgado 200
Rakhim Chakhkiev 196.25 vs. Maxim Vlasov 197