It seems Chris Eubank Junior has moved on from calling out middleweight king Gennady Golovkin, to shouting and screaming about what he will do to reigning IBF super-middleweight boss James DeGale. Recently, just before DeGale went to war in last night’s excellent fight with Badou Jack – a performance which Eubank Jnr has yet to match at any time in his career – the two went back and forth on Twitter.
James Slater
Floyd Mayweather angry over Jack-DeGale draw: “This is bad for boxing”
While it seems the majority of people agree with the majority draw the three judges collectively handed in after super-middleweights James DeGale and Badou Jack went to war in a great fight, some, including Floyd Mayweather, are extremely unhappy with last night’s decision.
Manny Pacquiao says he has maybe four fights left, can box until 2018
Superstar Manny Pacquiao will turn 40 in December of 2018, and Pac-Man says 2018 is the year in which he will probably call it a (boxing) career. Pacquiao, who looked excellent in his last two fights – commanding decision wins over Tim Bradley and Jessie Vargas – is soon to embark on a “world tour,” at least according to his promoter Bob Arum, and a fight in Australia looks likely for April – against unbeaten contender Jeff Horn.
However, according to a piece ABS CBN News, who quote Pacquiao from his recent appearance on the “Fast Break” radio show, this fight is not yet finalized. Pac-Man has yet to hear from Arum regarding the confirmation of the Horn fight. This of course does not mean it will not be Horn next, but until the official announcement comes – from both Pacquiao and Arum – nothing is, well, official.
Canelo Alvarez Vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Junior: “The biggest fight in the history of Mexico”
We really could be in for a great year here in 2017 if we get both Canelo Alvarez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr and Canelo-Gennady Golovkin. We’ve already got Canelo-Chavez, as was of course confirmed yesterday, and unless Chavez upsets Alvarez, we should get the really big one in September. Let’s face it, Canelo cannot use his “I’m not a middleweight” card any longer, agreeing as he has, to face Chavez at 164.5; well above the middleweight limit. If Canelo can fight at that weight, he can fight GGG at 160, right?
But before the hoped for September super-fight rolls around, we have a potentially great fight to look forward to on May 6 (and not forgetting the GGG-Danny Jacobs fight on March 18, which could also be special; as well as being another potential spanner in the works regarding the GGG-Canelo showdown, as Jacobs could perhaps upset the middleweight king).
Adonis Stevenson-Joe Smith Jnr in “advanced talks” for April fight
Can “Irish Bomber” Joe Smith Junior win a world title? It seems there is a good chance we will get our answer this April. Smith, the man who (hopefully) ended the career of the great Bernard Hopkins to cap off a tremendous breakthrough 2016, certainly deserves a shot and, according to a very interesting piece on RingTV.com, Smith could face reigning WBC 175-pound king Adonis Stevenson on April 29.
The WBC did order Stevenson to defend against the winner of the February 24 Lucian Bute-Eleider Alvarez fight, but Yvon Michel, who promotes “Superman,” told Ring how he believes the WBC “will go with us if we can make a side deal with the mandatory contender” (be it Bute or Alvarez). Both Michel and Smith’s promoter Joe DeGuardia believe a Stevenson-Smith fight is a big and significant one, and how the WBC will allow it to happen.
Floyd Mayweather: James DeGale is the best fighter in the UK right now
Although he has been “retired” for well over a year now (the speech marks are there simply because many people, Freddie Roach among them, seem to be convinced Floyd will fight again) Floyd Mayweather is almost constantly in the news.
Just this week the 39-year-old stated on ESPN’s “First Take” how he wants the fight between he and Conor McGregor to happen, and yesterday “Money” confirmed how he will be a guest during President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next week. When Floyd talks, people listen.
Hearn wants to see Deontay Wilder in “a real fight,” says Whyte would give him one
It seems everyone wants a piece of WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder. Wilder of course returns to action next month, when he will face huge underdog Andrzej Wawrzyk of Poland in Alabama on February 25. But after that, Wilder should take a “real fight,” so says British promoter Eddie Hearn.
Speaking with Sky Sports, Hearn said he very much wants to see Wilder, 37-0(36) face his fighter, once-beaten, top-10 WBC contender Dillian Whyte this May. Whyte recently relinquished the British heavyweight title so as to fully commit himself to his dream of ruling the world – and Hearn said Whyte should get a shot at Wilder.
Dillian Whyte gives up British title; “hopefully a world title fight at the end of this year”
Dillian Whyte has vacated the British heavyweight title, calling his decision “a no-brainer.” Speaking with Sky Sports, Whyte says he could not get up for a mandated British defence against Sam Sexton, so he opted to give up the belt.
Whyte, who thrilled us in his epic 12-round slugfest of a win over Dereck Chisora back on December 10, is now looking for some top-10 fights, before a hoped-for shot at a world title before the end of this year.
Joe Frazier still not getting enough respect – TV news channel wishes him happy 73rd birthday?!?
Heavyweight legend Joe Frazier would have been 73 years old today, January 12. Yet, sadly, as we all know, “Smoke” passed away in November of 2011 after a battle with cancer. As we all know? Well, the folks at Fox Philly certainly don’t appear to know that Joe has been dead for over five years, not if their morning broadcast from earlier today is anything to go by.
The female host wished Joe a happy birthday, informing viewers how:
Canelo vs Chavez Jr: Oscar De La Hoya urges Chavez Jr to “stop tweeting lies and sign the contract”
It seems Oscar De La Hoya is running out of patience over the ongoing negotiations for the possible May 6 Canelo Alvarez-Julio Cesar Chavez Junior fight. The fight, if it happens, will be a huge attraction, taking place as it would over the Mexican festivities that accompany the Cinco de Mayo weekend – but the Golden Boy head has urged Chavez Jnr to hurry up and sign the contract.
Not only that, but De La Hoya has told Chavez Jnr to “stop tweeting lies.”