In a do or die fight for two older heavyweights looking for one last opportunity at a world title bout, Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver and “USS” Steve Cummingham gave everything they had in a hard fought, competitive twelve round split decision draw. Scores were 115-113 for Cunningham, 115-113 for Tarver, and 114-114. This main event at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey was part of the Premier Boxing Champions and was broadcast on Spike TV.
The confident, tenacious, and hard-working orthodox middleweight pugilist Marcus “Arillus” Upshaw (17-13-4, 1NC, 8 KOs) is a firm believer that he’ll be a world champion in the near future.
“My uncle, the late Gene Upshaw, a NFL Hall of Fame offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders always told me that I can accomplish anything that I set my mind to, and that is what I aim to do by becoming the best boxer in my weight class,” said Upshaw.
Upshaw’s opportunity to become a world champion continues as he takes on hometown favorite Lanell “KO” Bellows (12-1-1, 7 KOs) this Sunday, June 21st at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Upshaw is moving up to the super middleweight division and fighting in his opponents’ backyard for this bout, which he has done throughout his career.
Five-time world title holder and former Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight Champion, Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (31-6, 1 NC, 22 KOs) has achieved a great deal of success in his career; however, there`s still one thing he wants to accomplishment before he retires and that`s to be a heavyweight world title holder.
“This is going be my year,” said Tarver. “I`m ready to defeat the consensus best heavyweight in the world, Wladimir Klitschko or the winner of the Bermane Stiverne vs. Deontay Wilder bout on January 17th, which is for the World Boxing Council’s title. I`m extremely confident that I`ll beat anyone of these three fighters and strengthen my legacy to be inducted into the boxing hall of fame.”
After Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor (33-4-1, 20 KOs) suffered consecutive devastating knockout losses to Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham in his one and only appearance during the Super Six World Boxing Classic Tournament in 2009 which he left due to bleeding in his brain, most boxing fans didn`t believe that he would ever fight again, let alone become a world champion for the second time.
Taylor; however, did just that when he upset Sam Soliman for the International Boxing Federation Middleweight Title in October to became my Comeback Fighter of the Year.
Undefeated World Boxing Organization`s (“WBO”) Lightweight Title Holder, Terrance “Hunter” Crawford (25-0, 17 KOs) went from a rather unknown up and coming contender to a potential superstar in 2014 as he obtained a world title from Ricky Burns and then successfully defended it twice against two great pugilists, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Raymundo Beltra, which makes him my 2014 Fighter of the Year.
Crawford traveled to Glasgow, Scotland in March and beat up two-division world champion, Ricky Burns, who was making his fourth title defense. Despite fighting the biggest bout of his career and being a long way from his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, Crawford showed no signs of being shy in the big moment. He proved to be no match for the tough and experienced Burns as he controlled the fight and effectively landed whatever he wanted, especially from the outside, en route to a twelve unanimous decision victory, despite fighting in Burns` backyard.
Former light heavyweight champion and current North America Boxing Federation Champion, Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) takes on Argentina’s Roberto “The Beast” Bolonti (35-3, 24 KOs) in a ten round main event bout at the Belle Centre in Montreal, Canada on Saturday, December 6th.
The thirty-two year old Canadian orthodox pugilist has won three in a row since his loss to Bernard Hopkins. Pascal defeated Lucian Bute by way of a unanimous decision in his last outing in January of this year. If he defeats Bolonti, he`s tentatively scheduled to fight World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation (“IBF”) and World Boxing Organization (“WBO”) Champion, Sergey Kovalev on March 14, 2015 in either Montreal or Quebec City. Pascal`s ranked number one by the World Boxing Council (“WBC”) and WBO, number three by Ring Magazine and number four by the IBF.
Danny O`Connor made a triumph return to the boxing ring in front of his hometown crowd as he dominated Andrew “The Doo Man” Framer and then knocked him out at 2:33 in the fourth round from a devastating left hook to the body.
“I was a bit nervous because this was my first fight in a while and I was boxing in front of my hometown fans, but I saw Farmer`s punches really well tonight and successfully counter-punch and landed what I wanted,” said O` Connor. “I wasn’t looking for the knockout punch, but it presented itself and I`m glad I won the way I did for my fans.”
Boxing is making a comeback in Maine as undefeated Brandon “The Cannon” Berry, (7-0, 5KOs) takes on tough challenger, Eric Palmer (4-3-3, 1KO), in the main event at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine this Saturday, October 11th. This will be the first bout in Lewiston in over ten years and the first fight in this venue in over twenty years, which was made famous when Muhammad Ali beat Sonny Liston in their rematch bout for the World Heavyweight Belt in May 1965.
The number three Ring Magazine Junior Lightweight Pugilist, Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy dominated former world title challenger, Fernando David “El Vasco” Saucedo as he won every round en route to a twelve round unanimous decision by three scorecards, 120-108. He also made his first successful defense of the Junior Lightweight International Boxing Federation Title that he won in July over former defending champion, Argenis Mendez.
Barthelemy controlled the action throughout this bout as he outworked and out landed Saucedo. He landed more effective and accurate punches, especially power shots which he connected on half of them.
Former two-time world light heavyweight champion, “Bad” Chad Dawson (32-3, 18KOs) will continue his comeback toward another world title when he squares off against former world title challenger, Tommy Karpency (23-4-1, 14KOs) in a ten round bout on Saturday, October 4, 2014 from the Fox Theater at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
“I`ve had a great camp, my weight is in check and I`m extremely excited to fight this Saturday,” said Dawson. “I`m looking to make a statement in this bout in front of my hometown fans and put the boxing community on notice that I`m back. After I defeat Karpency, I want significant fights in 2015.”
The Dawson vs. Karpency matchup will be televised on Showtime Boxing Special Edition which will headline reigning and undefeated International Boxing Federation (“IBF”) Champion, Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (20-0-0 -1NC, 12KOs) as he defends his super featherweight title against former world title challenger and IBF third ranked, Fernando Saucedo (52-5-3, 8KOs), in the main event. These fights are co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Warriors Boxing.