British WBA super-middleweight boss Carl Froch (33-2, 24ko) has this lunchtime (tue) spoken to Sky Sports News and become the latest in a long-line of fighters to wade in with a pick for Saturday night, offering his own tactical insight into what each man must do and also into whether or not his career has wound down to a natural conclusion.
Froch, a year removed from his stadium rematch with George Groves at Wembley, is certainly a fighter used to a big occasion. (Albeit not as big as this!)
Manny Pacquiao’s long time promoter and Floyd Mayweather’s friend, (only joking about the last part) Bob Arum, has spoken to Sky Sports ahead of Saturday’s super fight to offer his thoughts on Floyd’s recent statements about being better that Ali and Ray Robinson and his fighter’s chance’s.
The Top Rank chief, who has been at the helm of the organisation for almost 50 years said of Mayweather’s recent claims;
“Floyd Mayweather is an excellent, excellent fighter. He’s a great technician but to compare himself to Muhammad Ali, or Ray Robinson or Ray Leonard is a joke.”
It would seem that the consensus among fight fans is that Manny Pacquiao is going to be up against it when he steps between the ropes to fight Floyd Mayweather on Saturday, and trainer Freddie Roach is determined to ensure there are no unfair advantages, telling Mlive.com that he want’s Floyd’s custom made Grant gloves checked thoroughly.
Roach said; “Grant is doing his gloves and they’re all custom (hand) made. I’d like to know what he’s putting in those gloves and what materials they are made with.”
“I’m a little concerned about the custom made gloves that Floyd’s going to wear.”
Once he has fulfilled his Showtime TV deal, Floyd Mayweather Snr has spoken out to the Telegraph in Britain to suggest his son should retire very shortly.
Mayweather Jr, on fight 5 of his 6-fight TV deal, plans to do just that in September, win or lose against Pacquiao, although losing certainly isn’t an option for “little Floyd” in his quest to become “The best ever.”
Mayweather Snr said;
On twitter this morning I came across a tweet from Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (48-2-1, 32ko) that simply read,
“@jcchavezjr vs @MartinMurrayBox next?”
It took me by surprise anyway! Barely 10 days on from the embarrassing “quit” episode against Andrzej Fonfara, and the scathing online criticism of his performance, Chavez Jr seems to be seeking a chance at retribution.
Brits will be more than familiar with Martin Murray (29-2-1, 12ko), who we last saw bravely take GGG 11 rounds before finally being stopped. American’s will most probably be aware of him from his two world title challenges.
British former unified cruiserweight and WBA heavyweight champion David Haye has been arrested in the Islamic state of Dubai over claims a £341,000 cheque for a property he is building bounced.
Numerous media outlets in the UK are reporting that the “Hayemaker” has had his passport seized, which would explain his no-show at a BAMMA MMA event at the weekend. 168lb Super Middleweight champion Carl Froch filled in instead.
Amir Khan has hit back at ex-trainer Freddie Roach who said that the British fighter maybe lacks the intestinal fortitude to square off against either of the world’s two premier 147lb fighters, in Mayweather and Pacquiao.
Roach, who once said that Manny had Khan down 4 times in sparring, is arguably bitter over the Bolton man’s decision to “defect” to Virgil Hunter after his crushing defeat to Danny Garcia back in 2012.
He said of Khan; “Amir should be calling out my man or Mayweather, but he doesn’t have the balls”
After last night’s jab-hug-hold fest in NY, that finally saw Wladimir Klitschko (64-3, 53ko) deducted a point for the antics that have served him so well for so long, it would appear WBO #1 Tyson Fury (24-0, 18ko) will definitely be the giant Ukranian’s next contest later this summer.
If the reception from the watching American public towards Klitschko was lukewarm before the opening bell, then last night’s performance against Bryant Jennings will have done nothing to whet their appetites ahead of a clash with the 6ft 9″ British gypsy.
I, along with many others, wrote Jennings off leading into the fight, and whilst the score cards pitched a shut-out, you can make an argument that they don’t fully reflect the performance of the Philadpelphia fighter, who showed heart and persistence in spades.