Berto stops Ortiz; Williams defeats Rodriguez; Lara destroys Montiel

05/01/201604/30/2016 Rob Smith

(Photo credit: Premier Boxing Champions) Andre Berto (31-4, 24 KOs) closed the door on his rivalry with Victor Ortiz (31-6-2, 24 KOs) in knocking him out in the 4th round tonight at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Berto knocked Ortiz down twice in the 4th round. Ortiz made it back to his feet after the second knockdown, but after referee Jack Reiss asked the 29-year-old Ortiz if he wanted to continue, Ortiz froze and failed to respond to his question.

Reiss wasn’t going to wait around forever for Ortiz to answer in the affirmative, so he stopped the fight. Ortiz not only didn’t answer Reiss when he asked him if he wanted to continue fighting; he actually turned his head away as if he was quitting.

Weights: Gennady Golovkin 159 vs. Dominic Wade: 159.6

04/23/201604/22/2016 Rob Smith

IBF/IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (34-0, 31 KOs) looked very strong and in great shape today at his weigh-in with Dominic Wade (18-0, 12 KOs). Both fighters looked like they were ready to step inside the ring and begin throwing punches in their fight this Saturday night on HBO.

Molina KOs Adamek in 10th!

04/04/201604/02/2016 Rob Smith

The big punching former world title challenger Eric Molina (25-3, 19 KOs) picked up a career best win tonight in defeating Tomasz Adamek (50-5, 30 KOs) in stopping him in the 10th round in front of his own Polish fans at the Tauron Arena in Krakow, Poland. Molina was trailing in the fight going into the 10th, when he came alive and knocked Adamek out with a right hand to the head.

Santa Cruz stops Martinez

03/02/201602/28/2016 Rob Smith

(Photo Credit: Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME) In easily the most exciting fight of this weekend’s fights, WBA featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (32-0-1, 18 KOs) stood in the trenches and slugged it out with the hard hitting Kiko Martinez (35-7, 26 KOs) in mowing him down in five thrilling rounds on Showtime Boxing on Saturday night at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Santa Cruz put Martinez down on two separate occasions in the 2nd round of the 12 round fight. The end of the fight came in the 5th, when the 27-year-old Santa Cruz unloaded on Martinez with a nonstop storm of shots that resulted in referee Raul Caiz Jr. pulling the plug on the fight. Martinez, 29, was still on his feet, but he was near helpless if not for the referee stopping it. The official time of the stoppage was at 2:09 of the round.

Eddie Hearn: Brook-Khan edging closer

01/29/201601/28/2016 Rob Smith

Matchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn says he has made a breakthrough in the negotiations between his fighter IBF 147lb belt holder Kell Brook and challenger Amir Khan for a fight that Hearn would like to stage on June 4 at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Hearn says he had a conversation in the last day with one of Khan’s people and he now believes the fight is possible. If the fight can be made, it will be televised on Sky Box Office pay-per-view, and it will do very well. It might also sell out Wembley Stadium.

Groves faces Di Luisa tonight in London, UK

01/31/201601/28/2016 Rob Smith

Former three-time world title challenger George Groves (21-3, 16 KOs) will be looking to rejuvenate his career tonight against his B-side opponent Andrea Di Luisa (18-3, 14 KOs) in their 12 round fight in the main event at the Copper Box Arena in London, UK.

Groves is reloading for another world title shot after losing his last attempt against WBC champion Badou Jack last year. Groves has had rotten luck when fighting for world titles, as he was twice beaten by former world champ Carl Froch and then recently Groves lost to Badou Jack.

Roach: Canelo vs. Golovkin is never going to happen

01/27/2016 Rob Smith

Trainer Freddie Roach believes that boxing fans are never going to see a match-up between WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) and unbeaten IBF/IBO/WBA 160lb champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (34-0, 31 KOs). Roach doesn’t say why he doesn’t believe the fight will happen, but it’s likely due to the huge risk involved for Canelo and Golden Boy Promotions, the promoters for Canelo.

“You know that fights [Canelo-Golovkin] never going to happen,” Roach said to tha boxing voice. “I like Triple G. I think he’s a great fighter. I think he’s one of the best fighters in the world. No [he’s not a draw].”

Kell Brook targeting big names for summer fight

01/26/2016 Rob Smith

IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (35-0, 24 KOs) wants to make sure that if he doesn’t get the big fight against Amir Khan this summer that he’s been longing for, then he’ll at least wind up with one big name for him to fight at Wembley Stadium in London, UK. Brook says he wants to fight the winner of the Keith Thurman – Shawn Porter fight, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Danny Garcia or the winner of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Tim Bradley fight.

It shouldn’t be a problem for Brook to get at least one of those names if his promoter Eddie Hearn is willing to give them the same $10 million payday that Amir Khan would be receiving if he agreed to a fight against Brook.

David Haye obliterates Mark De Mori in 1st round TKO

01/18/201601/16/2016 Rob Smith

As expected, 35-year-old David Haye (27-2, 25 KOs) put in a big statement on Saturday night in blowing out heavyweight contender Mark De Mori (30-2-2, 26 KOs) by a 1st round knockout at the O2 Arena in London, England.

Haye backed De Mori up against the ropes and knocked him down with a big right hand to the head. De Mori was too hurt to get back to his feet. The fight was then halted by referee Bob Williams at 2:11 of the round.

Hearn: Joshua’s purse for Whyte was 4 times the amount Wilder made in last fight

01/08/2016 Rob Smith

Matchroom Sport promoter Barry Hearn says British/Commonwealth heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (15-0, 15 KOs) made 4 times the amount in his last fight against Dillian Whyte than WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder made in his last title defense against Johann Duhaupas last September.

Joshua-Whyte reportedly brought in over 400,000 pay-per-view buys on Sky Box Office for their December 12 fight at the O2 Arena in London, UK. Joshua, 26, won the fight by a 7th round knockout after Whyte suffered a shoulder injury earlier in the fight in the 2nd round.