Kenneth Sims Jnr UD6 Luis Rodriguez
Unbeaten Chicago light-welterweight prospect Kenneth Sims Jnr ran out a convincing winner tonight over game Puerto Rican novice Luis Rodriguez, winning everything but one round on the three scoring judges cards.
Ryan Forde-Kelly
Klitschko v Jennings Weigh-In; Wilder-Briggs Go At It!
His challenger Bryant Jennings, 19-0 (10KO’s), looked equally impressive – despite the size aggregate – notching a ripped 226.8 pounds.
Sadly, it was not the two men who will put it on the line tomorrow that will take the headlines from today. These will once again be dominated by the tedious sideshow that is Shannon Briggs and his furious slanging match with reigning WBC World heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.
Wladimir Klitschko v Bryant Jennings – Final Presser
Both fighters conducted themselves with confidence, class and respect, something, which has typified the build up to a fight that has accepted its position as the entrée to the biggest event in boxing history.
This class cannot be extended to the continued delusion of gate crasher Shannon Briggs, who ludicrously turned up at the proceedings as incoherent and as annoying as ever.
Ryan Farrag lands British title shot
There exists no happier man in Liverpool than exciting bantamweight prospect Ryan Farrag, 13-1 (2KO’s), who was recently announced as the mandatory challenger for the coveted British title held by Lee Haskins, 31-3 (13KO’s).
The announcement made by the British Boxing Board of Control on 9th April called for purse bids to be conducted on Wednesday 13th May, with the bout to take place no later than the end of July.
We Are Leeds – Undercard Ringside Review
Martin J Ward TKO5 Maxi Hughes – Martin J Ward, 11-0-2 (6KO’s), left no room for doubt second time around as he convincingly halted Maxi Hughes, 13-2-2 (2KO’s), on his stool at the closure of the 5th round of their super-featherweight rematch.
It’s been a long wait for Tony Sims’s charge; he felt he had done enough in the first meeting in December – in which he was controversially down twice – to earn more than the majority draw awarded.
Josh Warrington v Dennis Tubieron – Ringside Review
Josh Warrington claimed the vacant WBC international featherweight title this evening with a 12 round unanimous decision victory over the teak tough Filipino Dennis Tubieron.
The local hero – now mandatory challenger to Gary Russell Jnr’s WBC featherweight world championship – was greeted in the customary raucous fashion held on reserve for him at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, which resembled more of summer rock festival than a championship boxing show.
Such an atmosphere can’t help but transfer to target of its affection and Warrington looked ready to explode as he soaked up every ounce of it pacing around his corner, in which he was oddly accompanied by ex-footballer and actor Vinnie Jones.
Warrington v Tubieron – We Are Leeds Preview
At stake will be the lightly regarded vacant WBC international featherweight title and more importantly the mandatory challenger position for the WBC featherweight world championship, recently acquired by the impressive Gary Russell Jnr.
To see Warrington exercise this mandatory option if victorious, which would see him fight Russell Jnr – who demolished the world-class Jhonny Gonzalez in 4 to claim the WBC crown – is hard to believe in the immediate future.
Matchroom £1.5m cheque bounces?
If the 6-year Mayweather v Pacquiao saga/fiasco taught us anything, it’s that it requires co-operative and realistic negotiation to ensure the biggest fights out there are made.
So when pictures emerged of WBA super-bantamweight champion Scott Quigg brandishing a £1.5m cheque composed by promoter Eddie Hearn the eyebrow has to be raised.