The Heavyweights- Now or Never?

11/29/2016 Steven Bateson

The 28th of November, 2015. Just another date in history to most but for boxing fans it marked a “changing of the guard” or at least that’s what they hoped.

When Tyson Fury met Wladimir Klitschko, the dominant force of Heavyweight boxing for a decade, at the Esprit Arena, Dusseldorf for the WBA (Super), WBO, IBF, IBO & Ring Magazine Championships it was seen as yet another routine defence for Klitschko. What followed was one of the most unexpected and shocking turn of events in the blue ribbon division for some time. By the end of twelve rounds there was nobody in any doubt that Fury had done the unthinkable, he had made believers out of the doubters and, like it or not, cemented his name in the annals of time. He ended the seemingly unstoppable reign of Wlad with a comfortable twelve round unanimous decision and left fans and experts alike wondering what was next for a division that had laid stagnant and dormant for far too long.

Deontay Wilder “fully healed, punching with both hands again”

11/17/2016 James Slater

Could 2017 see two big heavyweight comebacks? While nobody knows if and when Tyson Fury might box again, fans hope his return will happen, and next year. But one man who says he will definitely take over where he left off with a return next year is WBC champ Deontay Wilder, who of course is aching to get it on with Fury.

While a Wilder-Fury fight might not take place next year (we all hope it will happen, naturally) Wilder says he fully expects he will fight again before too many months have passed in 2017. Speaking with Sky Sports, the unbeaten champ said the injuries he picked up in his last fight, a July stoppage win over the tough (and hard-headed) Chris Arreola, have “fully healed,” and that he is back “punching with both hands.”

Luis Ortiz: First on my list would be Deontay Wilder, he’s talking s**t!

11/11/2016 James Slater

Go back a few months, and Cuban heavyweight Luis Ortiz could scarcely get himself an opponent, let alone a big name or a reigning champion. But, having signed with Matchroom, the big, powerful and previously avoided southpaw is closer than ever to the big, big fights his talents deserve. This doesn’t mean Ortiz will get all he wants – he must first get past Malik Scott tomorrow night in Monaco – but the likes of Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua are at least possibilities now.

Wilder both hopes and thinks Fury will fight again – wants a showdown, belt or no belt

11/10/201611/09/2016 James Slater

Will Tyson Fury fight again, and if so will he be anything like the force he was a year ago? It was twelve months ago this month when unbeaten contender Fury went from contender to world champion, defeating Wladimir Klitschko in one of British boxing’s finest victories. Since then, however, it’s been all downhill for Fury.

Weight gain, a lack of desire, huge amounts of controversy as a result of speaking his mind and, finally, mental health issues. Tyson experienced the lot and these events resulted in Fury being stripped of his belts, with him possibly seeing his career ended. Some feel this will not be the case, insisting the 28-year-old will come again; while others feel we will never see Fury inside a boxing ring again. Plenty of people want Fury back though – not least WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder.

Deontay Wilder wants title fight unification with Anthony Joshua next year: “2017 is all about risk-taking”

11/05/2016 James Slater

WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder says he wants a big 2017. Currently still out of action healing after injuring his hand and biceps during his summer fight with Chris Arreola, Wilder tells Sky Sports how he wants to “take risks” next year. Wilder also stated how he wants to “come back with a bang” next year.

And “The Bronze Bomber” feels that he and IBF champ Anthony Joshua meeting in a ring would produce such a bang. Wilder says Joshua’s upcoming defence against Eric Molina is “build-up” to a fight with him.

Deontay Wilder says he would have KO’d the great Joe Louis!

10/19/2016 James Slater

The old timers won’t like it one bit, and it’s probable younger fight fans will disagree with Deontay Wilder’s opinion on what would have happened had he and one of the great heavyweight champions of yesteryear got it on. Speaking with Lem Satterfield for Premier Boxing Champions, the currently sidelined WBC heavyweight king was asked which fighter in history he would have liked to have fought and how the fight would have gone.

WBC News: Mike Towell, Wilder, Garcia, More

10/04/201610/03/2016 WBC

By Mauricio Sulaiman: Only two days ago, tragedy struck our sport with the death of Mike Towell, who passed away in Scotland. We all mourn his death with deep feelings, and it makes all of us involved in boxing go back and continue to study and research, and to be proactive to implement measures to minimize the risks.

The WBC was founded in 1963 by the President of Mexico, Don Adolfo Lopez Mateos, who was a boxer himself in his youth and who found passion and inspiration in our great sport. He was often seen sitting in the crowd at fights, even during his years as President.

2016: A bad year for the heavyweights (barring Anthony Joshua)

09/26/2016 James Slater

Neither fans of the heavyweight division, nor most of the fighting big men themselves, have had too much to get excited about this year. With world ruler Tyson Fury’s well documented problems having seen to it that he has not boxed at all in 2016 (and will not do so until 2017 at the earliest, if even then) it has fallen on the other heavyweight belt holders to entertain the fans.

But between them, WBC champ Deontay Wilder, “interim” WBA ruler Luis Ortiz and Lucas Browne, a brief holder of yet another version of the WBA belt, have had a less than great year themselves.

World Boxing Council Quarterly Report

09/21/201609/20/2016 WBC

The WBC believes in transparency and administrative disclosure. WBC annual convention meetings determine world rankings and the mandatory status of each division in open floor meetings in which all parties have the opportunity to discuss and present their cases for consideration, analysis, and voting by the WBC Board of Governors. The WBC began to report this information in 2015 to bring clarity and transparency to the WBC’s administration for the public, and to provide clear reports from what is agreed and what happens during the course of each year.

Anthony Joshua: If I beat Wilder, they’ll say he’s s**t

09/16/2016 James Slater

Unbeaten heavyweight star (some say future superstar) Anthony Joshua says he is finding it hard getting respect. Already a huge name in the UK, Joshua’s many fans pay to see him fight, fully expecting him to win by KO, and then afterwards the critics say Joshua merely bowled over an opponent he was always going to beat anyway. This is how A.J, 17-0(17) and yet to be extended beyond the 7th-round, says he feels.

Speaking with City AM, the IBF heavyweight champ who is now in training for his second title defence, set for November 26 in Manchester, says it is tough when people are comparing him to the likes of Tyson, Ali and Holyfield.