Amir Khan (31-4, 19 KOs) is starting out the New Year in style, predicting that he’s going to clean out the 147 pound weight division from top to bottom. Khan has his eyes on WBA/WBC welterweight champion Keith Thurman and IBF champion Errol Spence Jr. as his first 2 immediate targets in his sights. Beyond those 2 champions, Khan wants to avenge 2 of his past defeats to Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson. Khan was beaten by them 5 and 6 years ago respectively.
Errol Spence Jr.
Errol Spence boxing news
Errol Spence and Lamont Peterson quotes for Jan.20
Unbeaten welterweight world champion Errol Spence Jr. and former champion Lamont Peterson went face-to-face for the first time Wednesday at a press conference in Brooklyn to discuss their world title showdown headlining action on Saturday, January 20 live on SHOWTIME. The event is presented by Premier Boxing Champions from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING®.
Spence battles Peterson on 1/20 at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Undefeated IBF Welterweight World Champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. will make the first defense of his title when he takes on former two-division world champion Lamont Peterson on Saturday, January 20 live on SHOWTIME. The event is presented by Premier Boxing Champions from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING®.
Spence to fight in Dec/Jan, Lamont Peterson possible
Errol Spence Jr. will be back in the ring to defend his IBF welterweight title in December or January, possibly against Lamont Peterson (35-3-1, 17 KOs). This is a very good fight if it comes off. Spence vs. Peterson would be a real war.
Errol Spence Junior’s first title defence likely for either December or January
Unbeaten southpaw Errol Spence Junior, who ripped the IBF welterweight crown from Kell Brook in Sheffield, England in May, is looking at making his maiden title defence in either December of January, likely in New York.
Errol Spence “chasing world title fights,” says he has wanted a fight with Keith Thurman since he was 15-0
In the opinion of some good judges, unbeaten Errol Spence Junior, the reigning IBF welterweight king, has already proven himself as the best 147 pounder in the sport today; others need further proof. And the gifted southpaw who relieved the long-reigning Kell Brook of his IBF belt just over two months ago is fully intending on providing this proof.
The 27 year old from Texas with the 22-0(19) record spoke with Sky Sports recently, and “The Truth” made it clear he intends to prove his bold nickname is one he is worthy of carrying. Spence wants all the titles at 147 and he wants them asap.
Spence Jr vs. Thurman: “The Truth” says he can knock Thurman out
It’s the biggest and best welterweight fight that can take place today, and it would be one of the biggest in the division’s history for quite some time: a three belt unification showdown between unbeaten champions/stars Errol Spence Junior and Keith Thurman.
Spence, the new IBF champ, instantly called out Thurman, the unified WBA/WBC champ, after he had stopped a battered Kell Brook in Sheffield. So we know the talented southpaw wants it; but does Thurman? Thurman is currently injured and is unlikely to fight again until the end of the year, maybe in November or December. We may, then, have to wait until next year for this, an absolutely mouth-watering fight. It will be worth waiting for.
Ranking the welterweight’s: Today’s new top-10
Arguably the best, most talented and exciting weight class in the sport today, the welterweight division is currently crammed full with great fighters. New star Errol Spence Junior is for many the new top dog, having relieved a brave but, in the end, outclassed Kell Brook of his belt. But does Spence deserve to be ranked at number-one?
Here is a top-10 you may or may not agree with:
Kell Brook’s courage in taking a knee against Spence was exemplary
The criticism levelled at Kell Brook in the wake of his 11th round KO defeat to Errol Spence is a stark reminder that boxing is and always has been a sport of extremes, wherein the very best and the very worst of human nature is exposed. Courage, respect, resilience, and skill is offset in boxing by cowardice, venality, brutality, and cruelty. Typically the former are expressed inside the ring on the part of the fighters, while the latter is the domain of the sport’s fans and spectators, many of whom take the opportunity, when watching a fight, to give expression to their own lack of achievements, happiness, or self respect by taking delight in misfortune to befall a given fighter whose only crime is to have dedicated his life to the hardest sport there is and achieve a level of fame, success, and admiration conversant with that dedication.
Amir Khan-Kell Brook: Still a great fight? Still 50/50?
Was it just me, or was Amir Khan struggling, at least a little bit, to hide the glee, the sense of satisfaction he had on Saturday night, when his long-time verbal tormentor/possible ring rival Kell Brook was badly beaten by Errol Spence Junior?
Khan, along with Tony Bellew (who also provided punditry duties for Sky Sports Box-Office) was critical of Brook’s decision to “quit” against the unbeaten, sizzling southpaw; the knee Brook opted to take in that 11th round, his eye in pain, his sight almost gone, being pretty much vilified by both fighters. Debate has raged since Saturday’s great fight: is Brook a quitter, or was he doing what anyone else with such a nasty, potentially life-changing injury would have done in the heat of battle (heat, we must remember, no armchair critic has ever come anywhere close to experiencing)?