Interview with Francesco Pianeta

07/10/2015 Antonin Vavrda

MAGDEBURG – For the second time in his career, he’s on the brink of becoming the heavyweight champion of the world. The Italian-German fighter Francesco Pianeta (31-1-1, 17 KOs) may have wasted his first opportunity two years ago against the Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko, but now he has a whole different opponent to deal with – the Uzbek Ruslan Chagaev (33-1-2, 20 KOs), nicknamed “The White Tyson”. And he surely believes in his chances against the boxer who, among others, has managed to beat the Russian giant Nikolay Valuev…

“Ruslan can reflect on a stellar career. He’s made it very far in our sport, but his best days are well behind him. It’s highly doubtful he’ll ever reproduce these performances, so I’m giving myself a good chance to win this fight,” says the likeable 30-year old cancer conqueror in an exclusive interview to Profiboxing.cz.

Carl Frampton Keen To Impress On US Debut

07/09/2015 Olly Campbell

IBF super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton will be looking to impress on American soil in 9 days time when he defends his title against Mexico’s Alejandro Gonzalez Jr in Texas, in what will be both his first fight in the US as well his debut under new advisor Al Haymon and the Premier Boxing Champions brand.

Frampton has been one of British boxing’s best for a while now and was sizzling last time out in February stopping brash American challenger Chris Avalos inside 5 rounds in his home city of Belfast.

Santa Cruz vs Mares On ESPN, August 29

07/09/2015 Premier Boxing

The highly anticipated showdown between undefeated star Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KOs) and former three-division world champion Abner Mares (29-1-1, 15 KOs) is official as the two beloved stars that call Southern California home will fight in their own backyard at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles onSaturday, August 29 live in primetime on ESPN. Televised coverage for this long awaited event begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

To kick things off, an open-to-the-public fan rally and press conference will be held next Tuesday, July 14 at 4:30 p.m. PT at Plaza Mexico in Los Angeles. Both Santa Cruz and Mares will be in attendance. Fans are encouraged to arrive early.

Shane Mosley and Ricardo Mayorga To Go At It Again!

07/09/201507/09/2015 Olly Campbell

He hasn’t been in a boxing ring since injuring his back in Australia against Anthony Mundine in November 2013, yet yesterday a deal was done for former 3 weight world champ Shane Mosley and bitter rival Ricardo Mayorga to repeat their September 2008 encounter, which Mosley won by knockout in the last couple of seconds of the fight.

Mosley, now 43, was ahead on two judges scorecards and that of ‘unofficial’ HBO judge Harold Lederman, yet there was still some dispute from Mayorga, who believes he was hard done by, and now, after a long social media battle, the rematch between the aging veterans is on.

Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: GBP/Top Rank’s “PBC” Lawsuit, Mayweather WBO Title Strip, & More!

07/09/201507/09/2015 Vivek Wallace

Gerald N. (Delray Beach, FL): Both Top Rank and Goldenboy Promotions have initiated lawsuits against Al Haymon and the “Premier Boxing Champions” movement. What are your thoughts and what light can you shed on whether or not these lawsuits hold any weight?

Vivek W. (ESB): At this stage, I think it’s far too early to really know or accurately say “how much weight” the separate lawsuits hold. There’s been a ton of information released, but with respect and integrity for the lawsuits independently, there’s still a ton of things we as fans and media simply don’t know. From the outside looking in, my position all along has been that it’s an uphill battle for the parties pursuing matters, for the simple fact that the man being pursued (Al Haymon) has the absolute allegiance of every fighter on his roster, and each and every last one of them has his back with total support.

Chavez Jr. Looks To Get Back On Track Against Marcos Reyes Next Saturday

07/09/201507/09/2015 Premier Boxing

Former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., super bantamweight contender Alejandro “Cobrita” Gonzalez Jr. and heavyweight contender Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola participated in a media workout on Wednesday at Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Riverside, Calif., prior to their upcoming fights on Premier Boxing Champions on CBS and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®. The fights will take place as part of an afternoon-night doubleheader on Saturday, July 18, at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas, live on CBS Sports (4 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. PT) and SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).

Terry Flanagan: ‘ The Better The Opponent, The Better I’ll Be ‘ – Flanagan v Zepeda

07/09/201507/09/2015 Olly Campbell

He’s perhaps not the most “media friendly” fighter, but Manchester’s undefeated lightweight Terry Flanagan, who fights American puncher Jose Zepeda on Saturday night in Manchester, prefers to do his talking in the ring, and ahead of his challenge for the vacant WBO lightweight strap, took some time out to speak to iFLtv about the contest, insisting whatever the Californian fighter brings to the table, it simply won’t be good enough.

“I was surprised really, I thought he’d be a lot bigger” said ‘Turbo’ after coming face to face with his opponent for the first time at today’s final presser.

Jose Zepeda: ‘If The KO Comes, It Comes’ / Flanagan vs Zepeda

07/09/201507/09/2015 Olly Campbell

Big punching American knock-out artist Jose Zepeda comes to Manchester on Saturday night in an attempt to win the vacant WBO lightweight strap when he fights hometown hero Terry Flanagan – who will be seeking to emulate fellow Mancunian Ricky Hatton’s historic world title win against Kostya Tzsyu in the City, almost exactly 10 years to the day.

It’s sure to be a bear-pit atmosphere for the undefeated American, who boasts 20 KO wins in 23 contests, yet ahead of the fight, he spoke to iFLtv to insist he is more than ready to step up to the plate, and believes it will be he, and not Flanagan, who walks out with the title.

Thurman/Collazo Quotes and Photos

07/08/201507/08/2015 Premier Boxing

TAMPA (July 8, 2015) -Fighters competing on Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN card held media workouts in Tampa today before their July 11 showdowns at the USF Sun Dome with televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

The headlining event will pit undefeated Welterweight World Champion Keith “One Time” Thurman (25-0, 21 KOs) against former world champion Luis Collazo (36-6, 19 KOs). The televised opener will see undefeated rising star Tony Harrison (21-0, 19 KOS) taking on the quick-fisted Willie Nelson (23-2-1, 13 KOS). Also participating in the workout was the son of former world champion Antonio Tarver, Antonio Tarver Jr. (2-0, 2 KOs) who will fight on the undercard.

Mikey Garcia Talks Continuing Legal Tussle With Top Rank

07/08/2015 Olly Campbell

It’s now been almost 18 months since we last saw Oxnard’s Mikey Garcia in a boxing ring, shutting out Juan Carlos Burgos back in January of last year.

The long term contractual dispute with his promoter, Bob Arum’s Top Rank, shows no sign of abating, despite recent assertions from the fighter and his brother/trainer Robert that he had hoped to be back in the ring before the end of the year.