Ricky Burns to fight unification bout vs. Julius Indongo in April; also in the frame for possible Pacquiao super-fight

01/09/2017 James Slater

Scottish hero and reigning WBA 140-pound champ Ricky Burns has had his name mentioned as a possible Manny Pacquiao foe, what with the superstar Filipino set to embark on a “world tour” (with Australia’s Jeff Horn Pac-Man’s probable next challenger).

Obviously, such a fight would be massive, a real dream come true for Burns, 41-5-1(14), even more so if it took place in the UK. But first, according to STV News, 33-year-old Burns will face recently crowned IBF 140-pound champ Julius Indongo, probably on April 8, in a big unification clash.

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Badou Jack vs. James DeGale – Video – DeGale: My Journey

01/13/201701/09/2017 Showtime Boxing

Ahead of his world title fight in New York this Saturday, IBF World super middleweight champion James DeGale has been reflecting on his journey to this unification showdown with Badou Jack.

Speaking in a video for wearable training gear SIXPAD, the 30-year-old native Londoner describes his introduction to boxing.

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James DeGale: Me and Groves at Wembley would sell 80,000

01/09/201701/08/2017 James Slater

IBF super-middleweight champ James DeGale has made a habit of fighting away from home over the last few months, and if he can win in New York this Saturday when he will face WBC ruler Badou Jack, the southpaw will be fully deserving of a homecoming.

DeGale has his eye on taking such a homecoming at Wembley, and George Groves, the only man to have beaten him, is very much a target for “Chunky.” Groves of course fought Carl Froch at Wembley a couple of years ago, before a monstrous 80,000 crown – this number breaking all previous records. Now DeGale feels he and Groves in a return could equal those big numbers – but first he must beat Jack.

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David Price – Christian Hammer on Eubank Jnr-Quinlan PPV show

01/09/201701/08/2017 James Slater

Tickets for the much maligned ITV pay-per-view card headlined by Chris Eubank Junior-Renold Quinlan went on sale yesterday, and the card just became a little better in terms of value for money. British heavyweight David Price will support the main event in a fight with Christian Hammer, as annonced by promoter Erol Ceylan .

Price, still attempting to regain the status and respect he held before losing to Tony Thompson (twice) and Erkan Teper (both fighters subsequently failing drugs tests) will be taking a reasonably big step in the right direction against Hammer.

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Roach: Cotto always tells me if I was in his corner when he fought Mayweather, we would have won

01/09/201701/08/2017 James Slater

Puerto Rican legend Miguel Cotto says he “rested a lot, healed” and is now “ready to fight” against vulnerable but dangerous slugger James Kirkland on February 25, and Cotto has also vowed to retire from boxing this year. A great career will come to an end, but the Kirkland fight aside, fans are asking who Cotto will fight in his final ring appearances.

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Andrzej Wawrzyk’s trainer: Huge upsets happen all the time

01/07/201701/07/2017 James Slater

There is no doubt about it, Polish heavyweight contender Andrzej Wawrzyk is a huge betting underdog entering his February 25 challenge of WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder. Indeed, if the once-beaten challenger pulls it off next month, the heavyweight division will witness a Hasim Rahman-Lennox Lewis or a Danny William-Mike Tyson-type upset.

Maybe if Wawrzyk wins, the upset will be ranked alongside even bigger shockers from the sport’s history. Indeed, most fans and experts seem to feel Wilder will get the win, by KO, and probably pretty quickly. This line of thinking has not stopped Wawrzyk and his team from believing, though.

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Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn possible for April 23 in Australia

01/07/201701/07/2017 James Slater

The proposed Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn fight in Australia is reportedly very close to being finalised. All that is required now, says promoter Bob Arum, is for the money to be right. Arum says Pac-Man is “on board” for the fight against the unbeaten Horn, but that the money needs to be put up before the fight can be signed off and made official.

“Manny thinks Jeff is a very live fighter – in the sense that he’s a come ahead guy and he says it will be a tremendous fight and a good challenge for him,”Arum told The Sunday Mail. “We are very excited about this fight. Jeff is a very good fighter – I don’t know if he beats Manny Pacquiao but he’ll give him a tremendous fight.”

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Shawn Porter wants Andre Berto for return foe

01/07/201701/07/2017 James Slater

Last seen going to war with Keith Thurman in last summer’s FOTY candidate, former IBF welterweight champ Shawn Porter is ready to make his return to the ring soon. According to Porter’s father and trainer Shawn Porter Senior, who spoke with The Las Vegas Review Journal, fellow former welterweight champ Andre Berto is the preferred comeback opponent.

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Cotto vs. Kirkland quotes for Feb.25 fight

01/07/201701/06/2017 Roc Nation Sports

Five-Time World Champion Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs) and James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland (32-2, 28 KOs) participated in a media tour with stops in New York City and Los Angeles to address the media on their upcoming showdown on Saturday, February 25 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Dubbed as “The Return”, the 12-round junior middleweight contest will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets priced at $304, $204, $154, $104, $79, $54 and $29 not including applicable service charges and taxes are available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000 and the AT&T Stadium box office.

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Carl Frampton: Fighter-of-the-Year

01/06/2017 James Stillerman

The undefeated Carl “The Jackal” Frampton (23-0, 14 KOs) had an extremely successful year in which he elevated himself from a great world champion to one of the best fighters in the world. Frampton went on the road twice to defeat two previously unbeaten elite title holders, Scott Quigg and Leo Santa Cruz, to become a two-division world title holder, making him my 2016 Fighter-of-the-Year.

The IBF featherweight champion went to Manchester, England in February to take on Quigg, the unbeaten WBA champion, in a long awaited featherweight unification bout. Frampton displayed an outstanding jab and great counter punching that helped him outwork and out land Quigg, especially in the first half of the bout. Frampton’s aggressive fighting style and punching power helped him survive a late rally by Quigg and contributed to him breaking Quigg’s jaw. Frampton defeated Quigg by split decision, although the fight was not as close as the decision indicated.

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