The historic Belasco Theater was on fire for the latest installment of Golden Boy Promotions’ LA FIGHT CLUB on August 6. With a number of professional debuts from powerhouse fighters, it’s clear that the future of boxing is bright and that Golden Boy Promotions’ stable of fighters are the next generation of elite boxers. The sold-out crowd included former LA Laker Metta World Peace as well as former interim WBC Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse who stuck around for the fights following his own press conference earlier in the day, ahead of his vacant WBC Super Lightweight World Championship bout against Viktor Postol, scheduled for October 3at the Stubhub Center and live on HBO Boxing After®. Tonight’s festivities were telecast live on FOX Deportes.
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Badou Jack – George Groves Press Conference Quotes
GEORGE GROVES, Top 168-Pound Contender – “Everything in training camp has been perfect. We’re adjusting to the time difference and the altitude, which takes a couple of days, but everything is going really well. We’re ahead of schedule. We’ve been training all year for this fight so I’m feeling really good. I can’t wait to get in there and start punching.
“I think I know more than enough about Jack. I’ve seen him box live against Anthony Dirrell and I’ve studied him on tape. There’s a lot to like about him. I like the fact that he’s come to the U.S. and has made a home out here, there’s bravery in that. He’s latched on to a successful camp but ultimately you have to stand on your own two feet in the ring.
Fox Sports 1 signs deal with Haymon
The seemingly omnipotent Al Haymon and his PBC platform have struck yet again! (A deal that is) According to ESPN’s Dan Rafael:
Fox Sports 1 has announced that Haymon’s PBC will be the networks exclusive boxing content provider in a deal signed through June 2016. In that span Fox Sports 1 has agreed to air 21 PBC cards as part of their “Toe-To-Toe Tuesdays” series that will -as the advertising slogan suggests- be aired on Tuesday nights.
Mayweather – Berto press conference quotes
LOS ANGELES (August 6, 2015) – Accredited media members from around the world came out to the JW Marriott at L.A. Live in Los Angeles Thursday as Floyd “Money” Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) and two-time welterweight champion Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KOs) officially announced their SHOWTIME PPV matchup with taking place Saturday, September 12 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Also in attendance Thursday were pay-per-view undercard fighters featured on the stacked four-fight telecast. In a rematch of their epic April 11 world-title fight Roman “Rocky” Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs) will defend his WBO Junior Lightweight title against four-time world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido (42-13-2, 29 KOs) while WBC Super Middleweight Champion Badou Jack “The Ripper” (19-1-1, 12 KOs) will take on his mandatory challenger “Saint” George Groves (21-2, 16 KOs). A fourth fight on the pay-per-view telecast will be announced soon.
Sergey Kovalev v Artur Beterbiev Is a No-Go
It shouldn’t really come as much of a surprise but, Kathy Duva – promoter of WBA/WBO & IBF 175 lb champion Sergey Kovalev – is not going to get her sought-after Thanksgiving dust-up in Moscow between her man and fellow Russian puncher Artur Beterbiev.
Duva had stated after Kovalev battered mandatory challenger Nadjib Mohammedi that she was taking the “Krusher” to Moscow in November, and had approached Beterbiev’s promoter Yvon Michel about the fight.
In an email to Duva yesterday, Michel politely refused Main Events “honest offer” which would have guaranteed the (9-0, 9ko) Beterbiev a career high half million dollar payday, although he refused to rule out the fight possibly happening in the future.
Kenny Porter: ‘Broner’s Like a Little Kid Who’s Out of Control’ / Doubts He Wants to Rematch Shawn
Former IBF welterweight champion Shawn Porter got the better of Ohioan rival and professional motor-mouth Adrien Broner back in June, outclassing and out hustling “The Problem” who never really got going until scoring a 12th round knockdown – a case of too little, too late.
As his son now waits for news on his next fight, father and trainer Kenny has spoken out to say he very much doubts that Broner would want any part of a rematch, calling him an “actor” who couldn’t play the part of a fighter when he got in the ring with Shawn.
Leonard Ellerbe defends the Mayweather Jr. vs. Berto bout
It’s no secret that the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Andre Berto bout is something that most of the boxing community did not expect to ever see. Sure Mayweather had picked questionable opponents for some of his bouts in the past, but now, towards the finish line, it was expected that he would leave the sport that has done so much for him and his family, with a bang.
Andre Berto is not a chump nor is he a greenhorn, but him being picked for one of the last Mayweather Jr. fights simply doesn’t make any sense. Aside from the fact that he lost three out of his last six bouts, and that he is simply put, no threat to Mayweather Jr. in the ring in any way shape or form, he is also not a huge draw. If Money May is all about the numbers, and has proven himself to be a decent businessman as well, did he sign up for this fight knowing that he is throwing away a ton of money as well as standing to lose a big chunk of his fan base?
Jamie McDonnell vs Tomoki Kameda II on for 6th September in Texas
It was confirmed last night that British WBA (reg) bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell will return to Texas to battle Japan’s Tomoki Kameda for a second time, following his hard fought victory back in May in which he earned the unanimous decision after hitting the deck in the 3rd from a huge Kameda right hand.
Showing some real grit, McDonnell battled back, got back to his boxing and eventually took the fight by scores of 114-113 (x3) in the face of some quality work from the Japanese fighter. It was a score that accurately reflected how close the fight was first time round, and manager Dave Coldwell – who cornered McDonnell for the fight due to regular trainer Dave Hulley’s fear of flying – tweeted the confirmation last night.
Boxing Notes: Mayweather–Berto Undercard Addition, Eddie Chambers Update, More!
By Paul “Paparazzi“ Jones Photo © (clockwise) Paul “Paparazzi” Jones /ESB, Premier Boxing Champions, Suzan Classen, Matthias Kern, and Daniel Kucin, Jr. | Illustration – “Paparazzi” Jones
Just in case you missed the memo, it’s official. Floyd “Money” Mayweather (48-0-0, 26 KOs), 38, will return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 12 to take on Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KOs), 31, in a welterweight title bout (Showtime, Pay-Per-View).
By toppling Berto, Mayweather aims to tie Rocky Marciano’s (49-0-0, 43 KOs) coveted perfect record of 49 wins without a loss. Although Marciano’s benchmark has stood for nearly 60 years, a win over former welterweight titleholder Berto would put Mayweather alongside “The Brockton Blockbuster” in the boxing annals.
Lee Selby Signs With Haymon / Possible Gary Russell Jnr Fight for the Future?
In a statement of intent, newly crowned IBF 126 lb champion Lee Selby has signed a deal with elusive “advisor” Al Haymon, following the lead of fellow Brits Amir Khan and James DeGale, as well as Northern Irishman Carl Frampton.
The talented Selby has recently expressed a desire to chase the big unification fights, and realises that the way to achieve that will be to go to the US, however signing with Haymon could ostensibly put a hold on any plans to face Ukranian amateur standout Vasyl Lomachenko, who is promoted by Bob Arums Top Rank and fights on HBO.