The Latest Boxing News
Three weeks ago fans witnessed Britain’s Paul Smith getting bloodied and soundly beaten by the returning Andre Ward in California, turning in a valiant effort despite being thoroughly outclassed by one of the world’s best fighters from the opening bell in their catch-weight contest.
It was Smith’s 3rd loss in as many fights, and 6th overall, following back-to-back world title challenges to Germany’s Arthur Abraham, fights that saw Smith come up short on points both times.
Once, more top heavy than Alice Eve, the heavyweight division is starting to develop some depth of talent that has also awakened an interest in the glamour division long bereft of such. Seemingly forever dominated by the name Klitschko, whether it be Vitali or Wladimir, there are new names and personalities appearing amongst the giants that don’t remind us of a robot manufacturer. One island nation known for their infatuation with the division, is leading the way developing excitement and talent north of 14 stone. By now you know I’m talking about the braggadocios Brits.
With the news of verbal sparring partners Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte agreeing to fight later this year, coupled with Tyson Fury battling the aforementioned Wladimir Klitschko for the heavyweight crown; it gives credence to the sentiment that the future and the present state of the division could fly under the Union Jack.
Keith Thurman steps back in the ring for a second time this year in a stay busy fight against Luis Collazo. The undercard fight matches unbeaten prospect Tony Harrison versus Willie Nelson and it may end up stealing the show. Most think Thurman will win so how will he do it may be the more fitting question. Can Keith accomplish what no one has been able to do Collazo and that is a win by knockout?
This Saturday night marks the debut of Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN in primetime for what will amount to two-plus year’s worth of monthly installments. With the Friday Night Fights series on ESPN2 gone will ESPN’s stronghold in sports trickle down to help the visibility of boxing? The lack of visibility in the sport has hurt boxing greatly and the only time it’s mentioned on Sportscenter is an event involving Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquaio. Or it makes headlines from current or former fighters getting in trouble.
The talented young fighter was recently selected to join Floyd Mayweather’s camp to provide some southpaw sparring ahead of Floyd’s fight with Manny Pacquiao, and away from the bright lights of Vegas, with his feet back on British soil, Catterall is determined to keep the momentum going with a strong showing on Saturday.
Oxnard, CA: Yesterday members of the media traveled to Oxnard, California to attend WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev’s open media workout in preparation for his upcoming IBF Mandatory match-up with Nadjib “IronDjib” Mohammedi on HBO World Championship Boxing at the Mandalay Events Center in Las Vegas, Below are select quotes from Kovalev and his manager, Egis Klimas:
SERGEY KOVALEV
On Nadjib Mohammedi
“What do I know about him? Believe me, not much. But I do know he’s very dangerous. He’s fast. He has stamina. He’s not stupid; he’s an intelligent fighter.”
He will turn 47 years old in November, yet Antonio ‘Magic Man’ Tarver, the former 175 lb boss many fans best remember for his trilogy of fights with Roy Jones Jr, is set to step between the ropes again at heavyweight in August, when he fights former cruiserweight boss Steve Cunningham on the PBC on Spike card from Newark, New Jersey.
If the Florida man comes through against Cunningham, he has insisted to ThaBoxingVoice that the only fights that make sense for the future would be against the likes of Deontay Wilder, or dominant lineal champion Wladimir Klitschko, who fights Tyson Fury in Germany in October.
It can’t have been easy being the son of a famous Mexican boxing great and feeling the pressure from a young age to follow in your father’s footsteps and live up to his achievements. I think most people would always feel second best or embark upon a different career choice entirely, yet not Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, who – for all his numerous faults – has attempted (or was forced) to follow the family boxing tradition with mixed results over the years.
Chavez’s ring return comes in 8 days time when he fights Marcos Reyes, and it’s being seen as nothing more than a bounce-back fight for the Mexican former 160 lb champion after he seemingly quit on his stool against Andrzej Fonfara back in April in their 172 lb catch-weight clash.
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.
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.
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.