The Latest Boxing News
After originally being scheduled to box Cuban Richar Abril in place of original challenger Anthony Crolla, Mathews and promoter Frank Warren have had a nightmare week getting a fight on after Abril pulled out of the contest for a SECOND time a week ago (the first in March) and late replacement Ismael Barroso of Venezuela suffered visa problems that meant he too had to withdraw.
In a spectacular performance Crawford floored the undefeated former unified featherweight titleholder four times. At first the Cuban Olympic gold medalist appeared to be putting on a boxing clinic, however the Omaha fighter stayed calm, made adjustments, and completely turned the fight around in the 5th with a knockdown. His switch to southpaw, proved effective, and definitely demonstrated his ability to adapt.
Weigh-In: Lucas Matthysse 139 – Ruslan Provodnikov 139.5
Patrick Teixeira 160 -Patrick Allotey 157
Lamont Roach Jr. 133.5 – Jose Miguel Castro 133
Sidney McCow 146 -Paulo Souza 150.5
Vitor Freitas 135 – Guillermo Sanchez 133
Vitaly Kopylenko 160 – Lekan Byfield 158
Members of the media and fans got a preview of what to expect in the ring on Saturday with former World Champions Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse and “The Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov during today’s final press conference for Matthysse vs. Provodnikov at the Oneida Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY.
JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR.: 171 ½ Pounds
ANDRZEJ FONFARA: 171 ½ Pounds
AMIR IMAM: 140 Pounds
WALTER CASTILLO: 138 Pounds
Former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. held a media workout on Friday in front of a packed house at Ten Goose Boxing Gym in Van Nuys, Calif., as the Mexican superstar prepares to make his SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® debut on Saturday, April 18, at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).
Roc Nation Sports and Miguel Cotto Promotions are pleased to announce the next highly anticipated battle for Miguel Cotto (39-4, 32 KO’s), the reigning WBC Middleweight and Ring Magazine World Champion and the first native of Puerto Rico to become world champion in four different weight classes. On June 6, 2015, Cotto will defend his titles against former Two-Time World Champion Daniel Geale (31-3, 16 KO’s) of Australia in a fight that will be televised live on HBO from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Tickets are priced at $500, $350, $250, $200, $150, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, and go on sale Wednesday, April 22 at 10:00 AM ET. Tickets will be available at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com and at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center beginning Thursday, April 23 at 12:00 PM ET. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
It was Manny Media Mania at Wednesday’s media workout for Fighter of the Decade, eight-division world champion and boxing superhero Congressman MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO. Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), who represents the Sarangani province in the Philippines, hosted a Hollywood Media Workout with his Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach and Hall of Promoter Bob Arum.
Over 300 media from around the globe flocked to Wild Card Boxing Club to ask the trio about Pacquiao’s May 2 welterweight world championship unification battle against undefeated FLOYD “Money” MAYWEATHER JR. (47-0, 26 KOs), at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
https://youtu.be/pa1KDs_YRO0
Boxing superstar Amir “King” Khan (30-3, 19 KOs) returns to the ring to take on former world champion Chris Algieri (20-1, 8 KOs) on Friday, May 29, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York as the Main Event in an exciting Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) card on Spike TV. The televised action begins live on Spike TV at 9 pm ET/6 p.m. PT. Doors at Barclays Center open at 6 p.m. ET.
“I have happy memories of New York having made my successful U.S. debut there against Paulie Malignaggi in 2010,” said Khan. “I’m delighted to now be fighting there once again against another champion in Chris Algieri. Algieri has shared the ring with some tremendous fighters and shown great skills in those fights so I know I will need to be at my very best when we meet. In all my fights I bring excitement, speed and skill and can guarantee more fireworks on May 29 at Barclays Center.”
The smart money is on Money according to the odds, the smart Manny will be all over Money as well scanning him for glitches. This fight is expected to set new financial records and is presumed to be the richest boxing fight in history. Seat prices vary from $1500 to $10000, not exactly a people’s fight, and pay per view is 89.95 – HD 99.95. Whatever golden standards it sets, the suspense has created unrealistic expectations among casual and professional fans (analysts, writers and commentators) that make several educated guesses a day on top of their official predictions. The most important prediction – that of the bookmakers – places Mayweather as a firm betting favorite and odds makers take nervous care in preparing their forecast as they are guaranteed to be taken up on it. Rugs and riches aside, from pure boxing/sporting point of view this fight would do well to be considered among the top 50 of all time once the initial excitement wears off.
The most prominent, and at times desperate member of the “Mayweather” sweepstakes is perennial “Bridesmaid”, Amir Khan (30-3,19ko) who whilst still not confirming his next fight will be with American Chris Algieri, knows he is fast running out of time and any other option.
Despite all that, perhaps the Bolton fighter can take cheer from legendary British 140lb-er Ricky “Hitman” Hatton,(45-3, 32ko) who in various sections of the British media has been vocal in his support of Khan and his chances at beating Mayweather, should he indeed secure that fight.