5 to watch in 2017

12/27/201612/26/2016 Jazz Singh Gill

Boxing fans will remember 2016 for a year of exciting fights, if not all of the ones we wanted to see.

The two boxers that came out of 2015 with the biggest wins – Floyd Mayweather and Tyson Fury – did not fight in 2016 at all. Gennady Golovkin continued his devastating reign as middleweight king without fighting any of the division’s top names (at no fault of his own), whilst great champions like Manny Pacquaio and Roman Gonzalez continued to rule, if not in the same manner they once did. Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev did clash in a true battle of modern greats, but who is the better of the two is even less settled than it was before they fought. All in all, although a lot happened in boxing in 2016, not a lot changed.

continue

Joe Smith Jr. sends Bernard Hopkins into retirement

12/21/201612/18/2016 Golden Boy Promotions

Joe Smith, Jr. (23-1, 19 KOs) retained his WBC International Light Heavyweight Title with a technical knockout victory after sending Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (55-8-2, 32 KOs) through the ropes in the eighth round. Hopkins was unable to get back into the ring after sustaining an injury to his ankle, and the fight was stopped at 53 seconds into round eight.

“It feels great, it’s the best feeling in the world to accomplish something I set out for and wanted to do,” said Joe Smith, Jr. “I had seen him every time I threw the right hand, he was throwing the left. I had seen him fall, and I kept hitting him until I saw him go out, and I landed that left hook until he went out. I knew he had time to go out, but I hit him with four or five clean shots and they were good shots on the button. I knew he was a true champion, and if he didn’t get injured he’d be back here. I came here to do my job, and this is my coming out party too. I had to finish him, it was either my career was going to end and his was going to end, but I needed mine to continue. I’m going to get back in the gym and train hard for my next opponent. I’m up for anything. I have lots of respect for Bernard. He is a true champion. Lots of people love Bernard and still will because he’s a true champion.”

continue

Golovkin vs Jacobs on March 18 at MSG – Breaking News!

12/17/201612/17/2016 Vladimir S

Middleweight champions Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and Danny Jacobs have reached a deal for the two of them to fight each other early next year in the first quarter on March 18th on HBO PPV from Madison Square Garden in New York, Boxing 247 is happy to report. This is the fight that the fans have been waiting for.

continue

Don King To WBC: Declare Stiverne Champion

12/17/201612/17/2016 ESB

In the aftermath of Saturday’s news that the WBC Interim heavyweight title fight in Russia between former heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne and top-ranked Alexander Povetkin had been cancelled because Povetkin tested positive for drugs again, Hall of Fame promoter Don “Only In America” King offered a simple solution:

Declare his fighter, Stiverne (25-2-1, 21 KOs), of Las Vegas, the interim champion.

continue

Video: Final farewell for Bernard Hopkins

12/17/201612/17/2016 Rummys Corner

Living legend Bernard Hopkins was last seen inside the squared circle nearly two years ago, when he dropped a lopsided decision in a unification bout with light heavyweight sensation Sergey Kovalev. On December 17, just one month before his 52nd birthday, the aging ring warrior is scheduled to have his farewell retirement bout against 27 year old Joe Smith Jr. Win, lose, or draw, the bout against Smith is being billed as the final chapter in the long and illustrious career for the future Hall of Famer.

continue

Povetkin vs Duhaupas Livestream

12/17/201612/17/2016 James Slater

It seems there is a good chance the show will go on today in Russia. With the Alexander Povetkin fight off due to Povetkin coming up positive for a banned substance and Bermane Stiverne understandably opting to fly home to Las Vegas in disgust, it could be that Frenchman and former world title challenger Johann Duhaupas, 34-3(21) will step in to fight Povetkin in a non-title fight.

continue

Bernard Hopkins – Joe Smith Jr. this Saturday / Hopkins Q & A

12/17/201612/16/2016 Golden Boy Promotions

Placing an exclamation point at the end of a decades long career, former two-division world champion and future Hall of Famer Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (55-7 2, 32 KOs) will be delivering a performance reflective of his extensive career taking on the best as he faces a young lion and current WBC International Light Heavyweight Champion Joe Smith, Jr. (22-1, 18 KOs) this Saturday, Dec. 17 on HBO World Championship Boxing®. Hopkins will be entering the ring for his last hoorah in true Hopkins style by closing out the book with a match up that will demonstrate his evolution as a fighter and his daring persona.

continue

Hopkins vs Smith Live On BoxNation

12/15/201612/15/2016 BoxNation

Legend Bernard Hopkins wants to end his illustrious career on a high as he enters the ring for the final time on Saturday night.

The 51-year-old who has enjoyed one of the most remarkable journeys in the sport takes his last step against the big-hitting Joe Smith, exclusively live on BoxNation, where he will look to go out with a bang following a glorious four-decade stint at the top.

continue

Bernard Hopkins: One Of A Kind – ranking his finest wins

12/14/2016 James Slater

Like him or not and whether you find his fighting style boring or entertaining, fans everywhere have to admit Bernard Hopkins has had some incredible career – and some eventful life. Hopkins, at almost 52, will see out his long and incredibly successful career this Saturday, against young, ambitious and dangerous punching Joe Smith Junior.

Hopkins promises this will be “The Final 1,” and that he will then exit the sport satisfied – “I’m about to be 52 with more than 60 fights and I can still hold a sentence. I’m most proud of that,” B-Hop, AKA The Alien, AKA The Executioner told The Las Vegas Review Journal this week. Hopkins hopes a movie will be devoted to his life, and let’s face it, there’s plenty of material there.

continue

Joshua vs Klitschko – April 29 at the Wembley Stadium in London / Videos

12/14/201612/14/2016 K2 Promotions

The first period of ticket sales for the World Heavyweight unification blockbuster between Anthony Joshua MBE and Wladmir Klitschko on April 29 at Wembley Stadium Connected by EE will commence at midday on Friday December 16.

There will be two periods of ticket sales for the event and coach packages are available in order to maximise the available capacity at Wembley.

The first batch of tickets on sale from Friday December 16 as follows:

continue