One man who is uniquely qualified to speak on the ill-fated Nick Blackwell-Chris Eubank Junior fight – the story of Saturday’s brutal fight and it’s unfortunate aftermath the subject of all manner of articles in today’s press – is Michael Watson. Watson suffered brain injury in his 1991 fight with Chris Eubank Senior and only after six operations and some incredible determination and effort did Watson partially recover; enough to lead a life he often says he is blessed to have had.
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The latest boxing top stories and breaking news
Andre Ward decisions Sullivan Barrera, won’t fight Kovalev next
In an example of perfect match-making, Andre Ward (29-0, 15 KOs) was able to beat the much slower made to order Sullivan Barrera (17-1, 12 KOs) by a 12 round unanimous decision tonight on HBO in his hometown at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. It was the perfect opponent for Ward to look good against because Barrera didn’t have the hand speed to give Ward a real test like Adonis Stevenson or one of the other far superior light heavyweights.
Chris Eubank Junior stops gutsy Nick Blackwell in 10th-round of a war, takes British middleweight title
Tonight at Wembley, bitter middleweight rivals Chris Eubank Junior and Nick Blackwell went to war in a domestic fight of the year candidate. Blackwell lost his British middleweight title by way of a 10th-round TKO when referee Victor Loughlin, on advice of the doctor, stopped the fight due to a quite horrific swelling to Blackwell’s left eye. The time was 2:21 of the 10th and Eubank, in claiming the title he said he had dreamt of winning since he was aged 15, improved to 22-1(17). Blackwell, one of the toughest fighting men in British boxing, falls to 19-4-1(8). Blackwell was carried from the ring by a stretcher and he was given oxygen. We all hope he is okay.
Ward vs. Barrera: The Return of the Prodigal Son
Andre Ward meets Sullivan Barrera this Saturday night live on HBO at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. If Ward’s successful it moves him one step closer to a meeting with Sergey Kovalev in the fall. Standing in his way is an unbeaten fighter with roots drawn from highly-touted Cuban amateur system. Does the unbeaten Barrera have what it takes to topple Ward? Will rust factor in for Ward having 8 months of more inactivity since his last bout?
Andre Ward signed a three-fight deal with HBO to prepare for a super fight with Sergey Kovalev. After he fought last June, Ward signed with a plan to fight on the Canelo vs. Cotto HBO PPV undercard. A swollen knee caused him to pull out which ended up slowing down the talks for this fight.
Gervonta “Tank” Davis Holds Open Public Workout in Baltimore – Mayweather, More!
By Paul “Paparazzi“ Jones l Photo © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones/ESB
Baltimore, MD — Unbeaten super featherweight prospect Gervonta “Tank” Davis (14-0, 13 KOs) held a public workout on Wednesday at the Upton Boxing Center in Baltimore in preparation for his April 1 bout at the D.C. Armory against Guillermo “El Borrego” Avila (16-5, 13 KOs). Although the 21-year-old Davis is eager to test his skills against Avila, the Baltimore native admits that he doesn’t know a lot about his impending foe. “I just know he’s a strong, step-up opponent,” said Davis. “I just hope he’s ready because I’ll be ready on April 1st.”
Andre Ward vs. Sullivan Barrera – beware of the underdog
Sullivan Barrera (17-0) and Andre Ward (28-0) are scheduled to fight each other this Saturday at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Ward’s hometown. Barrera, an ex-Cuban amateur who turned pro in 2009, is the mandatory challenger for Sergey Kovalev’s IBF title but he will fight Ward instead who is rated fourth after one fight at light heavyweight. The Cuban is advertised as an amateur standout but the last time he stood out was back in the year 2000 when he won the World Junior Championship.
Pacquiao speaks about his recent lack of KO wins: I’m a 140-pounder, I can make 135
Superstar Manny Pacquiao, a once vicious, unstoppable whirlwind of a fighter, has heard the criticism thrown his way for not scoring a knockout victory in quite some time (Pac-Man’s last stoppage win coming over Miguel Cotto back in 2009) – and the former multi-weight king has an explanation: he is not a welterweight.
Despite having fought in the 147-pound division for some time – included amongst his welterweight bouts the highest grossing fight in history with Floyd Mayweather Junior – 37-year-old Pacquiao, 57-6-2(38) told ESPN Deportes he is really a natural 140-pounder who could still make lightweight if he really wanted to. This, Pac-Man says, accounts for his long string of KO-less fights.
Mayweather shows off his money, says he is happy in retirement “making seven figures a month”
They don’t call him “Money” for nothing. All-time great Floyd Mayweather Junior, might be retired, but the 49-0 star has never been shy or retiring when it comes to talking about the incredible fortune he has amassed during his career. The recently turned 39-year-old took to Instagram yesterday to show off a large portion of his cash and to also state that he is more than content in retirement.
Mayweather, who is worth around $500 million or more, posted a picture of himself counting bundles of dollars and wrote the following:
Kali Meehan: Once Anthony Joshua has won the title, Joseph Parker will beat him
After a 19 year professional career that has propelled him all over the globe, former heavyweight world title challenger, Australian based New Zealander, Kali Meehan 42-6 (32 KOs), knows what qualities are required to reach the pinnacle of the sport. I recently spoke to “Mean Hands” Meehan, via telephone – from his home in Wyongah, New South Wales, Australia – to discuss both his colorful career, and to hear his assessment of his previous opponent, one of boxing’s rising stars: Joseph Parker.
Hailing from Levuka town, on the Fijian island of Ovalau – an island on which rugby is virtually a way of life – Kali Meehan’s mother would surely never have envisaged that her future son would one day become a successful prize-fighter, when she ventured to New Zealand half a century ago.
Canelo-Khan card could be a real blockbuster – a number of possibilities in the works for May 7th bill
Let’s face it, many numbers of fight fans are likely to buy the May 7th Canelo Alvarez-Amir Khan fight; perhaps even close to a million fans in the U.S alone. The fight has, and is, attracting plenty of attention, opinion and excitement, and a smash hit is likely. But, in wanting to guarantee fans a spectacular show, Golden Boy are currently working on making the under-card one that will give value for money.
According to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, there are a number of interesting possibilities for the card that will take place on Cinco de Mayo weekend. The most exciting possible match-up that could support the main event is a Luis Ortiz-Alexander Ustinov fight that would see Cuban southpaw Ortiz fulfil his WBA mandatory obligation to defend against the Russian giant. Rafael reports how talks are ongoing between Golden Boy and Frank Warren, who promotes Ustinov.