1955 was also the year that bid a sad adieu to screen icon James Dean. The Rebel without a cause would meet his maker on Route 466 when, on September 30th, his Porsche 550 ‘Little Bastard’ car careered off the highway attempting to avoid Donald Turnopspeed’s Ford Tudor. The film world mourned and still does. Ray Kroc started the McDonalds fast food chain and Bill Haley’s ‘Rock around the Clock’ had music lovers dancing off the Big Mac’s and fries. But 1955 would also be a landmark year for the world of boxing when heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano went 49-0 to set, what would become, the longest standing championship record in the history of the sport.
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Kovalev v Stevenson – Will Failure to Negotiate Fight Tarnish Krusher’s Legacy?
Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev is rapidly becoming the most dominating force the 175 lb division has witnessed since Roy Jones Junior began hoovering up his collection of world title belts at the tail end of the 20th century.
Super middleweight king Andre Ward is being considered as a potential opponent for Krusher. Victory over Ward would be a significant scalp but it would not complete his supremacy at light heavyweight. If Ward were to lose he would presumably return to his natural weight division at 168 lb, explaining that the difference in size was too great, and some of the sheen would be wiped from Kovalev’s triumph.
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?
Floyd Mayweather vs Andre Berto is Official / Amir Khan Snubbed
The news officially landed yesterday that P4P boss Floyd Mayweather will indeed fight Florida’s Andre Berto on September 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The news will come as no surprise to those who have been praying that Floyd was only joking when he mentioned Berto in the same breath as Karim Mayfield some months ago, and it will be a crushing blow to Britain’s Amir Khan who has been desperately chasing the fight – going on record recently to suggest he was holding out on Floyd potentially surprising him with a late-doors call up.
Mayweather vs. Berto a done deal for September 12th!
LAS VEGAS (Aug. 4, 2015) – In what is expected to be the final fight of his illustrious 19-year career, boxing superstar and pound-for-pound king Floyd “Money” Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) will put his undefeated record and WBC and WBA Welterweight World Championships on the line against power-punching, two-time welterweight world champion Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KOs) Saturday, Sept. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, live on SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).
The 10 Best Pound-for-Pound Boxers in the World Today
With comebacks, retirements and long awaited fights, the last 12 months of boxing have seen significant changes in the pound-for-pound rankings. Just as significantly, some things have not changed at all.
Most notably, Floyd Mayweather Jr. did the only thing he could do to further enhance his reputation as the best boxer in the world today by beating long touted rival Manny Pacquaio. What this means for Mayweather is clear but where this leaves Pacquaio is disputable.
Other reigning champs have fared indifferently. Whilst Wladimir Klitschko has notched up a couple of good wins, how he has done it has left questions about his pound-for-pound status. Andre Ward finally fought after over a year of inactivity but was it enough to show he is still better than the fast rising champions around him?
Joseph Parker Knocks Bowie Tupou out cold in Invercargill, NZ
Big punching New Zealander Joseph Parker sent a further warning signal to the heavyweight division tonight, wiping out Bowie Tupou in a little over a minute in Invercargill with a stunning right hook up close that the Tonga born fighter simply didn’t see coming.
Tupou lay motionless, face down on the canvas for a few genuinely worrying moments before eventually being lifted to his feet. The 23 year old Parker improved to 15-0, 13 early with the 1st round victory – his 9th inside 3 rounds.
Joseph Parker Interview: Winning fights and feeding his fans
Joseph Parker is back in town preparing to face hard hitting Tongan Bowie Tupou on August 1st at Stadium Southland, Invercargill. While comparisons are often odious it isn’t until our interview has concluded and we have reached the training gym that one begins to see the results of all the hard work Parker has been putting in with Kevin Barry over the past 24 months and the difference in how he now physically looks from the fleshy fresh faced rookie who began his tutelage with Barry back in 2013.
While always being a decent sized heavyweight, Parker’s physique now resembles that, to use the English vernacular, of a brick outhouse. The shoulders are noticeably broader, the chest and arms now filling out as Parker continues to grow into his frame. And just in case anyone is wondering, if watching him hit the mitts is any indication, he hasn’t lost any of his trademark speed.
Kovalev Hammers Mohammedi to Retain Position as Stevenson’s No.1 Contender
Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev utilised his trademark, ruthless efficiency, to KO unranked (not rated within the Transnational Boxing Rankings top ten) opponent Nadjib Mohammedi in the third round last night at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas.
The Russian, who entered the ring looking like a good sized cruiserweight, started patiently, firing a few hard jabs and right crosses in the opening round. Nadjib’s brave attacks at the beginning of the second merely helped focus Kovalev’s work, as Sergey immediately retaliated with cranked up potency in his own punches. A hard right cross, followed by a jab, right cross, and a clubbing right hook, sent Mohammedi to the canvas mid-way through the round.
With thirty nine seconds remaining in round three, Sergey threw a right-lead, trailed by a left hand, the latter of which connected with his opponent’s left orbit. Neither appeared to be thrown with maximum force, but such is the exceptional power that Kovalev possesses, this was enough to end the contest – Mohammedi crumpled to the floor for the final time.
Andre Ward: I’m Ready To Fight Golovkin At 168
Last month WBA (sup) 168 lb champion Andre Ward shook off 19 months of inactivity and announced his return to the game, putting a beatdown upon Britain’s Paul Smith, halting his bloodied opponent inside 9 one sided rounds, almost as if he had never been away.
Following that bout, which was for all intents and purposes a tune-up, Ward has stated his intention to get right back in the mix with a serious contender, either at 168 lbs, or at 175 lbs, with a mooted bout with Russian 175 lb knockout artist Sergey Kovalev being talked about for next year.
The other credible option for Ward is of course, big-hitting middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, who has been struggling for opponents and has gone on record to state that he would like to fight Ward next.