The latest boxing top stories and breaking news
In a night of personal best’s Gavin McDonnell was in no mood to miss out on the fun, outpointing Vusi Malinga in a display of will, determination and no shortage of skill to the delight of the Humberside crowd.
Tommy Coyle v Michael Katsidis (12 x 3 – IBF International Lightweight Belt)
Tommy Coyle now 19-2 (8KO’s) is thrust into the biggest test of his career, on paper at least, against the Australian banger Michael Katsidis 30-6 (24KO’s) for the IBF International Lightweight title. Both fighters find themselves at a crucial stage in their careers where a defeat would be fatal to any aspirations they have of continuing to top the bill on shows such as this.
In an interview for Polsat TV a couple of days ago, W. Klitschko bluntly dismissed Kubrat Pulev’s chances of becoming a real challenge. Wlad did not like the question whether Pulev would be a tougher opponent for him than Alex Leapai and asked in return what the reporter would say if Pulev got KOed in the first round.
W. Klitschko is not a trash talker and he is generally very tolerant towards his opponent’s antics and stunts. He usually has kind words for his foes but he seems to have none this time especially after Pulev brought up the Olympic drug testing issue. Klitschko is very sensitive to this subject and he blames Pulev’s promotional team, Sauerland, for trying to “get under his skin”.
British heavyweight Tyson Fury (22-0, 16 KOs) still hasn’t taken care of Dereck Chisora in their rematch next month and yet Fury already has his eyes set on who he wants to fight next. Fury says he wants to fight undefeated and untested British prospect Anthony Joshua (9-0, 9 KOs) so that he can prove himself against him.
Never mind the fact that a fight between Fury and Joshua would make no sense at this point considering that Joshua isn’t a belt holder, and has never beaten anyone remotely talented. Fury still feels like it’s a fight that he wants.
Both Matchroom and Warren Promotions stage rival shows this coming weekend in two of England’s fighting cities, showcasing some of the best talent these shores have to offer in their dress rehearsals ahead of enormous shows planned by each organisation for the end of November, in doing so displaying the increasing confidence they have in the British public’s appetite for the fight game.
Hull and Liverpool are the chosen venues to play host to a number of British boxing’s brightest prospects, including 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Luke Campbell, the much maligned and supremely talented Chris Eubank Jnr and recently crowned IBF Bantamweight Champion Paul Butler (Butler subsequently vacated the belt, to drop back to his more natural Super Flyweight division). All of who are beneficiaries of the increased promotional activity propelling their promising careers.
Undefeated Heavyweight contender Bryant “By-By” Jennings awaits his title shot
By Justin Jones – Bryant “By-By” Jennings’ (19-0, 10 KOs) is patiently waiting for reigning WBC Heavyweight Champion Bermane “B. Ware” Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs) and undefeated mandatory challenger Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs) to strike a deal and set a date for their bout.
Jennings’ eagerness for the Stiverne vs. Wilder fight to take place runs deeper than the boxing enthusiast who sees the bout as a compelling fight, one laced with numerous storylines (e.g. will Wilder’s KO streak continue? Will Stiverne deliver Wilder’s first professional loss? Etc).
http://youtu.be/tj5aS6ioHB0
A record attendance of 9,323 fans filled the StubHub Center to see Gennady Golovkin face Marco Antonio Rubio in the “Mexican Style” fight card main event Saturday night. Golovkin proved that styles not only make fights, but fight fans, as the mostly Mexican-American crowd cheered for the Kazakhstan native throughout. Rubio appeared confident and ready during his ring walk, looking much fresher than he had at the weigh the previous day. “GGG” and his team made an extra-long ring walk, circling the entire lower bowl and waving to fans, sending the place into a frenzy. The stage was set for Gennady’s promise of a “big drama show”.
http://youtu.be/xutTOL52I0U
In the “Mexican Style” co-feature, Nonito Donaire squared off against Jamaica’s Nicholas Walters before a packed house at the StubHub Center. Both men put their WBA featherweight titles on the line. If you’re asking yourself “how can both fighters have titles from the same sanctioning body in the same weight class?” – well that’s because the WBA is atrocious. None the less, this was a terrific bout between two of the best featherweights in the world, and they didn’t disappoint.
http://youtu.be/KEQTwNP0GCA
Records are going to be set tomorrow night at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. In fact the promoters had to set up several sets of bleachers at the top of the bowl just to accommodate the expected over-capacity crowd. If the fan response at today’s weigh in was any indication, they may want to go ahead and set up a couple more.
Freddie Roach, the trainer for WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, says that high powered adviser/manager Al Haymon won’t let his fighters like Danny Garcia and Floyd Mayweather Jr fight Pacquiao because he’s scared of him. Roach doesn’t buy the excuses about the fighters and Haymon not liking Bob Arum of Top Rank. Roach thinks Haymon is basically afraid of the 35-year-old Pacquiao.
“Al Haymon will not fight Manny Pacquiao, guarantee that,” Roach said to Rappler.com. “Because they’re scared, all of them. His lead guy all the way down. It’s not going to happen. All of the excuses about they don’t like Bob Arum; it’s just excuses.”