Top Stories Boxing

The latest boxing top stories and breaking news

Stevenson vs. Cloud: All roads to 175 supremacy have to come thru Canada

stevenson22This Saturday in Montreal the Bell Centre will be packed per usual and that loyal fan base will cheer and sing, O Canada until their blue in the face, for their guy Adonis “Superman” Stevenson when he is challenged for 175 supremacy by Tavoris Cloud.

Does Cloud have the skill set sharp enough to stop Stevenson’s reign in his first defense of his lineal title. A title that he ripped suddenly from Chad Dawson’s soul, leaving the former pound for pound fighter’s career in doubt after back to back knockout losses.

I mentioned a sharp skill set, more accurately it will likely be how rough he can make this fight on the inside, using his brute strength to wear down the champion enabling him to use his natural power and athleticism.

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Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Bryan Vera agree to 173 pound weight limit and 10 round contest

chavez8According to trainer Ronnie Shields, successful negotiations have taken place to append a new weigh-in limit for the big Saturday night showdown between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (46-1-1, 32 KOs) of Culiacan, Mexico and Bryan Vera (23-6, 14 KOs) of Austin, Texas.

After the fight card’s final press conference convened this afternoon at the Crystal Ballroom of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California, both parties, including promoters Top Rank, Inc. and Banner Promotions, reached an accord binding both combatants to a new weigh in limit of 173 pounds for this Friday afternoon’s weigh in ceremony.

Although the added weight limit came as no surprise to most media members who had been following the current Chavez/Vera novella, veteran trainer Ronnie Shields made a surprise stipulation within the new fight agreement.

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Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. : “The Way Things Are Going….”

chavez766According to promotional giants Top Rank, ticket sales for the ring return of the son of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico’s favorite son have been highly successful and a raucous crowd is to be expected on Saturday night. Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. is now back from his one year hiatus, only now the former WBC middleweight champion is no longer a middleweight. As is such, Chavez’s opponent, Austin, Texas native Brian Vera is now in the middle of a wait himself. Weight, poundage and mass are among the choicest words to accurately describe the grappling of the girth that Chavez, Jr. has so famously as well as publically battled.

To be fair, many of us aren’t as slim and trim as we’d prefer, yet even more of us are not handsomely paid professional athletes. The contracted weight for this Saturday’s bout in Carson, California was originally contracted at 168 pounds, yet rumblings emerged that the mark had been raised up another five pounds to 173.

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Undefeated Cruiserweight Quantis Graves Speaks Out On Career, Deontay Wilder, and More

How are you doing today Quantis?

I’m doing just fine. How are you?

Good, thanks. Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get involved in boxing?

I started in the streets at the age of 15, fighting in the streets. This guy suggested that I start boxing at the local gym. With that being said, I started and I didn’t like it. I stopped after 5 or 6 months. I started back when my brother was killed in the streets of New Orleans. I told my mom that I’d rather pick up some gloves than pick up a gun. That was in 2002.

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Haye-Fury has new date of February 8th – but Team-Fury not convinced, say Haye might “cry off again”

fury54David Haye and Tyson Fury will now meet on February 8th of next year, various media reports have confirmed. The fight, postponed due to Haye suffering a cut eye in sparring, will still take place at The Phones 4U Arena in Manchester.

Haye is delighted with the news:

“I was absolutely devastated this weekend, and felt as though I’d let a lot of people down. But now, with this new date, I couldn’t be happier,” Haye said. “My fans will still get the chance to see what they all wanted to see this weekend – they’ll get to see Tyson Fury sparked out in spectacular fashion. Fury might start to get brave now that he’s received a stay of execution – and he might call me names and accuse me of ducking him – but that will all be short-lived, I can promise you.

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Brian Vera – “Chavez, Jr. Has Never Faced Anyone Like Me”

chavez565Many hearts across Mexico were left broken on September 14. When Saul “Canelo” Alvarez suffered a lopsided unanimous decision loss to Floyd Mayweather, Jr., the same had happened to Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. almost one year to the day. Chavez, Jr. lost a one-sided yet almost unforgettable twelve round decision to middleweight king Sergio Martinez on September 15, 2012. The two respective losses for what many saw as Mexico’s future torchbearers behind Juan Manuel Marquez left many questions answered, yet perhaps many more to be asked of each.

In regard to Chavez, Jr., (46(32)-1-1) the son of Mexico’s greatest fighter ever, his day back in the sun (literally) will come this Saturday evening at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Standing in the way of the Culiacan, MX native is the ring hardened Brian “The Warrior” Vera of Austin, TX. Vera (23(14)-6(2) has had an interesting career in the sport. He’s experienced a stint on the reality series “The Contender” and has victories over such names as Andy Lee, Sergio Mora and Serhiy Dzinziruk.

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Left-Hook Lounge: Does Mayweather’s Legacy Hold Up in History? Will Chavez Jr./Canelo Happen? What next for Floyd?

IMG_1517Javier R. (Ontario, CA): Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. recently had some critical comments about Canelo. I know the problem between Goldenboy Promotions and Top Rank will prevent us from seeing this fight, but if it were to happen, who do you see winning?

Vivek W. (ESB): Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez currently fights at 154lbs and Chavez has struggled to make weight at 160. I wouldn’t rule out a move to 160lbs at some point for Canelo, but will that move come before Chavez Jr. is forced to move up in weight? I think it’s really tough to say. Focusing on the question itself, if the stars do align and these two men somehow square off, personally, I don’t think it’s a very easy night for Canelo. I know that all the Mayweather detractors will suddenly try to take away from his ability and say that he’s “young” and “untested”, or “not as good as the media made him out to be”. But the reality is that the kid simply loss to not only the best in this era, but arguably the best in any era.

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David Haye “gutted” at having to postpone Tyson Fury fight due to cut eye

If fans didn’t know already, September 28th’s all-British clash between Tyson Fury and David Haye has been postponed due to Haye suffering a cut above his left eye during training.

Haye suffered the injury on Friday evening and will require six stitches. According to reports, the stitches will remain in place for five to seven days and Haye is waiting on further medical advice when it comes to when he will be able to return to action.

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Caleb Truax vs Cerresso Fort: Unfinished Business; Weigh-In Results

This Saturday rising middleweight contender Caleb Truax, who was last seen knocking out Donovan George on Espn Friday Night Fights, faces an old nemesis from his brief amateur career, Cerresso Fort at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

The card is promoted by Seconds Out Promotions, a company that in recent years has created a boom for Minnesota boxing.

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A Tribute To Ken Norton – 1943-2013

norton gangAs fans have no doubt read by now, heavyweight legend and former world champion Ken Norton passed away earlier today. The magnificently conditioned former U.S Marine, most famous for his three epic fights with Muhammad Ali, suffered a stroke last year and had been in poor health since. Today, fans and former champions everywhere are sending out messages of condolence to Norton’s family.

I had the opportunity to meet Kenny last year, in Las Vegas.

By way of a tribute to the Hall of Famer who met such heavyweight titans as: Ali, Larry Holmes, George Foreman, Gerry Cooney, Earnie Shavers and many, many more – I recall the short amount of time I spent with Norton during the Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto fight week of May 2012.

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