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The latest boxing top stories and breaking news

“Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag”: Chavez Jr. at 168, Cotto’s Last Dance? & Khan’s Pursuit of Mayweather!!!

floyd7773Marco G. (Miami Lakes, FL): I’m a Chavez Jr. fan, but I was totally disgusted with the outcome of the fight! I’m beyond entertaining the thought of what our sport can do to fix this criminal activity. But I would like to know how you think he will perform at 168lbs?

Vivek W. (ESB): I think the pending move to 168lbs will demonstrate that it’s both a curse and a blessing, as all positive effects of this move will be nullified by the reality it brings. When we look at his past fights, Chavez Jr. has shown what some view to be a “very good chin”. But few stop to actually question whether or not this has anything to do with the fact that he’s taking shots from men who are naturally much smaller.

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Adonis Stevenson vs. Tavoris Cloud: “Superman will be looking for the knock-out!”

Adonis Stevenson vs Tavoris CloudOn Saturday, September 28th, from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the lineal Light Heavyweight Champion, Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (21-1, 18 KOs) will defend his Ring Magazine and WBC belts against former IBF titlist Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud (24-1, 19 KOs) as part of a sure to be action filled “Double Header” on HBO Championship Boxing.

While many ringside observers are predicting the highly anticipated match-up to go the distance, due to the mental and physical durability of the title challenger, Stevenson’s trainer, Javan “Sugar” Hill, warns everyone not to blink when the opening bell sounds.

“With Adonis, you just never know how long the fight will be,” claims the Kronk Gym trainer. “Because of his massive power, you really don’t know if the fight will go twelve rounds, six rounds, or just 76 seconds.”

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Wilder vs. Firtha on Hopkins-Murat card next month

003WildervictoryIMG_3358Unbeaten KO artist Deontay Wilder will face experienced big guy Nicolai Firtha in his next pro outing, on the Bernard Hopkins-Karo Murat under-card at The Barclays Centre New York on October 26th.

Wilder, 29-0(29) is coming off that scary 1st-round destruction of former WBO heavyweight titlist Serhai Liakhovich and it will be interesting to see if he can keep his KO streak going against the 34-year-old who is both big and game.

Firtha, 21-10-1(8) is not a top-rated contender and his record is somewhat patchy, yet he has been in with some big names and acquitted himself well. Since being stopped (arguably prematurely) in the 5th-round by Tyson Fury in what was a sizzling slugfest while it lasted, Firtha has dropped a 12-round decision to Johnathon Banks (who went on to ruin Seth Mitchell via 2nd-round stoppage, before Banks lost the return via forgettable 12-round snoozer) and won a stay-busy six-rounder against Robert Hawkins.

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Bryan Vera: “Here we go again”

Brian Vera1During his casual media workout before the now drama riddled, 173 pound, non-title, ten round attraction, Austin, Texas, resident Bryan Vera told anxious media members in attendance at the Fortune Gym in Los Angeles, California, that it was just business as usual leading into what could be the most impactful bout of Vera’s nine year professional career this Saturday night when he finally squares off against a “heavily” favored Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

“I can only do what I can do,” stated a very relaxed Bryan Vera. “I can’t concern myself with the added drama that Chavez brings to the event. I have to stay focused, and hopefully give the fans a great fight on Saturday night.”

Most ringside observers are holding their collective breaths in anticipation for what could be a promotional meltdown on Friday, September 27th, during the customary pre-fight weigh in, which is slated to be held at 6PM EST/3PM PST later this afternoon inside the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California, if “La Estrella de la Noche” doesn’t make the abridged weight limit of 173 pounds.

Will we see the dramatic “Novella” come to an anticlimactic conclusion this afternoon on the scales?

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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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