Weigh-In: Berto – Soto Karass, Figueroa – Arakawa, Thurman – Chaves

DSC_4273(Photo credit: Steve Lopez) Trim, fit and ready to go. The Knockout Kings are ready to put on a show in Texas.

Deep in the south of San Antonio, TX was the setting for the weigh in for Knockout Kings II. Typically, weigh-ins are held in front of arenas, theatres, public monuments or even indoor malls. San Antonio decided to be a little different and rugged this time and opted to host the weight-in in a sort of old-fashioned way in front of an HEB grocery food store.

Regards less of where it was held, the fans came out to show plenty of support along with members of the media for coverage. It just goes to show you that the Texas fans are willing to support the sport, even in a parking lot of a grocery store. All they need is a stage, loud music and beer models. Fans are ready to fill up the AT&T Center this Saturday 07/27/13 night!

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Knockout Kings II Final Press Conference: Berto – Soto Karass, Figueroa-Arakawa and Thurman-Chaves

DSC_4121Knockout Kings are back in San Antonio, TX!

Showtime Championship Boxing returns to the culturally-rich city of San Antonio, TX to host a tripleheader that is sure to produce fireworks. “Knockout Kings II” will feature Keith Thurman VS. Diego Chaves, Omar Figueroa, Jr., VS Nihito Arakawa and Andre Berto VS. Soto Karass as the headliner.

The final press conference for the event was held on 07/27/13. The title for this card has the word “knockout” in it for a reason: all the fighters in the televised tripleheader have the ability and desire to end it via KO rather than going to the scorecards. One reason is perhaps the fact that Oscar De La Hoya will indeed grant a bonus to the fighter who will score the most spectacular knockout of the evening. This can only be a good thing for fight fans attending and watching the fight nationwide. With every fighter looking at scoring that extra bonus, it’s hard to pick which fight will steal the show.

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Carl Froch-George Groves WBA/IBF title fight confirmed for later this year; date and venue to be announced soon

Georges_GrovesIt’s official: Carl Froch will defend his WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles against unbeaten countryman George Groves later this year at a venue in the UK to be determined soon. The exact date is also TBA but both men appeared live on Sky Sports News at 12 noon UK time today, to talk about the fight.

Froch, unable he said to get rematches with Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward right now, is excited about giving the UK fans a domestic fight that will contest two major world titles.

“I think this fight is a real treat for the fans,” Froch said. “Some people have said George Groves is not in the same class as me, but there is no danger of me underestimating him. I will take this fight very, very seriously and will bring my A-game as I always do. Groves has done everything asked of him and Eddie Hearn has done a great job getting him the mandatory position. I will prepare like I’m fighting one of the best fighters in the world.

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Berto faces Soto Karass; Thurman battles Chaves this Saturday on Showtime

berto233This Saturday night on Showtime, undefeated welterweight Keith “One Time” Thurman (20-0, 18 KO’s) faces off against unbeaten Argentinian Diego Chaves (22-0, 18 KO’s) and former IBF/WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto 28-2, 22 KO’s) takes on Jesus Soto Karass (27-8-3, 17 KO’s) at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Both fights are scheduled for 12 rounds and both have titles on line. Thurman-Chaves will be fighting for the interim WBA 147 lb. title, and Berto-Soto Karass will be fighting for the vacant NABF welterweight strap.

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Left-Hook Lounge: Mayweather’s legacy, Pacquiao’s future, and a Trinidad vs GGG fantasy!!!

06MayweatherandCaneloatDaisIMG_3770Jeremy H. (Orlando, FL): How do you compare the legacy of Floyd Mayweather to other athletes in history? In other words, what are your thoughts about him as a man, an athlete, and overall as a person, when he look at his legacy compared to great athletes of the past?

Vivek W. (ESB): This is a very broad question to tackle in just a few paragraphs. I think to best answer it, we have to look at things from day one. When we look at the entire history of Mayweather, we see a man who has had a very storied career that has seen him dominate from a very early stage. Even prior to the professional ranks, you have to consider that there was an Olympic Bronze that would have been a Gold had it not been for a poor decision. From day one, this has been a fighter who has proven himself at every level.

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Dereck Chisora Takes Away Malik Scott’s Unbeaten Record With Controversial 6th-round Count-Out

chisora101Tonight at Wembley, Dereck Chisora got back to winning ways with a 6th-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Malik Scott. The ending, at the very least a slightly controversial one, came at the two minute and 56-seconds mark of the 6th.

Chisora, in improving to 17-4(11) said after the fight that he wants to go back to Germany to fight the Klitschkos, again in the case of WBC king Vitali. Scott, now 35-1-1(12) said “everyone knows I beat the count,” yet otherwise took the defeat graciously.

So, now to the controversy. Scott, ahead on the cards at the time of the stoppage and having boxed very well, was belted by a right hand shot that landed on the back of the head as he was on the ropes. Scott went down, smiling as he did so, appearing relatively unhurt.

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John Molina stops Bey in 10th round

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John Molina (26-3, 21 KO’s) was able to come back in the 10th round tonight to pull out a victory by stopping Mickey Bey (18-1-1, 9 KO’s) in the 10th round at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Going into the 10th round, it looked like a certain defeat for Molina, but he was able to connect with a short left hook to the head while in close with Bey.

The punch badly hurt Bey, who attempted to clinch, but Molina wouldn’t let. Molina kept throwing punch after punch until referee Vic Drakulich stepped in and halted the bout at 2:01 of the round.

Bey had been dominating the action in the three prior to the 10th, standing with his back against the ropes and beating Molina at his own game by slugging it out with him. At the start of the 10th, Bey unloaded with a sustained flurry of body and head shots that appeared to hurt Molina. He had Molina just standing there like a punching bag and he could pounded him the entire round if he had kept throwing punch. But it looked like Bey gassed out or got cautious all of a sudden because he backed off and stood dared Molina to come forward.

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Carl Froch, A modern day great?

froch11Carl Froch(31-2,22ko’s), Britain’s pound for pound number one is currently riding the crest of a wave. His win over Mikkel Kessler(46-3,35ko’s) catapulted him into the general public’s attention and has solidified him as being one of Britain’s greatest and most entertaining fighters. Had Froch had the publicity earlier on in his career as Amir Khan had and the likes of Luke Campbell and Anthony Joshua are now obtaining, who knows how much of a star the Nottingham man may have become.

As it is however, Carl has finally reached the top and is now bankable box office draw. The question is though, is Carl Froch, and can he ever become, a modern day great. In years to come will he be remembered as fondly as the likes of Eubank, Benn, Lewis, Hatton and Calzaghe.

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Broner to Danny Garcia: F**k that dude [Matthysse] up; I’ll get the other Argentine [Maidana]

broner544For the first time WBA welterweight champion Adrien Broner (27-0, 22 KO’s) revealed that he could be facing the hard hitting Argentinian challenger Marcos Maidana (34-3, 31 KO’s) next rather than vacating his title and ducking the fight like a lot of boxing fans think Broner will do.

Broner sent a twitter of encouragement today to WBA/WBC light welterweight champion Danny Garcia, telling him to beat his scheduled September 14th opponent Argentinian Lucas Matthysse (34-2, 32 KO’s), and that Broner would then take care of the other Argentinian, meaning Maidana.

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Building The Perfect Heavyweight!

Begging the pardon of Alexander Povetkin (who gets the next shot), the David Haye-Tyson Fury winner, Deontay Wilder and the tough and avoided Kubrat Pulev, but no-one looks like defeating heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko. Older brother Vitali, if he risks his fine record by sticking around too long and battling Father Time might, just might, be the victim of a young fighter being smack bang in the right place at the right time, but “Dr. Steel Hammer” looks set to walk away having remained unbeaten since way back in April of 2004.

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