Every Scottish fighter operating in the lighter divisions who shows the first hint of potential is immediately burdened by comparison to Ken Buchanan, the greatest fighter this small nation of five million has ever produced. It is a burden they are forced to carry as they try to live up to the great lightweight world champion’s tremendous legacy, one of the greatest ever cultivated by a lightweight anywhere in any era. In every case up to now it has proved a curse, damning the unfortunate recipient of such high expectations with unrealistic promise.
British Boxing
British Boxing News
Anthony Joshua will box in Manchester on December 10, “With or without Wladimir Klitschko”
With the seemingly close – in fact, tantalisingly so – Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko fight now looking doubtful due to the WBA’s indecision on sanctioning the fight, promoter Eddie Hearn has again began looking for the reigning IBF champ’s next challenger. Joshua, 17-0(17) will fight as planned on December 10 in Manchester, “with or without Wladimir Klitschko.”
Klitschko-Joshua hits a snag, Hearn exploring “alternative options” for December
The big, anticipated heavyweight title fight between former champ Wladimir Klitschko and reigning IBF titlist Anthony Joshua has hit a road bump in the form of the WBA not yet sanctioning the proposed December fight. Eddie Hearn, in speaking with Sky Sports today, explained how both fighters want the WBA belt to be on the line in the fight and until the organisation goes ahead and sanctions Klitschko-Joshua, the promoter says he will look at “alternative options” for AJ and his next fight.
Dillian Whyte calls out Lucas Browne, calls him “a big baby”
Newly crowned British heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte says he wants to get one more fight in before the end of the year, and he told Sky Sports that his ideal choice of opponent would be Australia’s former WBA belt-holder Lucas Browne. Whyte, beaten as a pro only by reigning IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua (with whom Whyte is convinced he will one day get a return fight) has called the man known as “Big Daddy,” “a big baby.”
Whyte says he would love to fight, and silence, the man he has been going back and forth with on Twitter.
Veteran scribe Colin Hart lists his top-10 greatest living British fighters
Inspired by the recent top-10 greatest living fighters poll by Ring Magazine, veteran British boxing writer Colin Hart has produced his picks for the ten greatest living British fighters (note: ‘living’ fighters, not all-time greats). With some six decades of covering boxing under his belt and the huge amount of knowledge that has been picked up along the way, the 80-something Hart is probably one of the most qualified writers to come up with such a list.
Has Tony Bellew sold the British public on a fight with David Haye?
Both Tony Bellew and David Haye have options, quite a few in fact. WBC cruiserweight champion Bellew has a number of potentially big and financially rewarding fights at 200-pounds, where the proud Liverpool man could try and unify the division, while Haye, who has a fight upcoming in December (opponent still to be determined) has possible big money fights with the likes of Anthony Joshua (really big money!) and maybe Shannon Briggs on the horizon.
Klitschko-Joshua agreed, official announcement expected this week
It seems fans can, at the very least, pencil the date of December 10 in their diary, with the date underlined for a massive heavyweight event. Eddie Hearn, speaking with BBC Radio 5 Live, said that the deal between the two fighters “is there” and that all that needs to be sorted out now is the sanctioning requests. Hearn said that as long as the governing bodies are happy, the fight WILL go ahead, likely in Manchester, this December.
Danny Garcia says Amir Khan is a better fighter than Keith Thurman
With welterweights Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman, arguably the two best 147-pound fighters operating today, set to meet next year (likely in March) there have been verbal barbs exchanged bwteeen the two. Thurman, unbeaten and the reigning WBA champion, laid into Garcia for choosing the unheralded Samuel Vargas, tweeting how Garcia should “enjoy your last cherry of the year…..I’ll be waiting to take that green belt in 2017!”
David Haye Predicts Tony Bellew vs BJ Flores
David Haye has told fans to put their money on B.J. Flores to rip Tony Bellew’s WBC World Cruiserweight title from him when they meet at the Echo Arena in Liverpool tomorrow night, live on Sky Sports.
Bellew defends his crown for the first time since his stunning KO win over Ilunga Makabu at Goodison Park in May, and for brash American Flores, it could be his last shot at World glory having been edged out on points for the interim WBA crown by Beibut Shumenov last July.
David Haye: “Joshua beats Klitschko easily, all he needs is a fair referee”
Former WBA heavyweight champ David Haye, who was soundly out-pointed in a disappointing challenge of Wladimir Klitschko way back in 2011, says that should Anthony Joshua fight Klitschko next, it will be the 40-year-old ex-champ who is soundly beaten – maybe even disqualified! Speaking with Sky Sports, Haye said he feels Joshua “wins that fight easily.”
Klitschko-Joshua has not yet been made official, but promoter Eddie Hearn has said numerous times how the fight is “close” and an official announcement should be forthcoming soon. But Haye sees only one winner, and it’s the man he wants to fight; hopefully next summer at Wembley.