British Boxing News
It was a brief warm up for Chisora who had not been in the ring since he was soundly beaten last November by Tyson Fury, yet it took all of 30 seconds to shake off the rust and dispose of Lobjanidze with a clubbing overhand right in the 1st round that sent his foe crumpling helplessly to the canvas.
Unbeaten British 122 lb prospect Barry Awad aka Kid Galahad has had a 2 year ban for doping upheld by the UK anti-doping agency after testing positive for a banned steroid following his win over Adeilson Dos Santos in September of last year.
Galahad, a product of the famous Wincobank gym in Sheffield that has produced the likes of Naseem Hamed and current IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook, had claimed that a protein drink had been spiked by his brother – currently in prison – who provided a sworn affadavit to that effect – although the claim was rejected by the UKADA appeals panel.
The Mexican fighter has lost 3 of his last 5 and boxed up at cruiserweight for his last bout (a win) coming in at yesterday’s weigh-in 7 lbs over the super middleweight limit.
If Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn has anything to do with it, his new signing Martin Murray will get a title shot at WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham before the year is out.
Abraham boxed in his 21st world title fight last weekend, winning his 4th encounter with Robert Stieglitz in Germany by 6th round stoppage to win their series 3:1, yet the now 35 year old war horse suffered a fractured jaw in the process.
Conversely, Britain’s Murray boxed in Manchester in his 2nd fight in three weeks since moving up to 168 lbs, stopping the visibly larger Mirzet Bajrektaravic inside five rounds to seal off his “easing into” the super middleweight division.
The ever honest Saunders is confident of dethroning his Irish rival in style and being crowned the new champion, yet in the event that happens, don’t expect him to sign for a unification with murderous punching Kazakh Gennady Golovkin – arguably the most avoided fighter in boxing today depending on who you believe.
Today saw the London presser to promote the historic contest between the two southpaws – which is already developing into the classic boxer v puncher narrative – and will see two men of traveller origins contesting a version of the world title for the very first time.
Talking about what the fight means to him, unbeaten former Olympian Saunders, said;
Talking to iFLtv and evidently referencing David Haye, who twice signed – and twice pulled out – of fighting the Manchester born fighter, Fury said;
“When you’re three months away from a fight, these idiot’s they automatically get injuries don’t they? When things aren’t going right for them in training camp they pull out.
It’s looking like WBC 168 lb mandatory George Groves may have to wait a little bit longer for his opportunity to dethrone new champion Badou Jack, with the mooted August 22nd date reportedly being moved to the Mayweather v Bero under card on September 12th.
Before the August date was announced, “Money Team” member Jack had hinted the fight would take place on Floyd’s Vegas under card, and now Showtime exec Chris DeBlastio has confirmed the broadcaster doesn’t have an event scheduled for the 22nd.
Haye more than came up short that night and failed to back up his pre-fight boasts, blaming his lackluster performance on a broken toe, yet Wladimir feels Haye came out the other side a ‘better person’, having learned a valuable lesson in humility, and Dr.Steelhammer today said to iFLtv that he expects this fight to play out much the same way.
Last weekend in Germany the rebuilding of David Price failed spectacularly when he was knocked out cold by German based Turk, Erkan Teper, ostensibly ending any hopes he ever had of reaching world level.
The former Olympic medalist has never really recovered from the two devastating, back-to-back losses to Tony Thompson in 2013, and following the fight there were murmurings that he could still provide a credible test for some of the young British heavyweights coming through, such as Hughie Fury or Anthony Joshua.