Is a Kell Brook v Amir Khan Fight Edging Closer For 2016?

08/01/201507/28/2015 Olly Campbell

Although there has yet to be any ‘official’ announcement regarding Floyd Mayweather’s September 12th opponent, the consensus in the boxing world is that Florida’s Andre Berto has got the call to be Mayweather’s 49th dance partner, and Britain’s Amir Khan – who had been so desperately pleading for the fight – has been left on the sidelines, jilted before he even got to the altar.

It would seem to most right-thinking fans that the best fight for both men would be an all-British clash between Khan and current IBF 147 lb champion Kell Brook, yet Khan has been aggressively insistent that he feels the champion is undeserving of a fight against him, given he thinks he is the bigger name and attraction (having fought at a higher level) in spite of him not being a current, reigning world champion.

Eddie Hearn Talks Double City, 2 Fight Carl Frampton/Scott Quigg Offer

08/01/201507/27/2015 Olly Campbell

If British boxing fans in particular have resided themselves to the fact that we aren’t going to see an Amir Khan/Kell Brook fight just yet, those very same fans cling to the hope that we may yet still see a bumper super-bantamweight clash between IBF 122 lb boss Carl Frampton and Bury’s WBA (reg) champion Scott Quigg.

The two camps have thus far failed to negotiate a satisfactory deal for the contest, with Eddie Hearn recently and very publicly offering Frampton a flat £1.5 million, that when the financial minutiae had been scrutinized – according to Frampton – seemed to favour Quigg, who doesn’t yet actually hold a “full” world title given the WBA’s ridiculous insistence on having 3 champions per weight class. (Guillermo Rigondeaux is their ‘real’ champion at the weight.)

Peter Fury Won’t Take Anything for Granted / Says Tyson Will Rise to the Occasion Against Klitschko

08/01/201507/27/2015 Olly Campbell

Tyson Fury goes into his world title challenge for the undisputed heavyweight championship against Wladimir Klitschko in October brimming with confidence and full of self belief, convinced that his sheer size and skill-set will present the long dominant champion with a set of unique challenges that will ultimately be enough to see him through to victory.

Speaking to iFLtv his trainer and Uncle, Peter Fury, has said that while Tyson is indeed fearless going in against Wladimir, it is up to him to assess things realistically and come up with the right strategy for his nephew to win the fight, something no other man has managed in over 11 years.

Carson Jones: Back on UK Shores to Cause the Upset

08/01/201507/27/2015 Olly Campbell

This Saturday in Hull, America’s Carson Jones once again comes to the UK to face former 154 lb world title challenger Brian Rose, in what will be a “repeat or revenge” affair following on from their first meeting back in February.

On that occasion the Blackpool fighter wobbled the American early in the opening stanza, yet moments later Jones managed to connect over Rose’s guard with a big right hand that landed on the ear and scrambled his senses, forcing the intervention of referee Ian John Lewis – a stoppage Rose and promoter Eddie Hearn claimed was premature.

Nick Blackwell Retains / Hughie Fury Victorious In Derby

08/01/201507/26/2015 Olly Campbell

British middleweight champion Nick Blackwell (18-3-1, 8ko) produced the goods in Derby last night to retain his title with an emphatic stoppage victory over the previously undefeated Damon Jones (now 13-1, 3ko), live on Channel 5.

The ever improving Blackwell is still only 24 years of age and his 3 defeats have all come at the hands of solid European and world level fighters in Martin Murray (2011), Billy Joe Saunders (2012) and former EBU champion Max Bursak (2013) in fights he arguably took too soon.

Lee/Saunders Could Be Hagler/Hearns-esque Says Adam Booth

08/01/201507/25/2015 Olly Campbell

Andy Lee’s trainer Adam Booth, who oversaw David Haye’s rise to cruiser and heavyweight stardom, is looking forward to September’s bragging rights fight between his man and Billy Joe Saunders, which sees two men from the travellling community contesting a version of a world title for the first time in history.

There has already been something of a boxer/puncher narrative unfolding regarding the fight between the two southpaws, and speaking to Sky Sports, Booth suggested he wouldn’t be surprised to see tactics thrown out of the window on the night in much the same way Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns threw out the rule book in their legendary 3 round war in 1985.

Dereck Chisora Set To Face Lucas Browne? / Wants Helenius or Teper

08/01/201507/25/2015 Olly Campbell

Last night saw the ring return of rejuvenated heavyweight contender Dereck Chisora, now split from long-time former trainer Don Charles, taking on Georgia’s Beqa Lobjanidze, who had been knocked out in 4 rounds by Brixton’s Dillian Whyte back in February.

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.

Bad News For Kid Galahad / Doping Ban Upheld

07/24/201507/24/2015 Olly Campbell

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.

Frank Buglioni: Can’t Take His Eye Off The Ball Tonight In London

07/24/201507/23/2015 Olly Campbell

Tonight in London, Enfield’s “Wise Guy” Frank Buglioni should have been fighting for the WBA (reg) 168 lb title against newly crowned Russian champion Fedor Chudinov, however a broken nose in sparring has postponed the fight and he must instead face late replacement Mexican opponent Fernando Castaneda (23-9) instead.

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.

Arthur Abraham v Martin Murray Possible For Oct / Nov?

07/24/201507/23/2015 Olly Campbell

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.