For a population of around 65million (tens of millions less than America) the UK boxing scene currently boasts a truly exceptional number of world champions – 13, in fact. America currently has just nine reigning world champions. Quite amazing, really. The success British fighters have been enjoying over the past year or so just keeps on growing. With Sunday’s fantastic, underdog win by Tony Bellew in capturing the WBC cruiserweight title, British boxing now boasts a world champion in no less than ten weight divisions.
British Boxing
British Boxing News
Tony Bellew-David Haye: could this fight really happen?
Talk is cheap, as we know, and the mere fact that brand new WBC cruiserweight champ Tony Bellew has called out David Haye, insisting he would beat him and KO him, does not mean the fight will actually happen. But Bellew, who overcame a very capable and dangerously avoided fighter in Ilunga Makabu on Sunday night, has got the attention of the former undisputed cruiserweight king. Haye, as fans know, is campaigning as a heavyweight these days (since 2008 in fact) but he has not ruled out a fight with Bellew.
David Price back to winning ways, now wants shot at Anthony Joshua
Last night, on the under-card of Tony Bellew’s fantastic KO win over the dangerous Ilunga Makabu, heavyweight contender David Price returned to winning ways. Fighting for the first time since his July 2015 KO loss to Erkan Teper – who subsequently failed a post-fight drugs test and was banned from boxing – 32-year-old Price made short work of Czech Republic heavy Vaclav Pejsar. Price decked the 9-2(8) 31-year-old in the opening round and finished the job in the 2nd. Pejsar is no top contender, but he had never previously been stopped and he had won his previous four fights.
Bellew defeats Makabu; Price and Smith win – results
Tony Bellew (27-2-1, 17 KOs) picked up the WBC cruiserweight title tonight with an easier than expected 3rd round knockout win over Ilunga Makabu (19-2, 18 KOs) at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England. Bellew went in the underdog but he showed that the oddsmakers had been wrong in installing the 28-year-old Makabu the favorite.
Bellew took Makabu out in the third round with some hard shots to the head after backing him up against the ropes. Makabu went down hard and was unable to continue.
Tony Bellew in bullish mood ahead of title fight with Ilunga Makabu, eyes cruiserweight clash with David Haye!
Tony Bellew is supremely confident heading into tonight’s WBC cruiserweight battle with fellow puncher Ilunga Makabu in his native Liverpool. Bellew, who will go to war at the home ground of his beloved Everton football club, insists nothing Makabu, 19-1(18) can do will prevent him from realising his dream and capturing the vacant green belt. Bellew is sure his moment of destiny has arrived and he is even talking about who he would like to fight after he’s beaten Makabu: none other than former undisputed cruiserweight champ and former WBA heavyweight ruler David Haye.
Conor Benn makes it 2-0 as a pro with points win over Luke Keleher
Tonight on the Ricky Burns-Michelle Di Rocco card in Glasgow, Scotland, 19-year-old super-lightweight Conor Benn won his second pro bout with a four-round points win over Luke Keleher. Benn was unable to get the KO he seemed desperate to get, but he won the exciting if scrappy affair with his sheer, sometimes quite reckless aggression. 29-year-old Keleher, who did well not to be overwhelmed and indeed gave as good as he got in a couple of the all-action rounds, falls to 2-5-1(1), he has not yet been stopped as a pro. Benn won by the sole scoring official’s card of 40-36 but Keleher may feel aggrieved not to have been awarded at least one even round.
Evander Holyfield says Anthony Joshua has “a great chance” at breaking Marciano’s legendary 49-0 record
It’s one of the most famous and revered set of numbers in the sport of boxing: heavyweight immortal Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record. Ever since “The Rock” said goodbye to the ring with his perfect ledger, have heavyweights tried to break the record the hugely popular fighter (hugely popular in both life and in death) left behind. Larry Holmes came closest, in 1985, when he defeated Carl Williams to extends his record to 48-0. A controversial and very bitter (for Holmes) loss to Michael Spinks in a heavily hyped fight that same year ruined Larry’s aims to tie with Marciano’s magical numbers.
Eubank Junior on how he would beat GGG: “I see slowness, I see a weak defence”
British middleweight champ Chris Eubank Junior keeps talking about world middleweight king Gennady Golovkin and a potential fight between the two. And Eubank Jr, not at all lacking in confidence and self belief, insists he can beat the feared puncher known as Triple G. In fact, take away Golovkin’s power, Eubank says, and GGG becomes a “slow” fighter with “a weak defence.”
Speaking with Voice Of Sport, 26-year-old Eubank Jr, said the only way Golovkin beats him is by knocking him out; something he insists would not happen if the two fought.
David Haye vs Arnold Gjergjaj achieves a peak audience of 2.5m
Hayemaker Promotions and UKTV are delighted to announce that David Haye’s victory over Arnold Gjergjaj was another huge success. With a peak audience of 2.5m tuning in, ‘Haye Day II’ formed part of Dave’s biggest day in its history.
The Hayemaker continued on his pursuit of regaining the World Heavyweight crown by destroying Gjergjaj in front of a sell-out 16,000 crowd at The O2 Arena on the Haye Day II extravaganza – his 15th win inside two rounds.
Bellew vs Makabu at Goodison Park on Sunday May 29
Tony Bellew has told Ilunga Makabu that he will not deny him his dream World title win when they clash for the vacant WBC Cruiserweight strap at Goodison Park in Liverpool on Sunday May 29, live on Sky Sports.
Bellew welcomes Makabu into the Lion’s den on Sunday night when the pitch where his beloved Everton play on becomes the stage for his third crack at landing a World title.