British Boxing

British Boxing News

Mark de Mori on Haye’s ongoing comeback: “His power is ridiculous”

Mark de Mori on Haye’s ongoing comeback: “His power is ridiculous”

David Haye has his critics, plenty of them in fact, but two things cannot be denied: Haye’s punching-power and his box-office appeal. This Saturday (on terrestrial channel ‘Dave’ for UK fight fans) the 35-year-old former champ will continue his comeback as he aims for a shot at regaining at least a slice of the heavyweight crown.

Haye, 27-2(25) and beaten only by Carl Thompson (down at cruiserweight and seemingly an eternity ago now in 2004) and Wladimir Klitschko, will face unbeaten but largely unknown Arnold Gjergjaj in London and, assuming all goes well, he will then face vocal former WBO heavyweight champ Shannon Briggs in September.

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Haye defends his choice of opposition: “Gjergjaj is perfect preparation and then I’ll look at a big fight with Briggs”

Haye defends his choice of opposition: “Gjergjaj is perfect preparation and then I’ll look at a big fight with Briggs”

David Haye, the former undisputed cruiserweight ruler and a former WBA heavyweight champ, continues his comeback this Saturday, against unbeaten but little-known Arnold Gjergjaj in a scheduled 10-rounder at The O2 in London. Gjergjaj is young at age 31 and he has a good-looking 29-0(21) record. However, the critics have, well, criticised Haye’s choice of opponent, some even saying Gjergjaj represents a step down from Haye’s first comeback foe, Mark de Mori.

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Could Tyson Fury become another Buster Douglas? David Haye fears the worst

Could Tyson Fury become another Buster Douglas? David Haye fears the worst

It’s been said before now, by a number of fans, that heavyweight ruler Tyson Fury – who partied and partied after winning the crown and piled on a ton of weight as a result – could go down in history as “another Buster Douglas.” Douglas of course, smashed “invincible” heavyweight king Mike Tyson to defeat in a truly stunning performance, then ate himself up to around 300-pounds and almost lost his life after falling into a diabetic coma.

Hopefully Fury will not follow such a path, but there are fresh concerns in light of his terrible physical appearance at “that” press conference in Manchester last month. Fury has since shifted a substantial amount of the excess weight he packed on and hopefully he will be fully focused going into his July 9 rematch with Wladimir Klitschko.

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Lee Haskins retains IBF bantamweight crown with UD over Ivan Morales

Last night in Cardiff, Wales Lee Haskins retained his IBF bantamweight title for the first time with a comprehensive 12-round unanimous decision over once-beaten challenger Ivan Morales. Crafty and tricky southpaw counter puncher Haskins won by scores of 119-108 and 118-110, 118-110. Now 33-3(14) the 32-year-old will next face mandatory challenger and former foe Stuey Hall. Morales, younger brother off Mexican living legend Erik Morales, falls to 29-2(17).

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Jack Catterall defeats Joe Hughes

British boxing’s hottest talent Jack Catterall comprehensively outpointed Malmesbury’s Joe Hughes to retain his WBO Intercontinental Super-Lightweight title and earn himself a shot at the British title. Slick southpaw Catterall dominated for large spells of a gripping encounter against a rough and ready Hughes. Ultimately, undefeated Catterall’s class showed as he took a deserved unanimous decision with scores of 115-113, 117-112 and 117-113.

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Enzo Maccarinelli to face Dmytro Kucher for vacant Euro cruiserweight title, McKenzie withdraws with illness

Enzo Maccarinelli to face Dmytro Kucher for vacant Euro cruiserweight title, McKenzie withdraws with illness

BBC sport in Wales is reporting how former WBO cruiserweight champ Enzo Maccarinelli will face Dmytro Kucher in June, for the vacant European 200-pound title. Ovill McKenzie, a former two-time opponent of the Welshman, has been forced to withdraw from the Kucher fight due to illness. Maccarinelli, 41-7(33) and a former European champ at cruiser now gets a chance to become a two-time Euro ruler at York Hall in London on June 10th.

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Dillian Whyte – Hughie Fury ordered by BBB of C, to decide vacant British heavyweight title

Dillian Whyte - Hughie Fury ordered by BBB of C, to decide vacant British heavyweight title

With IBF heavyweight ruler Anthony Joshua having vacated the British title he won just this past December in a thrilling battle with Dillian Whyte, the British Boxing Board have called for Whyte to face unbeaten Hughie Fury to decide the vacant title. In a brief interview with Sky Sports, Board chairman Robert Smith said the fight will go to purse bids if no deal can be reached between the two fighters and their teams in the meantime:

“The purse bids are due on June 8, however, they have between now and June 8 to negotiate the private deal if they wish,” Smith said today.

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Khan: I don’t like Brook, I’m not going to give him the fight; Garcia at top of my list

Khan: I don’t like Brook, I’m not going to give him the fight; Garcia at top of my list

Until now, Amir Khan, when asked when he will fight British rival Kell Brook (who is constantly calling Khan out) answered that the fight would take place in time, or when Brook has added a big name or two to his resume. This is not what Khan is saying now, however. Coming straight to the point, Khan says he “doesn’t like” Brook, and he insists, “I’m not going to give him the fight.”

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The better fighter: Khan or Hatton? Magic Man Malignaggi says Khan

The better fighter: Khan or Hatton? Magic Man Malignaggi says Khan

Fight fans, perhaps more than fans of any other sport, love a debate – even if there can never, ever be one definitive answer to the argument. And former world champ Paulie Malignaggi has surely started a debate with his stated opinion that, out of Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton, Khan goes down as the better fighter.

Malignaggi – who is matching his ring accomplishments with the talent he is showing for commentary – spoke with Mail Online and the man who fought both Hatton and Khan (losing to both via 11th-round stoppage, the Hatton loss being a corner retirement decision) gave his arguments for ranking Khan above Hatton.

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Khan says he’d like to return in December in the UK; talks possible Cotto, Garcia, Pacquiao fights

Khan says he’d like to return in December in the UK; talks possible Cotto, Garcia, Pacquiao fights

Amir Khan, thankfully okay after being brought down by one heck of a thudding blow by the much bigger and more powerful Saul Canelo Alvarez, is already plotting his next move; and this certainly does not include retirement. Khan, a fighter who has always gone after the biggest fights on a global scale, has lost none of his ambition, even if his gamble of a weight climb against Alvarez resulted in his fourth career defeat. In fact Khan, as he revealed when speaking with Sky Sports, has maintained his desire to engage in mega-fights.

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