Andy Lee’s Dream Come True by Winning World Title

12/15/201412/14/2014 ESB

Andy Lee from Limerick, Ireland wakes up this morning as the new WBO world middleweight champion following an impressive sixth round stoppage win over Matt Korobov last night in Las Vegas, USA.

Lee started the fight by keeping matters at long range and was patience using his jab and picking his punches. Both boxers utilized their respective technical boxing skills in the early going with not much to split them.

In round six Lee stepped up and unleashed a ferocious right hook which stunned Korobov to his boots, sensing blood Lee moved in and unleashed a barrage of heavy punches forcing referee Kenny Bayless to stop the fight at 1.10 into the round.

Stiverne Defends Against KO Artist Wilder Jan. 17 On Showtime At MGM

12/15/201412/14/2014 Showtime Boxing

The most significant heavyweight matchup in the United States in a decade was formally announced on Saturday night. Hard-hitting WBC Heavyweight World Champion Bermane Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs), of Las Vegas, is set to defend his title against unbeaten knockout specialist and mandatory challenger Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Jan. 17. The potentially explosive bout between the two big-punching heavyweights will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and be televised live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/7p.m. PT).

The event is co-promoted by Don King Productions and Golden Boy Promotions and will feature undefeated IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz (28-0-1, 16 KOs) defending his belt against a challenger to be announced.

Khan defeats Alexander; Thurman unimpressive against Bundu

12/15/201412/13/2014 Showtime Boxing

Amir Khan won a convincing 12-round unanimous decision victory over Devon Alexander in a matchup of two of the fastest welterweights in the world on Saturday in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The impressive victory was nearly a shutout, with Khan winning 119-109, 118-110 and 120-108 to remain undefeated at 147 pounds and extend his winning streak against southpaws to seven.

In just his second fight at welterweight pounds, Khan was the supremely accurate boxer. The former unified super lightweight world champion landed 54 percent of his power punches to Alexander’s 32 percent and 43 percent of his total shots versus Alexander’s 20 percent. But it was Khan’s hand speed and combinations that were too much for Alexander, who couldn’t get inside against and take any chances against the Brit.

Erislandy Lara Defeats Ishe Smith; Floyd Mayweather Calls Out Pacquiao

12/13/201412/13/2014 Showtime Boxing

Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara (20-2-2, 12 KOs) retained his WBA Super Welterweight World Championship with a convincing 12-round unanimous decision victory over Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith (26-7, 12 KOs) in the SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION main event Friday night from The Illusions Theater at The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

After a strong first round for Smith, Lara dominated the remainder of the fight using a combination of movement, speed and accuracy to secure the decision 117-111, 119-109 twice.

Mayweather wants Pacquiao fight for May 2nd on Cinco de Mayo

12/15/201412/13/2014 Rob Smith

Earlier tonight on Showtime, WBA/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr said he’d be interested in facing Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd if the fight can be made. Mayweather invited talks with Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank to work on putting the fight together. However, Mayweather pointed out that he feels that the 36-year-old Pacquiao is begging for a fight with him by the way he’s been looking to fight him recently.

Mayweather said that the negotiation point won’t be the same as it was in the past when he attempted to fight Pacquiao in 2010 and was willing to give him a 50-50 deal. Mayweather says Pacquiao has twice lost since that fight. Just what kind of purse split Mayweather would be looking to get is anyone’s guess. It’s not likely that he’ll agree to anything in the neighborhood of 55-45. I’d be surprised if Mayweather even agrees to a 60-40 split given the way Pacquiao’s pay-per-view numbers have been reportedly tanking.

Lara schools Ishe Smith in one-sided fight

12/13/201412/13/2014 Rob Smith

In an impressive performance, WBA 154 pound champion Erislandy Lara (20-2-2, 12 KOs) put on a boxing clinic in defeating grizzled veteran Ishe Smith (26-7, 12 KOs) by a 12 round unanimous decision tonight to retain his WBA title at the Illusions Theater at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Smith, 36, tried his best, but Lara picked him apart with left hand pot shots in the center of the ring from rounds 2 through 12. Smith had his moments in rounds 1, 7 and 11, but that was the extent of it. He simply was no match for the faster, cleaner landing Lara while the two were in the center of the ring. Smith did well when he was able to trap Lara against the ropes and land body shots.

De la Hoya, Canelo Forced to Wait on Cotto

12/12/201412/12/2014 Vivek Wallace

Within the past two weeks, it seems that talks between the Cotto and Canelo camps have gone from hot to cold. What initially appeared to be on the brink of getting done has suddenly presented a reality which boast the polar opposite. Last week, Oscar De la Hoya said that he and Canelo had signed the deal, and were simply waiting on Team Cotto.

Speaking under the condition of anonymity, one source close to Cotto made it very clear that this “process” is not quite a done deal. When asked specifically, the source stated “while Canelo is the fight we want, we’re also cognizant of the fact that we do have options; most which will listen more and dictate less”.

“Night of Champions” card honors Dan Goossen in style

12/12/2014 Michael Montero

photos by Tiffany Lam: Thursday night ESPN Boxing put on a special three-hour telecast featuring four bouts. It was all part of a stacked Goossen Promotions card at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula California dedicated to the memory of the late Dan Goossen.

http://youtu.be/naCRgLDaZTk

In the main event, 46-year-old Antonio Tarver was coming in off a yearlong layoff against Detroit native Johnathon Banks, who was making his ring return after a year and half off himself. The heavyweight fight started very slowly, drawing boos from the crowd. But Tarver the former light-heavyweight champion of the world, appeared to be in control, occasionally timing his opponent and landing clean left hands that buzzed him. Banks did absolutely nothing but feint and tie up, hardly throwing a punch in the early rounds. Tarver’s game plan was obvious, to lure Banks in for a big counterpunch. But would he have the speed, and power, to pull it off?

Khan vs. Alexander: East meets West at the crossroads

12/15/201412/12/2014 Chris Carlson

Contender crossroads is the theme heading into Saturday nights Showtime main event from the MGM Grand in the city that never sleeps Las Vegas. If Amir wins he will be in line for a huge fight. If Devon wins he saves a once promising career.

For the last two years the only thing that Amir Kahn talks about in interviews is Floyd Mayweather. That and how he’s made significant improvements to his tool belt as a boxer. If Amir Khan can be 75% as good as he thinks he is major fights will be on tap for 2015 and beyond.

Slowly but surely the tide is turning in Khan’s favor for landing Mayweather. There is a small swell of fans who think Khan is being ducked because of his skill set and speed. Meanwhile, his handlers have been carefully matching him after Danny Garcia stopped Khan in the summer of 2012.

Trout defeats Grajeda; Tarver stops Banks

12/12/201412/12/2014 Rob Smith

#6 WBA Austin Trout (28-2, 15 KOs) proved tonight he could beat a 2nd tier fighter in stopping Luis Grajeda (17-4-2, 13 KOs) in the 7th round at the Pechanga Resort & Casino, in Temecula, California, USA. Grajeda didn’t come out for the 8th round and the fight was halted with him on his stool. It was a boring fight from start to finish with Trout taking the fight to a reluctant looking Grajeda. Both guys were counter punchers, but Trout was clearly the better fighter of the two by far.

You have to wonder why Trout was fighting someone of this class. Trout looked horrible in his last fight against Daniel Dawson, which is perhaps why his management chose to step him down in competition rather than move him up a level. We basically learned nothing from this fight other than the fact that Trout can beat an over-matched opponent without much punching power. Trout is likely going to still have the same problems in the future once he’s stepped up a couple of levels to face someone with punching power.