Month: May 2015

Floyd Mayweather: Nineteen Years, One Excuse

Floyd Mayweather: Nineteen Years, One Excuse

Manny Pacquiao, outpointed by Mayweather on May 2nd, recently underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, the shoulder injury which he blamed for his defeat, infuriating Mayweather to say, “I’ve lost all respect for him”, and brand him a “coward”. “I’m not going to buy into the bulls***, and I don’t want the public to buy into the bulls***”.

“Nineteen years in the fight game and I’ve had one excuse: don’t have an excuse. Winners win and losers have excuses”, Mayweather recently stated on Instagram.

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You Have To Feel For Ricky Burns – But Boy Is He Back!

You Have To Feel For Ricky Burns - But Boy Is He Back!

After last night’s contest in Texas- as part of Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions brand – the history books will always say Ricky Burns (37-5, 11ko) lost 3 of his last 4 fights. Yet in my humble opinion, the former 2 weight world champion was extremely unlucky as the traveling fighter against Omar Figueroa (25-0-1, 18ko) – dropping the decision in a fight where he wasn’t just fighting his opponent but also the referee and the odds in general.

Some might say, in a different ring, with a different ref, had the action all been the same – Burns may well have walked out the victor. Or at least battled to a hard earned draw.

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Canelo Alvarez obliterates Kirkland!

Canelo Alvarez obliterates Kirkland!

Red-headed Mexican star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs) got one of his better victories of his career tonight in defeating a guy that was totally made for him in 31-year-old James Kirkland (32-2, 28 KOs) by a 3rd round stoppage on HBO World Championship Boxing at the Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.

Kirkland, who was fighting for the first time in two years after dropping a lot of fat in training camp, was really no match for Canelo. Kirkland attempted to use his wide open fighting style by plodding straight at the 24-year-old Canelo in the brief three rounds of action and the results were predictable. Canelo dropped Kirkland three times in the fight.

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“War” From Buglioni & Markham – “Striking Distance” Card Review Feat. Skeete/Smith

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Frank Warren tonight brought his “Striking Distance” show to the Wembley Arena in London (in a televised clash with Sky’s Matchroom “Resurrection” show from Birmingham) – which after pull-outs by middleweight stars Billy Joe Saunders and Chris Eubank Jr, ended up being (ably) carried by stable starlets Frank Buglioni, Bradley Skeete and Mitchell Smith – whose loyal A-Team were out in droves and vocal in their support of the top young 126/130lb prospect.

In the end it was Enfield’s Buglioni and his fight with old amateur rival Lee Markham that stole the show in a hard fought, blood and guts domestic battle that going in was tipped to be the Fight Of The Night.

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Figueroa beats Burns in war! Jamie McDonnell Earns Close Decision Over Tomoki Kameda

Figueroa beats Burns in war! Jamie McDonnell Earns Close Decision Over Tomoki Kameda

Omar “Panterita” Figueroa (25-0-1, 18 KOs) remained undefeated as he put on an exciting show in front of a raucous hometown crowd and earned a unanimous decision over Ricky Burns (37-5-1, 11 KOs) on Premier Boxing Champions on CBS live from State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas.

Figueroa was the sharper fighter who landed harder punches and was able to dictate the pace of the fight. Burns was deducted a point in both the eighth and 11th rounds by the referee for excessive holding. “Panterita” won by scores of 116-110 twice and 117-109.

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Youngster Chudinov batters and bullies Veteran Felix Sturm

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WBA interim 168 pound champion Fedor Chudinov (13-0, 10 KOs) outworked former 160lb champ Felix Sturm (39-5-2, 18 KOs) in beating him by a 12 round split decision tonight at the Festhalle in Frankfurt, Germany.

In the process of beating Sturm, Chudinov, 27, won the vacant WBA super middleweight title that was stripped from Carl Froch last Thursday.

The scores were 118-110 and 116-112 for Chudinov, and 116-112 for Sturm.

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Resurrection – Birmingham – Ringside Review

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Anthony Joshua KO2 Raphael Zumbano Love

Ever since Anthony Joshua demolished Denis Bakhtov in two disturbing rounds back in October 2014, there have been calls for the so obviously blessed heavyweight to be matched tougher.

Unfortunately for South America’s heavyweight champion Raphael Zumbano Love (donning velour shorts on the night) these calls have been ignored. In two equally alarming rounds he, just like his 11 peers before him, found out just what the fuss is all about.

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Mansour Outworks Dawejko: Calls out Wilder, Klitschko

Mansour Outworks Dawejko: Calls out Wilder, Klitschko

Amir Mansour continues his road to redemption with a hard-fought victory on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights”

By Justin Jones – Photos © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones

Philadelphia, PA —In an entertaining heavyweight tilt, which headlined ESPN 2’s Friday Night Fights card at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia, Amir “Hardcore” Mansour (22-1, 16 KOs) demonstrated true grit and determination last night in outworking Joey Dawejko (14-3-2, 7 KOs) to earn a unanimous decision victory. Official scorecards were 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94 all in favor of Mansour.

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Canelo vs. Kirkland: Is the Mandingo Warrior ready to take the Cinnamon Challenge?

Canelo vs. Kirkland: Is the Mandingo Warrior ready to take the Cinnamon Challenge?

This Saturday night Saul “Canelo” Alvarez takes on James Kirkland live on HBO from Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. The matchup has been delayed over the last few years but the time has come to see if the Mandingo Warrior is ready take the cinnamon challenge. Unlike the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao PPV, which by the way will be replayed during Saturdays broadcast, the odds are in the fans favor of a two-way action fight!

Back in 2012, all systems seemed a go in terms of the likelihood for making Canelo vs. Kirkland a reality. Inter-turmoil on the James Kirkland’s side stopped this bout from being made, robbing fans of yet another potentially fun and meaningful matchup. Fast forward to late 2014, it took another super fight in Canelo vs. Cotto to fall thru in order to secure James Kirkland a date with destiny.

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