Heavyweights Charles Martin & Dominic Breazeale Looking to Shine on Wilder/Duhaupas Card

09/22/201509/22/2015 Olly Campbell

The American’s don’t have the best of the heavyweight division at the moment, with Shannon Briggs the last native to [briefly] hold a portion of the crown 8 years ago before current WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder came along and picked up the green belt in January.

With Beijing 2008 bronze medalist Wilder suffering widespread criticism for his upcoming fight against Johann Duhaupas on Saturday, two of the country’s next best divisional stars make an outing on the undercard in front of a network [terrestrial] audience, although as with the headliner, both are going in against relatively underwhelming opposition.

Deontay Wilder Talks Up Maligned Johann Duhaupas Fight / UK Television Decline to Screen It

09/23/201509/22/2015 Olly Campbell

WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is still attempting to talk up his maligned PBC on NBC fight that takes place this Saturday night against little known Frenchman, Johann Duhaupas, although the rest of the world outside his Alabama backyard – where the fight takes place – seem not to care.

The Al Haymon advised fighter is under heavy fire from all quarters for the quality of the opposition he has selected since winning the belt in January against Bermane Stiverne, in what remains a career best performance – and as it stands today at time of writing [tuesday] no broadcaster in the UK has chosen to pick up the rights to screen Saturday’s clash with Duhaupas.

Deontay Wilder Conference Call Transcript: Wilder vs Duhaupas

09/23/201509/22/2015 Premier Boxing

Lou DiBella – I’m happy to be on this call for PBC on NBC as the heavyweight world champion, Deontay Wilder, returns to Birmingham, Alabama on September 26, Saturday night, live on NBC 8:30 p.m. ET/ 5:30 p.m. PT. As he takes on Frenchman Johann Duhaupas who has 32-2 with 20 KO’s and coming off a win against title challenger Manuel Charr. The significant thing about this card is that this is the first time in 30 years that a heavyweight championship belt will be contested on primetime, free television. The last time that happened was when Larry Holmes fought Carl Williams in 1985 so Deontay is making some history here. This is the third fight of the year for Deontay Wilder who won the title in January, defended it in June, defending it again in September, so it’s a great thing that this young heavyweight champion who is still a work in progress is fighting with this kind of frequency and attempting to build his reputation and his skill set and to continue to dominate the division.

Tim Bradley Warns Kell Brook Won’t Have It All His Own Way Against Diego Chaves

09/22/201509/22/2015 Olly Campbell

WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley has issued a warning to IBF champ Kell Brook not to underestimate roughouse Argentine Diego Chaves in October, claiming the champion ‘doesn’t know what he’s in for.’

Brook fights Chaves on October 24th in his Sheffield backyard – on the Sky Box Office platform – and has been met with an unenthusiastic reception to the contest from fans keen to see him in the big fights against top names, as promised repeatedly by promoter Eddie Hearn.

Ovil McKenzie Lands IBF World Title Shot at Victor Ramirez / Hernandez Stripped of IBF 200 lb Strap

09/22/201509/22/2015 Olly Campbell

Yoann Pablo Hernandez (29-1, 14ko), Cuba’s frequently inactive IBF cruiserweight champion, has been stripped of his title following yet more injury, again ruling him out of October 2nd’s clash with Argentina’s Victor Ramirez, who has now been upgraded to full champion status by the governing body after the fight was already previously postponed.

Ramirez (22-2, 17ko) will still box on the 2nd in Argentina, with British contender and IBF #14, Ovil McKenzie (25-12, 13ko) handed a surprise shot at the new South American champion.

Golovkin A Hit At The Emmys

09/22/2015 K2 Promotions

Boxing superstar GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN was a huge hit Sunday night at the 2015 Emmy Awards where numerous celebrities and international stars greeted him and wished him well in his upcoming fight.

Among the well-wishers was Dave Grohl, leader of the Foo Fighters who was in attendance on behalf of their outstanding HBO Documentary Series, “Sonic Highways.”

“It was great to meet Dave in person and I look forward to seeing the Foo Fighters in one of their upcoming concerts,” said Golovkin.

Eddie Hearn says ‘Arrogant’ Frampton Camp Are Preventing Scott Quigg Fight

09/21/2015 Olly Campbell

With a Scott Quigg/Nonito Donaire fight looking increasingly like it won’t happen – after comments made by the latter’s wife recently – a degree of hope and expectation has once again turned to the sought-after domestic world title clash at super bantamweight between Quigg and Northern Ireland’s IBF boss, Carl Frampton.

Speaking to mirror.co.uk however, the WBA (reg) champion’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has expressed his distaste at what he calls ‘arrogance’ from the Northern Irishman’s camp, complaining the fight is once again moving further away after his revised financial offer to the ‘Jackal’s’ team was turned down.

George Groves & Trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick Part Company After Badou Jack Defeat

09/23/201509/21/2015 Olly Campbell

George Groves’ trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick has conceded the two are unlikely to work together again in the wake of the Londoner’s loss to WBC 168 lb champion Badou Jack, that happened on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather’s career swansong against Andre Berto in Las Vegas, nine days ago.

Groves stormed out of the ring following the defeat to the Swedish “Money Team” member and has since deleted all social media accounts, prompting many to believe that retirement is a very realistic possibility given it was his 3rd crack at a world title [and a 3rd loss].

Joseph Parker Keen On Securing Samoan Fight Dream as He Plots Big 2016

09/21/2015 Olly Campbell

Big hitting New Zealand heavyweight prospect Joseph Parker (15-0, 13ko) is keen to pay homage to his Samoan ancestry with a fight in the tiny Polynesian nation, hopefully next year, after his team visited both government officials and local business this month on a logistical scouting trip to get the idea off of the ground.

With a population of just 194,000, putting a fight on there would in essence be a logistical nightmare, involving the construction of a temporary international TV station, the transportation of tonnes of equipment and 27 dedicated personnel from NZ to help complete the exercise, though such is the belief in Parker and his burgeoning worldwide profile, the project is already ‘just beyond orange light status’ according to Duco Events boss David Higgins, who hopes to have a deal finalized next month.

Canelo and GGG Will Take Over as Boxing’s Superstars Predicts Robert Garcia

09/21/201509/21/2015 Olly Campbell

California based trainer Robert Garcia has weighed in on the issue of the vacancy left at the top of the sport by Floyd Mayweather’s retirement, picking Mexican 154 lb star ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and murderous punching middleweight Gennady Golovkin as those best placed to take over “Money’s” mantle as boxing’s biggest star.

Speaking to fighthype.com from his Oxnard training base, Garcia also predicted that his younger brother Mikey could also start troubling the upper echelons of the P4P rankings when he eventually returns to action.