Bitter sweet feelings surround this rematch bout from last March have spoiled much of the anticipation for Saturday night’s HBO main event fight between Sergey Kovalev and Jean Pascal. It’s not as if it’s a bad matchup per se, just bad timing considering the outcome of their first meeting and Pascal’s last performance, which was underwhelming to say the least. Regardless, thankfully the Bell Centre in Montreal will be ready to make noise for this redux that should be fought in an entertaining style.
Month: January 2016
DeGale: Golovkin needs to move up in weight
By Abdi Haid: IBF super middleweight champion James “Chunky” DeGale (22-1, 14 KOs) says he’s interested in facing IBF/IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady “Triple G” Golovkin (34-0, 31 KOs), but for that fight to happen, Golovkin will need to move up in weight. DeGale believes that it’ll be an even fight when Golovkin does move up in weight because his punching power won’t be as pronounced in the 168lb division as it is at 160 right now against the opposition he’s been facing. DeGale says Golovkin is short and only 5’9″, and he believes he’s going to have some serious tests when he goes up a weight division.
Marco Huck vs. Ola Afolabi on February 27
Exciting cruiserweights Marco Huck and Ola Afolabi clash for a fourth time, exclusively live on BoxNation in the UK, on Saturday 27th February at the Gerry Weber Stadium, Halle, Germany.
The addition of Huck v Afolabi will form a big LIVE double header with WBO World Super-Lightweight Champion Terrence Crawford defending his title against Hank Lunday later that night from New York.
Golovkin clears up Groves sparring rumors
By Abdi Haid: In the past, British super middleweight George Groves sparred with unbeaten middleweight Gennady Golovkin to help him out to get ready for one of his fights. Not long after their sparring sessions rumors surfaced about how the hard hitting Groves knocked Golovkin to the canvas during the sparring sessions. A lot of boxing fans believed this.
However, this week, Golovkin finally cleared the air about what happened during the sparring sessions, saying that it was spar for him because Groves didn’t have much in the way of hand speed. Golovkin further said he hurt Groves with a body shot that he thinks broke his ribs. At this point the sparring session was halted by Groves’ team.
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George Groves: I’ll fight any Brit Super-Middleweight
George Groves says he’s ready to meet his domestic rivals at Super-Middleweight as he returns to action at the Copper Box Arena in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, live on Sky Sports – if the clashes lead to World title fights.
Groves faces Andrea di Luisa in east London in his first fight since his slender loss against Badou Jack in Las Vegas in September, and the three-time World title challenger accepts that it’s going to take a few fights to get back to the level he wants to operate at.
Groves faces Di Luisa tonight in London, UK
Former three-time world title challenger George Groves (21-3, 16 KOs) will be looking to rejuvenate his career tonight against his B-side opponent Andrea Di Luisa (18-3, 14 KOs) in their 12 round fight in the main event at the Copper Box Arena in London, UK.
Groves is reloading for another world title shot after losing his last attempt against WBC champion Badou Jack last year. Groves has had rotten luck when fighting for world titles, as he was twice beaten by former world champ Carl Froch and then recently Groves lost to Badou Jack.
Roach: Canelo vs. Golovkin is never going to happen
Trainer Freddie Roach believes that boxing fans are never going to see a match-up between WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) and unbeaten IBF/IBO/WBA 160lb champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (34-0, 31 KOs). Roach doesn’t say why he doesn’t believe the fight will happen, but it’s likely due to the huge risk involved for Canelo and Golden Boy Promotions, the promoters for Canelo.
“You know that fights [Canelo-Golovkin] never going to happen,” Roach said to tha boxing voice. “I like Triple G. I think he’s a great fighter. I think he’s one of the best fighters in the world. No [he’s not a draw].”
Arum: Pacquiao could rethink retirement and return
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum thinks we could see Manny Pacquiao rethinking the idea of retirement after he gets done with his next fight against Tim Bradley on 4/9. As of now, Pacquiao is talking about going into permanent retirement after the fight, which will be televised on HBO PPV.
Arum thinks we could see Pacquiao change his mind about retirement after the fight for some reason. Pacquiao says he wants to retire because he needs to focus his energy on his political career in the Philippines. Pacquiao is running for office in May for a senate seat, and he’s said to be in a great position to get the spot. Being a senator is hard work and a demanding job.
Kovalev-Pascal final quotes
(Photo Credit: Vincent Ethier – Interbox) Sergey Kovalev, WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion
“I want to thank you. I am really excited to be here in Canada and repeat this fight again. I am really happy. I am happy to fight Saturday and show you quality boxing. I have nothing to say just watch HBO channel on Saturday night and at the Centre Bell in Montreal. It should be a very interesting fight in the ring because is going to be two good boxers. It is going to be very not a war; it is going to be a mental fight who is personal fight for me. I have nothing to say. He is not a fighter. I hope that he will bring something in the ring.