Tonight at Wembley, well-travelled Oklahoma warrior Carson Jones took away Ben Hall’s unbeaten record and also picked up the vacant WBC international silver belt at super-welterweight. Ultra-experienced and teak-tough, Jones scored a 6th-round TKO over Hall, to see his record improve to 40-11-3(30). Hall, hailing from Essex, falls to 9-1-1(2).
Month: November 2016
Fights we want to see in 2017
2016’s boxing year was okay, if not great. We saw some excellent fights – see Keith Thurman-Shawn Porter, Orlando Salido-Francisco Vargas, Jamie Conlan-Anthony Nelson – and there is still a little over a month to go before the end of the year. But some experts, Oscar De La Hoya for example, has not been happy with how the sport played out this year, even calling 2016 “one of the worst years in boxing history.”
Those fans who agree that 2016 was a disappointment can look ahead to a potentially great 2017 for the sport. Already we have confirmed fights to get excited about, including Keith Thurman-Danny Garcia, David Haye-Tony Bellew and more, and also a strongly pencilled in Wladimir Klitschko-Anthony Joshua fight. And with the continued rise of future stars such as Vasyl Lomachenko, Artur Beterbiev, Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk and others set to feature in further big fights, 2017 could really be a big fistic year.
The Hottest Heavyweight Match-Ups To Look Forward To In The Next Six Months
Pretty much all year, we’ve missed out on seeing anything approaching great heavyweight action. With world champ Tyson Fury battling his demons and unable to fight at all in 2016, it was left to belt-holders Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua to keep the fans entertained. But even Wilder was forced to take the second half of the year off due to injury, while Joshua, who became IBF champ in April (in a woefully forgettable fight with Charles Martin; remember him?) retained just once – with a second defence, against Eric Molina, set for December.
So, a pretty dull year for the heavyweight division so far. But over the coming six months or so, starting with this December, fight fans have some potentially thrilling heavyweight match-ups to look forward to. With Fury’s belts vacated, rival heavyweights got busy trying to get themselves a piece of the action. As a result, we have some interesting title fights coming up.
Lomachenko vs. Walters: Cream Rises to the Top
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU5rUOEHt8E
High-level operators square-off this Saturday night live on HBO, when Vasyl Lomachenko and Nicholas Walters meet at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. The Ukrainian native puts his 130lb title on the line but the meaning of this fight goes much deeper. It’s a chance for Vasyl to prove himself worthy of the heaps of high-praises bestowed upon him from the boxing world. Many media members and fight fans alike already rank Lomachenko as a top-5 pound for pound fighter based of the eye-test along with two solid wins against Gary Russell Jr. and Rocky Martinez. It also gives redemption to those who are in the wait-and-see crowd having witnessed enough weaknesses in a split-decision loss to Orlando Salido.
If Bellew somehow pulls it off and beats Haye – does he stay at heavyweight?
What if reigning WBC cruiserweight boss Tony Bellew does what he insists he will and defeats David Haye next March? It might seem like a big if in the opinion of many fans, but “Bomber” (a far more palatable nickname to the new one Haye has given to his rival!) can certainly punch very hard – at least he can as a 200-pounder. There is definitely a chance, call it an outside chance if you want, that Bellew could catch Haye on the chin and cause the sensation.
Shannon Briggs furious over Haye-Bellew announcement, says he will sue Haye for pulling out of agreed fight with him
While the British boxing scene is buzzing over today’s official announcement that David Haye and Tony Bellew will meet in what appears to be a very genuine grudge-match next March, not everyone is happy or thrilled at this news. Shannon Briggs, who was to have fought Haye, is absolutely livid right now.
As soon as he heard the news regarding the March 4 fight, Briggs wasted no time taking to social media to let his anger, and his intentions, known. Briggs – who with the recent drugs test shocker regarding Lucas Browne, appears to be without any fight to speak of – says he plans to sue Haye, that he had a contract to fight Haye.
Haye vs Bellew: “Hayemaker” Haye vows to smash “Bellend” Bellew!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7dhTvlFc1A
As fight fans may have read by now, David Haye and Tony Bellew will meet on March 4 at The O2 in London. A grudge-match between two vocal and exciting fighters who have a history (they sparred, many years ago, with differing versions from both on what transpired), Haye Vs. Bellew is a fight that is all but guaranteed to end by KO, one way or the other.
Lucian Bute update
A settlement has been reached between Lucian Bute and the District of Columbia Athletic Commission, several months after an initial anti-doping test result was announcement regarding traces of Ostarin found in Bute’s urine samples this past May.
Following the World Boxing Council (WBC) super middleweight world title bout between defending champion Badou Jack and challenger Bute, which ended in a draw, a positive test result was announced to the general surprise of Bute.
Lomachenko vs. Walters fight this Saturday, Nov.26
Pound-for-pound star expects a very difficult night’s work when he steps in against the formidable Nicholas Walters.
The pair clash this Saturday, in what is one of the year’s most eagerly anticipated bouts, leading a stunning triple-header on BoxNation which also sees Terry Flanagan defend his WBO lightweight world title against Orlando Cruz earlier in the day, with Bradley Skeete and John Thain doing battle for the British welterweight title exclusively live tonight.
Tony Bellew vs David Haye at The O2 in London on March 4!
David Haye and Tony Bellew will clash in a Heavyweight blockbuster at The O2 in London on March 4, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
The big-hitting pair will finally settle their differences in the ring having clashed explosively on Sky Sports in Liverpool in October when Bellew defended his WBC World Cruiserweight title against BJ Flores, with the Liverpool star calling Haye out after knocking Flores out. Haye and Bellew exchanged angry words and had to be separated by security – but on March 4 there will be no parting them.