Jorge Linares wants the big fights; Vasyl Lomachenko and Mikey Garcia next

03/27/201703/26/2017 James Slater

Boxing is all about levels and, without in any way wishing to disrespect the incredibly brave and courageous (in and out of the ring) Anthony Crolla, Jorge Linares proved last night in his rematch with Crolla that he is a top level fighter of the highest order, a far, far better boxer than Crolla.

The question is, can Linares become a great fighter? It seems a very long time ago now that the 31 year-old WBA lightweight ruler was shocked to defeat by Juan Carlos Salgado and then by Antonio DeMarco and Sergio Thompson. It was 2012 when Linares last tasted defeat and he may well be at his absolute best right now.

Loeffler says GGG-Canelo would sell out any arena in America, even Cowboys Stadium

03/27/201703/26/2017 James Slater

It goes without saying that we all want, quite desperately, to see the huge Gennady Golovkin-Canelo Alvarez fight go ahead as scheduled this September. We have no idea yet if this will be the case, but Golovkin’s promoter Tom Loeffler remains optimistic, recently stating how there is simply too much money at stake for it not to take place.

And this weekend, in speaking with TMZ Sports, Loeffler commented on just how big the fight will be if it happens; Loeffler says the fight would sell out any arena it took place in – even the enormous Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

Linares easily beats Crolla

03/25/2017 Showtime Boxing

Jorge Linares defended his WBA Lightweight World Championship with a unanimous decision victory over Anthony Crolla Saturday evening on SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL from Manchester, England. The win sets Linares up for a possible unification fight with WBC Lightweight World Champion Mikey Garcia, a matchup that would be considered one of the best that can be made in any weight class.

Results: Linares defeats Crolla

03/26/201703/25/2017 Golden Boy Promotions

Jorge “El Niño de Oro” Linares (42-3, 27 KOs) skillfully defeated former champion Anthony “Million Dollar” Crolla (31-6, 15 KOs) to retain his WBA, WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine World Lightweight Championship titles in a 12-round rematch battle that went the distance live from Manchester Arena. Showtime International Boxing will replay Linares vs. Crolla II tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHO Extreme.

Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig

Mayweather McGregor: Good for combat sports?

03/28/201703/25/2017 Robert Jackson

Since Floyd Mayweather and Connor McGregor first started jawing with each other this writer had a feeling that this fight will be made. Criticism of the fight not-withstanding the financial windfall of said fight could possibly exceed the record breaking receipts of the 2014 Mayweather/Pacquiao fight!

When talking with fellow combat sports writers, I predict 6M-8M PPV buys, considering boxing and MMA fans combined. I also predict a very tough match for the 40 year old Mayweather facing an in his prime 28 year old McGregor.

Canelo-GGG: De La Hoya to take previous offer to GGG off the table – questions GGG’s selling power

03/25/201703/25/2017 James Slater

Middleweight king Gennady Golovkin is definitely a star, but is he a big star; even a mega-star? Oscar De La Hoya has major doubts regarding Golovkin’s ability to pull in the big pay-per-view numbers, and as a result, the earlier verbal offer to GGG for a September fight with Canelo Alvarez is “off the table.”

Speaking with The Los Angeles Times, De La Hoya said that a new offer will be put forward to GGG, one that will take into consideration the middleweight champ’s pay-per-view sales.

Boxer, fighter, promoter: Bobby has taken all the Hitz!

03/25/2017 James Slater

54-year-old Bobby Hitz, a proud native of Chicago, is a former heavyweight who turned promoter and today, aside from wanting to see one of the fighters he currently promotes become world heavyweight champion, his main goal is to “help keep boxing flourishing.”

Hitz, who went 21-4 as a pro (Bobby says BoxRec’s 15-5 numbers are wrong) had his biggest fight in 1988, when he met a comebacking George Foreman in Michigan. One round later, Hitz began thinking of a life after boxing. Still, Hitz has boxing in his blood and he wanted to remain active in the sport. A couple of fights later, after a meeting with Jackie Kallen in Detroit, Bobby found his calling: that of boxing promoter.

Tyson Fury is back sparring as he attempts to get back in shape

03/25/2017 James Slater

One of the oldest, most often repeated sayings in the sport of boxing is, it’s tough becoming a world champion, but it’s even harder remaining as one. Everyone from Mike Tyson to Muhammad Ali has said these words and right now, one man who knows first hand how incredibly hard it can be to stay at the top of the mountain once you’ve got there , is training for a comeback.

Jorge Linares and Anthony Crolla Run It Back

03/24/2017 Chris Carlson

Manchester Arena in England will be jam-packed again for a rematch from an entertaining dust-up between Jorge Linares and Anthony Crolla this Saturday. In the states Showtime, currently leaving HBO in the dust, will be the broadcaster of this lightweight showdown in the afternoon. The big question heading into this rematch is what if anything can Crolla do differently?

Ward-Kovalev II: Sergey Kovalev says he’s “still waiting on Son of Judges” to sign for June 17 rematch

03/24/2017 James Slater

It’s one of the most eagerly awaited, even demanded, rematches in recent memory; it’s Andre Ward-Sergey Kovalev II, and almost as soon as the decision, in favour of Ward, was announced last November, fans called for it. According to a piece on RingTV.com, the date for the return meeting is June 17, at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, but Ward, as of yet, has not signed on the dotted line.