Month: April 2017

Ward vs Kovalev II: Duva says Ward refused to agree to call for non-American judges; are we in store for another controversial decision?

Ward vs Kovalev II: Duva says Ward refused to agree to call for non-American judges; are we in store for another controversial decision?

After the sheer amount of controversy the November 2016 decision picked up by Andre Ward in his win over Sergey Kovalev caused, the rematch, set for June 17, needs a clear and decisive winner. But will we get one? A KO, scored by either fighter, would of course be the best way to settle things, but one looks unlikely.

Certainly, Kovalev, who recently said that Ward “hits like woman,” has no concerns of being stopped by Ward, while Ward being flattened, though possible, seems a long shot. So, with no KO, the rematch of one of the most debated decision fights of recent years will be decided once again by the three official judges.

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Welterweight rumblings – Thurman wants Pacquiao, Porter wants Thurman rematch

Welterweight rumblings – Thurman wants Pacquiao, Porter wants Thurman rematch

Arguably (not that too many fans are arguing) the best, most talent-rich weight class today, the welterweight division of right now is capable of throwing up some fantastic match-ups. We’ve already got this month’s Shawn Porter-Andre Berto non-title showdown (all but guaranteed to be a thrilling action affair) and we’ve got the big IBF welterweight title fight collision between champ Kell Brook and unbeaten, some say star of the future, Errol Spence Jr.

But there could be more sizzlers to come. Keith Thurman, the recently crowned WBA/WBC 147 pound king, has called for a Manny Pacquiao fight. No, this doesn’t mean the fight will happen, but at least “One Time” is sticking to his routine of asking for the big match-ups. Thurman has plenty of options; what with Porter, who pushed Thurman hard in that great, great fight last summer, saying he lists this rematch as a priority, above a second go at Brook.

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Andre Ward vs Sergey Kovalev II – LA press conference quotes

Andre Ward vs Sergey Kovalev II - LA press conference quotes

Tickets for Ward-Kovalev 2: “The Rematch” go on sale to the public today at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT. Tickets priced at $1,255, $755, $505, $355, $255 and $105 not including applicable service charges will be available on axs.com and at the Mandalay Bay Events Center box office.

Ward vs. Kovalev 2: “The Rematch,” a 12-round mega-fight for the WBO/IBF/WBA Light Heavyweight World Championships, is presented by Roc Nation Sports, Main Events, Andre Ward Promotions, Krusher Promotions and Corona Extra, and is sponsored by Monster Products and Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The championship event takes place Saturday, June 17 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

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Vasyl Lomachenko: Was any fighter in history greater at just nine pro fights?

Vasyl Lomachenko: Was any fighter in history greater at just nine pro fights?

Fighters can achieve greatness in a number of different ways: some, such as heavyweight terror Mike Tyson, make a huge impact in just a short period of time and become world champion after a veritable handful of fights; others, such as the once seemingly ageless Bernard Hopkins, achieve it through longevity, beating up Father Time at a time when retirement had long since looked close.

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Burns vs Indongo on April 15th – Glasgow

Burns vs Indongo on April 15th - Glasgow

Ricky Burns is gunning for the ultimate birthday present this weekend as he aims to add Julius Indongo’s IBF and IBO World titles to his own WBA Super-Lightweight title in their unification clash at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on Saturday night (April 15) live on Sky Sports.

Burns turned 34 today and came face-to-face with the Namibian at their pre-fight press conference in Glasgow.

The Rickster welcomes the unbeaten Southpaw to the venue of his moment of history in May when he became Scotland’s first three-weight World champion with an eighth round stoppage win over Michele Di Rocco.

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Dmitry Bivol vs. Samuel Clarkson – official weights

Dmitry Bivol vs. Samuel Clarkson - official weights

Undefeated WBA Interim Light Heavyweight Titlist Dmitry Bivol and streaking challenger Samuel Clarkson made weight on Thursday for their 12-round main event tomorrow/Friday on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME® (10p.m. ET/PT) from MGM Grand National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

(Photo credit Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME)

The fast-rising Bivol (9-0, 7 KOs) earned his interim belt in just his seventh professional fight while Clarkson (19-3, 12 KO’s) enters Friday’s main event on a nine fight winning streak.

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Ward-Kovalev – Oakland press conference quotes

Ward-Kovalev - Oakland press conference quotes

On Tuesday at the Oakland Marriott in Oakland, CA, Unified Light Heavyweight World Champion Andre “SOG” Ward (31-0, 15 KOs) and former Unified Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KOs) formally addressed the media regarding their highly-anticipated rematch on Saturday, June 17 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The championship event, presented by Corona Extra, will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

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Canelo Alvarez quotes for Chavez Jr. fight

Canelo Alvarez quotes for Chavez Jr. fight

Canelo Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) hosted an international media conference call today ahead of his highly anticipated fight against Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KOs). Joined by his team, world renowned Eddy and Chepo Reynoso as well as the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya, Alvarez opened up about his preparation for the fight, the rivalry between him and Chavez, Jr. and what fans can expect come Cinco De Mayo Weekend, live from T-Mobile Arena and presented by HBO Pay-Per-View.

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Orlando Salido to face Amphon Suriyo in non-title bout in May – a “tune-up” for a Lomachenko rematch?

Orlando Salido to face Amphon Suriyo in non-title bout in May – a “tune-up” for a Lomachenko rematch?

After taking almost a year off since his thrilling, FOTY contender with Francisco Vargas, Mexican ultimate warrior Orlando Salido finally has his next fight set. The teak-tough 36 year old will face Thai fighter Amphon Suriyo, 18-2(14) in Mexico on May 27, RingTV.com reports.

Salido, 43-13-4(30) really is a throwback to the old-school, fight-anyone, sluggers of years gone by. The only man to have beaten the seemingly unbeatable (!) Vasyl Lomachenko, Salido has also carved out fine wins over the likes of Juan Manuel Lopez (twice), Orlando Cruz, Cristobal Cruz and Terdsak Kokietgym (in another great action fight). Heaven knows, he deserves a “safe” or straightforward “tune-up” type of fight.

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Canelo Vs. Chavez Jr: a KO one way or the other?

Canelo Vs. Chavez Jr: a KO one way or the other?

There will be much at stake between the two warriors who will clash on May 6. The huge Canelo Alvarez-Julio Cesar Chavez Junior rumble, unofficially tagged, “The Battle of Mexico,” will see the the two stars fighting, above all else, for sheer pride. Quite literally, an entire country will be tuning in over the huge Mexican holiday that is Cinco de Mayo.

In the past, we’ve seen Chavez, the former WBC middleweight ruler, let himself down in fights due to his being either overweight or unfocused; even both. But “The Son of A Legend” has vowed to be at his absolute best for May 6, and so far he has kept his word, getting his body finely tuned, any excess weight almost gone ahead of the 164.5 catch-weight weigh-in.

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