Month: July 2017

Rating the “Rocky” films in order of greatness

Rating the “Rocky” films in order of greatness

They are without a doubt the most famous, the most celebrated, even the most cherished boxing films ever. They are the “Rocky” movies, all six of them (seven if you include the highly successful spin-off “Creed;” soon to have its own sequel) and fans in their many millions continue to be moved, inspired and pumped up by a viewing of either episode in the saga.

In short, the “Rocky” films have a genuine greatness to them; it is undeniable. Boxing fans, more than everyday movie fans, may love the efforts of Sly Stallone and co more than most, but pretty much anyone can find, and does find, something to enjoy in all six offerings.

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Sergey Kovalev files protest, wants Ward defeat changed to a no contest

Sergey Kovalev files protest, wants Ward defeat changed to a no contest

Former light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev is still unhappy over the way Andre Ward defeated him via stoppage in their June 17 rematch; itself a return meeting of a controversial decision victory picked up by Ward.

As fans know, the unbeaten Ward stopped Kovalev in the eighth round in the rematch, his body shots accounting for most of the damage. Kovalev and his team argued instantly, as they continue to argue today, that Ward’s body shots were in fact low. Referee Tony Weeks did not act accordingly, argue Team-Kovalev, who say the low blows were intentional.

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Tony Bellew-David Haye in talks for a December return, but Haye must agree to Bellew’s purse split demands

Tony Bellew-David Haye in talks for a December return, but Haye must agree to Bellew's purse split demands

Both Tony Bellew and David Haye will fight in December; it’s just a case of whether or not they will fight each other in a rematch or face someone else. It has been revealed how the two are in talks for a December rematch – courtesy of The Star – but that Haye, who sensationally lost to Bellew in March, must agree to Bellew’s purse split demands for the fight to take place.

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Team Won’t Allow Second Lightning Strike to Hold Smith Jr. Back!

Team Won’t Allow Second Lightning Strike to Hold Smith Jr. Back!

By Coach K – Saturday night, July 15th, Mastic/Shirley New York former WBC International Light Heavyweight Champion Joe Smith Jr. boldly faced once beaten Sullivan Barrera on HBO’s Boxing After Dark. Amongst all the criticism after the bout it was diagnosed for the second time in his young career with a broken jaw.

With Shenandoah National Park Ranger Roy Cleveland Sullivan holds the Guinness Book of Records for being hit by lightning seven times in boxing the idiom “Lightning Never Strikes Twice” took another hit. The second “lightning strike” came Saturday night July 15th at the Forum, Inglewood, California, when after flooring challenger Sullivan Barrera in round one the 27-year-old power punching Smith Jr. trained and managed by the “Fighting” Capobianco’s was forced to battle on with was later diagnosed as a fractured jaw.

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24/7 Canelo/Golovkin Debuts Saturday, August 26 on HBO

24/7 Canelo/Golovkin Debuts Saturday, August 26 on HBO

HBO Sports’ groundbreaking “24/7” reality franchise, which has captured 18 Sports Emmy® Awards, will return for its 23rd multi-part boxing installment with 24/7 CANELO/GOLOVKIN, it was announced today by Rick Bernstein, executive producer, HBO Sports. The two-part behind-the-scenes series follows two elite fighters – Canelo Alvarez and Gennady “GGG” Golovkin – as they prepare for their middleweight championship megafight title showdown Saturday, Sept. 16 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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Garcia vs Broner: So who wins?

Garcia vs Broner: So who wins?

Adrien Broner insists he is more serious and more focused than at any other time in his entire career; and he had better be telling the truth. This Saturday’s must-win fight (must-win for both men) against Mikey Garcia sees Broner enter the ring as big an underdog as he has ever been. Can “The Problem” rise above the odds?

Broner knows he’s not the fan favourite to win but he says he will be “100-percent” and that he wanted this, a tough fight. To his credit, Broner, a multi-weight champ, has never been stopped in his career, where he has suffered two defeats – to Marcos Maidana, who for many people “exposed” Broner and burst his bubble, and to Shawn Porter. But will Broner get stopped by Garcia on Saturday? Could he even get knocked out cold? Is this the fight that ends Broner’s time as an elite fighter?

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Carl Frampton eager for Lee Selby showdown: Fans want to see who’s the best in Britain

Carl Frampton eager for Lee Selby showdown: Fans want to see who's the best in Britain

Former two-weight king Carl Frampton returns to action this Saturday night when he will face hungry Mexican contender Andres Gutierrez in a WBC featherweight elimination bout, and although “The Jackal” – last seen losing his belt and unbeaten record in a return bout with Leo Santa Cruz – is not overlooking Gutierrez, he is talking about the fight he would like next.

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James Toney recalls his disastrous move into MMA, says his fight with Randy Couture “has nothing to do with Conor McGregor”

James Toney recalls his disastrous move into MMA, says his fight with Randy Couture “has nothing to do with Conor McGregor”

Fight fans surely remember the time boxing great James Toney met MMA great Randy Couture in one of the first big-name crossover fights of its kind. It was back in 2010 that Toney, agreeing to fight Couture under MMA rules, climbed into the cage.

The fight, one that saw Couture win inside a round (just over the three-minute mark, having “choked” Toney) was a big deal, even if it was nowhere near as big as the upcoming Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight. Mayweather will of course fight MMA’s McGregor under boxing rules; something Toney tells Sky Sports he would have loved to have done in a return fight with Couture.

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Joshua must “forget about Fury,” says heavyweight great Holyfield, “Fury really isn’t one of those big-name fights for him”

Joshua must “forget about Fury,” says heavyweight great Holyfield, “Fury really isn't one of those big-name fights for him”

Heavyweight legend and all time great Evander Holyfield managed to get himself all the big-name, mega fights he wanted during his fine career; and “The Real Deal” won most of them. Now, with future heavyweight star (or present heavyweight star, depending on your view) Anthony Joshua attempting to carve out his own greatness, Holyfield has given him a bit of advice.

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