Last night, during a backstage meeting before the less than thrilling (failed to live up to the hype, pre-fight was of words) cruiserweight showdown between Lawrence Okolie and Isaac Chamberlain (won by Okolie via lopsided decision) Dereck Chisora and David Haye met up. The subject was a possible fight between “Del Boy” and unbeaten 2016 Olympic silver medal winner Joe Joyce.
Result: Gilberto Ramirez stops Habib Ahmed
WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (37-0, 25 KOs) used his big size advantage over the smaller, weaker little known fighter Habib Ahmed (22-1, 17 KOs) in stopping him in the 6th round on on Saturday night in a dreadful mismatch on ESPN at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. This was not a good fight.
Murat Gassiev stops Yunier Dorticos in 12th round of a classic battle
Tonight in Russia, in the second semifinal of the WBSS cruiserweight tournament, Russian hero and defending IBF champ Murat Gassiev added the WBA crown to his name as he sensationally stopped Cuba’s Yunier Dorticos in the 12th and final round of an incredible battle.
Having hurt Dorticos with a huge left hook that sent the Cuban down on his back, Gassiev blasted away with his bombs, scoring a further two knockdowns, the final one forcing referee Eddie Claudio to halt the fight. Time was 2:52 of the very last round.
Results: Jerwin Ancajas TKOs Israel Gonzalez
IBF World super flyweight champion Jerwin ‘Pretty Boy’ Ancajas (29-1-1, 20 KOs) dominated an over-matched fringe contender Israel Gonzalez (21-2, 8 KOs) in stopping him in the 10th round on Saturday night on ESPN at the Bank of America Center, in Corpus Christi.
Madison Square Garden in big bid to host GGG-Canelo II; Abel Sanchez says Canelo should be a man of his word
The upcoming May 5 rematch between middleweight giants Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez could take place in New York, at the historic Madison Square Garden. Although Las Vegas, scene of course of the first fight back in September, remains the frontrunner to host the anticipated rematch, Madison Square Garden is being strongly considered.
Who will Manny Pacquiao fight next – Mike Alvarado? Lucas Matthysse?
There are a couple of names being bandied around as possible comeback foes for Manny Pacquiao, who is not done yet with boxing even though he will turn 40 before the year is out. Now that we can forget (for the time being) about a Pacquiao challenge of current P-4-P king Vasyl Lomachenko, two other names appear to have more of a realistic shot at getting in there with Pac-Man this spring: Mike Alvarado and Lucas Matthysse.
Gilberto Ramirez vs Habib Ahmed: WBO world title fight tonight
Ghana’s undefeated WBO Africa super middleweight champ, Habib Ahmed (25-0-1, 17 KOs) has the chance to write his name in the record books later tonight in the USA when he faces reigning WBO super middleweight champion, Gilberto Ramirez (36-0, 24 KOs) for the world title.
Ahmed who goes into his first professional fight outside of Ghana, tilted the scales at 166.75 lbs to the 168 lbs of Ramirez who even needed to strip naked before making the limit at their weigh-in on Friday at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, same venue for the fight itself on Saturday night live on ESPN.
Gassiev vs. Dorticos: A War in the Making
The second semifinal of the World Boxing Super Series takes place this Saturday night in Sochi, Russia. On paper, this cruiserweight matchup between Murat Gassiev and Yunier Dorticos is by far the best opportunity of producing a fight of the year outcome. Both men have legit one-punch power as proven in recent fights. Prior to the WBSS neither fighter had much of a chance to secure large paydays against high-end talent. Now they find themselves a win away from an opportunity to become undisputed outright.
Results: Ellis – Younan battle to a draw
Undefeated super middleweight prospects Ronald Ellis and Junior Younan fought to a split draw in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation Friday on SHOWTIME from WinnaVegas Casino Resort in Sloan, Iowa.
(Photo credit Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME)
Ike Ibeabuchi: What might have been
Though he was released from a US prison some months back (or is it years?) there will be no ‘George Foreman- style comeback’ for the man who turns 45 years old today. Nigerian powerhouse Ikemefula Charles Ibeabuchi: how great, how special might he have become had he not lost the plot and got himself put away for the charge of attempted rape, in Las Vegas in 2009?