It’s one of the hottest fights between young and gifted welterweights and it could happen in the UK in the first quarter of next year. It’s a Kell Brook-Errol Spence Jnr fight, with IBF ruler Brook defending against mandatory contender Spence. And Brook says he will send the unbeaten Spence home “with his tail between his legs” with a successful defence.
A Half Century ago: when “The Greatest” was in his blinding, unbeatable prime
50 years ago, 1966, the world was being dazzled, baffled and entertained by a heavyweight champion who fought like no heavyweight before him. Muhammad Ali, aged 24 and approaching his absolute peak, had won the crown two years earlier and he had made six retentions since shocking the greatly feared Sonny Liston.
Amazingly – truly amazingly when we look back today – the jury was still out, at least partially, on how good Ali was; or if he was even a “real” fighter. The sage old timers were appalled at the manner in which Ali held his hands dangerously low and worse, pulled back from punches instead of slipping them in the traditional manner. Also, Ali’s self-proclaimed prettiness bothered the old school: what would happen if the pretty boy had to take a shot, a real shot, to that beautiful face?
Kovalev vs. Ward analysis by John David Jackson
Sergey Kovalev’s Trainer, John David Jackson, Breaks Down Kovalev-Ward
Oxnard, California: As WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev prepares to face Andre “S.O.G.” Ward live on HBO Pay-Per-View from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada he will once again have former two-time world champion John David Jackson in his corner. Kovalev and Jackson have worked together for several years and all of Kovalev’s big-time fights. Below Jackson breaks down Kovalev’s keys to victory:
Question: What is the one thing Kovalev has to accomplish in the ring in order to beat Ward?
Jermall Charlo and Julian Williams quotes
Richard Schaefer
Thank you very much. And thank you to all the media to be on today’s call. I’m really excited. My first boxing conference call after almost three years out of the sport. So, I’m really excited to be at it again.
And what better way to do it than with a double header like this? It’s rare enough to have a match up like Jesus Cuellar versus Abner Mares, which has fight of the year written all over it.
Adonis Stevenson says he wants the Kovalev-Ward winner, is sure he beats either
Adonis Stevenson says he needs “all the titles” at light-heavyweight and that “it’s time” to make a fight between himself and the winner of the upcoming, eagerly anticipated Sergey Kovalev-Andre Ward showdown. Ward has said he believes the winner of the November 19th fight deserves to be placed at the very top of the pound-for-pound ratings, while Stevenson – who tells Premier Boxing Champions that he beats Ward and/or Kovalev – says the fans deserve to see who the best 175 pound champion is.
Luis Ortiz: First on my list would be Deontay Wilder, he’s talking s**t!
Go back a few months, and Cuban heavyweight Luis Ortiz could scarcely get himself an opponent, let alone a big name or a reigning champion. But, having signed with Matchroom, the big, powerful and previously avoided southpaw is closer than ever to the big, big fights his talents deserve. This doesn’t mean Ortiz will get all he wants – he must first get past Malik Scott tomorrow night in Monaco – but the likes of Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua are at least possibilities now.
Chavez Jnr wants fights with Canelo, GGG – says he can get down to 164-pounds
Is Mexican star and former champion Julio Cesar Chavez Junior once again committed, fully dedicated and ready to stay as such as he tries to get his latest comeback off the ground? The 30 year-old says so and, in speaking with ESPN.com, Chavez Jnr said his aim is to engage in further world title fights down the road.
Chavez, 49-2-1(32) will return to action after well over a year out this December 10, against Germany’s Dominik Britsch in a ten-rounder to be fought at an agreed weight of 170 pounds. Chavez Jnr – again promoted with Zanfer with whom he has reunited after a split with Top Rank – says he is happy with the quality of his comeback opponent, but he is already looking at bigger fights. Much bigger fights. The former WBC middleweight ruler says he wants either Saul Canelo Alvarez or Gennady Golovkin.
Luis Ortiz: 239.5 lbs. – Malik Scott: 246.4 lbs.
Saturday’s Special Edition of Boxing After Dark begins live at 4:00 p.m. ET/PT from Monte Carlo. The special from Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo features a heavyweight showdown between knockout machine Luis Ortiz taking on Malik Scott.
*There will be an evening replay at 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT).
Brook: “I Won’t Give Up My World Title”
Kell Brook says he won’t give up his IBF World Welterweight title and is plotting huge unification bouts for 2017.
The Sheffield star is back in the gym following a minor operation on the damaged eye socket he suffered in his epic showdown with Middleweight king Gennady Golovkin in London in September.
The 30 year old landed the IBF crown with a superb win over Shawn Porter in California in August 2014 before clinical stoppage wins in defences over Jo Jo Dan, Frankie Gavin and Kevin Bizier before stepping up two weights to take on ‘Triple G’.
Danny Garcia – Samuel Vargas final quotes
Undefeated world champion Danny “Swift” Garcia and Colombia’s Samuel Vargas went face-to-face Thursday afternoon, one day before they weigh-in for their Premier Boxing Champions on Spike main event showdown taking place Saturday, November 12 from Temple University’s Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
Televised coverage on Spike begins at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and features undefeated rising star Jarrett Hurd battling former title challenger Jo Jo Dan plus former world champion Javier Fortuna taking on unbeaten Omar Douglas.