Certain nations have always been known for producing boxing talent: Mexico, Great Britain, the Philippines, Japan and, of course, the United States.
And now Russia stands on the brink of joining this elite company. The latest Russian import from Irkutsk in eastern Siberia, light heavyweight Igor Mikhalkin (21-1, 9 KOs), faces the greatest challenge of his career as he makes his United States debut.
Evander Holyfield’s co-promoted Eight-Man welterweight tourney set to begin in April
With the enormous success of the ongoing WBSS tournaments that are still to be decided at both cruiserweight and at super-middleweight (with more planned for the future, at additional weight classes) it’s clear many people feel tournaments are the way to go – that they are the future of this great sport even.
Undefeated Dutch super middleweight Nieky Holzken replaces Juergen Braehmer as Callum Smith’s Ali Trophy opponent after the German veteran was forced to withdraw from Saturday’s semi-final showdown in Nuremberg.
Braehmer has been suffering from influenza and yesterday revealed he would be unable to compete against Smith at the Arena Nürnberger Versicherung.
An incredible, record-breaking 133,000 fans packed into Azteca Stadium in Mexico a quarter of a century ago today; most, if not all of these fans in attendance to watch their fistic hero Julio Cesar Chavez beat up on trash-talking challenger Greg Haugen. The monster card that played out in front of a monstrous crowd (many millions of fight fans also tuning in on TV all around the globe) also saw great fighters Azumah Nelson, Terry Norris and Michael Nunn in action (all winning) and promoter extraordinaire Don King had brought us his latest, biggest boxing spectacular.
The World Boxing Super Series was going so well, too. The 168 pound tournament had gone without a hitch until this past Saturday, when George Groves badly injured his shoulder in his wide win over Chris Eubank Junior in their semifinal clash; meaning Groves’ slot in the final, scheduled for June 2, might be in jeopardy.
Leon Bauer is a rising star fighting on the undercard of Callum Smith vs. Juergen Brahmer in the WBSS semi-final this Saturday. Bauer is an exciting prospect from Germany who fights in the super middleweight division. He was the youngest ever German boxer to fight in the boxing capital of the world; Las Vegas. He sure is on the rise, and I can’t wait to find out more about him.
As fans are aware, WBA super-middleweight king George Groves suffered a dislocated left shoulder in the 12th and final round of his otherwise dominant decision win over Chris Eubank Junior, the injury being one Groves has said is “probably one of the most painful I’ve ever had.” Now, with the final of the WBSS Groves fast approaching (June 2), there is concern over whether or not Groves will be fit and ready to be able to face either Callum Smith or Jurgen Brahmer (who meet in the last semifinal this Saturday night).
Las Vegas, February 19, 2000. Mexican warriors Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales collided for the first of three epic ring wars. Morales at the time was the new star of the 122 pound weight class and he was undefeated. He was the favorite in the match-up with Barrera for a number of reasons: one of these being the fact that Barrera has twice been beaten, by Junior Jones; who has actually stopped Barrera in their first fight. These defeats remained vivid in the minds of fight fans, and Morales of Tijuana was expected to dispatch his rival who hailed from Mexico City.
Long since retired former British superstar Naseem Hamed made quite the memorable pundit as a guest commentator on ITV Box Office this past Saturday night. Working the George Groves-Chris Eubank Junior WBSS semifinal, Hamed, as overweight as we have grown accustomed to seeing him these days, really did put the boot in in brutally assessing points loser Eubank Jr.
Smith: I am expecting a tough night in Nuremberg
Callum Smith (23-0, 17 KOs) is expecting the best version of Juergen Braehmer (49-3, 35 KOs) before their Ali Trophy semi-final clash in the super middleweight edition of the World Boxing Super Series February 24 at the Arena Nürnberger Versicherung.