Ghana’s Isaac ‘Royal Storm’ Dogboe is in a big trouble come next Saturday, January 6, 2018 that is if you believe the words of Mexican slugger, Cesar Juarez who has been talking tough on arrival in Accra on Friday night, more than a week before fight night.
Naoya Inoue crushes game but over-matched Yoan Boyeaux in three-rounds to retain WBO super-flyweight title
Earlier today in Japan, reigning WBO super-flyweight king Naoya Inoue made predictably short work of challenger Yoan Boyeaux of France. “The Monster,” a big star in his homeland, showed brutal body work throughout the three rounds the fight (almost) lasted – knocking the challenger down no less than four times.
Roy Jones Jr. will fight his “Last Day at The Bay” on February 8th; the all-time great to have final fight in Pensacola
All-time great and future Hall of Famer Roy Jones Junior is still not yet ready to call it quits and walk away from the perils of the ring. However, the living legend who will turn 49 next month (January 16) IS ready to have the final fight in his home town of Pensacola. Jones, 65-9(47) will fight TBA, at cruiserweight, on February 8, it has been announced on Jones’ twitter page.
Klitschko, Ward, Bradley, Cotto: They all retired this year, but which great will you miss the most?
Four great fighters, all of them world champions, three of them at more than one weight class, retired from the sport this year: heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko, super-middleweight and light-heavyweight ruler Andre Ward, four-weight ruler Miguel Cotto and light-welterweight and welterweight champ Tim Bradley.
Anthony Joshua – Wladimir Klitschko: 2017’s Fight of The Year
Fight fans the world over experienced a truly special night at Wembley on April 29 of this year. There have been some great fights this year, a number of them Fight of The Year candidates – Srisaket Sor Rungvisai-Roman Gonzalez, fight-one, Badou Jack-James DeGale and Gennady Golovkin-Canelo Alvarez being real highlights from 2017 – but the heavyweight rumble has to be the pick for FOTY.
But although there was no shortage of fan interest ahead of the two-belt showdown, some people did worry the fight might prove to be a dull affair. Klitschko, in the past, had given us some less than thrilling affairs, and some fans were concerned the hype would not be matched by the actual action once the 41 year old former champ got in the ring with new star AJ. No way were such worries necessary.
Top Rank fighters talk of 2018 goals
Boxing enjoyed an outstanding 2017 and before the crystal ball drops in Times Square to begin an even better year, Top Rank asked some of its fighters for their New Year’s resolutions. Here are their responses:
TERENCE CRAWFORD (32-0, 23 KOs) / Two-division world champion / 2017 BWAA Fighter of the Year nominee / 2014 BWAA Fighter of the Year
“My 2018 resolutions are to win a world title at my new welterweight division, making me a three-division champion, and to open the fully renovated B&B Boxing Academy here in Omaha for all the kids in my community to enjoy.”
Anthony Joshua-Joseph Parker fight “has never been closer to reality” as the two sides agree purse split term
It’s looking likely that we will see a three-belt heavyweight unification showdown next spring. Anthony Joshua, the WBA/IBF ruler, and Joseph Parker, the WBO champ, have arrived at a deal regarding the purse split for the fight. After weeks of haggling, the two sides have finalized the money side of things – with Parker reportedly in line to get between 30 and 35% of the cash – and the two teams are now looking to make the fight a reality for between March 31 and April 28 of next year.
“Foreman” documentary provides inspirational viewing
The George Foreman story is well known and, as is the case with Muhammad Ali, there are plenty of documentaries, books and other tributes looking back on the incredible achievements of the former two-time world heavyweight king out there. As such, fans who have not yet seen the new (released in September of this year) documentary “Foreman,” may feel the Universal Pictures release offers nothing new.
Jorge Linares says he’d stay at 135 for a Lomachenko showdown; feels it’s not a difficult fight for him
While there is a growing sense that many top fighters are, if not exactly running away from Vasyl Lomachenko, not too enthusiastic at the idea of climbing into the ring with the Ukrainian southpaw, this is not the case with Jorge Linares. The reigning WBA and Ring Magazine lightweight king, in training for his January 27 defence against Mercito Gesta, has put it out on social media that after this fight is done and dusted, he and Lomachenko can fight:
Shannon Briggs says he could be facing Tyson Fury in April
Heavyweight Shannon Briggs is saying he’ll be Tyson Fury’s next opponent in April when the overweight former heavyweight champion makes his return to the ring following a 2-year layoff. Briggs says he’s already been in talks for the fight with the 6’9” Fury (25-0, 18 KOs), and he’s ready to knock him out.