The “Cowards” Of Boxing

The "Cowards" Of Boxing

As the days and weeks go by, the list of boxing’s “cowards” gets longer and longer. In more recent years the lists continues to extend and includes grounded champions and potential Hall Of Fame fighters. It seems as though every time a fan friendly fight isn’t ‘signed & sealed’ the blame and allegations of ‘cowardice’ befalls on the MAN that has spent YEARS risking his health & life every time he steps into a ring.

The names of Floyd Mayweather, Andre Ward, Miguel Cotto, Adonis Stevenson, Danny Garcia, Leo Santa Cruz and even Carl Froch have been labeled and deemed “cowards” with little regard of their ring accomplishments. And of course, add to the list Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and his promoter, Oscar de la Hoya.

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Joshua vs Klitschko: The Untested vs The Unloved

Joshua vs Klitschko: The Untested vs The Unloved

To point out that Britain’s Anthony Joshua remains untested in 18 professional fights is to wallow in understatement. Indeed, the IBF heavyweight champion is perhaps the most untested world heavyweight champion in living memory, a claim to which his record attests; he is yet to face elite opposition in a division that is now so starved of personnel that cruiserweight Tony Bellew is currently on course to challenge for one of the belts.

Joshua’s meteoric rise from novice to pay per view star, whose clash with Wladimir Klitschko will be in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in London on April 29, is testament not to his achievements in the ring but instead the promotional talents of Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn. The hype that has followed the 27-year old Olympic gold medallist since he entered the pro ranks in 2013 has been of the uncommon sort, to the point where you are left scratching your head in wonderment at the extent to which so many have been willing to suspend disbelief and allow themselves to be swept up in it.

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The answer to the Joshua Klitschko question is Fury

The answer to the Joshua Klitschko question is Fury

Soon after 10pm in London on Saturday night, Anthony Joshua will meet Wladimir Klitschko in an incredibly interesting heavyweight match up to contest the IBF world title that is held by the former and the WBA and IBO belts which are vacant.

But forget draining the alphabet soup of titles for this one, because the real fascination in the clash between these two former Olympians is in the questions that only Wembley Stadium can answer on 29th April.

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Joshua – Klitschko: Biggest betting fight in history?

Joshua - Klitschko: Biggest betting fight in history?

William Hill, sponsor of Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko, is predicting the global betting industry turnover could reach £100 million (£20 million in the UK alone) for Saturday’s eagerly awaited world heavyweight showdown.

British sporting icon and current IBF world champion Joshua is the 4/9 favourite to win the fight – and in the process add the vacant WBA and IBO titles to his collection. AJ, who won Olympic gold at London 2012, has enjoyed a perfect start to his professional career with 18 wins from 18 fight – all coming by way of knockout. Unsurprisingly, William Hill are offering short odds of 8/13 for the Londoner to knockout Kitschko at Wembley Stadium.

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Watch Joshua vs. Klitschko Weigh-In – Live Stream

https://youtu.be/YZ-Z5fWOL-A

Official Weights from London:

Anthony Joshua: 250.1 lbs.
Wladimir Klitschko: 240.5 lbs.

The heavyweight world championship bout between undefeated champion Anthony Joshua and long-reigning kingpin Wladimir Klitschko is the most significant heavyweight fight in more than a decade. SHOWTIME will televise live at 4:15 p.m. ET/1:15 p.m. PT from sold-out Wembley Stadium in London.

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Joshua, Klitschko final press conference quotes, photos, videos

Joshua, Klitschko final press conference quotes, photos, videos

Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko came face-to-face on Thursday at the sprawling Sky Headquarters in London as the two 6-foot-6 giants participated in a final press conference for Saturday’s blockbuster heavyweight world championship event.

SHOWTIME will televise the fight LIVE at 4:15 p.m. ET/1:15 p.m. PT from sold-out Wembley Stadium where a record-setting 90,000 fans are expected to be in attendance.

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Lemieux: Marco Reyes won’t last long against me

Lemieux: Marco Reyes won't last long against me

Fighting as the co-main event to Canelo vs. Chavez, Jr., Former IBF Middleweight Champion David Lemieux (37-3, 33 KOs) makes quick return to the ring after spectacular knockout over Curtis Stevens in March to face tough Middleweight Contender Marco “Dorado” Reyes (35-4, 26 KOs) on May 6 at T-Mobile Arena, live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

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Pacquiao, Horn finally come face-to-face; Horn says: “I might knock him out in the first round”

Pacquiao, Horn finally come face-to-face; Horn says: “I might knock him out in the first round”

It took quite a while, a few months in fact; but Australian puncher Jeff Horn finally came face to face with superstar Manny Pacquiao yesterday (Australian time). The two met at the press conference to officially announce the July 2 fight that will see Pac Man defend his WBO welterweight title against the unbeaten, and much younger Horn.

The two had nothing but respect for one another, smiling as they faced off and posed for media photos. Trash talking is simply not Manny’s style, never has been, while Horn is more the quietly confident type. Pacquiao has told Horn to be “100 percent” on July 2, so the two of them can give the paying fans an exciting fight. This fight, one of, if not the biggest in Australian boxing history, will be explosive; so said promoter Bob Arum, who added how the American fans and writers are “warming to the fight.”

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Tyson Fury doesn’t believe there’s a heavyweight who can “lace my boots up;” vows to shed 100 pounds and return to glory

Tyson Fury doesn't believe there's a heavyweight who can “lace my boots up;” vows to shed 100 pounds and return to glory

Maybe it’s because of all the attention this Saturday’s Joshua-Klitschko fight is getting. Maybe it’s because the heavyweight division is as interesting as it’s been in quite a few years. Maybe it’s because he feels he’s the best heavyweight on the planet. Whatever it is, Tyson Fury has made his mind up: he still wants to be a fighter and he wants to regain his past glories.

Fury, out in Marbella training with good friend and reigning WBO middleweight champ Billy Joe Saunders, has vowed to shed around 100 pounds (he reportedly ballooned up to somewhere around the 360 pound mark during his 17-month inactive spell) and come back to rule the division again.

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Andre Rozier: Khurtsidze Will ‘Beat Down’ Billy Joe Saunders!

Andre Rozier: Khurtsidze Will 'Beat Down' Billy Joe Saunders!

Andre Rozier, trainer of newly-crowned WBO Interim World Middleweight Champion Avtandil Khurtsidze, believes his man will ‘beat down’ undefeated Hatfield star Billy Joe Saunders when the pair face-off for the full WBO crown.

Khurtsidze – a short, stocky beast of a boxer – silenced the Leicester Arena crowd on Saturday by heavily flooring Birmingham’s Tommy Langford with a brutal left hand early in the fifth round to secure the vacant Interim strap.

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