Let’s face it: the fast approaching heavyweight extravaganza between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko – which has already shifted an amazing 90,000 tickets – doesn’t really need much of an under-card; at least not in terms of pulling in any extra sales.
Make way for the new stars: Lomachenko, Crawford, Thurman are today’s pound-for-pound best
Manny Pacquiao’s star is fading, Andre Ward has been labelled dull by fight fans so many times he has stopped caring, and Sergey Kovalev may well see himself closely, narrowly outboxed and outscored by S.O.G in their June return. So who today is deserving of the mythical but also lofty title of pound-for-pound king?
It seems we have to make way for the new guard, for the news stars: Vasyl Lomachenko, the pick for many even before this past weekend’s utter dismantling of a very good fighter in Jason Sosa, and Terence Crawford, he of the speed, accuracy and power, and also Keith Thurman, a throwback in terms of constantly seeking out the very best opposition and thus far beating them.
Video: Andre Ward vs Sergey Kovalev II – Early Rematch Preview
On June 17 unified WBA/IBF/WBO light heavyweight champion of the world Andre Ward (31-0-0, 15 KOs) will have a highly anticipated rematch against former light heavyweight world champion Sergey Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KOs). The bout is scheduled to take place at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Can Anthony Joshua become boxing’s first billionaire?
Maybe we should call him Anthony “Money” Joshua. That nickname is of course exclusive property of one Floyd Mayweather Junior; currently the richest, most successful prize fighter in boxing history. However, as stinking rich as he is, Mayweather never earned himself the staggering total of a $billion.
But Joshua, in speaking with GQ Magazine, says that this is now the goal he has to aspire to. Reflecting on how the status of having made it big has changed drastically in today’s world, Joshua says that becoming a millionaire is no longer the huge achievement it once was.
Josesito Lopez Scores Unanimous Decision Against Saul Corral
Josesito Lopez (35-7, 19 KOs) earned a decisive unanimous decision (100-89, 100-89, 100-89) over Saul Corral (21-9, 12 KOs) in the Ringstar Sports promoted main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 & FOX Deportes from The Novo at L.A. Live.
Although Corral was able to finish the fight, Lopez controlled the action throughout, dropping Corral to the canvas in the 10th round to cement the victory.
Why Bivol vs. Clarkson Could Be a Fight Without an Underdog – Ward, Kovalev, More!
By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones – In a division with well-known fighters and perennial pound-for-pound entrants, including Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev, up-and-coming WBA Interim Light Heavyweight ChampDmitry Bivol (9-0, 7 KOs) is intent on building his own legacy on American soil.
Bivol, 26, will be featured on his first major televised card when he steps into the ring as the favorite against Samuel “The Main Event” Clarkson (19-3, 12 KOs) on Friday at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
WATCH: Fury & Charr get into altercation in Cologne
Manuel Charr wants a big fight. Perhaps any big fight. Today, in Cologne, Germany, at the fitness expo FIBO, “Diamond Boy” Charr had his game face firmly on as he sought out Tyson Fury. Fury was all smiles, offering his hand to the more serious looking Charr, but soon enough the duo had to be separated.
Charr, who has seen big fights fall through in the past (he was, like Fury, supposed to land a lucrative fight with David Haye a few years back) referred to Fury as a “mad man,” in a clear attempt to rile the out of shape, today easy going former world champ. There was a shove, security dived in, and the two fighters went their separate ways.
Vasyl Lomachenko looks unbeatable in stopping a brave Jason Sosa
Reigning WBO super-featherweight king Vasyl Lomachenko looked utterly unstoppable in halting a brave but outclassed Jason Sosa last night. Forcing Sosa’s corner to retire their warrior after nine wholly one-sided session, “Hi-Tech” looked for all the world like an unbeaten fighter.
As we know, however, Lomachenko, 8-1(6) is not unbeaten; as hard as it may be to believe when you see such utter dominance over good fighters who are made to retire on their stool against him – Sosa being retired this time, Nicholas Walters quitting last time. One man has beaten Lomachenko as a pro, in tough Mexican warhorse Orlando Salido, but that came in the dazzling Ukraine boxer’s second pro outing.
Chudinov-Groves clash agreed for UK – Can George Groves become a world champ at the fourth time of asking?
British warrior George Groves is determined to not go down in history as one of the best fighters from these shores never to have won a world title. Groves, skilled, powerful and full of heart and guts, has failed to lift world honours on three occasions: being stopped twice by Carl Froch (controversially/prematurely in the first fight) and losing a close decision to Badou Jack.
Now, the Londoner will face Fedor Chudinov for the WBA 168 pound belt in his next fight.
Results: Lomachenko beats Sosa; Usyk and Gvozdyk win
In a one-sided mismatch, Vasyl Lomachenko (8-1, 6 KOs) battered and beat down Jason Sosa (20-2-4, 15 KOs) in scoring a 9th round TKO to retain his WBO super featherweight title tonight at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. The fight was stopped at the urging of Sosa’s corner at the end of the 9th.
Lomachenko had beaten Sosa badly to the point where the contest needed to be stopped. Thankfully, Sosa’s corner had the wisdom to stop the fight because it really needed to be stopped a round earlier in the 8th when he was badly hurt. Sosa’s face was swollen from the punishment that he’d absorbed in this hopeless mismatch.