The World Awaits – Undercard Review

Sean Dodd W10 Gary Buckland – Sean Dodd set fire to the script Renald Garrido ripped up earlier on in the night to box beautifully to secure a 10 round points victory over former British super featherweight champion Gary Buckland, 30-7 (10KO’s), and with it a potential shot at current British lightweight champion Scott Cardle.

Cardle was ringside to watch his late replacement Dodd, 10-1 (2KO’s), withstand the customary Buckland onslaught to coolly box above the levels his previous experience would suggest to deservedly have his hand held victorious 97-95 on the referees scorecard.

Stephen Smith vs Devis Boschiero / Tonight 8pm (UK)/ ‘Make or Break’ says Joe Gallagher

Tonight in Liverpool, hometown Jr. lightweight, Stephen Smith (22-1, 12ko), enters a must-win IBF title eliminator against experienced Italian Devis Boschiero (37-3-1, 19ko) in hope of securing a shot at Puerto Rico’s newly crowned unbeaten champion, Jose Pedraza (20-0, 12ko).

Smith, the middle of the four fighting siblings who include 168 lb-ers Paul and Callum, as well as 154 lb contender Liam, enters knowing that defeat will certainly spell disaster for his world title ambitions, and it’s a fight that trainer Joe Gallagher is calling a ‘must-win.’

Tyson Fury Mocks Wladimir Klitschko's David Haye Win / Says the Champ's In Trouble!

On October 24th in Dusseldorf, Germany, mandatory challenger Tyson Fury attempts to dethrone long-dominant heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and take the Ukrainian’s belts back to the UK.

Now, little over a month out from the contest, he has taken to mocking countryman David Haye, whom he confidently asserts is Wladimir’s ‘best win.’

The “Hayemaker” came up woefully short in his 2011 challenge to Klitschko – a challenge that resulted in the now-infamous ‘toe-gate’ saga, and after later twice signing to fight Fury, and then twice pulling out, the self proclaimed ‘Gypsy Warrior’ was in no mood to mince his words.

Juan Manuel Marquez Resumes Light Training / Still Undecided on Whether to Return

4 division titlist and future Hall of Fame Inductee, Juan Manuel Marquez – last seen beating Mike Alvarado in May 2014, has said he is still undecided over any potential ring return, although the knee injury that has seen him sidelined of late is ‘feeling good,’ and he has resumed light training.

“I feel great, I’ve started training. I feel happy because my right knee is good and I feel good,” he said in an interview conducted with fighthubtv.

Floyd Mayweather Keeping WBC/WBA Titles - For Now At Least!

After he ‘retired’ from the sport [not for the first time] after last Saturday’s win over Andre Berto, it would be a reasonable assumption to expect that Floyd Mayweather’s WBC and WBA 147 and 154 lb titles would instantly become vacant – but alas, that has proven not to be the case – just yet, at least.

Mayweather stated after the Pacquiao fight in May that he would vacate his belts in order to let up-and-comers like Errol Spence Jr – a Mayweather Promotions fighter – ultimately duke it out for them, although he then went back on that, even refusing to vacate his WBO welterweight strap until he was stripped, forcing Tim Bradley and Jessie Vargas to battle for an interim strap in June. Bradley was later upgraded.

Deontay Wilder Claims WBC Title is Staying in the US For A Long Time!

Ahead of his maligned title defence against little known Frenchman, Johann Duhaupas, later this month, WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has spoken out to insist that the prestigious green belt he won back in January against Bermane Stiverne is staying in America for a long, long time.

That statement is sure to prompt loud snorts of derision from boxing fans the world over, dismayed at the Alabama native’s seeming reluctance to face any “top level” opposition as he counts down to January’s mandatory defence against dangerous Russian, Alexander Povetkin.

Erkan Teper v Robert Helenius Set For December 19th in Finland

Unbeaten European heavyweight champion Erkan Teper (15-0, 10ko) will defend his title for the first time on December 19th when he travels to Finland to take on the “Nordic Nightmare,” Robert Helenius (21-0, 13ko), at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki.

It’s a potentially dangerous first defence for Teper, who was last seen in July, pole-axing Britain’s David Price inside two rounds to claim the vacant strap, and the unbeaten 33 year old – a late starter to the pro game at 28 years of age – is keen to try and push on to world level – something that given the current divisional climate may not be such a fantastic aim as it seems.

Paul Smith: Not Ready to Call Time On Career Just Yet

Paul Smith Jr, last seen getting beaten and bloodied against Andre Ward in June, has insisted that he isn’t ready to call it a day just yet.

Smith, who has now recovered from an elbow surgery that he underwent following the catch weight loss to the Oakland fighter, moved to (35-6) with the defeat, and has blamed poor preparation for both his performance on the night as well as coming in overweight on the scales – an offence for which he was fined a considerable sum, only for Ward to return that portion of his purse as a goodwill gesture.

Rigo Not Doable for Vasyl Lomachenko / Facing Little Known Foe on Bradley/Rios Card Instead

After a mooted clash with Cuba’s 122 lb champion Guillermo Rigondeaux fell through after financial terms could not be agreed, WBO 126 lb titlist Vasyl Lomachenko will make the third defence of his belt against little known Mexican, Romulo Koasica, on the under card of Nov 7’s Tim Bradley/Brandon Rios clash.

It’s a blow to fans who had hoped to see the two stand-outs square off in what would sure to be a true, intriguing, 50/50 chess match type of a fight, such is the technical prowess of each man. Both won Olympic gold twice in glittering amateur careers and the soon to be 35 year old Rigondeaux is still yet to even box this year and isn’t getting any younger. Time is not on the side of this fight dragging in being made.

Tim Bradley: Seeking to Make Defensive Changes for Brandon Rios Fight

WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley fights Brandon Rios on November 7th at Las Vegas’ Thomas and Mack Centre in what will be his first fight with new trainer and ESPN analyst, Teddy Atlas.

“Desert Storm” made the change and left long time trainer Joel Diaz in the wake of his June fight with Jessie Vargas, which despite him clearly winning on all cards, came to a controversial end right in the dying seconds when Bradley was hurt and referee Pat Russell mistook the 10 second clapper for the final bell.

The World Awaits – Undercard Review

Stephen Smith vs Devis Boschiero / Tonight 8pm (UK)/ ‘Make or Break’ says Joe Gallagher

Tyson Fury Mocks Wladimir Klitschko’s David Haye Win / Says the Champ’s In Trouble!

Juan Manuel Marquez Resumes Light Training / Still Undecided on Whether to Return

Floyd Mayweather Keeping WBC/WBA Titles – For Now At Least!

Deontay Wilder Claims WBC Title is Staying in the US For A Long Time!

Erkan Teper v Robert Helenius Set For December 19th in Finland

Paul Smith: Not Ready to Call Time On Career Just Yet

Rigo Not Doable for Vasyl Lomachenko / Facing Little Known Foe on Bradley/Rios Card Instead

Tim Bradley: Seeking to Make Defensive Changes for Brandon Rios Fight