Fight fans of a certain age will remember rough, tough 1970s and ’80s heavyweight warrior Eddie “The Animal” Lopez, who sadly died over the weekend according to a report on RingTV.com. It’s not clear what the cause of death was but, as the article points out, Lopez had a long battle with drugs.
Results: Sullivan Barrera beats Smith Jr.
Newly crowned WBC Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Champion Sullivan Barrera (20-1, 14 KOs) gave a career-making performance, getting off the deck in the first round to take a 10-round unanimous decision victory over Joe Smith, Jr. (23-2, 19 KOs). The judges scored the fight 96-93 and 97-92 twice.
“I feel very happy about this win. Joe Smith, Jr. is a great champion, and I respect him very much,” Barrera said. “This title wouldn’t have been possible with my amazing team, and my father here tonight was also amazing. When Smith, Jr. knocked me down in the second round, I got back up cause that’s who I am. In my fight with Shabranskyy the same thing happened. I shoot back up to get the victory.”
Results: Omar Figueroa Jr. destroys Robert Guerrero
Unbeaten Omar Figueroa (27-0-1, 19 KOs) returned to the ring in emphatic fashion with a third-round stoppage of former champion Robert Guerrero (33-6-1, 18 KOs) in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes Saturday night from the newly-renovated NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The show was the first major boxing event to take place at the Coliseum in 31 years.
Results: Adam Kownacki defeats Artur Szpilka
In front of a large contingent of his hometown fans, Adam Kownacki (16-0, 13 KOs) put on an impressive performance against his best opposition to date by scoring a fourth-round TKO of former title challenger Artur Szpilka (20-3, 15 KOs) in their heavyweight showdown.
“I always knew that I had him,” said Kownacki. “From the first shot I hit him in the body, I knew he didn’t have enough. My pressure was too much.”
Results: Marcus Browne stops Seanie Monaghan
Unbeaten 2012 U.S. Olympian Marcus Browne (20-0, 15 KOs) continued to solidify his status as a world title contender with an electrifying stoppage of previously undefeated Seanie Monaghan (28-1, 17 KOs) in the second-round of their light heavyweight battle.
Despite fighting in front of a friendly crowd in his native Long Island, Monaghan struggled from the start as a blistering left hand from Browne sent him to the canvas early in the first round. Monaghan was quickly in survival mode and was aided when referee Steve Willis halted the bout after deeming that Browne had connected with an accidental low blow while looking to finish his opponent.
Results: Jamal James beats Jo Jo Dan
Once-beaten Jamal James (21-1, 9 KOs) scored a unanimous decision victory over former title challenger Jo Jo Dan (36-5, 19 KOs) in Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes action Saturday night from the newly-renovated NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Standing 6’2″, James was intent on using his length to move around Dan and deliver jabs and power punches off of it it. He had success snapping the head back of Dan throughout the early rounds and built up a lead on the scorecards.
Results: Eubank Jr. defeats Abraham
Super middleweight Chris Eubank Jr. (25-1, 19 KOs) did a job in beating 37-year-old former world champion “King” Arthur Abraham (46-6, 30 KOs) by a lopsided 12 round unanimous decision in front of a large crowd at the Wembley Arena in London, UK.
Eubank Jr. used a lot of uppercuts and flurries to beat the German Abraham by the scores 118-110, 118-110, and 120-108. Eubank Jr. was showboating for much of the fight, showing little in the way of respect for Abraham, who couldn’t muster enough offense to make it a fight.
Boxing’s finest trash-talkers!
Finally they are silent – for now. We’ve been “treated” to plenty of hype, nastiness, fun and games and, most notably, trash-talking these past four days; courtesy of Floyd Mayweather Junior and Conor McGregor. And, perhaps surprisingly, it is McGregor who gets most votes when it comes to who had the fastest, smartest mouth during the four-day press tour; with the MMA star getting off better, more amusing lines than his upcoming August ring rival.
Trash-talking has of course been around the sport of boxing for decades, with it today being as big a part of the game as stare-downs, catch-weight fights and rematch clauses. Trash-talking can be fun; if it’s done right. Mayweather, for once, found himself out-talked by McGregor (rest assured Floyd will make him pay in the fight next month) but “Money” is usually on the money when it comes to hurling both amusing and effective (effective at rattling his opponent) insults.
Showtime boss Espinoza says he expects Joshua-Klitschko II decision “pretty quickly”
Anthony Joshua could be heading towards his US debut in his next fight. Promoter Eddie Hearn has been looking over potential venues in Las Vegas, with the T-Mobile Arena now the frontrunner to host the expected rematch between the reigning WBA/IBF heavyweight champ and former king Wladimir Klitschko (Klitschko has still to officially confirm that he will face AJ for a second time).
And Stephen Espinoza of Showtime says Joshua-Klitschko II “would be the biggest heavyweight Vegas fight in probably a couple of decades.” Joshua wants it, Hearn wants it and Espinoza wants it – now it just needs Klitschko’s signature on the contract to make the rematch happen in Vegas. At least this is how it seems.
Amir Khan on Kell Brook’s planned return: If he fights me that could be a third loss and bad for his health
It’s been said more than a few times and by more than a few, that British stars Amir Khan and Kell Brook have no remaining big fight in their respective careers other than one against each other.
As fans know, former IBF welterweight champ Brook is coming off two painful stoppage defeats, to Gennady Golovkin and, just under two months ago, Errol Spence Jnr. Khan, the former 140 pound champ, has not fought since being taken out by Canelo Alvarez 14 months ago. But though Brook is planning to return, hopefully, he says, before the end of the year, Khan is reluctant to finally face him in what would still be a genuine all-British blockbuster.