Juan Manuel Marquez set for August return; eyeing possible fights with new champ Horn, Cotto

Mexican legend and all time great Juan Manuel Marquez is five years older than Manny Pacquiao but both he and his equally legendary trainer Nacho Beristain think a fight with new WBO welterweight champ Jeff Horn, Pac Man’s (controversial) conqueror, is a good idea.

The 43 year old Marquez (really at an advanced age for a welterweight) is reported by ESPN Deportes to be returning to action against TBA in August; for his first fight since his May 2014 win over the tough Mike Alvarado. And after that, Beristain said that he likes the idea of his fighter going in with new champ Horn.

continue

With Australian boxing given a massive boost by Horn-Pacquiao, Mark Flanagan aims to join Horn with win over Denis Lebedev

Whether you agreed with the verdict or not, the recent Jeff Horn-Manny Pacquiao fight and its outcome gave Australian boxing one enormous lift. The biggest fight in Australian boxing history, underdog Horn’s upset win over the all time great attracted around 55,000 fans, and the rematch (likely though not definite) could be even bigger.

continue

Robert Guerrero: It’s going to be a war against Figueroa

Former world champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero is hard at work preparing for his main event showdown with unbeaten Omar Figueroa that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes Saturday, July 15 in the first boxing event at the newly renovated NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

continue

Abel Sanchez: Absolutely [Mayweather-McGregor] is disrespectful to boxing; the people are going to see that it shouldn’t have been made

While talk continues regarding the impending world press tour to further hype the Mayweather-McGregor fight – set to kick off in either London or Los Angeles; this apparently being a matter of strict secrecy – Abel Sanchez has joined those critics who have no time for the fight.

continue

Dmitry Kudryashov joins star-studded World Boxing Super Series

The World Boxing Super Series is delighted to present the seventh of eight participants in the cruiserweight division. Dmitry Kudryashov has joined a star-studded tournament line-up that features the four reigning world champions Oleksandr Usyk (WBO), Mairis Briedis (WBC), Murat Gassiev (IBF) and Yunier Dorticos (WBO) as well as former champions Marco Huck and Krzysztof Wlodarczyk. The Russian Hammer (21-1, 21 KOs) enters the Muhammad Ali Trophy with a fearsome KO ratio of 94 %, with all of his 21 victories coming by the way of knockout.

continue

“Creed II” on the way – “Rocky” creator Stallone tells us we’ve “just got to be ready”

It appears there is yet more mileage in the classic “Rocky” saga; and in light of how great/very good/good six of the seven movies are, then why shouldn’t its creator Sylvester Stallone keep the feel-good story going?

Recently, via Instagram, Stallone added a tantalising photo, featuring the son of Apollo Creed, star of course of the spin-off “Creed,” going face-to-face with Ivan Drago, star of course of “Rocky IV;” the biggest money-spinner off all the “Rocky” films. This pic, and the attachment that reads: “History will always repeat itself in one form or another, just got to be ready!” suggests all manner of things.

continue

From the archives: Dempsey brutalises Willard! Happy 4th of July, America

On July the 4th, 1919, a truly memorable and brutal heavyweight championship prize fight occurred in Toledo, Ohio. The reigning heavyweight king, Jess Willard, who had become known as “The Great White Hope” in the months leading up to his successful challenge of the controversial Jack Johnson, was to make his first defense against the much smaller Jack Dempsey. What followed was a performance by Dempsey that revolutionized professional boxing.

continue

Hearn: Klitschko doesn’t want to return to the UK for Joshua rematch; if no return AJ will fight Pulev October 28

According to Eddie Hearn, former heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko does not wish to return to the UK for a rematch with Anthony Joshua. Klitschko, still to make up his mind on the rematch, officially at least, Wladimir wants the fight to take place “abroad,” Hearn told The Mirror; not in London or Cardiff.

Klitschko, Hearn says, wants the return fight to be “a big event,” and Las Vegas and Nigeria are the two frontrunners to land the sequel to the April 29 classic – if it goes ahead at all.

continue

What would it mean if McGregor defeated Mayweather, KO’d him? The MMA star’s coach says it will happen

The hype surrounding next month’s Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor “Super-Fight” is considerable, huge even, and seemingly everyone has an opinion on what will happen when the two superstars of their respective sports swap punches, not kicks or chokes, on August 26 in Las Vegas.

Mayweather, aged 40 and inactive for almost two full years, will face the much younger McGregor in what will be Floyd’s 50th pro fight; McGregor will be boxing his debut! But, quite astonishingly, McGregor has a great deal of support, from fans who have bet serious money on him winning, and from some experts. It’s largely MMA experts who are backing the Irishman to pull off the monster upset, so that tells you something.

continue

If you’ll take the win then you have to take the loss

I have been training professional and amateur boxers for many years. In totality my fighters have competed in thousands of fights at nearly every level in the sport at one time or another. My athletes have competed for professional world titles, have been in the Olympics and have appeared at countless club and amateur level shows and tournaments.

A few years back, I was part of the organizing team for a national amateur tournament being held in Michigan. One of my roles that week was to be a liaison between the organizing committee and any coaches who had questions or wanted to dispute a decision. If you have ever been to any boxing tournaments you know there are always disputes… and many times bad decisions, as well.

continue