Canelo, Chavez Jr: WBC Creates New Belt

By Mauricio Sulaiman – The highly-anticipated fight between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has caught the world’s attention and will certainly be a great success. T-Mobile Arena was sold out immediately, the pay-per-view is expected to be over 1 million homes, and both major TV Networks in Mexico – Televisa and Azteca – will air the fight, which will break all existing records of TV audience in the history of Mexico. So, in essence, it is a monumental success.

The WBC is extremely proud of both fighters, two Mexican warriors who have taunted each other for six years and now will have the opportunity to claim to be Mexico’s representative to the world.

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Can Tony Bellew become a world heavyweight champ?

As fight fans may or may not have read, British heavyweight / cruiserweight Tony Bellew (who picked up a huge heavyweight win over David Haye in his last fight but has only been crowned a world champion as a 200 pounder) has decided he will fight on.

After the big upset win over an injured (Achilles-heel) Haye, Bellew, the WBC cruiserweight boss at the time, said he may well walk away, content and financially set. But the lure of becoming a heavyweight champ, of hearing the words, ‘Tony Bellew, heavyweight champion of the world,’ has enticed “Bomber” to march onward and roll the dice once more.

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Manny Pacquiao arrives in Australia ahead of July fight with Jeff Horn; admits he has “not seen any of his fights”

A few hours ago, superstar and reigning WBO welterweight king Manny Pacquiao touched down in Australia to begin hyping his July fight with Australian slugger Jeff Horn. Pac-Man, who is not yet ready to call it a day and retire his magnificent career, was not greeted by much fan-fair or fuss upon his arrival, and the 38 year old all-time great admitted he doesn’t even know much about the unbeaten fighter he will be swapping leather with on July 2.

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Dominic Breazeale in the frame for Joseph Parker fight on May 6

As fans know, Britain’s unbeaten Hughie Fury was forced to pull out of his scheduled May 6 challenge of reigning WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker due to injury, leaving Team-Parker pretty much fuming – and looking for a late replacement challenger.

The show may still go on, and The New Zealand Herald has reported how US contender and former IBF title challenger Dominic Breazeale is one of the fighters in the frame for the fight early next month (just under two weeks away). Breazeale, beaten only by British star Anthony Joshua, holds decent wins over Amir Mansour and the tricky Fred Kassi, while in his last fight in February, he engaged in a thrilling slugfest that saw him beat Parker’s stablemate, Izu Ugonoh.

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Amir Khan tells Keith Thurman to “forget Porter,” calls out the WBC/WBA welterweight champ for this year

Amir Khan has been pretty quiet as of late, ring activity-wise. But the former 140 pound ruler has had plenty to say, both on social media and on video. Khan has not boxed since he was brutally taken out by the bigger Canelo Alvarez last May, but this has not stopped him from calling out everyone from Manny Pacquiao to Danny Garcia.

Khan, who has undergone surgery on his right hand and has said a number of times how he cannot wait to “get in there and test it out,” is currently in training for his return. There is talk of a tune-up fight next, but Khan has always aimed high, looking for the biggest and best possible fights. The latest big name fight “King Khan” has called for is one with reigning and undefeated WBC/WBA 147 pound champion Keith Thurman.

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Shawn Porter earns rematch with Keith Thurman with win over Berto; get ready for Super-Fight II

Former welterweight champ Shawn Porter fought like a man possessed last night in overwhelming a game Andre Berto, himself a proud former champ. Of course, with his relentless, thoroughly fan-pleasing style, Porter always fights with passion; but last night’s fight was the key to Porter getting something he has craved since last June: a rematch with the only man he feels has genuinely beaten him, in Keith Thurman.

Thurman and Porter went to war in a great, great action fight last summer, and Porter, having dropped a close 12 round decision, instantly made it clear that he wanted a rematch. With last night’s ninth round stoppage win over Berto, Porter won a final eliminator for the WBC welterweight title Thurman currently holds, along with the WBA belt.

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18 years ago: “The Real-Life Rocky” turns pro

Plenty of white heavyweight brawlers have, over the years, ever since Sly Stallone’s creation hit the big screen, been given the unofficial nickname of “The Real-Life Rocky” – Chuck Wepner arguably being the most deserving of the tag, as it was his ring exploits that inspired the struggling, out of work actor to put pen to paper and come up with his masterpiece.

But one other fighter, hailing from the tough streets of New York, made the nickname his own during the mid-to-late 2000s. Vinny Maddalone of Queens, who made his debut 18 years ago today, won over those fight fans who saw him slug it out, and he won them over with his sheer heart, his honest, down to earth approach and his fearlessness. Maddalone was never a fighter blessed with natural boxing skills, but he had a ton of guts, he was willing to fight anyone his promoter Joe DeGuardia put him in with, and he could really crack, with either mitt.

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Hughie Fury pulls out of Joseph Parker fight citing injury; Parker’s promoter angry

In disappointing news, it has been confirmed that Hughie Fury has withdrawn from his scheduled May 6 challenge of WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker. Citing an as yet undisclosed injury, Hughie, cousin of former world heavyweight king Tyson Fury, caused some concern by not having yet arrived in New Zealand when the champion already had. Now we know why the Furys had not yet touched down in New Zealand.

The fight, a clash of unbeatens, would have been an interesting affair, but now Parker is left looking for a late replacement. Parker’s promoter, David Higgins, is understandably angry at the pull-out news, and he has questioned Fury’s desire to face his fighter.

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Results: Jermell Charlo KOs Charles Hatley

Jermell Charlo defended his WBC Super Welterweight World Championship in dominant fashion with a devastating sixth-round knockout of mandatory challenger Charles Hatley in the co-main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.

Charlo (29-0, 14 KOs) landed the crisper shots from the opening bell, using a sharp left jab to set up a remarkably efficient straight right. The Houston native Charlo, the younger twin of undefeated former 154-pound champion Jermall, floored Hatley (26-2-1, 18 KOs) midway through the third with a textbook left-right combo that stunned his fellow Texan.

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Porter destroys Berto – Results

Shawn Porter scored a ninth round stoppage of Andre Berto to become the WBC’s mandatory challenger to unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, Saturday night on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

With the convincing victory, Porter potentially earns a rematch with Thurman, who he narrowly lost to last June in a 2016 Fight of the Year candidate at Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.

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