Lou DiBella
We’re going to start with “Showtime” Shawn Porter, out of Las Vegas right now. Former IBF World Champion. Everyone knows he’s trained by his dad, Ken, and he was a tremendous amateur. He has been a tremendous pro. And I know he’s ready for this important matchup on April 22nd. Shawn?
They both came up short in big fights against world champs Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder, but Dillian Whyte (who gave a pre-IBF ruling Joshua a real scare in a great fight) and Gerald Washinton (who enjoyed early success before WBC king Wilder lowered the boom on him) remain contenders and are both searching for another shot.
And the two sluggers who are both “learning on the job” according to Washington, could meet in an interesting match-up this June in London. Recently, Whyte announced how he would be headlining a London card on June 3rd, “against a big name,” with Washington, Mariusz Wach, Bryant Jennings and Artur Szpilka being listed as possibilities.
Back in November of 2015, in an explosive and thoroughly entertaining slugfest, Nigerian cruiserweight Olanrewaju Durodola upset unbeaten Russian KO King Dmitry Kudryashov inside two rounds. Now the two are set for a rematch on May 20, once again in Russia with the WBC silver strap on the line.
Durodola, 25-3(23) lost to recently crowned WBO champ Mairis Breidis in his next fight after the big win over Kudryashov, but he has bounced back, winning his last three, all by KO. Known as “God’s Power,” the 36 year old, in kindly giving ESB some of his time, said he has had better preparation ahead of his second fight with Kudryashov, 20-1(20).
Does Manny Pacquiao want a knockout victory on July 2 when he will defend his WBO welterweight title against Australia’s Jeff Horn? Freddie Roach sure does. As fight fans know, Pac-Man has not registered a KO or stoppage over a foe since way, way back in November of 2009, when he halted an immeasurably brave and determined Miguel Cotto in the 12th and final round of their welterweight showdown in Las Vegas.
Since then, Pacquiao, 59-6-2(38) has seen just one of his fights end inside the distance: the fight he lost by sensational KO at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez in their fourth (and seemingly final) meeting in December of 2012. Roach wants to see an end to the KO drought, and he has told The Courier Mail that the plan is for it to be ended at the expense of the unbeaten Horn in Brisbane.
Vasyl Lomachenko is a hot-button topic across many social media platforms and of course in boxing forums. Nobody can deny or argue against Vasyl’s skill-set, the main sticking point of this recent debate is just how great this two-time gold medalist from the Ukraine is.
Based off HBO’s broadcast team a casual boxing fan may assume Loma is the best fighter on the planet. HBO and Bob Arum will tell you he’s hands down the best fighter of this still developing generation. Arum loves to skip right on past Floyd Mayweather, Roy Jones, Pernell Whitaker, and unbelievably the four kings of the 1980’s. That’s right Bob has to journey all the way to the 1970’s to compare Lomachenko to the great Muhammad Ali. Let us not forget, at least Arum is the promoter so one can expect him being overzealous at times.
Subtle it may not be, but the official advert/commercial for the upcoming all-Mexican superfight that is Canelo Alvarez-Julio Cesar Chavez Junior definitely hits the mark – or the wall!
The 45-sec ad, promoting the massive May 6 catchweight mega-fight all of Mexico, along with around half of America, will be watching, both gets the juices flowing for the big fight and takes a punch at President Trump’s infamous wall plans. Both boxers, pumped up, oiled up and looking toned up, quite literally run right through the wall and crash their way into the heart of fabulous Las Vegas, ready to fight and thrill.
After the sheer amount of controversy the November 2016 decision picked up by Andre Ward in his win over Sergey Kovalev caused, the rematch, set for June 17, needs a clear and decisive winner. But will we get one? A KO, scored by either fighter, would of course be the best way to settle things, but one looks unlikely.
Certainly, Kovalev, who recently said that Ward “hits like woman,” has no concerns of being stopped by Ward, while Ward being flattened, though possible, seems a long shot. So, with no KO, the rematch of one of the most debated decision fights of recent years will be decided once again by the three official judges.
Arguably (not that too many fans are arguing) the best, most talent-rich weight class today, the welterweight division of right now is capable of throwing up some fantastic match-ups. We’ve already got this month’s Shawn Porter-Andre Berto non-title showdown (all but guaranteed to be a thrilling action affair) and we’ve got the big IBF welterweight title fight collision between champ Kell Brook and unbeaten, some say star of the future, Errol Spence Jr.
But there could be more sizzlers to come. Keith Thurman, the recently crowned WBA/WBC 147 pound king, has called for a Manny Pacquiao fight. No, this doesn’t mean the fight will happen, but at least “One Time” is sticking to his routine of asking for the big match-ups. Thurman has plenty of options; what with Porter, who pushed Thurman hard in that great, great fight last summer, saying he lists this rematch as a priority, above a second go at Brook.
Tickets for Ward-Kovalev 2: “The Rematch” go on sale to the public today at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT. Tickets priced at $1,255, $755, $505, $355, $255 and $105 not including applicable service charges will be available on axs.com and at the Mandalay Bay Events Center box office.
Ward vs. Kovalev 2: “The Rematch,” a 12-round mega-fight for the WBO/IBF/WBA Light Heavyweight World Championships, is presented by Roc Nation Sports, Main Events, Andre Ward Promotions, Krusher Promotions and Corona Extra, and is sponsored by Monster Products and Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The championship event takes place Saturday, June 17 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Fighters can achieve greatness in a number of different ways: some, such as heavyweight terror Mike Tyson, make a huge impact in just a short period of time and become world champion after a veritable handful of fights; others, such as the once seemingly ageless Bernard Hopkins, achieve it through longevity, beating up Father Time at a time when retirement had long since looked close.