Amir Khan: Danny Garcia assured me we will fight again

It’s one of two defeats that really bothers Amir Khan, and the former 140-pound champ remains ever hopeful he will get a chance to avenge it one day. The fight in question is the 2012 stoppage defeat Khan suffered at the dangerous hands – his left hand in particular – of Danny Garcia.

The hugely controversial points defeat to Lamont Peterson aside (this too being a loss Khan has never forgotten about wanting to avenge) the Garcia loss bugs Khan the most. Ahead on the cards and outboxing “Swift” at the time of the crushing stoppage (Khan still on his feet trying to fight back at the time of the referee’s timely stoppage) Khan is convinced he will beat Garcia in a return meeting.

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Pacquiao’s guy Michael Koncz reportedly demands $20 million payday for Pac-Man to fight Terence Crawford

Bob Arum has spoken about his desire to see Manny Pacquiao fight Terence Crawford and Freddie Roach, while acknowledging the fight would be a tough one for Manny, says it could happen. But yesterday, in speaking with The Manila Bulletin, Pac-Man’s right hand man Michael Koncz put a potential spanner in the works by stating how the Filipino superstar will only agree to a fight with the unbeaten pound-for-pounder if he is guaranteed a whopping great $20 million payday.

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Ahead of the Badou Jack fight, James DeGale compares himself to Joe Calzaghe

Britain’s James DeGale, a fighter who has done things the hard way – fights on the road, tricky opponents, frustratingly long enforced layoffs – believes he will get the respect he is due after he beats Badou Jack in their big 168 pound unification fight on January 14.

In fact, Olympic gold medal winner and reigning IBF super-middleweight champ DeGale compares himself to the great Joe Calzaghe and the position he was in when entering his crunch fight with Jeff Lacy in 2006. DeGale told ESPN.com that like Calzaghe did with his blistering win over Lacy, he will prove he is the best in the world with a commanding win over Jack.

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Emulate Azumah and set your own standards – Rawlings tells Dogboe

Former Ghana president, Jerry Rawlings has urged undefeated boxer, Isaac ‘Royal Storm’ Dogboe (16-0, 10 KOs) to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Azumah Nelson by setting his own standards and targets in order to become a great champion.

Despite rising to number five in the latest WBO junior featherweight ratings and with a chance of taking a shot at the world champion, Jesse Magdaleno, Dogboe has instead chosen to fight once or twice more before stepping up to the big plate and it’s a decision that the former president rates highly.

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Golovkin vs Jacobs: Jacobs leaving no stone unturned in training

As expected, Danny Jacobs is pushing himself to the absolute limit as he gets ready to challenge unified middleweight king Gennady Golovkin in March. Jacobs has began his 10 week training camp and, in what must have proven quite costly, “The Miracle Man” has brought in three world class fighters as sparring partners – the three Russian fighters all being legit middleweight contenders in their own right.

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Arturo Gatti Vs. Micky Ward: The last great boxing trilogy – further immortalised in new book: “Intimate Warfare”

For those of you who, like myself, somehow missed it in 2016 when it was released, there is a great new book out on the simply unforgettable three-fight rivalry warriors Aturo Gatti and Micky Ward engaged in back in 2002/2003, that just has to be read. If you didn’t get a copy – released as it was just before Christmas – and you care anything for the Gatti-Ward fights, then “Intimate Warfare: The true story of the Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward trilogy” is a must.

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New Year’s wish-list – all the best for 2017

The way things stand right now, 2017 promises to be a big year for boxing; with blockbusters such as Klitschko-Joshua, Golovkin-Jacobs, Thurman-Garcia, Haye-Bellew all set and others, such as GGG-Canelo and Wilder-Joshua possibilities.

But will 2017 provide fight fans with everything they want? Here are a few things this writer wishes for over the coming 12 months:

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ESB Best of 2016! Frampton, Thurman, Álvarez, More!

By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones & Justin Jones – As the world celebrates the New Year, we reflect on the sweet science in 2016 by unveiling our yearly boxing awards:

Fighter of the Year

Carl ‘The Jackal’ Frampton

Honorable Mention

Vasyl ‘Hi-Tech’ Lomachenko
Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford
Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez

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Brook v. Khan – will it finally happen? Who wins?

Following the latest round of Twitter exchanges between Kell Brook and Amir Khan it seems more likely than ever that this highly anticipated fight may actually be made for sometime in 2017.

Khan claimed the Brook wasn’t on his level previously and that he need a win over a big name to turn himself into a viable opponent. Brook on the other hand has always publicly shown a willingness to test Khans ‘whiskers’ and get the fight on.

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The Joshua Paradox

In the wake of Anthony Joshua’s latest victory and after the announcement of his 2017 contest against a fighter of note in Wladimir Klitschko, we look to discuss if the IBF Heavyweight Champion will ever gain the respect of ‘hardcore’ boxing fans or will be forever seen as a poster boy for ‘casuals’ and the increasing wave of new boxing fans.

Joshua is an Olympic Champion, and however you view his victory over Charles Martin in terms of credibility, he is also a recognised World Champion. Whilst he hasn’t yet been pitted against the divisions top level operators he appears to receive very little acclaim for his achievements to date from many long standing boxing fans.

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