Pound-for-pound star expects a very difficult night’s work when he steps in against the formidable Nicholas Walters.
The pair clash this Saturday, in what is one of the year’s most eagerly anticipated bouts, leading a stunning triple-header on BoxNation which also sees Terry Flanagan defend his WBO lightweight world title against Orlando Cruz earlier in the day, with Bradley Skeete and John Thain doing battle for the British welterweight title exclusively live tonight.
David Haye and Tony Bellew will clash in a Heavyweight blockbuster at The O2 in London on March 4, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
The big-hitting pair will finally settle their differences in the ring having clashed explosively on Sky Sports in Liverpool in October when Bellew defended his WBC World Cruiserweight title against BJ Flores, with the Liverpool star calling Haye out after knocking Flores out. Haye and Bellew exchanged angry words and had to be separated by security – but on March 4 there will be no parting them.
Former WBC light-heavyweight champ Jean Pascal will return to action in Canada on December 16, against a TBA. Last seen losing by corner retirement to Sergey Kovalev in a return meeting, Pascal was pulled out after seven rounds by his trainer Freddie Roach. Now, some 11 months on from what was just his fourth career loss, Pascal will return to action with a new trainer. Or rather an old trainer who is reuniting with him.
The Montreal Gazette reports how Pascal, 30-4-1(17) and aged 34, will now be trained by his former amateur coach, Stephan Larouche. Pascal says he wants to become a champion again and that boxing is his passion. Larouche acknowledges how it could be a tough road back for Pascal, as the current 175-pound weight division is “pretty high calibre.”
Promoter Bob Arum is hugely excited about Vasyl Lomachenko, the incredibly talented former amateur sensation (perhaps one of the greatest amateur boxers in history at 396-1). Arum, who has seen it all in boxing over his almost 90 years, remains enthusiastic about the sport because of special fighters that come his way – and Arum says Lomachenko is very special.
Indeed, the Top Rank boss recently said Lomachenko is the best he’s seen in the sport since the incomparable Muhammad Ali. Arum has big plans for the reigning WBO super-featherweight champion. At just 6-1 and already a two-weight champion, the slick and wickedly powerful southpaw is a future superstar, says Arum. This Saturday’s defence against puncher Nicholas Walters could be looked at as a risky assignment for “Hi-Tech,” as Lomachenko is known, but it would be a massive upset if “The Axe Man” scored a win.
Puerto Rico’s Orlando Cruz is determined to make history by becoming boxing’s first openly gay World Champion. Cruz challenges WBO World Lightweight king Terry Flanagan this Saturday at the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, live and exclusive on BoxNation.
The 5ft 4in southpaw became the first openly gay active boxer when he came out three years and says he is ready for another shot at making history after losing to Orlando Salido in a clash for the Vacant WBO World Featherweight Championship back in 2013.
Far too good to have been out of action for as long as he has (just one fight in the last 12 months and just four fights since December of 2012) Cuban talent Yuriorkis Gamboa has finally got himself another fight. The former featherweight champion, now aged 34 (Gamboa will turn 35 on December 23rd) will face Puerto Rican Frank De Alba in Saint-Denis, France on December 17th.
Considered to be one of the best super lightweights in recent history, Kostya Tszyu (31-2-0) rarely makes himself available to comment on, or be interviewed for anything boxing related. But when he does pick up the microphone, it is not difficult to remember him as being one of the more outspoken, smart, and most importantly honest people in boxing.
It’s official: Luis Ortiz will make a quick return from his recent, dull 12-round win over Malik Scott and face British heavyweight David Allen on the big Joshua-Molina bill in Manchester on December 10. The fight was announced today and both fighters are delighted.
Unbeaten Cuban Ortiz expects to be able put on a far more fan-friendly fight against Allen, 9-1(6), who has promised he will “come to fight.” Allen reportedly asked promoter Eddie Hearn for this particular fight quite some time ago, convinced as he is that he can defeat the southpaw known as “King Kong.”
WBO middleweight champ Billy Joe Saunders has endured some disappointing and frustrating year here in 2016. Fans have lost count of the number of postponements the unbeaten southpaw has experienced since his last fight – an impressive decision win over Andy Lee last December – but the number has just risen by one; as it has been announced how this Saturday’s defence against Russian challenger Artur Akavov has been delayed yet again.
In what should turn out to be one of the most interesting boxing matches of 2016 this weekend, WBO junior lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko (6-1, 4 KOs) will defend his title against the immensely talented challenger Nicholas Walters (26-0-1, 21 KOs). The bout takes place at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada and will be televised on HBO, which will also be airing the replay of the competitive clash this past weekend between pound-for-pound elites Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward.