WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KOs) held an open workout this past Tuesday for members of the media in advance of his upcoming “Pound For Pound” showdown on Saturday, November 19 against Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (30-0, 15 KOs) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas which will be produced and distribute live by HBO Pay-Per-View. Also in attendance were Curtis “The Cerebral Assassin” Stevens (28-5, 21 KOs) who will take on James “The King” De La Rosa (23-4, 13 KOs) for the WBA Continental Americas Middleweight Title and Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk (11-0, 9 KOs) who will face Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba (24-4-2, 10 KOs) for the NABF Light Heavyweight Title on the Kovalev-Ward HBO Pay-Per-View telecast.
Ten years ago: Floyd Mayweather captures Welterweight title with commanding win over tough Carlos Baldomir
It wasn’t Floyd Mayweather’s most thrilling fight, nor was it one of his biggest, but a decade ago (Nov 4, 2006), “Pretty Boy,” as Mayweather was still calling himself at the time, scored a good win that led to a genuine super-fight. In November of 2006 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay, a 29-year-old, 36-0 Mayweather boxed his third fight as a welterweight and he picked up both the lineal and the WBC 147-pound titles.
Chisora and Whyte come face to face at presser, exchange barbs, both promise KO victory
Bitter heavyweight rivals Dereck Chisora and Dillian Whyte came face to face today at a press conference to further promote a British heavyweight title fight that in truth needs no further hype. These two DO NOT like one another and even if reigning British champ Whyte has made a habit of engaging in a war of words, verbally attacking a number of his previous opponents, the simmering intensity between these two is as real as it gets.
Before today’s presser, promoter Eddie Hearn was admittedly concerned over the two big men coming to blows or doing something generally crazy. This, thankfully did not happen (although these two have been involved in out-of-the-ring shenanigans before; remember Chisora’s infamous “bottle” incident with David Haye in Germany?)
The Dwyre Chronicles: “Mannyfist Destiny” – Manny Pacquiao – Jessie Vargas fight on Saturday
By: Bill Dwyre * – LAS VEGAS – The Honorable Emmanual Dapridan Pacquiao, freshman senator from the Philippines, pulled up a chair at the end of a long table here the other day and gave the gathered dozens a new look at the state of his union.
Gathered around were the least likely of the media set to deeply comprehend Filipino politics; actually, the least likely to comprehend any politics. We were the semi-couth of the journalism world, aka boxing writers. Our dress code is tennis shoes and, if handy, a clean shirt.
Freddie Roach likes the idea of Pacquiao vs. Canelo, says Pac-Man can outbox Alvarez “very easily”
Reigning and defending WBO welterweight champ Jessie Vargas almost certainly does not like it one bit, but it does seem as though fight fans and members of the media are talking more about who returning superstar Manny Pacquiao may or may not face in his next fight after the Las Vegas clash with Vargas this coming Saturday night. There is interest in Pacquiao-Vargas but the fight does not have anything like the buzz previous Pacquiao fights had.
Hearn says Joshua cannot afford to give Molina less than 100-percent of his attention; won’t even think about Klitschko mega-fight until Dec 10 is done
Eddie Hearn has said whilst speaking with Kugan Cassius of IFILM TV that the response to the recently announced Anthony Joshua-Eric Molina fight has been “lukewarm” in the UK, although better in the US, where Molina, 25-3(19) is of course far better known. Hearn said he has once again heard the moans and groans regarding why the December 10 fight, and it’s card, will be pay-per-view on Sky Box Office.
Lucas Browne-Shannon Briggs is on: Big Daddy Vs. Big Mouth!
Shannon Briggs has finally landed himself a big fight. The 44-year-old former lineal and WBO ruler first chased, harassed and pestered Wladimir Klitschko for a fight, then Briggs turned his attention towards David Haye. Niether of these two took the bait (although Haye appeared to come close, verbally promising the vocal veteran a fight but then either opting to run away, according to Briggs, or not being able to find a pay-per-view platform, according to Haye).
George Foreman: “I hope Tyson Fury gets back on his feet”
Heavyweight living legend George Foreman has heralded Tyson Fury as “distinctive” and a “maverick” and says that boxing needs him while he urges his linear successor to get back in the ring as soon as possible.
Foreman, in an absorbing interview with the Daily Telegraph’s Gareth Davies, added that the heavyweight division now lacks the buzz for the casual fan whilst Fury takes time away from the sport to deal with personal health issues.
WBA: Klitschko vs Joshua sanctioned
The WBA have officially sanctioned a blockbuster battle between Anthony Joshua MBE and Wladimir Klitschko for the spring of 2017 for the Super title – but only if Joshua successfully defends his IBF World Heavyweight title against Eric Molina at the Manchester Arena on December 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and on SHOWTIME in the US.
Joshua defends his crown for the second time in his third straight clash with American opposition having ripped the strap from Charles Martin with a second round KO win in February at The O2 and defending the belt against Dominic Breazeale with a seventh round stoppage at his London fortress in June, extending his impressive run of KO wins to 17 in the paid ranks.
Danny Garcia: I have to be ready for Samuel Vargas
Undefeated world champion Danny “Swift” Garcia held a media workout at his gym in Philadelphia on Tuesday as he prepares for his Premier Boxing Champions on Spike showdown with Colombia’s Samuel Vargas taking place Saturday, November 12 from Temple University’s Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
Also in attendance at Tuesday’s workout was undefeated rising prospect Omar Douglas, who battles former world champion Javier Fortuna in PBC on Spike action that same night.