World ranked heavyweight contender MALIK SCOTT, (38-2-1, 13 KO’s), is headed to the world’s foremost tourist destination, Monte Carlo, on Saturday, November 12 to face feared, undefeated and #1 ranked “King Kong” LUIS ORTIZ, (25-0, 22 KO’s) at the Salle des Etoiles for the vacant World Boxing Association Inter-Continental Heavyweight Title.
“This is the fight I wanted, I picked him, “said Scott. “I told my promoter Tom Brown one of the three, either Anthony Joshua, David Haye or Luis Ortiz.”
Reigning WBC welterweight champ Danny Garcia’s next bout has been confirmed: he will face Canadian-based Colombian Samuel Vargas in Philadelphia on November 12. The fight will be a non-title affair. Garcia, 32-0(18) has been somewhat disappointing in his choice of opposition lately – with fights against the likes of Rod Salka, Paulie Malignaggi and now Vargas cluttering his CV. Fans are certain to be far from happy with the choice of Vargas, 25-2-1(13) in what will be “Swift’s” second and final fight of 2016.
The good news, though, is Garcia, if victorious next month (and he will win, unless we see a candidate for Upset of The Decade) will likely face WBA welterweight king Keith Thurman in a big unification showdown sometime in the first quarter of next year. This is the word according to reports anyway. But first comes the fight against 27-year-old Vargas, in what can only really be called a tune-up bout for Garcia, primed and peaking as he is at age 28.
As fans have no doubt read, unbeaten and avoided heavyweight Luis Ortiz has recently signed to UK Matchroom Promotions, having severed ties with Golden Boy earlier in the year and, for a time, being left on the sidelines, with nothing like a big fight in sight. Now, with Eddie Hearn looking to keep the Cuban southpaw busy, the 37-year-old’s chances of realizing his potential before it’s too late look a whole lot better.
Ortiz, 25-0(22) and inactive since March when he stopped and likely retired Tony Thompson, will have his first fight under the Matchroom banner on November 11 in Monaco, when he will face experienced long-time contender Malik Scott on a stacked card. Then, if he comes though okay against Scott – who, in his own most recent fight, defeated Thompson, defeating him last October – Ortiz is scheduled to fight again, against a TBA, in Manchester (in what will be Ortiz’ UK debut) on December 10.
Luke Campbell MBE says beating Derry Mathews is a must if he wants to prove he’s ready for world titles in 2017 as they clash at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.
Campbell defends his WBC Silver Lightweight title against the experienced Liverpool favourite, whose last fight – his 50th – was here for the WBO World title against Terry Flanagan.
It’s looking as though Ricky Burns and Adrien Broner will finally meet – in a fight that has been talked about for a few years – next February. Burns, the WBA 140-pound champ, is looking at making big money in his first title defence and the Scottish warrior’s manager Alex Morrison told STV that the Broner fight is “99 percent certain, in Las Vegas.”
Burns, 41-5-1(14) had a war with Keryl Relikh earlier this month, with Broner watching the battle won by the Scot, and soon Broner will get a chance to regain the belt Burns now holds. But first, “The Problem” wants to have a fight in December; itching to fight as he is after having spent time in jail and having been largely inactive this year.
Though British promoter Eddie Hearn is at pains to insist how the huge Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko (or should that be the other war around, with “Dr. Steel Hammer’s” name being given top billing?) fight is “close” but not yet done, former champ David Haye has Tweeted a congratulatory message to the reigning IBF heavyweight belt-holder over having got the fight.
“Great to hear Joshua-Klitschko is done. Timing is everything & the time now is perfect for AJ. Reminds me of Ali-Berbick. #Father Time,” Haye wrote today.
As WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KOs) and former Two-Time World Champion Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (30-0, 15 KOs) prepare for their epic “Pound For Pound” showdown scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 19 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, fans, media, experts and odds-makers around the world are split on who will be the favorite to win this virtually even-money battle.
And with good reason. Both Kovalev and Ward are undefeated and in their prime, making for a rare and exciting boxing match-up and a testament to the moxie of the boxers and the promoters.
Twenty years ago today at The Texas Station Casino in fabulous Las Vegas, one of the most enormously successful, talked about and controversial boxing careers of recent years began at pro level, as a 19-year-old Floyd Mayweather Junior scored a second-round KO over a guy named Roberto Apodaca. Nicknamed “Pretty Boy,” the 130-pounder, trained by his uncle Roger (as his father was currently in jail, soon to be released) earned the first of many pay checks.
In response to the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) September 2016 Quarterly Report, twenty-eight year old professional boxer, Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (Providence, Rhode Island/pro record: 23-0, 16 KOs) has questions about his current status as it relates to his participation in the WBC Super Welterweight Division Tournament. A-Team Promotions understands that the boxers involved in the tournament will be able to interact with the WBC Board of Governors at the WBC’s 54th Annual Convention Meetings, to be held at The Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida, December 11-17, 2016, to ensure their continued participation in this tournament.
While promoter Eddie Hearn will not jump the gun in prematurely announcing the big heavyweight match-up he really wants to make, in Wladimir Klitschko-Anthony Joshua, the Matchroom boss has squashed all rumors that, until today, continued to build, saying David Haye Vs. Joshua would happen next for both British stars.
Speaking with Sky Sports, Hearn said that, no, Haye (who recently tweeted that he will be fighting again on Dec 10, a possible date for Joshua-Klitschko if it is made) will NOT be next for the reigning IBF heavyweight champ.