Thirty years ago today in Atlantic City, New Jersey a British fighter pulled off a truly stunning upset victory over a man many listed as the best in the world pound-for-pound at the time. Lloyd Honeyghan, a Jamaican-born Londoner, met Texan Donald Curry in a fight that contested the world welterweight crown. What followed was a fight and a win that had British fight fans dancing in the streets.
Is Anthony Joshua ready for Klitschko?
After having had just 17 pro fights and having not yet gone past the 7th-round, it would be a huge gamble for Anthony Joshua to take on the ultra-experienced Wladimir Klitschko in his very next fight. But, because of the unfortunate Tyson Fury situation – what with Fury “lower than ever” and suffering from mental health problems – this is a gamble that could well be taken.
IBF heavyweight champ Joshua will box again on November 26, and promoter Eddie Hearn has been in touch with the Klitschko camp, asking them if the fight could happen. In all likelihood, it will not take place in November, but stranger things have happened and Joshua has said he’d like the fight – if not next then early next year. But is AJ ready for Klitschko?
Watch: Dillian Whyte and Ian Lewison Heated Presser Video
Dillian Whyte and Ian Lewison nearly came to blows at their press conference for their clash for the vacant British Heavyweight title at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on Friday October 7, live on Sky Sports.
Whyte and Lewison met in central London and sparks flew straight away between the big-hitting Brixton rivals.
Watch: Nathan Cleverly ready for Juegen Brahmer
Nathan Cleverly (29-3, 15 KOs) believes it is his ‘destiny’ to beat Juergen Braehmer (48-2, 35 KOs) and be crowned WBA World Light Heavyweight Champion on Saturday night at the Jahnsportforum in Neubrandenburg, Germany.
Cleverly was scheduled to meet Braehmer for the WBO title in 2011, but with only days to go before the Welshman’s first World title challenge, Braehmer withdrew, leaving Cleverly to fight Aleksy Kuziemski for the vacant belt.
2016: A bad year for the heavyweights (barring Anthony Joshua)
Neither fans of the heavyweight division, nor most of the fighting big men themselves, have had too much to get excited about this year. With world ruler Tyson Fury’s well documented problems having seen to it that he has not boxed at all in 2016 (and will not do so until 2017 at the earliest, if even then) it has fallen on the other heavyweight belt holders to entertain the fans.
But between them, WBC champ Deontay Wilder, “interim” WBA ruler Luis Ortiz and Lucas Browne, a brief holder of yet another version of the WBA belt, have had a less than great year themselves.
Pacquiao vs. Vargas PPV: Stephen A. Smith & Brian Kenny Call The Fight
Sports commentating stars STEPHEN A. SMITH, BRIAN KENNY and CHARISSA THOMPSON will join former two-division and five-time world champion TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY as the ringside broadcast team for the MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO vs.. JESSIE VARGAS world welterweight championship fight which will take place Saturday, November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The broadcast team will also feature TopRank.com’s CRYSTINA PONCHER who will be the telecast’s roving reporter.
Juan Manuel Lopez: Once a warrior always a warrior
The boxing schedule is pretty thin for the month of October, especially now that the world heavyweight title fight rematch between the troubled Tyson Fury and the incredibly frustrated Wladimir Klitschko is off – possibly for good. One former champion who once lit up the lower weight divisions with some truly incredible action will make what could be called a surprising return next month, as Puerto Rican warrior Juan Manuel Lopez will return after a two year layoff.
Eddie Hearn convinced we’ve seen the last of Tyson Fury in a boxing ring
There are currently nothing but questions surrounding world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury: will he be stripped of his title(s)? How bad is his mental, and physical, condition? Will he attend the scheduled drugs test hearing that is looming? Will Fury even box again?
One man who is convinced we have seen the last of Fury inside a boxing ring is Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, promoter, of course, of rival heavyweight, IBF champ Anthony Joshua. Hearn, in speaking with BBC Sport, said he feels Fury will be stripped and that as a result the unbeaten 28-year-old will have a ‘That’s it, I’m done’ attitude.
Vasyl Lomachenko set to return in November, Nicholas Walters, Jezreel Corrales possible foes
Vasyl Lomachenko, one of the hottest, most supremely talented fighters on the scene today – one of the best fighters he has ever worked with according to Top Rank boss Bob Arum – is set to return to action in Las Vegas on November 26. According to a piece by The Las Vegas Review-Journal, Arum said on Saturday that the reigning WBO 130-pound ruler will fight at The Cosmopolitan with his opponent still to be officially confirmed.
But there are two likely contenders for the shot: Nicholas Walters and Jezreel Corrales. Either of these two, both good, capable fighters, would be decent enough for Lomachenko – who at 6-1(4) has to be THE finest 6-1 fighter in boxing history – but neither guy figures to defeat the Ukrainian sensation. Last time out, in June, Lomachenko scored an absolutely devastating KO over Roman Martinez, in many peoples’ pick for KO of The Year.
Results: Jorge Linares decisions Anthony Crolla
The newly crowned WBC Diamond, WBA, Ring Magazine and Lineal Lightweight World Champion Jorge “El Niño de Oro” Linares (41-3, 27 KOs) defeated Anthony “Million Dollar” Crolla (31-4-3, 13 KOs) in a huge unification blockbuster at the Manchester Arena on September 24, 2016, live on Sky Sports. After a bout going all twelve rounds with both Linares and Crolla fighting resiliently until the end, the judges announced their scores of 115-114, 117-111, 115-113 all awarding Jorge Linares the unanimous decision victory.