There is always reason for concern whenever a big boxing mega event hinges on one or both fighters needing to win a tune-up match prior to the big showdown. An example of this would be when Roy Jones Jr and Bernard Hopkins were scheduled to have a rematch, as long as they both were victorious in matches leading up to the desired attraction. Hopkins defeated Enrique Ornelas, but Roy Jones was knocked out in a round by Danny Green. The rematch went on, but lost its luster.
Andrew Golota was once a tremendous talent in the heavyweight division, who was a perennial rated contender for the better part of a decade. During that time Golota was widely viewed as an A-level talent who was unable to succeed at the highest level in order to secure himself as an A-level boxer.
Manchester’s Joe Gallagher has already proven his ability as a boxing trainer, what with great success with the likes of Anthony Crolla, Scott Quigg and the Smith brothers, but the modest coach says his gym, in Bolton, could boast four world champions by the end of the year. Gallagher also said, in speaking with Sky Sports, how he feels he has the right to say his gym is currently the best in Britain and Europe.
It could be boxing’s next great rivalry. Newly crowned WBA featherweight champion Carl Frampton, just over a week on from his terrific and thrilling win over Leo Santa Cruz, is already calling for the rematch. Frampton, who became a two-weight ruler with the July 30 win, wrote in The Sunday Life yesterday how he wants the rematch this year, before Christmas.
Will superstar Floyd Mayweather Junior return to the ring so he can achieve the milestone record of 50-0? Nobody knows for sure, despite the ongoing speculation – not even his father and trainer. Speaking with Helen Yee Sports, Mayweather Senior said he does not know if his son will lace ’em up one more time, but the former fighter says he is only too aware of how age can catch up with any boxer, his son included. And Snr said that at age 40 soon (Floyd will hit the big 40 next February) he “wouldn’t advise him to keep fighting.”
Rio 2016 Light Flyweight and Heavyweight Quarter-Finals confirmed on a dazzling third day of Olympic Boxing
Four weight classes were in action on Day Three of the Rio 2016 Boxing Competition, with eight crucial bouts deciding the quarter-finalists at Light Flyweight (49kg) and Heavyweight (91kg) as well four bouts at Welterweight (69kg) and Middleweight (75kg) across the two sessions. If the morning belonged to Spain’s Samuel Heredia following his victory over Irish second-seed Patrick Barnes, then the evening was Kazakhstan’s time to shine, as the team secured three superb wins.
American light flyweight Nico Hernandez (Wichita, Kansas) upset number two tournament seed Vasilii Egorov of Russia on Monday night to score his second victory of the 2016 Olympic Games. Hernandez tuned out the boos in the arena and ignored his opponent’s resume to put on an impressive display of boxing in Monday’s second round action. While six of his seven teammates haven’t stepped in to the ring at the Riocentro Pavilion 6, Hernandez has already scored two victories and clinched his spot in the quarterfinal round.
A huge party was taking place last night in Las Vegas, as the iconic and quite beautiful hotel Caesars Palace celebrated its 50th birthday. The hotel, one of the oldest in Las Vegas, opened its doors on August 5, 1966 and a weekend-long series of celebrations came to and end with a stunning fireworks display last night. Fight fans of course used to regularly pack out Caesars Palace when the biggest fights, the most special fights, took place there.
Throughout its history, Caesars Palace played host to, amongst many others, the following unforgettable boxing nights and fights: George Foreman-Ron Lyle, Larry Holmes-Ken Norton, Sugar Ray Leonard-Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns.
Is middleweight king Gennady Golovkin the hardest puncher, pound-for-pound, in the sport today? Many people feel the 35-0(32) star is and when you look at GGG’s stats: those 32 KO’s, the fact that no man has ever taken him the full 12-rounds and how Triple-G has a 100-percent KO ration in world title fights and a 91.4-percent ratio overall in his pro career, it’s easy to see why. But Golovkin, training hard for his upcoming September 10 title defence against IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook, has Tweeted some very bad news for Brook.
Andre Ward sure is a talented boxer, but he sure can turn in a boring fight. Last night’s almost pointless 12-rounder with a totally outclassed Alexander Brand has received some of the worst reviews in recent memory, with a number of experts calling the dreadfully dull shut-out win for Ward one of the worst fights ever televised on HBO. Ward cruised to the lopsided win, content to win each round in pretty much the same manner he had won the previous three minutes.