Promoter Bob Arum is, as fans known, very excited about Vasyl Lomachenko. The former amateur standout of standouts who is now just seven bouts into his pro career – despite this lack of pro fights the southpaw has already won five WBO title bouts and has captured two world belts – is being looked at by the Top Rank boss as perhaps the most talented fighter he has ever worked with. And the good news for British boxing fans is Lomachenko might be heading to a fight in the UK next year.
Who Next for Eubank Junior? Martin Murray says “let’s do it, if your dad will let you!”
He lost out on a massive fight with middleweight ruler Gennady Golovkin (either because he was simply too late to the contract table, or due to not seeing the contract in time, depending on which side you listen to) but the career of Chris Eubank Junior goes on. In fact, all the publicity he received over his possible fight with GGG has likely made Eubank a bigger name. But who will he fight next?
Deontay Wilder vs. Chris Arreola: Big Boys Brawl in Birmingham
Deontay Wilder was forced to reorganize against Chris Arreola, after his scheduled matchup in May with Alexander Povetkin got shelved due to an irregular-trace amount of a newly banned substance. Likely, Wilder will have to face Povetkin in the fall, that’s if the WBC agrees with WADA’s recent adjustment in their rules on meldonium. So it’s Arreola for Wilder to remain active near his home in the city of Birmingham, Alabama. If the main event doesn’t do the trick, the co-feature pits unbeaten Sammy Vasquez in tough with 2008 gold medalist Felix Diaz.
Sergey Lipinets defeats Walter Castillo
It was a good night for Russian super lightweight Sergey Lipinets (10-0, 7 KOs) who fought through a deep cut over his eye to score a rousing TKO over Nicaraguan brawler Walter Castillo (26-4-1, 19 KOs) in a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on ESPN & ESPN Deportes main event that further solidified Lipinets as a force to be reckoned with in the 140-pound weight class. The night of fights, which emanated from Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino in Tunica, Miss., marked the third PBC on ESPN & ESPN Deportes telecast in the month of July.
Deontay Wilder, Chris Arreola weigh-in: Wilder 226.2, Arreola 246.2
The weights are in for tomorrow night’s WBC heavyweight title fight between champ Deontay Wilder and challenger Chris Arreola – Wilder tipped-in at a fraction above 226-pounds at 226.2, while Arreola came in at 246.2, a decent weight for him. Wilder looked chiselled, Arreola looked like, well, Arreola. The challenger has trained hard for this fight though – it’s his last chance and he knows it.
Keith Thurman ordered to defend WBA welterweight title against David Avanesyan
WBA welterweight king Keith Thurman, last seen thrilling his millions of fans with that tremendous effort against an equally determined Shawn Porter, must next defend against David Avanesyan; the WBA interim champion who was last seen pounding out a wide 12-round unanimous decision over the ageing bit still tough Shane Mosley. The WBA named this mandatory title defence for Thurman and if the fight cannot be agreed upon by the respective camps, within a 30-day period, the fight will likely go to purse bids.
Viktor Postol interview
Since you’ve been working with Freddie, what’s been the biggest improvement in your game?
VIKTOR POSTOL: Every training camp that I’m here, I’m getting more serious. I’m getting more power, more speed, learning new combinations with Freddie. Overall, improving in every fashion.
GGG: “Brook is the biggest test for me, the best fighter in his division”
As fans known, Gennady Golovkin and Kell Brook came face to face yesterday in New York, for the first press conference ahead of their massive September 10 clash in London. The two unbeaten champions – GGG the middleweight king, Brook the reigning IBF welterweight boss – had the opportunity to size one another up in person and Golovkin spoke later of how Brook is as tall as he is and will give him “the biggest test” in September.
Shelly Vincent: Shelito’s Way – Every Which Way Except Down
Super bantamweight boxer Shelly “Shelito’s Way” Vincent (17-0, 1 KO ) looks to keep her undefeated record in tact as shefights for the third time this year on July 21st at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, against an opponent to be named at a later date. The UBF and WIBA titleholder from Providence, Rhode Island is poised to make women’s boxing more mainstream and take her career to the next level, starting with a potential bout against undefeated archrival, WBC super bantamweight, Heather “The Heat” Hardy (17-0, 4 KOs), hopefully at some point this year.
Parker vs Haumono: Trainer Justin Fortune says Solomon Haumono hits as hard as Foreman, needs to “make Parker angry”
During his time in boxing, trainer and former pro Justin Fortune has tasted, either in a real fight or in sparring, the power of Lennox Lewis, Tommy Morrison and, arguably the freakishly strongest puncher of them all, George Foreman. Fortune, speaking before the media in Sydney this week ahead of his fighter Solomon Haumono’s clash with unbeaten IBF number-one contender Joseph Parker, said Haumono has power to match all three.