One thing fight fans readily agree on is the fact that the almost ludicrously talent-rich welterweight division is the best, the most entertaining and the most competitive weight class in boxing today. But something that is very much up for debate is this: who is the best 147-pound operator in the sport today? With the “retirement” of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, fans have wondered which fighter will become the undisputed pick as the best in the world.
Anthony Joshua wants to be a WORLD champion, says he’d love to fight in Nigeria or Ghana
Back in the glory days of the heavyweight division, the 1970s, heavyweight kings Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman were, quite literally, world champions. Fighting in exotic faraway places such as Jamaica, Zaire, Kuala Lumpur and The Philippines, these giants boosted their fame, popularity and earning power by becoming globetrotters. Now, new heavyweight star and reigning IBF champion Anthony Joshua wants to emulate these greats, his number-one hero Ali especially.
Wladimir Klitschko Holds a Dubious “Record” – But at Least He’s in Good Company
On one hand, you can’t “win” this record unless you’re a great fighter, your odds of winning virtually ironclad.
On the other hand, I don’t think any fighter really wants to hold the record for Most Times On The Wrong End of Ring Magazine’s Upset of the Year.
In 2003, Wladimir Klitschko lost his WBO heavyweight title by way of 2nd round knockout, delivered courtesy of the late, great Corrie Sanders’ infamous left hand.
Anthony Joshua Post Fight Quotes
Earlier in the evening on SHOWTIME, undefeated heavyweight sensation Anthony Joshua successfully defended his IBF Heavyweight World Championship for the first time with a seventh round knockout of previously unbeaten American Dominic Breazeale at The O2 in London. Below are quotes from Joshua after Saturday’s win on SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL:
Tyson Fury “at centre of a doping investigation”
Update: Team Fury statement re: Sunday Mirror allegation:– Team Fury/Hennessy Sports: We are baffled by today’s story in the Sunday Mirror. Tyson Fury absolutely denies any allegation of doping. He looks forward to recovering from his injury and defending his titles against Wladimir Klitschko in October.
More bad news for Tyson Fury. Hot on the heels of the heavyweight champion’s ankle injury that has forced him to postpone his July 9 rematch with Wladimir Klitschko comes a potential bombshell of a news story in The Sunday Mirror. According to the article, Fury is currently “at the centre of a doping investigation” (the exact words used in the news piece).
Hearn says it could be Joseph Parker next for Anthony Joshua
Anthony Joshua fought through a virus in the lead-up to last night’s 7th-round stoppage win over a game Dominic Breazeale, his promoter Eddie Hearn tells Sky Sports. Hearn says there was even a possibility the fight could have been called off. But Joshua won as we know, he retained his IBF heavyweight belt for the first time and he now looks ahead to his next fight. Hearn said Joshua will “take a long rest” first, but that he could return in November; with mandatory challenger Joseph Parker being a strong possibility.
Eubank to meet with Golovkin tomorrow, to discuss possible September fight
Fresh off his crushing win over Tom Doran in defence of his British middleweight title last night, Chris Eubank Junior will now meet with Gennady Golovkin to discuss a potential clash in September. The Star reports how Eubank and his team will meet and discuss a fight with Golovkin tomorrow.
Promoter Eddie Hearns says Eubank Jr is the only world class middleweight eager to face the unbeaten pound-for-pound star.
Miami Actor Aygemang Clay Invokes Jack Johnson on Stage
Veiled as the story of fictional boxing champion Jay Jackson, “The Royale” portrays the hurdlesreal-life Jack Johnson had to clear to become the first African-American heavyweight champion of the world.
“The Royale” has been presented in New York and Chicago, and is now in Miami, FL with local actor Aygemang Clay commandeering the lead role. Jack Johnson was born and raised in Galveston, TX. Ironically, the man who years later would become emblematic of segregation in sports actually grew up in a poor Texas neighborhood largely unexposed to segregation. Although he grew up with a lot of white friends, they were all similarly poor and he was rarely reminded of his skin color.
Keith Thurman defeats Shawn Porter
(Photo: Esther Lin/Tom Casino/SHOWTIME) BROOKLYN (June 26, 2016) – Prizefighting returned to CBS on Saturday with a Fight of the Year candidate as undefeated welterweight world champion Keith Thurman edged former world champion Shawn Porter in a close but unanimous decision scored 115-113 by all three ringside judges.
The 12,718 fans in attendance at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and the viewers across the U.S. watching the first primetime boxing event on CBS since Muhammed Ali-Leon Spinks in 1978 were treated to a slugfest between two of the brightest stars in boxing’s glamour division.
Joshua Stops Breazeale; Groves & Eubank Jr Win – Results
Making his first defense of his IBF heavyweight title, Anthony Joshua (17-0, 17 KOs) gave American Dominic Breazeale (17-1, 15 KOs) a bad beating in defeating him by a 7th round knockout on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London, UK. Joshua put the game but limited Breazeale down two times in the 7th. The fight was stopped at 1:01 with Breazeale on the canvas unable to get up. He was too hurt.
Breazeale had talked ahead of time of giving Joshua a tough fight, but the only thing Breazeale was the ability to absorb a horrible beating. I’m not sure that Joshua could have withstood the amount of huge shots that Breazeale took if the fight was the other way around.