For a man who claims he is the best light-heavyweight in the world, WBC king Adonis Stevenson has neither been overly active of late, nor has he been facing elite challengers. It seems we can totally forget about Stevenson and fellow 175-pound ruler Sergey Kovalev fighting, ever. It is a real shame that this, the biggest and best fight that can be made at light-heavyweight, appears destined to be filed under the, ‘what could’ve been’ section of the sport.
No unlucky number: British boxing now boasts 13 world champions – from heavyweight down to bantamweight
For a population of around 65million (tens of millions less than America) the UK boxing scene currently boasts a truly exceptional number of world champions – 13, in fact. America currently has just nine reigning world champions. Quite amazing, really. The success British fighters have been enjoying over the past year or so just keeps on growing. With Sunday’s fantastic, underdog win by Tony Bellew in capturing the WBC cruiserweight title, British boxing now boasts a world champion in no less than ten weight divisions.
Azumah Nelson selects boxers for VIP Fight Night in Accra
Ghanaian boxing legend, Azumah Nelson is not giving up on the dream of finding the perfect replacement for himself in the ring and is sure next weekend’s VIP Fight Night can be the beginning of finding that legend in the making. Nelson, the much revered former 3-time world champion and WBC Hall of Fame inductee is selecting the boxers who will fight on the show scheduled for the ballroom of the plush Kempinski Gold Coast City Hotel in Accra on June 11 put together by HeMann Promotions in association with Azumah Nelson Boxing sanctioned by the Ghana Boxing Authority.
Open Letter to the AIBA – Olympic Boxing
Dear AIBA Executive Committee: Because of the most recent stance on allowing professional boxers to compete in the Olympics against other young amateur boxers I’m writing this open letter to you all. As one of your USA Boxing officials I must say that I’m totally against this. It is already enough that both class of boxers put their lives on the line each time they step in the ring; however, to place them in the ring with a world class professional boxer is totally increasing the risk.
Tony Bellew-David Haye: could this fight really happen?
Talk is cheap, as we know, and the mere fact that brand new WBC cruiserweight champ Tony Bellew has called out David Haye, insisting he would beat him and KO him, does not mean the fight will actually happen. But Bellew, who overcame a very capable and dangerously avoided fighter in Ilunga Makabu on Sunday night, has got the attention of the former undisputed cruiserweight king. Haye, as fans know, is campaigning as a heavyweight these days (since 2008 in fact) but he has not ruled out a fight with Bellew.
Team-Parker want big fight with David Haye in UK, say a win would make him a superstar in England
Joseph Parker’s promoter Deal Lonergan has revealed how he has been in talks with the UK’s Eddie Hearn about the idea of having Parker, the mandatory challenger for Anthony Joshua’s IBF belt, fighting on a Joshua under-card this November. The plan is to make Parker a big name in the UK, so as to make the upcoming Joshua-Parker fight that much bigger. Lonergan also spoke to The New Zealand Herald about his desire to match his unbeaten fighter with former champ David Haye.
Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor super-fight rumours persist, Floyd uploads fight poster on Instagram
Talk of a possible Boxing Vs. MMA super-fight between Floyd Mayweather Junior and Conor McGregor refuses to go away, as seemingly unrealistic as it is that the fight actually takes place. Last night, in adding to the speculation that the fight might happen, Mayweaather uploaded a fight poster hyping the would-be fight – with images of himself and McGregor and the title: Mayweather Conor Live on Pay-Per-View. There is no date on the poster.
David Price back to winning ways, now wants shot at Anthony Joshua
Last night, on the under-card of Tony Bellew’s fantastic KO win over the dangerous Ilunga Makabu, heavyweight contender David Price returned to winning ways. Fighting for the first time since his July 2015 KO loss to Erkan Teper – who subsequently failed a post-fight drugs test and was banned from boxing – 32-year-old Price made short work of Czech Republic heavy Vaclav Pejsar. Price decked the 9-2(8) 31-year-old in the opening round and finished the job in the 2nd. Pejsar is no top contender, but he had never previously been stopped and he had won his previous four fights.
Tony Bellew KOs Illunga Makabu in 3rd!
Underdog Tony Bellew (27-2-1, 17 KOs) came into tonight’s fight against #1 WBC Illunga Makabu (19-2, 19 KOs) as a slight underdog, but he came out the champion and the new WBC cruiserweight belt holder after stopping the South African in the 3rd round at the Goodison Park Stadium in Liverpool, UK.
Things weren’t looking good for the 33-year-old Bellew initially after he got greedy in the 1st round and was put on his backside by a scorching left hand to the head from Makabu. Bellew regrouped well in the 2nd and 3rd round to come back to dominate and stop the 28-year-old Makabu. In the final sequence in the 3rd, Bellew landed a hard right to the head of Makabu that caused his legs to shudder slightly.
Bellew defeats Makabu; Price and Smith win – results
Tony Bellew (27-2-1, 17 KOs) picked up the WBC cruiserweight title tonight with an easier than expected 3rd round knockout win over Ilunga Makabu (19-2, 18 KOs) at Goodison Park in Liverpool, England. Bellew went in the underdog but he showed that the oddsmakers had been wrong in installing the 28-year-old Makabu the favorite.
Bellew took Makabu out in the third round with some hard shots to the head after backing him up against the ropes. Makabu went down hard and was unable to continue.