Las Vegas is buzzing right now, here in mid fight-week as we approach Saturday’s Canelo Alvarez-Amir Khan catch-weight super-fight; and Khan thinks “retired” great Floyd Mayweather is jealous and is missing the big Vegas attention he used to command when he was fighting at The MGM Grand. Speaking with BBC Sport, Khan, a significant underdog against Alvarez, says Mayweather has spoken about a possible comeback simply because he misses the attention he and Canelo are now enjoying.
VIDEO: Mayweather’s comeback & a Canelo Alvarez vs Amir Khan preview & prediction
Prior to Saturday night’s super middleweight title fight between Badou Jack and Lucian Bute, Showtime’s Jim Gray conducted a brief interview with former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. During this interview the now retired Mayweather mentioned having had discussions with CBS and Showtime about a possible comeback at some point in the foreseeable future. He indicated that talks surrounded big money mentioned nine figures. But Mayweather also said that he enjoyed being on the retired said of retirement.
Gavril-Novoa & Rakhmanov-Olvera on May 13
LAS VEGAS (May 4, 2016) – Promising Mayweather Promotions star Ronald “The Thrill” Gavril (15-1, 11 KOs) will be opposed by Juan Camilo “La Boa” Novoa (25-6-1, 23 KOs) and his TMT stablemate Sanjarbek “War” Rakhmanov (4-0, 3 KOs) will take on Alfonso Olvera (7-2, 3 KOs) in what is now a ShoBox: The New Generation quadrupleheader on Friday, May 13, live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT) from Sam’s Town Live.
Dimitrenko: “I still have no offer to fight Briggs”
Update: Hayemaker Promotions today announced that Shannon Briggs will face Alexander Dimitrenko at Haye Day on May 21 at the O2, London (see below).
East Side Boxing spoke to Dimitrenko, who stated: “I spoke to no one and no one gave me an offer! The fight is not official, that is not the truth. I still have no offer, these are just empty words!”
Canelo Alvarez vs Amir Khan: Big George on board for a possible Khan points win
This Saturday’s ludicrously intriguing fight between Saul Canelo Alvarez and Amir Khan is very much a speed Vs. power affair; with the former belonging to Khan, of hands and of feet, the latter belonging to the once-beaten Mexican star. Which will win? Heavyweight legend George Foreman is giving Khan and his speed a great chance of overcoming the betting odds in Las Vegas, with Big George telling the Los Angeles Times how Canelo could have a tough night if he is overconfident.
Canelo vs Khan: Amir to use Leicester City’s Premier League title as inspiration
Boxing ace Amir Khan is using Leicester City’s shock triumph of the Premier League title as inspiration ahead of the biggest fight of his life. The 29-year-old star is moving up two-weight divisions to take on the formidable middleweight world champion Canelo Alvarez this Saturday night, exclusively live on BoxNation.
Two-time world champion Khan, however, is undaunted at the prospect of facing the big Mexican puncher but instead is using the fairytale victory of the East Midlands side as proof that the underdog can prevail.
Hearn eyes potential Anthony Joshua-Zhang Zhilei super-fight in China, “with a pay-per-view audience of tens of millions”
Anthony Joshua, the unbeaten holder of the IBF heavyweight title, is being groomed for stardom; global stardom. So much so that his promoter Eddie Hearn is already looking at having his star fighter box in what could be a huge event in China in the coming years, this in addition to trying to make Joshua a household name in the US. Hearn has spoken to the media about his plans to take 2012 Olympic gold medal winner Joshua to China, to possibly face former Olympic rival Zhang Zhilei.
Kubrat Pulev and Dereck Chisora face off for the European heavyweight title
The fight will take place on May 7 at the Barclaycard Arena in Hamburg, Germany. Both boxers have been European champions before and both are managed by Sauerland. They have one more thing in common – each has lost a title fight to a Klitschko brother. Chisora went 12 rounds with Vitali Klitschko while Pulev was stopped by Wladimir in the 5th.
The European title meant a lot in the past when there was only one world champion. The European champion automatically earned the right to challenge the world champion. With the division and multiplication of the world championship, the European championship lost its ground and digressed into a minor trophy with insignificant commercial value. There is still only one European title but unlike the amateurs, the pros care little about it.
Oscar De La Hoya gives his thoughts on history’s most exciting speed vs. power matches
WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) and British top fighter and former two-time former world champion Amir “King” Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) will bring every ounce of their speed and power when they meet in the ring on May 7 at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.
The Case for a Draw in Jack vs Bute
By Boxing’s Devil’s Advocate, Daniel M Webster – Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, today I intend to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the majority draw decision in the Badou Jack vs Lucian Bute fight is a perfectly acceptable outcome. It is true that the decision was initially met with shock, dismay and outrage. After what appeared to be 12 dominating rounds, Badou Jack found himself having to settle for a draw against former champion Lucian Bute. “How could such a thing have happened?”, you might ask yourself. Surely this is a sign of incompetent judging, as Teddy Atlas so often professes; the kind of thing that is killing this great sport of ours. I am sorry to shatter the illusions of conspiracy and corruption, but this was neither the result of unscrupulous promoters, greased palms, or underworld influence. Lucian Bute received a draw in this fight simply because two of the three judges objectively believed he won 6 of the 12 contested rounds.