Britain’s Kell Brook holds the IBF welterweight title and America’s Jessie Vargas hold the WBO 147-pound title: together they could make up a great unification fight this summer. That’s the word according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, who reports that the respective promoters of Brook and Vargas, Eddie Hearn and Carl Moretti, met this week and spoke about the fight. The two champions are both eager for big fights and it seems the biggest obstacle in the way of making this IBF/WBO clash is the location.
Dirrell decisions Caparello; Anthony Dirrell obliterates Truax
Olympic Bronze Medalist Andre Dirrell (25-2, 16 KOs) defeated Australia’s Blake Caparello (22-2-1, 6 KOs) by unanimous decision (98-91 X 3) in a 10-round super middleweight attraction in the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike main event from the Taj Mahal Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
In a bout that started off with a lot of back and forth action, Caparello struck first with a left in the second round that sent Dirrell to the canvas.
Dirrell brothers win, beat Truax and Caparello
In an impressive punching display, former WBC 168lb champion Anthony Dirrell (29-1-1, 23 KOs) smashed the game but limited 32-year-old Caleb Truax (26-3-2, 16 KOs) in stopping him in the 1st round after putting him down twice in the 1st round on Friday night at the Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Dirrell stunned Truax with a right hand and then put him on the canvas with another right. Truax was able to continue fighting, but he was knocked down with the first clean landing shot that Dirrell threw. The fight was stopped immediately after the second knockdown. The fight was stopped at 1:49 of the round.
Ortiz-Berto, Chambers-Washington weigh-in results
Andre Berto 146.8 vs. Victor Ortiz 146.8
Edwin Rodriguez 177 vs. Thomas Williams Jr 176.8
Fernando Montiel 125.6 vs. Jorge Lara 124.4
Gerald Washington 239.8 vs. Eddie Chambers 216.2
Terrell Gausha 154.8 vs. Orlando Lora 154.4
David Benavidez 167.8 vs. Phillip Jackson 169.2
Photos: DeGale-Medina & Jack-Bute weigh in
Weigh-In Results:
Badou Jack – 167 ½ Pounds
Lucian Bute – 167 Pounds
James DeGale – 167 ½ Pounds
Rogelio Medina – 167 ¾ Pounds
Ortiz vs. Berto 2: Better late than never at the StubHub
Andre Berto and Victor Ortiz square off once again in a rematch from their 2011 war. The second meeting will take place at the StubHub Center in Southern California, a fitting venue that ignites a certain magical spell almost guaranteeing a brawl on Saturday night. The tripleheader will be broadcasted on free-to-air Fox. Normally a rematch from nearly 5 years ago wouldn’t gander much interest amongst fans. All too often in this scenario, one fighter has slipped too far from grace making the second go around a mismatch. (fourth fight between Marquez vs. Vazquez) Unfortunately a chance does exist that this bout could fit the bill just described due to the unknown that surrounds Victor Ortiz.
Tyson Fury says he’ll “probably” retire if he loses rematch with Klitschko; we’ll all miss him when he’s gone, too
It’s a tough job getting heavyweight king and self-proclaimed “joke” Tyson Fury in a serious mood, keen to answer questions with sincere thought. But yesterday in Germany, Kugan Cassius of IFilmTV managed it. Catching up with the unbeaten and overweight heavyweight ruler, Cassius got apparently genuine answers to his questions.
The rise of Sergey Kovalev & his inevitable showdown with Andre Ward (VIDEO)
Unified light heavyweight world champion Sergey Kovalev is widely recognized as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world, and earlier this week news broke regarding not just his next fight, but his next two. On July 11 the champion is slated to defend his titles against Isaac Chilemba in Russia, giving Kovalev his first chance to defend his titles in his home country. But the even bigger news is that Kovalev has now officially signed a contract to face fellow pound-for-pound elitist, Andre Ward later this year, with November 19 looking to be the target date for the match-up. Ward is also expected to have one more fight before his fall showdown with Kovalev.
Shannon Briggs to fight Alexander Dimitrenko on Haye’s May 21st card?
With David Haye’s second comeback fight fast approaching (May 21st), there is still no official word on who Shannon Briggs will face in the chief support. As fans probably are aware, Haye and Briggs have an agreement to fight one another later in the year providing they both come through at The O2 in London next month – Haye will face little-known but unbeaten Arnold Gjergjaj in the headliner.
So who will 44-year-old Briggs, 59-6-1(52) fight on May 21st? Well, according to Briggs himself, in speaking with two sources – Fightnews and Tru School Sports – he will face Russian-born Alexander Dimitrenko on May 21st.
From a Beating to a Robbery: Stacey Reile vs. Elina Tissen
By Ron Scarfone – On March 26, 2009, Stacey “Stay Lo” Reile was at the pinnacle of her career, although she was not a world champion yet. Reile redeemed herself after her loss to WIBF featherweight champion Ina Menzer. Reile won by a TKO in the sixth round over super featherweight contender Crystal Delgado. Reile’s rating by BoxRec.com in the female featherweight division rose to No. 2 in the world. Reile became the No. 1 ranked featherweight contender by the Women’s International Boxing Federation (WIBF). Life was better for Reile, but things can take a turn for the worse.