TOM LOEFFLER: I couldn’t be more excited about kicking off fight week – this fight between Roman and McWilliams is not even a co-feature. It is a co-main event. Roman being the No. 1 pound-for-pound champion in the sport of boxing and arguably McWilliams being one of his toughest fights that’s he’s had. This will be Roman’s 3rd time on HBO since his debut on HBO last year. His awareness internationally and also the respect he has received has skyrocketed with the boxing media and the boxing fans. We are looking to have a sold out Forum and also the biggest capacity they have had for any boxing event since they transformed the historic venue.
Gennady Golovkin: Canelo, The idol of Mexico? The idol for what?
Feared middleweight Gennady Golovkin isn’t really much of a trash-talker. No, the lethal talent with the choirboy looks, who refers to his opposition, those opponents he has respect for, as “good boys,” is more at home with a smile and a good word, not a snarl and an insult. So, it is perhaps due to his growing frustration at not being able – so far – to nail down a fight with Mexican star Canelo Alvarez, that GGG has come out and questioned Alvarez’ idol status in his homeland.
Martin Murray-George Groves clash on Joshua’s undercard on 6/25
According to British super-middleweight Martin Murray, he will likely face fellow Brit and fellow former world title challenger George Groves on the upcoming card that will see new IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua make his very first defence. The date penciled in is June 25th, but the card has yet to be announced officially.
But Murray, 32-3-1(15) and coming off a split decision loss to Arthur Abraham, told Sky Sports the fight between he and Groves, 23-3(18) and two wins removed from his points loss to Badou Jack, is likely to go ahead.
Marvelous Marvin Hagler: boxing will never die, but we need a new superstar
Former undisputed and long-reigning middleweight king Marvelous Marvin Hagler was lucky, in that he fought during a golden era that was literally cluttered with stars and big marquee names. There was The Marvelous one himself of course, and Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard. Hagler fought them all, along with other attractive names like John Mugabi, and this served him well – money-wise and fame-wise.
Golovkin-Wade quotes
Bernie Bahrmasel: “Hello, and welcome to the Gennady Golovkin/Dominic Wade international media conference call for the World Middleweight Championship, on Saturday, April 23rd at the Fabulous Forum in Los Angeles and telecast live on HBO at 10 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Pacific. This truly is an international media conference call as in addition to welcoming media members from North America, we also have press joining us from 17 countries around the world. We want to send a special welcome to them.
Khan: My speed will beat Canelo
(Photo credit: Golden Boy Promotions) Former two-time world champion Amir “King” Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) today hosted a media workout at his gym in Hayward, Calif. ahead of his battle against WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs)on Saturday, May 7 at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Canelo vs. Khan will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Badou Jack and Lucian Bute talk about April 30 fight
(Photo credit: InterBox) LAS VEGAS (April 18, 2016) – WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Badou Jack and former world champion Lucian Bute hosted media workouts at their respective training camps last week to discuss their Saturday, April 30 world title showdown live on SHOWTIME from the DC Armory in Washington, D.C.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® doubleheader begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with IBF Super Middleweight World Champion James DeGale defending his title against top contender Rogelio Medina.
Joshua’s first title challenger down to three likely names; Hearn says A.J wants “a real fight”
Newly crowned IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua is already back in training after his explosive yet easy 2nd-round stoppage of Charles Martin. A.J doesn’t quite know who he will be fighting in his first defence as champion, but he is taking no shortcuts in training as he gets ready for his maiden defence. And his promoter Eddie Hearn, in speaking with Sky Sports today, said the short-list now consists of three likely names – all of them American fighters.
“The IBF put out there new rankings today and we have to box someone in the top-15 of those rankings,” the Matchroom boss said. “We expect from those rankings the likes of Bermane Stiverne, Eric Molina, Dominic Breazeale. There has been big interest from US broadcasters. I think a US opponent makes sense. These are real guys and he wants a real fight.”
Courageous Nick Blackwell Tweets how he is “on the mend,” gives thanks for the overwhelming support he’s had
In good news, Nick Blackwell has felt well enough to return to Twitter, for the first time in a month. As fans know, the gutsy middleweight engaged in a brutal fight with Chris Eubank Junior and was placed in an induced coma shortly after lapsing into unconsciousness after the 10th-round stoppage defeat. Thankfully, no brain surgery was needed and Blackwell, who regained consciousness a week after the fight, now says he is “on the mend.”
Tyson Fury starts first day of training camp for Klitschko rematch, has plenty of weight to shift
Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has begun his training for the July 9th return fight with Wladimir Klitschko, with Fury entering camp for day-one earlier today. And the 27-year-old, by his own admission, really is a heavyweight, with plenty of excess weight to lose before the fight. Tyson will be training alongside his cousin, unbeaten prospect Hughie Fury, under the watchful eye of trainer and uncle Peter.
Peter Fury wrote in a Tweet earlier today how, “9th July the real journey begins,” and those who know how Team-Fury work have faith in Peter having his fighter fully focused and ready for the fight at hand. Still, Fury, a big man indeed at 6’9” and around 250 to 255-pounds when in top fighting shape, needs to lose close to a fifth of that weight for the rematch. As Tyson Tweeted a couple of hours ago: