It has been confirmed by ESPN.com, how Cuba’s Luis Ortiz will face German-based Russian Alexander Dimitrenko on March 5th. Southpaw Ortiz, 24-0(21) will be making the second defence of the interim WBA heavyweight title he won by stopping little-known Matias Ariel Vidondo last October. The 36-year-old who is known as “The Real King Kong,” is coming off a very impressive stoppage win over Bryant Jennings who he halted in the seventh-round in December.
Video: Tyson Fury on Real Sports – Full Segment
In beating Wladimir Klitschko and doing what 18 title challengers before him could not, Tyson Fury shocked the boxing world and claimed its greatest crown.
EXCERPTS: TYSON FURY: “’From the United Kingdom.’ And it took a second to sink in. And I thought, ‘Yes, that’s me.’ Hands up. I’ve won it. I am the man who beat the man. And I always knew it and I always said it. So not being big headed, but told you so.”
Kovalev crushed Pascal en route to a 7th round TKO
The undefeated WBA, IBF, and WBO light heavyweight champion of the world Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev promised before the bout to severely punish Jean Pascal and he did just that for seven one-sided rounds after which Pascal’s trainer Freddie Roach mercifully stopped the bout and saved Pascal from taking anymore unnecessary punishment. Kovalev retained his world titles with the seventh round technical knockout victory and improved to 29-0-1, 26 KOs while Pascal dropped to 30-4-1, 17 KOs, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
Erickson Lubin remains undefeated!
Rising star Erickson “The Hammer” Lubin (14-0, 10 KOs) defeated Mexican brawler Jose De Jesus Macias (18-5-2, 9 KOs) in his first main event Sunday night on Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round on Bounce TV from a sold out Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee in Immokalee, Florida.
Lubin, of Orlando, showed superior skills by using his quick hands and combination punching to offset Macias’ come-forward style. In round five, Lubin scored a knockdown when he landed a cuffing right hook that forced Macias to touch the canvas with his glove.
Kovalev punishes Pascal as “Chickenson” watches
Nothing unexpected, but still a feeling of mild astonishment when once again we witness the power and skill of Sergey “Kusher” Kovalev (29-0-1 17KO). He seems to excel at all aspects of the sweet science. His balance is good. He controls distance. He has a knockdown type jab and decent speed. He throws sizzling combinations, started with either hand. His punches are thrown with precise accuracy. His defense is good, and if he is hit with a counter punch, the effect is lessened by the fact that he sees them coming (focus), which makes him ready for the impact. Then of course there’s his power. Undoubtedly fans jammed into the Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada and viewers tuned into HBO’s telecast were wincing with the impact of each of Krusher’s destructive punches .
Jean Pascal (30-4-1 17KO) resembled a play-doe like recipient. He was being reshaped right before our eyes…….a dent here, a dimple there, and lot’s of lumps and bumps. Hard shots to the body were accompanied by gasps from the crowd.
Kovalev: I broke Pascal’s nose
A gleeful sounding IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KOs) boasted about his 7th round knockout win over the faded looking Jean Pascal (30-4-1, 17 KOs) last night in their rematch at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. Kovalev, 32, stated after the fight that he broke Pascal’s nose with what he believes was a left hand.
Kovalev says he hurt his left hand in the process of breaking Pascal’s nose. It must have been a hard punch because Pascal’s nose had swelled up badly at then end of the fight. Kovalev says he had a bet with Pascal that he would stop him before the eighth round.
Kovalev makes easy work of Pascal
(Photo Credit: David Spagnolo/Main Events) Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Undefeated Unified WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KOs) retains all three of his titles as he makes short work of former light heavyweight world champion, Jean Pascal (30-4-1, 17 KOs), again.
The crowd was deafening as Michael Buffer announced Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev and Jean Pascal and everyone at Centre Bell was on their feet. Through the first five rounds Pascal weathered the flurry of punches handed out by The Krusher. However, by the fifth round Pascal seemed to be barely able to stay on his feet. Pascal’s trainer Freddie Roach stopped the fight just prior to the start of the eighth round.
Kovalev stops Pascal – results
IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KOs) gave 33-year-old Jean Pascal (30-4-1, 17 KOs) a real pounding tonight in a prolonged beating that finally ended when Pascal’s new trainer Freddie Roach pulled him out of the fight after the 7th round at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
Groves stops Di Luisa – results
George Groves (22-3, 17 KOs) got his career back on the tracks tonight in beating little known Italian Andrea Di Luisa (18-4, 14 KOs) by a 5th round knockout in the main event at the Copper Box Arena in London, England. Groves, 27, gave Di Luisa a bloody nose in the process of knocking him down three times in the fight.
Trail of Destruction: Mike Tyson’s Top 5 wins
“I don’t succeed when I make a guy a champion,” hall of fame boxing trainer, Cus D’Amato, once said. “I succeed when I make that fellow champion of the world and independent of me. When he doesn’t need me anymore.”
It’s been almost 30 years since Mike Tyson’s first world title fight. Cus didn’t live long enough to witness his protégé become champion. ”Iron” Mike may have exhibited menace and maturity inside the ring, but outside of it, he was a vulnerable young man, who still needed the guidance and stability his father figure provided. Equipped with such shrewd, compassionate tuition, Tyson would almost certainly have coped far better with the pressures and temptations that are inevitable when catapulted into international superstardom – his fighting prime would very likely have been extended. As was the case in early life – when growing up in crime-ridden Brownsville, in eastern Brooklyn, New York City – Mike was again, forced to learn the hard way.