Santa Cruz vs. Mares: Sink or Swim for Leo Santa Cruz versus Abner Mares

Lots of leather will be thrown in this featherweight dust-up between Abner Mares and Leo Santa Cruz. The broadcast will air live in primetime on ESPN/ESPNDeportes from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The winner will be the King of LA without a crown with only a WBC Diamond trinket on the line. A more fitting label might be the battle to become the “Prince” of Los Angeles. Can Abner get his groove back by digging his way out of the rut he’s been stuck in for two years since suffering a shocking first round defeat to Jhonny Gonzalez? Will Leo sink or swim in his first true test of his career?

Just around two years ago (and 4 days) the stage was being set for a classic west coast matchup between a young slugger named Leo Santa Cruz and a rising star in Abner Mares. Can you hear the song? Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio? Fill in Abner Mares’s name for Joe’s in that song and it paints a picture of the current state of Abner’s once promising career.

continue

Artur Beterbiev v Sullivan Barrera Set for IBF Eliminator for Right to Face Kovalev

Big-hitting Russian Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9ko) finally has an opponent for his IBF 175lb final eliminator – number #9 ranked Cuban, Sullivan Barrera (16-0, 11ko), in a fight that will determine the mandatory challenger to Beterbiev’s countryman and IBF, WBA (sup) and WBO light heavyweight champion, Sergey Kovalev.

Beterbiev’s team, including promoter Yvon Michel, recently opted out of facing Kovalev in Russia in November, choosing instead to go the eliminator route, and ostensibly give their man a little more time and experience before getting in with old foe Kovalev, whom incidentally Beterbiev beat twice previously in the amateurs.

continue

Live Stream: Andre Berto Open Workout – 4 p.m. ET

SHOWTIME Sports will offer live streams of Floyd Mayweather and Andre Berto’s media workouts as they prepare for their Welterweight World Championship taking place on Saturday, Sept. 12, live on SHOWTIME PPV® (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) from MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

continue

Lee Selby: Intent on Making Big Stateside Splash / Off to LA for Santa Cruz v Mares

Britain’s IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby (21-1, 8ko) has once again affirmed that he is hoping to ultimately secure the big fights in the division, and after his recent “statement of intent” signing with hugely influential advisor Al Haymon, the unassuming Welshman is heading out to be ringside at Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions fight between potential divisional rivals Leo Santa and Abner Mares, keeping one eye of course, on the winner.

Selby, who relieved IBF fighter of the year Evgeny Gradovich of his title in London back in May, has long been talked about as a future international star on British shores, and following the lead of other British/Irish fighters Amir Khan, Carl Frampton and James DeGale, his signing with Haymon shows just how serious he is about that aim, with a potential fight with Saturday’s winner a realistic future possibility.

continue

Hurricane Fears Postpone Saturday’s Roy Jones Jr Fight With Danny Santiago

Veteran former four weight world titlist Roy Jones Jr, who continues to fight on at 46 in the quest of an elusive title at cruiserweight, has had his fight this Saturday on the tiny Dutch Island of Philipsberg Sint Maarten in the Caribbean postponed through severe weather concerns.

It would seem to many that Mother Nature is trying to tell the long faded former champ something, although the fight with fellow old timer and former 175 lb world title challenger Danny Santiago has unfortunately not been cancelled, and will be re-arranged for a later date.

continue

Carl Froch: I Want Groves to Win the World Title Against Badou Jack

Newly retired former 168lb world boss Carl Froch has shown a refreshingly mature attitude toward bitter rival George Groves’ impending WBC super middleweight title fight with Badou Jack, publicly putting their feud aside for the greater good: The success of British boxing on the world stage.

Froch, who twice beat Groves, including the famous “in-front of 80k at Wembley” second fight, has obviously had ample time for reflection since that night – his last in-ring outing , and as well as settling into his television punditry duties, is now focused on life with his young family, and the ‘change’ in attitude, especially regarding Groves, is telling.

continue

Floyd Mayweather, Badou Jack, Ishe Smith Open Media Quotes, Videos, Photos

Floyd “Money” Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) opened up the Mayweather Boxing Club on Wednesday for his last media day ever as he prepares for the last fight of a celebrated 19-year career. He will defend his WBC and WBA Welterweight World Championships against power-punching, two-time welterweight world champion Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, live on SHOWTIME PPV® (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).

If triumphant, Mayweather would match the record of the late heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano, who retired in April 1956 with a record of 49-0.

continue

Miguel Cotto – Canelo NYC press conference quotes

Reigning WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) and former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs) were greeted by hundreds of chanting fans as they hosted a press conference in New York City on Wednesday, August 26 as part of their international four-city press tour ahead of their highly anticipated championship showdown in November.

The next mega-fight in the storied Puerto Rico vs. Mexico boxing rivalry will take place Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View. At the New York City press conference held at the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel, Cotto, the first native of Puerto Rico to become world champion in four different weight classes, and Mexican superstar Alvarez were joined by their promoters and trainers to discuss what promises to be this year’s most epic battle.

continue

Mayweather-Berto, Golovkin-Lemieux, & Cotto-Canelo: Are these boxing PPVs worth the cost? (VIDEO)

The long awaited and long overdue showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao finally took place this May. It shattered all boxing PPV records and was the biggest fight of all time, even though the fight itself fell short of expectations. Apparently boxing is trying to capitalize and build on the success of that blockbuster event. In fact, the later part of 2015 will feature 4 more PPV cards, including three high profile matches.

continue

Miguel Cotto: Not Ruling Out Future Mayweather Rematch Should Floyd Fight On

WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto faces a tough ask when he defends his title against the younger, stronger ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on November 21st, in what is set to be a massive Mexico v Puerto Rico prizefight in Las Vegas.

The Puerto Rican modern great – the first fighter from the country to capture 4 world titles at 4 different weights – says he is still feeling fresh at 34 years of age, and that after hanging them up seemed to be a reasonable option not so long ago, the rejuvenation he has experienced under veteran trainer Freddie Roach means retirement is now “another two, three more years” away, and a possible rematch with Floyd Mayweather is a realistic option should Floyd fight on after September.

continue