IBF super middleweight champion, James DeGale (21-1,14ko), says that assuming he gets past his Nov. 28 date with Lucian Bute in Canada, then a big unification with WBC champion, Badou Jack is firmly on his radar.
The Londoner, who is with influential advisor, Al Haymon, won his title on the PBC platform against Andre Dirrell in Boston back in May, and makes the maiden defence of his IBF trinket out in the veteran’s Canadian backyard, also under the PBC banner.
World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko is scheduled to defend his titles against Tyson Fury on November 28, in a bout that will be televised live on HBO. For Klitschko, the long reigning king of boxing’s marquee division, Fury represents one of the more interesting challenges he has faced in years. Fury still possesses the hunger of an undefeated fighter to go along with decent skills, deceptive quickness, imposing size, and unrelenting determination and self-belief. On the other hand, Klitschko is a seasoned veteran with impeccable skills and an amazing control of both range and pacing. So who will emerge victorious? Will it be the experience and pedigree of Wladimir Klitschko? Or will it be the youth and determination of Tyson Fury?
Former 140 lb world champion, Ruslan Provodnikov (24-4, 17ko), is chasing a second world title, a goal he hopes to achieve under the tutelage of new trainer, Joel Diaz, beginning the journey this Saturday in Monte Carlo, when he fights little known Mexican, Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez (14-0, 11ko) over 10 rounds at 147.
Make no mistake that Rodriguez should present nothing but a formality for Provodnikov, who has cited his struggle to get a network TV date as the main reason for facing what many consider a less-than-decent, untested opponent away from the US, the country which has been his fighting ‘home’ in recent years.
Ryan Farrag, 14-1 (3KO’s), made good on his long standing promise that the better the opponent the better Farrag you will see, stopping seasoned multiple World title challenger Stephane Jamoye in 9 rounds, 28-7 (16KO’s), in Belgium to claim the EBU (European) Bantamweight title.
In doing so, he confirmed an unwavering belief within his inner circle that Farrag has everything it takes to move seamlessly through the levels and achieve something special within the 118lbs division.
Top Rank’s Bob Arum, claims that Nonito Donaire (35-3, 23ko) is determined to finish his multi-weight, world title winning, accolade filled career with some big fights, and claims the ‘Filipino Flash’ is deadly serious about knuckling down to achieve that in what are essentially his twilight years, signing a new deal that could set him on a collision course with fellow TR stars, Vasyl Lomachenko and/or Nicholas Walters.
Donaire, who turns 33 in 12 days time, has just signed a ‘1 year-plus’ contract extension with his long-time promoter, and fights Mexico’s Cesar Juarez in a Dec. 12 clash on truTV (US) that is likely to be for the WBO 122 lb title recently stripped from inactive and avoided Cuban, Guillermo Rigondeaux.
WBC heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder, is set to get what amounts to for many, as a ‘stay of execution,’ given mandatory challenger, Alexander Povetkin, has revealed he will not be ready for the proposed January date for their title clash.
Wilder was due to meet his mandatory challenger early next year, although after ‘Sasha’ today dominated Polish challenger, Mariusz Wach – stopping him on a cut in the final round – it was revealed the Russian’s representatives informed the WBC at their annual convention in China, that he will not be ready to meet Wilder until April or May 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chKkXKZlRxg
On today’s big Russian bill in Kazan, little-known Olanrewaju Durodola of Nigeria scored a huge upset and made a name for himself by taking away Russian power puncher Dmitry Kudryashov’s unbeaten record with a stunning second-round stoppage win after 2-minutes and 29 seconds of the 2nd-round of a short but thrilling cruiserweight battle. Indeed, this little classic had plenty of bombs away!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmyUwh-m6jk
Results from Russia
VISHKAN MURZABEKOV W KO 3 SOLOMON BOGERE
DMITRY BIVOL W KO 4 JACKSON JUNIOR
EDUARD TROYANOVSKY W TKO 6 CESAR RENE CUENCA
OLANREWAJU DURODOLA W TKO 2 DMITRY KUDRYASHOV
OLA AFOLABI W KO 5 RAKHIM CHAKHKIEV
DENIS LEBEDEV W TKO 8 LATEEF KAYODE
ALEXANDER POVETKIN W TKO 12 MARIUSZ WACH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGfpH-eGM_o
Argentina’s Cesar Cuenca (48-1, 2ko) did a quit job in Russia tonight and dropped his IBF 140 lb title to Eduard Troyanovsky (23-0, 20ko), much to the chagrin of those light hearted fans who wanted to see the similarly light-hitting Cuenca, equal the 49-0 ledger held by Floyd Mayweather Jr and the legendary, Rocky Marciano.
WBC featherweight champion, Gary Russell Jr, has pulled out of his Nov. 14 title defence against Oscar Escandon, due to a cut sustained in sparring.
Russell was due to main event the Showtime- televised card from Las Vegas, and in the wake of the injury, network execs are re-examining their options, which will include continuing to televise with the bill being in essence ‘down-graded’ to a ShoBox: The New Generation telecast, which places it’s focus on emerging talent.