Bradley/Rios Still the Plan for Top Rank if Step Aside Deal With Sadam Ali Can Be Reached

After Top Rank’s plans to match Brandon Rios with IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook fell through recently – for a host of reported reasons, chief of which is now believed to be financial minutiae – their attentions quickly turned on matching “Bam Bam” with another Top Rank fighter, new WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley, hopefully in December.

However, late last week the WBO ordered Bradley and Top Rank to begin negotiations for a mandatory defence against up and coming unbeaten New Yorker Sadam Ali, who is promoted by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy.

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Antonio Tarver weighs in on Klitschko vs. Fury: “Klitschko’s going to destroy him”

When Wladimir Kliltschko and Tyson Fury signed up to face each other on October 24 in Dusseldorf, Germany, many boxing fans felt like this might be the fight that will truly put Klitschko to the test.

Fury is younger, bigger, and has a longer reach. His unblemished record elevates his stock even higher, making him seem like someone who could potentially overwhelm Wladimir with volume and size, ending the Klitschko reign. Over the years, Fury has accumulated a colossal number of followers, and has gained the respect of many boxing pugilists.

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Judah: Berto Will Fight With Heart / Reluctant to Offer His Own Blueprint

Zab Judah will return to the ring in September at 140 lbs after an almost 2 year layoff, which saw an out of sorts version of the former two weight world champ drop a wide points decision to fellow New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi in his last fight in December 2013.

Speaking to fighthype.com, Judah, who has inked a deal with Greg Cohen’s promotional outfit to co-promote his return alongside his own Super Judah Promotions firm, has addressed the Mayweather/Berto issue, insisting that whatever the result may be, Berto will grab the opportunity presented to him with both hands;

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Mosley and Mayorga Clash at Official Presser / “Sugar” Angered by ‘Fake’ Slurs

It was a slight case of “handbags” at the press conference to promote their upcoming PPV fight on August 29th in Los Angeles, when veterans Shane Mosley and Ricardo Mayorga clashed after the loose cannon-ed Nicaraguan blew cigarette smoke in the face of Mosley in a scene some sections on social media called “contrived.”

There is clearly no love lost between the two ageing fighters, who are looking to settle their long running feud with a rematch of their 2008 encounter that saw Mosley finish Mayorga in the last few seconds of the 12th and final round.

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Mayweather 49-0: Boxing History Dumbed Down

1955 was also the year that bid a sad adieu to screen icon James Dean. The Rebel without a cause would meet his maker on Route 466 when, on September 30th, his Porsche 550 ‘Little Bastard’ car careered off the highway attempting to avoid Donald Turnopspeed’s Ford Tudor. The film world mourned and still does. Ray Kroc started the McDonalds fast food chain and Bill Haley’s ‘Rock around the Clock’ had music lovers dancing off the Big Mac’s and fries. But 1955 would also be a landmark year for the world of boxing when heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano went 49-0 to set, what would become, the longest standing championship record in the history of the sport.

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Saunders Training Well in Marbella Ahead of Andy Lee Title Challenge

After his recent stoppage (tune up) victory over Yoann Bloyer, Billy Joe Saunders landed in Marbella last Tuesday to the Macklin’s Gym facility in the Spanish city ahead of his September 19th challenge to WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee, that will take place at Thomond Park, Limerick, Ireland.

Saunders and Lee’s fight will be the first time that two men of traveller origins have contested a version of a world title and the Hatfield based former Olympian is determined to be in the best shape possible.

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Keith Thurman: Sounding a Little Tired of “Money”

Whatever you think about Amir Khan, he was a more deserving candidate than Andre Berto for the 49th fight of Floyd Mayweather’s career. So was IBF welterweight champ Kell Brook, or Ohio’s Shawn Porter. In fact, there are loads more deserving fighters, including Top Rank’s Tim Bradley – though let’s be honest was never going to get the call, but you get the point.

Hell, given more notice Danny Garcia could have picked up a career-high payday for his 147 debut rather than fight Malignaggi, yet one man who many fans would have liked to have seen in the opposite corner is Florida’s WBA (reg) welterweight champion, Keith Thurman.

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Wishing Chris L. Eubank Sr. a Happy 49th Birthday

As former European WBO legend Chris ‘Simply the Best’ Eubank celebrated his 49th birthday on Saturday, I look back on the glittering career of the self-styled monocle man.

Eubank turned professional in New York City as a teenager, making his debut in Atlantic City in 1985 following a 26-fight amateur career that included a local win over standout US international star Dennis Milton. Born and bred in London, he had relocated to NYC’s Bronx to start boxing at 16 and really came into his own.

After four quick-fire four-round points wins, Eubank built his reputation in Gleasons Gym and Bronxchester BC, with the late Johnny Bos watching many a sparring session of the young upstart and attempting to sign him.

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Kovalev v Stevenson – Will Failure to Negotiate Fight Tarnish Krusher’s Legacy?

Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev is rapidly becoming the most dominating force the 175 lb division has witnessed since Roy Jones Junior began hoovering up his collection of world title belts at the tail end of the 20th century.

Super middleweight king Andre Ward is being considered as a potential opponent for Krusher. Victory over Ward would be a significant scalp but it would not complete his supremacy at light heavyweight. If Ward were to lose he would presumably return to his natural weight division at 168 lb, explaining that the difference in size was too great, and some of the sheen would be wiped from Kovalev’s triumph.

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Peter Quillin v Michael Zerafa on for September 12th

It won’t be welcome news to anybody complaining about a lack of meaningful fights from PBC, but former WBO 160 lb champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin will face the unheralded and little known Australian fighter Michael Zerafa on September 12th in Connecticut on a PBC on NBC card that will also feature unbeaten Jermell Charlo squaring off against IBF 154 lb champion Cornelius “K-9” Bundrage.

Quillin, who missed weight in his last fight – a draw against “Irish” Andy Lee in April, hasn’t been the most active of late, for various reasons fighting only 4x (inc. Lee) in the last 2 years, and is looking to set up a showdown with WBA (reg) 160 lb champ and fellow New Yorker Daniel Jacobs for early next year.

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