https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDIu252-Ouk&feature=youtu.be
The main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes from Cowboys Dancehall in San Antonio, TX saw Jose Uzcategui (24-1, 20 KOs) stop Julius Jackson (19-1, 15 KOs) 45 seconds into the second round. Uzcategui got off to a blistering start, dropping Jackson three times in the first round. Jackson was never able to regain his footing and the fight was stopped before the midway point in the second round.
Former three-time, two-division world champion Randall “The Knock Out King” Bailey (46-8, 39 KOs) will look to collect another world title with the help of his new promoter, South Korean-based AK Promotions. Bailey’s climb to the top of the welterweight division continued in the right direction on Sunday at the Sunhak Gymnasium in Incheon, South Korea, as he scored a devastating seventh-round knockout victory over Shusaku Fujinaka from a powerful left hook. At the time of the stoppage, he was ahead on all three scorecards, 86-84.
It may well still prove to be a case of wishful thinking, though Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn has today stated he is confident in being able to make a deal for his fighter Scott Quigg to face IBF 122lb champion Carl Frampton in early 2016.
2nd tier WBA titlist Quigg, and the Al Haymon advised Belfast fighter – who holds a bone fide world title – have been negotiating through their respective camps over recent weeks, with numerous sticking points holding up the talks, though financial minutiae and a neutral venue for the fight are thought to be chief among them.
Former super-middleweight world champion Carl Froch may well be one of the most perfectly placed to speak on IBF 168 lb champ, James DeGale’s next opponent, Lucien Bute, and claims today in his Sky Sports column that the Romanian simply isn’t the same fighter that he was before being “Cobra’d” by Froch in 2012.
Froch was fantastic that night in his hometown, entering at the time as a slight underdog and facing the cold reality that a defeat could really put the skids on his career at elite level, as he’d just come off being soundly beaten by Andre Ward in the final of the Super Six and was thus, belt-less.
Unbeaten heavyweight prospect Anthony Joshua (14-0, 14ko) has predicted he will get his revenge on old rival Dillian Whyte (16-0, 13ko) on December 12th in London, and avenge his 2009 loss to the Brixton-based “Bodysnatcher” via knockout when the two go head to head at the city’s O2 Arena.
Joshua, who has so far destroyed all in his path since turning pro following Olympic gold in 2012, has acknowledged the rock and a hard place situation that has developed in his career, with him now more than ready to move on to the ‘next level’ of opponent – taking the very first step with this crunch bout against fellow big-hitting prospect, Whyte.
After his world title winning effort over Khabib Allakhverdiev at the weekend, capturing the WBA (sup) 140 lb strap, Adrien Broner has called out British “Money Team” member, Ashley Theophane (39-6-1, 11ko).
Broner captured his 4th divisional world title with the 12th round stoppage of the relatively inactive Allakhverdiev, to the chagrin of many, maneuvering into title contention despite coming off a losing effort against Ohioian rival Shawn Porter back in June.
It’s been confirmed that IBF 168 lb champion James DeGale will make the maiden defence of his title on November 28th against former champion Lucien Bute in Quebec, Canada – the Romanian fighter’s adopted backyard – and following that fight “Chunky” has stated he only wants the big names in the future.
There had been high hopes of a rematch with bitter rival George Groves – who squeezed past DeGale in their close 2011 encounter – although those plans were scotched when Groves came up short in last month’s WBC title tilt against Badou Jack on the Mayweather/Berto undercard in Las Vegas.
Queensbury Promotions’ Frank Warren has gone on record to air his dissatisfaction at Friday night’s scoring in Argentina, that saw his fighter, Ovill McKenzie (25-12-1, 13ko), battle to a disappointing draw with hometown IBF cruiserweight champion, Victor Ramirez, despite appearing to have done enough to win the fight.
The 36 year old McKenzie boxed the fight of his life, having taken the golden opportunity on just 11 days notice, and was clearly the busier of the two on the night, negating much of the plodding champion’s best work with a fleetness of foot one is unaccustomed to seeing from the Jamaican-born “Upsetter.”
After seeming to retire following August’s loss at the hands of Danny Garcia, former world champion and current Showtime analyst Paulie Malignaggi (34-7, 7ko) had a pretty swift change of heart, boxed again last month in Italy, and now claims he wishes to chase the European welterweight title, given that he is eligible to do so through his Italian ancestry.
The soon-to-be 35 year old Malignaggi was stopped in 9 by Garcia in what was an emotional night in August, ostensibly signalling the end of an era for the proud Brooklyn resident – who gave an impassioned post-fight ‘retirement’ speech – although a little over 6 weeks later he was back in the ring in Europe, beating journeyman fighter Laszlo Fazekas (27-21-1) over 8 one sided rounds in Milan.
He fights David Lemieux in New York later this month, yet Gennady Golovkin’s trainer Abel Sanchez has refused outright the notion that the team collectively turned down a fight with California’s Andre Ward at 168lbs, insisting that the Oakland based “Son of God” is nothing more than a liar out to stay relevant by using Golovkin’s name.
WBA (sup) 168 lb champion Ward, who has been struggling to meet the super-middleweight limit in recent times, returned in June at a 172lb catch-weight against Britain’s Paul Smith and had recently referred to Golovkin as “Little-g” in the media, claiming the destructive middleweight champ wanted no part of fighting him – a notion Sanchez angrily refutes.