Erkan Teper v Robert Helenius Set For December 19th in Finland

Unbeaten European heavyweight champion Erkan Teper (15-0, 10ko) will defend his title for the first time on December 19th when he travels to Finland to take on the “Nordic Nightmare,” Robert Helenius (21-0, 13ko), at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki.

It’s a potentially dangerous first defence for Teper, who was last seen in July, pole-axing Britain’s David Price inside two rounds to claim the vacant strap, and the unbeaten 33 year old – a late starter to the pro game at 28 years of age – is keen to try and push on to world level – something that given the current divisional climate may not be such a fantastic aim as it seems.

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Paul Smith: Not Ready to Call Time On Career Just Yet

Paul Smith Jr, last seen getting beaten and bloodied against Andre Ward in June, has insisted that he isn’t ready to call it a day just yet.

Smith, who has now recovered from an elbow surgery that he underwent following the catch weight loss to the Oakland fighter, moved to (35-6) with the defeat, and has blamed poor preparation for both his performance on the night as well as coming in overweight on the scales – an offence for which he was fined a considerable sum, only for Ward to return that portion of his purse as a goodwill gesture.

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Rigo Not Doable for Vasyl Lomachenko / Facing Little Known Foe on Bradley/Rios Card Instead

After a mooted clash with Cuba’s 122 lb champion Guillermo Rigondeaux fell through after financial terms could not be agreed, WBO 126 lb titlist Vasyl Lomachenko will make the third defence of his belt against little known Mexican, Romulo Koasica, on the under card of Nov 7’s Tim Bradley/Brandon Rios clash.

It’s a blow to fans who had hoped to see the two stand-outs square off in what would sure to be a true, intriguing, 50/50 chess match type of a fight, such is the technical prowess of each man. Both won Olympic gold twice in glittering amateur careers and the soon to be 35 year old Rigondeaux is still yet to even box this year and isn’t getting any younger. Time is not on the side of this fight dragging in being made.

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Tim Bradley: Seeking to Make Defensive Changes for Brandon Rios Fight

WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley fights Brandon Rios on November 7th at Las Vegas’ Thomas and Mack Centre in what will be his first fight with new trainer and ESPN analyst, Teddy Atlas.

“Desert Storm” made the change and left long time trainer Joel Diaz in the wake of his June fight with Jessie Vargas, which despite him clearly winning on all cards, came to a controversial end right in the dying seconds when Bradley was hurt and referee Pat Russell mistook the 10 second clapper for the final bell.

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Kell Brook says He’s Intent on Surpassing Mayweather’s Legacy / Delighted to Enter RING P4P at #10

It’s not unfair to say that yesterday’s revised RING magazine pound-for-pound list raised a few eyebrows and sparked some healthy debate across social media.

The new top ten, freshly adjusted in the wake of Floyd Mayweather’s retirement, saw the returning Andre Ward enter at #2 despite a 19 month lay-off and one routine catchweight win over an over-matched Paul Smith three months ago. It also saw dominant lineal heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko slip down 3 places to #6, sparking yet more intense debate.

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Audley Speaks: Anthony Joshua, David Haye

Welcome to a brand new #AudleySpeaks post. I have recently signed with new agents and I am very excited to join the ‘Champions Celebrity’ family championscelebrity.com.

We will soon roll out a brand new website www.audleyharrison.com and every few weeks, on a Thursday, I will pass comment on the latest views and news in boxing, sport and current affairs.

No subject will be off limits…if I’m passionate about a subject, expect to see my thoughts here. I want to see your comments and views, share my page and let’s get talking … use the hashtag #AudeySpeaks when commenting please..

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Frank Warren: ‘Andy Lee/Billy Joe Saunders WILL Happen Before Year’s End’

After a string of bad luck surrounding Andy Lee’s WBO 160 lb title defence against mandatory challenger Billy Joe Saunders – including two separate postponements – veteran British promoter Frank Warren has spoken out to insist that, all being well, the fight WILL happen before the end of this year.

Many theories abounded as to why the fight moved from the original September date and venue – Thomond Park in Limerick – although the official line is as a result of a virus suffered by the champion, meaning the fight was then set to top the bumper October 10 ‘World War 3’ card from Manchester, that also includes WBO lightweight champ, Terry Flanagan and Liverpool’s Liam Smith in separate world title bouts.

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Lucas Matthysse: Expecting Fireworks vs Viktor Postol in October

When he fights unbeaten Ukrainian Viktor Postol (27-0, 11 ko) for the vacant WBC 140 lb title in California on October 3rd, Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse (37-3, 34 ko) is once again promising action, something the big-hitting “Machine” has a tendency to deliver in spades.

Coming off of April’s FOTY candidate with Ruslan Provodnikov, in which Matthysse won a highly entertaining MD (115-113 x2), this opportunity to fight for the strap recently vacated by Danny Garcia is one that the knockout artist intends to grab with both hands, although realises that the awkward Ukrainian fighter – who possesses a 4 1/2″ height advantage, will be no walk-over, pushing him to prepare accordingly.

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Hughie Fury v Nicolai Firtha on Wladimir Klitschko/Tyson Fury Undercard

When Tyson Fury challenges dominant lineal heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko on October 24th in Germany, his 20 year old cousin Hughie (16-0, 8ko) will be on the undercard, boxing a former opponent of Tyson’s – American, Nicolai Firtha (21-11-1, 8ko).

Tyson boxed Firtha back in 2011, when he too was a heavyweight prospect (15-0), knocking the American out in 5 rounds, and there will be inevitable comparison’s when Hughie fights the Ohio native – albeit on a far bigger and grander stage than King’s Hall in Belfast, where Firtha’s first fight with a Fury took place.

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Kevin Mitchell: Hoping to Work Toward 4th World Title Tilt / Returns on December 12th in London

George Groves isn’t going to be the only British fighter hoping that 4th time’s a charm in world title tilts, as Dagenham’s Kevin Mitchell – set to return on December 12th against a TBA opponent – is also looking to work his way back into a similar position.

Mitchell was on the losing end of a heroic effort back in May, in a WBC 135 lb title challenge against Venezuelan champion Jorge Linares, dropping “El Nino” in the 5th round of an action packed fight, before incurring a grotesque eye injury (pictured) that impeded his vision, hitting the deck himself in the 10th and being waved off as he rose to his feet, the life drained out of him.

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