James DeGale MBE has warned Andre Dirrell that he is ready to pour his heart and soul into winning the vacant IBF World Super Middleweight title in Boston on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.
Those Who Shout The Loudest! – Willie Dirrell Says Andre Taking Belt Back Home
If there has been an irksome, fly-on-s*** type presence hanging over the media workouts and pressers this week in Boston ahead of tonight’s fight between James DeGale and Andre Dirrell, look no further than the non-boxing brother of the Dirrell family – Willie – who has spoken to iFLtv in between making an ass of himself – to state unequivocally that he believes the IBF 168lb title is going back to Michigan.
Dirrell, who has made it his job to be a professional pain in the backside with regards to this fight – stalking DeGale over Instagram and calling him a loser at the open workout this week – looked even more stupid posting for pictures with his fists raised at the head to head as if it were he getting in the ring and not his brother.
Buglioni & Markham To Do It Again
After their blood and guts war that more than ably headlined Frank Warren’s recent “Striking Distance” show from the SSE Arena in London earlier this month, Enfield’s “Wise Guy” Frank Buglioni and Romford’s Lee “Banjo” Markham are set to go at it again – after their electrifying first fight ended in (a rightful) draw.
Announced by George Warren on “Bunce’s Boxing Hour” and by Buglioni himself via his twitter feed, the rematch is set for July 24th at the same venue – and each man will be determined to walk out a clear winner and leave nothing in the hands of the judges this time.
Super-Middleweight: The British Battleground
Nigel Benn- Michael Watson- Chris Eubank: three names that perhaps do not signify pound for pound pedigree but a trifocal of British pugilists that waged successive wars against each other across the early nineties. Frankly, any boxing purism would have been out of place in a hellish round robin of barbaric contests between the trio predicated upon genuine animosity and bloodlust that were more reminiscent of trench warfare than of any sporting endeavour. For the pleasured served up, tolls were taken, with Michael Watson suffering a cruel brain injury in his bout with Chris Eubank that would permanently alter his life. Speak to the irrepressible Watson today though and not a modicum of self-pity or regret will be detected in his attitude.
Andre Dirrell and James Degale meet in Memorial Day Matinee on NBC
Rarely in life or in boxing do you get a second chance to improve upon your a first impression. Once a fighter loses as a favorite or puts on a poor performance, they can be casted away and shot down the ladder only to have to brush him or herself off and pick up pieces to climb back up again. This generally can be the case for non-popular boxers who don’t have a barn-burner style.
Deontay Wilder Is Getting A Lotta Slaps
Ever good natured and enthusiastic in his interviews, Deontay is the kind of guy you can’t help but like – OUT of the ring – yet he is pretty far off the mark with his statements here regarding what will happen – if and when he eventually gets the call to fight Wladimir IN it.
Thurman vs. Collazo Headlines First PBC on ESPN July 11
The first live Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN (PBC on ESPN) telecast will feature a star-studded 12-round welterweight matchup between undefeated Keith “One Time” Thurman (25-0, 21 KOs) and Luis Collazo (36-6, 19 KOs) when the series debuts on ESPN on Saturday, July 11, at 9 p.m. ET. The opening fight will showcase a 10-round junior middleweight matchup between undefeated Tony Harrison (21-0, 18 KOs) and Willie Nelson (23-2-1, 13 KOs). ESPN3 will also carry live the preliminary bouts at a time to be determined. The card will be held in Tampa, Fla., at a site to be named.
Remembering Lamon Brewster’s electrifying destruction of Andrew Golota
Ten years ago today, a U.S heavyweight who is best remembered these days for being the last man to defeat the mighty Wladimir Klitschko, scored one of his most ruthless and impressive wins. In Chicago, “Relentless” Lamon Brewster, defending his WBO heavyweight strap, annihilated troubled Pole Andrew Golota inside a single minute of action.
Some interesting facts about the fight:
31-year-old Brewster was sporting a 31-2 record and he was making the second defence of the WBO title he had won by stopping Klitschko in shocking fashion the previous April. Golota was 37-years-old and his record read 38-5-1. The shot at Brewster was generally seen as Golota’s last chance at winning a title and of him living up to his earlier potential.
Hearn Announces 5 Year Contract Extension With Sky
Matchroom Sports promoter Eddie Hearn has this afternoon announced a 5 year extension to their current exclusive Sky Sports broadcasting contract (which ends next year), meaning that the present Saturday night formula for British fans is set to continue until 2021.
This is sure to elicit a mixed response from fans who, as of late, have grown tired of what they perceive as mis-matches on many of the domestic cards, taking to calling the firm “mis-Matchroom” boxing in jest on social media.
For example, a £5 7-fold bet on the favourites for the last domestic show in Birmingham, that included Matthew Macklin and Anthony Joshua, would have returned you the princely sum of £5.31.
James DeGale Laughs Off Team Dirrell Insults
DeGale insists he is in better shape than ever ahead of the history making fight for the vacant 168lb IBF strap, which, should he win, means he will become the first British gold medal winning Olympian to go on and win a world title in the paid ranks.
He said;