Andre Berto: Dedicating Floyd Fight to ‘Those Who Believe in the Underdog’

When he steps between the ropes to face P4P star Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on September 12th, Florida’s Andre Berto will most likely be one of the only men on the planet who actually believes he has what it takes to crack the “May-Vinci Code” and win the fight.

A disappointing candidate in the eyes of most right thinking fans for Floyd’s 49th, and ostensibly ‘final’ fight, Berto will enter with some online odds makers as much 1/200 against, but has promised those numbers are misguided, and that he has what it takes to upset those odds, and do what 46 men before him have failed to do.

continue

Santa Cruz Captures WBA 126 lb Strap / Mares Rematch & Unification Fights on the Horizon?

After last night’s highly entertaining and hard fought victory over Abner Mares in Los Angeles, Leo Santa Cruz picked up his first featherweight world title after the (vacant) WBA 126 lb strap was added to the mix at the last minute, and the Mexico born star certainly went some way to shaking off the ‘cherry-picker’ tag that has dogged him over recent times, turning in a classy and measured performance, in what was billed as the “Battle of L.A.”

With judge Max De Luca turning in a score of 114-114, to the other two judges 117-111, a strong enough case for a rematch can be made, especially given the high levels of action that began with the visibly smaller Mares starting strong and fast, before gradually being worn down as Santa Cruz found his range and imposed his strength, tattooing Abner with the better quality shots.

continue

Leo Santa Cruz vs Abner Mares: Post Fight Quotes

Leo Santa Cruz:

“I was surprised Abner came out so strong. He came right at me but we figured him out and we got the win.

“I stayed outside with the jab. We were able to take control.

continue

Santa Cruz – Mares Post Fight Results, Photos & Videos

In a battle of Southern California featherweights, Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz, (31-0-1, 17 KOs) defeated Abner Mares, (29-2-1, 15 KOs) by majority decision in a fight reminiscent of Mexican wars between boxing legends Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales on Saturday night. Scores tallied 117-111 twice and 114-114 in front of a raucous crowd of 13,109 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles for the Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN main event.

continue

Shane Mosley beats Ricardo Mayorga

Fighting each other in a long awaited rematch at middleweight, 43-year-old Shane Mosley (48-9-1, 40 KOs) defeated 41-year-old Ricardo Mayorga (31-9-1, 25 KOs) by a 6th round body shot stoppage tonight at the Forum in Inglewood, California. Mosley put Mayorga on the canvas late in the 6th. Fight was halted at that point with one second to go in the round. The official stoppage was at 2:59 of the 6th.

continue

Santa Cruz decisions Mares

Making his debut in the featherweight division, undefeated Leo Santa Cruz (31-0-1, 17 KOs) proved to be too strong and too busy for 29-year-old former three division world champion Abner Mares (29-2-1, 15 KOs) in defeating him by a 12 round unanimous decision to win the WBA Super World and WBC Diamond featherweight straps tonight in their fight on Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

continue

Usyk destroys Muller in Kiev, Ukraine

In an impressive display of punching power, unbeaten #2 World Boxing Organization cruiserweight contender Oleksandr Usyk (8-0, 8 KOs) smashed his opponent #15 WBO Johnny Muller (19-5-2, 13 KOs) in knocking him down twice en route to a 3rd round TKO on Saturday night in front of a huge crowd at the Palace of Sports in Kiev, Ukraine.

continue

George Groves Wants to Make a Statement on Mayweather Undercard & Build US Profile

Britain’s George Groves is well aware of the opportunity at hand when he challenges Las Vegas-based Swede Badou Jack on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather/Andre Berto fight on September 12th, and he plans on seizing his 3rd shot at a world title by snatching the “Ripper’s” WBC 168lb strap in considerable style.

The Hammersmith fighter – currently training at Abel Sanchez’s Summit facility in California in preparation – is looking forward to seeing his star rise as a result, and wishes to rubber stamp his name into the consciousness of the American fight fans with victory.

continue

Adrien Broner v Khabib Allakhverdiev Bout Hit By Top Rank Protest / Broner Pi**** With Dan Rafael

If promotional heavyweights Top Rank have their way, then October 3rd’s penciled in light welterweight title fight between Al Haymon advised Ohioian motor-mouth Adrien Broner (30-2, 22ko) and Russia’s Khabib Allakhverdiev (19-1, 9ko) will NOT be for the vacant WBA (reg) 140 lb title, as is currently scheduled.

Thanks to the WBA’s ludicrous insistence of crowning three tiers of champion per weight class – Super, Regular and Interim, the promotional giant, who look after 140lb interim champion Jose Benavidez Jr (23-0, 16ko), have taken exception to the fact that Broner and Allakhverdiev, fighters who both lost their last outings, will be able to clash for the ‘regular’ belt recently vacated by Danny Garcia, ahead of their fighter.

continue

Matthew Macklin Wants One Last Run at a Title / Secures Victory in Marbella Last Night

Former 2x middleweight world title challenger Matthew Macklin (33-6, 22ko) is convinced he has still has more to give at the top level, and took another small step toward getting his career back on track last night in Marbella, when he stopped German club fighter Chris Hermann (19-7-1, 10ko) inside a round on a show put on by the promotional arm of his MGM gymnasium, which is located in the Spanish resort.

‘I touched him (Hermann) with the uppercut to bring his hands up and that gave me the opening to the liver/floating rib area… when you land clean there with a bit of power, not too many guys get up from it,’ Macklin said following the body shot victory.

continue