Popular New England Fighter: Danny O’Connor

One of the most popular New England pugilists, Danny O’Connor delighted hundreds of loud passionate hometown Boston fans in his last outing with a dominating fifth round technical knockout victory over Chris Gilbert in May. O’Connor knockdown Gilbert five times after which referee, Leo Gerstel stopped the bout with 1:04 left in the round. O’Connor, with the win, improved his record to 26-2, 10 KOs and received the vacant New England welterweight title.

“I’m happy with my performance against Gilbert and I’m especially proud of myself for the way I handled all the challenges that led up to this bout with [Paulie] Malignaggi being hurt [cut over his left eyelid during sparring] and then having to change my opponent on one week notice,” said O’Connor. “I’m still working on getting better each and every day and I’ve a great deal more to accomplish.”

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Gennady Golovkin vs. David Lemieux LA/NYC Quotes

Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (33-0, 30 KOs) and IBF Middleweight World Champion power-puncher David Lemieux (34-2, 31 KOs) of Montreal, Quebec hosted the final press conference on their three-city tour in Los Angeles on Thursday, August 20. The fighters received a warm welcome with a huge reception including a large crowd of media members in attendance and fans who eagerly waited outside the venue doors trying to get in or sneak a peak at their boxing heroes.

The successful Los Angeles press tour stop for Golovkin vs. Lemieux capped a week of exciting media events for the two middleweight champion fighters. On Tuesday, Aug. 18 in New York City, Golovkin and Lemieux took to the top of the famous Empire State Building to pose with their middleweight championship belts before ending the day with a packed-house at Chase Square at Madison Square Garden for the kick-off press conference.

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Wilder: Selling 2nd Tier Opponents to His Hometown Fans

American boxing fans in particular must be bemoaning the news that unbeaten WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will be facing French WBC #12 ranked Johann Duhaupas (32-2, 20ko) on September 26th in his home state of Alabama in a scheduled PBC on NBC broadcast.

It is a frankly disappointing defence against more low-level opposition from the Al Haymon “advised” fighter – of whom fans are demanding much more – and at the first official presser to announce the fight on Thursday, it was evident the delicate process of polishing a turd had already begun.

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Former champ Vargas weighs in on Cotto Vs. Canelo

Ahead of the November 21st HBO Pay-Per-View mega-fight between lineal World Middleweight champion Miguel Cotto 34, (40-4 33 KO) of Puerto Rico and Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 25 (45-1-1 32 KO) set to take place at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada, former 154 lb titilist Fernando Vargas, -who was on the losing end of of a thrilling titular installment in the heated “Mexico vs Puerto Rico rivalry” against Hall of fame member Felix “Tito” Trinidad in the very same Arena Cotto and Canelo will do battle in back in late 2000 had this to say to El Vocero concerning the legacy of his historic fight with Trinidad, his respect for the fighting cultures of both Mexico and Puerto Rico and finally how Cotto V Canelo stacks up against his encounter with Trinidad.

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Wilder vs Duhaupas: Deontay Wilder Presser Quotes

Heavyweight World Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (34-0, 33 KOs) hosted a press conference yesterday to formally announce his Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC bout taking place Saturday, September 26 against Johann “Reptile” Duhaupas (32-2, 20 KOs) at Legacy Arena in Birmingham.

Wilder will defend his title for the second time in his home state. Duhaupas, who has never been stopped, hopes to defy the odds and do what no previous opponent has accomplished against Wilder – emerge victorious.

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Chavez Jr Likely to be Sidelined for Rest of the Year With Hand Fracture

During his recent uninspiring decision victory over Marcos Reyes in Texas, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr suffered a left hand fracture, that after surgery on Thursday, is looking like it will keep him out of action for longer than was initially expected – probably until the end of the year.

Speaking to ESPN Deportes, the former middleweight champ revealed that he was given X-ray results this week which showed that he would require surgery to repair the problem – an operation he underwent on Thursday under the supervision of Dr. Steven S. Shin.

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Golovkin Feels the Pressure of Unification Showdown With Lemieux

Make no mistake about it, October 17th’s massive unification showdown with IBF middleweight champion David Lemieux will be the highest profile fight of Gennady Golovkin’s career, and whether or not you agree with the assertion of Golovkin’s trainer Abel Sanchez that Lemieux won’t be his toughest test, Golovkin himself admits he feels the pressure of such a big occasion.

Speaking to BehindtheGloves.com, Golovkin – in his inimitable brand of broken English – said of the PPV event that has broken pre-sale ticket records at the fabled Madison Square Garden.

“It’s (the fight) very exciting, amazing for me… and scary!,” he said.

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Andrzej Fonfara v Nathan Cleverly Looks Set for October in Chicago

It was announced some time back that former WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (29-2, 15ko) would be fighting Chicago-based Pole Andrzej Fonfara (27-3, 16ko) in the Autumn/Fall, and it’s now looking set that the two will indeed clash in the “Windy City” on October 16th, according to multiple sources.

It is a very, very dangerous fight for Cleverly in Fonfara’s adopted backyard, with defeat surely spelling the end for the Welshman in terms of operating at a meaningful level and being in any kind of future world title contention.

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Billy Joe Saunders Remaining Focused Ahead of World Title Challenge

Hatfield middleweight Billy Joe Saunders is remaining upbeat ahead of his world title challenge to WBO 160 lb champion Andy Lee on October 10th in Manchester, in the face of a venue switch that delayed the biggest fight of his career by three weeks.

Saunders, who boxed a tune up last month against Yoann Bloyer in London, headed out to the MGM facility in Marbella to get his head down away from the distractions that have presented themselves at earlier points in his career, though was called back after Andy Lee ostensibly “picked up a virus,” and the fight was switched from Thomond Park in Limerick, to topping a world title triple header in Manchester that will also feature Terry Flanagan and Liam Smith in respective world title bouts.

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Danny Green Wins Forgettable Bore-Fest in Oz Against Bolonti / Calls Out Mundine

Australian cruiserweight and former WBA 175 lb champion Danny “The Green Machine” Green, returned to the ring after almost three years out tonight, comfortably outpointing Argentina’s Roberto Bolonti in a difficult to watch and frankly boring 10 rounder that does nothing to stoke any interest in a mooted rematch with distasteful Islamic convert and countryman, Anthony “The Man” Mundine – or “Choc” as he likes to be called.

There wasn’t much of anything to write home about in terms of early action, with neither man landing with any frequency, and the contest continued in forgettable fashion right until the final bell.

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