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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Callum Smith and Rocky Fielding Meet in All-Liverpool Showdown for British 168lb Strap
Rival British super middleweight contenders Callum Smith (17-0, 12ko) and Rocky Fielding (21-0, 12ko) are set to meet in a dust up to divide their home city, when the two unbeaten locals two go toe to toe at the Echo Arena, Liverpool on November 7th, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
The fight will be for the vacant British 168lb strap and will also serve as an”official WBC eliminator,” with #2 Smith’s lightly regarded WBC international silver title also on the line against the #12 rated Fielding.
PBC on NBC: Deontay Wilder v Johann Duhaupas Set for September 26th
It’s expected to be announced by press conference Thursday that WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will defend his green belt for the second time against little-known French fighter Johann Duhaupas (32-2, 20ko). The bout has been confirmed to take place in his home state of Alabama on September 26th in a PBC on NBC broadcast according to AL.com.
Again it seems Al Haymon and Wilder have decided to scrape the barrell of the WBC rankings, with the Frenchman ranked outside of the Top 10 at #12. This is obviously a step backwards from part time fighter/full time teacher Eric Molina, who Wilder made hard work of defeating in June, and who was ranked #9 with the WBC when that fight was announced.
Kell Brook: I Want a Fight With Tim Bradley / Talks With Bob Arum Held
Given that Top Rank’s Bob Arum has been in the UK recently meeting with various British fight figures, including Matchroom Sport’s Barry Hearn and his son Eddie, it should come as no surprise that the plan now appears to be to try and match their IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook with new WBO 147 lb champion and TR man, Tim Bradley.
Brook has been struggling to get an opponent together with the date of his proposed return shifting further and further away as negotiations continue with various outlets to secure a credible opponent the hardcore fans here in the UK will deem worthy enough of standing in the opposite corner.