I Want to Unify at Bantamweight or Fight Frampton or Quigg at 122 says Jamie McDonnell

WBA (reg) bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell makes the long trip back to Texas next month for his second fight with Japan’s Al Haymon advised Tomoki Kameda as part of the secretive American advisor’s Premier Boxing Champions brand.

McDonnell squeezed past the previously unbeaten Kameda in May after hitting the deck in the 3rd and rising to show exactly why he is one of the most underrated fighters in Britain at the moment, displaying a grit and steely determination that saw him hold on to his title by scores of 114-113 across the board.

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Lucas Browne scores 9th-round KO over a determined Julius Long, fails to impress

Top-ranked, unbeaten heavyweight contender Lucas Browne overcame a far tougher and determined Julius Long than anybody expected earlier today in Australia. Eventually, after a rough and tough night’s work, Browne got the KO win with a second remaining in the ninth-round. Now 23-0(20), Browne said post-fight how he injured his thumb in the early going. Long, loser of eleven of his last 12 bouts, falls to 16-19(14). Still, the 38-year-old put on one of his best showings in some time.

“Big Daddy,” as Browne is known, is closing in on a shot at a world title and the 36-year-old has called out all manner of big names recently. It’s likely that none of these fighters – Tyson Fury included – will have seen anything to worry them in Browne’s latest win.

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The Wait Goes on for Brandon Rios / Bradley Fight Not Happening

The frustration in the Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard, California must be growing stronger by the day regarding Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios actually getting a fight scheduled anytime soon. After watching a mooted bout with Britain’s IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook fall apart recently due to contract/financial minutiae, a rumoured bout with new WBO 147 lb champion Tim Bradley is also now down the toilet, according to Rios’ manager Cameron Dunkin.

Speaking to ESPN.com, Dunkin said with regards to Rios/Bradley happening, the two camps were too far apart on agreeing the financials, this despite having broadcasting giant HBO on board with the idea. According to Dunkin, Top Rank President Todd duBoef told him this week to start making other plans for his client.

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Pacquiao Claims God & Salt Water Healed His Shoulder!

After tearing his rotator cuff in May’s “Fight of the Century” and undergoing a surgical procedure at the capable hands of Dr. Neal ElAttrache days later, Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao decided he wouldn’t bother with a scheduled July rehab session in the US, much to the chagrin of promoter Bob Arum.

“Pacquiao was supposed to come over to see the doctor and for some reason he decided to cancel it,” Arum said after his fighter Ik Yang was recently defeated by Cesar Cuenca in Macau.

“So he’s not acting very professionally.”

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Cotto/Canelo: Promising Excitement in Mexico/Puerto Rico Rivals Fight

Even before his fight with Australia’s Daniel Geale, it was something of an open secret that WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto was lined up to fight Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez later this year, and now the fight is officially a done deal for November 21st at the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas, excitement among fans is building all across social media.

The fight will take place on HBO PPV at an expected 155lb catchweight, which is seemingly becoming the done thing for a Miguel Cotto middleweight defence, given by his own admission he isn’t a true 160lb fighter – and it will fast ignite the flames of the traditional Mexico v Puerto Rico boxing rivalry that has given fans some terrific contests over the years.

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Tarver vs. Cunningham: It’s a Sleeper either way

(Photo credit: Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment) At first glance “Sleepy Hallow” is a fitting title for the Heavyweight main event tonight for the PBC on Spike. There’s a good chance it could be a sleepy affair. The argument could be made that the bout is being slept on as well. At least the location is solid with a main event featuring somewhat known boxers and two fighters of polish decent on the televised portion of the broadcast which will air live at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Does anyone care about Antonio Tarver’s aspirations of topping George Foreman’s record? Not really. Even with a win the goal won’t be accomplished until he gets a likely shot at Deontay Wilder’s WBC strap. Cunningham isn’t the household name that sparks interest per-say either which is the main reason why this fight has been put out to pasture and thrown on the pile of meaningless fights made by the PBC.

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Cotto-Canelo conference call transcript

MICHAEL YORKMAN, President & Chief of Branding and Strategy Roc Nation:

Good afternoon. It is a great day in boxing. As the fight of the year, which every boxing fan throughout the world has wanted to hear about and see, has finally become a reality: Cotto versus Canelo Alvarez, a 12 round fight for the total WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championship will take place on Saturday, November 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

The event will be produced and distributed live by our friends at HBO, Pay Per View, beginning at 9:00 PM Eastern, 6:00 PM Pacific time. The fight is presented by ROC Nation sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Canelo Promotions. The event will be sponsored by Corona Extra, México, Live It to Believe It! and O’Reilly Auto Parts.

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Antonio Tarver: Still Focused on Achieving History-Making Title Dreams

Tonight in Newark, New Jersey former 175 lb boss Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver squares off against fellow ageing veteran Steve Cunningham over 12 rounds on the Premier Boxing Champions bill on Spike TV (US) knowing defeat will surely spell the end of his title ambitions.

Now 46 years old, Tarver has made his ambition to become the oldest world heavyweight champion in history perfectly clear – hoping to overtake the record set by a 45 year old George Foreman when he knocked out Michael Moorer in 1994 – and he knows fellow old-timer and former cruiserweight champion Cunningham, 39, is standing firmly in the way.

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Leo Santa Cruz: Frampton Could be Next After Mares / Happy to go Back to 122 lb to Fight Him

Assuming he gets past arguably his toughest test yet in Abner Mares on August 29th in Los Angeles, then WBC 122 lb champion Leo Santa Cruz – who fights Mares at 126 – has said a fight with IBF super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton is a very real possibility and a fight he definitely wants, win or lose later this month.

While the bout with his California based Mexican rival is no foregone conclusion, Santa Cruz has insisted he will put the pressure on Mares – whose sole defeat is a 1st round knockout at the hands of Jhonny Gonzalez 2 years ago – and hopes to end the fight by stoppage, believing he has what it takes to grind the smaller man down over the course of the fight and take him out.

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Official: Cotto vs Alvarez Set For Highly Anticipated Mega-Fight on November 21

Roc Nation Sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Canelo Promotions are pleased to announce the highly anticipated clash of two titans in a classic Puerto Rico vs. Mexico battle. On Saturday, Nov. 21, Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs), the reigning WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion and the first native of Puerto Rico to become world champion in four different weight classes, and Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs), a former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion will finally meet in the ring at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas for the WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championship. The championship event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

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