1955 was also the year that bid a sad adieu to screen icon James Dean. The Rebel without a cause would meet his maker on Route 466 when, on September 30th, his Porsche 550 ‘Little Bastard’ car careered off the highway attempting to avoid Donald Turnopspeed’s Ford Tudor. The film world mourned and still does. Ray Kroc started the McDonalds fast food chain and Bill Haley’s ‘Rock around the Clock’ had music lovers dancing off the Big Mac’s and fries. But 1955 would also be a landmark year for the world of boxing when heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano went 49-0 to set, what would become, the longest standing championship record in the history of the sport.
Saunders Training Well in Marbella Ahead of Andy Lee Title Challenge
After his recent stoppage (tune up) victory over Yoann Bloyer, Billy Joe Saunders landed in Marbella last Tuesday to the Macklin’s Gym facility in the Spanish city ahead of his September 19th challenge to WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee, that will take place at Thomond Park, Limerick, Ireland.
Saunders and Lee’s fight will be the first time that two men of traveller origins have contested a version of a world title and the Hatfield based former Olympian is determined to be in the best shape possible.
Keith Thurman: Sounding a Little Tired of “Money”
Whatever you think about Amir Khan, he was a more deserving candidate than Andre Berto for the 49th fight of Floyd Mayweather’s career. So was IBF welterweight champ Kell Brook, or Ohio’s Shawn Porter. In fact, there are loads more deserving fighters, including Top Rank’s Tim Bradley – though let’s be honest was never going to get the call, but you get the point.
Hell, given more notice Danny Garcia could have picked up a career-high payday for his 147 debut rather than fight Malignaggi, yet one man who many fans would have liked to have seen in the opposite corner is Florida’s WBA (reg) welterweight champion, Keith Thurman.
Wishing Chris L. Eubank Sr. a Happy 49th Birthday
As former European WBO legend Chris ‘Simply the Best’ Eubank celebrated his 49th birthday on Saturday, I look back on the glittering career of the self-styled monocle man.
Eubank turned professional in New York City as a teenager, making his debut in Atlantic City in 1985 following a 26-fight amateur career that included a local win over standout US international star Dennis Milton. Born and bred in London, he had relocated to NYC’s Bronx to start boxing at 16 and really came into his own.
After four quick-fire four-round points wins, Eubank built his reputation in Gleasons Gym and Bronxchester BC, with the late Johnny Bos watching many a sparring session of the young upstart and attempting to sign him.
Kovalev v Stevenson – Will Failure to Negotiate Fight Tarnish Krusher’s Legacy?
Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev is rapidly becoming the most dominating force the 175 lb division has witnessed since Roy Jones Junior began hoovering up his collection of world title belts at the tail end of the 20th century.
Super middleweight king Andre Ward is being considered as a potential opponent for Krusher. Victory over Ward would be a significant scalp but it would not complete his supremacy at light heavyweight. If Ward were to lose he would presumably return to his natural weight division at 168 lb, explaining that the difference in size was too great, and some of the sheen would be wiped from Kovalev’s triumph.
Peter Quillin v Michael Zerafa on for September 12th
It won’t be welcome news to anybody complaining about a lack of meaningful fights from PBC, but former WBO 160 lb champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin will face the unheralded and little known Australian fighter Michael Zerafa on September 12th in Connecticut on a PBC on NBC card that will also feature unbeaten Jermell Charlo squaring off against IBF 154 lb champion Cornelius “K-9” Bundrage.
Quillin, who missed weight in his last fight – a draw against “Irish” Andy Lee in April, hasn’t been the most active of late, for various reasons fighting only 4x (inc. Lee) in the last 2 years, and is looking to set up a showdown with WBA (reg) 160 lb champ and fellow New Yorker Daniel Jacobs for early next year.
Frankie Gavin says Brook Will Beat Khan If and When the Fight Happens
Britain’s former world amateur champion Frankie Gavin, who was soundly beaten by Kell Brook in his challenge to the IBF welterweight champion back in May, has tipped the Sheffield man to beat Amir Khan should the all-British mega-fight finally come off next year.
Khan has recently been snubbed once again by Floyd Mayweather, who fights Andre Berto in September, and is still stubbornly refusing to fight Brook until he fights what he deems “a big enough name.”
Amir Khan: Mayweather is Being ‘Childish’ & ‘Cherry Picking’ His Fights / Wants to Fight Pacquiao Now Instead
There can’t have been many fighters more disappointed than Britain’s Amir Khan when the Mayweather/Berto fight was officially announced earlier this week.
Khan, a former Olympic silver medalist and 140 lb world champion, has been desperately and very publicly trying to goad Floyd into a fight with him for the better part of 2 years, yet has found himself being consistently overlooked by “Money” throughout that time.
Derevyanchenko outclasses Ayala; Khytrov Delivers TKO
Talented undefeated middleweight prospect and 2008 Olympian Sergiy Derevyanchenko continued to move on the fast track as he earned a unanimous decision over former world title challenger Elvin “El Lycan” Ayala of New Haven, Conn. in Friday’s main event of the ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader from Bally’s Atlantic City.
Known as “The Technician,” Derevyanchenko (6-0, 4 KOs/WBS: 23-1, 7 KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y. by way of Ukraine, kept his record unblemished as he carefully broke down the experienced Ayala (28-7-1, 12 KOs) in their eight rounder. He was the more effective and accurate aggressor, unleashing an excellent body attack and out-landing Ayala 185 to 49 on power punches.
Stevenson-Karpency & Spence-Van Heerden on September 11th on Spike
TORONTO (August 7, 2015) – Light heavyweight world champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (26-1, 21 KOs) will defend his title against Tommy “Kryptonite” Karpency (25-4-1, 14 KOs) on Spike, Friday, September 11 from the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto with televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Also featured on the card is undefeated welterweight rising star and 2012 U.S. Olympian Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. (17-0, 14 KOs) who will look to remain unbeaten when he faces the slick-southpaw Chris “The Heat” van Heerden (23-1-1, 12 KOs) out of South Africa, in the televised co-feature.