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.
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.
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.
Especially since he dropped the “Pretty Boy” and became “Money,” Floyd Mayweather has always had an air of “I don’t give a sh** what you think” about him.
Whether it be regarding his appalling record of violence against women, repeated racist comments (re Pacquiao/Filipino’s) or particularly this flagrant Andre Berto cherry-pick, Mayweather – and the sycophantic yes men who surround him (Chief of whom is Leonard Ellerbe)- ostensibly cares not what the public thinks.
At the first official presser to announce the fight on Thursday, this was more evident than ever in his bold attempts to justify Berto for this “final” fight of his long and illustrious career.
Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn has revealed he is set to hold talks with Top Rank’s Bob Arum next week regarding a potential November fight between former 4 division world champion Nonito Donaire and Britain’s own WBA (reg) 122lb champion, Scott Quigg.
While a fight with IBF super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton remains the preferred option for Hearn and Quigg, if it can still not be made then Hearn is keen to keep his options open and deems the 32 yr old Donaire a viable alternative option for the Bury man.
Michigan’s former WBC 168 lb champion Anthony Dirrell has confirmed that he will return to the ring on September 6th against Mexican veteran Marco Antonio Rubio in Corpus Christi, Texas.
After being upset back in April in a voluntary defence of his title against Sweden’s Badou Jack, it’s expected Dirrell should have too much for the 35 yr old Rubio, who is moving up from 160 lbs following his knockout loss to big-hitting Kazakh knockout artist Gennady Golovkin last October.
Britain’s former 2x super middleweight world title challenger George Groves says that he sees nothing to trouble him when he faces Vegas-based Swede & WBC champion Badou Jack on the Mayweather/Berto undercard, hoping to make it 3rd time lucky with regard his world title dreams.
Groves sadly came up short in back to back world title challenges to Nottingham’s recently retired Carl Froch, despite dumping the notoriously granite-chinned “Cobra” on his backside in their first encounter, yet is convinced that this time the world title is there for the taking.
Speaking at yesterday’s presser, a dapperly dressed Groves, said;
The historic Belasco Theater was on fire for the latest installment of Golden Boy Promotions’ LA FIGHT CLUB on August 6. With a number of professional debuts from powerhouse fighters, it’s clear that the future of boxing is bright and that Golden Boy Promotions’ stable of fighters are the next generation of elite boxers. The sold-out crowd included former LA Laker Metta World Peace as well as former interim WBC Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse who stuck around for the fights following his own press conference earlier in the day, ahead of his vacant WBC Super Lightweight World Championship bout against Viktor Postol, scheduled for October 3at the Stubhub Center and live on HBO Boxing After®. Tonight’s festivities were telecast live on FOX Deportes.
GEORGE GROVES, Top 168-Pound Contender – “Everything in training camp has been perfect. We’re adjusting to the time difference and the altitude, which takes a couple of days, but everything is going really well. We’re ahead of schedule. We’ve been training all year for this fight so I’m feeling really good. I can’t wait to get in there and start punching.
“I think I know more than enough about Jack. I’ve seen him box live against Anthony Dirrell and I’ve studied him on tape. There’s a lot to like about him. I like the fact that he’s come to the U.S. and has made a home out here, there’s bravery in that. He’s latched on to a successful camp but ultimately you have to stand on your own two feet in the ring.
The seemingly omnipotent Al Haymon and his PBC platform have struck yet again! (A deal that is) According to ESPN’s Dan Rafael:
Fox Sports 1 has announced that Haymon’s PBC will be the networks exclusive boxing content provider in a deal signed through June 2016. In that span Fox Sports 1 has agreed to air 21 PBC cards as part of their “Toe-To-Toe Tuesdays” series that will -as the advertising slogan suggests- be aired on Tuesday nights.