The Steel City Boss On Spike TV

This weekend, British fans get the chance to see Commonwealth bantamweight champion Ross “The Boss” Burkinshaw (14-5-2, 8ko) take another step in his “Cinderella Man” story when he challenges for the WBO inter-continental title on free to air TV in the UK against South Africa’s Klass Mboyane.

The Sheffield fighter, who has enjoyed a career resurgence under Wincobank veteran Ryan Rhodes in the corner, finally gets the television exposure he deserves in a promotional master stroke by Dennis Hobson – that will hopefully see him move one step closer to his dream of capturing a world title – and get his name out to a far wider audience.

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Cotto Facing A Tough Ask In A Bigger, Mobile Geale

If I was WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (39-4, 32ko), I might be a slightly worried man right now.

The four weight world champ makes the first defence of the title he won against a crocked Sergio Martinez on June 6th, when he steps in with the extremely capable former 3x world 160lb champ – Australia’s Daniel Geale (31-3, 16ko).

And that isn’t the only problem for Cotto, who has yet to genuinely box at 160lb and is making his first appearance in exactly a year at another catchweight – this time 157 lbs.

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Anthony Joshua : “I’m Happy My Hype Train Is On The Road”

Big punching British heavyweight sensation Anthony Joshua (12-0, 12ko) has spoken out ahead of Saturday’s fight with American veteran Kevin Johnson to respond to the “Kingpin’s” assertion that the gold medal winning Olympian is nothing more than a ‘media hype-job.’

35 year old Johnson, who in promoting the fight has laughably stated he is the future of the heavyweight division – is likely going to get stopped for the first time in his career by AJ, who, in a sure sign of what’s expected – has already got his next fight penciled in – for July 18th in Manchester against a TBA opponent.

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Mitchell v Linares : Kevin Ready But De La Hoya Backs His Man Linares

Eddie Hearn’s bumper triple world title card from the O2 finally lands this weekend – and arguably the best and most meaningful fight on the bill is Dagenham’s Kevin Mitchell (39-2, 29ko) hoping to finally get it right on the world stage, when he fights dangerous Venezuelan Jorge Linares (38-3, 25ko) who is promoted by Mexican-American legend Oscar De La Hoya – for the South American’s WBC lightweight title.

The fight may well represent something of a final chance for the affable Londoner, who on his day can mix it with the very best of them – yet on the 2 prior occasions he has stepped up to world level – Michael Katsidis (WBO interim – 2010) and Ricky Burns (WBO – 2012) he has been found wanting and ended up getting stopped both times.

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The IBF’s Fighter Of The Year Has Arrived – Gradovich v Selby

Undefeated Russian IBF 126lb champion Evgeny Gradovich (19-0-1, 9ko) has landed in the UK ahead of his 5th title defence Saturday night – against slick Welshman Lee Selby (20-1, 8ko) – training at Mickey Helliet’s Limehouse Marina gym ahead of open workouts today.

Gradovich, who held on to his belt by way of a draw last time out in November on the Crawford-Beltran under card, has had the title since upsetting Australian Billy Dib back in March 2013 – and while not having boxed as yet in 2015, the IBF have just announced him their “Fighter Of The Year” – a fantastic psychological boost for him, yet the Russian will certainly be up against it in facing Selby, who – thanks to his technical proficiency and silky skills, is known as the “Welsh Mayweather.”

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Mayweather Wants Me To Look Bad Against Algieri Says Khan

He has been chasing the Mayweather fight for two long years – and now – given Floyd’s final fight in September, Amir Khan knows that the sand is running out of the timer and the fight he so longs for could be slipping out of his grasp for good.

Khan returns on Friday against Chris Algieri – the man floored 6 times by Manny Pacquiao in his last fight – and the belief is that he took this bout against the light-hitting American with Floyd still in the back of his mind.

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Kell Brook : Gavin Gets Nowhere Near My Belt

Unbeaten IBF 147lb champion Kell Brook (34-0, 23ko) today worked out for the media ahead of Saturday’s clash with Frankie Gavin that features on the big Matchroom Sport triple world title PPV card from London’s O2.

The confident Sheffield man, who destroyed mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan back in February has predicted an early finish to the fight, tweeting recently that he doesn’t expect things to go beyond the first 9 minutes.

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Anthony Joshua Is A ‘Media Hype-Job’ Says Johnson

Eddie Hearn is indeed building up Anthony Joshua (12-0, 12ko) as the next British heavyweight boxing hero and it’s true that his hopes for the London 2012 Olympic medalist are extremely high.

The unbeaten knock out artist is arguably the future “face” of the Matchroom Boxing brand and Hearn is praying Joshua will capture the public imagination in much the same way fellow Brit Frank Bruno once did in terms of his enormous popularity – and he believes the Watford man can emulate what Hall Of Famer Lennox Lewis did in terms of his extraordinary 3x world title winning career.

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Calzaghe and Froch Light Up Twitter

It’s a debate that never seems to get old among the fans. Had 2014 Hall of Fame inductee Joe Calzaghe and Carl Froch ended up fighting back in the day, who would have won?

Most – me included – feel that Joe would have had too much for a solid – yet basic – fighter like Froch.

Too smart, too fast and too busy – he would have run rings around Carl for 12 hard rounds – yet the Nottingham man would have stood a punchers chance.

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Frankie Gavin: “Let’s See Who Takes The Best Shot”

This Saturday sees the Matchroom Sport ‘Rule Britannia’ show from London’s O2, which will be co-headlined by IBF 147lb champion Kell Brook, defending his title against countryman Frankie Gavin.

Ahead of the bout, the former world amateur champion spoke to fighthype.com to say he plans on grabbing his opportunity with both hands, insisting he will get to Brook, who – just a couple of days ago – tweeted he would end Gavin inside 3 rounds.

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