The Russian invasion of the cruiserweight division continued on Friday night at the Luzhniki arena in Moscow. All three Russian cruiser weights, Grigory Drozd, Rakhim Chakhkiev and Dmitri Kudryashov who fought on the under-card of Povetkin/Perez stopped their opponents and established Russian as the official language of the division. Oleksandr Usyk of the Ukraine must be mentioned as a potential game-changer in the division and he speaks fluent Russian as well. Marco Huck (Muamer Hukic) has studied Russian at school in his native Serbia as a boy but it will hardly help him come to terms with the advancing troops. Huck had an extremely hard time with Dennis Lebedev and the new guard seems tougher.
‘There Will Be No Issues With The Weight’ Says Kenny Porter – Porter v Broner
Ahead of the much anticipated June 20th 145lb catchweight clash between “Showtime” Shawn Porter (25-1-1, 16ko) and fellow Ohioan motor mouth, Adrien Broner (30-1, 22ko) from the MGM Grand in Vegas – the former’s father and trainer, Kenny Porter, has spoken to BeRealtv about how the fight came together and the perceived ‘disadvantages’ the catchweight may present given his son’s naturally heavier build and weight – a notion he dismissed outright as “not an issue” while still conceding anything below 147 requires “adjustment” for Shawn to boil down to.
The fight will potentially be another jewel in the crown of Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions brand, which – thus far – is delivering on it’s promise of consistent, entertaining and most importantly competitive fights.
Alexander Povetkin Revives Career with a 1st Round TKO Over Mike Perez
The main event of the action-packed card at the Luzhniki arena in Moscow last night was the shortest fight of the night. Alexander Povetkin (29-1) sandbagged highly regarded Mike Perez (21-2-1) for half a round and cemented his mandatory WBC spot by winning the WBC Silver heavyweight title. He was already number 1 in the rankings prior to the fight.
Both competitors had notable amateur background. Alexander Povetkin won Olympic gold in Athens and Perez was a successful amateur for the Cuban national team winning the World Junior Championship in 2004. He later grew up to cruiser weight but failed to secure a spot in the national team having mixed success against the top dogs. Irish boxing promoter Gary Hyde spotted him at a tournament and lured Perez into defecting from Cuba. He arranged the prospect’s escape from the Island of Freedom using the services of a Mexican cartel. Perez was required to swim offshore from Cuba and board a cartel vessel in neutral waters and he ended up being hostage for 9 days until Hyde was able to pay what the cartel demanded for Perez’s release.
Jamie McDonnell: A Hero Lacking in Appreciation
When Carl Froch travelled to Mashantucket, Connecticut to defend his WBC super-middleweight crown against Jermain Taylor in 2009, he exposed an embarrassing blind spot within British boxing that was in need of rectification.
Britain’s only active World champion – at the time – travelled across the Atlantic Ocean to defend the title he won on terrestrial television – when defeating Jean Pascal unanimously over 12 rounds in one of the finest super-middleweight title fights in recent memory – only to find himself without a broadcast partnership.
What transpired was a performance that would find a home in the annals of British boxing history, the only problem, no one got to watch Froch snatch victory from the jaws of defeat live – well, not in his own country any way. This could never happen again, the country was now on board and Carl Froch has never looked back since.
Povetkin Destroys Perez In Seconds!
I never think the Russian’s do a bad job of putting on a decent show – and … continue
Povetkin obliterates Perez; Chakhkiev defeats Wright
In a total annihilation, WBC Silver heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (29-1, 21 KOs) blasted out an over-matched and pudgy looking No.2 WBC Mike Perez (21-2-1, 13 KOs) tonight in stopping him in the 1st round after brutally knocking him down twice in their World Boxing Council heavyweight title eliminator at the Luzhniki, in Moscow, Russia.
The 35-year-old Povetkin caught Perez by surprised early in the round with a right hand to the head that staggered him and caused him to back up a step. The 29-year-old Perez was badly shaken from the shot, and there was no way he was going to be able to recover from that punch. He just too hurt. Sure enough, moments later, Povetkin landed a clean right hand to the chin of Perez, sending him down on the canvas on his back. The chubby-looking Perez was able to get up from the knockdown, but his legs were totally gone.
Video: Heated DeGale – Dirrell Weigh-In
James DeGale MBE has warned Andre Dirrell that he is ready to pour his heart and soul into winning the vacant IBF World Super Middleweight title in Boston on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.
Those Who Shout The Loudest! – Willie Dirrell Says Andre Taking Belt Back Home
If there has been an irksome, fly-on-s*** type presence hanging over the media workouts and pressers this week in Boston ahead of tonight’s fight between James DeGale and Andre Dirrell, look no further than the non-boxing brother of the Dirrell family – Willie – who has spoken to iFLtv in between making an ass of himself – to state unequivocally that he believes the IBF 168lb title is going back to Michigan.
Dirrell, who has made it his job to be a professional pain in the backside with regards to this fight – stalking DeGale over Instagram and calling him a loser at the open workout this week – looked even more stupid posting for pictures with his fists raised at the head to head as if it were he getting in the ring and not his brother.
Buglioni & Markham To Do It Again
After their blood and guts war that more than ably headlined Frank Warren’s recent “Striking Distance” show from the SSE Arena in London earlier this month, Enfield’s “Wise Guy” Frank Buglioni and Romford’s Lee “Banjo” Markham are set to go at it again – after their electrifying first fight ended in (a rightful) draw.
Announced by George Warren on “Bunce’s Boxing Hour” and by Buglioni himself via his twitter feed, the rematch is set for July 24th at the same venue – and each man will be determined to walk out a clear winner and leave nothing in the hands of the judges this time.
Super-Middleweight: The British Battleground
Nigel Benn- Michael Watson- Chris Eubank: three names that perhaps do not signify pound for pound pedigree but a trifocal of British pugilists that waged successive wars against each other across the early nineties. Frankly, any boxing purism would have been out of place in a hellish round robin of barbaric contests between the trio predicated upon genuine animosity and bloodlust that were more reminiscent of trench warfare than of any sporting endeavour. For the pleasured served up, tolls were taken, with Michael Watson suffering a cruel brain injury in his bout with Chris Eubank that would permanently alter his life. Speak to the irrepressible Watson today though and not a modicum of self-pity or regret will be detected in his attitude.