Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight champion and the Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) Fighter of the Year TERENCE “Bud” CRAWFORD (25-0, 17 KOs), from Omaha, NE, Puerto Rican buzz saw THOMAS “Thunder” DULORME (22-1, 14 KOs), the No. 2 world-rated contender and Hall of Fame promoter BOB Arum hosted a media conference call on Monday to discuss their upcoming rumble for the vacant WBO junior welterweight title. The Crawford-Dulorme world title fight will take place This Saturday! April 18, at College Park Center, located on the campus of the University of Texas Arlington in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The world championship fight will be televised as part of a split site doubleheader live on HBO Boxing After Dark®, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.
Rigo Calls Out Quigg, Also Eyeing Frampton
In one of my favourite movies, The Crow, just before his character throws one of the men who murdered him and his girlfriend out of a window (just watch it, it’s a great film), Brandon Lee says;
“I guess it’s not a good day to be a bad guy, huh Skank?”
Well in Britain, I guess it’s not a good day to be Bury’s WBA (reg) super-bantamweight champion Scott Quigg, as like the fabled movie and comic book hero, WBA (sup) and WBO champion, undefeated Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux (15-0,10ko) is on something of a hunting mission, publicly stating that he intends to come to the UK and call out Quigg in person.
Carl Froch : “I Would Have Beat Calzaghe”
Britain’s best 168lb fighter of the last few years, Carl Froch (34-2,24ko), has been at it again, ahead of a new ITV documentary that he is the focus of.
In a teaser for the soon to be released film, the famous ego of “The Cobra” lands with a bang once more, with both Froch and trainer Rob McCracken re-asserting their long held belief that should the two rivals have ever got in the ring, the undefeated Welshman would have emerged the loser.
The Froch v Calzaghe (46-0,32ko) hypothetical is a much debated topic on social media, particularly in the UK, with the consensus belief being that the hand speed, ring IQ and intense work rate of Calzaghe would have proved to much for Carl to deal with. It’s a belief I am inclined, along with Barry McGuigan, to agree with.
Amir Khan’s boxing legacy – a wild-goose chase or a work in progress
Khan expects to win the Mayweather lottery or to get the congressional consolation prize, he believes he is entitled to fight the winner (or loser) of the May 2 mega fight. If it ends in a draw or develops into a sequel, he may watch both veterans retire before he gets his turn in the money shower. Khan recently neglected a lucrative offer to fight Kell Brook which fueled criticism and raised additional doubts. He will need a stay busy fight even if he acts like a boxing prima donna who can afford to get up from bed only for multi million contracts. Biding your time with a minimum threat opponent and saving face at the same time may not be so simple especially when 3 glaringly unavenged losses are pending further action.
Frank Warren Talks Andy Lee vs Billy Joe Saunders
WBO 160lb mandatory challenger Saunders was always due to face the winner of Lee-Quillin yet after the somewhat unique situation of the belt staying with Lee (W or L) as soon as Quillin failed to make weight, the fans knew before the fight that win or lose Andy Lee vs Saunders would be a world title fight in Britain or Ireland at some stage in the summer. The fact that the entertaining fight between Lee and Quillin ended up a draw became something of a moot point.
Guillermo Rigondeaux heading to UK next month To publically confront Scott Quigg
Unified super bantamweight world champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs), arguably the most avoided reigning world title holder in modern boxing history, will travel to London next month in order to publicly confront his mandatory challenger, Scott Quigg (30-0-2, 22 KOs), the World Boxing Association (WBA) “regular” 122-pound division titlist.
A month ago in an unusual move, Rigondeaux’ manager Gary Hyde formally petitioned the WBA to enforce a mandatory title fight between his WBA Super champion and Quigg. Hyde is awaiting the WBA’s decision. Rigondeaux is also the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and The Ring magazine’s super bantamweight champion.
Garcia/Broner: Will They/Won’t They?
It feels like a long time now that the names Danny Garcia and Adrien Broner have been mentioned alongside each other.
The latest installment in the will they?/Won’t they drama came at the weekend, when Broner was ringside for Garcia’s hotly disputed “gift” decision against Lamont Peterson. The Ohio born motor-mouth, coincidentally alongside Garcia’s father Angel, is one of the most disliked and divisive figures in all of boxing, so the prospect of those two personalities clashing in the build up would be entertaining from a fan perspective to say the least. Neither Garcia Snr, nor Broner are ever short of something to say.
Khan-Brook-Algieri-Gavin: It’s A Farce
Amir Khan (30-3, 19ko) is once again the focus in sections of the British media this morning, namely The Guardian, although the attention of that focus is once more on the circus surrounding his fight on May 30th, for which, no OFFICIAL opponent has yet been announced.
After the video on his wife’s YouTube channel suggesting it would be American Chris Algieri (20-1, 8ko), who was decked seven times by Manny Paqcuiao the last time he boxed, the ridicule and condemnation from British fans in particular was as such that Khan went into back track mode whilst he waits for the furor to die down.
PBC Seems to Have Forgotten Caleb Truax
Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) offered another big show this past weekend. Danny “Swift” Garcia squeaked out a decision win over Lamont Peterson, and Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillen knocked Andy Lea down twice, and came away with a draw. A notch lower comes Friday the 24th, on Spike TV when fans will see Anthony Dirrell battle Badou Jack.
The co-feature pits Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs 28-1-0 (25KO) against Caleb “Golden” Truax 25-1-2 (15KO). A check of PBC’s premierboxingchampions.com website provides profiles for each of the fighters, with the exception of Caleb Truax? Undoubtedly, it was just an oversight, but Caleb merits at least a few words.
Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Garcia/Peterson, Quillin/Lee/GGG, & Gary Russell Jr!
Markus H. (Orlando, FL): You were pretty down on Gary Russell Jr. in the past. I wanted to know what were your thoughts about his recent performance and what do you see next for him?
Vivek W. (ESB): There was a point in which I just felt that Russell simply wasn’t showing any evolution. We knew he possessed great speed and a certain level of skill, but we never really saw it translate against the level of opposition good enough to bring all of it out. After seeing him coast to easy victories over guys who had no business in the ring with him, it simply got old. All that being said, just as he once warranted criticism, I think at this stage he clearly deserves praise! And a lot of it!