Comeback Fighter of the Year: Jermain Taylor

After Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor (33-4-1, 20 KOs) suffered consecutive devastating knockout losses to Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham in his one and only appearance during the Super Six World Boxing Classic Tournament in 2009 which he left due to bleeding in his brain, most boxing fans didn`t believe that he would ever fight again, let alone become a world champion for the second time.

Taylor; however, did just that when he upset Sam Soliman for the International Boxing Federation Middleweight Title in October to became my Comeback Fighter of the Year.

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Amir Khan wants Pacquiao fight

After his recent, and fourth in a row victory over Devon Alexander (26-3-0), Amir Khan (30-3-0) seems to be back on the paved track to a mega-fight.

After a loss to Lamont Peterson in 2011, and a brutal TKO loss to Danny Garcia in 2012, Khan’s future seemed to be escaping his grasp. In boxing, a couple losses in a row can nosedive a career, weakening a possibility for a huge payday.

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Canelo determined to fight on May 2nd, says De La Hoya

Former WBA/WBC junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (44-1-1, 31 KOs) is doggedly determined to fight on the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo, even if means that he won’t be facing WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (39-4, 32 KOs). The two fighters are still negotiating a fight for that date, but there’s no way of knowing if they’ll be able sign for the fight.

Canelo’s promoter Oscar de La Hoya says that Canelo will still be fighting on that date if the Cotto fight doesn’t happen. This means that unless Canelo gets a really good opponent to face him like James Kirkland or Gennady Golovkin, he’s not going to be able to bump Floyd Mayweather off the date.

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Deontay Wilder vs. Bermane Stiverne only 13 days away

The Bernane Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs) and Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs) heavyweight clash is only 13 days away before the two large fighters battle it out on January 17th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Stiverne, 36, has been pretty quiet in the build up to the fight, as he’s taken a lot of verbal and written abuse from the 6’7” Deontay.

Stiverne’s quite nature comes across to some boxing fans as him being intimidated by the hard punching Wilder. However, Stiverne has always been a quiet fighter, so this is kind of the norm for him. He does his speaking in the ring with his fists rather than talking trash outside of it.

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Manny Pacquiao to fight twice in 2015

WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao will be fighting twice in 2015, says his adviser Michael Koncz. The first fight, which take place in April or possibly May depending on the opponent, will be staged in the United States. The second of the year in November will be staged in Macau, China, where Arum is trying to open up the Chinese markets for pay-per-view.

It’s important to have Pacquiao fight in front of the large Chinese audiences over there. Pacquiao has already become a popular fighter in China, and he and Arum just need more time before the Chinese market will be open for big pay-per-view fights.

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Malignaggi open to Kell Brook clash

Paulie Malignaggi (33-6, 7 KOs) hasn’t fought in nearly a year since being blown out badly by Shawn Porter last year in April, but it now looks like Malignaggi may be starting to show interest in returning to the ring. Malignaggi is saying that a fight against IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook (33-0, 22 KOs) is one that would be interested in.

Brook doesn’t have an opponent for his next fight in early 2015, and it’s quite possible he might be interested in someone like Malignaggi. Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn needs someone who is good but obviously not that good because Brook is fighting or the first time since suffering a thigh wound in a knife attack.

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Arum says there’s movement in Mayweather-Pacquiao negotiations

Bob Arum, the promoter for Manny Pacquiao, is saying that there’s been some movement in the negotiations between Pacquiao and WBA/WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. The two sides have been in negotiations for some time now with only little news about back and forth offers and counter offers. Arum says the negotiations are moving slowly, but they are moving.

“Talks are slow but at least there is movement,” Arum said via the Manilastandardtoday.com. “It’s always about money.”

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Boxing Coming Back to Network Television!

During the playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, a commercial aired putting millions of viewers on notice that boxing was coming to NBC in March 2015.

As reported a while back, a multi-fight deal had been on the table between Al Haymon and NBC. It was reported that the deal would be something in the neighborhood of $20 million for approximately 24 fight dates. Based on yesterday’s commercial, the deal is done.

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Jermain Taylor faces Sergio Mora on February 6th

In what should be a fairly easy fight for IBF middleweight champion Jermain Taylor (33-4, 20 KOs), he’ll be defending his IBF title on February 6th against 34-year-old former WBC junior middleweight champion Sergio Mora (27-3-2, 9 KOs) at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.

Unfortunately for the 36-year-old Taylor, he’s facing some huge legal problems that he’s got to deal with in the near future, and it’s still unclear whether he’ll be able to avoid jail time for the charges.

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Pacquiao staying at welterweight, says Arum

Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach has been doing some talking about Pacquiao potentially moving down in weight to light welterweight to fight a new crop of fighters in that weight class. Roach surmises that Pacquiao’s power will be better at that weight class and that he will be able to start knocking guys out once again.

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum is saying that the Filipino fighter will be staying put at 147. If Arum has the last word then Pacquiao won’t be moving down in weight in 2015. It doesn’t mean that he won’t someday make the move down in weight, but it looks like Arum has other plans for him at welterweight.

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