Adrien Broner is a three weight world champion already so his name will always hold some weight. The point I am trying to highlight in this article is that very few fighters make it to the very top of the sport where they become household names and make ridiculous amount of money. When you look at the forbes list of highest paid athletes you see a boxer in the number 1 spot, but then you see only 1-2 other boxers in the top 25. There is a sharp dropoff between an elite star and a ‘good’ fighter.
Omar Figueroa could enter the fray at Welterweight
For years now welterweight has been the centre of attention in the boxing world. Big names such as Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao amongst others have lured fighters from 135-140 and 154 to alter their natural weight to compete in the biggest events in the sport for huge exposure and enormous paydays.
In boxing now the best thing that can happen to a fighter is to land a fight with Mayweather. Win or lose they are guaranteed the biggest purse of their careers.
Dillian Whyte to enter the increasingly interesting UK Heavyweight scene
UK heavyweight Dillian Whyte fought his first decent heavyweight in Marcelo Luiz Nascimento (17-8-0 15KO) on 7th February 2015. Whyte made short work of the Brazilian heavyweight in getting him out of there in the second round.
Whyte has not been getting the same attention as Anthony Joshua, but is a decent prospect in his own right. This was the fastest Nascimento had been stopped and should propel Whyte into some better fights. I think this is the kind of performance which give him and his team the confidence to pursue some better opposition.
Anthony Joshua can’t get away with anymore weak opposition
Anthony Joshua has had a fast paced career so far in the pro ranks. Ten fights in his first year as a pro, all wins by knockout. The level of competition has been on a steep rise also, rising from unknown fighters to serious journeymen type opponents in the very first year. It is likely that he will be fighting Kevin Johnson in his next two fights and this is the kind of guy who Dereck Chisora, Manuel Charr, Tyson Fury and Alex Leapai are fighting well into the prime of their careers. Joshua is expected to become the first man to stop Johnson in that fight.
Abel Sanchez – Ward wouldn’t last 12 rounds with Golovkin
The trainer for ‘Triple G’ Gennady Golovkin called out Andre Ward and his team in a recent interview with FightHype. In the interview he said that Ward shouldn’t mention Golovkins name is they were not willing to put money on the table in the form of a fight offer. Andre Ward is the guy who has Jay-Z in his corner and is generally regarded as the A side in the fight due to his victory in the super-six tournament so it is down to him to contact Golovkins people and start negotiations for the fight.
I do understand the problems Golovkin and his team are facing as the fighter has become a victim of his own success. In the destruction of each and every opponent they have faced, they have scared off the top names in the business.
Brandon Rios eager to fight
Brandon Rios (33-2-1 24KO) is in a good place in the boxing world right now after a surprisingly quick dispatching of rival fighter Mike Alvarado in January. This fight was a bit of an anticlimactic finish for what was a good trilogy, but nevertheless has left Rios with a good choice of opposition for his next fight.
As always the welterweight division has a long list of names which would be good fights for Rios including a bout with newly crowned IBF champion Kell Brook or a boxer vs brawler type matchup with former champion Timothy Bradley who seems to have a stalled career after his first loss and draw in 2014. Another interesting fight, which would be ideal, but is also unlikely would be a catch-weight bout with the winner of Provodnikov vs Matthysse in another war.
Mikey Garcia to return ‘no later than April’
Robert Garcia, brother and trainer of two weight world champion Mikey Garcia has said that the return is planed for this year and should take place before April.
Mikey has been out of the ring since his unanimous decision over Juan Carlos Burgos in January of 2014 meaning he has now been inactive for over a year and this could be fourteen or fifteen months by the time he is active again.
Whether or not ring rust could be a factor in his return is unknown at this stage but it wouldn’t be the first time a prospect came back from a layoff and was not the same fighter. Nevertheless it is good that his team and Top Rank seem to have resolved their issues and are getting the fighter back in the ring.
Mora outpoints Han
Former WBC 154 pound titlist Sergio Mora (28-3-2, 9 kos) scored a twelve round split decision over Abie Han (23-2, 14 kos) in the main event of ESPN2 Friday Night Fights card in Biloxi Mississippi.
WBC # 10/ WBA # 14/ IBF # 14 rated Mora, 34, picked up the vacant USBA 160 pound strap.
“The Latin Snake” controlled the majority of the first nine rounds striking with several sharp shooting right hands before the tough Han rallied late.
WBO # 13/ IBF # 15 Han scored a knockdown in round ten which seemed to spur him on as he aggressively pursued the faster Mora in the final rounds.
Saunders accepts 6-figure sum to step aside
Billy Joe Saunders has accepted a 6-figure sum to relinquish his WBO World title shot to allow Andy Lee to face Peter Quillin in April.
In doing so the Hatfield middleweight secured a slot on the on the undercard of what promises to be a huge New York show against a yet to be named opponent.
This is the second time Saunders 21-0 (11KO’s) has stepped aside, having allowed Matt Korobov 24-1 (14KO’s) to face Andy Lee 34-2 (24KO’s) in December. Instead facing Chris Eubank Jnr 18-1 (13KO’s) in a lucrative rematch that he won on a split decision.
Nonito Donaire back in action on March 28
Nonito Donaire will be making his ring return on March 28th against the Brazilian William Prado, who holds a record of 22 wins (15 via KO) and 4 losses. The fight will take place in the Philippines and the airing network is still to be announced. One of Prado’s losses was a third round KO defeat to Scott Quigg in 2013. Prado is coming off a 1st round knock out win over a hardly known fighter named Marcelo Bispo (0 wind, 1 loss) in April of 2014.