WBA Champion Braehmer wants to charge Bolonti with heavy bill on June 7

Juergen Braehmer (43-2, 32 KOs) brings the WBA World Championship to his hometown! Schwerin, Germany will host the 35-year-old’s next title defense against even-aged challenger Roberto Bolonti (35-2, 24 KOs) on June 7. The Argentinian already provoked the defending champion in the run-up to their fight. In the following Q&A, you can read Braehmer’s verbal counter as well as his future plans inside the ring.

Juergen, you last defended your world title in early April. About two months later, you are going to put it on the line again. Is the short break between fights a problem for you?

Juergen Braehmer: No, not at all. I see it more as an advantage to me. After enjoying a few days off, I went back into the gym after the Easter holidays. I did not start at zero and therefore I could lay my concentration more on technique and tactics.

continue

R.I.P Matthew Saad Muhammad – 1954-2014

In sad news, it has been reported how Matthew Saad Muhammad, the former light-heavyweight king from the 1980s, yesterday passed away in hospital in his hometown of Philadelphia from unknown causes. Saad was just 59-years-old.

An absolute warrior in every sense of the word, Saad – born Matthew Franklin but changing his name for religious reasons in the ‘80’s – was known for taking unbelievable punishment in fights and somehow coming back to win. Turning pro in January of 1974 at the Spectrum in Philly, Saad would go on to capture the NABF 175-pound title with a 1977 stoppage win over Marvin Johnson (these two would meet again). In April of 1979, in Indianapolis, Saad TKO’d Johnson in the 8th to win the WBC crown. A number of thrillers already on his resume, Matthew would engage in plenty more.

His wars with Johnson, Yaqui Lopez and Dwight Muhammad Qawi are legendary, even if Saad was past his best a by the time of his first rumble with Qawi. Losing the WBC title to Qawi after having made eight retentions, Saad wasn’t ready to quit. Sadly boxing on way too long, losing a return to Qawi, again by stoppage, Matthew would lose 11 further bouts before finally hanging ‘em up at the age of 47 in 1992. Nothing can ever take away from Muhammad’s epic battles however.

continue

Who next for Adonis Stevenson? “Superman” could be in trouble if it’s Hopkins, Kovalev

Before we get into who and what might be next for WBC light-heavyweight ruler Adonis Stevenson, a few words simply have to be written in tribute to the unearthly toughness, grit and determination of Andrzej Fonfara. Last night in Canada, the Polish warrior put on a display of guts and character that at times staggered belief.

We all know how heavy a hitter Stevenson is, yet Fonfara, although hurt multiple times, to the body especially, refused to be taken out. Also refusing to quit when he had a number of occasions when he could have waved the white flag and not had it held against him, the 26-year-old instead gave us a graphic example of how mentally and physically strong boxers often are.

continue

Groves: Froch will be getting a beating from me

George Groves (19-1, 15 KO’s) plans on giving IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (32-2, 23 KO’s) a royal beating in the process of ripping his two 168lb title straps from him on Saturday night in front of what will be a roaring crowd of 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in London, UK.

Groves senses weakness in Froch, and like a shark, Groves will be looking to rip Froch to pieces to finish his title reign. Groves sees it as a process of the young lions taking over for the older lion.

“It might not even be a fight,” Groves said. “I can beat Carl for hand speed, foot speed and I can hurt him. It doesn’t matter how Carl approaches this fight, he’s just not good enough. I see panic, I see a man who’s worried, I see a man who’s got to face the inevitable and that’s a beating from me.”

continue

Adonis Stevenson wins but gets brutally exposed by Andrzej Fonfara

(Photo Credit: Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME)Adonis Stevenson won via a UD on Saturday night against Andrzej Fonfara but lost credibility as “The Superman”. Perhaps he did enough to win beyond doubt and he knocked down Fonfara twice but he struggled in the second half of bout and went down himself.

Fonfara is an unheralded and light punching prize fighter but he has several years of high level amateur experience as a cadet. Amateur boxing usually instills good technique and steady skills through methodical coaching. Fonfara showed resilience and good form which helped him to survive the initial onslaught and stand his ground in the second half of the bout.

continue

Pacquiao’s options are few if Marquez says no to November fight

Bob Arum of Top Rank needs Juan Manuel Marquez to agree to face his fighter WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao in order to pump up his pay-per-view numbers, if only for this one fight. But if Marquez says now, and that’s a real possibility, Arum has very little to offer Pacquiao with the limited fighters in his stable.

The only real option that Arum has for Pacquiao is a fight against WBO light welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov. While hardcore boxing fans might like to see a Pacquiao-Provodnikov fight, casual boxing fans likely won’t be too eager to pay $70 to see Pacquiao fight a former ESPN fighter like Provodnikov.

continue

David Lemieux Scores Ferocious Third-Round Knockout Over Fernando Guerrero

Montreal’s David Lemieux (32-2, 30 KOs) gave his hometown fans exactly what they wanted with a ferocious third-round knockout victory over Fernando Guerrero (26-3, 19 KOs).

Lemieux charged out at the opening bell and didn’t stop attacking Guerrero until the stoppage, knocking him down in the first, second and third rounds before scoring the knockout.

“I knew Fernando Guerrero is a very strong fighter. Very tough,” said Lemieux. “He’s been down many times and always gets back up. Once I started to land my shots I could see it in his eyes that the game started to change.

continue

Adonis Stevenson Retains Light Heavyweight Title In Thrilling Bout Against Fonfara

MONTREAL (May 25, 2014) – Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (24-1, 20 KOs) successfully defended his WBC light heavyweight title for the third time Saturday night in a thrilling 12-round battle with world-ranked challenger Andrzej Fonfara (25-3, 15 KOs) on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Stevenson won via unanimous decision, with the three judges scoring the bout 115-110, 115-110 and 116-109 in his favor.

“Superman” started strong and knocked Fonfara down in the first and fifth rounds and looked to be en route to an easy win. But Fonfara showed his mettle and battled back to floor the champion in the ninth. From there, Stevenson and Fonfara went toe-to-toe, trading powerful shots and asking each other for more up to the final bell.

continue

Stevenson decisions Fonfara; Lemieux destroys Guerrero

(Photo Credit: SHOWTIME/Stephanie Trapp) WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (24-1, 20 KO’s) was badly exposed tonight by Andrzej Fonfara (25-3, 15 KO’s) in winning a very, very unimpressive 12 round unanimous decision at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.

The 36-year-old Stevenson proved that he can dish it out, but he sure couldn’t take it from Fonfara. Stevenson was on the deck in the 9th round after getting hit with a right to the head. The thing is Fonfara isn’t a noted puncher, yet he still have Stevenson down on the canvas. Stevenson came back in the 10th and 11th rounds and was able to hurt Fonfara with body shots, but he wasn’t able to finish him off because he’d lost a lot of the zip on his shots. Stevenson punched himself out after the first 5 rounds, and had to depend on body punching to control the second half of the fight.

continue

Petrov Shows Adams How It’s Done

The finals for Friday Night Fights got their schedule for Boxcino finals got turned around. It should have had the lightweight finals first, instead of the middleweights. That way middleweight finalist Brandon Adam could have learned what his game plan should have been against the taller Willie Monroe, Jr.

It’s one thing to think you have a clear mental picture of what should be done, but it’s even better to see it done before your own eyes. Petrov could have been a visual aid, provided in graphic detail of how it’s done, meaning Lesson 101 “How to beat a taller man”.

The shorter Petrov got his jab going, mainly to Carcamo’s body. He used good head movement, side to side, up and down, coupled with movement at the waist. He quickly escalated the action by throwing combinations, beating to the punch Carcamo’s efforts to counter. Petrov wisely moved to his left, away from the southpaw Carcamo’s power left hand. He continually used inside angles by stepping around Carcarmo, requiring Carcamo to reset. For Carcamo, it was like being able to load the gun, but unable to pull the trigger, because the target kept moving.

continue