Marquez vs. Alvarado: Can “Dinamita” keep his unbeaten streak alive at the reincarnated Forum?

The fabulous Forum in Inglewood, California is ready to add to its already rich history after being refurnished in time for this Saturday, May 17th on HBO. Juan Manuel Marquez and Mike Alvarado are both attempting to reboot their careers after suffering losses in their last outing.

The biggest unknown heading into Saturday nights tilt is how much has the great Mexican boxer declined since his epic knockout of Manny Pacquaio in December 2012. From the sounds of it, Mike Alvarado is in a good mental state after a lackluster training camp in preparation for his war with Ruslan Provodnikov that resulted in him quitting on the stool in front of a ruckus hometown crowd in Denver last fall.

The Forum famously housed the 1980’s Showtime Lakers. It also became a hot spot for boxing diehards with monthly shows that drew legions of fans and legendary fighters. The Forums next chapter should start out with a bang when these two combatants faceoff. The proverbial dangling carrot for the winner is a fight with Manny Pacquiao later this year.

continue

Eddie Chambers is on a mission back to world level

‘Fast’ Eddie Chambers is on a mission back to world level and is ready to show that at Leeds Town Hall on Saturday night (May 17).

The former world heavyweight title contender takes on Carl Baker and is determined to prove his class on the undercard to the MaxiNutrition Knockout semi-finals, live on Channel 5 from 10pm.

“I’m feeling as good as I’ve ever felt – strong, focused and determined to get back to where I need to be in this sport,” Eddie said.

“I’m going to give you a reason to come and support me because I’m planning on taking this straight to the title, there’s no question about it and we’ll make some history on the way.”

continue

Mchunu to Take On Dos Santos in South Africa

Photo: Rich Graessle/Main Events – Pretoria, South Africa: Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu (16-1, 11 KOs), the southpaw from South Africa, will fight for the vacant IBF International Cruiserweight Title against Julio “Gaspar” Cesar Dos Santos (26-2, 23 KOs), the veteran from Sao Paulo, Brazil, on June 6th at Rembrandt Hall at the University of Pretoria in Pretoria, South Africa. The fight is scheduled for ten rounds.

The young Mchunu, 26, of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, made his US debut Aug. 3, 2013 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT with a stunning unanimous decision upset of former heavyweight contender “Fast” Eddie Chambers. He then went on to defeat Olanrewaju “God’s Power” Durodola on Jan. 24, 2014 on NBCSN Fight Night in Atlantic City, NJ. This will be his first fight back in his home country since signing with Main Events last year.

continue

Juan Manuel Marquez is determined to become Mexico’s first five-division world champion

Boxing legend Juan Manuel Marquez is determined to become Mexico’s first five-division world champion by setting up an historic showdown with Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao.

The 40-year-old great goes head-to-head with the all-action Mike Alvarado this weekend, live and exclusive on BoxNation, knowing that victory on Saturday night will propel him into a fifth meeting with his famed nemesis Pacquiao and a shot at his WBO welterweight crown.

The chance to seize yet another world title, this time at 147 pounds, offers Marquez the unique opportunity to become Mexico’s only five-division world champion, with the veteran currently alongside Mexican icons Erik Morales and Jorge Arce as a four-weight champion.

continue

Video: Tyson Fury Opens Bolton Gym

Heavyweight boxing star Tyson Fury, along with trainer Peter Fury, undefeated cousin Hughie and other members of the Team Fury entourage will all be on hand to open their brand new Bolton boxing HQ on Wednesday May 14.

Developed in conjunction with the Platinum Sports and Events Management Company headed by Asif Vali, The Platinum Community Centre will boast state-of-the-art training facilities to help develop future amateur and pro champions.

“We’re really excited about getting this Team Fury gym up and running,” said Peter Fury recently. “It’s been a lot of hard work in the making but we’re there now and the set-up is fantastic. Tyson and the rest of the team will be based there and hopefully the gym will soon have its first world champ.”

continue

Robert Guerrero vs Yoshihiro Kamegai on Saturday, June 21 live on Showtime

LOS ANGELES (May 14, 2014) – Former four-division World Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero will make his anticipated return to the ring to face Japan’s Yoshihiro Kamegai in a 12-round welterweight bout on Saturday, June 21 at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).

In a co-feature of the three-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast, unbeaten Gary Russell Jr. faces Ukrainian star Vasyl Lomachenko for the vacant WBO World Featherweight Title in a 12-round showdown and in the opener, former world champion Devon Alexander “The Great” returns to meet Jesus Soto Karass in a 10-round super welterweight match up.

continue

Márquez & Alvarado Conf Call Transcript

We are just a few days away from boxing’s return to the “Fabulous” Forum. The Inaugural Brawl will be headlined by an exciting fight between two top contenders – Four division world champion and Méxican icon Juan Manuel Márquez, who is undefeated in this storied building, and former junior welterweight champion Mike Alvarado. The winner will be declared mandatory challenger to WBO Welterweight Champion Manny Pacquiao, who recently regained the belt with his rematch victory over Timothy Bradley.

BOB ARUM: Well, all of you who are participating in this conference call know the obvious, this is one hell of a fight. Juan Manuel Márquez, future boxing hall-of-fame entrant faces off against the Denver Mile High man Mike Alvarado. The card is fabulous from top to bottom, with fighters from all over the world. Turkish fighters, Russian fighters, and African-American fighters, Méxican, Méxican-Americans – everybody is going to be represented on this card. And it’s so wonderful, for me personally, to have Top Rank open up one of the landmarks — the “Fabulous” Forum. Today we will hear from Juan Manuel Márquez and Mike Alvarado.

continue

Hatton thinks Khan would be unbeaten now if he fought everybody the way he did Collazo

Ricky Hatton was very impressed with the performance from WBC Silver welterweight champion Amir Khan (29-3, 19 KO’s) with his recent 12 round unanimous decision win over former WBA welterweight champion Luis Collazo (35-6, 18 KO’s) on the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Marcos Maidana fight card on May 3rd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Hatton liked Khan’s speed, footwork and defensive ability that he showed in the fight. And Hatton thinks that Khan would have never lost in the past to Breidis Prescott, Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia if he fought the way he did against Collazo.

continue

Wladimir Klitschko: Kubrat Pulev is “too raw and green behind the ears”

Wladimir Klitschko has his sights set on Bermane Stiverne who emerged as the new WBC champion after he sent Cristobal Arreola home early last Saturday. Klitschko is craving to unify the championship and reclaim the trophy his big brother Vitali relinquished and there may not be anyone to stop him.

There are formalities he needs to deal with before the unification and one of them is Deontay Wilder’s WBC mandatory challenger position. Even Bermane Stiverne would be a huge step up in class for Wilder and the winner would eventually have to fight Wladimir Klitschko. Mandatory status or not, Deontay Wilder might do what is in his best interest – avoid Wlad and hope he hangs them up soon. His initial step aside demand was reportedly unreasonable but he has not ruled this option out. One would expect a confident KO machine to go for the title full throttle and treat any distractions with contempt but the heavyweight circus is on the road again.

continue

Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain: The Trainer of Champions on the three best fighters he has trained

74-year-old Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain is one of the finest boxing trainers in the sport’s long history. Almost certainly THE finest boxing trainer to have come out of the great fighting country of Mexico, Beristain has trained, at one time or another, no less than 24 world champions; from minimum-weight king Ricardo Lopez to multi-weight ruler Oscar De La Hoya.

One of the most deserving inductees in The Hall of Fame, Nacho still has more goals to achieve; most notably guiding Juan Manuel Marquez to success in “Dinamita’s” final ring appearances (starting this Saturday when Marquez will face thrill-a-minute slugger Mike Alvarado).

continue