A Tale of Two Anthony’s: Upcoming fights featuring 2012 Olympians Anthony Joshua and Ogogo

This Saturday at the Echo arena in Liverpool, two of the brightest stars to emerge from Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics, will be returning to the ring to continue on their transitional journeys from amateur boxing to the paid professional ranks. Heavyweight Anthony Joshua MBE and Middleweight Anthony Ogogo will both be in action on the undercard of a show headlined by Cruiserweight rivals Tony Bellew and Nathan Cleverly competing in separate bouts set up as a prelude to their eventual rematch.

Whilst both ‘Anthony’s’ have had varying degrees of success since turning pro, the British born fighters both of Nigerian descent have taken different career paths over the last two years to arrive at where they are today.

Since signing with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport, it would be fair to say that Anthony Joshua has had things relatively easy. His current record is now 6-0 with all six wins coming inside the first two rounds. Since his last fight (an 83-second demolition of American Matt Legg), the murmurs for a ‘step up’ in class have grown louder and more persistent.

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George Groves vs Christopher Rebrasse on Sept 20 at Wembley Arena

George Groves (19-2, 15 KOs) returns on 20th September in a final eliminator for the WBC World Super Middleweight title against European Champion Christopher Rebrasse (22-2-3, 5 KOs). Rebrasse’s European title and the vacant WBC Silver Super Middleweight title will also be on the line when the pair meet at the SSE Arena in Wembley.

‘’It is great to be back here in Wembley and back to world-class boxing,’’ said Groves at today’s press conference. ‘’Last time I was here it didn’t go the way I had hoped but I showed that I belong at the top level. In boxing sometimes all it takes is one punch, and it took just one punch to derail my world title ambitions in May. But we are back on the road and the journey will continue on 20th September at the SSE Arena in Wembley.

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Don Charles: “This Time Tyson Fury Won’t Get Up”

Of the four losses that soil European heavyweight champion Dereck Chisora’s 24 fight ring slate, none grate more with Team Del Boy than the concession of his British and Commonwealth titles to Tyson Fury at Wembley Arena three years back.

That night the man from Finchley turned up for duty sporting a soft midriff and even softer psyche and, despite sporadic successes, he was comprehensively schooled over 12 rounds.

All concerned concede that, that shambolic evening, it was an imposter of the rumbling, rugged ring warrior who’d gone to war 14 times before, and in nine starts since.

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Randall Bailey Speaks Out!

To the Boxing World and Al Haymon!

What’s good! It’s your favorite KO artist Randall Bailey aka The KO King! I have been sitting back watching this boxing game get more and more political and it makes me kind of sick. Unranked and unheard of fighters getting title shots that they do not deserve. Promoters not wanting to work with one another. Fighters agreeing to fights and pulling out…no names need to be mentioned. The shit is crazy. Meanwhile a former two division world champion gets passed over for opportunities.

I understand that boxing is a business but fighters are now using the “business” to become little punks. Let’s get to the point of this letter. I am not one to start any drama and today is no different. However I want to put the boxing world on notice that I am still ready and willing to knock some heads off some shoulders.

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Canelo Alvarez vs. Erislandy Lara media conference call transcript

Kelly Swanson Thanks everyone, for joining us today for what will be the final conference call before “Honor and Glory: Canelo vs. Lara” takes place on Saturday, July 12th at MGM Grand. Live on SHOWTIME PPV®. What an exciting fight! Even out on the street people are talking about who’s going to win this one. So, it’s a pleasure and an honor to have both of the main event fighters taking time out of camp today to talk to us.

Canelo Alvarez, Erislandy Lara, Chepo Reynoso (Canelo’s trainer) and Ronnie Shields (Lara’s trainer), and we’re going to start the call with Lara and Ronnie Shields. But to make the official introductions I’d like to introduce Oscar De La Hoya, president and founder of Golden Boy Promotions.

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Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov celebrates new world heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev

When he realized that he had really done it again, former heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev went down to his knees on Sunday night at Ahmat Arena in Grozny, Russia. It was legendary Michael Buffer who announced Chagaev’s close but well deserved majority decision win (115:113, 115:113, 114:114) over Fres Oquendo which earned the 35-year-old Uzbek the WBA heavyweight championship for the second time in his career.

No other but Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov was the first to congratulate Chagaev in the ring. While the fight lasted Kadyrov even took charge as chief second coaching “his” champion in the corner. It was the leader of the Chechen Republic who brought this world title fight to Grozny along with promoter Timur Dugazaev (TEREK Box Event). Accordingly Chagaev thanked the President for all his help and support.

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Ruslan Chagaev wins “Regular” WBA heavyweight title with majority decision win over Fres Oquendo

Tonight in Grozny, Russia, former WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev became a two-time champ, as he won a 12-round majority verdict over Fres Oquendo to pick up the “regular” WBA strap. The scores were 115-113 twice and 114-114. 35-year-old Chagaev is now 33-2-1(20). 41-year-old Oquendo, who felt he had won, fell to 37-8(24).

It was a bizarre night in many ways. The setting for the fight was quite impressive, as was the ring set-up and the pre-fight entertainment. The presence, too, of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov was quite unique. As for the fight itself, the action was intriguing enough in the early rounds, with southpaw Chagaev pressing the action in his usual bull-like fashion. Fast-handed, Chagaev out-jabbed the taller Oquendo, winning the early to middle rounds. Neither man was noticeably hurt, until Chagaev picked up a nasty cut above the left eye in the 7th.

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Mares to stay at 126 for a while before moving to 130

28-year-old former three division world champion Abner Mares (26-1-1, 14 KO’s) will temporarily be putting the brakes on his career and staying put at featherweight following his 1st round knockout loss to Jhonny Gonzalez from last year in August.

Mares had intended on moving up to super featherweight to challenge WBC champion Takashi Miura to try and win a 4th division world title, but Mares now has decided to stay put at featherweight to go after the big names in the division, such as Vasyl Lomachenko, Evgeny Gradovich, Nicholas Walters, Nonito Donaire, and a rematch against Gonzalez.

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Remembering the great Arturo Gatti five years on from his untimely death

Sadly, as we all know, Arturo “Thunder” Gatti passed away five years ago next week (July 11th). … continue

Joseph Parker stops Brian Minto

Tonight up and coming New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker takes on tough veteran Brian Minto (39-7) in Auckland City, New Zealand.

Minto, 39 years of age, last bout was against another New Zealand heavy Shane Cameron. Minto did a number on Cameron in simply outhustling and muscling him in consistently beating him to the punch. Cameron unable to make it out for the eighth round.

Parker (8-0) appears on the fast track to contender status as Duco his promotional team flag the usual potpourri of patsies in matching Parker with a solid journeyman like Minto.

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