You’ve got to hand it to Top Rank boss Bob Arum. After decades spent in the sport, the octogenarian refuses to play it safe. While Arum’s outfit could have made money, quite a bit of it, with the upcoming fights of: Manny Pacquiao – a bona fide superstar, Terence Crawford – a superstar of the future, and Vasyl Lomachenko – for many, the best boxer on the planet today, pound-for-pound – Top Rank instead makes a deal to showcase the three champs on ESPN.
Boxing Rescued
It’s no longer news that Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko put up a five star performance when the duo clashed in what has become a historic event, having 90,000 people parked in one stadium to watch the finest of a boxing bout in recent time. It was a show of two determined athletes who were ready to surpass the odds to become champions. Before this event the sport actually saw an upset when Tyson Fury out boxed the Ukrainian, the build up to that fight went from trash talking to comical display with Fury appearing in a press conference in a batman uniform or regalia. The Brit did something that really impressed me in that he did not accord Wladimir any form of respect, even on fight night the 6foot plus Fury complained about the ring canvass which was attended to. In all it was some form of entertainment stunt put up by him to upset the champion.
Pacquiao vs. Horn – “Battle Of Brisbane” Tonight
Super Channel subscribers across Canada will be able to watch future Hall-of-Famer Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 KOs) defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) World Welterweight Championship tonight against unbeaten challenger and hometown favorite, Jeff Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs), starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, live from Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
This evening’s telecast will also feature Irish Olympic hero Michael Conlan (2-0, 2 KOs), from Belfast, in a six-round featherweight bout against Jarrett “Juarez” Owen (5-4-3, 2 KOs), of Brisbane, and International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight world champion Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas (24-1-1, 16 KOs), of Cavite City, Philippines, defending his title against top-rated contender Teiru Kinoshita (25-1-1, 8 KOs), of Kobe, Japan. The live telecast will open with an eight-round middleweight rumble between Shane Mosley, Jr. (10-1, 7 KOs), of Pomona, Calif. and son of former three-division world champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley, and David Toussaint (10-0, 8 KOs), of Canberra, Australia.
Providence, Vegas and Mayweather: The Rise of Anthony Marsella Jr
By Ben Sutherland: Anthony ‘A1’ Marsella fell into the sport by chance, “boxing was never part of the plan” says the 22 year old Rhode Islander. It began as a desire to be able to defend himself. He went to the gym a couple of times but wasn’t really interested. After going to a local show he was inspired to try again and agreed to enter a local tournament, “I said yes for no other reason than I have too big an ego” says Marsella who has had a competitive streak from the outset.
Toka Kahn-Clary Signs with Real Deal Sports & Entertainment; Defeats Luna
Featherweight prospect Toka “T-Nice” Khan-Clary’s (22-1-0-1, 15 KOs) life, especially his childhood, was extremely difficult, to say the least, yet no matter what kind of daunting obstacles he has had to face, he always stayed focused and figured a way to overcome them.
Such was the case last September when he was moving up the divisional rankings as an undefeated fighter, who was ranked in the top fifteen by the NABF. Things quickly unravel for him; however, when he suffer an unexpected first-round knockout loss to unknown fighter Jhon Gemino. Gemino not only knockout Khan-Clary, but did it within the first minute, via a powerful right hook.
Results: Easter Jr. decisions Shafikov
Unbeaten lightweight world champion Robert Easter (20-0, 14 KOs) successfully defended his title for the second time Friday night with a victory over top contender Denis Shafikov (38-3, 20 KOs) in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.
Tim Bradley to call Pacquiao-Horn on ESPN: “Manny is still overwhelmingly fast, can still beat A-Grade fighters even on a bad day
True warrior Timothy Bradley knows perhaps more about Manny Pacquiao than any of Pac Man’s other ring opposition with the exception of Juan Manuel Marquez. Bradley, as fans know, thrice fought Pacquiao, winning the first encounter via hugely controversial decision, losing the other two bouts on the score cards.
Who was the greater fighter: Tyson or Holyfield?
Here on the celebration of Mike Tyson’s 51st birthday – and just two days and 20 years on from the former heavyweight champ’s infamous “Bite Fight” with Evander Holyfield – it might be interesting to ask: who was the greater fighter, Tyson or Holyfield?