Roy Jones Jr. and James Toney are fighting on the same night and same card in Riga, Latvia

The term ‘crowd effect’ is a very powerful thing, and it has been for centuries. Anyone who spent their lives under constant spotlight, being the target of praise, popularity, fame and of course colossal earnings, will never want to live without it. Just as there are physical withdrawals from drugs, there is an equal amount of psychological withdrawal from lack of constant attention.

There comes a time for every fighter, when there more boxing fans suggesting retirement, than clamoring for the next fight. Of course it is much easier to suggest, then to do. For Roy Jones Jr., this has been the case for a considerable amount of time now. Jones has not faced a highly rated opponent since 2011, when he was knocked out by Denis Lebedev in Russia. Since then Jones was able to accumulate three victories against less known competition, and is planning on keeping his boxing career afloat.

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The Matchroom Illusion

As the epic Wu-Tang anthem ‘C.R.E.A.M.’ declares, ‘Cash Rules Everything Around Me’. Should Eddie Hearn and Matchroom have a ringwalk entrance theme, you’d imagine this particular track would fit the bill. Although Sky Sport’s single boxing juggernaut undoubtedly does a lot of great thing’s for British boxing, they also in many way’s can hinder it’s development overseas. The negative as much as the positive should be pointed out and addressed accordingly.

Epitomised by Demetrius Andrade’s obliteration of a the lamb brought for slaughter in Brian Rose this weekend, Matchroom’s process in developing (or under developing) young British prospects for any level past European and Commonwealth seriously needs revaluating. The obsession with having their boxers fighting eliminators for mandatory positions to World Title’s is a great way of manoeuvring and forcing a governing bodies hand, but a ranking without a legitimate resume is JUST a ranking.

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Algieri: “I’m ready to go straight into the Pacquiao fight for the fall”

In front of a huge crowd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and an audience watching the telecast around the world including HBO in the United States, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing had a night to remember as “The Pride of Huntington, New York” Chris Algieri shined in a twelve round split decision over World Boxing Organization (‘WBO’) Junior Welterweight Champion Ruslan Provodnikov.

In the televised co-feature Star Boxing’s WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade was dominant in his first title defense, stopping mandatory contender Brian ‘The Lion” Rose of England at the 1:19 mark of the seventh round.

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Siberian Rocky Gets Judges’ Cold Shoulder

Ruslan “Siberian Rocky” Provodnikov displayed his ferocious side early on at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y. by swiping a rock hard left paw to the right eye of Chris Algieri. Chris not only went down, he went over, doing a backward somersault.

When he stopped rolling, referee Harvey Dock started the count. Swelling started immediately, both below and above the eye socket, causing fears that this fight was going to end early. Those fears were fed when seconds later, Chris went down again. This time it was much less violently as he took a knee. It seemed Chris needed to do so to get a moment to gather his senses. He squinted a little too in an attempt to work the eye lids, making sure they were still there.

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James Toney: 100 fights and out

Whatever you think of him and his decision to be still fighting when in his mid-40s and way past his best, it has to be agreed how future Hall of Famer James Toney has given his whole life to the sport that made him famous, respected and successful. An old-school warrior and fiercly proud of it, Toney, who has already achieved more than enough to have walked away satisfied, has two more goals to reach before he’s done: to have fought a total of 100 pro bouts and to retire as the undisputed heavyweight champion. One of these targets may well be reached, while the other will not. Toney is next scheduled to box in Latvia on July 26th against the huge Evgeny Orlov. Even at this stage in his career, Toney should have enough left to out-score the man-mountain who is colorfully known as “The Molecule From Hell.”

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Glen Tapia Crushes Collins in AC — Kirkland, Cotto, More!

By Justin Jones & Paul “Paparazzi” Jones | Published June 15, 2014 | Photo © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones

Atlantic City, NJ – Although Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia (21-1, 13 KOs) made quick work of Keenan Collins (15-9-3, 10 KOs), stopping him early in the first round of Top Rank’s “Solo Boxeo” main event, there was noticeable change in the 24-year-old Junior Middleweight’s attack, patience, and movement.

He wasn’t merely focused on head-hunting or brawling to “please the crowd,” as stated by a candid Tapia in his post-fight interview at the Bally’s Hotel and Casino–which was filled with Tapia fans donning Team Tapia shirts and shouting “Jersey Boy.” Tapia displayed more attention to detail in this comeback effort after suffering his first loss to hard-hitting James Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs) and a lot of that can be credited to working with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

“Freddie demands perfection out of me and whoever he trains. If I do something good he lets me know it’s good, but it needs to be perfect,” Tapia said. “I feel like I’m a smarter fighter now and not just fighting with my heart. I’m actually putting my shots together now and being patient. I’m back and better than ever.”

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Algieri defeats Provodnikov; Andrade stops Rose

In an impressive boxing display, Chris Algieri got up off the deck from two 1st round knockdowns to come back and defeat WBO light welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov (23-3, 16 KO’s) by a controversial 12 round split decision tonight in their HBO televised fight from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Provodnikov appeared to have the fight in the bag in the 1st round when he put Algieri down twice on the deck with big power shots. The first was a left hook that caught him on his right eye to drop him. The second knockdown was from a right hand to the head. Algieri’s right closed up fast from the left hook, but to his credit he was able to make it through the entire fight despite losing sight out of the eye in the 12th.

Algieri reminded me a lot of Floyd Mayweather Jr with the way that he was moving around and switching hands to hit Provodnikov with. It was pure class.

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Provodnikov-Algieri Preview: Can The Student Become The Teacher?

(Photo credit: Ed Mulholland/HBO) If you’re looking to witness a boxing match that’s defined by the differences that exist between the two combatants, then you’d be well served to watch the upcoming WBO Jr. Welterweight bout that’s scheduled to take place this evening between Ruslan Provodnikov and Chris Algieri. For, in terms of their background, as well as in terms of their fighting style, these two present about as stark a contrast as a boxing fan could ever hope to find.

The champion, Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KO’s) is a stocky, barrel-chested Siberian with facial features that appear to have been hewn from pure granite. He looks to be the very epitome of the term “battle-hardened warrior”, and in this case appearances aren’t the least bit deceiving.

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Freddie Roach changes his mind, would be in Pacquiao’s corner in Pacquiao vs. Provodnikov

It was just last week that Freddie Roach was quoted saying that he would not participate or help in any way if Manny Pacquiao and Ruslan Provodnikov ended up facing each other. Roach suggested that in such an event, he would watch the fight on TV from home.

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Caparello Challenges Kovalev for WBO Title 8/2 at Revel in Atlantic City

Atlantic City, NJ: Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (24-0-1, 22 KOs), the undefeated Russian Wrecking Ball, returns to HBO Boxing After Dark and Atlantic City on August 2nd to defend his WBO Light Heavyweight World Title against undefeated Blake “Il Capo” Caparello (19-0-1, 6 KOs) at Revel Casino Hotel.

Kovalev, 31, originally from Chelyabinsk, Russia and now residing in Fort Lauderdale, FL, will defend his WBO title for the third time since taking it by force from Nathan Cleverly in a four round TKO victory in Cleverly’s hometown of Cardiff, Wales on August 17, 2013. Renowned for his ability to knockout anyone who dares to step in the ring with him, Krusher has an astonishing 91% knockout-to-win ratio. This will be his fourth fight on HBO and his second in Atlantic City.

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