Tony Weeks Was Story – Angulo Should Be

Referee Tony Weeks took a lot of flak after rescuing Alfredo “Perro” Angulo from further damage at the hands of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Weeks halted things in the tenth, signifying that Alfredo had taken too much punishment. Some, including Angulo and his trainer were upset. They felt referee Weeks saw Angulo take one punch, a hard uppercut, and made a snap decision to stop the contest. Weeks explained his was not a hasty decision.

He had already consulted with the ringside physician, and listened in on the conversations in Angulo’s corner, in addition to what he was closely watching over nine punishing rounds. Good referees always weigh important questions before stopping a fight. If they come up with negatives for important questions such as: Is the fighter defending himself (fighting back)? Is the fighter taking (high#) hard, clean power punches?

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Erislandy The American Dream Lara elevated to WBA World Champion

(Photo By Al Applerose) HOUSTON, TX (March 13, 2014) – Super Welterweight sensation, Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara (19-1-2, 12 KOs) has been elevated to World Champion by the WBA (World Boxing Association) after successfully defending his interim title against Afredo Angulo (22-4, 18 KOs) and Austin Trout (26-2, 14 KOs). The Cuban born fighter, who now resides in Houston, Texas, is happy that the WBA has made their decision to make him a World Champion.

“I applaud the WBA for their decision to make me a world champion and I want to send a special thank you to a good friend of mine Gilberto Mendoza from the WBA,” said Erislandy Lara. “I’ve never had anything come easy to me. I’ve fought everyone that has been offered to me with no hesitation. All I want is an opportunity to prove I’m the best fighter in the division. I’ve worked my entire life to become a world champion and now the dream has come true. I’m truly living the American Dream and I love this country that I now call home.”

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Chris Arreola vs. Bermane Stiverne II to be televised by ESPN on May 10th

ESPN has reportedly bought the rights to televised the rematch between heavyweights Chris Arreola (36-3, 31 KO’s) and Bermane Stiverne (23-1-1, 20 KO’s) on May 10th in their fight for the vacant WBC heavyweight title at a still to be determined venue. For boxing fans this is a big deal because they won’t need an expensive premium channel like HBO or Showtime to see the fight now that ESPN will televise it.

While it sounds nice that ESPN was able to purchase the fight to televise on their network, it gives you an idea of how much interest HBO and Showtime had in televising the fight. Believe me, if they had wanted to show the fight, they would have purchased it.

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Kovalev Training Camp Report: All Eyes on Krusher

Ft. Lauderdale, FL: WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev is truly under the microscope as he prepares to defend his title against Cedric “L.O.W.” Agnew on March 29th at the Ballroom at Boardwalk Hall live on HBO Boxing After Dark. For the past two days HBO cameras have filmed “Krusher” at his training camp in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Although this is the third time Sergey will appear on HBO Boxing After Dark, it is his first appearance in the main event. As a result, this is Kovalev’s first experience with a camera crew there to record his every move.

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Rafael Mensah ready for world’s best Lightweights

Unbeaten Ghanaian Lightweight, Rafael Mensah remains resolute in the pledge to follow in the footsteps of childhood hero, Ike Bazooka Quartey and bring Ghana another WBA world title.
One of the best kept secrets in Ghanaian boxing circles, Mensah, 21-0, 16 KOs has steadily found his way into the WBA rankings and is currently number 8 in the world.

He’s coming off a successful defence of the WBA Pan Africa Lightweight belt courtesy a round 4 TKO Mouibi Serouna of Togo and will be in action again on May 3 against former African champion, Abdul Malik Jabir.

When Eastsideboxing.com caught with Rafael Mensah in Accra, the boxer affirmed his readiness to challenge the elite Lightweights in world boxing but until he gets a shot he will be defending his African version of the WBA Lightweight belt.

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Danny Garcia eyes future Mayweather showdown if he beats Herrera this Saturday

Unified light-welterweight world champion Danny Garcia is unfazed at being overlooked as Floyd Mayweather’s next opponent.

The undefeated 25-year-old knows that victory this Saturday night against Mauricio Herrera, live and exclusive on BoxNation, will herald further calls for him to be the next man to face pound-for-pound king Mayweather.

Having blitzed his way past a host of top names in the 140-pound division, Garcia has emerged as one of boxing’s leading lights and returns to action in Puerto Rico this weekend following his momentous victory over Lucas Matthysse last September.

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Al Haymon Signs Baltimore Featherweight Gervonta Davis

Al Haymon has signed Baltimore prospect Gervonta Davis 6-0-(6KOs). Davis had a phenomenal amateur career with 206 wins and 15 losses. He is one of the most promising prospects coming from the baltimore area. The city hasn’t had a known champion since Hasim Rahman shocked Lennox Lewis in 2001 for the heavyweight title. Davis trains out of Upton Boxing Gym with trainer Calvin Ford. Calvin was the real life inspiration for the character Dennis “Cutty” Wise from HBO hit show “The Wire”.

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Ekpo wants all the big fights in the world

Still counting the gains and experience of challenging for the world title against Robert Stieglitz in Germany on October 19 last year, albeit unsuccessfully in a bid for the WBO world title, Ghana based Nigerian Super Middleweight, Isaac Ekpo has boldly declared his readiness to fight all of the top boxers in that division globally.

Ahead of his return to the ring on May 3 for the WBO Africa Super Middleweight belt, Eastsideboxing.com caught up with the former world title challenger at the Attoh Quarshie gym where he trains in Accra.
Ekpo, a stable mate of former world champion, Joshua Clottey was confident in his assertion that he is primed up for the big boys of the Super Middleweight division. Asked who he will like to fight, Ekpo replied that his dream fight will be against former WBC Super Middleweight champion, Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr.

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Hopkins-Shumenov Announce Light Heavyweight Unification Bout

By Paul “Paparazzi” Jones & Justin Jones: Washington, DC—IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins (54-6-2, 32 KOs) and WBA/IBA Champ Beibut Shumenov (14-1, 9 KOs) were in the nation’s capital this afternoon to formally announce their April 19th showdown at the DC Armory (Washington, DC). Based on their remarks made at the kick-off presser for this light heavyweight unification bout, both fighters are aware of the significance of this match-up.

At 49-years-old, an age where most late (baby) boomers are thinking more about their retirement portfolios than about trading leather with bloodthirsty opponents, the self-proclaimed “Alien” has another shot to rewrite boxing’s record books. A victory over Shumenov qualifies Hopkins as the oldest boxer in history to unify world championships.

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Froch/Groves – Promotion for Dummies?

So, again, a promoter announces “The biggest domestic fight in history”. This time it’s different faces, but the same old schtick is still there like an itch right in the middle of your back – just between the shoulder blades. This time, going against the grain of the Promoter, they could well be near the mark. I’m referring to the May 31st bout between Carl Froch and George Groves.

Froch/Groves 1 was a great piece of entertainment and some consider it one of the best UK boxing events for many, many years. I’m no different in that regard; for my part, and from the viewing position of my kitchen, I found the fight a real roller-coaster of all that can be great about boxing. From the early knockdown, to the early stoppage and the abject fickleness of the largely partisan crowd, the bout had all the hallmarks of a fight destined to be contested again; which meant leaving itself open to the wild vagaries of building more hype, tackling money in oak paneled offices, and planning the future – whatever the outcome.

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