Huge break for Joey Abell – will face undefeated Kubrat Pulev

IMG_7493Abellvictory Joey “Minnesota Ice” Abell 29(KO 28)-6(KO 4)-0 couldn’t turn it down, even if it is short notice. Joey’s break came when veteran Sherman Williams suffered an injury in training camp. Williams had to back out of his December 14th bout with Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev 18 (KO 9)-0-0. The winner has a shot to fight Wladimir Klitschko. Somebody wake Joey, this is a terrific chance.

It’s safe to say Minnesotans believe in Joey. Who knows, in this crazy sport, Joey (a southpaw) might carry off his best imitation of the late hard punching Corey Sanders. Back in 3-08-2003 the man from South Africa, who also was a big underdog, uncorked a big left on his way to stopping the then undefeated Wladimir. There’s no doubt Joey can punch, but will he move his head enough to keep from catching one himself?

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Thrill-a-minute slugger James Kirkland is BACK!

After having endured 21-months of frustration and inactivity (both at least partly brought on by himself), always-exciting southpaw slugger James Kirkland returned to doing what he does best last night in Atlantic City: giving fans of a slugfest just what they want. In brutalizing a brave and previously unbeaten Glen Tapia, Kirkland came back in a quite roaring fashion.

All over Tapia from the opening bell like the proverbial cheap suit, Kirkland gave fans a sizzling value for money performance. Kirkland threw everything at Tapia and expended a ton of energy in doing so. Tapia? he showed a ton of heart in taking all that came his way. In the end though, Kirkland, as he did in that other thriller with Alfredo Angulo, broke Tapia’s heart. Pounding his man in a corner in the 6th-round of a fight of the year candidate, Kirkland would not be denied and referee Steve Smoger had no choice but to dive in.

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Dazzling Darren Barker fails to weather the Sturm; Post Fight Video Interviews

Felix Sturm claims the IBF middleweight title with second round stoppage of Darren Barker

The UK’s Darren Barker, now (won 26 (KO 16) lost 2 [KO 2] drawn 0), was stopped by Germany’s Felix Sturm, (won 39 [KO 18], lost 3 KO 1 drawn 2), in two rounds of fast paced action that surprised both camps in Stuggart, Germany last night. The lead up for both fighters going into this fight could not have been more different, Sturm coming off two low key fights after losing to Daniel Geale, late in 2012, and Barker coming off a career best performance defeating Geale for the IBF Middleweight belt in August 2013. Both fighters surprised commentators by electing to trade from the off, Sturm getting the better of these and starting with a high tempo from the word go. In what was an entertaining first round, with both Barker and Sturm having success, it was ultimately the wrong strategy for Barker to employ against a revitalised and physically strong Sturm. Sure Barker was having success, but after two relatively heavy knockdowns, Sturm was landing the more telling blows. Barker, for some reason, neglected to utilise his upright boxing skills, dipping unusually low coming in and inviting Sturm to tee off clubbing shots – catching Barker on the top of his head.

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Sakio Bika Draws With Anthony Dirrell: Retains WBC 168 lb Strap

Super middleweight warhorse Sakio “The Scorpio” Bika, from Sydney, NSW, Australia, retained his WBC strap with a split draw against Flint, Michigan’s Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell in Brooklyn, New York, Saturday night.

In the opening televised bout from the Barclays Center, Douala, Cameroon born Bika was the much more aggressive fighter throughout the twelve rounds.

In his first defense, thirty four year old Bika, rated 8 at 168 pounds by The Ring, began the fight looking intent on a knockout, recklessly throwing wild over hand rights and was picked off by the five years younger Dirrell, who had a three and a half inch reach advantage.

But Bika never stopped pressuring and from the start did good work to the body which told late in a gruelling match up but the big moments early came from the challenger.

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Amateur vs. professional boxing – a mismatch or a unity?

Now that amateur boxing is on the brink of extinction (check out “The Prince and the Pauper” article), we might take a look back at it before amateur boxers turn into free lance Olympic semi-professionals. Amateur and professional styles have their specific flavors but it is still boxing and the two styles (in fact there are many) may not be as different as they seem to the naked eye.

The amateur code provides a platform where a boxer has to fight whoever comes his way with no choice or advance knowledge of his opponents. As long as he is winning he advances forward and can be a champion. No negotiations and hype are necessary to set up a championship fight. That means no promoters either, only one sanctioning body which acts as a promoter for all national federations. Politics and the suspect computer scoring system have been a problem but basically it’s very difficult to keep a good man down in the amateur circuit. The best have to fight the best all the time and there are no prima donnas who can come up with excuses for avoiding a strong opponent. Rocky Marciano and Floyd Mayweather lost several times as amateurs.

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Malignaggi defeats Judah, wants Broner-Maidana winner

(Photo credit: Tom Casino/Showtime) BROOKLYN, N.Y. (December 8, 2013) – Two weeks after his 33rd birthday, Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (33-5, 7 KO’s) picks up his 33rd win in a unanimous decision victory over Zab “Super” Judah (42-9, 29 KO’s) in front of his hometown crowd at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The fight, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, headlined a four-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING event.

Despite being knocked down in the second round, Malignaggi was able to regain his stride en route to a strong 116-111, 117-110, 117-110 victory which earned him Brooklyn bragging rights and a potentially bright future in the stacked welterweight division. In addition, he was awarded a special Brooklyn’s World Championship belt designed by SARTONK.

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Rigondeaux dominates Agbeko; Macklin defeats Russ; Kirkland stops Tapia

rigon65 In a fight that should have never been made, WBA/WBO super bantamweight champion (13-0, 8 KO’s) easily beat a ring-rusty veteran Joseph Agbeko (29-5m 22 KO’s) in winning a ridiculously easy 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Rigondeaux was too fast for Agbeko, and was able to hit him cleanly with left hands all night long. Agbeko tried hard to land his shots, but he was too slow and way out of out of his class.

It was one of those fights where the class between the two fighters was too far apart for the fight to be competitive. No doubt, Agbeko could have been more aggressive to try and win the fight, but it looked like he made up his mind he was just going to go the distance and not do what he needed to in order to win the fight.

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Malignaggi decisions Judah; Porter defeats Alexander; Lara beats Trout

(Photo credit: Tom Casino/Showtime) Zab Judah (42-9, 29 KO’s) scored a knockdown in the 2nd round, and then pretty much disappeared in the fight in losing by a 12 round unanimous to Paulie Malignaggi (33-5, 7 KO’s) at the Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, New York. Following a knockdown of Malignaggi in the 2nd, Judah seemed to shift his offense into neutral for the remainder of the fight, as he focused entirely on defense.

It was almost as if Judah had suffered an injury because he just shut down completely and let Malignaggi run away with the fight. For a fan of boxing and entertaining fight due to Judah’s lack of aggression. The judges scored it 116-111, 117-110, and 117-110.

I hope Malignaggi fights someone with a little more enthusiasm next time because this was an awful performance from Judah.

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Sturm defeats Barker

In a surprise upset, former WBA midleweight champion Felix Sturm (39-3-2, 18 KO’s) came out fast and knocked IBF middleweight champion Darren Barker (26-2, 16 KO’s) out in the 2nd round tonight at the Porsche Arena, in Stuttgart, Germany. Barker was knocked down twice in the 2nd round from clubbing right hands to the head from Sturm.

Barker was able to get back to his feet after the 2nd knockdown, but he was taking some big head shots that led to his corner choosing to have the fight stopped by throwing the towel in.

Barker reportedly dislocated his left hip in the fight. In watching it on replay, the injury may have occurred when he was staggered after the 1st knockdown. Barker almost lost his feet and he put a lot of weight on his left leg.

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Liam Smith re-signs with Frank Warren; puts on devastating display against Thompson

British Light-Middleweight Champion Liam Smith has extended his promotional deal with Frank Warren by signing a new deal.

The Liverpool ace put on a ruthless performance tonight in front of his home fans at the Liverpool Echo Arena to destroy challenger Mark Thompson inside four rounds to successfully make the first defence of his title.

Smith, 25, who is now undefeated in 16 fights with six knockouts, is delighted to continue working with his promoter who he signed with in 2008 and is looking to achieve big things in 2014.

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