Fonfara beats Campillo; Szpilka destroys Mollo

mollo1Light heavyweight contender Andrzej Fonfara (24-2, 14 KO’s) kept himself in position for a title shot by defeating 34-year-old veteran Gabriel Campillo (22-6-1, 9 KO’s) by a 9th round stoppage on Friday night at the U.S. Cellular Field, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Campillo was pretty much finished in the 8th round after getting hit with a right hand that hurt him by Fonfara.

Campillo barely made it out of the round. But in the 9th, Fonfara knocked Campillo down with a right hand. The referee halted the fight at that point.

It was a good win for Fonfara, but the fight showed pretty clearly that he doesn’t really have a complete game. Fonfara can’t fight in reverse, he covers up like a sparring partner when attacked, and he doesn’t have a lot of power.

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Daniel Geale: Aussie born, but made in America…hopefully

1808“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” – Emma Lazarus, 1883

After being a professional fighter for almost nine years, 32 year old Daniel Geale will finally take his first steps through the “Golden Door” and showcase his talents on the “biggest stage of boxing” this weekend.

On Saturday night, August 17th, at the Revel Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, the effective aggressor from “Down Under” will defend his IBF Middleweight strap against the always crafty Darren Barker in the main event of the evening, which is slated to be broadcast on HBO with a start time of 9:45PM EST/PST.

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Bernard Hopkins To Face Mandatory Challenger Karo Murat In A Bout Rescheduled For October 26 At Boardwalk Hall In Atlantic City, NJ

005 Hopkins and Murat IMG_7088ATLANTIC CITY (August 16, 2013) – IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins will become the oldest fighter in history to make his initial title defense when he faces highest rated light heavyweight challenger Karo Murat in a rescheduled championship event taking place Saturday, October 26 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The 12-round title fight, which was postponed from July 13 due to visa issues experienced by Murat, will air live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT). With those issues cleared up, Murat has his sights set on ending the reign of the 48-year-old future Hall of Famer.

Hopkins vs. Murat, a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Caesars Atlantic City and supported by Golden Boy Promotions sponsors Corona and AT&T. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).

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Video from Cardiff: Nathan Cleverly 174, Sergey Kovalev 173

photoCleverlyKovalevWeighIn2At today’s official weigh-in on Cardiff’s busy Queen Street, outside the Capitol Shopping Centre, WBO World Light-Heavyweight Champion Nathan Cleverly came in at 12st 6lb (174lb) while the challenger Sergey Kovalev weighed 12st 5lb 8oz (173lbs).

Undefeated Cleverly makes the eighth and riskiest title defence against the dynamite-punching Russian tomorrow night at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena, live and exclusive in the on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546) and in America on HBO.

Cleverly said, “There is nothing left to say now and all the talking will be done in the ring tomorrow night. All the hard work is done, I’ve hit the weight spot and I’m ready to fight. I can’t wait for it, bring on Kovalev.”

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Cleverly vs. Kovalev: Is Nathan clever enough to deal with the pressure?

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This Saturday on HBO Nathan Cleverly and Sergey Kovalev will get their biggest test to date when they collide in the ring live from Cardiff, Wales. The stage is set, both men unbeaten and fell ready to take the next step up the ladder at the light heavyweight division.

Can Cleverly step up to the challenge of facing a dangerous fighter who will thrown combination punches and with major power in both hands? Will Kovalev be able to handle the pressure of being under the bright lights of HBO, in the Welshman’s backyard, and if the fight makes it to the championship rounds will stamina play a role having only had 57 rounds in 22 fights?

The winner almost certainly will get future HBO options, a pay increase, and will be one step closer to taking on the king of the division.

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“Real Deal” Geale vs. “Dazzling” Darren – Daniel Geale vs. Darren Barker Preview & Predictions

Geale-Barker(Photo Credit: Mario Serrano – Gary Shaw Productions) By Robert Uzzell and Chip Mitchell: On Saturday August 17, 2013, HBO presents the IBF Middleweight world title clash between champion Daniel “Real Deal” Geale and “Dazzling” Darren Barker. Oddly enough, the fight between Geale (from Australia) and Barker (England) will take place at the Revel Casino-Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

This will be Geale’s 5th defense of his IBF title. He was stripped of the WBA title for refusing to fight Gennady Golovkin in favor of a rematch with Anthony Mundine. This will also be Geale’s first trip to American soil as a professional.

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Mayweather Jr. at 150.3 lbs; Canelo 166.8 lbs. 30-day weigh-in

WBA/WBC junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KO’s) was supposed to becoming to September 14th fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. (44-0, 26 KO’s) a lot lighter than he did in his previous fight against Austin Trout where Canelo weighed in at 172 lbs. the night of the fight, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen judging by the mandatory 30-day weigh-in held on Wednesday.

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Pulev-Thompson, Abraham-Shihepo & Braehmer-Abatangelo preview and prediction

pulev45 On August 24th in a loaded card, unbeaten heavyweight contender Kubrat Pulev (17-0, 9 KO’s) will be facing #4 IBF, Tony Thompson (38-3, 26 KO’s) in Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

The 32-year-old Pulev will be defending his IBF International heavyweight title. The undercard has some interesting fights starting with former WBO light heavyweight champion Jurgen Braehmer (40-2, 31 KO’s) battling the tough Italian fighter Stefano Abatangelo (17-2-1, 6 KO’s) in a scheduled 12 round bout.

Braehmer, 34, will be defending his EBU and WBO International light heavyweight titles. #1 WBO, #3 IBF, #3 WBA, #8 WBC, Braehmer is trying to keep winning in order to stay in position to get a title shot against the winner of this Saturday’s fight between WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly vs. Sergey Kovalev.

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Research Give More Insight To Boxing Related Damage

Ever since science started catching up with sports, there has been an increase in research and evidence offering more insight to the physiology and side-effects of various sports.

About a year ago I wrote an article in response to a research study done at a university, talking about boxing and why kids as well as young adults should be discouraged to partake in any kind of sparring, may it be light or heavy. My argument was a little bit convoluted but non-the-less effective: any sport that can get kids to exercise and sharpen up their physical selves as well as boost their confidence is worth it. After all, all sports come with their own activity related injuries.

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