I have been ridiculed, unfairly so in my opinion, for expressing my wanton thought processes in the local when it comes to boxing. As any real man such as myself knows the local pub is where a lot, if not most, of the best boxing banter occurs (and indeed fights depending in which part of Stoke you live in). Being a somewhat pugilist sage, in my local and wider community, I am still happily surprised when people wish to enter into a boxing debate with me. Not least of all because it gives me a chance to hear others opinions – even though they are largely wrong and not worth hearing, unlike mine. Whilst I have spent a lot of time in America, and like to call it a second home, even though it is my mum who owns a second home there and lets me stay over, the knowledge in the States isn’t as widespread on important matters e.g Amir Khan. Unlike here in the greatest country on earth, Great Britain (mostly England), everyone knows who Amir Khan is. Most people will remember him for three reasons, which are i) he won an Olympic medal, ii) he got knocked out by John Prescott’s nephew and iii) he beat up some blokes trying to nick his Range Rover or is an awesome boxer. This highly informative and easy to read article aims to synthesize many parts of my knowledge to create a wider spectrum for the uninformed, and mostly yank culprits, who do not see what all us Great Britons see – Khan is King (not literal). In my opinion he is pound for pound number one above the likes of Mayweather and Timothy Bradley.
Can Rigondeaux Really Challenge the Filipino Flash? I Say Not Likely
Every great fighter needs a nemesis to challenge him, and long ago Nonito Donaire’s many critics picked one for him in WBA champion Guillermo Rigondeaux. Two equal champions battling for glory? That sounds much more exciting than the sobering reality that Rigondeaux is a massive underdog.
What are Donaire’s real chances of surviving Rigondeaux? Donaire’s many critics contend that Donaire’s amazing career was really just smoke and mirrors, masking the fact that he actually fought second-raters and outright bums.
Some “bums” there. Combined, Donaire’s last four opponents boast an impressive 55-8-2 record in world title fights.
And Rigondeaux? His last five opponents clock in at 2-2-2, with questionable interim titles generously included in the total.
R.I.P Carl Williams, “The Truth” Passes Away At Age 53
By James Slater: In sad news, it has been reported that former top class heavyweight contender and former two-time world title challenger Carl “The Truth” Williams has passed away. Williams, just 53, lost a long battle with oesophageal cancer, passing away on April 7th.
Best known for his losing challenge of a peak Mike Tyson – when Williams was somewhat controversially stopped via TKO, when up and on his feet, in the opening round – Williams fought a number of other notable bouts.
His best performance was undoubtedly his close 15-round decision loss to an unbeaten Larry Holmes for the IBF title back in May of 1985. The long-armed Williams used his superb jab to great effect especially, with a good number of people feeling the challenger had done enough to have upset “The Easton Assassin.” Carl also fought notables such as Jesse Ferguson (WTKO10), Mike Weaver (LTKOby2), Bert Cooper (WRTD8), Trevor Berbick (WU12), Tim Witherspoon (LS12), Tommy Morrison (LTKO8) and Frank Bruno (LTKO10).
Left-Hook Lounge: Donaire vs Rigondeaux, Pacqiuao in Macau, & Freddie Roach’s Influence on Shiming
Cassidy H. (Queens, NYC): I’ve heard you speak strongly about Donaire in the past. Seems like he has all the momentum going into his clash with Rigondeaux this week. How do you see it all playing out?
Vivek W. (ESB): Nonito Donaire is one of those fighters I’ve always carried very close to heart. I love his genuine attitude outside the ring, as well as his ability inside of it. What has given me mixed emotions regarding Donaire in the past was the fact that, to me, he appears to be one of those talents that live up to the level of his competition. When the media starts placing your name on the mythical P4P list, and the sport starts tossing out accolades such as “Fighter of the Year”, and those type of things…..I think you truly have to bring a certain level of consistency to rate them. In my mind, Donaire hasn’t always carried the level of consistency I’d like to see in a fighter placed on such a high mantle.
Maidana picks Broner to beat Malignaggi; wants winner
#2 WBA Marcos Maidana is picking 23-year-old Adrien Broner (26-0, 22 KO’s) to defeat WBA World welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (32-4, 7 KO’s) in their fight on June 22nd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Maidana told esnewsreporting.com that Broner will win because he’s “too strong” for Malignaggi. Maidana then said he wants to fight Broner after he beats Malignaggi and he sees himself beating him, saying “I’m stronger. Put a lot of pressure on him.”
There’s little question that Broner will very likely beat Malignaggi in their fight on June 22nd because Broner has everything going for him in terms of speed, power, defense and youth. Malignaggi has more experience but in this case it might be enough for him to win the fight.
Calzaghe predicting Froch victory over Kessler
Joe Calzaghe knows a thing or two about WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (46-2, 35 KO’s) after having beaten him by a 12 round unanimous decision in a grueling fight in 2007. After watching some of his recent fights, Calzaghe believes that Kessler’s physical skills have deteriorated enough since their 2007 to where he’s now vulnerable to losing to IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (30-2, 22 KO’s) in their rematch on May 25th in London at the O2 Arena.
Kessler, 34, is a year younger than the 35-year-old Froch, but Calzaghe thinks Froch is the physically younger fighter now and is still at the peak of his career going into his rematch with Kessler.
Klitschko vs. Pianeta: Wladimir in stay busy fight on May 4th in Mannheim, Germany
IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (59-3, 50 KO’s) has decided to squeeze in what should be an easy stay busy fight against unbeaten challenger Francesco Pianeta (28-0-1, 15 KO’s) on May 4th at the SAP-Arena in Mannheim, Germany.
This is a tune-up of sorts for the 37-year-old Wladimir to get ready for his fight against WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin for who Wladimir must face by the end of August according to the World Boxing Association rules.
Mayweather hints that he’s going to box Guerrero instead of slug with him on 5/4
WBC interim welterweight champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (31-1-1, 18 KO’s) was recently able to WBC welterweight champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. (43-0, 26 KO’s) to agree to go toe-to-toe with him in their fight on May 4th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mayweather Jr. asked Guerrero how he wanted the fight to take place and Guerrero responded with “Toe-to-toe.” Mayweather immediately agreed to fight him that way, but it looks like Mayweather Jr. is having second thoughts about it due to his father, who will be training him for this fight, preferring that Mayweather Jr. fight in a more defensive manner.
Wilder ready to put Audley out of his misery on April 27th
Top heavyweight prospect 6’7” Deontay Wilder (27-0, 27 KO’s) says he’s ready to put British heavyweight Audley Harrison (31-6, 23 KO’s) out of his misery this month in ending the 41-year-old’s career by knocking him out in front of his own British fans on April 27th on the Amir Khan – Julio Diaz card at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, UK.
Deontay wants to KO Audley in such a way that it will convince him that it’s pointless for him to continue on with yet another comeback and comeback slogan.
Trout: What’s Canelo going to do when things don’t go his way on April 20th?
WBA World junior middleweight champion Austin Trout (26-0, 14 KO’s) thinks his opponent WBC junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (41-0-1, 30 KO’s) won’t be able to make the right adjustments when things don’t go his way this month in their fight on April 20th at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Trout sees Canelo as being someone that has only gear and can’t adapt to different situations, especially when all of a sudden he is getting out-boxed for the first time in his career. Canelo badly wants to beat Trout because he defeated his brother Rigoberto Alvarez two years ago in winning an easy 12 round unanimous decision to capture the vacant WBA junior middleweight title in 2011.