The Guillermo Jones-Denis Lebedev War: The Good And The Bad Side Of Boxing

lebedev3 Bottom line, boxing is entertainment. That is why fans in their droves pay big money: to be entertained. But yesterday in Moscow, Russia, cruiserweights Guillermo Jones and Denis Lebedev gave way, way, way too much in the name of entertainment; the beaten and savagely beaten up Lebedev in particular. Looking like the Elephant man or actor Eric Stoltz in the film ‘Mask’, Lebedev, the entire right side of his face swollen, his eye perhaps permanently damaged, should have been pulled out long before he was counted out in the 11th-round of an absolute slugfest.

Forget the fact that veteran Jones – who showed an amazing chin, taking flush bombs to the head again and again – regained the WBA 200-pound belt and became the first man to halt southpaw Lebedev, the talking point of this fight was and will continue to be the sickening eye injury Lebedev sustained.

continue

DeGale defeats Demers, says he’ll be world champ by end of year

Super middleweight contender James DeGale (15-1, 10 KO’s) totally annihilated Canadian fighter Sebastien Demers (31-6, 11 KO’s) in the 2nd round in a fight that arguably should have never been made in the first place on Friday night at the Hilton Lac Leamy, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. The ending of the fight was a simple one; DeGale hit Demers with a left uppercut and Demers reacted to the shot by turning his back on DeGale and walking several feet and then taking a knee.

continue

Peterson vs. Matthysse: Possible FOTY?

(Photo credit: Casino/Showtime) By John G. Thompson: While March’s clash between Timothy Bradley and Ruslan Provodnikov stands as the clear favorite for Fight of the Year (with honorable mention to Alvarado vs. Rios), this Saturday’s bout between IBF light welterweight champion Lamont “Havoc” Peterson (31-1-1, 16 KO’s) and “interim” WBC light welterweight champ Lucas Martin Matthysse (33-2, 31 KO’s) seems bound to produce the kind of fireworks which might put it in contention.

The match will be fought at a catch-weight of 141 lbs. meaning that Peterson cannot lose his title regardless of the outcome, though Matthysse loses the interim title should he fail to win. The bout will be televised live on Showtime from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

continue

Rafael doubts Mayweather-Canelo fight will get made despite Schaefer’s optimism

ESPN writer Dan Rafael says that Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer e-mailed him saying that the reports about Floyd Mayweather Jr. wanting a fight with WBA/WBC junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to take place at 147 lbs. isn’t true.

It’s interesting that Schaefer is saying that because Mayweather’s father Floyd Sr. said in an interview today that Canelo has to come down to 147 for the fight to happen in September, and that he won’t let Floyd Jr. fight the 172 pound Canelo due to the huge weight difference between the two fighters.

continue

Mayweather Sr: If Canelo wants Floyd Jr., it’s going to be at 147

Floyd Mayweather Sr. doesn’t want his son Floyd Jr. fighting the 172 lb. WBA/WBC junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KO’s) at 154 lbs. because he sees the potential of Canelo filling up on water weight in the 24 hours after the weigh-in and coming into the fight weighing well over 170 pounds in their proposed fight on September 14th.

As such, Floyd Sr. is saying that if Canelo wants to fight Mayweather Jr. it’s going to have to be at 147. Canelo will have to prove that he can make that weight before he can get the fight with Floyd Jr.

continue

Shane Mosley battles Pablo Cesar Cano on Saturday, May 18th in Mexico

This Saturday night, Shane Mosley (46-8-1, 39 KO’s) will be attempting to capture the vacant WBC International welterweight title in a fight against Pablo Cesar Cano (26-2-1, 20 KO’s) at the Grand Oasis Resort in Cancun, Mexico.

continue

James DeGale faces Sebastien Demers on Friday, May 17th

Super middleweight contender James DeGale (14-1, 9 KO’s) will be playing it safe this Friday night, May 17th in facing Canadian Sebastien Demers (31-5, 11 KO’s) in an 8 round bout at the Hilton Lac Learny, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada.

continue

Who can Save Fans From the Current Boxing Malaise? Somebody, Please….

By Jeff Meyers: Maybe it’s just the dog days of summer approaching, but I can’t help but feel that a general feeling of malaise plagues the Sweet Science.

A large portion of this vague, unfocused feeling of mental uneasiness stems from the growing realization that a Floyd Mayweather, Jr.-Manny Pacquiao bout is unlikely to ever take place.

continue

Matthysse and Peterson saving money on sanctioning fees on Saturday with no titles on the line

Neither IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson (31-1-1, 16 KO’s) or WBC interim light welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse (33-2, 31 KO’s) will have their titles on the line for their fight this Saturday, May 18th on Showtime at the Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.

Matthysse, 30, didn’t want to have his interim WBC title on the line for fear that he would lose out on his chance to get a fight against WBC light welterweight champion Danny Garcia in the fall if he gets beaten by Peterson on Saturday.

continue

Is Amir Khan shot or simply a fighter in transition?

By Jack Scales: Amir Khan’s most recent performance against Julio Diaz, was in some respects typical of the Amir we have grown to know and appreciate over the years. As usual he displayed tremendous valor and the fans were treated to an engaging contest that provided terrific value for money.

Complimenting this was a new found maturity that revered trainer Virgil Hunter has instilled in Khan. This was evident in his uncharacteristic reaction to the knockdown he suffered in round four. Instead of his usual response, which has typically been to bounce back up immediately and engage in a costly brawl, on this occasion he maintained his composure and boxed sensibly.

continue