Bute-Pascal to fight, possibly on May 25th

bute2 By Jeff Sorby: Jean Pascal (27-2-1, 16 KO’s) and former IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (31-1, 24 KO’s) have agreed for a fight that could take place in May, possibly on May 25th or at a later date. The fight will take place at 175, so Bute will have to move up in weight to make this happen.

It makes a lot of sense for Bute to be moving up, and staying up that weight because his chances of finding success in the weak light heavyweight division is a lot better than it is if he stays at 168.

Bute was stopped last May in the 5th round by Carl Froch, and the way that Bute was beaten suggests that the results would be the same if he fought Froch again. If Bute can’t hang with Froch, then it’s highly likely he won’t be able to hang with the likes of Andre Ward, Mikkel Kessler and Arthur Abraham.

The Bute-Pascal fight will be absolutely huge because both of these fighters typically sell out each time they fight in Montreal, and this is going to be much bigger given that they’re facing each other. They’re talking about possibly staging the fight at the Bell Centre, Olympic Stadium, or an outdoor football stadium in Quebec.

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Broner is too good for Burns, says Hearn

By Michael Collins: Promoter Eddie Hearn says he’s seen the light after watching WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner (26-0, 22 KO’s) obliterate his fighter Gavin Rees (37-2-1, 18 KO’s) in a methodical fashion last Saturday night. Hearn had doubts about Broner beforehand, but afterwards he realized what huge talent Broner is.

Hearn doesn’t see anyone in the lightweight division that has the talent to beat Broner right now, not even WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns.

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Gavin Rees could be back on HBO in the Summer

By Jeff Sorby: If you liked what you saw of Gavin Rees (37-2-1, 18 KO’s) in his fight with WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner (26-0, 22 KO’s) last Saturday night on HBO, then you might be happy to learn that Rees could end up back on HBO in the Summer to fight in front of U.S audiences. Rees’ promoter Eddie Hearn says Rees could be back on U.S television in the Summer against a still to be determined opponent.

Hearn said to Sky Sports “Gavin’s performance won him many admirers in America…we have already been approached about further fights in the U.S in early summer…the plan is to pick up another world title shot before the end of 2013.”

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Donaire vs. Rigondeaux: This is a risky fight for Nonito

By Rob Smith: Bob Arum has finally decided to put his fighter WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO’s) in with someone that actually still has talent and is capable of beating him in WBA World super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO’s) on April 13th at the Radio City Music Hall, in New York, New York, USA.

It’s sad that it’s take all these years for Arum to finally match Donaire tough, but it’s better late than never. Rigondeaux has the speed, power, counter punching ability the defensive skills to pull off an upset in this fight. I don’t even know if you could call it an upset because Rigondeaux is unbeaten, and he’s looked scary good since turning pro in 2009 after capturing two gold medals for Cuba in the Olympics.

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Deontay Wilder: “I’m ready for the top guys”

wilder5 By Dan Emicus:

Despite the fact you secured a bronze medal, it was Team USA’s worst showing at the Olympic games since 1948. Of course, it would have been worse still in London 2012 if not for the inclusion of women’s boxing, which allowed Claressa Shields and Marlen Esparza to spare the men’s blushed by picking up Gold and Bronze respectively.

We all expected to medal. I wanted us all to do well, so it was bittersweet for me to be the only one. It turns out that I’m currently the only medalist since 2004 as far as men’s boxing goes. I don’t know much about the 2012 team, I just know that we just need to get America back on top.

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Peterson vs. Holt prediction and preview

by James Harrison: February 22nd, IBF light-welterweight titlist Lamont Peterson (30-1-1-15 KO’s) will defend his belt against Kendall “Rated R” Holt (28-5-16 KO’s) at the D.C. Armory. The defense is Peterson’s first after a 14-month layoff. It is also his first bout since the controversial win over Amir Khan in Ring Magazine’s fight of the year in 2011.

Many think Peterson will show signs of ring rust, but it will probably be negated by the fact that Holt is also coming off a long layoff due to shoulder surgery. Besides, a slow start would be characteristic of Peterson.

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Can Burns, Anyone At 135 Test Flashy, Classy Adrien Broner?

By James Slater – I think most fight fans are in agreement right now: it will take a formidable 140-pound fighter to test, much less defeat, blossoming superstar Adrien Broner. Scotland’s reigning WBO lightweight champ (and soon to be IBF title challenger) Ricky Burns disagrees, naturally, but is there really a 135-pounder capable of clipping “The Problem’s” wings?

Broner was expected to be too much for Welshman Gavin Rees last night in Atlantic City, and the formbook was obeyed (despite the sheer heart and guts “The Rock” showed!). But how special a talent does the unbeaten 23-year-old look! His hand speed is amazing, Broner’s power and accuracy aren’t far behind and, to make things worse for any of his opponents, Broner has such a varied number of wicked punches in his arsenal – left hooks, right hooks, uppercuts from either hand, particularly his right, right hand leads and body shots. Broner seems to have it all.

What this latest Cincinnati Cobra has in his future is one huge selection of would-be super-fights!

A Burns showdown would be a major attraction, especially if Burns can add the IBF belt to his WBO by defeating Mexican string been Miguel Vazquez next month. But there is precious little else for Broner at the weight – unless Cuban sensation Yuriorkis Gamboa can relocate his top form and persuade his promoters to land him the fight. The really big match-ups, the testing fights that promise to bring out the best in the “Floyd Mayweather Junior clone” will come at 140 and maybe beyond.

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Adrien Broner bullies his way to 5th Rd TKO of Gavin Rees

by Paul Strauss:: Saturday night at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Adrien “The Problem” Broner 26-0-0 (22 KOs) surprised no one by scoring a punishing win over the much smaller and out-gunned Gavin Rees 37-2-1 (18 KOs). Not many people gave Rees the proverbial “snowball’s chance in hell”. In fact, HBO’s Max Kellerman stated Rees was an 80 to 1 underdog. To Rees’ credit, though, he tried like hell to make a fight of it, but he just did not have the size, necessary skill or power to be a serious threat to Broner. Initially, Rees made a pest out of himself by shrinking his already short 5’4″ stature to about 3’6″, trying to get under Broner’s shots, so he could get close enough to land some of his own. He managed to get through with some pretty good left hooks to the body. He tried to follow those with clubbing rights to the side and top of Broner’s head, but the angle, due to Broner’s shoulder roll, proved to be a difficult one. Rees just couldn’t get any zip on those shots. Despite that, the referee warned him about the location of his punches?

The only redeeming factor in the bout was Rees’ display of heart and courage. Even though he was totally outsized and outclassed, he fought on hoping for a miracle. It was not to be. Broner did as expected. He started slowly, timing Rees, waiting for his countering opportunities. Early on Rees was able to block Broner’s check hooks, but before too long a couple got across. Those hard shots immediately made Rees less mobile. All of a sudden, his head became more stationary, and although he was bent over, his body was there to be hit as well.

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James DeGale: “I’m in it to win it!”

Exclusive interview by Dan Emicus

How did you get into boxing initially?

I was a bit boisterous and naughty at school, so my Grandad suggested to my Dad that I do a bit of boxing to release some excess energy. I was 9 when I started and loved it from the beginning. Initially all I wanted to do was spar and I didn’t like the fitness side of it, but once I started having fights, I realised how important the fitness was.

You won a bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Was that the point where you and everyone around you believed that you could go on and win a medal at the Olympic Games?

It was actually a disappointment to get bronze at the Commonwealth Games as I was expected to come back with Gold, and to top it all I didn’t even win a medal at the World Championships! The experience and the buzz I got at the big competitions did however make me more determined to work hard and earn a place at the Olympics.

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Broner destroys Rees; Bika decisions Sjekloca

By Bill Phanco: WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner (26-0, 22 KO’s) was just too strong for challenger Gavin Rees (37-2-1, 18 KO’s) tonight in beating Rees by a 5th round TKO victory at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Broner put Rees down twice, and stopped him shortly after dropping him with a left to the body in the 5th. Broner was hammering away on Rees after he got up, and this led to Rees’ trainer Gary Lockett throwing in the towel to stop the punishment.

The knockdown in the 5th came when the two fighters were in close, and Rees seemed to be confused, as if he thought the referee was going to break them because they had stopped punching. Broner used the opportunity to hit Rees with a crunching left to the body that put Rees down on the canvas.

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