Ricky Burns: Vazquez is the toughest opponent of my career

burns4 By Michael Collins: WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns (35-2, 10 KO’s) believes he’s going to be in a real tough one on March 16th against IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez (33-3, 10 KO’s) at the Wembley Arena in London, England. Burns has the home advantage of sorts given that he’s from the UK while Vazquez is from Mexico, but he still expects it to be a tough fight.

Burns said to Sky Sports “It’s the toughest fight of my career with two world titles on the line. He’s not the world champion for nothing. When you look at his record, he’s only lost to two fighters at the top of their game. I know myself it’s a tough ask, but I’m going to be really bring it. He’s going to bring out the best in me. He’s the fight I’ve always wanted, so I’m looking forward to it.”

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Frampton TKO’s Martinez in 9th round; Lee decisions Fitzgerald; Selby defeats Lindsay

By Jeff Sorby: After a shaky start in the first three rounds tonight, Carl Frampton (16-0, 11 KO’s) came on strong to dominate and stop EBU super bantamweight champion Kiko Martinez (27-4, 19 KO’s) by a 9th round TKO at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

Martinez ran into a right hand from Frampton in the 9th that put him down. The fight was then halted after Martinez got back to his feet but was too hurt to continue. Frampton spent much of the fight moving around the ring, clinching, ducking below the waist, and trying to avoid the pressure from Martinez.

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Exclusive interview with Sakio Bika

bika33 by Dan Emicus:

How did you get into boxing?

I started boxing when I was 13 years old. I hurt my knee when I was playing soccer and swapped over to boxing. I went to a boxing Academy in Cameroon and the winners were getting prizes. I started winning, I started getting prizes and haven’t stopped since!

You were born in Cameroon, yet relocated to Australia by the time you embarked on your professional career. Was this due to boxing not being as popular in Cameroon, or is there more to it than that?

Boxing is popular in Cameroon, but only in the amateur system. Not professional boxing. The Government looks after the amateur program very well. From equipment and money to spend, through to the prizes I mentioned. When it’s time to turn professional there is nothing though, no opportunities.

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Campbell vs. Bizier: Twilight for the Galaxxy Warrior?

By John G. Thompson: This Friday at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Nate “The Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell (36-9-1, 26 KO’s, 1 NC) faces Kevin Bizier (19-0, 13 KO’s), a relative unknown to US boxing fans, but none the less he is an undefeated fighter in his prime, fighting in his home town, with a two inch (5 cm) height advantage, a six inch (15 cm) reach advantage, and proven knockout power. The “Galaxxy Warrior” is a former lightweight champion, but now at age 40 and having only won three of his last eight bouts, how much does Campbell have left?

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Interview with Patrick Day: “I am enjoying flying under the radar for as long as it lasts”

By Dan Emicus:

How did you get into boxing?

I got in to boxing out of the curiosity I had for the science of the sport (the difference between boxing and street-fighting). Watching the golden gloves in my town sparked an interest and living across the street from my trainer, Joe Higgins, led me to act on it.

Any boxing idols from the past?

My biggest boxing idol from the past that I both admire and look up to is Sugar Ray Leonard. Our fighting styles are similar and I feel that he was the best of his time.

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Money Mayweather boxing’s ULTIMATE Businessman!

By Robert Jackson: Up until yesterday 2/5/2013 it was all but expected that Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be soon announcing his return to the ring to face Robert ‘The Ghost’ Guerrero. And then…Facebook interceded and the whole world found out that Money Mayweather would be facing Devon Alexander! But wait, wasn’t it announced yesterday that Alexander injured a bicep while training for a February matchup with Kell Brook for the IBF title, causing that match-up to be postponed?

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Exclusive interview with Peter Fury

Exclusive interview with Peter Fury by Dan Emicus

When Tyson first came to you, his conditioning was sub-par and he was more a good fighter, as opposed to a good boxer. 18 months later and his conditioning has improved dramatically, he’s professional in his approach to fights, has solid boxing fundamentals, and has progressed leaps and bounds technically. How happy are you with his progress and do you expect a similar rate of progress between now and in another 18 months?

I’m delighted with his development and have put in endless hours every day over the last 12 months in particular. Every single area is painstakingly gone through. He is constantly improving technically, as well as in terms of conditioning, and come April we will see another level in Tyson again.

How did you rate Tyson’s performance last time out against Kevin Johnson? On the Channel 5 coverage, you were heard advising Tyson to stick to the gameplan and not allow the crowd to influence his boxing, so were you concerned at that point that Tyson might lose focus and try too hard to ‘entertain’ the crowd with a grandstand finish?

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Mayweather: Negotiations for Devon Alexander fight are almost completed

floyd66 By Jeff Sorby: Unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. is claiming that he’s on the verge of fighting a unification bout against IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander (24-1, 13 KO’s) on May 4th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mayweather said on his twitter tonight: “The negotiations for my fight are almost done. The front runner is IBF Champion Devon Alexander. It’d be a unification bout at welterweight.”

How the fight could be a unification bout is the big question given that Alexander is under contract for a title defense against Kell Brook. If Alexander takes the fight with Mayweather, he’ll get stripped of his IBF title by the International Boxing Federation for failing to fight his mandatory challenger Brook.

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Wladimir Klitschko Could Face Fres Oquendo In April; Oquendo Says Talks Are Ongoing

By James Slater: According to invaluable news site Fightnews.com, Puerto Rican veteran and long-time heavyweight contender “Fast” Fres Oquendo could be next for the mighty Wladimir Klitschko. “Dr. Steel Hammer” asked for permission to take a voluntary fight before his ordered defence against “regular” WBA heavyweight titlist Alexander Povetkin, and it looks like initial possibility Odlanier Solis is now out of the running and Oquendo, 35-7(23) is in pole position.

Of course, nothing is certain until contracts are signed. Still, Oquendo, now aged 39 and into his sixteenth year as a pro, is hoping he will get the next shot at the WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO king.

“My manager (Tom Tsatas) is working on it and it’s possible that in the end Wladimir could face me on April 6th,” Fres told Fightnews.com. “I’m training to get in the best condition to rip his head off. Give me the opportunity and don’t avoid me!”

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Ronnie Shields remembers Omar Henry

By Joseph Herron: On Friday, February 1st, Junior Middleweight prospect Omar Henry passed away at age 25, after battling gallbladder cancer for the past three months.

After learning of the tragic news, trainer Ronnie Shields expressed his sympathy for his former fighter on this Sunday’s edition of “The Pugilist KOrner’s: Weekend Wrap”.

“I trained Omar Henry in the beginning of his professional career, and we always had a lot of fun in the gym. He was a fun-loving and jovial character. He was always making people laugh and telling jokes.”

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