Last Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader, highlighted by Future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins, drew the second largest average audience for a live SHOWTIME® boxing event this year and ranks as the third-highest average on record for the premium network since 2004 when Nielsen began tracking pay television networks’ individual channels.
Nathan Cleverly Makes Cruiserweight Debut at London’s Copper Box Arena
Welsh star Nathan Cleverly will begin his campaign to become a two-time world champion when he makes his big ring return as a cruiserweight on Saturday 30th November at London’s Copper Box Arena. Cleverly goes straight back into title action when he takes on Australian Daniel Ammann for the Vacant Commonwealth title, featuring alongside Dereck Chisora who makes the first defence of his European Heavyweight title against Matteo Modugno, live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546).
The 25-year-old lost his unbeaten record and WBO World Light-Heavyweight crown to big-hitting Russian Sergey Kovalev in August, but after a break and refocussing himself on his career, Cleverly is desperate to get back in the ring and win a second world title in 2014.
Stuart Hall to Face Vusi Malinga for vacant IBF bantamweight belt on December 21st
The IBF bantamweight title, vacant as it is after being stripped from Jamie McDonnell, will be contested by Stuart Hall (a former points loser to McDonnell) and Vusi Malinga on December 21st, promoter Dennis Hobson has confirmed to Boxing News.
Brandon Rios / Robert Garcia Conf Call Transcript
Juan Carlos Gomez talks about Bernard Hopkins: “This is the age of the ageless fighter”
Juan Carlos Gomez (51-3-0) is confident that he can “turn back time” and become cruiserweight champion again more than ten year after his last title reign. “Bernard Hopkins showed the whole world what old men are capable of”, said Gomez at a press conference today in Dachau, Germany. “And compared to Hopkins I am still a young guy! I’m not saying that I will still be world champion in eight or ten years but I know that I still have some great fights in me.”
“The Black Panther” returns to action this Friday (Nov. 1) in Dachau against journeyman Adnan Buharalija (29-18-2). The show will be broadcasted live on Eurosport. “With Hopkins beating up opponents at will and other guys like Vitali Klitschko and Guillermo Jones showing dominant performances at 40+ I feel like I’m part of a movement”, adds Gomez. “Maybe this is the age of the ageless fighter. I can only say that I hardly remember times when I felt better and stronger than right now.”
If Successful Against Rios, Pacquiao Might Become Mayweather’s Worst Nightmare
The Manny Pacquiao vs. Brandon Rios bout is fast-approaching, and boxing fans have focused their crosshairs on the topic at hand. While this fight is starting to gain more momentum in a snowball effect type of fashion, still there is much talk of the improbable bout between Mayweather Jr. vs. Bernard Hopkins.
It seems as though a shot at Mayweather Jr. is the only way to succeed in boxing, and every fighter that can see and feel the throne is aggressively attempting at securing that high profile fight.
Bernard Hopkins had suggested that he is the only one with enough ring experience and ring I.Q. to beat Mayweather Jr. His old school boxing knowledge would supposedly provide enough tricks and narrow down the learning curve to where Hopkins would be able to adjust and effectively deal with Floyd’s style.
BoxNation lands Pacquiao vs. Rios
LONDON (29 Oct) – Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao’s return to the ring against the unyielding Brandon Rios on November 23rd will be brought to UK fight fans live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch.437/Virgin Ch.546).
The eagerly anticipated matchup which sees Pacquiao make his first return to the ring since his devastating knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez will pit him against one of boxing’s most relentless warriors in the shape of Rios, in a bout certain to produce fireworks.
Andre Ward vs. Edwin Rodriguez: Game on
In the sport of boxing, the first shots of battle are often fired long before a single punch is ever thrown in the squared circle.
On November 16th, two genuine “good guys” of the sport will tangle to decide 168 pound supremacy when universally recognized Super Middleweight Champion Andre “S.O.G.” Ward steps in the ring with undefeated contender Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez.
Despite the positive and sportsmanlike reputation both combatants have garnered throughout their respective amateur and professional careers, an unexpected issue has worked its way into the pre-fight banter.
During the first official press conference, which took place in Manhattan Beach, California, on September 28th, announcing the big Super Middleweight showdown, Rodriguez declared that he would indeed be participating in the “24/7/365” drug testing program administered by VADA, Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, and publicly challenged the historically outspoken anti-drug advocate to get involved with the same program before the date of their highly anticipated championship contest.