Martin Murray to fight Gabriel Rosado in Liverpool this Saturday

04/18/201704/17/2017 James Slater

The two fighters and the promoter promise a war!

Everyone is excited about this Saturday night’s middleweight battle between tough, strong and fan-friendly contenders Martin Murray and Gabriel Rosado. Both warriors have promised a war, as has the fight’s promoter Eddie Hearn.

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More on request for Ward-Kovalev “Neutrality” judges: “It’s ridiculous,” says Arum

04/16/2017 James Slater

As fans may have read, a while back, Kathy Duva, promoter of former light-heavyweight champ Sergey Kovalev, requested “neutral” judges for the big June 17 rematch fight with Andre Ward. Ward of course defeated Kovalev by close, controversial 12 round decision last year, and Duva, and Kovalev, want non-American judges (or at least one non-American judge) for the return fight.

Kovalev is convinced he was robbed back in November, and he is anxious to avoid the same thing happening in the second fight. Bob Arum, in speaking with TMZ Sports, said the call for neutral, or non-American judges is “nonsense.”

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Julius Indongo proves way too good for Ricky Burns; Crawford, Broner next?

04/16/2017 James Slater

Tall, clever and possessing attention-grabbing punch power, Julius Indongo proved last night that he is no one-hit wonder. The southpaw from Namibia burst onto the big stage in Russia in December, when he shocked defending IBF 140 pound champ Eduard Troyanovsky in a round, and last night he comprehensively outboxed Scottish hero and defending WBA champ Ricky Burns to become a two-belt holder (actually three belts, the IBO strap also his).

Now 22-1(11) the 5’11” Indongo could go on to become the main man at 140. With his awkward style (Burns, “devastated” by last night’s loss, just could not get to grips with Indongo, saying after the fight that he had no idea how awkward he would be), his long arms, his speed and his good boxing brain, the man known as “Blue Machine” just might give the likes of Terence Crawford and Adrien Broner all the trouble they can handle.

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Deontay Wilder to be ringside for Klitschko-Joshua fight: “I’ll be looking at who I want next”

04/16/2017 James Slater

When he fought his one and only fight on British shores – back in April of 2013, when he iced Audley Harrison inside a round, ending Harrison’s career – Deontay Wilder proved a real hit with the fans. Now a long-reigning WBC king, Wilder will again travel to the UK later this month; to both watch and commentate on the big Wladimir Klitschko-Anthony Joshua WBA/IBF heavyweight title fight showdown.

It’s no secret that “The Bronze Bomber” wants the winner; Wilder’s ultimate aim to become undisputed ruler over his weight class. But first he must wait and see how the 50/50 fight, set to play out before a monstrous 90,000 crowd, winds up.

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Andre Ward lists his picks for the current five best pound-for-pound in the sport

04/15/2017 James Slater

It’s arguably a tougher time than in a long time to pick a fighter everyone can agree is deserving of being ranked the best pound-for-pounder. When Floyd Mayweather was fighting, the title was his and nobody was arguing. But today, who deserves the honour: Gennady Golovkin, Vasyl Lomachenko, Andre Ward?

Ward himself, the current top P-4-P fighter in the world according to Ring Magazine, recently gave his own personal top-5. Speaking on ESPN’s “A Los Golpes,” show, the reigning light-heavyweight world champion broke it down as follows:

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Happy Birthday, Hagler-Hearns! Is it still the greatest fight ever?

04/15/2017 James Slater

Imagine if, right now, you were eagerly awaiting the big fight tonight and it was Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns. Back when this one was coming up, fans everywhere knew they would get a great fight; they just didn’t know how great. For the three utterly explosive rounds these two special fighters gave us shocked even hardened fight experts, as the terrific HBO “The Tale Of Hagler-Hearns” show explains.

Often voted as THE greatest fight in boxing history; the result of the eight minutes of furnace-like warfare – a whole 15 rounds of action crammed into eight minutes – Hagler-Hearns has reached a near mythical status. Turn it on right now, and see if you still get shivers down your spine when watching that opening round; this without a doubt THE greatest opening three minutes in all of boxing (name a better, greater, more unbelievably exciting opening round if you can!)

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Luis Ortiz suffers thumb injury, April 22 fight with Derric Rossy off

04/15/2017 James Slater

Unbeaten Cuban heavyweight Luis Ortiz has been forced to pull out of his scheduled April 22 fight with Derric Rossy due to suffering a thumb injury in sparring. Ortiz, 27-0(23) was to have boxed his debut under new promoter Al Haymon, his fight with Rossy an addition to the Shawn Porter-Andre Berto welterweight clash.

According to his team, the 38 year old southpaw was determined to fight on, but doctors advised him not to do so. But while this is bad news for Ortiz (he isn’t getting any younger and needs to stay as active as he can), spare a thought for Rossy. The Ortiz fight, one that looks unlikely to be rescheduled – Ortiz will reportedly now wait to fight the winner of the upcoming Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko fight – would have given Rossy a massive opportunity to gatecrash the heavyweight elite.

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Dillian Whyte-Gerald Washington a possibility for June 3rd

04/14/2017 James Slater

They both came up short in big fights against world champs Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder, but Dillian Whyte (who gave a pre-IBF ruling Joshua a real scare in a great fight) and Gerald Washinton (who enjoyed early success before WBC king Wilder lowered the boom on him) remain contenders and are both searching for another shot.

And the two sluggers who are both “learning on the job” according to Washington, could meet in an interesting match-up this June in London. Recently, Whyte announced how he would be headlining a London card on June 3rd, “against a big name,” with Washington, Mariusz Wach, Bryant Jennings and Artur Szpilka being listed as possibilities.

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Exclusive interview with Olanrewaju Durodola: “The Kudryashov rematch is a must-win fight for both of us”

04/14/201704/14/2017 James Slater

Back in November of 2015, in an explosive and thoroughly entertaining slugfest, Nigerian cruiserweight Olanrewaju Durodola upset unbeaten Russian KO King Dmitry Kudryashov inside two rounds. Now the two are set for a rematch on May 20, once again in Russia with the WBC silver strap on the line.

Durodola, 25-3(23) lost to recently crowned WBO champ Mairis Breidis in his next fight after the big win over Kudryashov, but he has bounced back, winning his last three, all by KO. Known as “God’s Power,” the 36 year old, in kindly giving ESB some of his time, said he has had better preparation ahead of his second fight with Kudryashov, 20-1(20).

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Pac vs Horn: Freddie Roach – Manny hasn’t scored a KO in a long time, it’s time that changed

04/14/201704/14/2017 James Slater

Does Manny Pacquiao want a knockout victory on July 2 when he will defend his WBO welterweight title against Australia’s Jeff Horn? Freddie Roach sure does. As fight fans know, Pac-Man has not registered a KO or stoppage over a foe since way, way back in November of 2009, when he halted an immeasurably brave and determined Miguel Cotto in the 12th and final round of their welterweight showdown in Las Vegas.

Since then, Pacquiao, 59-6-2(38) has seen just one of his fights end inside the distance: the fight he lost by sensational KO at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez in their fourth (and seemingly final) meeting in December of 2012. Roach wants to see an end to the KO drought, and he has told The Courier Mail that the plan is for it to be ended at the expense of the unbeaten Horn in Brisbane.

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