It has to be agreed by all what a great job of delivering big fights British promoter Eddie Hearn is doing right now. For whether you like the Matchroom boss or not – and like any boxing promoter he has his share of critics – Hearn continues to get the big fights, plenty of them world title opportunities, for his fighters. Last week’s big news story was of course the announcement of the Gennady Golovkin-Kell Brook fight (by the way, Hearn has Tweeted that Brook will remain IBF welterweight champ should he lose on September 10) but Hearn has recently made the following big fights for his boxers, or helped make them:
James Slater
Gennady Golovkin vs Kell Brook at The O2 in London on September 10
In a huge announcement that went out live on Sky Sports news just minutes ago, it was announced how superstar Gennady Golovkin will face Kell Brook on September 10th at The O2 in London. Brook, the IBF welterweight champion, was to have faced WBO welterweight boss Jessie Vargas, but that fight stalled – now we know why. Chris Eubank Junior has not signed a deal to fight GGG, as was expected – with Eubank calling GGG out for some time and Golovkin even signing to take the fight – and now Brook gets the mega-fight himself.
Dillian Whyte: “I’ll give Antonio Tarver a heart attack with the pace I’d set”
British heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte is still talking about a potential fight with veteran former light-heavyweight king Antonio Tarver. The two have exchanged words on social media and Whyte says the fight can be made for this September, as long as Tarver does not price himself out and providing he can get a license to box over in the UK. Whyte wants 47-year-old Tarver’s name on his record, and he is sure he’d stop him if the fight did come off.
Jeff Lacy to fight in UK Oct. 1st, will face former British light-heavy champ Tony Oakey in white collar event
Former IBF super-middleweight king Jeff Lacy is still not ready to walk away from the sport he loves. “Left Hook,” now aged 39 and coming off a loss to Sullivan Barrera – a 4th round stoppage loss back in January of last year – will face former British light-heavyweight champ Tony Oakey in a white collar show set for Bristol, England on October 1st. Lacy, 27-6(18) will be making his first UK appearance since that famous night when Joe Calzaghe dethroned him and arrived as a star on the world stage.
Tyson Fury breaks his silence, Tweets photo and confirmation of Oct. 29 return with Wladimir Klitschko
Tyson Fury today publicly confirmed the date of October 29th for his rematch with Wladimir Klitschko. Fury – last seen enjoying himself at the Euros, supporting England, as well as buying football fans drinks and no doubt downing a few himself – took to Twitter earlier today to both confirm the rematch date and post a picture of himself, one which appears to show he is in perhaps surprisingly good shape.
Barry Hearn wants to see Anthony Joshua-Bermane Stiverne
IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua would like to have another fight this year, before facing his mandatory challenger Joseph Parker early on next year. Joshua and his team must start negotiations with Team-Parker by November 9, with the fight likely to take place around March time, but Joshua has spoken of wanting to get another voluntary defence in first, in November or December. And Matchroom chairman Barry Hearn told Sky Sports he feels A.J will indeed slot one more fight in before taking on Parker.
Roberto Duran Vs. Vinny Pazienza – at the movies; both legends get the silver screen treatment this year
In real life they fought twice, in 1994 and 1995. In reel-life, both Roberto Duran and Vinny Pazienza will go head-to-head later this year as both greats get the biopic treatment on the silver screen. Duran’s movie, “Hands of Stone,” hits cinemas first, at the tail end of August, while Pazienza’s movie, “Bleed For This,” comes out in early November. Both films promise to be, at the very least, watchable affairs.
Gennady Golovkin waiting on a signature from Chris Eubank Jr…
Will a fight between Gennady Golovkin and Chris Eubank Junior – the man who has been calling him out for some time, even recently posting a hugely confident message on social media where he promised to “rip the belts” away from GGG – actually happen? Well, Golovkin appears to be losing patience. Taking to his own Twitter page this afternoon, the middleweight king made it clear: the ball is now firmly in Eubank’s court:
“Everything is agreed from our side. Now waiting for @ChrisEubankJr, who all of a sudden has lost his pen….” GGG wrote a couple of hours ago, more than a touch sarcastically.
Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan targeting the winner of Liam Smith and “That Mexican that thinks he’s Irish”
Irish warrior Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan, last seen being stopped after a game effort against Chris Eubank Junior in December, is aiming for an even bigger fight in the near future. Speaking with Irish-Boxing.com, O’Sullivan revealed how he is now campaigning down at 154-pounds and how he would “love” to face the winner of the September 17th WBO super-welterweight title fight between champ Liam Smith and challenger Saul Canelo Alvarez.
Antonio Tarver: “I get up in the morning wanting to surpass the great George Foreman”
Antonio Tarver, who recently called out British heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte, wants a lot of things: a fight with Whyte, which he feels will lead to a shot at IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua, which he feels would lead to a win that would see him surpass the legendary George Foreman as the oldest-ever heavyweight champ. It might be a long road, but Tarver feels the Whyte fight will see him achieve his latest dream.
Whyte, who boxes in Leeds on July 30, responded to Tarver’s calling him out on Twitter, and Tarver responded to Whyte’s claims that he would “smash him to pieces.” Tarver made it clear, when speaking with Sky Sports, how he wants Joshua and a shot at history, and that a win over Whyte would get him there.