Tony Burton, co-star in six of the Rocky movies, dies at age 78

02/26/2016 James Slater

Okay, it’s movie news not boxing news; but it’s boxing movie news. Actor Tony Burton, who co-starred in six of the seven Rocky films as trainer, Tony “Duke” Evers, has passed away at age 78. Burton’s cause of death has not been made official, BBC News reports, but Burton’s sister, Loretta Kelly said her brother had been in and out of hospital a number of times over the past year.

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Canelo Alvarez-Amir Khan fight gets the press tour treatment; but will the fans buy the May 7th catch-weight clash?

02/25/2016 James Slater

You know it’s a big fight when the respective promoters are paying to take the two fighters to a number of cities around the world to add further promotion and glamour to the event. And, later this month, the hugely intriguing, potentially thrilling middleweight title fight between Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Amir “King” Khan will be treated to the press tour glitz.

In an effort to attract even more attention and ensure additional pay-per-view buys for the May 7th bout set for Las Vegas, Canelo, Khan and Oscar De La Hoya will visit London, New York and Los Angeles, and what’s more, the fans are invited to come out and meet them.

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Frampton and Quigg engage in tense final press conference ahead of Saturday’s unification clash

02/25/201602/25/2016 James Slater

Fight fans may have grown accustomed to, or are even bored of, two fighters getting in one another’s face at a pre-fight press conference, but it’s still entertaining to some when it happens. And today, just two days before the IBF/WBA super-bantamweight unification clash between unbeaten rivals Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg, the obligatory, ‘I’ll grab you, you grab me’ theatrics were witnessed.

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Happy Birthday, Floyd Mayweather Junior – ranking “Money’s” three best performances

02/25/201602/24/2016 James Slater

“Retired” boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Junior celebrates his 39th birthday today. The word retired is in quotes because, well, practically everyone who follows the fight game is all but certain Mayweather, currently 49-0, WILL fight again – it’s just a matter of time, the general line of thinking goes, until Floyd comes back in search of pro win number-50.

And, despite the fact that age 39 is somewhat advanced for a top class prize fighter (greats Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Louis and many others were finished well before closing in on age 40), Mayweather has proven that age is literally just a number to him. Eventually, if he were to fight on and on, his reflexes would fade or his punch resistance (never tested too much as it is!) would desert him, but there wouldn’t be too many people willing to bet against Mayweather managing to put at least one more result in his win column if he did/does box again either later this year or early next.

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David Haye sure the British public will demand a fight between himself and Anthony Joshua if AJ beats Charles Martin; says he might KO Joshua in one-round!

02/25/201602/24/2016 James Slater

It’s no secret that comebacking former WBA heavyweight champ David Haye wants a big, all-British showdown with unbeaten fellow Londoner Anthony Joshua. Haye, who returned to the ring in January and next fights, against TBA, in May, has been interested in a potential blockbuster with “A.J” for months now. And Haye is quite right when he says the fight would only be that much bigger if a world title were on the line.

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“Hands of Stone,” biopic of living legend Roberto Duran to be released on August 26th

02/25/201602/24/2016 James Slater

Well over three years in the making, “Hands of Stone,” the biopic on the life and legendary career of the one and only Roberto Duran, finally gets released in the U.S this August, on the 26th. The film – written and directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz and starring Robert De Niro as Duran trainer Ray Arcel and Edgar Ramirez as the Panamanian warrior – was filmed on location in both New York and Panama.

Also starring Usher Raymond, as Sugar Ray Leonard and Ruben Blades as Duran’s main man, Carlos Eleta, the film will also have portrayals of infamous mob guy Frankie Carbo and another boxing legend in Angelo Dundee.

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David Haye’s petition to get Muhammad Ali knighted

02/23/2016 James Slater

At The O2 Arena in London next month, an exhibition will open – until August – that will celebrate the legendary career of the one and only Muhammad Ali, “The Greatest.” And Ali himself, who has recently celebrated his 74th birthday, is expected to fly to the UK – perhaps for the very last time – to visit the tribute that is sure to be a massive hit with fight fans.

But London’s own David Haye wants the UK to go one step further, and recognize Ali with an honorary Knighthood. Haye has launched a petition, inviting people to sign it and, as he says, give the great man what he deserves.

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De La Hoya wants Luis Ortiz to fight on Canelo-Khan card in May

02/23/201602/23/2016 James Slater

Promoter Oscar De La Hoya knows real talent when he sees it, and the Golden Boy head thinks he has the best big man in the sport signed to him. De La Hoya believes interim WBA champ Luis Ortiz can see off all comers and he wants to keep the Cuban southpaw active – so much so that, if Ortiz beats Tony Thompson with relative ease on March 5th, “King Kong” will fight again on the May 7th Canelo Alvarez-Amir Khan bill in Las Vegas.

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Adonis Stevenson-Andrzej Fonfara II likely for May or June

02/23/201602/22/2016 James Slater

It seems we can pretty much forget about seeing a light-heavyweight unification battle between bitter and vocal rivals Adonis Stevenson and Sergey Kovalev any time soon. These two gigantic punchers should have met by now, at least a few months back, but negotiations, for whatever reason or reasons, have failed and failed.

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Dereck Chisora: Personally I just want to fight Deontay Wilder

02/23/201602/22/2016 James Slater

When he was pulled out at the conclusion of ten woefully one-sided rounds in his rematch with Tyson Fury in November of 2014, Dereck Chisora cut something of a sad figure. Some people even thought “Del Boy” had had too many tough fights and was practically finished as a top contender. But, after finding a new promoter to back him (Sauerland) the 32-year-old warrior proceeded to reel off five straight wins (albeit against so-so opposition) and Chisora, 25-5(17) is now on the verge of a fight that just might see him recapture the European title.

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