Is Joe Smith Junior The Fighter of The Year?

12/20/2016 James Slater

Go back to the start of this year and chances are you had never heard of Joe Smith Junior. But then, in June, “The Irish Bomber” scored a huge upset when he took out the tough and well known Andrzej Fonfara inside a round. This win certainly got the 27-year-old known, and the stoppage victory also earned Smith Jnr an even bigger fight – one with living legend Bernard Hopkins, and we all know what happened there this past Saturday night.

Now, with his fighter going 3-0(3) in 2016, Promoter Joe DeGuardia feels Smith is more than worthy of picking up The Fighter of The Year award. Speaking with Ringtv.com, DeGuardia explained why Smith, 23-1(19) is more worthy than Terence Crawford; Crawford being the front-runner for the distinction in the opinion of many people.

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Hearn: AJ-Wilder unification showdown will happen late 2017 or early 2018

12/19/2016 James Slater

The heavyweight division could have two enormous world title fights next year. As fans know, Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko will meet in an April blockbuster in 2017, and after that, another, perhaps even bigger fight could take place.

Recently, WBC heavyweight ruler Deontay Wildeer said that “all being well” he will make his ring return in February and “get the winner of the Joshua and Klitschko fight next,” and yesterday, promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports that he sees the unification fight happening soon enough – perhaps towards the end of next year.

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Muhammad Ali truly was the boxing king of the talk shows; Michael Parkinson’s shows were the best of the best

12/18/2016 James Slater

As electrifying and as entertaining as the incomparable Muhammad Ali was in the ring, it’s often a close call as to whether or not The Greatest was equally as entertaining, as special, when he was talking, and talking, and talking.. Far above any other pro boxer in the sport’s long history, Ali truly was the king of the interviews.

Whether he was being interviewed by Howard Cosell, Don Dunphy, Reg Gutteridge, Dickie Davies or Michael Parkinson, Ali was ways witty, ultra-interesting, controversial, funny or thought provoking; sometimes he was all of these things and more at once. It was Ali’s four appearances on The Parkinson Show, the first and third especially, that proved the most memorable of his interviews though.

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Smith Jnr-Hopkins: will there be a rematch; will Hopkins roll the dice for one more “final 1!”

12/18/2016 James Slater

The fairy-tail ending didn’t come for the great Bernard Hopkins last night, as his “Final 1” against the much younger Joe Smith Junior saw the amazing 51 year old punched out of the ring in the 8th-round and TKO’d to defeat. Hopkins cried foul afterwards, saying Smith pushed him out of the ring, but replays show Hopkins was punched out.

It’s a shame Hopkins, 52 next month, wasn’t able to go out a winner, while it’s also a shame Hopkins was unable to accept the loss for what it was – a loss. Hopkins suggested the result should have been a no-contest, and while he also said last night’s bout will indeed be his last one as advertised, there is always a chance Hopkins will change his mind in the coming days, weeks or months.

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Povetkin vs Duhaupas Livestream

12/17/201612/17/2016 James Slater

It seems there is a good chance the show will go on today in Russia. With the Alexander Povetkin fight off due to Povetkin coming up positive for a banned substance and Bermane Stiverne understandably opting to fly home to Las Vegas in disgust, it could be that Frenchman and former world title challenger Johann Duhaupas, 34-3(21) will step in to fight Povetkin in a non-title fight.

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Tony Bellew will defend WBC cruiser belt against winner of Huck-Breidis; given “special exemption” on mandatory

12/17/2016 James Slater

Reigning WBC cruiserweight champ Tony Bellew, who will face David Haye in a huge British showdown at heavyweight next March, will leave the ring as a world champion regardless of the outcome of the fight. Bellew has revealed to Sky Sports how he has been given a “special exemption” by the WBC, that allows his mandatory defence – against the winner of the April Marco Huck-Mairis Breidis fight – to be delayed until August of next year.

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Povetkin-Stiverne fight in serious jeopardy as Povetkin fails (another) drugs test

12/17/201612/17/2016 James Slater

News broke late last night US time stating how Russia’s Alexander Povetkin failed a drugs test, the announcement coming from the WBC President Jose Suliaman just hours before Povetkin’s scheduled fight with Bermane Stiverne. The fight, which was set for today, and would contest the interim WBC heavyweight title (the winner to face full champ Deontay Wilder some time next year) is now in serious jeopardy.

The WBC has been forced to withdraw its sanction of the bout, meaning that if the fight does still go ahead it will be a non-title clash. Povetkin reportedly tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine, the fighter’s sample, given to a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, reportedly coming up positive for the drug. As fans will no doubt recall, Povetkin also tested positive for medonium ahead of his scheduled fight with Wilder back in May.

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Canelo vs Chavez Jnr could happen on Cinco de Mayo weekend on HBO ppv

12/17/201612/17/2016 James Slater

There is always a tremendous buzz around the big fight that plays out on Cinco de Mayo weekend, the huge celebration in Mexico, and next year it could be an all-Mexican showdown that gets the big stage. As fans may have read, there is talk of a Saul Alvarez-Julio Cesar Chavez Junior fight taking place next year – with both sides interested in the fight and currently in talks – and according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com the fight could be staged on May 6.

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Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko: The Richest Fight in Boxing History – or certainly the most expensive

12/16/2016 James Slater

Boxing history could be made on April 29th at Wembley in London, in a number of ways. The heavyweight title clash between reigning and defending IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua and former lineal king Wladimir Klitschko – which will also contest the vacant WBA belt – could smash the record for most tickets sold for a boxing match. The current record of almost 80,000 tickets sold was set by Carl Froch and George Groves a couple of years back, but now there are realistic expectations of 90,000 tickets being shifted for the clash of generations next April.

If Klitschko wins he will be one of the very few three-time heavyweight champions in history, and as far as ticket prices go for the big fight, the record for the most expensive ringside seat will be broken next April. How much for a VIP ringside seat? £800? No. £1,000? No. £1,500? No again. A VIP seat at ringside can be yours for, get this……£2,000 (approx $2,490 US). A regular ringside ticket will set you back the considerable sum of £800.

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Dillian Whyte-Dereck Chisora rematch would be BIG says Hearn, could sell out The O2

12/17/201612/16/2016 James Slater

Fight fans roared their approval over the December 10 under-card at The Manchester Arena; both during the action that supported the headline act that saw Anthony Joshua blast out Eric Molina and afterwards. There have been no complaints about having parted with pay-per-view cash for the card, despite the disappointing (if predictable) headline fight.

The fan approval largely stemmed from the quite fantastic FOTY candidate that was the heavyweight war between bitter British rivals Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora. Indeed, this fight stole the show, leaving fans, pundits and experts alike breathless. The call for a rematch began almost immediately and promoter Eddie Hearn says it is definitely a possibility for next year – only this time, the fight will be deservedly elevated to headline status.

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