Paulie Malignaggi Chasing European Welterweight Title

10/06/201510/05/2015 Olly Campbell

After seeming to retire following August’s loss at the hands of Danny Garcia, former world champion and current Showtime analyst Paulie Malignaggi (34-7, 7ko) had a pretty swift change of heart, boxed again last month in Italy, and now claims he wishes to chase the European welterweight title, given that he is eligible to do so through his Italian ancestry.

The soon-to-be 35 year old Malignaggi was stopped in 9 by Garcia in what was an emotional night in August, ostensibly signalling the end of an era for the proud Brooklyn resident – who gave an impassioned post-fight ‘retirement’ speech – although a little over 6 weeks later he was back in the ring in Europe, beating journeyman fighter Laszlo Fazekas (27-21-1) over 8 one sided rounds in Milan.

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Ward Is a ‘Liar’ Who Is Using Gennady’s Name to be Relevant says Abel Sanchez

10/05/201510/04/2015 Olly Campbell

He fights David Lemieux in New York later this month, yet Gennady Golovkin’s trainer Abel Sanchez has refused outright the notion that the team collectively turned down a fight with California’s Andre Ward at 168lbs, insisting that the Oakland based “Son of God” is nothing more than a liar out to stay relevant by using Golovkin’s name.

WBA (sup) 168 lb champion Ward, who has been struggling to meet the super-middleweight limit in recent times, returned in June at a 172lb catch-weight against Britain’s Paul Smith and had recently referred to Golovkin as “Little-g” in the media, claiming the destructive middleweight champ wanted no part of fighting him – a notion Sanchez angrily refutes.

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“I Predicted Matthysse Would Quit” says Freddie Roach

10/05/201510/04/2015 Olly Campbell

After Viktor Postol stopped Lucas Matthysse in the 10th round in Carson last night to claim the WBC 140 lb trinket, appearing to make the Argentine fighter quit on his knees, the Ukrainian’s trainer Freddie Roach has said to fighthubtv that he saw it coming right before it did.

Postol was excellent in using his superior height and reach to maximum advantage, emerging the stronger and more successful for much of the fight, appearing to frustrate the far smaller Matthysse, who took a knee when caught with a right hand up close shortly after the start of the 10th round.

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James DeGale v Lucien Bute Confirmed for November 28th

10/05/201510/04/2015 Olly Campbell

It’s been officially confirmed that Britain’s IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale, will indeed face Canadian-based Romanian Lucien Bute on November 28th in Quebec, Canada.

The British former Olympic gold medalist is newly ‘advised’ by Al Haymon, and will be making the maiden defence of the title he won back in May by scalping Andre Dirrell in Boston, in doing so becoming the first British gold medal winning Olympian in history to go on and win a world title in the professional ranks.

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Brandon Rios Ready to Move on to ‘Bigger Things’ With Bradley Win

10/05/201510/03/2015 Olly Campbell

Brandon Rios (33-2-1, 24 ko)says he is relishing his November 7th date with WBO welterweight titlist Tim Bradley (32-1-1,12 ko), given that a big win against the new champion will springboard him on to bigger and better things.

The two Top Rank fighters will meet at the Thomas and Mack Centre in Las Vegas, with Bradley being cornered by new trainer Teddy Atlas, following his parting from long-time trainer Joel Diaz, whom he split with following his win over Jessie Vargas in June.

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Ramirez & McKenzie Battle to Draw in IBF Cruiserweight Title Fight

10/05/201510/03/2015 Olly Campbell

Friday night in Buenos Aires, Argentina, late notice challenger Ovill McKenzie was desperately unlucky in being held to a draw by IBF 200 lb champion and home-town favourite, Victor Emilio Ramirez, with consensus opinion on social media appearing to be the 36 year old “Upsetter” had done enough to walk out the ring as champion.

The likable Jamaica-born Brit – taking the fight on 11 days notice – boxed a smart fight for the duration, largely relying on fleetness of foot to avoid the plodding Ramirez’s best work, constantly throwing out the jab to good effect and spinning out the way when the visibly bigger and stronger Ramirez tried to bully him back on to the ropes.

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I’d ‘Love’ to Fight Pacquiao After Postol says Lucas Matthysse

10/05/201510/03/2015 Olly Campbell

Assuming he gets through tonight’s WBC 140lb title fight in California against Ukrainian, Viktor Postol, then Argentinian “Machine,” Lucas Matthysse, says that he would “love” the opportunity to fight Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao in the near future.

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum is looking at securing a date for his returning fighter in the early part of 2016, and had thought to be in sole negotiations with Britain’s Amir Khan about a potential big money clash.

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Chris Eubank Jr Gets Tony Jeter for Matchroom Debut on Brook/Chaves Card

10/05/201510/03/2015 Olly Campbell

Chris Eubank Jr (19-1, 14ko) will face 39 year old American, Tony Jeter (20-4-1, 14ko) on his debut under the Matchroom Sport promotional banner, serving as the chief support to October 24th’s Kell Brook/Diego Chaves welterweight title fight in Sheffield, that as it stands, is still a PPV event.

WBA (interim) titlist Eubank, was unveiled by Eddie Hearn’s promotional outfit a week ago and fans were promised a top 15 opponent, which the largely unheralded Jeter technically is, at WBA #13.

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Is Amir Khan Losing Focus on his Ring Career?

10/05/201510/02/2015 Olly Campbell

With Bob Arum seemingly U-Turning on his claim “not to be looking at any other opponent for Manny Pacquiao” other than Amir Khan – [later claiming Lucas Matthysse has moved up the pecking order] – it would seem the British former 140 lb champion might be losing his heart for elite level boxing, insisting he sees a future in charity work.

British media is today awash with stories that the Muslim fighter is intent on devoting himself to charitable causes after a recent “mercy-mission” to Greece to help Islamic refugees fleeing the crisis in war-torn Syria, an endeavour he undertook entirely voluntarily and at considerable personal expense, when it emerged he had lost out on the mega-money fight with Floyd Mayweather.

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Jose Pedraza Looking to Make Statement Over Edner Cherry

10/05/201510/02/2015 Olly Campbell

Unbeaten IBF 130lb champion Jose Pedraza (20-0, 12ko), makes the maiden defence of his title this weekend in Ohio on the Broner/Allakhverdiev undercard, and is looking to make a statement over Bahamian former world title challenger Edner Cherry (34-6-2, 19ko).

The former 2008 Olympian won the belt back in June on the undercard of Deontay Wilder’s maligned heavyweight title fight with Eric Molina, beating Russia’s Andriy Klimov in a competent and assured performance, and the Puerto Rican stylist is looking to go one better against the experienced Cherry.

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