Legendary 50 year old future Hall of Famer and certified freak of nature, Bernard Hopkins (55-7-2, 32ko), is in talks about a potential 2016 bout with Germany’s WBO super-middleweight champion, Arthur Abraham (43-4, 29ko).
Hopkins has made no secret about wishing to capture a world title at 168 lbs, having previously dominated at 160, as well as claiming world 175 lb honours over the course of his 27 year professional career.
Since earning a pair of career high paydays in back-to-back world title challenges to Floyd Mayweather, Marcos Maidana has been relaxing and enjoying the good life back home in Argentina with no serious signs of return, although according his to manager, Sebastian Contursi, ‘Chino’ will indeed be back in action sometime in the early part of 2016.
It’s also possible when he does make his return that the Argentine former 2 weight champ will be looking to capture world honours at a third weight – 154lbs – making him the first Argentinian boxer in history to achieve such a feat.
New Russian citizen and long faded modern great, Roy Jones Jr, has confirmed that he will fight Welsh former cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli on November 28th in the former Soviet state, as he continues his quest for an elusive Cruiserweight world title.
Maccarinelli, now 35, is penciled in to box on October 10th in Newport, Wales in a scheduled 8 round contest on a Warrior Promotions card against a TBA opponent, although Jones is under the impression that the Welshman will be boxing for a title – a title he told TMZ.com that will be on the line when the two eventually square off in November.
Today’s [Weds] London presser for October 24th’s Klitschko v Fury world title clash started out as a colourful, light hearted affair as the giant 6′ 9″ British challenger – much to the delight of those in attendance – turned up to proceedings in a flashy Lamborghini sports car dressed head to toe in a Batman suit.
After a pre-planned stunt involving Fury wrestling with a member of his team – appropriately dressed as the caped crusader’s villainous comic book foe ‘The Joker’ – it didn’t take long for the good natured mood to sour, with the visibly riled Fury eventually having to be restrained by his father, John, as he screamed insults at the unflappable champion, who had repeatedly referred to him as a ‘clown.’
After a pretty serious shoulder surgery, some convenient divine intervention and regular immersion in that most hallowed of medicinal aids – [saltwater], Manny Pacquiao will return to action no later than April of 2016 according to his promoter Bob Arum.
After tearing his rotator cuff in May’s disappointing mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather, there was some initial speculation that the Filipino would be looking to close out his contractual obligations and wind down his Hall of Fame worthy career with a couple of lower-key fights before retiring, although speaking to ESPN.com, Arum has confirmed that is not the case.
The American’s don’t have the best of the heavyweight division at the moment, with Shannon Briggs the last native to [briefly] hold a portion of the crown 8 years ago before current WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder came along and picked up the green belt in January.
With Beijing 2008 bronze medalist Wilder suffering widespread criticism for his upcoming fight against Johann Duhaupas on Saturday, two of the country’s next best divisional stars make an outing on the undercard in front of a network [terrestrial] audience, although as with the headliner, both are going in against relatively underwhelming opposition.
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is still attempting to talk up his maligned PBC on NBC fight that takes place this Saturday night against little known Frenchman, Johann Duhaupas, although the rest of the world outside his Alabama backyard – where the fight takes place – seem not to care.
The Al Haymon advised fighter is under heavy fire from all quarters for the quality of the opposition he has selected since winning the belt in January against Bermane Stiverne, in what remains a career best performance – and as it stands today at time of writing [tuesday] no broadcaster in the UK has chosen to pick up the rights to screen Saturday’s clash with Duhaupas.
WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley has issued a warning to IBF champ Kell Brook not to underestimate roughouse Argentine Diego Chaves in October, claiming the champion ‘doesn’t know what he’s in for.’
Brook fights Chaves on October 24th in his Sheffield backyard – on the Sky Box Office platform – and has been met with an unenthusiastic reception to the contest from fans keen to see him in the big fights against top names, as promised repeatedly by promoter Eddie Hearn.
Yoann Pablo Hernandez (29-1, 14ko), Cuba’s frequently inactive IBF cruiserweight champion, has been stripped of his title following yet more injury, again ruling him out of October 2nd’s clash with Argentina’s Victor Ramirez, who has now been upgraded to full champion status by the governing body after the fight was already previously postponed.
Ramirez (22-2, 17ko) will still box on the 2nd in Argentina, with British contender and IBF #14, Ovil McKenzie (25-12, 13ko) handed a surprise shot at the new South American champion.
With a Scott Quigg/Nonito Donaire fight looking increasingly like it won’t happen – after comments made by the latter’s wife recently – a degree of hope and expectation has once again turned to the sought-after domestic world title clash at super bantamweight between Quigg and Northern Ireland’s IBF boss, Carl Frampton.
Speaking to mirror.co.uk however, the WBA (reg) champion’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has expressed his distaste at what he calls ‘arrogance’ from the Northern Irishman’s camp, complaining the fight is once again moving further away after his revised financial offer to the ‘Jackal’s’ team was turned down.