Evander Holyfield Backs Anthony Joshua to Reach the Top of the Sport

09/18/201509/10/2015 Olly Campbell

Britain’s London 2012 Olympic gold medalist, Anthony Joshua, (13-0, 13ko) fights Scotland’s Gary Cornish for the Commonwealth heavyweight strap on Saturday night in London, and is one of the most highly touted young prospects in the whole of boxing at the minute.
Assuming that he is victorious in that fight as most expect, it sets up a December 12th, British title showdown with old amateur foe, Dillian Whyte, and the evidently naturally talented Joshua’s winning streak and pedigree has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of another former Olympian and heavyweight/cruiserweight world champion , Evander Holyfield – who is predicting big things ahead.

continue

Kell Brook Is a Pu* says Brandon Rios / I Hope Diego Chaves F** Him Up!

09/09/201509/09/2015 Olly Campbell

“Bam Bam” Brandon Rios is finally set to return to the ring in November against Timothy Bradley, a full 10 months after his dominant and destructive victory over an “out-of-sorts” ‘Mile High’ Mike Alvarado in their January rubber-match.

It’s been a long time coming for the Robert Garcia trained brawler, who, until reasonably recently, was all set to be coming to England to challenge IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook, until the fight fell apart at the advanced negotiation stage – over a number of different reasons – chief among them was thought to be financial minutiae – so at the last minute, Team Rios, and manager Cameron Dunkin, had to start their search for an opponent all over again.

continue

Dillian Whyte: Fights Brian Minto on Saturday / Calls Anthony Joshua a Fake Ahead of Their December 12th Clash

09/09/201509/09/2015 Olly Campbell

Provided both men come through their respective fights this weekend against Gary Cornish and Brian Minto, then unbeaten British heavyweight rivals Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte will indeed definitely be fighting on December 12th at London’s O2 Arena.

However, one is tempted to feel a little sorry for Whyte, who since signing to fight the Olympic gold medalist – and after being promised two decent warm up’s in preparation by promoter Eddie Hearn – has almost been treated as an afterthought in terms of getting him solid opposition, with a thrown together late notice opponent of Dominick Guinn being switched again last week to lower tier 40 year old cruiserweight, Minto.

continue

Nicholas Walters Likely to Return on December 12th says Arum

09/10/201509/09/2015 Olly Campbell

Unbeaten Jamaican “Axe Man,” Nicholas Walters, will be returning to the ring against a TBA opponent on December 12th, his promoter Bob Arum has revealed via ESPN.com.

The brakes were seemingly put on Walters’ sharp rise up the boxing ladder when he failed to make the 126 lb limit for his last fight, against Miguel Marriaga back in June, dropping his WBA (super) strap on the scales in the process, and now, as many thought he would, Arum has confirmed that a move to 130 lb is the most likely scenario for his fighter.

continue

Mayweather/Berto: 2,100 Tickets Still Left as Fans Vote With Wallets and Feet

09/09/201509/08/2015 Olly Campbell

The moment that Floyd Mayweather officially announced that he was to be fighting Florida’s Andre Berto for what is ostensibly the 49th and ‘final’ fight of his illustrious career, the reception from the boxing world – media and fans alike – was lukewarm, to put it mildly.

As not only the current #1 P4P star, but a rare breed of fighter who transcends the sport – his picking Berto – a man who has lost 3 of his last 6 – and then charging punters $75 for the privilege of watching it on PPV – left many feeling that Floyd is, for want of a better phrase , taking the pi**

continue

Jamie McDonnell Joins Chorus of Brits Shocked by Crazy US Scoring of Kameda Rematch

09/08/201509/08/2015 Olly Campbell

WBA (reg) bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell, has joined the chorus of passionate British fans outraged at some of the ‘unofficial’ US scoring of his entertaining rematch bout with Tomoki Kameda last Sunday, that saw experts such as Paulie Malignaggi and ESPN’s Dan Rafael, as well as many others in North America, seemingly favouring the out-hustled and out-worked Kameda.

The official scorecards of 116-111, 115-112 and 117-110, just about told the whole story between them, as in the eyes of this writer, after giving the left-hook happy Kameda rounds 1 and 2 – which he clearly won – it was difficult to give him too much else for the rest of the fight, although while scoring is indeed subjective, and many rounds were close, it’s a stretch how anyone could possibly have had Kameda ‘comfortably’ ahead, as Paulie Malignaggi suggested he did, on twitter.

continue

Peter Quillin: ‘I Can’t Afford to Overlook Michael Zerafa’

09/08/201509/08/2015 Olly Campbell

After his hard fought draw with Andy Lee back in April, in which the champion kept the WBO middleweight title, and he voided his right to win it on the scales, New York’s Peter Quillin (30-0-1, 22ko) returns to the ring in a routine, 10 round, 163 lb catch weight affair against Australian unknown Michael Zerafa (17-1, 9ko) on Saturday night.

Many are finding it hard to get excited about the PBC on NBC clash that for all intents and purposes, and with respect to Zerafa, is set to be a complete and utter mismatch, merely designed to warm Quillin up for a future date with fellow New Yorker and WBA (reg) 160 lb titlist, Daniel Jacobs – a fight that complete upset aside, is mooted for December.

continue

Badou Jack says He Will Finish George Groves Inside the Distance on Saturday

09/08/201509/08/2015 Olly Campbell

WBC super-middleweight champion Badou Jack is very confident ahead of his crunch maiden title defense against hard-hitting British challenger George Groves, predicting it will be he, and not the equally confident Londoner, who will be turning the lights out on Saturday.

Jack – a fully paid up member of “The Money Team,” and fighting under the Mayweather Promotions banner, is keen not to let the side down when he steps in against the former 2x world title challenger on the undercard of Floyd’s much maligned 49th PPV fight with Andre Berto, and is relishing the chance to prove that upsetting Anthony Dirrell to become champion isn’t a one off – he plans on retaining his belt in style.

continue

I’m In Boxing to be a Superstar says Tyson Fury

09/08/201509/07/2015 Olly Campbell

If he manages to upset the odds and dethrone long-time heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in Germany next month, then Britain’s colourful 6ft 9″ challenger, Tyson Fury, says it will not be the realisation of a dream for him, merely the start of one, as he is in boxing to be the best fighter Britain has produced, and ultimately, to become a ‘superstar’.

“I aim for the stars and winning a world title will not be the fulfillment of a dream for me. It never has been,” Fury said to Sky Sports.

continue

George Groves: Looking to Steal the Show on Mayweather/Berto Bill

09/08/201509/07/2015 Olly Campbell

This Saturday in Vegas, at the MGM Grand, Britain’s George Groves attempts to make it third time lucky, when he challenges Sweden’s Badou Jack for the “Ripper’s” WBC super middleweight title, on the undercard of the much-maligned Floyd Mayweather/Andre Berto headline PPV fight.

With the lack of enthusiasm for what many deem a flagrant cherry pick in Mayweather choosing Berto for dust-up number 49, Groves, who twice challenged Carl Froch for world honours, thinks his time to be crowned champion has at last arrived, and he feels he may even be able to upstage the self-professed “TBE” with the performance he plans on putting on beneath the headliners.

continue