Adrien Broner v Khabib Allakhverdiev Bout Hit By Top Rank Protest / Broner Pi**** With Dan Rafael

08/29/201508/29/2015 Olly Campbell

If promotional heavyweights Top Rank have their way, then October 3rd’s penciled in light welterweight title fight between Al Haymon advised Ohioian motor-mouth Adrien Broner (30-2, 22ko) and Russia’s Khabib Allakhverdiev (19-1, 9ko) will NOT be for the vacant WBA (reg) 140 lb title, as is currently scheduled.

Thanks to the WBA’s ludicrous insistence of crowning three tiers of champion per weight class – Super, Regular and Interim, the promotional giant, who look after 140lb interim champion Jose Benavidez Jr (23-0, 16ko), have taken exception to the fact that Broner and Allakhverdiev, fighters who both lost their last outings, will be able to clash for the ‘regular’ belt recently vacated by Danny Garcia, ahead of their fighter.

continue

Matthew Macklin Wants One Last Run at a Title / Secures Victory in Marbella Last Night

08/29/201508/29/2015 Olly Campbell

Former 2x middleweight world title challenger Matthew Macklin (33-6, 22ko) is convinced he has still has more to give at the top level, and took another small step toward getting his career back on track last night in Marbella, when he stopped German club fighter Chris Hermann (19-7-1, 10ko) inside a round on a show put on by the promotional arm of his MGM gymnasium, which is located in the Spanish resort.

‘I touched him (Hermann) with the uppercut to bring his hands up and that gave me the opening to the liver/floating rib area… when you land clean there with a bit of power, not too many guys get up from it,’ Macklin said following the body shot victory.

continue

Artur Beterbiev v Sullivan Barrera Set for IBF Eliminator for Right to Face Kovalev

08/29/201508/28/2015 Olly Campbell

Big-hitting Russian Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9ko) finally has an opponent for his IBF 175lb final eliminator – number #9 ranked Cuban, Sullivan Barrera (16-0, 11ko), in a fight that will determine the mandatory challenger to Beterbiev’s countryman and IBF, WBA (sup) and WBO light heavyweight champion, Sergey Kovalev.

Beterbiev’s team, including promoter Yvon Michel, recently opted out of facing Kovalev in Russia in November, choosing instead to go the eliminator route, and ostensibly give their man a little more time and experience before getting in with old foe Kovalev, whom incidentally Beterbiev beat twice previously in the amateurs.

continue

Lee Selby: Intent on Making Big Stateside Splash / Off to LA for Santa Cruz v Mares

08/28/201508/28/2015 Olly Campbell

Britain’s IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby (21-1, 8ko) has once again affirmed that he is hoping to ultimately secure the big fights in the division, and after his recent “statement of intent” signing with hugely influential advisor Al Haymon, the unassuming Welshman is heading out to be ringside at Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions fight between potential divisional rivals Leo Santa and Abner Mares, keeping one eye of course, on the winner.

Selby, who relieved IBF fighter of the year Evgeny Gradovich of his title in London back in May, has long been talked about as a future international star on British shores, and following the lead of other British/Irish fighters Amir Khan, Carl Frampton and James DeGale, his signing with Haymon shows just how serious he is about that aim, with a potential fight with Saturday’s winner a realistic future possibility.

continue

Hurricane Fears Postpone Saturday’s Roy Jones Jr Fight With Danny Santiago

08/28/201508/28/2015 Olly Campbell

Veteran former four weight world titlist Roy Jones Jr, who continues to fight on at 46 in the quest of an elusive title at cruiserweight, has had his fight this Saturday on the tiny Dutch Island of Philipsberg Sint Maarten in the Caribbean postponed through severe weather concerns.

It would seem to many that Mother Nature is trying to tell the long faded former champ something, although the fight with fellow old timer and former 175 lb world title challenger Danny Santiago has unfortunately not been cancelled, and will be re-arranged for a later date.

continue

Carl Froch: I Want Groves to Win the World Title Against Badou Jack

08/28/201508/28/2015 Olly Campbell

Newly retired former 168lb world boss Carl Froch has shown a refreshingly mature attitude toward bitter rival George Groves’ impending WBC super middleweight title fight with Badou Jack, publicly putting their feud aside for the greater good: The success of British boxing on the world stage.

Froch, who twice beat Groves, including the famous “in-front of 80k at Wembley” second fight, has obviously had ample time for reflection since that night – his last in-ring outing , and as well as settling into his television punditry duties, is now focused on life with his young family, and the ‘change’ in attitude, especially regarding Groves, is telling.

continue

Miguel Cotto: Not Ruling Out Future Mayweather Rematch Should Floyd Fight On

08/27/2015 Olly Campbell

WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto faces a tough ask when he defends his title against the younger, stronger ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on November 21st, in what is set to be a massive Mexico v Puerto Rico prizefight in Las Vegas.

The Puerto Rican modern great – the first fighter from the country to capture 4 world titles at 4 different weights – says he is still feeling fresh at 34 years of age, and that after hanging them up seemed to be a reasonable option not so long ago, the rejuvenation he has experienced under veteran trainer Freddie Roach means retirement is now “another two, three more years” away, and a possible rematch with Floyd Mayweather is a realistic option should Floyd fight on after September.

continue

Canelo Leaving No Stone Unturned in Preparations for Miguel Cotto Challenge

08/27/2015 Olly Campbell

He will enter his WBC middleweight fight with Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33ko) in Las Vegas a slight favourite in the eyes of many fans and trade insiders, especially given his youth and natural size and strength advantages over the Puerto Rican champion, however Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (45-1-1, 32ko) is keen not rest on his laurels, telling media on this week’s press tour that he will leave no stone unturned in his preparations for the November 21st Mexico v Puerto Rico mega-fight.

“I feel the honor and pride of fighting for my country. (It’s a) big responsibility and the best thing I can do to honor that is prepare and win my fight,” Canelo said.

continue

Andrzej Fonfara: After Cleverly I Want a Rematch With Adonis Stevenson

08/27/201508/27/2015 Olly Campbell

It has now been officially confirmed and announced that Chicago based Pole Andrzej Fonfara will indeed be facing former WBO 175lb champion Nathan Cleverly at the “Windy City’s” UIC Pavillion on October 16th, in a Premier Boxing Champions on Spike broadcast.

At the first official presser to announce the fight yesterday (Weds), Fonfara, who battered Julio Cesar Chavez Jr into quitting on his stool in April, is insistent that while he isn’t looking past Cleverly, he is more keen to right past wrongs – wrongs that he feels include his UD loss to lineal WBC 175lb champ Adonis Stevenson from May of 2014.

continue

Gary Cornish Really Fancies the Task Ahead of Anthony Joshua Fight

08/27/201508/27/2015 Olly Campbell

Unbeaten Scottish heavyweight Gary Cornish (21-0, 12ko) has been something of a “forgotten man” ahead of his September 12th Commonwealth title clash with Anthony Joshua in London, as British fans in particular await AJ’s mooted end of year clash with fellow unbeaten Londoner Dillian Whyte, seemingly looking straight past the Inverness man.

However, September’s clash isn’t a popularity contest, and Cornish’s manager – veteran Scottish fight figure Tommy Gilmour – who looks after the fighter with the assistance of returning sex-swap promoter Kellie Maloney, feels his man is in the best possible shape and should not be overlooked ahead of the biggest fight of his career.

continue