Former super-middleweight world champion, Lucian Bute, claims he is more than focused on his bid to reclaim his old title, meeting current IBF 168 lb belt holder, James DeGale on Saturday night in Quebec, and warning that the pressure is all on the Londoner.
DeGale is travelling to Bute’s Quebec backyard for the maiden defence of his title; his second fight in North America, having won his title in the US back in May against Andre Dirrell.
Former WBA heavyweight champion, David Haye, has predicted that Tyson Fury’s chances of dethroning Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday night are 1/20 at best, and that the gulf in class will be painfully apparent after the first bell sounds in Dusseldorf’s Esprit Arena.
Haye – who famously lost a wide points decision to Klitschko in 2011, and twice pulled out of fighting Fury, citing injury – is set for a ring return in January after 3 1/2 years out of action, and claims to be targeting the top once again under new trainer, Shane McGuigan, meaning an eventual fight with Fury could be on the cards should the Mancunian pull off the win on Saturday.
Tyson Fury has suggested he can make short work of Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday night in Dusseldorf, predicting his shot at the dominant Ukrainian’s WBO/WBA/IBF heavyweight titles will be one of the ‘easiest fights’ of his career.
The 6′ 9″ British challenger has not been short of confidence in the build up to his big chance, which he believes he is more than ready for, claiming he is prepared for any number of different outcomes once the first bell goes, and has seen more than enough holes he believes he can take advantage of in the 39 year old Klitschko’s game.
Newly retired former P4P star, Floyd Mayweather, has responded to Oscar De La Hoya’s recent ‘open letter’ that said boxing wouldn’t be missing the self-professed ‘TBE,’ thanks largely to his ‘boring’ style and carefully managed career moves, by saying that he never ducked or dodged anyone in his career, though neither did he promise ‘excitement’ in May’s anticipated clash with Manny Pacquiao either.
Mayweather was also dismissive of much of De La Hoya’s honest and – admittedly self-promoting – letter, stating his belief that the boxing world as a whole must miss him if he is constantly being talked about – especially with regard as to whether he will return for the attempt at 50-0 next year.
WBO/WBA/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (64-3, 53ko) has again stated his belief that Saturday’s defence of his titles against Tyson Fury (24-0, 18ko), is a fight that’s come too soon for his British challenger.
Fury enters into his 25th professional outing against a dominant Klitschko, who is undefeated in the last 11 1/2 years and going into his 68th pro contest, though for some is beginning to show small signs of age at 39 years old that the unbeaten Brit – a 7 year pro – can potentially take advantage of.
Wladimir Klitschko has said he ‘doesn’t care’ about the glove controversy that is potentially going to scupper Saturday’s heavyweight world title fight with Tyson Fury, and that in his eyes, Fury’s protestations and threats to pull out of the fight are merely ‘reality’ setting in.
Fury is concerned that his Klitschko-selected ‘Paffen’ fight-night gloves will be damaging to his thumbs, after a first test pair he was sent proved injurious in training, and has stated his concerns that a pair designed to different, more comfortable specifications – that he has also tested – will not be provided in time for the first bell.
IBF super-middleweight champion, James DeGale says he is pleading with advisor Al Haymon to set up a big money fight with WBC champion, Badou Jack after he dispatches Lucien Bute in Quebec on Saturday night.
DeGale takes on a 35-year old Bute, who, along with long-sidelines through injury, is no longer considered to be the fighter and former champion he once was, especially since being dispatched in five ruthless rounds by Carl Froch in 2012, and while ‘Chunky’ says he isn’t overlooking his hometown opponent, he definitely has one eye on bigger fights.
Former WBA heavyweight champion, David Haye (26-2, 24ko), has claimed that he wishes to surpass all prior boxing achievement with his comeback under new trainer, Shane McGuigan; a process that begins for the ‘Hayemaker’ on Jan. 16 at London’s O2 when he fights Australian, Mark De Mori (30-1-2, 26ko).
Haye – who also unified WBO/WBC/WBA 200 lb titles in a 10 year career – has not boxed for 3 and a half years, since he knocked out Dereck Chisora at London’s Upton Park in July 2012, and is also returning after an extensive period of rehabilitation on the injured shoulder that brought about his enforced retirement from the sport in the first instance.
Mick Hennessy at the press conference: “Why wouldn’t the Gloves arrive on time? This is the biggest prize in sport, heavyweight boxing. It’s a dream to be involved in this. Why wouldn’t they be able to turn it around? Will we have the ones we approved? He tried to get his hands used to them and he couldn’t. There’s a health and safety issue – the gloves have to be right for Tyson’s hands.”
British super-middleweight contender, George Groves, has confirmed he will be boxing on in the wake of his latest world title disappointment, and will return on Jan. 30 in London on a jointly promoted Sauerland/Matchroom card at the city’s Copper Box Arena.
Groves was beaten by WBC super-middleweight champion, Badou Jack on the Sep. 12 Mayweather/Berto undercard, his third world title tilt, and after speculation that he could retire after deleting his social media accounts and splitting from trainer, Paddy Fitzpatrick, the Londoner has finally announced his intention to continue trying to claim that elusive world strap.