We all witnessed it on Friday night. Britain’s Amir Khan receiving every bit of scorecard and referee assistance possible in a ludicrously scored contest (2 cards of 117-111 were extreme) against game American Chris Algieri, who not being a noted puncher – was a man he was supposed to blow away.
In his latest chat with fighthype.com, WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz has offered up his opinion on the next move for Floyd Mayweather, as well as questioning the levels of excitement the Pacquiao fight brought the fans – also offering up his own promises as to what we can expect to see from him in the near future.
Santa Cruz, involved in his own forgettable mismatch fight on the undercard on May 2nd, said without a hint of irony;
“It (May-Pac) wasn’t what was expected. It wasn’t what all the fans expected. I thought it was a little bit exciting too but (also) not what I expected. I think I would have liked to see more action and stuff like the other fans – but those fights happen.”
He has never been one to mince his words in the past and James DeGale certainly hasn’t this time either in his latest interview with fighthype.com – in which he yet again has a few choice words for Carl Froch.
The Harlesden super middleweight, who just captured the IBF 168lb with a gutsy display against a tough, mentally ‘right’ version of Andre Dirrell – has made it very clear there is no love lost between him and Nottingham’s “Cobra” – re asserting his belief that Froch doesn’t want to fight him out of cowardice.
With the various problems that have beset him outside of the ring during his career – notably the illness of his wife, who battled leukemia – Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero has not been as active as he would like to have been over the last few years and has told ThaBoxingVoice.com that now – under Al Haymon – regular, quality fights are no problem – and that inactivity should no longer harm his career.
Guerrero, who headlines the PBC broadcast from Carson, California on Saturday against Aaron Martinez, topped the inaugural event back in March when he dropped a decision to Keith Thurman over 12 hard fought rounds.
Following his sizzling demolition of Frankie Gavin at the weekend, it would appear that Kell Brook is ready to get straight back at it and into the gym, with promoter Eddie Hearn wanting to continue the Sheffield fighter’s fantastic momentum since returning from an horrific stabbing last year – hoping to have him out again, in his home city, on August 29th.
It would be the third outing for Brook this year – and with Amir Khan seemingly unwilling to fight the IBF champion, it means Hearn and Matchroom are looking at other options. Notably it seems, Brandon Rios, whose trainer Robert Garcia was recently vocal in his assertions that Brandon had been available all along for Saturday’s date in place of Frankie Gavin.
At the post fight presser on Saturday, Hearn said;
WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto steps in against Australia’s former world champion Daniel Geale on Saturday in New York – and during media sessions has spoken to fighthype.com to suggest he is not bothered by the potential size and reach advantages Geale – a proper 160lb fighter – will possess come the night.
The fight is being held at a catchweight of 157lb and much has been made of rehydration, particularly by promoter Gary Shaw, who has suggested Geale could weigh as much as 175lb – light heavyweight – when he steps between the ropes to face the far smaller Puerto Rican.
Cotto said;
Sadly it was not to be once more for Dagenham lightweight Kevin Mitchell last night – but after a brave and spirited performance – and third crack at a world title – the affable Londoner is left wondering where he can next go from here, with opposing views as to the future of the East London fighter.
Mitchell and Linares were always going to be the most intriguing fight on the card for me due to each man’s high skill level and individual frailties – and the bout did not disappoint in terms of action and excitement.
It was a name bestowed him by Boxing News magazine in honour of his silky skills and defensive genius – and last night Lee Selby lived up to the name and more by comprehensively bashing up Evgeny Gradovich – the IBF fighter of the year – and ripping away his 126lb world title in London.
Sadly it was an accidental clash of heads in the 7th that ultimately led to the fight being halted a round later and the scorecards were called for after the ringside doctor ruled Gradovich would be unable to continue.
After his sizzling one sided performance over Frankie Gavin last night in London – both Kell Brook and his promoter Eddie Hearn have insisted once more that they are willing to face Amir Khan, yet while Hearn says pressure must be placed by the media on the Bolton man to force the fight – Brook says he isn’t going to hang around, preferring to chase other lucrative opportunities if Khan won’t step up.
At last night’s post fight presser, Hearn compared the two after Khan’s points win over Chris Algieri, insisting his fighter would end the American inside 3 rounds.
On last night’s ‘Rule Britannia’ show from London – in which the British world title challengers enjoyed mixed fortunes – gold medal winning Olympian Anthony Joshua (13-0 , 13ko) absolutely destroyed American challenger Kevin Johnson inside 2 rounds to send shock-waves up the rankings and further put the division on notice regarding his arrival as a serious player.
Johnson – who had been sold as having never been stopped – was expected to give Joshua at least a few rounds, promising he would deliver and be the Brit fighters biggest test to date. And on paper – he was.