Kathy Duva – Adonis Needs To Make Up His Mind

05/18/201505/18/2015 Olly Campbell

He has had his fair share of heat over Adonis Stevenson as of late, yet Main Events chief Kathy Duva has come to the defence of her fighter – WBO, WBA & IBF 175lb champion Sergey Kovalev – and spoken to fighthype.com to further clarify their position regarding any potential fight, saying “Adonis needs to make up his mind” whether or not he really wants to get in the ring with the Russian puncher.

With the main sticking point being the respective television deals of the fighters, it would appear that Duva will not back down over the fight needing to be on her broadcaster HBO – something that could crucially prevent it from happening.

continue

Caution Always Advised But There Won’t Be An Upset : Prediction – Golovkin v Monroe Jr

05/16/201505/16/2015 Olly Campbell

I have to admire ESPN’s Boxcino tournament winner Willie Monroe Jr’s (19-1, 6ko) attitude towards tonight’s impending clash with unbeaten Kazakh wrecking-machine Gennady Golovkin (32-0, 29ko). The slick, yet light punching southpaw believes in his heart of hearts that he can win this one – and deserves props for even stepping up to the challenge in my humble opinion, especially when it is clear that the division’s WBC champion Miguel Cotto – who fights former GGG victim Daniel Geale on June 6 – doesn’t seem to fancy the job.

Both fighters made weight yesterday and all the talk going into the fight, rather than focusing on Monroe Jr – is of Golovkin’s potential future fights with the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Cotto and even Floyd Mayweather.

continue

Broner v Porter – A Tasty Little Match-Up

05/16/2015 Olly Campbell

Say what you want about Al Haymon and his Premier Boxing Champions format – that he’s going to turn it and his stable of fighters into boxing’s UFC, fighting for in-house titles and the like – but scare stories aside – so far I have been nothing but impressed with both the brand itself and the quality of the fights that have been dished up to us, the fans.

Last week’s Burns v Figueroa fight is the most recent case in point, corrupt official aside – of an action packed contest that will surely bring in new fans as well as satisfy the existing ones – and now perhaps the most eagerly anticipated fight of the series yet – between Ohio natives Adrien Broner & Shawn Porter has been confirmed for June 20 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Vegas.

continue

Canada’s New ‘Golden Boy’ – Lemieux v N’Dam Preview

05/16/201505/15/2015 Olly Campbell

There have been some problems getting this fight together, promotionally – and with the rankings systems – but it would finally appear that the big punching Canadian David Lemieux (33-2, 31ko) and teak-tough Frenchman Hassan N’Dam (31-1, 18ko) are finally going to get it on – June 20, in Montreal, Quebec Canada.

For the French-Canadian fans it will certainly be a huge affair and a great fight stylistically with this fight representing the new Golden Boy Promotions signing attempting to make the jump from serious contender to bone-fide world champion.

continue

David Price: The Rebuilding Comes Home

05/16/201505/15/2015 Olly Campbell

After those devastating back to back knockout losses to American veteran Tony Thompson 2 years ago, Liverpool’s heavyweight contender David Price (19-2, 16ko) went away to lick his wounds and re-assess his career and his options.

As far as the boxing went, his life was in tatters. Then promoter Frank – now Kellie – Maloney, was going through her own turmoil and walked away from the sport. In the British media Price was written off as finished and ridiculed over his punch resistance. He truly was out in the cold.

Yet the big-punching Scouser decided not to pack it all in and after inking a promotional deal with German heavyweights Sauerland, has cautiously been rebuilding in confidence-building fights in Europe – mostly in Germany.

continue

Kell Brook v Frankie Gavin – “Funtime” Fancies The Job

05/16/201505/15/2015 Olly Campbell

Whether or not he chooses to use his former “funtime” moniker on May 30th, IBF world welterweight challenger Frankie Gavin has insisted he will be all business when he steps between the ropes to face Kell Brook at London’s O2 on Matchroom Sports bumper triple-header-world title card.

It’s no secret Gavin is going to be up against it fighting the slick Wincobank world champion who was excellent last time out returning from a nasty stab wound to the leg to destroy limited mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan.

The former world amateur champion, who has long been criticised for not fulfilling his obvious potential in the paid ranks, has spoken to Sky Sports about the fight – promising he will be the man to upset Brook on the night.

continue

The Time Has Come For James DeGale To Realise His Dream

05/15/201505/14/2015 Olly Campbell

A week Saturday, British gold medal winning Olympian James DeGale (20-1, 14ko) will attempt to make history when he turns road warrior and travels to Boston to challenge Andre Dirrell (24-1, 16ko) for the vacant IBF 168lb strap.

Should the talented Londoner succeed in his mission, he will become the first gold medal winning Brit in history to then go on and win a world title. Only Chris Finnegan who won gold at the 1968 Melbourne games ended up coming close – losing his shot to light-heavyweight legend Bob Foster in 1972 in the Ring Magazine’s Fight Of The Year.

continue

Khan Says Floyd Fight Chances ‘Better Than 50/50’

05/14/201505/14/2015 Olly Campbell

It’s pretty fair to say that Britain’s former 140lb world champion Amir Khan comes in for more than his fair share of stick – particularly over the fact that for the last two years he has (some say desperately and at the expense of his credibility) been pursuing a mega-money fight with P4P king Floyd Mayweather.

That and his not fighting domestic rival – IBF 147lb champion Kell Brook in a UK super-fight this Summer. Oh – and the fact that his next opponent is light hitting American Chris Algieri in a much maligned and ridiculed fight on the 29th.

Are you getting the idea?

continue

Willie Monroe Jr – ‘Ring IQ Wins Me This Fight’ – GGG v Monroe Jr

05/14/201505/14/2015 Olly Campbell

Saturday night sees slick, yet light punching Boxcino tournament winner Willie Monroe Jr (19-1, 6ko) attempt the seemingly impossible when he becomes the 33rd man to step between the ropes to face destructive puncher Gennady Golovkin.

Of the previous 32 men who took on the task – 29 failed to see the final bell.

This is going to be a massive ask for the relatively unknown American and represents a huge jump up in class from anyone he has faced before. To give you an idea for comparative purposes, Brian Vera – now due to fight Britain’s Rocky Fielding – is the best, and last, name on his resume.

continue

Canelo vs Golovkin – Abel Sanchez Wants It Sooner Rather Than Later

05/14/201505/14/2015 Olly Campbell

There are quite a few figures in boxing who are never short of something to say, one of the most vocal being veteran trainer Abel Sanchez, -for whom Gennady Golovkin is the latest of the world champions he has cornered.

Ahead of Golovkins upcoming 160lb bout with Boxcino tournament winner Willie Monroe Jr on Saturday, Sanchez has spoken to fighthype.com about the seemingly inevitable clash with Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in the wake of Saturday’s destruction of James Kirkland.

continue