After his recent ill-advised “racist” tweet ostensibly suggesting that 175lb rival and WBC champion Adonis Steven (26-1, 21ko) is a chimpanzee, unbeaten Russian banger Sergey Kovalev (27-0-1, 24ko) has gone on twitter once again to attempt to hype any potential clash – albeit in a slightly less offensive manner.
Two tweets from the “Krusher” in particular have been re-tweeted hundreds of times.
The first read;
168lb boss Carl Froch, recently stripped of his WBA (reg) title for inactivity, has hinted more than enough recently that the end is nigh. Promoter Eddie Hearn also waded in last week to say he too suspects we’ve seen the last of “The Cobra”, yet The Daily Star are reporting that long time trainer and Team GB Olympic boxing head coach Rob McCracken, may well think otherwise.
Provided Froch fights on for the right reasons – and not just the money – then the former fighter-turned-trainer can feasibly see a return.
He said;
The saga began with Crolla being due to face then-champ Richar Abril for the belt but fate intervened before Christmas when the Manchester prizefighter was hit over the head with a concrete slab confronting burglars at a neighbour’s home.
A fractured skull and a broken ankle, sustained during the assault has kept him out of action until now.
For anybody wondering exactly where top British 122lb fighter Kid Galahad (18-0, 9ko) has been, then the answer has become ominously clearer thanks to a piece of breaking news from The Daily Star in the UK.
Galahad, who last boxed in September 2014 – winning a decision against Brazilian Adeilson Dos Santos gave a positive urine sample following the fight according to the paper and has been handed a 2 year ban by the UK’s NADA – (National Anti-Doping Agency)
I like Deontay Wilder (33-0, 32ko), lets just say that before I go any further with this article – but I am firmly in an underwhelmed majority, who are quietly sniggering at his choice of opponent for the maiden defence of his WBC heavyweight title – the unheralded and decidedly NOT world-class Eric Molina (23-2, 17ko)
I think it’s fair to say this isn’t the most fantastic use of Wilder’s voluntary defence, but honestly – for a world champ who only knocked over part-timers and mis-matched pros before fighting Stiverne and winning his title, what did we really expect?
Promoter Eddie Hearn made an interesting point today, regarding the situation and his fighter – up & coming Olympic Gold medal winning prospect Anthony Joshua (12-0, 12ko)
Since he beat Manny Pacquiao 10 days ago, the calls for Floyd Mayweather to face all manner of opponents next have ignited social media – suggestions from the likely to the frankly ridiculous and everything in between.
Wladimir Klitschko at a catch-weight anyone??
All joking aside, on my “highly unlikely” list is the shout for a 154lb contest with big-hitting Kazakh Gennady Golovkin.
Promotional disputes in boxing can sadly deprive a talented young fighter of crucial peak years in their careers. Most recently we have seen the likes of Andre Ward out of the ring for extended periods due to wrangling over contractual issues – yet at least he is now set to return on June 20th.
Another fighter losing massive chunks of his career is 2-weight world champion, undefeated Mexican-American, Mikey Garcia – brother of Oxnard based trainer Robert Garcia.
Garcia has been in contractual dispute with Bob Arum for some time now and last boxed in January of 2014 when he beat Juan Carlos Burgos.
WBA (reg) 122lb champion Scott Quigg (30-0-2, 22ko) has once again dodged the Guillermo Rigondeaux bullet with the announcement that he will defend his title on July 18th in Manchester against Spain’s Kiko Martinez. (32-5, 24ko)
After negotiations for a massive unification clash with Belfast’s IBF champion Carl Frampton falling through recently, it would seem Eddie Hearn has turned to Martinez for comparative purposes.
The former world and European champion has been twice beaten by Frampton in the past – in February 2013 when he was stopped (for the only time in his career) and again last September when he surrendered his belt via 12 round decision.
In a refreshing move, Matchroom Sport’s Eddie Hearn has admitted that should his fighter choose to go on and bow out in a big stadium fight in America in the Summer – murderous punching middleweight Gennady Golovkin would be one to swerve.
However, in speaking to the Daily Mail, “Fast Car” has conceded it is unlikely that Nottingham’s Froch will look to extend his 13 years as a professional with another contest – choosing instead to go out on the famous KO of George Groves in their Wembley rematch a year ago.
Dan Birmingham trained welterweight star Keith Thurman(25-0, 21ko) has spoken to fighthype.com about the future of the welterweight division in the wake of the Mayweather/Pacquiao saga to say that while Floyd is undoubtedly P4P #1 in the world, Manny Pacquiao has certainly dropped in his estimations.
The undefeated Florida star, who is never short of confidence said of the Filipino legend;
“Floyd is definitely the top dog. But Manny Pacquiao….what was that loss for Manny? Number 6? Number 7 in his career?” (6)