Arguably the best, most evenly matched fight taking place on tomorrow’s big bill in Las Vegas – topped by you know what – the light-heavyweight clash between Nathan Cleverly and Badou Jack is not actually the fight Jack, who is moving up from 168, thought he’d be fighting.
Badou Jack
Jack vs Cleverly, Davis, Tabiti-Cunningham quotes for Sat. on Showtime PPV
Fighters competing on the Mayweather vs. McGregor undercard spoke to media and went face-to-face Thursday, one day before they weigh-in ahead of their Saturday, Aug. 26 showdowns at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The four-fight SHOWTIME PPV event, beginning live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, will feature undefeated rising star Gervonta “Tank” Davis making the second defense of his 130-pound title against undefeated challenger Francisco Fonseca plus light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly defending his belt against former super middleweight champion Badou Jack. The telecast begins with unbeaten Andrew Tabiti and former world champion Steve Cunningham meeting in a 10-round battle.
Overviewing the MayMac Undercard
On the American night of the 26th and the UK Dawn of 27th August, boxing will be released from its intriguing kidnap by Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor, as theyfinally meet in a ring at the centre of the T-mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
Boxing’s release ransom has beenably raised by a live gate that,according to StubHub, is already the second best-selling fight in the company’s history (MayPac being No.1) which will combine with PPV sales to make this the largest grossing combat sports event, period.
Cleverly vs Jack; Davis vs Fonseca quotes & photos for Saturday
Mayweather vs. McGregor fight week continued on Wednesday after the main event final press conference with open media workouts for fighters competing on the undercard this Saturday, Aug. 26 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The four-fight SHOWTIME PPV event, beginning live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, will feature undefeated rising star Gervonta “Tank” Davis making the second defense of his IBF Junior Lightweight World Championship against undefeated challenger Francisco Fonseca plus light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly defending his belt against former super middleweight champion Badou Jack. The telecast begins with unbeaten Andrew Tabiti and former world champion Steve Cunningham meeting in a 10-round battle.
Mayweather, McGregor grand arrival videos & photos
Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor official kicked off fight week events Tuesday with grand arrivals at the Toshiba Plaza ahead of the SHOWTIME PPV event this Saturday, Aug. 26 taking place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
(Esther Lin/SHOWTIME)
Also making an official grand arrival in Las Vegas was unbeaten Francisco Fonseca, who challenges 130-pound champion Gervonta Davis, plus light heavyweight titleholder Nathan Cleverly and former 168-pound champion Badou Jack, who meet in a 12-round title fight on the PPV undercard. The SHOWTIME PPV telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with unbeaten Andrew Tabiti and former world champion Steve Cunningham meeting in a 10-round battle after making their grand arrivals Tuesday.
Nathan Cleverly vs Badou Jack On Mayweather – Mcgregor Undercard
Nathan Cleverly will defend his WBA World Light Heavyweight title against Badou Jack on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor blockbuster at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas on Saturday, August 26, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Cleverly defeated hometown champion Juergen Braehmer last October to pick up the WBA title and makes his first defence against Jack, who steps up a weight after a two-year reign as WBC World Super Middleweight champion.
Badou Jack ordered to fight Callum Smith by WBC, but will Jack vacate and move up?
Badou Jack has barely been allowed enough time to get his breath back after Saturday’s rough and tough draw with James DeGale, yet the WBC super-middleweight champ has been ordered to begin negotiations with mandatory challenger Callum Smith.
Jack, as per the WBC order, has until February 17 to come to an agreement with the unbeaten Smith or the fight will go to purse bids. A good and interesting fight on paper, Jack-Smith might not even happen. Jack stated after the draw with IBF 168-pound champ DeGale that he struggles to make the weight and would prefer to move up to light-heavyweight – either to face DeGale again or to challenge reigning WBC 175-pound champ Adonis Stevenson.
Floyd Mayweather asks, “Are they [the judges] being paid under the table?” after Jack-DeGale draw
![Floyd Mayweather asks, “Are they [the judges] being paid under the table?” after Jack-DeGale draw](https://www.boxing247.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/degale-jack-mayweather-3.jpg "Photo: Floyd Mayweather asks, “Are they [the judges] being paid under the table?” after Jack-DeGale draw")
As fight fans are probably aware, superstar Floyd Mayweather had plenty to say, both before, during and after Saturday night’s big 168-pound unification fight between his fighter Badou Jack and Britain’s James DeGale. But it is what “Money” said after the controversial draw that saw both warriors keep their belt, that has attracted the most attention.
Mayweather was furious over the decision that denied Jack from adding the IBF title to the WBC he already holds, and he has even questioned whether the judges are “being paid under the table?” Mayweather is so angry, he is quoted, by The Mirror, as saying he may not come back to New York to promote any future fights.
The DeGale-Jack war could be just the start of a great 2017
The terrific battle super super-middleweights James DeGale and Badou Jack put on last night in New York may have exceeded expectations. Fans expected a good fight, but they arguably got a great one. The drawn verdict aside – a draw rarely pleases in boxing – we want to see more of what we were privileged to have seen last night.
And the way 2017 is shaping up, with a number of potentially great match-ups already confirmed and others likely to be announced over the coming months, fight fans might just get one of the best years in a long time.
Chris Eubank Jr says he wants James DeGale next – says he is “coming for the rest of those teeth!”
It seems Chris Eubank Junior has moved on from calling out middleweight king Gennady Golovkin, to shouting and screaming about what he will do to reigning IBF super-middleweight boss James DeGale. Recently, just before DeGale went to war in last night’s excellent fight with Badou Jack – a performance which Eubank Jnr has yet to match at any time in his career – the two went back and forth on Twitter.