Alexander Povetkin (23-0, 16 KOs) made a spectacular first defence of his WBA Heavyweight Title, knocking out Cedric Boswell (35-2, 26 KOs) in the eighth round of their clash in Helsinki, Finland. Fighting in front of a sell-out crowd of 12,738 fans at a rocking Hartwall Areena, Povetkin looked sharp from the first bell, cleverly picking his opponent apart. The 2004 Olympic gold medal winner took away Boswell´s jab and landed good combinations throughout. He turned it on in the seventh when he pelted the brave American with powerful shots – only for the bell to save him. In the eighth, Povetkin then finished him off with a series of hard punches that knocked Boswell down and out. “This was a good win for me,” he stated afterwards. “The preparation with Teddy Atlas had gone very well. I did what I was supposed to do in the ring and I am happy about the result.”
At the post-fight press conference, World Boxing Organization (WBO) Cruiserweight Champion Marco “Captain” Huck stormed to the podium to challenge Povetkin. “I have defended my title eight times, I need a new challenge at heavyweight,” Huck said. Povetkin was quick to accept: “Let´s get it on,” he replied.
In the co-featured main event, WBA/WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion Robert Helenius (17-0, 11 KOs) clinched the vacant European Heavyweight Title with a split decision victory over Dereck Chisora (15-2, 9 KOs). Backed by his ferocious home fans, Helenius hurt Chisora with a big right in the first round to kick off an exciting encounter that featured a lot of close rounds. Two judges ruled it 115-113 for Helenius, while the third judge scored it 115-113 for Chisora. “This was the toughest fight of my life,” Helenius said after going the distance for the first time in his professional career. “I hurt my hand in the first round when I hit him and that affected me in the following rounds. The atmosphere was fantastic.” Chisora disagreed with the verdict. “I won this fight, no doubt about it,” was amongst the things he said at the post-fight press conference. “I took the fight to him and I should have won.”
Hall of Fame Promoter Wilfried Sauerland said he will negotiate a rematch. “It was a lucky win for Robert,” he stated. “We will offer Chisora a rematch but first Robert has to make his mandatory defence against Dimitrenko.”
On the undercard, WBA/WBC/WBO Female Welterweight Champion Cecilia Braekhus (19-0, 5 KOs) defended her title collection with a tenth-round TKO victory over Kuulei Kupihea (7-2, 1 KO).
Lemieux vs. Alcine WBC Int. middleweight title fight Live on FIGHT NOW TV Saturday Night from Montreal, Canada
HOBOKEN, New Jersey (December 5, 2011) – America’s only 24-hour combat sports and entertainment channel — FIGHT NOW TV TM — keeps the LIVE action coming as it delivers a night of championship boxing this Saturday December 10 starting at 7:30 PM/ET, from Montreal, Canada.
“We are very excited to be working with Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) and DiBella Entertainment to bring our viewers this exciting card,” said Mike Garrow, GM and co-founder of FIGHT NOW TV. “Both GYM and DiBella have some dynamic fighters in their organizations and it’s great to see promoters come together and give fans the fights they want to see.”
The main event will showcase 22 year-old, power-punching David Lemieux (25-1, 24 KO), the WBC No. 3-rated contender, who puts his World Boxing Council (WBC) International middleweight title belt on the line against former WBA World super welterweight title-holder Joachim “Ti-Joa” Alcine (32-2-1, 19 KOs). Both fighters will be fighting to “reboot” their respective careers, failing to garner wins in their most recent bout.
Montreal has a rich history of hosting tremendous fights and developing great pro boxers. There is little doubt the electric atmosphere will add to the excitement Saturday evening when local favorites Lemieux and Alcine step into the ring in front of a loud hometown crowd.
In the co-feature, fans will also have an opportunity to watch super middleweight sensation Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (15-1, 12 KOs), ranked No. 7 by the WBA, defend his North American Boxing Association championship, as well as fight for the vacant North American Boxing Organization title, against recent IBO super middleweight title contender Aaron Pryor, Jr. (16-4, 11 KO). The challenger brings a strong fight pedigree as his father is International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee and two-time world light welterweight champion, Aaron “Hawk” Pryor.
A replay of this event will also air Monday, Dec. 12 at 10 PM/ET as part of FIGHT NOW TV’s “Every Night a Different FIGHT” programming slot.
FIGHT NOW TV is available on Cablevision channel 464 as part of the iO Sports & Entertainment Pak.
About FIGHT NOW TV: With offices in New Jersey, Las Vegas and Toronto, FIGHT NOW TV is a cross-platform media company that creates and distributes content through its television, video on demand, and online outlets.
FIGHT NOW TV has also enlisted one of the fight game’s biggest names to join its camp, former 5-time UFC champion and MMA legend Randy Couture, who serves as both spokesperson and analyst for the channel.
FIGHT NOW TV, It’s ON! Call Your Television Provider To Order!
For more information about FIGHT NOW TV go on line at www.fightnow.com, or follow on Twitter@fightnowtv and Facebook.com/fightnowtv.
FIGHT CAMP 360° Premieres New Episode this Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME
Only 10 days out from the eagerly awaited culmination of boxing’s most innovative tournament, episode 11 of FIGHT CAMP 360°: Inside the Super Six World Boxing Classic will premiere this Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME®. The latest edition whisks fight fans through the respective two-year paths that led super middleweight champions Andre Ward and Carl Froch to The Final on Dec. 17.
The program will also include behind-the-scenes highlights from the promotion’s international press tour, the taping of Staredown: Ward vs. Froch and the cut Ward suffered that forced the postponement of The Final. In the show’s exclusive interviews, viewers will hear from both fighters, members of their camps, SHOWTIME boxing analyst Al Bernstein and ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr.
BAM on Boxing Telling It Like It Is
Maybe it was his voice, his attitude, or the outspoken tendencies of the late sportscaster Howard Cosell, but there always was energy in the fights he announced. He announced many historic matches and today’s generation deserves that same energy. History was made in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, not only for Philadelphia, but for the sport of boxing. Cosell would have enjoyed it.
Philadelphia welterweight Mike Jones was put in a fight that was supposed to push him to his limits–and he made it look easy. Jones fought Sebastian Lujan, of Santa Fe, Argentina, in a 12-round IBF elimination bout on the Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito undercard. Should Jones have stopped Lujan? Some say yes, but there’s no need to complain because Jones did a great job under the lights.
Had that fight taken place in Philadelphia or Atlantic City, where Jones’ fan base resides, the crowd would have been buzzing and the fight would have been considered exciting. Any fan can look back on a performance and criticize, but why not accentuate the positive.
Jones controlled every aspect of the fight from the moment he stepped into the ring until the moment he left, and he did it with ease. Lujan consistently came forward and, by using lateral movement and leading with the jab, Jones won nearly every round of the fight.
clip_image006 Jones’ laid-back personality comes out in the ring. He fights a very relaxed and well-composed fight from beginning to end. When it was over, Jones looked as though he could have gone 15 rounds.
Headlining Saturday night’s Top Rank Promotion was the Cotto-Margarito rematch. Cotto gave Margarito some boxing lessons that started just after midnight. He reminded me of a mix of Wilfred Benitez and Sugar Ray Leonard.
This fight was better than other historic fights such as Leonard-Roberto Duran II where Duran quit in the middle of the eighth round. Cotto mirrored the image of a pure boxer that night, a side his fans have not seen much of lately. The typical brawler showed us that he is more than one-dimensional.
By using every weapon in his arsenal–short of the knockout punch–Cotto was nearly flawless. Margarito was swinging at air all night, though he did force the action and made every round a quality round.
Cotto won due to a stoppage before the 10th round. Margarito’s right eye was swollen shut and the ringside physicians called for a halt. Perhaps the fight could have gone on, but for what purpose and at what cost to Margarito’s already surgically repaired eye.
Being in the range of Margarito’s reach and slipping punches and landing crisp clean shots made Cotto look outstanding. Cotto listened to his team between rounds and he executed when the bell sounded. Margarito played right into his game plan and followed Cotto around the ring all night long. Margarito’s eye paid the price!
Going from being a fighter who people thought had lost it all after his knockout loss to Margarito in their first fight, to showcasing his talents last Saturday, Cotto truly impressed me and fought like a champion.
The author is a senior at Temple University who is now a part of Peltz Boxing. Follow us on twitter @Peltzboxing and our intern @bamonboxing.