Boxing News: Read about all the latest happenings in the world of boxing with our columnist Big Sam. Sam tells it how it is and pulls no punches with his views on recent events.
Boxing News
Bored at home? Well, check out some of these classic fights online. They will definitely keep you entertained!
1. Kendall Holt vs Ricardo Torres II
2. George Foreman vs Ron Lyle
3. Jack Dempsey vs Luis Angel Firpo
4. Chris Eubank vs Nigel Benn I
5. Roy Jones vs Richard Hall
If that’s not enough, then take a look at our Boxing DVDs for sale.
Boxing DVDs
All-action fighter Christian ‘Coqqos’ Schembri took his tally to 19 wins with a comprehensive victory over Angel Emilov on October 2nd.
Although Schembri’s skills are definitely improving, it was the sport of boxing who was the real winner on the night.
It was the third time that the nation of Malta hosted a spectated boxing event since July, as the rest of the boxing world looked on with envy.
We should all celebrate the fact that Malta is keeping spectated boxing events alive during the COVID-19 crisis. They are showing that with the correct precautions in place, fans can safely attend boxing matches.
I take my hat off to the promoters and boxing authorities of Malta.
So old man Povetkin produces a devastating punch and KO’s Whyte, eh? There is already talk of a rematch AND talk that Whyte’s long awaited shot at the title will now be delayed even further…
I don’t know why Eddie Hearn keeps complaining about Whyte’s ‘1,000,000’ days as the WBC’s #1 contender; he could easily have set up a rematch with AJ anytime – which would have got Whyte a title shot!
I guess he was just looking after his business interests, hoping that Whyte could pick up the WBC title while AJ holds all the rest. Then a rematch and unification bout could have been made. But it seems that plan is up in the air after Povtekin’s win. Sorry, Eddie…
BoxBets has launched it’s own Instagram page! Follow us and see our daily updates of amusing boxing images! Check us out @boxets.co.uk
The world’s first spectated boxing event since COVID-19 lockdown took place on July 5th in Malta. Over 1,000 passionate fans turned up at the Montekristo to watch a trilogy match between Britain’s Scott Dixon and exciting talent Christian ‘Coqqos’ Schembri.
Going into the fight, the boxers were on one win each and fans were eager to see who would win the decider. A global audience also tuned in as the fight was broadcast by Fite TV, Iconic Sports TV, and KOTV.
After 10 grueling rounds of action, it was Schembri who came out as the unanimous winner on the judges scorecards. Interestingly, Schembri was also a co-promoter of the event.
Boxing News: When asked who would win the fantasy fight between Ali and Tyson, Anthony Joshua felt it would be Iron Mike who would take victory.
The Ali-Tyson fantasy fight has been discussed a lot recently, what with the eWBSS tournament pitting the two legends against each other in the final. Tyson won the computerised version of the fight, and AJ thinks a real fight would have had a similar outcome.
“I just believe Tyson was better schooled because times have evolved, he was more developed with more science, more information. So Tyson would have won – in my humble opinion.” said Joshua.
Boxing News: Now then, if you believe the latest rumours, Tyson Fury’s team are busy working away to ensure their man to faces Anthony Joshua in his next bout.
Apparently, my old pals Frank Warren and Bob Arum don’t want the all British clash to be pushed back to 2021 due to COVID-19. They are keen for it to happen sooner rather than later – and sooner means maybe October!
That’s all well and good, but would mean both Deontay Wilder and Kubrat Pulev stepping aside. Easier said than done! Wilder has already invoked his rematch clause to fight Fury for a third time, and Pulev has been waiting to face Joshua since 2017 when he had to withdraw injured from their proposed bout.
Mind you, in boxing anything can happen and it usually does…
And Mike Tyson comes out on top! If you didn’t follow it, the World Boxing Super Series set up a knockout tournament to determine the greatest heavyweight of all time. Of course, with most boxers being retired and Live sport currently being put on hold, this was done online in the form of a computer game.
Tyson beat Butterbean and George Foreman on his way to the final. Muhammad Ali, the other finalist, overcame Evander Holyfield and old foe Sonny Liston in the semi-final. But it was Tyson who proved to be the greatest of all time by beating Ali on points in the final itself.
Boxing News: Kubrat Pulev is definitely keen to get a shot at the world title again! He has come out and said he would happily fight Anthony Joshua behind closed doors, if a ban on large gatherings in still in place in June.
Scheduled to fight Joshua on the 20th of June, he is clearly worried that the bout will be postponed or even scrapped in favour of an AJ-Fury clash.
Unfortunately for Pulev, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn doesn’t share his enthusiasm for the idea. Hearn insists that any AJ fight must be in front of a live audience to generate atmosphere.
Boxing News: Are you missing live boxing? Well, the WBSS have a novel idea to keep you entertained – a computer generated knock-out tournament.
Legendary boxers such as Ali, Foreman, and Frazier are ‘taking part’, as well as a couple of non-legends such as Butterbean and David Haye!
The fights are streamed live on the WBSS Facebook page each day at 5pm (GMT). The final will happen on Sunday 29th of March.
Christian ‘Coqqos’ Schembri put in an excellent performance when challenging Nathan Heaney for the vacant IBO Continental Title in Stoke.
Unfortunately Coqqos lost on points, but he showed tremendous heart and determination giving 100% right up until the final bell. On a few occasions it looked like he was about to turn the fight in his favour.
Making his British debut, I think it is fair to say that Christian has won over many new fans – he received an ovation from the home support as he left the ring.
Both Christian and Heaney raised their game for this bout, and the British media are calling it an ‘epic battle’. The spectators at the Kings Hall definitely got their money’s worth that night.
We hope to see Christian in a British ring again very soon, but for now, take a look at our exclusive interview with him.
10 fights that fans want to see this year!
It looks like 2020 is going to be some year for heavyweight boxing! And it seems we might even have an undisputed heavyweight champion by the end of December too!
First off, Wilder has activated his rematch clause and will fight Fury for a third time. Their next bout is scheduled to happen on July 18th back at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the same location as the previous encounter. I don’t think the public will be so interested in this bout – Fury has outclassed Wilder twice now and I see him toying with the American next time around too.
Of more interest is the proposed Fury vs Joshua bout. A clash that would give us an undisputed champion with all four major belts. Eddie Hearn says that talks are already underway for this bout to happen in December of this year – now that would be a Christmas treat indeed! We just need Fury to dispatch with Wilder again and Joshua to get past old man Pulev.
Boxing News: So it’s finally on! Anthony Joshua will face Kubrat Pulev on the 20th of June at Spur’s football ground.
These two were meant to fight a few years back, but Pulev had to pull out due to injury – and I think the postponement suited Eddie Hearn just fine.
Pulev is a dangerous opponent, but is almost 40 years old now and AJ will be catching him at the right time.
Just like with the Povetkin fight, Josuha will be facing a quality opponent, but someone whose best days are behind him. In boxing, timing is everything.
I knew it! I knew It! I always said that Wilder would come out with some daft excuse for losing to Fury – but this really takes the biscuit! Claiming his pre-fight costume was a tad heavy was ridiculous.
That excuse has to be up there with David Haye and his ‘sore toe’ following his defeat to Klitschko. I wonder what Jack Dempsey or Rocky Marciano would make of these excuses?
And as for slamming his corner for throwing in the towel… To be honest, I think they did you a favour, Deontay. It’s their job to save you from punishment and the fight was lost at that stage.
Boxing News: Eddie Hearn says Fury vs Joshua WILL happen!
Watch the Fury vs Wilder post-fight press conference
TYSON FURY!!!!!! He did it – and not in the way many of us expected either. How many of you thought Fury would win on points? And yet the big man stopped Wilder in the seventh.
Excellent performance where he took the centre of the ring and was the aggressor from the start.
Deontay Wilder will no doubt claim that a burst eardrum (caused by the second round knockdown) was the sole reason why he didn’t win. Expect him to come out with other nonsense like he would have gone on to win if it hadn’t been for his team throwing in the towel; or on current form, he may claim that he actually won the fight – just like he claims he won the first fight!!!
Whatever excuses Wilder comes out with, it doesn’t matter. Fury has now beaten him TWICE!
Fury must now be seen as the legitimate #1 in the heavyweight division – he is the lineal champ, the Ring Magazine champ, and the WBC belt holder. And let’s not forget, he never lost his WBA, WBO, or IBF titles in the ring. So he could even lay claim to be the undefeated, undisputed champion!
Watch Tyson Fury against Deontay Wilder – Full Fight
So where does Deontay Wilder go from here? Firstly, I expect a lot of excuses and complaints about his team throwing in the towel. After that, he has to sit down and decide what to do next.
He does have 30 days to agree to fight Fury for a third time – as stipulated in their contacts. However, does he really want to face him again?
If Wilder is honest with himself, he will admit that he has been outclassed by Fury twice now. It makes more sense for him to rebuilt and face another opponent for now.
And to be fair, I don’t think there will be much demand to see a Fury-Wilder trilogy after that beat-down. The public are in no doubt who the better boxer is.
Mike Tyson interviews Tyson Fury. Must See!!!!!
If you believe what you hear, then it seems Floyd ‘Money’ Weather has run out of money!
The claims come from former friend 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson), who says that Floyd has burnt through his many millions funding his lavish lifestyle. Further, Jackson claims Floyd is considering a return to the ring to keep the cash coming in.
I’m hoping this is not true, and just 50 Cent stirring things up due to the tension that exists between the pair. Considering Forbes magazine once stated that Mayweather had a personal wealth of $706 Million, it would be a poor show if he has managed to get through all that!
Now that Manny Pacquiao has joined the same management team as Conor McGregor, rumours have been swirling around the internet that the two will face each other in the ring!
Apparently, a fight was almost made between them in the not too distant past. Now it could be an easier deal to make this time around…
But McGregor got spanked the last time he stepped into the ring, and even though Pac-Man is 41, he would more than likely do the same to him.
Will Conor keep challenging ageing boxers until he finally beats one? Then we will no doubt have to listen to the ‘MMA is better than boxing’ rubbish from UFC fans afterwards. Yawn…
Looks like Dereck Chisora will have to wait a bit longer before facing Oleksandr Usyk. The unbeaten Ukrainian injured his elbow and I hear it will be at least May before he is ready. That means their March 28th date is now out the window…
It’s the 30 year anniversary of the fight that shook boxing to its foundations: Tyson vs Douglas!
Great night for Buster, but he definitely didn’t make the most of this opportunity. And it seems like Andy Ruiz Jr has followed in his footsteps.
And I still like to remind people that Tyson knocked Douglas out in the eighth round. If it wasn’t for that long count…
Boxing News: Tyson Fury tells all in this great interview
Anthony Joshua took to the stage at Garage Nation, where he sang 21 Seconds by So Solid Crew…
Now, I like to sing at any karaoke bar that will have me, but a song by So Solid Crew? Get a grip, lad! You should have chosen something by Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin. Now those boys could sing!
Now, I have heard many new boxing fans tell me there are too many weight divisions. Rubbish! And WBC boss Mauricio Sulaiman agrees with me.
Sure, we used to only have eight divisions in the old days, but by having the additional categories it makes things safer for the boxers in terms of making weight and preventing large differences between the boxer’s weight.
In any case, Sulaiman has stated that the WBC will not be reducing the number of divisions.
If fans want to complain, then go and complain about ‘Silver’ champions and ‘Diamond’ champions and all that stuff. Now that is something we could reduce: the number of belts a organisation gives out in each weight division!
Kell Brook dropped Mark DeLuca in round three, then stopped him four rounds later at the Sheffield Arena. After being out of the ring for 14 months, it was a good night for Kell, but I can’t help but feel he hasn’t made the most of his career.
Same goes for Amir Khan – he became obsessed with securing a fight with Mayweather or Pacquiao, rather than just getting on with things. And when are Kell and Khan going to face each other? That fight has lost a lot of its status due to them delaying things…
Battle of the big boys! Daniel Dubois vs Joe Joyce has been confirmed for April.
This is a very risky match-up that my old pal Frank Warren has set up here. Dubois has power in abundance, but Joyce has faced a higher quality of opponent at this stage in his career.
Both fighters are on Frank’s books, but due to their ages, I can’t help but feel he sees Dubois as his long term star. So I’m guessing that he is secretly hoping Dubois wins this one.
Whatever happens on the night, I’m expecting a barn-stormer of a fight!
Keep checking back for all the latest boxing news!
