WBC Interim heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte has confirmed that unbeaten American Jermaine Franklin is under consideration as his next opponent. Having reignited his career with a fourth-round, revenge stoppage of former conqueror Alexander Povetkin in March, Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs) is planning to box in the US to drum up interest in major fights. Michigan’s undefeated but […]
Former US amateur star Karlos Balderas has signed a multi-fight promotional deal with Top Rank. The 10-fight pro from Santa Maria, California, will make his Top Rank debut in Las Vegas on August 14. After fighting most of his pro career to date as a lightweight, Balderas will now campaign as a super-lightweight. The 25-year-old […]
Despite being inactive since a split decision loss to Manny Pacquiao two years ago, former WBA Super and WBC welterweight champion Keith Thurman is still angling for a big fight. Incredibly, the charismatic but bemusingly inactive Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs & 1 NC) has only engaged in four fights in the last six years without […]
If there is a potential silver lining to the failed undisputed heavyweight title clash between WBC king Tyson Fury and WBA Super, WBO and IBF champion Anthony Joshua, its postponement could mean the hotly-anticipated showdown takes place on British soil as Covid-19 restrictions hopefully ease. Fury-Joshua was, of course, scheduled to be announced for August […]
After losing his lightweight world titles on the cards to Teofimo Lopez last October, Vasiliy Lomachenko was widely written off as yesterday’s man. But British boxing icon Ricky Hatton feels that the Ukrainian maestro proved he is still a major force in the 135lbs division following his nine-round dissection of Masayoshi Nakatani at the weekend. […]
Australian fight legend Jeff Fenech believes that late-sub Steve Spark presents a legitimate threat to current Aussie star Tim Tszyu in their hastily-arranged clash at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on July 7. Aptly-named puncher Spark (12-1, 11 KOs) was drafted in on a week’s notice after Tszyu’s bitter rival Michael Zerafa withdrew from their eagerly-awaited grudge […]
Former WBA Super and IBF cruiserweight king Murat Gassiev will continue his heavyweight campaign in a 10-rounder against ex-European champion Erkan Teper at the Dynamo Volleyball Arena in Moscow on July 22. Perhaps the forgotten threat of the heavyweight division, the hard-punching Gassiev (27-1, 20 KOs) debuted at the weight last October with a first-round dismissal […]
West Belfast boxing hero Michael Conlan will meet fellow Irishman and former world champion TJ Doheny in a 10-round attraction at Falls Park in Belfast, as part of the Féile an Phobail festival, on August 6. “This is a big test for Mick, as Doheny is a formidable foe who won’t be intimidated fighting in front […]
Two division world champion turned boxing analyst Andre Ward believes that Deontay Wilder will remain as dangerous as ever in his trilogy clash with WBC heavyweight king Tyson Fury in Las Vegas on July 24. ‘The Bronze Bomber’ was outspoken after losing to the ‘Gypsy King’ in seven rounds in their February 2020 rematch, citing […]
Oleksandr Usyk will be trained by Anatoly Lomachenko for his September 25 clash with WBA Super, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, according to Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. The Top Rank Chairman does not represent Usyk but Anatoly Lomachenko is, of course, the father and trainer of former pound-for-pound No.1 Vasiliy Lomachenko, who […]
WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire insists he is pulling out of his unification fight with WBO title holder and fellow Filipino John Riel Casimero on August 14 following concerns about drug testing and misogynistic abuse aimed at his wife and manager Rachel. The principled Donaire, a staunch advocate of drug testing who has been enrolled […]
Respected coach James Cook MBE firmly believes Anthony Yarde will recover from his setback against Lyndon Arthur to become a light-heavyweight world champion. Former British and European super-middleweight title holder Cook has been drafted in to aid Yarde’s comeback alongside the Ilford puncher’s long-time trainer and mentor Tunde Ajayi. Former WBO title challenger Yarde (20-2, 19 […]