Boxing News

What's Down The Road For The British Light Middleweight Champion?

After impressing fans with his spectacular tenth round knockout and hospitalization of fellow Brit Matthew Macklin, Jamie Moore is ready for bigger and better things in many people’s eyes. There is no doubt that Jamie Moore would be a big draw, and therefore the options open to the man are many. In the Macklin fight, despite enduring attacks similar to that of Ricky Hatton, Moore managed to survive the opening rounds and then started to fight back in the middle rounds.

Click for larger image © Jane Warburton Saddo Boxing

The Salford man paced himself perfectly to outlast his opponent and came on strong in the 9th and 10th rounds after a frantic 8th round in which it appeared Macklin was throwing out all that was left in his reserve tank, which in the end was not enough. More...

Click for larger image © David Oakley / Saddo Boxing

Friday night at York Hall in London, England proved to be as enlightening as it was exciting. The crowd in attendance and those watching at home on Sky Sports, saw two week replacement opponent Ted Bami dominate Italy's Guiseppe Lauri to capture the vacant European Light Welterweight Title on a Matchroom promotion. Famous faces such as former British Welterweight Champion Young Muttley and ex-IBO/Commonwealth Light Middle Champ Richard Williams also enthralled the audience, with both fighters scoring impressive knockouts.

The night started with Scottish light welter Barry Morrison improving his record to 13-1 (7) by defeating Frenchman Mounir Guebbas, 9-7-3 (5), on points, 58-56 in a hotly contested six rounder. More...

Perhaps he would be a major belt holder in many divisions, or maybe not. However, Alex Arthur could certainly not find another weight that is more competitive than his own. A weight that boasts legends such as Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales; a division that can call top ten pound for pound fighters its own, such as Manny Pacquiao, and then just to add to the mix, unbeaten Joan Guzman and Edwin Valero; and this is to name just some of the stars of the super featherweight division.

“’Amazing’’ Alex himself shows off a handy record of 23 wins and one loss, and while his opposition may not be that of Barrera, he has certainly had some impressive wins, such as that over Ricky Burns. His lone defeat came by fifth round knockout at the hands of the respectable fighter, Michael Gomez.

The Scotsman’s next bout will be against the undefeated Spanish fighter Sergio Palomo, who is currently 24-0, however has never fought past ten rounds and will definitely be fighting his first “’real fight’’. This will be for the European Super Featherweight title, which Alex currently holds. More...

It's the one unwritten clause in boxing, the one thing a promoter can't put together by himself. This is the unwritten rematch clause. It's when two fighters who have fought previously both go on independently to have their own big fights canceled, and then once again need each other in order to put one of them into the fame, and possibly, stardom category.

This is certainly the case for the fighters who will battle it out for the British Heavyweight title on 13 October at Port Talbot, Wales.

After the disappointment of his fight with Danny Williams never materializing, Scott Gammer will still make his first defense of the British Heavyweight title in a rematch against former opponent Michael "Micky" Steeds.

Gammer, undefeated in 16 pro contests, is the only blemish on the otherwise excellent career start for Steeds, the 22 year old man from the Isle of Dogs section of London. Steeds has won eight bouts against only one loss and recently picked up the British Southern Area Heavyweight title in ten rounds over Colin Kenna. His only loss, as said, came to the Welshman Gammer, in a six round points loss. More...

Each of the bouts on Clinton Woods' upcoming IBF Light Heavyweight title defense against Glen Johnson could easily hold their own as the top of a bill on most boxing fight cards, however due to the exceptional nature of the quality of fights taking place in Bolton, England on 2 September, they shall now make up a tremendous undercard. Fans will be treated to not just Clinton Woods and Glen Johnson III, but also a WBU Welterweight title fight with Mehrdud Takaloo and ex-British Champion Michael Jennings competing for the belt.

Takaloo is the man who not long ago put Eamonn Magee's career back into shambles after winning a majority decision against the Belfast southpaw to take the WBU crown. Takaloo, born in Teheran, Iran but now a British citizen, has an exciting KO record, with 17 knockouts in 25 wins, with 9 of those coming within 3 rounds. He does however have 5 losses to his name. His career, while not spectacular, has been a good one and has held the WBU Light Middleweight title twice already and in a losing effort, gave Daniel Santos a stern challenge for the WBO title in 2002. More...

Many boxing experts and fans alike will agree that there were three stages in Mike Tyson's career. The first from 1985-1991, his prime years, before he was imprisoned, in which until 1990 he was considered unbeatable. The next piece of the Tyson career puzzle covers his first fight since his return from prison, against 36-1-0 heavyweight contender Peter McNeeley and the undefeated Buster Mathis Jnr, to his last shot at a world heavyweight championship in 2002 in which he was dismantled by ring legend Lennox Lewis.

This period is considered as the time in which Tyson was still a major force within the boxing world, however past his peak years and gradually on the decline. The last period covers Tyson's last three fights, and retirement in 2005 after losing to journeyman Kevin McBride. This is known as his lowest years in which he claimed he did not want to embarrass the sport of boxing anymore.

Despite his entire career being highly publicized, since his retirement it is Tyson's highest and lowest moments, and with the exception of the Holyfield bouts, the middle part of his career is seemingly less analyzed than the other two periods. More...

With the cruiserweight division now seeming the most talented out of all the heavier weight classes at this point in time, and probably the only weight class to boast talents that rival some of the lower weights. David Haye, Enzo Maccarinelli, O'Neil Bell, and the former champion Jean Marc Mormeck, as well as dark horses for future titles such as ex light heavy champion Rico Hoye.

David Haye is now in with an opportunity, providing he wins his next bout on a Maloney Promotion against Ismail Abdoul ay York Hall on July 21, to make what would probably be the most anticipated fight in any division above super middleweight. Now ranked as the WBC number one challenger there, is a good chance he will soon be matched up against the current unified champion O’Neil Bell.

As we all know and saw against Kelvin Davis and Dale Brown, Bell is no stranger to being hurt and can come back from a knockdown to win the fight. O’Neil, as his nickname “"Supernova" suggests, is an explosive fighter and is known as a knockout artist, like Haye and with 24 knockouts, out of 26 wins, this fight would not be expected to last the distance. More...

There have been many great middleweight champions in boxing, however only four in the history of the sport have achieved the title of undisputed middleweight champion. They go by the familiar names of Carlos Monzon, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins and most recently crowned Jermain Taylor. Many people have and will continue to ask, who is the greatest of these fighters? This article will attempt to discover the answer.

Starting with the first of the four, it's Carlos Monzon, who held the WBA and WBC titles. "Escopeta" as he was nicknamed, meaning shotgun or rifle, had in total 100 bouts, wining 87 (59 by KO)while losing only 3 and drawing 9, an extremely impressive record. Monzon made what was at the time, a record of 14 title defenses, but his private life was highly controversial and ended in imprisonment for 11 years in 1989 before he died in a car crash in 1995.

He beat the living legend Emile Griffith twice, plus well known fighters such as ex-world champion Nino Benvenuti (twice), European champion Tom Bogs and the world welterweight champion at the time, Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles. His only fight and defense made in the United States ended in a tenth round KO over Tony Licata. Monzon even boxed on for four years after being shot in the leg by his wife, and reclaiming the undisputed championship after being stripped of it. More...

As fans of Danny Williams and Amir Khan will already know, tonight in the UK it's another ITV fight night! Sports Network puts on a good show at King's Hall in Belfast, where unfortunately the crowd will be without previous headliner Scott Harrison. However, they will have Williams and Kahn, as well as sweet counter punching Irish southpaw Eamonn Magee who meets former WBU Light Middleweight titlist Takaloo for that organization's welterweight title.

Although Magee is an ex-Commonwealth Light Welter Champion and European title challenger, the Belfast man is best known for his knockdown of Ricky Hatton four years ago. Magee reeled off a second round flurry of punches that had the Manchester man more out on his feet than Luis Collazo managed last Saturday in Boston. Despite the promising start, Magee went on to lose a close and hard fought unanimous decision to Hatton. More...

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On the undercard of the upcoming Hatton - Collazo clash in Boston on May 13, British boxer Esham Pickering gets a world title shot, six years after he was knocked out in the first round by WBO Champ Mauricio Martinez in the Newark man's one and only chance at genuine world honors to date. Pickering's opponent is the unbeaten and current IBF Featherweight world champion, Valdemir Periera.

Looking at the fight on paper, it appears that the Brazilian champ, 24-0 (15), has the edge, with a higher KO ratio to go with his unblemished record. Pickering, 29-4 (11), has risen to high levels, having been a European, Commonwealth and British Super Bantamweight titlist, however, has loses only coming from a British champion, a world champion and two unbeaten fighters. So again, if records are anything to judge by, this is a fight too far for Pickering. More...

On Friday, April 21, Sky Sports viewers will have the chance to see feisty Irishman Damaen Kelly attempt to take the European Bantamweight title from its newest owner, Italy's Simone "Boom Boom" Maludrottu in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Italian, who is taking a rare trip out of his home country to defend the title, has a record of 21-1-0 with 9 knockouts and is making the fourth defence of the European belt. While it appears that Kelly, who has his own creditable record of 22 wins against 2 losses, may not be looking for a stunning knockout, having achieved only 10 in 24 contests himself, he will hope to at least outpoint the Italian and boost himself back upon the world stage.

One problem the Irishman may face is the move up in weight class, as he will be facing a natural bantamweight. The fight may also seem a dangerous one for the Italian, who's only loss has come by points rather than stoppage, however it is seen by many as a necessary fight for two men who have in truth, fought many fighters who's fight records are not worthy of mentioning when speaking of a European title fight. More...

There have been some excellent fights in the world cruiserweight division in the recent months. The most important of which was the surprise victory of O'Neil Bell, who took the title of undisputed divisional champion away from the highly rated and favoured Frenchman Jean Marc Mormeck via a tenth round KO. But there has also been some major action in the UK, such as the recent thriller between WBU Champion Enzo Maccarinelli and British and Commonwealth kingpin Mark Hobson on the undercard of the Joe Calzaghe – Jeff Lacy unification bout. Both boxers produced a full showing of their armoury and Hobson, despite getting knocked down early on, recovered to take the fight to the Welshman and eventually lost a close decision after twelve action packed rounds. Just this past Friday, European Champion David Haye and Lasse Johansen provided an excellent fight for the fans, ending in the powerhouse Haye scoring a technical knockout in the eight round.

So now after recent events, the cruiserweight division appears to have laid weight to the claims that it is currently one of the most potential filled divisions in boxing, and the fights which have been made are certainly full of quality. David Haye, young and full of power at 25 years of age, has finally put the ghost of the Carl Thompson fight behind him, going eight rounds against Johansen and proving that he is a real contender for a world title. Haye is ranked fourth by the WBC and sixth by the IBF and WBA; surely a shot at one of those titles is not far away? More...

For a man who supposedly just had his career defining fight, Joe Calzaghe now has the chance to make perhaps any fight in the world at super middleweight or light heavyweight,
if he wishes. Fresh off the back of one of the most stunning performances ever to have been witnessed by a terrestrial audience, Calzaghe now faces the challenge of who to fight next. He has had the offer from current IBF Light Heavy Champion Clinton Woods that would no doubt be a thriller if the fight were to be made.

Unfortunately, in the US, where it appears that Calzaghe and his prompter Frank Warren are most keen on impressing, Clinton is only known as the man who lost to the legend Roy Jones Jnr and ex-IBF Champ Glencoffe Johnson. Therefore, a Woods matchup seems unlikely as it won't bring in the dollars that Calzaghe will now be looking for after his recent victory over Jeff Lacy.

Another possible opponent being considered is Roy Jones Junior himself. This would definitely bring the big money Calzaghe will yearn however, it is unlikely this could build upon the legacy he will hope to leave when he retires from boxing as Jones has lost his previous three outings in the ring. Due to this, if a loss was suffered, all Calzaghe's hard work would immediately be undone and therefore it would be a risky fight. More...

The Grapple At Southampton Guildhall

Images courtesy of DavidOakleyPhotography.co.uk

On Sunday evening, one night after Joe Calzaghe provided one of the most exciting moments in British boxing history, the audience at Southampton's Guildhall was privileged to witness an excellent Southern Arena Heavyweight title fight between reigning champion Colin Kenna and challenger Mickey Steeds.

Along with the main event, there were a selection of excellent undercard bouts to keep the crowd entertained before the big fight. Credit must go to promoter Jack Bishop for putting on such a fine show. First to enter the ring was impressive middleweight Steve Ede from Gosport who took the fight to opponent Anthony Young and won via a third round TKO. Ede, certainly a bright prospect for future, excited the crowd with quick but powerful combos and maintained his unbeaten record, improving to 5-0 (2). Wilson, of Crawley, drops to 1-1 (0). More...

Don't Miss Matchroom Sports' Promotion of Cook - Voronin For the European Featherweight Title At The Goresbrook LC in Dagenham Tonight!

At twenty six years old with 25 wins and no blemish to his record, current British, Commonwealth and European Featherweight Champion Nicky Cook looks set to add to his perfect C.V. tonight as he defends his European title against Ukrainian Champion Yuri Voronin, 24-4-1 (17). After coming off a very good win versus the previously unbeaten European Champion Cyril Thomas, the last two fights of "Cookie" have been far from adventurous.

Cook's career started off solidly with a mix of KO and points wins over average opponents. His first big victories came first over ex-British Champion Gary Thornhill in 2002 and then in 2003 against Misheck Kondwani to win the Commonwealth title via twelfth round stoppage. These wins put the Dagenham body puncher firmly in the media frame. More...

For a career that has lasted just short of thirty years, over twenty major title fights and one that has amassed sixty wins, forty seven early, a lot of boxing fans will wonder, what motivation has Tommy Hearns got to keep on boxing at the grand age of 47. Perhaps its money, Or the love of the sport, or even the need to prove himself to be as great as Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Hearns is scheduled for action again this weekend, facing 40 year old Shannon Landberg at the Palace in Auburn Hills on Saturday.

Hearns first won the WBA Welterweight title aged just 22 with a stunning second round knockout over the gritty Mexican, Pipino Cuevas. Nicknamed the "Motor City Cobra" he defended his title three times with three knockouts before crashing head on into Wilfred Benitez's conquer Sugar Ray Leonard in 1981. The fight itself was a unification bout with each fighter putting their undefeated records and belts on the line. What followed was to be named fight of year by Ring Magazine and set up a grudge between the two fighters that was to be settled almost nine years later. More...

Catch this budding superstar in action on Sports Network's Nottingham show this Saturday

Click for larger image © Mike Cleary

Even though he failed to win the Gold Medal at the 2004 Olympics, Amir Khan still achieved more than just a Silver Medal. He caught the public eye and once again brought British boxing back into the spotlight along with football and other such sports. Since turning professional, he has continued to catch the public's attention through mainstream TV and more so with each fight. Khan already seems to be the face of British boxing

despite having only fought four times and sharing the spotlight with other big name fighters such as double world champion Ricky Hatton, world title challenger Danny Williams and former Gold Medal winner Audley Harrison.

Khan's amateur career was not followed by the general public and he only really came into the limelight when he reached the semi finals of the Olympics by delivering a dazzling knockout performance against a Korean boxer. It was after this that he was to fight "Super" Mario Kindelan in the finals. Kindelan was a seasoned amateur, widely regarded as the best in the world, and many believed that he could hold his own in professional boxing if he wished. Khan fought bravely however was defeated by the Cuban. More...

He was perhaps the most talented boxer ever to grace the ring; super fast hand speed, the welter/middleweight version of Mohammed Ali, unrivaled footwork and a heart that matched that of any champion to go before him. Sugar Ray Leonard must surely go on any boxing fan's list of greats. He hit "The Hitman" into submission; he made "Hands of Stone" quit and proved that he was more "Marvelous" than Marvin himself. Leonard first showed the world what he was capable of with, what in my view, was one of the most brilliant performances that boxing has ever seen with a 15th round TKO over Wilfred Benitez. Benitez was 38-0-1 at the time, as well as the WBC champion, and was the youngest fighter ever to win a world title.

Leonard then proceeded to win a routine title defense against Dave Green and then onto his biggest fight yet vs. the legend to be, Roberto Duran. It ended with a fifteen round unanimous decision in favor of Duran but in many people eyes, "Sugar" had got his tactics wrong trying to trade on the inside with Duran, rather than dance. In their rematch five months down the line, Duran quit with the famous line "No Mas", giving Leonard a TKO in round eight More...

Due for 31st of March, an interesting British Isles bout put on by Maloney Promotions is scheduled to take place. Undefeated yet untested Carl Froch from Nottingham will take on the Irishman Brain Magee for the British and Commonwealth Super Middleweight titles in a match that could be as fiery as the men themselves. Froch has racked up thirteen knockouts in his seventeen fights, four in the first round while the thirty year old Magee has seventeen knockouts in twenty four fights but also two decision loses to his name. An edge in competition and experience would certainly be a 10-8 round to Magee if the tale of the tape were being scored. His previous bouts have included former European Champion Vitali Tsypko and former world champion Robin Reid, although he lost those contests by split decision and unanimous decision respectively. Froch, on the other hand, is about to have his first real test and we should get a decent idea of what he’s made of. Magee's questionable chin will also be put to the test, as Froch is sure to want to add to his list of knockouts. No doubt, fight fans in Britain all look foreword to what is certain to be a highly competitive bout.

It is perhaps the most talked about potential fight today and almost definitely the most wanted, featuring two undefeated champions both in their physical primes. Ricky Hatton vs. Floyd Mayweather is the fight that everyone is hoping to see as the highlight of next year. In one corner would be the man who destroyed American legend Arturo Gatti in six devastating rounds. Floyd Mayweather also has such significant

Click for larger image Photo by Mark Robins © Punch Promotions

accomplishments under his belt as handily defeating Diego Corrales, who was 33-0-0 at the time and two decisions over Jose Louis Castillo.

Ricky Hatton, on the other hand, has beaten Kostya Tyzu’s original conquer Vince Phillips, as well as Kostya himself for the IBF championship and Carlos Massua for the WBA title. Hatton’s strength lies in his physical conditioning which gives him seemingly unlimited stamina, and the willingness to engage in a brawl verses anyone in the world. He can also box as we all saw against Ben Tackie. More...