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Boxing Articles By Lee Bellfield
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By Lee Bellfield November 13th, 2009 All Boxing Previews
A five star matchup in anyone's eyes takes place tonight when Puerto Rican WBO welterweight champion defends his crown against multi-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
For Cotto, himself a two weight world champion, it's the second defence of the title he won back when stopping Michael Jennings in five back in February.
The 29 year old Cotto has only one defeat in 35 fights. That loss came in controversial circumstances in July last year when he was stopped in 11 by Antonio Margarito.
Cotto, like his opponent tonight, has taken on all comers in his title reigns at 140 and 147 pounds.
His first world title sucesss came in September, 2004 when he won the vacant WBO light welterweight championship stopping Kelson Pinto in six in an exciting scrap. More...
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By Lee Bellfield November 7th, 2009 All Boxing Previews
© SE / Photo Wende
After what seems like an eternity, David finally meets Goliath when David Haye challenges Nikolai Valuev for his WBA Heavyweight Championship in Nuremberg, Germany tonight.
For Haye, this fight ends a year of inactivity.
After unifying the World Cruiserweight championship in March last year, Haye set his sights on heavyweight honours.
His first serious outing came 12 months ago against American veteran Monte Barrett. In an exciting fight, Barrett was finally stopped in the fifth round. More...
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By Lee Bellfield October 23rd, 2009 All Boxing Previews
A mouthwatering and fascinating clash takes this place this tonight at the Bolton Arena in Bolton, England when Salford's Jamie Moore defends his European 154 pound title against Sheffield's Ryan Rhodes.
As well as being a clash for European honours, it is also probable that the winner will fight an official eliminator for the WBC title currently held by Sergio Martinez.
Rhodes is a 14 year veteran of the squared circle. Beginning his career as a light middleweight, he won the British title at only 20 years of age, defeating the equally prodigious Paul Silky Jones in eight back in 1996.
Just one year later, Rhodes moved up to middleweight and came so close to winning the WBO title in December 1997, losing a narrow 12 round decision against Otis Grant. This is the same Grant who would go on to challenge a peak Roy Jones Jnr a year later for the light heavyweight crown.
After such a promising start to his pro career, things went downhill for the Spice Boy when he was KO'd in two rounds by Jason Matthews in another bid for WBO honours in July, 1999.
After that, Rhodes seemed to have disappeared altogether from the world scene. In reality, the next six years were largely spent fighting four and six rounders either on undercards or small boxing shows. More...
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By Lee Bellfield October 17th, 2009 All Boxing Previews
© Winfried Mausolf
An exciting concept in the world of boxing kicks off tonight in Nottingham, England and Berlin, Germany.
Featured is a tournament comprising of six of the world's top super middleweights which will attempt to find out who the premier 168 pounder really is.
Certainly this isn't the first time an elimination tournament has taken place. One looks back to the eight man elimination tournament held in 1967 and 1968 to find a successor to Muhammad Ali, who was stripped of his heavyweight title. This series however could prove to be the most exciting. More...
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By Lee Bellfield October 2nd, 2009 All Boxing Previews
© Lawrence Lustig
The successful Prizefighter series continues tonight at London's Excel Arena when eight of the country's top heavyweights go head to head in an elimination tournament.
Amongst the eight attempting to bag the £32,000 prize fund are bitter rivals and former opponents Danny Williams and Audley Harrison.
Both men boast one win apiece over each other and should both men win their opening two bouts, they are scheduled to meet in the final.
The beauty of this tournament is that the matches are held over three consecutive three minute rounds. Seedings in tournaments like this tend to go out of the window, so one shouldn't be surprised if a lesser known fighter upsets the odds. More...
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By Lee Bellfield August 19th, 2009 All Boxing Articles
72 years ago this month, the world championship career of arguably the greatest heavyweight in history began.
The "Brown Bomber", Joe Louis, aged 23, had just defeated James J Braddock and had become the first black man since Jack Johnson thirty years previously to win the richest prize in sport.
Joe's first defence would come just two months after his title win when he would face a gritty British challenger in Tommy Farr.
Farr from Tonypandy, Wales, was one year younger than Louis and had been a pro since 1926. Initially a light heavyweight, Farr would go on and challenge for domestic honours in his native Wales, winning the Welsh Title in 1933. He would also repeat this feat in the heavyweight division, winning both the Welsh and British titles.
At the start of 1937, the World Heavyweight Champion was James J Braddock. As an underdog in 1935, "The Cinderella Man" had outsmarted the heavy betting favourite Max Baer over 15 rounds to become the surprise champion. That same Baer later in 1935 would also be dismantled in four rounds by an up and coming Joe Louis.
Baer in 1937 was still anxious to get another shot at the World title held by Braddock and in April that year, agreed to fight Farr. Baer, like he did against Braddock, took this chance lightly and slipped to a points defeat.
Louis in 1937 had suffered just the one defeat to German Max Schmeling and many thought Braddock would defend the title against Schmeling. However, in the tense political climate Braddock would sidestep Schmeling to a bigger money matchup against Louis. More...
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By Lee Bellfield July 18th, 2009 All Boxing Previews
 Amir Khan hopes to put the smile back on boxing's face after a sad week when he challenges Ukrainian Andriy Kotelnik for his WBA Light Welterweight championship belt tonight at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England.
For Kotelnik, this is the third defence of the title he won from Welshman Gavin Rees in March of last year. After a disputed draw against Souleymane M'baye in 2007, he has become champion at the second time of asking.
The champion is well known to British fans not only for the fights just mentioned, but also losing a closely contested European title contest against Junior Witter on points back in 2005.
For Khan, this is not only a step up in weight but also a step up in class. After a career best performance against Marco Antonio Barrera in March, Khan attempts to win the first of what he hopes will be many world championship belts.
Last time out, many boxing fans feared for Khan, feeling he had stepped up in class too soon after the one round disaster against Breidis Prescott. These demons were exorcised in a masterful five round display before winning on cuts. More...
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By Lee Bellfield May 30th, 2009 All Boxing Previews
Unbeaten Andre Berto continues his run as WBC welterweight champion tonight at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida when defends his crown against two-time IBF light welter champion Juan Urango.
This is the 3rd defence of the title for the 25 year old American. After distance defences against Steve Forbes and Luis Collazo, Berto now meets a man better known as a rugged 140 pounder in Urango.
Berto has 19 KO's in 25 wins. He has fast hands, but on the negative side he did seem to tire in his 12 round win over Collazo.
In Urango, he meets a man who will be in his face all night. Although Urango is the naturally smaller man, Berto will have to be careful with Urango's body punching, which could again slow the champion down.
British fans, of course, will know Urango from his 12 round points defeat against Ricky Hatton back in January, 2007.
If we use that fight as a marker, it was interesting to note that Hatton chose to box carefully when he realised he wasn't going to stop his opponent. In fact, that fight showed Hatton at his most cagey, which says a lot for the danger that Urango threatens. More...
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By Lee Bellfield May 29th, 2009 All Boxing Previews
The heavyweight division kicks back into action tomorrow night in the unlikely city of Helsinki, Finland when giant WBA Champion Nikolay Valuev makes the second defence of his belt against former foe and WBA Champion In Recess Ruslan Chagaev.
The two men know each other very well. Back in April, 2007, Chagaev became the only man to beat Valuev when he took a close majority verdict over 12 rounds in Stuttgart, Germany.
Chagaev, unbeaten in 26 bouts, is one of those boxers who is a nightmare to fight. Relatively small by heavyweight standards and standing 6 foot 1 inch, Chagaev more often than not outfoxes and outsmarts his rivals using the southpaw stance.
Although the 30 year old has stopped 17 of his opponents, it's interesting to note that in the last three years, only one man has been stopped legitimately.
In Valuev, Chagaev meets a giant of a man who, funnily enough, does have underrated boxing skills. Although standing a massive 7 feet tall, the Russian has won many of his title defences over the 12 round course. With only none defeat in 51 fights, Valuev has KO'd 34 opponents. More...
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By Lee Bellfield May 28th, 2009 All Boxing Articles
It was May, 1989 and "The Clones Cyclone", Barry McGuigan, was approaching the fourth fight on a comeback trail that had begun just over a year earlier.
After a year long run as World Featherweight Champion the Irishman lost his title in the horrible heat of Las Vegas, Nevada in June, 1986 against late replacement Stevie Cruz.
Contractual difficulties would follow and many doubted that McGuigan would fight again after such a devastating defeat. However, under new promoter Frank Warren, McGuigan would resurface at the higher super featherweight limit.
In April, 1988, the McGuigan comeback was underway as he battered Nicky Perez to submission in four rounds in London. Two more comeback wins would follow before big money was on the table for him to fight the less publicised Londoner Jim McDonnell.
McDonnell, like McGuigan, campaigned as a featherweight early in his career winning the European title in 1985. A unsuccessful world title attempt at super featherweight would follow in 1988, losing on points to the classy South African Brian Mitchell.
Like McGuigan, McDonnell would comeback from this defeat under a new promoter, Barry Hearn.
The titlists at super featherweight in 1989 were Tony Lopez, Brian Mitchell and Azumah Nelson. Many were tipping McGuigan at this time to challenge one of these champions. More...
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By Lee Bellfield May 2nd, 2009 All Boxing Previews
© Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions
Boxing's pound for pound best is always a subjective title. Who is the best fighter at any weight in any current era of boxing?
If you look at the history of the sport, certain matchups spring to mind. Leonard v Duran, Leonard v Hearns, Hagler v
Hearns, Chavez v Whitaker, Toney v Jones, De La Hoya v Whitaker, Morales v Barrera, De La Hoya v Mosley, De La Hoya v Mayweather Jr...the list could go on and on, but whatever your opinion, all these matchups created major interest amongst fight fans.
Another one takes place tonight at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada when Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton from Manchester, England takes on Manny "The Pacman" Pacquiao from Bukidnon, Philippines.
The first time I laid eyes on Pacquiao was when I laid in bed, bleary-eyed in June 2002, waiting for the Lennox Lewis v Mike Tyson superfight to take place in Memphis, Tennessee. On that night, on the undercard, Pacquiao successfully defended his super bantamweight title in two rounds against outgunned challenger Jorge Eliecer Julio. More...
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By Lee Bellfield April 25th, 2009 All Boxing Previews
© Tom Casino / Showtime Boxing
It's the biggest fight in the 25 bout career to date of "The Cobra".
Tonight at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, Nottingham's Carl Froch makes the first defence of his WBC Super Middleweight Championship against former middleweight king Jermain Taylor.
For Froch, it's his first venture outside the British Isles. Constantly calling out the big names in his seven year pro career, he finally gets his wish.
In Taylor, he meets a man who ended Bernard Hopkins' decade long reign as middleweight champion back in 2005. That, along with his rematch win against "The Executioner", looks more impressive considering Hopkins' achievements since. More...
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By Lee Bellfield February 21st, 2009 All Boxing Previews
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
The impossible may be possible tonight when Chorley, England's Michael Jennings meets former champion Miguel Cotto for the WBO Welterweight title at the Mecca of boxing, New York's Madison Square Garden.
For Jennings, it's a massive leap into the big time. For Cotto, it's a chance to get his career back on track after his first professional defeat against Antonio Margarito last July.
One year ago, things were going great for Cotto. Undefeated and looking like the next superstar in the sport, he was seen by many as the man to carry the welterweight division. More...
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By Lee Bellfield February 7th, 2009 All Boxing Previews
© Tom Casino / Showtime Boxing
Bad Blood? Yes! Brawling Styles? Yes! An early candidate for Fight of the Year? You bet!
There is the very strong possibility of all three of the above happening when Australian based Armenian Vic Darchinyan defends three versions of his super flyweight title against Mexican Jorge Arce at the Anaheim Pond in Los Angeles tonight.
33 year old Darchinyan seems to be like a fine wine; he gets better with age. With 25 KO's in 31 wins, since moving up weight, the champion has improved greatly as a fighter.
After holding the IBF Flyweight title between 2004 and 2007, Darchinyan took the option of moving up a division after losing the title on a fifth round stoppage at the hands of Nonito Donaire. More...
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By Lee Bellfield January 24th, 2009 All Boxing Previews
Click for larger image © Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions
In a matchup I'm personally looking forward to, Mexico's Antonio Margarito makes the first defence of his WBA Welterweight Championship against three weight world champion Shane Mosley tonight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
For the 30 year old Margarito, the big fights are finally coming. A pro since 1994, the WBA Champion has long been the 'avoid at all costs' man in the 147 pound division.
Whilst the likes of Mayweather, Hatton, Cotto, Judah and Mosley were engaged in big money fights, the Tijuana resident often found himself on the outside looking in. More...
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By Lee Bellfield December 6th, 2008 All Boxing Previews
© Tom Hogan / Golden Boy Promotions
The final superfight of 2008 takes place tonight when ring legends Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao square off at welterweight this weekend at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Both men have done it all in the game. De La Hoya, since turning pro in 1992, has won world titles at six weights. From his first world title at super featherweight to his middleweight crown, the list of De La Hoya victims makes impressive reading: Jimmy Bredahl, Jorge Paez, John Molina, Rafael Ruelas, Genaro Hernandez, Jesse James Leija, Julio Cesar Chavez, Manuel Angel Gonzalez, Pernell Whitaker, Hector Camacho, Ike Quartey, Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga.
The number of fights mentioned alone would make a career for most fighters, yet "The Golden Boy" still attracts criticism from a lot of pundits and fans. More...
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By Lee Bellfield December 6th, 2008 All Boxing Previews
© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
As well as the Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao mega matchup in Las Vegas, there's a big night of british action tonight.
In what could be the bout of the evening, Nottingham's Carl Froch has home advantage on his side when he faces tough Canadian Jean Pascal for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight title.
Froch is undefeated in 23 contests and Pascal is also undefeated, winning all 21 of his fights. Between them, both men have scored 33 knockouts.
For Froch, this has been a long road to his big chance. Often too good for his own future prospects, Froch ,now aged 31, has had to bide his time while rival Joe Calzaghe has had the limelight. With belts won at English, British and Commonwealth level, now is the chance for "The Cobra" to shine. More...
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By Lee Bellfield November 22nd, 2008 All Boxing Previews
© Tom Hogan / Golden Boy Promotions
Tonight, Manchester hero Ricky Hatton returns to the ring where he suffered his sole defeat 11 months ago when he faces the brash American Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas.
At stake are bragging rights as the number one in the light welterweight division.
Both men have only one defeat,both at the very highest level. For Hatton, in the same MGM ring as he steps into on Saturday night, he was defeated by pound for pound number one Floyd Mayweather Jr in 10 rounds in an attempt to become a two time welterweight champion in December last year.
For Malignaggi, in June 2006 he was defeated by Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto over 12 rounds in a WBO Light Welterweight Championship bid. More...
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By Lee Bellfield November 15th, 2008 All Boxing Previews
After unifying the cruiserweight championship with a stunning knockout win over Enzo Maccarinelli, London's David Haye begins his assault on the heavyweight division when he takes on American Monte Barrett tonight.
London's 02 Arena is the venue and its a location that both men know very well. Back in July 2000, Barrett faced then contender Wladimir Klitschko and lasted seven rounds against the giant Ukrainian before succumbing.
As for Haye, this venue saw arguably his most destructive performance when he took out fellow power puncher Enzo Maccarinelli in two rounds in March of this year.
For me, Barrett is a man who was always close but didn't quite hit the peaks as a heavyweight. In fact, the majority of his six defeats have all come in bouts where he has been classed as "the opponent". The Klitschko fight aside, his other notable defeats were against the likes of Joe Mesi, Nikolay Valuev and Hasim Rahman.
Haye for me seems to be a man intent on making a big impact in the heavyweight division. His sole defeat against Carl Thompson seems an age ago. His confidence can be proven when he travelled to France a year ago and survived an early knockdown before KO'ing veteran Jean Marc Mormeck to win two versions of the World Cruiserweight Championship.
In analysing this fight, Haye for me has chosen the perfect opponent; Barrett is a name but is not classed as a big puncher.
In front of his hometown fans, Haye will be looking to make a statement and I feel that he will do. In fact, the more and more I think about it, I think this could be an early night.
Haye by stoppage before the halfway mark.
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By Lee Bellfield November 8th, 2008 All Boxing Previews
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
In a fight 10 years in the making, Joe Calzaghe makes his New York debut against ring legend Roy Jones Junior in a 12 round light heavyweight bout.
For Calzaghe, this is the opportunity to cement his status as 175 pound number one. For Jones, at 39, a victory on Saturday night would solidify him as an all time great.
Calzaghe reigned the super middleweight division for 10 years. This run included wins over Chris Eubank, Robin Reid, Omar Sheika, Richie Woodall, Charles Brewer, Byrom Mitchell, Jeff Lacey and Mikkel Kessler. More...
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