Boxing News

Ringside Boxing Report: Michael Jennings vs. Vladimir Khodokovski

By Jane Warburton September 30th, 2007 All Ringside Boxing

Click for larger image © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Friday night at The Guildhall, Preston, England in a Wally Dixon promoted event billed as “The Homecoming”, WBU Welterweight Champion Michael Jennings defended his title against Vladimir Khodokovski of the Ukraine.

The popular Jennings, a former British Champion from Chorley, England, came in at 10 stone 10 lb (150 lb) at the official weigh-in while Khodokovski tipped the scales at 10 stone 13 lbs (153 lb). Jennings certainly looked the leaner of the two men as they entered the ring. More...

Boxing Perspective: Possessed

By Gerald Rice September 30th, 2007 All Boxing Articles

Congratulations to Kelly Pavlik for a well-fought fight last night. He captured the middleweight title in a way that Jermain Taylor couldn't and couldn't defend. The alleged dissension in the ranks behind Team Taylor, the weight issues and Taylor's "wasted punches" are excuses that belong to another day, the night was Pavlik's and he took hold of it.

The tone was set from the opening bell when Kelly Pavlik began forcing Jermain Taylor backwards but two things were different from previous fights of both men; Taylor could fight going backwards a lot better than Edison Miranda did against Pavlik and Taylor had learned not to back straight into the ropes and make camp there.

Taylor gave lateral movement or fought his way off the ropes and made it his duty to always bring the fight back to the center of the ring.

After dropping the first round, Taylor came back to pound Pavlik with a barrage of punches and knock him down in the second. After Pavlik rose, he was almost downed again with a right but held on after Taylor seemingly gassed out near the end of the round.

That just may have been the beginning of the end.

And not because of Taylor's typical stamina issues. Well, not solely. Kelly's ability to recuperate from Jermain's powerful shots and then come back to control the third round was a true test of the fortitude fan's desire in a fighter. His nose quite possibly broken, Pavlik came back for more with every intention of returning the favor with interest. More...

“Bad” Chad Dawson Dominates Epifanio Mendoza To Retain WBC Title!

By Michael Worden September 30th, 2007 All Boxing Results

Joseph Agbeko scores upset to win IBF Bantamweight Title!

In a dominating performance, WBC Light Heavyweight Champion "Bad" Chad Dawson, 25-0 (17), stopped late sub Epifanio Mendoza, 28-5-1 (24), in the fourth round at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA.

The champion came into the fight and did what was expected of him by winning in an impressive fashion against an overmatched foe. Mendoza took the fight on only twelve days notice after #1 contender Adrian Diaconu was forced to pull out with an injured hand.

From the opening bell, the fight belonged to Dawson. He was landing the cleaner and harder shots and seemed relaxed and confident. The only chance that Mendoza had in the bout was to catch Dawson with his bread and butter power right hand, but Dawson's defensive skills were way too much for the challenger.

By the end of the third round, Dawson found his range and stared to focus on the knockout as he backed the challenger into the ropes and preceded to rip hard left hooks to the body followed by his lightning quick rights to the head.

At the end of the round, the ringside physician, who played a large role in tonight's fights, told the referee "Not to be afraid to stop the fight." And that is exactly what he did. More...

Kelly Pavlik Crowned New Middleweight Boxing King!

By Richard Eberline September 30th, 2007 All Boxing Results

A new top dog emerged in the middleweight division last night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City as ruling WBC and WBO Champion Jermain Taylor was gunned down by a gutsy Kelly Pavlik in the seventh round of a thrilling slugfest.

Pavlik's steady drive through the divisional rankings, highlighted by a brutal knockout of highly regarded power puncher Edison Miranda, had generated a great deal of interest in his showdown with Taylor, who had held various world titles since winning a split decision over ageless Bernard Hopkins two years ago.

After struggling with bulked up light middleweights Winky Wright, Cory Spinks and Kassim Ouma since winning a rematch with Hopkins, many in the media felt that Taylor's time in the spotlight would be brought to a close by the towering 25 year old from Youngstown, Ohio.

When the bell finally rang to start this much anticipated showdown, Pavlik pressed Taylor just like he had pressed Miranda but it was clear that the middleweight champion was far more skilled than the vanquished Colombian slugger. More...

Boxing In Germany: Valuev Returns With A Win Over Bergeron

By Danny Wilson September 30th, 2007 All Boxing Results

In front of 4,000 fans last night at the Ewe Arena in Oldenberg, Germany former WBA Heavyweight titlist Nikolay Valuev resumed his career after suffering his first professional loss and world title to Ruslan Chagaev back in April.

The seven foot "Russian Giant" squared off with six foot five inch Canadian southpaw, Jean-Francois Bergeron of St.-Jerome, Quebec, the reigning NABA titlist.

Like many of Valuev's opponents, Bergeron spent most of the bout keeping his distance from the towering Russian, especially after landing a good power left hand in the second that had no effect at all on Valuev. More...

Boxing Result: Elcock Takes British Middleweight Title From Eastman

By Ricky Jones September 30th, 2007 All Boxing Results

Wayne Elcock held his long awaited coming out party at the Skydome Arena in Coventry, England on Friday night as the Birmingham middleweight outboxed the highly decorated Howard Eastman in an entertaining scrap to annex the British title.

Elcock came into the clash as the clear underdog, having failed in a previous British title bid against Scott Dann and been the victim of a nearly career shattering first round KO in 2003 to Lawrence Murphy.

By contrast, Eastman had won the European, British and Commonwealth titles each on more than one occasion and had participated in unsuccessful but competitive world title bids against Bernard Hopkins and William Joppy. More...

The Prince and the Pauper – Amir Khan and Scott Lawton

By Boxing Press September 30th, 2007 All Press Releases

Over the last two years Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan has performed his own form of alchemy by turning his runners-up medal into gold. By signing professional terms with Frank Warren and by becoming the darling of the media Khan has already become financially secure.

The Bolton fighter has won all 13 of his professional starts to date with 10 of his victories coming within the distance. Last time out he got up of the canvas to recover and stop champion Willie Limmond to secure the Commonwealth lightweight title. More...

Boxing’s Rottweiler Returns To Ring On November 17

By Boxing Press September 30th, 2007 All Press Releases

After a long wait and much speculation, Ronnie “The Rottweiler” Kerner is set to conquer the boxing world as the new “King of Four Rounders”. Kerner is set to be the co-feature with his close friend Bobby Gunn Saturday, November 17th at the ABC Sports Complex in Springfield, Virginia.

Click for larger image

He will be fighting for the Inaugural WBE Four Round Special Heavyweight Championship Title. He may also be challenging for the NABC Four Round Special Title, with many more new four round special world titles to come. More...

Risum Boxing: Danish Golden Boy Poulsen Shows Potential In Clear Victory

By Boxing Press September 30th, 2007 All Press Releases

Danish super featherweight prospect Kim “Golden Boy” Poulsen improved his record to 5-1 (1) with a shutout unanimous decision-victory via scores of 40-36 on all three cards over previously undefeated Polish hope Tomasz Kwiecien, (1-0), last night in Soumagne, Belgium.

Poulsen delivered probably his best performance to date, in what was his first televised fight. The show, promoted by EuroBoxe in associated with Fight Production, was broadcasted live in Belgium. More...

Boxing Results: Daniel Ponce de Leon Crushes Reynaldo Lopez!

By Michael Worden September 29th, 2007 All Boxing Results

Escobedo wins NABO Featherweight belt!

In just over a month since defeating Rey Bautista in the Second Annual Golden Boy Promotions Boxing World Cup, WBO and IBA Junior Featherweight Champion Daniel Ponce de Leon, 33-1 (30), needed just five rounds to take out the rugged Columbian Reynaldo Lopez, 27-6-2 (19), at the Morongo Casino in Cabazon, California.

The fight started with Ponce de Leon shooting his signature wild shots at a fast pace, obviously looking to make a statement. But Lopez seemed to be much more prepared for the awkward style than Bautista had been a month earlier, using good head movement and a nice jab to ward off the constant attack.

By the third round, the body punishment that Ponce de Leon was delivering began to take its effect and he started to find the range with his powerful left.

Lopez was momentarily stunned late in the third and the champ jumped all over him, but the Columbian challenger landed his best punch of the night, a left uppercut, and seemed to slow the onslaught for the remainder of the round.

Ponce de Leon started to land big left hands in the fourth round and truly began to find his power. The best action of the night came when Lopez ate a big left and began to fire back with hard shots of his own, none of which seemed to faze Daniel in the least. More...

British Boxing: David Haye To Officially Announce Mormeck WBC/WBA Title Challenge

By Boxing Press September 29th, 2007 All Press Releases

Photo ©Jane Warburton/SaddoBoxing

Haye to hold October 3rd press conference ahead of Mormeck title fight

Former European cruiserweight champion David “The Hayemaker’ Haye will hold a one-off press conference on Wednesday, October 3 at Club 24, 24 Kingley Street London W1 at 11.30am for 12.00 noon to formally announce his impending WBC and WBA world cruiserweight title fight with France’s Jean-Marc Mormeck.

Londoner Haye, 26, has returned home from his Cyprus training camp in order to hold this exclusive press conference, which will serve as the ONLY press meeting Haye conducts before he clashes with Mormeck.

The WBC/WBA title fight between Mormeck and Haye is scheduled to take place on November 10 at the Palais des Sports Marcel Cerdan in Paris, France and is fast becoming one of the most anticipated bouts of 2007. Haye, 19-1 (18), is straining at the leash to get his hands on Mormeck’s belts.

“I’m right in the middle of my training and am feeling great,” the Bermondsey puncher admits. “I’ve heard reports from France that Mormeck is also in training and is looking as fit and determined as he’s ever looked. He knows I am a serious threat to his position at the top of the cruiserweight division.” More...

Official Boxing Weigh-In: Jermain Taylor - Kelly Pavlik

By Boxing Press September 29th, 2007 All Press Releases

Photo ©Will Hart/HBO

Courtesy HBO.com

Nearly 500 hundred chanting fans turned out tonight at Caesars Palace to witness the official weigh-in and final stamp on the pre-fight lead up to the Jermain Taylor/Kelly Pavlik title fight tomorrow night.

To get a view of the fighters as they took the scale, you had to either have the privledge of being up front early, or like many of the fans who seemingly slept in the ballroom overnight, stand on chairs to see over the crowed pushing thier way forward.

Maybe because Ohio is slightly closer to Atlantic City than Little Rock, Arkansas, the volume of Pavlik's fans chanting "PA-VLIK! PAA-VLIK!" echoed off the walls and drowned out the announcers voice as he introduced the reigning champion, Jermain Taylor.

Taylor, for his part, hardly looked phased by the pro-Pavlik turn out. Supposedly under the 160lb limit since Wednesday, Taylor looked in shape and determined, making weight at exactly 159lbs.

Pavlik answered back with 159.5lbs, setting the crowd off, creating a commotion in the wings that knocked down one of the plastic Roman columns down. This is what weigh-ins should be like!

Showtime Boxing: Dawson, Mendoza Ready To Rip Tonight In Sacramento

By Boxing Press September 29th, 2007 All Press Releases

In preparation for their big showdown tonight at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA as part of Showtime's Free Preview Weekend, light heavyweights Chad Dawson and Epifanio Mendoza both made weight yesterday for their contest over Dawson's WBC title.

Dawson came in at a very light 172.75 lb while Mendoza tipped the scales at the divisional limit of 175 lb.

As the chief support bout, both IBF Super Bantam Champ Luis Perez and challenger Joseph Agbeko both made weight as well.

Agbeko easily weighed in at 116.75 lb but Perez needed two attempts to make the divisional weight limit of 118 lb.

The bouts will be televised live tonight on Showtime Championship Boxing at 10 p.m. ET/PT , delayed on the West Coast.

European Boxing News: Asikainen, Maludrottu, Touzet, Kebede, Martinez

By Boxing Press September 29th, 2007 All Press Releases

By Per Ake Persson

Former European middleweight champ Amin Asikainen returned with a drab workout win over four rounds against brave Frenchman Sylvain Touzet in the headliner of EMA-Telstar´s show at the Royal Tennishall. Asikainen won on scores of 40-37, 40-36 and 39-37 but failed to impress.

Swedish welter Isam Khalil won a unanimous decision over Finn Samuli Leppiaho in another four rounder. Khalil won on scores of 39-37, 40-36 and 40-36.

Finnish heavy Sami Elovaara beat Estonian Valery Semishkur over four.

Ex-WBO 126 lb challenger Samuel Kebede returned to action but looked lucky to get the nod over tough Frenchman Mihaita Mutu, who even scored a flash knockdown that was ruled a slip. More...

Samuel Peter Interviewed On Tonight’s Big Showtime Boxing Card

By Boxing Press September 29th, 2007 All Press Releases

Newly crowned WBC interim heavyweight champion Samuel Peter, 28-1, (22), will be interviewed on this Saturday's Showtime Championship Boxing telecast, live at 10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast.

Peter was to challenge current WBC heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev on Oct. 6 at Madison Square Garden until a back injury forced Maskaev to pull out of the fight.

Peter will be interviewed by remote satellite by Al Bernstein and Steve Albert during Dawson-Mendoza, Saturday, Sept. 29 at 10 p.m. ET/PT available on Showtime Free Preview Weekend.

Peter defends his interim title against Jameel McCline, Saturday, Oct. 6 2007 at Madison Square Garden televised on Showtime.

From Friday, Sept. 28 through Monday, Oct. 1, the premium channel will be available in approximately 54 million homes nationwide, providing an opportunity for many non-subscribers to experience all of the hard-hitting sports and acclaimed original programming on Showtime.

Exclusive Boxing Interview: Jermain Taylor

By Jim Everett September 28th, 2007 All Boxing Interviews

Photo ©Jim Everett/SaddoBoxing

In lieu of any last minute cancellations due to injuries, a problem that boxing has been plagued with since the beginning of September this Saturday should be “A Perfect Matchup” between Middleweight Champion Jermain Taylor, 27-0-1 (17), and Kelly Pavlik, 31-0 (28), from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.

Both fighters are undefeated and have styles that should prove to be an exciting fight. In his recent outings although, Taylor received a draw against Winky Wright and while he won decisions against Kassim Ouma and Cory Spinks, his critics have been harsh about his performances.

Taylor concedes that his performances have been lackluster in his last three outings which were all southpaw fighters but also that he still is undefeated.

SaddoBoxing caught up with Jermain Taylor in an exclusive interview during his training camp in the Poconos to discuss his upcoming fight with Pavlik. More...

Boxing Preview Analysis: Clinton Woods vs. Juan Gonzalez II

By Lee Bellfield September 28th, 2007 All Boxing Previews

This Saturday night on a Fight Academy Promotion at Hallam FM Arena in Sheffield, England, IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Clinton Woods attempts to improve his first victory over Julio Gonzalez when they meet in the ring.

In a career spanning 13 years, the 35 year old Woods, 40-3-1 (24), still clamours for the big money matchup.

A year on from his last fight in which he entered a career best performance to finally beat Glen Johnsonm many feel that he is going over old ground by fighting Gonzalez again.

Born in Mexico but now a resident of Huntington Beach, California, Gonzalez, 42-3 (25), has earned this chance on the back of an eliminator win over Woods old foe Jason DeLisle back in November of 2005. More...

British Boxing: Michael Gomez Vows To End Carl Johanneson’s Career

By Boxing Press September 28th, 2007 All Press Releases

Michael Gomez steps into the last-chance saloon at the Doncaster Dome on October 19 when he challenges Carl Johanneson for the British super-featherweight title.

This is a fight that has really grabbed the boxing public’s imagination and while there are three British fighters challenging for world titles before the end of the year this fight is really getting the public talking.

There is more than just Carl Johanneson’s title on the line when the pair meet as there is also the intense pride and rivalry of Yorkshire vs. Lancashire.

Gomez, who specifically asked for this fight after Carl was beaten in his European title bout earlier this year said: “I will end Carl’s career.” More...

Showtime Boxing: Dawson vs. Mendoza Heats Up!

By Boxing Press September 28th, 2007 All Press Releases

Photo ©Tom Casino/Showtime

It's boxing with a bang as Showtime includes a thrilling fight card at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA as part of Free Preview Weekend.

Highly talented WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Chad Dawson has promised a great performance when he faces hammer fisted Colombian KO artist Epifanio Mendoza live on Showtime Championship Boxing tomorrow, Saturday Sept. 29 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast.

Also on the bill, highly seasoned IBF Super Bantam Champion Luis Perez puts his own title at risk against hard as nails challenger Joseph Agbeko, who has vowed not to leave Arco Arena without Perez's title.

All four combatants were on hand at the Arco Arena yesterday for the final press conference and each man spelled out just how they saw these highly charged clashes in light of their respective careers.

Chad Dawson: “This is a huge fight for me. I am hungry for big things. I am just starting to hit my prime so I have to take advantage of every fight. We’re all looking forward to a great performance. More...

Legendary Gleason’s Boxing Gym To Participate In “Art Under The Bridge” Festival

By Boxing Press September 28th, 2007 All Press Releases

The 11th Annual Art Under the Bridge Festival takes place September 28-30, 2007, in DUMBO, Brooklyn, New York. DUMBO Arts Center, the Festival's producer, is anticipating over 150,000 visitors again this year.

Sixty new art works will be scattered throughout the neighborhood, while 158 private studios will open to the public and exhibitions will run in sixteen different venues.

The event is the single largest urban forum for experimental art in the United States that transforms the distinctive waterfront neighborhood into a multi-sensory public art arena.

Gleason's Gym will become one of the private studios and will be open to the public Saturday, September 29th and Sunday, September 30th, 1:00-6:00pm.