World Boxing News 2010-2013

Fitness Instructor Charles Hackmann became the first boxer to to get past the first round against the rugged former MMA star Kimbo Slice last night and had the 37 year-old up against the ropes in the second round as videoed by an amateur camera in the crowd at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma. Hackmann had taken the bout with just one day's notice after only three weeks as a professional boxer and gave a good account of himself on the night. The Missouri fighter only had his first pro outing last week, again going the distance, and gave up 20lbs to Slice showing guts in the process. The 26 year-old has also said that he would accept a rematch with Slice if it is offered and believes that the knockout specialist has a way to go before he can aim for titles in the heavyweight division. Click the link to view the whole first round:  http://www.youtube.com/watch Second and third round:  http://www.youtube.com/watch Fourth round:  http://www.youtube.com/watch *

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Fitness trainer speaks to WBN after four-round loss Charles Hackmann believes that former street fighter and MMA star Kevin ‘Kimbo Slice’ Ferguson will find it difficult to gain a foothold in boxing after his switch from a series of disciplines far removed from the art of pugilism. The 25 year-old, who works at Peak Physique as a personal trainer, caught Slice with a few swingers in the second round of their contest and thinks that Slice may struggle against some of the bigger names in the division. “It was only my second fight last night,” explained Hackmann to World Boxing News. “I'm new to boxing and still learning - but he hits like a truck and he is one tough dude. “I believe that he has got a long way still and he is also new to sport but boxing is different and a fight against the likes of the Klitschko brothers is probably way too tough for him.” Slice, 37, may now seek out a rematch with Hackmann in an attempt to scor

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Former MMA star now 3-0 Street-fighting legend Kevin ‘Kimbo Slice’ Ferguson scored his third win in the professional boxing ring last night as he went the distance for the first time in his short career against Charles Hackmann. Slice, who turned pro in August, took the four-rounder 39-37 as his opponent frustrated him and enjoyed a good second round, rocking Slice back on the ropes as he looked tired. Hackman failed to land anything substantial in the following rounds but can hold his head up high after becoming the first boxer to go past the first round against the brawler from Miami. Fitness trainer Hackmann was expected to be blown out in Kimbo’s usual first-round fashion, but the Peak Physique lead coach hung in there and used his know how to hear the final bell.

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Rebel’ improves to 18-0 Heavyweight contender Mike Perez scored a routine points win last night on his American debut at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California against Friday ‘The 13 th ’ Ahunanya. The 26 year-old had too much skill for the US-based Nigerian and took every round on the judges’ scorecards to keep his unbeaten record intact and enhance his reputation stateside. 2011 has been a standout year for the Ireland-based Cuban, who has racked up six wins in the calendar year along with claiming the Prizefighter – Internationals trophy and a cheque for £32,000. The southpaw may now be ready to seek out some fringe titles in 2012, with a view to adding some bigger names to his CV and eventually step up to world title level in the next eighteen months. .

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Felix Sturm - I want you ! After recently hearing that Felix has announced the date of his next fight (April 13th) in Germany, I would like to make it known that I have still not heard anything of a rematch.   I dont know whether their team have discussed opponents but I am here Felix - ready and waiting. Felix has been a great champion, but both me and him know that night in Mannheim he did not beat me. Felix cannot beat me. He know's I am the better fighter and so I am not expecting him to offer me a rematch. You offered Randy Griffin one and the same to Matthew Macklin, so you have proved that you try and correct close fights (or losses) but i don't think that the Sturm team are confident that you can win this one and as a result they and you will avoid me. Please be fair to yourself, to me and the German people who have supported you to get this fight on!  My manager and promoter built a good relationship with your te

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Great’ pleased with training as Maidana looms Former unified light-welterweight champion Devon Alexander is training for his first foray into the welterweight division against rugged Argentine Marcos Maidana on February 25 th and WBN caught up with the American as he gears up for sparring. The 24 year-old surprised everyone with his first choice at 147lbs as the former WBA title holder at 140lbs is a renowned power puncher and could well be even heavier handed with the added luxury of the extra weight. Alexander does have one advantage for the bout though as it takes place at his home venue - the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri and will represent his fourth career outing at the arena in the last three years. The southpaw, who is ranked number one by the WBC at his new weight, has been easing into training over the Christmas period and will now step up his sessions with the fight just over eight weeks away. “Training is goi

The Ring Top 10 as of December 29, 2011 --------------------------------------------------- 1. Manny Pacquaio 2. Floyd Mayweather Jr. 3. Sergio Martinez 4. Nonito Donaire 5. Andre Ward 6. Juan Manuel Marquez 7. Wladimir Klitschko 8. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam 9. Timothy Bradley 10. Vitali Klitschko The WBN Top 10 ---------------------- 1. Floyd Mayweather 2. Manny Pacquiao 3. Nonito Donaire 4. Wladimir Klitschko 5. Bernard Hopkins 6. Miguel Cotto 7. Andre Ward 8. Juan Manuel Marquez 9. Vitali Klitschko 10. Sergio Martinez Have your say on both on the WBN Facebook wall or Tweet WBN @WORLDBOXINGNEWS .

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Mexican wanted revenge opportunity WBC featherweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez has told World Boxing News that he had hoped to avenge his 2009 loss to current WBC super-bantamweight belt holder Toshiaki Nishioka only for the Japanese fighter to turn him down. The 31 year-old, who has stopped all eleven opponents since then within six rounds, was hoping that Nishioka would meet him again after being stopped in three rounds on his home soil, only to be left disappointed as Nishioka was unwilling to accept his request. “With Nishioka, I don’t think it will happen ever again because he and his team are not interested in a rematch,” Gonzalez told World Boxing News. “My sponsors proposed the bout to the 122lb champion but he would not take the fight and so we have moved on.” Gonzalez now looks set to fight Mandatory challenger Eloy Perez in March as previously stated to World Boxing News and then may be ready to unify the division before a c

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Arkansas fighter back after two-year absence Former undisputed world middleweight champion Jermain ‘Bad Intentions’ Taylor returns to the ring for the first time since October 2009 for his first middleweight bout since 2007 on Friday. The 33 year-old, who dethroned Bernard Hopkins in 2005 after ‘B-Hop’ reigned as 160lb champion for ten-years, will meet little-known Jessie ‘The Beast’ Nicklow as he looks to get back in the mix following a frustrating time out of boxing. License problems and a lack of drive have hampered the Little Rock native who has four losses in his 33 contests - but has only lost to one man, Kelly Pavlik at the 160lb limit and had a horrid time at super-middleweight. Nicklow, 24, is seen as a must-win clash for Taylor, whose career may well be over if he suffers a fifth loss in six fights at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California this weekend. .

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Oxnard fighter looking to the another great year Miguel Angel ‘Mikey’ Garcia is not letting up in his pursuit of a world title after a successful 2011 in which he scored three impressive victories and a healthy rise up the world featherweight rankings. The 24 year-old is now ranked number two by the WBC and believes that 2012 will be the year when he finally realises his dream of fighting for and winning a world belt after racking up 27 straight wins since 2006. “I did have a good year with all three wins coming by stoppages but I think 2012 will be the year that I get a title shot,” Garcia told World Boxing News. “If I get awarded any recognition this year for my efforts that would be great, but I would like nothing more than to get my title shot. “It doesn’t matter which of the champions grant me the shot as long as it’s for a world title and I think that by end of next year, I will be rated as the best featherweight in the world.”

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor WBC champion ordered to spend three months in prison Undefeated welterweight Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been sentenced to six months in prison by a judge in relation to assault allegations brought against the five-weight world title holder. The 34 year-old will have to serve at least 90 days at the Clark County Correction Center after Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa suspended the remaining 90 days pending the completion of a year-long counselling program. It means that a potential unification showdown with WBO champion Manny Pacquiao is unlikely to take place on May 5 th as Mayweather is due to start his sentence on January 6 th and may not be released until March at the earliest if he shows good behaviour. Pacquiao, 33, may now turn to other possible candidates for his first bout of 2012, with Miguel Cotto, a fourth bout with Juan Manuel Marquez and WBO 140lb champion Timothy Bradley said to be in the frame. It is a hug

Andre Ward v Carl Froch ( WBA and WBC super-middleweight titles ) Super-Six Final Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, USA 12x3                                                     Ward                          Froch                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 1                          10                                9              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 2                         10                               9              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 3                         10                               9              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                   Round 4                         10                               9              ------

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Former champ eyes world title number three Two-time WBO featherweight belt holder Scott Harrison has admitted to his mistakes in the past and now wants to focus on the task in hand after regaining his license to as a prolonged wait ended yesterday. The 34 year-old, who is now free to resume his boxing career after a six-year absence and time spent in a Spanish prison, has a plan in place to pick up third world title after the Scot never lost the belt in the ring. "I'd like to thank the British Boxing Board of Control and the Scotland Area Council for giving me my licence back,” Harrison told The Daily Record. "It has taken some time. The investigation into my physical and mental condition has been exhaustive and I don't think I could have done it without their support. "I have made some serious mistakes in my life and spent a considerable amount of time in a Spanish prison. "That would change anyone and I

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Former champion to resume career Scotland’s former world featherweight champion Scott Harrison will now get the chance to fight in his 30 th professional outing after the British Board of Boxing Control granted his request for a boxing license. The 34 year-old, who held the WBO 126lb belt on and off for almost three and a half years in the mid-2000’s, is now free to resume his ring career after spending time in a Spanish prison. The Glasgow-based fighter has now pulled his life back together after being released earlier this year and is expected to make his debut in early 2012, although it is not yet known what weight he will campaign at upon his return. 'The Real McCoy' last fought in 2005 against Nedal Hussein and has just one bona-fide loss against Manuel Medina on his record which the Scot avenged  four months after their first meeting in 2003. .

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Former Contender champion ending busy year with title defence NABF light-middleweight champion Grady ‘Bad Boy’ Brewer will defend his belt for the first time on December 22 nd against US-based Mexican Michael Medina at the Cox Convention Centre in Oklahoma City. The 40 year-old, who suffered his 13 th career defeat in 41 bout last time out against Demetrius Andrade, puts his title on the line for the first time since he picked up the vacant strap with a surprise stoppage of previously unbeaten Fernando Guerrero in June. The contest represents the American’s fourth fight of the year after turning out just five times in the four years prior, and a victory for Brewer would set him up for some bigger contests in 2012. Medina (24-3-2, 19 KO’s) has lost two of his last three outings, seemingly failing everytime he steps up a level and will have his work cut out against the awkward former Contender champion. .

The holidays arrived  early this morning  for   Bernard  "The Executioner"  Hopkins  ,  when the  State Athletic Commission  of California (CSAC  )  reversed the decision of  the  oldest world champion in  boxing history  of  a  controversial defeat  by TKO  against to Chad "Bad" Dawson  on October 15  at the Staples Center  in Los  Angeles  .  The  outcome of the hearing ,  which took place in  the JISC  at its regular meeting  , changed the  TKO loss to a decision not  on the register  of Hopkins  , leaving any  doubt  that  is still  the champion  heavyweight world.      "Today I got  justice, "  said  Bernard  Hopkins  .  "  I am delighted that  the  State Athletic Commission  California  did the right thing  and removed the defeat from my record  .  Mistakes happen , but what is done to correct  those mistakes  is what counts . "  I am delighted  that the  State Athletic Commission  California  did the right thing  and ordered 

Here are the Nominees for the World Boxing News Awards 2011. The Fighter of the Year category will be open for voting on December 18th to WBN readers. The Young Boxer of the Year and Prospect of 2011 have already been decided and will be announced on January 1st 2012. Fighter of the Year: Nonito Donaire Wladimir Klitschko Lamont Peterson Erik Morales Jorge Arce Hernan Marquez Timothy Bradley Bernard Hopkins Adrien Broner Brandon Rios Andre Ward Abner Mares Fight of the Year: Hernan Marquez v Luis Concepcion I (April) Victor Ortiz v Andre Berto (April) Marcos Maidana v Erik Morales (April) Jorge Arce v Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. (May) George Groves v James DeGale (May) Felix Sturm v Mathew Macklin (June) Chris Edwards v Paul Edwards (June) Delvin Rodriguez v Pawel Wolak I (July) Liam Walsh v Paul Appleby (September) Antonio DeMarco v Jorge Linares (October) Nathan Cleverly v Tony Bellew (October) Manny Pacquiao v Juan Manuel Marq

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Trainer sees welterweight clash as final bow for ‘Pacman’ Freddie Roach is of the belief that his star fighter Manny Pacquiao would step away from the ring after a meeting with Floyd Mayweather whatever the outcome if the pair agree to meet in May. The trainer of the year sees the 32 year-old’s political career as a major factor in any decision meaning that the Filipino Congressman could potentially retire this year despite previously stating he would fight until 2013. “He's really into politics and so forth and politics is going to take him away from boxing that's for sure," Roach told allvoices.com. “Politics is something he wants to be good at. I feel if we do fight Mayweather, win or lose I think it will be his last fight,” he added. Negotiations have either not even begun or are nearly complete for the welterweight unification contest depending on which reports you read and from which camp. Top Rank and Golden Boy

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Asif Vali bemoans ‘amateurish’ post-fight display Members of Amir Khan’s backroom team are disgruntled at the way the post-fight scorecard totalling was conducted after the Briton lost his WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles in Washington D.C on Saturday night. The 25 year-old’s manager Asif Vali spoke to The Daily Star’s Kevin Francis in the wake of the controversial decision to address discrepancies with one of the judges’ scorecards, in particular that of George Hill.  “It was chaotic and amateurish. The cards are taken by the commissioner at the end of each round and a cumulative total is carried right to the end of the fight. “We were told in the ring at the final bell that Amir had won the fight but then, incredibly, just before Michael Buffer announced the decision, we were told ‘Hang on, we have made a mistake in the counting’. It took about eight minutes for everything to be sorted out with the decision eventually going to Peter

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Briton seeking immediate rematch with Peterson Exactly one year ago to the day, Amir Khan was celebrating a close unanimous points win over Marcos Maidana in what turned out to be the Fight of the Year and Khan accepted the plaudits for his efforts. Fast forward twelve months and the former unified champion is on the receiving end and will now know exactly how Maidana felt if the Bolton man goes on to win the award for the second year running. The 25 year-old’s split decision loss to Lamont Peterson is to be contested by his team after what they saw as discrepancies in referee Joe Cooper’s awarding of points deductions which ultimately cost Khan his WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles in Washington. Khan is looking to secure and immediate rematch with the American, hopefully in the UK in March if the money is right and any chance that he had of facing Floyd Mayweather in 2012 disappeared when the final judges’ card read 113-112 to Peterso

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor The ‘Pinoy Punch’ retains his title Brian Viloria produced a career-best performance to defeat former light-flyweight king Giovani Segura and retain his WBO flyweight title in Pasig City, Philippines last night. The 31 year-old surprisingly dominated the Mexican over the eight rounds, causing a swelling on his face before taking him out in the eighth round to inflict Segura’s second career loss to the home crowds delight. The two-weight world champion is now undefeated in four bouts and will move on to a possible unification in 2012 after causing one of the shocks of the year. In Nayarit, Mexico, Liborio Solis and Johan Perez picked up the interim versions of the WBA super-flyweight and light-welterweight titles respectively with victories over Jose Salgado and Fernando Castaneda. .

Amir Khan v Lamont Peterson ( WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles ) Convention Center, Washington, USA 12x3                                                    Khan                           Peterson                     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 1                       10 (1)                               8              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 2                       10                                     9              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 3                       9                                      10              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                   Round 4                       9                                     10              -----

Seth Mitchell v Timur Ibragimov  (heavyweight) Convention Center, Washington, USA 10x3                                                  Mitchell                      Ibragimov                     -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 1                       10                                 9              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 2                      TKO              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 3              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                   Round 4              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 5              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Ring legend fights Max Alexander in Georgia Former pound for pound king Roy Jones Jr. will be hoping to stop a rot of three straights defeats tonight as he takes on Max Alexander at the cruiserweight limit in Atlanta, Georgia. The 42 year-old, who has lost to Danny Green, Bernard Hopkins and Denis Lebedev in the last two years, takes a considerable step down in class with the aim of getting back that winning feeling. The 62-fight veteran has shown no sign of slowing down despite suffering his fourth career knockout defeat in May and has now won just five of twelve bouts since 2003. The four-weight world champion does boast 54 victories in his 22-year professional career and looked sharper than in recent bouts against Lebedev, only to be stopped in the last seconds of the bout as he ran out of steam. Alexander, 30, hasn’t won in his last six fights and has to go back to 2007 for his last W. The New Jersey-based fighter has been out of the r

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Simakov stopped and never recovers Promising light-heavyeight Roman Simakov has died following his December 5 th bout with undefeated Sergey Kovalev in Ekaterinburg, Russia. The 27 year-old was stopped in seven rounds by the American-based Kovalev following two knockdowns and was immediately rushed to hospital after losing consciousness in front of a worried crowd, which included former world champion Kostya Tszyu. Simakov underwent emergency brain surgery whilst in the Ural City hospital but never came round and was pronounced dead by doctors earlier today. It was the Kemerovo fighter’s second defeat in 22 contests and an inquiry has now been launched in to his untimely death after he was dragged from the ring in a makeshift stretcher after collapsing. No oxygen or medical treatment appeared to be on hand to help the stricken fighter and there may now have to be a major review of the incident by the Russian boxing organisations. .

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Light-welterweight pulled from fight against Theophane County Durham-based boxer Nigel Wright has failed a brain scan for the first time in his 10-year pro career on the eve of his third attempt to win the British light-welterweight title. It is a massive blow to the 32 year-old who was headlining in his native North-East for the first time in three years against the dangerous Lonsdale belt holder Ashley Theophane and has now been replaced by Southern Area champion Ben Murphy. In an interview with The Northen Echo , Wright’s trainer Peter Cope explained that Wright still hopes to box again despite the failed scan saying:  "It's just so sad for Nigel. An abnormality has shown up on the brain scan and it will take until after the weekend for him to receive the results of second and third opinions. "We are all gutted. But what is the most important thing for Nigel is his health. He has two beautiful daughters and his wife to thin