World Boxing News 2010-2013

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor 44 year-old aiming to shake-up the heavyweight division Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Riddick ‘Bid Daddy’ Bowe has told World Boxing News that his imminent return to the boxing ring in his twilight years is intended to bring some much-needed excitement to what he believes is a dying division. The 45-fight veteran, who lost just once in a successful seven-year career from 1989 to 1996, has fought just three times since, but is still certain he has something to offer the sport which made him a superstar in the mid-nineties. “There is no one to watch anymore,” Bowe stated to World Boxing News. “I am hoping to be back sometime in the month of January. The world will be shocked and amazed by me looking the part and being the part because I am going to be cut up.” Asked whether he sees any young fighters coming through from his native America that could do anything in years to come, Bowe answered: “Where is the excitement? ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor (Picture courtesy of Brendon Smith) After a an initial ten-year friendship that blossomed into an eventual training and management partnership spanning another ten years, Brendon Smith parted company with two-time interim WBO lightweight champion Michael Katsidis last week. WBN has spoken to Smith about his time with the rugged Aussie and will exclusively air his view on the relationship in a three-part series starting here. In this installment, Smith remember's the earlier part of Katsidis's career from seeing the first spark of world championship class in the gym, to his maiden interim world title in 2007. Katsidis 'The Great' had turned professional in 2002, aged 22 with a third round knockout win over Danny Wilson and in only his second fight, became Australian lightweight champion. He added the 140lb version seven fights later and Smith recalls watching the young talent blossom and pointed out the moment knew he had a top fight...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Great’ sees Argentinian as stepping stone to bigger fights Former unified light-welterweight champion Devon Alexander has confirmed to WBN that his first fight at the higher welterweight limit looks likely to be WBA 140lb title holder Marcos Maidana. The 24 year-old, who lost for the first time in his career to Timothy Bradley earlier this year, is pushing new co-promoter’s Golden Boy to get the fight made for the early part if 2012. “Well me and my team are still working on this potential fight with Marcos Maidana and are looking at dates in January or February,” Alexander told World Boxing News. “The fight is still in the works but we are looking good though for as far as the fight happening. “This could be a potential fight to lead to bigger and better things at 147 and as you know I am the number one in the division with the WBC so we would have to see. “ He then added: “Nothing has been announced but we are expecting...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Pacman’ says deal with Mayweather imminent WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is ready to sign up to meet WBC belt holder Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas on May 5 th after admitting a unification deal is close to being agreed. The 32 year-old eight-weight title holder has been constantly dogged by rumours of a clash with the American over a two-year period and it now seems that the time is right to finally show the fans who the best pound for pound fighter of this generation is. "We are ready," Pacquiao told abs-cbnnews.com. "If it pushes through, once he signs the contract then I'll sign the contract. Only the little things are being worked out and negotiations are almost done." Mayweather, 34, has seemingly been the instigator of what will be the richest fight the boxing world has ever seen and even more so since Pacquiao’s under-par performance against Juan Manuel Marquez earlier this month. The five-...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Phodis (right) with Andres (left) and Chris (centre) Eldest believes siblings have all the right credentials Semi-professional boxing trainer Phodis Evangelou has revealed his pride at watching his younger brothers Chris and Andreas make exciting starts to their respective careers in the paid ranks. The 31 year-old, who introduced his brothers to the sport, has watched with gratification as light-heavyweight Andreas, 28, and 25 year-old light-welterweight Chris have racked up twelve victories between them since 2009. Evangelou is currently training at The 36 th Chamber Gym in Palmers Green, London and believes that both the ‘Ace’ and ‘The Flash’ can go as far as they want in the sport as long as they stay focused. “When I was 20 years old I took Chris (9-0) down to the gym to do a bit of training with the guys and I was called into the ring. Being the oldest brother and with little bro watching I had to show him what I was made ou...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Camps verbally agree contest in January or February Former unified light-welterweight champion Devon Alexander and current WBA belt holder Marcos Maidana are close to stepping up to welterweight for an all-Golden Boy match-up after verbally agreeing a deal to fight in early 2012. 24 year-old Alexander and Maidana, 28, have both expressed their interest in a meeting with either Floyd Mayweather or Amir Khan at the higher weight and have decided that facing each other maybe the quickest way to make one of those fights a reality. Alexander ‘The Great’ has only recently signed to Golden Boy Promotions after leaving Don King and starting up his own promotional company The Great Promotions to work in tandem with GBP – giving him access to an array of top opponents instantly. Maidana, who cemented his WBA title with victory over Petr Petrov in September, may vacate the belt after just one defence and the more prestigious offer from Alexander aft...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Pacman chased after Marquez performance WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s latest defence of his title has seen the chances of him sharing the ring with WBC belt holder Floyd Mayweather increase dramatically over the past month. With a prospective offer from Mayweather on the table for a May date at the MGM Grand, both sides have since admitted to talks and it seems that only one person yet to confirm the possibility of a bout is Top Rank boss Bob Arum - who has been accusing of stalling. Mayweather, 34, is keener that ever to get a super-fight with the Filipino signed after seeing his twelve round showing against Juan Manuel Marquez and Pacquiao seems to have reciprocated the American’s advances for what will be the richest fight in history. It may not be wise though for a lot of respected people in boxing to write off the 32 year-old Congressman on the back of one damaging performance against a man he has struggled against bef...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Southpaw heads back to Turkey for rematch Jo Jo Dan (29-1,16 KO’s) gets a shot at redemption and the WBC silver welterweight title tonight when the Canada-based Romanian returns to Turkey to face former foe and WBC number three ranked Selcuk Aydin (22-0, 17KO’s) in Trabzon. The 30 year-old is confident he can avenge his only career defeat to the Turk after racking up three straight wins since the loss in June 2010 and is looking to make the judges’ redundant in the WBC final eliminator after losing a split decision in their last meeting. “I don't think you will need the judges this time,” Dan told World Boxing News. “He will not last the twelve rounds. Once I win the WBC Silver title, obviously I want the WBC Champion. But if not possible, I want any of the top names of the welterweight division. Let’s win this fight and hopefully doors will open for me." On a second meeting with Aydin, Dan stated; “He is tailor made for me....

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Prizefighter champion expects upset on December 2 nd Super-middleweight prospect Rocky Fielding will be travelling to Germany next week to cheer on gym-mate Martin Murray in Mannheim as he challenges Felix Sturm for the WBA ‘super’ middleweight title. The 24 year-old, who burst onto the scene with his spectacular Prizefighter victory in March this year, is convinced his friend can pull off a shock on December 2 nd and keep his unbeaten record intact. “There a good few of the lads out of the gym going over to Germany,” Fielding told World Boxing News. “We are all behind him 100% and I will be ringside for it cheering him on all the way.” “He has got great experience in his corner with Oliver (Harrison) and Johnney Roye, both top coaches so we are expecting a good fight. “Both fighters have similar styles and I think there is going to be fireworks on December 2 nd . “The fight will go off from the first bell, but I can see...

Dereck Chisora (15-1, 9 KOs) and WBA/WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion Robert Helenius (16-0, 11 KOs) will collide for the vacant European Heavyweight Title in Helsinki on December 3. Boxing-online.com has caught up with the 27-year-old British fighter who is convinced he will knock out “The Nordic Nightmare” in front of his Finnish fans. Q: Dereck, why will you leave the ring as the winner on December 3? DC: “Because I'm back to my best. Nobody will beat me when I'm at my best.” Q: What do you think about fighting in front of 12,000 wild Finnish fans? DC: “No worries at all. The more the better, the crowd against me will really spur me on to win. I'll be a bigger hit in Finland than Nokia!” Q: You said in an interview with the Finnish press that you plan "to make love to Helenius" in the ring. What do you mean by that? DC: “Take that how you like it, I'll make him mine on December 3.” Q: What makes you so confident of success? DC: “I...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor ‘Pacman’ lining up welterweight unification WBO champion Manny Pacquiao and WBC holder Floyd Mayweather are in talks for what will be the richest fight in history later this year after the Filipino made the admission to abs-cbnnews.com that conversations have begun to make the mega-fight. The 32 year-old, who took a tight points win over Juan Manuel Marquez earlier this month, has been linked to a fight with the brash American for over two-years and after calls from millions of boxing fans to make the fight, both parties are ready to thrash out a money-spinning deal. "Negotiations are ongoing for my fight with Mayweather, but nothing is final," Pacquiao said. "Mayweather may be thinking 'I can fight Pacquiao now because he had trouble against Marquez, and I was able to beat up Marquez'." Mayweather, 34, has recently disclosed that he has a date of May 5 th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas lined-up for the unifi...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor ‘Maravilla’ desperate for defining fight The world’s number one middleweight Sergio Martinez has stepped up his attempts to get Floyd Mayweather in the ring after preliminary negotiations with Manny Pacquiao found a dead end at the catchweight agreement. The former WBC champion is becoming more frustrated as he seeks out a mega-fight with one of the world’s pound for pound best to seal his legacy in the sport after admitting in an interview in Madrid with Reuters  that his career so far has not hit the heights he desires. “It's a disgrace what (Team Pacquiao) are asking (to slim down from 160 to 147lbs),” said Martinez following his offer to fight the welterweight champion at 150lbs was turned down. “We are working on a long-term plan to stabilise my weight at 154 pounds in case a fight with Mayweather can be organised. “To be considered the best pound for pound I just need this little push, a great fight with one of the two. ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Mexican to fight in New York on December 3 rd Former world champion Antonio Margarito will challenge Miguel Cotto for the WBA light-middleweight title at Madison Square Garden as planned on December 3 rd after the New York State Athletic Commision granted him a license. The 33 year-old was forced to undergo stringent eye tests after initially being denied a license last week and after travelling from his base in Mexico to be thoroughly checked by doctors, is now clear to take his place on the HBO card next month. At a teleconference today, champion Cotto, 31, had stipulated that the fight will have to go ahead in New York or he would be forced to draft in a new opponent only to be told later that the fight will happen as planned. Margarito picked up the injury after a one-sided twelve-rounder with current welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao that has kept him out of boxing for the past year and ‘Tony’ will now get the chance to face Co...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor IBF champ rules out Briton for title bout Former world light-middleweight title challenger Ryan Rhodes’ declaration that he is targeting a bout with IBF belt holder Cornelius ‘K9’ Bundrage has been met with a clear response by the American champion, who isn’t going to wait for the Briton to position himself for a shot. The 38 year-old is currently awaiting a shortlist for his next defence of the title and has exclusively revealed to WBN that Rhodes, 35, will not be in line for a shot after he makes an eight-round comeback at the weekend in Rotherham. “Time is all we got and Rhodes don’t have no time,” Bundrage preached to World Boxing News. “Don’t’ waste it trying to take my belt as it won’t happen and that’s all you got.” Sheffield’s Rhodes will fight Siarhei Khomitski at the Magna Centre on Saturday in his first bout since losing to Saul Alvarez in the twelfth and final round in Mexico and can ill afford another loss at this stage ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Kid’ hoping to set up unification bout IBF featherweight champion Billy Dib is hoping that WBA ‘super’ title holder Chris John lowers his demands as he attempts to seal a massive unification fight at 126lbs against the Indonesian. The 26 year-old, who blasted Italian Alberto Servidei out in one round in his first defence of his title last week, sees a victory over the 47-fight undefeated fighter as a route to the top of the division and wants John to be more realistic in negotiations. ''He is out-pricing himself, he is asking for ridiculous figures,'' Dib told The Canberra Times. ''When you are asking for ridiculous figures, that mean you are scared, you are worried - you are trying to get a payout.'' ''I want to unify the division and I want it to be definitive, I don’t want to just win. ''To win definitive is to knock Chris John out - that would be an amazing achievement. ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Hatton sees wide points decision Former world welterweight champion Ricky Hatton is predicting a lopsided points win for Floyd Mayweather if the WBC champion he shares the ring with his number one rival and WBO title holder Manny Pacquiao in the future. Hatton, 33, who fought both fighters before retiring from boxing, sees the slicker Mayweather coming through against Pacquiao’s all-action style in a fight that he believes wouldn’t live up to the hype. “I thought Manny had problems with Marquez’s style and maybe he would always have problems with that style,” Hatton told The Telegraph . “Pacquiao is a pure fighter. On the strength of that contest and performance, it is hard to see how Manny would beat Floyd Mayweather if they actually ever meet in a ring." "I know people really talk that fight up, and are really excited about it happening, but I actually think that though people are talking about it as one of the biggest fight...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Veteran hopes to earns another title shot On May 7th this year, Shane Mosley got the opportunity to win a fifth world title in a fourth different weight class and many people in the boxing world (including me) did not believe that the now 40 year-old deserved it. With only two victories in his last six outings, I believe that the slick Californian was given the opportunity on reputation alone in order to provide Pacquiao with another big name for his already impressive CV. Now 'Sugar' Shane is looking for one final shot and has been keeping busy in the gym helping Kermit Cintron prepare for his challenge for the WBC light-middleweight title against Mexican star Saul Alvarez this weekend. Since a 2009 win over Antonio Margarito though, Mosley has not been anywhere near his best and was totally out-classed by Floyd Mayweather Jr in May 2010 losing almost every round. He then controversially drew with a borderline world-class Sergio Mora, who...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Boxing Binman’ moving down for bigger fights Former WBC super-bantamweight title challenger Rendall Munroe has explained to World Boxing News why he felt the need to move down to 118lbs with another 122lb world title shot seemingly round the corner. The 31 year-old had a contest against world title challenger Nehomar Cermeno in the pipeline but opted to move down to bantamweight and is now eyeing a shot at British and Commonwealth champion Jamie McDonnell. “I am looking to make my bantamweight debut in early February,” Munroe told World Boxing News. “I have been made no promises about a fight with McDonnell but I was struggling to get a fight at 122lbs. “I can make 118lbs without a problem so my team thought - why not do it and look for some big fights at bantamweight?” The Leicester man would have no problems hitting the four-pound lower mark as he regularly came in under the super-bantamweight limit – including against Toshi...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor All four organisations should merge into one When I heard that three Namibian boxers with virtually no proven fight record were rated in the top ten by the WBO just because they hold a WBO Africa belt, it made me long for days gone by when we only had one champion for each division. With WBA Super title, the WBC Diamond belt and so on and so on, interim champions, Inter-Continental champions…need I go on. Its just getting a bit too much of a much-ness and something radical needs to be done soon. I would be happy with two rated contenders for each weight division, who are put in place and made mandatory challengers to face the champion. Then the two fighters must face off against each other first, unbeaten record or not, before they gain a title shot. There is so many players in the boxing game that politics dictates that the powers that be would never allow such a change, as too many of those players in the boxing game would lose too much money. F...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Pride comes before a fall for aging fighters The 1990’s was an era that produced an array of talented fighters, Roy Jones Jr, Bernard Hopkins and Evander Holyfield are three that spring immediately to mind. The suprising thing, is that all three of these former world champions are still vying to compete in the boxing world today. Former undisputed light-heavyweight ruler Roy Jones Jr is now 42 and has lost eight out his last thirteen bouts and was badly knocked out by Russian Denis Lebedev. The former boxing superstar has still refused to confirm his retirement and is said to be considering his options. With his record unimpressive over the last seven years and the fact that four of those losses were awful knockout defeats, maybe his family or the boxing commission should take the decision out of his hands. The same could be said for four-time world heavyweight champion Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield who at 48, has lost half of his fights ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Golden Boy CEO blames Top Rank boss for stalling Oscar De La Hoya believes that Bob Arum is the one stopping a possible bout between world welterweight champions Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in 2012 and nobody else. The former multi-weight world title holder says nothing should stop Arum’s star fighter agreeing to the proposed May 5 th date in Las Vegas next year and settling boxing’s biggest debate once and for all. "He's the one who's stopping it from happening," De La Hoya told ESPN. "Bob Arum doesn't want to see the fight happen." "For Bob Arum to say, 'OK, we want the fight.  Our side (meaning Golden Boy and Floyd Mayweather) he wants the fight, we want the fight. “Mayweather has his date for the fifth of May next year. He wants the biggest fight out there. He wants Pacquiao, there's no doubt about that. It would be very unfortunate if this fight could not be made because of Bob A...

Friday night, one of the most talented fighters in the world will return to his homeland as undefeated and former three-time world champion Joan “Little Tyson” Guzman returns to the ring after an eleven month absence when he takes on the tough Florencio Castellano in a twelve round bout in the Dominican Republic. T he card can be seen outside the United States on  gfl.tv  for just $9.99 by clicking:  http://www.gfl.tv/Events/ Fight/Boxing/Guzman_vs_ Florencio__International_ Broadcast/1241   in the United States for just $9.99 by clicking:  http://www.gfl.tv/Events/ Fight/Boxing/Guzman_vs_ Florencio__US_Broadcast/1251 (NOTE THE U.S. BROADCAST WILL NOT HAVE THE GUZMAN OR MENDEZ BOUTS) Guzman of the Dominican Republic has a record of 30-0-1 with seventeen knockouts is one of the most gifted fighters in the world.  He is a three division world champions as he has won belts at Super Bantamweight, Super Featherweight and Lightweight and his bea...

Heavyweight legend set for farewell Former undisputed heavyweight champion ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier will be remembered at a service today before he is buried in Philadelphia. The famous fighter will go down in history as one of the greatest boxers that ever lived and will be forever remembered by fans all over the world. Frazier lost a short battle with liver cancer last Monday; he was 67 years-old. Plenty of famous faces are set to attend the Philadelphian’s farewell including Muhammad Ali, who traded blows with Frazier over 41 brutal rounds in the 1970’s and was Joe’s biggest rival throughout his career. The funeral is also being paid for by current WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. who offered a similar gesture to Genaro Hernandez's family when he tragically died in June this year. Those wishing to attend can do at the time and address below. Mon 11/14 at 11PM Enon Tablenacle Baptist Church 2800-2900 Cheltenham Ave Phila,Pa 19150

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Pacman’ now 2-0-1 against Mexican rival Manny Pacquiao remains the WBO welterweight champion in an edgy trilogy bout with world lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez in a fight that could have gone either way. The 32 year-old looked out of sorts for the first few rounds as Marquez, 38, frustrated the Filipino with his backfoot tactics and countered the champion supremely to gain the upper hand in the first half of the fight. Pacquiao came on strong in the second half after taking a tongue lashing from trainer Freddie Roach who told him in no uncertain terms that he was losing the fight and his title. ‘Dinamita’ continued to limit the eight-time champion to only a handful of shots landing per round and could have easily won the fight by anything from two to four rounds. As it was, Pacquiao was given a majority decision in the end to jeers from the crowd 114-114, 116-112 and 115-113 to retain his 147lb belt for the third time in...

Manny Pacquiao v Juan Manuel Marquez ( WBO welterweight title : 144lbs) MGM Grand, Las Vegas, USA 12x3                                                                                                               Pacquiao                   Marquez              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 1                            10                             10   ...

Timothy Bradley v Joel Casamayor ( WBO light-welterweight title ) MGM Grand, Las Vegas, USA 12x3                                                                                                           Bradley                     Casamayor              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 1                      10                                  9       ...

Mike Alvarado    v Breidis Prescott (light-welterweight) MGM Grand, Las Vegas, USA 10x3                                                                                                               Alvarado                      Prescott              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 1                           9                               ...