Theophane offered Thurman bout, wants Maidana instead

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor

‘Treasure’ out in the autumn as US offers keep coming

Former British light-welterweight champion Ashley Theophane was revealed to WBN that he was offered the chance to face Keith Thurman on July 21 in American but had to turn the fight down due to lack of preparation time.

The 31 year-old is looking to return sometime in the autumn under the Hatton Promotions banner and would be willing to accept a US offer if the right fight, with right time to prepare, presented itself to him.

“I was contacted on Saturday about fighting Thurman as WBO World champion Adrien Broner's chief support,” Theophane told World Boxing News.

“It says a lot that Golden Boy promotions have contacted me after 140lb WBA world champion Marcos Maidana pulled out of the fight.

“Unfortunately I'm weighing 159lbs at the minute and I'm getting ready for an August fight Stateside.

“Hatton Promotions match maker Richard Poxon has promised me a UK date in September so I'm just waiting on him to confirm the opponent, date and venue.”

When asked if he would now be leaving the 140lb division behind, Theophane added: “I can fight at 140lb or 147lbs. I've beaten two time world title challenger Delvin Rodriguez at welterweight and won the IBO International and GBC welterweight titles.

“I haven't left 140 behind but I'm ready to fight the world's best 140lb and 147lbs fighters.

“Marcos Maidana and I at either weight would be a great fight,” he added.

Theophane is looking to get back to form following a disappointed loss to Darren Hamilton in May, when the highly-ranked fighter admitted that he failed to find the motivation necessary to overcome the Bristol man.

The well-travelled Londoner is now aiming to build on his world ranking with a view to accepting some of those American offers, and hasn’t ruled out another challenge for the British title to claim the Lonsdale belt outright.

WBN Remembers: "Gypsy Boy" Ernie Smith

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor (picure by boxrec.com) After almost a year and a half without one of boxing’s great journeymen, World Boxing News is looking back at the 161-fight career of Worcestershire warrior Ernie Smith, concentrating on his contribution in the ring, rather than the tragic way his life ended out of it. Smith turned professional at super-featherweight in 1998 at the Park Hall Hotel in Wolverhampton, losing a six rounder against Welshman Woody Greenaway. One month later, Ernie was thrown in with an unknown prospect by the name of Gavin Rees (former world champion and current British Lightweight Champion) who he also took the distance over four rounds. The “Gypsy Boy” then managed to string together a four fight unbeaten run together in early 1999 and ended the year winning five out of his twelve contests, but by this time had already delved into the journeyman pool of boxers with a record of 5-8-1. After settling at the welterweight limit, Ernie gained a su

BBC make Luke Campbell mum and sister death gaffe

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Picture from the BBC Gabby Logan announces wrong family tragedy The BBC made a major mistake on the final showing of their Olympics Tonight show as host Gabby Logan sparked an anxious quizzing by boxer Luke Campbell’s fans as they announced the ‘loss’ of his mother and sister at a young age. Campbell, 24, took the gold medal in the men’s bantamweight final earlier in the day and was then congratulated by Logan, who announced his victory as a triumph over adversity after the Hull fighter suffered the tragedy six years ago. Unbeknown to presenter Logan, it was Welshman Freddie Evans, who also boxes in an Olympic final tomorrow, who suffered the tragedy as he lost his mother Tracy and sister Scarlett in a car accident in 2006. Fans of Olympic champion Campbell and boxing in general, immediately began handing out sympathy to the boxer after believing what was announced to be true. Logan, after an outcry on social networking website Twitte

Soccer star Tim Cahill’s cousin Jai Opetaia, 16, spars Danny Green

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor (Picture from The Brisbane Times) Youngster shares ring with IBO champ Jai Opetaia, cousin of Everton Football Club’s star soccer player Tim Cahill, is a sixteen year-old amateur fighter who is deep in preparations for the forthcoming world youth championships. Recently the youngster was given the opportunity to spar with Australia’s IBO world light-heavyweight champion Danny Green as he prepares to take on Antonio Tarver and gain valuable experience before his trip to Europe. Opetaia, who hails from Watanobbi, has already taken former world champion Anthony Mundine a few rounds in sparring and has added another world renowned boxer to the list in 38 year-old Green. The Australian amateur team departs for the championships in Kazakhstan this Tuesday and Opetaia thinks the gym time with the Aussie boxing starts will stand him in good stead as he looks to claim gold at the under 80kg category. “It feels pretty special,” Opetaia told the Central Coas

World Boxing News 2010-2013

Search This Blog