World Boxing News 2010-2013

Lovemore Ndou, the former three times and two division world boxing champion makes his MMA debut on December 1st at the Newcastle Panthers Club. When asked what style he will be bringing into the cage he simply answered ‘Gangnam Style’. “Look, I’m still a novice in MMA. I’m still to create a style so for the time being I will stick to ‘Gangnam Style’. Ndou who is trained by the well-renowned martial arts whiz, Igor Brackenback, at Bondi Junction says he is excited but nervous at the same time about his MMA debut against Aswin Cabuy. “I’m glad though that I’m nervous. It means I’m not underestimating my opponent. I’m getting the same  feeling I had about 28 years ago when I made my boxing debut. I was so nervous but I went out there and knocked my opponent out so quick. So don’t be surprised if I go out there and break my opponent’s arm within a few seconds in that cage. I’m still learning and improving my grappling skills but do not underestimate me. I can be a...

Irish and boxing have been synonymous for more than a century. Undefeated featherweight Patrick "The Punisher" Hyland, one of three prizefighting Hyland brothers, certainly embodies the popular sobriquet, "The Fightin' Irish." Dublin-native Hyland (27-0, 12 KOs) plans to continue making Irish boxing history on December 8, when he fights fellow undefeated challenger  Javier "El Abejon" Fortuna  for the interim World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight title, fighting on the HBO Pay-Per-View event headlined by  Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marguez 4 , at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The 29-year-old Hyland, who is promoted by Final Round Promotions and Team Snooki Boxing, made a major commitment to boxing a year ago, moving from Ireland to Marlboro, New York in order to be trained by two-time two-division world champion Tracy Harris Patterson . Rated No. 6 by the WBA, Hyland already holds the Republic of Ireland boxing record for most cons...

Frank Stea  Senior Reporter Former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Michael Sprott 36-19 (17KOS) is set to rematch undefeated contender Edmund Gerber 22-0 (14KOs) on the 15th of December in Nuremberg, Bayern, Germany at the Arena Nürnberger Versicherung. The fight is a sequel to their controversial first encounter from September which saw an angered Sprott push referee Gehrard Sigl down to the canvas after Sigl stopped the fight prematurely. Sprott has since been fined and suspended by the Austrian Boxing Union for his post fight actions. His suspension is officially lifted on the day of the rematch. “To be honest, I’ve been robbed a few times in Germany. It was a built up of frustration. When the referee stopped the fight, he knew I could carry on and he knew I was beating Gerber. To me he stopped it to save Gerber’s career.” Sprott told World Boxing News. “I saw red. I was just so frustrated that it seemed like every time I’m winning a fight, they’re always tr...

 1. Floyd Mayweather (43-0, 26 KO's) Age:  35 Alias:  Money Hometown:  Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA Debut:  1996 World Title fights:  20 Title's:  WBC super-featherweight champion (OCT 98 - APR 02) WBC lightweight champion (APR 02 - JUN 04) WBC light-welterweight champion (JUN 05 - SEP 06) IBF welterweight champion (APR 06 - OCT 06) IBO welterweight champion (APR 06 - MAY 07) WBC welterweight champion (NOV 06 - JUN 08) WBC light-middlweight champion (MAY 07 - JUL 07) WBC welterweight champion (SEPT 11 - present) WBA light-middleweight champion (MAY 12 - present) 2. Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO's) Age: 30 Alias:  The Filipino Flash Hometown:  Talibon, Bohol, Philippines Debut:  2001 World Title Fights:   10 World Title's:  IBF flyweight champion (JUL 07 - APR 09) WBO bantamweight champion (FEB 11 - NOV 11) WBC bantamweight champion (FEB 11 - NOV 11) IBF super...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Pacman’ remains hopeful of super-fight Manny Pacquiao has once again stipulated that he is willing to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year in the wake of reports that the American is looking at a shortlist of alternative opponents to the Filipino fighter. The eight-weight champion, 33, is currently In final preparations for his upcoming fourth clash with Juan Manuel Marquez, although the ‘Pacman’ can never seem to distance himself from talk of a possible clash with Mayweather. The two have been miles apart in terms of negotiations in the past, although Pacquiao is now willing to relax his stance in the drawn-out talks, in order to make the fight that should have been made over two years ago. “100%,” said Pacquiao, when asked by ESPN if he is still interested in facing Floyd. “I agree with the 45-55 (split) for the fight to happen for the sake of the fans. Whatever he wants with the drug testing, he can do whatever is in the rules. It i...

Four-Time and Three-Division World Champion Miguel Cotto and unbeaten Puerto Rican prospects Jayson Velez and Jeffrey Fontanez participated in media workouts on Monday at Gleason's Gym in New York in preparation for their upcoming fights thisSaturday, Dec. 1 at Madison Square Garden with Cotto's and Velez's fights airing live onSHOWTIME ®  (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast). In the main event on  SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING , Cotto (37-3, 30 KO's), of Caguas, P.R., will face undefeated defending champion  Austin Trout  (25-0, 14 KO's), of Las Cruces, N.M., for the WBA Super Welterweight World Championship. The 10-round co-feature for the vacant WBC Silver Featherweight Championship will pit Velez (19-0, 14 KO's), of Juncos, P.R., against  Salvador Sanchez II  (30-4-3, 18 KO's), of Tianguistenco, Mexico.  In the opening bout of the telecast, hometown favorite  Danny...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Double champion expected to make announcement soon WBA light-middleweight and WBC welterweight title holder Floyd Mayweather is set to choose from a three or four-man shortlist for his next outing and is expected to make his next fight date public in the near future. The 35 year-old pound for pound king has been out of the ring since scoring a unanimous points win over Miguel Cotto in May and has served a two-month prison sentence during his time away from the sport. Cotto, 32, who returns himself this Saturday night in a bid to regain the world title against Austin Trout, is said to be one of those names, although Manny Pacquiao seemingly does not figure in Mayweather’s immediate plans. The rugged Puerto Rican is joined by interim title holder to Mayweather’s belt Robert Guerrero, WBC 154lb champion Saul Alvarez and Timothy Bradley as potential names for a spring showdown with the ‘Money’ man. Guerrero would seem the more likely as ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Welterweight contender eyeing further step-up Phil ‘The Italian Sensation’ Lo Greco was put in the precarious position of a first round knockdown in his previous fight and although he came back to win, has told WBN that he needs bigger fights in the future. The 28 year-old, who improved his record to 25-0 by eventually stopping Daniel Sostre in seven rounds, is hoping that a huge bout against a ranked-name fighter will stave off his hunger for an immediate title shot. “Sostre was a good opponent, better then his record, but now I need big fights where I can get motivated,” Lo Greco told World Boxing News. “I just got the job done and was worrying for bigger fights that's all. “I'm in the top 15 with the WBC, WBA and WBO so my chances are good and I hope to get that chance very soon, maybe even at the Barclay’s Center.” Two dates are currently booked in on the Golden Boy calender that could give Lo Greco the opportunity as Danny Garcia and ...

In a battle that had Super Bowl like stakes on the line,   Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero  (31-1-1, 18 KOs) thoroughly dominated former two-time welterweight world champion  Andre Berto  (28-2, 22 KOs), over twelve grinding back and forth action-packed rounds, dropping him twice in the process.  The  slug-fest  has many commentators, fans and media, considering this war to be "Fight of the year". Guerrero, a four-time world champion over six weight classes, is the only Mexican-American fighter, other than future Hall of Famer and promoter  Oscar De La Hoya , to win as many titles in as many weight classes. After once campaigning at the Junior featherweight (122 pounds) weight class, "The Ghost" has now triumphed over six weight divisions, being the only active fighter other than Manny Pacquiao to compete and win in as many divisions. "My number one goal is to give the fans the fights they deserve and use my platform as a prizefigh...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Picture by KMG/Klitschko Heavyweight won’t step in line for title bout WBC number two Johnathon Banks has categorically dismissed any chance of him fighting heavyweight champions Wladimir and Vitali in future after admitting it would be like ‘fighting family’ if they ever shared the ring. The 30 year-old from Detroit blew the division wide open with a comprehensive beating of unbeaten prospect Seth Mitchell earlier this month in an eliminator to instantly catapult himself into contention with to face Vitali. Talk has already surfaced that Mitchell’s promoters Golden Boy may have a return clause in place to set up another clash between the two and Banks isn’t too concerned about sharing the ring with the former American footballer again. “As of today that is the best victory of my career,“ Banks told World Boxing News. “I don't feel that he was easy to hit, but I got the win. “If a another fight with Seth is what my people are agr...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Mexican legend admits continued annoyance at 2009 stoppage Three-weight world title holder Marco Antonio Barrera, who is on the brink of retirement from boxing as he exclusively told WBN last week, has admitted the there is still a sore spot as he looks back on his glittering 23-year career. Barrera, 38, remains outraged at the manner of his loss in March 2009 to a then up and coming Amir Khan, when the ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’ was halted in five rounds by a deep gash on top of his head from a clash of heads. Khan, 25, has since gone on to unify the light-welterweight division and be involved in some of the major fights at 140, whilst Barrera has fought just twice and found it hard to secure a final challenge against a top opponent. “(The defeat) It does bother me a lot because for me it wasn't even a fight,” Barrera told World Boxing News. “It ended in the first round with the head butt and I wasn't able to see as I was dizzy and m...

‘Treasure’ unhappy at losing opportunity Former British light-welterweight champion Ashley Theophane went through all his pre-fight preparations for his appearance on Ricky Hatton’s undercard on Saturday night, only to see his hopes dashed moments before his bout with Chris Truman. The 32 year-old was scheduled for an eight-rounder as he looks to build on his Stateside win over Ronnie Warrior in August and was gloved-up and ready to go until Senchenko crippled Hatton with a ninth round body shot. Inexplicably, the Londoner’s contest was then pulled from the card by Hatton Promotions matchmaker Richard Poxon and Theophane is now considering his next move following the disappointment. “It was due to bad organization from head of boxing Richard Poxon that my fight did not happen,” Theophane told World Boxing News. “Because of Richard Poxon, Hatton promotions are in breach of contract with me. The only reason I've stayed is because Ricky himself believes I have ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Picture by Mark Robinson ‘Hitman’ just over three minutes from comeback victory Two-weight world champion Ricky Hatton was just 188 seconds from claiming a win on his eagerly-awaited return to the ring and may have been celebrating a retirement victory if he made it to the final bell. The 34 year-old was ahead 77-76 on two judges’ cards, with a third having the fight 78-74 as former WBA title holder Vyacheslav Senchenko took all the wind out of Hatton’s sails with a crunching left to the body. Hatton showed glimpses of his old marauding self in the opening five rounds until fatigue and ring-rust ultimately ended his world title dreams after which, the likeable Mancunian decided to hang up his gloves a second time. Whether things may have played out differently with a lesser opponent will always be an unanswered question as Hatton said himself he wouldn’t have been happy with any other calibre of opposition for a comeback. The ‘Hitm...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Former title challenger wants second attempt Dmitriy Salita has immediately offered to step in an face fellow-New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi in the fallout to preferred opponent Ricky Hatton’s loss to Vyacheslav Senchenko on Saturday night. The 30 year-old, who lost to Amir Khan in his first title challenge three years ago, is intent on securing another WBA title shot in a 'Battle of Brooklyn' with Malignaggi after scoring five victories in a row since suffering his only loss in 37 bouts. “I guess there will be no Hatton vs Paulie,” Salita told World Boxing News in the aftermath of Hatton’s Manchester KO defeat.“I am hungry and ready to put on a show and make the most of my second world title attempt. I guarantee I won't let it get away from me. ”Oscar De La Hoya was talking about a fight between Paulie and I at the pre-fight press conferences for the recent October 20th show at the Barclay Center, although I imagine he meant after Hatton ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Rebel’ out of December 1 clash Undefeated ex-Prizefighter champion Mike Perez has been forced to withdraw from his upcoming acid test against former world title holder Ruslan Chagaev in Germany after injuring his shoulder, according to promoter Felix Sturm. The heavyweight contest was due to take place at the Burg-Waechter Castello in Dusseldorf and it is not yet known whether a replacement will be called up at late notice to oppose one-time WBA champion Chagaev. Perez, 27, is currently touted as one of the best prospects around in the top division, although the southpaw has fought just twice in the 18 months since claiming the Prizefighter – Internationals crown in May 2011.

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Ghost’ retains interim title in California Multi-weight world champion Robert Guerrero maybe one step closer to securing his dream bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr. after retaining his interim WBC title against Andre Berto. The 29 year-old from Gilroy, had Berto in trouble from the off, dropping him with some hard rights hands as the challenger struggled with the ferocious pace in the early stages of the contest. More accurate punches put Berto down for a second time in the next round and left the former belt holder with a closing right eye that seemed to instantly trouble him as it blew up from a straight left. From round three onwards the fight was much more competitive as the two fighters slugged it out on the inside and neither of the two warriors would give any ground for the remaining rounds. Guerrero’s early knockdowns had made the result look more one-sided than it actually was as all three judges agreed with my card of 116-...