World Boxing News 2010-2013

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Panamanian reverts to old habits Fight-shy Guillermo Jones is no longer the WBA cruiserweight champion after a meagre two defences in four years as title holder. Scheduled opponent Denis Lebedev now picks up the belt after the Panamanian attempted to stall their proposed December 17 contest. Lebedev, 33, has held the interim title for almost a year since defeating James Toney and promoter Vlad Hrunov decided to lobby the WBA after Jones made his predictable move to shift the fight a second time. "It's just happened," Hrunov told Ria Nostovoi . "I presented my arguments" to the congress in favor of awarding Lebedev the title, he said. The bout was originally pencilled in to take place in October, before the December date was then agreed and reversed, and any attempts by Jones’ promoter Don King to salvage the contest have now seemingly failed. 40 year-old Jones had pulled out or postponed five title defences in his ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Lights out’ meets Russian Lebedev Four-weight world champion James ‘Lights Out’ Toney (73-6-3, 44 KO's) has boiled down to cruiserweight for the first time in eight years after he successfully made the 200lb limit for his bout with Russian Denis Lebedev in Moscow tonight. Toney, 43, last fought in February when dominating heavyweight Damon Reed over ten rounds and weighing in at his heaviest ever weight of 257lbs. The American has been hard in training on and off over the past few months and stepped it up for his eight-week camp to shed a considerable amount to weigh in at 199lbs on the scales last night. Opponent Lebedev (22-1, 17 KO's), who came in at 197.5lbs, is on the back of a career-best win over an aging Roy Jones Jr. and the 32 year-old is hoping to add another marquee name to his list as he attempts to win a rematch with WBO belt holder Marco Huck. 'Kaptn' Huck took a controversial points decision over the southpaw ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Russian Lebedev stops former champ in final round Four-weight world champion Roy Jones Jr. lost for the eighth time in his 22 year career tonight as former cruiserweight world title challenger Denis Lebedev knocked him out in the final round of their ten round 200lb contest at the Sport Complex Krylatskoe in Moscow. The 42 year-old has now suffered three straight defeats and seven of his last twelve fights dating back to 2004 and should now be stripped of his boxing license of suffering another shocking loss. The Russian, 31, ended the bout with just one second left on the clock with a hard right hand followed by an uppercut, which already had Jones falling as the Russian landed another huge right, leaving Jones blacked out and falling face first to the canvas. Referee Steve Smoger hesitated too long in stepping in after the initial flurry, leaving Jones wide open for, what seemed to be an uncalled for right, which had everything that Lebedev had left ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Russian cruiserweight teams up with former world champ Former Russian light-heavyweight champion Denis Lebedev (21-1, 16 KO’s) has joined forces with former undisputed light-welterweight champion Kotsya Tszyu as he prepares to take on American Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr (54-7-0, 40 KO’s) in Moscow on the 21st of May. The 31 year-old is one the back of his only career loss to date, a controversial split decision defeat against WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck in December and will be looking to get back to winning ways. Lebedev racked up eight straight wins at 200lbs after a four-year absence from the sport between 2004-2008 after previously winning the Russian 175lb title in only his third fight. The eccentric southpaw has now joined the Russian-born Australian Tszyu’s Rockdale gym and will train under the guidance of the former 140lb star as he prepares to face the aging former light-heavyweight king, who continues to box despite losing six out ...