World Boxing News 2010-2013

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Raging Bull’ eyes September world title challenge Entertaining fighter Pawel Wolak has told WBN that he would be willing to return to the sport and postpone his MMA debut if any of the stars at 154lbs offered him the chance to mix it with the elite of the division. The New Jersey-based light-middleweight retired from boxing following his loss to Delvin Rodriguez in December last year, but admitted that he would find a call from WBC champion Saul Alvarez too hard to turn down as the Mexican seeks an opponent for September 15. “I have no idea whether I am in the frame to fight Canelo or not but I have always said that if Cotto, Bundrage or Canelo would give me an opportunity to fight for their title that I would come back,” Wolak told World Boxing News. “I am still training four days a week in boxing. I am very much in shape and if it happens great, if not I am staying on track for MMA later this year or early 2013. “I am without a pro...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Raging Bull’ switches codes following agreement Entertaining fighter Pawel Wolak is finally ready to move to MMA following an agreement with Top Rank to release him from his binding contract early to pursue the switch from boxing. The Polish-born puncher, who is based in New Jersey, lost to Delvin Rodriguez last December in a rematch of their ‘Fight of the Year’ bout five months prior and decided to call it a day following a one-side defeat at Madison Square Garden. The 31 year-old, who ended his boxing career with a record of 29-2, with 19 KO’s, had planned to make the shift to Mixed Martial Arts earlier this year, but was blocked as his contract with Top Rank was still valid. The ‘Raging Bull’ has now come to an amicable agreement with his previous employers at Top Rank and will concentrate on his new career immediately with an expected fight in the coming months. “I have been training for MMA since December as well as keeping up ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Recently retired fighter may box on…for now Pawel Wolak has explained to WBN what his plans are for 2012 after announcing his retirement following his loss to rival Delvin Rodriguez in December at Madison Square Garden. The 31 year-old is currently intent on beginning training for a career in Mixed Martial Arts, although the ‘Raging Bull’ is still contracted to previous employers Top Rank until October this year and could be set for one last fight before swapping the prizefighting ring for the octagon. “There are basically three options,” Wolak told World Boxing News. “Top Rank accepts my request to let me out of my contract early and I go into MMA and have my first fight this summer or Top Rank asks me to fulfil my contract obligations and gives me an opponent and opportunity that makes sense and I will honour my contract. "The third option is Top Rank asks me to fulfil my contract obligations and gives me something that makes no s...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Raging Bull’ bows out following Rodriguez loss Entertaining light-middleweight Pawel Wolak has decided to hang up his gloves after 32 professional contests in seven years and just two defeats. The 30 year-old lost a one-sided decision to rival Delvin Rodriguez at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, the first convincing loss of his career and has now made the decision to retire. The ‘Raging Bull’ became only the second man after Miguel Cotto, to defeat former world champion Yuri Foreman earlier this year and was on the verge of a world title shot before losing to Rodriguez. He fought out a ‘Fight of the Year’ contender with the Dominican in July after fighting for nine rounds with one eye and going toe-to-toe for the remainder of the bout despite his injury. New Jersy-based Pole Wolak, who has worked in construction throughout his boxing career, always gave value for money to the fight fans and will be sorely missed by all who appr...

Pawel Wolak v Delvin Rodriguez (light-middleweight) Madison Square Garden, New York, USA 10x3                                                   Wolak                     Rodriguez                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  Round 1                         10                                9              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------               ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Raging Bull’ ready to move on from ‘K9’ Pawel Wolak (29-1-1, 19 KO’s) still has eyes for the IBF light-middleweight belt but may now seek an eliminator for the title after his advances were seemingly spurned by current champion Cornelius ‘K9’ Bundrage. The 29 year-old is on the back of a career best fight with Delvin Rodriguez that although ending in a draw, has propelled both fighters into the reckoning for world title at 154lbs. Both fighters are now keen to exploit any opportunities before they consider a rematch with each other. The New Jersey-based Pole, who still works on a construction site as he trains, was hoping to be Bundrage’s second title defence later this year but has had no luck in securing a bout with the belt holder. The ‘Raging Bull’ is now looking at other possibilities and would consider other world champions if they came calling. “I don’t think the Bundrage fight will happen so I am moving on to Plan B,” Wolak told ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Raging Bull’ vows to ‘end’ IBF champion’s reign Pawel Wolak has fired back at Cornelius Bundrage after the IBF light-middleweight champion branded the US-based Pole ‘a good stay-busy fight’ to keep him ticking over. The 29 year-old is hoping to gain a shot at ‘K9’ and has given him the nickname ‘Feline’ as he bids to goad the champion into a meeting on December 3 rd . “Feline has fought 20 rounds in 2 years,” Wolak explained to World Boxing News. I am a little worried he will go into cardiac arrest trying to keep up with me. “I assume his trainer is telling him to take the fight only because he will already be there to be in Cotto’s corner that night, otherwise he wouldn’t want to make the trip to watch his Feline call for his wheelchair in the mid-rounds. “He knows I will end him and is playing games and will blame everybody else instead of admitting he ducked me when this doesn’t happen. That’s ok because if I have to become hi...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor (Picture by donking.com) IBF champ Bundrage expresses interest in ‘Raging Bull’ defence After making the first successful defence of his title, Cornelius Bundrage is open to a voluntary bout with US-based Pole Pawel Wolak, who’s popularity is on the rise following a brave performance against Delvin Rodriguez on ESPN Friday Night Fights last month. The 38 year-old seems eager to get back in the ring after waiting almost a year to make his first defence of the title he took from Cory Spinks in August 2010. 'K9' retained his IBF 154lb belt by overturning a first round defeat to Sechew Powell in 2005 by out-pointing the ‘Iron Horse’ in June this year. “Anything is possible,“ Bundrage told World Boxing News. "But he's not in my league but it’s a good stay busy fight at best. “I’m waiting on god, whose laying the plan out for me. He's using Don King and Emanuel Steward to put it together. Nothing's signed yet. But ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Raging Bull’ on the warpath for Bundrage shot Light-middleweight contender Pawel Wolak is hoping to capitalise of newly-increased reputation by gaining a shot at IBF champion Cornelius ‘K9’ Bundrage on December 3 rd . The 29 year-old fought out a ten-round war with Delvin Rodriguez last month, fighting most of the fight with a serious hematoma which hampered his sight from the sixth round onwards and eventually ended in a draw. Opponent Rodriguez has been vocal in calling for a rematch with Wolak, although the US-based Pole has become embroiled in a verbal war with Bundrage and continued that when stating his intentions to World Boxing News. “K9 is just another dog with fleas who's tail will be between his legs on December 3," Wolak told WBN. “He can enjoy the belt for four more months." It has been thought that Bundrage, 38, is holding out for a unification with WBC belt holder Saul Alvarez or a catchweight contest w...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor ‘Raging Bull’ hits back over rematch claims Light-middleweight contender Pawel Wolak has dismissed claims by latest opponent Delvin Rodriguez that he is avoiding a rematch with him after the two fighters battled to a ‘Fight of the Year’ contender last month. The 29 year-old fought with one eye for the second half of the fight as he and Rodriguez, 31, compelled the fans for ten rounds at the Roseland Ballroom in New York and cries have been heard for a rematch ever since, not least from the US-based Dominican. New Jersey-based Pole Wolak, who still works full-time on a building site pulling in shifts of 4pm to 1am, is keen to land a world title fight after his heroics against Rodriguez and has also defended his decision to leave long-time manager Ivan Edwards in favour of Cameron Dunkin. “If Delvin had any other opportunity right now, do you think he would be calling me out?” Wolak stated to World Boxing News. “I have always said that a rematch is ...

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ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Classic will reair the main event of July 15’s edition of  ESPN’s Friday Night Fights  on July 20 and 22 .  The special will be the first non-regularly scheduled reair for  ESPN’s Friday Night Fights . The main event featured former welterweight world title challenger Delvin Rodriguez (25-5-3, 14 KOs) and  Ring Magazine’s No.7-ranked junior middleweight Pawel “Raging Bull” Wolak (29-1-1, 19 KOs) in a 10-round majority draw. The much anticipated fight originated from New York City's Roseland Ballroom, where  Joe Tessitore  and  Teddy Atlas  described the action. “These two fighters exemplified what professional boxing athletes should be: conditioned, determined and passionate about their sport,” said Doug Loughrey, ESPN director of programming and acquisitions. “These boxers gave 100% of themselves by consistently over-coming adversity not only for those in attendance, but a worldwide audience on ESPN’s ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Light-middleweight champion to choose opponent soon WBA 154lb champion Miguel Cotto will return to action at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on March 12th and will decide his opponent in the near future, with three possible candidates on his shortlist to choose from. Cotto, 30, could face unbeaten Armenian Vanes “Nightmare” Martirosyan, Poland’s Pawel Wolak or three-time world champion Ricardo Mayorga of Nicaragua on the same night Sergio Martinez defends his WBC middleweight title at Madison Square Garden. The three men face an anxious wait to find out their fate as Cotto makes his first appearance since his proposed bout with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr collapsed last month, leading to the Puerto Rican putting his fight date back to March next year. 24 year-old Vanes Martirosyan is the hot favourite to face Cotto and holds an outstanding record of 28 fights 17 knockouts and no defeats. He trains at the Wildcard Gym with Freddie Roach and would not be an easy nights...