Scott Quigg Vs Yoandris Salinas - Fight Preview

By Andrew Graves @andrewgravess

This coming Saturday night Britain's Scott Quigg will make his first defense of his WBA Super Bantamweight title against tough Cuban Yoandris Salinas.

Fighter of The Week - Raymundo Beltran

This week we have chosen Raymundo Beltran as our 

fighter of the week...

By Jack Price @PriceyJ97 - @BoxingOpinions1

Well, boxing came back with a bang this weekend as the new season begun. We were given upsets, knockouts and more impressive performances. There are a few fighters that could have been given this award this week, and I'll give them a mention later, but for me, one man deserves it more than the rest. Especially after he didn't get what he deserved in the ring.

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Can Burns impress?

By Andrew Graves @andrewgravess

On the 7th of September Scotland's own Ricky 'Rickster' Burns will defend his WBO Lightweight title for the 4th time against mandatory challenger 32 year old Mexican Raymundo Beltran at the SECC Arena Glasgow. Can The champion send the hometown crowd home happy with a victory?

Ricky Burns Vs Jose Gonzalez - Fight Preview

By James McKnight @JamesMcKnight83

BURNS AIMING TO EXTINGUISH GONZALEZ THREAT! 

Ricky Burns is aiming to make a third successive defense of the WBO lightweight title on May 11. The Coatbridge fighter comes up against Puerta Rican mandatory challenger, Jose Gonzalez, at the Emirates arena, Glasgow. 

Burns (35-2-0, 10 KO's), split from promoter, Frank Warren, in March and signed with Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport. This was down to Burns' unification title bout with Mexican IBF 135lb titlist, Miguel Vazquez, being called off for a second time. Burns, 30, claimed the interim WBO belt in November 2011 when he defeated Australian, Michael Katsidis, at Wembley arena, London. 'Rickster' then defended the belt in March 2012 beating Namibian, Paulus Moses, in Glasgow. Both of those victories were won by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. Burns then returned to Glasgow in September. He put on one of his most impressive performances to date by stopping England's, Kevin Mitchell, in just four rounds. 

Jamie McDonnell Vs Julio Ceja - Fight Preview

By Jack Sumner @Jack_Sumner_

Jamie McDonnell attempts to win the IBF bantamweight title in his hometown of Doncaster on Saturday, when he challenges for the vacant world crown at the Keepmoat Stadium, home of the town’s beloved Doncaster Rovers. The 27-year-old is hoping to become Doncaster’s first world champion in front of a partisan South Yorkshire crowd, but in the other corner will stand an opponent who comes with a fearsome reputation in Mexico’s Julio Ceja.

The visiting fighter has promised to knock McDonnell out in front of his home fans and one look at his record suggests that Ceja (24-0, 22 KO’s) has complete belief in fulfilling that promise. With a knockout percentage of 91.66% the unbeaten 20-year-old is the one of the most ferocious punchers in the division and has hall-of-fame Mexican trainer Nacho Beristain in his corner.

Fighter Of The Week: Bernard Hopkins

This week we have chosen Bernard Hopkins as our 

fighter of the week...

By Jack Price @PriceyJ97.

Who else would it be? The easiest choice I've ever had to make. Bernard 'The Executioner' Hopkins should be considered as the fighter of this era, not just the fighter of the week. The Philadelphian tactician has made history once again by breaking his own record and becoming the oldest ever world champion at the age of 48. He did this by beating highly-rated 31-year old Tavoris Cloud in a more one-sided match-up than anyone was expecting.

Most fans know never to rule B-Hop out, but there were many people who were picking against him in this fight. His speed and reactions seemed to be slowing in recent outings and Cloud was a young hungry champion with something to prove. However, it was soon clear that this was going to be Hopkins's night. Cloud just didn't know what to do with the slippery old man that stood in front of him. Everything he tried had little or no effect on his much more experienced opponent.

Hopkins, who knows every trick in the book, frustrated Cloud by slowing the pace down and making him miss wildly over and over again. There were even times when Hopkins was using the famous Ali Rope-A-Dope tactics and it was working perfectly. This was the best performance from Hopkins in many years. He was fighting like a 40-year old in there, throwing more combinations than ever and picking apart his clearly-fazed younger opponent. The result at the end of the fight was clear. We didn't even need the scorecards. Hopkins, his team, and the fans were already celebrating. The actual scorecards were: 116-112, 116-112 & 117-111 all in favour of Hopkins. It was now official. He was once again a history-maker. His place is now even more cemented in the Hall Of Fame.

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Smith makes history with win over Bundrage!

By Jack Price @PriceyJ97.

Ishe Smith (25-5, 11 KO's) made history last night (February 23rd) by becoming the first ever Las Vegas-born fighter to win a world title. He did this by defeating IBF light-middleweight world champ Cornelius 'K9' Bundrage via split decision at the Masonic Temple in Detroit.

It was a tentative start from both men. Neither of the two fighters were able to take the initiative in the opening rounds, leaving it an incredibly hard fight for the judges to score at this point. Thankfully for the judges, and the fans, Smith upped his work rate from the 3rd round onward and brought the fight to his 39-year old opponent. Smith's come-forward pressure fighting took Bundrage by surprise. He was being beaten at his own game. Bundrage chose not to meet fire with fire and instead seemed content to just run away, something we are not used to seeing from the old warrior.

Gavin Rees could return to the US in the early summer!

By Jack Price @PriceyJ97.

British lightweight Gavin Rees gained a lot of new fans in America on Saturday night, despite being stopped in five rounds by unbeaten superstar and WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner. The 32-year old showed true courage and gave his best effort but just simply wasn't good enough to compete with the man in front him. But this event as a whole has seen him go from an unknown Brit to a popular contender in the US. His promoter Eddie Hearn claims that we could see 'The Rock' return to the States for a fight later this year.

"Gavin's performance won him many admirers in America. He is a true warrior and we have already been approached about further fights for Gavin in the US in early summer," Hearn told BoxingScene.com

"His stock however has also been raised significantly in the UK and there are still some big domestic opportunities available to him here. All in all the future is very bright for Gavin and the plan is to pick up another world title shot before the end of 2013."

Brook gets rid of Saldivia in three!

'The Special One' Kell Brook looked a completely different man in the ring last night (20th October). It's fair to say that he did struggle at times in his last fight in June of this year against Carson Jones, and this, as explained by Brook, was due to bad preparation. During the build-up to this fight the Brit repeatedly claimed that everything was perfect this time. Like most people, I wouldn't believe it until I saw it. And last night we did see it!

Brook looked like a completely different man right from the starting bell. The change of nutrition, diet and training scheme all seemed to pay off. Saldivia, who is known for his strength and power, was stunned early when Brook sent him down to the canvas with a strong and sharp uppercut.

There weren't really any scares from Saldivia except for at the end of the second round. He threw a few swinging shots that seemed to knock Brook off balance for a split-second, but unfortunately for the Argentine, that was it. Brook continued to dominate in the third round and actually finished the fight with a short jab. The 26-year old just flung it out as Saldivia rushed in and sent him crashing to the canvas once again. This time Saldivia did not manage to recover in time and the referee stopped the fight.

In my opinion, there is only one thing that we learnt from this fight... Kell Brook is now ready for world level. Saldivia is not a spectacular, world class fighter but the fashion Brook beat him in was spectacular and world class. 

It looks almost certain that Brook will now face Devon Alexander for the IBF welterweight world title. A few months ago I would have said that Brook wasn't ready for this shot but now I can confidently say he is. I think Alexander will cause him a lot of trouble but if Brook turns up in tip-top condition he can become the next British welterweight world champion!

By Jack Price @PriceyJ97.

Check out my Post-Fight Report on YouTube:

PriceysBoxinThoughts

Does Olympic Gold = World Champion?

By Gary Alder (@garyalder321).

With Team GB well within the medal hunt in the boxing not only for the men but now the women as well, I take a look at some of the greats throughout history and does this mean our possible gold medallists have a bright future?

One thing is for sure, it will certainly attract the attention of some keen promoters. If we look as recent as the Beijing games for Great Britain, we see the rise of stars such as David Price, a heavyweight fighter already being lined up for a potential title fight with Wladmir Klitschko. Another name of note is James Degale, a gold medallist in Beijing remaining undefeated until that fateful night with George Groves, a rivalry which I’m sure will re-new itself at world title level. Then we have the unfortunate likes of Bronze medallist Tony Jeffries, plagued by injuries, cuts and poor performances against low opposition. He has always been that draw in Sunderland but like other fighters struggle to find the TV and arena audiences outside home town fights. Even the likes of David Price are resided to the fact that his Liverpool fan base is what is going to keep money going into his pocket, whilst creating an exciting atmosphere for himself and the viewing public.


History shows us every weight division has a special name to list:
Sugar Ray Leonard – Light Welterweight
Cassius Clay – Light Heavyweight
Michael Spinks – Middleweight
Joe Frazier – Heavyweight
Oscar De La Hoya - Bantamweight
George Foreman – Heavyweight
Lennox Lewis – Super Heavyweight
Wladmir Klitschko – Super Heavyweight

All these great names went on to transcend the sport.

So does the Olympics prepare you for life after amateur boxing? I think it definitely provides the goal and determination to achieve that gold medal, which takes a similar kind of drive to achieve that world title. It’s no coincidence that so many medallists go on to achieve a world title, the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Amir Khan who did not get that all illusive gold medal still go on to become unified world champions.


However it cannot prepare you for the lows of professional boxing. It is so rare to see an amateur fight dominated in the way a professional bout is, eventually ending with the career ruining knock out.

The gold medal is a step to stardom, the likes of which Andre Ward has recently felt, a tournament like the super six is built for an athlete such as Ward to compete against the best. Of course Andre has superior skills but that experience of going all the way to that gold medal match can only give you confidence.


Britain has much more of a tendency to celebrate our gold medallists and throw them into the fire and if they don’t come up smelling of roses, we lose patience. One name being Audley Harrison. Audley was one of our biggest successes post Olympics. He went on a few years undefeated but as soon as the real challenges came his way he folded. All culminating in that poor show against David Haye, and now the calls are for him to retire.

A gold medal can get you noticed, it can give a boxer that platform. That connection to the wider audience who watched the games in some foreign land. This time it is different. The games are in London. If a boxer can shine on this stage, they are setting their careers up for a nice pay day when they turn professional. Does this mean they will be world champion within 6 years? No it certainly doesn’t, but if they win the gold, keep that same drive and ambition that won them the gold, there is certainly no reason why they can’t become world champions (and millionaires in the process).

One thing is for sure though, With our recent history of turning medals into titles, Britain expects……

Ishe Smith discusses his world title challenge against 'K9' Bundrage

@thaboxingvoice

Ishe Smith looks ahead to his world title challenge against the IBF's Cornelius 'K9' Bundrage. He also discusses his experience with The Money Team. 

Brian Rose discusses Joachim Alcine, Matchroom switch & world title aspirations

@IFILMLONDON