Frampton edges Santa Cruz in a classic..

To say the long awaited Carl Frampton v Leo Santa Cruz championship match was a showstopper would be an understatement. former 122lb champion Carl Frampton (23-0, 14 KOs) dethroned WBA featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (32-1-1, 18 KOs) by majority decision on Saturday night in front of 9,062 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, In a fight that I could only describe as sensational, this great pairing saw some fabulous two-way action from the start, Frampton managing to get the respect of Santa Cruz with a left hook in round two, building on a busy start.. Santa Cruz seemed to struggle with Frampton's mobility, constantly flailing at a moving target. The Irishman maintained an early lead by out manoeuvring the champion, avoiding Santa Cruz's heavy shots with clever head movement, The middle rounds did see a slight shift in control, Santa Cruz began to find his mark as Framptons pace slowed, however both fighters were literally perpetual motion approaching the final sessions..  Santa Cruz managing to find his mark in the 10th with what seemed to be his best punch of the fight, the champion finding his groove a little too late despite grabbing the final four rounds of a fight that could have gone either way...   In the end, scores were 117-111, 116-112, 114-114.

Warrington eyes title shot after 9th round stoppage over Hyland.

Popular Leeds featherweight Josh Warrington outworked tough Patrick Hyland (31/2) before stopping the Irishman in the 9th round In front of huge local support at the First Direct Arena, moving to 24-0 in the process.
The 25-year-old already had Hyland down in the eighth from two big right hands. Warrington dropped the weary Hyland earlier in the round before the stoppage.
Warrington, a former British, European and Commonwealth champion, retained his WBC International featherweight strap and must now be looking at getting his hands on the full version of the title in the near future.
With current WBC champ Gary Russell Jr likely to move up in weight, number one ranked Warrington looks an almost certainty to box for the vacant title, with a domestic money spinner with IBF holder Lee Selby a tempting option.
The International belt was only available to Warrington on this occasion as Hyland came in two pounds overweight at Friday's weigh-in, the struggle to make weight was evident in the fight..
Warrington was too fast and accurate,  landing clean punches throughout the fight, while Hyland laboured behind the jab. A stiff left jab knocked Hyland down early in the ninth, before a follow up combination signalled the end, the referee waving it off...

Huge Leeds undercard sees Campbell and Whyte victorious.

2012 Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell (14-1, 11 KOs) had to climb off the floor from a second round knockdown to secure a comfortable unanimous decision over former IBF super featherweight champion Argenis Mendez (23-5-1, 12 KOs) on Saturday night in Leeds. Crafty veteran Mendez dropped Campbell in the second with a sneak right hand, but struggled to capitalise on his success.. Campbell found his rhythm and outworked the US based import..   Scores were 116-111, 117-110, 115-112. Campbell claimed the vacant WBC silver lightweight belt.

Popular Heavyweight Dillian Whyte (18-1, 14 KOs) laboured to a lopsided ten round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten David Allen (9-1-1, 6 KOs).  Whyte completely out boxed the inexperienced Yorkshireman, switching between southpaw and orthodox to dominate the majority of the bout, Allen sprung to life in the final round but it was too little, too late...
Scores were 100-91, 100-90, 99-91.
Whyte claimed the vacant WBC International title.

20-year-old former WBA interim super middleweight titleholder Vincent Feigenbutz (23-2, 21 KOs) made quick work of Wilmer Gonzalez (19-11-1, 12 KOs), scoring a second round KO. It was Feigenbutz's second win since losing the belt to Giovanni De Carolis in January.

Former world title challenger Frankie Gavin (23-2, 14 KOs) scored a sixth round KO over Ivo Gogosevic (12-17-2, 5 KOs) in his first fight since losing to Kell Brook 14 months ago. Gavin dropped Gogosevic in the first. Gogosevic barely made up the numbers until Gavin finally stopped him in round six.

British super lightweight beltholder Tyrone Nurse (34-2-1, 7 KOs) outpointed Tommy Coyle (22-4, 10 KOs) over twelve close rounds to retain his domestic belt, despite a flash knockdown..  Coyle took the role of aggressor in the early rounds but by round 5, found himself on the end of crisp counters, that closed his left eye and bloodied the nose. The courageous Coyle drove himself forward for the remainder of the bout, but the upper hand was always with Nurse..
Scores were 115-113, 115-113, 116-112.

Unbeaten bantamweight Ryan Burnett (14-0, 9 KOs) outpointed Cesar Ramirez (12-2, 6 KOs) over ten rounds to claim the WBC International 118lb title. Scores were 100-89, 99-90, 99-90.

Unbeaten Commonwealth super bantamweight titleholder Gamal Yafai (10-0, 4 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over Josh Wale (20-9-2, 11 KOs). Scores were 118-111, 117-112, 117-112.

Welterweight Sam Eggington 18-3, 10 KOs) scored a quick first round TKO over Daza Usher (9-7, 3 KOs).

Adonis Stevenson outguns brave Thomas Williams in 4.

WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (28-1, 23 KOs) scored a decisive fourth round Knockout over WBC #8 ranked Thomas Williams Jr (20-2, 14 KOs) on Friday night at the Videotron centre in Quebec City, Canada. Stevenson had Williams on the floor in round one with a straight left, but the challenger revived himself to rally in round two landing big shots of his own.. Both fighters unloaded with huge shots in the third, Williams deciding to roll the dice, regardless of risk and getting countered for his troubles.  Williams tried to build on earlier success in the fourth, but a close quarter exchange saw Stevenson attack the body of the challenger,  a desperate Williams fired a wild counter and Adonis timed him with a devastating short left, rendering Williams unconscious, making it a 7th successful defence of the championship he won against Chad Dawson in 2013..   Time was 2:54.

Unbeaten WBC #1 contender Eleider Alvarez (20-0, 10 KOs) scored a solid ten round unanimous decision over late sub Robert Berridge (27-5-1, 21 KOs). Alvarez outclassed the tough stand-in, whose never really made the match competetive, an uneventful fight saw Alvarez win by a decisive 99-90, 98-92, 98-92.
Berridge replaced former world champion Chad Dawson, who was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury. Next up for Alvarez could be a world title tilt for Alvarez against stablemate Adonis Stevenson.

Undefeated middleweight Immanuwel Aleem (16-0-1, 9 KOs) and Demond Nicholson (17-1-1, 16 KOs) battled to an eight round majority draw. Aleem seemed to win the early rounds while Nicholson rallied to boss the middle rounds.. The final 9 minutes saw great exchanges from both guys, Aleem having a 7th round knockdown ruled as a slip as the fight went to the scorecards..
Scores were 77-75, 76-76 and 76-76.

Is Stevenson a bridge too far for Top Dog Williams?

Can Thomas Williams Jr upset the odds on Saturday against WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson?  Throughout his whole 21 fight career so far, Thomas has never faced an unbeaten opponent, in fact Williams has been on the floor twice in his last 6 fights, a statistic that doesn't bode well when preparing to face a noted world class puncher like Stevenson...The son of a former DC heavyweight contender  of the same name, who served time in jail for fight fixing in 2004, Williams remained unbeaten through the first 4 years in the paid ranks, appearing destined for great things. In 2014 Williams entered his 18th pro fight, hoping to defend his WBO, NABO light heavyweight titles against former world champion Gabriel Camillo, the fight should have been a perfect opportunity to shine against a proven opponent, instead Williams was exposed and unraveled under pressure, the fight was stopped by the ringside physician due to a cut at the end of the 5th, yet Williams looked on the cusp of quitting regardless..  This defeat remains the only blemish on an otherwise impressive record, 20/1 (14 Kos.) The Campillo fight gives us a small insight as to how this fight could go for Thomas, the one factor he had issues with on that occasion was pressure, he wasn't necessarily under heavy fire just pushed beyond his comfort zone by a proven operator, and if he struggled with the pressure of a Gabriel Campillo, he's going to have to adopt an alternative attitude when facing Stevenson, who is levels beyond Campillo..   In 2010 Stevenson himself faced his first defeat, a second round stoppage at the hands of journeyman Darnell Boone, six fights later in 2013 Adonis avenged this loss setting him up for the biggest fight of his life against the then Champion Chad Dawson..  In a huge upset Stevenson knocked Dawson out with a single shot in the opening round, becoming the most unlikely of champions in his 22nd pro outing...  Since beating Dawson, Stevenson has made 6 successive defences, 4 by knockout, arguably against mixed opposition..  He did find himself on the floor in his 2014 points win over Andrezej Fonfara, more a flash lapse in concentration in a relatively one sided fight..  Stevenson is dangerous when he takes aim at a standing target, but can appear frustrated when extended, nonetheless, the guys Adonis has disposed of are hugely superior of those Williams has beaten of late..   Tavoris Cloud and Tony Bellew were only once beaten by the time they faced Stevenson, Fonfara had only two losses and has since proven himself by beating JC Chavez jr..   Bellew himself a WBC champion, Cloud a still live former champion, an example of the gulf in class Williams is stepping into..   An impressive knockout of Edwin Rodriguez in April may have been an appropriately timed audition for his title shot although an less than flattering outing 5 months earlier against Umberto Savigne saw Thomas dropped in the first round of a bout that should have proved routine..  
Stevenson v Williams on paper is an acceptable defence by the now established champion against an impressive (albeit on paper) upcoming prospect..   In all honestly, I think it's come a little too soon..

Chagaev stripped.. WBA heavyweight picture in disarray..

The WBA World Championship Committee has stripped it's Regular heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev of its title. Chagaev was handed back the title that he appeared to lose by knockout in March to Lucas Browne, but when Browne failed a drug test Chagaev was reinstalled as beltholder..  Unfortunately Ruslan took too long in finalising a mandated defence (rematch) with Fres Oquendo, the governing bodies number one challenger, so relinquishing his claim on the title. The exact details as to why the negotiations failed are vague, yet the finer points did included Chagaev catching up on WBA past-due sanctioning fees. 

The WBA's plans of a heavyweight tournament to establish a single champion now look a little sketchy, If the scheduled placements in the tourney plan remain as they are, the 43-year-old Oquendo would now make the final sometime in mid 2017, possibly without any actual ring action in any of its rounds.

The other half of the draw should feature WBA interim champion Cubas Luis Ortiz against Minsk's Alexander Ustinov on September 17th, however this pairing is too suffering its setbacks, both camps failing to tie up the red tape thus far, leaving yet another portion of the tournament hanging in the balance..   Finally the rematch between WBA Super champion Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko is set to go ahead on October 29th, a rescheduled date following Tyson Fury's recent ankle injury. The bout will still take place at the Manchester arena, the winner in theory would ascend through the tourney to meet the Ortiz-Ustinov winner, should both fights proceed according to plan...  Victorious fighters would then hold the right to face Oquendo in the final..  

In the event that Ustinov falls out of the Ortiz match, replacing him with Oquendo would seem the logical solution, in which case the tournament could be moved along  as proposed..   All is never as simple as first anticipated..

Oscar Valdez claims vacant WBO featherweight title, heads action packed MGM undercard..

Unbeaten WBO #1 rated featherweight contender and two-time Olympian Oscar Valdez (21-0, 18 KOs) destroyed previously unbeaten #2 Matias Rueda (26-1, 23 KOs) to claim the vacant WBO featherweight world title. Valdez unleashed a brutal attack that staggered Rueda in round one. Valdez continued to punish Rueda in the second, dropping him twice with body shots to close the show..  A fabulous display by Valdez.
Time was 2:18.

WBA #2 rated welterweight Jose Benavidez, Jr (24-0, 16 KOs) defeated Francisco Santana (24-4-1, 12 KOs) via ten round unanimous decision. Benavidez caught Santana convincingly in the early rounds but the rugged Santana toughed it out .. Benavidez won by scores of 100-90, 96-94, 98-92.

WBC #6, rated light heavyweight and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Oleksandr Gvozdyk (11-0, 9 KOs) had an early scare but regained his composure to stop two-time world title challenger Tommy Karpency (26-6-1, 15 KOs) in round six of a clash for the NABF championship. Karpency dropped Gvozdyk and had him hurt in round one, but Gvozdyk regrouped, turning the tables, systematically outgunning the Canadian. The end came in the 6th, with Karpency heavily marked along with severe  nose damage, Gvozdyk would send Tommy to the canvas where he was counted out. Time was 2:21.

2012 Olympic middleweight gold medalist Ryota Murata (11-0, 8 KOs) demolished George Tahdooahnippah (34-3-3, 24 KOs) in the first round. A body shot by Murata sent Tahdooahnippah to the canvas. He got up, but Murata completed the job several moments later..   Referee Benji Estevez called a halt at 1:52.

IBF #7, jr welterweight Lenny Zappavigna (35-2, 25 KOs) scored an explosive sixth round TKO over IBF #10 IK Yang (18-2, 13 KOs). Yang started fast, but Zappavigna got more comfortable with the pace as the bout progressed. Zappavigna hurt Yang badly in the 6th, badly enough to cause referee Vic Drakulich to call it off. Time was :43. The bout was originally an IBF eliminator, but was changed to just a welterweight bout at Yang’s request.

Welterweight Edward Williams (12-1-1, 3 KOs) thrashed out a six round unanimous decision over Christon Edwards (6-2, 3 KOs). Scores were 59-55, 59-55, 58-56.

Junior middleweight Stanyilav Skorokhod (11-1, 8 KOs) scored a six round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Hakim Bryant (6-1, 4 KOs). Skorokhod dropping Bryant twice in round one but was extended to go the full six. Scores were 59-53, 60-52, 60-52.

Unbeaten light heavyweight Steve Nelson (3-0, 3 KOs) scored a fourth round TKO over Tim Meek (5-3-1, 3 KOs). Nelson dropped Meek at the end of round one and punished Meek until the bout was stopped at 32 seconds of the 4th.

Crawford outclasses Postol to become two belt champion.

In a highly anticipated unification clash, undefeated WBO jr welterweight champion Terence Crawford (29-0, 20 KOs) scored a decisive 12 round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten WBC super lightweight champion Viktor Postol (28-1, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Crawford boxed a tactical fight in the early rounds, outmanoeuvring Postol, making the Ukrainian miss widely. Crawford found his measure by round 4, not allowing the rangy Postol to get set, outgunning the WBC champion with clusters of shots on the move..  In round 5 Crawford made the breakthrough, scoring two flash knockdowns, making the demoralised Postol look alarmingly pedestrian..  Crawford moved through the gears, out scoring the desperate Ukrainian round after round before again stunning Postol in the 9th..  The late rounds spurred Postol into a final rally, an attempt to draw the skilful southpaw into a fight, Postol was warned and penalised for rabbit punching in the 11th, it was too little too late, Crawford even granting Postol the luxury of a toe to toe slugfest in the closing minutes, a finale to a concise Crawford victory..  Postol and trainer Freddie Roach both offered huge praise to the now two belt champion, expressing how they definitely underestimated Crawfords speed, the main contributing factor in their fighters inability to get a foothold in the bout..  Crawford enjoying his first official Ppv, displaying the skills that have ultimately stacked him at the head of his division on a broader platform..  

Scores were...  118-107, 118-107, 117-108.

Vernon Forrest.. One of life's givers..

Vernon Forrest remains one of the forgotten great champions from the 1990s, apart from winning world titles in two divisions (welterweight and light middleweight) and beating Sugar Shane Mosley three times, handing Shane his first two losses in his pro career and once as an amateur, Vernon was an outstanding amateur, running a 225 / 16 record, he was a silver medalist at the 1991 world amateur championships at welterweight losing only in the final to the great Kostya Tszyu then winning the US amateur championships the very next year..  Al Mitchell put Forrest on the Olympic squad in 1992 for the Barcelona games, his place earned with a victory over future professional foe Shane Mosley. Forrest was the gold medal favourite going into the games, with only the Cuban fighter Hector Vinent (Reining gold medalist) to be concerned about..   However disaster struck, days prior to his first round bout, Forrest had been complaining about stomach pains, it turns out he had contracted severe food poisoning whilst eating out in the Olympic village..  Forrest would still box, but lose to Peter Richardson, a man he'd easily beaten in the 1991 championships..    Forrest put the pain of Barcelona behind him, moved away from his native Augusta Ga to turn pro, relocating to Las Vegas..  Vernon would debut in the November of 1992 but by 1996 he was already 15 / 0 with 13 stoppages..  Forrests first championship tilt would come in 2000, against Raul Frank for the IBF welterweight belt, where a clash of heads would result in a no contest. A rematch in New York would see Vernon win his first title unanimously..   A year later Vernon would challenge the highly regarded WBC Champion Shane Mosley, the rest in history..  Forrest would be regarded as the lineal champion by Ring Magazine. Vernon would suffer devastating setbacks with back to back losses to Ricardo Mayorga and being plagued with rotator cuff and elbow injuries, resulting in two years away from boxing..
2005 Vernon Forrest was back and in 2007, after three comeback fights
he would pick up the WBC light middleweight title by outpointing Carlos Baldomir in Washington,  defend once against Italian Michele Piccirillo before once again losing his title to Sergio Mora. However six months later in Las Vegas Vernon would regain his title in the rematch in what would be the last time he would lace on gloves.
With a record of 41 / 3 (29 knockouts) Forrest retired from boxing, satisfied with his accomplishments with his family in Georgia, a devout Christian, Forrest would work tirelessly with local charities, giving back to a community from where he came..

Tragically, on July 25, 2009, Forrest stopped at a gas station in the neighbourhood of Mechanicsville Georgia, with him was his 11-year-old godson. As the boy went inside the gas station, Forrest went to the back of his car to add air to a low tire. As this occurred, a man robbed him at gunpoint and fled. Forrest, who was armed, went after the man and shots were exchanged. After a short distance, Forrest gave up the chase and began talking to a second man, It was this man that shot Forrest seven to eight times in the back, the shooter and a second person left the scene in a red Pontiac. Forrest was pronounced dead at the scene and the death was ruled a homicide. Atlanta Police would arrest and later charge 25-year-old Jquante Crews, 20-year-old Demario Ware and 30-year-old Charman Sinkfield for his murder. It is believed that Sinkfield was the shooter, Ware was the robber, and Crews was the driver. All three are currently serving life sentences.

Dillusional yet comical, heavyweight character Paul Bradshaw..

Charismatic Arizona heavyweight Paul Bradshaw was a highly active sparring partner in the 80s and 90s..  He turned pro in 1984, losing his first 7, albeit to decent company, Joe Hipp, Billy Wright and Mike Gans..  Yet in 1989 Paul enjoyed a 6 fight winning streak, remaining unbeaten until a loss to David Bey in 1990 started another 6 fight losing streak, this time facing Russians Alex Popov and Yuri Vaulin, Swedish Haakan Brock and tough Jerry Halstead... Retiring in 1992..   Paul stayed relatively active following his retirement, continuing his career sparring a who's who of champions and contenders..  Paul told me in 1996 that he was employed as chief sparring partner to Herbie Hide for the Bowe fight..  In Bradshaws words, he was such a nuisance to Herbie giving the WBO champion serious trouble in the gym, a factor Bradshaw is convinced contributed to Hide's dramatic loss in 1995...  Bradshaw still wore a Bowe v Hide cap as a reminder to his feat..   Paul comically reeled off an Ali style rhyme after his trying routine..  "Float like a butterfly , Sting like a Bee...  Herbie couldn't hang with the vicious Paulie B.."    
In 2003, Bradshaw attempted a comeback in Hollywood California against the unbeaten Damien Wills, son of former contender Mark Wills..  Paul lost a first round knockout and never boxed again..  

Shumenov.. "Lebedev is holding his WBA title hostage."

It has been more than a month since WBA regular cruiserweight champion Beibut Shumenov (16-2, 10 KOs) appealed to the WBA to either declare a purse bid for a fight between him and WBA Super champion Denis Lebedev, or remove Lebedev's claim on the title..  At the end of March the WBA issued an ultimatum that the winner of the Lebedev vs Victor Emelio Ramirez WBA/IBF unification fight in May must fight Shumenov within 120 days of the Shumenov’s May 21 stoppage victory over Junior Wright. However word has it that Lebedev’s promoter Andrei Ryabinsky supposedly has a deal in place for Ledebev to defend the IBF title he acquired in May first..
The Shumenov camp firmly accuse Lebedev of holding his version of the WBA title “hostage," leaving themselves unable to schedule any dates for Beibut until the WBA resolves..   Shumenov doesn't quite understand why a fighter with such a proven track record as Lebedev's is unwilling to step forward to the challenge..    Meanwhile WBO champion Krzysztof Glowacki of Poland has stepped to the plate to defend against the hugely avoided Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk in Gdansk on September 17th, Usyk aiming to beat the record of Evander Holyfield and secure a world championship  inside of 11 fights..   The final piece of the cruiserweight riddle sees Liverpools newly crowned WBC champion Tony Bellew show interest in a BJ Flores match, in a first defence. Bellew recently made it very clear that following the Povetkin drug scandal, he would never consider travelling to Russia to fight Lebedev or Grigory Drodz..

Crawford v Postol, jr welterweight unification, Saturday.

Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas WBO jr welterweight champion and Pride of Omaha Terence Crawford (28-0, 20 KOs) faces WBC super lightweight champion Victor Postol (28-0, 12 KOs) from Ukraine in a highly anticipated unification showdown, where we have the rare treat of seeing the best two fighters in a division square off..   Postol is a rangy counterpuncher who's awkward style has earned him a top spot amongst today's super lightweights..  Last October the 32 year old Ukrainian dismantled the highly regarded Lucas Matthysse competently, to grab the title he now defends, his rangy style is deceptive and tough to figure out, 28 have tried and all have failed..  Enter Terrence Crawford...  The Nebraska southpaw looks to be possibly the most proficient of the champions today, since 2013 Crawford has won and twice defended a world lightweight title, moved up, won and twice defended a super lightweight title, only Ricky Burns and tough Ray Beltran surviving the distance. Terrence's 2014 ninth round stoppage of former WBA and IBF featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa was a masterclass, perfectly executed counter punching, finished by some of the most versatile switch hitting I have ever seen, setting up a southpaw uppercut with an orthodox jab..   Crawford isn't about the money either, refreshingly he wants to be the best and merely financially comfortable..  Crawford is improving each time out, although he's not yet flawless, moments in the Gamboa bout showed us that he is hittable, but his calm demeanour has consistently averted the crisis..   Crawford knows how good Postol is, he's well aware that he could potentially provide him with his stiffest test to date, both men are consummate professionals and neither will leave anything to chance. This fight has all the ingredients on paper to provide us with a few answers about both men, but technically it could be a chess match, more technically attractive for the purist, either way, someone's 0, must go..

IBF #1 Joseph Parker stops Haumono in 4.

Unbeaten IBF number one ranked heavyweight Joseph Parker (20-0, 17 KOs) scored a spectacular fourth round KO over WBA #11 Solomon Haumono (24-3-2, 21 KOs) on Thursday night at the Horncastle Arena in Christchurch, New Zealand. Neither fighter came out looking for overtime, loading up with bombs from the off, Parker having the greater success in the early rounds. Haumono missed wildly quite frequently and was made to pay with accurate counters from the younger prospect..  The end came half way through the fourth, Parker threw a two piece combination ending in a crisp uppercut dropping the 40-year-old Haumono heavily, the veteran appeared dazed and unable to beat referee Bruce McTavish's count.. Haumono regained his feet but was on another planet...   The time was 1:35.
Middleweight Kris George (11-1, 6 KOs) stopped previously unbeaten Bowyn Morgan (7-1, 4 KOs) in round three. A left hook dropped Margan to end the fight..
Unbeaten heavyweight Izuagbe Ugonoh (16-0, 13 KOs) scored a fourth round KO over Ricardo Humberto Ramirez (13-2, 10 KOs). The promoting Ugonoh dropped Ramirez in round two and finished him in round four with bodyshots. Ugo is a team mate and sparring partner of Jo Parker's, both guys managed by Kevin Barry..
Heavyweight David Letele completed the undercard (12-3, 6 KOs) scoring a fourth round TKO over JJ Smith (1-1, 1 KO).

One armed Wilder despatches a game Arreola in 8.

Unbeaten WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) retained his title with an eighth round TKO over Chris Arreola (36-5-1, 31 KOs) last night at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham Alabama..   Wilder took charge from the off with the jab, finding the 3 time world title challenger almost at will, Arreola cautiously stalking the Champion..  Wilder did manage to stun Arreola in round 2, yet failed to jump on the opportunity..  Arreola attempted to close the gap in the fourth, but was countered by a wild flurry from the champion who scored the only knockdown of the fight, Chris luckily surviving the round. From round 5 onwards Wilder noticeably opted to use the left hand, cupping the right but rarely letting it go, Chris intelligently began to work the body in the 5th, great work that was overshadowed by Wilders bravado, performing a fake hula motion as Chris chopped at the midsection..  Deontay made great use of the jab in the 6th, Arreola's eye almost shut from repeated left hands from the champion, who was now primarily one handed, yet still in complete control..  Arreola absorbed a huge amount of punishment in the 7th and returned to his corner looking a beaten man, Chris emerged for the eighth but was all at sea, Wilder landing at will as the fleshy challenger looked completely broken, the bout stopped at the conclusion of the round..   A gracious Wilder gave high praise to Arreola who proved once again, albeit at last minute notice, that he is consistently one of the tougher guys in the division.  Wilder acknowledged that his right hand had been broken, possibly from as early as the third round, along with a muscular injury to the same arm, "I did what champions do, I put my injuries aside and took care of business, I beat a tough challenger with one arm."  I couldn't help notice between rounds that Wilder had a raw looking flesh wound around his right elbow, the type of injury that you might associate with an auto incident..  If he's to tangle with the likes of Fury, Joshua or Povetkin like he said he is, wilder needs to be 100% injury free and on his game, I doubt this version of the champion would have been as proficient against a Povetkin on this night..  Arreola was largely pedestrian and made for target practice, yet it took the usually lethal Wilder 8 rounds to close the show..

Rigondeaux makes UK appearance in Cardiff tonight.

Tonight in Wales at the ice arena in Cardiff, we get the rare treat of witnessing one of the worlds most talented elite fighters in Cuban legend Guillermo Rigondeaux, Rigo 16/0 defends his Super WBA, world super bantamweight title against Liverpools James 'Jazza' Dickens 22/1 in a fight that should have taken place a couple of months ago but was set back by the champions Visa issues.. Rigondeaux last boxed in November in a non title affair, decisioning Drian Francisco in Las Vegas..  Guillermo has been world champion now since 2012 yet has only made 6 defences in the 4 years, adding the WBO title in the process..  Dickens has won 6 straight since his 2013 loss to Kid Galahad, the sole blemish on the Liverpool mans resume..

Manchester's unbeaten WBO lightweight champion Terry Flannagan also makes an appearance tonight, his third defence against African challenger Mzonke Fana 38/9. Flannagan 30/0 last defended in March against Liverpool's Derry Matthews in an all British title fight, winning Unanimous points..

In a British and Commonwealth, Super welterweight dust up, defending champion Liam Williams takes on Gary Corcoran, both fighters unbeaten and yet to taste defeat making for a tasty match up..

Also down the card, Bradley Skeete defends his WBO European welterweight title against Alexandre Lepelley, along with a huge serving of domestic action featuring Gary Buckland, Tommy Langford, Jamie Conlon and Craig Evans..

Weigh in results from Birmingham Alabama.

The weights for tomorrow's championship boxing card from the Legacy arena in Birmingham Alabama..

WBC World heavyweight championship.
Deontay Wilder 226.2 vs. Chris Arreola  246.2

Sammy Vasquez 146.8 vs. Felix Diaz 145.8
Erickson Lubin 155.8 vs. Ivan Montero 153.6
Jamal James 147 vs. Wale Omotoso 146
Vic Darchinyan 123 vs. Sergio Frias 121.2
Gerald Washington 243.8 vs. Ray Austin 270
Layla McCarter 142.6 vs. Melissa Hernandez 138.6
KeAndre Leatherwood 160.2 vs. Tyrone Selders 159.8
Kenneth McNeil 160.4 vs. Robert Burwell 159.4
Robert Alfonso-Acea 257.2 vs. Jamal woods 233.8

Venue: Legacy Arena, Birmingham, Alabama
Promoter: DiBella Entertainent televised live on Fox..


Golovkin v Brook tickets sell out in just 11 minutes.

Tickets for the WBA, WBC, IBF and IBO World Middleweight title clash between Gennady Golovkin and Kell Brook sold-out in just 11 minutes at The O2 box-office today in London..   Golovkin and Brook meet at the O2 arena on September 10 a fight that will be telecast live on Sky Sports Box Office and HBO across the United States..  fight fans have snapped up the tickets in record time to catch a glimpse of the pound-for-pound rated Golovkin on Uk shores for the first time against our own unbeaten IBF World Welterweight champion. Two more World title contests added to the card this week are an eagerly awaited rematch between rivals Lee Haskins and Stuart Hall, this time with Haskins’ IBF World Bantamweight crown on the line and a fabulous opportunity for young Charlie Edwards as he lands a World title shot in just his ninth pro fight, taking on IBF Flyweight king Johnriel Casimero. Also on the packed bill, Martin J. Ward and Andy Townend clash for the vacant British Super-Featherweight title and Conor Benn appears in his fourth night of action as a pro with more fights to be added  in the coming weeks..

Fury v Klitschko 2.. Repeat or revenge..?

A date for the rescheduled rematch between newly crowned world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and deposed former champion Wladimir Klitschko has still yet to be set, the cancellation this time offers conflicting stories, from a roadwork mishap in the Lake District, to a foolish incident in a nightclub, regardless the June date was scuppered and a new one impending. The Klitschko camp seem unmoved, yet reliable word has it that Wladimir is priming himself for a do or die effort, in a defiant attempt to exorcise the demons of Düsseldorf..   Klitschko admitted that he lost his championship, not because he faced a superior fighter, but because of a failure within himself to pull the trigger when it mattered. Klitschko 64/4 (53) reigned for over 10 years and very few imagined last November that the ungainly, ponderous traveller from Lancashire would challenge the champions reign, let alone clean house. Fury 25/0 (18) boxed the perfect fight, punched in flurries and never allowed Wladimir the luxuries that his last 22 opponents served up..  To the impartial bystander, Wladimir appeared to turn old overnight, unable to establish himself throughout many of the twelve rounds, yet this time as challenger he vows to capitalise on the rematch clause he never imagined he'd have to excersise..  Fury is an enigma, a contradiction of a man who talks of his distaste for the sport, then declares that he is nothing without boxing in his life..  He's notoriously vocal, controversial even, but don't let the schizophrenia baffle you, he's a big, strong, capable man, who is surprisingly effective at what he does, effective enough to end the ten year reign of a very capable champion..  Before the June cancellation, Fury challenged Wladimir's threats regarding revenge in the rematch, comparing Wladimir's situation to that of Larry Holmes following his loss to the younger Michael Spinks in 1985. Larry threatened he'd overturn the smaller Spinks in the rematch, yet approaching 40 couldn't muster up the substance to extinguish the younger mans energy..  Wladimir might want to fight a different fight in the rematch, but will his 40 year old body allow it when he's confronted once again with the uphill task of a 6 foot 9 inch man, 13 years his junior...   I doubt the mind games really played a part last November in Germany, I just don't think Wladimir believed that the comedic Challenger had the rudimentary tools to beat him..  Fury says a lot of things, most of which I don't read much into, but when he utters suggestions of retirement it does plant a seed of uncertainty into the equation, which contradicts his physical capabilities..  If Fury does lose to Wladimir, one gets the feeling that it would be defeat by his own hand, his melancholy attitude sabotaging his chances of success..  I've no doubt that Wladimir will compete this time with some fire in his belly, I don't think a subdued losing effort would sit well with the Ukrainian in retirement..   Whatever the outcome,  both men know that there is much more on the line this time around..      

Kovalev victorious against a tougher than expected Chilemba.

WBO, WBA and IBF light heavyweight world champion Sergey Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KOs) defended his title tonight with a twelve round unanimous decision over Malawi's Isaac Chilemba (24-4-2, 10 KOs) in a tougher fight than expected at the DIVS Palace of Sports in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Kovalev controlled most of the early action, while Chilemba looked to score with clever counters. The fight became tricky for the champion during the middle rounds with the game challenger finding holes in Kovalev's armour on numerous occasions. The champion eventually found his mark in round seven, dropping Chilemba with a crushing right hand. Chilemba gamely survived the round and even found opportunity to fire back in round 8, a round where Kovalev once again managed to stagger the African. Kovalev closed the fight with a flourish, Chilemba gallantly hanging in there to complete the course, Chilemba offering Kovalev his toughest test since becoming champion..   Scores were 117-110, 116-111, 118-109.   Sergei at times looked wooden, the awkward Chilemba finding the champion shockingly easy to hit with frequency..   Kovalev looks due to face Andre Ward next in one of biggest fights of the year, a fight that looks more interesting after tonight..

Wilder makes 4th defence on Saturday against Arreola.

This Saturday sees the highly anticipated return of WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, on home turf once again in Birmingham Alabama..   Deontay is aiming to put the misadventure of the Povetkin saga behind him as he faces tough, two time title challenger Chris Arreola 36/4/1 (31) in what will be his fourth defence of the championship Wilder won in 2014..  Deontay has had a long training camp, initially in preparation for his mandatory 8 weeks ago in Russia, now for a complete change of opponent..  Arreola is a pressure fighter who can appear threatening on his better days, in 2014 Chris fought Bermaine Stiverne in a rematch of a fabulous battle the pair had six months earlier, this time for the vacant WBC title, Arreola had his moments in the fight early, until Stiverne's power settled the argument..  Stivernes first defence was against Wilder, a fight that was to pose questions as to how good Deontay is against a top class fighter. Wilder came through with bright colours, going the full trip for the sole time in his career and proving many of his doubters wrong..  Wilders record stands a perfect 36/0 (35) his title defences thus far have been acceptable, Eric Molina, Johann Duhauppas and Artur Szpilka all started their challenges with promise, yet all three failed to hear the final bell..  Arreola will not be hard to find, but on current form it looks an uphill task, experienced, tough and game, Arreola won't shirk his opportunity, but with so much at stake for the champion, it's hard to see the upset..    One interesting factor regarding the selection of Arreola, is why would a champion who has recently been on the backlash of a drug cheat scandal, choose to defend against a man who himself has been guilty of drug test failures, in even his last bout..   In truth Chris is challenging for the heavyweight title for the third time, on the back of a NC against Travis Kauffman and a draw with the meagre Fred Kassi, it's hardly a prime audition..  Regardless, Wilder v Arreola is on, it should be fun while it lasts..

On the undercard in Birmingham is 6 time female world champion Layla McCarter, having her 57th professional bout and 4th meeting with Melissa Hernandez at welterweight and unbeaten heavyweight Gerald Washington will meet the experienced Ray Austin..

Kell Brook v Gennady Golovkin, September 10th.

In a surprise turn of events this week at middleweight, Sheffields unbeaten IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook 36/0 (25) has signed to face 160lb King Gennady Golovkin 35/0 (35) for 4 versions of the world middleweight championship at the O2 in London on September 10th..  This fight comes completely out of the blue, as the muted Golovkin v Eubank jr bout looked likely..  Golovkin took to social media on Wednesday with news that he had signed his part of the contract, enquiringly sarcastically why Eubank jr had not obliged in signing his part..  Truth emerged today via Eddie Hearn, Eubanks promoter that Chris jr was offered the same financial package as Anthony Joshua, Carl Froch and Kell Brook had been given, along with lucrative fight opportunities..  Chris Sr was incredibly demanding according to Hearn, he wanted control of ticket pricing, undercard fight selection, undercard fighters wages and various other intricate options, Eubank wanted to run the show, a job that belongs to the promoter, a Job Matchroom and Hearn had done for over 30 years..  Eubanks actions could have potentially destroyed the event, the proposed ticket prices were ludicrous according to Eddie Hearn..  The Golovkin deadline passed and neither Eubank budged..  Chris jr is a fabulous fighter with huge marketable potential, but as long as his father is sabotaging his career, jr will miss out on a huge chapter in his story...  So enter Kell Brook, himself the IBF champion in a lower division but nonetheless a man who craves the major fights..   Brook watched a potential money spinner with Amir Khan go down the tubes as Khan opted himself to jump to 160 to face the formidable Canelo Alvarez in April, a bout that has to play a factor in Brook taking the same route, possibly an opportunity to upstage His rival..  Brook won his championship away from home in 2014 beating Shawn Porter in a close fight, since then he has made three defences, neither against top draw opposition (Gavin , Dann and Bizier) but regardless, all three impressive victories came by stoppage..    Golovkin looks to make the 16th defence of the championship he won originally back in 2010, more recently he has secured his place as the number one feared fighter on the planet with defences against our own Martin Murray, Dominick Wade and David Lemieux, he was handed the WBC title in May after the newly crowned champion Saul Alvarez refused to face Golovkin within a proposed time frame.. Brook could be the toughest opponent Golovkin has faced to date on paper, an unbeaten current beltholder with respectable power, but it's welterweight power, a factor that may appear questionable in a substantial weight move..  Gennady applies constant pressure combined with heavy hands and steely resolve, he's a naturally bigger man who has been knocking full blooded middleweights out at world level, if Brook, who is a huge welter, can make the transition to 160 successfully, he could pose the champion a bunch of questions he has not been required to answer in a while..  Nonetheless, Brook deserves credit for taking the step..

Layla McCarter a champion seeking recognition..

The last 18 years must seem like an odyssey for the now 37 year old Layla McCarter, the Spokane born Las Vegas resident had very little aspiration of boxing world honours back in 1998 as a fledgling pro fighter, losing 4 of her first 6 in her first full debut year. Following a 1999 loss to Laura Serrano, Layla would go on a 6 fight winning streak that concluded with her first world championship and revenge of her first loss, Layla pulled off an emphatic victory over Sandra Yard, securing the IFBA featherweight title in Colorado..  Through 2001 Layla would retain her title, first with a draw against Jo Wyman followed by a victory over tough Tracy Byrd, the first of three over the Flint fighter over the following 3 years...   In 2002 Layla would unfortunately lose in a bid for the super featherweight title to Sandra Yard and in the November would lose her precious featherweight title to the capable Kelsey Jeffries in California, Layla would see out the year with a further loss to Chavelle Hallback where she bravely fought through a hand injury..   2003 would prove a fabulous year for McCarter, 4 straight victories including a double over Tracy Byrd, culminating in an October clash with Lisa Holewyne where she would pick up the GBU and WIBF super lightweight titles, unanimous points.. 

Two losses in 2004 which included a WIBA super featherweight clash, again with Chavelle Hallback, followed by two bouts with unbeaten Canadian Jelena Mrdjenovich, on Canadian soil..  the first fight a comfortable victory over 6, the second fight, a gutsy points loss over 8 in a fight where Layla showed courage above and beyond the call of duty, finishing the fight where she was forced to box the majority with a double break in her left arm..     Layla would recover from this to remain unbeaten in her next 6 fights, including a stoppage victory over Shadina Pennybaker and a draw with Dakota Stone, along with adding the vacant GBU lightweight title with a unanimous points victory over Belinda Laracuente at the Orleans in Las Vegas..  Two months later in the January of 2007, Layla would add the vacant WBA lightweight title at the same venue in a 2 round destruction of Donna Biggers in a historic bout for women's boxing, a fight scheduled over 12 X 3 minute rounds..    4 weeks later again at the Orleans, McCarter would again defend her GBU belt, again by stoppage in the 8th round of another scheduled 12 rounder over Melissa Hernandez..   Melissa would however return the favour 8 weeks later to take the title in a very close battle over 8, in a fight that many including myself thought McCarter had won..
This was April of 2007, and would be the last defeat of Layla's career, through the following 9 years McCarter would rack up 14 straight victories..  In 2008 she would regain her GBU lightweight title, 21 days later Layla would return once again to Canada to earn herself the WBA belt in a rubber match with Jelena Mrdjenovich by split decision in a fabulous fight..  Layla would finish 2011 with a second victory over Belinda Laracuente, before stepping up an astonishing 3 weight classes in travelling to South Africa to defeat the unbeaten Noni Tenge via 8th round knockout for the WBA super welterweight title..   After a years layoff in 2013, Layla would return with an 8 round unanimous decision victory in a rubber match with rival Melissa Hernandez, followed by a 2015 BKB appearance, Layla scoring a destructive 7th round knockout over tough Diana Prazak, displaying her versatility by switching arenas for the unorthodox pit..   Layla's last outing was in April, where she had to travel to Mexico fir very little reward in order to obtain a 1st round knockout in Spartan surroundings over inept Yolanda Segura..  Layla's record tallies 37/13/5..
I've watched Layla grow first hand from a 4 round novice to a respected 6 times world champion, each time doing it the hard way, overcoming injuries, promotional issues, inactivity..  Yet throughout everything you won't find a more dedicated, down to earth unassuming athlete..  Layla McCarter has done more for the advancement and betterment of female boxing awareness that she is given credit for..  
Thanks to a chance meeting with the now WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder a couple of years ago, Layla and partner / trainer / manager, Luis Tapia struck up a relationship with Wilder which has proved fruitful, on 16th July, Layla will fight a 4th bout with close rival Melissa Hernandez over 8 on the Deontay Wilder v Chris Arreola, heavyweight championship undercard in Birmingham Alabama..  In Luis Tapias own words, "It took one outstanding champion to recognise another great champion."   The Hernandez fight will be Layla's 56th ring appearance, the exact same amount of professional fights as heavyweight legend Mike Tyson, like Mike, Layla has indeed secured her place in boxing history.