Eggington meets Malignaggi on Haye v Bellew card..

Sam Eggington has a great opportunity on March 4th when he defends his WBC International Welterweight title against former world champion Paulie Malignaggi at The O2 in London as part of the huge Haye v a Bellew show televised live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Former British, Commonwealth and WBC international silver champion, Eggington 19-3 (11 Ko's) won his current title in October with an eighth round stoppage of local rival Frankie Gavin in Birmingham in a dramatic battle and is psyched to be facing the former two-weight world champion on such a huge platform..
36 year old Malignaggi 36-7 (7Ko's) held World championships at Super-Lightweight and Welterweight and has mixed company with most of the biggest names in the game is self admittedly addicted to boxing with a deep desire to return to the highest level..
Eggington v Malignaggi is the newest addition to the huge night of action at the O2 when David Haye and Tony Bellew meet in a Heavyweight grudge match, along with Ohara Davies and Derry Mathews settling a social media spat with Davies' WBC Silver Lightweight title up for grabs.

Eddie Futch.. The Master..

Eddie Futch was born in Hillsboro Mississippi in 1911 but moved with his family to Detroit when he was five years old. The Futch family lived in the Black Bottom section of the City..   Futch played semi-professional basketball with the Moreland YMCA Flashes and planned to attended the YMCA College School at the University of Chicago, but the Great Depression changed his plans and forced him to work shifts at The Wolverine hotel to bring much needed funds into the family home...  Here Eddie would meet friend and trainer / Promoter Don Arnott..  In 1932, Futch won the Detroit Athletic Association Lightweight Championship, and in 1933, he won the Detroit Golden Gloves Championship. Eddie trained at the Brewster Recreation Center Gym, and often sparred with the future champion Joe Louis. However health issues and a potential heart murmur prevented Futch from turning professional, and he began training boxers. Eddie Futch was a phenomenal trainer, perhaps the greatest strategist who ever lived. He prepared fighters to perform their best at the highest levels of the sport for several decades.  The list of Champions who worked under Futch's tutelage include Don Jordan, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe, Michael Spinks, Alexis Arguello, Marlon Starling, Wayne McCullough and Montell Griffin ...  Jordan however was Futch's first world champion, crowned in 1958.
Eddie Futch was noted for his work with heavyweights, he was first hired by Joe Frazier, and his chief cornerman and manager Yank Durham to help him prepare for a fight in 1967, with Scrap Iron Johnson..  He trained Frazier to stay low and create a sense of perpetual motion and pressure Johnson consistently ..  Futch was using Fraziers height as an advantage, making the opponent continually punch down, making Joe a tough target to hit without taking as much punishment as a boxer with a more conventional fighting style would.
The tactic proved to be highly effective, and Frazier remained undefeated, winning the New York title from Buster Mathis, the man he had replaced in the Tokyo Olympics and WBA crown from Jimmy Ellis with solid knockouts. All of which led to the inevitable victorious showdown with Muhammad in March 1971 at New York's Madison square Garden.. Futch would be by Joes side for all three historic bouts with Ali..  Eddie would train four of the five men who would beat Ali..
For Kenny Norton Futch's master plan for his first Ali fight was for Ken to try and out-jab Ali. Although a pressure fighter, Norton had a good jab. Futch reckoned this would play mind games with Ali, who was so proud of his own jab. The plan seemed effective..    For Frazier v Ali 1, Futch told Frazier to wear down Ali with persistent body punches,  Futch also believed that Frazier's constant bobbing and weaving would make Ali uncomfortable because he would often have to punch down , which was something he was not used to doing. Finally, Futch noticed that Ali's uppercuts were thrown sloppily and technically incorrectly, he instructed Frazier to throw a left hook over the top of Ali's right uppercuts, and told his fighter to beat Ali to the punch when doing so, something that worked perfectly in the 15th round when an exhausted Ali threw a half-hearted uppercut, Frazier feinted a left and then unleashed a huge sweeping left hook at Ali's head, which floored him and created an famous moment in boxing history.
Frazier won the fight by a unanimous decision and was recognized as the undefeated, undisputed heavyweight boxing champion of the world.
Four and a half years after the Fight of the Century, Frazier and Ali met for a third and final time in a fight known as the "Thrilla in Manila" in September 1975. Futch served as Frazier's manager and chief second for the fight, having inherited those duties from Durham who died from a stroke shortly after Frazier's defeat by Foreman in 1973.
Futch's would ultimately save Joe from himself in the 14th round of one of the most brutal heavyweight fights ever witnessed..  A decision Frazier held bitter against Futch for years..  Eddie would stand alongside dominant heavyweight champion Larry Holmes another of the elite club to beat Ali, then prepare another Ali tamer in Jamaican Trevor Berbick, albeit against a much faded Ali..
Eddie would then work with his fighter Holmes nemesis,  Michael Spinks, who would become the only light heavyweight in history to arrest the heavyweight title..
Following Michael Spinks defeat at the hands of Mike Tyson, Eddie had no invested interest in a ranked heavyweight, until he met Riddick Bowe..  Everyone labeled Bowe a quitter, an underachiever who wouldn't rise when the going got tough, but Futch had faith..  Eddie said "he'd judge Bowe as he found him" and after brief introductions Futch set Bowe a strict training regime while he was supposedly out of town..  This was the acid test..  On a cold winters morning unsupervised would this underachieving quitter set out on his 5 mile runs at 5am..  Futch watched from a vantage point unbeknown to Bowe and to the young mans credit, he never missed a beat..  Futch proclaimed that he would make Riddick Bowe a champion.  31 fights later he would fulfill his promise to Futch and outpoint Evander Holyfield in Las Vegas to claim his crown..  Unfortunately after Bowes defense against Britains Herbie Hide Futch left understudy Thell Torrence in charge, washing his hands of his young charge who had began to lack discipline, at 84 years of age Futch didn't have time for bullshit..    Eddie still had the magic to steer Montell Griffin towards becoming the first man to beat Roy Jones Jr. and Wayne McCullough one of the most exciting champions in his division..    October 10th 2001 , Eddie Futch passed away in Las Vegas...  I was in town the week of his life celebration at Caesars Palace, it was the final farewell of one of boxings leading lights..   An extraordinary man..

Wilder to face replacement on February 25th, Wawrzyk fails drug test.

Shocking news concerning Deontay Wilders February 25th return to the ring to defend his WBC heavyweight title, scheduled opponent Andrzej Wawrzyk 33-1 (19 Ko's) has failed two mandated drug tests, Vada caught Wawrzyk for an unknown anabolic steroid only days ago, B samples are yet to be put under the microscope, but as of now, the Polish fighter has been scrapped as challenger in this event..

Wilder 37-0 (36 Ko's) has suffered this predicament in a previous bout with Alexander Povetkin in 2016, where he was forced to face a replacement in Chris Arreola...  The show which will be televised by Fox Sports, from Birminghams Legacy arena in Alabama will go ahead as scheduled, will Deontay boxing an opponent to be announced..  WBC number 17 ranked Dominick Breazeale 17-1 (15 Ko's) appears on the show against tough New Zealand based Pole Izu Ugonoh 17-0 (14 Ko's) it's not impossible that either guy could fill in to face Wilder, but I'm hearing that the most probable replacement is Californian Gerald Washington 18-0-1 (12 Ko's) who's only blemish was a 10 round draw with rugged Amir Mansour in 2015..  The opponent will be announced within 24 hours.

Battle of Blackpool, Rose v Arnfield added to Crolla v Linares 2 card.

In a fight which holds more significance on a local level, Blackpool's two most prominent middleweights meet in an unlikely clash for the WBA international title on March 25th at the MEN in Manchester..   27 year old Jack Arnfield 23-2 (6 Ko's) is the current holder, an on form fighter who appears to be improving each time out..   Since a 3 round loss in a prizefighter tournament in February 2015 to Cello Renda, Jack got the rare opportunity to box for the British title on short notice, dropping a Unanimous decision to hard punching Nick Blackwell in November, climbing off the floor in a courageous showing..   Last September Jack once again went into the lions den, taking on the highly regarded John Ryder for the WBA international title, Jack showed  great versatility in this fight earning a unanimous verdict that was highly contested, and only last weekend he defended the title successfully against former opponent Michael Hall in Preston, stopping Hall at the end of the 11th in a fight where Jack showed great discipline, sticking to a game plan against a highly competitive challenger..  Arnfield is no doubt the fresher on form fighter.
Brian Rose however has been to the mountain and back, the 31 year old held the British Super welterweight title, beating the very capable Prince Arron in December 2011, making 3 solid defences, before stepping up to face the unbeaten WBO champion Demetrius Andrade in Brooklyn..   Rose would learn a lot about himself in this fight, although losing via a 7th round stoppage, he now understood what it would take to hang with the big boys..  Rose 29-4-1 (8 Ko's) would step back into class 8 Months later, taking on the dangerous Carson Jones in his home town of Blackpool, disaster struck as Rose was stopped in the opening round of what could have been a springboard back onto the world scene..  6 Months later in Hull, Brian avenged the loss to jones on points, setting the score straight to move on with his career, but in April of 2016, Rose would narrowly miss out on the IBF intercontinental middleweight title as Matthew Macklin would just do enough to sway the judges over 12 at the O2, a fight that I had Rose winning comfortably..   Brian last boxed in October, beating Stiliyan Kostov on points over 8 in Birmingham..
The two fighters know each other intimately, having once been stablemates, both coached by the very respected Bobby Rimmer, before Arnfield parted ways to join forces with former world title challenger and now trainer Michael Jennings..  Rimmer, still with Rose with have an interesting introspective on his former charge, having spent hours cultivating his style in the gym..  Both guys are friends and both know in which direction this fight could send them, a win for Arnfield could earn him a British title shot, whereas a loss would set him back to square one..  But for Brian it's more vital, a win would rejuvenate his career, whereas a loss could signal curtains on a once promising career..    It's a very interesting fight.

David Avanesyan meets Lamont Peterson Feb 18th on Broner, Cincinnati card.

Russian WBA interim Welterweight Champion David Avanesyan (22-1-1, 11 KOs) looks set to make a second defence of his championship against former two-time world champion Lamont Peterson (34-3-1, 17 KOs) over 12 in a match that will feature as the co-main event of the Showtime card on Saturday, February 18 from the Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati. David impressed last time out when he won a unanimous decision over former four time, two weight world champion Shane Mosley in Glendale Az last May..  Peterson hasn't boxed in over a year since outpointing the unbeaten Felix Diaz in October of 2015.
The main event will feature the return of former four division world champion Adrien Broner as he takes on tough Adrian Granados.

SHOWTIME Tv coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT as unbeaten light heavyweight contender Marcus Browne (18-0, 13 KOs) tackles former world title challenger Thomas Williams Jr. (20-2, 14 KOs) over 10.

Richard Schaefer's Ringstar Sports signs Olympian Tony Yoka.

In a shrewd, well executed coup, Former CEO of Golden Boy Richard Schaefer, has signed 2016 French Olympic Super-heavyweight Champion Tony Yoka to his newly formed company 'Ringstar Sports.'  The 6 foot 7, 24 year old was the betting favourite to capture gold in Rio despite a tougher than expected final bout against Joe Joyce of Great Britain and has all the ingredients to go a long way in the professional game, he has extensive amateur experience, heavy hands and bags of charisma, plus he has the size to compete with the current harvest of huge heavyweights..  Yoka is expected to make his debut in France around May or June and will be trained by Virgil Hunter..

Feb 24th, ShoBox and TMT come to Pechanga Resort.

Friday February 24th, ShoBox The new generation presents Mayweather promotions takeover at Pechanga Casino resort in Temecula California..   The card aims to feature 10 Bouts of professional boxing featuring TMT talent..   The three certified fights so far feature;

Unbeaten Saul Rodriguez of Los Angeles California (20-0-1) 15 Ko's takes on Ryan Kielczweski of Quincy Massachusetts (26-2) 8 Ko's in a ten round lightweight bout..

Chris Pearson of Dayton Ohio (17-1) 11 Ko's meets Justin Deloach of Augusta Georgia (16-1) 8Ko's in an evenly contested ten round middleweight attraction..

The main event features Andrew Tabiti of Las Vegas Nv, who defends his NABF cruiserweight crown against unbeaten Quantis Graves of Beaumont Texas (11-0-2) 4 Ko's, over ten..

Arnfield successfully defends WBA international title against brave Hall.

Last night at Preston's Guild hall, in a Co-Main event of a Richard Poxon and Neil Marsh co-promotion, local fighter Mick Hall 13-1 (1 Ko) stepped up to fight Blackpool's Jack Arnfield 22/2 (5 Ko's) in a rematch of the 2015 Middleweight Prizefighter quarter final, where Arnfield won a controversial split decision..  This time for the Blackpool fighters WBA international title over 12..  Hall having only ever done 6 rounds on four occasions was taking a huge leap into the unknown waters of a championship bout, but was confident in his diligent preparations to carry him through victorious..  Arnfield won this belt back in September beating John Ryder in a close fight in only the 4th time he had ever had to box past 10..   The bookies had Arnfield the favourite in what appeared to be a carefully nurtured needle match..  Hall appeared to start fast and force Arnfield onto the back foot, in an attempt to stamp his authority early..  the first 4 rounds could have gone either way, with Hall looking the slightly more animated..   at the 6 round mark I had the Preston fighter a round ahead, although Arnfield was beginning to look the more composed..  Round 7 saw a shift in command, Arnfield began to employ a safety first approach and sit behind his long jab, a move that proved effective, Hall struggled to penetrate the Blackpool mans offensive and began to take risks..  The Arnfield Jab again controlled the tempo of the 8th and 9th leaving the challenger looking for huge shots from unorthodox angles. Although still competitive, Hall began to show signs of wear by the 10th, undeterred he bravely pushed forward yet looked slightly desperate towards the closing 6 minutes..   Round 11 was much of the same, Hall using head movement to draw Arnfield's lead, yet struggling to land more than single shots. With 13 seconds left in the round, Hall fainted a jab and threw the punch of the night, a right hook detonated on Arnfield's chin, rocking the Blackpool fighter to his boots, with moments left to capitalise, Jack maintained his composure and weathered the storm..  Hall returned to his corner with a huge swelling over his left eye and forehead, where compassionate trainer Alan Levine made the tough decision to save his fighter for another day..   Jack Arnfield stuck to an intelligent game plan, and it paid dividends in scoring his 23rd victory and first defence of his WBA title..   Heartbreaking for Mick Hall on the night, but it's obvious that the Preston middleweight has a bright future in the sport.

39 year old Judah returns with a win in Trenton Nj.

Former 4 time various weight champion Zab Judah (43-9, 30 KOs) returned to action for the first time in 3 years last night, handing out a concise two round beating to Honduran Jorge Luis Munguia (12-8-, 4 KOs) in a welterweight contest at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, New Jersey. The 39-year-old Judah, from nearby Brooklyn looked sharp and showed no signs of ring rust considering the lengthy layoff, hurting Munguia frequently in the opener before closing the show in the second with a relentless onslaught midway through the session..  Time of Stoppage was 1:27.

Let's not get this twisted, this is not the Zabdiel Judah that arrested the undisputed championship from Cory Spinks in 2005, but it's still a dangerous version who could still cause issues for many who don't respect his capabilities..  Zab has made it known that he wishes to be active throughout 2017, he's out to prove that he is fresher than his age suggests.

2016 Olympian, Lawrence Okolie turns pro with Matchroom.

24 year old’s Lawrence Okolie has made the bold decision to jump into the paid ranks under the guidance of Matchroom boxing..   Back in 2012, whilst Anthony Joshua was grabbing Olympic gold, Okolie was working at McDonalds with Olympic glory a mere daydream...

Okolie began boxing in 2010, really just a personal journey to lose weight but inspired by Joshua’s achievements at the games, Okolie pushed the envelope and after landing back to back University titles in 2014 and 2015 he grabbed a place on the  British Lionhearts WSOB team before taking gold in the AIBA European Qualifier in Turkey, a victory that earned him a dream spot on the GB squad for the 2016 olympics in Rio..

Okolie is the first of the 2016 Team GB squad to turn professional, and despite his mere 26 fights has huge ambitions for the exciting road ahead.
“I want to be the best cruiserweight that Britain has seen,” said Okolie. “David Haye has done great things, so has Johnny Nelson and many others, but I want to cement my legacy, have my name go down in history and maybe follow Haye by winning the heavyweight crown too."
“I want to get some excitement going in the division, not just from the fans but also have other cruiserweights training hard and wanting to fight me, because I want to be in great and exciting fights. I want to have six to eight fights in 2017 and I’ll be looking to get six to eight knockouts – I mean business."
The very day that Anthony Joshua won Olympic gold, Okolie went in to the McDonalds where he worked and expressed his intentions to focus solely on his boxing and cut his hours by half..
Lawrence has campaigned for the last 6 years at the 201 Lb amateur heavyweight limit, but looks to debut as a cruiserweight, with a heavyweight future in mind.. Lawrence is a likeable young man, and a natural athlete, he has some great ingredients to propel him to the top as he gains the valuable experience it's gonna take to get there..   Lawrence Okolie, I salute you.

Badou Jack vacates WBC title, moves up to 175.

Following last weekends tremendous championship unification battle, the WBC has received official notification from their super middleweight champion Badou Jack, who has decided to move up in weight to compete in the light heavyweight division. Consequently, the WBC super middleweight championship has been declared vacant, discounting any chance of a rematch with IBF holder James Degale..

WBC Statement:
The WBC is extremely proud of Badou Jack who is our Ambassador of Good Will and Peace, he has been a role model outside the ring with his exemplary behavior and his beautiful family, his wife Jasmine, and his baby daughter, Malaniyah.

The WBC wishes Badou Jack continuous success and the best of luck in his boxing career hoping that one day he will compete for the light heavyweight championship of the world.

Following Saturdays draw, Floyd Mayweather did indicate their intentions to move Badou up to 175, due to the recurring struggle to make the Super Middleweight limit..