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Froch says he could retire if he doesn’t get Chavez Jr fight
October 16th, 2014 | Post Comment - No Comments
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julio cesar chavez jr carl froch By Scott Gilfoid: IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (33-2, 24 KOs) is saying the dread R-word about him possibly retiring from boxing if he doesn’t get a fight against former WBA 160lb title holder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (48-1-1, 32 KOs) next January on the 31st.
Froch says he doesn’t want to risk his legacy fighting the slick southpaw James DeGale (19-1, 13 KOs), who is his IBF mandatory challenger.
Froch has given his promoter Eddie Hearn his marching orders to try and get a fight lined up between him and the 28-year-old Chavez Jr, but it’s still highly doubtful that Hearn will be able to set that fight up.
Chavez Jr is not an easy fighter to negotiate with, especially now that he’s talking about his contract with Top Rank being up. If Chavez Jr is going to fight anyone, it would probably be Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in the United States, because that’s a far bigger fight for Chavez Jr than a fight against Froch. I mean, Froch isn’t exactly a household name in America, is he?
“That’s where I am on it,” said Froch via Skysports.com in talking about him wanting Chavez Jr. “I’ve told that to Eddie Hearn. He said ‘you can’t do that’ and you know what I can, because if that right hand I threw that connected with George Groves’ chin in front of 80,000 people at the national stadium – if that’s the last punch I throw in my career, I will still be smiling.”
How can Froch retire with just the memory of having knocked out a novice twice in George Groves? Where’s the victory in beating a novice? If that’s all it takes to put Froch in his rocker then that’s very disappointing. Shouldn’t Froch be shooting higher than Groves if he wants to have a feeling of satisfaction? I’m just saying. Why isn’t Froch shooting for the stars by targeting talents like the Dirrell brothers and Andre Ward?
Hearn obviously doesn’t want to see Froch retire because he’s still got a lot of fights left in him. If he retires now, he’d be walking away from a ton of loot he could make in fights against Gennady Golovkin, Andre Ward, the Dirrell brothers, DeGale, Chavez Jr, Mikkel Kessler and possibly even Canelo.
Froch could easily double his net worth in the next two years if he were to stay busy and fight three times a year without getting whipped. I mean, I don’t know that Froch could actually beat a talent like Chavez Jr even if Hearn did get that fight for him. I think Chavez Jr is all wrong for Froch because he’s got a steel chin and he can punch to the body like no one else in the super middleweight division except for perhaps Gilberto Ramirez.
“I don’t need to risk putting my legacy at stake for another British pretender who’s not earned his stripes,” Froch said. “If the Chavez fight can happen in Vegas for me, that is the one. If the Chavez fight doesn’t happen, there’s a strong chance of me retiring a happy man.”
With all the cash that Froch can make in the next couple of years, he’s going to blow it if he walks away from the game without taking all the fights he can while he still can. They’d have to drag me away from the ring if I could make the kind of green stuff that Froch is getting. Froch should try and get all he can while he can. If not for him, then for his family. That’s the way I see it.
I smell fear coming from Froch. He’s acting like he’s afraid to lose. Once a fighter gets that like that it’s curtains. Froch is worried about his legacy instead of trying to get as much cash as he can. That should his focus, not his legacy. That’s what I see it at least.
October 16th, 2014 | Post Comment - No Comments
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julio cesar chavez jr carl froch By Scott Gilfoid: IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (33-2, 24 KOs) is saying the dread R-word about him possibly retiring from boxing if he doesn’t get a fight against former WBA 160lb title holder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (48-1-1, 32 KOs) next January on the 31st.
Froch says he doesn’t want to risk his legacy fighting the slick southpaw James DeGale (19-1, 13 KOs), who is his IBF mandatory challenger.
Froch has given his promoter Eddie Hearn his marching orders to try and get a fight lined up between him and the 28-year-old Chavez Jr, but it’s still highly doubtful that Hearn will be able to set that fight up.
Chavez Jr is not an easy fighter to negotiate with, especially now that he’s talking about his contract with Top Rank being up. If Chavez Jr is going to fight anyone, it would probably be Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in the United States, because that’s a far bigger fight for Chavez Jr than a fight against Froch. I mean, Froch isn’t exactly a household name in America, is he?
“That’s where I am on it,” said Froch via Skysports.com in talking about him wanting Chavez Jr. “I’ve told that to Eddie Hearn. He said ‘you can’t do that’ and you know what I can, because if that right hand I threw that connected with George Groves’ chin in front of 80,000 people at the national stadium – if that’s the last punch I throw in my career, I will still be smiling.”
How can Froch retire with just the memory of having knocked out a novice twice in George Groves? Where’s the victory in beating a novice? If that’s all it takes to put Froch in his rocker then that’s very disappointing. Shouldn’t Froch be shooting higher than Groves if he wants to have a feeling of satisfaction? I’m just saying. Why isn’t Froch shooting for the stars by targeting talents like the Dirrell brothers and Andre Ward?
Hearn obviously doesn’t want to see Froch retire because he’s still got a lot of fights left in him. If he retires now, he’d be walking away from a ton of loot he could make in fights against Gennady Golovkin, Andre Ward, the Dirrell brothers, DeGale, Chavez Jr, Mikkel Kessler and possibly even Canelo.
Froch could easily double his net worth in the next two years if he were to stay busy and fight three times a year without getting whipped. I mean, I don’t know that Froch could actually beat a talent like Chavez Jr even if Hearn did get that fight for him. I think Chavez Jr is all wrong for Froch because he’s got a steel chin and he can punch to the body like no one else in the super middleweight division except for perhaps Gilberto Ramirez.
“I don’t need to risk putting my legacy at stake for another British pretender who’s not earned his stripes,” Froch said. “If the Chavez fight can happen in Vegas for me, that is the one. If the Chavez fight doesn’t happen, there’s a strong chance of me retiring a happy man.”
With all the cash that Froch can make in the next couple of years, he’s going to blow it if he walks away from the game without taking all the fights he can while he still can. They’d have to drag me away from the ring if I could make the kind of green stuff that Froch is getting. Froch should try and get all he can while he can. If not for him, then for his family. That’s the way I see it.
I smell fear coming from Froch. He’s acting like he’s afraid to lose. Once a fighter gets that like that it’s curtains. Froch is worried about his legacy instead of trying to get as much cash as he can. That should his focus, not his legacy. That’s what I see it at least.
Broner: I want Maidana, then Pacquiao, Marquez and Matthysse
October 16th, 2014 | Post Comment - 32 Comments
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adrien broner By Allan Fox: Former three division belt holder Adrien Broner (29-1, 22 KOs) says he’s targeting Marcos Maidana, Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Lucas Matthysse in the near future. Broner, 25, says he wants to avenge his loss to Maidana first, as that’s a loss that he wants to get behind him.
Broner was beaten by Maidana last year in December by a 12 round unanimous decision. This led to Maidana getting two back to back fights against Floyd Mayweather Jr, fights that Maidana didn’t do that badly despite losing both of them.
“I want to fight Pacquiao, Marquez, Matthysse, and Maidana again. Matter of fact I want to fight Maidana first to get you out the way,” Broner said on his twitter this week.
It’s probably not a good idea for Broner to fight Maidana again right now because Maidana is looking a lot better than Broner right now. Even in Maidana’s last defeat against Mayweather in their second fight, Maidana still looked far better than Broner. He’s got too much power, too much size, and too much talent for Broner to be mixing it up with him. Maidana isn’t a lazy fighter, and he’ll likely outwork Broner for a second time and give him a worse beating than in the first fight.
Broner has Al Haymon as his adviser which means that the chances of Broner getting fights against Pacquiao and Marquez pretty impossible. Haymon likely won’t green light either of those fights. Marquez is on the verge of retirement, and if he does fight again it’ll be against one of the welterweight champions like IBF champ Kell Brook.
Marquez isn’t going to likely agree to fight Broner especially with his name still being partially tarnished by his loss to Maidana.
Since his loss to Maidana, Broner has fought twice in beating Carlos Molina and Emmanuel Taylor. Broner looked poor in both fights, although he did show brief glimpses of talent in the Taylor fight.
Broner doesn’t look like the same fighter he once was when he was fighting at super featherweight and lightweight. At 140, Broner is sluggish and fights too much off the ropes, as if he lacks the stamina to stay in the center of the ring to fight for three hard minutes of every round.
It’s not likely that Haymon will Broner fight Maidana right now. Haymon seems to be positioning Broner to fight for one of the light welterweight titles that IBF/WBC champion Danny Garcia gives up when he moves up in weight to the welterweight division.
Haymon isn’t going to mess things up by putting Broner back in with Maidana and watch him lose for a second time. Haymon has got to know that Broner would lose to Maidana no matter how many times they fought each other.
October 16th, 2014 | Post Comment - 32 Comments
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adrien broner By Allan Fox: Former three division belt holder Adrien Broner (29-1, 22 KOs) says he’s targeting Marcos Maidana, Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Lucas Matthysse in the near future. Broner, 25, says he wants to avenge his loss to Maidana first, as that’s a loss that he wants to get behind him.
Broner was beaten by Maidana last year in December by a 12 round unanimous decision. This led to Maidana getting two back to back fights against Floyd Mayweather Jr, fights that Maidana didn’t do that badly despite losing both of them.
“I want to fight Pacquiao, Marquez, Matthysse, and Maidana again. Matter of fact I want to fight Maidana first to get you out the way,” Broner said on his twitter this week.
It’s probably not a good idea for Broner to fight Maidana again right now because Maidana is looking a lot better than Broner right now. Even in Maidana’s last defeat against Mayweather in their second fight, Maidana still looked far better than Broner. He’s got too much power, too much size, and too much talent for Broner to be mixing it up with him. Maidana isn’t a lazy fighter, and he’ll likely outwork Broner for a second time and give him a worse beating than in the first fight.
Broner has Al Haymon as his adviser which means that the chances of Broner getting fights against Pacquiao and Marquez pretty impossible. Haymon likely won’t green light either of those fights. Marquez is on the verge of retirement, and if he does fight again it’ll be against one of the welterweight champions like IBF champ Kell Brook.
Marquez isn’t going to likely agree to fight Broner especially with his name still being partially tarnished by his loss to Maidana.
Since his loss to Maidana, Broner has fought twice in beating Carlos Molina and Emmanuel Taylor. Broner looked poor in both fights, although he did show brief glimpses of talent in the Taylor fight.
Broner doesn’t look like the same fighter he once was when he was fighting at super featherweight and lightweight. At 140, Broner is sluggish and fights too much off the ropes, as if he lacks the stamina to stay in the center of the ring to fight for three hard minutes of every round.
It’s not likely that Haymon will Broner fight Maidana right now. Haymon seems to be positioning Broner to fight for one of the light welterweight titles that IBF/WBC champion Danny Garcia gives up when he moves up in weight to the welterweight division.
Haymon isn’t going to mess things up by putting Broner back in with Maidana and watch him lose for a second time. Haymon has got to know that Broner would lose to Maidana no matter how many times they fought each other.
This dude is gonna have one hell of a fucking resume
Lomachenko to fight Donaire-Walters winner
Lomachenko is most likely to fight Donaire-Walters winner next year as was told to Dan Rafael os espn. Reportedly Arum wants to make a Lomachenko vs Donaire -Walters Unification bout. What do u guys thing are Lomachenkos chances against either of those guys.
Lomachenko to fight Donaire-Walters winner
Lomachenko is most likely to fight Donaire-Walters winner next year as was told to Dan Rafael os espn. Reportedly Arum wants to make a Lomachenko vs Donaire -Walters Unification bout. What do u guys thing are Lomachenkos chances against either of those guys.
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Coach E. No and Coach E. No
I love Loma. I personally thought he was cheated in the Salido fight by Salido never having any points deducted, which really fucked up his unprecedented claim to fame. I still would like him to fight someone else of note before stepping in with either one of them.
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battle619 and battle619
They caught the coward that shot Augustus
Police Arrest Man Accused of Shooting Emanuel Augustus
by David P. Greisman
The man accused of shooting Emanuel Augustus on Monday night in Baton Rouge has been arrested, and investigators say the alleged shooting had not actually targeted the beloved former journeyman boxer.
Christopher Stills, 21, is facing “charges of attempted second-degree murder, felon in possession of a handgun and illegal use of a weapon,” according to Louisiana newspaper The Times-Picayune.
A police spokesman, paraphrased in the article, alleged “that Stills got into an argument with his cousin while riding in a car. Stills then got out of the car and fired several gunshots over the car out of anger. Coppola said Stills did not know Augustus and the incident was not a robbery, as nothing was taken from the boxer.”
In a video posted Wednesday night, boxing writer Corey Erdman of Fight Network said of Augustus’ condition: “As of my contact with his family he was on life support, breathing with the assistance of a machine, with the bullet still lodged in his head,”
The shooting occurred just blocks from the gym where Augustus sparred.
Augustus, 39, was 38-34-6 in a career where that record was not at all indicative of the talent he had. He often took fights on short notice against all sorts of familiar names, be they prospects, contenders or future titleholders.
Police Arrest Man Accused of Shooting Emanuel Augustus
by David P. Greisman
The man accused of shooting Emanuel Augustus on Monday night in Baton Rouge has been arrested, and investigators say the alleged shooting had not actually targeted the beloved former journeyman boxer.
Christopher Stills, 21, is facing “charges of attempted second-degree murder, felon in possession of a handgun and illegal use of a weapon,” according to Louisiana newspaper The Times-Picayune.
A police spokesman, paraphrased in the article, alleged “that Stills got into an argument with his cousin while riding in a car. Stills then got out of the car and fired several gunshots over the car out of anger. Coppola said Stills did not know Augustus and the incident was not a robbery, as nothing was taken from the boxer.”
In a video posted Wednesday night, boxing writer Corey Erdman of Fight Network said of Augustus’ condition: “As of my contact with his family he was on life support, breathing with the assistance of a machine, with the bullet still lodged in his head,”
The shooting occurred just blocks from the gym where Augustus sparred.
Augustus, 39, was 38-34-6 in a career where that record was not at all indicative of the talent he had. He often took fights on short notice against all sorts of familiar names, be they prospects, contenders or future titleholders.
@naner12
Lmao
From Ali
As the reigning alpha male on the planet today, I can’t allow top P4P stars Roman Gonzalez, Naoya Inoue and 3 time Gold Medalist Olympic legend Zho Shiming to cartel glory for themselves at 112, while I am comfortable in 105, a division I subdued with ease (with exceptional respect for multi-time champion Kastunari Takayama and unified IBO/WBA champion Hekkie Budler who were willing to fight me but failed to do so due to factors out of their hand).
I depart 105 finally lifting my foot of the throat of my eternal subordinate the Thai Duck Wanheng Menayothin, who showed exceptional survival skills best found in healthy women, wellbred slaves & the offspring of submissive prostitutes.
National Thai prostitution tourism aside, I am determined to give boxing fans the dream fights they desire and the KO highlights they dream off. Therefore, I am invading the strongest division in boxing today (112), effectively challenging the top 3 undefeated fighters.
As of today I am 22-0 (KO 22), the all time greatest 105lb peoples champion, #1 Ranked IBO fighter in the world, top ranked by the WBO and all the legitimate governing bodies (that don’t demand $ in return for ranking). I have to coerce opponents into fighting me because they are rightfully hesitant, for they know that I am the greatest puncher P4P and some feel that health comes first.
Whoever wants to get KOed first, can reply and I will give him his first career LOSS by KO nothing less
Always victorious,
Ali Raymi A @Ali raymi
facebook.com/aliraymiboxer
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KEITH "ONE TIME" THURMAN" I am grateful to have Al Haymon and at lot of other fighters are as well"
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I want to see Amir Khan give Maidana a rematch. I understand he's making the push to try to get a Mayweather fight, but he narrowly won that fight, he has one marginally decent win against Collazo at 147 who's best win in 5 years was a shot Victor Ortiz.
Khan vs Maidana II. Make it happen. Although, there have been rumors that Khan is fighting Guerrero next?
Khan vs Maidana II. Make it happen. Although, there have been rumors that Khan is fighting Guerrero next?
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trips and trips
Floyd Mayweather being sued by Rahman brothers for 'battery and false imprisonment' after sparring sessions
Sharif Rahman and his older brother, Hasim Rahman Jr, are suing Mayweather, his fledgling promotional company and cable telecaster Showtime over TV show "All Access" designed to promote Mayweather's last fight against Marcos Maidana
Floyd Mayweather being sued by Rahman brothers for 'battery and false imprisonment' after sparring sessions
Two sides of the story: Floyd Mayweather appears before Nevada Athletic Commission to explain "All Access" show Photo: AP
By Telegraph Sport, and AFP
9:48AM BST 18 Oct 2014
CommentsComment
Unbeaten world champion Floyd Mayweather is being sued by two boxing brothers involved in sparring sessions that were shown on a television reality show.
The documents posted online by Las Vegas television station KTNV show that Sharif Rahman and his older brother, Hasim Rahman Jr, are suing Mayweather, his fledgling promotional company and cable telecaster Showtime over the TV show designed to promote Mayweather's last fight against Marcos Maidana.
The brothers - sons of former heavyweight world champion Hasim Rahman - claim battery, false imprisonment and negligent hiring and supervision, and say they never consented to be included in the "All Access" shows telecast by Showtime prior to the Sept 13 Maidana bout.
The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in Clark County District Court, Las Vegas, claims that Mayweather forced 18-year-old Sharif Rahman to spar against Britain's Donovan Cameron for several rounds lasting five to seven minutes each, and that when Rahman asked for shorter rounds the request was denied.
When he tried to leave the ring, Mayweather "responded by telling Mr Cameron and others that if Sharif left the ring to beat his ass outside the ring," the plaintiffs claim. "Sharif feared for his safety and was forced to continue to fight."
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Hasim Rahman Jr, arriving later at the gym, then fought Cameron in a session that lasted 31 minutes without a break, with Mayweather and others betting on the outcome.
The "All Access" programs have already caught the attention of Nevada boxing authorities.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission called Mayweather, who is licensed as a promoter in the state, to explain what appeared to be potentially unsafe practices.
They voiced concern about the apparent 31-minute sparring session, but Mayweather told the commission that neither the fights nor the betting were real - just as "All Access" scenes that showed people smoking marijuana at his home were staged to portray a "lifestyle" that would drum up sales for the pay-per-view Maidana fight.
The commission accepted that explanation and no further action was taken.
"Defendant Mayweather knowingly misrepresented facts while testifying before the Nevada State Athletic Commission," according to the lawsuit, in which the Rahman brothers are seeking punitive damages.
Neither of the Rahman brothers have fought professionally, although Hasim Rahman Jr is scheduled to make his pro debut on Nov 13
Sharif Rahman and his older brother, Hasim Rahman Jr, are suing Mayweather, his fledgling promotional company and cable telecaster Showtime over TV show "All Access" designed to promote Mayweather's last fight against Marcos Maidana
Floyd Mayweather being sued by Rahman brothers for 'battery and false imprisonment' after sparring sessions
Two sides of the story: Floyd Mayweather appears before Nevada Athletic Commission to explain "All Access" show Photo: AP
By Telegraph Sport, and AFP
9:48AM BST 18 Oct 2014
CommentsComment
Unbeaten world champion Floyd Mayweather is being sued by two boxing brothers involved in sparring sessions that were shown on a television reality show.
The documents posted online by Las Vegas television station KTNV show that Sharif Rahman and his older brother, Hasim Rahman Jr, are suing Mayweather, his fledgling promotional company and cable telecaster Showtime over the TV show designed to promote Mayweather's last fight against Marcos Maidana.
The brothers - sons of former heavyweight world champion Hasim Rahman - claim battery, false imprisonment and negligent hiring and supervision, and say they never consented to be included in the "All Access" shows telecast by Showtime prior to the Sept 13 Maidana bout.
The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in Clark County District Court, Las Vegas, claims that Mayweather forced 18-year-old Sharif Rahman to spar against Britain's Donovan Cameron for several rounds lasting five to seven minutes each, and that when Rahman asked for shorter rounds the request was denied.
When he tried to leave the ring, Mayweather "responded by telling Mr Cameron and others that if Sharif left the ring to beat his ass outside the ring," the plaintiffs claim. "Sharif feared for his safety and was forced to continue to fight."
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Hasim Rahman Jr, arriving later at the gym, then fought Cameron in a session that lasted 31 minutes without a break, with Mayweather and others betting on the outcome.
The "All Access" programs have already caught the attention of Nevada boxing authorities.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission called Mayweather, who is licensed as a promoter in the state, to explain what appeared to be potentially unsafe practices.
They voiced concern about the apparent 31-minute sparring session, but Mayweather told the commission that neither the fights nor the betting were real - just as "All Access" scenes that showed people smoking marijuana at his home were staged to portray a "lifestyle" that would drum up sales for the pay-per-view Maidana fight.
The commission accepted that explanation and no further action was taken.
"Defendant Mayweather knowingly misrepresented facts while testifying before the Nevada State Athletic Commission," according to the lawsuit, in which the Rahman brothers are seeking punitive damages.
Neither of the Rahman brothers have fought professionally, although Hasim Rahman Jr is scheduled to make his pro debut on Nov 13
Lampley: Andre Ward wants Golovkin fight!
October 19th, 2014 | Post Comment - 192 Comments
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marco antonio rubio gennady golovkin andre ward (Photo credit: Sumio Yamada) By Dan Ambrose: HBO commentator Jim Lampley says he was contacted by the lawyer for WBA Super middleweight champion Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) who told him that Ward is willing to fight WBA Super World middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (31-0, 28 KOs) for a fight.
Presumably, Golovkin would have to move up to super middleweight to face Ward at either a catch-weight or at the full weight in order for the fight to happen.
Lampley believes that Andre Ward or Carl Froch, two of the top super middleweights in the division, might be the direction for Golovkin to go in if he can’t get the top names at middleweight [160] to agree to fight him. Golovkin obviously would prefer to fight Miguel Cotto and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez than Ward, because it would likely be a much bigger fight in terms of money and fan interest. Fights against Cotto and Canelo would be pay-per-view fights on HBO. It’s unclear whether a Golovkin-Ward fight would sell on HBO pay-per-view.
It’s quite possible it would bring in a very, very low number of pay-per-view buys, because neither Ward nor Golovkin have ever fought on pay-per-view before. Ward’s situation is further hurt by his inactivity. Ward hasn’t fought since last year in November when he beat Edwin Rodriguez. In the last two years, Ward has fought just once per year. He fought one time in 2012 and once in 2013. In contrast, Golovkin fought four times in 2013, and three times in 2013.
“If he can’t get a fight at 160, maybe he has to go to 168 a Carl Froch,” Lampley said to HBO. “A representative from Andre Ward’s camp sent me a note this morning that Andre wants to fight him. He’ll fight him anywhere, anyplace, and anytime. A fight against Andre Ward in Southern California would be very marketable. Ward’s lawyer sent me an e-mail today saying he’ll fight him wherever,” Lampley said.
I doubt Golovkin is going to agree to fight Ward. Golovkin’s promoter Tom Loeffler is looking to put him in with big names in the middleweight division. Loeffler is open to having Golovkin move up in weight to fight Froch or Mikkel Kessler, but those are big names against guys with huge fan bases. Ward arguably doesn’t have the same kind of support as those fighters do in their own home countries. Kessler and Froch bring in huge ratings when they fight, and that explains why Loeffler would be willing to match Golovkin against them at super middleweight.
“That would be a wonderful fight,” Roy Jones Jr said in speaking of a Golovkin vs. Ward fight in California. “If I was promoting him that’s exactly what I would do if I was Andre, because Andre needs opponents that will stand in front of him that would make it a chess match. Golovkin is the perfect guy for Andre Ward to fight. I would love to see that fight. It would be a great fight for the network and for the fans,” Jones Jr said.
Golovkin vs. Ward would be a good fight, but I could also see it one with a lot of smothering, wrestling and holding done by Ward like we’ve seen in some of his fights. He likes to force his opponents up against the ropes and keep them there by leaning on them, and wrestling around. That’s not a great style match-up for a guy like Golovkin, who doesn’t do a lot of holding and wrestling. A fight between Ward and Golovkin would likely be very similar to the 2005 fight between a young Ricky Hatton and an aging Kostya Tszyu. In that fight, Hatton smothered Tszyu’s offense by wrestling with him, staying close, and keeping him pinned against the ropes by pressing his upper body against him. The referee let Hatton smother Tszyu without pulling them apart for long stretched despite the fact that much of it was just ugly wrestling on Hatton’s part. When there was space between them, Tszyu generally got the better of Hatton. If Golovkin were to agree to fight Ward, he would very likely be stuck fighting a 12 round wrestling type of fight that wouldn’t resemble any of Golovkin’s past fights. Further, Golovkin would be at a huge size disadvantage against the 6’0” Ward, who not only would have a height advantage over him, but also a likely significant weight advantage as well.
“I think it says something that the only top fighter that seems willing to get in the ring with Golovkin might be the best pound for pound fighter in the world who’s in his physical prime, an Olympic Gold medalist who hasn’t lost since he was 12-years-old,” Max Kellerman of HBO said about Andre Ward. “[He’s] cleaned out his division, and by the way, he has a size advantage against Golovkin. Andre Ward is the only guy who seems to want him, and that’s because you see what Golovkin does to the also-ran middleweights, the contenders, but not the champions. He absolutely destroys them. There are no surprises; he’s not going to be upset by a mediocre fighter. He seems like the real deal. So the fans are responding, and as a result, maybe now Golovkin has the economic clout to get other top fighters not named Andre Ward. I don’t know how anxious they’re going to be to want to get in with maybe the fighter in boxing who also has a size advantage on them just yet. But maybe other fighters not named Andre Ward will accept the Golovkin challenge, because it will be worth their while or worth it to their bottom line now,” Kellerman said.
Golovkin is better off fighting Canelo or Cotto, because at least those guys weigh around the same amount as him in the ring. Golovkin wouldn’t be giving away 10 pounds or more in stepping inside the ring with them, and he wouldn’t be stuck with 12 rounds of wrestling.
It’s interesting that Lampley, Jones Jr and Kellerman aren’t putting pressure on Ward to move up a division and fight WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev, Artur Beterbiev, or Adonis Stevenson at 175. They want Golovkin to move up in weight to fight Ward, but they’re not putting the same thing on Ward in moving up in weight to get fights.
October 19th, 2014 | Post Comment - 192 Comments
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marco antonio rubio gennady golovkin andre ward (Photo credit: Sumio Yamada) By Dan Ambrose: HBO commentator Jim Lampley says he was contacted by the lawyer for WBA Super middleweight champion Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) who told him that Ward is willing to fight WBA Super World middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (31-0, 28 KOs) for a fight.
Presumably, Golovkin would have to move up to super middleweight to face Ward at either a catch-weight or at the full weight in order for the fight to happen.
Lampley believes that Andre Ward or Carl Froch, two of the top super middleweights in the division, might be the direction for Golovkin to go in if he can’t get the top names at middleweight [160] to agree to fight him. Golovkin obviously would prefer to fight Miguel Cotto and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez than Ward, because it would likely be a much bigger fight in terms of money and fan interest. Fights against Cotto and Canelo would be pay-per-view fights on HBO. It’s unclear whether a Golovkin-Ward fight would sell on HBO pay-per-view.
It’s quite possible it would bring in a very, very low number of pay-per-view buys, because neither Ward nor Golovkin have ever fought on pay-per-view before. Ward’s situation is further hurt by his inactivity. Ward hasn’t fought since last year in November when he beat Edwin Rodriguez. In the last two years, Ward has fought just once per year. He fought one time in 2012 and once in 2013. In contrast, Golovkin fought four times in 2013, and three times in 2013.
“If he can’t get a fight at 160, maybe he has to go to 168 a Carl Froch,” Lampley said to HBO. “A representative from Andre Ward’s camp sent me a note this morning that Andre wants to fight him. He’ll fight him anywhere, anyplace, and anytime. A fight against Andre Ward in Southern California would be very marketable. Ward’s lawyer sent me an e-mail today saying he’ll fight him wherever,” Lampley said.
I doubt Golovkin is going to agree to fight Ward. Golovkin’s promoter Tom Loeffler is looking to put him in with big names in the middleweight division. Loeffler is open to having Golovkin move up in weight to fight Froch or Mikkel Kessler, but those are big names against guys with huge fan bases. Ward arguably doesn’t have the same kind of support as those fighters do in their own home countries. Kessler and Froch bring in huge ratings when they fight, and that explains why Loeffler would be willing to match Golovkin against them at super middleweight.
“That would be a wonderful fight,” Roy Jones Jr said in speaking of a Golovkin vs. Ward fight in California. “If I was promoting him that’s exactly what I would do if I was Andre, because Andre needs opponents that will stand in front of him that would make it a chess match. Golovkin is the perfect guy for Andre Ward to fight. I would love to see that fight. It would be a great fight for the network and for the fans,” Jones Jr said.
Golovkin vs. Ward would be a good fight, but I could also see it one with a lot of smothering, wrestling and holding done by Ward like we’ve seen in some of his fights. He likes to force his opponents up against the ropes and keep them there by leaning on them, and wrestling around. That’s not a great style match-up for a guy like Golovkin, who doesn’t do a lot of holding and wrestling. A fight between Ward and Golovkin would likely be very similar to the 2005 fight between a young Ricky Hatton and an aging Kostya Tszyu. In that fight, Hatton smothered Tszyu’s offense by wrestling with him, staying close, and keeping him pinned against the ropes by pressing his upper body against him. The referee let Hatton smother Tszyu without pulling them apart for long stretched despite the fact that much of it was just ugly wrestling on Hatton’s part. When there was space between them, Tszyu generally got the better of Hatton. If Golovkin were to agree to fight Ward, he would very likely be stuck fighting a 12 round wrestling type of fight that wouldn’t resemble any of Golovkin’s past fights. Further, Golovkin would be at a huge size disadvantage against the 6’0” Ward, who not only would have a height advantage over him, but also a likely significant weight advantage as well.
“I think it says something that the only top fighter that seems willing to get in the ring with Golovkin might be the best pound for pound fighter in the world who’s in his physical prime, an Olympic Gold medalist who hasn’t lost since he was 12-years-old,” Max Kellerman of HBO said about Andre Ward. “[He’s] cleaned out his division, and by the way, he has a size advantage against Golovkin. Andre Ward is the only guy who seems to want him, and that’s because you see what Golovkin does to the also-ran middleweights, the contenders, but not the champions. He absolutely destroys them. There are no surprises; he’s not going to be upset by a mediocre fighter. He seems like the real deal. So the fans are responding, and as a result, maybe now Golovkin has the economic clout to get other top fighters not named Andre Ward. I don’t know how anxious they’re going to be to want to get in with maybe the fighter in boxing who also has a size advantage on them just yet. But maybe other fighters not named Andre Ward will accept the Golovkin challenge, because it will be worth their while or worth it to their bottom line now,” Kellerman said.
Golovkin is better off fighting Canelo or Cotto, because at least those guys weigh around the same amount as him in the ring. Golovkin wouldn’t be giving away 10 pounds or more in stepping inside the ring with them, and he wouldn’t be stuck with 12 rounds of wrestling.
It’s interesting that Lampley, Jones Jr and Kellerman aren’t putting pressure on Ward to move up a division and fight WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev, Artur Beterbiev, or Adonis Stevenson at 175. They want Golovkin to move up in weight to fight Ward, but they’re not putting the same thing on Ward in moving up in weight to get fights.