By John J Raspanti: On August 23 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Ill, Don “The Bomb” George will meet Dyah Davis for the IBO super middleweight championship. George, who was born in Chicago, wants to win the title for his city, but most of all, the expectant father is motivated to provide for his growing family.
By Derek Bonnett: It’s been awhile. In fact, it’s been since July of 2012 that I felt compelled to write a volume of Title Shots Here! Getcha’ Free Title Shot! That’s not to say there haven’t been an undeserving "contender" or three over the last two years that hasn’t conveniently popped into the rankings of an organizing body just prior to a title fight being announced.
By Derek Bonnett: Persistence can carry a fighter a long way. That, and a pretty damn good supply of underrated talent. For junior welterweight Mauricio Herrera, opportunity and just results in the boxing world have never come easy. Herrera, known as "El Maestro", or "The Teacher", inside of the ring has earned the equivalence of a teaching degree after many lessons while enrolled in the clichéd School of Hard Knocks.
By Matthew Hurley: Now that Manny Pacquiao versus Chris Algieri is a done deal, the PacMan officially revealed himself to be Bob Arum’s puppet on a string. No, this is not as bad as Colonel Tom Parker ripping apart his only client Elvis Presley over nearly twenty-one years but it begs the question, who would Manny be fighting on November 22 had he not signed a contract extension through 2016?
Styles make Fights By Andrew Rivera: So the Canelo Alvarez/ Erislandy Lara ended in a 12 round split decision win for Canelo, yes it was close and some may think Lara won, but in boxing these things will happen when you get a contrast in styles. This has happened throughout boxing history where an aggressive fighter like Canelo edges a slick fighter like Lara.
By Matthew Hurley: As it became apparent that Floyd Mayweather would fill one of the final slots in his ridiculously lucrative Showtime contract with a rematch against Marcos Maidana in September, a collective eye roll spread among many in the boxing world.
By Bill Tibbs: Anyone who as ever walked up those three steps into a boxing ring knows how tough that short but character-canvassing journey can be. And once in the ring, things only get more difficult.
By Steve Kim: My personal bucket list has always included covering a fight in the state of Nebraska. OK, not really, but believe it or not, I am looking forward to my trip to the “Cornhusker State” this weekend as Terence Crawford defends his WBO lightweight crown against Yuriorkis Gamboa at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha.
By Bill Tibbs: Former world champion Robert Guerrero returned to the ring this past Saturday night to face IBF No.7 and WBC No. 13 welterweight Yoshihiro Kamegai.
By Steve Kim:The last several months have seen something that perhaps had never happened during the past decade at Golden Boy Promotions - Oscar De la Hoya dutifully coming to its offices in downtown L.A. and putting in an honest day’s work.
By Steve Kim: While the official results say that Miguel Cotto stopped Sergio Martinez in 10 rounds this past weekend at a packed Madison Square Garden, the middleweight championship really changed hands in the very first minutes of the bout.
By Bill Tibbs: With his big TKO win on May 31 against nemesis and fellow Briton, George Groves, Carl Froch proved once again who is truly Britain’s best super middleweight and biggest boxing star. And now, fans will start to ask the question, “Who is next?” for “The Cobra.”
The chances are if you’re under a certain age(30ish) and an avid young boxing fan you will not have been aware of the great all British middleweight rivalry between Michael Watson, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank in the late 1980’s and early 90’s.
By Gabriel Montoya: On Saturday in Macao, China, Nonito Donaire squares off with WBA featherweight champion Simpiwe Vetyeka. The fight is for more than a belt. Donaire’s career as an elite, TV fighter may be on the line. It wasn’t always like this.
By Matthew Hurley: “The wait in the dressing room before a professional boxing match – that last hour – could be enough to strip a man who never boxed before of whatever pride, desire and heart he THOUGHT he had.” So says Iceman John Scully.
By Bill Tibbs: The recent announcement that Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. had turned down what appears to be a very generous offer from his promoter, Top Rank Promotions, raised a few eyebrows and questions in the boxing community.
By Steve Kim: This weekend, the newly refurbished and renovated Fabulous Forum in Inglewood (once the home of the Lakers and Kings) re-opens its doors as a boxing venue, welcoming back its prodigal pugilist son, Juan Manuel Marquez, who faces Mike Alvarado in a crossroads welterweight battle.
By Bill Tibbs: After Floyd’s win over tough, aggressive Marcos Maidana last Saturday night from the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, the questions turned to who’s up next for the undefeated Grand Rapids-born champion.
By Mikko Salo: The heavyweight division is doing well. One of eight divisions in boxing with an Undisputed Champion holding both Transnational Boxing Rankings Board (TBRB) and The Ring Magazine Championships, the division boasts The Ring #3 and TBRB #8 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
By Bill Tibbs: The boxing world took one on the chin on Tuesday (May 6) when word spread of the passing of former heavyweight champion Jimmy Ellis at age 74 from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease.