Khan trumps Quaye

James Oddy
08/02/2016 3:02pm

Saturday night saw boxing return to the city of Bradford at Cedar Court Hotel in an, at times, uneven yet always entertaining card. The great and the good of Bradford political and business life were in attendance, alongside ex-WBC 140lbs champion Junior Witter and imminent WBO title challenger Derry Mathews. The Vaughan Boxing Promotions show featured five fights of varying quality, with the main event being local man Tasif Khan (11-1-2) taking on solid Ghanaian Issac Quaye (27-12-1). On the line was the ‘Global Boxing Union super-flyweight title’, a belt that, being perfectly honest, was obscure even for many people in the boxing world.

Old school Woodgate primed for Camacho

Paul Zanon
05/02/2016 9:08am

Whilst publicity for Carl Frampton vs Scott Quigg reaches fever pitch for their world title encounter on 27th February, down south, Dan Woodgate and Wadi Camacho will prepare to square off for the Southern Area cruiserweight title, headlining a massive 21 fight spectacle at the UK’s Mecca of small hall boxing, the York Hall. Boxing Monthly (BM) caught up with Dan Woodgate, several weeks ahead of the showdown. Having entered the boxing game at the ripe age of 22, Dan boxed 21 times as an amateur before making his debut as a professional at the age of 26 on 27 February 2010 – the very same day and month he fights Camacho. BM was interested to establish the reasons as to why Woodgate entered the prize ring so late in life. “I was overweight! I used to weigh 18 stone and wanted to lose weight,” said Woodgate. “Despite having one of my great grandparents and my granddad who were decent fighters, I don’t come from a long lineage of boxing blood.”

Young out, Cronin vs Campos headlines

Shawn Smith
03/02/2016 9:16pm

It’s been a frustrating few months for United Promotions, who finally look to have their 27 February main event finalised. WBA ranked super-welterweight Brandon Cook was originally expected to headline the card before a broken hand forced him out. Highly touted Ontario prospect Ryan Young was then tapped to headline the card, but it was announced that he, too, had suffered an injury in training camp and would be unable to perform.

Butler receives junior title tilt on 12 March

Shawn Smith
03/02/2016 8:57pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veLf6W8HJnI

Just days after a fight on the Sergey Kovalev-Jean Pascal undercard, Steven Butler’s return to the ring has already been scheduled. Eye of the Tiger Management announced that Butler (14-0-1, 11 KOs) will return on the undercard of David Lemieux vs Jacob De La Rosa on 12 March in the co-main event. The fight takes place at the Olympia Theatre in Montreal. Butler will fight for the IBF youth title at 154lbs against Sladjan Janjanin (13-0, 11 KOs).

Reflections on Kovalev-Pascal 2

Shawn Smith
01/02/2016 7:50am

While the beautiful people of Montreal were out in full force on Saturday night, there was little beautiful about the ugly, violent beating that 'Krusher' Sergey Kovalev put on old foe Jean Pascal at the Bell Centre. The crowd roared as Pascal was introduced, the kind of roar that only boxing fans know. The kind that drowns out a live band, a DJ, and anything else you might have been thinking about. The kind that shakes the ground and gives you goosebumps. But those roars were subsided rather quickly on what ultimately turned out to be a disappointing performance from Montreal’s Pascal, who offered little resistance to the constant onslaught of Kovalev.

Zou rips Coutinho, eyes Ioka

Mathew Scott
31/01/2016 10:07am

Zou Shiming, the poster boy for pro boxing’s foray into mainland China, lived up to his billing, outclassing Brazilian Natan Santana Coutinho on his way to a TKO with 2.17 gone in the eighth round that saw the Chinese star pick up the vacant WBO International flyweight crown. The 34-year-old Zou has been in the game for almost as long as his 21-year-old opponent has been on Earth and he drew on all that experience after an even first round at Shanghai’s Oriental Sports Centre on Saturday night. Zou had begun to pick his opponent apart at will before referee Sawaeng Thaweekoon waved the fight off, landing flashy combinations and showing far more power than previously on display during a fledgling pro career that now stands at 7-1 (2 KOs).

McCullough aiming high

Jamie Roberts
30/01/2016 7:31am

Marco McCullough has set his sights on emulating his uncle and lifting the Commonwealth title the next time he steps into the ring. The Belfast boxer goes up against unbeaten Lancashire fighter Isaac Lowe for the featherweight version of the belt on the undercard to Carl Frampton vs Scott Quigg on 27 February and he is determined to follow in the footsteps of his uncle Tommy Waite, who lifted the title at bantamweight level in 2000. McCullough said: "It would be a dream come true to do the same as my uncle and lift a Commonwealth title. It is giving me extra motivation in this camp and I know this is the fight that could open a lot of doors in my career."

Four point preview: Sergey Kovalev vs Jean Pascal 2

Shawn Smith
29/01/2016 7:01am

No, you’re not seeing double. Last year’s blistering light-heavyweight showdown between 175lbs champion Sergey Kovalev and challenger Jean Pascal is happening again. In their first meeting, an intense effort from Pascal was thwarted by the heavy-handed Russian, who gave Pascal the first TKO loss of his career. This time, with new trainer Freddie Roach in tow, Pascal has promised an even stronger effort. There are many factors to consider heading into what will likely be Montreal’s biggest fight night of 2016.

Wilder trainer on Fury furore

Luke G. Williams
26/01/2016 7:14am

Alabama-born Jay Deas has trained and managed WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder since the then raw 20-year-old walked into the Skyy Gym in Tuscaloosa in 2005. Deas, a boxing fanatic and former crime reporter, started the gym in 1997 with his brother Tommy. Under Deas’ stewardship, Wilder has progressed from a raw novice to an Olympic bronze medallist and now a world champion. Boxing Monthly caught up with the affable Deas to get his take on Wilder’s recent ninth-round stoppage victory against Artur Szpilka, Tyson Fury’s ‘ring invasion’ and other happenings in the heavyweight division.

Josh Pritchard: Licensed to punish

Jamie Roberts
25/01/2016 7:07am

The youngest of the Cyclone Promotions stable is ready to punish anyone who stands in his way of glory. Twenty one-year-old Josh 'The Punisher' Pritchard aims to extend his perfect record when he steps into the ring on 6 February at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel and the featherweight knows just how important the McGuigan set-up is to his progression. Pritchard said: "In my opinion, I'm with the best team in the country. Success breeds success and the McGuigans' experience will help me out massively on my journey to the top.

Rocky retrospective Part 3: ROCKY III (1982)

Luke G. Williams
24/01/2016 4:37am

With CREED now playing across the UK, Luke G. Williams re-examines cinema’s greatest boxing hero - the one and only Rocky Balboa - for Boxing Monthly Online. Today, he assesses the third entry in the series …