Montero Rants: Rigondeaux & Lomachenko

Michael Montero & Tiffany Lam
13/11/2015 1:36am

Michael Montero discusses the career trajectories of boxing prodigies Vasyl Lomachenko and Guillermo Rigondeaux and supposed different treatment from the media, fans, promoters and networks. There has been chatter in boxing social media circles about unfair double standards - and perhaps racism - behind the different ways both fighters have been received by the public and handled by the networks.

Risk but possible reward for Kelly

Danny Winterbottom
12/11/2015 9:19am

There comes a time in everyone's life when you're faced with a choice that involves risk. For Manchester’s Jimmy 'Kilrain' Kelly that choice was to accept an opportunity to challenge for a WBO world title yet risk facing a heavy favourite in 154lb champion Liam Smith on 19 December.

Fury means business

Terry Dooley
10/11/2015 3:56am

Morecambe-based heavyweight contender Tyson Fury fights for the heavyweight world title in less than three weeks and the 27-year-old believes that his keen grasp of boxing history coupled with his versatility will ensure that he upsets the odds and end Wladimir Klitschko’s reign. Fury (24-0, 18 KOs) is a keen student of the game, he told Boxing Monthly that knowledge of your sport and division is essential if you are to succeed. “When it comes to my job, I have to know my business - you couldn’t have a bricklayer who doesn’t know how to lay bricks,” Fury told BM. “I’m a heavyweight boxer so have to know the heavyweights. I know about every heavyweight in the world, his record, his stance and whether he’s any good. I have to.”

Bradley-Ríos ringside recap

Michael Montero & Tiffany Lam
09/11/2015 10:45am

Fight night recap of Timothy Bradley's ninth round knockout over Brandon Rios, under the guidance of new trainer Teddy Atlas, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. In the co-feature, Vasyl Lomachenko defended his WBO featherweight title with a 10th round stoppage over Mexican Romulo Koasicha and 2012 Olympic middleweight gold medalist Ryota Murata of Japan made his American debut.

Seven Samurai

Mark Butcher
08/11/2015 12:45pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gWPSjjiZWw

It’s not just in the UK where boxing is booming. The vibrant Japanese fight scene is positively bristling with talent including nine reigning world champions and a number of phenomenal prospects bursting onto the world scene. Record padding may as well be outlawed Japan; if you’re good enough you have to prove it and fast - with prodigious talents like Naoya Inoue and Kosei Tanaka each lifting world titles after a mere handful of contests while Takashi Uchiyama, Shinsuke Yamanaka and Inoue are widely regarded as the premier fighters in their divisions. So, with a nod to the seminal Akira Kurosawa movie, Boxing Monthly has selected its ‘Seven Samurai’ causing a stir in Japan as well as the red-hot prospects following in their wake. 

Forgotten TV stars of British boxing

John Evans
07/11/2015 11:25am

In the early years of this century, the offerings British fight fans had from Sky Sports were very different from what we are used to today. A talented group of under-rated fighters provided our entertainment from boxing's backwaters. Ever wondered where they are now? John Evans tracks down James Hare, Jawaid Khaliq, Adrian Stone and Tony Oakey.

Canadian Corner: Rigondeaux hits Ottawa

Shawn Smith
05/11/2015 11:33am

If you had asked me to name the most unlikely boxer to fight in Canada, I might have said Guillermo Rigondeaux. New Canadian promoter Gilles Morissette has signed Guillermo Rigondeaux to headline his inaugural show in Ottawa on 4 December. Mexican Mario Briones  26-4-2 (19 KOs) has emerged as the likely opponent. James Toney will co-headline the card. Other fighters expected to appear are former IBF 122lbs champion Steve Molitor and lightweight contender Tony Luis.

Latest World and British Ratings (November 2015)

Colin Harris
04/11/2015 11:20am

Boxing Monthly’s World and British rankings for November 2015 are explained by Colin Harris, our in-house ratings statistician. Trainer, fighter, manager and promoter queries are welcome.

Bradley vs Rios: Breakdown and prediction

Michael Montero & Tiffany Lam
03/11/2015 1:59am

Michael Montero analyses the upcoming welterweight title fight between Timothy 'Desert Storm' Bradley and Brandon 'Bam Bam' Rios. The fight headlines an HBO Championship Boxing broadcast live from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 7 November. Can Bam Bam break down Bradley?

Fresh start for Provodnikov

James Oddy
02/11/2015 11:07am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT2hbVPF_mU

Ruslan Provodnikov knows all about struggle. He hails from the geographically isolated town of Beryozovo in Siberia, a place he describes simply as, “Very small, very far, very cold.” Provodnikov is one of the most visible of the Mansi peoples indigenous to Western Siberia, a group he describes as a “minority…only 7,000 of us are left.” His reasons for taking up the sport were similar to many others. “I used to like to fight as a kid so my father took me to a boxing gym, because I could do what I loved and not get in trouble for it,” Provodnikov told Boxing Monthly.

Rees rocks on

Danny Winterbottom
01/11/2015 7:57am

When Gavin Rees called time on his 16-year professional career in May 2014 he did so having won British, European and world honours. He also garnered the respect of both his peers and fans during a thoroughly enjoyable 43-fight ride. Following the blueprint set out by his long-time stablemate Joe Calzaghe, Rees left the sport on his own terms when his body would no longer respond to the rigours of eight-week long training camps. And now 18 months into his retirement, Rees is enjoying life after boxing running his amateur gym, Pantside ABC, and a pub he owns, aptly named ‘The Rock’s Bar’ in the Gwent village of Pant. “I train in the gym five days a week and work in the bar at night,” explained Rees when speaking to Boxing Monthly from his home in the Welsh Valleys. “The pub is on a little estate in Pantside and it’s doing okay. I loved boxing but now I love to train the kids."