By David Alexander: Errol Spence Jr. (22-0, 19 KOs) proved to be the real deal last Saturday night in Bramall Lane, UK by beating Kell Brook (36-2, 25 KOs) in 11 rounds by stoppage in front of 27,000 hostile fans. Spence became the IBF welterweight champion by beating ‘Special K’ in his hometown of Sheffield, England.
By David Alexander: In front of a passionate crowd at Bramall Lane in Brook’s hometown of Sheffield, England, Errol Spence Jr. (22-0, 19 KOs) made a strong case for pound-for-pound recognition by forcing Kell Brook (36-2, 25 KOs) to submit due to a badly swollen left eye. Special K was over matched in rounds 8,9,10 and eventually the 11th when he dropped to his knee and told the ref he couldn’t continue.
By David Alexander: Errol Spence Jr. (21-0, 18 KOs), a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic boxing team, will challenge Kell Brook (36-1, 25 KOS) on Saturday for the IBF welterweight title in Brook’s hometown of Sheffield, England, before about 30,000 fans. A boxer’s style can reflect his personality at large. Take, for example, the two greatest of their generation: Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather fights at a distance, not allowing anybody in, his guard almost always up. Pacquiao, conversely, often charges ahead, occasionally taking unnecessary risks, leaving himself exposed. Many would say the two men possess those traits outside the ring as well.
By David Alexander: Last night, IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (33-0, 30 KOs) defeated and scored a TKO victory against challenger Willie Monroe Jr. (19-2, 6 KOs) in Inglewood, California. A tune up fight for GGG, the match wasn’t a surprising outcome considering Golovkin was a heavy favorite coming in. Against a slick and southpaw fighter, Golovkin handled with ease a boxer that moves around a lot and uses his movement.
Considering that Monroe Jr. isn’t in the same class as GGG, yesterday’s fight magnifying that, Golovkin ahould consider a fight against Erislandy Lara in September or November.
By David Alexander: On Saturday night, Floyd Mayweather Jr. improved to 46-0 and kept his unbeaten streak alive. Yet this fight was one of his toughest fights in his 17 year boxing career, making him uncomfortable and at times, vulnerable. Personally I scored the bout 115-113 to Mayweather. Marcos Maidana came out swinging and for the first time in a while we saw a fighter against Floyd who commanded the ring early with his awkward style and putting Mayweather on the ropes.
Few fighters have ever come as close as Maidana did to handing Mayweather his first loss. The Argentine star went on the offensive right from the opening bell and didn’t let up over the next 11 rounds. While Maidana clearly got tired as the bout went on, he never gave the champion an easy time of it. Mayweather landed crisper shots and was winning rounds in the middle of the bout.
(Photo credit: Esther Lin/Showtime) By David Alexander: On May 3rd, Floyd Mayweather Jr. (45-0, 26 KO’s) will go against a strong willed, highly spirited and determined Marcos ‘El Chino’ Maidana (35-3, 31 KO’s). While most boxing fans and aficionados expect an easy win for the The Ring Magazine #1 Pound for Pound boxer in the world, Mayweather needs to make a statement of his own to the boxing world and fans alike.
With a 45-0 record heading into his upcoming fight in Las Vegas, Mayweather has little to prove to anyone at this point but for him proving he is the best boxer of this generation and owning up to the TBE label as he proclaims, Floyd needs to give a masterful performance at the MGM Grand Garden arena.
Marcos Maidana has made no mistake he will be aggressive and pressure Mayweather throughout the fight. Maidana is an ultra-aggressive fighter with a solid punch, which feeds into the hands of boxing’s premier defender.