Amir Khan and his quest for professionalism

khan53By Ivan Ivanov: I am not looking to get into arguments and I am not a fan of Amir Khan. When a boxer is disparaged and disrespected at a time he needs support, I think there should be a different view as well or at least a word of advice and encouragement. Here is what Khan needs to do in my humble opinion:

1. Change the footwork to a more economical glide and plant your feet for at least one punch in a combo.

2. Use no more than three punches in a combo and use one big shot (hook, cross, uppercut, swing, Nelson, straight right) in each combo. Four shots and more at a time waste energy without doing a lot of damage, the power (if any) dissipates.

read more

The Heavyweight State of Affairs II

By Ivan Ivanov: All weight classes are equal in their importance for boxing and the heavyweight division is the most equal of all. Right now the hierarchy is clear and the Klitshkos are cemented at the top, but Vitali is semi-retired and Wlad is 37, so we are looking for the next big thing. The harder we look, the less optimistic we get.

read more

Azumah Nelson: One of boxing’s best all-time super featherweights

By Gerardo Granados: When talking to my friend, we discussed about fights that never got signed, the Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. was mentioned among others, as the Meldrick Taylor vs. Pernell Whitaker at light welterweight, the Erik Morales vs. Juan Manuel Marquez at super feather, the Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Virgil Hill at light heavyweight and the Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. vs. Azumah Nelson at super featherweight.

read more

Hughie Fury vs. Shane McPhilbin on September 14th

fury433By Scott Gilfoid: Unbeaten heavyweight prospect Hughie Fury (8-0, 5 KO’s) will be facing former British cruiserweight champion Shane McPhilbin (8-7, 5 KO’s) on September 14th at the Magna Centre, Rotherham, Yorkshire, UK.

As bad as McPhilbin’s record is in his six fights, if he lands one of his big right hands on Hughie’s chin, I can see the fight being over straightaway. Hughie would be out cold if he gets nailed flush by one of McPhilbin’s big right hand shots.

That’s why I expect Hughie to be taking no chances whatsoever in this fight by throwing mostly jabs and scurrying away each time McPhilbin even shows a hint that he might throw a punch.

read more

Let’s Stop Overrating the Greats

By Eric Johnson: Every so often fighters from different generations are matched up against each other, fueling massive debates on how the fighters would have fared against their younger or older counterparts. More often than not, the older generations get the nod. Pundits insist that more recent fighters would stand little to no chance.

read more

Shane McPhilbin vs. Hughie Fury a possibility

fury5656By Scott Gilfoid: Heavyweight prospect Hughie Fury (8-0, 5 KO’s) could be facing former British cruiserweight champion Shane McPhilbin (8-7-1, 5 KO’s) next, according to Boxing roundup. McPhilbin, 27, has lost five out of his last six fights in the past year and his career seems to be stuck in quicksand ever since he missed out on a 1st round knockout of Enzo Maccarinelli in the infamous fight where the 1st round ended 47 seconds early with Maccarinelli badly hurt.

I don’t believe for a second that Hughie would be fighting a dangerous puncher like McPhilbin at this point in his career. It’s a fight that I could see someone like Deontay Wilder taking when he was 8-0, but I don’t see Hughie taking this fight because Hughie doesn’t have the kind of power that Deontay has going for him.

read more

Which is the greatest weight division of all times?

By Gerardo Granados: Yesterday I was trying to explain to my friend why it won’t be possible to see Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao engage Gennady Golovkin. He had a hard time trying to understand why a lightweight can move up to engage a welter but a small welter can’t engage a middleweight, but he simply couldn’t understand how it is possible for a fighter to rehydrate up to 20 pounds.

read more

Who should Sergio Martinez fight in 2014?

martinez2By Thomas Cowan: Sergio Martinez is the current WBC middleweight champion and has been recognized as the best middleweight in the world for the last four years, a claim that is now being strongly challenged by the performances of WBA champion Gennady Golovkin. Since he was stopped by Antonio Margarito in 2000, only Paul Williams has defeated “Maravilla”, and that was a controversial majority decision, which Martinez avenged with an explosive 2nd round knockout.

However, the Argentinian legend has shown signs of fading in his last three fights. In 2011, he was losing to British challenger Matthew Macklin after ten rounds before a combination of Martinez turning up the gas, as well as Macklin running out of it, saw Sergio forced an 11th round stoppage. Then in 2012, Martinez faced highly hyped Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Martinez out-boxed Chavez with ease for 11 rounds before the Mexican rallied in the 12th, cutting Martinez badly and knocking him down. To Maravilla’s credit, he fought his way out of trouble instead of running and holding and managed to survive the late onslaught.

read more