After dealing with both injury and illness which has kept him out of the ring since winning the title in April, undefeated World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev (23-0-1, 17 KOs) will be defending his title on January 19th against 40 year-old British heavyweight Matt Skelton (21-1, 18 KOs) at the Burg-Waechter Castello in Dusseldorf, Switzerland. For most people, this is a disappointing opponent for Chagaev, as many were hoping that Chagaev would either fight a rematch with Nicolay Valuev, whom Chagaev, 29, defeated by a majority decision in April.
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Kirkland Destroys Conyers
Perhaps one of the best prospects in the junior middleweight division, undefeated James Kirkland (21-0, 18 KOs) survived a first round knockdown to comeback and obliterate Allen Conyers (11-3, 9 KOs) at 2:56 of the 1st round on Friday night at the the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California. Kirkland, 23, immediately opened up on Conyers in the 1st round, driving him to the ropes with left hooks and straight right hands.
Chavez Jr. Defeats Sanchez, Fails To Impress
Let me be the first to say this: light middleweight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (34-0-1, 27 KOs) will never win a major belt for as long as he boxes. On Saturday night, Chavez Jr. went up against handpicked opponent Ray Sanchez (20-2), whom Chavez’s people tried to pump up as a dangerous power puncher. I actually bought into what they were saying until seconds into the bout when I saw that Sanchez has next to no power, at least in terms of major fighters go in the light middleweight division.
Mosley Looking For a “Big, Mega-Fight” Against Cotto, Hatton Or Mayweather
Former three-division champion Shane Mosley (44-5, 37 KOs) is reportedly looking for another mega-fight, against either Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton or Floyd Mayweather Jr., according to the latest boxing news. Apparently, Mosley has discussed retirement with his wife, Jin, after his close unanimous decision loss to Miguel Cotto on November 10th at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Calzaghe vs. Woods?
According to International Boxing Federation light heavyweight champion Clintron Woods, He has begun talks with super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe, perhaps for a bout in March, if everything goes as planned. In an interview with the BBC, Woods said “There’s been talks and money’s been offered. I could be ready in March or April. I’d be a massive underdog, but I’d fancy my chances against him. And for the British public, it’s far bigger than Calzaghe against Bernard Hopkins.” However, nothing has been confirmed by Calzaghe’s promoter Frank Warren, who feels that it’s too early after Calzaghe’s bout with Mikkel Kessler to make a decision as to future opponents.
Golota vs. Mollo on January 19th
Responding to a challenge from once-beaten heavyweight prospect Mike Mollo (19-1, 12 KOs), the often-troubled Andrew Golota (40-6-1, 33 KOs) has agreed to face him on January 19ths, at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Their fight will take place on the undercard of Roy Jones Jr. vs. Felix Trinidad, and perhaps may eclipse that bout in excitement. Mollo, 27, a fighter often compared to Mike Tyson, recently steopped Art Binkowski in the 2nd round on October 13th. Mollo hits very hard, and tends to overwhelm his opponents in the first couple of rounds, bombing them out with hooks and uppercuts. His one lone blemish is a 4th round TKO to the heard-punching DaVarryl Williamson, in May 2006.
Mayweather Hatton: Is Floyd A Troubled Person?
As the days draw nearer to the fight, both Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather Jr. seem to have accelerated the insults that they’ve been throwing at each other, almost as if that’s a contest all in itself. Each time I think that Mayweather has it won, Hatton throws a perfect insult which seems to get under Mayweather’s skin far more than the comments he’s making daily about Hatton.
Mayweather: “The only reason Hatton is 43 and zero is because he hasn’t fought anyone”
After a day in which Floyd Mayweather complained bitterly about being a nice guy, he fell back into his old way of acting today when he blasted Hatton, saying “The only reason Hatton is 43 and zero is because he hasn’t fought anyone”. He hasn’t fought 43 Floyd Mayweathers because if he had, he’d be zero and 43.” Mayweather, of course, was referring to Hatton’s 43-0 record, which Mayweather feels are meaningless because they were against less than talented fighters. Perhaps a mutual opponent that most of all sticks in his craw, however, is Jose Luis Castillo, who Mayweather struggled to beat on two occasions.
Tarver Santiago: Antonio Defends His IBO Title On Saturday
Light heavyweight International Boxing Organization champion Antonio Tarver (25-4, 18 KOs) defends his little known title against Danny Santiago (29-3-1, 19 KOs) on Saturday night at the Foxwoods Casino, in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Tarver, 39, is still trying to rebuild his career after suffering a one-sided 12-round unanimous decision loss to Bernard Hopkins in June 2006. Though Tarver only lost his IBO light heavyweight title at the time, the damage to his career was much worse because Hopkins was moving up in weight to challenge Tarver.
Chavez Jr. vs. Sanchez: Julio Takes a Step Up In Competition
Light middleweight prospect Julio Cesar Chavez (33-0-1, 26 KOs) returns to the ring on Saturday night against perhaps his best opponent of his young career when he takes on Ray Sanchez (20-1, 15 KOs) at the Tingley Coliseum, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Chavez Jr., 21, is trying to follow in his famous father’s footsteps, Julio Cesar Chavez. However, Chavez Jr. still has a long ways to go if he wants to match even a portion of what his famous father accomplished, and there are many out there who feel that Chavez Jr. never will be close to being as good.