By Allan Fox: Undefeated Joseph Parker (18-0, 16 KOs) will be facing #5 IBF Carlos Takam (33-2-1, 25 KOs) on May 21 in an IBF heavyweight eliminator at the Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau City in Auckland, New Zealand.
This fight will be taking place in the 24-year-old Parker’s hometown, which could help him get past the more experienced and more polished 35-year-old Takam.
By Scott Gilfoid: 24-year-old Joseph Parker (18-0, 16 KOs) isn’t going to be turned away in his goal of becoming the IBF mandatory challenger to IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. This is #4 IBF Parker’s chance to make some life changing money by earning the title shot against the 6’6” Joshua this year.
Parker is facing the hard hitting #3 IBF Carlos Takam (33-2-1, 25 KOs) this Saturday night on May 21 in an IBF title eliminator at the Vodafone Events Centre, in Manukau City, New Zealand.
Parker wants to turn back the 35-year-old Takam, but it’s a lot easier said than done because he’s such a big step up from the guys that he’s been facing during his career. I don’t think Parker has been brought along too slowly because he’s still a young guy.
By Patrick McHugh: #3 IBF Carlos Takam (33-2-1, 25 KOs) intends on turning his fight against #4 IBF Joseph Parker (18-0, 16 KOs) into a war this Saturday night in their IBF heavyweight eliminator bout at the Vodafone Events Centre, in Manukau City, New Zealand.
Takam and Parker have a lot to lose in this fight and a lot to gain. The winner of the bout will be the IBF mandatory challenger to champion Anthony Joshua. That means they’ll get a life changing payday depending on how well the fight does on Sky Box Office.
Former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin just got a big payday against Joshua, and now it’s fringe contender Dominic Breazeale’s turn. The winner of the Takam-Parker could be next in line later this year if Joshua defeats Breazeale.
By Allan Fox: The IBF heavyweight eliminator bout between undefeated #4 IBF Joseph Parker (18-0, 16 KOs) and ##3 IBF Carlos Takam (33-2-1, 25 KOs) is now less than two weeks away for their May 21 eliminator bout at the Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau City, New Zealand.
The winner of the Takam vs. Parker fight will be the new mandatory challenger to IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (16-0, 16 KOs), and that fight will guarantee the Takam-Parker winner a tremendous payday.
Even if they lose that match-up, which will likely take place in London, England, they’ll still get very well paid for their efforts.
By Jeff Aranow:
The International Boxing Federation order a heavyweight eliminator bout on Wednesday between #5 IBF Carlos Takam (33-2-1, 25 KOs) and #6 IBF Joseph Parker (18-0, 16 KOs). The winner of the Parker-Takam fight will be the new IBF mandatory challenger and will be facing the winner of the April 9 fight between IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin (23-0-1, 21 KOs) and #4 IBF Anthony Joshua (15-0, 15 KOs) at the O2 Arena in London, UK.
The #1 and #2 spots are currently unrated by the IBF, and No.3 contender is Erkan Teper, who is currently suspended.
Parker and Takam won’t avoid the IBF eliminator. Both are reportedly interested in taking that fight, according to ESPN. They’ll need to work quickly to negotiate the fight because they’ve got slightly less than a month to get the fight agreed and signed.
By Scott Gilfoid: David Haye sees trouble ahead for unbeaten heavyweight contender #5 IBF Anthony Joshua (15-0, 15 KOs) if he elects to face #6 IBF Carlos Takam (33-2-1, 25 KOs) in an IBF eliminator bout. Haye heard that the IBF has mandated that Joshua, 26, face Takam in an IBF eliminator.
Haye sees that fight a potentially dangerous one for Joshua due to Takam’s punching power, chin and overall toughness. Haye sees Takam as a better version of Dereck Chisora. In fact, Haye sees Takam as being three-times better than Chisora.
In Haye’s mind, Joshua should take on some popular if he’s going to start taking risky fighters like Takam. Haye isn’t keeping any secrets about the fact that he would like to face Joshua himself. He figures that even if Joshua loses the fight, at least he would get a good payday and he could learn from the defeat and then rebuild his career.
By Jim Dower: In a surprise stoppage, former WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povektin (28-1, 20 KOs) defeated the much heavier #5 WBC Carlos Takam (30-2-1, 23 KOs) by a 10th round stoppage on Friday night to capture the World Boxing Council Silver heavyweight title at the Luzhniki Concert Hall in Moscow, Russia.
Povetkin struggled through much of the fight with the high work rate by the 33-year-old Takam. However, Povetkin hurt Takam in the 9th and put him down on the canvas.
In the 10th, Povetkin knocked Takam down for the second time in the fight in connecting with a hard left hook to the head. Takam was too hurt for the fight to go on. Referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight.
By Allan Fox: Former WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (27-1, 19 KOs) will be taking a dangerous fight against #5 WBC, #9 IBF Carlos Takam (30-1-1, 23 KOs) on October 25th in Moscow, Russia.
Povetkin, #3 WBA, is trying to work his way back into a quick title shot after losing his title last October to IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko by a 12 round unanimous decision. Povetkin bounced back from the loss to defeat WBC contender Manuel Charr by a 7th round TKO last May.
By Allan Fox: Former two time world title challenger Tony Thompson (39-5, 26 KO’s) took a beating in getting badly outworked by #11 WBC Carlos Takam (30-1-1, 23 KO’s) in losing by a 12 round unanimous decision on Friday night at the Palais des Sport Marcel Cerdan, Levallois-Perret, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
The judges scored it 117-111, 119-109, and 117-111, all in favor of the 33-year-old Takam. The win gives Takam the vacant WBC Silver heavyweight title, and it’ll no doubt help push him up the rankings.
The 6’5” Thompson had problems keeping the shorter 6’2 ½” Takam off of him in every round, as Takam did an excellent job of staying close to Thompson each time he would attempt to get punching room to let his shots go.
By Allan Fox: #6 IBF, #6 WBA heavyweight contender Tony Thompson (39-4, 26 KO’s) will be taking a tough fight against #13 WBC Carlos Takam (29-1-1, 23 KO’s) on June 6th in a scheduled 12 bound bout at the Palais des Sport Marcel Cerdan, Levallois-Perret, Hauts-de-Seine, France. The 42-year-old Thompson will be fighting in front of the France-based Takam’s home fans in this fight, and Thompson’s going to need to put in the kind of performance that we saw from him in his last performance against Odlanier Solis last month for Thompson to ensure he gets the win.
Thompson needs a win in this fight to keep alive his hopes of getting a world title shot in 2015. He’s twice fought heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko for world titles, but both efforts led to knockout losses for Thompson in 2008 and 2012. Thompson would love to get one more shot at Wladimir for his IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight titles.