By Jeff Aranow: Former heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin has been cleared by the World Boxing council for a past failed drug tests, and he’ll soon by back in the WBC’s ratings by early 2018.
The WBC clearing the 38-year-old Povetkin (32-1, 23 KOs) was expected by many in the boxing world.
By Allan Fox: Former WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (32-1, 23 KOs) will be fighting on December 15 against an opponent still to be determined at the DIVS in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
#8 WBO Povetkin could be facing #2 WBO Christian Hammer (22-4, 12 KOs) in a World Boxing Organization heavyweight title eliminator match.
By Scott Gilfoid: Contrary to the opinions of boxing fans and the media that British heavyweight David Price (21-4, 18 KOs) was out of shape for his fight against #6 WBO contender Christian Hammer (21-4, 12 KOs) last Saturday night, his trainer David Coldwell says that he was in good condition.
Price came into the fight at 275 pounds, which was 30 pounds more than what he usually weighed during his best years of his career. Coldwell says that Price was in shape, but he tensed up during the fight as the rounds went by. Hammer ended up stopping a very tired looking Price in round 7.
By Gav Duthie: Boxing is undoubtedly a game of skill but to get to the top you need so much more, as saw in the David Price vs. Christian Hammer heavyweight fight last Saturday night. It’s very rare for any fighter to become great without relentless stamina and a great chin. I would take that over speed or power any day of the week. These attributes can take your far but a mental and physical toughness is what you need to get you through the hard moments.
Price has all the skills, he is big, strong, powerful, has a good jab and the technical qualities which were all on show against Christian Hammer but the German based Romanian had the will over the skill and the stamina to keep going. Many are calling for the big man to retire after his 4th defeat and there is a compelling argument to agree but if he does he can finish achieving more than most will dream of. If he continues he needs to get past a lot of obstacles that will be difficult to overcome.
By Scott Gilfoid: WBO European heavyweight champion Christian Hammer (21-4, 12 KOs) may have finished the career of former British/Commonwealth heavyweight champion David Price (21-4, 18 KOs) in stopping him in the 7th round on Friday night at the Olympian in London, England. Hammer teed off a badly out of shape 33-year-old Price until the referee Phil Edwards halted the fight with him still on his feet. The official time of the stoppage was at 1:22 of round 7.
By Scott Gilfoid: Chris Eubank Jr. (23-1, 18 KOs) is coming into tonight’s title challenge against IBO super middleweight champion Renold Quinlan (11-1, 7 KOs) with a nice little five-fight winning streak against weak opposition when the two of them face each other on ITV pay-per-view at the Olympian in London, England.
In the co-feature, former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion David Price (21-3, 18 KOs) will be taking a risky fight against fringe contender Christian Hammer (20-4, 11 KOs) in a 12 round fight. Hammer will be defending his WBO European heavyweight title. I guess that’s something that the 33-year-old Price was hoping would be on the line, as it might help push him up in the World Boxing Organization’s rankings if he can win the WBO European strap.
By Jeff Aranow: Heavyweight contender David Price (21-3, 18 KOs) will be hoping to improve his chances of getting a title shot when he faces #12 WBO Christian Hammer (20-4, 11 KOs) this Saturday night on the Renold Quinlan vs. Chris Eubank Jr. card on ITV at the Olympia in London, England.
Price, #6 WBO, #10 IBF, #13 WBA, #14 WBC, cannot afford to lose this fight if he wants to stay in the running for a world title shot against WBO champion Joseph Parker or against IBF champion Anthony Joshua. That’s the big money fight for Price, against Joshua. If Price, 33, can get a fight against Joshua, he’ll be doing really well.
By Scott Gilfoid: David Price (21-3, 18 KOs) believes he could be soon fighting for a world title in the near future if he can get past Christian Hammer (20-4, 11 KOs), and then win another fight. Price, 33, wants to become the mandatory challenger to WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker before fighting for a world title. However, Price might be lucky if he can even beat the 29-year-old Hammer next month, because he’s had problems with taking hard head shots.
Price has been knocked out three times since 2013, and he hasn’t even fought anyone particularly dangerous. Price’s knockouts have come against Tony Thompson [x 2] and Erkan Teper.
By Scott Gilfoid: #6 WBO heavyweight contender David Price (21-3, 18 KOs) will be fighting #12 WBO fringe contender Christian Hammer (20-4, 11 KOs) on February 4 on the undercard of the super middleweight fight between IBO champion Renold Quinlan and Chris Eubank Jr. at the Olympian in London, England.
This will be on ITV pay-per-view. I don’t know what Price vs. Hammer will do for the Eubank Jr-Quinlan PPV card in terms of bringing in buys from the British boxing fans. The addition of Price-Hammer fight is likely going to have little effect to the PPV sales.
By Jim Dower: In a huge upset, heavyweight Christian Hammer (20-4, 11 KOs) defeated previously unbeaten #14 WBO Erkan Teper (16-1, 10 KOs) by a 12 round split decision to capture the vacant World Boxing Organization European heavyweight title on Saturday night at the G 18-Halle in Hamburg, Germany.