British Boxing News Round – Khan, Haye, Chisora, Brook, Cleverly, Foster and more

What does the future hold for Amir Khan? pic Sean Keating

Amir Khan fighting Floyd Mayweather? Well why not? – stranger things have happened in boxing! But lets not hold our breath just yet!

If we are to believe the talk coming out of The Golden Boy offices this week, then a mega-money clash between Khan and Floyd Mayweather Jnr – is in-fact looming – that is if the boxing cards are dealt correctly.

Khan, the current WBA world light-welterweight champion, first has tricky business to take care of in the form of Marco Maidana. When he makes the third defence of his belt against the dangerous Argentinian on December 11th in Las Vegas.

Golden Boy are keen to capitalise on Khan’s recent popularity and also on the expected collapse of discussions between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Apparently negotiations are taking place for a meeting between the two best fighters in the world to meet in spring 2011.

Floyd Mayweather Jnr.

The idea would then be for Khan to have had two more victories, by which time Golden Boy predicts he will carry the necessary reputation to meet Mayweather.

“If we can’t make Mayweather-Pacquiao in the spring it may be too late,’ Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer said. “So this gives us time to build Amir into a pay-per-view super-star in the US.”

A potential Khan v Mayweather encounter is being pencilled in for September 2011, and the British Olympic silver medallist insists he can cause a huge upset.

“I would love to fight Mayweather and believe I can end his unbeaten record,” said Khan. “I have to focus on Maidana first, then the winner of Bradley and Alexander. There are risks there but I am fully confident of winning both those fights.”

A fight for Khan against Mayweather would be good – Box Office viewing and a treat for British boxing fan’s. But at the moment this is boxing fortune telling and there are many turns along the way for Khan before he dreams of the pinnacle fight.

Marcos Maidana will be a tough nut to crack for Khan and if he does then Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander, will be blocking his way to a shot at the big time and there equaled ambitions to be recognised has the unified light-welterweight champion of the world.

Mayweather vs Pacquiao? – The match-up that splits the boxing community and the question? just who is the best of our generation? This fight has to happen! If it doesn’t – then their careers, still prestige they will be! Will always have a big question mark? hanging over them – and our sport will have been dealt a massive blow.

Boxing has been very good to both men and they have thrilled and entertained us along the way, winning various titles in different weight divisions and taking on all comers. But they now have the opportunity to sign off their wonderful careers in grand fashion and give the fans who have supported them – the ultimate leaving present.

Stephen Foster Jnr.

Stephen Foster Jnr. will be hoping to lay his hands on the European super-featherweight title this Saturday, against the proven Russian Levan Kirakosyan at the Bolton Arena.

Foster, the former WBU featherweight champion is hoping a victory will see him get back on the world stage and end a barren spell that as seen him fight only four times since losing to Alex Arthur in 2007, for the WBO super featherweight title.

A win could see Foster in line for an all British world title fight with Scotland’s Ricky Burns who recently won the WBO super featherweight title. The British title might also be an option for Foster, having never fought for the Lonsdale belt a ‘War of the Roses’ battle with Yorkshire champion Gary Sykes would be an interesting proposal.

Foster who has frustratingly seen fights fall through with Nicky Cook Kevin Mitchell and Ricky Burns recently, will be in for a tough night against Kirakosyan, and his fans will be hoping the inactivity will not effect his performance on Saturday.

Kirakosyan has fought four times in the UK, in 2004 he lost against Manchester’s Michael Gomez for the WBU super featherweight title. Then in his next fight stopped Leed’s Carl Johanneson in the 1st round. A rematch with Johanneson seen him successful again claiming the European super featherweight title. Kirakosyan then lost the title in his first defence, but went onto regain the title stopping Stoke’s Scott Lawton inside 3 rounds in Febuary this year.

The champion hasn’t fought since July and the fight against Foster will be his second defence of the title. A tricky one for Foster but he can win this, Kirakosyan has been stopped twice, by Michael Gomez in the 6th and was Knocked-out in 2 rounds by Sergio Blanco early in his career. In a competitive fight though Foster wins on points?
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On the undercard Manchester’s Anthony Crolla and Andy Morris clash for the English Super Featherweight title, in a fights that should be a corker of a derby match and will be a good showcase for the English title.
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Champion Haye plans to Chop Harrison down

With the build up in full flow, WBA world heavyweight champion David Haye is so confident of beating Audley Harrison in his title defence in November he has invited his challenger to bring an axe with him.

Haye was responding to a YouTube video posted by Harrison ahead of the November 13 bout in Manchester in which the challenger was filmed wielding an axe at his training camp in California.

Harrison said in the clip: “This is the mountains. I’ve got an axe – it ain’t for David Haye, it’s for the bears. We’re in the wilderness and we ain’t playing. David Haye better be ready for a serious, serious fight. We are as serious as a heart attack.”

Haye responded by saying: “We’re going to contact the British Boxing Board of Control and request that Audley be allowed to use the axe in the ring on November 13.

And on his Twitter page Haye sarcastically claimed to be ‘really scared’ after watching the video.

Audley Harrison with his Axe – A a warning call to Haye

Liverpool’s Paul Smith will defend his British super-middleweight title against Northampton’s Paul David on October 23rd on home ground at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

Paul Smith

David 26, who last fought in the Prizefighter in June, losing in the final to winner Patrick Mendy, believes he can upset the pride of Liverpool like his football team did to the Mighty Reds.

Northampton Town FC, League Two minnows beat five-time European Cup winners Liverpool on penalties in the Carling Cup last week.

And David says the champion Paul ‘Smigga’ Smith is in for another rough ride like his team, after being inspired by his local side Northampton Town.

“It was an amazing result,” said David. “No-one gave Northampton much chance, just like they are writing me off.

“But they went into the lion’s den and came away with the win, and I’ll do the same.

“Smith might think he’s the Fernando Torres of boxing, but I’ll reduce him to tears.

“I can’t think of anything more dangerous in sport than a man with nothing to lose and everyone is in for a big shock next month.

“Liverpool and Everton have had a disastrous start to the football season, and by the time I’ve finished with Smith he’s going to look like relegation material as well.

“Just like Liverpool, he’s got a rubbish defence, not much firepower and his best days were definitely a few years ago.

The Boxing Smith Brothers – Meet one of country’s most remarkable sporting families. The Smiths, from Liverpool, boast not one, not two, not three, but four sporting brothers, all boxers. And one of them is on his way to Delhi going for gold at the Commonwealth Games. By: Andrew Lindsay. See Video here
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Kell Brook, the British welterweight champion, will not be fighting unbeaten prospect Mike Jones for the interim WBO welterweight title.

Frank Warren had offered Jones a deal to fight Brook on his December 11th boxing anniversary show in London. But Jones’s team turned down the offer, instead moving forward with a bout against Jesus Soto Karass on the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito November 13 undercard.

According to Jones’s team, the 13 November event, which will be live on HBO pay-per-view, was too attractive a prospect to turn down even if it meant sacrificing an interim title shot. Warren will look elsewhere for an opponent for the unbeaten Sheffield fighter.

Nathan Cleverly

Welsh star Nathan Cleverly has fired a warning to loud-mouth German Jurgen Braehmer.

The WBO World light-heavyweight champion slammed Cleverly (right) as “feather fisted” last week following his win over Karo Murat in Birmingham.

But unbeaten Clev has challenged Braehmer to taste his punches for real in December.

“It really made me laugh when I read Braehmer’s quotes,” said the Welshman.

“I’ve stopped my last seven opponents, and it will be eight if Braehmer plucks up the courage to get in the ring with me.

“My promoter Frank Warren will provide the perfect platform for him to back up his claims on December 11 in London.

“If Braehmer wants the fight then I will be there in the opposite corner, and I’ll do to him what I did to Murat.

“I changed my style to take on Murat when I could have made it a lot easier and boxed him from the outside all night, but I forced the fight all the way, forced the stoppage and broke his nose.

“Now I’m a man and I am punching harder with every fight and if Braehmer wants to back up his words then I’m here ready for him.

“I won the British title with a stoppage, I won the European title with a stoppage, and I will win a world title when I knock Braehmer out.

“I just hope he has the bottle to take me and then he’ll find I’ve got dynamite in my fists, not feathers.”

Frank Warren

Promoter Frank Warren has promised a huge card on December 11 in London.

And he insists that it will be bigger than the Magnificent Seven show in Birmingham in September.

There, nine title fights were on the card, but none were for world belts.

However Warren says his pre-Christmas show will be better.

“I’m planning a huge show on 11th December at the ExCel in London to celebrate the 30th anniversary of my first boxing promotion,” he wrote in his latest column.

“I can promise that it will be bigger and better than the Magnificent Seven, and involve multiple world title fights.

“Expect an announcement in the next week or so.

“It’s been a tough couple of years for boxing in Britain but I feel we’ve turned a corner. There are definitely some good times ahead.”

Brentford-based Pole, Albert Sosnowski, will get the chance to win back the European heavyweight title he vacated to unsuccessfully challenge WBC champion Vitali Klitschko, getting stopped in 10 rounds in May this year.

Sosnowski as been named as the mandatory challenger to new champion Alexander Dimitrenko and a date for the fight is to be announced Thursday 28 October.

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Rendall Munroe – Interview Video – Build up to the WBC World Title challenge
Munroe says he will beat Toshiaki Nishioka and win the world title on October 24th in Japan. And then its back to his day job on the bins!
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Jamie Arthur will challenges Kris Hughes for the vacant Commonwealth super-bantamweight title next month.

Arthur, who lost to British champion Martin Lindsay earlier this year, steps in following the retirement of Matthew Marsh.

Jamie Arthur

Marsh went 11 rounds with world title chasing Jason Booth in February but was due to be given a second shot at the title after Booth vacated to challenge IBF belt holder Steve Molitor.

Unfortunately though, Marsh suffered neck and back injuries in a car crash during the summer and has reportedly called time on his career.

It means Arthur gets another shot at the big time after losing in the semi-finals of Prizefighter just three months after his defeat to Lindsay.

The fight is the main support on the undercard of Frank Maloney’s October 16 attraction, which features Sam Webb making the first defence of his British light-middleweight title against Martin Concepcion at The Troxy in London.

Also on the undercard are promising heavyweights Larry Olubamiwo (9-1), Tom Dallas (11-0) and Olympic bronze medallist David Price, who is unbeaten in seven outings since turning pro.

Paul McCloskey

Former British light-welterweight champion, Barry Morrison challenges Paul McCloskey (left) for his European title on Saturday night, hoping to derail McCloskeys ambitions of a world title fight.

Morrison, a former British champion, is the latest obstacle for McCloskey who puts his European title on the line against the Scot at The Letterkenny Leisure Complex in Donegal, Ireland.

The 30-year-old challenger claimed the British light-welterweight title in 2007 from Lenny Daws before losing to Colin Lynes from whom McCloskey took the Lonsdale belt a year later before vacating the belt to pursue the European title.

Recent times have seen McCloskey’s career go from strength to strength, while Morrison has come up short in two subsequent British title shots, losing to David Barnes and previous victim Daws.

As reported earlier this week, British and Commonwealth champion Dereck Chisora is standing by for a dream shot at the heavyweight championship of the world.

Chisora is on the shortlist to fight IBF, WBO and IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko following his impressive stoppage win over Sam Sexton earlier this month.

The performance has apparently interested the promoters of the youngest Klitschko brother who is searching for an opponent for his next fight on December 11th.

Chisora has only had 14 fights as a professional but such is the lack of depth at world level ‘Del Boy’ is now a genuine option for the Ukranian champion.

With a lack of genuine heavyweight challengers around, Reports have suggested that former cruiserweight champ Jean-Marc Mormeck has priced himself out of a deal whilst Thomas Adamek and David Tua have both recorded lacklustre wins in recent outings, and Chisora has put himself in the shop window.

The GB Boxing squad Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010

We all would like to wish The GB Boxing squad the very best of luck in their quest to bring medals home from The Commonwealth Games, which take place in Delhi next week.

Making final preparations, the team is in Pattaya, Thailand, putting the final touches to training before they travel to Delhi on 2nd Ocober. Boxing is one of 17 sports taking part in the Games, which get underway on 3rd October and run until 14 October.

Nine of the squad will represent England and three will compete for Wales. The selection included all three of GB Boxing’s silver medallists from the recent European Amateur Boxing Championship in Moscow, Iain Weaver, Tom Stalker and Khalid Yafai, although Khalid as had to pull out through injury. see report below.

The full team is:

www.gbboxing.org.uk

Tommy Stubbs

England

49 Kg

Northside, Oldham

Khalid Yafai (Withdrawn through injury))

England

52 Kg

Birmingham City Police, Birmingham

Andrew Selby

Wales

52 Kg

Splott ABC, Barry

Iain Weaver

England

56Kg

Golden Ring, Ferndown

Sean McGoldrick

Wales

56kg

Wales

Tom Stalker

England

60Kg

Salisbury ABC, Liverpool

Bradley Saunders

England

64Kg

South Durham ABC, Stockton on-Tees

Fred Evans

Wales

69Kg

St Josephs, Cardiff

Callum Smith

England

69Kg

Rotunda, Liverpool

Antony Ogogo

England

75Kg

Triple A Boxing Club, Lowestoft

Obed Mbwakongo

England

81Kg

Lynn ABC, London

Simon Vallily

England

91Kg

South Bank ABC, Middlesbrough

Amin Isa

England

91+Kg

Miguels, London

GB Boxing’s Performance Director, Rob McCracken said: “This is an important part of our preparations for 2012 and I am looking for the team to build on the success we had at the recent European Championships and continue the tradition of British boxers doing well at the Commonwealth Games.”

England boxing gold medal hope Khalid Yafai has unfortunately had to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games in Delhi due to a long-standing elbow injury.

The European silver medallist would have started favourite in the 52kg flyweight division, but after trying to shake off the injury and even traveling with the squad to Thailand, was finally forced to admit defeat in his quest to be fit to fight, Announcing the news on Facebook, Yafai said he was ”gutted”.

It is believed Liverpool’s Tommy Stubbs could replace Yafai and move up from the 48kg division to box at the higher weight.

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By Chris Maylett
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