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No matter how many times Floyd Mayweather says his career ended with his record-equalling 49th fight, most of the boxing world expects to see him back in the ring next year.

No matter how many times Floyd Mayweather says his career ended with his record-equalling 49th fight, most of the boxing world expects to see him back in the ring next year.


I don't think he will make a come back.

Berto may have been born in the United States but he identifies heavily with Haiti, where his family are from.


it doesn't matter where you are coming from.

It is 35 years ago today that Johnny Owen had his fateful last fight - a 12th round knockout defeat to Lupe Pintor on September 19, 1980.

The Welshman was stopped after bravely resisting Pintor's punches until the 12th of 15 rounds of the WBC world bantamweight title fight at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Owen paid the ultimate price for his courage - he died from the brain injury he suffered in the ring just two months later.

European and British champion Owen was too brave for his own good and refused to succumb until he was sickeningly separated from his senses in the 12th round.

Owen bored in during the early rounds but by the fifth round the heavier hitting Mexican - roared on by a partisan crowd in LA - had taken control.

Owen was floored in the ninth and 12th rounds before being finally flattened by a ferocious right that left him unconscious before he hit the floor. After brain surgery to remove a blood clot, Owen could not be saved and died on November 4. He was 24.

At the post-mortem, it was revealed that Owen had been born with an abnormally thin skull and thick jaw.

Journalist Hugh McIlvanney wrote about the shy Owen, who was known as the 'Merthyr Matchstick' due to his lanky frame: "It is his tragedy that he found himself articulate in such a dangerous language".

It was Pintor's third defence after winning the belt from fellow Mexican Carlos Zarate in a disputed decision and he made five further defences. He later won the world title at super-bantamweight and was never blamed for Owen's death by the Welsh boxer's family.

At the request of the Owen's family, Pintor unveiled a bronze statue of Owen in Merthyr Tydfil in 2002.

Owen won 25, drew one and lost two in his professional career and the fight with Pintor was the first time he had been acquainted with the canvas.

Following the deaths of Owen, South Korean Deuk-Koo Kim and Mexico's Kiko Bejines in world title fights in the early eighties, bouts were reduced from 15 to 12 rounds and eventually compulsory brain scans were introduced.



Nick Parkinson is a boxing writer for, among others, ESPN and the author of 'Boxing On This Day'. Rewind: The death of Johnny Owen that helped change boxing forever

The heavyweight champion of the world was stepping into his bronze Rolls Royce Phantom one afternoon this August when a man walked up and asked for a picture.

“What position does he play?” the selfie-seeker asked a nearby photographer after Deontay Wilder drove away.

It wasn't the first time someone had mistaken Wilder, the 6-foot-7, 220-pound holder of the World Boxing Council's heavyweight championship belt, for a ballplayer. Wilder -- the first American heavyweight champ in nearly a decade -- hails from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, home of the Crimson Tide. Most people don't know about his 34-0 record or his 33 knockouts. They don't know his nickname, "The Bronze Bomber," a tribute to fellow Alabaman Joe Louis. They don't know about his title, and they don't know he'll be defending it on national television on Saturday.

When they're not mistaking Wilder for one of Nick Saban's players, people sometimes mistake him for LeBron James. That started at the Olympics in 2008, when James led Team USA to a gold medal in basketball and Wilder won a bronze medal in boxing. “People would be like, ‘James! James! We love you!’” Wilder remembered.

It’s been a long time since boxing seized Americans' attention -- in Tuscaloosa or anywhere. Just 14 percent of respondents in a recent Huffington Post/YouGov poll said they were boxing fans -- and 58 percent of those people said the sport's best days are "already behind it." Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano and Joe Frazier are dead. Muhammad Ali uses a wheelchair. George Foreman sells grills. More young people know Mike Tyson as a character from the "The Hangover" -- or as a convicted rapist -- than have seen him box.

Floyd Mayweather, the country's most famous boxer, is a misogynist and batterer.



Read more: Can Deontay Wilder Save Boxing From Floyd Mayweather?

Kell Brook was crowned as IBF champion last August


The Sheffield fighter received the honour after a memorable 12 months, dating back to last August, which saw him claim the IBF welterweight title with a points win over Shawn Porter and then battle back from a serious leg injury after being stabbed while on holiday.

Brook, who made two successful defences of the title against Jo Jo Dan and Frankie Gavin, was unable to collect the award as he is training in Spain for his upcoming clash with Diego Chaves in Sheffield on October 24.



Read more: Kell Brook named Boxer of the Year at British Boxing Board of Control awards | Boxing News | Sky Sports

Family and friends have been at the bedside of 79-year-old Freddie Gilroy in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital following his admission on Friday.

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His wife Bernadette said yesterday that his speech was "muffled" but he was able to walk with assistance.

Gilroy won bantamweight bronze for Ireland in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics before turning professional, winning British, Commonwealth and European titles during his career. In 1960 he fought Alphonse Halimi for the World Bantamweight title in London, but lost on points. In 1963 Gilroy fought fellow Belfast man John Caldwell. He won and then announced his retirement.

Mrs Gilroy (70), speaking from her home at Mountainview in Ardoyne, said Freddie had been taken to hospital from Bruce House residential home on the city's Antrim Road, where he had been living in recent months.

Hollywood movie star Liam Neeson, a former amateur boxer in his native Ballymena, previously described Gilroy as his childhood hero.

David Lemieux is confident he can stun boxing by taking out Gennady Golovkin when the pair meet this weekend.

The knockout specialists each go into their New York fight with a version of the world middleweight title, and the winner will walk away with the IBF and WBA belts.

Lemieux is a 7/1 outsider with Sky Bet to end Golovkin's unbeaten record, and the Kazakh was last taken the distance more than seven years ago.

But Lemieux said: "I'm ready. It's now or never. He's at his best, I'm getting to my best. We took a big step, and we're ready for it.

"Everybody understands the gravity of this fight. I think people are going to be surprised with what I bring to the table.

"I'm a big underdog, which is perfect by me. It's not a problem. I know who I am. I have a lot of confidence in myself.

"It's not about power. It's about character, toughness and determination. We're both hard punchers; everyone knows that. Let's see beyond that."


David Lemieux ready to shock Gennady Golovkin in New York | Boxing News | Sky Sports

Liam Neeson, a former amateur boxer? Did he ever win something? 😁

Jay Z checked in on Miguel Cotto — the world middleweight champion repped by the rapper’s Roc Nation Sports — on Tuesday.

Jay was spotted at Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles to see Cotto work out with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

“It was a sparring day,” said our source. “So Jay got a preview of what kind of shape he’s in.”

Cotto takes on former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Álvarez on Nov. 21 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Evander Holyfield is one of the stars at the World boxing Council's Convention, in Kunming, China.

"Of course there should be just one champion. It would be great to have just one undisputed champion again. I don't like to make predictions, but Wladimir has more experience and Wilder is a young guy who fights fast and if he does that, there's a great chance it would go to him. If you wait on an experienced guy, you take your party with you."

Evander who fought a long and brilliant career said Wladimir, who's getting on a bit is still physically fit and sharp: "one important key, is taking care of your body. Wladimir does that, is always in shape and is a very wise person. But if you gain too much time you don't win."

Larry Holmes says that Deontay still has to hone his style, but has already proved that he has got a sturdy chin and can take a punch.

"Wilder can defeat Wladimir, because he's about the same height and he's got a jab like Larry Holmes' and he's got a good right hand. I myself learned from Ali, and perfected the jab. I wanted to be faster than Ali and punch harder than him.

"Sheer determination is everything in being heavyweight champion. I wanted to WIN, because a lot of people told me I'd never be the champion of the world. That my legs were too small. That I was a copycat of Muhammad Ali and I wasn't going anywhere.

"But with my title fight with Kenny Norton I proved everything. It was a good fight, and I miss Ken since his passing. At the end of the fight, Kenny gave me a friendly pat on the shorts. Kenny was all right. He was always all right."

Tyson Fury is the World Boxing Champion - and it gives Doncaster something to celebrate.

That is because the star fighter is married to a Doncaster lass.



Here is an interview with Paris Fury about life with the boxer, which our sister title the Morecambe visitor ran in 2013.

As Morecambe boxer Tyson Fury prepares for the fight of his life against David Haye in Manchester on September 28, we speak to his wife about living with a heavyweight fighter. Paris Fury reveals how they met and why she now has an extensive knowledge of boxing.

Rising star of the boxing world Tyson Fury is set for the biggest fight of his life.

The multi-million pound pay-per-view match against David Haye will take place on September 28.

But life away from the violent world of boxing couldn’t be more different. Paris and Tyson, who both come from a travelling Gypsy background, first met when she was 15 at a wedding of mutual friends in London, although Paris thought Tyson was a lot older than she was.

Smiling fondly at the memory, Paris explains: “Even though Tyson was a similar age to me, he looked about 25 as he was so big.

“He had all this facial hair and a beard and these big sideburns.

“I remember seeing Tyson as soon as my friend and I got out of the car to go into the wedding and I have to admit I did refer to him as ‘Farmer Giles’ and have a laugh at his expense.




Tyson and his charming wife Paris have a beautiful family and live a quiet life in Morecambe.

“Then his aunt, who I had known all my life as she was my mum’s friend, told me she wanted to introduce me to her nephew.

“I was wearing a hat for the wedding and I remember being hardly able to see Tyson from under my hat as he was so tall.

“We only saw each other for a split second and I didn’t really give him another thought.”

Now aged 23, Paris has been married to Tyson, who turned 25 last month, for almost five years and they have two children – Venezuela, three and Prince, one. At 5ft 8ins tall in her bare feet, Paris is quite tall for a woman, but she is dwarfed next to Tyson who is a strapping 6ft 9ins – and was already this height when she first met him.

Paris says: “We didn’t actually get together until a night out when I was living in Doncaster.

“The night was to mark my 16th birthday. Tyson happened to be there by fluke.

“He was my first boyfriend as I was not allowed a boyfriend until the age of 16. He is the only boyfriend I have had.

“Tyson would train in boxing during the week and then come and see me at the weekend. I would always be so excited at the thought of seeing him.”

Lowering her voice in front of the children, Paris adds: “Even after we got engaged, Tyson would sleep in a caravan in the yard of my parents’ home while I slept inside the house. We didn’t sleep together until after we got married. That is the traveller’s way and the Gypsy way of life.”

Although they both have Romany roots, it is many years since Tyson lived in a caravan and Paris grew up living in a house.

Trying to explain the Gypsy lifestyle, Paris says: “You are what you are. It is a way of life and is like being Asian or Black or Jewish.

“Big Fat Gypsy Wedding gave a very bad image of what travellers are like and most travellers are not like that, just a very small minority.

“People from a travelling background have big families and it is quite old fashioned and everyone looks out for each other. It is like a community.”

Tyson and Paris dated for three years before getting married when she was 18, almost 19.

Laughing as she remembers, Paris says: “Tyson never actually proposed to me.

“He just told me we were getting married.

“We were having a picnic and chatting about his future as a boxer and he turned to me and said: ‘First I am going to turn professional, then win the English title then the British title, then I’m going to marry you. I was a bit shocked, but also very happy.”

The couple married in December 2008 – and it wasn’t a Big Fat Gypsy wedding. They tied the knot at a church in Doncaster followed by a reception at The Stables in High Melton.

When she first met Tyson, Paris had no interest in boxing, but has now become fascinated by the sport and even surprises herself with the boxing knowledge she has picked up.

“I have a very extensive knowledge of boxing now as I have picked up a lot from hearing Tyson talking with friends about boxing.

“I like watching heavier weight boxing, but I can’t bring myself to watch lighter weight boxing. Seeing men who weigh the same as me boxing just doesn’t seem right. It is like watching children fighting.”

Shortly after their marriage, Paris became pregnant with Venezuela, who will turn four just two days after Tyson takes on David Haye in what is being billed as the fight of the year.

The couple also have son Prince, who will turn two next month.

Giggling, Paris admits there’s no shortage of exotic names in their household. “With Tyson being named after Mike Tyson and me being named after the capital of France, we couldn’t really have ordinary names for our children could we?”

When Tyson is boxing, Paris goes to watch him and was even at his side while heavily pregnant.

Tyson has been at a training camp near Antwerp, Belgium for the last six weeks and although Paris and the children usually join him, this time Paris has stayed at home.

She explains: “Tyson always wants me to go with him, but this time I have stayed home so he can concentrate and I can sort out all the jobs that need doing. This is one of the longest periods I have gone without seeing Tyson but he needs to prepare for the fight.”

Although Paris loves being invited to parties and premieres with Tyson, she says she does not deliberately seek out the limelight and is not a wannabe WAG.

“My friends joke and say I could be a BAG instead of a WAG!

“When Tyson is being interviewed and photographed and getting all the adulation, I jus

Funeral services were held on Wednesday for New Mexico boxing legend Bobby Foster.

Family and friends gathered at God’s House Church in Albuquerque to say goodbye.

Foster fought in the golden age of boxing taking on legendary heavyweights like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

He also defended his light heavyweight title a record 14 times and was inducted into the boxing hall of fame.

After retiring, he served as a Bernalillo County Deputy.


Team: ixgames

Four more boxers won Sunday in Reno to earn spots on the United States Olympic boxing team.

Two boxers fought back from a loss on the event’s opening day, one of the early favorites bounced back from an upset and light welterweight Gary Russell (Capitol Heights, Md.) beat Jaron Ennis to duplicate his brother’s route through the challengers bracket.

Sunday’s final day of competition was held at the Reno Events Center.

Welterweight Paul Kroll (Philadelphia) boxed for the seventh time Sunday — along with having a second straight bout with 2015 USA Boxing champion Ardreal Holmes (Flint, Mich.). Kroll completed his run to the welterweight title with a unanimous decision win.

After winning at the 2015 Pan American Games, Antonio Vargas (Kissimmee, Fla.) entered the Trials as the favorite, and he beat Brent Venegas (Sacramento) in a unanimous decision win to claim the Trials title.

Light flyweight Nico Hernandez (Wichita, Kansas) beat Leroy Davila (New Brunswick, N.J.) in a split decision to also earn a spot on the U.S. team.

The four winners from Sunday, and nine boxers overall, will move on to international qualifying, which will begin in March at a qualifying event in Buenos Aires.

Lightweight Carlos Balderas (Santa Maria, Calif.) won his Olympic berth through his finish in the World Series of Boxing season and will not have to compete in the international qualifiers.

OLYMPIC BOXING TRIALS

Sunday

108: Nico Hernandez, Withita, Kansas, dec. Leroy Davila, Princeton, N.J., 2-1

114: Antonio Vargas, Kissimmee, Fla., dec. Brent Venegas, Sacramento, 2-1

141: Gary Russell, Capitol Heights, Md., dec. Jaron Ennis, Philadelphia, 3-0

152: Paul Kroll, Philadelphia, dec. Ardreal Holmes, Flint, Mich., 3-0

2016 Olympic Trials Champions

108: Nico Hernandez, Wichita, Kansas; 114: Antonio Vargas, Kissimmee, Fla.; 123: Shakur Stevenson, Newark, N.J.; 141: Gary Russell, Capitol Heights, Md.; 152: Paul Kroll, Philadelphia; 165: Charles Conwell, Cleveland Heights, Ohio; 178: Jonathan Esquivel, Anaheim, Calif.; 201: Cam F. Awesome, Lenexa, Kansas; 201-plus: Marlo Moore, Hayward, Calif.;



Boxing: Final four claim spots on U.S. Olympic team

Former Welterweight champion Joshua Clottey has disclosed his intentions of ending his career as a boxer after the demise of his trainer, Godwin Nii Dzanie popularly known as ‘Alloway’.

‘Alloway’ passed away on Saturday after battling with Typhoid fever for three months at the age of 56.

The respected Ghanaian boxing trainer had previously handled Azumah Nelson and Joseph Agbeko, and according to Joshua Clottey, he drew inspiration from his coach who was in the boxing arena for about four decades.

And Joshua Clottey believes the death of his trainer was spiritual and it has affected him so much that he will in no time announce his retirement from boxing.

“I am very sad for the death of ‘Alloway’, a trainer who feels for his boxer. There were several times he wept when I was going into the ring because felt for me and that motivated me a lot,” he told Asempa FM

“I don’t think it was Typhoid fever that killed him, there might be more to it like spiritual something. Typhoid is curable, but his was something that we couldn’t help it.

“He would go the to hospital and doctors would discharge him after sometimes, but immediately he gets home the disease will recur.

“I even made attempts to secure him a visa to the USA to be at my corner for bouts so that I could get him medical treatment overseas, but I realised he couldn’t walk due to the sickness, so I couldn’t proceed. It is a sad story that someone out of hatred could plot a hero’s downfall for no reason,” he noted.




Joshua Clottey to quit boxing! | Boxing News 2016-01-12

Joshua Clottey has disclosed his intention to end his career as boxer due to the death of his trainer Godwin Nii Dzanie ‘Alloway’ Kotey, who was a source of inspiration to him in the ring.

Enough is enough!!

Keith Thurman is forced to withdraw from Shawn Porter clash but should be able to resume training soon and reschedule the fight

UNDEFEATED WBA world champion Keith Thurman sustained an injury as a result of a car accident that has forced his March 12 welterweight title defense against Shawn Porter to be postponed. The announcement was made today by promoter Lou DiBella, president of DiBella Entertainment. According to his doctors, Thurman’s injuries are not considered serious and he is expected to be cleared to resume training in the coming weeks. Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter was the main event of a scheduled two-fight card to be broadcast in prime time on CBS. This fight and the network broadcast will now be rescheduled for a later date.

DiBella Entertainment, Mohegan Sun and Showtime are evaluating the option of continuing with the remainder of the fight card on Saturday, March 12 with a transition of television coverage to SHOWTIME. Complete details are forthcoming.

“While it’s unfortunate that we must temporarily postpone this marquee matchup, a main event of the magnitude of Keith Thurman vs. Porter requires both fighters be healthy and at their best.” said DiBella. “Keith is anxious to resume training as soon he is able and both he and Shawn are looking forward to a new fight date.”

The full Carl Frampton-Scott Quigg undercard

CHARLIE EDWARDS says he must prove he’s ready to fight for major titles this year by kicking-off with a KO win over Belfast’s Luke Wilton at the sold-out Manchester Arena on Saturday night (February 27) on the Carl Frampton Scott Quigg undercard, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Edwards clashes with Wilton on the undercard of the huge world super-bantamweight unification battle between Carl Frampton MBE and Scott Quigg, and he knows Wilton is going to have a large backing on the night.

The 23 year old landed the English title in his fifth fight and made a successful first defence here in November, and Edwards says tonight represents a huge platform for him to land more big fights this year, with the likes of former European and Commonwealth champion Kevin Satchell on his radar.

“I feel Luke is made for me,” said Edwards. “Luke is an experienced fighter who has been in Kevin Satchell and more recently Lee Haskins. Luke comes forward, he is a plodder – I know I’ll beat him comfortably. With his experience, he will think he can ‘rough me up’ but I will outbox and trade with him if needs be.

“No disrespect to Luke – but quite simply I need to be blowing people like this away if I want to get to the top. Haskins got him out of there in two rounds so I’m determined to make a similar statement.

“The quality of sparring I’ve had for this fight has been the best I’ve ever had. I’ve been sparring Angel Moreno who is fighting for a European title shortly, and trust me I’ve been holding my own. It’s been great experience for me as I’ve learnt so much but also I know I’m not too far away from that level.

“Satchell is someone I have my sights set on in the not too distant future, he would be a good scalp for me. I want all the big names and all the tough fights as I’m confident I can beat them all. The progression I’ve shown already with [trainer] Danny Vaughan has shown me that we can go right to the top together.”

Edwards’ clash with Wilton is part of a huge night of action in Manchester as Frampton and Quigg put their IBF and WBA super-bantamweight titles on the line in a blockbuster bout.

Also on the Carl Frampton Scott Quigg undercard, Gavin McDonnell faces Jorge Sanchez for the WBC Silver super-bantamweight title and an official eliminator for the WBC world title, Manchester’s Hosea Burton faces Miles Shinkwin for the vacant British light-heavyweight title and Belfast’s Ryan Burnett takes on Frenchman Anthony Settoul for the vacant WBC International bantamweight title.

Belfast’s Marco McCullough faces Morecambe’s Isaac Lowe for the vacant Commonwealth featherweight title, while there’s action for Commonwealth gold medallists Josh Taylor and Scott Fitzgerald, Conrad Cummings and Marcus Morrison.

I am so disappointed with the result of this fight. Yes a bet for Pacquiao and I don't mind loosing as long as it's a good match but look at what Mayweather did. He just run and run and run trying to avoid Pacquiao. I just wish the next fight if their will be does not repeat this one.

The jock strap that protected the manhood of boxing legend Joe Frazier 45 years ago when he beat the GOAT, Muhammad Ali, is about to hit the auction block ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The jock dates back to Ali-Frazier I in 1971 ... known as, "The Fight of the Century," one of America's most historic sporting events. Frazier -- who, like Ali, was undefeated -- won by unanimous decision.

Frazier gave the jock to his buddy the night of the fight ... who held onto it for almost 40 years before selling it to a memorabilia dealer in 2009.

The collector hooked up with Goldin Auctions ... who will now be auctioning off the super rare item starting July 11th. Starting bid is $5K.

FYI -- a Nolan Ryan jock strap worn by the Hall of Famer during his 7th no-hitter reportedly once sold for $25k.

Best part about this jock? It's NEVER BEEN WASHED!!

Happy bidding!