We are nearly closing the third month of the year and the boxing action has not been what we expected so far but there is still a lot of year left and boxing is heading into the busier months of April and May. With that said, here is your latest edition of Around the Ring:
1.Jones Jr Gets Knock Out – Unlike his latest fights, former pound for pound #1 Roy Jones Jr scored a knockout instead of getting knocked out on Sunday night in Arizona. Jones Jr. stopped a “fan” who signed up for the opportunity to pocket $100,000 if he would miraculously would have beaten the former champion. Vyron Phillips wasn’t exactly an amateur since he did have experience in MMA but it wasn’t enough to compete with the forty-seven year old Jones Jr.
2.Teenager Makes History – A special record might be broken if nothing unexpected happens in the next couple of weeks when Germany’s Leon Bauer makes his U.S. debut on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao vs Timothy PPV fight on April 9th. Bauer will be 17 years old with 233 days which will make him the youngest fighter to get licensed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Bauer will be breaking the previous record set by Jose Benavidez in his pro debut by ten days.
3.Brook Looking for Big Game – IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook will be defending his title this upcoming Saturday against Kevin Bizier but with a win there, big things might be coming. It is no secret Brook has always wanted an all-Brit showdown with Amir Khan but now that Khan will be facing “Canelo” Alvarez, Brook is looking for other big names. According to his promoter Eddie Hearn, the HBO network has contacted them regarding a proposed showdown with Miguel Cotto in June but Hearn feels the Puerto Rican wants an easier fight. Hearn has actually contacted Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions to actually offer up his charge against Gennady Golovkin at a catch weight of 157 pounds.
4.Santa Cruz vs Frampton Looking Bright – After the promising schedule for Showtime for spring and summer was announced, one of the best fights mentioned was between WBA featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz and super bantamweight multiple titleholder Carl Frampton of England. No date was announced but it was mentioned both fighters had agreed to the match up verbally. Now Frampton has gone on record to say they are looking for a date in late July or early August. He mentioned he would love the fight in his native Ireland but he is sure more than likely it will be in America, possibly on the west coast.
5.Kovalev Goes Back Home – The nearly unified light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev is coming off another impressive win over Jean Pascal and is awaiting the winner of the Ward vs Barrera fight this Saturday night to see who he will face in possibly his first PPV in November. Kovalev will not be sitting idly by sine he will travel back to Russia in June to take a tune-up fight.
