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Who said boxing was tougher than politics? In what is a huge story in Eastern Europe, a mass brawl broke out during a political meeting held at Kiev's city council. Klitschko, 38, was not hurt and held back from the urge to retaliate. An unidentified Ukrainian council member punched him in the face, according to the news agencies AFP and DPA reported
In what seems to be a risky move, Tomas Rojas (31-11, 22KOs) will face unbeaten Evans Mbamba (16-0, 8KOs) on October 24 at the World Trade Center in Veracruz, Mexico. The event is being put together by Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran. Rojas is scheduled to fight WBA/WBC super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan (32-2, 26KOs) on December 12 at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, California. Darchinyan-Rojas is being televised by Showtime.
According to reports in Germany and Ukraine, trainer Fritz Sdunek is set to retire from the sport of boxing. Sdunek is the trainer and has helped train numerous fighters under the Universum banner. He also trains WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitshcko. Mig News in Ukraine reports that Sdunek made a decision to retire from boxing because his doctors were concerned about his state of health. Last year he was treated for cancer and complications from the disease that led to problems with his heart.
The Daily Telegraph spoke with trainer Freddie Roach about Manny Pacquiao's November 14 clash with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. In the opinion of Roach, Cotto brings a lot more to the table than Mayweather. He considers Cotto more dangerous and a much tougher fighter.
WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch plans to make unbeaten Andre Dirrell pay a big price when they clash on Saturday night in Nottingham. Froch is tired of Dirrell's trash talk and plans to make him suffer in the ring with a slow beating from post to post. He says the Dirrell has never fought anyone of note; giving him no basis to run his big mouth.
Thailand fighter Sakai JockyGym, 20, died of a brain haemorrhage on Monday night after suffering a TKO loss in the tenth round of super bantamweight bout with Niki Kazuyoshi. Sakai was knocked down in the first and tenth round of the fight in Fukuoka, Japan. He left the ring in a daze and later fainted in a dressing room. He was unconscious when an ambulance took him to a local hospital. Doctors tried CPR after his heart stopped. They were unable to save him and he was pronounced dead.
David Haye says the verbal shots will continue to assault WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev. Haye challenges Valuev for the title on November 7. During the course of the last few weeks, Haye has called Valuev every name in the book; from an "ugly freak" to a "smelly" fighter. He continues to question Valuev's skills, looks and body order.
According to Ivan Rivera, president of Puerto Rico Best Boxing, co-promoter of WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez, says the fighter will likely face WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano on January 23 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico. Rivera says the co-feature will likely be WBA "regular" featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa taking on Filipino Bernabe Concepcion. The doubleheader is Top Rank's continued plan to build the mega-clash between Juanma and Gamboa. HBO will televise both fights.
According to Sauerland Event’s matchmaker Hagen Doering, IBF middleweight champion Sebastian Sylvester will have to wait until at least January 2010 to defend his title. Due to a lack of open television dates, Sylvester is unable to defend his title before the end of the year.
Former champion Jose Luis Castillo arrived a few days ago in Baguio City, Philippines to join the training camp of Manny Pacquiao. Castillo is sparring with Pacquiao to help the Filipino champ prepare for the November 14 showdown with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. Castillo is getting himself in shape for his own fight on November 28 in Mexico.