6,750 stories on BoxingScene are published under the Mark Vester byline.
Every story follows our editorial policy. To report a mistake, use our corrections form; for anything else, contact us.
WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko is considering three opponents for his next ring return on September 12 in Germany. Klitschko's team is talking with reps for David Haye, WBA champion Nikolai Valuev and undefeated contender Chris Arreola. Haye is on the list but he will only be a serious option if UK network Setanta Sports is able to straighten out their financial situation. Haye has a multi-fight deal with Setanta.
WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez is considering a jump to the featherweight division. Lopez returns on June 27 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, defending his title against Olivier Lontchi in the main event slot of the Latin Fury 9 pay-per-view.
Heavyweight contender David Haye has fired back at WBO/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. Haye was scheduled to face Klitschko on June 20. He withdrew with a back injury and was quickly replaced by undefeated Ruslan Chagaev, who Klitschko stopped after nine rounds in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Klitschko dominated Chagaev from start to finish but the fight was far from exciting. Wladimir vowed to close the "dirty mouth of Haye" in the future. First up is a mandatory defense against Alexander Povetkin in September. Haye may be forced to fight older brother WBC champion Vitali Klitschko instead.
UK star Amir Khan continues to talk about a fight with close friend Ricky Hatton. Khan moves up to the junior welterweight division to challenge WBA champion Andreas Kotelnik on July 18. It marks the second time in less than a month that Khan has come out and expressed his desire to face Hatton.
After WBO/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko retained his titles with a stoppage of Ruslan Chagaev in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, he had some hard words for David Haye. The British fighter was scheduled to meet Klitschko before pulling out with a back injury. Wladimir will not forget about Haye and his months of trash talk. He vowed to knock him out in the future. Wladimir will likely make a mandatory defense against undefeated Alexander Povetkin in September.
According to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, the ticket sales for Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Marquez were strong. Mayweather officially postponed his fight with Marquez last Sunday when he announced that he suffered a rib injury in training. The fight was scheduled to take place on July 18, and the date of September 19 is the new target.
At River Cree Resort and Casino in River Cree, Enoch, Alberta, Canada, a battle of heavyweight giants saw the 6'8 Tye Fields (42-2, 38 KOs) knock out the 6'5 Nicolai Firtha (16-6-1) in the sixth round.
The rumors of a Ricky Hatton comeback are continuing to build in the UK. After May's two-round knockout loss at the hands of Manny Pacquiao, Hatton was quiet for a few weeks but now he's dropping hints about a possible return to the ring. A source close to the Hatton camp spoke with the Sunday Mercury and advised the paper that a Hatton comeback is under serious consideration.
If trainer Freddie Roach sticks to his demand, a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto could collapse. Roach wants Cotto to come down to a catch-weight of 143-pounds for a fight with Pacquiao. Cotto's nutritionist told Top Rank's Bob Arum, who promotes both fighters, that Miguel could only make a "safe" weight of 144 to 145-pounds at most. The Cotto camp would rather have it at 145. Roach wants to get Cotto down as low as possible.
Before 60,000 fans at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, WBO/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (53-3, 47KOs) stopped WBA "champion in recess" Ruslan Chagaev (25-1-1, 17KOs) after nine rounds of action.