Eastcoast

http://files.constantcontact.com/52a9693d301/4b00e75a-c59e-40f7-82aa-39e174b0dac3.jpg?a=1127426300189 Nutley, NJ (March 14, 2017) - World ranked middleweight Antoine Douglas returned to action after a year layoff by stopping Pablo Munguia in the 5th round in a scheduled six-round bout in Charenton, Louisiana. Douglas of Washington, D.C. was making his first start since March 5, 2016 got back in the win column. The 24 year-old raised his mark to 20-1-1 with 14 knockouts, and is ranked number-12 by the WBC, Douglas is promoted by GH3 Promotions. "This was a good way to comeback for Antoine," said GH3 Promotions promoter Vito Mielnicki. "We wanted to bring him back in March. Antoine has been fighting regularly since he was 11 years-old, so the layoff was needed and good. We moved him fast as he fought 21 times in 4 years. It was the first time that he was able to take a step back. Despite what happened in his fight with Khurtzsidze, we still believe is a future world champion. The fight with Khurtsidze was a learning experience for all of us, from he fighter to the trainers to me the promoter. This whole thing should be about Antoine Douglas and no one else. He is still just 24 years old and his best boxing is ahead of him. We will have him in a few more of these learning fights, and then look for him to be back knocking on a big fight by August." "We have a good team around him with his trainers Dennis Porter, Kevin Smalls and Kay Koroma. We just added Joseph Karoma as the strength and conditioning coach." "I want to thank Greg Cohen for help getting us on the card in Louisiana." Douglas will be back in on action on March 27th, in the Dominican Republic, when he takes on Eduardo Mercedes (32-16, 27 KO's) for the WBC Fecarbox title. http://myemail.constantcontact.com/World-Ranked-Middleweight-Antoine-Douglas-back-in-action-with-5th-round-stoppage-over-Pablo-Munguia-in-Charenton--Louisiana.html?soid=1115946392101&aid=E2UkUxXsE4U Douglass got back in the ring before Khurtsidze made it back, wow! And he's fighting again on March 27th, that's two fights before Khurtsidze gets in the ring! I still believe in Douglass as a future top MW, glad to see he's back.

Sounds like GB has found their precious excuse to not make Golovkin/Alvarez. Eric Gomez says if Golovkin fights in June there won't be enough time to make Golovkin/Alvarez in September - BS!!! Dela Hoya vs Sturm and Hopkins vs Allen was on June 5th, 2004. Then Dela Hoya vs Hopkins was on September 18th, 2004. They used the June fights to promote the September fight! No reason they couldn't do that here. Fights sell Fights! People will be more excited for a Golovkin/Alvarez fight if Golovkin beats Saunders in June than they would if Golovkin does some stupid interviews. I hope to hell K2 doesn't let GB cost Golovkin another fight. IF GOLOVKIN FIGHTS JUNE 10, CANELO-GGG IN THE FALL WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY BY MITCH ABRAMSON A rumored middleweight unification match between Gennady Golovkin and Billy Joe Saunders for June 10 would jeopardize plans for Golovkin to face Canelo Alvarez in the fall or at least push it back to a later date, Golden Boy President Eric Gomez told ******.com on Wednesday. “If he makes a fight with Saunders, that will screw up our plans for Canelo,” Gomez told RING, referring to Golovkin promoter Tom Loeffler before a luncheon in Manhattan for David Lemieux’s middleweight crossroads bout with Curtis Stevens on Saturday at Turning Stone Casino on HBO. “That would impact us. So I’m not aware of anything with Saunders. We’re talking and he’s talking about making the fight (between Golovkin and Canelo) in September. If he tries to do a fight with Saunders, that will screw up the plans.” Multiple sources have indicated to ******.com that Loeffler and Saunders, who holds a WBO middleweight title, have had extensive talks about a fight in Golovkin’s native Kazakhstan on June 10. While Loeffler denied a deal is in place on a conference call on Tuesday for June 10, he did admit in a discussion about a fight ostensibly on that date that he’s been in contact with different promoters for potential fights. Gomez suggested that wasn’t a good idea if a fight between Golovkin and Canelo takes place in the fall. “We need enough time to promote a big fight,” Gomez said. “You have to do the (media) rounds. You have to do all these TV shows. There’s so many plans we have and we’ve talked about promoting a big fight. You need time.” Gomez said that Loeffler has mentioned to him “there is an offer” to Golovkin for June 10. “But he said they’re committed to making the fight with Canelo,” Gomez said of Loeffler and Golovkin. “Our first goal is to make the fight,” Gomez said he was told by Loeffler. “And I said, ‘Ok great.’ But if he does something in June, then it could jeopardize of push it back at least.” Of course, Golovkin has to get by Danny Jacobs on March 18 at Madison Square Garden on HBO PPV in a bout for Golovkin’s WBC/IBF/WBA titles. And Canelo has to outstrip Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on May 6 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on HBO PPV. http://www.ringtv.com/488171-golovkin-fights-june-10-canelo-ggg-fall-jeopardy/#.WMBmitYZ3Y8.twitter

I'm guessing Murata, but still could be Golovkin seeing how badly he wants that last title. I wonder when the WBO will announce who Khurtsidze fights for the interim title, if they wait a month, then it could be the winner of Lemieux/Stevens, which would make for a hell of a fight. BJS schools Murata. BY MITCH ABRAMSON Middleweight contender Avtandil Khurtsidze, the mandatory to face titleholder Billy Joe Saunders, is expected to take step-aside money to allow Saunders to pursue “a major fight next,” a source told RingTV.com on Tuesday. As a result, Khurtsidze would fight for an interim belt, the source said. “There’s a step-aside deal pending for Khurtsidze,” the source told RING. “He would be able to fight for an interim WBO title, allowing Billy Joe Saunders to fight a major fight next.” The source declined to provide any more details but it’s no secret that Saunders and his promoter Frank Warren have expressed interest in fighting Japan’s Ryota Murata (12-0, 9 knockouts). Then there are the usual suspects, such as Saunders possibly waiting to face Canelo Alvarez after he meets Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on May 6 or even the winner of Gennady Golovkin’s middleweight championship with Danny Jacobs set for March 18 at Madison Square Garden. Saunders has hinted he’s close to a deal for a big fight that would involve him traveling to his opponent’s home country, suggesting he may be talking about Golovkin in his native Kazakhstan, though at this point it’s just speculation. As for who Khurtsidze would face next, Murata is the WBO’s No. 2-rated middleweight while Tommy Langford is No. 3. The WBO ordered for Khurtsidze (32-2-2, 21 KOs) and Saunders (24-0, 12 KOs) to start negotiations on Jan. 26 for a title fight and said if a deal couldn’t be struck a purse bid would be ordered. A purse bid was scheduled to take place on Friday but was postponed. Khurtsidze, 37, has been the WBO’s No. 1 contender for nearly a year since he stopped Antoine Douglas in the 10th round last March. http://www.ringtv.com/483777-khurtsidze-expected-take-step-aside-money-saunders/#.WJpT6r-xgRY.twitter

Only delay option would be if GGG fights BJS next, b/c it's a unification. On one hand I'm glad, b/c this means Golovkin will be doing the stadium show in Kazakhstan in June. Otherwise he could've sat idle after Jacobs waiting on Canelo again. And on the other hand, Tureano sucks. Watching this guy go the distance with Eamon O'Kane and Mike Gavronski, he has no hope against Golovkin. No exceptional power, speed, or movement. Stevens showed TJ only has so much of a chin. GGG/TJ will be another 2-3 round fight. Gennady Golovkin or Danny Jacobs has to face Tureano Johnson next PHIL D JAY 03 FEBRUARY 2017 Despite being linked to taking on Canelo Alvarez in September, Golovkin may have to squeeze in mandatory duties against the 32 year-old Bahaman or risk dropping one of his belts before the expected super-fight. The International Boxing Federation are awaiting the outcome of Golovkin’s New York bout with Jacobs before stipulating the winner has to then compete against their number one contender in Johnson. “We expect the winner of Gennady Golovkin vs. Daniel Jacobs to do the IBF mandatory next,” IBF Chairman Lindsey Tucker exclusively told World Boxing News this week. There could potentially be a way out of the Johnson fight for Golovkin, but only if the pound for pound star can force an agreement with Billy Joe Saunders as a unification with the WBO champion would take precedent over a mandatory. Even then, Johnson would still be waiting on the other side. Whatever happens, any Canelo encounter taking place immediately after Jacobs could see Golovkin only bringing the WBC, WBA and IBO versions to the table unless Johnson is granted his opportunity or agrees to step aside. Johnson's close ties with Canelo's promoters Golden Boy may help in reaching any amicable agreement for all concerned, including smoothing things over with the IBF. The IBF are notorious for sticking to the rules and regulations as several champions have found out in the past, most recently Tyson Fury and Carl Frampton as both decided against making their mandatories and were either stripped or dropped the belt to move on. Since becoming a belt holder at 160 pounds, Golovkin has always wanted to make every defense to adhere to the regulations and would not consider giving up one his belts. In order to keep up this record, ‘GGG’ would have to give Johnson his chance next or break that run of mandatory defenses. http://www.worldboxingnews.net/2017/02/03/news/gennady-golovkin-v-danny-jacobs-winner-has-to-face-tureano-johnson

Lol, they going all in. BY MITCH ABRAMSON Danny Jacobs will leave the snow-swept streets of New York City to train in Oakland, California at Virgil Hunter’s King’s Boxing Gym to get ready for Gennady Golovkin, Jacobs trainer Andre Rozier told ******.com on Friday. Hunter will play an undefined role in Jacobs’ camp, offering advice when he sees fit, according to Rozier. “Virgil has given us the opportunity to work out of his gym,” Rozier said in a phone interview. “And Virgil and I are like family. He’s like my big brother. I call him that, and of course, we’ll be in the gym together. So I know every once in a while he’ll whisper something in my ear. It’s going to be fantastic. I’ve been on the big stage. He’s been on the big stage a few times. He knows the experiences and just the ambiances of those moments.” Hunter will be around for the full duration of camp and will be used as a resource and “big brother” according to Rozier, as Jacobs prepares to take on Golovkin for his WBC/IBF/WBA middleweight titles on March 18 at Madison Square Garden on HBO PPV. Rozier and Hunter are close and go back decades to when Andre Ward once fought Curtis Stevens as 10 and 11-year-olds in the Silver Gloves, Rozier said. Rozier played down Hunter’s role but Hunter is regarded as one of the top cornerman in the sport, and he will be on hand as Jacobs (32-1, 29 knockouts) prepares for the biggest fight of his career against Golovkin (36-0, 33 KOs). Hunter is best known for guiding Ward to championships at super middleweight and most recently at light heavyweight with his win over Sergey Kovalev on Nov. 19. He’s also worked with Amir Khan and Alfredo Angulo and is known as a shrewd motivator. “There’s going to be a bunch of fighters there — Andre Ward is there, (Andre) Berto is there,” said Rozier, who has guided Jacobs since the amateurs and also trains Sadam Ali, among others. “And those are all Danny’s buddies. So, it’s going to be real exciting and fun. I’ve known him for 24 years now.” He added, “We’re not going to Madison Square Garden and coming up short. We’re winning this fight. We’re going all the way.” In addition to Hunter, Chris Algieri, a former titleholder, will be in Jacobs’ camp as a nutritionist to prepare his meals; Anthony Irons, a one-time talented amateur who fought briefly as a pro, is there as an assistant trainer. Rozier also said that Gary Stark Sr. will be lending a hand after his own fighter, Marcus Browne faces Thomas Williams Jr. on Feb. 18. http://www.ringtv.com/479380-virgil-hunter-play-undefined-role-danny-jacobs-camp/#.WG_wx8zwhko.twitter

So they'll both be at the Kovalev/Ward fight by coincidence and they still haven't agreed on the money..... Also interesting the Espinoza's hovering in the background. GGG AND JACOBS TO ATTEND WARD-KOV AS TALKS PROGRESS BY MITCH ABRAMSON Gennady Golovkin and mandatory challenger Danny Jacobs are both set to attend Saturday’s light heavyweight championship between Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward in Las Vegas, ******.com has learned. “We heard GGG was going to be out here,” Keith Connolly, who advises Jacobs, told ******.com on Friday from Vegas. “We’re looking forward to seeing him.” Rather than appearing as a way to build momentum to face the winner of Saturday’s fight on HBO PPV, Golovkin (36-0, 33 knockouts) and Jacobs remain locked in negotiations to face off in the first quarter of 2017. While the two sides have been haggling for over a month, talks have progressed to the point where March is now being mentioned as a possible end point for the fight, according to Connolly. “It seems like we’re getting closer,” Tom Loeffler, who promotes Golovkin, told ******.com on Friday. “We’re still in negotiations, same as before. Still, if we didn’t think the fight would happen we wouldn’t be having these discussions. From every indication I’ve heard, Danny wants the fight.” The holdup appears to be centered around money, according to Showtime boxing chief Stephen Espinoza, who is close with Jacobs’ powerful advisor, Al Haymon and wants the fight on his network. “What I’ve heard is there’s still no meeting of the minds on revenue splits,” Espinoza told ******.com on Wednesday. “It’s not a complicated issue. It could get solved any day. But there’s always that purse bid process that’s looming. The good thing is I think one way or the other it will come to a resolution. It’s a little bit of a waiting game but at least we know there’s an end in sight.” Jacobs (32-1, 29 KOs) trekked from Brooklyn to Las Vegas to drum up attention for their fight. Golovkin, who is signed with HBO and has been in Big Bear working out, was invited by the network giant to attend. “We think the fight could take place in March,” Connolly said. “Danny is looking forward to proving he’s the best middleweight in the world.” The WBA seems to have left the sides alone to hash out the details and hasn’t ordered a date for a purse bid, Loeffler said. Golovkin, 34, holds the IBF, WBA and WBC middleweight titles and Jacobs, 29, is his WBA mandatory and the bearer of a secondary title. The sides have been trying to broker a deal ever since Golovkin stopped Kell Brook on Sept. 10. WBA president Gilberto Mendoza didn’t immediately return an email for comment. “It’s still one of the best fights that can be made in boxing,” Loeffler said. “It’s the No. 1 versus the No. 2 middleweight in the division. Both guys have very fan-friendly styles. It’s a great fight for the fans.” http://www.r i ngtv.com/474007-ggg-jacobs-attend-ward-kov-talks-progress/

I didn't think he'd go through with this fight. Chris Eubank Jr. vacates British title after suffering sparring injury Eubank was set to face undefeated Tommy Langford in October. By Patrick L. Stumberg Sep 17, 2016, 1:53p Chris Eubank Jr. has withdrawn from his October 22nd BBBofC middleweight title defense against Tommy Langford, citing an injury suffered while sparring against a "fourteen stone opponent." He has also elected to vacate the title, which he won from Nick Blackwell in May. Team Eubank’s press release has to be seen to be believed. I want to copy-paste it in its entirety, but I’ll content myself with these tidbits: Eubank Jnr’s management team have advised that, in their opinion, there has not been a fighter in the history of British Boxing who has had such a vast chasm of fighting prowess between him and the contenders for the British Championship in ability, speed, strength, accuracy and skill since its inauguration by the Marquess of Queensbury in the 1800’s. ... It is now with relief, as it has become clear to Chris Eubank Jnr’s management over these past few months how much danger the health and lives of these contenders are in, therefore the relinquishing of the British Championship due to injury sustained in a sparring session is perhaps a blessing in disguise. Fair play to the Eubanks; they may be crap at locating pens, but they can humblebrag with the best of them. Shame about the grammar, though. The Cardiff card is a fairly stacked one by local British standards, featuring Liam Williams vs. Ahmet Patterson and Bradley Skeete vs. Shayne Singleton among others, so I’d imagine the show will go on. We’ll let you guys know if they manage to scrounge up a solid foe for Langford. http://www.badlefthook.com/2016/9/17/12953166/chris-eubank-vacates-british-title-after-suffering-sparring-injury Whoops, MOD please delete this thread.

BY MITCH ABRAMSON Middleweight titleholder Billy Joe Saunders has narrowed his search to two opponents for his next fight. Promoter Frank Warren revealed on a conference call on Tuesday that Russia’s Artur Akavov (16-1, 7 knockouts) and Minnesota’s Rob Brant (21-0, 14 KOs) are the leading contenders to face Saunders next. The WBO titleholder is set to make his next appearance on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s heavyweight championship rematch with Wladimir Klitschko on Oct. 29 at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England after being out of action since last December when he won the title against Andy Lee. Saunders (23-0, 12 KOs) was supposed to fight in April but withdrew from the fight because of a hand injury. “We’re looking at a couple of opponents at the moment,” Warren said at the outset of the call. “One is Artur Akavov from Russia, who is ranked No. 11 in the WBO. And the other one is Rob Brant, who is ranked No. 7 in the WBO. We’ll make our decision on the opponent in the next day or so, hopefully we can do it before I fly out to the states for the Liam Smith fight this weekend (against Canelo Alvarez on HBO PPV).” Akavov is now living in Brooklyn, New York and has won 11 straight since dropping a decision to 3-1 Leg Liseev in Russia in just his sixth fight. He last fought at BB King’s in Manhattan, stopping Todd Manuel (11-10) in the sixth round on a Lou DiBella-promoted card. Brant rose to attention after recording a one-punch knockout against DeCarlo Perez in the fourth round on a Jan. 22 ShoBox card and then stopping Delray Raines in the first round in April. “Bill has been out of the ring for over a year for various circumstances,” Warrren said on Tuesday. “It’s very unfortunate. It’s not been very ideal. He’s been on the cusp of big fights, having signed twice to fight (Chris) Eubank Jr., which never happened because as we all know that’s their MO as we’ve seen with Golovkin. We’re now trying to get a fight under his belt and hopefully he comes through on the 29th and then we’ll be looking to make a big fight for him in February.” http://www.ri ngtv.com/author/mabramson/ Rob Brant would be great fight to watch. He's a quick, strong boxer who could upset BJS. He needs more experience, but he has the ability. Jacobs/Golovkin will happen before Saunders/Golovkin. BY MITCH ABRAMSON Billy Joe Saunders claims that finances won’t be a reason he doesn’t face Gennady Golovkin in a possible middleweight unification fight in 2017. “There is no pricing myself out,” Saunders said. Golovkin put pressure on the WBO titleholder to get into the ring after calling him out following his fifth-round destruction of Kell Brook on Saturday in London. Golovkin and Saunders were in talks earlier this year but Saunders abandoned the negotiations over money, saying he was only offered $1.5 million while others said it was much more. On Tuesday, Saunders, who has repeatedly called out Golovkin in what few believe is a sincere effort to face him, said that money won’t be an issue the next time they negotiate. Saunders interrupted a question meant for his promoter Frank Warren on a conference call to address the perception he priced himself out of the previous talks. “There is not no pricing himself out,” Saunders said before launching into a heartfelt explanation. “To get in there, as fighters we want the most we can get. Sometimes you play a waiting game and sometimes it works and sometimes it don’t. But this time around, the English fans know who he is. They know what he brings, so I’m sure they’ll pay to see it and I’m ready to put it on the line but there’s no pricing myself out because to be honest, I’ll fight any man born. Golovkin is a very good man but he’s just a man.” Warren said he and Golovkin promoter Tom Loeffler spoke on Monday during the press conference for Tyson Fury’s rematch with Wladimir Klitschko “and we continue to have dialogue” of a possible fight. Warren referenced the pay channel BoxNation as now having a “pay-per-view platform” as a reason the fight with Golovkin should be able to get made this time because there will be more money in the pot to divvy up. “The money that was offered wasn’t enough,” Warren said of the talks earlier this year. “That’s the other side of it. Just because someone makes an offer — that doesn’t mean it’s the right offer. Bill didn’t want to fight for that and we felt he should get more money, too. But now (Golovkin) has had the exposure in the UK and I think those numbers are now achievable. Bill only became champion last year,” Warren added. “And he had a hand injury in between.” Warren cited the WBA’s decision to order Golovkin to face his mandatory Danny Jacobs, a fight that Warren thinks may happen in November. Warren discussed a possible fight between Golovkin and Saunders for February as a target date. “I’ve told my promoter that I want it,” Saunders said of facing GGG. “I’ve told my manager that I want it. There is absolutely nothing that can get in the way from stopping this. I’ve called him out before. Yes, I’ve put it out there. And now he’s had his fight and I’ve called him out again. There is nothing from stopping this fight on my behalf. I’m ready to fight.” http://www.ring tv.com/464779-saunders-says-money-wont-stand-way-ggg/#.V9gHsGh4eEc.twitter

A fun read on the history of the two network's boxing feuds. Lot's of parallels to what went on 20 years ago and today. Note - Whitaker was allowed to fight JCC on Showtime, while under contract with HBO. http://www.boxingscene.com/network-wars-hbo-showtime-battle-supremacy--432 While Tyson was in jail Don King spent his time concentrating on Chavez and finally made him a star while HBO also had a special talent in Pernell Whitaker who was basically the same size as Chavez, but didn’t have his star power or box office appeal. As a result when a match was made between the two in September of 1993, HBO had to concede to letting Pernell out of the terms of his HBO exclusivity contract for one bout in order to fight Chavez on Showtime Pay per view. Although the bout was scored a draw, it was monumentous victory for Whitaker and HBO because everybody and anybody who saw the fight knows that Whitaker won it. The decision is still considered one of the worst in boxing history. Afterwards the executives at HBO further showed their disdain for Showtime by constantly claiming that they weren’t bothered by not having Chavez and Tyson because they had the best fighters in the world. A win for Pernell Whitaker had actually been a win for HBO because one of their staple fighters had beaten and taken away some of the box office appeal from one of Showtime’s prized possessions.

Bitter Chris Eubank is currently in Dubai on vacation, but claims he was about to sign the contract when Hearn switched Brook at the last second. He also thinks he'll be fighting Golovkin next (lol). Meanwhile BJS says he wants the winner of Golovkin/Brook over an Alvarez fight. A Golovkin/Saunders unification would buy Danny Jacobs a little more time. BJS fights on October 29th, but says he wants to be back again in December. Meantime fat-Dan says HBO has given Golovkin a tentative November 26th date, but that would be a prime time US spot. http://www.worldb oxingnews.net/2016/09/09/news/exclusive-saunders-sets-sights-on-the-winner-of-golovkin-v-brook Also, DeGale/Jack still hasn't been signed. Jack recently dumped his old trainer, but has to make a deal before next Tuesday or the WBC will order him to fight Callum Smith, meaning DeGale could be free with his last fight under Hearn to face GGG in December.

Quillin dropped his long time trainer - Eric Brown (current Wild Card, former Knonk), to join up with Virgil.

In the event they both win, they need to start negotiating. This permission was granted at the request of the interested party. However, they were notified teams work Gennady Glolovkin and Daniel Jacobs won their respective bouts in September, the first against Kell Brook and the second against Sergio Mora, must negotiate a contest between them. http://www.wbaboxing.com/es/noticias-de-boxeo/golovkin-brook-no-sera-por-titulo-amb-2?utm_content=bufferff053&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#.V8lrZJgrLIV

At 10:20 he confirms there was an offer, just not enough money. Starts talking about GGG at ~7min mark. Says there's just not enough money right now to make the fight and stands by his 'year & half' stance. Says he doesn't understand why GGG wouldn't fight Lara. Great work by Nestor getting the tough questions through.