Boxing
Boxing: Emmanuel Tagoe defeats George Ashie to claim WBA Lightweight title
- 14 November 2012
I'm a Celebrity 2012: David Haye set to rumble in the jungle
- 07 November 2012
Fans of the old fight game might find these pictures hard to believe, but then some have often accused David Haye of being more showman than boxer.
The former WBA world heavyweight champion boxer has been confirmed as one of this year's contestants on the hit reality TV show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
And joining Haye in the Australian jungle will be five-time darts world champion Eric Bristow, 55.
Fighter's chance: Former heavyweight champion David Haye is ready to make a fist of it in the jungle
At the day job: British heavyweight Haye (left) in action against Dereck Chisora in July
Former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan, who is the girlfriend of Manchester City winger Scott Sinclair, will also her part in the show, which starts on Sunday November 11 on ITV.
Controversial Tory MP Nadine Dorries, former Doctor Who Colin Baker, Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts, actor Brian Conley, EastEnders star Charlie Brooks, reality TV star Hugo Taylor and actress Linda Robson complete the line-up.
Haye, 32, remains in training in the hope of fighting Vitali Klitschko next year.
Welcome to the jungle: Darts legend Eric Bristow is joining the rest of the I'm a Celebrity gang in Australia
Once in Australia, Haye and his fellow celebrities will be offered the chance to stay in an eight-bedroom hotel which will have rats, scorpions, spiders and snakes lurking behind the doors.
Producers are said to have lined up their most gruesome Bushtucker trials to date, with stars set to dine on kangaroo testicles and raw shark brains.
But Haye is sure to be ready for any creature in the jungle, no matter how big or hairy. He has already shared a ring with Nikolai 'The Beast' Valuev after all.
Jungle-bound: Helen Flanagan, girlfriend of Manchester City winger Scott Sinclair, is also on the show
Credit: Daily Mail
Vitali Klitschko's fight with David Haye hangs in the balance after Ukrainian elections
- 29 October 2012
David Haye's hopes of fighting Vitali Klitschko hang in the balance after the heavyweight champion’s political party came third in the Ukrainian election on Sunday.
Klitschko’s UDAR (Punch) party was forecast to have won 15 per cent of the vote which should be enough to send the 41-year-old into parliament - and possibly retirement.
But while Haye faces a wait to see if he will tackle the elder brother, the WBO are considering naming him as the mandatory challenger to Wladimir, who beat the Brit over 12 lop-sided rounds in 2011.
The future is unknown: Vitali Klitschko's UDAR party came third in the Ukrainian elections
Vitali, who was disappointed with his party’s performance, must now attempt to form an opposition coalition after the ruling Regions Party looked set to retain its parliamentary majority.
‘I had said that we had tremendous potential,’ he said. ‘We must still analyse everything: why we could have won more votes but failed to do so.’
Confusion continues to reign meanwhile about whether the long-reigning champion will hang up his gloves for a second time.
Casting his vote: Klitschko goes into the polling booth
Before stopping Manuel Charr last month he said: ‘First of all, I have to win the parliament election. Step by step by step. After that, I can give you an answer.
‘Right now, there are many discussions about [retirement]. I’m not ready to announce about my retirement. Maybe one fight, maybe two fights more. And after that, I am retired. I am active in politics.’
But his manager Bernd Boente believes electoral success would mean the end of his tenure in the ring.
Making it count: Klitschko, and his wife Natalia cast their votes
‘If Vitali gets a role after the elections where he can make a difference, I suppose that would be the end of his career,' he told Sport Bild.
‘As a friend and manager, that’s what I would advise. The fight for democracy and against corruption is more important than a fight against David Haye.’
But the Londoner insists a contract has already been agreed for the £10million superfight to take place next year.
Full of hope: Klitschko was keen to be elected into the Ukrainian parliament
‘The fight has already been agreed, the contract’s done - the money, the split, everything. We don’t need a new contract,’ he claimed.
Should the veteran choose to concentrate on his political career, Haye may instead seek revenge on his 36-year-old sibling.
Wladimir holds the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO belts which he will defend against Mariusz Wach on November 10 in Hamburg.
Keeping in shape: David Haye is hoping for a showdown with Klitschko in 2013
He eased to a unanimous points victory over Haye in the same city and the 31-year-old was later ridiculed for blaming defeat on a broken toe.
But the WBO are set to name either Haye, Denis Boytsov or Seth Mitchell as the mandatory challenger for their title.
Russian Boystov is undefeated, and largely untested, after 31 professional fights while American hope Mitchell hopes to extend his unbeaten run to 27 when he faces Johnathon Banks in New Jersey next month.
Credit: Daily Mail
Boxing: David Haye agrees terms with Vitali Klitschko
- 18 October 2012
David Haye has revealed he has agreed terms to fight Vitali Klitschko - but must now wait for the results of the Ukrainian elections.
The elder brother, 41, hopes to be voted into Ukraine's parliament on October 28 and although he has yet to announce his retirement, his future plans are uncertain.
Haye, 32, admitted that if the fight with Vitali does go ahead, he will have consented to the Ukrainians' 'slave contract' whereby he must face either of the brothers twice more should he win.
Swansong: David Haye (right) wants to fight Vitali Klitschko next year
'I'm ready to fight Vitali now but they'll give you as little notice as possible,' he said.
'Very rarely do they get the contract signed off so a lot of fighters can't afford to train because they're waiting for their advance.
'It's one of the tricks they pull but they won't catch me with that one.
'The fight has already been agreed, the contract's done - the money, the split, everything. We don't need a new contract.
'The contract's not as good as it was against Wladimir but I don't expect that because I'm the challenger now.
'It's fair, I'll survive, and it gives me a chance to get the WBC back.
'I will have to have a rematch with Vitali or Wladimir, whoever they decide, then against one of them again after that.
Campaign trail: Vitali Klitschko hopes to be elected into Ukraine's parliament
'As long as I get the opportunity to win that title.'
Haye also denied he could be tempted into an all-British showdown with David Price, who beat Audley Harrison at the weekend but called on Tyson Fury to continue his trash talking.
Fury is potentially facing censure from the British Boxing Board of Control for a series of inflammatory, expletive-filled rants aimed at Price.
'I'm only going to fight someone whose name is Klitschko. I've had my domestic dust-ups,' Haye added.
'What Fury is doing is good. The more he talks the bigger the fight with Price will be.
No thanks: Haye has no plans to fight David Price who beat Audley Harrison
'He should keep talking because he isn't really fighting anyone at the moment.
'If you're not fighting anyone you need to do something to keep your name out there.'
While the prospect of facing Price fails to inspire Haye, he was impressed by his rout of Harrison, an opponent he took three rounds to knock out.
'David was punch perfect. There was nothing to criticise in what he did, all you can do is praise him,' he said.
'I believe David Price is the best out there at domestic level.
'In a couple of years he will definitely be knocking on that world title door.'
Credit: Daily Mail
Evander Holyfield to retire
- 16 October 2012
Hard times: Evander Holyfield
As if pulling a blanket over his head to hide from a world of troubles, Evander Holyfield will finally retire from boxing on his 50th birthday this Friday.
One of the ring’s most heroic warriors has been defeated not by one of his catalogue of formidable opponents but by the wounds of self-inflicted poverty.
A fighting man who battled his way out of the ghetto to a $350million fortune will wake up this poignant morning in a grim apartment in down-town Atlanta.
From The Real Deal to Meals On Wheels.
This is the deepest cut of all those sustained by so many fighting men who have squandered fortunes. Even Mike Tyson only blew $250m.
Worse, Holyfield seems more afflicted than most by the punishment inflicted by so many sledge-hammer blows to the head.
Yet even though his speech became increasingly slurred as he fought on to an age when the majority of Americans are applying for their bus pass, he had still been hoping for one last world title shot, one last big payday to keep the wolf from the door a little longer.
Holyfield is not just calling it a day but waiting for a phone call which will not come. His potentially suicidal campaign for a farewell fling against Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko has fallen on ears that are more kind than unreceptive.
Holyfield says: ‘I believe I can beat either of them but I don’t have time now to fight my way back up the rankings and become the No 1 contender. There’s no point badgering them any longer. If I don’t get the call on Friday, I quit.’
The phone will not ring.
50 and out: Holyfield is walking away from the hardest game
Bernd Bonte, manager of the Klitschkos, says: ‘Neither of the brothers will fight Evander. Both of them would destroy him at his age and they respect him far too much to do that. He is one of their idols and that means more than however much money the fight might make.’
The esteem in which Holyfield is held by the Klitschkos – in common with the entire fraternity of boxing - is hall-marked by the horde of memorabilia which he must surrender to auction next month.
As the only four-time winner of the world heavyweight title Holyfield surpasses The Greatest himself, Muhammad Ali.
That collection of WBC, WBA, IBF and Ring belts are to go under the hammer in Los Angeles, along with the wardrobe-full of gloves, shorts and robes worn in all the most significant fights in the career of one of the greatest boxers of all time.
Those treasures drip with the sweat of his epic trilogy with Riddick Bowe, the two controversial battles with Lennox Lewis and – along with his blood from that infamous biting of his ear – the sensational victories over Tyson.
Yet, although here is no telling how long his memory of the glory nights will remain sharp, the item from which he will part most reluctantly is the classic red Chevrolet manufactured in 1962, the year of his birth. It will feel as if his life has turned its full circle. Yet even if the fire sale raises its projected $5m, that will cover only half his $10m bankruptcy.
How could it have come to this? Some of the answers are as old as the hardest game itself.
As the money poured in so, Holyfield took to gambling much of it away in the casinos of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. As all the pretty women flocked around so, he fathered 11 children with five of them as well as marrying and expensively divorcing three times.
Gates are closed: Holyfield's former 235 acre Atlanta estate, which sold at an auction for $7.5million, and cost $1m a year to maintain. He is believed to have owed $14m on the house at the time of foreclosure
An aerial view of Evander Holyfield's house in Fayette County, Georgia
Locked out: Holyfield at his former residence at the height of his success but was forced to sell the property at an auction to cover some of his debts
As he took gratification from rising to fame through the old prejudices of America’s Deep South, so he flaunted his riches by buying Atlanta’s answer to Buckingham Palace.
The most frequently mentioned statistics of that estate are the 109 rooms and 17 bathrooms. When I visited him there he took most pride from having not one but two marble staircases sweeping through each end of the mansion. There were also houses in the grounds for his ex-wives and some of his children.
This was a monument to extravagance born of his pride at overcoming his humble beginnings but ultimately beyond his means to sustain.
In echoing contrast to that call which will never come the phone rang frequently there, to be answered by a servant saying ‘The Holyfield residence.’
Warrior: Holyfield will always be remembered as one of the all-time greats
His residence now is that small apartment in one of the less salubrious parts of his home city. The stately home was repossessed when he fell $14m behind on the mortgage repayments.
Now one of his daughters has won an order for immediate payment of $500,000 in maintenance arrears. Since he has no prospect of paying that or the $3,000 alimony due every month, he faces being held in contempt of court shortly.
What they cannot take from him is a phenomenal career. A Golden Gloves amateur title and Olympic bronze were followed by a reign as undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world.
After winning the heavyweight crown by defeating James Buster Douglas – who had shocked Tyson and the world in the greatest of all upsets - he went on to fight all the best of the big time. He alternated between dominating the division and coming back from set-backs – including suspension with a suspected heart defect – to keep reclaiming the title.
He would have been a five-time champion had he not been robbed of a decision by the giant Nikolai Valuev as recently as February 2010, at the age of 47. He has the satisfaction of bowing out as a winner, having defeated Danish veteran Brian Neilsen in what was to be his last fight.
Win or lose, the way Holyfield always went to war in the ring was thrilling and unforgettable.
Some may withhold sympathy, given the former scale of his wealth. Yet while his excesses wee a folly, the sadness is profound.
Tyson, who is finding ways to rebuild his life, is offering assistance and advice to the man whose lavish generosity has extended to forgiving Iron Mike for chewing off his ear.
Famously a born-again Christian, Holyfield says: ‘I still have hope.’
He also needs help. Hopefully, from all he people whose lives he has enriched with his courage, it will be forthcoming.
Credit: Daily Mail
Tyson Fury faces David Price comments rap from British Boxing Board of Control
- 16 October 2012
Tyson Fury could be punished by the British Boxing Board of Control after making a succession of inflammatory comments about David Price.
Two days after using a TV interview and his Twitter account to belittle his heavyweight rival, Fury on Monday afternoon tweeted a new expletive-filled volley of insults directed at the British and Commonwealth champion and at fellow British heavyweights David Haye and Dereck Chisora..
The 24-year-old, who claims to be a born-again Christian, was responding to Price's first-round demolition of Audley Harrison at the Liverpool Echo Arena on Saturday night.
War of words: Tyson Fury launched a series of embarrassing tirades against David Price
'I'm gonna smash your face in u ****house scouse **** I look in your eyes and c fear! Ill take your sole and give it the devil,' read the tweet.
General secretary Robert Smith revealed Fury's comments are being discussed by the BBBofC.
'I'm very disappointed by this. I've already spoken to the chairman (Charles Giles) about it this morning,' Smith said.
'I'm seeing him at an event tonight and we'll discuss it again then.'
Later on Monday evening Fury's account posted several more insults aimed at his rivals, before signing off for the evening with a tweet that read: 'Before I go bed one more time price haye b*** *** and chisora r all t*****s I will fight them all at the same time! I'm the man furious T!!!'
Fury could be issued with a fine and/or a suspension if the BBBofC decide he should be sanctioned.
In the aftermath of Saturday night, the Mancunian was offered £500,000 by promoter Frank Maloney to renew his rivalry with Price, to whom he lost as an amateur.
Gone 82 seconds: Price was brutally blew Audley Harrison away inside the first round at the weekend
In an initial televised outburst, Fury lambasted Price and Maloney and bizarrely suggested fellow Liverpudlian and British light-heavyweight champion Tony Bellew was the 29-year-old's 'gay lover'.
Fury then posted a video on his Twitter page where he told the 2008 Beijing Olympic bronze medalist: 'I'm going to put you in intensive care'.
Price is to defend his titles against veteran Matt Skelton on December 8, but outside of the Klitschko brothers or David Haye, Fury is the opponent the boxing public would like to see him face next.
That encounter may be harder to make after the 29-year-old took just 82 seconds to batter Harrison in a highly-impressive performance that indicates he is a genuine heavyweight contender.
However, given the interest and money to be made from such a highly-anticipated domestic showdown, it is certain to happen at some point.
Amir Khan: I'll only fight Ricky Hatton or Kell Brook if there's a title on the line
- 10 October 2012
Ricky Hatton will have to win a world title before Amir Khan agrees to meet him in the richest all-British fight this century.
As Khan prepares to fly to California for his new training camp, he has also made world championship credentials a condition of any clash with Kell Brook.
It is the prospect of a classic war between Hatton, on his comeback, and Khan which has the home fans and TV networks salivating.
On the comeback trail: Amir Khan says Ricky Hatton will have to win a world title before the duo meet
But Khan has made it clear that he will put the regaining of his world championship status ahead of the huge reward which would accrue in meeting the Manchester Hitman.
Khan, who begins his return from two defeats by fighting undefeated Mexican-American Carlos Molina in Los Angeles on December 15, said: ‘I know boxing is a business but my priority is world titles. I know how big a fight with Ricky could be but assuming all goes well against Molina, I will be hoping for a rematch with Danny Garcia next.’
Garcia’s knockout inflicted in the second — and least controversial — of Khan’s recent setbacks should offer a quick route back to world title action.
First things first: Khan faces Carlos Molina in Vegas on December 15
But Khan injected a sharp dose of reality into the Hatton speculation when he said: ‘Look, if Ricky and I lose these next fights of ours, there will be no point us getting it on. I have to face the fact I can’t afford a third straight defeat, so beating Molina is crucial for me.
‘Before that, we’ll have to see how Ricky goes in his comeback fight next month. But from my point of view, if he doesn’t bring a title it won’t happen.
‘He and I are friends and we’ve been to each other’s houses but if we both get the job done I wouldn’t be against us fighting in principle.’
Get in the ring: Ricky Hatton will return to boxing on November 24
Sheffield’s Brook has been calling out Khan, even though he fights in a heavier division. But Bolton’s former Olympic silver medallist said: ‘Although I expect to move up to full welterweight next year, I can’t see much reason for a fight with Brook. I doubt he is going to become a world champion in the next 12 months.’
Khan admits that for him to regain that status himself, he will have to work diligently on the defensive strategies being prepared for him by his new trainer, Virgil Hunter.
Khan, who laughed and waved away suggestions he had fought off street muggers by showing me his undamaged hands, said: ‘Virgil began at once working on the defensive skills which I know I need to add. I got caught by Garcia because, after so many comfortable wins, I thought all that was necessary was to go out on the offensive. I won’t make that mistake again.’
Amir Khan reveals Virgil Hunter training plan ahead of Carlos Molina fight
- 09 October 2012
Amir Khan is looking to return to the basics under new trainer Virgil Hunter ahead of his first fight since splitting from Freddie Roach.
Khan, who will meet Carlos Molina in Los Angeles on December 15, severed his ties with Roach following back-to-back defeats and will now be aiming to return to winning ways against the unbeaten American.
Former WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion Khan cited a lack of training time with Roach as one of the major reasons behind his decision to change trainer and is hoping things will be different under Hunter.
Back to basics: Amir Khan is getting ready for his return to the rung against Carlos Molina
He said: 'We have changed a lot of stuff for this upcoming fight, first of all the trainer which I think is a massive part of the camp.
'The reason I had to change trainer is because when you are always winning a fight you never look at the bad points but when you lose a fight you sit down with your team and you go through the whole camp and where you think you went wrong.
'Freddie is a great trainer but I wasn't getting everything I wanted.
'Freddie is a very busy guy and one of the best trainers in the world, I personally the one who called Freddie on the phone and told him I would no longer be training with him.'
The 25-year-old also confirmed he had spoken to several trainers, including Floyd Mayweather Snr, but was comfortable with Hunter and felt he was the right man to progress his career.
Talking up his chance: Khan spoke to the media at The Mayfair Hotel
'I spoke to Virgil and the first thing I said to him was that you have Andre Ward and I hope you are not going to be busy like Freddie was with Manny Pacquiao and I do get 100 per cent of your time,' he said.
'He made it clear he is going to be with me 100 per cent and whenever I need him he is going to be there - he wants a fighter/trainer relationship where we speak together and get on well together.'
Following defeats to Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia Khan is all-too-aware that he is far from the finished article inside the ring and is ready to utilise the knowledge of his new coach.
He said: 'I'm still not 100 per cent, I've still got room for improvement and it is maybe going back to the basics and looking at where I make mistakes and improving them.
'I'm an offensive fighter and I need my trainer to teach me the defensive part of training whilst at the same time remaining as offensively good.
'So that is what we are going to be working on, we know exactly what we have to do. We have never really had a defence if you think about it.'
Khan feels that Hunter can also get him behaving like a true boxer again as opposed to letting the red mist descend if a bout is not going in his favour.
'My main style was a boxer, using my brains and stuff, and then when you start winning fights so comfortably you can forget about the meaning of being a boxer,' he said.
'What Virgil wants me to do is go back to the boxing again but be a smart boxer and understand what I have to do.
'That is a big part on Virgil too because he has to teach me what he wants me to do and it is about sticking to a gameplan because sometimes when I see red I forget about the gameplan and go all out.'
Fight night: Khan hopes to bounce back from his defeat to Danny Garcia when he takes on Molina in December
Olympic silver medallist Khan is confident he can reclaim a world title within the next 12 months and is hopeful his legions of fans will continue to support him.
He said: 'It is an ideal fight for us, we have to win this fight to come back and be right at the top.
'I can promise you next year we will fight for a world title and win a world title and become a world champion again.
'I hope the UK fans turn up, I'm sure Molina is going to bring a big fanbase and I'm sure my UK fans plus my American fans are going to turn up and we will make sure we finish the year with a bang.'
Dereck Chisora given indefinite ban by World Boxing Council
- 29 February 2012
Dereck Chisora has been suspended indefinitely by the World Boxing Council for his behaviour before and after his fight with Vitali Klitschko.
British heavyweight Chisora was involved in a brawl with countryman David Haye at the news conference after his defeat by the Ukrainian in Munich.
David Haye leaves for Las Vegas as German police wait to question brawler
- 23 February 2012
German detectives must sit and wait for up to a fortnight as their pursuit of David Haye is held up by red tape following Saturday's brawl in Munich.
Haye flew off to 'warmer climates' - Las Vegas - on Tuesday in good spirits despite the fact he could face up to five years in a German prison if found guilty of 'dangerous assault' during the chaotic clash with Dereck Chisora, who could in theory be jailed for two years himself.
Viva Las Vegas: David Haye pictured with a pal after arriving in the US
However, both sentences would be extreme scenarios and any action is more likely to be in the form of strong financial penalties.
Munich Police have revealed it could take up to two weeks to get hold of Haye as they look to speak to him in connection with the incident.
Jetting off: David Haye jokes with his entourage at Heathrow before departing for the US
'Party time': Haye walks through Heathrow airport
He had been keeping a low profile but arrived at Heathrow Airport on Tuesday afternoon before boarding a BA flight and writing on Twitter: 'Jetting off to warmer climates. Its PARTY TIME!'
Haye then posted a picture on social networking site Twitter of himself in a first-class aeroplane seat.
A Munich Police spokesman confirmed this week they would enlist the help of British colleagues at Scotland Yard to track down Haye but it is believed such a bureaucratic process could take up to a fortnight.
Chisora was arrested, questioned and released on Sunday, having grappled with Haye and vowed to 'shoot' his rival during their confrontation, which followed his WBC heavyweight title loss to Vitali Klitschko.
Haye, who punched Chisora with a fist clutching a glass bottle and then seemed to hit Chisora's trainer Don Charles with a camera tripod, fled immediately and headed straight for the airport with manager Adam Booth.
Setting off: Haye relaxes on in his first class seat ahead of take off to 'warmer climates'
Booth had suffered a nasty cut to the head, seemingly from accidentally getting in the way of Haye's tripod.
A German police spokesman said: 'We're going to ask the British to help us but this is not a quick process. We have to go through the right channels, send letters, et cetera.
'We don't expect something to happen for around two weeks. It is not a serious charge, like murder, it is just a case involving two famous people.'
Night of shame: Haye and Dereck Chisora came to blows in Munich
Booth reiterated that former world champion Haye has no intention of meeting Chisora in the ring.
'David is still retired, he has no plans to fight again,' Booth told Radio Five Live.
'He's always said the only people he would come out (of retirement) to fight is one of the Klitschko brothers and what happened on Saturday night doesn't change that one bit.'
Manny Pacquiao declined £25.5m offer to fight Floyd Mayweather Jnr
- 23 February 2012
Manny Pacquiao has revealed he turned down a £25.5million offer to fight Floyd Mayweather Jnr as he would have been denied any of the pay-per–view cash.
The PacMan declined the mammoth purse but the hugely anticipated fight between the world's No 1 and No 2 pound-for-pound ranked boxers would net £95.5m from the PPV rights alone.
The Filipino congressman cannot agree to terms that will see his opponent take such a huge chunk from the richest fight in history and wants all money to be split down the middle.
Straight talking: Pacquiao declined a big pay day to fight Mayweather
Pacquiao said: 'I was in the Philippines, and I told him, "We need to make this fight happen".
'I said I would agree to a 50-50 (split), and he said, "Oh, I'll give you a £25.5m guarantee, and no pay-per-view. I'll take all the pay-per-view.
'I don't accept that offer. It's kind of embarrassing to me. It's trying to take advantage of me. He doesn't want to fight.'
Pacquiao is preparing for his welterweight bout with Timothy Bradley Jr on June 6 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, but talk of the Mayweather clash is never far from boxing fan's minds.
But the defending champ says he is happy to confront Bradley who faces losing his unbeaten record (28-0, 12 KOs) later this summer.
Cheese! Pacquiao takes snaps of Bradley before they view the results (below)
'I'm willing to fight Mayweather,' Pacquiao said. 'But I have to fight the guys who are hungry to fight me. Timothy Bradley is strong, and he can punch. He's a good boxer, so it's a challenge to fight a guy like that.'
Bradley and Pacquiao exchanged jokes during the press conference in Beverley Hills but the challenger is hoping to cause a major upset and end the champion's reign at the top of the sport.
Bardley said: 'Pacquiao is probably the best fighter in the history of boxing.
'He's a great role model, a great guy, but Manny Pacquiao has reigned for a long time, and I really feel like I'm the new face of boxing.'
Pacquiao's longtime trainer Freddie Roach added: 'It's nice to be fighting a fighter who is undefeated and not worried about losing that zero on his record.'
Khan-Peterson: 'Mystery man' claims he corrected Welsh's errors
- 18 January 2012
The "mystery man" at the centre of the Amir Khan row has told the BBC Sport he was correcting clear errors made by the fight's scoring supervisor.
Mustafa Ameen was accused by Khan of interfering with judges' scorecards in his defeat against Lamont Peterson. But Ameen claims he only pointed out mistakes made by Michael Welsh, who had said he was unwell.
Amir Khan-Lamont Peterson hearing cancelled as appeal withdrawn
- 18 January 2012
Wednesday's hearing into Amir Khan's controversial December defeat by Lamont Peterson has been cancelled.
Khan's promoters Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) issued a statement saying it was due to "only partial representation of fight officials who were involved". Peterson's camp intend to appeal against last week's World Boxing Association decision to order a rematch of the fight.
But BBC Sport understands talks over a rematch will be held on Wednesday.
Muhammad Ali at 70: Bill Clinton hails Ali's worldwide impact
- 17 January 2012
Muhammad Ali's talent, charisma and strong principals were responsible for raising boxing's popularity across the world, according to former US president Bill Clinton.
Clinton also credited Ali, who turned 70 on Tuesday, with helping pave the way for Barack Obama to become the country's first black president.
"He made millions of people believe. He was something unique," said Clinton.
WBA orders Khan-Peterson rematch
- 13 January 2012
The World Boxing Association has confirmed it has ordered a rematch between Amir Khan and Lamont Peterson.
Khan lost his WBA and IBF titles to Peterson in December and has questioned a number of aspects of the fight. And WBA vice-president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza said: "I can confirm we have ordered a direct rematch."
Lamont Peterson's camp hit back at Amir Khan complaints
- 12 January 2012
Lamont Peterson's manager and trainer has vowed to fight efforts to overturn his charge's victory over Amir Khan.
Peterson dethroned Khan in Washington DC last month, only for the Briton's camp to launch an appeal, which will be heard on 18 January. Khan is upset the referee deducted him two points for pushing and alleges the scorecards were interfered with.
"We will not let these foul tactics take away from Lamont's hard work and monumental victory," said Barry Hunter.
Amir Khan 'mystery man' not an IBF official, insists boxing authority
- 11 January 2012
The International Boxing Federation has confirmed the "mystery man" accused by Amir Khan of interfering with judges' scorecards in his defeat against Lamont Peterson is not an official of the organisation.
The boxing authority said Mustafa Ameen is neither employed nor a sanctioning official, as had been previously claimed by one of the promoters of the fight.
"Mr Ameen does outreach work for the IBF's Sarb [Special Assistance for Retired Boxers] Education Fund," the organisation said in a statement.
US boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr jailed for domestic abuse
- 22 December 2011
US boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr has been jailed for 90 days by a Las Vegas court after pleading guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Josie Harris, in 2010.
He was also ordered to pay a fine of $2,500 (£1,600) and complete 100 hours of community service. Mayweather, 34, agreed to a plea deal, meaning he will not have to answer felony charges of beating Ms Harris and threatening two of their children.
Dereck Chisora to fight Vitali Klitschko for WBC heavyweight title
- 13 December 2011
Chisora, 27, will take on the Ukrainian in Munich, Germany. He has twice been scheduled to face Klitschko's brother Wladimir, who pulled out both times through injury.
Miguel Cotto gets revenge on Antonio Margarito
- 05 December 2011
Miguel Cotto gained revenge for his 2008 defeat by Antonio Margarito by beating the Mexican to retain his WBA light-middleweight title.
Margarito controversially beat the Puerto Rican in 2008, laterreceiving a ban for using illegal hand wraps before a loss to Shane Mosley. On Saturday, Cotto beat Margarito into submission for nine rounds in New York before the fight was stopped.
Wladimir Klitschko pulls out of Jean-Marc Mormeck fight
- 05 December 2011
World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has called off the defence of his titles against Frenchman Jean-Marc Mormeck on Saturday.
Klitschko, who holds the IBF, IBO, WBO and WBA belts, was taken to hospital on Friday to have a kidney stone removed.
