Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins first met in the ring 16 years ago. It was for a vacant middleweight title on May 22, 1993. Roy won by a unanimous decision, but at the time, neither fighter was that big of a deal. Now, sixteen years later, both are considered ring royalty—they’ve each gone their separate ways and each has made history on their own merit, without having met in the ring since. Until now—a reunion has been planned and boxing fans can’t wait.
It’s so hard to believe this rematch didn’t occur earlier. Both fighters are now in their 40s—Roy …read more

Boxing promised us a welterweight fight for the ages and for 11 rounds Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito provided. Margarito charged relentlessly with defiant straightforward abandon while Cotto skillfully bobbed, weaved, counterpunched and scored with inspired boxing. Power punch after power punch from both fighters, bomb after bomb.
But in the 11th it was the Mexican, the Tijuana Tornado Antonio Margarito, who proved to have the greater will as the Puerto Rican Cotto quit on his feet, too battered, unwilling and unable to summon strength in the championship rounds.
Cotto’s corner ostensibly threw in the towel but Miguel’s sinking eyes and …read more

Image details: Kelly Pavlik v Jermain Taylor served by picapp.com
ESPN.com is reporting that middleweight champ Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik will face boxing’s Methuselah Bernard Hopkins on October 18 in Atlantic City, New Jersey’s Boardwalk Hall. The bout will be fought at a 170-pound catch weight and will be broadcasted on HBO Pay-Per-View.
Pavlik’s promotor Bob Arum admitted to ESPN that “This fight was not our first choice, but it was the only alternative we had to make a buck.” How’s that for salesmanship? You know Bob, it wouldn’t have been this fight fan’s first choice either — that would have been …read more

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For all those pundits hoping and wishing that Bernard Hopkins would just go away, retire, and not be heard from again: your wish is not coming true. Hopkins will not go quietly into that good night. He hasn’t announced a next fight but he certainly has something to say about Chuck Giampa.
Who’s Chuck Giampa? He is the judge who scored in favor of Joe Calzaghe 116-111. Unlike Bernard, Chuck is leaving the fight game, retiring after scoring over 2,000 bouts. When ESPN.com told Hopkins of Giampa’s departure he …read more

Image details: Joe Calzaghe Media Interview served by picapp.com
If you call your opponent a “sore loser” doesn’t that necessarily indicate that you’re a sore winner? In Joe Calzaghe’s case it just means that he’s a classless boxer who doesn’t know when to shut up or give a great fighter credit.
What this all means is that Calzaghe is at it again, talking to BBC Two in a Sunday interview, view it here, spouting off about everything, professing his love for countryman Tom Jones and Al Pacino, insulting Bernard Hopkins‘ performance and attitude, harping about the referee and American judges, and …read more

Image details: Bernard Hopkins v Joe Calzaghe served by picapp.com
Joe Calzaghe is no Ricky Hatton. He doesn’t bring legions of Britons to Las Vegas, he’s not gracious to his opponent in post-match interviews, he doesn’t want to fight dangerous young fighters, but, most importantly, he’s able to find a way to win, however controversially, against his American opponent thus maintaining his undefeated record.
Calzaghe escaped the 43-year-old Bernard Hopkins’ technical, throwback counterpuncing style with a high volume of pitter-pat slaps and occasional rabbit punches scoring a close split decision victory and the linear light heavyweight title. Judges Ted Gizma (115-112) and …read more

Image details: Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe Grand Arrivals served by picapp.com
Welsh superstar light heavyweight Joe Calzaghe is finally coming to the United States. Las Vegas to be specific. It’s been a long time coming. He’s held a world title since 1997, he’s undefeated in 44 professional bouts, and he could be boxing biggest drawing power. (35,000+ attended both of his last two fights).
But all 44 of the 36-year-old’s fights have taken place on European soil and the respect from American fight fans never really materialized. We say it’s easy to be fast and powerful when your opponents are …read more