Author: Dave Johnson

The welterweight division, 147 pounds, the division of Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard and a pantheon of other lightning like fighters has a new champion.  He’s 40 years old. We’ve seen this sort of thing before but not quite. We’ve seen George Foreman become a champion in his forties. We’ve seen Bernard Hopkins become…

The first month of 2019 has been a peculiar one in the boxing world. In a sport that’s always looking into the horizon for the next fresh face, the next big thing, and the next rising star, a considerable amount of time has been spent on those not about to…

Its an unusal one for some of us Stateside. Every once in a while we get a boxing match with breakfast and almost always the fighters hail from Oceania and the Far East. While not necessarily relevant to the hegemony of the welterweight division, Friday’s Aussie grudge match between Jeff…

“Once upon a time we were a promising kid. Then a challenger. Then a champion. A great champion. A long-time champion. And then a has-been who finally retired. So long, champ,” Larry Merchant- HBO  broadcaster on the end of HBO Boxing. One didn’t need a telescope or a tarot card reading…

Our man on the ground in Asia this weekend, Dave Johnson, describes what he saw at the Pacquiao vs Matthysse Malaysia event. The acoustics were dreadful, the internet connection weaving in and out of existence, and surprisingly, there only seemed to be only two concession stands in an arena designed…

Soccer fans have had their fun in Moscow, Russia, but come July 21st it’ll be a night for the sweet science as two fighters will clash in a matchup that has hardcore fans absolutely rabid. Russia’s unified champion Murat Gassiev will meet in the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight final against Ukraine’s…

New York City, Las Vegas, London. Most championship level boxing takes place within these three cities and even more so, even with the truly global sport that is the sweet science, the matches with the most meaning are taking place from the Prime Meridian and westward. Once in a great…

Tonight is certain a night for the uncommon in the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Generally second to Montreal in the big fight game, nevertheless it hosts the most meaningful defense in years of lineal and WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson as he squares off against Badou Jack…

What next for Golovkin after the draw with Canelo? You’d think the immediate rematch but there might be one fight in between. The rematch talks are already underway for a Golovkin vs Canelo part two. The route to match number two is far from a direct one, as was the…

Looking at the combined Rigondeaux Lomachenko amateur records and pedigree makes you realise what a special professional fight it will be. At long last, the battle between arguably the two best amateur boxers ever, Ukraine’s Vasyl Lomachanko (9-1 7KO) and Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-0 1NC 11KO) will meet in a…

There’s another world middleweight title happening this weekend in England. Lets try to breakdown a solid Saunders vs Monroe Jr prediction. Fighter records Willie Monroe Jr. (21-2-6KO) vs. Billy Joe Saunders (24-0-12KO). Preview While most of the world watches the Canelo Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin superfight this weekend, the WBO middleweight title,…

A breakdown of the IBO super-middleweight world title fight between Eubank vs Yildirim in the World Boxing Super Series tournament. Date and venue: October 7th, 2017. Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuggart, Germany Fighter records: Chris Eubank Jr. (25-1 19KO) vs. Anvi Yildirim (16-0 10KO) Even his most vociferous critics will admit there is…

Mike Perez vs Mairis Briedis could very well be one of the best fights to look forward to over the coming weeks ahead outside of Golovkin vs Canelo. Date: September 30th, 2017. Arena Riga, Riga, Latvia. Records and Belts on the line: WBC, IBO Champion Mariris Breidis (22-0 18KO) vs…

Murat Gassiev is well known to hardcore boxing fans, but casual boxing and sports fans alike could be about to get to know him a lot better. Titles on the line and pro records: IBF Champion Murat Gassiev (24-0 1NC 17KO)vs Krysztopf Wlodarczyk (53-3-1 37KO) Date and Venue: October 21st,…

Robert Brant might not be known to many fight fans yet but his upcoming opportunity against a teak tough German could be just what he needs. Fighter records: Juergen Braehmer (48-3 35KO) vs Robert Brant (22-0 15KO) Date: October 28th, 2017. Venue TBA. While the only American of the World…

A look ahead to the George Groves vs Jamie Cox showdown in the 168lbs division that takes place in the World Boxing Super Series. Date and Location: October 14th, 2017. Wembley Arena, London, United Kingdom Fighter records: George Groves (26-3 19KO) vs. Jamie Cox (24-0 13KO) Most likely the least competitive…

Callum Smith vs Erik Skoglund represents the the latest test for the highly touted Smith’s career thus far. Will he take it or fold under pressure? Weight, Date and Venue: Super Middleweight Division, September 16th, 2017. Echo Arena, Liverpool, United Kingdom. Fighter records: Callum Smith (22-0 17KO) vs Erik Skoglund…

A look ahead to Yunier Dorticos vs Dmitry Kudryashov in the World Boxing Super Series. Lets try to break it down and call it. Date: September 23rd, 2017- Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas. Titles on the line and records: WBA (regular) Champion Yunier Dorticos (21-0 20KO) vs Dmitry Kudryashov (21-1 21KO) (WBC Silver…

Dave Johnson breaks down Oleksandr Usyk vs Marco Huck taking place tonight, September 9th, 2017 at the Max Schmeling-Halle in Berlin, Germany. WBO Champion Oleksandr Usyk (12-0 10KO) vs Marco Huck (40-4-1 27KO) duke it out tonight in what promises to be an intriguing fight. Usyk, the tournament’s overall favorite and…

It wasn’t supposed to be this way.  All the nay-sayers and negativists, they were saying what a dud it was going to be, and to an extent I was too.  A rip-off, a heist, whatever. When the final bell rang, no one, say for die-hard Mayweather haters, really said they…

Former champion Nathan Cleverly retires after getting pulverized by Swedish challenger and now secondary champion Badou Jack. Cleverly had little to offer in terms of competition before getting stopped in the fifth round via technical knockout. Jack seeks to do more damage in the light heavyweight division moving forward no…

Gervonta Davis stripped of world title on the eve of the Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor event in Las Vegas. The IBF junior lightweight title is now vacant as Davis (18-0 17KO) came in at 132 pounds, two pounds over the limit in what was to be his upcoming defense against…

The Wladimir Klitschko career has now come to an end but what an incredible run it’s been. Lets take a stroll down memory lane. As you’ve most likely heard by now, former heavyweight champion and future hall of famer Wladimir Klitschko has decided to hang up the gloves for good.…

Terence Crawford lands a big fight that could see him climb even further up the mythical pound for pound list in the near future. Boxing may soon see another undisputed champion announced as soon as August as the two standing titlists in the junior welterweight division will face off. Terence…

As expected, the Nevada State Athletic Commission voted unanimously to overrule a knockout win for Guillermo Rigondeaux. Officially bringing the two time Olympic god medallist to 17-0 with 11 knockouts and one no contest. As the co-feature, it was on the undercard to the Sergey Kovalev vs Andre Ward light…

A Guillermo Rigondeaux no contest ruling is the last thing ‘El Chacal’ needs in a professional fight career filled with frustration for him. Reports have come in that the Nevada State Athletic Commission is planning to change the first round knockout win for Cuban amateur phenom turned undefeated professional champion…

  Why is Terence Crawford going under the radar despite his considerable talent? There might be a number of reasons, but the only way is up. It’s a rare thing, indeed, to see a champion like Omaha’s Terence Crawford. Most likely the odds on favorite to be boxing’s next undisputed…