Heavyweight contender Joseph Parker (19-0, 16 KOs) outpointed Carlos Takam (33-3-1, 25 KOs) by a 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night in a IBF eliminator bout at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau City, New Zealand.
Parker won by scores of 116-112, 116-112, 115-113.
The 24-year-old New Zealander mostly jabbed in the opening round while Takam, 35, countered with some hooks. Parker started landing numerous hard shots in the following rounds but the France-based Cameroon fighter…
Deontay Wilder vs Alexander Povetkin called off
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder’s defence against mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin on May 21 at the Khodynka Ice Palace in Moscow has been called off.
American Wilder was due to make the fourth defence of his belt but his Russian opponent failed a drugs test.
Povetkin tested positive for meldonium, a substance that was added to the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) banned list last year, and the WBC has decided to postpone the bout, pending an investigation.
The WBC said in a…
Haskins outpoints Morales to retain IBF bantamweight title
IBF bantamweight champion Lee Haskins (33-3, 14 KOs) scored a 12 round unanimous decision over Ivan Morales (29-2, 17 KOs) on Saturday night at the Ice Arena in Cardiff, Wales.
Haskins boxed and moved well throughout to overcome a height and reach disadvantage and win by scores of 119-108, 118-110 and 118-110.
The Bristol boxer utilized his unorthodox southpaw style from the start, picking off Morales as he came forward.
Haskins continued to land hard shots in the following rounds and by the…
Alexander Povetkin fails drugs test
Heavyweight contender Alexander Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs) has failed a drugs test ahead of his world title fight against American Deontay Wilder (36-0, 35 KOs).
The Russian is scheduled to challenge WBC champion Wilder at the Megasport Arena in Moscow on May 21, but Povetkin tested positive for the banned substance meldonium and the heavyweight bout is now in doubt.
Meldonium – the same drug found in tennis star Maria Sharapova’s sample at the Australian Open – was added to the banned…
Lucas Browne stripped of WBA title
Lucas Browne has been stripped of his WBA heavyweight title after his ‘B’ sample tested positive for the banned steroid clenbuterol.
Browne failed a drug test after stopping Ruslan Chagaev in March in Russia to become Australia’s first heavyweight world champion.
Now the result of the fight will be changed to a no-contest and he will be suspended for six months after both his ‘A’and ‘B’ samples tested positive for the steroid. However, other sanctioning bodies do not have to recognize his…
Terence Crawford and Viktor Postol to fight in unification clash on July 23
WBO light welterweight champion Terence Crawford (28-0, 20 KOs) will fight WBC titleholder Viktor Postol (28-0, 12 KOs) in a unification fight on July 23 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
American Crawford, 28, a former lightweight world champion, claimed the vacant WBO belt when he stopped Thomas Dulorme in the 6th round in April 2015. He has since scored impressive stoppage victories over Dierry Jean and Hank Lundy in his two defences.
“I’m here to show everyone I belong here, and that…
Liam Smith to defend WBO belt against Predrag Radosevic on June 4
WBO light middleweight champion Liam Smith (22-0-1, 12 KOs) will defend his title against Predrag Radosevic (30-1, 11 KOs) on June 4 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.
The Liverpudlian knocked out American John Thompson to claim the vacant WBO belt in October, and he defended it when he stopped fellow Brit Jimmy Kelly in December. Next he takes on Radosevic, of Montenegro, whose only defeat came against Felix Sturm in 2013.
“It’s a good fight for me,” said Smith. “He’s a good solid European…
Canelo knocks out Khan in six
WBC middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) defeated former light welterweight world champion Amir Khan (31-4, 19 KOs) by a spectacular 6th round KO on Saturday night at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Canelo, who dethroned Miguel Cotto by unanimous decision last November, knocked Khan out cold with a huge right hand to retain the title in brutal fashion.
Khan started well, landing fast combinations before getting out of range while Canelo pressed forward and threw…
Crolla blasts out Barroso to retain world title
WBA lightweight champion Anthony Crolla (31-4-3, 13 KOs) stopped previously unbeaten Ismael Barroso (19-1-2, 18 KOs) in the 7th round on Saturday night at the Manchester Arena.
Crolla claimed the WBA belt when he stopped Darleys Perez with a body shot at the same venue in November, and he retained the title for the first time by a KO victory with the same punch.
Barroso threw a lot of punches in the early rounds and cut Crolla by his right eye in the 4th round.
The home fighter came back with…
Pulev outpoints Chisora for European heavyweight title
Kubrat Pulev (23-1, 12 KOs) outpointed Dereck Chisora (25-6, 17 KOs) by a split decision on Saturday night at the Barclaycard Arena in Hamburg, Germany.
Two of the judges scores were 116-112, 118-110 for Pulev, while the third had it 115-113 for Chisora.
Pulev landed some good blows in the early rounds while Chisora connected with the occasional shot.
The Bulgarian continued to dominate the action with his jab in the following rounds but he suffered a cut over his left eye from a clash of…