WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker (22-0, 18 KOs) will fight mandatory challenger Hughie Fury (20-0, 10 KOs) on April 1 in Auckland, New Zealand.
WBO president Francisco Valcarcel announced on Friday that Parker’s promoters Duco Events have won the purse bids to gain promotional rights to his title defence against Fury with an offer of $3,000,011.
The location has not yet been determined, but it looks likely to be at the Vector Arena, the same venue that the New Zealander claimed a points…
Want Your Voice Heard on Street Fighter V’s Most Pressing Issues? r/StreetFighter is Submitting Your Opinions to Capcom
It is no secret that Street Fighter V has been plagued with issues from the start. There have been server issues, as well as the notorious lack of an arcade mode. It seemed that for every thing they did right, something else was going wrong.
With Season 2 came even more issues. If you were in Capcom’s shoes hearing complaint after complaint, it could be hard for them to see where exactly to start righting the ship. But the team over at the r/StreetFighter subreddit are trying to help them do just that.
They have created a poll which shows a plethora of the game’s issues, from the missing Linux port that was promised, to the problems with the netcode. When they finish compiling data from the poll–which goes by you ranking the issues in the priority you want to see them fixed–they will then submit the list to Capcom so that they know what the most pressing issues are. Hopefully then, they will be able to work on these issues in a timely manner.
[Editor’s note: of course, as a community poll there’s no guarantee Capcom will take any action according to the results–but it will certainly demonstrate what the community feels needs attention the most.]
Source: r/StreetFighter
CEO 2017 Will Use the PlayStation 4 Version of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
The (currently) newest version of this title will be the one played on at CEO 2017.
As soon as it was revealed that we’d be seeing a PlayStation 4 port of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, the question arose as to whether this new version would become the new tournament standard–as players have reported that the game does have slight timing differences to prior editions. This weekend’s Undefeated already adopted the PS4 port of UMvC3 (with the caveat that they would revert to Xbox 360 is problems arise); now CEO 2017 will be following that example, as revealed on their tournament main page:
Considering how many other titles on current-gen consoles are running at events this year, it is perhaps unsurprising, logistically, that the Xbox 360 would fall by the wayside. Time will tell if the upcoming Xbox One release of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3–due in March–will become preferred instead.
CEO Fighting Game Championships 2017 will be in Orlando, Florida July 16-18.
Thanks to Joel for the tip.
Source: CEO Gaming
– RUMOR: Layoffs Hit Perfect World & Trion
Rumors are swirling through Facebook that layoffs are underway at both Perfect World Entertainment and Trion Worlds. The topic has come up on Facebook and on other social media outlets. We have reached out to representatives for more information and will keep you posted as the stories develop.
Cotto vs Kirkland called off
Miguel Cotto’s light middleweight bout with American James Kirkland on February 25 has been called off.
Kirkland, who hasn’t fought since he was knocked out in the third round by Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in May 2015, has pulled out of the fight after suffering a fractured nose in training.
It is unknown whether the bout will be rescheduled.
Cotto was last in action in November 2015 when he lost the WBC middleweight title by a points decision to Canelo.
The Puerto Rican may now look for a new…
Fuudo Explains Why He Always Picks Top Tier Characters in Fighting Games
Fuudo is always known for being a strong player in whatever game he dedicates himself to. He was recognized for his strength in games like Virtua Fighter, and later showed that strength on the international stage in Street Fighter IV as well as Street Fighter V.
While part of his abilities lie of course in himself, another part lies in his ability to pick top tier characters and use them effectively. In a recent interview with Japanese YouTube program Toco Toco TV, Razer’s sponsored player talked about his mentality for picking characters, stating “When I play a fighting game or something else, I try to find which character is the strongest, so that way I’ll be strong with a strong character.” He also talks about why he likes fighting games, saying “One of the reasons I like fighting games is that you have to make decisions on the spot.”
Source: theScore esports
Elevate’s Mr.R May Be Unable to Attend US Tournaments Due to Trump’s Travel Ban
Last week saw United States President Donald Trump sign an executive order restricting travel to the United States of citizens and immigrants from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, and Libya for a total of four months. While the implications and controversy of this signing will assuredly play out on the political and international stage for a long time to come, it is quite possible that the FGC itself has seen a casualty to this travel ban.
Ramin “Mr.R” Delshad, the current #10 ranked Super Smash Bros. for Wii U player and member of Elevate Gaming, is a Dutch national whose family originally come from Iran. As such, it is uncertain whether he will be able to attend US tournaments as a result of the executive order. He has taken to Twitter to state that while contacting the United States embassy in the Netherlands, he received notice that the travel ban extends to dual nationals.
Well…. that was fast
Emailed the U.S. department of state as well, but they'll probably respond with the same thing
RIP pic.twitter.com/7dGIkpZTGb
— Elevate Mr.R (@Mr_RSmash) January 30, 2017
However, when reading more information provided from the US government, he is given a conflicting report that dual nationals are protected by their issuing document. Thus if he provides a Dutch passport, he will be treated as a Dutch citizen and allowed entrance.
So today the US goverment provided more information about the dual citizenship ban and it seems they ARE allowed in the country? pic.twitter.com/E2rX4mJ9Nc
— Elevate Mr.R (@Mr_RSmash) January 31, 2017
At any rate, the confusion and the concerns over his legal rights has forced him to opt out of going to various early events in the United States, going to Japan to train instead.
If I am indeed banned from entering the country for the next 90 days, I'll probably go to Japan for a few months to train there instead.
— Elevate Mr.R (@Mr_RSmash) January 30, 2017
Even if I'm not banned from the US, I'm still gonna go to Japan for anime plot purposes
— Elevate Mr.R (@Mr_RSmash) January 31, 2017
Mr.R is certainly not the only player that is feeling the effect of this travel ban sadly, as Street Fighter V player Arman “Phenom” Hanjani is also affected by the current travel restrictions.
Hopefully this doesn't last long, otherwise my CPT season will be already done
https://t.co/oyxhNVQc2V
— Arman Hanjani (@PhenomSF) January 28, 2017
Current reports from the US State Department indicate that as long as a person traveling to the USA has a valid passport from an unrestricted country, has a valid US visa and uses that unrestricted passport, they should not be affected by the executive order. As long as Mr.R has a Dutch passport and Phenom has a Norwegian passport, both should be able to attend US events without issue.
Sources: ABC News; PhenomSF (Twitter); Mr.R (Twitter)
Street Fighter V and Various Players Make Guest Appearances in Akiba’s Trip: The Animation
Currently airing in Japan, Akiba’s Trip: The Animation is an anime (based on the video game of the same name) that’s made something of a name for itself for a number of shout-outs and references to other bits of Japanese pop culture. As such, it should come as no surprise then that an episode based on a fighting game tournament would somehow reference Street Fighter V and its competitive scene.
Now “reference” is selling the episode short. The entire premise of Akiba’s Trip: The Animation’s fifth episode is based around a Street Fighter V tournament, and there are a number of top Street Fighter players in attendance. In one shot alone, we see can clearly see Razer’s Fuudo, GODSGARDEN Pro’s Kazunoko, and Detonation Gaming’s Itazan.
If their arrangement looks familiar, it is, as Kazunoko himself as mentioned on Twitter, based on a photo of the three of them from their stream.
あれ…??#アキバニ #akibani pic.twitter.com/xF1DqOlroF
— かずのこ(Kazunoko) (@kazunoko0215) February 1, 2017
In addition to this, MOV can can be seen standing to the side on one shot while someone who seems to be Tokido points out something on stage. Both even even have some dialogue pointing out how the current player spends their first match downloading their opponent.
In addition to this, one of the opponents faced by the main character, Tamotsu,is an African-American Zangief player (wearing a shirt and cap) that’s clearly a shout out to Red Bull’s Snake Eyez.
Of course, Street Fighter itself features a lot in the episode, including an homage to the Evo Moment #37.
Earlier in the episode, we get a glimpse of some old school Street Fighter II Turbo Hyper Fighting where Tamotsu first meets his rival Matsuko.
So yeah this is definitely happening in Akiba's Trip. pic.twitter.com/42zX9VSJyM
— Megumin❤️Explosions (@An_ca_te) February 1, 2017
The episode itself ends with a match on stage between the main character and a new character introduced this week. We won’t spoil how that goes down. For anyone interesting in watching episode five of Akiba’s Trip: The Animation, the series is currently simulcast over on CrunchyRoll.
Sources: CrunchyRoll via Kazunoko; Megumin Explosions
Street Fighter V and Various Players Make Guest Appearances in Akiba’s Trip: The Animation
Currently airing in Japan, Akiba’s Trip: The Animation is an anime (based on the video game of the same name) that’s made something of a name for itself for a number of shout-outs and references to other bits of Japanese pop culture. As such, it should come as no surprise then that an episode based on a fighting game tournament would somehow reference Street Fighter V and its competitive scene.
Now “reference” is selling the episode short. The entire premise of Akiba’s Trip: The Animation’s fifth episode is based around a Street Fighter V tournament, and there are a number of top Street Fighter players in attendance. In one shot alone, we see can clearly see Razer’s Fuudo, GODSGARDEN Pro’s Kazunoko, and Detonation Gaming’s Itazan.
If their arrangement looks familiar, it is, as Kazunoko himself as mentioned on Twitter, based on a photo of the three of them from their stream.
あれ…??#アキバニ #akibani pic.twitter.com/xF1DqOlroF
— かずのこ(Kazunoko) (@kazunoko0215) February 1, 2017
In addition to this, MOV can can be seen standing to the side on one shot while someone who seems to be Tokido points out something on stage. Both even even have some dialogue pointing out how the current player spends their first match downloading their opponent.
In addition to this, one of the opponents faced by the main character, Tamotsu,is an African-American Zangief player (wearing a shirt and cap) that’s clearly a shout out to Red Bull’s Snake Eyez.
Of course, Street Fighter itself features a lot in the episode, including an homage to the Evo Moment #37.
Earlier in the episode, we get a glimpse of some old school Street Fighter II Turbo Hyper Fighting where Tamotsu first meets his rival Matsuko.
So yeah this is definitely happening in Akiba's Trip. pic.twitter.com/42zX9VSJyM
— Megumin❤️Explosions (@An_ca_te) February 1, 2017
The episode itself ends with a match on stage between the main character and a new character introduced this week. We won’t spoil how that goes down. For anyone interesting in watching episode five of Akiba’s Trip: The Animation, the series is currently simulcast over on CrunchyRoll.
Sources: CrunchyRoll via Kazunoko; Megumin Explosions
BrolyLegs Receives Sponsorship from AbleGamers
It looks like one of the best Chun-Li players in the United States is going to officially get a chance to prove it. Mike “BrolyLegs” Begum, a top online and tournament player from Texas, has received a sponsorship deal from AbleGamers.
Looks like I can finally say I am on a team. Thank you so much @AbleGamers for believing in me and I WILL represent you all proudly #Sponsor
— AbleGamers|BrolyLegs (@Brolylegs) February 1, 2017
Begum is not only notorious for having a strong Chun-Li in both Street Fighter IV and Street Fighter V, but has done so with a major disability that gives him limited usage of his arms and legs. In order to compensate for his disability, he plays on a controller and uses his mouth to play along with various key bindings that act as slight option selects for the normal moves he wants to do.
This sponsorship with AbleGamers is an amazing deal for him, as the group itself is a charity focused on bettering people with disabilities through video games. Begum has notoriously had travel issues due to his disability, requiring a specialized van for travel and someone to drive it. These limitations have seen him focus his competitive efforts within his native Texas and at Evo, with the rest of his competitive play being online. This sponsorship will surely give him the opportunity to travel more and show the world what he is capable of.
Source: BrolyLegs (Twitter)