Heavyweight Schedule for 2018

[The Hammer]

hang on so whos promoting the stiverne - arreola fight? Don King?

He's supposed to.

But it seems whenever King is promoting a fight these days, there's always delays.

[The Hammer]

[Weltschmerz]

I actually have a feeling Johnson beats del boy.

[The Hammer]

I actually have a feeling Johnson beats del boy.

Johnson is the better fighter (when he wants to be) but I'm predicting an early referee stoppage in favor of Chisora as usual.

[Alec900]

I actually have a feeling Johnson beats del boy.

this should be a good fight If Johnson shows up.he wont get a decision in London though

[yoz]

I actually have a feeling Johnson beats del boy.

Really? I'd wager Johnson throws less than 20 punches per round.

He'll stink the place out, as usual. But, as Freedom says, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw another premature stoppage for DelBoy.

[Weltschmerz]

Really? I'd wager Johnson throws less than 20 punches per round.

He'll stink the place out, as usual. But, as Freedom says, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw another premature stoppage for DelBoy.

We can make a bet if you got the balls?

[yoz]

Chris Arreola hopes to finalise preparations for his training camp later this week. He'll disclose details of his sparring partners shortly.

[yoz]

Deontay Wilder vs. Malik Scott for WBC number 1 contender spot

The March 15th clash between 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Deontay Wilder and Malik Scott was already widely anticipated by many American heavyweight boxing fans, signalling as it did another step up and forward for Wilder. Now the pot is even richer, as the WBC has announced that the fight is an eliminator for their #1 contender's slot, and with that, a mandatory challenge for their green strap.

Or that is certainly the picture the WBC and Team Wilder would like to present. The more skeptical and cynical view is also a wider one, recalling as it does that the man holding that green strap will be the winner of the ridiculous rematch between Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola. It also begs the question of how a fight between Wilder, the WBC #3 heavyweight, and the #26-ranked Scott (!!) can be seriously called a title shot eliminator.

Let's look at the names the WBC had to ignore to drop this gift on Wilder: Bryant Jennings; Manuel Charr; Dereck Chisora; Tyson Fury; Tomasz Adamek; Odlanier Solis; Fres Oquendo; Artur Szpilka; Tony Thompson; Seth Mitchell; and Alexander Dimitrenko. And those are only the recognizable names! Certainly, nobody would argue that both Wilder and Scott are more deserving than say, Fres Oquendo, but that doesn't say much, either.
[ProBoxing-Fans.com has Wilder ranked at #5, and Scott outside of the top 10].

Now, don't get me wrong. Wilder will probably beat Scott, so I doubt we'll be visited by the dull anti-spectacle of, say, Stiverne vs. Scott for the WBC title. Also, whoever wins Stiverne vs. Arreola II, I'm looking forward to seeing Wilder beat them. However, I can't help but wonder if anyone at the WBC cares how devaluing it is for their heavyweight title, after all the menacing luster Vitali Klitschko and Lennox Lewis put on it, to have its near-term future drawn out by a rematch that should never have happened and a fight matching a prospect against a journeyman.

Of course, this is also part of the aftermath of what happens once somebody such as Vitali Klitschko leaves the sport. And with scintillating matches like Stiverne vs. Arreola II determining "championship" status in the division, it may not be long before fans are reminiscing quite fondly of Klitschko.

[yoz]

Fury & Chisora both want Klitschko

He may have a fight on Saturday night which may well lead to a British showdown against Dereck Chisora in the summer but Tyson Fury is already talking up his chances of beating world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.

The 25 year old, unbeaten in 21 heavyweight professional bouts, is convinced he can bring to an end the ten-year reign of the Ukrainian boxer and spelled out exactly why.

"One, Wladimir is 37 years old now who has never fought anyone the size and stature of me.

"Two, he specialises in beating up future opponents as young, sparring partners to gain the psychological edge. Well he's never sparred with me.

"Three, I've already broke him down to his face and, four, Emanuel Seward, his own trainer at the time, told him 18 months ago that within 18 months I'd be able to knock him out.

"Don't get me wrong. Wladimir Klitschko is a special fighter. He should be appreciated for being as fit as he is at 37 having made so many successful defences of his title. If I can be half as successful as him I'd be happy. I'd like the chance to do so."

Chisora also believes he is the man to cut Klitschko down after losing on points to his elder brother turned politician Vitali in 2012.

"There's so much hate between me and Wladimir that it would be a great spectacle," says the 30-year-old. "The Germans know me. They can see I'm not afraid to go anywhere and fight anyone. They and he knows I'm a fighter. I put fear into people."

The pair also dismissed rival promoter Eddie Hearn's assertion that current Olympic heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, could beat both of them after just four professional fights.

"Anthony seems a good kid who looks the part but he's never been hit hard yet and when he is you'll see a different Anthony Joshua," insists Fury. "You don't need throwing to a lion when you're still a lamb. To talk about a three fight novice against two seasoned professionals is ridiculous."

Chisora agrees. "To involve Anthony with either me or Tyson right now is ******. He's clearly not ready yet even if he did win a gold medal."

Before fighting Klitschko, let alone Joshua, first there needs to be a winner between Fury and Chisora, and that fight can only take place if they beat Gonzalo Basile from Argentina and American Kevin Johnson respectively on Saturday at the Copper Box in the Olympic Park in East London.

"We can't take our eyes off the ball," Fury admits. "I've been out of boxing for a while thanks to David Haye pulling out twice from fighting me. I would have liked an easy fight. Instead I've got a big, unbeaten Argentinian."

But both will be big favourites to win and then move on to facing each other in a fight promoter Frank Warren hopes to stage at a London Premiership football club.

"It will be a London club and, to my mind, a full elimination for a shot at the world title held by Klitschko makes it one of the most exciting British heavyweight clashes for a long time," says Warren.

"In many ways it will be a better, more entertaining fight than the winner taking on Klitschko and I do believe the winner will beat Klitschko too, especially if we can the fight away from Germany and over here."

There is much at stake, then, but first both Fury and Chisora must clear Saturday night's hurdles.