Heavyweight Schedule for 2018

[Hayehammer]

When I first saw "Rodriguez" I thought it might be David Rodriguez. That would be a good matchup.

I've never seen Pedro Rodriguez, so I have no idea if he's any good or not.

Yeah man i did get a little excited too because i also automaticly thought it was david rodriguez, but then i was like what? rodriguez just got his whole face slashed open how is he gonna be ready?!

[joe strong]

By James Slater: Unbeaten as a pro and a highly decorated amateur boxer, 30-year-old Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev has been making noises in the heavyweight division for some time now. An immensely strong fighter who has a great engine and seemingly unlimited stamina, “The Cobra” has already beaten good, experienced fighters such as Matt Skelton (KO4), Dominick Guinn (WU8), Paolo Vidoz (WU8), Derric Rossy (TKO5) and, last time out, Travis Walker (WU12).

Pulev may not be the prettiest fighter in the world to watch, nor is he the most lethal puncher, but the 6’4,” approx 250-pounder gets the job done. So far, aside from picking up the odd cut, Pulev has shown no weaknesses. Next up for the IBF international titlist is a scheduled Jan. 14th fight with well-travelled Brit Michael Sprott, 36-17(17).

The fight is set for The Baden Arena in Offenburg, Germany (according to Boxrec) and will be a 12-rounder with the IBF strap on the line.

36-year-old Sprott may have seen better days - having lost his last two, including a bout that contested a semi-final of May 2011’s “Prizefighter” tournament, when Sprott lost a decision against Tye Fields - but he gave Alexander Dimitrenko a good argument back in September and the Reading man might just test Pulev in a similar fashion. The former British and Commonwealth champ has been halted some eight times as a pro, but only good fighters have stopped him - and the last stoppage Sprott suffered was that amazing night against Audley Harrison in April of 2010, when “A-Force” actually showed his fighting heart and desire.

Pulev is no ****er at 14-0(6), so aside from a wear-his-man-down type stoppage, I can’t see Sprott being halted in this one. Pulev does look too big, too strong and too fresh for the visiting fighter, however.

How good is Pulev? How far can he go? We may not learn too many new things about him in this fight, but Pulev has already caught the attention of the fans. The way he’s going, he’s sure to step up to world level either late this year or early next.

Look for Pulev to either grind out a late-rounds TKO over Sprott, or to win widely on points.

Also on the scheduled card, Arthur Abraham will make his ring return, against Pablo Oscar Natalio Farias and Robert Stieglitz will defend his WBO super-middleweight title against Henry Weber. It should make for an interesting night of boxing in Germany.

[joe strong]

Philadelphia, PA - When Eddie Chambers, of Philadelphia, PA, boxes Sergei Liakhovich, of Scottsdale, AZ, in the 10-round main event on Saturday evening, Jan. 21, at the Asylum Arena, he will take another step on the journey he hopes will lead him to the heavyweight championship of the world.

Chambers, 29, who moved to Philadelphia from Pittsburgh as a young pro in 2002, already has boxed for the IBF version of the crown. Although he was stopped in the 12th round by Wladimir Klitschko in 2010 in Germany, he now knows what he must do to get back there and win.

In the long history of Philadelphia boxing, few have challenged for boxing's richest prize. Despite its reputation as a great boxing town, only two men, Sonny Liston (below) and Joe Frazier, lived in Philadelphia when they won the world heavyweight title. Terrible Tim Witherspoon twice earned pieces (WBC, WBA) of the crown in the 1980s.

Chambers black and white

Liston lived here when he dispatched Floyd Patterson in one round in 1962 at Chicago's Comiskey Park to become Philadelphia's first world heavyweight champion.

Six years later, Frazier (below), originally from Beaufort, SC, knocked out Buster Mathis in Madison Square Garden to gain recognition as world champion. He won the undisputed belt in 1970 against Jimmy Ellis then cemented his heavyweight legacy by outpointing the comebacking Muhammad Ali over 15 rounds in 1971.

Frazier

There have been other outstanding Philadelphia heavyweights, including Tommy Loughran, considered by many to be the greatest fighter ever from Philadelphia, Al Ettore, Leroy Haynes, Dan Bucceroni, Leotis Martin and Jimmy Young.

While Philadelphia world heavyweight champions are rare, the city has hosted two of the most important heavyweight championship fights of all-time on the same date and in the same ring, 26 years apart.

On Sept. 23, 1926, Jack Dempsey lost his crown to Gene Tunney via 10-round decision in a steady downpour in front of 120,757 fans at what was then known as Sesquicentennial Stadium in South Philadelphia. On the same date in 1952, in what many claim was the greatest heavyweight title fight ever, Rocky Marciano came from behind to knock out Jersey Joe Walcott in the 13th round at the same venue, then known as Municipal Stadium.

It's a long, glorious history Chambers is following and the fight with Liakhovich is the next step.

A pro since 2000, Chambers is 36-2, 19 KO's. Liakhovich, 35, of Scottsdale, AZ, is 25-4, 16 KO's, and he held the WBO version of the title for seven months in 2004. The winner will have something to say in the world heavyweight picture in 2012.

ABOUT THE FIGHT

The inaugural main event of the NBC Sports Network Fight Night Series, Eddie Chambers vs. Sergei Liakhovich, a 10-round heavyweight match, tops an eight-fight card on Saturday evening, Jan. 21, at the Asylum Arena, 7 West Ritner Street, in South Philadelphia. The live television broadcast also features a 10-round junior middleweight clash between Gabriel Rosado, of Philadelphia, PA, and Jesus Soto-Karass, of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico. First fight is at 7 PM. The live NBC Sports Network Fight Night telecast begins at 9 p.m. The show is being promoted by Main Events, Peltz Boxing Promotions and Goossen Tutor. Tickets are priced at $45 and $65. They are on sale at Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) or online at .

[joe strong]

By James Slater: Exciting slugger Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola, currently the #1 ranked heavyweight in the World Boxing Council (WBC) charts, is set to return to action on Feb. 18th, on the under-card of the scheduled Paul Williams-Nobuhiro Ishida bout in Atlantic City.

This is the word according to the Mexican/American’s long-time trainer Henry Ramirez, who spoke with Fighthype.com recently. There is no word yet on who 30-year-old Arreola, 34-2(29) will face, but Ramirez informed Fighthype that the opponent will be “a higher calibre than what he faced in 2011.”

Ramirez went on to say how his charge is hoping to land a crack at Ring ****zine, IBF, WBA, WBO heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko later in the year. As fans know, Arreola has already been in with current WBC ruler Vitali - giving “Dr. Iron Fist” a decent challenge back in September of 2009 - and “The Nightmare” is arguably one of the best available challengers for “Dr. Steel Hammer.”

Arreola fought at a quite remarkable pace last year, picking up five wins as he dropped some weight. Refocused on the job in hand - namely that of winning the world title - Arreola fought from January right through to November with scarcely a break in sight. Now looking to face a top-ranked foe before hopefully getting in there with Wladimir, Arreola could face a number of guys next month.

Who would the fans like to see the approx 235-pound warrior in with so as to earn a shot at the younger Klitschko brother?

I’m sure a return with Tomasz Adamek, the only other guy to have beaten Arreola, would appeal to fans everywhere (and Adamek himself has spoken about a return with the man he out-pointed back in April of 2010). How about Arreola going in with British hope Tyson Fury (that’s maybe asking too much of big Tyson, but I’ll bet if you asked him, he’d tell you he’d love the fight!). How about Arreola Vs. a giant in Michael Grant, or Arreola Vs. a fellow puncher in Sam Peter?

Team-Arreola are currently looking over a bunch of names. The fans await Arreola’s return. Whoever he fights on Feb. 18th, Arreola is sure to entertain. But can he beat a Klitschko?

[Pirao]

When I first saw "Rodriguez" I thought it might be David Rodriguez. That would be a good matchup.

I've never seen Pedro Rodriguez, so I have no idea if he's any good or not.

yeah, I thought the same haha, then I realized Rodriguez had been slashed recently so he probably won't be fighting anytime soon. Well, at least Abdusalamov is being active.

[joe strong]

chambers fires back at liakhovich

[joe strong]

liakhovich spouts off about chambers

[Pirao]

I'm hoping his next fight after Rodriguez will be against a decent journeyman like Maurice Harris, Tye Fields or Nicolay Firtha.

I'd like to see him against Deontay Wilder (both 100% KO records), although I realized that'll never happen.

[Superflo777]

So apparently Wilder's team found the previously scheduled 25-8 bum too dangerous for Wilder.

My gosh...the guy is 5 feet 9...he can't even reach up to Deontay.

[Spray_resistant]

Deontay Wilder will now be fighting Marlon Hayes.

Hayes has been inactive since 2007 and has never fought at heavyweight before.

Marlon's fought mostly at light heavyweight, but he's had fights at middleweight, super-middleweight and one at cruiserweight.

I know I just looked up his record and saw that and he has lost his last 5, Wilder is just a bigger Tyrone Brunson.