By Jake Donovan –

Demetrius Andrade and Artur Akavov are locked and loaded for DAZN USA’s first offering of the new year.

Both boxers easily made weight ahead of their scheduled 12-round middleweight title clash, which takes place Friday evening at Hulu Theatre in New York City.

Andrade tipped the scales at a fighting fit 159.8 pounds for his first title defense; Akavov came in right at the 160-pound middleweight limit his second title fight opportunity.

The bout will headline a nine-fight card—including three title fights—which will air live on sports streaming service DAZN USA.

For Andrade (26-0, 16KOs), it’s a welcomed interruption to an old schedule where the unbeaten Providence native would experience massive gaps of inactivity in his career. The 2008 U.S. Olympian and two-division titlist now fights for the second time in three months, claiming his 160-pind title in a shutout win over Walter Kautondokwa last October in Boston.

Akavov (19-2, 8KOs) enters the fight having won five straight since a narrow points loss to then-middleweight titlist Billy Joe Saunders in Dec. ’16.

The evening’s chief support was among the show’s latest additions, with TJ Doheny set to make the first defense of his super bantamweight title versus Japan’s Ryohei Takahashi.

Ireland’s Doheny—who traveled to Japan for a 12-round title winning effort over Ryosuke Iwasa—clocked in at 121.75 pounds. Takahashi (22-3-1, 16KOs) weighed 121.8 pounds for his first title fight, which also comes in his U.S. debut.

In the third title fight of the night, history-making Amanda Serrano (35-1-1, 26KOs) moves down an unheard-of SIX weight divisions for her 115-pound vacant title tilt versus Austria’s Eva Voraberger.

Serrano checked in at a chiseled 114.2 pounds, just four months after winning a title at the 140-pound super lightweight division. The win netted her a title in a record-breaking sixth weight division, with a victory on Friday putting her in exclusive company with Manny Pacquiao as the only boxers ever to claim major titles in seven or more weight divisions (Pacquiao has done so in eight).

Voraberger (24-5, 11KOs) hopes to disrupt those plans. The 28-year old also had to move down in weight, dropping one division from bantamweight—where she holds an interim title—to weigh 114.8 pounds for Friday’s tall order.

Two more bouts on the show could very well provide the respective winners with title fights of their own in the very near future.

Former three-division titlist Jorge Linares weighed 139.4 pounds for his second fight at super lightweight, following his title-losing effort to pound-for-pound entrant Vasiliy Lomachenko last May. His opponent, veteran contender Pablo Cesar Cano clocked in at 139.6 pounds for their 12-round bout.

The winner is being teased as a potential future option for unbeaten 140-pound titlist Maurice Hooker. Interestingly the same promise has been made to whomever prevails in a 10-round battle between New Yorkers Chris Algieri and Daniel Gonzalez

Algeiri, a former 140-pound titlist who returned last November filing more than two years away from the ring—weighed 140 pounds. His opponent and longtime sparring partner, Queens’ Gonzalez weighed 139.4 pounds.

FULL WEIGHTS

Demetrius Andrade , lbs. vs. Artur Akavov , lbs.—12 rds, middleweight

Jorge Linares, 139.4 lbs. vs. Pablo Cesar Cano, 139.6 lbs.—12 rds, super lightweight

TJ Doheny, 121.75 lbs. vs. Ryohei Takahashi, 121.8 lbs.—12 rds, super bantamweight

Amanda Serrano, 114.2 lbs. vs. Eva Voraberger, 114.8 lbs.–10 rds, super flyweight

Chris Algieri, 140 lbs. vs. Daniel Gonzalez, 139.4 lbs.—10 rds, super lightweight

Julian Sosa, 147.8 lbs. vs. Dieumerci Nzau, 146 lbs.—6 rds, welterweight

Nkosi Solomon, 227.2 , lbs. vs. Rodriguez Cade, 293.2 lbs.—4 rds, heavyweight

Reshat Mati, 145.4 lbs. vs. Benjamin Borteye, 143.6 lbs.—4 rds, welterweight

http://www.boxingscene.com/weights-from-new-york-city-andrade-1598-akavov-160–135467?print_friendly=1

 

billy-joe-saunders-wbo-champion-boxing_3762903  Billy Joe Saunders must wait slightly longer to defend his world title

Billy Joe Saunders’ world title defence against Artur Akavov has been postponed by a week to December 3.

Saunders had been due to make the first defence of his WBO middleweight strap on Saturday night in Cardiff, but the fight will now take place in Paisley a week later.

Problems with the translation of medical paperwork supplied by the Russian’s team have forced an unavoidable delay, with the bout having already been delayed once after Saunders suffered an injury in training.

“It’s extremely frustrating for all parties and especially Billy who has been itching to get back into the ring following a frustrating 2016,” said promoter Frank Warren.

“The medicals were sent late and mostly in Russian and once translated it then became apparent they were not complete. Ultimately, it would be too late to find a suitable replacement so postponing it was our only option.

“I feel for Billy Joe as he was ready to make the first defence of his world title and for all of the fans who wanted to watch him.”

Alex Vaysfeld, from Akavov’s team, said: “This is no more than a translation problem and will be easily rectified upon Akavov’s arrival in the UK and I’m glad Frank was able to postpone for just a week.”

Saunders, who seized the title from Ireland’s Andy Lee 11 months ago, admitted his frustration at the postponement.

He said: “I was ready to put on a big performance and defend my title in style in Cardiff but unfortunately this latest issue was totally out of our control.

 billy-joe-saunders-boxing-sport_3770602 Unbeaten Saunders will be aiming to take his record to 24-0

“The fight is still on, that’s the main thing and I’ll be fully prepared to defend my title in Scotland next week before moving on to a blockbuster fight in 2017.”

The Cardiff event is still set to feature four big title fights as Terry Flanagan defends his WBO world lightweight championship against Puerto Rico’s Orlando Cruz, while Welshman Liam Williams challenges Gabor Gorbics for the vacant WBO European super-welterweight title.

Tommy Langford faces Sam Sheedy for the vacant British middleweight title and Tom Stalker and Craig Evans do battle for the third time for the WBO European lightweight championship after two hard-fought draws.

www..skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/10669017/billy-joe-saunders-vs-artur-akavov-delayed-until-december-3

Via Email Only

  • Lou Dibella (Dibella Entertainment)
  • Frank Warren (Frank Warren Promotions)

Re: Negotiations for the WBO Middleweight Elimination Bout Avtandil Khurtsidze vs. Tommy Langford

Gentlemen:

Please be advised the parties have fifteen (15) days to negotiate an agreement for the WBO Middleweight Elimination Bout between Avtandil Khurtsidze and Tommy Langford, classified #1 and #2 respectively in the WBO Ratings. If an accord is not reached within the time frame, a Purse Bid will be ordered.

The minimum acceptable bid for the Middleweight division is $200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Dollars).

Any one of the parties involved may call for a Purse Bid at any time during the negotiation process.

Yours truly,

firma-luis-batista

C/c Francisco Valcarcel, Esq.

 

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 22:  Andy Lee (L) and Billy Joe Saunders (R)  pose for a photo ahead of the Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders Press Conference at the Grosvenor House Hotel on July 22, 2015 in London, England.  (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 22: Andy Lee (L) and Billy Joe Saunders (R) pose for a photo ahead of the Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders Press Conference at the Grosvenor House Hotel on July 22, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)

Andy Lee looks to make the first defense of his WBO middleweight title against Billy Joe Saunders on Saturday. The evenly matched bout takes place at the Manchester Arena (Formerly M.E.N Arena) and airs live on BoxNation in the UK at 5:00 p.m. (including full supporting undercard) and on Showtime Extreme in America at 5:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Both fighters were very cordial towards each other in Box Nation’s “Head to Head.”

As Lee (34-2-1, 24 knockouts) touched upon, although both are southpaws they have very different styles. Lee the taller, rangier puncher while his mandatory challenger, Saunders (22-0, 12 KOs) is a smaller, more compact, busier fighter.

Lee, at 31, is five years older than Saunders who turned 26 back in August. Interestingly, Lee is also Tyson Fury’s cousin, though, unlike the heavyweight champion, is far more reserved and respectful of his opponents.

An interesting subplot appears to be that both are from travelling backgrounds, adding extra spice to an already well matched 50/50 bout.

The twice-postponed fight has given both men and their highly-respected corners, Adam Booth with Lee and Jimmy Tibbs with Saunders, further time to analyze each other.

Online gambling group bet365.com lists Lee at Evens (+100), while Saunders is priced at 4/5 (-125).  

RingTV.com asked 17 boxing insiders for their picks:

Anthony Crolla, WBA lightweight titlist

A genuine 50/50 fight with two fantastic fighters. It’s so hard to pick a winner. Does Billy Joe build up a lead and hold on to it in the second half of the fight or does Andy Lee catch up to him in the second half of the fight? Either way, I see the first half of the fight being Billy Joe’s and the second half being Andy Lee’s. I can’t pick a winner; it’s such a close fight.

Stephen Edwards, trainer of junior middleweight Julian Williams

Billy Joe Saunders UD 12 Andy Lee: I like Saunders to outbox Lee and win a unanimous decision.

Norm Frauenheim, The Ring/15rounds.com

Andy Lee TKO 11 Billy Joe Saunders: Saunders has a chance to catch Lee early with a big shot. But the resilient Lee knows that. Look for Lee to give away a few early rounds in an attempt to stay out of range when Saunders figures to possess all of his energy and most of his power. After the fifth, the momentum figures to swing in favor Lee, who will capitalize with a punishing attack for a late stoppage.

Jeffrey Freeman, KODigest.TV

Billy Joe Saunders SD 12 Andy Lee: It would be easy to see Andy Lee getting his Irish socks boxed off by Billy Joe Saunders on Dec. 19 before relying on his superior reach and punching power to land a knockout blow, thereby saving himself from defeat yet again. Against lesser caliber opponents John Jackson and Matt Korobov, that comeback formula has suited Lee well. In Saunders, the defending WBO champion is facing a world-class middleweight upstart with superb southpaw skills and a sturdy chin. Saunders will box smartly and look to score a win on points. Lee will hunt for bombs but never squarely find the target. Firefights will be rare in this one but, when they do break out, Saunders will be more capable of imposing his will. The pick is Saunders by split decision in a title bout that looks closer to the judges than it does to the fans in Manchester pulling for their challenger.

Joe Gallagher, trainer of the Smith brothers, Crolla and Scott Quigg

Billy Joe Saunders PTS 12 Andy Lee: It can go one of two ways: Billy Joe was a very good amateur. He does well with southpaws; he beat Tony Hill very quickly (TKO 1). Andy Lee has grown into the role of world champion and a very good world champion, good wins away from home in America, got dropped, got up and knocked a good fighter out (Matt Korobov) and went the distance then with (Peter) Quillin. It’s a tough fight. I just think Billy Joe sets about Andy Lee early and really gets into a groove. I really think Andy Lee’s in trouble. I think Billy Joe can go through the gears. On the other hand, I do feel if Andy Lee keeps upsetting Billy Joe and doesn’t allow him in, I think Andy Lee can pull away on a points win. I can’t see it being a stoppage. I think it’s gonna be points, tight, either or, I don’t think it’s gonna be an exciting fight either. I think it’s gonna be a very tactical fight. Andy Lee’s a champion with power but Billy Joe obviously he’ll be on a high after beating (Chris) Eubank (Jr.), full of confidence, determined. I think if it goes to the scorecards, I think Saunders might nick it, it’s the toss of a coin.

Tom Gray, RingTV.com

Billy Joe Saunders SD12 Andy Lee: Truthfully, I have no idea who wins this fight. I can make a compelling case for both men and the only result that would surprise me is a stoppage win for Saunders. As it is, I’m going to pick the challenger via split decision. I think, as the fresher fighter, he can perform with more consistency through 12 rounds and his motivation will be sky high. Lee has a major edge in experience and he’ll have his moments but I see Saunders with a razor-thin edge at the final bell. This is a great fight between two excellent technicians.

Lee Groves, RingTV.com

Andy Lee W 12 Billy Joe Saunders: A tough fight to call. Lee is more experienced in terms of opposition faced and miles traveled, plus he is three inches taller and packs the far bigger punch. His left cross is among boxing’s most lethal weapons and it can strike at any moment whether he’s leading or behind. Saunders is younger, quicker and will probably have more crowd support in Manchester. Both are southpaws, so neither will have that advantage. Also, both will be somewhat rusty since this will be the second fight for both in more than a year. I’ll go with the bigger puncher and the more seasoned campaigner amidst an explosive and nerve-rattling atmosphere.

Daniel Jacobs, middleweight contender

Andy Lee to defeat Billy Joe Saunders: I’m rooting for Andy Lee because I think that’s a bigger fight for me. Doing something in the US between the two of us would make a lot of sense. He has a huge following here in New York, just like me obviously. It would be a classic showdown that Brooklyn would appreciate. May the best man win between the two of them but, if Andy wins, I think it would be very interesting for both of us.

Reggie Johnson, former middleweight and light heavyweight champion

Andy Lee KO Billy Joe Saunders: I like Lee in this fight. I think his makeup, skill set, height and range will have his hand raised at the end of this fight. Lee by early/mid-fight KO.

Tom Loeffler, managing director of K2 Promotions, which promotes IBF/WBA middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin

Andy Lee PTS 12 Billy Joe Saunders: This looks to be a very competitive fight but I would lean toward Andy Lee because of his greater world title experience and power by decision.

Glenn McCrory, former cruiserweight champion and Sky Sports commentator/pundit

Andy Lee PTS 12 Billy Joe Saunders: I can see Andy Lee coming through on points in a very close, hard-fought fight. I think it’s an excellent fight. Billy Joe Saunders is a good talent. He’s young. It would not surprise me if he did beat Lee; it’s that sort of fight. I just think Andy Lee’s been there a bit more, the big KO to win the world title has obviously elevated him, so he’ll be on top of his game. He’s in the Adam Booth camp, which has helped him after (trainer) Emanuel (Steward’s passing). It’s been a lift to him. He’s flying high and I expect a close, hard-fought fight with Andy Lee coming out on points.

Jolene Mizzone, Main Events matchmaker

Billy Joe Saunders PTS 12 Andy Lee: I may be the only one picking Saunders but my feeling is that Saunders is the hungrier fighter. I also think Saunders’ southpaw style will benefit him in this fight. I take nothing away from Lee; he has the power. The question is: Does Saunders have the chin? I think it will be an interesting fight but, again, I’ll go with Saunders in a 12-round decision.

Marty Mulcahey, UCNLive.comBilly Joe Saunders PTS 12 Andy Lee: This match-up, to me, just has the signatures of a changing of the guard fight with an older champion who has endured many wars having his title usurped by a young challenger. Saunders is a little quicker of both feet and hand, as well as a little better boxer and, in boxing, a little means a lot. Saunders’ southpaw advantage is negated by Lee’s own but a tough, nip-and-tuck win over Chris Eubank Jr. is the type of preparatory victory needed for a challenger. I also think Saunders has the chin to ride out Lee’s often fight-saving power and the postponement from the original date works in Saunders’ favor, allowing him a keep-busy fight. All in all, the small things and intangibles line up in Saunders’ favor for a decision victory.

John J. Raspanti, Maxboxing.com/Doghouseboxing.com/Ringside Boxing Show

Billy Joe Saunders SD 12 Andy Lee: Boxing is all about styles. Billy Joe Saunders is a slick boxer. Andy Lee can slug. The question going into their bout is: Who has the advantage? Saunders is younger but Lee is taller. Saunders is the quicker man. Lee can end the fight with one punch. I have a feeling that Saunders will get off to a lead and hang on to win a razor-thin, split decision.

Lee Selby, IBF featherweight champion

Andy Lee KO Billy Joe Saunders: I’d say either Saunders points or Lee KO. If I had to pick, I’d say Lee.

Ronnie Shields, trainer of junior middleweights Erislandy Lara and Jermall Charlo

Andy Lee PTS 12 Billy Joe Saunders: Both guys are really good fighters and both guys are smart and really tough. The only reason I’m gonna give Andy Lee the edge is that he’s the champion. Andy Lee’s a different fighter now than he was, say, a year-and-a-half, two-years ago. Being champion has really molded well for him. He’s one of these guys, he’s always been a puncher but now he has confidence in his hands. He has confidence in his ability. You can’t take nothing away from Billy Joe Saunders because this guy can really, really fight but I would have to give the edge to Andy Lee because of the power and because of the confidence right now. I’m gonna say points because I think Saunders is gonna really put up a great fight. I think Andy Lee’s gonna outpoint him.

Paul Smith, former two-time world super middleweight title challenger

Andy Lee PTS 12 Billy Joe Saunders: I think it’s a really good 50/50; every time I’ve leaned away from Billy Joe, as in the [Chris] Eubank fight, he’s come out and proved everyone wrong and won well. I thought he done great against Eubank and really stamped his authority in the division. I think Andy Lee’s a very good fighter. I think he’s pretty vulnerable, at times, which makes him exciting but he’s a big puncher and awkward, strong southpaw, as is Billy Joe. It’s a close fight; if I had to toss a coin and put my money somewhere, I’d probably stick with the champion. Both nice lads, nothing would surprise me at all.

Final tally: 9-7 (and one undecided) in favor of Andy Lee to win Saturday’s middleweight title showdown with Billy Joe Saunders.

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/406633-fight-picks-andy-lee-vs-billy-joe-saunders

200540AE00000578-0-image-m-9_1449366892571(Credit:  Photos by: Getty Images; PA; Graham Chadwick; Reuters)

  • Billy Joe Saunders has returned to the ‘big stage’ as a professional boxer
  • His early exit at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing was a great disappointment
  • Saunders fights Andy Lee for the WBO middleweight title on December 19
  • He said he’s learned from his mistakes as a highly-regarded 18-year-old

Billy Joe Saunders is still haunted by what he did in the summer of 2008.

At just 18 years old, he was considered one of the hottest prospects in all of world amateur boxing and had broken ground as the first ever member of the British Romany community to qualify for the Olympic Games.

But it all turned sour that August in Beijing and, seven years on, what happened in China still keeps him up at night.

He had reached the pinnacle of his sport only to come crashing down to earth with an early exit. He’s back at the peak again, now as a professional, and insists there will be no tumble this time around.

Saunders faces Andy Lee for the Irish southpaw’s WBO middleweight title at Manchester Arena on December 19 in his first crack at world honours after racking up a perfect 22-0 record in the paid ranks. He insists he’s ready this time.

Billy Joe Saunders is ready for the big time this time as he fights Andy Lee for the WBO middleweight belt
200540AE00000578-0-image-m-9_1449366892571

‘I know I can’t come out of that ring a failure,’ he said, leaning back from a table at the Slainte restaurant above Marbella’s MGM gym. ‘I failed on the big stage, at the Olympic Games, and I think about it all the time.

‘I’m at that stage again now and I’m not prepared to do that. I’m not prepared to fail on this big stage again.

‘What happened then was a blessing in disguise because now I know what I lost there.’ Saunders, the teenage welterweight, had cruised past Turkey’s Adem Kilicci 14-3 in the first round to set up a showdown with gifted Cuban Carlos Banteaux in the Last 16.

That’s where it all went wrong for the Hatfield youngster, who initially blamed the judges’ scoring on his exit and resulting failure to medal.

But, reflecting on the trip to the far east, the 26-year-old knows the damage was done long before he stepped through the ropes that day. He said: ‘I did that when I was 18 through my own stupidity.

‘I was in the Olympic Village, running up and down, partying, I was 17, 18 and I didn’t know what stage I was on.

‘The Cuban, I would have beaten eight times out 10 and he went on to win silver. Think what I could have done at that age.

‘But it’s the reason why I’m here, at the MGM Gym in Marbella, in these surroundings, away from everyone on my own training and everything is going perfectly.

‘So now there is nothing I can look back on and say, ‘I didn’t do this right, I didn’t do that right, that was my excuse’. There aren’t any excuses.’ Jimmy Tibbs’, Saunders’ fabled east-end trainer, has worked with British world champions such as Nigel Benn, Barry McGuigan, Charlie Magri and Chris Pyatt. He has often said that Saunders is better than any of them.

 239AC64A00000578-0-image-m-13_1449367058241  Saunders won the Commonwealth               and European belts when he beat Chris Eubank Jr last year

2409F5EE00000578-0-On_December_19_at_the_Manchester_Arena_Saunders_and_Andy_Lee_con-m-15_1449367260660Saunders will fight Andy Lee (above) for the WBO middleweight title he won from Russian Matt Korobov

Tibbs has, however, always insisted that his unbeaten charge would only attempt to join that clutch of esteemed fighters by claiming the world title once he was completely ready.

Now, seven years since he turned over, Saunders’ run to 22-0 has been punctuated by the British, Commonwealth and European middleweight titles. He also became the first traveller to win the British title outright when he successfully defended the Lonsdale belt for the third and final time in his high-profile money fight with Chris Eubank Jr last year.

Tibbs, his promoter Frank Warren and Saunders himself are now all confident that everything is in place to add a world title to his collection.

Saunders said: ‘I never really did say I want to be world champion in another ‘X’ years. I always said I want to fight for a world title when I am 26, 27, that’s what I said. Now I am 26.

‘I wanted to be that little bit more mature. I didn’t want to just go in there, win it and then get beaten. I want to keep it and I’m not scared of anybody at middleweight.’

Despite his heartbreak in China, Saunders has turned it around to become one of the most successful members of that talented seven-man squad which eventually represented Team GB in 2008 after Frankie Gavin missed the weight.

Light-welterweight Bradley Saunders has had bad trouble with his hands and was disqualified in a stay-busy eight-rounder in September while light-heavyweight Tony Jeffries had such terrible hand injuries he was forced to retire after just 10 professional fights. He now runs two successful boxing gyms in Los Angeles.

The career of Beijing bantamweight Joe Murray, currently 15-2, has stagnated and he has not boxed since February when he was stopped inside five rounds by Liam Walsh in his challenge for the British and Commonwealth super-featherweight titles.

0246065000000578-0-image-m-18_1449367441150  Saunders says, as a teenager, he brought the defeat on himself but now he’s a more mature competitor 

Super heavyweight, and captain of the team in China, David Price was tipped as a potential long-term king of the heavyweight division but he has considered retirement after being badly knocked out by Erkan Teper in July.

The flyweight, Khalid Yafai, since turning professional has captured the British super-flyweight champion and is widely expected to go on to challenge for world honours.

But so far the only man from that team to become champion of the world is James DeGale, the middleweight gold medalist in Beijing, who is now the IBF king up in the 168lb super-middleweight division.

And Saunders, who is bidding to join him at boxing’s top table later this month, thinks his old friend from Harlesden will unify the titles to become the undisputed champion following his successful first defence against Lucian Bute.

Saunders added: ‘I think people have forgotten about his performance a bit because unfortunately for him, he boxed on the same night as Tyson Fury.

Saunders beli2EEB4B1500000578-0-image-a-30_1449367711695eves his friend James DeGale didn’t get the recognition he deserved for beating Lucian Bute

‘But I think DeGale is a very very good fighter and is a very good friend of mine as well.

‘He loves pressure. To go to Canada and do that to Bute, you have to take your hat off to him. He’s a really good fighter and he won’t be a flash in the pan, he’s going to keep it going.

‘All the tools are there for DeGale, as long as he turns up he’s going to be a tough cookie to beat. I think he’s going to unify the division now.

‘Given Andre Ward has moved up, the champions at his weight are Badou Jack, Arthur Abraham and Fedor Chudinov. In my personal opinion, DeGale beats all of them within a month.

‘He was always talented, now he’s showing it. He’s come a long way since the Olympics and so have I. Now it’s my time to win that world title.’ Suddenly, seven years in boxing seems like a very long.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-3347880/Billy-Joe-Saunders-spurred-failure-2008-Olympics-ahead-WBO-title-bout-against-Andy-Lee-m-not-prepared-fail-big-stage-again.html

275D17D600000578-0-image-a-13_1428471129892  275D180200000578-0-image-a-18_1428471223334

 

Credit:  Photos by Angela Cranford / Barclays Center /

Article by Martin Domin /

 

 

  • Andy Lee defends the world title he won against Matt Korobov last year
  • The Irishman has had a renaissance working under Adam Booth
  • But Lee faces a tough challenge in unbeaten former champion Peter Quillin
  • Lee insists he is ready for whatever ‘Kid Chocolate’ can throw at him

Andy Lee is confident he has improved even further since winning his world title last year.

The Irishman makes the first defence of his WBO middleweight belt against Peter Quillin in New York on Saturday.

And he is confident he is ready for anything the former champion has in his locker.

‘We’ve made unbelievable progress in the last year on my skills and everything has really just clicked for me and my team and now we’re seeing the results in the ring,’ Lee said.

‘I’m very proud to be an Irishman from Limerick defending his world championship in New York, it doesn’t get much better than that.

‘There’s been a huge weight lifted off my shoulders since winning the world title. It’s what I always wanted to do and I’ve been touted as a champion for years and if I never got it I would have been disappointed. Now the monkey is off my back and I can just box and show people who I am.

‘We’ve made physical and tactical improvements in the gym since the last fight and hopefully they’ll show up in the ring on Saturday.

‘I think this could be a technical fight or it could be a bit of a fire fight. It’s going to be a little of both at times. There will be moments where we’re looking at each other, figuring each other out, but once we exchange it could be explosive.

‘Quillin is sure of himself, but he has to be, I have the same mentality. You have to be to compete in this sport.

‘Fighting at home like Quillin is on Saturday, brings a different kind of pressure to the table, it’s the pressure of expectations and people you know coming to the fights. That’s also pressure and I know all about that.

275D17DE00000578-0-image-a-14_1428471178209  275D180600000578-0-image-m-20_1428471280230

‘I haven’t needed to build up my confidence for this fight. It’s not time to think. It’s time to do what I’ve been doing every day in the gym.’

Quillin, meanwhile, believes the fight will just be another struggle he has to overcome.

‘I never trailed in a fight and came back and won like Lee. I’ve just won all the time right out of the gate. Those other guys aren’t ‘Kid Chocolate’ so I think that’s why this fight was made,’ he said.

‘It’s a big fight for him and a big fight for me. He’s a smart fighter when he’s in trouble so I have to watch out for that. Most importantly I just need to be true to myself.

‘A lot of people had Lee as the underdog in his last fight but he came out and did great. That’s the thing about boxing; one punch can change the fight.

‘I’m getting paid for 12 rounds so I’m preparing for 12 rounds but if I can get him out of there early I will.

‘My whole life has been struggles and I’ve had to overcome every single one of those struggles. This is going to be no different from that.

‘Being a father of course made me more inspired and watching my uncle pass has made me more motivated than ever to accomplish everything I want.

‘When I gave up the belt I learned that I can be a bigger man and make tough decisions like that all of the time. People think losing is easy, but winning all the time is a different kind of pressure.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-3029890/Andy-Lee-confident-hand-Peter-Quillin-defeat-retain-world-title.html

 

Date:  Saturday, December 13, 2014

WBO VACANT MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT

Location:  Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Promoter:   Top Rank / Bob Arum

Supervisor:   Richard De Cuir

Referee:  Kenny Bayless

Judges:   Tim Cheatham (45-50); Richard Houck (47-48); Don Trella (45-50)

Results:     Andy Lee won the vacant WBO middleweight title by scoring a TKO win over Matt Korobov (24-1) in the sixth round.

TV:   USA HBO

Boxing: Sergio Martinez vs Miguel Cotto

A deal has been struck for Matt Korobov to fight Andy Lee in Ireland for the vacant WBO middleweight title.

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Bob Arum announced a deal has been agreed to for Korobov and Lee to fight for the vacant WBO middleweight belt, in a bout promoted by Frank Warren, taking place in Dublin, Ireland. The fight will determine the ultimate replacement for Peter Quillin, who vacated the WBO title rather than fight Korobov. I think it’s probably fair to assume that “Irish” Andy Lee will be the crowd favorite on fight night.

“We have confirmation from last week from Frank Warren that we’re going forward with that fight. The fight will be in Dublin, Ireland, on Dec. 13,” said Arum. “We have an agreement through e-mail, and our lawyers are drawing up a provision of services agreement to send to Frank to sign. I think that it’s a very good fight and a very interesting fight.”

Andy Lee (33-2, 23 KOs) was the protege of the late Emanuel Steward, and was a rising force in the middleweight division until Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. put a tremdous beating on him. Andy hasn’t seemed quite the same since then, or perhaps he was just exposed on that night. Either way, Andy was getting beaten up again, pretty comprehensively, by young prospect John Jackson this past June, when in a moment of despair and retreat, Lee managed to land a picture perfect right hook on the button that ended Jackson’s night. It was a great punch and an exciting ending, but it hardly restored any legitimate faith in Lee as a top middleweight in my view.

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So here comes Matt Korobov (24-0, 14 KOs), who doesn’t have any flashy names on his resume but appears to be fairly competent in the ring nonetheless. Solely based on Lee’s recent outings, I would be inclined to favor Korobov, but in no way would be surprised if Lee were able to take this one. I guess that makes this a fair and intriguing fight!

http://www.badlefthook.com/2014/10/7/6934815/matt-korobov-andy-lee-scheduled-for-dec-13th

Date: October 20, 2012

WBO Middleweight Championship Title Bout

Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, United States

Promoter: Golden Boy Promotions

Supervisor: Rudy Paz

Referee: Eddie Claudio

Judges:  Julie Lederman (115-107), John Stewart (115-107), Don Trella (115-107)

Result: Quillin won by Unanimous decision. N’Dam N’Jikam down six times; twice in each rd 4, 6 & 12.

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Brooklyn resident Peter Quillin will face WBO middleweight titleholder Cameroon-born Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam, of France, as part of a Showtime-televised triple-header on Oct. 20 from The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, according to Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer.

Quillin, who turned 29 in June, is coming off a unanimous decision over former titleholder Ronald “Winky” Wright that improved his record to 27-0, with 20 knockouts. N’Jikam, who is also 29, is undefeated with a mark of 27-0 that includes 17 knockouts.

Quillin-N’Jikam is part of a show that is being billed “Brooklyn Pride” and will feature WBA welterweight belt-winner and Brooklyn native Paulie Malignaggi (31-4, 7 KOs) making the first defense of his belt against Pablo Cesar Cano (25-1-1, 19 KOs) on the undercard of rematch between RING, WBA and WBC junior welterweight champ Danny Garcia (24-0, 15 KOs) and four-division title-winner Erik Morales (52-8, 36 KOs).

A 10 a.m. Thursday press conference is scheduled for The Barclays Center to promote the event, and will be attended by the fighters as well as Golden Boy President Oscar De La Hoya and Showtime’s Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president and general manager of sports and event programming.

“Peter Quillin, ‘Kid Chocolate,’ will be the first fight on the Brooklyn card, and he will be fighting for the WBO middleweight championship of the world. So now, it’s going to be a triple-header, world championship card,” said Schaefer.

“Obviously, you have Garcia against Morales for the WBC world title, and then you have Malignaggi and Cano for the WBA world title, and Kid Chocolate, Peter Quillin, fighting from his hometown for the championship of the world, so this is absolutely terrific.”

Formerly the WBO’s interim belt-holder, N’Jikam became the full title-holder after unbeaten Dmitry Pirog passed up a mandatory defense to take a more lucrative bout, and then, suffered a back injury that forced him to pull out of a scheduled fight with undefeated WBA title-holder Gennady Golovkin.

Golovkin will, instead, face once-beaten Polish southpaw Grzegorz Proksa on Saturday night.

Also on the Brooklyn card are middleweight contender Danny Jacobs (22-1, 19 KOs), of Brooklyn, Brooklyn-born ex-beltholder Luis Collazo (31-5, 16 KOs), of Queens, welterweight Dmitriy Salita (34-1-1, 18 KOs), of Brooklyn, Bronx-born Honduran junior middleweight Eddie Gomez (9-0, 6 KOs), and junior middleweight Boyd Melson (9-1, 4 KOs), of White Plains, N.Y.

Preliminary bouts will be aired at 7 p.m. (delayed on the West Coast) on Showtime Extreme, with Showtime Boxing’s regular broadcast beginning at 9 p.m.

Garcia, of Philadelphia, floored Morales in the 11th round of a unanimous decision that dethroned Morales as WBC belt-holder in March, and is coming off last month’s fourth-round knockout of Amir Khan.

An American who is of Puerto Rican decent, Garcia will be after his fourth straight triumph over a current or former world titleholder against Morales, following consecutive decisions over former belt-holders Nate Campbell and Kendall Holt in April and October of last year, respectively.

Tickets went on sale on Wednesday, Aug. 29, at 10 a.m. ET., according to a press release from Golden Boy Promotions, for a card that will be the first boxing event to take place at the new, state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue.

Tickets start at $50 and go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, August 29 at 10:00 a.m. ET and will be available at www.barclayscenter.comwww.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, or at 800-745-3000.

By: Lem Satterfield

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/174513-lems-latest-

Promoter Lou DiBella recently told that Ring Magazine middleweight champion Sergio Martinez will come to Moscow to fight with World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight titleholder Dmitry Pirog only for $5-6 millions. DiBella believes that Pirog doesn’t have a big name and this fight isn’t marketable.

«I think that all this DiBella’s statements are refusal to fight, — said Pirog’s promoter Kirill Pchelnikov. — They don’t want to fight with Pirog at least for now. And money is not the issue. You may give them six millions and they will find another excuses. Instead of fighting Pirog he would better fight with two other fighters he knows he can beat and make the same money. Dibella says that Dmitry is unknown fighter. I wonder with whom Martinez will fight next and how well this boxer will be known. We are ready to fight anyone and even if Martinez will accept the fight we are ready to fight anytime and anywhere. But we have other options for Pirog, not only Martinez. I can’t tell you who will be the next opponent. It will be clear later. The only thing I can tell is that we had negotiations with WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm, but he refused from bout with Pirog and now he has the fight with British fighter Martin Murray».

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2011/10/pirog-ready-to-fight-sergio-martinez-any-time-any-place/