Why Fury-Chisora Rematch Makes Sense

There have been times throughout Boxing history where fighters who have established themselves as stars of the sport have been placed on the same card, with the intention at least in theory of should those fighters be successful in separate bouts that it would lead to a potential lucrative fight between the two down the road. Such a scenario took place last Saturday at the Copper Box Arena in London, England as Heavyweight contenders and former opponents Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury co-headlined a much-anticipated doubleheader.

When such scenarios take place it is not uncommon to see a surprise emerge from time to time that may disrupt any potential plans for a big money fight between the two headliners. Unlike when Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins co-headlined a card under similar circumstances in June 2004, where Felix Sturm nearly disrupted the plans for a Hopkins-De La Hoya mega fight, by giving De La Hoya a much more difficult fight than many had expected, the card co-headlined by Fury and Chisora would produce no such drama.

Tyson Fury was first to enter the ring last Saturday and the primary question leading up to his fight with Joey Abell, was whether or not a cut that Fury suffered in sparring a week prior to the bout would play a factor. Fury was also entering the ring for the first time in nearly a year due to former two-division world champion David Haye pulling out of a scheduled fight with Fury twice over the last year. Some may have questioned whether or not ring rust would also play a factor.

It was apparent early on that there was no ring rust as Fury established a solid jab and dictated the fight keeping Abell at distance. Fury also however, showed his vulnerability as Abell was able to catch the 6’9  Fury with left hands periodically. Although Abell was able to land occasionally, an argument could be made that Fury gave one of his most impressive performances of his career in this fight. Fury not only showed the ability to keep his opponent at distance with a consistent jab, but in doing so he also showed his Boxing ability, which could be underrated.

Fury dropped Abell with a beautifully timed right hand in the final minute of round three and would score three more knockdowns before the fight was stopped in round four. An impressive and dominant performance by a fighter in Fury who might be in line for a title shot before the end of this year. In terms of a potential rematch with Dereck Chisora, Fury more than held up his end by turning in an impressive knockout victory. It was now time for Dereck Chisora to enter the ring against fellow former world title challenger Kevin Johnson.

In the prelude to this fight, this observer stated that Chisora would face a fighter in Johnson, who had good lateral movement and Boxing ability. An argument could well be made that this bout was an interesting fight stylistically. It could also be said however, that even if a fight looks interesting on paper, it does not always translate into a competitive or entertaining fight.

Chisora consistently forced the action using good head movement to deflect the consistent jab of Johnson. Chisora landed the harder punches of the two and was able to keep Johnson on the defensive. Chisora scored a knockdown of Johnson in the fifth round with an overhand right and continued to press the action throughout to earn a twelve round unanimous decision. With the exception of his jab, Johnson just did not offer much in the way of resistance for Chisora. Prior to this fight I stated that this fight could have represented Johnson’s last chance to reemerge as a contender in the division having dropped three of his last six fights prior to taking on Chisora.

Whether or not Johnson had a game plan in mind for Chisora is only a question that he can answer, for he clearly did seem a bit reluctant to engage in this fight. Johnson does have Boxing skills, but for whatever reason he just could not execute in this fight. Now that Johnson has lost to notable fighters Dereck Chisora, Tyson Fury, and Vitali Klitschko in his career, one might argue that Johnson is at a point in his career where he might be labeled a journeyman.

Although it is hard ignore that stance, it is important to remember that no one has been able to stop Johnson inside the distance and Klitschko, Fury, and Chisora each had their fair share of trouble getting to Johnson, despite winning by wide margins on scorecards. It would not be hard to envision some fans and experts writing Johnson off after this latest setback. This observer would not necessarily agree with such an opinion, but one thing is clear my mind. Johnson does have the talent and skills to be a top-tier Heavyweight. It is just a matter of whether he makes full use of those skills in the future and if he can, it is not out of the realm of possibility that he could bounce back.

Following this card I commented on Twitter that sometimes a win is a win and that Chisora’s victory over Johnson should be viewed as a positive. Coming out of this card there were no surprises or obstacles that emerged that might have stood in the way of a potential Fury-Chisora rematch. The card did however, shine the spotlight on two top Heavyweight contenders who will likely remain key players in the division for years to come. Sometimes for fighters it is not always about entertainment value as much as it is maintaining their position in their division. Both Chisora and Fury did what they had to do at the end of the day. Both emerged victorious in their respective bouts and likely produced the desired results in terms of a potential rematch between the two.

Even though both fighters named other potential opposition following their fights, a rematch in my mind seems to make the most sense for both. A key difference between when these two fought in 2011 and a potential rematch is both have become players in the Heavyweight division. Both have significant followings and it would seem to make sense particularly in terms of economics for a rematch to take place. 

As was the case when these two fought in 2011, interest in a rematch has spread beyond the UK and should it happen would garner significant attention. Adding into the equation the potential that a rematch could be categorized as a world title eliminator to determine a mandatory challenger for Wladimir Klitschko down the line, for those reasons a rematch certainly makes sense.

It is also certainly a possibility that both Fury and Chisora could be in line for Klitschko regardless if either has mandatory status among the sport’s governing bodies. Could Fury or Chisora be in line to challenge Klitschko later this year? Anything is possible, but it is more likely that Wladimir Klitschko will spend much of 2014 making mandatory title defenses. The first defense will come in April against WBO number one contender Alex Leapai, with the winner supposedly to face IBF top contender Kubrat Purlev.

Another thing to consider is the current vacancy of the WBC world title in the division left by the recently retired Vitali Klitschko. The vacancy will be filled at some point this year when top contenders Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola meet in a rematch for the vacant championship. This landscape would seem to leave limited options for both Fury and Chisora in terms of opponents that most would consider top level opposition although top contenders such as Deontay Wilder, Alexander Povetkin, and Tomasz Adamek could also be in the mix for either. The question that I feel may get in the way of those potential fights to be made for either Fury or Chisora, could be things involving the business of the sport and where those fights would take place. It therefore, seems all the more logical in this observer’s eyes to see the two top British Heavyweights turn their attention to each other once again.

No matter how this landscape plays out it should be an interesting year and maybe even an exciting one for the Heavyweight division.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison 

Pope Promotions Presents "Night Of Champions" March 28TH In Galveston, Texas

Press Release: February 15, 2014 By Majestic Raven Entertainment and Pope Promotions - POPE PROMOTIONS is bringing Night of Champions, a sensational boxing card this March 28^th in Galveston, Texas at the San Louis Resort. 

The Night of Champions feature undercard action from undefeated 2011 Olympic Trials Qualifier, Regis Prograis and undefeated 2011 Salvadorian National Champion Pablo Cruz action. Also on the undercard will be the highly anticipated professional debut of decorated amateur Artrimus Sartor and new-comer Jesus Gonzales.

Night of Champions also features the return of super middle weight contender Marcus "Too Much" Johnson as he returns to the ring in hopes to put his name in the hat for title contention. Johnson, who last fight was a unanimous decision loss against a very game Thomas Oosthuizen in 2012, looks to put a notch in the win column.

Co-headlining the card will be regional fan favorites the hard hitting Eugene "Mean Gene" Hill (28-1 19KO) in heavyweight action. Closing out the show in the main event will be Galveston's own former NABF and USBA Cruiserweight champion Felix "Bad News" Cora Jr. Cora who was participated on the reality show The Contender in 2008, steps into action in a WBF cruiserweight title bout. This will be Felix's first bout in his home town.

Chauncey Pope, CEO/Owner of Pope Promotions looks to have the first boxing event on the island for 2014 to be a memorable one; "We wanted to compliment the headlining events with some exciting and action packed bouts for the undercard. This is for Galveston and the south east Texas boxing fans."

* * * * *

The San Luis Resort is located at 5600 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, Texas. Tickets start at $35 with packages available. Doors open at 6:30 PM with the first bell ringing at 7:15 PM. For more ticket information call 832-465-8812 or email: cpope.popepromotions@gmail.com.

Material Courtesy of: Majestic Raven Entertainment and Pope Promotions Used with Permission.

Follow Pope Promotions on Twitter: www.twitter.com/popepromotions

For more information about Majestic Raven Entertainment Please visit: www.majesticraven.com

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.  

A Look At The Chisora/Fury Heavyweight Twinbill

When Heavyweights Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury met in July of 2011 for the British and Commonwealth Heavyweight championships both were unbeaten as professionals, yet also untested on the world level of the sport. In what was an entertaining fight it was Fury who outworked Chisora who faded down the stretch in route to a twelve round unanimous decision. An argument could be made that the fight between the two British Heavyweights established both as players in the division.

In the near three years since that encounter both fighters have gone on to establish themselves as top contenders. Dereck Chisora went on to challenge Vitali Klitschko for the WBC world championship and frankly gave the champion a much more difficult fight than some had expected in defeat. Chisora would then go on to suffer a knockout loss at the hands of two division world champion David Haye in July of 2012.

Following three straight losses including a controversial decision loss to undefeated contender Robert Helenius, a fight that many, this observer included, felt he had won prior to his title shot against Klitschko, one could well have had the opinion that there was some doubt as to Chisora’s future as a top contender in the Heavyweight division. It is after all not an easy task to bounce back following a string of losses.

One thing that Chisora did do in his losses to Helenius, Klitschko, and Haye was earn the respect of Boxing fans for the “Game” effort he put forth in each of those fights. Questions however, regarding whether Chisora could bounce back from those defeats were warranted.

Chisora began his comeback in April of last year scoring a ninth round knockout of journeyman contender Hector Avila. This would set the stage for a fight that would end in somewhat controversial fashion when Chisora stopped top contender Malik Scott three months later as Scott was counted out while on one knee on the canvas in the sixth round and seemed to get up right as Referee Phil Edwards had concluded his count. Although the bout ended controversially it was a competitive fight all the way through and put Chisora right back in the mix. Chisora would go on to score two more victories to close out 2013 including winning the vacant European Heavyweight championship against Edmund Gerber and moving up into the top ten in both the WBC and IBF Heavyweight ratings.

Tyson Fury meanwhile one might argue has not been given the opportunity to show what he can do against the best that the division has to offer since he defeated Chisora nearly three years ago. Despite remaining undefeated since his fight with Chisora, Fury has found it difficult to secure marquee fights. Fury however, was tested in his last fight against former IBF Cruiserweight world champion Steve Cunningham in April of last year. The 6’3 Cunningham dropped the 6’9 Fury for the first time in his career in the second round before ultimately falling to Fury in the seventh round.

Since the Cunningham fight Fury has been inactive due to a potential clash with David Haye falling through not once, but twice. For both Chisora and Fury 2014 could represent the year that both could find themselves in position to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship. Ironically it would appear that the path to a title shot for both could lead to each other once again. When these two fought in 2011, both were seeking a position in the world rankings and each were looking to establish themselves as legitimate contenders. A rematch between the two could well lead to one either getting his second opportunity at a world title or the other getting his first.

Before a potential rematch can be discussed however, both Chisora and Fury will co-headline a card this weekend at the Copper Box Arena in London, England. Chisora will face fellow former world title challenger Kevin Johnson in a fight scheduled for twelve rounds with Chisora’s WBA and WBO International Heavyweight titles at stake.

Although the international titles that will be on the line in this fight might not seem to be of much value to some, what is really at stake here is higher positioning in the Heavyweight ratings and such titles can be used as a catalyst to elevate a fighter toward a potential world title shot. The 6’1 Chisora will face a fighter in Johnson who can box and has good lateral movement.

One might argue however, that this fight could represent Johnson’s last chance to reemerge as a contender in the Heavyweight division. Johnson comes into this fight having lost three of his last six fights including a lopsided decision loss to Tyson Fury in December of 2012.

Johnson does however, have Boxing skills and will no doubt be looking to make full use of his eighty-two inch reach to keep Chisora on the outside. One could expect that Chisora’s fight plan as it has been in previous fights will be to simply attempt to walk his opponent down applying pressure and looking to get on the inside where he can be effective. It is unlikely with an eight inch disadvantage in reach working against him that Chisora could win this fight on the outside.

Johnson has also never been stopped in thirty-four professional fights and it will be interesting to see should Chisora be able to get inside Johnson’s reach if he can do what four previous opponents who have scored victories, including Vitali Klitschko could not do and stop Kevin Johnson. In the co-main event Tyson Fury will take on late replacement and one time contender Joey Abell in a fight scheduled for ten rounds.

                                                                                       

Out of these two fights, there could be an opinion of some fans and experts alike that this is a mismatch and that Joey Abell is a considerable underdog heading into this fight. This opinion would likely be based on Abell’s having suffered three knockout losses in his last five fights including losses to top contenders Chris Arreola and Kubrat Purlev.

Even though this fight would appear to have all the signs of a fighter being brought in as an opponent for a top contender in a would be “Tune-up” for Fury with a potential big money rematch looming down the road, there could be a reason for caution. Last Friday Fury suffered a cut over his left eye while sparring with former world title challenger Eddie Chambers.

Under circumstances when a fighter suffers a cut in training, one would be likely to assume that the fight would at minimum be postponed in order to allow that fighter’s cut adequate time to heal. Fury however, has insisted that he will go through with the fight as scheduled and as of this writing there is no indication that the fight will not take place.

In some ways the cut suffered by Fury going into this fight has reminded me of circumstances Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. found himself in prior to his first fight with Oscar De La Hoya in June of 1996. Chavez suffered a cut over his left eye just days before the fight with De La Hoya, which subsequently led to his downfall. The cut reopened leaving Chavez a bloody mess before the fight was stopped in the fourth round, subsequently costing Chavez his Jr. Welterweight world title.

It goes without saying that there is always a danger for a fighter to get cut in any fight. Although I can certainly understand Tyson Fury’s eagerness to get back in the ring after spending nearly a year on the sidelines, it is a risk that could prove to be costly. Although Joey Abell is considered by some to be a stepping stone for Fury in this fight, he could quite frankly end up benefiting from questionable judgment by Fury to go ahead with the fight. Whether or not the cut will become a factor in this fight remains to be seen.

As was the case when Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury met nearly three years ago, this card has generated attention outside the United Kingdom and will be televised in Canada on the Fight Network. It can also be viewed via pay-per-view throughout the United States through both cable and satellite providers as well as being offered on a pay-per-view basis across the Internet worldwide on Go Fight Live Network (WWW.GFL.TV).

As the Heavyweight division could be heading toward a period of transition of sorts, the Boxing world continues to look for the next dominant Heavyweight force who might take over the division in the post-Klitschko era. With the recent retirement of Vitali Klitschko, there is, but only one Klitschko left standing atop the Heavyweight division… Wladimir Klitschko the IBF/WBO/WBA/IBO unified world champion. At nearly thirty-eight years old however, one does have to wonder how much longer Wladimir intends to keep fighting.

It is certainly possible that whomever should emerge victorious this weekend and whomever could emerge out of a potential Chisora-Fury rematch could be likely opponents for Klitschko down the line. How much further down the line is a subject for debate. 

This card however, should serve as another reminder that Boxing is truly a global sport and that there is a demand from fight fans worldwide to have access to the best of what the sport has to offer no matter where it is taking place. No matter what should transpire this weekend, it is my hope that the trend of the sport of Boxing being presented on a global scale to all who seek it, is a trend that continues.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison 

African American Promoter Hopes To Bring Boxing Back To Jack Johnson’s Island

Chauncey Pope Owner of Pope Promotions
Photo Credit: Pope Promotions

Press Release: February 11, 2014 By Majestic Raven Entertainment And Pope Promotions- Chauncey Pope, Owner of Pope Promotions in Galveston, Texas has long been a fan of combat sports. "My father was a fan of boxing and I watched it with him since as long as I could remember. Even in Galveston back in the 80s there were plenty of shows. But it was around 2002, that I really learned more about the sport". In 2002, Pope who has practiced various forms of martial arts met Felix Cora Sr(Father and manager of former NABF cruiser-weight champion Felix Cora Jr.) who he credits as a big influence for him in boxing.

"He (Felix, Sr.) taught me a lot about boxing from the ground up. Everything from how to fix cuts, build confidence and "bringing a guy back". He taught me stuff that you don't' learn watching TV and reading news articles. It was a huge game changer for me."

Pope hopes to have Pope Promotions as a difference maker and starting point for many of the talented boxers in the Houston- Metro area. "This place (Galveston, Texas) is the birthplace of the first black heavyweight champion of the entire world! Think about it. Mohammed, Lennox, Iron Mike, even Joe Luis were all preceded by Jack Johnson. He paved the way and he was from Galveston. Galveston is a great place to spend your time in the spring and summer with plenty of activities.  We plan on being a part of it."

Even though he is not new to boxing and understands the difficulty that many in the sport face, Chauncey is very optimistic about the potential of his boxing entertainment career.  "I would be lying if I didn't say that I knew of the problems that boxing faces. If you look at any of the high profile African American promoters or managers, they get less than a positive review most of the time. I will admit there are many flaws in the sport and I want my company to not be involved but to solve the problems that fighters face in their career. Just because you pay the fighters don't mean you own them or their career.  My goals and my job are to put on action packed and entertaining events for people period. There are a lot of talented fighters in this area and I want to help them build their career to title shots."

Material Courtesy of: Majestic Raven Entertainment and Pope Promotions Used with permission.

Follow Pope Promotions on Twitter: www.twitter.com/popepromotions

For more information about Majestic Raven Entertainment Please visit: www.majesticraven.com 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved. 

Should Golovkin Face The Winner Of Potential Martinez-Cotto Clash?

Undefeated unified WBA/IBO Middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin clearly has established himself as one of Boxing’s hottest rising stars. Coming off an extremely active 2013 where Golovkin scored four impressive knockout victories in title defenses over Gabriel Rosado, Nobuhiro Ishida, Matthew Macklin, and Curtis Stevens there was little doubt that anticipation of a unification showdown with WBC world champion Sergio Martinez who is widely considered the number one fighter in the Middleweight division would gradually begin to stir.

It is not hard to understand why there would be an anticipatory feeling among Boxing experts and fans alike of what would surely be a potential big money pay-per-view attraction. From a promotional standpoint the idea of Martinez, who has been at or near the top of the division since defeating Kelly Pavlik for his first Middleweight world championship in 2010 facing a fighter with a near 90% career knockout percentage and a 100% knockout percentage in Middleweight championship fights, is certainly an intriguing sales hook. Could Martinez do what no fighter has been able to do in nearly six years, survive the come forward, constant pressure seek and destroy style of Gennady Golovkin?

Following Golovkin’s knockout win over a very “Game” Curtis Stevens in his ninth title defense last November, this observer said that it is likely that many would assume that a potential fight between Golovkin and Martinez would take place sometime in 2014. As Golovkin began his 2014 campaign when he faced contender Osumanu Adama on February 1st in Monte Carlo, Monaco the champion picked up from where he left off at the end of 2013, applying consistent pressure and gradually breaking his opponent down in scoring three knockdowns in route to a seventh round stoppage.

 Adama was quite “Game”, but was overmatched against the champion who scored his sixteenth consecutive knockout victory in his tenth successful title defense. There was nothing to suggest that an inevitable collision between Golovkin and Martinez is not in the cards at some point in the future. It would appear however, that Martinez will next face former multi-division world champion Miguel Cotto in June.

There is no doubt that a fight between Martinez and Cotto in it’s own right presents a big money pay-per-view draw that will no doubt garner considerable attention. No matter the result of that fight should it take place, one might argue that it does present what could be viewed as a win/win for Golovkin.

Both are stars in the sport and each fighter presents a lucrative opportunity for a fighter in Golovkin’s position. There is little doubt that Golovkin could be viewed by some as the man who will take over the number one position in the Middleweight division as Sergio Martinez could be nearing retirement in the not too distant future. Although it is clear in this observer’s mind that Golovkin would be the logical option for the potential Martinez-Cotto winner there are certainly more options on the table.

Golovkin has clearly established himself as not just a star of the sport, but also one of the most active world champions in the sport having fought seven fights in the last two years including his knockout win over Adama last weekend. For a fighter who is on the top level of the sport to be so active is rare in the modern era. Of course one would likely say that Golovkin’s frequent activity can easily be attributed to the fact that he has not been forced to go a full twelve rounds thus far in his career and thus he has not sustained much punishment which would allow him to fight more frequently. It is indeed true that Golovkin has not had to go deep into fights in fights that have been scheduled for a twelve round distance. The only fighter to extend the champion as far as ten rounds was former Jr. Middleweight world champion Kassim Ouma who was stopped in ten by Golovkin in 2011.

In the past I have commented that the scenario that Golovkin finds himself in has reminded me of Marvelous Marvin Hagler who found himself in the same position  after winning the World Middleweight Championship from Alan Minter in 1980. Along with the similarity of both Golovkin’s and Hagler’s knockout streaks, Hagler was also a very active champion successfully defending his title eleven times between 1981 and 1987. As I have said in the past Hagler was also in a position one might argue that he had to literally destroy his division before he was able to secure big money fights against fellow top stars of his era, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, and finally Sugar Ray Leonard.

Currently Golovkin has been able to successfully defend his title ten times in almost four years and has partially unified the title. It is only a matter of time in this observer’s eyes before Golovkin will get those marquee fights against top stars. 

As for what the other options are while waiting for the potential winner of the Martinez-Cotto showdown? It has widely been reported that Golovkin would like to fight in April at Madison Square Garden in New York. Although names such as former IBF Middleweight world champion Daniel Geale, and top contender and former world title challenger Andy Lee have been mentioned as possible opponents, a fight that does present some intrigue could be a unification bout with three-time Middleweight world champion Felix Sturm. Sturm recently won the IBF crown by scoring a second round knockout over champion Darren Barker in December.

Sturm has been one of the top stars of the German Boxing scene for much of the last decade and a cornerstone of the Middleweight division. Most will remember Sturm’s only appearance in the United States when he lost his WBO world championship in a disputed decision to Oscar De La Hoya nearly ten years ago. A fight that many observers, this one included felt Sturm had won. One could speculate that the reason Felix Sturm has not fought in the United States since that fight in June of 2004 could well be that he felt that he had gotten robbed in that fight and potentially did not want to risk coming back to the United States possibly for fear of not getting a fair shake from judges who score the fights.

Whether or not that is the case is only a question that Felix Sturm can answer. Sturm however, has rightfully earned his place as a top Middleweight of his era and I believe should be given an opportunity to unify his title. It would also do Sturm well if he were to fight Golovkin outside of Germany, potentially in the United States. Although it is certainly understandable how a questionable decision could leave a bad taste in a fighter’s mouth, I believe Felix Sturm should be given another opportunity to show American Boxing fans what he can do by fighting in the United States.

Whether or not there has been any consideration of Sturm as a potential opponent for Golovkin is speculation, but a fight between the two does seem attractive at least in my eyes. Even though it is my opinion that Golovkin would be the logical opponent for the winner of the potential Martinez-Cotto clash, it will be interesting to see whomever Golovkin should face next whether or not that fighter can throw a monkey wrench into any plans Golovkin could have for potential big money fights down the road. If there is a Middleweight out there that can truly test Golovkin, it still remains to be seen.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison