Carl Froch offers beaten Groves a rematch

November 24, 2013 - 21:48 | Boxing

Carl Froch has offered George Groves a rematch after stopping his opponent in controversial circumstances in the ninth round in Manchester.

Froch offers beaten Groves a rematch

Froch recovered from the shock of being knocked to the canvas in the first round to retain his WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles when referee Howard Foster ended the contest.

The decision was met with widespread derision but Froch insists Foster was right to bring the bout to a conclusion.

Groves was ahead on points when Froch launched a barrage of punches in the ninth round which forced the referee to intervene.

Froch said afterwards: “Howard is a very experienced referee. George had his head low and I had a free shot and the referee had a split-second decision to make. It was dangerous and he had to put the safety of the fighter first.

“Let’s have a rematch and sort it out.

“As a fighter I have never had disrespect for him.

Let’s have a rematch and sort it out.

Carl Froch

“As a person he was antagonistic towards me and was being disrespectful and rude. I’m a man of my word. He’s a good fighter and I’ve seen what he can do. He’s earned more respect from me in the fight.

“We had a chat, he gave me an answer and I respect him for that. I’ve got a little more respect for him as a fighter and a little more respect as a person.

“He got booed into the arena and he’s getting cheered out of it. But let’s not forget who won here. It was a very educated decision. I get stuck in and that’s why everybody loves me. I gave everyone entertainment and I can’t be held responsible for what the referee did.”

Meanwhile, Adonis Stevenson is 1/5 to win his fight against Tony Bellew who can be backed at 7/2.

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Carl Froch wants Kessler decider

June 4, 2013 - 19:02 | Boxing

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Carl Froch has confirmed that he wants a third fight with Mikkel Kessler.

Carl Froch wants Kessler decider

Carl Froch has admitted that he would like to fight Mikkel Kessler for a third time before looking to avenge his defeat to Andre Ward.

The 35-year-old Nottingham fighter won a unanimous decision against Kessler at the O2 Arena in London on 25th May and immediately stressed his desire for a rematch with WBA super-middleweight champion, Ward, who beat him via a unanimous points decision in December 2011 in Atlantic City.

I fancy a third fight with Kessler because I love fighting Mikkel. It’s my kind of fight. You know that he comes to fight.

Carl Froch

However with Ward dragging his heels over fighting Froch in the UK, it seems ‘The Cobra’ has had a re-think and would now like to face Kessler for a third and final time before looking at a Ward bout.

Dane Kessler won on points in Copenhagen three years ago with Froch gaining revenge last month so the natural way forward is to have a deciding showdown.

“I fancy a third fight with Kessler because I love fighting Mikkel,” Froch said on Steve Bunce’s ESPN boxing podcast. “It’s my kind of fight. You know that he comes to fight.

“Andre Ward is a great fighter and you know you’re going to get a hard night’s work with a trickster.

“He’s a little magician in there doing what he does and he’s effective. He gets the result but he bores the pants off most people and when you fight him you pretty much know you’re going to get beat which is a terrible mindset to go into a fight with.

“You know it’s going to be difficult to win the fight against Ward depending on where it is and what referees you’ve got.

“Because I’ve boxed him before I know what to expect so I’d prepare differently, but a fight with Ward is a massive fight and one I want to avenge 100%.

“But I’d rather fight Kessler for the decider.”

Meanwhile, another man who has been beaten by Froch in the past, Lucian Bute, is scheduled to take on Jean Pascal for the WBC Diamond belt in December, with the fight having been delayed after Bute suffered a hand injury.

Bute is 6/5 to win the fight in Montreal on 7th December, with Pascal 4/6.

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Carl Froch targets Ward revenge mission

May 26, 2013 - 13:14 | Boxing

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Carl Froch has set his sights on a rematch with Andre Ward after defeating Mikkel Kessler to become the WBA super-middleweight champion, adding to his IBF belt.

Carl Froch targets Ward revenge mission

The 35-year-old won a unanimous decision against Kessler at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday night and now wants a chance of revenge against Ward, who is the only man apart from Kessler to defeat Froch in the ring.

I went over to America and now let’s get him over to England.

Carl Froch

Ward beat The Cobra an a unanimous points decision in December 2011 in Atlantic City and Froch would relish a chance to put the record straight.

He told Sky Box Office after another toe-to-toe battle with Kessler: “I said before this fight that the winner should really be concentrating on moving on and my only other loss was against pound-for-pound number two in the world Andre Ward.

“What a fantastic fighter he is and a great, great champion, but he is there to be beaten.

“But not over in America – let’s get him over here. I went over to America and now let’s get him over to England.”

Bute is 6/5 to win the fight in Montreal on 7th December, with Pascal 4/6.

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David Haye confirms Charr bout

April 30, 2013 - 14:00 | Boxing

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David Haye confirms Charr bout

David Haye has announced he will fight Manuel Charr on 29th June in Manchester as he bids to set up another world title tilt.

David Haye the former world heavyweight champion retired in October 2011, three months after losing his title to Wladimir Klitschko on points. He returned to the domestic ring last summer when he stopped Dereck Chisora at Upton Park, and announced last month he would be making a full-time comeback.

Haye is determined to add another world title to his collection and sees his June opponent as the next step towards doing just that.

Hayemaker Boxing

David Haye’s long-term aim is to force a re-match with Klitschko or set up a bout against his brother Vitali.

“Former WBA world heavyweight champion David Haye will go head-to-head with next opponent Manuel Charr at a press conference this Wednesday,” Hayemaker Boxing confirmed in a statement.

“He has agreed a deal to fight the top 10-ranked contender on June 29 in Manchester.

“Haye is determined to add another world title to his collection and sees his June opponent as the next step towards doing just that.

“It will mark Haye’s first appearance in the ring since knocking out domestic rival Dereck Chisora in July 2012.”

Lebanon-born Charr, who is based in Germany, has a 23-1 record, having lost to Vitali Klitschko last year. He is ranked eighth in the World Boxing Council’s ratings, two places below Haye.

Meanwhile, Wladimir Klitschko is 1/50 to defeat Francesco Pianeta, who is at 12/1.

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Amir Khan ready for title fight

April 29, 2013 - 08:00 | Boxing

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Amir Khan is adamant that he is ready for another world title fight later this year after a ‘tough’ narrow points win against Julio Diaz on Saturday.

Amir Khan is looking for a world title bout after defeating Julio Diaz.

The 26-year-old Bolton fighter marked his return to fight on British soil for the first time in two years with an entertaining win at the Sheffield Motorpoint Arena.

Khan was knocked to the canvas by two-time former IBF lightweight champion Diaz but managed to come back and secure a unanimous 115-113, 115-112, 114-113 points win from the judges. He described the fight as “tough” and said it was “one of my hardest”.

And with Danny Garcia retaining his WBA and WBC welterweight titles and maintaining his unbeaten record with a points win against Zab Judah later on Saturday night, a potential rematch between him and Khan could materialise in the future.

I’d really love a fight with Garcia especially. There is a lot of unfinished business there.

Amir Khan

Amir Khan said: “There are four great fighters out there – Danny Garcia, Zab Judah, Lamont Peterson and Lucas Matthysse. I would love to fight the eventual winner out of those guys. I’d really love a fight with Garcia especially. There is a lot of unfinished business there.”

Peterson will defend his IBF light welterweight title against Matthysse on 18th May. He is 5/2 to win the fight, while Matthysse is 2/7 to come out on top.

And there is a possibility that Khan could face the winner of that fight in December unless he looks to move up to the welterweight division in the meantime.

Promoter Richard Schaefer said: “I see two scenarios, both of them in December. One is fighting for the light-welterweight title and the other is if he decides to go up in weight and we will go straight for the world title.

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Audley Harrison aims to keep dream alive

April 25, 2013 - 20:24 | Boxing

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Audley Harrison is still dreaming of being a world heavyweight champion.

Audley Harrison aims to keep dream alive

Audley Harrison is determined to keep alive his hopes of winning a world heavyweight title when he faces unbeaten American Deontay Wilder on Saturday.

The 41-year-old Olympic Gold medal winner looked set to hang up his gloves following a damaging sixth career defeat at the hands of David Price last October. However Harrison refused to bow down to the pressure and came back in style with victory in the recent Prizefighter competition.

The win has now enabled the British fighter to start back on the road to a title fight against Wilder on the undercard to Amir Khan’s headline fight with Julio Diaz at Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena.

Harrison is aware that 27-year-old Wilder, who has won all 27 fights in his career by a knockout, will be a tough proposition but he feels it is necessary to face somebody with real credentials.

I set a goal to be world champion and quite a few times I have fallen, but each time I have got up.

Audley Harrison

He said: “I said I was looking for someone in the top 10 and so I couldn’t ask for anyone better than America’s next big thing.

“There is everything to fight for. He is going to be an interesting puzzle for me to figure out, he brings a lot to the table.

“I have to find a way to get through that power, he has a big right hand.

“Beating him would put me back in the top 10, eligible to fight for world titles, which is my goal.

“After David Price people thought they wouldn’t see me again, but setbacks pave the way for comebacks.

“I am still living my dream and focused on my goal of becoming world champion.

“I set a goal to be world champion and quite a few times I have fallen, but each time I have got up.”

Harrison is 4/1 to win the fight against Wilder, who is 1/6 to make the Londoner his 28th victim, 1/4 by a knockout.

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Amir Khan keen on Garcia rematch

December 16, 2012 - 12:36 | Boxing

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Amir Khan has his sights set on a revenge meeting with Danny Garcia after returning to the ring with a ten-round stoppage of Carlos Molina in Los Angeles.

Amir Khan was back on form against Carlos Molina.

The former world light-welterweight champion gave a patient and measured performance against Molina, whose corner pulled him out of the fight after ten rounds, a majority of which Khan had had the better of.

Afterwards, Khan was bullish about the future under new trainer Virgil Hunter, saying: “I’m my own biggest critic after a loss and I always ask ‘what did I do wrong, why did I make those mistakes?’.

“In the Garcia fight he caught me with a good shot, but I’ll fight Danny Garcia again anytime, anywhere.”

Khan was beaten by Garcia in July, being stopped in the fourth round in Las Vegas to lose his WBC belt, having earlier lost his WBA and IBF titles in his previous fight against Lamont Peterson.

The man from Bolton was also happy with the changes made since he took on Hunter as his new trainer, adding: “Virgil Hunter, my new coach, is a great trainer and I’m getting better at boxing, being a complete fighter.

“He’s teaching me things, like speed, patience, picking the right shots and when to throw them.

“Sometimes I’m too brave for my own good but now I know it is better to stick to a gameplan.”

Meanwhile, in the heavyweight division, Tomasz Adamek is 2/7 to defeat Steve Cunningham on Saturday 22nd December, with Cunningham 5/2 to win the bout.

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2012 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award

December 4, 2012 - 08:00 | Boxing, Cricket, F1, Football, Games, Golf, TV Shows

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Olympic and Paralympic athletes dominate the shortlist for the 2012 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

odds correct as at 3rd Dec 2012

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Cyclists Bradley Wiggins and Sir Chris Hoy, tennis star Andy Murray, and athletes Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah are candidates in a 12-strong list.

Rower Katherine Grainger, golfer Rory McIlroy, boxer Nicola Adams and sailor Ben Ainslie are other hopefuls.

Paralympians Sarah Storey, Ellie Simmonds and David Weir also make the list for the award on 16 December.

Three former Sports Personality nominees were on an expert panel which decided the shortlist, and the winner will be decided by a public vote on the night.

The panel was put together following criticism of an all-male list decided via a different method in 2011.

The 2000 winner Sir Steve Redgrave, Baroness Grey-Thompson and Denise Lewis were joined by Baroness Campbell, chair of UK Sport, and representatives from the BBC and the newspaper industry.

Presented by Sue Barker, Gary Lineker and Clare Balding, Sports Personality of the Year will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC One HD and BBC Radio 5 live from 19:30 GMT.

A capacity crowd of 15,000 at the ExCel in London will make it the biggest show in the event’s 59-year history.

It will be a star-studded climax to 12 months of sport which saw London host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

With an array of candidates to choose from, the panel faced some difficult choices finalising the shortlist, which was extended from 10 to 12 to reflect a brilliant year for British sport.

Bradley Wiggins became the first Briton to win the Tour de France and followed up with Olympic time trial gold. Hoy won the team sprint and men’s keirin at London 2012 – his fifth and sixth gold medals overall – to beat the record for golds won by a British sportsman.

Ennis won the heptathlon and Farah triumphed in both the 5,000m and 10,00m in the Olympic Stadium.

Murray clinched gold at the Games before ending Britain’s wait for a major tennis title with victory in the US Open, and McIlroy also triumphed across the Atlantic as he took theUS PGA title, played in Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team and won the season-ending Tour Championship.

Adams became the first female fighter to win an Olympic boxing title,Grainger claimed rowing gold at the fourth attempt and Ainslie’s victory at the Games made him the most decorated Olympic sailor.

Defeated Ricky Hatton calls it a day

November 25, 2012 - 12:44 | Boxing

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Ricky Hatton has announced his retirement from boxing after his defeat to Vyacheslav Senchenko in Manchester on Saturday evening.

Defeated Ricky Hatton calls it a day The 34-year-old former two-weight world champion, who had not fought since 2009, was stopped by Senchenko in the ninth round.

It’s too many hard fights, I’ve burned the candle at both ends, I’ve put my body through the mire in and out of the ring.

Ricky Hatton

“I needed one more fight to see if I had still got it – and I haven’t,” Hatton said afterwards. “I couldn’t have done any better. A fighter knows and I know it isn’t there anymore. I have got to be a man and say it is the end of Ricky Hatton.”

Hatton started well and edged the first round but became more defensive as the fight progressed and was hurt by a body shot to his ribs in the ninth which ultimately ended the bout.

“I got in the best shape I possibly could but if I hadn’t been hit with that body shot I would have just scraped over the line,” Hatton added.

“It’s too many hard fights, I’ve burned the candle at both ends, I’ve put my body through the mire in and out of the ring.”

Hatton had initially announced his retirement from the sport three years ago after being beaten by Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

After suffering personal problems since that decision, Hatton announced he would be returning to boxing earlier this year, hoping that he would make his friends and supporters “proud”.

Next weekend, Andrew Flintoff is scheduled to fight Richard Dawson. The former cricketer is 5/6 to win the bout while Dawson can be backed at 5/6.

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David Price eyes world title after downing Harrison

October 14, 2012 - 10:45 | Boxing

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David Price believes that he can go on to become a heavyweight champion of the world after demolishing Audley Harrison on just 82 seconds in Liverpool.

David Price eyes world title after downing Harrison

Audley Harrison lasted less than two minutes against David Price.

The 29-year-old defended his British and Commonwealth titles in style and will now move on to a clash with Matt Skelton in early December.

After ending Harrison’s career with a devastating display, Price said: “I didn’t expect to do that to Audley Harrison – I thought I’d break him down over time.

“The facts are he is a former Olympic and European champion and world title challenger and I’ve just done a number on him.

“Each win breeds more confidence and now I believe I can become the heavyweight champion of the world, but there’s still massive room for improvement.”

Meanwhile, James DeGale retained his European super-middleweight title with a points victory over Hadillah Mohoumadi.

“I knew he was going to be tough and durable, but I didn’t think he’d be as tough as that,” DeGale said. “I live and I learn and we go back and the gym next week and we work on it.”

Next weekend sees Kell Brook take on Argentinian Hector Saldivia in an IBF welterweight title final eliminator in Sheffield.

Brook is 1/12 to win the fight, with Saldivia 6/1.

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