World Scene: Our look at whats happening around the World this week
By Rory Fitzgerald
Floyd Mayweather has again caused major controversy this week. “TMT” revealed his top 5 fighters of all time. Not surprisingly ‘Money’ came top of his own list, but that wasn’t the subject of controversy. That was expected of the arrogant American! It was more the fact that he had the great Muhammad Ali in the fifth spot and amazingly there was no place for the legend Sugar Ray Robinson.
There was also no place for Rocky Marciano. It is the great mans record of 49-0 that Mayweather will be aiming to equal when he takes on Andre Berto in September.
Mayweather’s top 5:
1. Floyd Mayweather Jnr (Surprise Surprise)
2. Roberto Duran
3. Pernell Whitaker
4. Julio Cesar Chavez
5. Muhammad Ali
After two years of pursuing his dream fight with Floyd Mayweather, it looks as if Amir Khan has finally admitted defeat in his quest. With a division packed full of stars and super fights it really is a wonder why it has taken the Bolton man so long to give up and move on. The likes of Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter and of course fellow Brit Kell Brook could all have been routes that Khan could have taken for World glory.
Big news this week may give Khan some encouragement, as Manny Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum has suggested that a fight between the two may take place next year. Arum has called Mayweather’s decision to fight Andre Berto a “farce”, and also went on to say that it should have been Khan that got the nod for “Money’s” supposed farewell fight.
“Pacman’s” promoter has said that the fight between the former gym mates could take place in either the Middle East or Vegas.
Gennady Golovkin has been saying for the past few years that opponents are running scared of him. While he has had top class fighters share the ring with him in the last 2 years, his record doesn’t lie and the Kazak man has yet to be truly tested.
Matthew Macklin was torn apart in three rounds, Martin Murray gave a gallant effort but was thwarted in the 11th and Willie Munroe Jnr was simply outclassed before being stopped in the sixth.
All top fighters in there own right, but none could live with the man who is responsible for knocking out 30 of his 33 opponents.
On October 17th Golovkin will take on Canadian David Lemieux for the WBA and IBF middleweight titles. It will be the first time that Golovkin will be in the ring with someone who has similar punching power, and this will surely be his first mega test. The Montreal man has knocked out 31 of his 34 opponents and while he has two losses on his rap sheet, they both came all the way back in 2011.
It is great for the sport of boxing, when we see two of the best in their division trade leather. All credit to Golden Boy for making this fight as Lemieux could well have sat back and waited for the winner of the IBF title eliminator between Tureano Johnson and Eamonn O’Kane. Credit also goes to both fighters who clearly want to both prove that they are the best in the 160 pound division.
It has also been announced this week that Nicaraguan hotshot Roman Gonzalez will defend his WBC World flyweight title against the experienced American Brian Viloria on the undercard of Golovkin/Lemieux.
Eddie Hearn is beginning to look past Carl Frampton for Scott Quigg, and this week claimed that he has started negotiations on a fight with Nonito Donaire. While the Frampton fight is still a possibility, Hearn told Sky Sports that he has been “speaking to Bob Arum for a while about the Donaire fight”.
With “The Jackal” plying his trade more in America these days, it seems a Quigg-Frampton fight may be further away than it’s ever been. With the public demand for this fight growing, who knows how long Hearn and Barry McGuigan can keep their fights apart.
Possible future Tony Bellew opponent Yoan Pablo Hernandez will defend his IBF world cruiserweight title against Victor Emilio Ramirez on the 26th of September in Argentina. Bellew, who dropped down to cruiserweight after an unsuccessful attempt at light heavyweight will be watching on with interest.
Gavin McDonnell’s defence of his newly won European super bantamweight title against former Carl Frampton foe Jeremy Parodi has been moved from September 5th to October 24th. McDonnell will instead be in Texas to cheer on older brother Jamie in his rematch with Tomoki Kameda for the WBA World bantamweight title.
