The future is now for David Price
6’8 2008 Olympic bronze medalist David Price (23-6, 19 KOs) returns Saturday against unbeaten heavyweight Kash Ali (15-0, 7 KOs) on the Liam Smith vs. Sam Eggington undercard at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England. This will be the popular Price’s first fight in his hometown for nearly there years as he looks to make a fresh charge on the heavyweight division one fight at a time.
“For too long I was looking too far ahead and hoping for a big fight with one of the champions, but the time has come where I can’t do that,” Price told Sky Sports. “I’ve lost six times and no promoter is going to sit down with me and give me a long-term plan where I can be guided to such an opportunity. I’ve just got to take it one fight at a time, keep on winning, and then see where that takes me.”
DAZN will televise in the U.S.
Reporter seeks to have Pulev suspended
The female reporter kissed by IBF #1 heavyweight Kubrat Pulev at the conclusion of a post-fight interview last Saturday night has retained celebrity attorney Gloria Allred. They are alleging sexual harassment and assault against the boxer. Allred has sent a letter to the California Athletic Commission seeking to have Pulov’s boxing license suspended and they want the issue placed on the agenda of the next CSAC meeting to get “an appropriate sanction” against Pulev.
Dinu Camp protests Pulev loss
Promoter Greg Cohen has filed a “Petition for Change of Decision” with the California State Athletic Commission for fighter Bogdan Dinu following his knockout loss against Kubrat Pulev on March 23 at The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California.
The protest cites repeated rabbit punches, including one intentionally flagrant foul while Dinu was already down on his knees and defenseless. Pulev was penalized a point by referee Raul Caiz Jr. for the foul and when the action resumed Dinu was knocked down twice more by illegal punches clearly landing on the back of his head and neck before the bout was halted at 2:40 and called a KO 7 victory for Pulev.
The California commission has agreed to hear out Cohen’s request, with a hearing penciled in for May 14.
APRIL 5, 2019
BOXING NEWS
Usyk makes heavyweight debut vs. Takam May 25
Pound-for-pound star Oleksandr Usyk will make his heavyweight debut against Carlos Takam at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland on May 25, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK. Usyk (16-0, 12 KOs) was the dominant force in the cruiserweight division over the last 18 months, culminating with his commanding win over Murat Gassiev in July to become the undisputed World ruler and the winner of the inaugural World Boxing Super Series tournament in Gassiev’s Moscow home.
The unbeaten ruler waved goodbye to the division in style in November in Manchester where he KO’d Tony Bellew in the eighth round of their clash – a seventh straight world title triumph on the road for the 2012 Olympic gold medal hero.
The 32-year-old’s bid to win world titles at heavyweight will begin with a stern test against French-Cameroonian Takam (36-5-1, 28 KOs). Takam challenged Anthony Joshua for the IBF, WBA and IBO World titles in Cardiff, Wales in October 2017, taking the Briton ten rounds, and recently starred in a fight of the year contender with Dereck Chisora at The O2 in London, England in July 2018 – returning to that venue in December to register the 36th win of his career and 28th inside the distance.
“May 25 marks a major moment in my career when I move to the Heavyweight division,” said Usyk. “At cruiserweight, I did it all and became the undisputed champion and that is my goal now in the Heavyweights.
“This is the ultimate challenge and it begins on May 25 against Carlos Takam. It’s a tough first fight but I need to test myself against World class opposition on my new road to undisputed.”
“Usyk has achieved everything in the Cruiserweight division – I am ready to welcome him to the new world of Heavyweight boxing,” said Takam. “I can promise that this will be a great fight and I will provide Usyk with a huge test on his Heavyweight debut. I have huge ambitions of my own in the division and this fight will provide me with the chance to prove that.”
“The time has come for the ultimate challenge for Oleksandr Usyk,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “This pound-for-pound star had dominated the Cruiserweight division becoming undisputed champion after just 15 fights. Now he takes the daring leap to the land of the giants as he attempt to repeat his achievements in the heavyweight division.
“Takam is the perfect test for the Heavyweight debut. A big strong, all action fighter who will welcome Usyk into the fold with a heavy arsenal – be ready for fireworks on May 25! I’m delighted to promote this outstanding fighter in America as DAZN start a magical period of Canelo vs. Jacobs, Usyk vs. Takam, Joshua vs. Miller and the return of GGG all in the space of two months – don’t miss it!”
“Usyk brings to Heavyweight his skills of the Olympic champion as well as his experience of the undisputed Cruiserweight champion,” said Alexander Krassyuk, general director of K2 Promotions. “He has got all he needs to pick up the heritage of the great brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, to unify the belts and to reign the division for many years. This journey starts on May 25 with Carlos Takam. Let us witness his story becoming the history.”
An announcement on the undercard will be made next week.
Heavyweight Martin Bakole Ilunga (12-1, 9 KOs) scored a brutal eighth round TKO over 6’8 former world title challenger Mariusz Wach (33-5, 17 KOs) on Saturday night at the Spodek in Katowice, Poland. Ilunga pummeled Wach with connected with thirteen consecutive flush head punches in round eight to prompt a referee’s stoppage. The 39-year-old Wach has now lost three straight.
Fury-Schwarz on ESPN+
Unbeaten former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, the self-proclaimed “Gypsy King,” will unbeaten Tom Schwarz Saturday, June 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The event will be promoted by Top Rank, in association with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and SES Boxing.
Fury-Schwarz will be available live in the United States exclusively on ESPN+. The fight marks the first in a multi-fight agreement announced in February.