Fa needs to step up and say that none of those three are in the top 15, and he's WBO #6. This is the fight that Jr. wants. It would be a 50/50 fight. Sure, Kownacki can bang, but a washed up Arreola went the distance against him.
Heavyweight Prospect Update: How The Most Promising Big Men Of The Sport Got On In 2019
James Slater - January 5, 2020 16 Comments
Andy Ruiz Daniel Dubois, Dillian Whyte, Filip Hrgovic, Joseph Parker, Kubrat Pulev Boxing News
As was the case a year ago, Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are the current main men of the heavyweight division right now; while Dillian Whyte, Joseph Parker, Andy Ruiz, Kubrat Pulev and one or two other guys make up the next tier. But what of the young, unbeaten up-and-comers of the division, how did they get on over the past 12 months?
The following four heavyweights that were catching the eye of fight fans in 2019: Filip Hrgovic, Daniel Dubois, Efe Ajagba and Darmani Rock, all retained their unbeaten records. However, one of the four suffered some real adversity and forced some fans to have a re-think about his chances of reaching the top as a result.
Filip Hrgovic of Croatia fought three times last year, the 6’6” continuing to make waves. A fine amateur who won a gold medal at the 2015 European champions and won a bronze at the 2016 Olympics, the 26 year old turned pro in September of 2017 and he has met only fighters with winning records. This year, fighting in May, August and December – Hrgovic crushing Gregory Corbin in a round, and Mario Heredia and Eric Molina inside three rounds. Hrgovic is now 10-0(8) overall
Daniel Dubois of the UK has scored some chillingly impressive KO’s since going pro in 2017, and the 22 year old looked good in fighting five times in 2019. Dubois boxed in March, April, July, September and December – taking out Razvan Cojanu, Richard Lartey, Nathan Gorman, Ebenezer Tetteh and Kyotaro Fujimoto. Dubois is now 14-0(13)
Efe Ajagba of Nigeria (now based in Texas) looked for a time as though he might be the most promising young heavyweight out there. Trained by the great Ronnie Shields, the chiseled 6’5” hope with the incredible 88” reach also had a fine amateur career, winning bronze at the Commonwealth Games in 2014. Going pro in 2017, Ajagba made some noise with a string of quick KO wins. Ajagba fought four times last year, boxing in March, April, July and December – beating Amir Mansour, Michael Wallisch, Ali Eren Demirezen (on points) and Iago Kiladze. It was in the Kiladze fight when Ajagba was hit too often, dropped and made to look what he is: a young fighter with plenty to learn. Ajagba is now 12-0(10).
Darmani Rock is perhaps a little less known than the other fighters on this list, yet the 23 year old from Philadelphia has been working away steadily. A pro since 2016, the 6’5” boxer/puncher fought four times in 2019, in February, April, June and October – beating Steven Lyons, Mike Bissett, Raymond Ochieng and Maurenzo Smith, stopping them all. Rock is as ambitious as the next young heavyweight. Rock is now 17-0(12).
Now let’s see how these four get on here in 2020.
Kownacki, Breazeale in Play March 7 at Barclays Center on Fox
By Manouk Akopyan Published On Mon Jan 6, 2020, 02:34 PM EST
Undefeated heavyweight contender Adam Kownacki is inching toward finalizing an opponent for his 2020 debut.
The Polish pugilist Kownacki (20-0, 15 KOs) is in line to face Dominic Breazeale (20-2, 18 KOs) on March 7 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in what would be a nationally televised fight on Fox, a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations told BoxingScene.com
Breazeale is leading a pack of a total of three opponents that also includes contenders like Christian Hammer (25-6, 15 KOs). A forthcoming official announcement is imminent.
The 34-year-old Breazeale is 3-2 in his last five fights, with his only two career losses coming via KO to Anthony Joshua in 2016 and Deontay Wilder in 2019.
The 32-year old Hammer’s last three defeats have come to the hands of Luis Ortiz in 2019, Alexander Povetkin in 2017 and Tyson Fury in 2015.
Either Breazeale or Hammer should provide the popular Brooklyn brawler Kownacki, who draws large Polish contingencies in somewhat of a second home at the Barclays Center, a test as he looks to shape himself as a serious player and title contender in the competitive heavyweight landscape.
Kownacki is coming off a strong 2019 that was highlighted by wins over Chris Arreola via unanimous decision in August in an all-out slugfest, and Gerald Washington via TKO last January.
Dillian Whyte Tabs Alexander Povetkin as Preferred Foe For April
By Boxing Clever Published On Wed Jan 8, 2020, 04:26 PM EST
Dillian Whyte has tabbed Alexander Povetkin as the preferred option for a planned return in the month of April.
Both Whyte and Povetkin were in action during last month's card in Saudi Arabia, which was headlined by the heavyweight rematch between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz.
Whyte won a tough ten round decision over Polish giant Mariusz Wach, while Povetkin fought Michael Hunter to a highly competitive draw.
A fight between Whyte and Povetkin had been mentioned in 2018, but the Russian former world champion went in another direction when was able to secure a big money opportunity to fight Anthony Joshua.
Whyte currently holds the WBC's interim-world title. Full champion Deontay Wilder, who faces Tyson Fury on February 22, is not obligated to face him until February 2021. Whyte has no intention of waiting around for Wilder.
Next week, the British heavyweight will sit down with promoter Eddie Hearn to discuss the available options.
"[Hearn] mentioned April 18 on an interview, so I guess that's the date. Probably in London or Manchester, something like that. The O2 gets booked up a lot, so either London or Manchester. They are two good venues and it would be good to move to a different part of the country some time as well. Manchester Arena would be good," Whyte said to Sky Sports.
"If [Povetkin] wants it, he can get it. It's going to be a tear-up, because he is not really a mover and I'm not really a mover, so he's a come forward fighter and I come forward. We're going to have a scrap. Povetkin comes to fight doesn't he. He doesn't come to mess about. I'm the same, so let's get it. Let's see who has got the best left hook around.
"We've got to be mindful of the date and timing and stuff, so I need to speak to him to get a full idea of [Hearn's] plans. We'll meet and see what the plans are and then we'll make a decision. I'm not going to wait another 800 days [for Wilder]. What for?"
From Atlantic City:
Heavyweight Apti Davtaev (19-0-1, 18 KOs) scored a third round TKO over Keith Barr (20-13-1, 8 KOs).
Big Baby Miller Headed To A Top Rank Deal, And A Ring Return On The Wilder-Fury II Card?
James Slater - January 11, 2020
Have you still got some time for Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller? Are you still a fan of the New Yorker despite his well-documented failed drugs tests of last year (those that ruined not only his reputation in some quarters, but also ruined his June 1 shot at heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua)?
If so, there could be some good news about to break. Speaking with Fight Hype, Miller’s co-promoter Dmitriy Salita strongly hinted that the unbeaten Miller could be about to sign a big deal with Top Rank, and that he could, “if all goes well, be fighting on the card of the biggest heavyweight fight of the year.” That, one assumes Salita means, is the soon-to-be-upon-us Deontay Wilder Vs. Tyson Fury rematch of February 22. Miller on the under-card – yay or nay?
“We are looking to line up Jarrell with a major deal, and something is going to be announced in the very near future – in the coming days,” Salita told Fight Hype. “I feel Jarrell is one of the best heavyweights in the world. I feel he has the skills to beat Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua; I feel he WOULD have beaten Joshua on June 1. I’m very excited about what is going to happen in the coming days for him. (when pressed on whether the deal will be one with Top Rank) That is fair speculation. If all goes well, he may be fighting on the card of the biggest heavyweight fight of the year, maybe of many, many years.”
Miller, 23-0-1(0) has almost served his ban, he has hopefully kept himself in reasonable shape or better, and, if you are willing to give him a second chance, he might be capable of making quite the comeback here in 2020. It was of course dumber than dumb what Miller did last year, as he himself has admitted, and we have to hope it was just that, a dumb mistake; one he will not repeat again.
As for Miller featuring on the Wilder-Fury II card in Las Vegas, this would certainly add some interest. A great talker and, at the time of his dumb mistake, close to making more believers than nonbelievers out of fans, Miller has a knack for attracting interest. If Miller does one day end up fighting Fury it will be one helluva build-up. And as for the head-to-heads, forget it!
Let’s see just what Miller’s soon to be announced big deal is, and if he will indeed be featured on the Feb. 22 show at The MGM Grand.