We’re just days away from the biggest heavyweight matchup of the year in undefeated IBF titlist Anthony Joshua (18-0, 18 KOs) taking on former undisputed champion Wladimir Klitschko (64-4, 53 KOs). BeatsBoxingMayhem is providing a live stream of today’s open workouts starting at 4:14 p.m. ET.
Joshua vs. Klitschko takes place this Saturday (April 29) on Showtime at 4:15 p.m. ET.
(photo by Douglas DeFelice/Prime 360 Photography)
Photo Credit: Prime 360 Photography
We’re just over two weeks away from the big welterweight showdown between Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia. Thurman, who’s putting the finishing touches on his training camp in St. Petersburg, Florida, took time to disclose his thoughts on the matchup and how his last win against Shawn Porter lifted his game.
KEITH THURMAN
At the end of the day, it’s just another fight. My job has not changed since I was seven years old. This is the sport that I love. The name of the game to hit and not get hit, but you know I’m looking to inflict some damage as well.
I know Danny is confident coming into this fight. He’s trying to challenge me and hurt me. I have an ‘0’ and I’m not ready to let it go. If you think you can beat me, beat me. It’s going down on March 4.
(photo by Douglas DeFelice/Prime 360 Photography)
You can expect a world class fight. We’re both great champions with impressive skills. We’re going to be pushing each other and testing each other. I see myself as the smarter fighter. I’ve shown that I can adjust in the middle of a fight. With the experience that I have, I go in there with an objective I’m trying to achieve. If it’s not happening, then I have to use something else.
Ultimately, my heart desires victory at this stage and at this level. I’m looking to do what I do best. Which is be a smart fighter, look for the openings and if I can cause some damage, hopefully I can capitalize on that.
I showed against Shawn Porter that when you fully challenge me and make me gut it out, I’m there. I’m a champion and this champion doesn’t lie down for anybody. That fight was a tremendous fight and we showed that we understand each other as fighters.
I thought to myself after eight rounds against Porter, ‘this fight is tied.’ Nothing that happened in the first eight rounds mattered. The fight was going to be decided in four rounds, just like the amateurs. I had to do what Ben Getty always said, ‘smart fighters win and dumb fighters lose.’
I just want to keep moving myself up and establishing my legacy. I want to distinguish myself from the other welterweights. The winner of this fight will get the spotlight over everyone else in the division.
(photo by Douglas DeFelice/Prime 360 Photography)
I’m doing this for my career, for my legacy and for the fans. Without the fans, there’s no legacy. I’ve been boxing for 21 years of my life and I look forward to having some more great years. I’m proud to be living my dream.To get two tremendous fights back-to-back is evidence that I’m on the right track and you could say we’re gaining more power in the sport. I’m getting what I want out of the sport, which are big fights like this.
This is something that the fans are excited about and I’m truly looking forward to this fight. I just want to keep living my dreams and working to become the best fighter in the world.Establishing a unification of a weight class is my ultimate goal in the sport of boxing. That’s what we’re working for.
(photo by Douglas DeFelice/Prime 360 Photography)
The preparation has been fantastic. Keith has been on both. His long runs, short runs, sprinting, listening to everything in the gym not to mention great sparring. You are going to see a great performance.
This is a dream come true for me. I never dreamed of this when I was Youngstown, OH before I came to Florida. When I came here there were guys like Jeff Lacy and Winky Wright that came into my gym who I’ve been fortunate enough to work with. Then came Ben Getty and Keith Thurman.
I owe most of this to Ben Getty. I want him to get a lot of the recognition. He really deserves it. I am just trying to continue what he started.
Fans are going to see a great performance. They are going to see a well-conditioned, well-trained Keith Thurman. He is very focused on getting rid of Garcia and moving up in the ranks.
Photo Credit: Hogan Photos/Golden Boy
SAN DIEGO — WBC middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez hosted his media workout today at the House of Boxing. The linear champ is now roughly two weeks out from his title defense against Amir Khan.
It’s hard to say what type of shape Canelo is since he notably did not remove his shirt. Will he have problems getting down to his “Caneloweight” of 155 pounds?
Here’s what he had to say about his training focus, expectations for Khan’s strategy, and selling the fight.
The card airs Saturday May 7 on HBO pay-per-view.
CANELO
I always prepare 100 percent for every fight. They only thing that changes is the strategy. Every fighter is different, every fighter brings different skills and you have to adjust for that. For Amir, we have focused on increasing my hand speed, counter punching and preparing for lots of movement and footwork.
We believe [Amir] will adopt a similar style to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Erislandy Lara; however, we have made sure that I am prepared for that style of boxing and anything he brings to the table to not be surprised on fight night.
I have my game plan and he has his. We are both preparing to the best of our ability to what we know are each other’s strengths. Yet, fight night can be very unpredictable. You have to adjust to what your opponent is doing and also apply pressure at the same time. I can’t predict a definite outcome, but I can say that I am going to bring the best of me in the ring.
I don’t like to talk trash just to be able to sell fights. What I do is I train hard and do my talking in the ring. I want people to respect me and to follow my fights, not because of what I say but what I do.
Berto had an off night. I wasn’t at my best either, but I destroyed him regardless. This time we’ll both be at our best. – Victor Ortiz
Video Credit: Jeandra LeBeauf/BadCulture.net
Photo Credit: Idris Erba/Premier Boxing Champions
CARSON, California — Former welterweight titlist Victor Ortiz met the media today as he put in the final work before an April 30 rematch with Andre Berto. Aside from promising to “end” Berto and create another Fight of Year like their 2010 encounter, Ortiz delivered candid comments about his fellow PBC welterweights.
The card airs on Fox (8 p.m.) with an undercard of Thomas Williams Jr. vs. Edwin Rodriguez and Jorge Lara vs. Fernando Montiel.
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Watch the live stream of Tim Bradley’s final training steps as he prepares for his third encounter against Manny Pacquiao next Saturday (April 9). The stream will also feature interviews with Bradley and head trainer Teddy Atlas.
The fight airs live on HBO pay-per-view.
Watch Manny Pacquiao’s training as he prepares for his rubbermatch against Tim Bradley on April 9. The live stream will cover Pacquiao’s work from a closed gym and also feature interviews. The event kicks off at 6 p.m. ET.
Photo Credit: Amanda Westcott/Showtime
PHILADELPHIA — Rising undefeated contender Julian “J-Rock” Williams is one win away from his dream of fighting for a major title. On Saturday, he faces Marcello Matano in a 154-pound eliminator for the IBF strap held by Jermall Charlo. The Showtime card will also air Antoine Douglas taking on Avtandi Khurtsidze, and Tony Harrison facing off against Fernando Guerrero.
Williams and his trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards had the below comments about their matchup and future world title hopes.
JULIAN WILLIAMS
I am extremely focused. There is a lot at stake this Saturday. I am finally in the position I wanted to be in since turning pro.
I have come to a conclusion that if people don’t have to fight Julian Williams then they won’t. It hasn’t been that frustrating though because I always have a fight on the books. I can’t worry about the people who won’t fight me. I just have to stay ready and put myself in the mandatory spot. That’s what I am going to do on Saturday night.
It’s never any challenge fighting at home. I know exactly what I have to do. I don’t cut any corners in camp. The biggest challenge is the waiting because I am so anxious to get in there and get a win, especially in front of my home crowd.
I always knew I wanted to pursue a boxing career, so I treat it like I want it. I’ve been dreaming about this for a long time and my opportunity is finally here.
I’ve been a student of the game since I started watching boxing. I want to learn and I want to know everything about boxing.
It means everything to have my biggest fight to date in my backyard. I know my fans cheer loud and it feels great to have their support in my corner.
I know everything about my opponent. I probably know what kind of toothpaste he used this morning. I searched high and low for videos of Matano. I am ready because I know he is ready.
He is a little bit awkward. He seems to have a really good gas tank. He said he wants to take me the distance, so we’ll see.
The last fight solidified the things that I already knew about myself. I know I am fundamentally sound and I know I am the hungriest fighter in the world.
I always want to put on an explosive performance. It’s always about a win.
In about nine months, Philadelphia will have it’s fourth IBF super welterweight champion after David Reid, Robert Hines and Buster Drayton.
STEPHEN EDWARDS
We are ready. It’s been a long four-month camp. We thought were going to fight in January, so we’ve been grinding through this rough weather early in the morning. Julian is chomping at the bit and ready to rock ‘n roll.
We thought we were going to fight Austin Trout in December, and he saw that Julian gave his opponent a concussion and said I don’t want to fight him. It’s just that simple. We have to get past Matano and then we can talk about (super welterweight champion Jermall) Charlo.
Anybody with two hands and a heartbeat can fight. Matano is ranked and just because he isn’t well known, it doesn’t mean he can’t fight. He is 16-1 and they didn’t have a hard time convincing him to take the fight. The best soldiers are volunteers. Any time someone willingly comes to someone else’s country, you have to take him seriously.
I don’t want to make a prediction, but Julian will hurt this guy very bad.
