Jamel Herring and Shakur Stevenson could be in line for a super-featherweight showdown at the end of the year, Claressa Shields' blossoming MMA career won’t get in the way of her already incredible boxing career and Riddick Bowe looks to be returning to the ring at the age of 53. Here are five boxing stories you might have missed this weekend.
Jamel Herring vs Shakur Stevenson Set For Super-Featherweight Showdown
Jamel Herring vs Shakur Stevenson is in "advanced talks" to happen later this year, likely in the fourth quarter of 2021, both fighters have confirmed.
Former US Marine Herring was last in action in April, successfully defending his WBO super-featherweight title with a career best performance against Carl Frampton, handing the Northern Irishman a sixth round TKO in Dubai.
Rio 2016 silver-medallist Stevenson is one of the sharpest talents in the game right now and the former 126lb titleist was in action last month, outpointing Jeremiah Nakathila in Las Vegas.
"I go fight Jamel Herring next and go beat him and then go beat Oscar Valdez. They'll be saying I'm the best young fighter and put me on the pound-for-pound list," Stevenson told ESPN.
Claressa Shields To Fight In Boxing And MMA ‘Concurrently”
Claressa Shields’ legacy in the boxing ring will not be impacted by her recent venture into the world of MMA, says Professional Fighters League CEO Peter Murray.
Shields, the only boxer in history, female or male, to hold all four major world titles in boxing simultaneously in two weight classes, has certainly lived up to her self-proclaimed title of GWOAT (Greatest Woman of All Time) since switching to the paid ranks on the back of two consecutive Olympic gold medals, but some fans are worried that a move into mixed martial arts could hamper her promising boxing career.
Murray is adamant this isn’t the case though, telling Sky Sports, "We love that she wants to be a two-sport champion in boxing and MMA and compete concurrently.
"So we designed a programme for her, to enable her to box, and to help develop her MMA game.
“She is an amazing athlete focused on obtaining her goals.”
Chris Colbert Puts On A Boxing Clinic In California
Promising Brooklyn super-featherweight Chris Colbert stretched his unbeaten record to 16 fights after he eased his way to a lop-sided unanimous decision win over Mongolia’s Tugstsogt Nyambayar at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Colbert, who retained his WBA interim title, scored 117-111, 118-110, and 118-110 on the judges’ cards and showed incredible prowess with his jab throughout the night, something the 24-year-old learned from the great Muhammad Ali.
Speaking after the fight, Colbert said, "The name of the game is to hit and not get hit. So, I had to use my Muhammad Ali tactics. 'Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.'
"In boxing, the jab will set you free. It will get you in trouble and out of trouble sometimes."
Canelo Could Move Up To Light-Heavyweight
Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez could make a return to 175lbs to take on IBF and WBC light-heavyweight champion Artur Betrbiev, the only world champion in boxing with a 100% KO record, according to Eddie Hearn.
Unified super-middleweight champion Canelo is currently in talks with IBF title-holder Caleb Plant for a mouthwatering undisputed clash later this year but that hasn’t stopped Canelo from looking ahead to a scrap with one of the most fearsome punchers in the sport.
Hearn told DAZN, “You know, [at light-heavyweight] you have Joe Smith, you have Dmitry Bivol and you have Artur Beterbiev.
"Dmitry Bivol is probably the easiest fight to make because he works with us.
“But Artur Beterbiev, Canelo talks about that, but he knows how hard Beterbiev punches, and Canelo's a competitor.
“Now you tell him that's not the fight to take. You want to take it? You tell him that's a dangerous fight? He'll want to do it.”
Riddick Bowe Eyeing Comeback Against Mike Tyson
Riddick Bowe, one of the greatest heavyweight champions of the modern era, will make his return to the ring on October 23 in Miami after signing a deal with Celebrity Boxing.
The 53-year-old, who only lost once in a career stretching from 1989 to 2008, is yet to finalise an opponent but says Mike Tyson and former foe Evander Holyfield, who he fought in one of boxing’s greatest ever trilogies, winning twice, are on his hit list.
Writing on Celebrity Boxing’s Instagram page, in particular Bowe fashion, he said, “Hi, I’m Riddick Bowe, two-time world heavyweight champion, and I just signed a contract with Celebrity Boxing. Listen y’all I’m ready to go. Who you think I should fight? Maybe Mike Tyson? Evander Holyfield? Shaq daddy? Or maybe Joe? Joe mama? Let me know who you want me to fight, and it’s a done deal!”
