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Ring Ratings Update: Bute still No.1 at super middleweight | Ring Magazine
This one's bound to cause a bit of a stir, although I personally agree with them. Amond Ward and Bute, Ward by far has the best win. But overall, I feel Bute still has the much deeper resume. Quality of wins, in my opinion, runs in this order: Kessler (Ward), Andrade (Bute), Andrade (Bute), Bika (Bute), Green (Ward), Berrio (Bute), Zuniga (Bute), Miranda (Both). Bad Left Hook has officially kept Bute at number 1 as well, although if Ward defeats Andre Dirrell in the next round of the Super Six, it would be tough to keep him at #2. Elsewhere, in his blog, Dan Rafael (who has Ward up top) expressed that the road to a championship at super middleweight will still need to go through Bute, as long as he keeps winning.
Juan Manuel Lopez would face Rafael Marquez in September if Lopez wins in July | ESPN
Juan Manuel Lopez and Rafael Marquez will meet Sept. 18 in a Showtime main event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, their handlers told ESPN.com, if Lopez wins a fight already scheduled for next month and comes out healthy. I called this one almost exactly back when Bob Arum was promising a fight between Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa, predicting that it would be a LONG time before the fight happens, that he'd set up Lopez to fight the Marquez-Vazquez IV winner, and that he'd set up Gamboa to fight Cristobal Cruz, the weakest of the other titlists. Well, here's Lopez against Marquez, and Salido beat Cruz (and is a Top Rank fighter). After this round of build-up, however, the Bobfather better get on with it - we need Lopez, Gamboa and Caballero to start fighting each other already.
Universum Update; Levin vs Daniels; Golovkin-Nunez | Boxing Scene
Some good German updates via Per Ake Persson. Gennady Golovkin's opponent for a vacant middleweight title with be a truly pathetic choice, Milton Nunez, a Colombian who's only faced three fighters with winning records. That bout will be in Mexico and likely aired on Top Rank Live, giving U.S. fans their first exposure to Golovkin, who's sure to be near the top of the middleweight scene for a while. Also, Universum has made for it's final show on ZDF a bout between Khoren Gevor and Dmitri Sartison in an ill-advised of the smallish and light hitting Gevor up to super middleweight.
Star Boxing Announces Tua-Barrett to Be Shown Live On PPV | Press Release
The show, billed as, T-N-T at the Tropicana, is scheduled for twelve rounds and will be for Tua's minor WBO titles. So far, the undercard has not been set, and the bout will be going head to head with Bradley-Abregu / Angulo-Alcine on HBO, as well as Montiel-Concepcion / Casimero-Hirales on Fox Sports Net. I doubt this generates too much interest outside of hardcore Tua fans, as a strong wind could knock out Barrett these days.
Duddy ready for lion's den I Independent.ie
The Independent argues that THIS is the big one, the real deal, the defining moment of John Duddy's career. If he wins this one, there could be an ever bigger one, though.
Shelly Finkel leaving boxing management | ESPN
Shelly Finkel, one of the most powerful managers in boxing for the past 30-plus years, is leaving behind management in a surprising move and returning to music promotion, which is where he got his start. In his new position as CEO of Empire Sports, he may also be doing some boxing promoting. This is a huge hit for a number of fighters, as Finkel was one of the preeminent managers out there.
From Cuba to Cork the hard way | Tribune Sport
A great profile of Mike Perez, Alexei Acosta and Luis Garcia, three Cuban prospects who defected and wound up all the way in Ireland.
Boxer Eamonn Magee is jailed for assault | BBC News
Former world boxing champion Eamonn Magee is jailed for 12 months for an assault on his ex-partner. In other news, the sun rose this morning, and M. Night Shyamalan's new movie has a twist.