If you're as depressed about the forward pass that wasn't as I am and can't watch any more NRL the Jai Opetaia card is on a free steam at http://www.epicentre.tv/events/futr-opetaia-v-pegoraro/

Joseph Parker believes the power is finally back in his arms to fight Dillian Whyte after his rushed rehabilitation from surgery for his loss to Anthony Joshua.
 
Joseph Parker will probably need a knockout to beat Britain's Dillian Whyte in London and the Kiwi heavyweight is confident the power is finally returning to achieve that.
Parker has returned to Las Vegas and immediately begun training on a tight schedule for the hastily arranged July 29 fight in the British capital.
Given the aggressive style of Whyte who has amassed 14 of his 16 KO wins inside four rounds, it's unlikely this fight will go to the cards.
Dillian Whyte has the size and style to suit Joseph Parker for their looming fight in London.
 
Parker, facing his third fight in the UK inside a year, certainly doesn't want to take that risk.
"When you are fighting in someone's backyard a decision isn't an option for you. As soon as you go there to fight you have already lost unless you get a knock out," Parker told Stuff of his philosophy for this huge return fight on the back of his points loss to Anthony Joshua in Cardiff where he surrendered his WBO belt.
Joseph Parker revealed his problem elbows only started to come good in the immediate lead-up to his April 1 fight with Anthony Joshua.
"It's a matter of developing that power in camp so that you can knockout someone out."
Parker, who hasn't had a KO victory since he demolished Alexander Dimitrenko inside four rounds in south Auckland in October 2016, believes that is achievable now.
Persistent arm issues dogged him for more than two years before he got rushed surgery to both elbows late last year while still in negotiations to fight Joshua.
Parker revealed that the elbows, without a lengthy rehabilitation programme, still dogged him during most of his camp for Joshua. But with so much at stake - three world titles and a multi-million dollar pay day - he didn't want to be seen to be making excuses before or after the massive occasion.
Now he's free of issues and feelsd his power and timing will improve accordingly as he looks to get his 19th knockout in his 26th pro fight.
"There's no comparison," Parker said of his elbows now and in the leadup to that April 1 fight against Joshua.
"The truth is, and there's no excuses, the first four or five weeks of the Joshua camp was the most pain I've ever had," Parker said.
"It was like we didn't even have surgery on them, it felt worse."
Parker said they had to stop training and sparring to tend to them at times. His trainer Kevin Barry brought in specialists and slowly but surely improvements came.
"It was probably only during the last two weeks in Vegas that it all clicked and the pain started to disappear," Parker said.
"Now there is no pain, so not only is my weight good at around 110kg but there is no pain to start off with.
"I feel like I'm in a great space. It's a short camp but it's going to be a great camp and I'm going to make every second count."
Parker welcomes Whyte's toe-to-toe style after Joshua frustrated him with a conservative approach, happy to see out the 12-rounder and keep himself in line for bigger things against American Deontay Wilder.
Parker knows he won't have to go chasing Whyte like he did against Joshua and also against an elusive Hughie Fury in Manchester last September.
"I think his style is perfect for us. He comes forward and throws a lot of punches. Sometimes when you focus on attacking the other person you can make a mistake and walk into a big one," Parker, who appears to have a better allround game than Whyte, said.
He again praised Whyte for taking the fight when the Brit had finally manouevred his way into contention with the WBC, WBO and IBF organisations.
"He could have taken an easy one, I could have taken an easy one but what's the point? We are in the boxing business where we have to make every fight count and every fight taking us closer to the world title," Parker said.
"I think if you win this, you are top of the table to fight for a world championship."
 - Stuff

Just to remind everyone that Horn vs Crawford is on SKY SPORTS 3, Channel 53, starting at 12:30-3:30.  Today (Sunday) in NZ.

Aussie mum wins in bloody bare-knuckle boxing debut
https://au.sports.yahoo.com/aussie-mum-wins-bare-knuckle-boxing-debut-012256807.html

I don't doubt there is a market for this from the types that like to see blood and guts but I don't see it doing boxings image any favours

http://www.epicentre.tv/events/johnny-lewis-boxing-series-british-beef/

Just over 18 months is left in the decade belive it or not!

We saw the tail end of the careers of Floyd and Hopkins plus new people emerge like Loma and Golovkin and Crawford

Who would be your nominations?

I nominate Ward, Lomachenko, Golovkin and Mayweather

If joshua and wilder fight, the winner of that goes into the top 5

NakiFan is reporting this fight for Sunday (tomorrow, NZ time):

Hughie Fury vs Sam Sexton on Sky Sport Popup starting around 7am. Main fight probably around 9ish

This is big

Quote:MATCHROOM BOXING AND PERFORM GROUP SEAL BOXING’S FIRST BILLION DOLLAR DEAL



MAJOR BROADCAST DEAL WILL REIGNITE BOXING IN US FOR FANS


May 10, 2018, New York: Matchroom Boxing, a world leading boxing promoter, and Perform Group, the digital leader in global sports media, have today announced the creation of a landmark $1billion joint venture and the biggest-ever deal in boxing.


The historic eight-year $1billion deal will see the joint venture, Matchroom Boxing USA, stage 16 fights a year featuring some of the sport’s biggest stars at the best venues across America. Perform Group’s live and on-demand streaming service, DAZN, will be the exclusive US broadcast partner for the 16 US fight nights plus Matchroom’s existing 16 fight nights in the UK. This iconic investment in the fights, talent, content, and promotion of boxing will reignite fans’ passion for the sport and engage a new generation of fight fans.


Eddie Hearn, Managing Director of Matchroom Boxing, and Simon Denyer, CEO of Perform Group, announced the joint venture at a press conference in New York. The two companies have brokered the industry-first deal so that fans can see the fights how and when they want to, anytime and anywhere.


Eddie Hearn said: “This is a historic moment for Matchroom and the sport of boxing. Since our expansion to the US, we have been looking for a partner that shares our vision and that can give us the volume of dates and rights fees required to build the strongest stable in world boxing and take it to a new level.


“This is a dream scenario for us, we can build a formidable team of fighters and also put our stamp on events from production to talent to in arena experience. Our plan is to make DAZN the home of boxing and with 32 big fight nights already confirmed from the US and UK we are nicely on our way.


“America – we have well and truly arrived, let the fun begin!”


Simon Denyer, CEO of Perform Group, said: “Perform Group has a rich history of long term strategic partnerships with the best rights holders in world. I’m excited about working with Matchroom; we share the same passion and vision for reigniting boxing in the US and it’s time for DAZN to provide an exciting new platform for these great events. It’s a better deal for everyone – especially fight fans.”


John Skipper, who on Monday joined Perform Group as Executive Chairman said: “DAZN has already proven itself in Japan, Germany and Canada as the best platform for delivering great live sport to passionate fans. It’s time to bring DAZN to America and the amazing events we have planned with Matchroom is a great place to start”.


The two British businesses, which have worked closely together for over 10 years, are partnering on this joint venture to be the change the US boxing world needs. None of the fight nights will be on PPV, all will be available for one monthly fee and no long term contract.



Matchroom Boxing, which has sold over one million tickets to fights in the last five years through its promotion of boxing, has raised the profile of the sport in the UK to attract sell-out crowds of 90,000 fans.


Matchroom Boxing will stage 16 fights in the UK over the next year which will also be available for US fans to stream on DAZN, anytime and anywhere.


Perform Group is changing the world of sport for fans. Backed by Access Industries, the company believes that more should be done to elevate fans’ experience of boxing no matter how, when or where they enjoy it.

- - -ENDS - - -


Note to Editors


About Perform Group

Perform Group is the digital leader in global sports media and one of the fastest growing sports media companies in the world. With almost 3,000 employees in over 30 countries, its businesses touch every aspect of the way fans engage with sport.


Perform Group streams sport to fans directly through DAZN, its unique live and on-demand service. It partners with the biggest rights holders to help them commercialise and grow their sports around the world. It produces better, faster, more detailed content and data for broadcasters, media companies, sports teams, and sponsors. It operates some of the world's biggest digital sports platforms, such as Goal.com and SportingNews.com.


About Access Industries

Access Industries is a privately held industrial group with long-term holdings worldwide, founded in 1986 by American-British industrialist and philanthropist Len Blavatnik. Access Industries’ investments in the media and entertainment sector include Warner Music Group, Deezer, AI Film, and Perform Group.


About Matchroom Boxing

Matchroom Boxing is one of the world’s leading boxing promoters, led by Managing Director and star promoter Eddie Hearn. Matchroom Boxing has become a powerhouse in boxing promotions with over 100 events in the last five years with 57 World title fights as part of an exclusive broadcast deal with Sky Sports – and growing a stable of elite stars and rising talents like Anthony Joshua MBE, Carl Froch MBE, James DeGale MBE, Kell Brook, Tony Bellew, Amir Khan, Katie Taylor, Anthony Crolla, Scott Quigg and Ryan Burnett.

Matchroom Boxing has been central to the rise and rebirth of boxing in Britain, hosting sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium in London and Principality Stadium in Cardiff, with Joshua’s last three fights bringing a combined live gate of over 250,000. Hearn made a move into the US market in September with the signing of former Middleweight World champion Daniel Jacobs and has promoted two shows in New York City with ‘The Miracle Man’ headlining on HBO. Matchroom Boxing is part of Matchroom Sport, the unrivalled sports event promotional company born of Barry Hearn in 1982

Yep, it's on Sunday (NZ time) starting at 5AM til 10AM on Channel 54.  Enjoy!

who have you guys got?