http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/players/malcolm_klassen/75031 Recent articles about Malcolm Klassen en-us In the face of adversity, 'Wild' Will Tomlinson (21-0-1, 12 KOs) overcame a brave performance from Malcolm 'Stone' Klassen (27-6-2, 14 KOs) to retain his IBO super-featherweight title via a controversial unanimous points decision in an enthralling battle of wills at The Melbourne Pavilion overnight.  All three judges looked favorably towards the defending champion for his controlled aggression and punch output, distributing disputed verdicts of 117-110 and 118-109 twice in Tomlinson's favour. That said, Klassen, 31, will leave Australia with his head held high after pushing Tomlinson all the way with a performance that many doubted he had in him. Tomlinson, 26, came out aggressively and was rewarded for it when referee Pete Podgorski somewhat generously ruled what appeared to be a Klassen slip in the closing staging of the opening round as a knockdown. In hindsight, this ruling benefited the viewing audience as Klassen returned from his stool in the second ro... Sun, 19 May 2013 00:15:52 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/wild_will_tomlinson_defeats_malcolm_klassen_in_melbourne/13648000 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/wild_will_tomlinson_defeats_malcolm_klassen_in_melbourne/13648000 Wild Will Tomlinson defeats Malcolm Klassen in Melbourne http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/wild_will_tomlinson_defeats_malcolm_klassen_in_melbourne/13648000 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Q: What does Javier Fortuna have in common with Greta Garbo and Norma Shearer? A: Garbo and Shearer were nominated for best actress Academy Awards twice each because of their work in four separate movies in 1930, and Javier Fortuna now has a pair of Knockout of the Year candidates in 2012, meaning he's competing against himself for the honor. Fortuna might one day run into a bigger puncher than he is, and if so he's pretty punchable himself and we might find out whether he can take as good as he gives, but right now his power is tearing through the 126-130 pound vicinity in a way that is very, very real. Cristobal Cruz doesn't go down so easily. But he did for Fortuna Friday.Between Mark Ortega (twice), Scott Kraus and Patrick Connor, the TQBR team was in full effect this weekend while I was up in New York City watching -- no kidding -- "sensual trapeze" acts. But I have some thoughts of my own on the fights they covered, and there were some... Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:08:42 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/weekend_afterthoughts_on_nonito_donaire_kelly_pavlik_kell_brook_carson_jones_and_others/11180650 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/weekend_afterthoughts_on_nonito_donaire_kelly_pavlik_kell_brook_carson_jones_and_others/11180650 Weekend Afterthoughts On Nonito Donaire, Kelly Pavlik, Kell Brook, Carson Jones And Others http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/weekend_afterthoughts_on_nonito_donaire_kelly_pavlik_kell_brook_carson_jones_and_others/11180650 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/4/9494c566094e8fa8efa9f22dd79b137e0cbe0489/mini/Kelly_Pavlik_v_0dd5.jpg These two fights on HBO Saturday night -- Nonito Donaire-Jeffrey Mathebula, Kelly Pavlik-Will Rosinsky -- weren't on anyone's wish list, but they do serve their purposes. Donaire, one of the best boxers in the world of any weight, and Pavlik, the fallen middleweight champion, get something out of this, and so do we, even if it's nothing likely to send your socks zipping from your feet.Donaire is, at least, inching up the competition ladder at 122 pounds, a division where he's had just one fight, against fringe top-10 Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. The inches are going up in the competition, too; Mathebula is taller than Donaire by a hefty margin, unsual for a boxer who not so long ago looked like Super Mario on mushrooms next to the smaller men he towered over at flyweight, so there's an interesting new competitive element at play and Mathebula poses a test of Donaire's ability to keep moving up against bigger opposition. Too bad the competition is likely to resume a ... Fri, 06 Jul 2012 00:26:49 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/swimming_upstream_previews_and_predictions_for_nonito_donaire_vs/11165579 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/swimming_upstream_previews_and_predictions_for_nonito_donaire_vs/11165579 Swimming Upstream: Previews And Predictions For Nonito Donaire Vs. ... http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/swimming_upstream_previews_and_predictions_for_nonito_donaire_vs/11165579 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png On July 7, budding boxing superstar Nonito Donaire takes on visiting South African Jeffrey Mathebula in a 122-pound unification match. Fans might not be overly-thrilled with this choice of opponent for Donaire, but Mathebula is also a world champion and should provide Donaire with a tough night’s work. Mathebula is up against it--make no mistake. Not only is he facing the “house” fighter, but Donaire is one of the very few top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. As if that were not enough, he faces an excruciatingly long road trip. It’s hard to think of a more draining trip than going from South Africa to L.A. Mathebula has left South Africa only once, losing in Panama to the excellent Celestino Caballero by split decision. Date: July 7, 2012 Site: Home Depot Center, Carson, California TV: HBO at 10:00 p.m. EST Division: WBO/IBF Junior Featherweight Title: 122 Pounds Nonito Donaire, 28-1 (18 KOs), San Leandro, California, WBO Super Bantamweight Champion Vs. Jeffrey M... Fri, 22 Jun 2012 13:34:28 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/nonito_donaire_vs_jeffrey_mathebula_preview_prediction/11069519 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/nonito_donaire_vs_jeffrey_mathebula_preview_prediction/11069519 Nonito Donaire vs. Jeffrey Mathebula preview & prediction http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/nonito_donaire_vs_jeffrey_mathebula_preview_prediction/11069519 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png