http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/players/matt_skelton/75108 Recent articles about Matt Skelton en-us Last June I published a list of what I saw to be Britain’s best ten boxing prospects, considering their achievements and potential. With almost a year having passed since, it is now apt to review exactly what these men have achieved in the intermittent period. What have they accomplished? Have they progressed or regressed? What stands in wait for them in the future? All these questions will be answered as I recap what a year has brought for some of British boxing’s hopeful superstars. Kell Brook: Welterweight, 27 years old WAS: 27-0 (18)  NOW: 29-0 (19) Last year I glimpsed into my crystal ball and saw great things on the horizon for Brook. Unfortunately, almost a year on and nothing has changed - those great things remain on the horizon. The good news is Brook remains undefeated. That crucial “0” at the end of a perfectly marketable resume is intact, though not without its troubles. Brook survived a war with Carson Jones, suffering a broken nose along the way. Difficulties in that... Fri, 17 May 2013 09:07:32 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/top_10_british_boxing_prospects_a_look_back_one_year_later/13637324 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/top_10_british_boxing_prospects_a_look_back_one_year_later/13637324 Top 10 British boxing prospects – a look back one year later http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/top_10_british_boxing_prospects_a_look_back_one_year_later/13637324 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/7/77120fec87396c845a64d7e7ee7c5c8ea6a970f6/mini/cf.jpg Fight Preview & Pick: David Price vs. Tony Thompson On February 23 in Liverpool, hometown boy David Price takes on veteran southpaw American Tony Thompson in a match-up of big heavyweights. Thompson is 6’5” and in the 250 range, while Price stands a towering 6’8” while usually checking in at around the same poundage. The 2008 Olympic bronze medal winner Price is taking a step up in class. Date: February 23, 2013 Site: Echo Arena, Liverpool, England Weight Class: Heavyweights: 12 Rounds David Price, 15-0 (13 KOs), Liverpool, England vs. Tony Thompson, 36-3 (24 KOs), Washington, D.C. It’s a calculated risk. Beating Thompson would carry with it a certain level of prestige, being that the only man to defeat Thompson in the past dozen years was Wladimir Klitschko. At the same time, Thompson is 41 years old and his name value probably outweighs his actual merit as a fighter. To Thompson’s credit, it hasn’t been easy for him to book big fights, but he’s still a guy who has neve... Sat, 12 Jan 2013 00:17:40 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/david_price_vs_tony_thompson_preview_prediction/12639169 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/david_price_vs_tony_thompson_preview_prediction/12639169 David Price vs. Tony Thompson preview & prediction http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/david_price_vs_tony_thompson_preview_prediction/12639169 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/1/c14b3157b89bff5d7e9cdc55e82304d3e8918787/mini/Sports_News_d09a.jpg (Carl Frampton, via) When I first began contributing to TQBR, one of my first submissions was a list of 25 prospects that I had my eye on. Throughout 2012, I tracked their progress, even turning in a mid-year report on how they had done up until that point. This piece marks a final report card on how those 25 fighters fared. Together, they combined for an astonishing 74-4 mark with 53 KOs, something that far exceeded my expectations when I first compiled the list. This also marks my final contribution to TQBR as a staff writer, as I have decided in 2013 to focus more of my time on my weekly boxing column with the Northern California newspaper, the Martinez News-Gazette. By doing so, I felt as though I wouldn't have enough time to be a full-time contributor to TQBR and decided with editor Tim Starks' blessing it was time to move forward. I plan on still contributing the odd freelance piece online, though no destination has yet been determined. ... Sat, 05 Jan 2013 02:38:28 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/top_25_favorite_prospects_final_report_card/12582031 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/top_25_favorite_prospects_final_report_card/12582031 Top 25 Favorite Prospects Final Report Card http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/top_25_favorite_prospects_final_report_card/12582031 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png This past weekend saw two serious heavyweight fights take place on British shores, as Tyson Fury ventured to what has become his second home – Belfast, Northern Ireland, to take on Kevin Johnson, while David Price was back in the ring in his hometown of Liverpool just over a month after his one round blow-out of Audley Harrison. Read on to hear about the action and more on the future for Britain’s two most touted heavyweight hopefuls. Fury vs. Johnson Saturday,December 1st - Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland Tyson Fury’s last trip to this very arena saw him take apart the rugged Martin Rogan in five rounds. Having done away with Vinny Maddalone within the same duration, Tyson Fury was ready to return, and faced a man in Kevin Johnson who many felt would provide the confident young traveling man with a galling challenge. Johnson gave Vitali Klitschko little food for thought when losing over twelve rounds in his only world title bid to date, but that fight gave “Kingpin” some w... Wed, 05 Dec 2012 06:45:51 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/british_boxing_beat_recapping_a_giant_heavyweight_weekend/12366556 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/british_boxing_beat_recapping_a_giant_heavyweight_weekend/12366556 British boxing beat: Recapping a giant heavyweight weekend http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/british_boxing_beat_recapping_a_giant_heavyweight_weekend/12366556 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png British Heavyweights Tyson Fury and David Price both came through their respective tests this weekend to maintain their much coveted undefeated records, and with them, kept alive the prospect of the biggest domestic clash since Nigel Benn vs. Chris Eubank. First up on Friday night, Price defeated journeyman Matt Skelton in front a partisan crowd at the Aintree racecourse in Liverpool. Despite the second round KO, Price (15-0, 13 KOs) did not look particularly impressive against the 45-year-old former British and Commonwealth Champion. In an altogether scrappy affair, the first round saw more hugging than hitting, however, it was the big Liverpudlian who landed the few meaningful shots, and slowly managed to assert the jab towards the close. The early stages of round two saw Skelton again frustrate the current British champ, but as the round progressed, a few more of Prices shots began to find their target. Finally, with just over 20 seconds of the round remaining, a string of body s... Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:43:18 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/what_next_for_tyson_fury_david_price/12354244 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/what_next_for_tyson_fury_david_price/12354244 What next for Tyson Fury & David Price? http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/what_next_for_tyson_fury_david_price/12354244 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png To nobody's surprise (hopefully), undefeated British heavyweight sensation David Price made quick work of Matt Skelton on Friday night in Liverpool. After a first round mostly spent feeling one another out, Price's size, athleticism and power all came out in the second. He hurt Skelton to the body, and continued applying pressure until Skelton was left on the canvas. Skelton was unable to beat the count and the fight was called at an official time of 2:56 into Round 2. With the victory, Price improves to 15-0, with 13 knockout victories, and Skelton falls to 28-7, with 4 stoppage losses. Of course, Price was expected to roll right through the greatly overmatched Skelton. So what's next for David Price? He apparently is looking at Tony Thompson in early 2013, a fighter who would present a clear step up in close. It would also be following in the footsteps of fellow undefeated British giant Tyson Fury, who fights another American Klitschko-victim, Kevin Johnson, tomorrow n... Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:42:05 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/results_david_price_makes_quick_work_of_matt_skelton/12333856 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/results_david_price_makes_quick_work_of_matt_skelton/12333856 Results: David Price makes quick work of Matt Skelton http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/results_david_price_makes_quick_work_of_matt_skelton/12333856 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Tonight on WealthTV and www.wealthtv.com a memorable weekend of boxing kicks off with the exclusive rebroadcast of the sensational bout between WBO Flyweight champion and WBA king Hernan Marquez. The bout, which took place on November 17th was a thrilling war which many boxing scribes called one of the fights of the year. The action continues on Friday and Saturday on the network, as the two British heavyweight giants, David Price and Tyson Fury, square off in separate bouts against Matt Skelton and Kevin Johnson respectively. In the bout, Viloria scored three knockdowns en route to a tenth round stoppage which was full of non-stop two way action. The card begins at 9pm eastern and will also feature the thrilling WBA Light Flyweight championship bout between champion Roman Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada. Gonzalez took the twelve round unanimous decision in a fight that was competitive and had many high drama moments. Two important Heavyweight bouts from the United Kingdom highl... Thu, 29 Nov 2012 16:34:35 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/wealthtvs_busy_weekend_price_vs_skelton_fury_vs_johnson_also_viloria_marquez_replay/12324751 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/wealthtvs_busy_weekend_price_vs_skelton_fury_vs_johnson_also_viloria_marquez_replay/12324751 WealthTV’s busy weekend: Price vs. Skelton & Fury vs. Johnson, also Viloria-Marquez replay http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/wealthtvs_busy_weekend_price_vs_skelton_fury_vs_johnson_also_viloria_marquez_replay/12324751 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/4/b4ef92ef7a4f9945bcb4ade59aff6260f3c9ab0a/mini/Skelton_v_Sprott_dbf8.jpg It seems appropriate to head the schedule with a “Gangnam Style” video, since the Korean pop sensation became YouTube’s most viewed video ever this week with 831 million views. We’re all terribly sick of it, but that Christmas lights display is pretty cool. Now let’s forget it ever happened, which we were probably going to do anyway. There’s quite a bit of televised boxing on this weekend, and a lot of it has potential for fun. Miguel Cotto is always fun, which is why we love him so. But apart from that there’s Joan Guzman in an entertaining, tough match-up (WTF), some British heavyweight fights and a lot of low level, high entertainment potential stuff on the Spanish networks. Migel Cotto vs. Austin Trout, Saturday, Showtime, New York City. Tim will have a proper, full length preview of the week’s biggest fight later in the week. I love to chuck in my two cents, though, so I will. Cotto (37-3, 30 KO) is going to be way too much for Trout (25-0, 14 KO) in this junior m... Tue, 27 Nov 2012 23:59:27 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/the_weeks_boxing_schedule_featuring_miguel_cotto_david_price_and_joan_guzman/12310228 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/the_weeks_boxing_schedule_featuring_miguel_cotto_david_price_and_joan_guzman/12310228 The Week’s Boxing Schedule, Featuring Miguel Cotto, David Price And Joan Guzman http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/the_weeks_boxing_schedule_featuring_miguel_cotto_david_price_and_joan_guzman/12310228 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/6/8670f84ee90e071840743e7b3d9a0283f064ac3e/mini/Manny_Pacquiao_v_cfbb.jpg This Saturday night at Los Angeles Sports Arena WBO Flyweight champion Brian “Hawaiian Punch” Viloria takes on WBA champion Hernan “Tyson” Marquez in a unification bout that will prove 112 pound supremacy. The bout can be seen live in the United States on WealthTV and www.wealthtv.com beginning at 9pm eastern. Viloria (31-3, 18 KO’s) is thirty-one years old of Waipahu, Hawaii was a 2000 United States Olympian and won his first seventeen bouts before scoring an explosive first round knockout over Erick Ortiz to win the WBC Light Flyweight crown. After one defense, Viloria lost the crown to Omar Nino Romero. Viloria and Romero fought to a disputed draw in the rematch which was later ruled a no-contest after Romero failed a post-fight drug test. Viloria then lost to Edgar Sosa in a bout for the vacant title. Viloria went on to win five straight bouts before winning the IBF belt with a majority decision over Ulises Solis. Viloria defended that belt once before being stopped by Carlos T... Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:44:45 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/brian_viloria_hernan_marquez_roman_gonzalez_on_wealth_tv_this_saturday/12214927 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/brian_viloria_hernan_marquez_roman_gonzalez_on_wealth_tv_this_saturday/12214927 Brian Viloria-Hernan Marquez & Roman Gonzalez on Wealth TV this Saturday http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/brian_viloria_hernan_marquez_roman_gonzalez_on_wealth_tv_this_saturday/12214927 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png As part of our continuing Klitschko Readiness Rating series (KRR), we're taking a look at the European champion and rising slugger from Bulgaria, Kubrat Pulev. Most fight fans got their first good look at Pulev when he knocked out the undefeated Alexander Ustinov of Russia on the undercard of the Povetkin vs. Rahman farce. Ostensibly, winning that fight established "The Cobra" as the IBF's #1 contender, putting him on a collision course with Wladimir Klitschko (and thus making him a subject for the KRR!). Boxing is rarely so simple, however, and now word has it that Pulev will meet the winner of Tomasz Adamek vs. Steve Cunningham II to confirm Klitschko's mandatory IBF challenger. That wait is, as shall be revealed, actually a good thing for Pulev. Kubrat Pulev: A Rising Star, But Is He Ready? Credit: Photo Wende Kubrat Pulev is unquestionably a solid super heavyweight, ready for his first step onto the world stage, albeit not quite ready to tangl... Tue, 06 Nov 2012 08:27:27 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/klitschko_readiness_rating_is_bulgarias_kubrat_pulev_ready_for_a_title_shot/12143056 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/klitschko_readiness_rating_is_bulgarias_kubrat_pulev_ready_for_a_title_shot/12143056 Klitschko readiness rating: Is Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev ready for a title shot? http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/klitschko_readiness_rating_is_bulgarias_kubrat_pulev_ready_for_a_title_shot/12143056 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png British heavyweight boxer Audley Harrison’s pro career came to a brutal end in Liverpool, England on Oct. 13 as 6-foot-8 David Price demolished the former 2000 Olympic gold medalist in a mere 82 seconds. Harrison was considered a shot fighter before the bout, so it’s certain that nobody will pay money to see him fight again. Price successfully defended his Commonwealth and British titles with the first-round demolition job. Harrison’s career was for all intents and purposes over when he took on fellow Britain David Haye in November of 2010 in what could very well have been the worst bout in heavyweight boxing history. Harrison managed to throw a pathetic three punches in that bout and Haye finished him off easily in the third round. Harrison’s performance was so bad the British Boxing Board of control (BBOC) withheld his purse until investigating the bout for any illegal betting activity. It was eventually deemed that yes, Harrison was that bad all on his own, and he was finally paid. He then managed Mon, 15 Oct 2012 15:53:16 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/audley_harrison_gets_blown_out_in_82_seconds_by_david_price/11970817 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/audley_harrison_gets_blown_out_in_82_seconds_by_david_price/11970817 Audley Harrison Gets Blown Out In 82 Seconds by David Price http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/audley_harrison_gets_blown_out_in_82_seconds_by_david_price/11970817 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/c/ecef4c472e92a5c0323f682bf2aece07c4d75f90/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f1041428.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193B07CCDF00DC06F5722CCF943BBEB3678E30A760B0D811297.jpg The Messehalle in Erfurt, Germany plays host Saturday night to an intriguing bill headlined by the WBO cruiserweight rematch between Marco "Captain" Huck and Britain's Ola Afolabi. The chief support features two European heavyweight prospects, Alexander Dimitrenko and Kubrat Pulev, who'll be contesting the vacant EBU title. Huck (34-2, 25 KOs) is reprising his December 2009 first WBO title defense, when he handily defeated Afolabi over 12 rounds. This time he's making the ninth defense of the strap, just three months after an abortive assault on Alexander Povetkin's WBA heavyweight title (of sorts), when he swapped punches on pretty much even terms with Povetkin but was narrowly out-scored. Huck, 27, picked up some plaudits for his brave effort against Povetkin, and the fight was a barn-stormer, if woefully lacking in quality. He'll drop 10 pounds in weight to renew hostilities with Afolabi (19-2, 9 KOs), who has gone 6-0 since their last outing, and has looked like a fighter i Wed, 02 May 2012 20:59:33 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/huck_dimitrenko_steiglitz_fight_saturday/10707113 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/huck_dimitrenko_steiglitz_fight_saturday/10707113 Huck, Dimitrenko, Steiglitz fight Saturday http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/huck_dimitrenko_steiglitz_fight_saturday/10707113 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/a/9a75594975506bb4e5ca40e428bbc5f570bb2ecb/mini/Universum_Champions_Night_dbbb.jpg "Unfinished Business" Opening Fighter Photos, Quotes & Notes Last Saturday night promoter Mick Hennessy announced live on Channel 5 in front of millions of viewers “I’m absolutely proud and delighted to say that we have got a massive fight at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on April 14th, Tyson Fury in a long awaited fight versus Martin Rogan.”   Both fighters were in the ring for the announcement and when Martin Rogan was asked by Channel 5’s Mark Pougatch “How much are you looking forward to this fight in Ireland on April 14th?” Martin Ro... Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:21:48 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/tyson_fury_back_april_14th_in_belfast_against_martin_rogan/10093231 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/tyson_fury_back_april_14th_in_belfast_against_martin_rogan/10093231 Tyson Fury back April 14th in Belfast against Martin Rogan http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/tyson_fury_back_april_14th_in_belfast_against_martin_rogan/10093231 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/8/e860330593ab42976a7350f319163c53f6e0dd88/mini/PicImg_Boxing__Matt_57de.jpg