The World Boxing Council (WBC) has ordered cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KOs) to make his mandatory title defense against WBC #1 rated Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1-1, 19 KOs). If the two camps do not successfully negotiate a deal, the WBC will hold a purse bid on February 4th, after which Jack vs. Rozicki must happen within 60 days. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jack an offer last week to promote the fight in Canada.
“We’re waiting to hear their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most exciting and hardest hitters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the green WBC belt and, ultimately, to unify the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”
The 29-year-old Rozicki, who was born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and lives in Hamilton (Ontario), has had 22 pro fights against 21 different opponents (Yamil Alberto Peralta twice), stopping 19 of the 20 foes he defeated for a 95% KO percentage.
Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion having also been a WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) light heavyweight titleholder. Jack is 5-0-2 (2 KOs) in world championship bouts.
“We respect Jack, and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect into the ring, but he’s going to be fighting a young buck with power. Jack is going to be in a world of trouble and, honestly, I don’t think he’ll get past the first few rounds.”
Anyone else constantly has to restrain from calling Badou Jack ‘BEAU JACK’??
Badou’s 41 and hasn’t fought in two years (Beau’s been dead for twenty five years), so I think this is a pretty difficult fight for him but for whoever wins, suddenly there’s a lot of action — and probably a lot of money to be made — at cruiserweight.
Yeah, either one will be awaiting the slaughter from Jai, Lucie.
There’s also Zurdo, with his two belts.
Sanctioning bodies make themselves irrelevant when they create farcical circle jerks like this (WBA at heavyweight is another example). Opetaia – Ramirez is the fight for the world championship, it really doesn’t matter what the WBC says about that.
Oh, tbh I didn’t even know that Jack is still around. Gotta check his last fights on boxrec.
Per BoxRec, Jack’s last 10 opponents:
– Llunga Junior Makabu, 2/23.
– Richard Rivera, 8/22.
– Hany Atiyo, 5/22.
– Samual Crossed, 11/21.
– Dervin Colina, 6/21.
– Blake McKernan, 11/20.
– Jean Pascal, 12/19.
– Marcus Browne, 1/19.
– Adonis Stevenson, 5/18.
– Nathan Cleverly, 8/17.
Thanks Gary. Jack has been in with tough opposition and there are tons of milage on that engine so he’s not a “young” 41. I’m not sure what he has left at cruiserweight. Sometimes, taking over a year off can allow you to fully heal from the sport, but at this stage in the game, it usually dulls the blade.
Gary, yeah I saw it, not the busiest fighter, not really the high-class opposition the last couple of years. Ok, usually Jack is in shape when he fights. Let’s see what happens. Could be interesting.
Jacks represented The Gambia in the Olympics, inspite of being Sweden’s greatest ever fighter, he is not highly respected or appreciated in Sweden, and to be frank, that is because of him being half Afican.
Maybe, it’s because he’s just an AH? Maybe? He was part of the Mayweather crew at one point. Most of those guys are AH’s. So, you can be frank or Stan or even Jose all you want.
Swedens greatest ever fighter ?? Surely that’s ingemar johansson !!
know your history
Swedens greatest ever fighter ?? Surely that’s ingemar johansson !!
He was world heavyweight champion dosent get bigger than that
Roots Swedens greatest fighter? I’d go with Ingemar “Ingo” Johansson, former heavyweight champ.
Jack has more pop in his shots than most think. He just needs to put more combinations together.