Thursday, May 31, 2012
Fight Museum Las Vegas
Have you checked out our website for great sports memorabilia and merchandise. Plus you will have access to entire boxing network. Visit us today at www.FightMuseumLV.com
Canelo to fight Kirkland on September 15th.
The co-manager of hard-hitting southpaw junior middleweight James Kirkland told RingTV.com that the fighter will be announced as the new opponent and the Sept. 15 challenger to WBC beltholder Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in the wake of Sunday's career-ending motorcye injury to left-handed, two-time titlewinner Paul Williams.
Kirkland's co-manager, attorney Michael Miller, and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, have each acknowledged that the deal is done regarding the pay per view matchup between Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 knockouts) and Kirkland (30-1-1, 27 KOs).
"It's done. It has not been signed yet by James, but they're going to be sending me the contract, and it should be signed after I run it to Kirkland in Austin, Texas, tomorrow morning," Miller said of Kirkland, who, like Alvarez, is promoted by Golden Boy.
"I was out of the loop because I've been in a trial all afternoon. But I took a message during a break, and [Co-manager] Cameron Dunkin has worked it all out. They're going to announce it, and James has accepted it, and I don't think that there are going to be any hesitations or any problems. So it's done as far as we're concerned."
Coming off a unanimous decision over former champ Shane Mosley on May 5, Alvarez had been signed to face Williams (41-2, 27 KOs) before the motorcyle accident near Atlanta rendered the fighter paralyzed from the waist down.
Miller first informed RingTV.com of the talks involving Schaefer during an interview in early April.
At the time, Kirkland had just begun recovering from surgery by San Antonio-based general orthopedist, Dr. Philip M. Jacobs, to repair two tears in his right shoulder and jab arm following his controversial, HBO-televised 10th-round disqualification victory over Carlos Molina on March 24.
Prior to facing Molina, Kirkland's previous bout was November's sixth-round knockout of Alfredo Angulo, who had dropped Kirkland 30 seconds into the bout only to be floored himself just before the bell ending the same round. Angulo was knocked out for the first time in his career.
""It's confirmed that we have a deal," said Schaefer. "I just got confirmation two minutes ago that Kirkland is on board, so it's going to be Canelo versus Kirkland on Sept. 15 at the MGM Grand."
The co-manager of hard-hitting southpaw junior middleweight James Kirkland told RingTV.com that the fighter will be announced as the new opponent and the Sept. 15 challenger to WBC beltholder Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in the wake of Sunday's career-ending motorcye injury to left-handed, two-time titlewinner Paul Williams.
Kirkland's co-manager, attorney Michael Miller, and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, have each acknowledged that the deal is done regarding the pay per view matchup between Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 knockouts) and Kirkland (30-1-1, 27 KOs).
"It's done. It has not been signed yet by James, but they're going to be sending me the contract, and it should be signed after I run it to Kirkland in Austin, Texas, tomorrow morning," Miller said of Kirkland, who, like Alvarez, is promoted by Golden Boy.
"I was out of the loop because I've been in a trial all afternoon. But I took a message during a break, and [Co-manager] Cameron Dunkin has worked it all out. They're going to announce it, and James has accepted it, and I don't think that there are going to be any hesitations or any problems. So it's done as far as we're concerned."
Coming off a unanimous decision over former champ Shane Mosley on May 5, Alvarez had been signed to face Williams (41-2, 27 KOs) before the motorcyle accident near Atlanta rendered the fighter paralyzed from the waist down.
Miller first informed RingTV.com of the talks involving Schaefer during an interview in early April.
At the time, Kirkland had just begun recovering from surgery by San Antonio-based general orthopedist, Dr. Philip M. Jacobs, to repair two tears in his right shoulder and jab arm following his controversial, HBO-televised 10th-round disqualification victory over Carlos Molina on March 24.
Prior to facing Molina, Kirkland's previous bout was November's sixth-round knockout of Alfredo Angulo, who had dropped Kirkland 30 seconds into the bout only to be floored himself just before the bell ending the same round. Angulo was knocked out for the first time in his career.
""It's confirmed that we have a deal," said Schaefer. "I just got confirmation two minutes ago that Kirkland is on board, so it's going to be Canelo versus Kirkland on Sept. 15 at the MGM Grand."
How much longer does Pacquiao have left?
In an interview taken from a press release distributed by HBO on behalf of promoter Top Rank Inc., Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 knockouts), who will turn 34 in December, addresses his preparation for Bradley (28-0, 12 KOs) under the guidance of trainer Freddie Roach, his impending retirement from the sport, and the potential for distractions stemming from both his legal problems and his role as a congressman in his native Philippines.
Questions for Pacquiao: How difficult is to juggle training with your job as a public servant? Does Freddie Roach get upset if you cancel a training session? People say your legal problems at the moment are going to affect you in the ring, what do you have to say about that? Do you have any career goals that are still unmet, and how many more fights do you have left?
"How difficult is it to juggle training with my congressional schedule is a question I am asked a lot and it’s a good one. I am lucky in that I have the ability to be mentally organized and able to follow a schedule. Training for a fight or being congressman takes a great amount of discipline individually but combined I have to be very diligent in sticking to planned schedules. It’s not something I can do alone.
"I work with dedicated team members who help me make the most of my time. But I enjoy doing different things because I find the overlap improves my productivity and creativity. It alters my routine which I find stimulating. Most of my training camps are held while Congress is in recess, though that does not mean I stop working for the people I represent. I am in daily touch with my congressional staff by telephone and email, where I am constantly kept updated on legislation that is pending, projects I am working on and any emergencies that may pop up.
"My trainer Freddie Roach keeps me on a schedule as well -- morning roadwork and afternoon gym sessions. Not only does my training prepare me for upcoming fights but it also helps me think clearer when it comes to dealing with my Congressional duties. I feel totally energized after working out and I am able to pour that physical and mental energy into my congressional work. To be honest, I enjoy a busy schedule.
"My daily Bible study sessions are the perfect way to end the day. I have discovered that The Bible is the manual of life and it has given me a lot of comfort as well as lessons on being a better person. The Bible has shown me what my priorities should be so that I can live a better life. I feel better because I have embraced The Bible. I am better because I have embraced The Bible. And I am so much happier and at peace because I have embraced The Bible.
"Regarding unmet career goals, I have many, though not in boxing. I am very satisfied with what I have accomplished in my boxing career. Winning world titles in eight divisions and defeating great fighters like Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and Ricky Hatton have brought glory to the Philippines and the Filipino people around the world.
"But for as long as I keep fighting it is my goal to keep the fans entertained and coming back for more fights. I have no time limit on when I will end my boxing career. When it is no longer enjoyable and when my skills begin to decline, my trainer Freddie Roach has promised to tell me it is time to end it.
"I still have a great many goals that remain unmet as a Congressman. The province of Sarangani, which I represent, is still without a hospital. That is not right and I cannot rest until my province gets the funds to build one. Human trafficking is an abomination and I will not rest until it ceases. And finally, I have dedicated my life to spreading the lessons of The Bible. It provides a great many blessings and its teachings are the way to world peace."
In an interview taken from a press release distributed by HBO on behalf of promoter Top Rank Inc., Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 knockouts), who will turn 34 in December, addresses his preparation for Bradley (28-0, 12 KOs) under the guidance of trainer Freddie Roach, his impending retirement from the sport, and the potential for distractions stemming from both his legal problems and his role as a congressman in his native Philippines.
Questions for Pacquiao: How difficult is to juggle training with your job as a public servant? Does Freddie Roach get upset if you cancel a training session? People say your legal problems at the moment are going to affect you in the ring, what do you have to say about that? Do you have any career goals that are still unmet, and how many more fights do you have left?
"How difficult is it to juggle training with my congressional schedule is a question I am asked a lot and it’s a good one. I am lucky in that I have the ability to be mentally organized and able to follow a schedule. Training for a fight or being congressman takes a great amount of discipline individually but combined I have to be very diligent in sticking to planned schedules. It’s not something I can do alone.
"I work with dedicated team members who help me make the most of my time. But I enjoy doing different things because I find the overlap improves my productivity and creativity. It alters my routine which I find stimulating. Most of my training camps are held while Congress is in recess, though that does not mean I stop working for the people I represent. I am in daily touch with my congressional staff by telephone and email, where I am constantly kept updated on legislation that is pending, projects I am working on and any emergencies that may pop up.
"My trainer Freddie Roach keeps me on a schedule as well -- morning roadwork and afternoon gym sessions. Not only does my training prepare me for upcoming fights but it also helps me think clearer when it comes to dealing with my Congressional duties. I feel totally energized after working out and I am able to pour that physical and mental energy into my congressional work. To be honest, I enjoy a busy schedule.
"My daily Bible study sessions are the perfect way to end the day. I have discovered that The Bible is the manual of life and it has given me a lot of comfort as well as lessons on being a better person. The Bible has shown me what my priorities should be so that I can live a better life. I feel better because I have embraced The Bible. I am better because I have embraced The Bible. And I am so much happier and at peace because I have embraced The Bible.
"Regarding unmet career goals, I have many, though not in boxing. I am very satisfied with what I have accomplished in my boxing career. Winning world titles in eight divisions and defeating great fighters like Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and Ricky Hatton have brought glory to the Philippines and the Filipino people around the world.
"But for as long as I keep fighting it is my goal to keep the fans entertained and coming back for more fights. I have no time limit on when I will end my boxing career. When it is no longer enjoyable and when my skills begin to decline, my trainer Freddie Roach has promised to tell me it is time to end it.
"I still have a great many goals that remain unmet as a Congressman. The province of Sarangani, which I represent, is still without a hospital. That is not right and I cannot rest until my province gets the funds to build one. Human trafficking is an abomination and I will not rest until it ceases. And finally, I have dedicated my life to spreading the lessons of The Bible. It provides a great many blessings and its teachings are the way to world peace."
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
If your not familiar with the FM life, this video will show you what it's all about!
http://youtu.be/X4TH1eraRl0
http://youtu.be/X4TH1eraRl0
Seth Mitchell returns July 14
by Dan Raphael
Top American heavyweight prospect Seth Mitchell, coming off an exciting three-round shootout against Chazz Witherspoon in April, will return to action against Johnathon Banks on July 14 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Golden Boy promotions announced Wednesday.
Mitchell-Banks will serve as the HBO-televised co-feature on the card headlined by former junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan (26-2, 18 KOs) of England taking on titleholder Danny Garcia (23-0, 14 KOs) of Philadelphia. Khan-Garcia came together unexpectedly after Khan's May 19 rematch with Lamont Peterson was canceled because Peterson tested positive for the banned substance synthetic testosterone in a random urine test.
"It's another big step for Seth Mitchell," Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com. "Johnathon Banks has only lost to Tomasz Adamek and, since he moved up to heavyweight, he is undefeated. It should be an exciting fight. Everybody knows how Seth fights. While Seth was playing football at Michigan State, Banks was already boxing, so this is another test for Seth against an experienced guy."
Mitchell (25-0, 19 KOs), a former Michigan State linebacker from Brandywine, Md., was badly hurt in the first round by Witherspoon on April 28 on the Chad Dawson-Bernard Hopkins II undercard at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. But Mitchell, who turned 30 on Tuesday, came storming back to knock out Witherspoon in the third round.
Banks (28-1-1, 18 KOs), 29, of Detroit, is a former cruiserweight title challenger who has been fighting as a heavyweight since 2009, and has gone 8-0-1 in the weight class. His only loss came by eighth-round KO to then-cruiserweight champ Adamek -- who later became a top heavyweight contender -- in February 2009.
Banks is promoted by K2 Promotions, the company owned by heavyweight champion brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, with whom he has sparred countless rounds. So Golden Boy's ability to easily make a deal with K2 for Mitchell-Banks could be helpful if the time comes to make a deal for Mitchell to challenge one of the Klitschko brothers, who have openly talked about their desire to see Mitchell develop into a serious contender.
The Klitschkos want to see an American contender emerge in order for them to put together a major fight in the United States rather than fighting primarily in Germany, where they are major stars.
"Banks knows what a win over Seth Mitchell would mean. It would be a huge win against the best American (heavyweight) prospect," Schaefer said. "For Seth, it's another step in building his experience and his career. We think that in the next 12 months, Seth Mitchell will compete for one of the major heavyweight titles. Our goal is for him to be the first American heavyweight champion in a long time. We are not just looking for Seth to go over to Germany to face one of the Klitschko brothers and pick up a big check or have them come here to face Seth and just get a big check. We are not a Klitschko timetable.
"We will stay the course with Seth and make the right fights for him and this fight with Johnathon Banks is the right fight for Seth, who we believe will be a future heavyweight champion."
The last American heavyweight titlist was Shannon Briggs, who lost his piece of the title to Sultan Ibragimov in June 2007.
by Dan Raphael
Top American heavyweight prospect Seth Mitchell, coming off an exciting three-round shootout against Chazz Witherspoon in April, will return to action against Johnathon Banks on July 14 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Golden Boy promotions announced Wednesday.
Mitchell-Banks will serve as the HBO-televised co-feature on the card headlined by former junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan (26-2, 18 KOs) of England taking on titleholder Danny Garcia (23-0, 14 KOs) of Philadelphia. Khan-Garcia came together unexpectedly after Khan's May 19 rematch with Lamont Peterson was canceled because Peterson tested positive for the banned substance synthetic testosterone in a random urine test.
"It's another big step for Seth Mitchell," Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com. "Johnathon Banks has only lost to Tomasz Adamek and, since he moved up to heavyweight, he is undefeated. It should be an exciting fight. Everybody knows how Seth fights. While Seth was playing football at Michigan State, Banks was already boxing, so this is another test for Seth against an experienced guy."
Mitchell (25-0, 19 KOs), a former Michigan State linebacker from Brandywine, Md., was badly hurt in the first round by Witherspoon on April 28 on the Chad Dawson-Bernard Hopkins II undercard at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. But Mitchell, who turned 30 on Tuesday, came storming back to knock out Witherspoon in the third round.
Banks (28-1-1, 18 KOs), 29, of Detroit, is a former cruiserweight title challenger who has been fighting as a heavyweight since 2009, and has gone 8-0-1 in the weight class. His only loss came by eighth-round KO to then-cruiserweight champ Adamek -- who later became a top heavyweight contender -- in February 2009.
Banks is promoted by K2 Promotions, the company owned by heavyweight champion brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, with whom he has sparred countless rounds. So Golden Boy's ability to easily make a deal with K2 for Mitchell-Banks could be helpful if the time comes to make a deal for Mitchell to challenge one of the Klitschko brothers, who have openly talked about their desire to see Mitchell develop into a serious contender.
The Klitschkos want to see an American contender emerge in order for them to put together a major fight in the United States rather than fighting primarily in Germany, where they are major stars.
"Banks knows what a win over Seth Mitchell would mean. It would be a huge win against the best American (heavyweight) prospect," Schaefer said. "For Seth, it's another step in building his experience and his career. We think that in the next 12 months, Seth Mitchell will compete for one of the major heavyweight titles. Our goal is for him to be the first American heavyweight champion in a long time. We are not just looking for Seth to go over to Germany to face one of the Klitschko brothers and pick up a big check or have them come here to face Seth and just get a big check. We are not a Klitschko timetable.
"We will stay the course with Seth and make the right fights for him and this fight with Johnathon Banks is the right fight for Seth, who we believe will be a future heavyweight champion."
The last American heavyweight titlist was Shannon Briggs, who lost his piece of the title to Sultan Ibragimov in June 2007.
Don King to put on rare card
by Dan Raphael
Promoter Don King doesn't put on many boxing cards these days, and his stable is barren of fighters who interest the premium cable networks (with the exception of light heavyweight titlist Tavoris Cloud). But King, 80, announced one of his rare shows Wednesday, a June 23 card at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
There are some faded names on the card (which has no television outlet), along with some local fighters, which pales in comparison to the megashows filled with world title fights that the High-Haired One put on in the past. The main event features a heavyweight fight between Tony Grano (19-2-2, 15 KOs) and DaVarryl Williamson (27-6, 23 KOs), who are both good punchers.
Also of note is the return of former heavyweight titlist Samuel Peter (34-5, 27 KOs), who scored one of his most significant victories in the same arena in 2007 when he easily outpointed James Toney. Peter, who doesn't have an opponent yet, is a shell of what he once was and is coming off two brutal knockout losses in a row -- a 10th-round destruction by Wladimir Klitschko in a world championship fight in September 2010, followed by an equally brutal ninth-round knockout by Robert Helenius in April 2011.
Also on the card will be lightweight prospect Angelo Santana (12-0, 9 KOs), a Cuban fighting out of Miami, against Justin Savi (26-1, 18 KOs) of Benin; popular South Florida draw Joey Hernandez (21-1-1, 12 KOs) in a junior middleweight bout against Brandon Baue (12-6, 10 KOs); and Ukrainian heavyweight Oleg Platov (29-1, 23 KOs), who hasn't fought since June 2010, facing an opponent to be determined.
by Dan Raphael
Promoter Don King doesn't put on many boxing cards these days, and his stable is barren of fighters who interest the premium cable networks (with the exception of light heavyweight titlist Tavoris Cloud). But King, 80, announced one of his rare shows Wednesday, a June 23 card at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
There are some faded names on the card (which has no television outlet), along with some local fighters, which pales in comparison to the megashows filled with world title fights that the High-Haired One put on in the past. The main event features a heavyweight fight between Tony Grano (19-2-2, 15 KOs) and DaVarryl Williamson (27-6, 23 KOs), who are both good punchers.
Also of note is the return of former heavyweight titlist Samuel Peter (34-5, 27 KOs), who scored one of his most significant victories in the same arena in 2007 when he easily outpointed James Toney. Peter, who doesn't have an opponent yet, is a shell of what he once was and is coming off two brutal knockout losses in a row -- a 10th-round destruction by Wladimir Klitschko in a world championship fight in September 2010, followed by an equally brutal ninth-round knockout by Robert Helenius in April 2011.
Also on the card will be lightweight prospect Angelo Santana (12-0, 9 KOs), a Cuban fighting out of Miami, against Justin Savi (26-1, 18 KOs) of Benin; popular South Florida draw Joey Hernandez (21-1-1, 12 KOs) in a junior middleweight bout against Brandon Baue (12-6, 10 KOs); and Ukrainian heavyweight Oleg Platov (29-1, 23 KOs), who hasn't fought since June 2010, facing an opponent to be determined.
by Dan Rafael
The Montreal boxing scene took a hit Saturday night when its biggest star, Lucian Bute, got knocked out in the fifth round and lost his super middleweight title to Carl Froch in England. But Montreal's second-biggest boxing star, former light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal, can soothe the hurt if he can win his shot at another world title.
Pascal will challenge light heavyweight titlist Tavoris Cloud on Aug. 11 at Bell Centre in Montreal on "Showtime Championship Boxing," Showtime and promoters Don King and Yvon Michel announced Tuesday.
The 30-year-old Cloud (24-0, 19 KOs), a big puncher from Tallahassee, Fla., will be making his fifth title defense and first since a controversial split decision win Feb. 18 against former titlist Gabriel Campillo.
"This fight with Jean Pascal is a bout I'm looking forward to," Cloud said. "It's going to be what I call a 'Release the Kraken' match. Everybody knows I come to fight. What I like about Pascal is that he doesn't fool around, either. When I look for him, he will be there, and the same goes for me.
"Fans like to see leather thrown with bad intentions, and that's what they are going to get in Montreal on August 11."
Pascal, 29, lost a decision to Froch in a 2008 vacant super middleweight title bout and then moved up to light heavyweight, where he eventually claimed a world title and became the first man to defeat reigning world light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson, winning an 11th-round technical decision in Montreal in August 2010.
Pascal retained the title in his first defense with a controversial majority draw against Bernard Hopkins in December 2010, setting up a rematch with Hopkins rather than the rematch he owed Dawson. Hopkins won the rematch with Pascal in May 2011 in Montreal to take the title on a unanimous decision and become, at age 46, the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world championship.
Pascal (26-2-1, 16 KOs) has not fought since, but will end his lengthy layoff against a top opponent.
"I want to thank Tavoris Cloud for giving me the opportunity to fight for his IBF light heavyweight belt and to prove who I really am in the ring," Pascal said. "He has shown true class seeking out the best challenger in the division and for this he has my full respect. Our styles make for the best, most explosive and spectacular fight possible in boxing.
"Having been away from the ring for more than a year, I am hungrier and more determined than ever to get back on top ... I am going to get back on the throne for good."
In the co-feature, hot Montreal super middleweight contender Adonis "Superman" Stevenson, (18-1, 15 KOs), who is trained by Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward and has been scoring one highlight-reel knockout after another, will face an opponent to be announced, likely in a title elimination bout.
"I am so proud to be making my Showtime debut fighting in this major event in Montreal," said Stevenson, a late bloomer at 34. "I am on a mission to destroy anybody that has the courage to get in the ring with me. I am not looking for any favors or compassion. My goal is to show the world that I truly deserve to be on a major network fighting Carl Froch for his IBF title."
The Montreal boxing scene took a hit Saturday night when its biggest star, Lucian Bute, got knocked out in the fifth round and lost his super middleweight title to Carl Froch in England. But Montreal's second-biggest boxing star, former light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal, can soothe the hurt if he can win his shot at another world title.
Pascal will challenge light heavyweight titlist Tavoris Cloud on Aug. 11 at Bell Centre in Montreal on "Showtime Championship Boxing," Showtime and promoters Don King and Yvon Michel announced Tuesday.
The 30-year-old Cloud (24-0, 19 KOs), a big puncher from Tallahassee, Fla., will be making his fifth title defense and first since a controversial split decision win Feb. 18 against former titlist Gabriel Campillo.
"This fight with Jean Pascal is a bout I'm looking forward to," Cloud said. "It's going to be what I call a 'Release the Kraken' match. Everybody knows I come to fight. What I like about Pascal is that he doesn't fool around, either. When I look for him, he will be there, and the same goes for me.
"Fans like to see leather thrown with bad intentions, and that's what they are going to get in Montreal on August 11."
Pascal, 29, lost a decision to Froch in a 2008 vacant super middleweight title bout and then moved up to light heavyweight, where he eventually claimed a world title and became the first man to defeat reigning world light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson, winning an 11th-round technical decision in Montreal in August 2010.
Pascal retained the title in his first defense with a controversial majority draw against Bernard Hopkins in December 2010, setting up a rematch with Hopkins rather than the rematch he owed Dawson. Hopkins won the rematch with Pascal in May 2011 in Montreal to take the title on a unanimous decision and become, at age 46, the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world championship.
Pascal (26-2-1, 16 KOs) has not fought since, but will end his lengthy layoff against a top opponent.
"I want to thank Tavoris Cloud for giving me the opportunity to fight for his IBF light heavyweight belt and to prove who I really am in the ring," Pascal said. "He has shown true class seeking out the best challenger in the division and for this he has my full respect. Our styles make for the best, most explosive and spectacular fight possible in boxing.
"Having been away from the ring for more than a year, I am hungrier and more determined than ever to get back on top ... I am going to get back on the throne for good."
In the co-feature, hot Montreal super middleweight contender Adonis "Superman" Stevenson, (18-1, 15 KOs), who is trained by Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward and has been scoring one highlight-reel knockout after another, will face an opponent to be announced, likely in a title elimination bout.
"I am so proud to be making my Showtime debut fighting in this major event in Montreal," said Stevenson, a late bloomer at 34. "I am on a mission to destroy anybody that has the courage to get in the ring with me. I am not looking for any favors or compassion. My goal is to show the world that I truly deserve to be on a major network fighting Carl Froch for his IBF title."
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Cool item available from the Fight Museum Las Vegas. Great artwork from Richard T. Slone.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLOYD-MAYWEATHER-vs-MIGUEL-COTT-SLONE-ART-LIMITED-EDITION-STURDY-T-SHIRT-/170851210921?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLOYD-MAYWEATHER-vs-MIGUEL-COTT-SLONE-ART-LIMITED-EDITION-STURDY-T-SHIRT-/170851210921?
Monday, May 28, 2012
Williams paralyzed after crash
by Dan Rafael
Former two-time welterweight titlist Paul Williams faces his biggest fight, this one outside of the ring, after he was paralyzed from the waist down in a motorcycle accident Sunday morning in Atlanta.
George Peterson, Williams' trainer, manager and father figure, said on Monday that Williams' doctors said he would never walk again and that his boxing career is over.
"They're saying he won't walk again or box again," said Peterson, who flew to Atlanta from Washington, D.C., where they were training for Williams' next fight, on Sunday. "Paul is in denial right now. It's been that way with him. You tell him he can't or won't do something, and he wants to prove you different. So whatever the doctors say, he's not listening. But they say that (walking and boxing) is not going to happen."
Just last week Williams had signed for a major fight. He was due to challenge junior middleweight titlist Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on Sept. 17 in the main event of a pay-per-view card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Peterson said Williams, who lives about an hour outside of Atlanta, had ridden his motorcycle from his home to Atlanta to attend the Sunday wedding of one of his brothers.
Peterson said that the accident occurred around 8 a.m. as Williams was riding to another brother's home to get ready for the wedding, which took place later in the day.
Peterson said Williams, who was wearing his helmet, rode out of his lane to avoid a car that was moving into his lane, but that another car was coming toward him in the other direction. Peterson said Williams swerved to avoid the oncoming car, wound up riding up a steep embankment and lost control of the motorcycle before flying several feet in the air and landing on his back on the road. Peterson said one of the drivers of the other cars called 911.
Peterson said Williams, 30, is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday to stabilize the portion of his spinal cord that is intact and allows him to move his hands, arms, torso and head.
"The other part of his spinal cord is damaged and has eliminated his lower body movement," Peterson said.
Peterson said he saw Williams at the hospital on Sunday several hours after the accident and that he was not in pain and was telling jokes.
"He's telling jokes and saying if he doesn't box again, he'll do stand-up comedy. He's in good spirits but he is also in denial," Peterson said. "But he's coherent. I had an excellent conversation with him. When I walked in the door (on Sunday) about 5:30 in the afternoon, he said he'd be ready to go back to camp on Monday. I guess I'm in denial, too, because I have seen him overcome so much adversity before and come back. We'll pray about the situation."
Peterson said if Wednesday's surgery goes well, Williams would remain hospitalized for a few weeks before moving to a rehabilitation center.
"Hopefully, there will be no complications and he'll be out in a few weeks," Peterson said. "Paul would want all boxing fans to know that is not suffering and not in any pain. We appreciate their prayers."
Williams (41-2, 27 KOs), who was backed by powerful adviser Al Haymon, was considered one of the top fighters in the world for several years and became a staple on HBO and Showtime. Besides winning a piece of the welterweight title twice, he also is a former interim junior middleweight titlist and owns a majority decision victory in an action-packed nontitle bout against Sergio Martinez, who went on to win the middleweight championship.
Williams outpointed a prime Antonio Margarito to win a welterweight title for the first time in July 2007. In his first defense in February 2008, Williams was stunningly upset by Carlos Quintana, losing the belt via unanimous decision.
In an immediate rematch four months later, Williams avenged the defeat and regained the title in dramatic fashion when he destroyed Quintana in the first round.
Williams would abandon the title and move up in weight because, as his promoter, Dan Goossen, continually preached the media, he was the most avoided fighter in the world and could not entice the best fighters to face him, particularly in the welterweight division, where the 6-foot-1 southpaw enjoyed considerable physical advantages over nearly every other contender.
In 2009, he scored a near-shutout of former undisputed junior middleweight champion and longtime pound-for-pound entrant Winky Wright before moving up to middleweight to face Martinez.
Williams, known for non-stop punching, won the nontitle fight in the all-action slugfest by majority decision in what turned out to be the biggest victory of his career as Martinez later captured the middleweight championship.
He and Williams met in a rematch in November 2010, this time for the 160-pound crown, and Martinez shockingly knocked Williams cold with a single punch in the second round for what was universally declared the knockout of the year.
Williams fought just once in 2011, escaping with a majority decision win last July against junior middleweight contender Erislandy Lara in Atlantic City, N.J. The decision was so controversial that the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board took the unprecedented step of suspending all three judges over their scoring of the fight.
Williams bounced back in February to roll to a shutout decision against Japan's Nobuhiro Ishida, who had scored a first-round upset knockout of hot contender James Kirkland in 2011.
Then last week Williams landed the fight with Alvarez, hoping a convincing win against a relatively untested, but very popular, 21-year-old titleholder would put him back on top again.
"It was something we needed and a fight that Paul wanted," Peterson said. "We were definitely up for it. We knew this was the biggest fight we could get, and we were already preparing for it. We were ready for a big fight."
by Dan Rafael
Former two-time welterweight titlist Paul Williams faces his biggest fight, this one outside of the ring, after he was paralyzed from the waist down in a motorcycle accident Sunday morning in Atlanta.
George Peterson, Williams' trainer, manager and father figure, said on Monday that Williams' doctors said he would never walk again and that his boxing career is over.
"They're saying he won't walk again or box again," said Peterson, who flew to Atlanta from Washington, D.C., where they were training for Williams' next fight, on Sunday. "Paul is in denial right now. It's been that way with him. You tell him he can't or won't do something, and he wants to prove you different. So whatever the doctors say, he's not listening. But they say that (walking and boxing) is not going to happen."
Just last week Williams had signed for a major fight. He was due to challenge junior middleweight titlist Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on Sept. 17 in the main event of a pay-per-view card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Peterson said Williams, who lives about an hour outside of Atlanta, had ridden his motorcycle from his home to Atlanta to attend the Sunday wedding of one of his brothers.
Peterson said that the accident occurred around 8 a.m. as Williams was riding to another brother's home to get ready for the wedding, which took place later in the day.
Peterson said Williams, who was wearing his helmet, rode out of his lane to avoid a car that was moving into his lane, but that another car was coming toward him in the other direction. Peterson said Williams swerved to avoid the oncoming car, wound up riding up a steep embankment and lost control of the motorcycle before flying several feet in the air and landing on his back on the road. Peterson said one of the drivers of the other cars called 911.
Peterson said Williams, 30, is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday to stabilize the portion of his spinal cord that is intact and allows him to move his hands, arms, torso and head.
"The other part of his spinal cord is damaged and has eliminated his lower body movement," Peterson said.
Peterson said he saw Williams at the hospital on Sunday several hours after the accident and that he was not in pain and was telling jokes.
"He's telling jokes and saying if he doesn't box again, he'll do stand-up comedy. He's in good spirits but he is also in denial," Peterson said. "But he's coherent. I had an excellent conversation with him. When I walked in the door (on Sunday) about 5:30 in the afternoon, he said he'd be ready to go back to camp on Monday. I guess I'm in denial, too, because I have seen him overcome so much adversity before and come back. We'll pray about the situation."
Peterson said if Wednesday's surgery goes well, Williams would remain hospitalized for a few weeks before moving to a rehabilitation center.
"Hopefully, there will be no complications and he'll be out in a few weeks," Peterson said. "Paul would want all boxing fans to know that is not suffering and not in any pain. We appreciate their prayers."
Williams (41-2, 27 KOs), who was backed by powerful adviser Al Haymon, was considered one of the top fighters in the world for several years and became a staple on HBO and Showtime. Besides winning a piece of the welterweight title twice, he also is a former interim junior middleweight titlist and owns a majority decision victory in an action-packed nontitle bout against Sergio Martinez, who went on to win the middleweight championship.
Williams outpointed a prime Antonio Margarito to win a welterweight title for the first time in July 2007. In his first defense in February 2008, Williams was stunningly upset by Carlos Quintana, losing the belt via unanimous decision.
In an immediate rematch four months later, Williams avenged the defeat and regained the title in dramatic fashion when he destroyed Quintana in the first round.
Williams would abandon the title and move up in weight because, as his promoter, Dan Goossen, continually preached the media, he was the most avoided fighter in the world and could not entice the best fighters to face him, particularly in the welterweight division, where the 6-foot-1 southpaw enjoyed considerable physical advantages over nearly every other contender.
In 2009, he scored a near-shutout of former undisputed junior middleweight champion and longtime pound-for-pound entrant Winky Wright before moving up to middleweight to face Martinez.
Williams, known for non-stop punching, won the nontitle fight in the all-action slugfest by majority decision in what turned out to be the biggest victory of his career as Martinez later captured the middleweight championship.
He and Williams met in a rematch in November 2010, this time for the 160-pound crown, and Martinez shockingly knocked Williams cold with a single punch in the second round for what was universally declared the knockout of the year.
Williams fought just once in 2011, escaping with a majority decision win last July against junior middleweight contender Erislandy Lara in Atlantic City, N.J. The decision was so controversial that the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board took the unprecedented step of suspending all three judges over their scoring of the fight.
Williams bounced back in February to roll to a shutout decision against Japan's Nobuhiro Ishida, who had scored a first-round upset knockout of hot contender James Kirkland in 2011.
Then last week Williams landed the fight with Alvarez, hoping a convincing win against a relatively untested, but very popular, 21-year-old titleholder would put him back on top again.
"It was something we needed and a fight that Paul wanted," Peterson said. "We were definitely up for it. We knew this was the biggest fight we could get, and we were already preparing for it. We were ready for a big fight."
Johnny Tapia Found Dead
Five time world boxing champion Johnny Tapia was found dead on Sunday at his home in Albuquerque, he was 45 years old. According to Spokesman Robert Gibb New Mexico Police answered a call to attend Tapia's house at 7.45pm on Sunday and the boxer dead. Although and autopsy has not yet been carried out his is death does not appear to be suspicious.Tapia, who has battled countless addictions including cocaine, alcohol and depression, won five world titles in three weight classes during a roller coaster 24 year professional career that saw him amass a record of 59 wins, 5 defeats and 2 draws. Tapia won the WBA bantamweight title, the IBF and WBO super flyweight crown and the IBF featherweight belt. An autopsy as to how Tapia died is expected within a few days. It became apparent from an early age that Tapia's life was never going to be a happy one. He was orphaned at eight years old when his mother was stabbed 26 times with a screwdriver and left to die. In the early 1990's, Tapia served a three and half year boxing ban because of his cocaine addiction but he returned in 1994 to knock out Henry Martinez to claim the vacant WBO super flyweight title. He defended the title 13 times before out-pointing Nana Yaw Konadu to win the WBA bantamweight crown in 1998. It appeared as though Mi Vida Locas (my crazy life) as he was known, had finally turned his life around but in 2007, he was hospitalized after what appeared to be a cocaine overdose. If that was not tragic enough several days later, his brother-in-law and his nephew were killed in a car accident on their way to Albuquerque to see the fallen boxer. |
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Carl Froch won his third super middleweight title with a sensational fifth-round stoppage of previously undefeated IBF beltholder Lucian Bute in his native Nottingham, England, on Saturday. Froch (29-2, 21 knockouts), a former two-time WBC titleholder, was considered the underdog going into the highly anticipated matchup but the battled-tested Englishman's tenacity and aggression quickly overwhelmed the more-talented Bute, who had to be saved by referee Earl Brown two minutes into the fifth round after being hurt and repeatedly rocked along the ropes.
"I feel very satisfied and happy with my performance," Froch said during a post-fight interview with Chris Manix of Epix, which broadcast the fight in the U.S. "I give credit to Lucian Bute. He hit me very hard, but obviously not hard enough. I'm very tough and I came here to give everything. I have a lot of heart and I had my fans here to cheer me on."
Froch gave his fans a night to remember by shaking off the best straight left hands and right hooks that Bute could deliver in the first two rounds and swarming the undefeated southpaw in spots whenever he could.
In the third round, Froch hurt Bute with a shot that forced the Canada-based Romanian to the ropes where the local hero pummeled him without mercy. Bute (30-1, 24 KOs) survived the round by holding on for dear life whenever he could.
However, Bute, who was attempting to make the 10th defense of his IBF belt, only delayed the inevitable. Froch continued to walk through Bute's power shots and unload punches in bunches whenever he was in close range. Bute, sporting a mouse under his left eye, walked back to his stool on wobbly legs after the fourth round.
"I knew I could hurt him," Froch said. "I'm a bit of an animal when I see my opponent hurt."
Froch lived up to his nickname, The Cobra, in the fifth round, striking his wounded prey without mercy. Halfway through the round Bute appeared helpless as he was pressed to the ropes and absorbing head-snapping right hands and uppercuts.
Brown jumped between the fighters to issue Bute a 10-count, obviously -- but not clearly -- ruling that the Canadian has suffered a technical knockdown, since only the ropes were keeping him on his feet. Froch's promoter jumped into the ring, assuming -- as most in the arena had -- that the fight was over.
It would soon be, as Bute's corner did the right thing and entered the ring themselves to spare their spent fighter any further punishment.
For Froch, the victory made up for what he thought was disappointing showing against Andre Ward in the finals of the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament, which he lost by unanimous decision last December. Froch announced before the Bute fight that he would have retired if he lost.
The 34-year-old veteran, who landed 97 of 180 power punches against Bute, is not talking about hanging up his gloves now.
"I'm absoultely elated (about his future)," Froch said. "I brought up retirement before the fight because I put so much heart and soul into training for it that there would have been no point in continuing at my age if I gave it my all and lost.
"I felt like a young man tonight and I performed out of my skin."
Froch wasn't interested in a rematch with Ward, who he says has a difficult style which makes for ugly fights. However, he credited the American for giving him the motivation to rebound from the loss in a big way.
Another rematch that was mentioned was the contractual return bout in Canada that Bute could ask for if he's interested. Froch doesn't think Bute is.
"I don't know if he wants to do this again in any country," he said. "That was one hell of a beating."
"I feel very satisfied and happy with my performance," Froch said during a post-fight interview with Chris Manix of Epix, which broadcast the fight in the U.S. "I give credit to Lucian Bute. He hit me very hard, but obviously not hard enough. I'm very tough and I came here to give everything. I have a lot of heart and I had my fans here to cheer me on."
Froch gave his fans a night to remember by shaking off the best straight left hands and right hooks that Bute could deliver in the first two rounds and swarming the undefeated southpaw in spots whenever he could.
In the third round, Froch hurt Bute with a shot that forced the Canada-based Romanian to the ropes where the local hero pummeled him without mercy. Bute (30-1, 24 KOs) survived the round by holding on for dear life whenever he could.
However, Bute, who was attempting to make the 10th defense of his IBF belt, only delayed the inevitable. Froch continued to walk through Bute's power shots and unload punches in bunches whenever he was in close range. Bute, sporting a mouse under his left eye, walked back to his stool on wobbly legs after the fourth round.
"I knew I could hurt him," Froch said. "I'm a bit of an animal when I see my opponent hurt."
Froch lived up to his nickname, The Cobra, in the fifth round, striking his wounded prey without mercy. Halfway through the round Bute appeared helpless as he was pressed to the ropes and absorbing head-snapping right hands and uppercuts.
Brown jumped between the fighters to issue Bute a 10-count, obviously -- but not clearly -- ruling that the Canadian has suffered a technical knockdown, since only the ropes were keeping him on his feet. Froch's promoter jumped into the ring, assuming -- as most in the arena had -- that the fight was over.
It would soon be, as Bute's corner did the right thing and entered the ring themselves to spare their spent fighter any further punishment.
For Froch, the victory made up for what he thought was disappointing showing against Andre Ward in the finals of the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament, which he lost by unanimous decision last December. Froch announced before the Bute fight that he would have retired if he lost.
The 34-year-old veteran, who landed 97 of 180 power punches against Bute, is not talking about hanging up his gloves now.
"I'm absoultely elated (about his future)," Froch said. "I brought up retirement before the fight because I put so much heart and soul into training for it that there would have been no point in continuing at my age if I gave it my all and lost.
"I felt like a young man tonight and I performed out of my skin."
Froch wasn't interested in a rematch with Ward, who he says has a difficult style which makes for ugly fights. However, he credited the American for giving him the motivation to rebound from the loss in a big way.
Another rematch that was mentioned was the contractual return bout in Canada that Bute could ask for if he's interested. Froch doesn't think Bute is.
"I don't know if he wants to do this again in any country," he said. "That was one hell of a beating."
LAS VEGAS – While he wasn't technically involved in the historic all-heavyweight card at UFC 146 Saturday night in Las Vegas, Brock Lesnar requested a cage-side seat to see what all the hype was about.
"He was here," UFC president Dana White said. "I think that says it all."
Well, not really.
Does the former UFC heavyweight champ and recently revamped WWE wrestler want back in the organization that he retired from this past December after losing to Alistair Overeem via first-round TKO?
"He texted me and said, 'I want to come to the fight, but keep it quiet because I don't want to tell anybody,'" White said. "He said, 'What are you doing tonight? ... I want to talk face to face.'
"You never know with him. He might want to come back. He might just want to hang out."
The 34-year-old Lesnar — who won the heavyweight title over Randy Couture back at UFC 91 after just two fights in the UFC — had been battling a second round with diverticulitis (the disease cost him 12 inches of his colon in 2011) before retiring from the sport for good in December.
Perhaps Lesnar just had interest in Junior Dos Santos and Frank Mir's championship tilt since he had history with both fighters. The one-time Minnesota Viking and former NCAA Division I national wrestling champion split a pair of fights with Mir and was scheduled to fight Dos Santos after their season as coaches on "The Ultimate Fighter 13."
But there's always the chance that Lesnar (5-3 MMA record, 4-3 UFC) wants back in the octagon.
"I still think Brock Lesnar is one of the top guys in the heavyweight division," White said. "Is he in the top five? I don't know. We'll see."
The UFC boss has heaped tons of praise on the pay-per-view draw and went as far to say Lesnar deserves a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame despite his short career in the cage.
In April Lesnar returned to the wrestling organization that made him famous and challenged new WWE king John Cena. A recent storyline in which he quit the WWE made Lesnar's return to MMA all the more feasible.
White said MMA fans were smart enough to decipher the two worlds.
"He was here," UFC president Dana White said. "I think that says it all."
Well, not really.
Does the former UFC heavyweight champ and recently revamped WWE wrestler want back in the organization that he retired from this past December after losing to Alistair Overeem via first-round TKO?
"He texted me and said, 'I want to come to the fight, but keep it quiet because I don't want to tell anybody,'" White said. "He said, 'What are you doing tonight? ... I want to talk face to face.'
"You never know with him. He might want to come back. He might just want to hang out."
The 34-year-old Lesnar — who won the heavyweight title over Randy Couture back at UFC 91 after just two fights in the UFC — had been battling a second round with diverticulitis (the disease cost him 12 inches of his colon in 2011) before retiring from the sport for good in December.
Perhaps Lesnar just had interest in Junior Dos Santos and Frank Mir's championship tilt since he had history with both fighters. The one-time Minnesota Viking and former NCAA Division I national wrestling champion split a pair of fights with Mir and was scheduled to fight Dos Santos after their season as coaches on "The Ultimate Fighter 13."
But there's always the chance that Lesnar (5-3 MMA record, 4-3 UFC) wants back in the octagon.
"I still think Brock Lesnar is one of the top guys in the heavyweight division," White said. "Is he in the top five? I don't know. We'll see."
The UFC boss has heaped tons of praise on the pay-per-view draw and went as far to say Lesnar deserves a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame despite his short career in the cage.
In April Lesnar returned to the wrestling organization that made him famous and challenged new WWE king John Cena. A recent storyline in which he quit the WWE made Lesnar's return to MMA all the more feasible.
White said MMA fans were smart enough to decipher the two worlds.
Friday, May 25, 2012
FIGHTER BLOG WEEK 3: Manny Pacquiao
by HBO Boxing
Pacquiao - At this point, what is keeping you and Floyd Mayweather Jr. from climbing into the ring together? Will the fight ever happen? How Important is to you being considered one of the best of all times when you career is over? What's that your goal when you started fighting 8 divisions below?
The only thing preventing a fight between Floyd Mayweather and me is Floyd Mayweather. He no longer wants to split the pay-per-view revenue with me equally, something he agreed to in our first negotiation. Will the fight ever happen? It's up to Floyd. I hope it does. I'm a competitor and I enjoy a challenge. I know the fans want to see us fight. I think it would be good for boxing. As long as I continue fighting I will remain hopeful that the fight will take place.
To be considered an all-time great is very important to me. Hopefully my story can inspire people to achieve their dreams. When I was growing up, watching Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones Jr, and Larry Holmes fight inspired me to work harder and to become better. They still do inspire me. They were great. They were my heroes.
I never dreamed that I would achieve as much as I have. I wouldn't even dare to dream of winning world titles in eight different weight divisions. My goal when I began boxing was to earn enough money for my family to make their lives easier and to win a world title – to be considered the best in my weight division. But as opportunities presented themselves – world title fights at higher weights against superstars – I worked harder and studied harder. Every victory was an incentive to do better in my next fight. I believe it is the responsibility of every boxer to put on a good show for the fans and themselves. It's the only way to grow and invest in the sport. Making boxing fans happy is a legacy that would make me proud.
The only thing preventing a fight between Floyd Mayweather and me is Floyd Mayweather. He no longer wants to split the pay-per-view revenue with me equally, something he agreed to in our first negotiation. Will the fight ever happen? It's up to Floyd. I hope it does. I'm a competitor and I enjoy a challenge. I know the fans want to see us fight. I think it would be good for boxing. As long as I continue fighting I will remain hopeful that the fight will take place.
To be considered an all-time great is very important to me. Hopefully my story can inspire people to achieve their dreams. When I was growing up, watching Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones Jr, and Larry Holmes fight inspired me to work harder and to become better. They still do inspire me. They were great. They were my heroes.
I never dreamed that I would achieve as much as I have. I wouldn't even dare to dream of winning world titles in eight different weight divisions. My goal when I began boxing was to earn enough money for my family to make their lives easier and to win a world title – to be considered the best in my weight division. But as opportunities presented themselves – world title fights at higher weights against superstars – I worked harder and studied harder. Every victory was an incentive to do better in my next fight. I believe it is the responsibility of every boxer to put on a good show for the fans and themselves. It's the only way to grow and invest in the sport. Making boxing fans happy is a legacy that would make me proud.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Visit our store at http://www.FightMuseumLV.com and enter in the code MEMORIAL for 10% off your purchase!!
Dan Rafael has written extensively about the June 2 Showtime quadrupleheader headlined by Antonio Tarver and Lateef Kayode, which appears rock-solid from top to bottom. Yet of the four televised fights, he's most intrigued by the Austin Trout-Delvin Rodriguez junior middleweight title tilt -- and not only because he believes it may be the most crowd-pleasing fight on the card
WBC featherweight beltholder Jhonny Gonzalez will pursue his 13th straight win and his 12th knockout during that run when he makes the fifth defense of his crown against former titleholder Daniel Ponce de Leon on the undercard of the Saul "Canelo" Alvarez-Paul Williams junior middleweight title bout on Sept. 15 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. "We just secured the deal for Ponce de Leon and Jhonny Gonzalez on Sept. 15," said Golden Boy Promotions President, Oscar De La Hoya. "I'm looking to lock in four title fights for Sept. 15, and we've got two down, and, now, there's two to go."
Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 knockouts) will defend his crown against southpaw former two-time welterweight titleholder Williams (41-2, 27 KOs), with the co-feature appearing to be Gonzalez (52-7, 45 KOs) opposite Ponce de Leon (43-4, 35 KOs).
De La Hoya has hopes of matching hammer-fisted junior welterweight Marcos Maidana (31-3, 28 KOs) against the winner of a June 23 clash between between hard-hitting fellow Argentinian Lucas Matthysse (30-2, 28 KOs) and former WBC junior lightweight and lightwieght titleholder Humberto Soto (58-7-2, 34 KOs).
"We're looking closely at the fight between Soto-Matthysse from the June 23 card," said De La Hoya, referring to a main event that matches Victor Ortiz in a welterweight bout opposite Josesito Lopez at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
"For me, personally, Maidana is a guy that I would love to put on there. Maidana against the winner of Soto-Matthysse sounds very enticing. It's a natural fit."
Gonzalez defended his belt with a unanimous decision over once-beaten former beltholder Elio Rojas in Cancun in April. Although Gonzalez won, Rojas ended his streak of 11 straight stoppage wins that a fourth-round knockout that dethroned Hozumi Hasegawa in April of last year.
Gonzalez had not lost since suffering a third-round KO to Toshiaki Nishioka in May of 2009 that ended his streak of six straight wins and five consecutive knockouts.
Ponce de Leon is coming off a unanimous decision over fellow Mexican southpaw Eduardo Lazcano on May 4 that followed his sixth-round knockout of Omar Estrella in January.
The win over Estrella helped Ponce de Leon to to bounce back from consecutive decision losses to Adrien Broner and Yuriorkis Gamboa in March and September of last year.
Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 knockouts) will defend his crown against southpaw former two-time welterweight titleholder Williams (41-2, 27 KOs), with the co-feature appearing to be Gonzalez (52-7, 45 KOs) opposite Ponce de Leon (43-4, 35 KOs).
De La Hoya has hopes of matching hammer-fisted junior welterweight Marcos Maidana (31-3, 28 KOs) against the winner of a June 23 clash between between hard-hitting fellow Argentinian Lucas Matthysse (30-2, 28 KOs) and former WBC junior lightweight and lightwieght titleholder Humberto Soto (58-7-2, 34 KOs).
"We're looking closely at the fight between Soto-Matthysse from the June 23 card," said De La Hoya, referring to a main event that matches Victor Ortiz in a welterweight bout opposite Josesito Lopez at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
"For me, personally, Maidana is a guy that I would love to put on there. Maidana against the winner of Soto-Matthysse sounds very enticing. It's a natural fit."
Gonzalez defended his belt with a unanimous decision over once-beaten former beltholder Elio Rojas in Cancun in April. Although Gonzalez won, Rojas ended his streak of 11 straight stoppage wins that a fourth-round knockout that dethroned Hozumi Hasegawa in April of last year.
Gonzalez had not lost since suffering a third-round KO to Toshiaki Nishioka in May of 2009 that ended his streak of six straight wins and five consecutive knockouts.
Ponce de Leon is coming off a unanimous decision over fellow Mexican southpaw Eduardo Lazcano on May 4 that followed his sixth-round knockout of Omar Estrella in January.
The win over Estrella helped Ponce de Leon to to bounce back from consecutive decision losses to Adrien Broner and Yuriorkis Gamboa in March and September of last year.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Great video showcasing what the Fight Museum Las Vegas has to offer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4TH1eraRl0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4TH1eraRl0
Former junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan, in search of a new opponent after titleholder Lamont Peterson tested positive for the banned substance synthetic testosterone and their May 19 fight was canceled, has one: 140-pound titleholder Danny Garcia.
Khan and Garcia will meet July 14 in the main event of an HBO "World Championship Boxing" doubleheader either at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas or the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer, who promotes Khan and Garcia, told ESPN.com on Tuesday night.
"You have two young guys, two of the best in the division," Schaefer said. "Danny Garcia is undefeated and a champion and Amir Khan is one of the biggest names in the sport, so I am really excited about this fight and lucky we were to be able to put it together considering what happened (with Peterson)."
Schaefer said heavyweight prospect Seth Mitchell (25-0, 19 KOs) of Brandywine, Md., will open the HBO telecast. He could face Detroit's Johnathon Banks (28-1-1, 18 KOs), a former cruiserweight title challenger who has been at heavyweight since 2009 and gone 8-0-1 in the weight class. Mitchell thrilled the Atlantic City, N.J., crowd when he stopped Chazz Witherspoon in the third round of an April 28 brawl at Boardwalk Hall on the Chad Dawson-Bernard Hopkins II undercard.
Khan was due to meet Peterson last Saturday in Las Vegas in a much-anticipated rematch of their December slugfest in Peterson's hometown of Washington, D.C. Peterson won a controversial split decision and two world title belts, but the sequel was canceled on May 9 when his "B" sample from a March 19 random urine test came back positive for synthetic testosterone. Peterson claimed he had been injected with testosterone pellets by his doctor prior to the December bout because of a medical condition.
Whatever the reason Peterson took the testosterone, it is a banned substance and the fight was called off. While Peterson's case will be heard by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in mid-June, Golden Boy quickly went to work. It got HBO to agree to move Khan into July and then began to talk to Garcia manager Al Haymon about making the fight.
Garcia claimed a vacant world title on March 24 by dropping Mexican star Erik Morales in the 11th round en route to a unanimous decision in Houston. Morales had been stripped of the belt the previous day for failing to make weight.
Now Garcia, of Philadelphia, will go from facing an aging legend to a prime Khan and he is excited about it.
"I feel like this is how its supposed to be -- the versus the best, both of us in our prime and giving the fans a great fight," Garcia told ESPN.com. "I'm just happy. Its going to be a great fight and I feel like I have what it takes to beat this guy."
Garcia (23-0, 14 KOs), 24, said as soon as Peterson was dropped from the fight with Khan (26-2, 18 KOs), 25, Golden Boy contacted him about the possibility of the fight. Even though he had just fought, Garcia said he immediately began training.
"When I heard about the possibility I strapped on my shoes and went out running. I want to be ready," Garcia said. "I believe everything happens for a reason. I guess that (Peterson-Khan II) wasn't meant to be. I feel like Khan and me are young fighters taking it back to the old days when the best mixed it up with the best.
"I've watched Khan a lot. He's a good fighter, but I don't think he's what people say he is, getting all this credit. I'll expose all that stuff July 14. I know I'm going to win this fight. I feel like he will leave himself open for some big shots and we'll see if he can take them. I can box and I can punch. I'm going to hit him with stuff he won't see. I can't wait."
It is unclear what titles, if any, will be on the line between Garcia and Khan. Garcia has a WBC mandatory defense due against Ajose Olusegun (30-0, 14 KOs). Golden Boy is trying to have the result of the Peterson-Khan fight from December overturned to a no decision and the WBA and IBF belts returned to Khan. The reason is because Peterson admitted that the synthetic testosterone that he tested positive for had been implanted in him prior to the fight with Khan. Golden Boy's argument is that Peterson fought Khan, of England, with a banned substance in his system, although the post-fight urine test conducted by the Washington commission came up negative, likely because it is less sophisticated than those conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, which was overseeing the testing program for the rematch.
If Khan is given one or both belts back, the WBC would sanction Garcia-Khan because unification bouts take precedence over mandatory fights, Schaefer said.
"In a perfect world, we hope that this fight will be for all three belts," Schaefer said.
Said Garcia, "I don't know what's going to happen with the belts. I'm just a fighter. But whatever the case is it will be a great fight. It's all about giving the fans a great fight."
Khan and Garcia will meet July 14 in the main event of an HBO "World Championship Boxing" doubleheader either at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas or the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer, who promotes Khan and Garcia, told ESPN.com on Tuesday night.
"You have two young guys, two of the best in the division," Schaefer said. "Danny Garcia is undefeated and a champion and Amir Khan is one of the biggest names in the sport, so I am really excited about this fight and lucky we were to be able to put it together considering what happened (with Peterson)."
Schaefer said heavyweight prospect Seth Mitchell (25-0, 19 KOs) of Brandywine, Md., will open the HBO telecast. He could face Detroit's Johnathon Banks (28-1-1, 18 KOs), a former cruiserweight title challenger who has been at heavyweight since 2009 and gone 8-0-1 in the weight class. Mitchell thrilled the Atlantic City, N.J., crowd when he stopped Chazz Witherspoon in the third round of an April 28 brawl at Boardwalk Hall on the Chad Dawson-Bernard Hopkins II undercard.
Khan was due to meet Peterson last Saturday in Las Vegas in a much-anticipated rematch of their December slugfest in Peterson's hometown of Washington, D.C. Peterson won a controversial split decision and two world title belts, but the sequel was canceled on May 9 when his "B" sample from a March 19 random urine test came back positive for synthetic testosterone. Peterson claimed he had been injected with testosterone pellets by his doctor prior to the December bout because of a medical condition.
Whatever the reason Peterson took the testosterone, it is a banned substance and the fight was called off. While Peterson's case will be heard by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in mid-June, Golden Boy quickly went to work. It got HBO to agree to move Khan into July and then began to talk to Garcia manager Al Haymon about making the fight.
Garcia claimed a vacant world title on March 24 by dropping Mexican star Erik Morales in the 11th round en route to a unanimous decision in Houston. Morales had been stripped of the belt the previous day for failing to make weight.
Now Garcia, of Philadelphia, will go from facing an aging legend to a prime Khan and he is excited about it.
"I feel like this is how its supposed to be -- the versus the best, both of us in our prime and giving the fans a great fight," Garcia told ESPN.com. "I'm just happy. Its going to be a great fight and I feel like I have what it takes to beat this guy."
Garcia (23-0, 14 KOs), 24, said as soon as Peterson was dropped from the fight with Khan (26-2, 18 KOs), 25, Golden Boy contacted him about the possibility of the fight. Even though he had just fought, Garcia said he immediately began training.
"When I heard about the possibility I strapped on my shoes and went out running. I want to be ready," Garcia said. "I believe everything happens for a reason. I guess that (Peterson-Khan II) wasn't meant to be. I feel like Khan and me are young fighters taking it back to the old days when the best mixed it up with the best.
"I've watched Khan a lot. He's a good fighter, but I don't think he's what people say he is, getting all this credit. I'll expose all that stuff July 14. I know I'm going to win this fight. I feel like he will leave himself open for some big shots and we'll see if he can take them. I can box and I can punch. I'm going to hit him with stuff he won't see. I can't wait."
It is unclear what titles, if any, will be on the line between Garcia and Khan. Garcia has a WBC mandatory defense due against Ajose Olusegun (30-0, 14 KOs). Golden Boy is trying to have the result of the Peterson-Khan fight from December overturned to a no decision and the WBA and IBF belts returned to Khan. The reason is because Peterson admitted that the synthetic testosterone that he tested positive for had been implanted in him prior to the fight with Khan. Golden Boy's argument is that Peterson fought Khan, of England, with a banned substance in his system, although the post-fight urine test conducted by the Washington commission came up negative, likely because it is less sophisticated than those conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, which was overseeing the testing program for the rematch.
If Khan is given one or both belts back, the WBC would sanction Garcia-Khan because unification bouts take precedence over mandatory fights, Schaefer said.
"In a perfect world, we hope that this fight will be for all three belts," Schaefer said.
Said Garcia, "I don't know what's going to happen with the belts. I'm just a fighter. But whatever the case is it will be a great fight. It's all about giving the fans a great fight."
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Canelo to face Paul Williams on September 15 PPV
Junior middleweight titlist Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, the Mexican star who has been brought along slowly with a series of fights against opponents given little chance to win, will next face a tall order: powerful 6-foot-1 southpaw Paul Williams.
They will meet Sept. 15 -- on the traditional big-fight Mexican Independence Day weekend -- at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in a pay-per-view headliner, Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer, Alvarez's promoter, told ESPN.com on Wednesday night.
Schaefer confirmed the story first reported by Ring Magazine's website.
"Canelo and Williams is done. Signed, sealed and delivered," said Schaefer, who got the deal done on Wednesday. "I think Williams is the biggest name in the division we could get and he has been known for years as one of the most avoided fighters in boxing. He's awkward, he's tall, he's a dangerous fighter and that's what you need on a pay-per-view. You need to give fans fights where they don't know who's going to win the fight.
"So, yes, it's a risk for Canelo because Paul Williams is a terrific fighter. But it's also a dangerous fight for Paul Williams. Some people still underestimate Canelo Alvarez but he can compete with anyone and he wants to compete with everyone. People have to remember that Canelo is still only 21 years old, but if you want to earn a shot at Floyd Mayweather, you need to be able to pass this kind of test, this tall test."
The 5-foot-9 Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 KOs), one of boxing's youngest titleholders, won a vacant belt by easily outpointing Matthew Hatton in March 2011. He has defended the title four times, including a dominant decision against faded 40-year-old former champion Shane Mosley on May 5 on the Mayweather-Miguel Cotto pay-per-view undercard at the MGM Grand.
Originally, Golden Boy had looked to James Kirkland, an exciting brawler whom it promotes, as Alvarez's opponent and offered him the fight. However, Kirkland suffered a shoulder injury in a fight in March, had surgery and will not be ready to go by Sept. 15. So they looked to Williams (41-2, 27 KOs), 30, of Augusta, Ga.
"Kirkland is not going to be able to fight in September," Schaefer said. "I want to make sure he is healthy and ready to go before a fight like this. So now people are saying, 'Why are you putting Canelo in with Paul Williams?' Some people think we are nuts. But I know one thing -- it's going to be a good fight. These guys both come to fight. I think one of these guys will get knocked out. If it's an exciting fight I don't think there are any losers."
George Peterson, Williams' trainer and manager, said this is just the sort of opportunity they were looking for, so when Williams adviser Al Haymon presented them with the fight they jumped at it.
"We've been looking for something of this magnitude. We'll be prepared for it," Peterson said. "He is going to put on a boxing clinic against Alvarez. This is what Paul has been wanting. We know Canelo is a good boxer. He has good footwork, good power and the will to win. That's what I think about Alvarez. But Paul has been in the ring with the best and done really well. Paul can get up for this fight. There's been one or two fights he couldn't get up for."
For several years, Williams was considered one of the top fighters in the world. He is a former two-time welterweight titleholder, a former interim junior middleweight titlist and he owns a majority decision in an action-packed nontitle bout against Sergio Martinez, who went on to win the middleweight championship. He also beat a prime Antonio Margarito and scored a near-shutout of former undisputed junior middleweight champion and longtime pound-for-pound list entrant Winky Wright.
However, Williams' stock plunged when he met Martinez in a rematch for the middleweight title in November 2010 and got knocked out cold in the second round.
In his next fight in July 2011, Williams escaped with a majority decision win against junior middleweight contender Erislandy Lara that was so controversial that the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board took the unprecedented step of suspending all three judges over their scoring of the fight.
Williams bounced back in February to roll to a shutout decision against Japan's Nobuhiro Ishida, who had scored a first-round upset knockout of Kirkland in 2011.
"What has happened is a few people have written Paul off, have said that he's on his last legs. We're glad about that, or we wouldn't get no activity at all," Peterson said. "It's gonna be a real interesting fight and Paul is excited about it. It's an opportunity to show the boxing community that Paul Williams is back. He's never ducked a fighter and when the bell goes 'bing,' the fans will see a very exciting fight. Boxing needs something like this where who the winner will be is a mystery."
Schaefer said he is talking with both HBO and Showtime about being involved in the pay-per-view, although HBO has been involved in Alvarez's last seven fights.
"I wanted to get the fight done and now I'll see what I will do as it relates to which network is involved in the pay-per-view," Schaefer said.
Schaefer said whichever networks puts on the pay-per-view, he will promote the fight with a four-city media tour with stops in New York, Los Angeles, Texas (likely Houston) and Mexico City.
Schaefer also said he hopes to put together an all-Mexican clash between featherweight titlist Jhonny Gonzalez (52-7, 45 KOs) and the Golden Boy-promoted Daniel Ponce De Leon (43-4, 35 KOs), a former junior featherweight titleholder, to serve as the co-feature.
Junior middleweight titlist Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, the Mexican star who has been brought along slowly with a series of fights against opponents given little chance to win, will next face a tall order: powerful 6-foot-1 southpaw Paul Williams.
They will meet Sept. 15 -- on the traditional big-fight Mexican Independence Day weekend -- at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in a pay-per-view headliner, Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer, Alvarez's promoter, told ESPN.com on Wednesday night.
Schaefer confirmed the story first reported by Ring Magazine's website.
"Canelo and Williams is done. Signed, sealed and delivered," said Schaefer, who got the deal done on Wednesday. "I think Williams is the biggest name in the division we could get and he has been known for years as one of the most avoided fighters in boxing. He's awkward, he's tall, he's a dangerous fighter and that's what you need on a pay-per-view. You need to give fans fights where they don't know who's going to win the fight.
"So, yes, it's a risk for Canelo because Paul Williams is a terrific fighter. But it's also a dangerous fight for Paul Williams. Some people still underestimate Canelo Alvarez but he can compete with anyone and he wants to compete with everyone. People have to remember that Canelo is still only 21 years old, but if you want to earn a shot at Floyd Mayweather, you need to be able to pass this kind of test, this tall test."
The 5-foot-9 Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 KOs), one of boxing's youngest titleholders, won a vacant belt by easily outpointing Matthew Hatton in March 2011. He has defended the title four times, including a dominant decision against faded 40-year-old former champion Shane Mosley on May 5 on the Mayweather-Miguel Cotto pay-per-view undercard at the MGM Grand.
Originally, Golden Boy had looked to James Kirkland, an exciting brawler whom it promotes, as Alvarez's opponent and offered him the fight. However, Kirkland suffered a shoulder injury in a fight in March, had surgery and will not be ready to go by Sept. 15. So they looked to Williams (41-2, 27 KOs), 30, of Augusta, Ga.
"Kirkland is not going to be able to fight in September," Schaefer said. "I want to make sure he is healthy and ready to go before a fight like this. So now people are saying, 'Why are you putting Canelo in with Paul Williams?' Some people think we are nuts. But I know one thing -- it's going to be a good fight. These guys both come to fight. I think one of these guys will get knocked out. If it's an exciting fight I don't think there are any losers."
George Peterson, Williams' trainer and manager, said this is just the sort of opportunity they were looking for, so when Williams adviser Al Haymon presented them with the fight they jumped at it.
"We've been looking for something of this magnitude. We'll be prepared for it," Peterson said. "He is going to put on a boxing clinic against Alvarez. This is what Paul has been wanting. We know Canelo is a good boxer. He has good footwork, good power and the will to win. That's what I think about Alvarez. But Paul has been in the ring with the best and done really well. Paul can get up for this fight. There's been one or two fights he couldn't get up for."
For several years, Williams was considered one of the top fighters in the world. He is a former two-time welterweight titleholder, a former interim junior middleweight titlist and he owns a majority decision in an action-packed nontitle bout against Sergio Martinez, who went on to win the middleweight championship. He also beat a prime Antonio Margarito and scored a near-shutout of former undisputed junior middleweight champion and longtime pound-for-pound list entrant Winky Wright.
However, Williams' stock plunged when he met Martinez in a rematch for the middleweight title in November 2010 and got knocked out cold in the second round.
In his next fight in July 2011, Williams escaped with a majority decision win against junior middleweight contender Erislandy Lara that was so controversial that the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board took the unprecedented step of suspending all three judges over their scoring of the fight.
Williams bounced back in February to roll to a shutout decision against Japan's Nobuhiro Ishida, who had scored a first-round upset knockout of Kirkland in 2011.
"What has happened is a few people have written Paul off, have said that he's on his last legs. We're glad about that, or we wouldn't get no activity at all," Peterson said. "It's gonna be a real interesting fight and Paul is excited about it. It's an opportunity to show the boxing community that Paul Williams is back. He's never ducked a fighter and when the bell goes 'bing,' the fans will see a very exciting fight. Boxing needs something like this where who the winner will be is a mystery."
Schaefer said he is talking with both HBO and Showtime about being involved in the pay-per-view, although HBO has been involved in Alvarez's last seven fights.
"I wanted to get the fight done and now I'll see what I will do as it relates to which network is involved in the pay-per-view," Schaefer said.
Schaefer said whichever networks puts on the pay-per-view, he will promote the fight with a four-city media tour with stops in New York, Los Angeles, Texas (likely Houston) and Mexico City.
Schaefer also said he hopes to put together an all-Mexican clash between featherweight titlist Jhonny Gonzalez (52-7, 45 KOs) and the Golden Boy-promoted Daniel Ponce De Leon (43-4, 35 KOs), a former junior featherweight titleholder, to serve as the co-feature.
By: Dan Richardson (http://www.splitdecisionboxingnews.com/)
The Grassroots of Boxing - Amreet Brar - Future Star?
Welcome to a new feature on Split Decision Boxing News - The Grassroots of Boxing. As often as I can, I will be writing articles on the potential future champions, who are currently competing as amateurs. I'll be interviewing amateur boxers from around the world, whether it be those just starting out, those with incredible stories or those who are ready for the professional game. I think it is vitally important that we as boxing fans are aware of the grassroots of our beloved sport, as it is something we are generally oblivious to.
Boxing at all levels is an incredible sport, and I want to give exposure to those who are currently at the bottom of the tree. If you are an amateur fighter yourself, please email me at splitdecisionboxingnews@live.co.uk or contact me on Twitter - @danny_boy_93. Please don't hesitate to contact me, I think the amateur game is a vital part of our sport, as it not only lays the foundations for future world champions, but also turns lives around.
And that brings me nicely onto the first subject of these articles, 20 year old Amreet Brar of Canada. As an amateur boxer, Amreet has a record of 1-1, but has been boxing for the past 5 years, training under the watchful eye of Ajaz Khan of the 'King of the Ring' boxing club, in Brampton Ontario. Fighting out of a club which has produced many Canadian national champions, Amreet is fully confident that he can make his way to the top of the amateur game, and ultimately represent Canada in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Having the aspiration to represent your country at the Olympics is a target many amateur fighters hope to reach. You can journey into gyms across the world, and the ultimate goal for the fighters in the gym is to stand on the podium, with a gold medal hanging from their neck. But that's not what makes Amreet's story interesting. And the Vancouver born fighter has a great story to tell.
Many fighters start out in the gym to vent frustration, get fit, stem anger and some just for the fun of it. But Amreet started out for very different reasons. Overweight as a teenager, and weighing 300lbs at one stage, Amreet was victimised by bullies because of his weight. Amreet lived in fear, he was told not to go to school because he would "regret it". This led to Amreet struggling to find the motivation to get out of bed on a morning, as his life suffered because of the constant threats he received. Determined to defy the bullies, Amreet stepped into a boxing gym for the very first time.
It was there that he met the first of two men who act as inspirations to him. Amreet describes his first coach, Jerry Veerasammy, as the inspiration behind his desire to become a world champion. "He has always made sure that I stick to boxing, he's my inspiration and a real father figure to me" Amreet tells. "I don't know where I'd be without him". The second, his current coach Ajaz Khan, treats Amreet like a son. "I call him Papa" Amreet says. "He always takes care of me and treats me like one of his own, like Jerry, I owe him so much".
Amreet is proud of his background too, especially that of his Indian parents. "I represent myself , my parents background, and all of my supporters whenever I train and fight" he says. And Amreet's religion is a major part of his life too. A dedicated Sikh, Amreet tells me of the hardest obstacle he's ever had to overcome, the death of his beloved Aunt, and how religion, and boxing, helped him through.
"The death of my Aunt due to cancer was a very big hill to overcome. She was always there whenever I needed someone and was there to motivate me through everything I wanted to do. When she passed away I didn't know what to do or what to be, but pursuing boxing even more helped me keep focused and determined for life. Ever since she passed away before all fights and training sessions I go to my corner, pray and say thank you to her for everything she's done for me."
It is clear to see that Amreet is humble and thankful for his background and the people around him. But it is boxing that has acted as the biggest motivation to change his life around, and now fighting at 165lbs, Amreet's life is now on the up. He will participate in the USA Ringside Championships this summer, a prestigious amateur tournament, and in August, he is due to fly over to Britain to train with Nottingham's Adnan Amar, who also acts as an inspiration to Amreet. "Adnan Amar is amazing and I owe him a lot for giving me the opportunity to train with him. He truly is a blessing for all boxers. His style, perseverance and determination is something I wish to have when I become world champion."
And it is that final line that shows you where Amreet sees himself in the future. He truly believes he can become a world champion, and after the motivation he has shown already in his life, I wouldn't bet against Amreet becoming a future star. He clearly has the belief to become a successful fighter. He owes a lot to boxing, and I think that's clear to see from his dedication to the sport. He describes himself as an "old school" fighter, and takes inspiration from Australian featherweight Billy Dibb, who Amreet describes as a huge influence on his career. But his idols also include Britain's very own Amir Khan, who Amreet wishes to emulate in his career, starting from the 2016 Olympic Games.
"I want to go to Rio for the Olympics, win gold and then turn pro. My goals are to go abroad and fight internationally like Amir. I want to be world champion, and the way I train and my dedication, I can do it as long as I'm focused". And I wouldn't bet against it. I've been in contact with Amreet for a couple of weeks now, and I hope to meet up with him when he comes to the UK. His desire is clear, and he has a genuine hunger for a sport that has done so much for him. Despite all the adversity he has had to face in his life, he shows tremendous promise and I think his desire alone will go a long way to making sure he is successful. And it is that attitude and his story, which makes Amreet Brar an inspiration himself.
Boxing at all levels is an incredible sport, and I want to give exposure to those who are currently at the bottom of the tree. If you are an amateur fighter yourself, please email me at splitdecisionboxingnews@live.co.uk or contact me on Twitter - @danny_boy_93. Please don't hesitate to contact me, I think the amateur game is a vital part of our sport, as it not only lays the foundations for future world champions, but also turns lives around.
And that brings me nicely onto the first subject of these articles, 20 year old Amreet Brar of Canada. As an amateur boxer, Amreet has a record of 1-1, but has been boxing for the past 5 years, training under the watchful eye of Ajaz Khan of the 'King of the Ring' boxing club, in Brampton Ontario. Fighting out of a club which has produced many Canadian national champions, Amreet is fully confident that he can make his way to the top of the amateur game, and ultimately represent Canada in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Having the aspiration to represent your country at the Olympics is a target many amateur fighters hope to reach. You can journey into gyms across the world, and the ultimate goal for the fighters in the gym is to stand on the podium, with a gold medal hanging from their neck. But that's not what makes Amreet's story interesting. And the Vancouver born fighter has a great story to tell.
Many fighters start out in the gym to vent frustration, get fit, stem anger and some just for the fun of it. But Amreet started out for very different reasons. Overweight as a teenager, and weighing 300lbs at one stage, Amreet was victimised by bullies because of his weight. Amreet lived in fear, he was told not to go to school because he would "regret it". This led to Amreet struggling to find the motivation to get out of bed on a morning, as his life suffered because of the constant threats he received. Determined to defy the bullies, Amreet stepped into a boxing gym for the very first time.
It was there that he met the first of two men who act as inspirations to him. Amreet describes his first coach, Jerry Veerasammy, as the inspiration behind his desire to become a world champion. "He has always made sure that I stick to boxing, he's my inspiration and a real father figure to me" Amreet tells. "I don't know where I'd be without him". The second, his current coach Ajaz Khan, treats Amreet like a son. "I call him Papa" Amreet says. "He always takes care of me and treats me like one of his own, like Jerry, I owe him so much".
Amreet is proud of his background too, especially that of his Indian parents. "I represent myself , my parents background, and all of my supporters whenever I train and fight" he says. And Amreet's religion is a major part of his life too. A dedicated Sikh, Amreet tells me of the hardest obstacle he's ever had to overcome, the death of his beloved Aunt, and how religion, and boxing, helped him through.
"The death of my Aunt due to cancer was a very big hill to overcome. She was always there whenever I needed someone and was there to motivate me through everything I wanted to do. When she passed away I didn't know what to do or what to be, but pursuing boxing even more helped me keep focused and determined for life. Ever since she passed away before all fights and training sessions I go to my corner, pray and say thank you to her for everything she's done for me."
It is clear to see that Amreet is humble and thankful for his background and the people around him. But it is boxing that has acted as the biggest motivation to change his life around, and now fighting at 165lbs, Amreet's life is now on the up. He will participate in the USA Ringside Championships this summer, a prestigious amateur tournament, and in August, he is due to fly over to Britain to train with Nottingham's Adnan Amar, who also acts as an inspiration to Amreet. "Adnan Amar is amazing and I owe him a lot for giving me the opportunity to train with him. He truly is a blessing for all boxers. His style, perseverance and determination is something I wish to have when I become world champion."
And it is that final line that shows you where Amreet sees himself in the future. He truly believes he can become a world champion, and after the motivation he has shown already in his life, I wouldn't bet against Amreet becoming a future star. He clearly has the belief to become a successful fighter. He owes a lot to boxing, and I think that's clear to see from his dedication to the sport. He describes himself as an "old school" fighter, and takes inspiration from Australian featherweight Billy Dibb, who Amreet describes as a huge influence on his career. But his idols also include Britain's very own Amir Khan, who Amreet wishes to emulate in his career, starting from the 2016 Olympic Games.
"I want to go to Rio for the Olympics, win gold and then turn pro. My goals are to go abroad and fight internationally like Amir. I want to be world champion, and the way I train and my dedication, I can do it as long as I'm focused". And I wouldn't bet against it. I've been in contact with Amreet for a couple of weeks now, and I hope to meet up with him when he comes to the UK. His desire is clear, and he has a genuine hunger for a sport that has done so much for him. Despite all the adversity he has had to face in his life, he shows tremendous promise and I think his desire alone will go a long way to making sure he is successful. And it is that attitude and his story, which makes Amreet Brar an inspiration himself.
David Price's impressive fourth-round destruction of Sam Sexton on Saturday, in which he scored three knockdowns to win the vacant British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles, kept him on track toward his ultimate goal: to win a world title by his 20th fight.
"People might have dismissed David's comment when he said he could become world heavyweight champion by his 20th fight," said Frank Maloney, Price's promoter. "That doesn't look a bad prediction now. He could most probably earn his chance quickly, but it is about becoming world champion and having a long reign."
Maloney, of course, is very bullish on Price, 28, who won an Olympic bronze medal in 2008. Maloney said in the aftermath of the Sexton fight, which took place in Price's hometown of Liverpool, that he is exploring the possibility of a fight for Price (13-0, 11 KOs) in the United States this summer. However, I'd bet that Price will probably stay in England for his next fight to take advantage of the rave reviews he is getting for the performance against Sexton. But it would be nice to see the 6-foot-8, 245-pounder hit America's shores. Whatever Price does next, Maloney was impressed with his fighter's performance.
"We know David has an impeccable amateur pedigree, but to do a job like that on Sam in only his 13th professional fight was special," Maloney said. "The only other person to beat Sexton was Dereck Chisora [who has two TKOs against Sexton], and I will let [people] decide who was the most impressive against him."
Now Maloney plans to get together with Price and his team to consider the fighter's next opponent.
"There are some credible British opponents who would be decent opposition, and there has been interest from America for a while," Maloney said. "Whatever decision is made will be in David's best interests and nobody else."
"People might have dismissed David's comment when he said he could become world heavyweight champion by his 20th fight," said Frank Maloney, Price's promoter. "That doesn't look a bad prediction now. He could most probably earn his chance quickly, but it is about becoming world champion and having a long reign."
Maloney, of course, is very bullish on Price, 28, who won an Olympic bronze medal in 2008. Maloney said in the aftermath of the Sexton fight, which took place in Price's hometown of Liverpool, that he is exploring the possibility of a fight for Price (13-0, 11 KOs) in the United States this summer. However, I'd bet that Price will probably stay in England for his next fight to take advantage of the rave reviews he is getting for the performance against Sexton. But it would be nice to see the 6-foot-8, 245-pounder hit America's shores. Whatever Price does next, Maloney was impressed with his fighter's performance.
"We know David has an impeccable amateur pedigree, but to do a job like that on Sam in only his 13th professional fight was special," Maloney said. "The only other person to beat Sexton was Dereck Chisora [who has two TKOs against Sexton], and I will let [people] decide who was the most impressive against him."
Now Maloney plans to get together with Price and his team to consider the fighter's next opponent.
"There are some credible British opponents who would be decent opposition, and there has been interest from America for a while," Maloney said. "Whatever decision is made will be in David's best interests and nobody else."
Rafael's remarks: Well, fight freaks, we have a bona fide knockout of the year candidate here, as Kessler scored one of the nastiest, most ruthlessly violent knockouts you will ever see. Poor Green never knew what hit him. For those watching, though, it was a classic left hook that landed flush on the jaw and put Green to sleep square in the center of the ring. He was out before he even hit the canvas, and when he did, his arms were stretched over his head, his head drooped to the side and his legs seemed to be twitching as referee Ian John-Lewis immediately waived off the fight 17 seconds into the fourth round and raced to pull out Green's mouthpiece. Kessler knew the fight was over when the shot landed, raising his hands over his head, and 15,000 of his Danish countrymen who had packed the Parken Arena went wild for their hero as he jumped onto the ring ropes. Green was down for several minutes before coming around, probably with the realization that his career was over, at least in terms of ever again being in a notable main event.
Kessler, 33, a former three-time super middleweight titlist, was supposed to face Green, 32, of Tulsa, Okla., in November 2010 in the third stage of the Super Six World Boxing Classic. However, Kessler, who had suffered an eye injury in a win against Carl Froch in the second stage, withdrew not long before the fight and was replaced by Glen Johnson in the tournament. Johnson went on to knock out Green, himself a replacement in the tournament for Jermain Taylor. That was Green's second loss in a row, as he was also shut out by Andre Ward in his previous tournament bout. Following his elimination from the tournament, Green moved up to light heavyweight and won a pair of low-level bouts. Kessler, meanwhile, returned from the eye injury for a knockout win against Mehdi Bouadla in June 2011. He was then supposed to challenge super middleweight titlist Robert Stieglitz in November, but the fight was postponed until April and then canceled altogether because Kessler was not fully ready following a serious right hand injury. When Kessler was ready to return, he moved up to light heavyweight (although he only weighed in at 169½ pounds and probably could still make 168 if he wants to) and was matched with Green.
Green, a heavy underdog, looked like he might pull the big upset when he dropped Kessler in the first round. Green rocked him with a clean right hand and he went down after a couple of more shots, including a left to the body. But the right hand is what did it, and he was shaky when he got to his feet, and he still had 40 seconds left to survive. Inexplicably, Green had showed no sense of urgency at all and never went for the knockout. He let Kessler off the hook and never again was close to having a chance for the knockout.
Kessler recovered well from the knockdown and began to assert himself, especially with his left hand. He hurt Green with a big left hand near the end of the second round and landed the same shot to do more damage about halfway through the third round. The action was solid, and the fans were getting their money's worth, but it seemed like it was only a matter of time until Kessler got rid of Green. It finally happened courtesy of the vicious left hook in the fourth round that we'll probably still be talking about in December when it comes time to discuss the year's best knockouts.
With such an authoritative victory in an exciting fight, Kessler obviously will be in line for another big fight. He could still potentially challenge Stieglitz for his super middleweight title if he wants to lose an extra pound or two. He would certainly fit in the picture to face the winner of Lucian Bute's super middleweight title defense against Carl Froch on Saturday. A fight with Bute or a rematch with Froch would be excellent. Or Kessler could remain at light heavyweight and look for one of the titleholders.
Kessler, 33, a former three-time super middleweight titlist, was supposed to face Green, 32, of Tulsa, Okla., in November 2010 in the third stage of the Super Six World Boxing Classic. However, Kessler, who had suffered an eye injury in a win against Carl Froch in the second stage, withdrew not long before the fight and was replaced by Glen Johnson in the tournament. Johnson went on to knock out Green, himself a replacement in the tournament for Jermain Taylor. That was Green's second loss in a row, as he was also shut out by Andre Ward in his previous tournament bout. Following his elimination from the tournament, Green moved up to light heavyweight and won a pair of low-level bouts. Kessler, meanwhile, returned from the eye injury for a knockout win against Mehdi Bouadla in June 2011. He was then supposed to challenge super middleweight titlist Robert Stieglitz in November, but the fight was postponed until April and then canceled altogether because Kessler was not fully ready following a serious right hand injury. When Kessler was ready to return, he moved up to light heavyweight (although he only weighed in at 169½ pounds and probably could still make 168 if he wants to) and was matched with Green.
Green, a heavy underdog, looked like he might pull the big upset when he dropped Kessler in the first round. Green rocked him with a clean right hand and he went down after a couple of more shots, including a left to the body. But the right hand is what did it, and he was shaky when he got to his feet, and he still had 40 seconds left to survive. Inexplicably, Green had showed no sense of urgency at all and never went for the knockout. He let Kessler off the hook and never again was close to having a chance for the knockout.
Kessler recovered well from the knockdown and began to assert himself, especially with his left hand. He hurt Green with a big left hand near the end of the second round and landed the same shot to do more damage about halfway through the third round. The action was solid, and the fans were getting their money's worth, but it seemed like it was only a matter of time until Kessler got rid of Green. It finally happened courtesy of the vicious left hook in the fourth round that we'll probably still be talking about in December when it comes time to discuss the year's best knockouts.
With such an authoritative victory in an exciting fight, Kessler obviously will be in line for another big fight. He could still potentially challenge Stieglitz for his super middleweight title if he wants to lose an extra pound or two. He would certainly fit in the picture to face the winner of Lucian Bute's super middleweight title defense against Carl Froch on Saturday. A fight with Bute or a rematch with Froch would be excellent. Or Kessler could remain at light heavyweight and look for one of the titleholders.
For months, Top Rank talked about putting on a July 14 pay-per-view card at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, but now it looks like the talk is over and there won't be a show.
Originally, Top Rank's Bob Arum said the card would be headlined by Mexican star Juan Manuel Marquez, who won an interim junior welterweight belt in April, and that junior featherweight titlist Nonito Donaire would fight in the co-feature.
Then Arum said Donaire wouldn't be on the card because the company would give him his own date (probably June 30 on HBO). Even without Donaire, Marquez would still headline, Arum said. But no deal had been finalized with a television company to distribute the event and Marquez had no opponent.
Top Rank was talking to HBO about working on the show, and Top Rank certainly could have done it on its own, but time is running short to mount a legitimate pay-per-view promotion.
Then came the usual steady stream of discussion about whom Marquez would fight. Junior welterweight titlist Lamont Peterson was originally mentioned, but he instead accepted a rematch with Amir Khan (which was supposed to have taken place last Saturday but was canceled when Peterson tested positive for a synthetic testosterone).
Other names were mentioned for Marquez: fellow Mexican star and future Hall of Famer Erik Morales (a fight I've wanted to see for about a decade), former titlist Zab Judah, former lightweight titlist Brandon Rios (coming off a gift decision against Richard Abril that most sane people thought was a very obvious Abril victory) and the utterly unknown Mercito Gesta, a talented Filipino lightweight who is, alas, nowhere near ready to face a fighter of Marquez's caliber.
In the end, after all the talk, Top Rank pulled the plug on the event Monday because Marquez elected not to fight on the pay-per-view. From what I hear from those around Marquez, the financial package wasn't to Marquez's liking. Plus, he didn't want to fight Rios, the opponent Top Rank wanted him to face.
Marquez had previously said he preferred a southpaw opponent (Judah and Gesta would have fit) in anticipation of a possible fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao, a left-hander, in the fall.
Now Marquez might instead wait to see what happens in the June 9 Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley Jr. fight. If Pacquiao wins, Marquez figures to be at the top of the list for Pacquiao's November opponent.
Arum had been in talks with Main Events' Kathy Duva about a Marquez-Judah fight, but according to Duva, Arum told her Monday that "Marquez has decided not to fight at all in July."
Zanfer Promotions, which has a promotional contract with Marquez but works closely with Top Rank, said it is possible Marquez could still fight this summer -- but in Mexico on July 21 or July 28, likely against a lesser opponent.
Originally, Top Rank's Bob Arum said the card would be headlined by Mexican star Juan Manuel Marquez, who won an interim junior welterweight belt in April, and that junior featherweight titlist Nonito Donaire would fight in the co-feature.
Then Arum said Donaire wouldn't be on the card because the company would give him his own date (probably June 30 on HBO). Even without Donaire, Marquez would still headline, Arum said. But no deal had been finalized with a television company to distribute the event and Marquez had no opponent.
Top Rank was talking to HBO about working on the show, and Top Rank certainly could have done it on its own, but time is running short to mount a legitimate pay-per-view promotion.
Then came the usual steady stream of discussion about whom Marquez would fight. Junior welterweight titlist Lamont Peterson was originally mentioned, but he instead accepted a rematch with Amir Khan (which was supposed to have taken place last Saturday but was canceled when Peterson tested positive for a synthetic testosterone).
Other names were mentioned for Marquez: fellow Mexican star and future Hall of Famer Erik Morales (a fight I've wanted to see for about a decade), former titlist Zab Judah, former lightweight titlist Brandon Rios (coming off a gift decision against Richard Abril that most sane people thought was a very obvious Abril victory) and the utterly unknown Mercito Gesta, a talented Filipino lightweight who is, alas, nowhere near ready to face a fighter of Marquez's caliber.
In the end, after all the talk, Top Rank pulled the plug on the event Monday because Marquez elected not to fight on the pay-per-view. From what I hear from those around Marquez, the financial package wasn't to Marquez's liking. Plus, he didn't want to fight Rios, the opponent Top Rank wanted him to face.
Marquez had previously said he preferred a southpaw opponent (Judah and Gesta would have fit) in anticipation of a possible fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao, a left-hander, in the fall.
Now Marquez might instead wait to see what happens in the June 9 Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley Jr. fight. If Pacquiao wins, Marquez figures to be at the top of the list for Pacquiao's November opponent.
Arum had been in talks with Main Events' Kathy Duva about a Marquez-Judah fight, but according to Duva, Arum told her Monday that "Marquez has decided not to fight at all in July."
Zanfer Promotions, which has a promotional contract with Marquez but works closely with Top Rank, said it is possible Marquez could still fight this summer -- but in Mexico on July 21 or July 28, likely against a lesser opponent.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Josesito Lopez will get the opportunity to fight former welterweight titlist Victor Ortiz on June 23 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles as the replacement opponent for Andre Berto.Henry Ramirez, Lopez's manager and trainer, told ESPN.com on Sunday night that his fighter has been offered the fight and that they have accepted, terming the deal "98 percent done. There are just a few minor details being worked out between the promoters."
Berto, also a former welterweight titleholder, tested positive for the banned substance norandrosterone on Friday. He had requested, and Ortiz had agreed, to use the Las Vegas-based Voluntary Anti-Doping Association's random blood and urine testing program in the lead-up to their much-anticipated rematch. However, Berto's "A" sample tested positive and his "B" sample also came back positive on Friday, ruling him out of the fight.
Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer, Ortiz's promoter, and Showtime said they would not cancel the card and instead would find a replacement to face Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KOs), 25, in his first bout since losing his piece of the 147-pound world title to Floyd Mayweather by fourth-round knockout in September.
Berto, also a former welterweight titleholder, tested positive for the banned substance norandrosterone on Friday. He had requested, and Ortiz had agreed, to use the Las Vegas-based Voluntary Anti-Doping Association's random blood and urine testing program in the lead-up to their much-anticipated rematch. However, Berto's "A" sample tested positive and his "B" sample also came back positive on Friday, ruling him out of the fight.
Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer, Ortiz's promoter, and Showtime said they would not cancel the card and instead would find a replacement to face Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KOs), 25, in his first bout since losing his piece of the 147-pound world title to Floyd Mayweather by fourth-round knockout in September.
Great feature item in our EBAY Store.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANDERSON-SILVA-vs-VITOR-BELFORT-SITE-FIGHT-POSTER-/170840120549
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANDERSON-SILVA-vs-VITOR-BELFORT-SITE-FIGHT-POSTER-/170840120549
Former WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion Amir Khan now has a date and a venue for his 29th professional contest as Golden Boy Promotions have held the Honda Center in Anaheim California on July 7th for the Olympic silver medallist.
Khan, 25, has had a rough six months to deal with following his controversial loss to Lamont Peterson in December and resulting cancellation of his much-anticipated rematch, but now has something to focus on as an opponent is sought.
Erik Morales seems to have been elevated to the top of the shortlist after WBC champion Danny Garcia ruled out a meeting with Khan, citing the Briton not being awarded his former titles as the reason following Lamont Peterson's positive drugs test.
A rematch with Marcos Maidana, who has stated he won't be ready until late July, had also been mooted for the date and would be the fans choice of the two as many see Morales as well past his best and more of a one-sided match-up than the Argentinian.
Khan and Maidana shared twelve pulsating rounds in December 2010 in a 'Fight of the Year' battle and another instalment would make the Peterson debacle easier to swallow as Khan then contemplates a move to welterweight.
Whether Maidana can be persuaded to accept the bout at seven weeks' notice is debatable, although if the numbers add-up, 'Chino' may well sign on for what would be an exciting return in California.
We have made a video to help show what the Fight Museum Las Vegas has to offer. Take time to view our video and tell us what you think.
http://youtu.be/X4TH1eraRl0
http://youtu.be/X4TH1eraRl0
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)