UFC 149 results: Renan Barao dominates Urijah Faber, wins interim title

By Matt Erickson

CALGARY – The UFC has another Brazilian champion.
It’s an interim title, but a title nonetheless. Renan Barao dominated Urijah Faber for five rounds on Saturday to win the UFC’s interim bantamweight belt, which was up for grabs with champion Dominick Cruz on the shelf following knee surgery. Barao cruised to win a unanimous decision with scores of 49-46, 50-45 and 49-46.
The interim bantamweight title fight served as the main event of Saturday’s UFC 149 event at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.
Barao joins Nova Uniao teammate Jose Aldo, the UFC’s featherweight champ; middleweight champ Anderson Silva; and heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos as current UFC champions from Brazil.
It was apparent early in the five-round title fight that Barao’s strategy was similar to that of Aldo’s when he fought Faber in the WEC – do damage to Faber with leg kicks. And though Barao didn’t do nearly the damage to Faber that Aldo did in April 2010, it still was a game plan that Faber could find little answer for.
Barao was able to land significant strikes in each round, sometimes with highlight-reel potential behind them. And though Faber never was in true danger, he found it hard to get inside on Barao and do any real damage himself.
Faber didn’t attempt a full-fledged takedown until midway through the third round, but he couldn’t land it. And though he was able to score some points with his counter-strikes, he never was able to get any real momentum going offensively.
“I knew he was good at keeping distance, and he was able to keep his kicks from pretty far out,” Faber said. “I knew he was tough. He hurt me pretty early with a knee to the rib, and I think I might have a broken rib. It was nothing like Aldo. Aldo really took my leg apart. I felt (Barao’s) kicks for sure, but it wasn’t the same thing.”
Barao jumped up and down and ran across the octagon shouting after the scores were read, then rubbed the interim belt as UFC president Dana White put it around his waist.
“I came very well prepared for everything,” Barao said through his translator. “I knew Faber was a great athlete and a great fighter. But I prepared myself very well, and that was the result. My coaches told me to keep [kicking the legs], but it was not only that.”
Barao (29-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) had his amazing unbeaten streak extended to 30 fights with 29 wins and a no contest over that stretch. Faber (26-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) again goes back to the drawing board, losing for the fifth straight time in a title fight – three featherweight title losses in the WEC and two bantamweight title losses in the UFC.

http://fightmuseumlv.com

UFC’s Anderson Silva Challenges Strikeforce Champion Luke Rockhold

by Chris Hall

Immediately after UFC 148, it looked likeUFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva had completely cleared the 185 lb. division and should accept Rashad Evans’s challenge. Or he should move up to Light Heavyweight to fight Jon Jones. Then Chris Weidman decimated Mark Munoz at UFC On Fuel 4 and a brand new challenger was born with the “perfect style” to upset The Spider. Dana White has even said that former Bellator champion Hector Lombard could get a shot if he defeats wild card Tim Boestch in his UFC debut.
Last night, UFC Tonight gave the report from Anderson’s management on who his next opponent should be (Transcribed by MMA Mania):

Hector Lombard
He thinks he needs at least three more impressive wins in the UFC. He said that 85 percent of UFC fans don’t even know who Hector Lombard is, who is of course making his Octagon debut on Saturday night.
Chris Weidman
As for Chris Weidman, he said, ‘Well, there’s another great unknown fighter.’ He doesn’t see those match ups as being money making pay-per-view events.
Luke Rockhold
He did mention Luke Rockhold, who is the Strikeforce middleweight champion. Alas, Rockhold is contractually tied to Strikeforce, so that fight’s not happening. We’ll have to wait and see, but right now, the Anderson Silva camp not too excited about the options out there.

That’s right, Anderson Silva wants a champion versus champion super fight with Luke Rockhold. Rockhold just decisioned Tim Kennedy in the second defense of his title this past Saturday. Rockhold is also completely bound to Strikeforce with a negligible chance of fighting in the Octagon in the foreseeable future. For his part, however, Luke did accept the challenge today.
For those who thought Silva had finally figured out how to sell a fight in the week leading up to his bout with Chael Sonnen, this completely shatters the notion. Of all the options open to Anderson, from incredible to great to predictable, he chooses the one that can’t happen and no one asked for

http://Fightmuseumlv.com

Adrien Broner Stripped of Title After Missing Weight

by Dan Rafael

Nicknamed “The Problem,” Adrien Broner had a big one on Friday.
Broner did not come close to making the 130-pound weight limit at weigh-in for his junior lightweight title defense against mandatory challenger Vicente Escobedo on Saturday night (HBO, 10 ET/PT), and he has been stripped of the title.
While Escobedo was right on the division limit of 130 pounds, Broner weighed 133½ pounds after hours of working out in the gym on a treadmill and sitting in a sauna.
Escobedo can win the vacant title assuming the fight at the U.S. Bank Arena in Broner’s hometown of Cincinnati goes ahead as scheduled.
Rolando Arellano, Escobedo’s manager, said he was negotiating the terms of a Saturday weight check to make sure Broner does not balloon in weight overnight, which woud give himself a significant size advantage against Escobedo.
“We’re going to try set up a second weigh-in for Saturday,” Arellano told ESPN.com. “We want him limited to 10 pounds over the contract weight, so he could have a maximum of 140 pounds. But if he comes in over that, then we want to start imposing fines. We want $10,000 a pound, but so far (the Broner camp) has not agreed. The ball’s in their court. We’re not considering pulling out, but Broner didn’t live up to his agreement, so we are giving him the flexibility to modify the initial agreement.
“If he is unable to satisfy those terms and conditions we are asking for, that’s on him. We came to his house, to his arena, to his show. We did everything we were supposed to do.”
Arellano said he was working with Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker Eric Gomez to work out the details of the Saturday weight check and the financial penalties.
Arellano said he and Escobedo (26-3, 15 KOs), 30, of Woodland, Calif., heard on Thursday night that Broner was having trouble making weight.
However, Arellano said he was ticked off that Broner immediately got off the scale and began to drink water Friday rather than try to lose a little more weight.
“I think he should have acted more professionally,” Arellano said. “That’s not cool. That’s a lack of professionalism. We know he made an effort to make the weight because we knew he was in the gym working (Friday) morning. We just wanted him to try it again, but by running off he didn’t respect the game, he didn’t respect us or the people who work hard to put the event together.”
Arellano said the Ohio commission imposed a $60,000 fine on Broner — a percentage of his purse — for not making weight. He said half of the money would go to the commission, with the other $30,000 being added to Escobedo’s $150,000 purse.
The 22-year-old Broner (23-0, 19 KOs) said before what was supposed to be his second title defense that Saturday’s fight would be his final bout in the junior lightweight division before he moved up to the 135-pound lightweight division.
But he did not say his reason for the move was because he was having trouble making 130 pounds.
“I’m young. I’m 22. I’m still growing. I just feel like it’s time for me to go up,” Broner said on Wednesday. “After this fight, there really wouldn’t be a reason for me to stay. I’m just going to go up and give the lightweights hell.”
Welterweights Keith Thurman (17-0, 16 KOs) and Orlando Lora (29-2-2, 19 KOs) both were on weight for Saturday night’s 10-round co-feature. They both weighed 147½ pounds.
http://fightmuseumlv.com

Urijah Faber's positivity can't hurt in UFC 149 bantamweight title bout against Renan Barão

by Kevin Iole

Urijah Faber is the Norman Vincent Peale of mixed martial arts. Nobody puts the power of positive thinking to better, or more frequent, use than the UFC's bantamweight star.
Talk to Faber for any length of time and you'll hear the same phrases repeated incessantly: "I believe," "I can," "I will," and "I'm not worried."
Urijah Faber's positive attitude has a lot to do with his run of success. (Getty Images)Peale once wrote, "People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success."
It's a phrase that Faber, a former World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight champion, lives by.
He'll fight highly regarded Renan Barão for the interim bantamweight title Saturday in the main event of UFC 149 at the Scotiabank Saddledome and, typically, he expressed little concern about either the possibility of losing or the pressure to perform.
Barão is on an 18-fight winning streak, a 31-fight unbeaten streak and is regarded as one of the best finishers in the sport. Faber, though, has a ready answer when confronted with the problems Barão presents.
"He hasn't faced me yet," Faber says, chuckling. "He's done all these things to other guys, but he hasn't fought me. He's human like anyone else."
The walls in Faber's bedroom in his Sacramento, Calif., home are dotted with goals and motivational quotes. His primary goal now is, once again, to have a championship belt strapped around his waist.
It's been 3½ years since Faber held a world title, yet he's remained at the top of his class in terms of opportunity and performance.
He was set to meet arch rival Dominick Cruz for the bantamweight title at UFC 148 on July 7 in Las Vegas after coaching opposite Cruz on "The Ultimate Fighter Live." But Cruz tore up his knee and could be out for more than a year.
As a result, Faber was pitted against Barão for the interim belt. Though many believe an interim belt is meaningless, Faber is not among that group.
As he would say, when he wins Saturday he won't feel like a phony champion. He lost an excruciatingly close decision to Cruz for the belt at UFC 132 a year ago that evened the series between them at a win apiece. Faber submitted Cruz in 2007.
"I basically go out there and I think that when I beat Renan Barão, I'll be the best fighter in the world," Faber said. "I feel Dominick and I had a super close fight last time. He got the nod from the judges, but I don't feel like he beat me up. I feel I definitely did some damage to him.
"It was a close fight, but I felt walking away, as a man, I handled business. I'll feel like the champion, for sure, but I definitely want the opportunity to make sure that's the case."
Faber has always sought the best opposition he can face, which has earned him the everlasting respect of UFC president Dana White.
When White was going through the process of choosing a replacement opponent for Cruz, there was no doubt where Faber stood.
Barão was the guy with the record and the reputation. And while several other names were bandied about, Faber was hopeful White would choose Barão.
"The guy is 30-1, [and] he's a tough guy; he's a very, very tough fighter," White said of Barão. "And Urijah Faber who went through that whole season of The Ultimate Fighter to fight Cruz, you know absolutely, 100 percent, [he] not only accepted the fight with Renan Barão, but before it was even announced said, 'I hope it's Renan Barão.' "
Faber's belief in his ability is so absolute that he won't accept less than the best opposition. Eight of his last 10 opponents were either WEC or UFC world champions.
It can be a daunting task, getting no break from the stream of top contenders, but it's why Faber is far and away the biggest star among the lighter weight fighters in the sport.
He's been beaten by Cruz, the bantamweight champion, and Jose Aldo, the featherweight champion, but his star shines much brighter than either of theirs.
"My goal is to be successful as a fighter, as a businessman and as a person, and I work on that all the time," he said. "There's no reason to worry when you know you've done everything you need to do to reach a goal. I'm confident, I believe in myself, because I know I have prepared and done what I need to do to reach my goals."
www.FightMuseumLV.com

Chael Sonnen fires back at Rampage Jackson: ‘Stick to violating female reporters’

Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE – Presswire

12 days ago: Jul. 7, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UFC fighter Chael Sonnen in the ring prior to his fight against Anderson Silva (not pictured) during a middleweight bout in UFC 148 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Browse more photos »
You just knew he was going to have an answer.
By that, I am, of course, referring to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight fighter and part-time television analyst Chael Sonnen, who was recently called out by Quinton Jackson during an interview where he had many unflattering things to say about Sonnen.
Specifically, “Rampage” commented on Sonnen’s recent loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 148 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., July 7, 2012, going so far as to say that Sonnen “sucks” and should quit and leave the UFC for good.
Apparently, “The American Gangster’s” ears were burning, and he had a response ready to go when asked about “Rampage’s” tirade, during a recent segment on “UFC Tonight:”
Those comments after the jump.

“Rampage has one fight left in the UFC and he isn’t fighting me. I give you that answer because I am sitting here wearing my fancy suit, with an ear piece on and I have been branded an analyst on the number one UFC show on TV today. But if you had asked me outside, in my kingdom and I was wearing my sponsor’s shirt, I would have told him that he should stick to violating female reporters. He should stick to making box office disasters and driving the wrong way on the freeway ramped up on Mountain Dew, because he’s not on my level. But, you didn’t ask me outside, you asked me inside. So let’s keep this professional, I don’t want to get that message out there.”

To see Jackson “violating female reporters” click here and here.
The Memphis native will end his rocky relationship with the world’s largest fight promotion when he makes what is widely-believed to be his final appearance inside the Octagon opposite Brazilian import Glover Teixeira at the UFC 153 event from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 13, 2012.
And then?
The future for the former PRIDE superstar is a bit cloudy, as “Rampage” has teased a transition to the “sweet science” in order to put butts in boxing seats. Perhaps he can join his old pal Kimbo Slice on the pugilistic circuit?
Or should he stick around for a one-off against Sonnen?
www.FightMuseumLV.com

Garcia confirms split from Victor Ortiz

Garcia confirms split from Victor Ortiz
by Lem Satterfield


Trainer, Danny Garcia has confirmed reports that he has split with former welterweight titleholder Victor Ortiz in the wake of the boxer's Showtime-televised ninth-round knockout loss to Josesito Lopez on June 23 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles during which Ortiz suffered a broken right jaw.
As part of an operation to stablize Ortiz's injury, the fighter's mouth was wired shut and both a metal plate and screws have been inserted. Although the wires have since been removed, the metal plate and screws remain during a recovery period that is expected to take up to six months, according to Ortiz's manager, Rolando Arellano.
"It's true. We're not going to work together anymore. Things happen," said Garcia. "I think that it's the right idea. That way, he can fend for himself and see if he can hopefully do good, because I wish him the best, and I want him to be the champion again."
A 25-year-old with a mark of 29-4-2 with 22 knockouts, Ortiz, in victory over Lopez (30-4, 23 KOs), was to face unbeaten WBC junior middleweight titleholder Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 KOs) in a Showtime-televised clash on Sept. 15. But instead of Ortiz, it will be Lopez taking on Alvarez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"I think that we got to the point where he wasn't trusing to in me, so I said to him 'maybe it would be better if I just go by myself and hopefully, you will make it.' I would be happy for him if he did. I told him that I hoped that he makes it. I told him, 'I would be proud of you, because you were my first champion and I will never forget you,'" said Garcia.
"I told him, 'you gave me a lot of good moments and a lot of good feelings.' I told him, 'here is my hand, I'm still your friend, and you can still come over to my house,' and this and that. I told him, 'my family still loves you, and I still love you too.' But business is business. If we have to stop working together, then that's something that we're willing to see if we can do."
Ortiz had been labeled a quitter stemming from a sixth-round knockout loss to Marcos Maidana that took place nearly three years years earlier to the day and in the same arena as his loss to Lopez. Ortiz scored two knockdowns against three for Maidana during their clash on June 27 of 2009.
During an interview with RingTV.com, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer was highly critical of Garcia in the wake of the loss to Lopez, after which Ortiz was shown on television cameras splitting streams of blood from his mouth both in the corner directly after the fight as well as in the locker room.
"When Victor fought Maidana, he couldn't see any more. One of his eyes was swollen bigger than a tennis ball. At the end of the day, it's about health also. So I would have to say that in the case of Maidana, and, in the case of last night, that I was disappointed in Victor's corner," said Schaefer.
"The corner needs to know when to protect the fighter. The corner should have taken initiative and said, 'obviously, this is it. You can not fight on with one eye or a broken jaw.' In situations like that, the corner has got to do something. They should have stepped in and said, 'this is it.'"
During the same interview, Garcia shed light on the conversation between himself and Ortiz following the ninth round.
"When I saw that he was in pain at the end of the ninth round, I was pretty sure that I was going to stop the fight," said Garcia. "I even told him, 'no, no, you can not go anymore. So let's stop it right now. Actually, I participated in stopping the fight."
Should the fight have been stopped sooner?
"Maybe it would have been a little bit better if we had stopped it a couple of rounds before. But, we tried for a couple of rounds more, and it was even worse," said Garcia."But maybe it would have been a little better a couple of rounds before. But there is nothing that we can do now."
Perhaps the highlight of the Garcia-Ortiz union came in April of last year, when Ortiz dethroned Andre Berto by close unanimous decision for the WBC belt in a clash that featured two knockdowns by each fighter. But in September of last year, Ortiz, in turn, was dethroned via fourth-round knockout loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The Mayweather bout ended in controversy. For at the moment when Mayweather threw the two-punch combination that resulted in the knockout, Ortiz's hands were down at his sides after attempting to apologize -- in the form of a hug -- to Mayweather for one of the headbutts.
With referee Joe Cortez nearby, Mayweather took advantage of the opening and nailed Ortiz first with a jarring left hook and then a powerful, straight right hand that sent the ex-titleholder sprawling to his back. Ortiz rolled over and tried to get up, but failed to rise in time to beat Cortez's 10-count.
"I told him after we lost the fight against Mayweather that he still could be champion, because he has all of the tools. He has a lot of potential and a lot of talent," said Garcia.
"Victor is a guy who hits hard and he's a good fighter I think that he can be the No. 1 fighter, pound-for-pound, because he is still young. As for me, I'm satisfied with my work with Victor, and I think that I was doing good, but there is nothing more that I can do."
Arellano said that Ortiz will decide his next move after recovering from his injured jaw.
"There are no thoughts right now. I think that what Victor basically has to do is heal and to regroup. We want to allow him to collect his thoughts and to get balance and make sure that he's okay, because he's going to be off for a long time. it's six months," said Arellano.
"If he picks a trainer, he can be the greatest trainer in the world, but if you don't have the chemistry and the match with the fighter, then it doesn't work. Because of personalities and because of styles, things might not work. But what has to happen is that he should go and work with different trainers over a couple of weeks and check out their personalities and if it works it works."
A BEASTLY VICTORY
Houston light heavyweight Cornelius "Da Beast" White (20-0, 16 KOs) came up with his fourth straight triumph with Saturday's one-sided, unanimous decision over Russia's Dmitry Sukhotsky (18-2, 13 KOs) that ended the loser's winning streak of four consecutive knockout victories at the Palms Casino and Resort's Pearl Theater in Las Vegas.
Judges Richard Ocasio, Robert Hoyle and Patricia Jarman had it for White, 120-108, 119-109, and, 118-110, respectively, as Sukhotsky lost for the first time since falling by unanimous decision to then-WBO beltholder Juergen Braehmer in December of 2009. "Using my jab and staying away from his right hand were the keys to the victory. I took the right hand away from him and I landed a lot of power punches," said White. "Both of his eyes were swollen shut and I opened a cut over his right eye and the referee almost stopped the fight in the ninth and 10th rounds."
White now looks to challenge the likes of WBA titleholder Beibut Shumenov (13-1, 8 KOs) or IBF counterpart Tavoris Cloud (24-0, 19 KOs),who has a scheduled defense of his crown opposite former RING and WBC champion Jean Pascal (26-2-1, 16 KOs) on Aug. 11.
I am trying to show that I am ready to be a player on the elite level," said White, who is managed by Ken Richardson and co-promoted by Dan Goossen and Antonio Leonard. "Tough challenges are what I want and I want Tavoris Cloud or Beibut Shumenov. I know I can beat them both."
White appears to have successfully bounced back from his first-round knockout loss to Donovan George in February of last year.
"Like many before him, a loss either destroys your career or takes you to higher levels," said Goossen. "It was Cornelius' loss that made him better, stronger and more determined to overcome everything in the ring moving forward, which he has proved with some mighty big punchers and world-class fighters."
White and his team are targeting a September or October return to the ring. "I've been saying for the past few years, Cornelius has the mindset and toughness to be a world champion," said Leonard. "He's getting very close to achieving this goal. Saturday was just another example of his meanness."
www.FightMuseumLV.com
Photo by Naoki Fukuda
Photo by Tom Hogan Photos, Golden Boy Promotions

UFC Targeting March 2013 for next stop in Japan

UFC Targeting March 2013 for Next Stop in Japan
by: MMA Weekly

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to Japan for UFC 144: Edgar vs. Hendersonthis past February. It marked the promotion’s first event in Japan in more than a decade.
It appears the UFC is ready to return, already planning for another date at the Saitama Super Arena in 2013, according to NikkanSports.com.
MMAWeekly.com sources indicate that March 3 is the date that officials are circling on the calendar.
UFC 144 featured Benson Henderson taking the UFC lightweight championship from Frankie Edgar, reportedly pulling in an estimated attendance of about 20,000 fans in Saitama, Japan.
The Japanese mixed martial arts scene has been under a steady decline since Zuffa, LLC, the UFC’s parent company, acquired the Pride Fighting Championships and eventually shuttered the promotion after unsuccessful attempts to keep it in operation in Japan.
Dream and Sengoku each tried to pick up where Pride left off, but were unsuccessful.
Now, the UFC is making a slow, but concerted effort to continue on in Japan as part of its overall strategy to expand in the Asian market.
Prior to next year’s return to Japan, UFC on Fuel TV 6 is slated for Nov. 10 in Macau, China, and if he heals up in time, Cung Le will be a featured fighter on the Chinese card.
www.FightMuseumLV.com

Bayless on Garcia's K.O. of Khan

Bayless on Garcia’s K.O. of Khan
by Lem Satterfield



RingTV.com caught up to referee Kenny Bayless to discuss Saturday night’s HBO-televised fourth-round stoppage of former titleholder Amir Khan by Danny Garcia, whose victory added Khan’s WBA junior welterweight belt as well as the division’s RING championship to the WBC crown he already owned.
Bayless waved an end to the fight at 2 minutes, 28 seconds of the fourth, this after asking Khan (26-3, 18 knockouts) if he still could continue.
At the time of the stoppage, Khan had been dropped for the third time in the fight and the second time in the round by Garcia (24-0, 15 KOs) at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.
RingTV.com: What was your assessment of Khan after the first knockdown? Kenny Bayless: After the first knockdown, I felt that Amir Khan was not at 100 percent. As a matter of fact, I would say that he was at less than 80 percent.
His legs just were not the same. Although he appeared to do well after the knockdown, I could just tell that he was not all the way there.
RingTV.com: Did that carry over into the next round and the second knockdown? KB: Well, with the second knockdown, where he went down and his gloves actually touched the canvas, that told you where he was really at after the first knockdown.
RingTV.com: Is it fair to say that he may not have fully recovered from the first knockdown?
KB: Well, from the first knockdown to the point where I stopped it, he was really taking some shots. I mean, Danny Garcia could smell blood, and he was going after Amir.

RingTV.com: When you stopped it even after Khan appeared to respond affirmatively to your question of whether or not he was okay to continue, what did you see that prompted you to end the fight anyway? KB: Protecting him was the first thing that I thought of. Between the first knockdown and to the point where I stopped it, defensively, Amir just wasn’t doing enough to protect himself.
When Amir finally went down for the last time, that punch he got hit with was a mere cry from the blows that he had been taking in comparison to the first round.
After I gave him the eight-count, and I asked him if he was okay, he just wasn’t showing me enough for me to allow the fight to continue.
RingTV.com: How do you mean?
KB: Well, it was because, first of all, his hands were down. He didn’t raise them up. That was the first thing. And beyond that, he just didn’t show me enough. So at that point, if I was going to allow the fight to continue, I needed to see more.
RingTV.com: By more, what do you mean? KB: Well, it was because at that particular time, I didn’t think that he was going to strike any sort of a comeback because his punches no longer seemed to have the sort of sting on them that was going to slow Danny down.
I mean, Danny was coming at him very strongly, and, like I said, he smelled blood. Danny was just hitting him with too many clean and open shots.

RingTV.com: When you look back at this fight, is there a message that you hope that people understand about why the fight was stopped? KB: I hope that the fans got it. I think that the fans did get it. I mean, I’ve been booed in the ring for stoppages in the past, but I didn’t hear any boos.
The only person that appeared to be sensitive about the stoppage was Amir Khan himself, but no one from his camp complained.
Like I said, no one in the stands booed. Even down to the fight doctor that came into the ring, everybody seemed to think that my stoppage was honorable.
I think that’s because Amir was simply taking too many shots. I mean, I always feel — and I tell people all of the time — that this is the way that boxers make their living.
This is a boxer’s career. In my opinion, Amir’s legs were shot, and his balance was off, and his punches were no longer having any effect on Danny.
So to me, there was no way that Amir had a realistic chance to win the fight any longer. So why allow him to continue to just take unnecessary punches?
When you’re in my position, I’ve got to do the right thing because this is Amir’s profession, and I have to protect him and save him so that he can come back and fight another day.
www.FightMuseumLV.com
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

The Haymaker is back

The Haymaker is back
by Danny Richardson

Last night, in what was the biggest grudge match boxing has seen in years, David 'Hayemaker' Haye produced a fantastic performance to knock out the tough Dereck Chisora, at a packed out Upton Park Stadium in London. Haye, who improved is record to 26-2, became the first man to knock down and stop 'Del Boy' who slipped to 4 defeats in his professional career, despite giving a brave performance. Haye must surely now be in the frame for a fight with Vitali Klitschko, who himself failed to stop Chisora in February. But will the aging older Klitschko brother want a fight against a rejuvenated Haye? Who knows, but Haye certainly impressed last night.

It was supposed to be a bad tempered affair - particularly after all the animosity between the fighters in the build up. Since their infamous brawl in Munich, both Haye and Chisora had traded insults, and it looked for the entire world that the fight would explode into something nasty last night, and I myself believed something nasty would happen. But, credit to both fighters, the fight was generally clean, and the respect between both men following the stoppage was great to see. They put on a fantastic show for the fans, and some of their credibility is surely restored.

It was Haye that took the early advantage. Looking focused on his way to the ring, walking in to his trademark song "Ain't no stopping us now" you got the feeling that the Hayemaker meant business. Chisora, entering to the Gladiator theme, looked as frightening as ever in his gown, his eyes the only part of his body on show. When the first bell rang, fireworks were expected.

Haye came out fast, utilising his speed and throwing lightning jabs and right hands. Chisora bobbed and weaved, continually coming forward behind his crossed guard, throwing chopping over hand rights which had little or no effect on Haye. Haye switched the attack from head to body, whipping round body shots, obviously keen to back Chisora up. On the inside, both men wrestled, but it was Haye who shoved Chisora back onto the ropes, despite being the lighter man by 30 plus pounds. Haye was wasting energy by doing this, but nevertheless, he produced the classier work, stealing the round.

The second and third rounds followed a similar pattern. Chisora had some success, landing the odd right hand, but struggling to pin the Hayemaker down, who wore trainers instead of the traditional boxing boots to aid his movement. Haye looked slightly off with his movement at times, slipping and tripping over Chisora's feet, who constantly came forward. And, after the bell sounded at the end of the third round, Haye was caught with a big left hook from Chisora, leaving him momentarily stunned as he began to breathe slightly heavier. However, that was the last success Chisora had in the fight, and the only nastiness between the pair.

In the fourth, Haye's class began to tell as he landed a stunning left hook while seemingly off balance, which caught Chisora clean on the chin, halting his come forward approach. At this stage, it seemed that Haye had the power to rock 'Del Boy', who had never been down before in his professional career. In what turned out to be a thrilling round, both men threw hard shots, attempting to blast one another out, the fight we all expected. Despite breathing heavily, it seemed Haye had the all important edge, coming off the better man in each exchange. You sensed the end would come.

And in the fifth round, comfortably ahead on the scorecards, Haye exploded an absolute peach of a left hook onto the chin of Chisora, and a right hand to follow sent the Londoner straight to the canvas, the explosiveness of Haye sending Chisora to where he had never been before, on the deck. A beautiful shot, Chisora was clearly on unsteady legs, as he rose to beat the count against all odds, showing his heart. He bravely tried to continue, attempting to have a shoot out with Haye, but to no avail. The Hayemaker landed a succession of right and left hooks to the head, the final left hand of the night sending Chisora to the canvas once more. Bravely trying to get up, Chisora looked well out of it, with referee Luis Pabon wisely waved off the fight, sending the Upton Park crowd into pandemonium, as well as myself. The Hayemaker was back.

I have to admit, I am a huge fan of David Haye and I always have been. He does have a love/hate personality, but whether you like him or not, he brings entertainment in almost every fight, and last night was no different. After all the talk before hand, Haye and Chisora put on a show for the fans and in my opinion restored some of their credibility. Last night was a success, whether you like to admit that or not. Also, I have to give credit to Chisora. The respect he showed for Haye after the fight was commendable, showing that at the end of the day, settling their differences in the ring was the best cause of action. Chisora knew he had been beaten by the better man, and Haye was respectful of Chisora in the aftermath of the fight too. For that, you have to give both men credit.

But back to Haye, and he showed what he is all about last night. He was dragged into a shoot out at times, but his speed and more importantly, his power, was too much for Chisora. In the lead up to the fight, there was a hell of a lot of talk about how solid Chisora's chin was, the general view being that as Vitali Klitschko couldn't knock 'Del Boy' out, there was no way Haye could.

But, as I correctly predicted, in the fifth round Haye unloaded a phenomenal shot that would have sent anyone straight to the deck. Just before the first knockdown, Haye landed a straight one two before ducking under Chisora's oncoming attack, and that's when I knew Haye's class and power was starting to tell. The left hand which marked the beginning of the end though was a beautiful shot, and you have to give Haye credit for getting Chisora out of there. Yes, Chisora doesn't hold wins over a big name like Haye does, nor as he constantly competed at the level Haye has. But this man gave Vitali Klitschko the toughest fight of his career since Lennox Lewis, and Haye took him out in spectacular fashion.

Chisora did himself proud though, he came to fight as he always does. I'm not going to change my opinion on him, I don't like him as a person and I think he's a lunatic, but I have a new respect for him following last night, and he deserves some credit. I don't think he'll ever be at the top of the heavyweight division, but he'll come to fight no matter who he faces.

He was just outclassed last night, boxing is all about levels, and Haye is a level above. Chisora is at a European level, and bar the two Klitschko's, Haye is one of the best out there. Although after last night, I would strongly back him to give Vitali Klitschko a hell of a battle, and I would bet that the speed and explosiveness of Haye's shots would give Klitschko a massive problem. I'm not saying he would win because Haye does have his flaws, but he would give him a fight that's for sure.

There has been a lot of talk about a fight between the pair, but if I'm totally honest, I don't see the fight coming off. Klitschko is coming towards the end of his career; in fact his September date with Manuel Charr (who gate crashed the post fight press conference, laughably calling out Haye) could be his last ever, before he goes off into the world of politics. But will the fighter in him want to shut Haye up? Of course, which is why the fight could come off. But, my gut feeling is that we won't see the fight take place, which is disappointing, because it's a fight a lot of people want to see.

Haye won't face anyone bar a Klitschko though. The fight with Chisora was a grudge match, and that's why it took place. Haye would have too much experience for the likes of David Price and Tyson Fury at this stage, and I don't see Haye facing an American prospect either. The likes of Deontay Wilder and Seth Mitchell are rated highly across the pond, but Haye would see that as a step back. It's a Klitschko or bust.

As for Chisora, he may want a rematch with Tyson Fury or Robert Helenius. Those losses will surely plague him, so don't be surprised if he goes for either of those too. There is of course a possible meeting with David Price, or indeed Audley Harrison, in a fight where I'd actually want Chisora to win. There are possibilities out there, but he'll want to stay active, albeit at a domestic level. He has to rebuild now, although he'll be back.

But, final say on Haye, and I'm over the moon he got the win last night. He has restored some of his own credibility, as well as that of boxing, after a sell out night in London. There are those who still don't agree with the fight, and those who don't like either fighter. But, last night was a great night for British boxing in my opinion, and the respect between both men after was great to see. After all the events in Munich, the Haye/Chisora chapter can finally be closed, with Haye and boxing coming out as the winners.

www.FightMuseumLV.com

Haye begins mending rep in return

Haye begins mending rep in return
by Dan Rafael

One year ago this month, David Haye did absolutely nothing in his heavyweight title unification fight with Wladimir Klitschko, the real champion, except embarrass himself.
Instead of giving an honest effort -- after spending a couple years verbally trashing Klitschko and his fellow heavyweight champion brother, Vitali, and threatening to do all kinds of over-the-top, violent things to Wladimir when they got into the ring -- Haye flopped, ran and fought scared.

It was one of the most pathetic performances in a major heavyweight title fight in recent boxing history, and it was made worse by Haye's excuse that he lost because of a sore pinkie toe, which he couldn't wait to show off during his postfight interviews.
Haye was lambasted and mocked for his utter failure to show up or give a legitimate effort, and for then compounding it with his laughable excuse -- especially after he had done so much yapping.
But for as bad as Haye was against Klitschko, it was the exact opposite on Saturday. Haye came out of retirement (shocking, right?) and looked sharp and sensational in a fifth-round knockout of British countryman Dereck Chisora at rainy Upton Park in London, where roughly 30,000 showed up to watch what turned out to be quite an entertaining heavyweight scrap.
Although it was exciting, it was all Haye, who took the fight after the crazy bottle-smashing brawl he engaged Chisora in at the news conference following Chisora's points loss to Vitali in February.

[+] Enlarge

Leon Neal/AFP/GettyImagesDavid Haye was sharp, active and productively elusive in Saturday's fifth-round stoppage of Dereck Chisora.

The British public -- and frankly, many boxing fans around the world -- wanted to see Haye mix it up with Chisora, even if the British boxing authorities refused to be involved because of the brawl. That left intrepid promoter Frank Warren to bring in the Luxembourg Boxing Federation to handle what was essentially an outlaw event in England.
That just added to the anticipation and intrigue of the bout. But soon after it began, Haye began to make clear that it was going to be his night.
Haye moved -- which is a lot different than the running he did against Wladimir -- boxed, jabbed and landed some wicked right hands and left hooks. Had that Haye shown up against Klitschko, maybe things would have been a lot different. Yes, it was Chisora he was facing, not Klitschko, but Haye deserves credit for the knockout nonetheless.
Haye can't ever erase the Klitschko loss, but he at least went a long way toward restoring his shattered reputation with an excellent performance and a quality win against a legitimate opponent. In fact, he iced Chisora in five rounds five months after Chisora went the distance with Vitali, who has one of the best knockout percentages in heavyweight history.
Haye, the former cruiserweight champion who was a cut 210 pounds on Saturday, gave up 37 pounds to Chisora. But Haye was also much faster and, obviously, as it turned out, the heavier hitter. It was a recipe for a wipeout.

Chisora tried, desperately at times, so give him credit for that. But he couldn't land the big shot -- he was trying hard to land a chopping overhand right -- or deal with Haye's effective movement. Haye, who threw so very little against Klitschko, was much more active Saturday.
He landed 63 of 249 punches (25 percent), according to CompuBox statistics, while Chisora was credited with landing just 33 of 144 blows (23 percent). The most important blows Haye landed came in the fifth round, when he closed the show in style.
He was very clearly winning through four rounds, although it didn't look like he was about to stop Chisora. But then came a dynamite left-right combination that floored Chisora, which was surprising considering his reputation for having such an outstanding chin.
Chisora (15-4, 9 KOs) climbed off the mat, but Haye (26-2, 24 KOs) seemed to sense he was finished. Chisora held some and tried to punch back, but it was futile. Haye, perhaps releasing a year's worth of frustration since the loss to Klitschko, went for the kill. He landed a brutal five-punch combination (including a sick left hook) that floored Chisora for the second time.
Again, Chisora showed a warrior's heart by making it to his feet, but he was done, and referee Luis Pabon called it off with a second left in the round.
Haye deserved his celebration in the ring after the fight. This time, he had talked the talk and, finally, walked the walk.

[+] Enlarge

AP Photo/Frank AugsteinDavid Haye flopped more often than he fought against Wladimir Klitschko in last July's heavyweight unification bout.

"I was healthy, I was fit and I was able to do what I was unable to do a year ago," Haye said afterward. "No injuries. This was the real 'Hayemaker.'"
Hopefully, it was, because an active Haye fighting with that kind of appealing style is good for the heavyweight division and all of boxing.
Haye wants a fight with Vitali, which could happen next year. Vitali is scheduled to face Manuel Charr on Sept. 8 in Moscow, and depending on whether Vitali wins political office in Ukraine in the October elections, he might retire. If Vitali keeps fighting and beats Charr, a fight with Haye is a natural.
Haye, doing his part to make it happen, returned to his Klitschko-baiting ways. We'll cut him some slack, given the emotion of his victory over Chisora.
"If he has some balls, he'll get in the ring with me," Haye said of Vitali. "I believe my punching power is far superior than anyone's on the planet."
The mouth, obviously, still roars, and the toe is feeling good.
Even if Haye doesn't get a fight with Vitali -- and even though he looked so good against Chisora, he still doesn't merit a rematch with Wladimir -- there are other fights he could make with other contenders, if he's willing.
Haye is only 31 and should have some good years left ahead him.
"The Hayemaker's back," he said.
Yes, he is. It was toe-tal domination against Chisora. And with it comes a break from the toe jokes.
Well, how about one more?
Congratulations to Haye on his vic-toe-ry.
www.FightMuseumLV.com

The divergent paths of Khan, Garcia

The divergent paths of Khan, Garcia
by Kieran Mulvaney

LAS VEGAS -- There had been plenty of trash-talking in the week before Amir Khan and Danny Garcia stepped into the ring at the Mandalay Bay on Saturday night, much of it between Khan and Garcia's father Angel. Khan wasn't present at the postfight press conference, but Angel was, and he wasn't afraid to keep fighting the war of words even as his foe nursed his wounds at the hospital
"Rematch?!" he exclaimed when it was suggested that maybe his son might face Khan again following Garcia's explosive fourth-round victory. "Why would we fight him again?" After comparing him to an old pair of tennis shoes, Angel spat that Khan was "old news. He's an ex-champion. He's a three-time ex-champion."
That last comment in particular cut to the quick. Khan could excuse his first loss, a shocking first-round KO defeat to Breidis Prescott: Khan was young, he was raw, and he had subsequently improved under the tutelage of trainer Freddie Roach. His second defeat, last December to Lamont Peterson, similarly came with a set of asterisks and, given Peterson's subsequent positive test for synthetic testosterone, may yet be expunged from the record books.
This one, however, was different. Despite a half-hearted suggestion from Khan in the immediate aftermath that perhaps referee Kenny Bayless had been premature in halting the contest, there could be no doubt. This was a fight that Khan had had in his grasp, that he was winning through two and two-thirds rounds, his hand speed and combination punching making him seem a class apart from his young opponent.
But Garcia never lost his composure, and kept coming forward behind a tight defense. And when Khan presented him with a chance, he took it, landing an explosive left hook that detonated on Khan's jaw. Although the bout officially lasted another round, it was effectively over as a contest right then; as Roach admitted afterward, Khan never really recovered from that blow.
The fight highlighted everything that is good and bad about Khan: On the good side, his immense physical gifts and his astonishing heart, which, combined with his flaws, make for consistently exciting fights, win or lose; on the bad, the questions that arose anew about his chin, which it seems will always be a weakness, wherever he goes from here.
For Danny Garcia, the immediate future is bright. With victories over Erik Morales and now Khan, he has, as they say, arrived. Khan arrived, at least as an attraction and as a star, some years ago. The question has been when he would move on and take the next step to a higher level among the elites. Now that question is not so much when, but if. And his absence in the face of Angel Garcia's taunts served only to underline that it is a question to which we almost certainly now know the answer.
www.FightMuseumLV.com