Chris Weidman Doesn't Want to ‘Share the Cage' with Anderson Silva; He Wants to Finish Him

by MMA Weekly

Sometimes it’s the quiet ones you have to worry most about.
That seems to be the case when examining the short yet impressive UFC career of middleweight contender Chris Weidman.
Undefeated as a pro and now 5-0 in the UFC, Weidman has put together a decisive string of victories capped off most recently with a dominant TKO win over Mark Munoz at UFC on Fuel 4.
Prior to the fight almost every viable middleweight was calling and shouting for their name to be the one to face champion Anderson Silva next. From Munoz to Michael Bisping to Alan Belcher, middleweights were shouting left and right about how they should be the choice to face Silva next.
Meanwhile, Weidman was just putting his head down, focusing on training and getting ready to make his impact in the Octagon. On the Richter scale, Weidman hit with about a 9.0.
Now with five wins in the UFC, three finishes, and two wins over top ten opponents, Weidman believes he has the resume to make the case that it’s time to face Anderson Silva right now.
“Before the fight, there was literally five or six guys that were all trying to petition to fight Anderson Silva next, and I just kind of stayed quiet. I mean, I did just beat Demian Maia, who was a top five guy, and none of those guys have even beaten a top five guy I don’t think for the most part. Bisping hasn’t even beat a top ten guy I think,” Weidman said when speaking to MMAWeekly Radio.
“I was just really focused on making a statement in this fight. I really wanted to make it blatantly obvious that I was ahead of the pack, and I think I did jump past those guys that were a little bit better at talking before my fight than I was.”
Last weekend, UFC president Dana White said that there was no clear cut No. 1 contender to face Anderson Silva next, but if they had to declare someone it would be Chris Weidman.
Now the former Division-1 All-American is doing his part to put it in everyone’s ears that he not only is at the top of the list, he is the list.
“I feel like I really deserve it. I beat two top five guys and I think I’m a stylistic nightmare for Anderson Silva. I would love to get that shot. No one else is on a five fight win streak and beat the quality of guys I’ve beaten. I’m ready to speak up a little bit, just be confident in my abilities and respectfully call out Anderson Silva,” Weidman declared.
There is a certain honor and prestige that goes along with fighting for a title in the UFC because so few fighters actually get to that level. Add to that the fact that Anderson Silva is by far the most dominant champion to ever step foot in the Octagon, and as his career starts to wind down the selection of opponents to face him will get even slimmer.
Of course Weidman would consider it an honor to face Silva, but he’s not looking to slap gloves, get knocked out and say “I stood in the cage with Anderson Silva once upon a time.”
No, Chris Weidman wants to be the fighter that dethrones, chokes out, knocks out, and just plain finishes Anderson Silva.
“If I’m fighting Anderson Silva, I’m going in there knowing I belong in there. I’m not going in there to beat him, I’m actually going in there I’m going to try to make a statement. I’m going to try to finish him. I know a lot of people who can’t imagine that happening and think I might be crazy, but as a competitor that’s the way I compete, that’s the way I train to really be the best, and I think I am,” Weidman stated.
“On paper, I’m definitely a stylistic nightmare and he’s going to be going against a guy who’s in there to beat him, and not like some of these other guys that he’s fought that just want to share the cage with him.”
Since Silva’s last victory over Chael Sonnen, the champion’s camp have listed a few possible names of opponents that could interest the middleweight king. While the UFC ultimately makes the decisions, Weidman understands why his name may not be mentioned when it comes to Silva’s team.
Sure, he’s not the most well known guy in the sport, and he won’t sell a fight like Chael Sonnen by talking trash and building up a rivalry.
Weidman knows he would be a huge underdog, he knows he might even be the unlikeliest of contenders, but there is one indisputable truth that the New York native also truly believes.
He can beat Anderson Silva.
“I’m the only guy on a five fight win streak. I’m undefeated. I’m young. I want to be a young champion. I want to have this belt for a long time,” said Weidman. “You have to build names, you have to take risks as far as a company, as far as a promotion. You have to take risks with guys and I’m a good guy to do that with.”
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Upcoming Fight Schedule

JULY


July 13

At Chicago (ESPN2/ESPN3): Glen Johnson vs. Andrej Fonfara, 10 rounds, light heavyweights; Jose Luis Castillo vs. Ivan Popoca, 10 rounds, welterweights; Jaime Herrera vs. Tyrone Chatman, 6 rounds, welterweights; Elijah McCall vs. Jason Massie, 6 rounds, heavyweights; Paul Littleton vs. Ramiro Bueno Jr., 5 rounds, super middleweights; Vilier Quinonez vs. Rogelio Santana, 4 rounds, light heavyweights; Juan Bustamante vs. Michah Branch, 4 rounds, junior lightweights; Junior Wright vs. Covon Graham, 4 rounds, cruiserweights


At Mexico City (Telemundo): Edgar Jimenez vs. Julian Rivera, 12 rounds, flyweights; Pablo Farias vs. Alvaro Enriquez, 8 rounds, super middleweights; Rodolfo Martinez vs. Ulises Jimenez, 6 rounds, welterweights; Angel Molina vs. Guillermo Medina, 6 rounds, lightweights; Jose Armando Valdez Bernal vs. Edwin Pena, 4 rounds, flyweights; Julio Cesar Juarez vs. Jorge Barrera, 4 rounds, lightweights; Juan Manuel Benitez vs. Manuel Martinez, 4 rounds, bantamweights


At Sydney, Australia: Billy Dib vs. Juan Antonio Rodriguez, 10 rounds, junior lightweights



July 14

At Las Vegas (HBO): Danny Garcia vs. Amir Khan, 12 rounds, for Garcia's WBC and vacant WBA junior welterweight title; Fernando Guerrero vs. Jose Medina, 10 rounds, super middleweights; Phil Lo Greco vs. Brandon Hoskins, 8 rounds, junior welterweights; Daquan Arnett vs. Eddie Cordova, 6 rounds, junior middleweights; Jamie Kavanagh vs. Paul Velarde, 8 rounds, lightweights; Abner Cotto vs. TBA, 8 rounds, lightweights; J'Leon Love vs. Joseph De Los Santos, 8 rounds, middleweights


At London (Epix and EpixHD.com): Dereck Chisora vs. David Haye, 12 rounds, heavyweights; Liam Walsh vs. Domenic Urbano, 12 rounds, junior lightweights; Matthew Hall vs. Gary O'Sullivan, 12 rounds, middleweight title; Ronnie Heffron vs. Peter McDonagh, 8 rounds, welterweights; Bradley Saunders vs. TBA, 6 rounds, lightweights; Sergej Rozvadovsky vs. Gabriel Lecrosnier, 8 rounds, super middleweights


At Humble, Texas (Telefutura): Marco Antonio Periban vs. James Parison, 10 rounds, super middleweights; Antonio Capulin vs. TBA, 6 rounds, junior lightweights; Juan Lejia vs. Aaron Fernandez, 6 rounds, junior bantamweights; Joe Lamas vs. Gilberto Cancio, 4 rounds, junior lightweights; Karim Martinez vs. Marteze Logan, 6 rounds, junior welterweights; Oscar Cantu vs. TBA, 6 rounds, junior featherweights; Jesus Armendariz vs. Roy Garcia, 4 rounds, junior welterweights; Jonathan Borja vs. Carlos Orenday, 4 rounds, junior featherweights; Christian Chapa vs. Eduardo Alvarado, 4 rounds, junior welterweights


At Tepic, Mexico (Fox Deportes): Edwin Diaz vs. Jesus Sylvestre, 12 rounds, for vacant WBA interim strawweight title; Janeth Perez vs. Riyo Togo, 10 rounds, female bantamweights
At Culiacan, Mexico: Hernan Marquez vs. Fernando Lumacad, 10 rounds, junior bantamweights; Tomas Rojas vs. Manuel Herrera, 10 rounds, junior featherweights; Ricardo Dominguez vs. Gilberto Gonzalez, 8 rounds, lightweights


At Las Vegas (Wealth TV PPV): Anthony Mundine vs. Bronco McKart, 10 rounds, middleweights; Dmitry Sukhotsky vs. Cornelius White, 12 rounds, light heavyweights; Ahror Muraalimov vs. Andrae Carthron, 8 rounds, heavyweights; Anatoliy Dudchenko vs. Carlos Reyes, 4 rounds, light heavyweights; Juan Heraldes vs. Yusmani Abreu, 4 rounds, welterweights; Alexis Hernandez vs. Pedro Martinez, 4 rounds, featherweights; Edwin Reyes vs. Yosigey Ramirez, 4 rounds, junior flyweights; Richard Colas Quesada vs. Chico McQueen, 4 rounds, junior welterweights


At Pittsburgh: Monty Meza-Clay vs. Emmanuel Lucero, 10 rounds, junior lightweights; Lennox Allen vs. Michael Walker, 6 rounds, super middleweights

At Udine, Italy: Leonard Bundu vs. Stefano Castellucci, 12 rounds, for Bundu's European welterweight title



July 16

At Saitama, Japan: Takashi Uchiyama vs. Michael Farenas, 12 rounds, for Uchiyama's WBA junior lightweight title; Sonny Boy Jaro vs. Toshiyuki Igarashi, 12 rounds, for Jaro's WBC flyweight title



July 19

At Lincoln, R.I.: Vladine Biosse vs. TBA, 8 or 10 rounds, super middleweights; Matt Godfrey vs. Jesse Oltmanns, 6 rounds, cruiserweights; Keith Kozlin vs. Reynaldo Rodriguez, rematch, 6 rounds, super middleweights; Kevin Cobbs vs. Donte Wiggins, 4 rounds, light heavyweights; Thomas Falowo vs. Rahman Yusebov, 6 rounds, middleweights; Benny Costantino vs. Dennis Ogboo, 4 rounds, middleweights; Zack Ramsey vs. TBA, 4 rounds, lightweights; Jansy Rivera vs. TBA, 4 rounds, welterweights



July 20

At Laughlin, Nev. (ESPN2/ESPN3): Juan Carlos Burgos vs. Cesar Vazquez, 10 rounds, junior lightweights; Aaron Martinez vs. Prenice Brewer, 8 rounds, welterweights; Vitor Jones vs. Jose de Jesus Rosel, 4 rounds, junior lightweights; Brett Rather vs. Zack Bunce, 4 rounds, heavyweights; Brice Ritani-Coe vs. TBA, 4 rounds, heavyweights; Daniel Yanez vs. Luis Hernandez, 4 rounds, junior welterweights


At Santa Ynez, Calif. (Showtime): Miguel Acosta vs. Art Hovhannisyan, 10 rounds, lightweights; Julian Williams vs. Said El Harrak, 8 rounds, junior middleweight; Roman Morales vs. Alexis Santiago, 8 rounds, junior featherweights; Ruffino Serrano vs. Rob Diezel, 6 rounds, featherweights; Francisco Santana vs. Larry Smith, 8 rounds, welterweights; Jonathan Maicelo vs. Daniel Attah, 6 or 8 rounds, lightweights; Edgar Alvarado Jr. vs. Eric Prado, 4 rounds, flyweights; Tureano Johnson vs. Donyil Livingston, 8 rounds, middleweights


At Ontario, Calif.: Charles Huerta vs. Eduardo Arcos, 8 rounds, junior lightweights; Miguel Diaz vs. Evaristo Primero, 8 rounds, flyweights; Daulis Prescott vs. Pablo Torres, 6 rounds, featherweights; Rigoberto Flores vs. Hector Garza, 6 rounds, junior welterweights; Sergio Nunez vs. Jesus Mendez, 4 rounds, junior lightweights; Isaac Zarate vs. Jeremy Longoria, 4 rounds, junior bantamweights; Giovanni Santillan vs. Alberto Espinoza, 4 rounds, junior welterweights



July 21

At Cincinnati (HBO): Adrien Broner vs. Vicente Escobedo, 12 rounds, for Broner's WBO junior lightweight title; Keith Thurman vs. TBA, 10 rounds, welterweights


At Cancun, Mexico (Fox Deportes): Johan Perez vs. Pablo Cesar Cano, 12 rounds, for Perez's WBA interim junior welterweight title


At Hollywood, Fla. (Telefutura): Argenis Mendez vs. Martin Honorio, rematch, 12 rounds, IBF junior lightweight eliminator; Felix Diaz vs. Miguel Angel Mungia, 6 rounds, junior middleweights; Ed Paredes vs. Vivian Harris, 10 rounds, welterweights; Joan Guzman vs. Jorge Pimentel, 10 rounds, junior welterweights; Claudio Marrero vs. Juan Jose Beltran, 10 rounds, featherweights; Juan Carlos Payano vs. John Alberto Molina, 10 rounds, bantamweights; Glendy Hernandez vs. Tobias Rice, 6 rounds, heavyweights; Jessy Cruz vs. Jesus Lule, 6 rounds, featherweights; Lenin Castillo vs. Ricardo Campillo, 4 rounds, light heavyweights


At Tijuana, Mexico: Jorge Paez Jr. vs. Omar Chavez, rematch, 10 rounds, welterweights; Bryan Vazquez vs. Jorge Lacierva, 12 rounds, for Vazquez's WBA interim junior lightweight title

At TBA, Italy: Ermanno Fegatilli vs. Devbis Boschiero, 12 rounds, forFegatilli's European junior lightweight title


At Panama City, Panama: Alberto Mosquera vs. Miguel Callist, 12 rounds, junior welterweights



July 25

At Perth, Australia: Danny Green vs. Danny Santiago, 12 rounds, light heavyweights



July 27

At Atlantic City, N.J. (ESPN2/ESPN3): Hank Lundy vs. Raymundo Beltran, 10 rounds, lightweights; Richard Pierson vs. Farah Ennis, 10 rounds, super middleweights; Thomas LaManna vs. TBA, 6 rounds, junior middleweights; Moses Molina vs. TBA, 4 rounds, lightweights



July 28

At San Jose, Calif. (Showtime): Robert Guerrero vs. Selcuk Aydin, 12 rounds, for vacant WBC interim welterweight title


At Indio, Calif. (Telefutura): Ronny Rios vs. TBA, 10 rounds, junior lightweights; Julio Diaz vs. TBA, 10 rounds, welterweights; Kenny Williams vs. William Williams, 6 rounds, junior welterweights; Jose Correra vs. TBA, 4 rounds, junior lightweights


At Chihuahua, Mexico: Orlando Salido vs. Moises Gutierrez, 10 rounds, junior lightweights


At Leon, Mexico: Edgar Sosa vs. Shigetaka Ikehara, 12 rounds, flyweights


At Huntington, N.Y.: Chris Algieri vs. Raul Tovar, 8 rounds, welterweights; Manny Gonzalez vs. Chazz McDowell, 8 rounds, junior lightweights; Cletus Seldin vs. Jonathan Garcia, 6 rounds, welterweights; Alan Gotay vs. Ray Velez, 4 rounds, junior welterweights; Raul Nuncio vs. Anthony Jones, 4 rounds, middleweights; Anthony Karparis vs. TBA, 4 rounds, junior welterweights


At Broadbeach, Australia: Les Sherrington vs. Yory Boy Campas, 12 rounds, middleweights

Jon Jones vs Anderson Silva, why it shouldn't happen

Jon Jones vs. Anderson Silva? Four reasons the fight between champs shouldn’t happen
by Maggie Hendricks

Before UFC president Dana White even strapped the middleweight championship belt around Anderson Silva's waist, my Twitter timeline was filled with questions on when Silva would face light heavyweight champ Jon Jones.
White said, "Let's see what happens," in response to a question about the two champs fighting. With Silva walking around at around 215 lbs., size is not a problem. But it's still not a fight that should happen for these reasons.

1. It's a no-win situation for Jon Jones. If he wins, he was expected to win and defend his weight class. If he loses, does anyone give him a pass?

2. Silva doesn't need it to prove he's the greatest. He has moved up to light heavyweight twice before. Both times, he won in the first round. As detailed here, Silva has dominated since joining the UFC in 2006.

3. It ties up both the middleweight and light heavyweight belts. Between injuries and time to prepare for fights and placing championship fights on the perfect cards, championship bouts don't happen enough. This fight would tie up two different belts as Silva and Jones prepared for their fight. Do you remember how long we had to wait around for Sonnen/Silva and Jones' bout with Rashad Evans?

4. Neither of them want the fight. When champs want to move across weight classes, they should at least want the fight to happen. Jones, who is preparing for his Sept. 1 fight against Dan Henderson, tweeted his lack of interest in a bout with Silva.

"Man my man ‪#AndersonSilva‬ went to work tonight, consistently amazing," Jones said. "I guess Anderson said he had no interest in fighting me at tonight's press conference, I feel the same way about him. Nothing but respect."

It has nothing to do with either man not wanting the challenge or "being afraid," as I'm sure will get mentioned in the comment section. It has to do with their focus on their own weight classes, and participating in fights that make sense for them.

Martirosyan-Lara bout ordered

Martirosyan-Lara bout orderedby Dan Rafael

The WBC on Thursday ordered a final eliminator between Vanes Martirosyan and Erislandy Lara, with the winner earning a mandatory shot at the 154-pound title held by Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, who is slated to first make a defense against a still-undetermined opponent on Sept. 15.

If the Martirosyan and Lara camps don't come to an agreement first, a purse bid will be held July 27 at the WBC headquarters in Mexico City.

There had been previous discussion between the camps about an eliminator, but Martirosyan (32-0, 20 KOs) ultimately didn't accept it because the WBC wouldn't put in writing that the winner would become Alvarez's mandatory challenger. Now that it has been done, Martirosyan is hopeful for the fight.

In a series of entries on his Twitter account, Martirosyan wrote this on Thursday: "Now [it's] time to focus on Saturday night, then we focus on this Lara fight. ... Guys, there is no ifs. I said yes to the Lara fight. Already 100 percent. I'm [on] board. I just wanna focus on Saturday night, then we get back to Lara."

Martirosyan is scheduled to face Ryan Davis (24-9-3, 9 KOs) in what should be a walkover on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., in the untelevised portion of the Nonito Donaire-Jeffrey Mathebula junior featherweight unification bout that headlines an HBO card.

Carl Moretti of Top Rank, Martirosyan's promoter, had just arrived in California for Saturday's show when he got word of the eliminator being reordered.

"I'm waiting to see Vanes on Friday so we can talk about it and see what he wants to do," Moretti said. "It came as a surprise to us."

Luis DeCubas Jr., who manages Lara (17-1-1, 11 KOs), said he would talk to Lara and adviser Al Haymon, whom the fighter just signed with, before making a decision about whether Lara would participate in the bout.

"We'll see what's the best thing to do for Lara's career, but he is willing to fight anybody," DeCubas said. "We have to see what Al advises. We brought him in as an adviser [last week] and now we'll see where we go."

It's a tough deal to make because Martirosyan is with Top Rank and Lara is promoted by Golden Boy. Embroiled in a feud that has been hurting boxing for years, the promoters don't do business together.

At least in this case, however, if the sides determine it's a fight they want to pursue, it can still happen even if they won't negotiate with each other. The fight would go to a purse bid, and whichever promoter -- Top Rank, Golden Boy or some other registered promoter -- offered the most money at the auction would win the right to promote the fight.

UFC 148: Which preliminary fights stand out?

UFC 148: Which preliminary fights stand out?
by Maggie Hendricks

With a title fight, and the retirement of an MMA legend, most of the focus for UFC 148 has (understandably) been focused on the top of the card. But let's take a look down the card a bit at the best of the preliminary fights, and see if its worth coming in early from a BBQ to see the bout, or if you can catch it later on your DVR.

PRELIMINARY CARD (FX)
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Gleison Tibau (pictured): You're going to want to tune in just to see cage announcer Bruce Buffer get through the name Khabib Nurmagomedov. Beyond that, Nurmy (as he heretofore will be called) is 17-0 with just four decisions to his name. Verdict: Watch the fight live.

Fabricio Camoes vs. Melvin Guillard: Is there ever a time you've regretted watching a Melvin Guillard fight? Even when he loses, he does it spectacularly. His last four fights have been two first-round losses, preceded by two first-round wins. Leave the BBQ.

Riki Fukuda vs. Constantinos Philippou: Though Phillippou's beating heart tattoo is a good reason to tune in, the not-so-thrilling decisions from both fighters' pasts is a reason to stay outside. Verdict: DVR it.

John Alessio vs. Shane Roller: There is huge motivation for Roller to win, as he has lost his past three fights. Alessio is coming in off a loss, too. However, Roller is known to use his wrestling to control bouts, something some MMA fans find boring. Verdict: If you're a wrestling geek like me, watch it live. If not, DVR it.

Yoislandy Izquierdo vs. Rafaello Oliveira: Oliveira has two losses in a row, and lost his last bout. Both men need a win to stay off the UFC's cut list, and Izquiredo is capable of some serious TKOs. Verdict: Bring your laptop to the BBQ and gather around it to watch the fights while enjoying some ribs.

www.FightMuseumLV.com

Drug Cheats in Boxing

Drug Cheats in Boxing

by Danny Richardson

After recent revelations, I thought I'd have my say on drugs in boxing, and how this shadow is threatening the credibility of our sport. Over the past few months, we have been greeted with stories that fighters ranging from a domestic to world level have tested positive for Performance Enhancing Drugs, and unfortunately, this problem doesn't seem to be going away.

It's nothing new; there have been examples of this before, most famously from Roy Jones Jr, who tested positive for a banned substance back in 2000. Not enough was made of the situation in my opinion, and this has since been swept under the carpet. This was a high profile case, because at the time, Jones Jr was one of, if not the best fighter on the planet. More action should have been taken.

Incidents like these were few and far between though. A personal memory is of Vince Phillips failing a drugs test after being defeated by Ricky Hatton back in 2003. But, as I say, these incidents have been rare, and we haven't faced a pandemic of fighters failing drug tests.

However - that pandemic looks likely at this moment in time. We learned earlier this year, that Lamont Peterson failed a drugs test in the run up to his highly anticipated rematch with Amir Khan. Peterson was found to have traces of testosterone in his system, which is of course a banned substance. We hoped this would be an isolated incident, but more was yet to come.

Shortly after, Andre Berto failed a drugs test a few months before he was due to face Victor Ortiz in a rematch of their 2011 thriller. Peterson, then Berto. But more followed. Antonio Tarver, a great champion in his day, followed suit, and more recently, we have seen that British heavyweight Larry Olubamiwo failed a drugs test, the Englishman admitting that he had taken PED's for years. 3 world level fighters, followed by a domestic level fighter - showing that boxing at all levels is affected.

We have seen further rumours. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr missed his drugs test after defeating Andy Lee last month, after putting on a staggering 20lbs in little over 24 hours, between the weigh in and the fight itself. I'm no expert, but that is a staggering amount of weight to put on in such a short space of time. Surely that can't be down to just rehydration.

Even today, there are unconfirmed reports that Enzo Maccarinelli, the popular Welshman, has also failed a drugs test. As I said earlier, from the examples I've listed, we see fighters at all levels taking PED'S in whatever form. These aren't isolated incidents anymore, and I can guarantee there will be more stories like these in the coming months.

It's an issue that needs to be stopped, because if it gets any worse, boxing will struggle to recover. After Larry Olubamiwo admitted to his drug taking, he told reporters that more fighters were doing it, and they have been getting away with it for years. This needs to stop, because these cases, especially the high profile ones, will ruin the sport.

As soon as a fighter is found guilty of taking PED's, the book needs to be thrown at them. We need a serious deterrent. I would propose a life ban against fighters found to have taken PED's, with their records wiped from history and every fighter to have suffered a defeat against the boxer in question, would be awarded the win, or their loss taken away. Adding a large fine to that would surely act as enough. We need a crack down on drug taking in boxing, and we need it now.

PED's don't always help a fighter either. Olubamiwo has embarrassed himself in more ways than one by admitting his use of PED's, because he was bombed out in a round by John McDermott in 2011. If you can't beat John McDermott (no disrespect to him) with the help of PED's, then you can't be much of a fighter. Also, Vince Phillips lost to Ricky Hatton prior to him failing a drugs test, and those that have been found guilty of taking PED's now find their career and reputation in tatters. It's not worth it, because if you're found out, the whole boxing world views you with shame, and you find yourself looking for an office job as your career is over.

At least that should be the case, because going back to Roy Jones Jr, the situation was more or less forgotten about, and he didn't face any consequences. Also, there are arguments that fighters don't know what they can and can't take, and some claim to have been misinformed when failing drugs tests for a substance they thought was legal. To those fighters, a thorough investigation should be held, followed by a ban for a shorter period of time, as well as a fine. They'll be sure to check before taking anything else in the future.

To catch the cheats, and to act as a deterrent, the Olympic Style drug testing format is the perfect solution. More regular, random blood testing is what is catching the drug cheats, and this format needs to become mandatory. Floyd Mayweather has been a great advocate for this form of testing, which included a blood test as well as urine tests, as there are certain types of PED that only show up in blood tests. Fighters will be tested randomly and more often, catching drugs cheats in the process. If this form of testing is introduced at all levels, the cheats will be caught and boxing will become a cleaner sport.

It is easier said than done, but with fighters such as Floyd Mayweather, Nonito Donaire and Amir Khan supporting the campaign to clean up boxing, then this problem could come to an end. We as fans deserve to be watching natural athletes compete at the highest level, giving us entertainment in the process. PED users may give us the entertainment value, but once their use of drugs comes to light, we all feel cheated. Also, knowing they have worked your way to the top by using PED's can't give fighters the same sense of satisfaction they would receive if they had worked honestly throughout their careers, they can't truly know if they're better than everyone else.

If this problem is not rectified soon, then boxing will be damaged beyond repair. In the past few months, we have seen more cases than I can remember, and if the use of PED's is not stopped, these cases will happen more often. This can't be allowed to happen, because if it does, boxing will no longer be a sport that is loved and respected, and I'm sure the drug users themselves won't want to see that happen. Fighters need to start proving they are clean, to start rebuilding the damaged reputation boxing is in danger of getting. As Floyd Mayweather would say, if you're the best, take the test.

www.FightMuseumLV.com

 

Bundrage, Lara win on ShoBox but don't look like viable Canelo opponents

Bundrage, Lara win on ShoBox but don't look like viable Canelo opponents
by Doug Fischer


Showtime commentator Steve Farhood said it best when he concluded the network’s broadcast from Indio, Calif., on Saturday with the words: “the 'Canelo' sweepstakes continues.”
The special ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader from the Fantasy Springs Casino opened and closed with two junior middleweight contenders who want a shot at WBC 154-pound titleholder Saul Alvarez, the young Mexican star who is still without an opponent for his Sept. 15 date in Las Vegas.
IBF beltholder Cornelius Bundrage, THE RING’s No. 9-rated junior middleweight, scored a seventh-round stoppage of Cory Spinks in the main event, while the magazine’s No. 5-rated contender, Erislandy Lara, outpointed Freddy Hernandez over 10 rounds in the first bout of the broadcast.
Although both fighters got the job done – Bundrage (32-4, 19 knockouts) needed only two more rounds to knockout the former champ in a rematch of his 2010 title-winning effort; while Lara (17-1-1, 11 KOs) soundly outboxed the game but outclassed gatekeeper from Mexico – neither contender really “sold” himself as an attractive B-side to Alvarez’s Mexican Independence Day weekend event.
Bundrage dropped Spinks (39-7, 11 KOs) with an overhand right in the first round and closed the show by knocking the southpaw down three times in the seventh, but the 39-year-old Detroit native didn’t look good in rounds two through six.
Neither did Spinks. The ugly fight featured more holding, grappling, low blows, and takedowns than clean exchanges between the two awkward veterans. Spinks, who looks faded at age 34, had his moments in rounds three, four and five, but at the end of the day the once-savvy boxer lacked the legs and the power to threaten Bundrage, who – if nothing else – is aggressive and can punch.
“I felt like I was going to get him, that’s why I was kind of hard headed (between rounds),” said Bundrage, who frustrated his hall-of-fame trainer Emanuel Steward by not following instructions after having Spinks in trouble in the opening round. “I knew in my mind that I was going to get him. (Spinks) can’t stand up to all that fight, you know. I bring the fight.”
Bundrage has a bright personality, which was on full display during his post-fight interview with Farhood. However, the jury is still out on whether the unorthodox puncher could compete with Alvarez or help push the Sept. 15 promotion.
Bundrage, who goes by many nicknames, including “K9,” believes he would do well on both fronts.
“The Black Rocky, Iron Man versus Canelo,” he barked at the end of his interview. “Let’s get it on!”
Lara doesn’t have Bundrage’s personality or enthusiasm but the 29-year-old former amateur star has the talent and skill set to give Alvarez all he can handle.
The problem with Lara, who was one fight (a first-round KO of Ronald Hearns in April) removed from losing a very controversial 12-round decision to Paul Williams going into the Hernandez fight, is that if the Cuban southpaw doesn’t score an opening-round stoppage he usually makes for uneventful distance bouts.
Lara’s unanimous decision over Hernandez (30-3, 20 KOs) was not only uneventful, but marred by numerous headbutts – all of which seemed to be initiated by the Cuban. By the seventh round, during which referee Wayne Hedgepeth docked Lara a point for the repeated infraction, Hernandez’s face was a bloody mess from head clashes.
Apart from the headbutts, Lara was in command of the fight by utilizing his usual stick-and-move strategy. He landed 64 percent of his power punches, according to CompuBox, en route to dominating scores of 99-90 and 98-91.
Pay no attention to veteran judge Marty Denkin’s 95-94 card. The fight wasn’t close at all. Hernandez, who stalked forward all night, was able to land some left hooks to the body whenever he got Lara against the ropes, but he didn’t connect with enough clean head shots to win more than one or two rounds.
Still, the Mexico City native should be commended for being so determined despite Lara’s tricky style, the many headbutts and four bleeding cuts on his face.
If Lara had a little bit of Hernandez’s come-forward style and some of Bundrage’s reckless aggression he would be the perfect opponent for Alvarez on Sept. 15. But as it is, Lara represents a lot of risk and very little reward for the unbeaten red head.
The one fighter who was able to combine skill with power and aggression on the Golden Boy Promotions card was undefeated featherweight prospect Gary Russell Jr., who scored four knockdowns en route to a one-sided third-round stoppage of unheralded Christopher Perez in the second bout of the ShoBox broadcast.
Russell (20-0, 12 KOs), a 24-year-old southpaw from Capitol Heights, Md., dropped Perez with a left cross-right hook combination in the second round before putting the lanky 22-year-old from Culiacan, Mexico, down three times in the third round.
Russell, a two-time national amateur champ and 2008 Olympian, dropped Perez (23-3, 14 KOs) with a left, and then a right uppercut, before a one-two combo put the Sinaloa native down for a third time in the round, prompting veteran referee Pat Russell to stop the fight.
The performance backed up Russell’s reputation as one of the sport’s top prospects, however, hardcore fans who have followed his career for the past few years are ready to see him tested by a legitimate featherweight contender.


Photos / Naoki Fukuda

Dibella puts on "Rising Stars" card

Dibella puts on "Rising Stars" card
by Dan Rafael

Last July, I wrote about HBO's plans to launch a prospect-oriented boxing series on its HBO2 platform.

Promoters Lou DiBella, Gary Shaw and Golden Boy's Richard Schaefer, along with then-HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg, signed the paperwork to create a monthly tripleheader (probably a four- or six-rounder followed by 10- or 12-round bouts) for about $150,000 per show.

The show was originally delayed until January and now has been canceled altogether. Obviously, Ken Hershman, the new HBO Sports boss who replaced Greenburg -- who was forced to resign last summer -- didn't want to go forward with the series.

But he still had obligations to the promoters for the money they would have received for a year's worth of cards under the deal. That has now seemingly been worked out, and the promoters will get lower-priced "Boxing After Dark" shows to make up for the license fees they would have gotten for the now-dead (and unnamed) series.

The first of these "makeup" shows looks promising. DiBella will put on a Sept. 29 tripleheader from the Foxwoods resort in Mashantucket, Conn., that will feature some of his most promising fighters: super middleweight Edwin Rodriguez and junior featherweight Luis "Orlandito" Del Valle and probably light heavyweight Isaac Chilemba.

"There's a need to build some new blood," DiBella said. "HBO is doing what they promised they'd do, but in a different way. This is like a rising stars card, where the matches all look good on paper and should have action, and there's a chance for a prospect to make his mark."

Rodriguez (21-0, 14 KOs), 27, who outpointed Donovan George in his HBO debut in March, will fight in the main event, largely because he is from nearby Worcester, Mass., and will bring a crowd. He'll face New Jersey's Jason Escalera (13-0-1, 12 KOs), also 27.

Escalera has never faced anyone close to Rodriguez's caliber, so I'm far more intrigued by the undercard bouts.

DiBella said the deal is done for Puerto Rico's Del Valle (16-0, 11 KOs), 25, to face former junior bantamweight and flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan (37-5-1, 27 KOs). Darchinyan, 36, has lost two in a row at bantamweight and is moving up in weight, but he is very experienced, packs a punch, usually is in entertaining fights and has nothing to lose. He is Del Valle's best opponent -- by far.

"Del Valle-Darchinyan, it's a war," DiBella said. "The thing I love about Edwin and Orlandito is, they're great TV fighters because they can't help themselves to engage even though they don't have to. But it's who they are. They put themselves in danger, and it makes it fun to watch. Orlandito is a little beast. We know Darchinyan is a warrior. He never makes a bad fight.

"If Orlandito passes the test, he emerges as a legitimate challenger for [titleholder] Nonito Donaire. Orlandito against [former titlist] Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., if Vazquez beats Rafael Marquez in August in Puerto Rico, is a big fight. [Top Rank's Bob] Arum and I have already talked about that fight."

DiBella is working to finalize the third fight -- South Africa's 25-year-old Chilemba (19-1-1, 9 KOs) against former light heavyweight and cruiserweight titlist Zsolt Erdei (33-0, 18 KOs), who's a bit older (38) and hasn't fought in a year but is regarded as one of the best at 175 pounds. Chilemba is coming off a career-best win against Edison Miranda, whom he outpointed in February on "Friday Night Fights."

DiBella said he tried to work out a deal with British promoter Frank Maloney to have heavyweight prospect David Price (13-0, 11 KOs), a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and perhaps England's best heavyweight hope, appear on the show, but it didn't work out.

Shaw is supposed to get his version of a "rising stars" card in October, and could feature welterweight sensation Thomas Dulorme (15-0, 12 KOs) of Puerto Rico.

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Rahman out of title bout

Rahman out of title bout
by Dan Rafael

Former heavyweight world champion Hasim Rahman, due to challenge titleholder Alexander Povetkin in a mandatory fight on July 14, withdrew on Thursday because of a wrist injury.
Rahman aggravated a cyst on his right wrist so acutely during a training session on Wednesday that he had surgery to remove the cyst on Thursday morning and will be sidelined for two weeks, promoter Greg Cohen told ESPN.com.
"He was working out and he had excruciating pain in his wrist because of the cyst," Cohen said. "His trainer, Eddie Mustafa (Muhammad), stopped the session and had him go to the doctor. He had an MRI. 'Rock' wanted to have a cortisone shot, but the doctor said it wouldn't help. So he had surgery (Thursday) morning. Everything went fine. He's out for two weeks. Really, it's a minor thing, but obviously we have to postpone the fight."
It has not been determined if Povetkin will fight a substitute opponent on short notice, although Cohen said their contract with Sauerland Event, Povetkin's promoter, contains standard injury delay language.
"Our contract calls for a postponement if there's an injury," Cohen said. "From our perspective the fight will be postponed. We're the mandatory, and Povetkin has to make his mandatory defense. I expect Rahman and Povetkin will be fighting each other in their next fight. It's a matter of the German TV date."
Rahman has had the cyst but had not previously been bothered much by it, Cohen said, so when it flared up so severely it came as a surprise.
"It was a pretty substantial cyst around the wrist and he said from time to time he had discomfort, but never a big deal," Cohen said. "'Rock' is not a complainer. He didn't have it checked out. (Wednesday) he said it was like a sledgehammer hitting his wrist every time he punched. He saw the doctor, had the surgery. He did the right thing. Now we have to reschedule the fight."
Cohen said as soon as he found out, he notified Sauerland Event officials.
"They were disappointed to hear the news but appreciative that as soon as we knew we informed them," Cohen said. "We hope to have a new date worked out with them soon."
Sauerland Event could not be reached for comment.
Povetkin (24-0, 16 KOs) was originally due to make his third defense against Rahman (50-7-2, 41 KOs) in London on the undercard of the Dereck Chisora-David Haye heavyweight fight. However, earlier this week the bout was moved to Hamburg, Germany, to its own card due to conflicts on the timing requirements of the two bouts with their respective home television networks, BoxNation in the United Kingdom and ARD in Germany

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