merce77's Classic Boxing Thread, tape them hands up before you enter!!!!

[Ready2Rumble82]

Marco Antonio Barrera Training For January Return

There are reports coming out of Mexico that former champion Marco Antonio Barrera is currently training for a ring return that is tentative to take place at the end of January in Guadalajara, Mexico. It's being said that Barrera's promoter, Don King, plans to put together a card in the country with Barrera in the headline position.

Barrera is staying busy while waiting for a potential crack at WBO/WBA/IBF lightweight champion Nate Campbell. Barrera ranked at number one by the WBO. Campbell makes a tough defense of his crowns against IBF mandatory Ali Funeka on February 14 on HBO.

Barrera hopes to fight Campbell after the Funeka defense, but recently the team of Juan Manuel Marquez revealed that Campbell will be on their short-list of targets after the February 28 clash with Juan Diaz. Campbell, like most, will fight the man with the best offer on the table.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Ulises Solis vs. Brian Viloria Gets Green Light From IBF

INTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation Championship Committee chairman Lindsey Tucker said the IBF will approve a light flyweight title fight between champion Ulises Solis of Mexico and the Philippines’ Brian Viloria if an official request is made.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that he planned to stage a blockbuster double championship card at the Araneta Coliseum in March, featuring IBF/International Boxing Organization flyweight champion Nonito Donaire against World Boxing Organization super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel, and Viloria against Solis in another Philippine-Mexican showdown.

“If Solis requests to fight Viloria, the IBF would approve the fight because Solis is in an optional period and can fight anyone in the Top 15 until June 2, 2009,” said Tucker.

Viloria is now rated no. 12 by the IBF.

Tucker mentioned the fact that there were rumors two months ago that the Viloria-Solis fight would take place in China in reference to a previous statement by Arum that Macau, China, was a likely venue.

The IBF official, at the same time, said he was not aware of a fight between Donaire and Montiel.

“The IBF would not stop that fight, unless Donaire wanted to fight during his mandatory period,” said Tucker.

At the same time, Tucker said that should Donaire lose in his fight against Montiel, “he would still keep his IBF flyweight championship if he fought over the 112-pound weight limit.”

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

David Tua vs. Shane Cameron Continues To Stall

Talks for the biggest boxing showdown in New Zealand, between David Tua and Shane Cameron, have once again stalled. Every time the fight appears to be close to done, something happens to prevent the fight from being finalized. The Sunday Star Times reports that promoter David Higgins of Duco, the middleman trying to put the fight together, has lost his patience with the side of Cameron and demands an answer - or he will find a replacement to fight Tua.

Cameron's manager Ken Reinsfield tells the paper that Higgins is to blame for the talks hitting a wall. Higgins may replace Cameron with Australian champion John Hopoate or Friday Ahununyah, the only man to beat Cameron.

Meanwhile, Cameron is planning to return on March 7 in Gisborne against a top-15 fighter.

"We definitely still want to fight David Tua, but only on the right terms," Reinsfield said.

Even though Cameron has demanded a Tua fight for two years, Higgins does not believe the fighter really wants it. Both fighters stand to make $500,000 each. Tua has already signed the contract - Cameron has obviously not.

"What I am wondering is whether Shane Cameron ever seriously wanted to fight David Tua. Shane is on record saying he wants to fight David, and now, given the opportunity with a $500,000 purse, there is delay, after delay, after delay," Higgins said.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Glen Johnson's Manager/Trainer: "Glen Stops Calzaghe"

Even though he has knocked out Roy Jones, Jr., beaten Antonio Tarver and given Chad Dawson the fight of his life - former light heavyweight titlist Glen 'The Road Warrior' Johnson still couldn't get the present he most desired this Christmas - a big stocking full of respect.

Johnson's loyal and hardworking manager, Henry Foster, says the avoidance of his man by names like Joe Calzaghe, Antonio Tarver and Chad Dawson is appalling.

"Glen inflicted the harder blows," (against Dawson) said Foster. "Glen pressed the fight and he made the fight and so I think he won the fight. And more importantly, the public thinks Glen won the fight, too."

Even though the three official judges handed in a unanimous tally in favor of Dawson, many saw the match earlier this year as a close one that could have gone either way.

"My feeling is that Glen Johnson beat Dawson and that Glen is the best light heavyweight fighter in the world," says Foster.

Dawson is now entering his sixteenth year in the paid ranks and will turn 40 on January 2nd. But even at an age when most fighters are getting ready to hang up the gloves or have already called it a day, the workmanlike Johnson is still carrying his lunch pail to the gym and still living by his blue collar work ethic.

"We fully expect Glen to be champ again in 2009," says his longtime trainer, Orlando Cuellar. "Glen has beaten the best in the world and he still can't get the respect he deserves. He's got the style to beat Joe Calzaghe and I've always said that. I said he had the style to beat Roy Jones - he did it. Glen can do it and he would knockout Calzaghe within eight rounds - I guarantee it."

Johnson, with a journeyman-like record of 48-12-2 (33)KO, should get a chance at one of boxing's many world titles very soon. He is rated #2 by the WBC, # 4 by the WBA and WBO, #6 by the IBF and #3 by The Ring Magazine.

Johnson told this writer back in September that he is willing to face anybody at 175 pounds including Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, Chad Dawson, Antonio Tarver, Roy Jones, Jr. or anybody else that dares to step forward. So far, none of them have.

Johnson is coming off a fourth round TKO victory over Aaron Norwood back on November 11th and on February 27th he'll face unrated Daniel Judah (the younger brother of Zab Judah) at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Valuev's Manager Says No Rematch For Evander Holyfield

Boris Dimitrov, manager of WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev, says there are no plans for a rematch with Evander Holyfield. On December 20 in Switzerland, Holyfield appeared to be well on his way to a fifth world title. In a shocker, Valuev was awarded a majority twelve round decision over the 46-year-old veteran. The scores were 114-114, 116-112 and 115-114.

Due to the controversial nature of the decision, Holyfield has lodged an official protest with the WBA, demanding an immediate rematch. Sauerland Event, who promote Valuev, were considering a Holyfield rematch, but changed their minds when Holyfield's team alleged that someone paid off the judges in Switzerland.

Dimitrov says the priority for Valuev is a rematch with Ruslan Chagaev, the WBA "champion in recess." Chagaev returns against Carl Davis Drumond in Mecklenburg, Germany on February 7.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Pacquiao vs. Cotto is Possible, Says Evangelista

After Manny Pacquiao stopped Oscar De La Hoya on December 6 in Las Vegas, many began to ponder how Pacquiao would do against some of the top welterweights in the division. One name the continues to come up is former two division champion Miguel Cotto. Cotto is considered a small welterweight and moved up from 140-pounds, where Pacquiao will now campaign. The two fighters are similiar in height and share the same reach at 67-inches. Both fighters are also under contract with the same promotional company, Top Rank.

Evangelista Cotto, trainer and uncle of Miguel, does not think the idea is absurd and doesn't rule it out as a possible fight for 2009. Pacquiao is scheduled to face Ricky Hatton on May 2. Should Pacquiao come off with a win, the "mega-fight" options are not exactly stacked. If Floyd Mayweather Jr. unretires, then Pacquiao has another mega-fight, but if Floyd decides to stay away from the sport - the options come down to a trilogy with Juan Manuel Marquez or someone along the lines of a Miguel Cotto.

Cotto has a fight scheduled against Michael Jennings for the vacant WBO welterweight title on February 21 in New York. He then has a June rematch with Antonio Margarito [unless plans change]. Evangelista plans to sit back with Miguel and see how things progress before they rule out the possibility of a Pacquiao encounter.

"I wouldn't doubt it [the fight happening]. Anything is possible. We are going to have to see what happens," Evangelista told ESTO.

Meanwhile Cotto is preparing for his fight with Jennings and plans to kick his camp into high gear next week.

"I am back to my usual work. I had a problem in my back, but that is something temporary that comes and goes. Everything is going good. The fight date is February 21 and there is sufficient time. We are working well to get there in perfect condition," Cotto said.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

WRIGHT-WILLIAMS ON HBO IN MID-APRIL

Negotiations for a potential rematch between former undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor and middleweight Winky Wright have hit a major snag and it now appears that Wright will mix it up with WBO interim junior middleweight champion, and one of the most avoided men in boxing, Paul Williams. If a deal is solidified, the bout would take place at the middleweight limit of 160 pounds on April 11th or 18th.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Katsidis returns January 31

Fight manager Brendon Smith informs that former WBO interim lightweight champion Michael "The Great" Katsidis (23-2, 20 KOs) will return on January 31st against Angelo Hugo Ramirez (19-4-2, 8 KOs). The bout for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific lightweight belt will take place at a site to be named in either Cebu City or Manila. Sammy Gello-ani will promote the event.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Deandre Latimore Update

Steve Smith/Rumble Time Promotions has announced an agreement with Lou DiBella/DiBella Entertainment to co-promote jr middleweight Deandre Latimore (19-1, 16 KOs). The IBF #5 rated Latimore, who is best known for stopping #1 rated Sechew Powell last June in New York City, is slated to face ex-champ Cory Spinks for the vacant 154lb world title. The IBF has given the handlers of Spinks and Latimore an extension to formalize an agreement for that fight.

 

[tp2001]

Great updates, R2R

It's funny that two fighters that are regarded to be the most avoided boxers in the sport will end up fighting each other next year. Problem is, whoever loses that fight would be in even more trouble getting another fight (esp. Winky if he loses).

I also read an article about Glen Johnson on ESPN clamoring for a fight with Calzaghe. I see how he may want to fight him as he is Ring Mag's champ (although I still didn't see him beating B-Hop), but he really wants Dawson. It's sad that Dawson-Tarver II is going down while neither of them will give Glen a rematch. Tarver's one of my hometown fighters, but he should've given Glen a rematch at least in 06 or 07. He surely couldn't turn down a fight against him after losing to Hopkins...

The lightweight division in 08-09 is looking to be like the welterweight division in 05-06, with many talented fighters in the division. Campbell, MAB, the Diaz trio, Juan Marquez, Casamayor...the list goes on. We have already seen some great fights in the division already, and now we're going to have a few more to begin 09...

The Cotto-Pacquiao possible bout looks good, but that's too far ahead of time since both seem to be booked until the last half of the year (betw. Oct and Dec. 09)

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Great updates, R2R

It's funny that two fighters that are regarded to be the most avoided boxers in the sport will end up fighting each other next year. Problem is, whoever loses that fight would be in even more trouble getting another fight (esp. Winky if he loses).

I also read an article about Glen Johnson on ESPN clamoring for a fight with Calzaghe. I see how he may want to fight him as he is Ring Mag's champ (although I still didn't see him beating B-Hop), but he really wants Dawson. It's sad that Dawson-Tarver II is going down while neither of them will give Glen a rematch. Tarver's one of my hometown fighters, but he should've given Glen a rematch at least in 06 or 07. He surely couldn't turn down a fight against him after losing to Hopkins...

The lightweight division in 08-09 is looking to be like the welterweight division in 05-06, with many talented fighters in the division. Campbell, MAB, the Diaz trio, Juan Marquez, Casamayor...the list goes on. We have already seen some great fights in the division already, and now we're going to have a few more to begin 09...

The Cotto-Pacquiao possible bout looks good, but that's too far ahead of time since both seem to be booked until the last half of the year (betw. Oct and Dec. 09)

Indeed, the irony of Williams and Winky fighting eachother is amusing. But for the sake of the sport I hope to God that Williams can walk away with the win. Not only is he the fresher face, but it will make for a better fight if he can pull it off.

And now to my man Glen...

Johnson was the second interview I ever conducted w/ a boxer. It was right before he took on Roy Jones, Jr. I'll always have a soft spot for 'The Road Warrior'. I'd love for him to fight Calzaghe. Neither man is a KO artist, but the both throw enought punches to tire me out just watching it. And as far as Glen not getting another crack at Dawson...well, damn those rematch clauses.

I, too, am very excited about the lightweight division. I expect two good friends of mine, Nate Campbell and (assuming he moves up) Robert Guerrero to make some big time noise in the division.

I'm slated to interview Juan Diaz this week. I'll post it for you guys. And if you want anything in particular asked, post it up before wednesday and i'll get it in to him.

And here's a press release I recieved from the WBC:

THE WBC’S “BEST OF 2008 AWARDS”

 

            The World Boxing Council’s Board of Governors has voted on the awards for the “Best of 2008,” and the results are as follows:

 

BOXER OF THE YEAR

            Manny Pacquiao, Philippines: Manny won the World Boxing Council super featherweight world title by decision against defending champion Juan Manuel Marquez in March, then won the WBC lightweight world title by TKO against defending champion David Diaz three months later in June. Manny finished the year in December with a sensational TKO win against Oscar De La Hoya in the welterweight division.

 

HONORABLE MENTION BOXER OF THE YEAR

            Edgar Sosa, Mexico : Edgar successfully defended the WBC light flyweight world title four times, defeating top level opponents which included mandatory challenger Juanito Rubillar of the Philippines in November.

 

COMEBACK OF THE DECADE

            Vitali Klitschko, Ukraine : He came back as WBC Emeritus Champion in the heavyweight division in October after almost four years without fighting. He won the WBC heavyweight world title for the second time with an impressive performance in his TKO win against defending champion Samuel Peter in October.

 

FIGHT OF THE YEAR

            Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez. The third fight between these two great Mexican champions in March was a spectacular battle. Vazquez was knocked down in the fourth round, but came back to knock down Marquez in the twelfth round and retain the WBC super bantamweight world title by decision.

 

MOST DRAMATIC FIGHT OF THE YEAR

            Carl Froch vs. Jean Pascal. Froch, the new British sensation, won the vacant WBC super middleweight world title by decision against Canadian warrior Pascal in an intense and dramatic fight in December.

 

KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR

            Vic Darchinyan, Australia . The new WBC super flyweight world champion knocked out talented and accomplished defending champion Cristian Mijares of Mexico , and fulfilled his dream of winning the green and gold belt.

 

GREATEST PROMOTION OF THE YEAR

            Samuel Peter vs. Oleg Maskaev. For the first time ever, a heavyweight world championship fight was held in Mexico - it was a top-notch promotion and great success in paradisiacal Cancun in March. The atmosphere in the bullring was electric with a capacity crowd in attendance, and the broadcast on HBO was excellent. Interim champion Peter, a native of Nigeria living in Las Vegas , Nevada , won the WBC heavyweight world title with a ninth-round TKO against defending champion Maskaev, a native of Russia living in Sacramento , California .

 

[black_darius18]

yo thats alot of fights! (gets a mega acct)

 

[black_darius18]

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OHQEVG0Y
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0SPG5WF5

join with hjsplit


this should be fight of the year!!

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Chris Arreola is Close For May 16

Henry Ramirez, Chris Arreola’s trainer, stated over the weekend that a fight with Wladimir Klitschko is in the final stages of negotiations, “It’s a done deal. Behind the scenes everything has been agreed upon, we just need to cross the T’s and dot the I’s before it goes public, but we’re excited about it. I got the final word today and it looks like May 16 is the date.”

The WBO/IBF Heavyweight title fight between Wladimir Klitschko (52-3) and Chris Arreola (26-0) is a highly anticipated matchup between two good punchers, but a number of observers have expressed considerable doubts about Arreola’s chances against the former 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist.

Nigel Collins, the Editor and Chief of Ring Magazine stated “In terms of his prospects of winning the title, it doesn’t bold well for him that he was almost stopped in the first round and just stood there and took so many punches from a fighter like Travis Walker,” and another astute member of the boxing fraternity opined that “Arreola needs more seasoning, if they go after him now, they would be cashing out.”

Ramirez doesn’t agree with that assessment, “You don’t turn down a title fight, you just don’t. And do you think Chris will have a better chance against Klitschko in two years? Chris is motivated for this fight and he’s going to weigh between 235 to 240 and we’re coming to win it. Chris is going after Wladimir, he’s not going to stink the place out like Rahman. You know what Alderson, I won’t say who but someone from Top Rank told me that if Chris wins the title that there is going to be line of guys waiting to suck his d--k and he told me he would be the first one in line and you can print that!”

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Israel Vazquez Considering a Jump To Featherweight

Fans continue to ask about the ring return of WBC super bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez. Izzy, recovering from multiple surgeries to correct a detached retina in his right eye, does not expect to see any action until June. He will need clearance from his doctors, but expects to see a fight in June. The WBC recently named him "Champion Emeritus."

"It's very possible that I'll fight in June, and I'm already looking at that with my manager. The doctor who handled the operation on my eye will have to let me know when I'll be able to fight, if before then, but the surest thing is that [I'll return] in June," Vazquez told ESTO.

Vazquez says that a fourth meeting with Rafael Marquez is possible, but he's looking to move up in weight to capture another title at featherweight.

"[A fourth Marquez fight] is very possible, but we'll have to look at that. I want to move up to featherweight. If there is a unification fight [at super bantamweight], for example, it would have to be negotiated," Vazquez said.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Ivan Calderon Cleared by Doctors For February Return

WBO junior flyweight champion Ivan Calderon (32-0, 6KOs) has been cleared by doctors to return to the ring in February. No opponent is set, but WBA interim champion Cesar Canchila (27-1, 21KOs) is still the frontrunner opponent for the fight. Calderon was given a medical suspension by the boxing commission in Puerto Rico after suffering a deep cut in the middle of his forehead due to a clash of heads with Hugo Cazares on August 30.

"I am in the beginning of my training, I'm still only running. We are not working hard, right now we are working to get my conditioning in order and to drop some weight. All of the hard work will take place in January," Calderon told Primera Hora. "I've already sparred twice and thank God I have not felt any pain [in the area of the cut]."

Vice president of Puerto Rico Best Boxing, Peter Rivera, who co-promotes Calderon with Top Rank, says the last two weeks of December have not been a good time to begin negotiations to secure Calderon an opponent. He told the paper that even phone calls to make a fight with Canchila went unreturned. Rivera says that a lot of fighters turn down the opportunity to fight Calderon.

"We have offered $120,000 to the champions of this division to unify the titles, but they always decide to take easier fights where they win $40,000," Rivera said.

 

[black_darius18]

You're on boxingscene too?

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

boxingscene is one of many.

 

[merce77]

Glad to see ya'll keepin the thread alive, R2R as always comin through with the updates, I' gonna have some links to some more classics by the end of the week, I'll be posting soon. Got a promotion so it's hard for me to keep up with boxing, as I'm working most nights. Shit, I didn't even know Barrera had come back, or that Pacman and Hatton were gooing to get it on. I'm way behind....

 

[nobuo5626]

Good Up

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

New monthly series in NYC

The world famous Gleason’s Gym will present “Tuesday Night Fights” on the first Tuesday of each month at the Masonic Temple (317 Clermont Avenue, Fort Greene) in Brooklyn, NY. The first show is set for Tuesday February 3rd and the main event will be Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion (former WBA interim super flyweight world champion, currently ranked #4) vs Kermin Guardia (former two-tome WBO world champion). The undercard will be full of exciting young prospects from the NY area, including the undefeated highly popular Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir plus the professional debut of the highly decorated and two-time world amateur female champion Keisher “Fire” Mcleod-Wells. Tickets are $100, $50 and $35 and can be purchased at Gleason’s Gym 718-797-2872 or at the door. Doors open at 6:30pm and the first bout is at 7:30pm.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Hatton camp balks at split

Still no deal on the proposed May 2 Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton super fight in Las Vegas. The Hatton camp is balking at the proposed 60/40 split in favor of Pacquiao, insisting on 50/50. “Ricky brings as much to the table as Manny,” Hatton’s lawyer Gareth Williams told BBC Sport. “Either it is 50/50 or we’ll consider other options. If that’s Manny’s position, there is no fight.” Williams claims Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum originally agreed to a 50/50 split and “as far as we’re concerned we’ve got a binding contract.”

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Adamek to face Banks?

Word is that newly crowned IBF cruiserweight champion Tomas Adamek (36-1, 24 KOs) of Poland will make the first defense of his title against world ranked challenger Jonathan Banks (20-0, 14 KOs). The bout would take place February 27th at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey and be aired live on a special edition of SHOWTIME’s acclaimed ShoBox series. Adamek won the title at the same venue on December 11th, dethroning champion Steve Cunningham in front of a large Polish crowd. Banks was to fight Enzo Maccarinelli for the vacant WBO belt in December, but had to pull out with an ankle injury.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Froch ready for Taylor

WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch has directed his venom at Jermain Taylor and his team after suggestions that Froch was sidelined until June with a rib injury. Froch believes it’s just another in a long line of tactics for Team Taylor to avoid facing him. “I’ve no injury worries now and I’m ready, willing and able to defend my title against Taylor,” stated Froch. “I believe Taylor and [Lou] DiBella have been swerving me for some time now, they obviously don’t fancy the job. He declined the opportunity to contest the vacant WBC title with me and instead fought Jeff Lacy in a final eliminator for that same title. Now this mysterious rumor is being spread in the U.S. that I’m injured and out until June so he’s looking at other options. The only person that’s going to be out is Jermain Taylor after I’ve smoked his boots….purse bids for the fight have been called for Friday week so we’ll see what they’re made of then but I can guarantee I’ll be ready to defend my title against Taylor within 90 days of the purse bid as per the WBC rules.”

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Peter targets Arreola

Former WBC heavyweight champion Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter (30-2, 23 KOs) says he wants to punish Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola for using Peter’s name to try and build himself up. “To Chris Arreola, I want to say that there is only one true Nightmare in the heavyweight division and that’s me, Samuel Peter “The Nigerian Nightmare!” Peter proposes a showdown between the two sluggers this year with an agreement that the loser must change his ring moniker.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Arum making plans

With 2009 barely two weeks old, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is already making plans (and big fights) for the New Year. On Tuesday Arum was in New York to announce his February 21st double city pay-per-view featuring welterweight Miguel Cotto versus Michael Jennings and middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik against Marco Antonio Rubio. Also likely to be featured on that card is Top Rank fighter Joshua Clottey, defending his IBF welterweight title against Kermit Cintron.

———-
On January 24th, meanwhile, Arum has Antonio Margarito up against Shane Mosley in an important welterweight match up. Regardless of the outcome of that fight Margarito will likely fight Cotto again in the second quarter of the year. “The chances are very, very good; June 14th, the night before the Puerto Rican day parade in the Garden,” Arum said at Tuesday’s press conference. If Cotto were to be upset by Jennings, however, that fight would not occur.

———-

Arum, meanwhile is also trying to secure Manny Pacquiao’s next fight, which is likely to occur on May 2nd against junior welterweight champ Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. “We’re still finalizing it,” Arum said. “Pacquiao went back to the Philippines and now wants more money but we’ll handle that. I’ve been through that before,” he said. Asked if disputes between Top Rank and Hatton promoter Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy could be holding up the super fight, Arum said it wasn’t the case. “It’s not about Schaefer and it’s not about me. You can’t put yourself or your company at the forefront of these negotiations.”

———-

In that vein, when asked about a fight between Top Rank pupil Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Oscar de la Hoya Arum noted that there has been a lot of talk out of Chavez’ camp but that “you haven’t heard a lot of talk from the Oscar people.”

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Arce: Losing not an option!

At the break of dawn, Jorge “Travieso” Arce (54-4-1, 39 KOs) runs at extremely high altitude of the mountains of Toluca, Mexico. The fight is now less than a month away and the former world champion is convinced that his tremendous conditioning will play in his keys to being successful in his challenge of unified super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan (31-1-1, 25 KOs). “I’m pushing my body to its maximum limits in training for this fight,” commented Arce. “This is without a doubt the biggest fight of my career. Losing is not an option for me.” Arce-Darchinyan will take place on February 7th at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and be televised on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

WBC plans Boxing World Cup

The search for new ring stars is on

The WBC has announced a World Cup tournament for boxing later this year. “Boxing is going through a critical stage and we need heroes,” stated WBC president Jose Sulaiman. “We expect to carry out a World Cup with the countries that belong to the WBC during the second half of this year….we need to survive in boxing and new figures need to appear. I maintain that the idols are important for boxing.” The WBC chief proposed that each country would conduct internal tournaments to define their representatives for the final phase of the World Cup, which will include the participation of a great majority of member countries in the sanctioning organization.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Guerrero to face Ruiz

Former two-time featherweight champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (22-1-1, 15 KOs) returns to the ring in his super featherweight debut against veteran Edel Ruiz (31-21-4, 22 KOs) in the featured undercard attraction on the January 24th welterweight championship showdown between Antonio Margarito and Sugar Shane Mosley at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Guerrero, a recent signee of Golden Boy Promotions, is entering the ring after nearly a year layoff.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Powell, Miranda crush foes

Former #1 rated junior middleweight contender Sechew Powell (25-2, 15 KOs) took apart Christian Lloyd Joseph (12-8-3, 5 KOs) in less than three rounds on Wednesday night at the Hard Rock LIVE Arena in Hollywood, Florida. Powell jumped on Joseph and punished him on the ropes for much of round one although Joseph blocked many shots. Powell hurt Joseph at the end of round two and after he rocked Joseph in round three the bout was stopped. Time was 2:30. Powell claimed the IBA 154lb belt with the win.

In a light heavyweight clash, fan favorite KO artist Edison Miranda (31-3, 27 KOs) again displayed his power. Pantera dropped Emmanuel Esparza (20-8-1, 5 KOs) in round two and ended it spectacularly with a left hook at of round three. Esparza was counted out by referee Jorge Ortiz at :52. An impressive performance for Miranda coming off his loss to middleweight champion Arthur Abraham in his previous fight.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Spinks, Lattimore reach accord

The purse bid scheduled for for the vacant IBF jr. middleweight title between Cory Spinks and Deandre Lattimore has been canceled. The two sides have reached an agreement with site and date to be announced.
———-
The purse bid scheduled for January 22 for the IBF welterweight mandatory defense between champion Joshua Clottey and Kermit Cintron has been canceled after Cintron decided to go in another direction.

Three other IBF purse bids remain scheduled for the 22nd:
1) An IBF cruiserweight eliminator between B.J. Flores and Wayne Braithwaite
2) An IBF bantamweight eliminator between Silence Mabuza and Yonnhy Perez
3) An IBF jr. flyweight eliminator between Bert Batawang and Carlos Tamara

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Albert looking to rebound

Eromosele Albert (21-2, 10 KOs) hits the pads with trainer Orlando Cuellar as he prepares for his main event on this weeks edition of ESPN2’s Friday night fights. Albert was orginally supposed to face former world champion Carlos Quintana, but when that fight fell through multiple fighters were proposed as replacements with veteran Germaine Sanders (21-6, 17 KOs) getting what appears to be the final nod.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Pacman remains firm on 60-40!

Manny Pacquiao is steadfast in not agreeing to face Ricky Hatton if he doesn’t get the bigger slice of the pie in the revenue sharing. “If it’s 50-50, forget about it (the fight),” Pacquiao told Manila Bulletin and late Thursday afternoon. “If I agree on the offer of 50-50, it would not look good on me. I made a sacrifice when I agreed to fight De La Hoya for a smaller percentage. But not this time. I will be the laughing stock if I agree to the 50-50 sharing,” said Pacquiao, who offically became boxing’s biggest draw when he stopped Oscar De La Hoya last December.

Arum has made an annoucement in the US about the fight taking place on May 2 in Las Vegas after he persuaded key figures inside Pacquiao’s camp about the logic of accepting an equal sharing.

“I was enlightened and Mr. Arum explained it clearly why Manny has to accept the 50-50 sharing,” Wakee Salud said, one of Pacquiao’s advisers.

Arum said Hatton’s huge popularity in the United Kingdom will translate into enormous pay-per-view buys that will be equally shared by the two fighters, unlike in the past when everything went to Hatton’s pocket.

Informed about the deadline imposed by Arum for Pacquiao to decide once and for all, Pacquiao just shrugged it off.
“What deadline? What do they think of me? I’m easy-to-get? What if I impose my own deadline on them?”

Still, Pacquiao remains open about the fight being saved. “As long as it’s not 50-50, it’s okay with me,” said Pacquiao.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

Barrera to face Khan

Fight will take place in the UK

Lightweight contender Amir Khan (19-1, 15 KOs) will fight Mexican legend and former multi-weight world champion Marco Antonio Barrera (64-6, 43 KOs) on March 14 it was confirmed by promoter Frank Warren today. No venue has been confirmed for the mouth-watering showdown, although Warren did say that it would take place in the UK with a normal UK start time. Khan will benefit from having the input of Freddie Roach, who helped guide Manny Pacquiao to two wins over Barrera. No television deal for the fight was announced.

 

[Ready2Rumble82]

MARTINEZ-CINTRON ON HBO FEBRUARY 14TH

Sergio Martinez will defend his WBC interim 154 pound title against Kermit Cintron as part of an HBO triple header on February 14th. It appeared that Cintron would face Joshua Clottey as the co-feature to the Cotto-Jennings bout at MSG, but clearly the offer to fight Martinez made more sense and dollars. On the Martinez side, it was announced earlier this week that Martinez would be facing Daniel Santos, the WBA titlist at 154 pounds.