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

Ready2Rumble82 · Jan 19, 2009

BERTO DEFEATS COLLAZO CONTROVERSIALLY

In Biloxi, Mississippi, Andre Berto, 24-0, won a controversial decision over Luis Collazo, 29-4. Berto was staggered by Collazo in the first round and on HBO unofficial judge Harold Lederman's scroecard, he lost the bout by three points. Officially, Berto won by scores of 114-113 (twice) and 116-111. Berto looked good in the second round by connecting on more punches and keeping the fight on the outside. Collazo won the third round by dominating on the inside and Berto was warned again for holding. In the fourth round Berto had a point deducted for excessive holding. The fight went back and forth with Collazo seemingly taking the sixth and seventh rounds off to regain his stamina. Berto came on strong in the last two rounds. The twelfth round proved to be the key for Berto as Collazo was clearly gassed and lost the round. With the point deduction the 116-111 score was too wide and the other two scores were acceptable as their were many close rounds. When asked if he would give Collazo a rematch Berto responded with a resouding yes. He said he is a boxing fan and this was a close fight that the fans want to see again. Collazo was humble in defeat and said he was glad to hear that Berto was offering a rematch and hoped he would keep his word.

Ready2Rumble82 · Jan 19, 2009

JOSE L. CASTILLO WINS AS A WELTERWEIGHT

In Mexicali, Mexico, ex-lightweight world champion Jose Luis Castillo fought as a welterweight and knocked out James Wayka (15-8) in the second round. Castillo (58-9-1) floored Wayka toward the end of the first round but the Minnesotan was saved by the bell. A hook to the liver ended matters at 1:13 of the next round. Castillo hopes to fight in March at 140 pounds. Castillo is now 1-1 as a welterweight.

_______________________________________________________________________

A bit of a shocker in Germany as Argentina's Victor Emilio Ramirez got a huge road win to claim the vacant WBO interim cruiserweight title in Duesseldorf by stopping very highly touted, Alexander Alekseev. Ramirez, 14-1, won the fight in the tenth round via technical knockout to put himself on the world map in the 200-pound category. Alekseev, now 16-1 as a pro, was a 2004 Olympian who lost to Odlanier Solis in Athens, but won the amateur world championship the following year when Solis moved to super heavy.

Ready2Rumble82 · Jan 19, 2009

INTERVIEW: JAMES TONEY

Fres Oquendo recently told BoxingTalk a whole bunch of harsh things about you and the fight in general [in which Toney was awarded a poorly received decision]. Can you give us some thoughts in response?

"Him and his whole team are faggots, first and foremost. He's a punk, the motherfucker was scared to death. How can a man want to fight when he's running like a little bitch?"

He made it clear the he wants to have a rematch with you. Is that something that you'd even entertain?

James Toney: If him and Big Daddy Dan want to talk about it, and they want to do it again. We'll see if he's about it, if him and his cheap ass manager can put the money up, then we can do it.

Are there any updates as it relates to your next fight?

JT: I don't know, I'm waiting for Big Daddy Dan to tell me. I'm ready for whatever.

Are you currently in the gym?

JT: I'm in the gym, I've been in the gym for about a month now. Oquendo stunk up the joint trying to fight, first and foremost. I came in there and he was running to survive. He was happy to survive, the whole team survived, and they were surprised. They couldn't believe it. I can't believe this guy is talking, acting like he did something. I had no bruises, he was the one with bruises all over his face, and his body. The little bitch.

What did you think about the Valuev-Holyfield fight?

JT: Oh, man. I saw the fight, I thought he [Holyfield] won. He should have won the fight, but American fighters in Germany have to do what they have to, in order to win. The same thing with Sam Peter, I think they drugged him. To tell you the truth, I think they had him drugged up. There's no way in hell Vitali could beat him. [Editor's note: there is absolutely no evidence of any kind to support this claim and not even Peter himself has made such an outrageous claim].

Do you think that Sam Peter may have slowed down as a result of his fights with you?

JT: That too, but still I think they drugged him. When he fought me he was aggressive. Vitali is terrible, him and his sister.

If Oquendo and his manager come up with a proper offer, what's the soonest you could be ready to do a rematch?

JT: We can do it tomorrow, if he wants to. He's got a braindead ass trainer in Nate Jones. He was running around like he was all that, but he was scared and intimidated. When they first saw me at the hotel, they were trying to avoid me like I had the plague or something. They weren't coming up to me like they were hard, or anything like that. It wasn't like what they seem to be, or what they're talking about. The guy was scared, he was glad to stay on his damn feet. He was grabbing me so much, I thought he was trying to make love to me.

Does it bother you that people think he won the fight?

JT: No, not at all. It's obvious that they're blind. The motherfucker didn't do enough. He's looking to fight again, when he wasn't landing anything. He hit me in the back of the head, he threw me down, grabbed me, what are you doing in a fight doing shit like that?

We'll leave it at that.

Ready2Rumble82 · Jan 19, 2009

Danny Green To Decide in February on Mundine Rematch

Former champion Danny Green will make a decision next month on a potential rematch with Aussie rival Anthony Mundine. Not long after capturing the WBA light heavyweight title, Green shocked everyone by announcing his retirement last March. Mundine won their first meeting by decision. The fight was the biggest moneymaker in the history of Australian boxing. The rematch is expected to be bigger. So big that Mundine's team has been hounding Green to come out of retirement so they can make the fight. Mundine has an offer of nearly $5 million on the table for Green.

"I am talking about Mundine, but that is pretty much it. I often talk about him because I often get asked about him. I have been asked the question so much … but I will make a decision one way or the other, and it will be sooner rather than later.I will have a decision within the next month whether I am going to scrap it and stay retired, or whether I decide to step back in the ring," Green told writer Tim Clarke.

"And that will be purely my decision, and won't be affected or influenced by what anyone think or what other people think. My family, the people around me and the people closest to me are the only people I will worry about."

Ready2Rumble82 · Jan 19, 2009

Isaac Hlatshwayo, New IBF Mandatory To Joshua Clottey

The management of Isaac Hlatshwayo (28-1, 10KOs) has revealed that their fighter was approved as the mandatory challenger to IBF champion Joshua Clottey (35-2, 20KOs). Hlatshwayo grabbed the mandatory position after Kermit Cintron withdrew from a potential title fight with Clottey and took a bout with WBC interim-junior middleweight champ Sergio Martinez on February 14.

Hlatshwayo has a rematch scheduled with Delvin Rodriguez (23-2, 14KOs) on March 6 at Mohegan Sun. Hlatshwayo's trainer, Nick Durandt, says the negotiations with Clottey have to be completed by February 12, which may or may not leave the Rodriguez rematch up in the air. Durandt has already been in contact with Clottey's promoter, Bob Arum.

“The IBF has given us until February 12 to conclude negotiations with the Clottey camp, failing which the fight will go to purse bids,” Durandt said to SAPA.

Ready2Rumble82 · Jan 19, 2009

Jermain Taylor's options involve Andre Ward, Allan Green

The mystery continues. Nobody knows exactly when Jermain Taylor (28-2, 17KOs) will return, or the opponent, or the network. The scenario right now has Taylor returning on March 28. Showtime, not HBO, is the frontrunner to carry the fight. At the same time, nothing has been written in stone.

Taylor is the mandatory to WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch. The purse bid is scheduled for Friday. Taylor's promoter Lou DiBella has presented an offer to Froch's team. They have not responded, yet. Froch's promoter Mick Hennessey might be killing time to take his chances at the purse bid.

Light heavyweight Glen Johnson was the proposed "Plan B" opponent for Taylor. The fight would have happened at the likely catch-weight of 170-pounds. When reached for comment this morning, DiBella, who co-promotes Johnson, did not see that fight coming off.

"It probably won't be Glen. We made an offer to Froch. I'm waiting to hear back from them. Right now nothing is out there. There is not a lot to choose from. We may look at an Andre Ward or an Allan Green," DiBella said.

Dan Goossen promotes Ward (17-0, 12KOs), a 2004 Olympic gold medal winner. Goossen recently stated that Andre was very interested in a fight with Taylor. Ward returns on February 6 in a Showtime televised bout against Henry Buchanan. Allan Green (27-1, 19KOs) is promoted by DiBella and probably the easiest fight to make. Green has one decision loss on his record to Edison Miranda [March 2007]. He won four since then, with three of them by knockout.

Ready2Rumble82 · Jan 19, 2009

Shane Mosley: "Margarito Beat Cotto With Heart, Not Skill"

"Sugar" Shane Mosley has his own take on the biggest win of Antonio Margarito's career, which was last July's eleventh-round knockout of previously undefeated Miguel Cotto. He doesn't feel that Margarito is a better fighter than Cotto. He doesn't believe that Margarito beat Cotto with the use of skill. He says Margarito was able to win the fight with his heart by breaking Cotto down in the last two rounds of the contest.

"The reason why Margarito won is he won on heart. He didn't win on his skill and he didn't win because he was like the better fighter, really. He won because he had a great heart and because he broke Cotto down in the last two rounds before they stopped the fight," Mosley was quoted as saying by veteran writer Robert Morales.

Mosley is preparing to hit Margarito with a lot of punches and says the Mexican champion, and the boxing public, is underestimating his power in the fight. Margarito knows that he takes a lot of punches, but tells Morales that he prepares to take big shots from the start of training camp.

"I think it's something I was born with," Margarito said. "I really don't have any other answer, other than the fact that I get prepared very well for every fight, that my preparation allows me to take some punches. Not that I like to take punches and I would rather not take as many as that. In every fight I would like to take less, but I think I do have a good chin and I do prepare myself."

Ready2Rumble82 · Jan 19, 2009

Joe Calzaghe: "Barrera, A Massive Test For Amir Khan"

Joe Calzaghe says that his countryman, lightweight star Amir Khan, will be in for a real tough night if Marco Antonio Barrera has anything left in the tank. Khan faces Barrera on March 14 at the MEN Arena in Manchester. The lightweight clash was announced a few days ago by Khan's promoter Frank Warren and shocked many in the boxing world. Barrera's two recent defeats were both by decision to Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, two of the best in the world. Khan was recently knocked out in 54-seconds by unknown Colombian puncher Breidis Prescott.

Most of Khan's fans and UK boxing writers are divided on Khan's chances in the fight. Even Calzaghe is a bit unsure on how well Khan will do against a fighter on the level of Barrera.

"Khan against Barrera is an interesting one. The seven-time, three weight world champion will be a massive, massive test for Khan, unless he is totally shot. He’s been in some truly epic fights over the years – against the likes of Pacquiao, Juan Marquez, Erik Morales and of course our own Prince Naseem Hamed, who Barrera finished as a pro fighter," Calzaghe said to South Wales Argus.

"Like I say, if he’s got anything left – and he did win his last fight after successive losses to Pacquiao and Marquez – Amir could be in for a hell of a tough night, facing punching power he’s never had to cope with before."

Ready2Rumble82 · Jan 19, 2009

Redemption for Albert; Another Stepback for McGirt Jr

The latest edition of ESPN2 Friday Night Fights was supposed to be about fresh starts for Eromosele Albert and James McGirt Jr, both of whom saw their careers suffer devastating setbacks last year.

It was mission accomplished for Albert, who dominated late substitute Germaine Sanders en route to a ten-round shutout. Not so much for McGirt Jr., who allowed himself to be outworked by pudgy career junior middleweight Angel Hernandez in dropping a close unanimous decision.

The show aired live from Mallory Square in Key West, Florida.

Ready2Rumble82 · Jan 19, 2009

Mikkel Kessler To Face Mads Larsen? Bute vs. Tsypko

WBA super middleweight champ Mikkel Kessler has, according to sporten.dk, through his lawyer, accepted to face Mads Larsen in an all-Danish fight. Larsen, who just turned down a fight against IBF ruler Lucian Bute, is said to have accepted through his agent to face Kessler with Team Palle promoting. However, Larsen is under promotional deal with Sauerland Event and CEO Chris Meyer says he´s heard nothing about a Kessler-Larsen fight. Meyer instead says the plan for Larsen was to have a tuneup on March 14 in Kiel and then perhaps fight the winner of EBU titleholder Karo Murat and challenger Cristian Sanavia - a fight that goes ahead February 28 in Neubrandenburg. However, Meyer does leave the door open for an offer from Palle.

Mads Larsen was at one time a genuine world class performer but a series of injuries and a long layoff due to a managerial dispute have derailed him of the skills he at one time had: Meanwhile, his former gymmate Kessler have developed into a superstar and should be at his peak right now.

A Kessler-Larsen fight could happen sometime in April.

As for IBF king Lucian Bute, it appears that Ukrainian Vitaly Tsypko will be next.

Ready2Rumble82 · Jan 19, 2009

Daniel Santos Expects a Ring Return in March or April

WBA junior middleweight champion Daniel Santos (32-3-1, 23 KOs) is expecting his promoter Don King to propose a deal for a ring return in either March or April. Santos has been inactive since last July's title winning effort over previously undefeated Joachim Alcine.

Santos was offered two fight dates against Sergio Martinez, January 17 and February 14, and turned both down over concerns that he wouldn't have enough time to prepare. He wanted to face Martinez in March, but saw that fight go up in smoke after Martinez signed to fight Kermit Cintron on February 14.

"At this moment I am expecting that Mr. King will bring me a new offer. We expect that I can return to the ring in March or April. February 14 was too early for me. I am still training at a low level, basically running, but we are maintaining my condition for when they tell me the new date [for the fight] so I will be ready to go and won't start with nothing," Santos told Primera Hora.

Ready2Rumble82 · Jan 19, 2009

Andy Lee vs. Walid Smichet in Talks For March 16

According to veteran scribe George Kimball, there is some discussion about matching middleweight prospect Andy Lee (16-1, 13KOs) against Walid Smichet (19-5-3, 14KOs) on March 16 at the theatre in Madison Square Garden.

Smichet came close to stopping John Duddy last February in what was booked to be a tuneup on route to a bout between Duddy and middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. Duddy was able to win by way of a majority decision, but he sustained cuts that were so severe during the fight that he was unable to go forward with the Pavlik shot.

Lee has been trying to rebuild his reputation since the upset knockout loss to Brian Vera from last March. He returned four months later to stop veteran Willie Gibbs in ten.

Ready2Rumble82 · Jan 19, 2009

Cotto Says Margarito Needs His Best To Beat Mosley

The pride of Puerto Rico, Miguel Cotto, says that Antonio Margarito will need to be at his best to beat former three-division champion Shane Mosley on January 24 at the Staples Center in California. When asked for his opinion on the fight, Cotto said that unless Margarito is at his best, Mosley will win the fight. Cotto won a close decision over Mosley in 2007 and was stopped by Margairto in eleven rounds last July.

"I don't know, both guys are tough boxers. If Margarito doesn't come in the same shape that he was in for my fight, he will probably lose this fight. Shane is a good boxer," Cotto said.

Cotto said the loss to Margarito hurt him at first, but he got over it after a few days. He admits that Margarito was the better man that night, and he wants to prove himself in the ring on February 21 in New York's Madison Square Garden.

"I felt a little sad because of the loss. I never had this kind of experience since I turned professional. Two or three days after the fight, I understood that he made a good fight, came in good shape for the fight and I felt comfortable with the way I lost. It was his night. He was better than me that night. After the fifth or sixth round, my legs didn't respond to me. I tried [to hit his body] but he prepared well to not receive any body punches. I don't think I lost anything in that fight. I feel great and you will see what Miguel Cotto can do," Cotto said.

When he returns, Cotto will face Michael Jennings for the vacant WBO welterweight title. He knows the boxing public views Jennings as a soft opponent, but he expects an opponent who is coming to win.

"People said the same thing about [Alfonso] Gomez. He came to bring a good fight. He came to win. He didn't come to take a loss. He came to try to win and I know Jennings will come and try to win in the same way. I've been a world champion for the last four years and it's great for my career to come back in a title shot. I just want to prove that I'm still one of the best boxers in the world," Cotto said.

Ready2Rumble82 · Jan 19, 2009

Andre Berto vs Luis Collazo

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PB56K4NV

Ready2Rumble82 · Jan 19, 2009

Random boxing photo....

From left, legendary trainer Cus D’Amato, former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson, a young Mike Tyson and former light heavyweight champion Jose “Chegui” Torres, who passed away today.

Helico-pterFunk · Feb 4, 2009

Uppage for my BGOL family ----------------->

[quote author=xtyling link=topic=6756.msg242527#msg242527 date=1229082422]
HBO PPV Boxing: Oscar De La Hoya vs Manny Pacquiao

Two surefire Hall of Famers prepare for one of boxing's most intriguing bouts. The 35-year-old De La Hoya (39-5, 30 KOs) turned professional after winning the gold at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games. A native of East Los Angeles, he has routinely set box-office records during his stellar career, ranging from the junior lightweight division to the middleweight ranks. A national hero in his native Philippines, the 29-year-old Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs) is recognized by most boxing observers as the sport's unofficial pound-for-pound king. Demonstrating knockout power in four weight classes, he will now jump from the 135-pound lightweight division to the 147-pound welterweight ranks to battle De La Hoya.

Ready2Rumble82 · Feb 7, 2009

My latest article....

Darchinyan-Arce: Finally

FRI February 6, BRIAN BLAKE - This Saturday night (9:00PM/EST) at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, Showtime Championship Boxing kicks off it's 2009 season with one of the most highly anticipated matchups in what will be a fight filled February as unified, WBA, WBC and IBF super flyweight champion Vic ‘The Raging Bull’ Darchinyan’ (31-1-1) takes on former three-time champion Jorge ‘Travieso’ Arce (54-4-1).

Both men possess a hard hitting, crowd pleasing style that makes it no wonder why fight fans and writers alike have been salivating over this matchup for years now. Not to mention the fact that they each have the ability to make any routine press conference a memorable event.

Never at a loss for words, Vic states, “I don’t underestimate my opponent. But with any opponent I tell you what I will do with them. I believe any opponent who I fight.. (More)

Q-vo · Feb 7, 2009

We always keep on hearing from Steve Albert how suicidal it is to stand in fron of Vic. But the truth is, he needs room for his punches to count. Watch when they show his Knockout reels. Everybody's going down at the end of his wind-up punches from a distance.

Arce has the phone-booth style to prevent that from happening, but Arce's appeared very battle-worn to me lately. I'd like to see Arce win, but I'm going with Vic.

Ready2Rumble82 · Feb 7, 2009

Darchinyan always uses that weird crab stance and then leaps his way inside to land his big shots. While Arce is the younger fighter between the two, I agree, that he is the more battle-worn fighter. I see Vic taking this one in the middle rounds. But it'll be a fun one for as long as it lasts...

Q-vo · Feb 7, 2009

It's gone to every fighter's head that Vic can be timed & knocked out from the outside...But everyone isn't Nonito Donaire.

Once again, we saw a bunch of highlights/replays of Vic wrecking Arce with wild, long-distance bombs. This guy doesn't have short-range power, so why do they (Mijares,Arce) keep on fighting him from the outside? Future Vic-opponents should just throw the damn tapes away of the Donaire fight and just bury themselves in Vic's chest and let their hands go.

Ready2Rumble82 · Feb 8, 2009

Exactly Q. That Donaire shot was more of the exception than the rule. The best way to take on Vic is to make it a phone-booth type of fight. The only time that Arce found any type of success was when they were in close quarters along the ropes.

Ready2Rumble82 · Feb 14, 2009

Haven't done a news update in a while, but just a heads up for everyone...Nate Campbell lost his titles on the scale yesterday. Weighed in at 138 and two hours later he was only able to lose 1/2 a pound. I spoke to his manager and he said it wasn't a case of undertraining, at the age of 36, Nate just can't make lightweight anymore. So the titles are Funeka's to take. Even if Nate wins tonight, he'll be moving up to jr welterweight.

Ready2Rumble82 · Feb 15, 2009

Last night's HBO Boxing After Dark Triple Header:

Nate Campbell - Ali Funeka
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CCNEJKXF

Sergio Martinez - Kermit Cintron
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VX1TNWUR

Alfredo Angulo - Cosme Rivera
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CZNUFOMO

Enjoy...

patscorpio · Feb 15, 2009

man fuck kermit cintron...that nigga is straight bitchmade...that nigga was ko'ed in 7...then lucks out with a majority draw?!!!! fuck outta here

Q-vo · Feb 15, 2009

patscorpio said:
man fuck kermit cintron...that nigga is straight bitchmade...that nigga was ko'ed in 7...then lucks out with a majority draw?!!!! fuck outta here

Like Larry Merchant said in the Margarito rematch, whenever it gets "Too rough" in the ring, Cintron has complain to the ref about something...And he's still considers himself undefeated since he can use the Margarito losses as a scapegoat now.

btman2004 · Feb 16, 2009

Thanks for sharing.

Ready2Rumble82 · Feb 18, 2009

Bob Arum Issues Statement on Antonio Margarito Ban

BOB ARUM STATEMENT

We want to publicly thank the president of the World Boxing Council, Jose Sulaimam, for his forthright and compelling statement regarding the Margarito bandaging situation.

President Sulaimam is 100% correct in stating that Margarito should not be punished since he was totally unaware of the improper bandaging. The commission hearing established Margarito's lack of knowledge and innocence.

The commission punishment is based on the theory that the boxer is the captain of his team and is responsible for any wrongdoing of his trainer or any of his cornermen.

This is not the law.

When Roger Mayweather, trainer for Floyd Mayweather, entered the ring improperly during the Mayweather vs. Judah fight, Roger was punished but the Nevada commission quite properly never suggested that Floyd be punished.

We in America should respect the law, fundamental legal principles and not be swayed by emotion. The 'message' sent by the California Athletic Commission is the wrong message. The correct 'message' is that a person should only be punished if he or she is guilty of wrongdoing. We hope that Margarito will appeal the unjust revocation of his California boxing license.

BOB ARUM, CEO, TOP RANK

Ready2Rumble82 · Feb 18, 2009

Margarito's Punishment is Too Harsh, Says Steward

Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward says the one year ban on former two-time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito is too severe. On Tuesday, Margarito and his trainer Javier Capetillo had their licences revoked for one year by the California State Athletic Commission - due to a plaster-like substance being found inside of Margarito's hand wraps before he stepped in the ring to fight Shane Mosley on January 24.

Because Capetillo testified that he accidentally placed the wrong pads/wraps on Margarito's hands, Steward feels that Capetillo should have received the one year and Margarito should have received a six month sentence at most. He says a year is too much.

“I think everything that has gone on is probably proper and just,” Steward told PA Sport. “The year’s suspension, I would have not suspended the fighter for a year but the trainer was more to blame.

“Sometimes I know the fighters really don’t know what you’re putting on their hands so on the fighter’s part it was a little severe. I think the fighter should maybe have had about a six months suspension… but a year’s suspension for the trainer is fair.”

“It’s not good for boxing. Performance-enhancing substances are such a grey area but to actually create danger with your weapons, the two things that do all the damage in the fight, the hands, that is serious."

Ready2Rumble82 · Feb 18, 2009

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Turns Down Shane Mosley

After Shane Mosley pulled off the performance of a lifetime by knocking out Antonio Margarito on January 24, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer would quickly state that he was planning to speak with the team of Floyd Mayweather Jr. to explore the possibility of a Mayweather-Mosley bout. Mayweather has been retired since mid-2008, but a month ago his adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, said Floyd had directed him to review potential fight offers.

Schaerfer spoke with Mayweather's manager Al Haymon, who told him that Floyd would not come out of retirement for a Mosley bout.

"I was told by [Mayweather's manager] Al Haymon that Floyd was not coming out of retirement to fight Shane Mosley. I feel bad for Shane. It's as if he looked too good in his last fight. It was the best performance of his career and maybe it made some guys not want to face him," said Schaefer to Sports Illustrated.

Some of Mosley's options include Andre Berto, Joshua Clottey and a rematch with Miguel Cotto.

"I have had a few preliminary conversations with [Cotto promoter] Bob Arum," said Schaefer. "I was told even before [the Margarito suspension] that Cotto preferred to fight Shane over Margarito. I'm sure we will talk some more."

Ready2Rumble82 · Feb 18, 2009

Amir Khan Looks Sharp in Sparring For Barrera Fight

Promising British lightweight Amir Khan (19-1, 15 KO's) looks good in sparring according to Wild Card gym conditioning expert Alex Ariza.

In an overseas telephone conversation with insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Ariza said Khan sparred six rounds as part of his three-times-a-week sparring sessions at the famed gym of trainer Freddie Roach who is preparing Khan for his showdown against Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera (65-6, 43 KO's) on March 14 at the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester , England .

Roach told us in a previous conversation that he expects Khan to be too fast and too strong for the ageing Barrera and felt the Mexican would have a problem fighting as a lightweight.

Ariza said Khan who sparred with Raymund Beltran who has often served as one of Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao’s sparring partners and another Russian whose name Ariza couldn’t recall, has been doing very well in his workouts..

He said “Amir looked very good.” Ariza said the 22 year old Olympic silver medalist who currently weighs 142 pounds should have no trouble making the lightweight limit of 135 pounds against Barrera saying “we’ll be fine.”

Ariza said they were “going to lose a pound a week up until the fight.”

Barrera who is looking to win another world title told BBC Sport’s Ben Dirs that he will not be “a stepping stone” for Khan.

The 35 year old who held belts in three weight divisions noted that Khan “makes mistakes” and has a “questionable chin” adding that the youngsters would be “another British fighter on my list” recalling that he hammered the flamboyant and cocky Naseem Hamed on April 7, 2001.

Barrera stressed “I’m not coming to be a stepping stone. I’m coming to win the fight.”

Ready2Rumble82 · Feb 18, 2009

Mosley, Berto in The Running For Miguel Cotto in June

Top Rank’s Bob Arum will not rule out any of the top names for Miguel Cotto’s planned ring return on June 13. Cotto was originally going to face Antonio Margarito in a rematch, but those plans were scrapped when the California State Athletic Commission revoked Margarito’s license to box on Tuesday, making him unavailable for at least a year. Margarito had his license revoked after the commission ruled that his hand wraps contained a foreign substance. The substance was discovered in Margarito’s hand wraps about thirty-minutes before he entered the ring to fight Shane Mosley on January 24.

Arum doesn’t want to look to far ahead. Cotto still has to deal with Michael Jennings on February 21 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. He plans to sit down with Cotto after the Jennings fight and look over all of the possible names. He won’t exclude anyone, including welterweight champions Andre Berto and Shane Mosley.

“We'll see what makes the most sense. We will be looking at the rankings. We will look at the other champions. A lot of that will depend on where the fight is going to be. If its in The Garden, on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade, then we will go in one direction. If it won’t be there, then we will go in another direction. We know all the names in the welterweight division. We are not excluding anyone,” Arum said.

Mosley is the opponent that makes the most sense on paper, but Arum says that he may not make the most sense to Cotto’s wallet. Cotto won a decision over Mosley in 2007, Margarito knocked Cotto out in July and then Mosley knocked out Margarito last month. Arum would rather go with a fighter like Berto because it means more money to Cotto. A Mosley rematch would mean less money for Cotto because Arum feels, and he’s probably right, that Mosley will demand at least a 50-50 split or more.

“He may not make the most economic sense to Miguel. There might be a fight, that economically, makes more sense. We are going to get Miguel the biggest fight with the most money,” Arum said.

Cotto doesn’t seem to care who the opponent will be.

“That’s never been my job. They present me with choices and tell me which is the best one. If Mosley is the next guy then he’s the next guy,” Cotto said.

Ready2Rumble82 · Feb 18, 2009

Pavlik Feels a Dominating Win is Needed with Rubio

WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (34-1, 30KOs) is in the final stages of training for his mandatory title defense against Marco Antonio Rubio (43-4, 37KOs), scheduled for February 21 at the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, Ohio. Top Rank pay-per-view will televise.

Pavlik is coming off a one-sided decision loss to Bernard Hopkins from last October. He moved up by nearly two weight divisions to face Hopkins at 170-pounds. Now he's back at his natural weight class of 160, and says the pressure is there to perform at a high level by beating Rubio in a very dominating fashion. He doesn't expect too many problems with Rubio's style.

"I'm coming off my first loss. I think it's important that we bring our A' game and put on a good show. I don't think there will be anything to give me trouble. He's a fighter who comes straight ahead. He's going to be right in front of me. He gets hit a lot. He has decent hand speed and good pop. Besides his power, he's there to be hit. He's been knocked out before. He puts that chin out there, we keep touching it, we can put him away," Pavlik said to the Plain Dealer.

Despite all of Rubio's shortcomings, Pavlik is not overlooking the hunger of his opponent.

"The main thing is, the kid's going to be hungry. He's been training like he never has, it's his first real title shot -- and it could be his last. So he's coming with everything. That's the one thing we have to watch out for," Pavlik said.

Ready2Rumble82 · Feb 18, 2009

Cocaine-Fueled Tapia Committed to Psych Ward

Five-time world champion Johnny Tapia, locked in battle once again with his cocaine demons, has been committed to the psychiatric ward of the Bernalillo County Metro Detention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

An anonymous source telephoned Tapia's long-time probation officer on Tuesday morning and told her that Tapia was using cocaine.

According to a spokesperson at the New Mexico State Department of Corrections, the probation officer then called Tapia at his home and he admitted to her that he was using cocaine which is in violation of the terms of his probation for a prior drug offense. Within hours the former champ was again behind bars.

Tapia, who turns 42 today, has essentially been retired since February 2007 when he last appeared in the ring with a 10-round majority decision win over Evaristo Primero. On a few occasions over the past two years there were rumors that Tapia was going to make a return to the fight game but the bouts never came to fruition.

A representative at the Metro Detention Center in Albuquerque would only confirm that Tapia was brought into custody on Tuesday afternoon, that an evaluation was performed and that Tapia was admitted to the psychiatric ward. No messages are able to be passed on to him by the press.

Tapia has battled against cocaine addiction for over two decades and as a result he has had many run-ins with the law. He has been in and out of jail, rehab and the hospital on numerous occasions over the years. His life story was well documented in the 2006 book 'Mi Vida Loca' or 'My Crazy Life' written by Bettina Gilois, in which Tapia claimed he has cheated death on five occasions.

A month after his last fight, Tapia overdosed in a New Mexico hotel room and slipped into a coma. As a result of that incident he was charged with possession of a controlled substance and placed on probation. He was given a second and third chance by Judge Kenneth H. Martinez in April 2008 and again in August 2008.

According to public records obtained by BoxingScene, Tapia admitted to his probation officer last summer that he had done "one line of cocaine." However, at the time Judge Martinez did not feel that alone was reason enough to revoke Tapia's probation and that little good would come of incarcerating him.

Tapia claims his drug problems are the result of trying to deal with the death and memory of his mother. Tapia's mother, Virginia, was stabbed 26 times in a brutal murder that went unsolved for over two decades. Tapia's father was also murdered in a separate incident. Tapia was eight years old at the time of his mother's death.

"I've tried to get over it in the past," said Tapia in his book of his mother's murder. "I've been on so many different kinds of medications. I've been to so many treatments and psychiatrists and therapy. It all hasn't worked. None of it. Not for the long run."

Tapia is currently being held without bond until he appears before a judge.

Ready2Rumble82 · Feb 18, 2009

Hatton is a Very Tough Fight For Pacquiao, Says Sulaiman

World Boxing Council president Don Jose Sulaiman predicts that Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao will have a tough fight against Britain’s IBO light welterweight champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton in their showdown on May 2.

Titled the “Battle of East and West” the eagerly awaited clash will be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas with featherweight Bernabe Concepcion taking on WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano in a title fight on the undercard.

Sulaiman told insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports “I believe it will be a tough fight for Manny because Hatton has a very, very difficult style.”

Sulaiman noted that Hatton “comes in with four five punches and then holds so he won’t let the opponent punch back.”

He also pointed out that 140 pounds “is the natural weight for him (Hatton.)” and he personally didn’t want Pacquiao to fight Hatton but said the choice was up to Pacquiao and his promoter Bob Arum.

Well known boxing writer Mark Vester reported in a story on Boxing Scene that he had spoken to Hatton’s trainer Lee Beard who will work alongside Floyd Mayweather Sr and that Beard doesn’t feel Pacquiao will be able to stay with Hatton for the first six rounds and claimed trainer Freddie Roach was “overestimating what Pacquiao can do.”
Beard said Roach’s views were based on Pacquiao’s 9th round demolition of lightweight champion David Diaz and his 8th round mauling of Oscar De La Hoya. Beard stressed that if Hatton fought Diaz he would be “way too fast, big and strong” and would have stopped Diaz between three to five rounds and if he was “in the ring with Oscar (De La Hoya) on that same night, it nwould have ended in four.”

Vester quoted Beard as saying he had been to the Wild Card gym to watch Pacquiao train and spar and witnessed his fights over the past few years adding “I’ve seen a lot of mistakes and they will automatically play into Ricky’s hands.”

He said Pacquiao makes the same mistakes “over and over again” although he wouldn’t reveal the mistakes Beard told Vester “I’m positive Ricky will knock Manny out within six rounds and I believe the fight won’t be as difficult as some may think.”

Ready2Rumble82 · Feb 18, 2009

Margarito vs. Baldomir is a Possibility, Says Arum

Top Rank's Bob Arum is already considering opponents for Antonio Margarito's next fight, which may take place around June or July in Mexico. Arum mentioned former welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir as a possible opponent. This past Tuesday, Margarito had his boxing license revoked for at least one-year by the California State Athletic Commission over a foreign substance that was found in his hand wraps prior to the fight with Shane Mosley on January 24.

Although the ban by California will likely prevent him from fighting anywhere in the United States, several cities in Mexico are willing to license Margarito as soon as possible. Arum said the CSAC made a wrong ruling and said Margarito's trainer, Javier Capetillo, who also had his license revoked for one-year, should take the full weight of the blame.

"I think it was unfair. He's definitely going to fight in Mexico. What Capetillo did was outrageous and he should be punished, but they punished him on the grounds that he's the captain, he's the boxer, and if anybody on his team does anything wrong he's responsible. That's not the law and that's wrong. That is absolutely wrong," Arum told Reuters.

Arum said they may try to overturn the decision by the CSAC. He is seriously taking a look at staging an event with Margarito headlining in his backyard of Tijuana, Mexico.

"One is to go into Superior Court in California and get a ruling to overturn the revocation, and the other is to go before the Association of Boxing Commissions and ask for them to rule that it have effect in other states," Arum said to Reuters. "We don't know if we're going to go in that direction or both. They want him to fight in Mexico. We're pursuing that."

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

Which of the 3 Sugars would've beaten Mayweather?

Sugar Ray Robinson

Sugar Ray Leonard

Sugar Shane Mosley

None of the above

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