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[cthoaa]

PBF on last night's season premiere of MTV Cribs. Good to see he's invested wisely...

Mayweather Jr. segment, MTV Cribs (MTV)

 

[SSGMUN10000]

Dont forget tonights fights. You have the rematch between Vasquez and Marquez on Showtime. Then you have Morales-Diaz on PPV.

 

[cthoaa]

I only watched the Showtime main event and it was the best.

Round 3 was probably Round of the Year; the fight might wind up being FOTY. Bob Arum made some disparaging remarks towards Showtime Boxing and these fighters in light of the Top Rank PPV, so it'd be cool if Marquez-Vazquez II finishes w/ one, maybe two year-end honors.

After one watch, I am disappointed w/ the stoppage, but only slightly. It's hard to say whether the quality and closeness of the previous rounds should have bought Marquez more leeway, more of a chance to defend. Or if the punishment and damage sustained in those rounds meant that the ref had to err on the side of caution.

Regardless, they both need loooong rests. Vazquez, in particular as he's now been in three straight wars in < 12 months (Jh.Gonzalez).

The prospects of the rubber match are really exciting. (And both certainly seem willing.) Can't wait to compare their three fights to the other trilogies.


I want to see D.Diaz-Morales before commenting on the result.

 

[SSGMUN10000]

I too only caught the showtime event. Boy was it a fight, Vasquez just seemed too determined too lose. I think it was a premature stoppage as Marquez was punching back. Cant wait for 3rd match.

 

[cthoaa]

The few punches after the KD, I think, were purely instinct and very defensive. Some landed solidly and the rest looked good only because he's so damn skilled offensively -- he'd probably throw the same off the canvas. I think that him posturing along the ropes head-to-head w/ Vazquez was a more definitive indicator that he was still game.

Still, the more I see of the end, the more forgiving I am of the ref's call -- it was some 45 seconds after the knockdown, and there was Marquez, reeling against the ropes, blinking away, his legs unsteady, his cheek sliced open, and a pained expression on his face. (Although he does tend to make those wierd faces anyways.)

The two somewhat inconclusive endings do set up the finale beautifully. There are already premature rumblings of the next fight possibly being staged in Mexico City, which would make for an unbelievable atmosphere.


Also, Mayorga lighting up mid-interview was :lol You could hear the translator trying not to laugh and even Vargas was smiling at some of Mayorga's comments.

EDIT: Vargas-Mayorga Interview w/ J.Gray (YouTube)

 

[Neodiablo22]

I used to be really into boxing. Too bad it became corrupted and now has too many titles and chumps on top due to the crazy ranking system. This is why mixed martial arts and UFC became more popular even though they are less strategic (In my opinion) sports.

 

[SSGMUN10000]

Yeah Mayorga is something else. He will say the craziest things. Even though they are both past there primes they are talking a good game and making it interesting.

For those who missed the fight saturday they are repeating it on SHOEX. Im going to sit back and watch it again. Man do I miss my dvr

 

[cthoaa]

I used to be really into boxing. Too bad it became corrupted and now has too many titles and chumps on top due to the crazy ranking system. This is why mixed martial arts and UFC became more popular even though they are less strategic (In my opinion) sports.

I kinda fell off boxing in '99 after the Lewis-Holyfield fights and got into MMA the same year b/c I was already into Japanese puroresu and some wrestler was beating the Gracies. I stopped closely following MMA sometime last year and have been catching up on boxing ever since. It's actually been fun as I've seen like eight years worth of good stuff w/o all the filler.

There are definitely too many titles and one shouldn't use them to rate fighters -- too many paper tigers. Ring's ratings are much better and more accurate then the rankings and belts of the lesser ABC organizations.

 

[cthoaa]

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2964084

Barrios is out as Marquez's opponent on HBO's Sept. 15 PPV. Rocky Juarez has been promoted to take his place in the main event.


SI.com's Chris Mannix sparred three rounds w/ Marquez. JMM seemed to be a little rough w/ him.

Article: My fight with the champ
Video

 

[Quazar]

cthoaa

Thanks for keeping the few on GAF who like boxing up to date.

 

[cthoaa]

hey np man

 

[Bishman]

As a MMA fan, I respect boxing a lot.

I don't watch all boxing fights like I do UFC but I try to watch all the big boxing fights.

The last boxing fight I saw was Hopkins vs Wright.

 

[mrmrec2]

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2964084

Barrios is out as Marquez's opponent on HBO's Sept. 15 PPV. Rocky Juarez has been promoted to take his place in the main event.


SI.com's Chris Mannix sparred three rounds w/ Marquez. JMM seemed to be a little rough w/ him.

Article: My fight with the champ
Video

That video was great
:lol Looking at the promotional Flyer was hilarious.:lol

 

[cthoaa]

James Toney presented his appeal to the California State Athletic Commission regarding a failed drug test following his fight in San Jose. The CSAC heard and voted upon the appeal yesterday.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-fight7aug07,1,1438679.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-sports

Veteran boxer James Toney and recent Ultimate Fighting Championship title fighter Hermes Franca, both facing one-year suspensions and $2,500 fines for positive performance-enhancing drug tests, confronted their appeals hearings before the California State Athletic Commission on Monday with different strategies.

Franca, 32, threw himself on the mercy of the commission, while Toney, 38, insisted he was innocent and most likely betrayed by a contaminated vitamin or herbal supplement. Toney reinforced his point with swear words at the hearing, telling a commissioner he had "disrespected" the boxer, and boasting, "I don't need steroids to beat anybody. I'm the best fighter in the world."

Franca's one-year suspension was upheld.

Toney's was cut in half, to 180 days.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/08/07/sports/s200437D55.DTL

Commission executive officer Armando Garcia said Tuesday that the commission voted 6-1 to cut Toney's suspension in half. He will be eligible to fight again beginning Nov. 24.

A New York Times article about medical reform w/in the sport of boxing and the attempts to create a national commission.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/sports/01boxing.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Three senators — Dorgan; John McCain, Republican of Arizona; and Ted Stevens, Republican of Alaska — introduced the Professional Boxing Amendments Act for the fourth time this year. The bill has unanimously passed in the Senate in each of the previous three years, but it has fallen short in the House each time. This year’s bill is pending in the Senate.

The bill’s provisions include establishing a central medical registry, minimum medical standards and a national commission to oversee the commissions in each state. Proponents of the bill say it would provide for the type of enforcement and oversight to crack down on medical improprieties in boxing.

“In many cases, states will sanction boxing matches when, in fact, they have a boxing commission really in name only, with very little interest in enforcing the rules,” Dorgan said.

Without a central commission, he added, “there’s really no capability of having the kind of enforcement you should have in support of the safety of the boxers.”

Detractors, however, are concerned that a governmental boxing authority would only increase the sport’s bureaucratic red tape.

“To create a new federal agency solely to regulate a sport seems to me to be a bit of a stretch when we’re running an annual deficit in the billions of dollars,” said Noah Reandeau, a governmental affairs consultant for the World Boxing Association and the International Boxing Federation, two of the sport’s major sanctioning bodies.

According to Department of Commerce estimates, it would cost $34 million to run a national boxing commission from 2008-12.

 

[Quazar]

Would suck if he really didn't take it. But I highly doubt that's the case. Interesting though.

 

[cthoaa]

I'm of different minds on the ruling.

As this is his second offense, there needs to be a more definitive response than, 'I don't need steroids b/c I'm the best fighter in the world'. Funny as it may it be, it doesn't really address how this could have happpened once more. (But maybe the first infraction doesn't really factor as it was under another jurisdiction - Nevada)

Also, a suspension of six months doesn't mean much to a boxer who would fight on a similar schedule; it's like suspending a starting pitcher for four games when he usually pitches on four-days' rest anyway. Such a sentencing isn't much of a detterent at all, and neither is USD 2500.

On the other hand, I'm pretty selfish; Toney's always been a favorite of mine and I don't want to see him leave boxing that way.

One of my all-time favorite fights/rounds.
Round 12: Jirov (c) vs. Toney - ROCKY STYLE! (YouTube)

 

[Tom_Cody]

It would be amazing if the sport had a national commision, but I doubt it will ever happen. Boxing really just needs some type of central authority. If the networks could come together to form something like the NFL (or even UFC) boxing could have a chance to recover as a relevant sport.

I'm glad about the news for Toney, though I have no doubt in my mind that he used steroids. Regardless, I consider him an all time great.

Here is my favorite Toney moment: Devastating KO

 

[cthoaa]

Here is my favorite Toney moment: Devastating KO

A great KO ending to a great fight.

I have this one on my iPod and revisit it every now and then; there's several interesting layers to it.

The crowd is pretty brutal as the fighting is all inclose and along the ropes. Merchant and Foreman do a great job defending the fight, especially Foreman, who offers insights into Toney's abilities and body positioning tricks.

And even though there are loud boos throughout, you can see that when people are able to get peeks at the action, they are enthralled -- the back-and-forth is just compelling.

The RJJ commentating cameo made me :lol . He came w/ this horrible trash talk, like "I am the man and if Toney wants to be the man, he has to beat the man and that's me... because I'm the man." And then Lampley asked what he thought of the fight, and Roy eloquently and accurately encapsulated the fight in just a few sentences.

And, of course, the finish is great. Turned him and made him lean waaaaay back.

One of Foreman's comments about Toney has stuck w/ me all this time. Something like, "I think he's a better fighter than even he thinks he is."


Another favorite. (There are many.)
Toney: Burger King, Don King Interview (YouTube)

 

[cthoaa]

A career-threatening eye infection may also leave WBA Super Middleweight champion Anthony Mundine without sight in his left eye.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22213819-11088,00.html

The full extent of the damage won't be known for at least 48 hours, but eye specialist John Males has told Mundine the infection is career-threatening.

WBA super middleweight champion Mundine remained in a Sydney hospital yesterday, still without any sight in his eye.

His father Tony Mundine revealed more details yesterday about his son's problem, which began after a routine operation to remove a growth in his eye.

The flamboyant boxer was given protective contact lenses to wear before heading to New Zealand.

While dining in a New Zealand restaurant a lens fell from his eye on to the floor, and Mundine, who doesn't normally wear contacts, picked it up and cleaned it with his mouth before putting it back in his eye.

 

[cthoaa]

Earlier today, Yahoo! Sports posted their first P4P list for boxing, created by a polling of ten writers. A first-place vote is 10 points, a second-place vote is 9 points, etc.


Yahoo! Sports Top 10 Pound-for-Pound Poll (first place votes in parentheses)

1. Floyd Mayweather (9) 99 points
2. Manny Pacquiao (1) 90
3. Joe Calzaghe 62
4. Juan Manuel Marquez 49
5. Bernard Hopkins 46
6. Miguel Cotto 40
7. Jermain Taylor 33
8. Winky Wright 31
9. Israel Vazquez 15
10. Shane Mosely 13

Others receiving votes: Wladimir Klitschko, 12; Ricky Hatton, 11; Juan Diaz, 10;
Marco Antonio Barrera 8; Rafael Marquez 7; Chad Dawson 6; Oscar De La Hoya 5;
Mikkel Kessler 5; Kelly Pavlik 2; Chris John 2; Junior Witter 2; Vernon Forrest 1;
Paul Williams 1.


All subjective, of course, and P4P is mythical, but Calzaghe's too high for my tastes. Also, Witter, Dawson, Pavlik, and Forrest are stretches in anyone's top ten.

 

[gollumsluvslave]

but Calzaghe's too high for my tastes.

Poor Joe, always under-rated.

He showed his class in the Lacey fight where he put on a boxing masterclass, yet he still doesn't get his due.

I really hope that after Kessler (whichI'm confident he'll win) he gets that 'big' fight he's always wanted - with Hopkins making noises about fighting now it's a possibility.

 

[cthoaa]

Poor Joe, always under-rated.

Yah, I dunno; it looks kinda off w/ him so high. Other rankings consistently have him in the bottom half of the top ten. (Ring has him #8; ESPN.com #6.) Even BBC Sport pegged him as high as #5, so seeing him in the top three of this poll (of ten American writers) was a surprise. (Though on second glance, it's not the biggest one.)

I was trying to figure out their reasoning -- trying to come up w/ some methodology that would have Calzaghe rated so highly because it's not like it's impossible to have him third -- but I don't think, under those criteria, Junior Mayweather would have been a near-unanimous number one or Manny Pacquiao, a concensus #2. (Or Hatton outside the top ten.)

Of the top ten, Calzaghe's opponents are the least impressive to me. (Save Cotto's; his ranking is high to me, too.) I think to date Calzaghe's best victory was Lacy, who wasn't a P4Per. This compared to Jermain Taylor at #7 (also seems high), who has two wins over Bernard Hopkins (#5) and a controversial draw with Winky Wright (#8). Wright has two wins over Shane Mosley (#10, high again), the aforementioned draw w/ Taylor (I think I had him winning), and a loss on points to Hopkins. Juan Manuel Marquez has a win over Marco Antonio Barrera (#14), a controversial draw w/ Manny Pacquiao (#2), and a controversial loss to Chris John (#20). I think everyone in the top ten has a victory or, at the least, a fight w/ a guy who was a consensus top 10 P4Per except for Calzaghe (and Cotto).

To me, "pound-for-pound" has always meant "if weight weren't a factor". (It's for SRR, after all.) Guys on the list have been proving themselves, campaigning in different classes. Mayweather's a five-weight champion. Pacquiao's a four-weight champion. MAB and Mosley are three-weight champions. The brother Marquez are champions in two weights. Of the top ten, I think only Calzaghe and Taylor are w/o championship campaigns in two divisions.

(Taylor's young and has said he'll move up to SMW after the Pavlik fight next month, but Calzaghe? I'm not sure, but my impression is that weight-jumping isn't really regarded in the UK. Off the top of my head, I can't think of a three-weight UK champion and struggle naming those with belts in two divisions.)

Again, just my opinion, and I don't think Calzaghe over JMM or anyone is some miscarriage of justice. I like him enough and favor him to beat Kessler (and probably Hopkins, were they to meet). But if I had to vote, I don't think I'd have him slotted third.

He showed his class in the Lacey fight where he put on a boxing masterclass, yet he still doesn't get his due.

I keep this fight on my iPod, too. (Even got it legally. )

EDIT: Trying iTunes Store link...

Showtime Championship Boxing: Lacy vs. Calzaghe (iTunes)
Very entertaining despite the lopsidedness of the contest. Great crowd.

 

[cthoaa]

The 2nd Golden Boy Promotions Boxing World Cup is tonight in Sacramento's Arco Arena. Mexico won the inaugural event in 2005, 5-1 v. Thailand, and will be defending against the Philippines.

EDIT:

Team Mexico (C) vs. Team Philippines

Daniel Ponce de Leon (C, 31-1, 28 KOs) vs. Rey Bautista (23-0, 17 KOs) - WBO Super Bantamweight title
Jhonny Gonzalez (C, 34-5, 29 KOs) vs. Gerry Penalosa (51-6-2, 34 KOs) - WBO Bantamweight title
Eric Ortiz (26-6-1, 17 KOs) vs. Z Gorres (26-2-1, 14 KOs) - vacant IBF Int. Jr. Bantamweight title
Miguel Roman (22-0, 16 KOs) vs. Michael Domingo (31-14-2, 12 KOs) @ 122
Jose Angel Beranza (30-9-2, 25 KOs) vs. Diosdado Gabi (29-3-1, 21 KOs) @ 118
Jorge Cardenas (9-3-3, 6 KOs) vs. AJ Banal (13-0-1, 10 KOs) @ 115

Honorary Captains: Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao


The undercard looks to shape into an early points lead for the Philippines. The Mexican fighters are strong favorites in both co-main events.

Originally planned for seven fights, the card has been reduced to six b/c of injuries/medical clearances. In the event of a tie, the team w/ the most KOs is the winner. If needed, the second tiebreaker is decided by points (rounds).

The two championship co-features air tonight on HBO's Boxing After Dark (BAD).

 

[gollumsluvslave]

I was trying to figure out their reasoning -- trying to come up w/ some methodology that would have Calzaghe rated so highly because it's not like it's impossible to have him third -- but I don't think, under those criteria, Junior Mayweather would have been a near-unanimous number one or Manny Pacquiao, a concensus #2. (Or Hatton outside the top ten.)

Ahh, I get you - I agree it is actually a surprise to see hime rated that high by an American panel and Hatton not being top 10 is even more strange.

 

[cvxfreak]

My family is going to see the Sacramento event live. I've lost enthusiasm for boxing though. Still, that's kind of an interesting set up they've got there.

 

[cthoaa]

2nd Golden Boy Boxing World Cup Results

M.Domingo (PHI) UD6 M.Roman (MEX)
D.Gabi (PHI) UD8 J.A.Beranza (MEX)
A.J.Banal (PHI) TKO3 J.Cardenas(MEX)
Z Gorres (PHI) TKO8 E.Ortiz (MEX)
G.Penalosa (PHI) KO7 J.Gonzalez (MEX)
D.Ponce de Leon (MEX) TKO1 R.Bautista (PHI)

Team PHI def. Team MEX, 5-1

Fights were aired over free TV in the Philippines (ABS-CBN); the last two were carried in the US by HBO.

YouTube:
Banal-Cardenas: Round 3 (ABS-CBN)
Gorres-Ortiz: Round 8 (ABS-CBN)
Gonzalez-Penalosa: Round 7 (ABS-CBN)
Gonzalez-Penalosa: Replay, Post-Fight (ABS-CBN)
Ponce de Leon-Bautista: Round 1 (ABS-CBN)
Ponce de Leon-Bautista: Entrances, Intro, Round 1 (HBO)


The commentary in the ABS-CBN footage is quite amateur. Topped off by an "Oh, shit..." in the main event. Awesome. :lol

Manny Pacquiao abandoned his duties as a team captain, instead flying home w/o informing Freddie Roach or Oscar de la Hoya. He was last seen playing a pickup game of basketball. (RJJ redux?) Aussie Michael Katsidis, who defeated and inflicted career-ending injuries to Filipino Czar Amonsot, assumed cornering duties in Pacquiao's absence.

The aftermath of Gorres-Ortiz: pretty brutal and hard to look at. Reminds me of Rahman's bump.

 

[cthoaa]

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_y...ug=ki-081307trinidadjones&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Promoter Don King will announce at a Florida news conference Monday that former middleweight champion Felix Trinidad will end a 2½-year retirement to meet former pound-for-pound champion Roy Jones Jr.

Details of when and where the fight will be held remain unclear.

EDIT:

Rumored date of January 26 @ catch weight of 170. Tito looks like he's lost quite a bit of weight since the taping of DLH-PBF:24/7.


EDIT 2:

Oh, geez.

Contract signing: Trinidad @ King's offices w/ Jones on the phone (streaming vid)
I laughed at the woman who was looking tired of all the BS, Don King's flags again (how many does he have?), "Viva Puerto Rico!", Tito accidentally threatening to knock out Fred the lawyer, and the overall nuttiness of the whole event. Why'd they even put this up?

 

[cthoaa]

The Miguel Cotto-Shane Mosley fight was made official yesterday. One of the alleged hangups (money, surprise, surprise) was resolved as Mosley will be getting 53 percent of the revenue to Cotto's 47: a much closer split than the 60-40 number that was floating about.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2975880

Also, y'know how 40 y.o. Riddick Bowe (42-1) was going to make a comeback this weekend against Rocky Phillips? How it was going to be in a ring set up in the parking lot of a waterside Kentucky hotel? And how it was going to be the start of a "10 fights in 10 months" schedule that would take him to another world heavyweight title?

Yeah, that's not happening anymore.

But his fight next month in Sweden is still on. Supposedly.

 

[flem1]

The Miguel Cotto-Shane Mosley fight was made official yesterday. One of the alleged hangups (money, surprise, surprise) was resolved as Mosley will be getting 53 percent of the revenue to Cotto's 47: a much closer split than the 60-40 number that was floating about.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2975880

Also, y'know how 40 y.o. Riddick Bowe (42-1) was going to make a comeback this weekend against Rocky Phillips? How it was going to be in a ring set up in the parking lot of a waterside Kentucky hotel? And how it was going to be the start of a "10 fights in 10 months" schedule that would take him to another world heavyweight title?

Yeah, that's not happening anymore.

But his fight next month in Sweden is still on. Supposedly.

So many good fights in 2007 ... It's hard to pick the winner between Mosley and Cotto but I will be rooting for Sugar Shane...

And Bowe should just retire. I doubt his heart is still in boxing...

 

[cthoaa]

I think of the major fights in the last months of 2007, the Cotto-Mosley will be the hardest to call, and I expect the odds to reflect that (whenever they come out). I'm also rooting for Mosley and think Cotto's not ready for him just yet, but I had a similar feeling about the Judah fight, so clearly that doesn't mean very much.

And, yeah, the Bowe thing is just sad. It's hard just listening to him talk, and I have no idea how he's getting these boxing licenses and passing even the most preliminary medical exams. But he is coming off bankruptcy, and people must think they can still make money off him, so...

 

[cthoaa]

On the Yahoo! Sports MMA/Boxing Experts blog, Kevin Iole invites discussion re: his not-yet-set-in-stone all-time Top 10, specifically the placing of Marciano (currently tenth).

At the time of writing:

1. Sugar Ray Robinson
2. Henry Armstrong
3. Muhammad Ali
4. Joe Louis
5. Sugar Ray Leonard
6. Roberto Duran
7. Jack Dempsey
8. Benny Leonard
9. Julio Cesar Chavez
10. Rocky Marciano


Yahoo! also held a Mailbag Q & A w/ Floyd Mayweather, Jr. w/ readers asking him questions such as why he unretired (fans wanted him to keep fighting + Hatton disrespected him), who he thinks will win b/w Cotto-Mosley and whether or not he'd fight him (Mosley by KO and yes, he'd consider it), and which fighters he likes to watch (Pacman, Awesome Dawson, the brothers Marquez).


And from a recent interview in Zoo, a UK magazine, Ricky Hatton on Floyd, Jr.:

"As a fighter, you can't help but admire him - he's very fast and skilled. But as a person, he's totally full of himself.

"If there's such a thing as reincarnation, he'll want to come back as his f**king self." :lol

 

[cthoaa]

Huge KO in yesterday's IBF Middleweight Title fight b/w Arthur Abraham (c) and Khoren Gevor.

Round 11: Abraham-Gevor, german (YouTube)
Replays: Abraham-Gevor KO, german (YouTube)

Despite the write-up on Fight Report, I found Abraham more inactive rather than defensive-minded, esp. at the start, and had Gevor ahead by a few points (6-4 or 7-3), though clearly fading towards the end. The television commentary had Abraham leading by 4 rounds.

Abraham's promoter has said that he is US-bound, hoping to debut/defend here next year.

 

[cthoaa]

The US Olympic Trials start today in Houston, as USA Boxing again tries to field a team that can compete under the not-so-very-new international system.

BoxingTalk has been previewing the event, breaking down the divisions. (Part 1) (Part 2)

An article in the Houston Chronicle about the changes in training methods implemented by US amateurs/trainers and the recent successes of Team USA at the international stage against Cuba and Russia. (link)

Kostya Tszyu's famous denouncement of the Olympic scoring system after sitting in on the 2000 US Olympic Trials. (link)

1988 US Olympic Trials Finals (junior middleweight): Roy Jones, Jr. v. Frankie Liles (YouTube)

Very fun, spirited fight from the finals of the 1988 US Trials, the last one under the old scoring standards and w/o the computers and that kind of stuff.

 

[cthoaa]

Trinidad-Jones conference call transcript (DonKing.com)

Tito Trinidad: "This is a great challenge to fight Roy Jones who is one of the greatest of the era and I never turned down a great fight and I am coming out of retirement for a great fight, with a great fighter like Roy Jones."

Sounds great.


Roy Jones, Jr. Radio Interview (ESPN.com, open new window)

RJJ weighs in on Michael Vick's legal troubles. He compares the gravity of Vick's crimes to Jesus', says that race wasn't a factor in the investigation but instead 'blames' the White House's animal rights agenda, and reiterates his intentions to buy property in Puerto Rico b/c there, cockfighting is legal.

"People, why would you want Jesus to die?" = so good. The passion in his voice. :lol

I love the guy, but the things he says...

 

[Quazar]

:lol That's awesome.^^^

 

[flem1]

Whoah!! That is one wicked left hook by Abraham... I wanna see him against Pavlik, now that would be a war...

 

[cthoaa]

Abraham says he wants to come to America and become a "super" champion (2+ belts).

Pavlik says he plans on staying middleweight for a while.

Taylor says, win or lose, the upcoming fight will be his last at middleweight.

If they all stay true to their words (ha!), it seems the only way for a real unification b/w the three would be Pavlik-Abraham following a Pavlik win over Taylor next month.

So, yeah. It would be cool if those two fought as they could bring some meaning to their titles. That, on top of the fireworks display that would surely follow. (No way would it last ten rounds, let alone into the twelfth.)

 

[cthoaa]

Big "little" fight in Puerto Rico as it's champion vs. champion, Mexico vs. PR, power vs. speed, boxer vs. puncher -- all those things. WBO Junior Flyweight Champion Hugo Fidel "El Increible" Cázares defends against the WBO Strawweight Champion Ivan "Iron Boy" Calderón.

Basically, the Mexican Cázares won his title against a Puerto Rican champion in Puerto Rico and has since defensed it, beating up more Puerto Ricans on their homecourt. Ivan Calderón, who can't find anyone to fight at his weight, is moving up to try and win back the title for his country.

Calderón is wonderfully skilled, as he's very smart, very fast, and very hard to pin down. But to go with his lack of power, he will be facing a strong puncher w/ a drastic size advantage:

Pretty significant even for an eight-pound class difference, much less three. (Calderón's usual 105@straw vs. Cázares [email protected])


These fights at the minimum weights can be off-putting and hard to watch on undercards as the guys look so tiny in the rings meant for heavies. As this card is full of smaller fighters, the ring will be setup to make these guys look good. Hopefully, 6-foot something Vic Draculich or, even worse, Eddie Cotton won't be there to throw things off.

 

[cthoaa]

Didn't see it, but apparently Teddy Atlas gave his thoughts on the year's biggest matchups on Friday Night Fights. He's going with:

Taylor over Pavlik
MAB over Pacquiao
Cotto over Mosley
Kessler over Calzaghe
Mayweather over Hatton


w/o hearing his rhetoric, his pick of Barrera to beat Pacquiao isn't too surprising. Everything coming from Barrera's camp has been very positive, and almost all the news about Pacquiao has been equally negative.

re: Kessler over Calzaghe, I can only say that, having just watched a Kessler comp, his jab is really, really good -- one of the few that can be relied upon as such a weapon. He really moves his opponents with it.

Still, I think Atlas will be wrong on all of his calls except Mayweather-Hatton.

 

[cthoaa]

Pictures: Iván Calderón SD12 Hugo Fidel Cázares (c) for WBO Light Flyweight title

Video: Kiko Matinez TKO1 Bernard Dunne (c) for European Super Bantamweight title

Dunne-Martinez: Pre-fight Studio Analysis + Entrances (YouTube)
Dunne-Martinez: National Anthems, Intros, Fight (YouTube)
Dunne-Martinez: Post-Fight Ceremonies, Interviews (YouTube)

:O



News: Vargas-Mayorga postponed; Sept. 8 card cancelled

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2991105

Vargas farewell bout postponed due to anemia

For those excited about Fernando Vargas' Sept. 8 farewell fight against Ricardo Mayorga, highlights of their July 11 news conference brawl will have to suffice for now.

The fight, scheduled to take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Showtime PPV, was postponed Saturday because Vargas was diagnosed with anemia, manager Shelly Finkel told ESPN.com.

"Fernando is disappointed. He put a lot of time into training for this fight," Finkel said. "Hopefully, it can be rescheduled. The doctor said if everything is OK, he can probably start training again in two or three weeks."

Vargas and Mayorga, a former welterweight champion and junior middleweight titleholder, were to meet at 162 pounds in a fight that figured to be a brawl. Although Vargas is only 29, he's been in many grueling fights and was knocked out in his last two fights by Shane Mosley last year. Vargas, however, wanted one more fight -- for pride, he said -- and picked the trash-talking Mayorga for what he announced would be his farewell bout.

While training for the fight during the past several weeks, Vargas was feeling sluggish and weak. After a visit to his doctor and a blood test on Friday, he was diagnosed Saturday with anemia, a blood condition that results from a lower number of healthy red blood cells and can lead to fatigue.

Main Events and Don King, co-promoters of the card, were talking Saturday with the Staples Center about potential dates to reschedule the fight.

 

[cthoaa]

http://www.mlive.com/sports/grpress/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/118830272612890.xml&coll=6

As much as three-quarters of Mayweather's training camp could overlap the two-month dancing competition, which ends Nov. 24, two weeks before Mayweather-Hatton.

The television show's Monday-Tuesday format and Saturday finale could dictate that Mayweather alter his camp schedule, which ordinarily consists of full workouts Monday through Friday, cardiovascular-only Saturdays, and idle Sundays. The weekly round trips from Las Vegas training to the Los Angeles studio could require shifting his day off to Mondays or Tuesdays.

http://www.mlive.com/sports/grpress/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1188390919202580.xml&coll=6

The dance show's first telecast is Sept. 24, and its last is Nov. 24 -- two weeks before the Dec. 8 fight.

...

"I think the dancing will help me for my boxing, to be honest," Mayweather said. "I think it will help me with my balance. I already have great balance, but this is a different kind of balance.

"The fight, I'm not really worried about. I know I can handle that. You don't just have 38 fights, and 38 good nights, by chance. I know what I'm doing, as far as the fight."

Smirnoff was assigned Mayweather's dance partner. The Russian native will join him on an international press tour next month and during his training camp in Las Vegas.

...

"I can dance, but this is different from hip-hop dancing," Mayweather said. "Your hands have got to be turned a certain way, your legs have got to be turned a certain way. It's like boxing, sort of. A lot of things are like boxing, like how you turn off the pivot. I'll be good at it, but I won't be great. It takes 15, 20 years to be great."

Yeah, this is probably not such a great idea. But I don't doubt that this can help w/ his image and also sell a few ppv's in the process.

Anyway, his partner looks awesome:

 

[cthoaa]

Video of Mayorga reacting to Vargas' "medical condition":

http://www.donking.com/uploads/3/may_d_vargas.html


When he first showed the Mexican flag, I feared for the worst. Another Hopkins-Puerto Rico international incident or something like it.

Instead, this was a great promo that should appeal to Vargas' pride and make him reconsider things. (There were hints that Vargas might up and quit; retire w/o following through w/ the fight.)

Good stuff, but I don't think maricon fully translates to "coward".



EDIT:

Aaaaaaannd... it's rescheduled.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2997158

Co-promoters Main Events and Don King had been working on a new date with Staples Center officials for the past few days and they came up with Nov. 23, an unusual date for a pay-per-view boxing event because it falls on a Friday, not Saturday, which is the typical day for a major PPV card. This year, it is also the day after Thanksgiving, traditionally a weekend promoters try to avoid.

 

[cthoaa]

New season of "The Contender" starts Tuesday.



The Contender Promo #1, Overview (YouTube)
The Contender Promo #2, SPARQ Training (YouTube)
What is The Contender? + more (ESPN Video)

There is a great mix of prospects entering the title contention stage and veterans who have already participated in world championship contests. Overall, the calibre of fighter is much higher this time around, as are the trainers.

Max Alexander (26, Camden, N.J., 14-1, 2 KOs)
David Banks (24, Portland, Ore., 14-2-1, 2 KOs)
Sakio Bika (28, Sydney, Australia, via Cameroon, 22-3-2, 14 KOs)
Henry "Sugar Poo" Buchanan (28, Capital Heights, Md., 14-1, 11 KOs)
La Farrell Bunting (27, Las Vegas, 16-3-1, 16 KOs)
Jaidon Codrington (23, New York, 16-1, 12 KOs)
Miguel Hernandez (32, Chicago, 20-5, 10 KOs)
Wayne Johnson (29, Lyndhurst, N.J., 16-1, 9 KOs)
Donny McCrary (24, St. Joseph, Mo., 23-5-2, 13 KOs)
Les Ralston (25, Buffalo, N.Y., 16-2, 9 KOs)
Danny Santiago (34, Ocala, Fla., 29-3-1, 19 KOs)
Paul Smith (24, Liverpool, England, 20-0, 12 KOs)
Sam Soliman (33, Melbourne, Australia, 33-9, 13 KOs)
Brian Vera (26, Austin, Texas, 14-0, 9 KOs)
Rhoshii Wells (30, Las Vegas, 18-2-2, 10 KOs)
Rubin Williams (31, Detroit, 29-2-1, 16 KOs)

Trainers: James "Buddy" McGirt, Jose "Pepe" Correa


I never watched this show, instead opting for "The Ultimate Fighter" when both shows were in their first seasons. But I'm very interested in watching Soliman again, and McGirt is sure to be good tv. And while the fights will still be edited "for dramatic purposes"on the show, they will be replayed in their entirety the next night.

 

[cthoaa]

Jaidon Codrington (9-0) v. Allan Green (17-0), ShoBox 2005-11-04 (YouTube)

Voted The Ring's 2005 Knockout of the Year. Cordrington was (still is?) part of a duo along w/ Curtis Stevens known as "The Chin Checkers" and the name was turned all kinds of ways following the loss. ("The Chin Checked", "The China Chinners", and the like.)

Jaidon Codrington's Punch-Out!! (YouTube)

:lol

 

[DonCuco]

I think of the major fights in the last months of 2007, the Cotto-Mosley will be the hardest to call, and I expect the odds to reflect that (whenever they come out). I'm also rooting for Mosley and think Cotto's not ready for him just yet, but I had a similar feeling about the Judah fight, so clearly that doesn't mean very much.

And, yeah, the Bowe thing is just sad. It's hard just listening to him talk, and I have no idea how he's getting these boxing licenses and passing even the most preliminary medical exams. But he is coming off bankruptcy, and people must think they can still make money off him, so...

The Cotto-Judah fight was awesome. I think that Cotto may be able to beat Mosley if Shane fights hard like Judah did in the first rounds and lose steam at the end. Whatever the outcome I expect a great fight from those two.

 

[cthoaa]

I think that Cotto may be able to beat Mosley if Shane fights hard like Judah did in the first rounds and lose steam at the end.

I think what you suggest is the most likely outcome. The wear that Mosley brings to the fight coupled w/ Cotto's withering body attack will find Mosley tired come the championship rounds.

But I think Mosley will be able to back up Cotto for some of the fight. His alternating pitty-pat and stiff jabs and hand-speed/power combination might bother Cotto some and maybe force him to fight off the back foot. Cotto's defense is good, but isn't w/o leaks and since they're both the forward type, Mosley won't have trouble finding him.

Also, where I believe Mosley can improve on Judah's performance is the counter (uppercut or straight/cross) as Cotto closes; it was there for Judah almost all night. He caught Cotto three or four times but became gun-shy as he got mauled if he didn't stop the rush. I don't think Mosley will give up on this punch that easily.

Whatever the outcome I expect a great fight from those two.

Definitely, and as it features Joshua Clottey vs. Luis Collazo to go w/ fights for Vernon Forrest and Casamayor (opponents TBA), this card could be one of, if not the best of the year.

 

[cthoaa]

An account of yesterday's (late Saturday/early Sunday) Ricardo Torres(c)-Kendall Holt fight for the WBO Junior Welterweight Championship in Colombia:

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=10138

Holt was ahead of World Boxing Organization junior welterweight champion Ricardo Torres on two of three scorecards entering the 11th round, but Torres dropped Holt near Holt's corner with a right hand that gave the hometown hero a chance to complete a remarkable comeback. What transpired thereafter, though, is open to interpretation.

As Holt tried to use his legs and held to avoid another powerful punch from Torres (32-1, 28 KOs) in the 11th round, he continuously slipped on what was an extremely slick surface caused by fans hurling innumerable full beer cans and bottles and cans of soda and water into the ring. With flying ice cubes, liquids, plastic and aluminum seemingly endangering the safety of Holt and Torres, referee Genaro Rodriguez, who also appeared to stand directly in harm's way, declined to halt the action so that the surface could be dried and order could be restored around ringside.

The Chicago-based referee instead stopped the fight with a tiring, retreating Holt (22-2, 12 KOs) still on his feet late in the 11th. Holt, his manager/assistant trainer, Henry Cortes, and head trainer Aroz Gist all attempted to protest the stoppage, but Rodriguez dismissed their complaints in the ring, which quickly filled with fans security personnel couldn't stop.

"(Rodriguez) didn't say anything (in the ring)," Holt said. "He said, 'Move. It's over. You were hurt.' "

Their exchange was much more heated in the lobby of the Barranquilla Plaza Hotel once Holt arrived from the nearby arena. While walking past Rodriguez, who was talking with other WBO officials, an emotional Holt screamed obscenities at Rodriguez for actions Holt believes cost him the WBO's 140-pound crown. Rodriguez responded by telling Holt, "F*ck you!," and then moved toward Holt, before bystanders intervened.

Moments earlier, Rodriguez acknowledged near ringside that the slippery surface might've warranted a break in the action.

"It could've been slippery enough," Rodriguez said, "but the action of the fight was more important at that time."

Rolando Marcos-Hermoso, the WBO's rules supervisor for the fight, contradicted Rodriguez moments later, stating that WBO rules require a stoppage when a surface is that slippery.

"That's what the rules state should've happened," Marcos-Hermoso said. "I don't want to step ahead of myself, but I do want to have a conversation with Rodriguez about the situation."

...

Colombia's Billie Chams, a respectable man who had conducted a smooth, first-rate promotion prior to fight night, admitted afterward that he was embarrassed by the actions of many of the roughly 1,600 in attendance. "I am not proud of the crowd, just because that never happens here," Chams said. "In this place, the crowd is always perfect. And tonight, I don't like the things that I saw. ... I never expected that to happen because I've promoted (21 previous) world title fights and it never happened."

When the scary scene unfolded early Sunday morning, no one seemed safe.

Darren Antola, Holt's cut man, was hit with a full beer can, which left him with a knot on the back of his head as he prepared to head to the airport for his flight back to New Jersey. Ashema Evans, Holt's girlfriend, suffered a cut on her leg when out-of-control Colombian fans began toppling tables in the VIP section to bum rush the ring, which looked like the ring at Madison Square Garden the night a riot broke out during the Riddick Bowe-Andrew Golota fight in July 1996.

"Could you imagine what would've happened had Kendall knocked this guy out?," Antola asked. "They acted like this and their guy won. We wouldn't have made it out of there alive if he lost."

Ricardo Torres-Kendall Holt: highlights in spanish (streaming video)


Re: the stoppage, the video isn't so damning. Even w/ the low quality, it's clear the canvas was wet, but the stoppage itself, while contestable, wasn't as horrible as the write-up leads one to believe. (Though it definitely looks bad when the stopped fighter is the last one to throw.)

There's also what looked like a uncalled knockdown (1:03), but as things ended, the missed one-off didn't factor in the result.

You can also see Holt getting hit in the head by a can after knocking down Torres (1:15). The actions by the crowd, the injuries inflicted, and the overall fight conditions were regrettable.


More:

Oh, yeah he was punching back. Ricardo did not even touch him, but in the flurry Kendall was more trying to keep his balance, but then I talked to him and he tells me 'Somebody grabbed my leg.' I look over to Ricardo's corner and there is like 30 people in the corner. God knows who did it, you know? There was just no control, it was just crazy. No security, no order.

 

[John_B]

Kessler will end Calzaghe's career. He is in better shape, his left hits like a train and he is a master of staying away from in-fights.

Calzaghe did not want to meet Kessler. It took special conditions and 5 million dollars for him, yet still there was hesitation. Kessler is even putting up both the WBA belt and the WBC belt up.

All the bookmakers has Calzaghe as a clear favorite, so put some money on Kessler.

 

[cthoaa]

Hatton, Graham comment on Mayweather "Dancing":

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...rts.html?in_article_id=479275&in_page_id=1781

"I don't know who Floyd's partner is going to be, but she will have to do all the leading," said Hatton. "He's known for doing a bit of back-pedalling, so I suppose it could be ideal preparation. I have no doubt in my mind that he's going to back-pedal against me."

...

"I wouldn't like Ricky doing something like this before a big fight," said the 28-year-old Mancunian's trainer Billy Graham. "As far as I'm concerned, when a fighter's in full training all he should do is train, eat and sleep. But whatever Floyd Mayweather does doesn't surprise me.

"If you do something in small doses to ease the boredom of training, it might help. But you've got to be careful. The fight's the most important thing. Maybe, Floyd's looking for a ready-made excuse for when he gets beaten."

 

[cthoaa]

Calzaghe last week: "I'm up for this fight big time and when I see Kessler face-to-face and look straight into his eyes I will know if he has the fire in his belly."

Kessler over the weekend: "What’s on the menu for the press lunch? Is it chicken vindaloo or some Mexican meal with habanero peppers? It must be something really spicy if it causes fire in the belly. If Joe has fire in his belly, maybe Frank Warren should get him an appointment to see an internal medicine specialist."

Calzaghe, Kessler at the NY presser yesterday:

They look like they're in love. :|

j/k

Quick Kessler interview @ FightFan.com (link)