Boxing News Thread

[2-0-Sixx]

Joan Guzman: "I Was Wrong, and I Apologize"


I was wrong and I apologize. There is no one else to blame for me not making the lightweight division weight limit of 135 pounds for my WBO, WBA and IBF title bout against Nate Campbell this past weekend.

No trainer is to blame. No nutritionist is to blame. No manager is to blame. No promoter is to blame. Put the blame on me, Joan Guzman, because I was completely at fault.

My conduct in this important matter was unprofessional.

I rolled the dice by coming in too heavy at the start of my training camp. I was able to get away with this many times before but, at age 32, my body shut down on me with 3.5 pounds to go. My metabolism rejected taking off so many pounds in a short period.

I apologize, first and foremost, to Campbell. I hope he accepts my sincere apology.

I apologize to all the boxing fans, his, mine and fans who just wanted to see two accomplished fighters compete.

I apologize to everyone in my native country, the Dominican Republic, and I am sorry I let you all down after you have given me years of great support.

I apologize to the Showtime network and hope I can earn their forgiveness over time.

I apologize to the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino and to all the great people of the Biloxi area.

I apologize to Campbell's entire team from co-promoters Don King and Terry Trekas on down.

I certainly apologize to my team starting with Sycuan Ringside Promotions, the entire Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and to my manager, Jose Nunez.

I apologize to other members of my own team all of whom worked so hard.

I apologize to the WBO, to the WBA, to the IBF and to the Mississippi athletic commission.

I learned a lesson, a hard lesson, and I just hope that, in time, I can regain the trust and the confidence of all concerned.

Humbly Submitted,

JOAN GUZMAN

 

[heyzel]

JD Chapman's Promoter Talks on The David Haye Fallout

By Rick Reeno

The David Haye "heavyweight re-debut saga" continues. Last night we reported that after a breakdown in negotiations with Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson (27-0-1, 7KOs), Haye's team began to focus on untested prospect JD Chapman (29-0, 26KOs). Not long after our first report, we posted a second report that Chapman had turned down the fight and the new frontrunner was Eddie Chambers (31-1, 17KOs).

Haye, along with Richard Schaefer [CEO for Golden Boy Promotions], went forward with his Tuesday press conference in the UK, and claimed that Chapman did not board a plane and no-showed the press conference, which is not entirely true because Haye knew on Monday that Chapman did agree to take the fight. At the present, Haye is without a set opponent for November 15 at the O2 Arena in London.

BoxingScene.com spoke with Mike Borao, who along with his partner Scott Hirsch, promote Chapman under their company Hirsch Borao Promotions. According to Borao, a third-party may have interfered in the negotiations, resulting in Chapman turning down the fight.

"I don't exactly know why JD decided to end negotiations, but I have reason to believe that an uninformed third-party interfered and may have clouded his judgment during negotiations, and we are looking into that," Borao said.

"It’s unfortunate because it was a terrific opportunity for JD. He’s a big heavyweight who can punch and everyone knows David Haye has a suspect chin. It’s just unfortunate. Having said all that, I still believe JD is the best young prospect in the world and still has a great opportunity to become heavyweight champion.”

Adam Booth, Haye’s manager and trainer, told the media that Chapman was scared of being knocked out, and claims the Arkansas fighter personally said it.

“’He said: 'I'm not coming to England to get knocked out,” Booth said. “This after agreeing a substantial amount of money.”

Borao has no idea where Booth got that quote, but it did not come from Chapman.

"That's ridiculous. The kid would never say that. Like I said, it's just novice people talking in his ear which is very common in boxing,” Borao said. “I don’t put the blame on JD. He's a young guy so he's going to make mistakes. It's a shame because JD's size and power would have given Haye a lot of problems.”

Speaking with another source, BoxingScene was told that Chapman was perhaps advised by a third party that he could obtain more money with other opponents and other possible fights. A source close to the negotiations on the Haye end would tell me that a mid six-figure offer was presented to Chapman. If this is the case, a guy with a big punch being offered that kind of money, for a fight with a smaller guy with a perceived weak chin, it might be a risk worth taking. It would certainly be more money than some of Haye’s previous offers that were made to more established heavyweights

 

[heyzel]

Paul Williams, Kolle, Chris Arreola, Garcia Interviews

DAN GOOSSEN: My gratitude goes out to Versus Network and the Soboba Casino for making this all possible. This is our first fight on Versus and we're really looking forward to providing a great event. We are equally ecstatic that we could have such high‑profile fighters on the event.

I know it's the biggest event that Versus has had on their network, and that includes the one bout with Ricky Hatton.

Soboba Casino has been a big supporter of boxing for the last seven years with us, and this is one event they really we're very excited to move forward on. I have known Bobby Salgado, the Tribal Chairman at Soboba Casino for many years. He is a huge Cristobal Arreola fan and boxing fan and he goes back to the days of Jerry Quarry and all the great boxers from the old Olympic Auditorium.

We're really looking forward to the event. The two fighters we have on the call now most everyone knows… Paul Williams is the man that tracked down Antonio Margarito when Margarito was the WBO Welterweight Champion and beat him at the sold out Home Depot Center on July 14th, a year ago.

He subsequently lost and regained his welterweight championship by impressive fashion within a four month period. A fighter that has been compared to Hall of Famer, Tommy Hearns, because of his size and being able to fight in the 147‑pound division. Paul is now looking to add to his resume from the standpoint of simultaneously fight within the 147‑pound to 168‑pound division, as requested by Paul.

Originally we were looking only from 147 to 160, and Paul added that he believes any good challenges that can be made for him up to 168 pounds is on the table.

I want to make it perfectly clear to everyone, and to quell the rumors that Paul cannot make 147 pounds any longer is incorrect. He and his trainer, George Peterson, are also on the phone call and both will confirm to everyone that Paul can and still will make 147 pounds, and that he doesn’t want to give up his WBO 147‑pound title.

The challenger for Paul, Andy "Chaos" Kolle, is also on the line with us. A natural middleweight and someone that, believe me, is a very hungry fighter. Kolle believes that he's in this fight and can give Paul Williams a type of challenge where he'll send him back to the 147‑pound division for good.

Like Williams, Kolle stands at 6' 1", with arms very close to Paul's size. His record of 17 wins and 12 KO's, shows that he hits with power. Before we get to Paul and George Peterson, Paul’s trainer, we also have on the line with Andy, his manager and trainer, Chuck Horton.

I'll let Andy open it up by saying a few words, and then we'll send it over to Paul, and let the media ask their questions.

ANDY KOLLE: Thanks a lot. I just want to thank everybody for giving me this shot. It's a shot I've been looking for my whole career. Just come out there and fight a legitimate world champion.

I have a lot of respect for Paul Williams. I think he's a great fighter. I believe though it's my time. My opportunity and my time to shine. I can't let this opportunity pass, and I believe I will be victorious.

I would have never taken this fight as an opponent. I took it because I legitimately believe I can win this fight.

DAN GOOSSEN: Chuck, do you have anything to add to that?

CHUCK HORTON: No, but we've been looking at Paul Williams for a long time. Just a couple of things... Thanks for having us on this show and everything. We've both got a lot of respect for him as a fighter. We were in town with Margarito when Paul was able to beat Antonio. We have much respect for both fighters. Antonio and Paul.

And Andy stayed out in camp, and that camp's a tough camp, and we were out there the whole time. So that should tell you about Andy Kolle right there.

We've been really training hard for this fight. We're just excited to get in the ring and to show everybody how good a fighter Andy Kolle is.

DAN GOOSSEN: Now I've got to compliment both of you, because I believe that the most feared man in boxing today is Paul Williams and as we all know, there have been very few fighters that have been willing to take up the challenge with Paul from 147 pounds through 168 pounds. So my hat is off to you for giving it your best shot in your belief of upsetting Paul’s plans.

Now let me introduce the most feared man not only in the welterweight division, but in all of boxing, the hard working punisher himself, Paul “The Punisher” Williams, the WBO welterweight champion. Paul?

PAUL WILLIAMS: Hi, everybody. You know, I'm just excited to be in the ring. I’ll be bringing everything I have into the ring. I always perform at my fullest level. I'm not taking anything lightly, you know what I'm saying?

I'm glad for the opportunity again to get back in the ring on the 25th. I'm facing a bigger guy. But it's no thing. I've been in with bigger guys all my life. I'm smaller, so I'm taking Andy very seriously, because I know if you take somebody lightly they can get you up out of there.

I'm looking forward to getting out there on the 25th, and having a good night. I'm pretty sure he's looking to upset me, but I'm not looking to be upset again. I'm training hard. I'm just ready to get in the ring and take on everybody in different weight classes.

DAN GOOSSEN: I'm going to bring up Mr. George Peterson for a few words, and then we'll send it to the media. George?

GEORGE PETERSON: We're excited about this opportunity, of course. Paul wanted to make a statement in the various weight classes. His whole objective is a clean 147‑pound division, and move up through the various weight classes. So that's going to be his approach to it.

This was an opening and Andy is a nice opponent for us. So we're looking for it. I'm sure it's going to be a good fight. Paul has not fought anybody his size and his reach. So we're looking for an outstanding fight that night. We'll be present and the crowd will be pleased with it.

Q. Paul, I know you're glad to be getting back into the ring. I know how tough it's been for you guys to get anybody to step up to the plate. So when I ask you this first question please don't anybody take any offense to this. Paul, I saw you about a month ago, you looked at a bunch of us at the table and you said that you only wanted to fight big names from now on. That you have deserved and you have earned that. You felt if you didn't that you might be kind of taking a step backwards in your career. Based on that, how does that fit in with this fight? Are you disappointed that, again, not to disrespect Mr. Kolle, but are you disappointed that you're not fighting a big name right now after everything that you've accomplished?

PAUL WILLIAMS: No, I'm not upset I'm not fighting a big name. Because I'm moving up in weight. The big guys, and the big names and the big weights, they didn't want it. So we're still looking for bigger guys.

Hey, we'll take Andy. He's a worthy opponent. He'll get in there and get it on. I'm still fighting 147, too. But you know what guys? Bottom line is, the guys with the big names didn't want it. So we're not going to sit around and wait for them and say, okay, we'll fight them when they’re ready. No, we're going to keep moving.

Q. Dan, I know that Mr. Kolle is a more than adequate fighter. So if you listen, Mr. Kolle, don't take any disrespect. But Dan, I know how hard you tried to make the Margarito fight. We all know why that didn't happen, it wasn't on you guys. What other fighters did you try to get for Paul who turned you guys down?

DAN GOOSSEN: You could really go down the list of welterweights, super welterweights, and up. But I think the statement that's being made here is two‑fold. One is that Paul understands that the pool of fighters willing to fight him is very limited. He’s not the most feared man in boxing for nothing. So rather than sitting back and peeling off two or three HBO dates a year, we're looking to keep Paul busy and to create opportunities.

The fight with Kolle will answer some questions and hopefully open up new opportunities. People are going to see how does Paul handle a fighter that's naturally bigger such as Andy Kolle, which would have been the same questions that would have been asked if he had fought Pavlik. We've got all the confidence in the world in Paul Williams and when you see Kolle fight, you'll be able to see he would give any middleweight a run for his money. Andy comes to fight, and doesn’t have an ounce of quit in him. He's a real fighter and one picked for a purpose, which is to show that Paul Williams is serious moving up and down in weight for specific challenges.

So these questions people may have will be answered next Thursday, but more importantly, it will open up a whole new opportunity for Paul and to the fans and also give other fighters the opportunity to fight Paul outside the welterweight division.

Paul doesn't want to give up that WBO title. But keeping his 147 WBO title, while winning a title in the 154‑pound division, 160‑pound division, 168‑pound division, will make history since it hasn't been done in this modern era.

You've had fighters that have gone up in weight like Shane Mosely and Floyd Mayweather, but Shane went from 147 to 154 after a loss at 147. Floyd, has successfully campaigned at various weights, but never to the extent of doing the various weights simultaneously, which is what Paul wants to accomplish. Very few have done it to the extreme that Paul and George are willing to do it on.

Now to get a little more specific with your question, Collazo, Judah, Mosely, Margariito, Baldomir, you name it, we asked. It never came down to a matter of money. It was a matter of they just didn't want to get into the ring with Paul. Who blames them, right?

Q. Andy, you've been on a nice little run since the fight against Ward. I believe you're 8‑0, 7‑0 since then. What have you learned from that fight against Ward that, you know, has allowed you to go on this round, number one, and to deal with Andre's speed, will that help you against Paul next week?

ANDY KOLLE: Yeah, well I learned a lot. First of all, stepping the foot on the big stage for the first time in my career at 9‑0 whatever I was at the time. That was a big step for me to come out there. I had never seen a fighter of the caliber of Andre; the speed and everything that he brought to the ring. So to just get that experience was really nice.

Now that I've been there now, I know it's nothing. It's the same old fight. You've still got to go out there and once that bell rings, it's just me and Paul. I don't have to worry about the cameras and the lights.

But as far as dealing with the speed, it was a different thing. I had to go looking for Andre. He was always running around. I had to go find him. But with Paul, he'll be there, ready to fight. We'll stand in the middle of the ring and go at it.

Q. If you win this fight next week, obviously, everything's going to change for you. Have you thought about the day after, September 26th, and how life will change for you?

ANDY KOLLE: No, not at all, actually. I just think about the fight at hand. I've got a big fight on my hands and I'm not going to look past it. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. You want to go out there and make sure you have the focus on the fight and not worry about the glory that's coming afterwards?

Q. George, Paul's been in this kind of situation before where he was fighting a guy in Quintana, he was expected to beat, but he wound up losing the fight. How do you keep him focused to where history doesn't repeat itself next week?

GEORGE PETERSON: Well, that happens, first of all. Paul was focused. That particular night he just couldn't get in his rhythm, couldn't get going, and occasionally it happens. Doesn't happen that often, but you'll find from time to time fighters will fall in that mode. That particular night he fell in that mode.

We were convinced that Quintana had no business being in the same ring as Paul Williams. We were definitely convinced of that. And the outcome of the second fight, we knew where he was going to be in every inch of that ring. That's why it was so easy for Paul. Paul executed that night, which he didn't do the first night.

So it's about execution. No one is able to handle this guy with his talent, with his speed, and with his ring knowledge and generalship in the ring, even from 147 to 160.

As a result of that, you know, he's confident that he's going to be victorious. It's going to be a really good fight. It's not going to be like baking pies, because Andy is a good fighter. No disrespect to him, but we are prepared to do whatever is necessary to win.

Q. Dan, what are the difficulties in promoting a guy no one wants to fight?

DAN GOOSSEN: Well, quite frankly, I like it. Because if I get a fighter everyone wants to fight, he's not going to be around long. So it's exciting, especially when you have a fighter that can move around from weight division to weight division. It makes it that much more pleasurable and unusual. This alone can be history in the making.

I'm not concerned about it because Paul has the size to do it. The reason most fighters turn down the chance to fight Paul is because he is feared. It’s not based upon money because Paul generates money for his challengers. If that wasn’t the case, we wouldn’t have been able to offer Margarito a $4 million plus guarantee. It boils down to being the most feared fighter in the world. Paul’s time will come where no one will be able to turn down a fight with him.

We just need to do what we’re doing now. …Fighting September 25th on Versus and winning and looking for our next immediate big fight.

Q. Paul, does all of this talk about Margarito and Pavlik and all these other guys ‑‑ on September 25th, you have a young fighter with a chance to make a name for himself, Andy Kolle in front of you. How are you making sure that you're not going to overlook him? You're going to really focus on this one fighter?

PAUL WILLIAMS: I never overlook anybody. I'm the one that's the underdog. I keep motivated. Like, okay, this guy's the man. I've got to come get him so I can be the man again. That's how I look at it.

All those other guys are not even on my mind. I could care less about Margarito, Cotto or whoever else is in the 147‑pound division right now. My main thing is to get focused on the 25th for Andy. That is my main focus right there.

If something doesn't go my way in the ring, what do I got to do to overcome that in the ring, you know?

Q. What do you expect to happen now that you're fighting this fight at middleweight against a fighter who is naturally at middleweight when you've been fighting at welterweight. How do you think that's going to effect you? You don't have as much weight to lose, but you're fighting a bigger man?

PAUL WILLIAMS: You know, he's bringing his awesome to the ring, I'm going to bring mine to the ring, it will be a big explosion in the ring. That's for him to come and try to gain some respect.

That's his weight class. I'm coming to his weight class, so he feels like he's the man in that weight. So I've got to earn his respect, you know what I'm saying? I've got to make him earn my respect. If I get in the ring with him, we're going to have to duke it out.

Q. Andy, this is a chance for you to really put yourself on the map. Tell us why you think you can win this fight against Paul Williams?

ANDY KOLLE: I've just seen a lot of his fights, watched a lot of his fights. I've seen he's always been the taller man in the ring. It's not so much the weight or anything. But he's always been the taller man. I feel we're closer to the height. I feel I've got the tools. I see the opening in his offense that leaves him wide open for some shots, and I think I can capitalize on it.

Q. Did you see his two fights with Quintana, and any comments on what you saw from those most recent fights that you could benefit from?

ANDY KOLLE: I've watched the fights. I've seen most of the fights. The Quintana fight I didn't pay too much attention to it, because Carlos Quintana is a different fighter than me for one thing.

And that first fight, that didn't look like Paul to me. Not the Paul I've seen in other fights. So I went back to some of the earlier fights that he won, knowing what he's going to do when he's winning. Like in his first fight against Quintana, it didn't look like Paul. The second fight went so quick, it was hard to learn anything off of it.

But Quintana's a different fighter than I am, so it's going to be a different fight?

Q. Did you watch his fight with Margarito?

ANDY KOLLE: I did watch it.

Q. Any comments you saw that you can benefit from? Obviously, Margarito's a different fighter as well, but anything can you benefit from that?

ANDY KOLLE: You said it best right there. Margarito's a completely different style of fighter than me. He's got the straight coming forward, throwing hooks all day.

That fight wasn't much to watch. Just the way Paul move around the ring and control the ring, I watch that a little bit and show how he had the ring generalship. That's about as far as I went with the Margarito fight.

Q. Do either of you want to make a prediction for the fight, Paul?

PAUL WILLIAMS: You know, I'm going in there to win. That is the only prediction I can make. It's like any other fighter I'm going to get in the ring with, they think they're going to win the fight. But I'm going to win.

Q. Do you want to make a prediction?

ANDY KOLLE: I'm in the same boat. I'm not going to make a prediction. I just know I'm coming to this fight to win it, and I plan on coming out victorious.

Q. Paul, can you tell me a little bit about how you made this decision to offer to go up in weight, and possibly down as well? Where that came from, why and what you think about that?

PAUL WILLIAMS: Mostly it wasn't just my reasoning, it came from me and Mr. Peterson's idea. We were looking to fight a big name. We were looking to fight Pavlik, but that fell out. So you know, it wasn't about Pavlik, he's in a different weight, you know what I'm saying?

But we're not vacating the 147. You know, we'll fight anybody in there. If we can't get any big fights at 147, we're like let's go the other way. What other weight classes can I make? That's how that fight came about.

Q. Dan, your thoughts on that as well?

DAN GOOSSEN: It's what I said earlier. Paul's the best in the 147‑pound division, and willing to become the best going all the way up to 168 pounds. I'm looking forward to September 25th and his middleweight coming out party.

As George said, it's not anything that we can look past with Kolle. He’s tough and Paul will have to be on top of his game to beat him. So with a victory September 25th ithere is no doubt that his next bout will be down in weight. I know Andy's going to try to do everything in his power to change those plans, though.

Q. Paul, is your training in Puerto Rico again? Is that where you're training?

PAUL WILLIAMS: No, we're in D.C. I don't want to get cold. Go to Puerto Rico and I'll get cold.

Q. Are you currently sparring with middleweights right now?

PAUL WILLIAMS: I'm sparring with everybody in the gym. Lightweights, middleweights, it doesn't matter. Anyone will work. George, Kolle, Chuck, you want to have any last comments?

ANDY KOLLE: No, just looking forward to Thursday night. I'll see you out there.

DAN GOOSSEN: Paul?

PAUL WILLIAMS: I just feel like I always do, you know. It's going to be a big fight. So the fans can really enjoy it.

DAN GOOSSEN: I appreciate you both taking time out of your training today. George, make sure you get rid of my picture off that heavy bag.

GEORGE PETERSON: Okay. (Laughing).

Q. Dan, I know one of the big superstars you had back in the day was Michael Nunn. How does Paul Williams rank up some of the great fighters that you've had?

DAN GOOSSEN: I think it's a combination of having the three best young fighters in the world today. At the head of the class is Paul Williams, and then Cristobal Arreola, who we're going to hear from, shortly and our Olympic Gold Medalist Andre Ward.

Paul is very similar to a Michael Nunn because of his size and his ability not only to box, but to knock you out with that one single punch as he displayed with Quintana.

Come next Thursday, I believe the fans and media will see that Paul's just getting better and better with each fight: Not only physically, but more importantly, mentally. He’s done it the old fashioned way, fighting anybody and everybody. It's all clicking now. So I feel we’re going to see the best Paul Williams next Thursday and see his continual climb to history.

I believe greatness is written all over him. That's why many fighters don't want to step into the ring with him. He will become a very big star in our sport. Just keep on watching.

Q. Paul, very few champions are doing what you're doing, actually fighting outside of the HBO or Showtime tent for this fight. In the older days, not going back that far, but they have exposed themselves in outlets like network TV. How important is this for you to fight on a network that might have more of a viewing audience? Because it's not a pay service like an HBO or a Showtime?

PAUL WILLIAMS: I don't look at it like that. I look at it that it's just me. That's my main thing. I don't worry about the stuff, the crowd, the TVs. None of that. My main focus is to go out there and perform. I want to look good against my opponent. I'm just going to do what I'm supposed to do.

Q. Dan, is it important that nowadays, fighters and champions fight on networks? I mean, everybody now has to fight on pay‑per‑view telecasts or HBO or Showtime. A lot of fans don't have those outlets.

DAN GOOSSEN: Santos, you really did hit the nail on the head. It's very much what George Peterson, Al Haymon, and myself have been talking about with Paul and Cristobal. And that is to get them out on other mediums where more fans have the opportunity to see these young men fight.

I mean, they're exciting fighters. There are 75 million plus homes on Versus, and it's a great network to showcase the fighters of this caliber. We want to build up the fighter and build up the audience for all.

As you mentioned with HBO and Showtime, along with pay‑per‑view, at times can be very limiting to a fighter’s growth. But this is good to keep premium fighters in front of a growing audience and something that we want to continue working on.

I believe all of us, Paul, George and Al with our forward thinking of understanding that the more people that see Paul and Cristobal and the more often they see them, the more fans they're going to attract and build.



-END 1ST HALF OF CONFERENCE CALL -



LOU DIBELLA: First of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity, and I want to thank Cris for giving Israel this opportunity, Israel Garcia, better known as "King Kong" in New York.

LOU DIBELLA: When I ran into Cristobal Arreola after he beat Chazz Witherspoon on the streets in Memphis ‑ he told me lineup another one of my fighters so he can beat him up. I'm lining up another one of my fighters, but I think this time you're in with a real tough guy, Cris.

I'm very proud to promote Israel. He's one of the nicest guys I promote, the hardest working fighters and a rugged guy himself. He is a Puerto Rican‑American fighter from the hood in New York. A guy that has worked very, very hard I've promoted him in the last couple of years and last five or six fights of his career.

I think he's ready for this opportunity, and looking at it as an opportunity of a lifetime. We respect Cristobal Arreola right now as probably the best American heavyweight. And the guy who, right now, stands to have the best chance for an American fighter to win a title.

I have tremendous respect for Cristobal Arreola, and I know that Israel has his hands full. But I think Israel's going to go there knowing this is an opportunity of a lifetime. I expect this to be a much more exciting fight maybe than some people believe.

I know that Cristobal is a big favorite in this fight. I understand that. But I think this is one of the most rugged guys that Cristobal will have encountered to date. Israel is a guy that's going to go in there with no fear and nothing but, you know, come forward and rumble. And I know you like that kind of fight, and that's the kind of fight you're going to get.

I'll just pass it over to my fighter, as I said also, really, one of the finest gentlemen I've ever worked with, Israel "King Kong" Garcia.

ISRAEL GARCIA: I just want to thank you for giving me this opportunity. It's been a long time in the making. I've been fighting for it for ten years.

I went from promoter to promoter, and I finally found a promoter that I'm happy with. He's given me the confidence. And I just felt like I did with any of them.

I've fought with world champions and I've held my own. This is a great opportunity for me and I'm going to take advantage of it.

DAN GOOSSEN: Thank you very much. I want to introduce a young man who’s been with Cristobal for many, many years, one of the up‑and‑coming trainers in the business and certainly we've seen the results of his work with the constant improvement of Cris, Henry Ramirez.

HENRY RAMIREZ: Cris is in preparation for an exciting fight. We’ve looked at Israel Garcia as a fighter and looked at his tapes. He was basically what his promoter described: An aggressive guy, comes straightforward, looks at the fight, and that's going to fall right into our hands.

DAN GOOSSEN: Thank you very much. There's been a lot of talk on Cristobal Arreola. Lou just called him the best American prospect in the heavyweight division. I think he was holding back a little, because I believe he's the best heavyweight in the world today. That means all heavyweights. I know Cristobal's at that point of his career where he believes he's ready for anyone, and wants all the big names now. As we've said before, it's all a process of getting there and the next step is next Thursday.

His fan based is continually growing. We expect a sell out at Soboba. He's one of the most exciting fighters since the days of a prime Mike Tyson.

He comes in there with the attitude of knocking you out. That's his goal. He's got 21 KO's out of his 24 victories.

Although I believe that it should be 22 KO's. But since I have Chazz Witherspoon's promoter on the other line, I’ll stick to the record of only 21 KO’s. I believe for the reporters and fans that haven't had an opportunity to see Cristobal Arreola fight are in for a treat. For those of us that have seen him, we can’t wait to see more. There’s nothing better than pulling up a chair and watch this young man do his thing in the ring. We’re all in for a great, great time watching him fight.

I want to let him say a few words and then we'll get to the media questions. Top World Contender, the nightmare, Cristobal Arreola.

CRISTOBAL ARREOLA: I want to thank Dan Goossen, and for giving me another opportunity to fight on TV and fight in my home base, my backyard. And coming up on the 25th, we will have a great fight.

If you can’t make it out there in person, look forward to watching it on Versus. Dan, and Al Hayman put me against a good fighter. Looking forward to it, I'll be ready for it.

DAN GOOSSEN: Next Thursday on Versus, we have two solid, solid fights with big, big stars. As Garcia mentioned, he sounds very confident and ready to give the fans their money’s worth. He felt this fight should have been made ten years ago.

We've got a hungry and good fighter in Garcia, with only one loss against his record. Kolle, likewise has only one loss. Both of these world-class fighters, Arreola and Williams, are taking up the challenge and realize that both of their challengers are the type of fighters that know that their careers could be made with an upset victory next Thursday.

Q. Cris, how do you feel about the east‑west competitions? Does it hype you up knowing that you're fighting someone like that?

CRISTOBAL ARREOLA: At this point in my career, there's no east‑west, north‑south competition. I'm trying to get a world title. It's mainly pick a fight. It's going to be a fight, it's going to be a good fight.

I'm sure King Kong feels the same way. There's no competition east‑west. If anything, there is more competition him being from Puerto Rican decent and me of Mexican decent. That's more of a rivalry than anything.

Q. What about the fact that you're getting more people that want to fight you now? It seems everybody's call you up from east, west, everywhere?

CRISTOBAL ARREOLA: Of course, once you're on top of the mound, they want to knock you down. The easy part is getting there, the hard part is staying there. Once everybody starts challenging you, it's a good thing. It's an honor. Now I've got to live up to what everybody thinks of me. Sometimes it gets a little overwhelming.

You've got to come back to earth and realize that everybody's expecting a lot from you.

Q. Cris, I know how badly you want to become the first heavyweight world champion of Mexican decent. We've talked about that. But as Dan said, it is a process. But with that said knowing that you could fight some of the other world ranked guys right now and probably win, how do you guard against not overlooking a gentleman like Israel who, you know, at least over here is pretty much an unknown commodity. How do you guard against overlooking him?

CRISTOBAL ARREOLA: Knowing that he's hungry. Knowing that he wants to be where I'm at, and I'm still wanting to be a world heavyweight champion. He's still in the way. I still have to go out there and take care of business, just like he has to go out there and take care of business.

He's going to want to take me out, he's going to have to spill the same way. He's going to have to come in there sharp and ready to go.

Q. Israel, if I'm not mistaken, you're 38; is that correct?

ISRAEL GARCIA: Yes.

Q. I notice you didn't start your professional career until you were 28. How is it that you got what most would consider somewhat of a late start in the program?

ISRAEL GARCIA: Well, in the heavyweight division most of the fighters are late starters. I'm not a beat‑up fighter. I lost five years of my career dealing with promoters, like I said. I lost five years of my career with that. But I've never been in wars. So I'm not a beat‑up fighter.

I still feel I have enough time to accomplish what I need to accomplish.

Q. Israel, how exciting is it for you to get this kind of an opportunity against a world ranked fighter at this point?

ISRAEL GARCIA: It's a great opportunity. I'm happy he gave me the opportunity. I have a lot of respect for him. But like he said, we'll get in the ring, and it's a totally different story.

Q. Cris, I'm looking at, and I love the last question, but I'm looking at your activity. You fought five times in '06, three times in '07, and this is your third fight in '08; who gets the credit for that? Dan Goossen for keeping you busy or you for just wanting to be in the ring all the time?

CRISTOBAL ARREOLA: It's a team. We're a team. It's a team effort. You know, that's why Dan, Henry and Al we're all a team. I stay ready, and fight as much as possible. But it's only as good as the team is, you know.

Our team, we're one of the best teams out there. I want to continue that. We go out there to get the heavyweight title, and I still want to fight at least three times a year. I want to stay active. I love fighting, I love being in the fight. You know, Dan Goossen loves watching me fight, so I'll keep fighting.

Q. Dan, this is not in any disrespect King Kong, but everybody wants to know when is this guy going to fight for a belt, a real belt?

DAN GOOSSEN: Quite frankly, 2009 is going to be Cristobal’s year. We plan on going bearing down toward the heavyweight championship of the world starting next week. Cris is ready. We're ready. The boxing world is in dire need of Cristobal Arreola's success and quite frankly is in great anticipation of it.

And Cris is right. I love watching him fight because that's what it's all about as a fan. It's about fighting. I've seen tapes of Garcia. I know that he's no shrinking violet. He's going to come there to fight.

You know, there are no secrets about Cristobal Arreola. It's kind of what he just said. He loves to fight, and that doesn't mean hugging and holding his opponent.

So I'm sure Garcia's trained and realized that Arreola's not the type of fighter you can hug and hold because he won't let you. You've got to stand there and fight with him. That's what the fans like to see. That’s also what the networks like to see and quite frankly, that's what I like to see as a promoter.

DAN GOOSSEN: Lou, another bet you didn't pay up on?

Q. First question for Cris, as everybody knows the heavyweight division years ago used to be the most prestigious in all of boxing. Probably the heavyweight title was the most prestigious title in all of sports and it's no longer that. Tell us what you feel now that you're starting to talk about getting a title shot in the next year or so? Tell us what you feel you can bring to the heavyweight division that we haven't seen in so many years?

CRISTOBAL ARREOLA: Exactly what I said earlier. You know, I'm willing to fight three times a year, four times a year. I want to make sure that I defend my title. I honor the old school fighters, and just keep fighting.

A lot of people out there, I feel they don't want to fight each other, you know. So that's one thing I'm going to keep doing. I'm going to keep fighting. I'm going to make it exciting.

Just like come Thursday with me and Israel, you know, we're going to put in a fight. We're going to put in a show. I know he's going to come in here ready, and I'm excited. I know I'm going to have this opportunity again, but it's one thing to keep the heavyweight division exciting.

Q. You made a statement in the last fight with Witherspoon. Do you feel you have to not only win but look impressive and make a statement in this fight as well?

CRISTOBAL ARREOLA: Every time. I always have to make a statement no matter who the guy is. You know, because you're only as good as your last fight.

My last fight, I put in a statement, but that was the last fight. This is this fight.

Just like Mr. Israel said, he's going to come ready, so am I. And we're going to make a statement both of us together.

Q. Israel, you're sort of the fly in his ointment. You're hoping to upset him and derail all of these different plans. Tell us why you think you're going to be able to win this fight?

ISRAEL GARCIA: Well, I can fight either way. I can fight inside, I can box, I can do it all. It's a variety of things that you need to do as a boxer, and I feel I can do that.

Q. Have you watched tapes or TV of his recent fights like against Witherspoon or any of the others? Anything that you draw from that?

ISRAEL GARCIA: The only fight I really watched with him was with Witherspoon.

Q. Anything from that that you think oh, I saw something and I should be able to win that fight?

ISRAEL GARCIA: He's a tough fighter. There's a lot of, you know, you see mistakes that you have to take care of when you're in the ring, key mistakes. You've just got to, you know, take advantage of them.

 

[heyzel]

Ricky Hatton, Floyd Sr. Ponder Mayweather Jr. Rematch

By Mark Vester

It appears Ricky Hatton's desire for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. has not died down. Mayweather stopped Hatton last December in Las Vegas, handing the Manchester fighter the first loss of his career. Now that Hatton has hired trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr., father of the man who beat him - he believes their two man combo will lure Mayweather Jr. out of retirement for a rematch. Hatton's first fight under Floyd Sr. will come against IBF junior welterweight champ Paulie Malignaggi on November 22 in Las Vegas.

“I’ve spoken to my trainer about his son. I was absolutely gutted when Floyd Jr. hung up his gloves after fighting me and the fairytale would be to get him out of retirement again," Hatton told The Sun. "It could very easily happen. He has come back before and doesn’t make any secret of the fact he is motivated by money. The right offer might do it."

Hatton believes that with the elder Mayweather in his corner, he can beat the man who crushed his dreams last December. He says Floyd Sr. has no problems training him for such a fight.

“I suppose it would seem a little strange having his dad in my corner but when I asked him about his relationship, he just said that they haven’t spoken for three years. He felt his son had forgotten the people who helped him to the top. I feel I can beat him and that’s why I want a return,” Hatton said

 

[heyzel]

Heavyweight Division Looks To Cristobal For Its Future

By Jake Donovan

The search for a successor to the heavyweight throne has been an epic struggle, almost as difficult as sitting through a heavyweight fight these days.

Whether or not he next becomes the man to capture the crown last worn by Lennox Lewis some five years ago, there’s never a problem sitting through a fight featuring unbeaten slugger Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola.

His head-turning three-round disqualification* win over Chazz Witherspoon three months ago provided hope for a division long in need of resuscitation. When all hope is lost, those in need will sometimes turn to a fortune-teller, believing a crystal ball will reveal a better future.

On that particular night, fans were delivered an emphatic preview of the future in Cristobal.

That was the good news.

The bad news? There isn’t any… in fact, there’s better news. There will be plenty more of Chris Arreola to go around, thanks to his willingness to fight as often as possible, regardless of who’s in the other corner or how much cash is on the table.

Proof of that will come next Thursday, when he faces Israel “King Kong” Garcia in the debut of what promises to be a revamped version of the VERSUS Fight Night series (September 25, VERSUS, 9PM ET/6PM PT, San Jacinto, California).

Part of the problem with fighters today who even get a whiff of prime-time exposure is that they expect the next fight to be on an even grander stage than the one in which it follows.

For Arreola, as well as top welterweight Paul Williams, who makes his middleweight debut against Andy Kolle on the same card, fighting is more important searching for “that” fight. It’s what he does… and what he loves, so why not do it as often as possible.

“I get ready and we fight as much as possible,” insists Arreola (24-0, 21KO), who prepares for his third fight of 2008, with a strong possibility of a fourth fight following on HBO in November should he emerge victorious – and unscathed – against Garcia next week. “Dan (Goossen, Arreola’s promoter) loves watching me fight, so I want to keep getting back out there.”

There’s a reason why Goossen – and so many others – love watching him in action.

“Chris loves to fight… and by fighting, I mean real fighting. Fighting isn’t about hugging and holding… you’ll never see that when Chris fights.”

At least not from Arreola, anyway. His opponents can’t promise as much, especially after they taste his power for the first time. As many are beginning to realize, the best thing that can happen if you get cracked by the Californian bomber is that you collapse upon impact. Because that’s the only way you’ll no longer get hit that evening.

It was a lesson Chazz Witherspoon learned the hard way when he bravely participated in a battle of unbeaten heavyweights this past June on HBO. The sales pitch going in was that of a matchup between promising boxer (Witherspoon) and crude slugger (Arreola).

All that was known of Arreola was what’s been offered in appearances here and there, be it on FoxSportsNet or pay-per-view undercards. His highest profile bout going in came on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather’s welterweight-title winning effort against Carlos Baldomir. It was a main event that left a lot to be desired, but an evening that was saved by what transpired in preliminary action, one bout in particular.

Arreola was matched up against fellow unbeaten Californian Damian Wells, whose biggest selling point was his being managed by Academy-Award winning actor Denzel Washington. Few knew what to expect of the fight, but by night’s end would learn that Arreola’s name on the ticket would always guarantee at least one action-packed fight for the evening.

More than a year-and-a-half later, it’s all that was still confirmed of the hard-hitting Mexican-American, and even less of Chazz Witherspoon heading into their June ’08 clash, other than his 2nd cousin is former two-time heavyweight titlist Tim Witherspoon.

Both fighters boasted glossy resumes, but amidst the smoke came very little fire in the form of substantive competition. Simply put, the question, among many others, to be asked in each direction was if they could look as good, if not better, once the stakes were raised.

For Witherspoon, old questions remained and new ones came about – particularly, how will he respond to the three-round beatdown he received last time out. He can answer newly raised questions, to a small degree, on November 15, the date slated for his return.

As far as Arreola goes, there are really only two questions that remain: how far can he climb, and how often can we come along for the ride?

In a year where campaign promises are a dime a dozen, this heavyweight hopeful offers assurances of his own.

“Even when I get the world title, I want to fight at least three times a year,” he so boldly proclaims – not if, but when he captures the heavyweight crown. “Dan loves watching me fight, so I want to keep getting back out there.”

Not a problem, in fact his pleasure to do so, says the promoter, who merely applies the same logic in guiding Arreola’s career as he does with Paul Williams.

“Rather than sitting back and peeling off 2-3 HBO dates per year, we’re creating things here.”

The “we” in that equation refers to what Arreola believes is the best team in boxing.

“We’re a team,” is always Arreola’s response when asked of the secret to his success. The offense is never run in the I-formation; he’s doing the punching, but always credits his handlers for producing the finished product. “It’s Dan, Al (Haymon, his advisor) and Henry (Ramirez, Chris’ longtime friend and trainer). I’m a part of one of the best teams out there.”

The team believes that with 2009 will come confirmation that they will be in possession of the very best heavyweight out there.

“2009 is going to be our year when we start to bear down on the heavyweight champions,” says Goossen, though stopping short of selling next week’s fight as a foregone conclusion.

“Chris is right; I love watching him fight, because how he fights is what it’s about. And I’ve had the pleasure of seeing tapes of Israel Garcia… he’s no shrinking violet, either.”

The buzz now surrounding Arreola goes beyond creation. With most of the division’s top players fighting overseas, great American heavyweights are in large demand.

Sitting at the top of the list these days is the charismatic Californian, a role he embraces, even though the job requires raising the bar every time out.

“The easiest part is getting there; the hardest part is staying there. I now have to live up to what everyone thinks about me.

“It’s a little overwhelming but it’s an honor.”

But certainly not one he takes for granted. His reputation may now precede him, but don’t count on him to rest on his laurels. That message goes for Israel Garcia or any other fighter standing in his way on the road to heavyweight supremacy.

“Every time, I always have to make a statement no matter who the guy is. I made a statement last fight, but that was the last fight. This is this fight.”

And with each fight, fans turn to its Cristobal in hopes of Arreola becoming that heavyweight.

ELSEWHERE AROUND THE HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION

It continues to move from bad to worse regarding the much-awaited arrival of David Haye. This calendar was to be a breakthrough campaign for the linear cruiserweight king. It began with an impressive two-round blitzing of Enzo Maccarinelli, followed by the announcement that he would step down from the throne in pursuit of heavyweight glory – or at least restoring glory into the division.

More good news followed, at least for him, as he revealed a promotional partnership with Golden Boy Promotions, which he was to parlay into a debut appearance on HBO in October.

A mysterious injury surfaced, pushing back his date, which conveniently freed up the rest of HBO’s schedule, thus avoiding pay-per-view telecasts appearing on back-to-back Saturdays in September. The decision of his fight moving back to either November or December meant HBO was no longer in the picture, nor was Showtime a viable option.

The date has since been solidified – November 15 at the 02 Arena in London, England.

All he needs now is an opponent.

BoxingScene.com’s Editor-In-Chief Rick Reeno already has the story surrounded (check the links section for several stories on what has become a comedy of errors), but we last leave off with Eddie Chambers emerging as the most recent candidate.

Several names have been kicked around – former linear champ Hasim Rahman, veteran Monte Barrett, and unbeaten – and unproven - prospects Kevin Johnson and JD Chapman, to name a few. For a variety of reasons, none have landed the role of co-star, though hope remained for Chapman, even if it’s the least sought matchup of the bunch.

Meanwhile, one bout that moved from rumored to official is Wladimir Klitschko’s alphabet mandatory title defense against undefeated Alexander Povetkin. It was announced a few weeks ago that HBO was on board for the fight, holding a December 13 date in hopes that it would eventually get signed.

The two sides went back and forth on money before forcing the bout to go to purse bid. Klitschko’s company, K2 Promotions, won with a whopping submission of $13,130,130, far surpassing the $8,114,140 bid of Sauerland Event, who handles Povetkin’s career.

A gifted amateur who won a gold medal in the Super Heavyweight division in the 2004 Olympics, Povetkin will enter the fight having only been a pro for 3 ½ years, with a 16-0 record.

The fleshy but talented Russian made his HBO debut earlier this year, soundly outpointing Eddie Chambers in Germany to earn the mandatory slot. While awaiting a title shot to materialize, he stayed busy this summer with a knockout win over Taurus Sykes in an intended July tune-up bout that barely resulted in one step above a fixed fight, due Sykes’ unwillingness to put up a fight.

It’s been suggested that Povetkin would be better off waiting a year or two more for his shot, that it wouldn’t hurt to gain more pro experience – and even allow for the top heavyweights to get together and clear up the muddled picture – before taking on the division’s best.

There may be validity to those claims, or perhaps at 29 years of age, Povetkin will only get older instead of better. Whatever the case, such discussion became moot the moment the purse bid guaranteed him a payday of more than $3,000,000. There’s not a heavyweight alive at that level, or perhaps any other, turning down that much money, regardless of how much or little experience he may possess.

Hopefully K2 Promotions and Sauerland Event can play together well enough to do business in the immediate future – like matching up Klitschko (should he win) against Nikolai Valuev in a bout that would take a quantum leap forward in the pursuit of an undisputed champion. It would seem wrong to not include Ruslan Chagaev in the discussion, considering he still owns scoreboard on Valuev. But when even Vitali Klitschko can outlast you in a training camp, it’s time to reassess your career – or in Chagaev’s case, perhaps his fighting heart.

The undefeated southpaw has pulled out of two high profile bouts in less than a year – last October against Sultan Ibragimov and earlier this year against Valuev, first postponing their originally scheduled rematch from May to August before a more legitimate injury forced him to step aside and receive a downgrade from alphabet titlist to interim chump… er, champ.

Rather than Chagaev-Valuev II, we instead got Valuev-John Ruiz II. If you were to believe what seems to be an endless stream of Ruiz press releases, then there was as much controversy surrounding the August rematch as there was in their first fight 2½ year ago.

Ruiz had a legitimate claim to have been screwed on the scorecards when he conceded his title to the Russian Giant in December 2005.

This time around, he lost the fight.

Regardless of whatever conspiracies they believe occurred, the bottom line is that not only did Valuev deserve to win the fight, but did so by finishing strong. Even if his corner had inside knowledge of the scorecards prior to fight’s end (which Team Ruiz insists they will prove, pending review of an official, unedited copy of the fight), you still have to go out there and win rounds, which is precisely what he did – and Ruiz failed to do – down the stretch.

 

[Tragedy]

Pacquiao - De La Hoya tickets for sale

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/09/15/08/top-rank-pacquiao-de-la-hoya-tickets-sale-after-sept-24

Top Rank: Pacquiao-de la Hoya tickets on sale after Sept. 24

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By ROY MEDINA, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/15/2008 11:20 PM

Top Rank Promotions, Inc., Manny Pacquiao's American promoter, has bared that tickets for the monumental "The Dream Match" between the Filipino boxing icon and "The Golden Boy" Oscar de la Hoya shall be sold to fight fans after Wednesday, September 24.

"Tickets will not go on sale before Wednesday, September 24th," the Top Rank Web site (www.toprank.com/tickets) said.

It added that ticket prices for the fight card on December 6 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada range from $150 to $1,500.

However, the promotions firm clarified that the price categories mentioned are not inclusive of all the seats at the arena.

"Top Rank will not be receiving all of the price categories due to high demand of this fight," it said.

The firm said that interested parties may contact the MGM Grand Garden Arena for more information (http://www.mgmgrand.com/entertainment/grand-garden-arena.aspx).

Last week, Manila-based sports analyst and ringside commentator Ronnie Nathanielsz said that he has received inquiries on where and when tickets to the Pacquiao-de la Hoya fight will go on sale.

One of those looking for fight tickets is the Philippines' No. 1 Davis Cup tennis star Cecil Mamiit.

While tickets are being peddled on the Internet, they haven’t gone on sale as yet since there are other big fights ahead of the Pacquiao-de la Hoya card.

In an e-mail, Mamiit told Nathanielsz, “I’m in search for some tickets for the fight. I have a group of friends and family planning a trip to see the fight and we really would love to get hold of tickets to make the trip worth it. We are willing to pay a reasonable price.”

Mamiit said he was “just seeing if you have any suggestions on how we could get a hold of some and we would really appreciate the help.”

Both Pacquiao’s lawyer, Franklin “Jeng” Gacal, and close friend Rex “Wakee” Salud, have already been besieged by requests for tickets indicating growing interest in the fight despite sharply divided opinions on whether the fight is right or whether its all because the price is right.

as of 09/15/2008 11:38 PM

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Good fight this friday....


Undefeated Prospects Collide!

Wednesday, September 17 2008

By Al Nazaryan

Former US Olympian Vanes "The Nightmare" Martirosyan (20-0, 13 KOs) of Top Rank defends his perfect record this Friday night against another undefeated prospect in Michael "Murder Man" Medina (18-0, 14 KOs). The 10-Round Jr. Middleweight bout will take place at the Buffalo Bill's Star Arena in Primm, Nevada. The fight will open the TeleFutura telecast starting at 8PM ET/PT. In the main event of the Solo Boxeo televised card, NABF lightweight champ Almazbek "Kid Diamond" Raiymkulov (26-1, 15 KOs) fighting ex-world champ Javier Jauregui (53-15-2, 36 KOs). For ticket and venue information visit www.PrimmValleyResorts.com.

 

[Tony]

You'd think Hatton would have learned his lesson by now... He doesn't have what it takes to beat Floyd...

 

[heyzel]

Exclusive Interview With "Merciless" Ray Mercer - "I Know I Can Beat David Haye!"

.09.08 - by James Slater - "Merciless" Ray Mercer is the latest heavyweight to call out David Haye. With no opponent yet a dead-cert for "The Hayemaker's" November 15th date, the former Olympic gold medallist and WBO champion has made it clear he would take the fight in a heartbeat. Mercer may be 47-years-old now, but he's still tough, determined and is coming off a win. Talking to me over the phone today (September 17th) the 36-7-1(26) former champ had the following answers to my questions.

James Slater: It's great to talk with you, Ray. Straight to business, you want David Haye?

Ray Mercer: Absolutely. I just want the opportunity, I want to show the world that I'm still alive and that I can still do it. I think I'd be perfect for him because he's a tough guy, I'm a tough guy and I have a name. Half of these guys that are in the top-ten, I know I can knock them out..

J.S: Apparently, Haye can only fight a top-ten ranked heavyweight. I know you and your team are trying to get you ranked in the WBO top-ten. Do you think that will happen for you?

R.M: I really don't know - I'm hoping. I want this fight and this opportunity, I'm willing to do anything to get it.

J.S: I'm not in possession of all the facts when it comes to the money, but I heard J.D Chapman, who has reportedly turned down the Haye fight, was offered approx $140,000. Would you take the fight for that kind of money?

R.M: I'd take the fight for almost anything. I know I can beat him and I want the chance to prove it. I want to do what George Foreman did, and to do that I have to beat some top rated guys. David Haye is perfect for me. The money isn't really an issue with me right now. I know that when I win this fight, I can go on and earn big money later on.

J.S: Have you seen tapes of Haye in action?

R.M: Yes, I have. He seems a strong fighter, he's young. But he's not experienced like me. I really feel my experience will get me over against a guy like Haye. I'm a smarter fighter now. I never really trained like I should have, but I do now. I train smarter and I fight smarter. Haye hits hard and I hit hard. I know it's going to be tough, but I know I can beat him.

J.S: Ray, the critics will ask, how can you deal with the guy's speed?

R.M: With my experience. I know how to slip and slide punches. Plus, I'm not that slow myself. I just beat a guy [Richel Hersisia] who was supposed to be quick, and I out-smarted him. If I do this right and he [Haye] makes one mistake in the fight, he'll go. The power is the last thing to go [on a fighter] and I'm still pretty quick myself. I'm in shape right now. As a matter of fact I'm going to train in a couple of hours.

J.S: And you'd have no problem getting on a plane and coming to England for the fight?

R.M: I would love the chance to come to England and fight, that's one thing I've never done yet.

J.S: You've already had a great career. You won an Olympic medal and you fought all the top guys, like Tommy Morrison, Bert Cooper, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis etc. What's kept you in the sport so long?

R.M: I never really got the respect I should have got. I was never the best I could be. I never put serious effort into training like I should have done - I don't know if you've already heard this? But I train properly now. I really believe I'm a better fighter now than I was back in the day. I'm smarter now.

J.S: Out of all the tough guys you faced, who gave you your toughest fight?

R.M: My toughest fight? Bert Cooper. I was in the hospital for two days after that fight. I was dehydrated and my lip was split. They don't have heavyweight fights like that today. My manager always told me - 'If he hits you once, make sure you hit him back three times'. Bert Cooper was my toughest fight, but my most disappointing fight was my fight with Lennox Lewis. That was in my home country, two Olympic gold medallists, and I felt I definitely won. As a matter of fact, though he never told me I beat him, he told me I gave him his toughest ever fight. This year, we we're both commentating on ESPN, and he told me I was his toughest opponent.

J.S: So you went to hospital after the Bert Cooper fight, which you won after 12 rounds of non-stop fighting. What must Cooper have felt like afterwards!?

R.M: We were in the same hospital at the same time getting our stitches put in. We were in the same room talking! You're right, that was 12 rounds of non-stop fighting.

J.S: I must say, Ray, and I don't want to get personal - but you seem in great shape after all the great and tough fights you've given us. Your speech is perfect and you have all your faculties. Some fighters, you can tell they're worse for wear after the hard fights they've had, but not you.

R.M: Thank you. I started late in my boxing career. I was 28, and I've not really had that many fights, I've only had 44 fights. Also, I've never really had too many wars. So I should be the way I am.

J.S: It's great that you can give such a great interview too. Just talking again about your glory years, there was one fight you never got that you really wanted - against Mike Tyson...

R.M: (answering quickly) Yeah, Mike Tyson. I wanted that fight real bad. I signed a contract, I signed my contract and started training. But Tyson never signed. That was his way, he would always pull out if he knew you were in shape, that was Tyson all over. That hurt me bad, me not getting that fight. I actually cried when Buster Douglas beat him. That was what I was supposed to do. We both had basically the same style. So all these years later when I'm talking to you, I'm talking about what might have been, I'm still talking about Mike Tyson. I wish I was telling you how it was, not how it might have been.

J.S: And that's another reason you want to fight Haye, by beating him you'll get some of the respect you never got?

R.M: Exactly. I know I can beat him. My experience will tell the story, and I'll be in great shape also.

J.S: You were, and still are, a guy known for having a great chin. Do you feel you'll be able to take anything Haye can land?

R.M: I can still take it. I can tell you, to this day I've never been down from a shot to the chin. Shannon Briggs put me down with a rabbit punch to the back of the head. I can take it to the chin and I can take it to the head. But I don't know anybody who can take it to the back of the head the way Shannon hit me.

J.S: It's been a privilege talking to you Ray. You gave us so many thrilling fights to remember in the 1990s and I think you deserve the chance to go out in a blaze of glory, so I hope you get the fight with Haye. You at least want the fight, whereas some other younger guys don't seem to want it. Just before you go, what would you say was your finest ever win - the one you're most proud of?

R.M: I'd like to thank you for the interview also. My best ever win was the stoppage win over Francesco Damiani, when I won the WBO title. He was whupping my ass good for eight rounds, and every time I went back to the corner I told myself I'd catch him. And I did. I caught him with that 45-degree angle jab/uppercut that broke his nose. That along with the win over Bert Cooper was my best ever.

(Of all the interviews this writer has had the privilege of conducting, talking to the great Ray Mercer has to rank as one of the very best. Thanks also to Rachel Charles for getting me the interview

 

[heyzel]

Felix Trinidad Only Open For De La Hoya and Hopkins

By Mark Vester

Felix "Tito" Trinidad (42-3, 35KOs) has been inactive since a January decision loss to Roy Jones Jr. He doesn't have any desire to return to the ring unless there are rematches with Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins waiting for him. He's received a lot of offers over the last few months, including fights with Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor, but those two fights [De La Hoy and Hopkins] are the only two to motivate him.

Hopkins face Pavlik on October 11 in Atlantic City and De La Hoya takes on Manny Pacquiao on December 6. Trinidad would have to wait until some point in 2009 to face either guy. Father and trainer, Felix Trinidad Sr., sent a letter to their promoter Don King, indicating that De La Hoya and Hopkins are who they want.

"At this time we are completely away from boxing," Trinidad Sr. said. "We will continue to say the exact thing that was written to Mr. King, that unless there is a fight on a high level, like a rematch against De La Hoya or against Bernard Hopkins, he won't fight because there aren't many [fights] that motivate Tito too much

 

[heyzel]

Schaefer: "Pacquiao Knows Marquez Will Beat Him, Again"

By Mark Vester

Richard Schaefer, CEO for Golden Boy Promotions, is not buying a possible issue over money as the cause to prevent a Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez trilogy bout from taking place. Schaefer says the money for a trilogy bout is there. Schaefer is taking aim at recent comments made by Pacquiao with respect to a third bout with Marquez.

“I’m willing to fight him any time. But since I will be the promoter, he must first accept all the conditions I will ask including a smaller purse [for him]," Pacquiao said. “If he agrees to the conditions, I know he is fighting for honor and I will fight him. If not, he’s only after getting big purse."

Schaefer says that Pacquiao could have fought Marquez back in June, instead of David Diaz, and made a lot more money, but didn't want the fight.

"The money for Pacquiao-Marquez fight is there so it cannot be the money. Manny knows he could have made more money fighting Juan Manuel Marquez, far more money, than he made by fighting David Diaz in his last fight. So I think money is not a good excuse. I don't believe it. Pacquiao can say it as many times as he wants. I don't believe it," Schaefer told Setanta Sports.

Schaefer still feels that Marquez won their March rematch. He says that Pacquiao, deep inside, knows that he lost the Marquez rematch and wants to avoid losing a the third bout.

"I believe he knows Juan Manuel Marquez has his number and that he will beat him again. So he is going to try to find different fights, different avenues. Now he has the opportunity to go in with the most popular fighter in the world, Oscar De La Hoya, so yes, he is going to jump at that opportunity," Schaefer said.

Pacquiao face De La Hoya on December 6 in Las Vegas. Schaefer says Marquez will be waiting, but he doesn't think Pacquiao will be looking for that fight and sees the Filipino fighter targeting Ricky Hatton.

"Is he going to win, is he going to lose? Irrespective of that, no doubt he will move down. He is not going to stay at 147 pounds and Juan Manuel Marquez will be waiting for him," Schaefer said. "I think a lot of it depends on what the outcome will be with the Oscar fight. If he will get knocked out badly by Oscar he may look for an easier fight. If he wins he may look for a fight with Ricky Hatton."

 

[heyzel]

JD Chapman Furious, Denies David Haye Fight Agreement

By Keith Terceira

Last night undefeated, top-ten ranked, Arkansas heavyweight J.D. Chapman (29-0, 26KOs) left his Florida residence and is driving back to his Mansfield home. According to sources close to Chapman, who've spoken several times to the young heavyweight in the last few days - Chapman is both furious and dejected over recent events surrounding his passing on the David Haye fight.

Chapman relayed that he never at any point agreed to terms to meet Haye because the offer was first proposed at a ridiculously low purse of $100.000. Later after refusing the first offer it was increased by $40,000.

Responding to the comments of Adam Booth, manager and trainer of Haye, who told UK media:

’He said: 'I'm not coming to England to get knocked out,” Booth said. “This after agreeing a substantial amount of money.”

Chapman maintains that was an outright lie, but does say he never agreed when signing his deal with Scott Hirsch to be sent to England as an opponent for short money after not fighting since February. He turned down the fight with Haye because of concerns having to do with his conditioning, training, and having to take a fight of this type on less than eight weeks notice.

Furthermore Chapman is totally disgusted with the changes that have taken place within his team and the addition of Mike Borao, who was not privy to the original promises & plans laid out by Scott Hirsch when Hirsch was Chapman’s manager. A long term plan suddenly became a rush to a promotional payday and any discussion about a mid-six-figure offer was never passed on to John David Chapman.

The original plan was to build Chapman and get the 25-year-old heavyweight prepared for a championship which would take time due to Chapman’s lack of an amateur career. At one point sources report that Chapman was offered a bout with Sam Peter for $600,000 that Hirsch turned down because it didn’t fit with that goal.

Hirsch later became Chapman’s promoter, and according to people close to Chapman - things changed with the relationship and communication.

In conversations with friends, Chapman revealed today that he had not even spoke to Scott Hirsch in the three months prior to being told by phone on Monday that;

“You are fighting David Haye for a hundred thousand dollars in November and had to be on a plane the following morning for a press conference in England.”

After being repeatedly pressured and warned of dire consequences that would make things tough for him should he turn down the offer, Chapman felt the need to return to Arkansas and at this point he has little interest in anything related to boxing and is considering all of his options regarding his career.

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

I was really looking forward to Haye stepping up but now its getting ridiculuos. They couldnt make hand picking more obvious. Haye trying to act like he's a real deal Holyfield.

He should have fought Rahman. Anything less is a joke...

 

[2-0-Sixx]

^^I heard he's most likely going to fight Ray Mercer Next. LOL, seriously too.

You know what it is though? They just want an easy win so he fight Wlad Klitschko immediately after. Wlad and co already stated they will fight Haye assuming they both win their next fight. Haye just wants to fight a bum so he doesn't fuck that up.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Fights today

September 17
At Manchester, N.H.: Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin vs. Sam Hill, 10 rounds, middleweights; Ronald Hearns vs. Alexander Pacheco Quiroz, 8 rounds, junior middleweights; Danny O'Connor vs. Jose Guerrido, 4 rounds, junior welterweights

 

[REdRUM]

By Mark Vester

Felix "Tito" Trinidad (42-3, 35KOs) has been inactive since a January decision loss to Roy Jones Jr. He doesn't have any desire to return to the ring unless there are rematches with Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins waiting for him. He's received a lot of offers over the last few months, including fights with Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor, but those two fights [De La Hoy and Hopkins] are the only two to motivate him.

Hopkins face Pavlik on October 11 in Atlantic City and De La Hoya takes on Manny Pacquiao on December 6. Trinidad would have to wait until some point in 2009 to face either guy. Father and trainer, Felix Trinidad Sr., sent a letter to their promoter Don King, indicating that De La Hoya and Hopkins are who they want.

"At this time we are completely away from boxing," Trinidad Sr. said. "We will continue to say the exact thing that was written to Mr. King, that unless there is a fight on a high level, like a rematch against De La Hoya or against Bernard Hopkins, he won't fight because there aren't many [fights] that motivate Tito too much

LOL

That last line is great...he must be motivated to get his ass handed to him, like Winky and Roy did.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

yeah tito needs to just go away. I mean maybe oscar de la hoya would be ok, but no point in fighting bernard hopkins, it's not like the fight was close or anything, it was an 11 and 1/2 round beat down by hopkins.

 

[heyzel]

Calzaghe: "Pavlik is Full of Bullsh*t, Overhyped Fighter"

By Mark Vester

Super middleweight/light heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe had a field day with WBO/WBC middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik. Calzaghe said he is tired of Pavlik trying to make name for himself by continuously calling him out. He claims that Pavlik has ducked the opportunity to fight him, and says the only reason Pavlik is calling him out is because he already signed to fight Roy Jones Jr. on November 8 in New York's Madison Square Garden.

"Pavlik is just trying to make a name for himself on my back. I tried to get a fight with him twice before. We approached him immediately after I beat Jeff Lacy in 2006 but he declined," Calzaghe told The Sun. "He fought and beat Jermain Taylor instead and immediately had a rematch with him to dodge me again. It's easy to come out of the woodwork and mouth off when you've already signed to fight somebody else."

He further claims that even Pavlik disposed of Gary Lockett in Hune [Calzaghe's stablemate], he still didn't try to make a fight.

"He didn't even call me out after he beat Gary. And with no disrespect to Gary, he's a totally different kettle of fish to me. When Pavlik beat Gary, he actually didn't say anything about me at all afterwards, "Calzaghe said. "It's funny that he's started to get a bit brave now that I've signed to fight Jones — but you get used to that bulls*** in boxing."

Despite the bad feelings, Calzaghe still picks Pavlik to beat Bernard Hopkins on October 11. Not because he thinks Pavlik is better, but because he thinks Hopkins is too old. But Calzaghe says that WBA super middleweight champ Mikkel Kessler, who Calzaghe beat last November, would beat Pavlik.

"I'm surprised Hopkins has agreed to fight Pavlik as he's getting that old now he didn't even know what corner to walk to when I fought him," Calzaghe said. "He walked to the wrong corner four times and although he fought a very good tactical fight against me, I think he should retire. Pavlik will win the fight, mainly due to his youth, although Hopkins still has the ability to make it very messy. But he is definitely overhyped and I think Mikkel Kessler would beat him."

 

[heyzel]

Johnson Offers "Anyone" 10% of His Purse For Haye

By Keith Terceira

Heavyweight Kevin “King Pin” Johnson (20-0-1, 7KOs) is putting money on the table - for everyone. During a recent appearance on the Talkin’ Boxing radio show on Wednesday, Johnson continued to call out David Haye (21-1, 20KOs) dispite the fact that Haye may have moved on to other opponents for his November bout in England.

During the fifteen minute discussion with co-host Bill Calogero, Johnson informed the world;

“I’ll offer 10% of my purse to anyone that can convince David Haye to step in the ring with me, anyone! If someone can get Haye in the ring with me and sends me a contract I’ll have it signed and back to them within five hours,” Johnson said.

Johnson fresh off his knockout of Bruce Seldon was more than prepared to fight Haye last week so much so that he went immediately into training camp mode.

“Last weekend the fight was a done deal, so I turned off my cell phone and shut down my computer. I went into the same zone that I do for training camp, no phone, no internet, no distractions.. I wasn’t available to see everything that was going on online.” Johnson explained still irritated over the whole issue but seemed to hold out hope that he could convince Haye or someone could at least.

“I want to fight him for the win the money was never an issue, as long as he doesn’t disrespect me with the offer I’ll fight him tomorrow. I never went back and said I wanted more money. I was ready to go, he must have watched my fight with Seldon then pulled the offer.”

The full interview with Kevin Johnson will be available tomorrow morning by podcast on talkinboxing.com or can be listened to live at radio affiliates WHTK 1280 am in Rochester, NY 6-7 am, and WBIX AM 1060 in Boston, Massachusetts on Saturday from 5-7 pm

 

[heyzel]

Insider Notebook: Mosley Has The Fire For Margarito

By Robert Morales

"Sugar" Shane Mosley has never shied away from fighting the toughest hombre available. He lost for the first time against Vernon Forrest in January 2002, a fight in which Mosley was decked and absorbed more punishment than he had ever taken in losing by five, nine and 10 points.

Many fighters would have been leery about a rematch, but Mosley fought Forrest again six months later. Mosley did better, but lost a closer unanimous decision.

In March 2004, Mosley fought and lost a wide decision to Winky Wright. Undaunted, Mosley squared off with Wright again eight months later and lost a much closer majority decision.

In other words, Mosley is not easily discouraged. That's why if he gets past Ricardo Mayorga a week from Saturday at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., Mosley next wants welterweight champion Antonio Margarito.

Margarito is coming off an 11th-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Miguel Cotto in July. Like Forrest and Wright, Margarito is taller and longer than Mosley. At 30, Margarito is also seven years Mosley's junior. But it's not in Mosley's nature to take the easy road.

"I've definitely always had that fire in my belly, even when I was a young kid," Mosley said Wednesday, during a telephone conversation from his training camp in Big Bear. "It's the competitive nature in me. If I can be the best, I am going to give myself a shot to be the best out there."

Margarito would have loved to take on Oscar De La Hoya in his next fight, but De La Hoya has chosen to fight lightweight Manny Pacquiao instead. That matchup may not be the best thing for boxing in some aspects. But it gives Mosley the opportunity to push for his own fight against Margarito, who became an instant superstar with his
destruction of Cotto.

Thus, Mosley's calling out of Margarito.

"He's considered the best welterweight out there and I like to fight the best fighters out there," said Mosley, 37. "It would be a great fight. He comes and I would definitely have to be in tip-top shape to withstand the pressure and come with my own stuff as well."

Eight months before Margarito dispatched Cotto, Mosley nearly beat Cotto in a good fight in New York City. Cotto escaped with a close unanimous decision, but Mosley said that Margarito must have seen his fight with Cotto and noticed that Cotto was backpedaling a lot against him and not throwing as many body punches as usual.

Mosley said he knew from about the second round that Margarito would eventually walk down Cotto and stop him. But Mosley said he has a much better idea of how Mexicans go about their business in the ring because he is from California and has sparred with many terrific Mexican fighters over the years. Former world champions Zachary Padilla and Chicanito Hernandez are two of them.

"He just basically walked Cotto down and Cotto just couldn't withstand the pressure," Mosley said. "With me, I'm quick and I got fast feet and I understand the Mexican type of fighting. They walk you down in the later rounds and they knock you out.

"I understand that kind of fighting because I'm fighting out of California. In some cases they call me the 'Black Mexican' because I fight like that, too. I seen a lot of things I can do with Margarito."

Mosley, who has won titles in three weight classes, said he is not overlooking Mayorga. Mayorga (29-6-1, 23 KOs) may be lacking in technical skills, but Mosley said he knows he packs a wallop. But if that business is successfully completed, look for Mosley (44-5, 37 KOs) to go hard after Margarito.

House of Pain

It was June 28, about 11:30 p.m. Several boxing writers were sitting in an all-night restaurant inside Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, where Pacquiao had just knocked out David Diaz to win the lightweight world championship.

Suddenly, Steven Luevano passed by the reporter-filled table. His 27-year-old baby face was bruised and beaten like never before. Luevano had retained his featherweight world title by fighting Mario Santiago to a 12-round draw on the undercard of Pacquiao-Diaz. But Luevano looked like he must have lost.

"Hey," Luevano said, as he slowly strolled by with family and friends.

As a slick, left-handed fighter, Luevano has always been known more for his superior technical skills. But he showed against Santiago that he can slug it out, that he can withstand a brutal assault without caving in.

Luevano and Santiago exchanged knockdowns in one early round, and Santiago almost stopped Luevano in an ensuing round. That Luevano earned a draw said a lot about his intestinal fortitude.

His promoter, Bob Arum, said Tuesday afternoon that Luevano probably made himself a hotter commodity in that fight because of its vicious nature. But he's not sure he wants his young champion to make a habit of engaging in too many such fights.

"The down side is, how many more exciting fights can the kid have to where it shortens his career?" Arum said. "So you trade one thing off for another. Everybody now who follows the sport, every time Steven is in a fight, they're going to think they're going to see a lot of action. To that extent, he has really helped his career."

Luevano, of La Puente, Calif., is currently training for his fourth title defense. He will take on Billy Dib (21-0, 11 KOs) on Oct. 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on the undercard of the Bernard Hopkins-Kelly Pavlik fight.

Luevano was reached via telephone Tuesday evening after he finished his training in Oxnard, about 70 miles west of La Puente. Asked to respond to his promoter's comments, Luevano doled out some interesting thoughts of his own.

"I think I have a lot to still fight like that because I'm not that old and I haven't fought a lot of fights like that," Luevano said. "That was like my second one that was really brutal like that, taking a lot of punches and getting hit a lot. My first one was against Martin Honorio. I thought he hit a lot harder than Santiago did."

Honorio handed Luevano (35-1-1, 15 KOs) his only loss via close unanimous decision in November 2005. OK, so Luevano believes he can get into more scrapes like that.

But he admitted he doesn't really want to.

"I don't plan on fighting like that anymore unless I have to, which I don't think I have to," he said.

Luevano said he understands that fans love knockdown, drag-out fights. But that doesn't mean he is crazy about them.

"I see why people get angry when fighters are more boxing than beating each other's brains out," he said. "I like watching fights like that. But me knowing that it could hurt me later on, I would rather just be in a boring fight than an exciting fight."

Incidentally, Luevano said the facial bruises sustained against Santiago went away in a couple of days. That's hard to believe because he looked like he had gotten into a fight where the other guy had a bat and he didn't.

Promotional Paradise

Arum has two notable cards upcoming. First there is Pavlik-Hopkins and then Pacquiao-De La Hoya less than two months later on Dec. 6 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

On the surface it might seem that the promotion for De La Hoya-Pacquiao could overshadow the promotion for Pavlik-Hopkins. Love or hate the Pacquiao-De La Hoya fight, it is still the much more high-profile event of the two.

But Arum, chairman of the board of Top Rank Inc., scoffed at that notion and said he plans on using the promotional tour for Pacquiao-De La Hoya as a way to solidify interest in Pavlik-Hopkins.

"I think that in a way the hoopla over De La Hoya-Pacquiao helps Pavlik-Hopkins because it concentrates people's thoughts on boxing," said Arum, who promotes Pacquiao and Pavlik. "I'm of the school that believes that the more hullabaloo there is about the different aspects of a sport, that helps me sell my promotion.

"When I go out on the tour at the beginning of October for five days with De La Hoya and Pacquiao, writers will be coming who normally don't cover boxing and they will be reporting on boxing. With my mouth, I will let everyone know we have another great fight coming and that is Pavlik-Hopkins."

Arum said that since De La Hoya promotes Hopkins under his Golden Boy Promotions banner, he, too, will take advantage in that same manner.

"I think it will be a tremendous boost for Pavlik and Hopkins and I'm really excited about the way tickets are going for that fight because we are moving toward a sellout," Arum said.

Golden Tickets

Bill Caplan, Arum's longtime personal publicist, said Tuesday that the MGM Grand is already a virtual sellout for De La Hoya-Pacquiao. Caplan said that Top Rank, Golden Boy, MGM Grand and Pacquiao all were asked to shorten their orders for tickets just enough so that there will be 500 tickets made available to the public. Caplan said that once those tickets do go on sale, they will be "gone in 15 minutes."

Forrest-Marquez?

Perhaps the best part of Saturday's post-fight news conference at MGM Grand came with Vernon Forrest at the microphone. Forrest had just won back his super welterweight title with a lopsided unanimous decision over Sergio Mora. Their fight preceded the lightweight bout between Juan Manuel Marquez and Joel Casamayor, won by Marquez via 11th-round technical knockout.

Forrest talked some trash about Mora, finished and said his good-byes to those in attendance. But, wait, there was more.

"One more thing," Forrest said. "Since De La Hoya is fighting Pacquiao, why not let me fight Juan Manuel Marquez in my next fight? It's the same thing."

De La Hoya, who co-promoted Saturday's event, was standing on the dais at the time. He did his best to keep smiling as Forrest then walked up and shook his hand. And the crowd roared. Mosley was not there, but he was told about Forrest's comments and asked what he thought about them and the whole idea of De La Hoya, a super welterweight, taking on Pacquiao the lightweight at welterweight.

Mosley is a partner in De La Hoya's promotional company. While he did admit that a loss by De La Hoya would be a bad thing, he reminded this reporter that it was Pacquiao who went after De La Hoya.

Mosley also said that Forrest-Marquez would not be quite the same as De La Hoya-Pacquiao, even though the respective weights classes match.

"Manny gets a lot bigger than Marquez," Mosley said, speaking in terms of fight-night weight. "I think it's almost like (welterweight champion) Paul Williams. Paul Williams (who is at least 6-foot-2) can fight at 168. Can "Sugar" Shane fight at 168? I don't know. It would take a lot of burgers and cake to fight at 168. Vernon could probably fight at 170, but Oscar couldn't. It's different."

Like Father, Like Son

Mosley said his 17-year-old son, Shane Jr., is 4-1 as an amateur and looking better all the time.

"He has all the tools," Mosley said of his son, a high school senior. "Good jab, right hand. I want to make his foot movement a little faster. His punching power is good. He takes a good punch. He is going to be the type of fighter who can be a crowd pleaser."