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Jul 24, 2005
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Marco Huck talks about Nakash Fight

WBO Cruiserweight Champion Marco Huck (31-1, 23 KOs) just wrapped up the sparring ahead of his sixth title defence on April 2. Next Saturday, the 26-year-old will take on Ran Nakash (25-0, 18 KOs) at the Gerry Weber Stadium in Halle, Germany. Boxing-online.com caught up with him before fight week.

Q: Marco, you will already be making your sixth title defence. You are a rather experienced champion given your young age of just 26 years.…

MH: “That´s true. And I like it. I became world champion in August 2009. And now I will put the WBO belt on the line for the sixth time. That´s a nice development which makes me proud.”

Q: You are taking on unbeaten Ran Nakash. If you had had the choice, would you have picked him or somebody else?

MH: “I was due to take on Giacobbe Fragomeni, but he pulled out. That was an awkward situation, but as a professional, you have to be able to deal with it. It´s nothing new for me. It happened before my fight against Frantisek Kasanic, who got called up on very short notice. That does not mean that this is going to be a walk in the park – much on the contrary! Against Kasanic, I broke my jaw but still defeated him. I must not underestimate Nakash. He has been in full training and he is undefeated. These kind of boxers are highly motivated and just waiting for their chance. To leave the ring victorious, I need to break his will.”

Q: This will be your 32nd fight. Do you sometimes find it hard to motivate yourself?

MH: “I am always highly motivated to prove myself as world champion. I always enter the ring with a lot of self-confidence. But I remember the times when I was the challenger. I gave everything to make the most of my chance. And I am sure this will be true for Nakash, too. That is why I must not take anything for granted against him.”

Q: What makes boxing attractive for you. Is it the money?

MH: “Money is important. And every victory increases my worth. But what matters more to me is my belt. Money cannot buy you the feeling of holding a world title in your hands and calling it your own. The world title has made me famous all over the world. That´s fantastic. But I am still ambitious and have other goals to accomplish. That´s what motivates me – I still have a lot to accomplish in boxing.”

Q: Back in 2009, you became world champion in Halle. Are you looking forward to returning there?

MH: “Definitely. I only have the best memories of the Gerry Weber Stadium. It was the biggest moment of my life when I defeated Ramirez and the referee raised my hand. The atmosphere in the stadium is fantastic and it will be a great night of boxing on April 2.”
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Featherweight champ Gamboa looks to kick off banner year

by Chris Mannix


Meet Yuri Gamboa.

At 5-foot-5 and a muscular 126 pounds, Gamboa (19-0, 15 KOs) is a fearsome-looking featherweight. He puts punches together with blinding speed and delivers them with concussive power. Just ask Rogers Mtagwa, who went 12 grueling rounds with Juan Manuel Lopez -- Gamboa's chief rival in the division -- but lasted fewer than two with Gamboa.

"When you see him fight, you see incredible natural ability that is very Roy Jones-esque," said Gamboa's promoter, Todd DuBoef. "He has speed and power in both hands that are not seen too often in this sport."

Now, meet Yuri Gamboa. The talent is there but the focus sometimes is not. Just ask Jonathan Victor Barros, a lightly regarded title challenger who took a few rounds from Gamboa before losing a decision last March. Or Orlando Salido, a journeyman who put Gamboa on the canvas in the eighth round before fading down the stretch last September.

Indeed, Gamboa's career has been highlighted by excitement and stained with inconsistency. There's no question the 2004 Cuban Olympic gold medalist has the skills to be an elite fighter, one worthy of an elevated ranking on the pound-for-pound list. The mental toughness? That's not as certain.

We'll know more about Gamboa on Saturday (9:45 p.m. ET, HBO), when he defends his alphabet titles against Jorge Solis at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Solis (40-2-2, 29 KOs) is no pushover. He's a former super featherweight title-holder who traded shots with Manny Pacquiao for eight rounds in 2007 before getting knocked out. Solis is taller (5-8) than Gamboa and has considerable pop behind his punches.

He's an opponent who needs to be taken seriously. Though it's hard to tell if Gamboa is.

"I know he will be tough, but I can't say that he will be the toughest I have faced," Gamboa said. "Right now, pre-fight, I would have to say no. But we'll see how the fight progresses and I may have a better answer for you at the end. My toughest opponent to date was Marcos Ramirez [in 2008] and the toughest fight I have been in was my last one, against Orlando Salido."

Top Rank, for one, is hoping Gamboa is right. It has big plans for him. A win on Saturday could kick off a banner year, one rich with top-tier opponents. There is Chris John, the undefeated featherweight king who shares the WBA title with Gamboa. There is Hozumi Hasegawa, who claimed the WBC version of the title last year.

"Both [John and Hasegawa] are well-known in Asia," DuBoef said. "We have reached out to Chris John's people numerous times to see about his availability. I know there is momentum building for him to stay home with his popularity in Indonesia -- very Klitschko-esque -- where we see them fighting out of Germany and Eastern Europe. I see that and the difficulty of bringing those guys over here to fight. I know they have a robust TV market. They are all opportunities, but you never know how the timing is and the market is that they are in. Right now, Chris John has no reason to come over here to fight any of the featherweights."

Said Gamboa: "I would never back down from anyone and would look forward to fighting either John or Hasegawa."

Then there is Lopez, who is charting an interminably slow intersecting course. Both Lopez, 27, and Gamboa, 29, are promoted by Top Rank, which has been patiently trying to build up both fighters in advance of a showdown. Bob Arum has said repeatedly that he would like to see Gamboa and Lopez clean out the featherweight division before facing each other, but the politics of boxing make that less and less likely.

"I wouldn't say that [Gamboa vs. Lopez] is not on the radar," DuBoef said. "I would say that the business models around the two of them are separate, and I think there is time to build the fight into a really big fight and the time both fighters will benefit from how the fight happens so that we maximize the interest. We saw a recent fight between [Devon] Alexander and [Tim] Bradley that was a little early for it to happen. We all talk about when [Oscar] De La Hoya fought [Felix] Trinidad, that captivated everybody. I think there is something in between to build up the marketability of both fighters, fighting good fights along the way and building up demand.

"I don't think we do well with time lines. I think we do well building businesses around both fighters, and when it's ready to go, it's ready to go. We have seen them both progress substantially over the past 12 months. Their ratings have grown over both premium networks, and we have seen interest grow from people in the community. Yuri got a late start and has moved rather quickly to a high level of fighting, and he delivered. We have to take into consideration his marketability as he moves up."

As much as Top Rank would like to build momentum for Gamboa-Lopez, it may have reached its peak. Lopez is popular with a strong, primarily Puerto Rican fan base in New York. Gamboa, however, has never been a big draw and, at this stage of his career, may never be. Perhaps the only way to increase Gamboa's popularity is to pit him against Lopez and hope he delivers a spectacular performance.

He sounds like a man eager for the chance.

"They [Top Rank] have created this expectation about a fight that has not happened after a year of talking about it," Gamboa said. "What I want to do is tend to my business and keep collecting belts, hope that it happens and if it doesn't, I just move on

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20.../25/yuriorkis.gamboa/index.html#ixzz1HjAtQ0sy
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Whose “0” Must Go Saturday? Kennedy, Diaz, Garcia or Remillard’s

Come Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City when Jorge Solis, 40-2-2 (29) tries to take the “0” from Yuriorkis Gamboa, 19-0 (15) the WBA Super and IBF Featherweight champion’s record there will be 4 others hoping to keep their “0” record underneath this HBO Boxing After Dark show that Top Rank presents.

NABF and WBO NABO champion Matt Remillard, 23-0 (13), from Hartford, CT, will be in the toughest fight of his career as he defends his title’s against Miguel Angel “Mikey” Garcia, 24-0 (20), of Oxnard, CA, in the other half of the televised show. Garcia won an eliminator for the IBF featherweight title in August but it was Gamboa and Orlando Salido in September fighting for the vacant IBF title which was won by Gamboa. He will defend against the interim champ Solis who won his title in September.

The non-televised fight that Philly and north Jersey fans are coming to Atlantic City to see is the defending USBA super bantamweight champion Teon “The Technician” Kennedy, 16-0 (7), from Philadelphia against Jorge Diaz, 15-0 (9), of New Brunswick, NJ, over 12 rounds.

Kennedy added the NABA title in September but it will not be at risk. The former National Golden Gloves champion in 2006 knows it will not be an easy fight. “I know he is supposed to be a slick boxer and I have trained hard for this fight. I watched his last fight,” said Kennedy. He is co-managed by Jimmy Williams (also cut-man) and Doc Nowicki. He is promoted by Peltz Boxing. Kennedy is #3 in the IBF and #14 in the WBA.

Mikey Skowronowski trains both Diaz and Remillard. Diaz defeated Cuban Olympian Yan Barthelemy and unbeaten Alejandro Lopez. Joe Grier is his trainer while Pat Lynch and Sal Alessi are his co-managers. He is promoted by Pound for Pound Promotions. “I’ve had a good camp and am ready to move up to the next level,” said Diaz.

Garcia and Kennedy are slight favorites in this one but either fight could go either way. Gamboa is a solid favorite to keep his “0”.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Sampson Lewkowicz insists that Floyd Mayweather is 'the one' for Sergio Martinez

Chris Robinson

* Las Vegas Boxing Examiner



During Friday's fights at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino I ran across advisor Sampson Lewkowicz, always one to welcome to a good conversation. Lewkowicz manages some of the sport's finest talent and has one of the most hectic schedules around as he is traveling constantly and always handling business for his clients.

Hours earlier I was in the gym with lightweight contender Robert 'The Ghost' Guerrero as he sparred some vigorous rounds in preparation for his April 9th collision with Australia's Michael Katsidis, who Lewkowicz works with closely. The lightweight tussle is shaping up as one of the most compelling fights of the early 2011 season yet while many feel the fight is a pick em', Lewkowicz has little doubt about the outcome.

"I totally believe that he will knock Guerrero out and he won't stop towards becoming a champion. He deserves it and he's a good kid," Lewkowicz coined.

At the moment Lewkowicz's prized pupil is middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, now two weeks removed from an 8th round TKO over Germany's Sergiy Dzinziruk, a victory Lewkowicz still seems smitten by. But when eyeing the Argentinean's future, Sampson concedes that there is confusion as to which exact direction the team will take but leaves hints as to the next move.

News flash: Al Bernstein on the transcending ways of Manny Pacquiao

"I was frustrated from day one with Martinez because it doesn't matter; at 147 he couldn't get a fight. At 154 it was the same. And 160 is no different. If it is in the United States most likely it would be Peter Manfredo. He's a worthy challenger that, if nothing else, is available," he continued.

With no ideal opponents seeming to be available at the moment in the middleweight class, I asked Lewkowicz if a move to 168 could be in the works sometime down the road as Martinez against the likes of fighters like Andre Ward, Carl Froch, Lucian Bute and others is at least worth the thought. Lewkowicz shot down such a scenario, pointing out that the 36-year old has already filled out to his max at 160 pounds.

Lewkowicz would rather see see Martinez face someone closer to his weight class and I finished up our rap session by asking him if Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr. was more of an ideal candidate at this point.

"Pacquiao is out of the question. Mayweather is the one."


In the news
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Saul Alvarez, Mexico’s new hope

By Thomas David Drury: At just 20, Saul Alvarez is not only being tipped for the top. People in the no are predicting greatness, Alvarez looks Irish, acts American and fights Mexican, his appearance has always meant he stands out from the crowd.

When you turn professional in Mexico you are one of many, whether you are 15 years old or not, they call him “El Canelo” Spanish for cinnamon, a nickname that’s been with him since he was 13 years old. The jet black hair of Barrera, Chavez snr, Morales is nowhere to be found on Alvarez, soon after turning pro it was his fighting prowess that came to the forefront not his unusual Hispanic looks.

There is a buzz surrounding Alvarez. There are a lot of believers out there and the composed 20 year old is being backed to the hilt. His exciting style, fierce high-tempo punching and classic body work have magnetized his following. His popularity in Mexico is astonishing, some say surpassing Oscar De La Hoya, this is an astonishing feat for such a young fighter. While the spotlights are shining brightly on Alvarez he is yet to pit his potential against the skills of the elite.

Alvarez’s composure is one of an old head and he seems to not take himself too seriously. Many out there believe Alvarez could be the one to end Manny Paquiao’s reign of terror the only issue is making weight.

Although Alvarez hasn’t fought the best its clear to see he is a thinker inside the ring and possesses good ring generalship. But it is the passion for crowd-pleasing violence that endears him to his fans, few have caught the eye as much as the right hand-left hook that astonishingly knocked granite-chinned Argentine Carlos Baldomir flat on his face.

Alvarez at 20 years old is still physically growing so match-ups at welter-weight may soon be out of reach, Miguel Cotto, Sergei Dzinziruk, Paul Williams, Kelly Pavlik, Sergio Martinez may all be on “El Canelo’s radar soon enough.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Antonio Margarito: “I Think Everyone Wants To See A Cotto-Margarito Re-Match”

By Edgar Solorzano: On March 12, two distinct warriors with different styles fought an exciting battle at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Puerto Rican superstar Miguel Cotto (36-2, 29KO’s) defeated Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga (29-8-1, 23 KO’s) by TKO in the final round; a round that raised the energy in the arena.

Before the main-event bout, fight-fans were making their Cotto-Mayorga predictions. Some said Cotto was going to win by KO; while others stressed that Mayorga was going to be the warrior to conquer the world of boxing.

After March 12, the majority of the boxing world learned one thing. That Mayorga is not the greatest bull fighter in the ring. The Nicaraguan warrior didn’t show any fear and was extremely confident in the early rounds. Mayorga started with great energy throwing several combinations and showing a lot of movement; making the fight quite interesting.

Mayorga was explosive in the first five rounds and created a storm of punches that gave Miguel Cotto minor problems. Ricardo Mayorga did land some explosive wild punches that gave the Mayorga fans hope.

However, it was Miguel Cotto’s jab and left hooks that gave the Nicaraguan warrior problems in the later rounds. Cotto managed to break down Mayorga slowly through out the fight. Although he was breaking down Mayorga, the majority didn’t see it. It was like watching a plant grow; but with full of action.

The Puerto Rican warrior looked great against Mayorga. Cotto had a sharp jab, good foot-work, and great body-movement. Miguel Cotto was able to create distance with his quick jab; giving him a chance to set up for his combinations and time his left hook.

It seemed like everyone was waiting for the fight to go to decision when both warriors were battling in the final round. Until Miguel Cotto landed a tremendous left hook on Mayorga’s chin.

Ricardo Mayorga later surrendered and didn’t want to continue. It wasn’t surprising at all that Mayorga didn’t want to continue the war that he had started. Whenever a warrior offers his chin; he is basically offering his heart.
One fight the fans want to see is a Cotto-Margarito re-match. A lot of fans believe that Cotto could pull off the victory against Margarito. Miguel Cotto may be ready for a Margarito re-match and the fight could happen on July. I interviewed Antonio Margarito and asked a few questions. He made it crystal clear that he wants to battle in the squared-circled against the Puerto Rican warrior. Margarito stressed, “I don’t think is just me who wants the re-match, but I believe everyone wants to see it.” Antonio Margarito admitted that Miguel Cotto looked good on the Mayorga fight and that’s one of the reasons why he wants to fight Miguel Cotto on July.

Antonio Margarito Interview

Edgar Solorzano: What did you think of the Cotto-Mayorga fight?

Antonio Margarito: Well, I thought he looked good and I want to congradulate Migue Cotto for his victory.

Edgar Solorzano : What did you think of the fight? The way it ended?

Antonio Margarito: Well, I think Ricardo Mayorga talks a lot of trash; Miguel Cotto showed him and the rest of us that he was at his best in that fight.

Edgar Solorzano: Do you think Ricardo Mayorga will continue to fight?

Antonio Margarito: From what I saw, Ricardo Mayorga does not look the same anymore.

Edgar Solorzano : What different things did you see from the new Mayorga compared to the old Mayorga?

Antonio Margarito: Mayorga used to throw more punches and put good pressure on fighters.

Edgar Solorzano: I was talking to Robert Garcia and he told me that you guys were interested on fighting Miguel Cotto for a re-match?

Antonio Margarito: Well, not just me. I think everyone wants to see a Margarito-Cotto re-match.

Edgar Solorzano : And Garcia also told me that a re-match with Shane Mosley would be good too. What do you think about a re-match with Mosley?

Antonio Margarito: When I fought Shane Mosley, I wasn’t well prepared and was not the same fighter when I fought him. But I am willing to fight anyone.

Edgar Solorzano: If you fight Miguel Cotto, would the fight be at 147 or 154 pounds?

Antonio Margarito: No, I will just be fighting at 154 pounds now. Since that’s the title Miguel Cotto has right now.

Edgar Solorzano : Manny Pacquiao will be fighting Shane Mosley on May 7th, what do you think about that fight?

Antonio Margarito: Well, I think Manny Pacquiao has showed that he’s the pound for pound king and I think he should be able to pull off the victory.

Edgar Solorzano : You fought both fighters, do you think Manny Pacquiao will KO Shane Mosley or win by decision?

Antonio Margarito: It all depends… Like I said, I wasn’t the same fighter when I fought Shane Mosley. I struggled to make the weight required for that fight.

Edgar Solorzano: Ok, Thank You for the interview
 
Jul 24, 2005
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From gangland to high society: He was a champion boxer, East End gangster

By Glenys Roberts



Former boxer George Walker has died of a heart attack aged 82 in the South of France

Former boxer George Walker has died of a heart attack aged 82 in the South of France

From East-End gangster to millionaire wheeler-dealer who married his daughter to a Marquess, his was a classic rags-to-riches story.

Former boxer George Walker, who has died of a heart attack aged 82 in the South of France, certainly left his mark on the British scene.

He will be forever remembered as the man who invented the shopping centre — he gave birth to the pioneering but brutally ugly Brent Cross in North London, the first of the great shopping complexes which have defined life since the Eighties.

He masterminded his talented boxing brother, Billy Walker, who challenged Henry Cooper unsuccessfully for the British heavyweight title.

He also kick-started Joan Collins’s once-ailing career when he helped finance The Stud, the film in which a near-naked, 40-something Joan caused a sensation by besporting herself on a garlanded swing in close proximity to the manly Oliver Tobias.

Such entrepreneurial success was a far cry from George’s humble beginnings. Born in Stepney, the son of a £2-a-week drayman, Walker left school at 14 to work as a porter at Billingsgate fish market.

Then, while doing National Service in the RAF, he became interested in boxing: he got out of square-bashing in full kit and heavy rifle by volunteering for the boxing squad.

George took up the noble art as a light heavyweight, becoming known as the Stepney Steamroller and winning the British Amateur Boxing Championship. At one point, he was ranked No7 in the world, but an injury in the mid-Fifties put an end to his fighting days.

At this, the lowest point of his life, he also found himself on the wrong side of the law.

Having been befriended by Billy Hill, gangland’s famous criminal mastermind who mentored the Kray Twins, he served nine months in jail for stealing nearly £2,000 worth of nylon stockings and woollen goods.
Boxing clever: George took up boxing as a light heavyweight, becoming known as the Stepney Steamroller and winning the British Amateur Boxing Championship

Boxing clever: George took up boxing as a light heavyweight, becoming known as the Stepney Steamroller and winning the British Amateur Boxing Championship

At the time he was an unknown, although the story came out much later at the height of his success. It might have caused him a good deal of embarrassment but, typically, he deflected the onslaughts with his bluff charm.

By then, he had kept his nose clean for many years, having embarked on a life of hard work the moment he came out of prison. He met and married his wife, Jean, a Southend girl, whom he picked up in a local ballroom one Saturday night, and used his boxing winnings to buy a third share in the petrol station run by his father-in-law.

The couple started married life in a tiny storeroom they built on to the side of the garage, sleeping in a single bed because it was not big enough for a double. Soon, they had started up a transport business — with George driving the lorry and Jean selling petrol.

But it was his younger brother Billy’s boxing winnings that helped them both into the big time. George trained Billy, known as the Blond Bomber, and their partnership amassed £250,000 — enough to launch a chain of baked potato restaurants.

The key to George’s soaring career was his irresistible cockney charm, combined with blond good looks and a penchant for watching the pennies.
On a roll: George Walker, right, with Robin Power of Powercorps in front of Piccadilly's Trocadero entertainment and shopping complex, which the former boxer bought in the prime of his career

On a roll: George Walker, right, with Robin Power of Powercorps in front of Piccadilly's Trocadero entertainment and shopping complex, which the former boxer bought in the prime of his career

Soon, the small chain of cafes he had bought with Billy had grown into Brent Walker, the biggest leisure-cum-property business in England.

He had long ago exchanged his East End garage for a marble palace in Mayfair and, having had little education himself, was only too happy to be able to send his three children Jason, Sarah and Romla, to the country’s most expensive public school, Millfield in Somerset.

So it must have been with great satisfaction that, in 1989, he watched as his beautiful daughter, Sarah, married Prince Philip’s cousin, the Marquess of Milford Haven, at Chelsea register office.

Though the marriage did not last more than seven years, it gave the boy from Stepney two titled grandchildren, Lady Tatiana, now 21, and the Milford Haven heir, the 19-year-old Earl of Medina.
Titled: Daughter Sarah who, in 1989, married Prince Philip's cousin, the Marquess of Milford Haven

Titled: Daughter Sarah who, in 1989, married Prince Philip's cousin, the Marquess of Milford Haven

These were extraordinary years for a man who was now wheeling and dealing with some of London’s most notorious chancers, including Lonrho boss Tiny Rowland.

Walker bought the Hackney greyhound racetrack near where he was born, breakfasting there every morning for a while, and on one spending spree snapped up the William Hill betting chain, Piccadilly’s Trocadero entertainment and shopping complex and the troubled Goldcrest film company that produced the Oscar-winning Chariots Of Fire and Gandhi.

By now, Walker was going from strength to strength, muscling his way into society’s top events. He sponsored the opera, launched the Brent Walker sailing race from Brighton to Cadiz in Spain, and renamed the September Ascot races the Brent Walker Festival.

He went down to the Cannes Film Festival, as befits a film tycoon, and entertained showbiz guests aboard his boat, Rich Harvest, to his favourite meal — salade nicoise and souffle of smoked salmon prepared by his wife.

Though George lived well, he always boasted that he did his own DIY and that Jean was not too grand to supervise the housework.

By now, his London home was an elegant four-bedroom, four-reception room penthouse in Pall Mall designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sweeping views over St James’s Palace, The Mall and Buckingham Palace. It boasted a stunning 31ft drawing room with marble pillars, a large classic marble fireplace and a painted mural on the ceiling.

He then moved to Knightsbridge and commuted at weekends in his BMW to another home in the country in Essex, a timber-framed former rectory built in the mid-15th century and upgraded with tennis courts, swimming pool and snooker rooms.

But George continued to have his ups and downs. First, in 1988, 14 years after he had launched Brent Walker on the Stock Exchange, his spell in jail was revealed.

Then, in the early Nineties, he was threatened with bankruptcy as the company, of which he was a major shareholder, faced debts of £150 million. Tiny Rowland offered to take on everything for just 9p in the pound, but was roundly rejected by a furious Walker who was popular with his shareholders and was saved by them when a majority voted to give him time to sort out his debts.

It was the third time Walker had avoided bankruptcy during the slow unwinding of Brent Walker’s once high-flying affairs. At one point, he had writs out against eight prominent banks, including Hill Samuel (which he nearly brought down), who were trying to remove him from the board.

This narrow squeak was followed by an even more distressing hearing in 1994 when he was tried for false accounting and the theft of £20 million from Brent Walker.

Walker, who denied everything, was left sobbing, and the hearing was halted as his daughter ran to his side to comfort him.

But whenever Walker was up against the ropes, the old fighting spirit returned. He was cleared of all charges and bounced back to form a company selling satellite pictures of British racing events to Eastern Europe, and opened a computer betting chain in Russia, where once again he rubbed shoulders with wealthy chancers — this time in the form of Russian oligarchs.

And just like her father, daughter Sarah bounced back after her marriage to Milford Haven broke down in 1996. She is happily walking out with billionaire moneybroker and former Tory treasurer Michael Spencer, of whom George Walker heartily approved because he was a self-made man.

The knowledge that they were together made her father’s last years particularly happy.

With his rough-diamond humour, his deal-making skills and business innovations, Walker was hailed for bringing a different perspective to the City.

As a friend of the family says: ‘He saw in Spencer another self-made man and a tough operator.’

In short, a man like himself, of the sort he always admired.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...hter-Prince-Philips-cousin.html#ixzz1Hk2CPLmr
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Solis: Gamboa hits harder than Pacquiao

By Chris Williams: Hard-hitting Mexican Jorge Solis (40-3-2, 29 KO’s) described the experience of fighting WBA World featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa (20-0, 16 KO’s) as “Terrible” after getting knocked down five times on Saturday night and stopped in the 4th round at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Solis, 31, never had a chance as Gamboa was both too fast and too powerful for him to deal with. After the fight, Solis had this to say about Pacquiao’s power in comparison to Gamboa: “Pacquiao doesn’t hit that hard. He throws a lot of punches but he doesn’t hit that hard.”

Pacquiao defeated Solis by an 8th round stoppage in 2007. However, Solis did a lot better job against Pacquiao compared to Gamboa, who he was never competitive against for even a brief moment.

Gamboa, 29, knocked Solis down twice in the 2nd, once in the 3rd round, and two more times in the 4th. The second knockdown in the 2nd round was more of a pull down rather than an actual knockdown. It didn’t really matter because it was clear even then that Solis wasn’t going to be able to make it out of this fight on his feet because he was really getting dominated. In the 3rd, Gamboa tagged Solis with a hard left uppercut near the end of the round that sent him to the canvas and seemed to really hurt Solis badly. In between rounds, Solis looked frustrated and unsure what to do against Gamboa. He just didn’t have any answers.

In the 4th, Gamboa landed a clean right hand that sent Solis down on his backside. After he got up, Gamboa went after him and opened up with a flurry of shots that ended with Solis doing down from what appeared to be a rabbit punch. However, Solis was bent over when Gamboa was throwing a flurry of shots, so it’s not surprising that some of them landed on the back of Solis’ head. The rabbit punches were a problem for Gamboa, because he threw a lot of them throughout the fight and Solis seemed to be really bothered by them. He would have been knocked out anyway, but the rabbit shots certainly didn’t help him any.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Warren thinks Haye stands a chance at beating one of the Klitschko brothers

By William Mackay: British promoter Frank Warren thinks that WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-1, 23 Ko’s) stands a chance at beating one of the Klitschko brothers. Haye is scheduled to fight IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO’s) in June or July. However, that could change very soon if Wladimir’s injured abdominal muscle tear continues to cause him problems preventing him from meeting Haye in the ring.

Haye’s only chance if in a fight with Wladimir, and that’s not a very good chance. Haye stands absolutely no chance of beating Vitali. None. He doesn’t have the game or the size to beat Vitali, and I wouldn’t give the 6’2″ Haye even a 1% chance of beating Vitali. The first big shot Vitali lands, Haye will likely be flopping around on the canvas the same way Odlanier Solis recently was.

Warren said this in his column at thesun.co.uk: “David Haye may stand a chance.” Warren doesn’t say how much of a chance Haye stands. I give Haye a teeny chance of beating Wladimir, only because Wladimir has a glass jaw and fights timidly. Haye won’t have a chance of beating Wladimir if Haye fights the way he did against Nikolay Valuev and John Ruiz. Running around the ring, throwing few punches or lunging forward with badly telegraphed looping shots will get Haye knocked out quickly. Haye doesn’t have a jab and his boxing skills are ordinary to say the least. He’s going to be like a cruiserweight with bad boxing fundamentals taking on a super heavyweight with superb boxing skills. It just doesn’t look good for Haye no matter how you twist things. Haye’s only chance is to try and land something in a clinch, but even that probably won’t work because of Haye’s lack of size.
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Haye to possibly move to WBA Super champion, freeing up his title

By William Mackay: It’s looking like the WBA will be moving WBA heavyweight champion David Haye to a new position in their ranking system by taking away his WBA title and elevating him to the WBA Super World heavyweight title in the very near future, according to the latest boxing news. By doing this the WBA will be able to have top contenders Alexander Povetkin fight it out with Jean Marc Mormeck for Haye’s old title, while at the same time opening up a new revenue stream with the sanctioning fees.

This is kind of a sickening thought, however, because Mormeck, now 38, has looked terrible in winning his last three fights at heavyweight against Vinny Maddalone, Fres Oquendo and Timur Ibragimov. Mormeck doesn’t look good at heavyweight and it would be sad to see him fighting for a title against anyone. And Povetkin hasn’t done anything since beating Chris Byrd and Eddie Champions in the IBF tournament three years ago in 2008.

Povetkin has fought nothing but 2nd tier heavyweights since then and has dealt with injuries. He had the opportunity to fight IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko for the title not too long ago but opted not to take the shot. A fight between Povetkin and Mormeck, which you have to figure would be won by Povetkin, would only further dilute the heavyweight division with yet another paper champion to go along with Haye. However, Povetkin would be a popular fighter if he wins the fight, because he has a following in Germany and it would give them another champion to cheer
 
Jul 24, 2005
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Froch vs. Johnson on June 4th at the Boardwalk Hall Arena

By Dan Ambrose: Dan Rafael of ESPN is reporting that the Super Six semifinal bout between WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch (27, 20 KO’s) and 42-year-old Glen Johnson (51-14-2, 35 KO’s) will be taking place on June 4th at the Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The fight was previously scheduled for May 21st but has been moved back two more weeks to the June 4th. It probably doesn’t matter all that much, although it’s probably not a good thing for Froch and Johnson that they will have been out of the ring for six and seven months by the time they do end up fighting.

Froch last fought, 33, back on November 27th when he defeated Arthur Abraham by a one-sided 12 round decision. Froch looked good in the fight and used his size to dominate the shorter Abraham and pound out a unanimous decision. This was the easiest fight for Froch by far.

Johnson recently moved down from light heavyweight to take on Allan Green on November 6th, stopping him by an 8th round TKO.

Froch is the younger fighter compared to Johnson. However, Johnson is the much more experienced guy and is used to throwing a lot of punches in wars at close range. Froch doesn’t fight well on the inside and is more of medium range type fighter. He has to keep Johnson on the outside to win because Froch’s game isn’t made for grueling inside wars. This is going to be a lot tougher fight for Froch compared to his last bout against Abraham and you can’t count Johnson out in this one.
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Jul 24, 2005
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Ndlovu decisions Molitor, captures IBF super bantamweight title

By Jason Kim: In something of an upset, South African Takalani Ndlovu (32-6, 18 KOs) defeated IBF super bantamweight champion Steve Molitor (33-2, 12 KOs) on Saturday night, beating him by a 12 round unanimous decision at the Nasrec Indoor Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The final judges’ scores were 118-110, 118-110, and 116-112. Molitor, 30 defeated Ndlovu only last year by a 12 round unanimous decision in March to claim the IBF belt.

However, Ndlovu was more than ready for Molitor in the rematch, and out-worked the Canadian fighter to get the title. Molitor had just finishing making his first title defence of his IBF belt last year, beating Jason Booth by a 12 round decision in February. The loss for Molitor is a big blow to his career because he was stopped in the 3rd round by Celestino Caballero in 2008.

In other fight action on the card, IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane (27-2, 18 Kos) defeated challenger Johnriel Casimero (14-2, 8 KOs) by a fifth round stoppage.