Boxing News Thread

[2-0-Sixx]

Roy Jones Jr.-Jermain Taylor in The Works

By Rick Reeno

Promoter Lou DiBella has advised BoxingScene.com that talks are ongoing for Jermain Taylor (27-2-1, 17KOs) to face Roy Jones Jr. (52-4, 38KOs) in either June or July, on HBO pay-per-view. The fight will likely take place at a catch-weight of 170-pounds.

Taylor, a former middleweight champion, lost a unanimous decision last Saturday night to Kelly Pavlik at a contracted weight of 166-pounds. Jones, a former four-division champion, won a unanimous decision over Felix Trinidad in January. The Jones-Trinidad affair was also held at the catch-weight of 170.

"Pavlik may have won the fight on Saturday, but Jermain didn't lose," DiBella said.

Talks for Taylor-Jones were previously held in 2007. Jermain skipped out on Jones to defend his title against his mandatory, Kelly Pavlik. Pavlik stopped Taylor in the seventh-round of that September title defense. Following the loss, Jones claimed in an interview with BoxingScene.com, that he advised DiBella to turn Pavlik down.

"I saw it coming. I was telling Lou DiBella. The bad part about it, Jermain Taylor and I had a date for September. HBO gave him a pay-per-view (date) to fight me. They agreed to this a long time before I fought Anthony Hanshaw (7/14/07)," Jones said. "They said 'naw, we're going to fight Kelly Pavlik first'. I said 'you are making a mistake Lou, he (Taylor) almost lost his last six fights.'

On a side note from last Saturday's Pavlik-Taylor pay-per-view from Las Vegas, DiBella slipped and fell while exiting the ring during Ronald Hearns' undercard bout. He suffered a back injury and a broken rib.

"I was wearing new shoes. I fell very hard and I'm still in pain, but I'm continuing to conduct business for all of my fighters," DiBella said.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Joe Calzaghe: "I'll Move Down For Kelly Pavlik"


By Mark Vester

In a recent interview with Brian Doogan, WBC/WBO/WBA super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe said that he's willing to move back down in weight for a fight with WBC/WBO middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik.

Calzaghe says that he's only taking the bout with Bernard Hopkins at the light heavyweight limit of 175-pounds because the Philadelphian fighter refused to move down to super middleweight. After Calzaghe's super-fight with Hopkins on April 19, he'd like to collide with Pavlik.

"I'm only stepping up to light heavyweight because Hopkins wouldn't come down to super middleweight and I've always wanted to be a champion at two weights," Calzaghe said. "Pavlik's a good champion and, yes, I'm impressed by him. He comes to fight and I like his no-nonsense style."

How would Calzgahe match up? Well, he doesn't think Pavlik is strong enough at 168 to beat a fighter like Mikkel Kessler, who Calzaghe was able to best last November. The undisputed champ broke it down the strategy to Doogan.

"He's a bit crude, Pavlik, and doesn't do anything exceptional," Calzaghe said. "I'd stop him from jabbing with my movement and my workrate would wear him down late on. I don't see [Pavlik] beating Mikkel Kessler because he wouldn't have the punching power to hurt him but I think he could be effective at super middle. He showed that last night [by] boxing just a few pounds under the super middleweight limit."

Pavlik is looking to return on June 7 at New York Madison Square Garden. The two frontrunner opponents are Felix Trinidad and "Irish" John Duddy. Trinidad may become a problem to put together as trainer/manager Papa Trinidad will not advise his son, who last fought at 170, to move down to 160 for Pavlik.

 

[heyzel]

Roy Jones Jr.-Jermain Taylor in The Works

By Rick Reeno

Promoter Lou DiBella has advised BoxingScene.com that talks are ongoing for Jermain Taylor (27-2-1, 17KOs) to face Roy Jones Jr. (52-4, 38KOs) in either June or July, on HBO pay-per-view. The fight will likely take place at a catch-weight of 170-pounds.

Taylor, a former middleweight champion, lost a unanimous decision last Saturday night to Kelly Pavlik at a contracted weight of 166-pounds. Jones, a former four-division champion, won a unanimous decision over Felix Trinidad in January. The Jones-Trinidad affair was also held at the catch-weight of 170.



"Pavlik may have won the fight on Saturday, but Jermain didn't lose," DiBella said.

Talks for Taylor-Jones were previously held in 2007. Jermain skipped out on Jones to defend his title against his mandatory, Kelly Pavlik. Pavlik stopped Taylor in the seventh-round of that September title defense. Following the loss, Jones claimed in an interview with BoxingScene.com, that he advised DiBella to turn Pavlik down.

"I saw it coming. I was telling Lou DiBella. The bad part about it, Jermain Taylor and I had a date for September. HBO gave him a pay-per-view (date) to fight me. They agreed to this a long time before I fought Anthony Hanshaw (7/14/07)," Jones said. "They said 'naw, we're going to fight Kelly Pavlik first'. I said 'you are making a mistake Lou, he (Taylor) almost lost his last six fights.'

On a side note from last Saturday's Pavlik-Taylor pay-per-view from Las Vegas, DiBella slipped and fell while exiting the ring during Ronald Hearns' undercard bout. He suffered a back injury and a broken rib.

"I was wearing new shoes. I fell very hard and I'm still in pain, but I'm continuing to conduct business for all of my fighters," DiBella said.

that should be intresting

 

[heyzel]

Joe Calzaghe: "I'll Move Down For Kelly Pavlik"


By Mark Vester

In a recent interview with Brian Doogan, WBC/WBO/WBA super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe said that he's willing to move back down in weight for a fight with WBC/WBO middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik.

Calzaghe says that he's only taking the bout with Bernard Hopkins at the light heavyweight limit of 175-pounds because the Philadelphian fighter refused to move down to super middleweight. After Calzaghe's super-fight with Hopkins on April 19, he'd like to collide with Pavlik.

"I'm only stepping up to light heavyweight because Hopkins wouldn't come down to super middleweight and I've always wanted to be a champion at two weights," Calzaghe said. "Pavlik's a good champion and, yes, I'm impressed by him. He comes to fight and I like his no-nonsense style."

How would Calzgahe match up? Well, he doesn't think Pavlik is strong enough at 168 to beat a fighter like Mikkel Kessler, who Calzaghe was able to best last November. The undisputed champ broke it down the strategy to Doogan.

"He's a bit crude, Pavlik, and doesn't do anything exceptional," Calzaghe said. "I'd stop him from jabbing with my movement and my workrate would wear him down late on. I don't see [Pavlik] beating Mikkel Kessler because he wouldn't have the punching power to hurt him but I think he could be effective at super middle. He showed that last night [by] boxing just a few pounds under the super middleweight limit."

Pavlik is looking to return on June 7 at New York Madison Square Garden. The two frontrunner opponents are Felix Trinidad and "Irish" John Duddy. Trinidad may become a problem to put together as trainer/manager Papa Trinidad will not advise his son, who last fought at 170, to move down to 160 for Pavlik.

calzaghe will out box joe if this goes down

 

[heyzel]

How the hell does John Ruiz consistently make it into the top 10 of every ranking?

I don't know who ever he got and his pocket they damn sure is doing his or her job

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Yeah that will be a good fight. I was thinking Jones would take on Pavlik, but I don't know how low of a weight class Jones can get to.

I think Jones probably can/will beat Taylor. I also think he has a good shot against Pavlik, however he's defense when he leans up against the ropes and goes into shell mode could be tragic against Pavlik and his hard punches.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

calzaghe will out box joe if this goes down

Joe vs Calzaghe, aye?? haha

I know what you're saying - joe would outbox pavlik. Probably so, but I think Pavlik has that power that could hurt joe at any moment. Would be interesting.

besides, joe needs to focus on old man hopkins and not get a head of himself.

 

[heyzel]

yeah but pavlik takes to many unneeded punches his denfence will lose him this fight

 

[2-0-Sixx]

true, true. He's very one dimensional, as shown against Taylor, and has no head movement whatsoever and his defense really isn't good. But, when you're knockin foo's out all that doesn't matter. I think he'll be exploited sooner or later, and I also wonder if he left his power behind at the lower weight class. Maybe it wouldn't be in his best interest to go up.

Personally, imo, I think he should stay at middleweight and fight Arthur Abraham. I think he would kick his ass. Then maybe John Duddy and Winky Wright. The latter being a tough challenge, but I think this would be the safest/smartest approach to staying champion for at least a couple years.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Bernard Hopkins: "I Will Punish Calzaghe Slowly"

Bernard Hopkins promised to take Joe Calzaghe into the trenches today when they meet at the Planet Hollywood Ring, The Thomas & Mack Centre, Las Vegas on April 19.

The pair resumed hostilities on the first leg of a three-city press tour of the United States.

" I'm in Executioner mode," said a mean and moody Hopkins, 48-4, at a media conference at Planet Hollywood in New York.

" I walk a fine line that others don't want to walk. I'll win by any means necessary. Anything can happen, I fear nobody and nothing. You will all see something special on April 19, and I will show you all who is the best.

" I said I'm going to punish Calzaghe slowly, and I'll repeat that today. I'll ask that his father is merciful to him and pulls him out when he is getting hurt."

Calzaghe, undefeated in 44 fights and the current WBC/WBA/WBO super-middleweight champion, says he remains confident of victory despite 43-year-old Hopkins' verbal onslaught.

" I've always wanted to fight the best in America, and Hopkins is not only the best light-heavyweight in the world, but one of the best pound for pound fighters as well," said the 35-year-old Welshman.

" I've said before that the bigger the challenge, the harder the test, the better I perform. I want to be known as a great and a legend and these are the type of fights that I need.

" I'm excited, really excited, to be in America, and being here today in front of all the media is mouth-watering.

" But the ring is my home, and if Hopkins wants a war then I will give him one on April 19 and meet him toe to toe. If he wants a chess match I'll give him a chess match and out-box him. All I'm going to say is that I will remain unbeaten."

Calzaghe's promoter, Frank Warren, added: "This is a fight between two super boxers and I'm sure it will be a fantastic occasion.

" I'd like to thank Robert Earl at Planet Hollywood for helping to put this together, as well as Kerry Davis at HBO, and Setanta Sports. I'm also looking forward to working with Golden Boy Promotions.

" Fight fans have been crying out for this fight for a long time, and I'm delighted we have finally done a deal. It's the best versus the best and I'm confident Joe Calzaghe will remain undefeated when he leaves the ring."

Meanwhile HBO have announced that they will screen a special 30 minute documentary on the fight on April 12.

 

[heyzel]

true, true. He's very one dimensional, as shown against Taylor, and has no head movement whatsoever and his defense really isn't good. But, when you're knockin foo's out all that doesn't matter. I think he'll be exploited sooner or later, and I also wonder if he left his power behind at the lower weight class. Maybe it wouldn't be in his best interest to go up.

Personally, imo, I think he should stay at middleweight and fight Arthur Abraham. I think he would kick his ass. Then maybe John Duddy and Winky Wright. The latter being a tough challenge, but I think this would be the safest/smartest approach to staying champion for at least a couple years.

Yeah he's one dimensional but I can't get over that jt lost last saturday, I think he did enough to pull that one off pavilk just came on the later rounds if joe keep fighting like that his next fight he will get knock out with any one with a little power

 

[naner12]

I think people are underestimating Pavliks ability. Guy has a workrate that most people won't be able to keep up with and he's fast. He got blasted by Miranda a few times and never went, took a beating from Taylor in the second round of the first fight and got back up and even in his fight with Zuniga he got stung with a left hook and got up to win that fight. Pavlik has fought guys with power and he's always fought the same .. no one has yet to knock him out.

.. Trinidad went down several times in his career and was only stopped by Bernard Hopkins. People questioned Trinidads chin all the time and he'd consistently get up off the canvas to win fights. Because a person goes down means nothing if he gets up and wins.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Hopkins interview (lol @ the bold)

"Pavlik won't be around for too long!"

Editor: Before we get into any Bernard questions, what did you think of the Pavlik-Taylor fight?

Bernard Hopkins: "It was a brawl. I thought it was no coincidence on the score, but Pavlik definitely pulled it out in the championship rounds. The one thing about the championship rounds, for certain fights, like my first fight with Jermain Taylor, championship rounds didn't exist. The last 4 or 5 rounds didn't mean championship rounds. I guess now that people are starting to see that championship rounds do exist, that's where Kelly Pavlik pulled the fight off. There's no question he pulled the fight off, especially the body shot. I think the body shot really showed who's in control, the last 3 or 4 rounds of the fight."


Editor: You picked Taylor going in, were you surprised with the outcome?

Bernard Hopkins: Yes, I picked Taylor going in, because I thought with the extra 6 pounds on there, he'd have a little bit more endurance. Not necessarily big and strong, because you can be big and strong and still get beat. I thought that maybe the extra 6 pounds would give him that endurance that fighters lose when they cut weight and they starve themselves, so they can't get the right nutrition. I learned that from way back, putting me down on different stuff that starts with how your body reacts to certain things. I thought the 6 pounds would help him more than hurt. It is what it is. Pavlik fought a thrilling fight. I tell fans, people ask me, for the last 15-20 hours is enjoy the fights that he do make for the next year, because the type of fights that this guy has is not going to be around long. He's already talking sort of like Elmer Fudd. I'm not trying to badmouth him, I'm just keeping it real, that's what it is. That's what the fans like about Bernard, he keeps it real. I think that he should make all the money he can, fights that will get him out of there while he still has all his faculties left. That's the type of fighter he is, he coming forward all the time, and not ducking anything. Boxing is an art. A lot of people want to see blood and guts. We live in a society where people want to see that stuff. I don't mind shedding blood, but I don't mind ducking either.

Editor: You've got a big week coming up. Give us some thoughts on the press tour, now that's it's only hours away.

BH: I looking to see the fans come down, and check it out, over at Planet Hollywood. Of course it's on the website, with all the information, where they can get the exclusive information. You're getting it now, you're getting it before the official American tour. New York, L.A., and Vegas. I'm looking forward to Joe coming in and being as confident as he was in England. This is the way we do press conferences now, in the U.S., we don't sit down and do press conferences. We don't sit down and talk, we stand up at the podium. That's going to be fun to see him get up and talk at the podium and stay up. That wasn't the way they did it, but this is the way we do it. He can see the way I do it.

Editor: Do you think Jermain Taylor will be able to achieve the same kind of success at 168 that he did at 160?

BH: It depends on who he fights. I'd like to see him and Tito fight, Tito supposed to be fighting Pavlik allegedly in June.

Editor: Before I spoke with you, I spoke with a fellow named Jones, and he seems interested in making a fight with Taylor.

BH: I don't think Lou DiBella will take that fight. I don't think Jermain Taylor can beat Roy Jones Jr., I really don't think so. I think Jermain Taylor has been put in situations where he couldn't look bad. They don't have to read between the lines, when I speak, it is what it is. You might not agree with it, but it is what it is. Again it's not all about me, but you have to look at where it started from. Then you have to look where the other welterweights fought, that didn't pan out to be high ratings, to the stamp of approval of a legitimate champion. It's unfortunate for Jermain, he got pretty hip over the last year or two. Before it was different, but I guess with fame, and the delusion that you're really the guy, sometimes you're told a lie all the time, you think it's the truth. Last night I told you I was going with him. It all goes back to page 1, and page 1 in Las Vegas.

All they did was put money in his bank account. As far as his legacy, he reminds me of a David Reid I was thinking about this yesterday, seriously. I want the fans to read this interview, I want the fans to really give their opinion on this. Some may agree with me, some may not. This reminds me of a David Reed situation all over again. David Reed is a terrific guy, I consider him a friend. I think he's probably back in Philly right now, not doing well, but I don't think he's homeless. It reminds me of that. He was a medal winner, Jermain won the bronze. The only good thing is that Jermain Taylor became a champion whatever way he did and made some money. Hopefully he buys one or two cars, and saves it. I don't think he has the physical distance in his life, with those two fights with me. That will take 5 years off of your career. Physical, brutal fights, where he didn't look like the winner. Pavlik and Cory Spinks, and Winky Wright busted him up.

Going in to fight Roy Jones would be good for boxing fans, but coming off that Pavlik fight I think Jermain needs to fight B level fighters. Unless he wants to show his Arturo Gatti type heart, he's got two or three kids. I hope he'll be able to speak to them clearly without them saying, "Daddy, what did you say?" You've got to give him credit for being a gunslinger, and fighting all the guys. You've got to remember, and don't be fooled. He was put in a situation by subtrifuge and deciet. Nothing normally comes out of something that was built on wrong. You can't expect, I don't care what it is politics, or whatever, successful for doing what you're doing, at the end of the day it will come back to bite you. That's where we are now. At 43 years old, Bernard Hopkins is getting ready to fight on of the biggest fights of this era. If not, the biggest. Even after the two Jermain Taylor fights, my credibily went through the roof, it didn't decline. I came back from losing two fights, major fights that I could have easily lost just by styles alone. They say there's no God. There is, and his name is ??? in all black letters.

Editor: What's your biggest motivation going into this fight with Calzaghe?

BH: I want a chance to show that European fighters are not better than American fighters. Belts or no belts.

Editor: Does that mean more to you than beating him at this age, fighing a southpaw?

BH: That's self-explanitory. I'm going to let the people be my biggest voice. I want them to be the infomercial, everytime I say it, it seems to go on deaf ears. I've got one time not to deliver, and it goes to he's old. I understand the kind of cat and mouse game that we're playing with people of that mentality. They don't want to give credit, when the credit is victorious, and be quick to judge when the credit is not your way. That's why my motivation is I must win. Winning is not everything, it's the only thing for me. I have to win this fight, and I have to win it successfully. I have to win it in style, I have to win it making this guy look like he should be fighting somewhere over in Europe. That he stepped in with a guy with a real live heartbeat. I'm not a Kessler.

I'm not one of those guys he fought that had a name, I'm not Charles Brewer These guys were done. This is the third southpaw that's saying they're going to retire Bernard Hopkins. I've heard it so many times. Does anybody really believe it? Come April 19th, I'll be able to show the world again that Bernard rises up to the occasion every time. Thanks to some of the boxing establishment for the last ten years of my boxing career. Until I teamed up with Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer, as a partner, and as an athlete, they helped preseve this body and mind. For all those years they've been sticking it to me, now I get a chance to say victory. Thanks, because part of that struggle had Bernard Hopkins in 2008, agewise, is the modern day George Forman. Who thought George Foreman, I didn't, was going to beat Michael Moorer, until Jim Lampley gave the score. It happened. Don't rule out the old man yet. I would never deny my January 15, 1965 birthday. I'm probably the only fighter in modern day time that speaks about his age more than anybody. I never put it back. I never say I'm 40 or 41, when I'm 43. It is what it is. I want to make everybody understand that come April 19th you're going to see a 43 year old man fight like a 23 year old man. You're going to see that.

Editor: Closing thoughts.

BH: Looking forward to being in New York come Tuesday. You will probably meet me at the door, which will be good, so they can get a fresh quote. Jermain Taylor, keep your head up, it will be allright. Just come back, and pick the right situation. Right now, you've got 5 or 6 straight hard fights, and 2 fights with me is like 30. Hope everyone enjoys this year in boxing, we've got Sugar Shane Mosley fighting Super Zab Judah. That's going to be a blockbuster shootout. Then you've got Oscar De La Hoya fighting Steve Forbes, I don't underestimate anybody. A lot of people think Steve Forbes beat my nephew, it's split down the middle. He put himself in position because of that win, which was spectacular. Now, he's got Oscar. We're going to do big things with Golden Boy. I'm glad to be the one to kick it off in April. Normally either Oscar or Shane would go first. I'm glad to kick the year off with a big fight.

 

[heyzel]

I agree with b-hop in the 3rd paragraph he hit on the head with pavilk boxing style

 

[heyzel]

Upcoming fight schedule

February 18
At Ensenada, Mexico: Alejandro "Terra" Garcia vs. TBA, 10 rounds, middleweights


February 22
At Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (ESPN2): Richard Gutierrez vs. Miguel Angel Vasquez, 10 rounds, welterweights; Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Johnnie Edwards, 10 rounds, junior lightweights

At Cabazon, Calif. (Telefutura): Enrique Ornelas vs. Norberto Bravo, 12 rounds, middleweights; Craig McEwan vs. Erik Esquivel, 8 rounds, middleweights; Juan Velazquez vs. TBA, 6 rounds, featherweights

At Ciudad Neza, Mexico (Telemundo): Oscar Larios vs. Arturo Gomez, 12 rounds, junior lightweights

February 23
At New York (HBO): Wladimir Klitschko vs. Sultan Ibragimov, 12 rounds, IBF/WBO heavyweight unification; John Duddy vs. Walid Smichet, 10 rounds, middleweights; Joe Greene vs. Francisco Mora, 12 rounds, middleweights; Johnathon Banks vs. Imamu Mayfield, 10 rounds, cruiserweights; Peter Quillin vs. Thomas Brown, 6 or 8 rounds, super middleweights; Ronnie Vargas vs. Monyette Flowers, 4 rounds, junior middleweights; Alexander Ustinov vs. Marcellus Brown, 4 or 6 rounds, heavyweights

At Caguas, Puerto Rico: Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Jonathan Oquendo, 12 rounds, junior featherweights; Nelson Dieppa vs. Alex "Nene" Sanchez, rematch, 12 rounds, junior flyweights

At Halle, Germany: Thomas Ulrich vs. Yuri Barashian, 12 rounds, for Ulrich's European light heavyweight title; Jurgen Brahmer vs. Pablo Daniel Zamora Nievas, 10 rounds, super middleweights

February 27
At Sydney: Anthony Mundine vs. Nader Hamdan, 12 rounds, for Mundine's WBA "regular" super middleweight title

February 28
At New York: Dimitri Kirilov vs. Cecilio Santos, 12 rounds, for Kirilov's IBF junior bantamweight title; Dmitriy Salita vs. TBA, 10 rounds, junior welterweights; Jorge Teron vs. TBA, 12 rounds, lightweights

February 29
At Marksville, La. (ESPN2): Allan Green vs. Antwun Echols, 10 rounds, super middleweights; Sechew Powell vs. Kevin Finley, 10 rounds, junior middleweights; Joe Mesi in studio

At Lemoore, Calif. (Showtime): Robert Guerrero vs. Jason Litzau, 12 rounds, for Guerrero's IBF featherweight title; T.J. Wilson vs. Travis Walker, rematch, 10 rounds, heavyweights

At Harlingen, Texas (Telefutura): Raul Martinez vs. TBA, 10 rounds, flyweights; James De La Rosa vs. Gabriel Martinez, 10 rounds, welterweights

At La Paz, Mexico: Raul Garcia vs. Ronald Barerra, 12 rounds, IBF strawweight eliminator

At Montreal: Lucian Bute vs. William Joppy, 12 rounds, for Bute's IBF super middleweight title

At Managua: Román González vs. Javier Maravilla Murillo, 10 rounds, strawweights; Yader Escobar vs. Miguel Tellez, 10 rounds, strawweights; Nerys Espinoza vs. Erick Aguilera, 8 rounds, junior flyweights

March 1
At Carson, Calif. (Showtime): Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez, rubber match, 12 rounds, for Vazquez's Ring/WBC junior featherweight title

At Tokyo: Yutaka Niida vs. Jose Luis Varela, 12 rounds, for Niida's WBA strawweight title title

March 5
At New York: Gary Stark Jr. vs. Andres Ledesma, rematch, 10 rounds, junior featherweights; Edgar Santana vs. Grover Wiley, 8 rounds, junior welterweights

March 6
At New York: Mike Arnaoutis vs. Harrison Cuello, 12 rounds, junior welterweights; Vinny Maddalone vs. Jeff Yeoman, 8 rounds, heavyweights

March 7
At Mashantucket, Conn. (ESPN2): Thomas Mashaba vs. Cristobal Cruz, 12 rounds, featherweights; Harry Yorgey vs. Jason Lehoullier, 10 rounds, junior middleweights

At Philadelphia (Telefutura): Rogers Mtagwa vs. Roger Gonzalez, 12 rounds, featherweights; Teon Kennedy vs. Castulo Gonzalez, 8 rounds, featherweights

At Nottingham, England: Kiko Martinez vs. Rendall Munroe, 12 rounds, for Martinez's European junior featherweight title; Jason Booth vs. Lante Addy, 12 rounds, for Booth's Commonwealth bantamweight title

March 8
At Cancun, Mexico (HBO): Oleg Maskaev vs. Samuel Peter, 12 rounds, for Maskaev's WBC heavyweight title; Juan Diaz vs. Nate Campbell, 12 rounds, for Diaz's IBF/WBA/WBO lightweight titles; John Ruiz vs. Jameel McCline, 12 rounds, WBC eliminator; Timothy Bradley Jr. vs. Jose Luis Castillo, 12 rounds, WBC junior welterweight eliminator; Ray Beltran vs. TBA, 12 rounds, junior lightweights; Guty Espadas vs. Leonilo Miranda, 8 rounds, junior lightweights; David Rodriguez vs. Justin Blevins, 8 rounds, heavyweights; Pipino Cuevas Jr. vs. Antonio Fitch, 6 rounds, junior welterweights

At London (Showtime): David Haye vs. Enzo Maccarinelli, 12 rounds, Ring/WBC/WBA/WBO cruiserweight unification; Carl Johanneson vs. Kevin Mitchell, 12 rounds, for Johanneson's British junior lightweight title

Stuttgart, Germany: Luan Krasniqi vs. Alexander Dimitrenko, 12 rounds, for vacant European heavyweight title

At Tokyo: Daisuke Naito vs. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, fourth fight, 12 rounds, for Naito's WBC flyweight title

At Krefeld, Germany: Matt Godfrey vs. Rudy Kraj, 12 rounds, WBC cruiserweight eliminator

March 13
At Las Vegas (Versus): Tye Fields vs. Josue Blocus, 10 rounds, heavyweights; Urbano Antillon vs. Bobby Pacquiao, 10 rounds, lightweights

March 14
At Cicero, Ill. (Telefutura): Miguel Angel Huerta vs. Javier Jauregui, 12 rounds, lightweights; Brandon Rios vs. Alvin Brown, 8 rounds, junior lightweights

At Munich: Markus Beyer vs. TBA, 10 rounds, super middleweights; Sinan Samil Sam vs. Ratko Draskovic, 12 rounds, heavyweights; Odlanier Solis vs. TBA, 8 rounds, heavyweights

At Los Mochis, Mexico: Humberto Soto vs. Julio Gamez, 10 rounds, lightweights

March 15
At Las Vegas (HBO PPV): Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Manny Pacquiao, rematch, 12 rounds, vacant Ring magazine/Marquez's WBC junior lightweight title; Steven Luevano vs. Terdsak Jandaeng, 12 rounds, for Luevano's WBO featherweight title; Abner Mares vs. Diosdado Gabi, 12 rounds, bantamweights; David Diaz vs. Ramon Montano, 10 rounds, junior welterweights; Danny Garcia vs. TBA, 6 rounds, welterweights

At Allentown, Pa.: Rob Calloway vs. Juan Carlos Robles, 10 rounds, cruiserweights; Keenan Collins vs. Clarence Taylor, 6 rounds, junior middleweights

March 21
At Uncasville, Conn. (ESPN2): Andy Lee vs. Brian Vera, 10 rounds, super middleweights

March 22
At Cabazon, Calif. (HBO): Joel Casamayor vs. Michael Katsidis, 12 rounds, for Casamayor's Ring magazine lightweight title

At Tokyo: Koki Kameda vs. Jose Lopez Bueno, 10 rounds, flyweights

At Cardiff, Wales: Gavin Rees vs. Andreas Kotelnik, 12 rounds, for Rees' WBA junior welterweight title

March 27
At St. Louis: Cory Spinks vs. Verno Phillips, 12 rounds, for Spinks' IBF junior middleweight title; Devon Alexander vs. TBA, 10 or 12 rounds, junior welterweights

March 28
At Salamanca, N.Y. (ESPN2): Kassim Ouma vs. Cornelius Bundrage, 10 rounds, junior middleweights; Mike Jones vs. Gilbert Venegas, 8 rounds, welterweights

At Barnsley, England: Chris Edwards vs. Andy Bell, 12 rounds, for Edwards' British junior bantamweight title

March 29
At Chiba, Japan: Takefumi Sakata vs. Shingo Yamaguchi, 12 rounds, for Sakata's WBA flyweight title

At Mt. Pleasant, Mich.: Bronco McKart vs. Raul Marquez, 12 rounds, middleweights

At Kiel, Germany: Arthur Abraham vs. Elvin Ayala, 12 rounds, for Abraham's IBF middleweight title

At Nottingham, England: (Showtime) Carl Froch vs. Denis Inkin, 12 rounds, WBC final super middleweight eliminator; John Murray vs. John Fewkes, 10 rounds, lightweights



April 3
At New York (Versus): Joshua Clottey vs. TBA, 10 rounds, welterweights; Yuri Foreman vs. Saul Roman, 10 rounds, junior middleweights

April 4
At Lincoln, R.I. (ESPN2): Joe Mesi vs. TBA, 10 rounds, heavyweights

April 5
At Bolton, England: Amir Khan vs. Martin Kristjansen,12 rounds, WBO lightweight title eliminator

At Duselldorf, Germany: Felix Sturm vs. Jamie Pittman, 12 rounds, for Sturm's WBA middleweight title

At Rama, Ontario: Steve Molitor vs. Fernando Beltran Jr., 12 rounds, for Molitor's IBF junior featherweight title

April 9
At TBA (ESPN2): "Wednesday Night Fights" season premier

April 11
At TBA (Showtime): Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. TBA, 10 rounds, junior lightweights; James "Buddy" McGirt Jr. vs. Carlos De Leon Jr., 10 rounds, super middleweights

At Atlantic City, N.J. (Telefutura): Jesus Soto-Karass vs. TBA, 10 rounds, welterweights; Hentry Bruseles vs. TBA, 10 rounds, junior welterweights

April 12
At Atlantic City, N.J. (HBO): Miguel Cotto vs. Alfonso Gomez, 12 rounds, for Cotto's WBA welterweight title; Kermit Cintron vs. Antonio Margarito, rematch, 12 rounds, for Cintron's IBF welterweight title

At Tampa (Showtime):Chad Dawson vs. Glen Johnson, 12 rounds, for Dawson's WBC light heavyweight title; Clinton Woods vs. Antonio Tarver, 12 rounds, for Woods' IBF light heavyweight title




At TBA, South Africa: Mzonke Fana vs. Cassius Baloyi, 12 rounds, for Fana's IBF junior lightweight title

At TBA, Germany: Sebastian Sylvester vs. Javier Castillejo, 12 rounds, for Sylvester's European middleweight title

April 18
At Dubai: Nonito Donaire vs. Hussein Hussein, 12 rounds, for Donaire's IBF flyweight title; Ulises "Archie" Solis vs. Juanito Rubillar, 12 rounds, for Solis' IBF junior flyweight title; Donnie Nietes vs. Daniel Reyes, 12 rounds, for Nietes' WBO strawweight title; Julio Diaz vs. Ranee Ganoy, 12 rounds, lightweights

At London: Gary Woolcombe vs. Ryan Rhodes, 12 rounds, for Woolcombe's British junior middleweight title; John McDermott vs. Pele Reid, 10 rounds, heavyweights

April 19
At Las Vegas (HBO): Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe, 12 rounds, for Hopkins' Ring magazine light heavyweight title

At Katowice, Poland: O'Neil Bell vs. Tomasz Adamek, 12 rounds, IBF cruiserweight eliminator

April 26
At TBA, Mexico (Top Rank PPV): Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. TBA, 10 rounds, junior middleweights; Bernabe Concepcion vs. Torrence Daniels, 12 rounds, junior featherweights

April 30
At Vancouver, B.C. (ESPN2): Joel "Love Child" Julio vs. Ishe Smith, 10 rounds, junior middleweights

May 3
At Carson, Calif. (HBO): Oscar De La Hoya vs. Steve Forbes, 12 rounds, junior middleweights

May 31
At Las Vegas (HBO PPV): Shane Mosley vs. TBA, 12 rounds, welterweights

June 7
At New York (HBO or HBO PPV): Kelly Pavlik vs. TBA, 12 rounds, for Pavlik's Ring/WBC/WBO middleweight title

 

[naner12]

Witter Still Hopeful For A Hatton Showdown

Matthew Hurley: According to WBC junior welterweight champion Junior Witter he is willing to take short money in order to get Ricky Hatton in the ring on May 24th. Hatton and his team are still trying to iron out the details of his return to the ring in his native Manchester but problems have arisen with HBO. Because the network only has so many open slots for pay-per-view events they cannot guarantee full financial backing for the fight. HBO is currently committed to the proposed Shane Mosley – Zab Judah fight the following weekend. (According to boxrec.com that fight is still scheduled for May 31st..)

Witter, who has been calling Hatton out for years, believes that with his title belt on the line a cross town bout between the two in Manchester could turn into a huge event. Under the rules of the WBC because Witter is the reigning champion he is entitled to a seventy percent share should the fight go to a purse bid. However, Witter says that he would be willing to forgo his percentage and take thirty percent just to get Hatton in the ring.

“I believe that is the only way I could ever persuade Ricky to fight me,” Witter told the Sporting Life. “He talks about a grand homecoming to thank his fans, but why doesn’t he give them what they really want, which is a fight with me?”

Witter’s scheduled March 22nd title defense against Demetrius Hopkins at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in California is now in jeopardy because of a split in the Hopkins camp. Witter’s promoter Mick Hennessy is still trying to get Hopkins to commit to the date but should the fight fall apart he is currently looking at alternative opponents including IBF junior welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi. Still, whatever happens in March will not preclude Witter from fighting in May. Hennessy says that Hatton and his people have refused to accept an overture from Witter and his camp.

“If Ricky talks about giving his fans a special homecoming then Junior is the only opponent who fits the bill. It is such a shame that they seem to want to avoid what would be one of the biggest all-British fights in generations.”

For his part Hatton has waved off Witter’s challenges in the past, saying that Witter’s constant bad-mouthing of him in the press has become so distasteful that he simply wants nothing to do with him. However, Witter’s near incessant harping about a fight with Hatton is what has brought a long simmering rivalry to a boil. Hatton has said that he would consider the bout for the end of the year but not for his return bout. For now if his return remains on schedule for May 24th his opponent looks to be Juan Lazcano.

 

[naner12]

^~~ The only reason I posted that because Witter, even though he usually acts like a douchebag, gets no love and has real talent at 140 yet no one fights him or gives a chance. Hatton or Malignaggi need to make this fight happen.

 

[heyzel]

I agree ^^ about witter if he get an fight with pauly Malignaggi he would whip his ass cause pauly looked like shit his last fight

 

[heyzel]

Mayweather named fighter of the year after wins over De La Hoya, Hatton

On the strength of two high-profile victories against Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton in 2007, pound-for-pound king and welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather has been selected as the Boxing Writers Association of America fighter of the year.

Mayweather, who will be presented with the Edward J. Neil award May 1 in Los Angeles, heads the list of honorees who will receive awards at the organization's 83rd annual banquet.

Results of the balloting by the organization's membership were released Tuesday.

Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs), whose fight with De La Hoya set several all-time revenue records, narrowly defeated middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik to win the award.

"It's always a blessing to get an award of this magnitude," Mayweather said in a statement. "Just to be mentioned in the same breath with the [past winners] Sugar Ray Robinsons and Muhammad Ali is truly a blessing. The date of the banquet is also kind of special. It's like I always say, May is for Mayweather. My ultimate goal was to be the best fighter of my era, and my two fights last year took me to the next level."

Mayweather won a split decision to win a junior middleweight title from De La Hoya in May and then returned to welterweight to knock out Hatton in the 10th round in December.

Mayweather previously won fighter of the year honors from ESPN.com and Ring magazine.

Pavlik didn't get the fighter of the year award, but he won't leave without being honored. He and Jermain Taylor will receive the Harry Markson Award for fight of the year for their first bout. Pavlik knocked out Taylor last September to win the middleweight championship in a dramatic, action-packed fight that edged the junior featherweight championship rematch between Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez for the honor.

The BWAA also will honor longtime Reno Gazette-Journal boxing writer Steve Sneddon. Sneddon will be the 35th recipient of the Nat Fleischer award for excellence in boxing journalism, the highest award the BWAA presents to one of its members. Only living Fleischer winners vote on the award.

Sneddon, who plans to retire in the spring, has written for the Gazette-Journal for 37 years.

"It is an honor and I'm humbled thinking of the writers who received the Fleischer in the past," Sneddon said in a statement.

Enzo Calzaghe won the Futch-Condon award as trainer of the year. He trains three reigning titleholders -- his son, super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe, junior welterweight titlist Gavin Rees and cruiserweight beltholder Enzo Maccarinelli.

The Al Buck award for manager of the year went to Cameron Dunkin, who guided three of his fighters to upset world title victories in 2007 -- Pavlik, featherweight Steven Luevano and flyweight Nonito Donaire. Dunkin also handles several other fighters, including top prospects Victor Ortiz, Argenis Mendez, Mikey Garcia and James Kirkland.

Others being honored by the BWAA include:

• Nigel Collins, the longtime editor of The Ring magazine, who will receive the James J. Walker award for long and meritorious service to boxing.

• Teddy Atlas, the ESPN ringside analyst on "Friday Night Fights" and "Wednesday Night Fights," who will receive the Marvin Kohn good guy award.

• Nick Charles, Showtime's "ShoBox: The New Generation" blow-by-blow announcer, who won the Sam Taub award for excellence in broadcast journalism.

• The prospect duo of brothers Lamont and Anthony Peterson, who were once homeless in Washington, D.C., won the Pat Putnam award for perseverance in overcoming adversity

 

[heyzel]

These are tough times to be a welterweight contender

Timing is everything.


If your career goal is to be the welterweight champion of the world, this isn't the time. That's especially true if you aren't a future Hall of Famer.

An etched plaque of Richard Gutierrez isn't likely to show up at the Exit 34 toll booth of the New York State Thruway any time soon. Excuse the esoteric nature of that last description. For those of you who actually have been to the Boxing Hall of Fame, the laugh is on the house.

Gutierrez, 23-1, 14 KOs, is a very good, capable contender. Unfortunately, with Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, Zab Judah, Shane Mosley, Oscar De La Hoya and Antonio Margarito doing their thing at 147, guys like Gutierrez, Joshua Clottey and Isaac Hlatswayo need to be better than simply very good and capable.

These guys have become the lost boys of the golden era.

[+] EnlargeJaviel Centeno/Fightwireimages.com

Richard Gutierrez had the tools to make some noise in a stacked welterweight division.
Gutierrez, 29, of Colombia, will face Jose Varela (22-2, 15 KOs) this week on "Friday Night Fights" (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2). Varela, of Nicaragua but based in Los Angeles, is trained by Evangelista Cotto, undefeated champion Miguel Cotto's uncle and trainer. Varela should be a good test for Gutierrez.

Gutierrez is three years into his move to make a name for himself in the United States. In that time, he has impressed, even while suffering his only loss.

That loss was by a razor-thin majority decision to current contender Clottey, and the California ringside crowd booed the scores. They felt Gutierrez's hard-fought finish, all while dealing with a cut over his left eye, should have earned the win.

Clottey has gone on to bigger and better things. He gave Margarito a tough battle, TKO'd Diego Corrales and just topped Shamone Alverez to become a mandatory challenger to Kermit Cintron's title. Using law of syllogism math, Gutierrez easily could be in line for a shot at a title.

The first scouting report I heard on Gutierrez was from his former manager, Arturo Sanchez. "He has a great work ethic. He trains every day, and he runs on the weekends," Sanchez said. "He goes to church every day, every single day. He's very religious."

That faith surely will be challenged by both the business of boxing and the critics. You can count me among the critics after his last fight.

In January 2007, Gutierrez blew away veteran Teddy Reid so decisively I couldn't wait to see him again. His return visit to "Friday Night Fights" came in June against the presumably overmatched Luciano Perez.

But Gutierrez seemed uninterested. His overall boxing skills were superior enough that he simply coasted to the win. Up to that point, everything about Gutierrez had impressed and inspired, but that wasn't the type of fight that makes a fan want to see more.

His manager, Luis DeCubas Jr., said a change of scenery leading up to Friday's fight might change all that.

"Richard is training in Scottsdale, Arizona, for this fight. This is where Joel Casamayor trains, and Richard came out here with him," DeCubas said. "Richard had been training off and on in Miami. This is the first time I've been able to get him out of Miami; he loses a little focus over there."

OK, so we have it on the record. This is supposed to be a more focused Gutierrez. I'll give him a pass on the lackluster Perez fight, but now it's time to prove us right. Now it's time to show that Richard Gutierrez belongs.

Said Gutierrez: "In Colombia, they used to call me 'La Lamina.' It's a name for anybody who's hard-nosed, hard-headed, hard-hitting and just a hard person."

This is the fighter Roberto Duran handpicked for his new promotional stable. This is the fighter who picked up his craft in street brawls in Colombia. This is the fighter who attacks the body as if the opponent's organs have red targets circled on them.

Go for it, La Lamina. Show us how hard a person you really are. Show us you can add to an already-loaded division rather than adding your name to the could've been/should've been list.

Joe Tessitore is the blow-by-blow announcer for ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights."