Boxing News Thread

[heyzel]

Kermit Cintron Targets "That Punk" Andre Berto, Dzinzurik

By Ryan Burton

BoxingScene.com spoke to junior middleweight and welterweight contender Kermit Cintron about his plans for a return to the ring.

"I'm taking the rest of year off. I had talked to my manager Josh (Dubin) about it. Sergiy (Dzinzurzik) is definitely on my radar."

Cintron isn't enamored with the current state of boxing and particularly the direction that his weight classes are going. "No one wants to fight anyone. I'm coming out with a bang in 2011. They are going to have to fight me. That punk Berto hasn't fought anyone yet at 147. He should fight me."

Cintron said he has been spending time with his family but he has been reading up on boxing to keep up with current events. The Puerto Rican told BoxingScene, "I'm just chilling with my kids and wife. I've been reading up on what's going on in boxing. I will be back and back with a vengeance next year."

 

[heyzel]

Ward-Dirrell: Venue Dispute Continues For Super Six Bout

By Lem Satterfield

The super middleweight collision between WBA champion Andre Ward (22-0, 13 KOs) and close friend Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs) is very unlikely to take place on the scheduled date of September 25, although the promoters have yet to officially postpone the fight. Ward and Dirrell are set to meet in the third stage of Showtime's Super Six tournament.

The two promoters, Gary Shaw for Dirrell, and Dan Goossen for Andre Ward, have been unable to reach an agreement on the venue. Goossen would like the fight to take place in Ward's backyard at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. Shaw refuses to budge, noting that Ward had fought his first two Super Six bouts at home. He wants the fight to take place in Detroit, which is Dirrell's hometown. Shaw will not agree to a neutral venue.

"There is zero chance -- no chance -- that Andre Dirrell goes to Oakland to fight Andre Ward," said Shaw. "No way. Andre Ward has been at home the whole time. He's got to come to Michigan to fight Andre Dirrell."

Goossen would officially rule out September 25, but admits the date is seeming less likely by the day. Goossen believes the fight will generate the most money in Oakland.

"I'm still working on the site with Dirrell's team. Sept. 25 is the date that we've targeted, but obviously, as the days go on, the harder it is to look at that date. I'm still arguing the fact that the most money to be made for all of us is in Oakland," said Goossen.

 

[heyzel]

Chris Arreola Badly Injures Both Hands, Surgery Likely

By Lem Satterfield

Heavyweight contender Chris Arreola appears to have injured both of his hands much worse than previously thought. Last Friday in Ontaio, California, he dropped Manuel Quezada three times before winning a lopsided twelve round decision. According to Arreola's promoter Dan Goossen, the Riverside native suffered a broken left hand in the second round and his right hand suffered tendon damage. Goossen says surgery is likely.

"We had Chris at the doctors on Saturday, and we expect a full report later on today and a confirmation of everything. But it appears that he broke his left hand as he said that he did in the second round, and so he fought with a broken hand," said Goossen.

"Chris also apparently suffered tendon damage in his right hand, which will necessitate surgery on that also. I'll have more information this afternoon when he goes to the doctors again. I don't know how long he will be out until he goes to the specialist today."

Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor

 

[heyzel]

Celestino Caballero: I'm Ready For HBO Tripleheader

By Ryan Burton

BoxingScene.com reached out to Celestino "Pelenchin" Caballero to get more details on his participation in a proposed HBO tripleheader for October 2 that would also feature champions Andre Berto and Sergiy Dzinzurik.

Jason Litzau was rumored to be a likely opponent for Caballero. Both fighters last fought in April. Caballero won a unanimous decision over Daud Yordan and Litzau defeated Rocky Juarez via technical decision.

The Panamanian said he has heard the rumors of the proposed fight but so far hasn't received any offers to fight. "No one has talked to me about fighting on that date or about any opponents. I read about it and it sounds good to me. I am ready to go. That sounds like a good card and I would be happy to fight on HBO again."

Caballero has been in the gym in Las Vegas trying to stay ready for whatever opportunity presents itself. "I want all the big names like Lopez or Gamboa but as you know I am having trouble getting those fights. I am in the gym training for whoever wants to step up and take a crack at El Pelenchin. "

 

[heyzel]

Will Berto fight Aydin next or pay him to step aside?

By Jim Dower: The World Boxing Council ordered WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto to start negotiations for a fight with number #2 ranked contender Selcuk Aydin by September 17th. However, Berto wants to take on light welterweight contender Andriy Kotelnik rather than the little known Aydin.


Berto may not have much choice in taking this fight unless they can pay Aydin a step aside fee while Berto moved ahead and fights Kotelnik in November or December. HBO wants to see Berto fight Kotelnik, as Aydin has no fan base in the United States.

But if the WBC pushes this, Berto may not have much choice in the matter. Either he fights Aydin or pays him to step aside. If no agreement can be made by September 17th, it will go up for purse bids. Aydin might be problems for Berto because of his crude power.

He’s coming off of a controversial win 12 round split decision win over Ionut Dan Ion in June, a fight where Aydin looked like he should have lost. But Aydin is still a fighter that might give Berto some problems because of his power.

Berto hasn’t been in with any big punchers since capturing the WBC welterweight title in 2008 and has defended the title twice against light welterweights instead of fighters from his own weight class. A fight against Kotelnik will be Berto’s third fight against a light welterweight out of his five title defenses.

The only welterweights Berto has fought have been the light hitting Carlos Quintana and Luis Collazo. Kotelnik doesn’t have nearly the same kind of power that Aydin possesses, so that could be another reason why he might be the more preferable opponent for Berto to fight.

 

[heyzel]

Why does Arum want to match Margarito up against Pacquiao rather than someone else?

By Chris Williams: I can’t figure out why Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is so interested in matching Antonio Margarito up against Manny Pacquiao rather than someone else either inside his own stable or preferably outside. Recently, Pacquiao sent out a press release where he said he was still interested in facing Floyd Mayweather Jr. in November. Arum then came out saying that Margarito is definitely going to be fighting Pacquiao on November 13th. Why Margarito and not someone else? Heck, Margarito doesn’t even have a boxing license to fight in the United States and he may not even get it all by the time the fight takes place in November.


I can understand Arum wanting Margarito to fight Pacquiao, but not coming off of a year long suspension and still not with a boxing license. The timing for this fight is horrible. If this was just one of Arum’s prospects that he wanted to match Margarito up against, I wouldn’t have any problems, but this is Pacquiao. He’s considered number #1 or 2 in the world in the pound-for-pound list. Why is Arum matching a controversial figure like Margarito up against Pacquiao at a time like this?

This is a fight that you would think should wait until Margarito had already gotten his boxing license back and fought a half dozen fights against top 15 competition. I think it will take a lot for boxing fans to forget about the hand wrap issue. But to have Margarito fighting Pacquiao after only one fight since the suspension, seems kind of bizarre to me. I know Arum can do it, because even if he doesn’t get Margarito’s boxing license back in the United States, he can still have the fight take place in Mexico or Abu Dhabi. But that doesn’t mean it’s the smart thing to do. I just don’t understand why Arum doesn’t want to entertain the idea of putting someone else in with Pacquiao. This is a fight that may do poorly with boxing fans, and if that happens we probably will never see Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. unless Arum can convince Pacquiao to accept a lot less than a 50-50 deal

 

[heyzel]

Dawson's Problems Beyond The Ring are Further Explored

By Michael Marley

Despite his not having spoken with his fighter, former world light heavyweight champion Bad Chad Dawson since May, estranged manager Mike Criscio said he's leaving his door open to a reunion.

“Do I want a lawsuit against Chad, not really,” Criscio said Monday. “It's not Chad, not really,” the Connecticut pawnshop and checkcashing store owner told me Monday. “It's the people who surround him, know nothings who are only out to use Chad.

“Chad and these guys—there are about seven or eight of them, all from around New Haven—go partying all the time. Chad is too naïve, too trusting, and when they go to the bars, he always pays for everybody. Chad gave one guy $70,000, and then the guy repaid him with a check that bounced.

“Chad's older brother is totally disgusted. These guys were never around until Chad reached the top. All of them are just scumbags.”

It may sound like the familiar boxing tale, Bad Chad turning into Sad Chad, after he and Criscio joined with promoter Big Gary Shaw to gross about $7 million in purses. Amidst all the pugilistic prosperity comes a gang of bloodsucking leeches, human barnacles who attach themselves to the fighter and seek to drain his financial blood.

As you read this, the 28 year old Dawson is alienated from his mother, his father and one brother along with Criscio. Although he's earned all that money, Criscio said, his only real non depreciating asset may be the Hamelin, Ct., home he paid $500,000 for.

Criscio watched Dawson, who had a 29-0 record, lose on HBO to Jean Pascal in Montreal and still can't fathom the usually more aggressive lefthander's performance.

“Chad, if he was right, knocks this guy out cold,” Criscio said. “Pascal's a bum, really. This guy is not in Chad's league. I had all the confidence in the world Chad would knock him out, that's why we agreed to fight in his hometown.”

Criscio, who has a paid one $250,000 legal fee to free Dawson from one promoter and has gone into his pocket from many other of the boxer's bills and expenses, said the fighter is blind to the motives of his newest friends.

“He is just hanging out with the wrong crowd,” Criscio said. “These people, they don't have jobs. One guy sells cars to Chad after every fight and Chad pays new car prices for used ones.”

The legal bills have also included fighting demands from rap music maven James Prince, who got a 10 percent stake in Dawson for a measly $20,000 and is said to have gotten back $300,000. Criscio said he fought against the Prince deal.

“I told Chad don't do it but he did so we had to get a lawyer in Houston and then he needed one in Las Vegas.”

The manager said Dawson prepared woefully for the Pascal bout.

“His sparring partners, including Ishe Smith, were a waste of time. He only trained four weeks in Vegas and he brought his wife and kids. They stayed in some fancy hotel half of the time. What kind of training camp is that?”

Criscio said his front door and his phone line remain open to the fighter.

“Buying his home outright, Chad got that one right. I got him into an investment situation which he made 46 percent on. Even with the house, there were pipe problems, the floors were warped and there were other issues. I got friends of mine to fix all this at no cost to Chad.

“Chad's got to wake up before it's too late.”

 

[heyzel]

Pascal's Promoter: Bute Excuses; Hopkins Offer is Made

By Ryan Songalia

According to Yvon Michel, promoter of WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal, this past week's clash between his charge and the formerly unbeaten Chad Dawson drew in over 8,000 fans to the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.

Impressive, Michel says, considering that many Montreal residents were out of town for Summer vacation and that Dawson missed a scheduled press conference because he misplaced his passport.

As good as those numbers were, they pale in comparison to the potential seen by Michel for an all Canada showdown between Pascal and IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute.

"The Bell Centre can hold 22,000 people, so there will be 22,000 people there that night," Michel says.

Pascal, who defeated Dawson by a unanimous technical decision on Saturday, has a rematch clause with New Haven, CT's "Bad Chad", but is allowed to take another fight before a return bout. HBO is actively pushing for Pascal to face the fellow "Quebecian" Bute next.

While Michel believes that fight would be the biggest fight in Canadian history, he remains doubtful the fight will happen next. Michel says that Interbox Promotions, who promote Bute, is digging for excuses to not make the fight happen.

"This is a fight that HBO would like to buy and Jean Pascal would take that challenge anytime. But now they're looking for reasons not to take the fight. They're saying that Bute is too small. I believe they are very concerned about having their main guy fighting Jean Pascal."

"Honestly, I don't think Bute wants to fight me," Pascal, 26-1 (16 KO), added in agreement. "Right now, I'm the boss in town, I'm the king. I don't need to chase Bute. If he wants to fight the king to prove that he is the king himself, he has to give me a challenge."

Michel believes that Bute's lack of credible opponents at 168 due to the top fighters in the division being included in Showtime's Super Six tournament, coupled with the recent knockout/disqualification win by Bute's new mandatory challenger Jean Paul Mendy to Sakio Bika, will ultimately leave Bute with little options outside of Pascal.

A representative with Interbox could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

Michel says that Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaeffer recently contacted him regarding matching former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins, age 45, with the 27-year-old Pascal.

"That would be such a good fight," Pascal said. "Hopkins was the king of that day. He's like a good wine, aging finely."

Other attractive options for Pascal include a rematch with the only fighter to have defeated him - Carl Froch - once his obligations to the Super Six tournament have concluded. Froch

Pascal, who spent the last three months training for his successful HBO debut in Jacksonville, FL, the Dominican Republic and Colombia, will try to spend some time with his daughter before she returns to school in the Fall. He plans to take a week's vacation before entertaining future offers. -RS

 

[heyzel]

Erik Morales: I Want To Fight Manny Pacquiao Again

By Michael Marley

HARRISON, N.J.--There are too many fighters (hello, Andre Berto) who open mouth, insert foot.

Mexican boxing icon Erik Morales, embarking on the second leg of what he says is a six bouts only comeback trail, is not of them.

He was a thinking man’s fighter, able to box or to brawl, in running up his 49-6, 34 knockouts Hall Of Fame record, including world titles in three divisions. It was because of his versatility that he is able to claim to being the last man to beat Pinoy Idol Manny Pacquiao (you could look it up, it happened on March 19, 2005).

I spoke to the still fresh-faced but now age 33 Morales Tuesday afternoon at the nifty, new Red Bulls soccer stadium, in view of downtown Newark and in the flight path of Newark Airport.

Morales was making a rare East Coast visit to pump his Sept. 11 Mexico City “Mexican Fiesta” main event at the historic La Plaze Monumental (bull ring) in the capital.

Promoters, including old friend and Jorge Paez “inventor” Nacho Huizar, have wisely handpicked lighthitting Scotsman Willie Limond (laughingly known as “Fists Of Steel” although he did floor Amir Khan) as Morales designated victim.

Besides Pacman, Morales also owns victories over such luminaries as great rival Marco Antonio Barrera, Paulie Ayala, Wayne McCullough, Junior Jones, Carlos Hernandez, Guty Espada Jr. (twice), Daniel Zaragoza and Kevin Kelly.

Morales answered every question put to him by myself and other scribes in a thoughtful, engaged manner and he seemed to take some witty jabs at various ring stars along the way.

So here’s “El Terrible” Unplugged:

On MANNY PACQUIAO:

“I would like to fight him again but I am not obsessed with him. I am working to get back to the top, back where I was before, to be top of the plateau. I have a six fight plan and this is my second one.

“I will say Manny is a great fighter but I look back and he would give me any weight allowance in our second and third bouts when they knew I couldn’t make 130 pounds. Pacquiao demanded weight penalties of $500,000 for each pound.

(For the record, Morales made 129 ½ pounds for his UD 12 over Pacman and then really strained to make 128 ½ for his TKO by 10 loss and 129 ½ when he got waxed in three rounds.)

"But, when I was right and when I was at proper weight in the first fight (he got stopped in 10 rounds and then in three in their second and third bouts) I showed who the better fighter was then.

“I was the superior fighter and I had the edge in speed and in skills and I beat him in every department.”

Btw, all three judges favored Morales 115-113 in that bout.

I can only view the use by Morales of the term “obsession” as a sly dig at his countryman and bitter loser to Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez.

 

[heyzel]

Carl Froch: I'll Fight Pascal Anywhere, Except Germany

By Mark Vester

Carl Froch has spoken out about a possible rematch with Jean Pascal, the WBC/IBO light heavyweight champion. Froch won a twelve round decision over Pascal in 2008 to capture the WBC title at super middleweight. He is open to a rematch once his contractual duties are complete with the Super Six tournament. Froch will fight Pascal anywhere, including the United States, but not in the country of Germany.

"A rematch is something I would honour the man. Whether we do a catch weight or title fight – it’s something I would consider after the Super Six has concluded. A fight with Pascal would have all the ingredients and the Bell Centre looked very good indeed. So long as Marlon Wright didn't referee it then that would be an option. Or we could do it here in the UK as he has won over a lot of fans this side of the pond too. British boxing fans voted our last meeting the fight of the year, so you just know it would sell like hot cakes here too. I'd be up for it in New York or Vegas even - anywhere outside of Germany would be great," Froch told livefight.com.

As far as Chad Dawson, who Pascal upset last Saturday night, Froch wasn't too surprised. He thought Dawson was a bit exposed but not on the same level as Joe Calzaghe exposing Jeff Lacy. Froch says the next fight for Dawson will be very critical for his career.

"Was Chad exposed? I think he was slightly if we're honest. When we are told again and again how great someone is... and then they aren't it does leave you feeling a little short changed. But hat's off to Pascal he got the win and looked strong enough at the end to have finished the fight regardless of the cut. I don't think Chad Dawson is fool's gold like Jeff Lacy was. But he has a lot of doubters now. His next fight will be pivotal to his career in that sense," Froch said.

 

[heyzel]

Don King Still Trying To Secure Floyd Mayweather Jr.

By Lem Satterfield

Hall of fame promoter Don King is still trying to secure a promotional agreement with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Over the last few weeks, King and Mayweather have been spending some time together. King is hoping to put together the biggest fight in boxing, by landing Mayweather and then reaching a deal with Bob Arum for a mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao. King believes the fight will transcend the sport of boxing.

"Mayweather-Pacquiao would be universal. It would transcend earthly bounds. With what I have in mind for Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao, if I'm fortunate enough to be able to be a part of it and to be able to get Floyd, I'm looking at something that would be so stupendous that it would boggle the mind," King said.

"It would be something that would bring billions of people together. It would be noted as a sporting event, but it would really be a humanitarian event. It would be somewhere where there would be fifteen hundred thousand people on the scene like we did with the Rumble in the Jungle."

Venue? Not Las Vegas. Or Cowboys Stadium. The fight is much bigger than that, says King.

"So where I would put it? I don't know, because I don't have it -- yet. But if I get it then, you can ask me that question. But I would make it, what we call in the ghetto, something kind of wonderful. And I think that Bob Arum and I could put it together," King said.

 

[heyzel]

The welterweight fiasco: Aydin, Berto, Mayweather, Pacquiao

By Chris Kelly: Boxing fans and critics alike seem to be making out that World Boxing Council welterweight champion Andre Berto is ducking his mandatory challenger Seluck Aydin when really we all know the only reason Aydin has even reached the position of WBC Number 1 contender is boxing politics : He’s a huge name in his home country and sells a lot of tickets there. This was apparent in his last fight against Ionut Dan Ion, which practically sold out.


Unfortunately for Aydin he also showed in winning the WBC Silver Belt that night that he does not belong in the same league as Berto and possesses no where near enough talent to become a world champion. He is a puncher who’s career has been managed well.Why should Berto conform to the WBC’s demands which are fueled only by greed. He’s worked hard becoming champion and has earned himself a big name in the US by beating some big names and respected fighters such as Steve Forbes, Juan Urango, Luis Collazo and Carlos Quintana as well as arranging a bout with Shane Mosley which fell through. Plans for this match up have since been scrapped following Mosley’s one sided loss to current pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather.

Mandatory challengers are a subject that should be taken seriously by champions, and title defences are commitments that should be honoured. Although the responsibility here does not simply lie with the Champions, governing bodies (in this case the WBC) also must ensure that their challengers and indeed all of their rankings must be listed fairly and realistically. I am sure that if Berto’s top challengers were Mayweather, Pacquiao, Cotto, Clottey and Kell Brook then I’m sure Berto would be much more likely to oblige the WBC in defending against his mandatory challenger and of course the WBC would have a much greater argument for their case in insisting he do so. Do boxing fans really care if Berto shirks of the title defense against a unknown fighter of limited ability?

On the subject of ducking opponents, WBO Welterweight Champion Manny Pacquiao has come under criticism for opting to fight disgraced former champion Antonio Margarito instead of taking a third fight against rival Juan Manuel Marquez. Marquez and Pacquiao in their last two meetings have produced two of the finer fights in recent memory; the first being seen as a draw and the second a close majority decision in favour of Pacquiao whilst Mexican Antonio Magarito has been banned from competing for over a year now after he was discovered concealing a plaster like substance within his hand wraps after his loss to Shane Mosley. Both fights between Pacquiao and Marquez were incredible and both decisions could have easily been seen going in any direction. However Marquez, in his one sided defeat to Floyd Mayweather, recently proved he is unable to campaign as a welterweight and Manny is by now far past the point of no return as a lightweight. It is time to move on, for now at least. Whilst I do not believe Margarito deserves this fight and the payday that comes with it, there is only fighter Pacquiao should be facing and he is not a Mexican.

Manny’s fellow culprit, the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. currently seems to be in need of a credible opponent of any sort with every top welterweight having already been beaten by either himself or his Filipino rival or already tied up in negotiations to another fighter. This being said, with Don King now at his side, there is no way of knowing what Floyd’s next move will be. No advancements on a possible mega-fight between he and Manny have been made as of yet.

 

[heyzel]

Zab Judah vs. Michael Clark on October 2nd

By Jim Dower: Unable to land a fight with one of the bigger talents in the light welterweight division, former International Boxing Federation light welterweight and undisputed welterweight champion Zab Judah (39-6, 27 KO’s) will have to be content to face little known 37-year-old Michael Clark (40-5-1, 18 KO’s) on October 2nd, at the Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey. According to reports, his promoter Kathy Duva attempted to line up fights for Judah against Juan Urango, Victor Cayo, Paulie Malignaggi, Lucas Matthysse, Julio Diaz, Kendall Holt and Joel Casamayor but got no takers. Judah needs a tune-up fight before he goes after one of the big names in the light welterweight division.


However, Judah may have looked too impressive in his last fight, a 3rd round TKO of Jose Armando Santa Cruz, for his own good. Judah destroyed Santa Cruz with a huge left uppercut in the 3rd, and showed massive power and speed all the way through the fight. Now that Judah is fighting at light welterweight, he looks much faster and stronger compared to when he was campaigning as a welterweight. Currently, Judah is ranked #5 WBA, #6 IBF and #11 WBC. He’s probably not going to get a shot at one of the champions anytime soon, though, because Judah may be seen as someone who is too dangerous to fight.

WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan would likely have huge problems with Judah’s hand speed and power, and I can’t see that fight happening. IBF/WBC light welterweight champion Devon Alexander looked horrid in his “win” over Andriy Kotelnik recently, and he too would likely not be eager to take on a big puncher like Judah. WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley might go for a fight with Judah in the future, but only if he gets by Alexander in January.

Bradley could find himself with tons of opportunities if he beats Alexander, so it’s not a given that even Bradley would go for a fight against Judah anytime soon. One thing that works against Judah, besides his impressive skills, is his age. At 32, Judah is getting up there in age and if he has to wait more than a year before he gets a title shot, he could find himself losing more of his skills. As it is, he’s waited an awfully long time to move back down from the welterweight division, where he has been mostly struggling in the past four years. The money has been better for Judah at welterweight, which is why he chose to stay at that weight even after started having problems against the better fighters.

 

[heyzel]

Will Margarito be weakened by the 151 lb catchweight for Pacquiao?

By Chris Williams: Manny Pacquiao will once again be getting a catchweight for his next fight against Antonio Margarito for the vacant WBC light middleweight title at a still to be determined location. The catchweight will be 151 and it’s already been quickly agreed upon by Margarito, who probably is just happy to have been selected as Pacquiao’s next opponent by Bob Arum of Top Rank.


Margarito had problems making weight for his fight against Shane Mosley last year when Margarito was the WBA welterweight champion. He lost that fight by a ninth round stoppage. When Margarito came back, he fought at junior middleweight at 154 against a little known opponent Roberto Garcia.

Margarito won that fight by a ten round decision, but looked very average in doing so. But with the catchweight asked for by Pacquiao’s team, will Margarito be weakened sufficiently for Pacquiao to get an advantage? If not, Pacquiao could end taking a real pounding from Margarito.

Pacquiao took a lot of punishment in his last fight against Joshua Clottey last March, and this was with Clottey only throwing twenty punches per round. Margarito, if he doesn’t get knocked out, will be throwing a lot more than that and Pacquiao could find himself getting beaten up like he did against Erik Morales in 2005.

Margarito has the power and the work rate to beat the living daylights out of Pacquiao. However, if the catch weight weakens Margarito sufficiently, then Pacquiao will have his handicap and will have a good chance of beating Margarito for the WBC title.

It’s too bad that there wasn’t a more qualified opponent for Pacquiao to fight for the title, because I really don’t see Margarito as being a legit junior middleweight contender. This should be Pacquiao vs. Sergio Martinez, but he was recently pushed into giving up one of his titles. But I guess Pacquiao probably would not have fought Martinez, because he’s a lot faster than Margarito and also doesn’t fight for Top Rank.

 

[heyzel]

Iole says it was Pacquiao’s idea to fight Margarito – News

By Chris Williams: I was always wondered who picked Antonio Margarito out as Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent for his November 13th fight for the vacant World Boxing Council light middleweight title. Well, according to Yahoo Sports writer Kevin Iole, Pacquiao was the one that selected Margarito. Iole says “This is one case where Manny deserves blame. Arum brought both Miguel Cotto and Margarito to Manny as potential opponents and has said repeatedly on the record that Mannyc hose Margarito. Okay, the obvious question is why, when Arum brought Cotto and Margarito to Pacquiao, why didn’t Pacquiao stand up and say he didn’t want to fight either of these guys? I thought Margarito was hand-picked by Arum to fight Pacquiao, but Iole is saying that Pacquiao picked Margarito.


The choice that Arum gave Pacquiao was less than appealing given that on one hand he had Cotto, who had already been destroyed by Pacquiao only last year in November. And then he has Margarito, a fighter who has no boxing license and who was caught with loaded gloves before his fight with Shane Mosley last year. Maybe I’m over-thinking this but why didn’t Pacquiao just say no to both of those choices rather than picking Margarito just because he hadn’t already beaten him. Pacquiao has to know that a lot of boxing fans are unhappy with Margarito. Was this a case of Pacquiao just giving Arum what he wanted by picking one of his two fighters from his Top Rank stable.

If it had been me, I said no to both of them in plain language. I also would say that I never want to fight either of those guys. Going over old ground can’t be good for Pacquiao’s legacy. He already fought needless rematches against Margarito Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. As soon as Pacquiao finishes with Margarito, you can bet Pacquiao will be fighting Cotto again next year. And if there’s no fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., my guess is either Margarito will get another shot or Pacquiao will fight someone like Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. What a mismatch that would be. There are so many more interesting fighters that Pacquiao could have chosen rather than Margarito. What a waste.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Damn, 9/11 is going to be explosive:


September 11
At Frankfurt, Germany (ESPN3.com live, ESPN next-day tape): Wladimir Klitschko vs. Samuel Peter, rematch, 12 rounds, for Klitschko's Ring/IBF/WBO heavyweight title

At Las Vegas (HBO): Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Orlando Salido, 12 rounds, WBA/IBF featherweight unification; Anthony Peterson vs. Brandon Rios, 12 rounds, WBA lightweight eliminator; Matvey Korobov vs. TBA, 8 rounds, middleweights; Mike Lee vs. Alex Rivera, 4 rounds, light heavyweights; Glen Tapia vs. Edvan Barros, 6 rounds, junior middleweights; Francisco Vargas vs. TBA, 4 rounds, junior lightweights

At Mexico City (Integrated Sports PPV): Erik Morales vs. Willie Limond, 12 rounds, junior welterweights; Edgar Sosa vs. Andrea Sarritzu, 10 rounds, flyweights; Juan Carlos Burgos vs. Joan de Guai, 12 rounds, featherweights; Ana Maria Torres vs. Alesia Graf, 10 rounds, female junior bantamweights; Daniel Estrada vs. Reyes Sanchez, 12 rounds, lightweights; Ramon Ayala vs. Armando Cordova, 10 rounds, lightweights; Miguel Angel Gonzalez vs. TBA, 8 rounds, welterweights

At Sunderland, England: Steve Molitor vs. Jason Booth, 12 rounds, for Molitor's IBF junior featherweight title; Matthew Marsh vs. Kris Hughes, 12 rounds, for vacant Commonwealth junior featherweight title; Martin Lindsay vs. TBA, 8 rounds, featherweights

At Dublin: Brian Magee vs. Roman Aramian, 12 rounds, for Magee's European super middleweight title; Kiko Martinez vs. Arsen Martirosyan, 12 rounds, for vacant European junior featherweight title; Anthony Fitzgerald vs. Robbie Long, rubber match, 10 rounds, super middleweights

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Also heard rumors Pascal vs Bute is becoming more unlikely because Bute is likely going to stay at 168 and not go up in weight...

but

Bernard Hopkins & Golden Boy have sent an offer to Pascal for a fight....Pascal did call out hopkins name after he beat Dawson so it seems very possible the old grandpa hopkins could become the The Ring LHW champion once again muhahahahaha

 

[naner12]

Also heard rumors Pascal vs Bute is becoming more unlikely because Bute is likely going to stay at 168 and not go up in weight...

but

Bernard Hopkins & Golden Boy have sent an offer to Pascal for a fight....Pascal did call out hopkins name after he beat Dawson so it seems very possible the old grandpa hopkins could become the The Ring LHW champion once again muhahahahaha

I really doubt that fight will happen. Pascal can honestly fight almost anyone right now and draw a ridiculous crowd in Canada .. he doesn't need Hopkins on his resume and no one would blame him for not fighting. If he beats Hopkins the win would be brushed off as him "beating an old man and he could never beat him in his prime yadda yadda" and if he loses he loses the guaranteed payday against Dawson on HBO in the follow up.

Look for Pascal to take on a Branco type defense of his title if he can't guarantee himself a top dollar all Canadian fight. Even a fight like Chris Henry seems to make sense for him if he can't lock up Bute, but Hopkins just seems like a name thrown out in the excitement of the moment more than a fight that makes sense.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

I can see Pascal taking the fight with hopkins. Who else? Tavoris Cloud? he'd get KO'd. I think he'll go for hopkins if HBO puts up nice money which I'm sure they would.

 

[naner12]

I can see Pascal taking the fight with hopkins. Who else? Tavoris Cloud? he'd get KO'd. I think he'll go for hopkins if HBO puts up nice money which I'm sure they would.

His next fight doesn't have to be on HBO. Pascal's fights are guaranteed PPV in Canada which will do decent sales and he's already guaranteed an HBO date and good money to take on a man he just beat. Like I said he has a voluntary defense and those fights usually don't end up to be the hardest fights out there when a guy has such a large home fanbase. I just don't see it.