Boxing News Thread
- Thread starter heyzel
- Start date
I don't have a problem with Victor Conte, I think he knows what he's doing. As long as these guys under Conte are willing to help the sport when it comes to drug testing (so far all of Conte fighters have been willing to take any type of test and Conte himself is pushing for a very strict drug testing program in boxing) I think it's all good. Bob Arum said something along the lines of, "these guys realize you can get the same results naturally these days" and I basically agree with that. Modern sports science, modern supplements, modern exercising/training techniques, I think it's more or less the same shit. I mean Conte's Hypoxic Training which simulates training at high elevation which increases red blood cells, etc. That's just a natural way of what other drugs can do like HGH, etc., to a certain degree. Brandon Rios, Donaire, Andre Berto, Judah, they all train with Conte now and all have been willing to do whatever.
As far as this other guy that Marquez is using, I don't have an opinion on him. He obviously has a bad past and he's a snitch on top of that, but he could be just like Conte - going straight to make a living. idk
As for Pac & Arum they both pushed for Nevada to step their drug testing game up since the floyd fight failed, so they've tried to help better regulate the sport too.
As far as this other guy that Marquez is using, I don't have an opinion on him. He obviously has a bad past and he's a snitch on top of that, but he could be just like Conte - going straight to make a living. idk
As for Pac & Arum they both pushed for Nevada to step their drug testing game up since the floyd fight failed, so they've tried to help better regulate the sport too.
GLEN JOHNSON: "I WILL BE VICTORIOUS ON SATURDAY NIGHT!"
By G. Leon
GL: How did everything go in preparation for this fight and what can boxing fans expect from you on Saturday night against Lucian Bute? "A great fight. I'm in wonderful shape, I had a great preparation and a great training camp and I'm excited about this fight. I'm looking forward to coming out a victorious champ."
GL: It seems that each fight you've been in lately is a do or die fight, but I have to ask do you feel you have to win this fight in order to compete at the elite level?
Glen Johnson: "Definitely it's a do or die situation and a must win. The only thing we've worked on is being victorious. There's no other way about it."
GL: What mistakes did you make against Froch and do you feel you've corrected them coming into this bout?
GJ: "With the Froch fight what went wrong is I got away from my gameplan. We have a wonderful gameplan and it was working for us and kicking ass, then I got too greedy and got away from and started falling into what they expected us to do and that worked against us basically. I was very upset at that fight."
GL: What are your thoughts on Bute as a fighter?
GJ: "He's a good fighter, a wonderful fighter and he's got all of the key things going for him. He's a southpaw and he uses that to his advantage. I just don't see how that's going to work with me."
GL: Bute does a very good job of walking people into his uppercut, which seems to be a punch he gets an unusual amount of tork on. What are your thoughts on that punch and is that something you've been working on throughout training camp?
GJ: "Certainly when you're getting ready for a fighter you have to look at his strengths and his weaknesses. We know that's one of his strengths and we are prepared for that. We also know some weaknesses that we've worked on and plan on capitalizing on."
GL: What are you hoping a victory in this fight leads to?
GJ: "Hopefully all of the great things that should come with it. This super middleweight division is loaded right now and I'm willing to fight everybody. Becoming a world champion opens a lot of doors. There's unifications out there and other top guys without a title and I'm looking to challenge all of them."
GL: It was nearly a decade since you made super middleweight when you fought Allan Green. You seem to be making the weight comfortably. Do you regret not coming down in weight sooner?
GJ: "It's hard to play regret, should I have come down sooner? Yeah. That would have been the correct move to make as soon as I lost my light heavyweight championship. I got the opportunities at light heavyweight and took them but I probably should not have stayed up there so long. Once I lost my title I should have come back to where I was more naturally comfortable at. Now I'm just trying to recapture what I had basically. There's not too much regret and I'm going to buy into it. I'm moved on from that and I'm where I am now and I'm looking to capitalize on what is in front of me now."
GL: Other than victory do you have a prediction?
GJ: "I'm just going to stick with being victorious. I don't really want to call out anything else. But I believe I will be victorious on Saturday night."
GL: Are you concerned at all about getting a fair shake in Bute's backyard?
GJ: "I'm not going to concern myself over things I have no control of. I'm just going to stick with what I can do and handle my business. What's out of my hands and my control so be it. At the end of the day everybody who watches the fight will know that I'm victorious."
GL: Always a pleasure Glen. Is there anything you'd like to the fans in closing?
GJ: "I want to send my appreciation out to all of my boxing fans who stuck with me through the ups and downs. On Saturday night it's my time to shine so don't miss it."
By G. Leon
GL: How did everything go in preparation for this fight and what can boxing fans expect from you on Saturday night against Lucian Bute? "A great fight. I'm in wonderful shape, I had a great preparation and a great training camp and I'm excited about this fight. I'm looking forward to coming out a victorious champ."
GL: It seems that each fight you've been in lately is a do or die fight, but I have to ask do you feel you have to win this fight in order to compete at the elite level?
Glen Johnson: "Definitely it's a do or die situation and a must win. The only thing we've worked on is being victorious. There's no other way about it."
GL: What mistakes did you make against Froch and do you feel you've corrected them coming into this bout?
GJ: "With the Froch fight what went wrong is I got away from my gameplan. We have a wonderful gameplan and it was working for us and kicking ass, then I got too greedy and got away from and started falling into what they expected us to do and that worked against us basically. I was very upset at that fight."
GL: What are your thoughts on Bute as a fighter?
GJ: "He's a good fighter, a wonderful fighter and he's got all of the key things going for him. He's a southpaw and he uses that to his advantage. I just don't see how that's going to work with me."
GL: Bute does a very good job of walking people into his uppercut, which seems to be a punch he gets an unusual amount of tork on. What are your thoughts on that punch and is that something you've been working on throughout training camp?
GJ: "Certainly when you're getting ready for a fighter you have to look at his strengths and his weaknesses. We know that's one of his strengths and we are prepared for that. We also know some weaknesses that we've worked on and plan on capitalizing on."
GL: What are you hoping a victory in this fight leads to?
GJ: "Hopefully all of the great things that should come with it. This super middleweight division is loaded right now and I'm willing to fight everybody. Becoming a world champion opens a lot of doors. There's unifications out there and other top guys without a title and I'm looking to challenge all of them."
GL: It was nearly a decade since you made super middleweight when you fought Allan Green. You seem to be making the weight comfortably. Do you regret not coming down in weight sooner?
GJ: "It's hard to play regret, should I have come down sooner? Yeah. That would have been the correct move to make as soon as I lost my light heavyweight championship. I got the opportunities at light heavyweight and took them but I probably should not have stayed up there so long. Once I lost my title I should have come back to where I was more naturally comfortable at. Now I'm just trying to recapture what I had basically. There's not too much regret and I'm going to buy into it. I'm moved on from that and I'm where I am now and I'm looking to capitalize on what is in front of me now."
GL: Other than victory do you have a prediction?
GJ: "I'm just going to stick with being victorious. I don't really want to call out anything else. But I believe I will be victorious on Saturday night."
GL: Are you concerned at all about getting a fair shake in Bute's backyard?
GJ: "I'm not going to concern myself over things I have no control of. I'm just going to stick with what I can do and handle my business. What's out of my hands and my control so be it. At the end of the day everybody who watches the fight will know that I'm victorious."
GL: Always a pleasure Glen. Is there anything you'd like to the fans in closing?
GJ: "I want to send my appreciation out to all of my boxing fans who stuck with me through the ups and downs. On Saturday night it's my time to shine so don't miss it."
The Magic Man,” Paulie Malignaggi - “Both The Morales And The Maidana Fights Interest
By James Slater: Reading today’s boxing website headlines, I came across the possibility of Paulie Malignaggi facing a soon-to-move-up-to 147 Marcos Maidana. With whispers also suggesting “The Magic Man” - now 3-0 in his 147-pound campaign - could face Erik Morales next, I called up the New Yorker to see what he had to say on matters.
I’m pleased to be able to say how 30-year-old Paulie, 30-4(6) overall, was kind enough to take the time to speak with me:
James Slater: Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with me, Paulie - it’s always great to be able to speak with you. There is quite a lot of news about you on the internet: with talk of you maybe fighting Erik Morales or Marcos Maidana next. What’s your take on this, Champ? I read you called out Maidana?
Paulie Malignaggi: I’m excited about the possibilities, I really am. I’m so happy I signed with Golden Boy. Because of them I’ve been able to rebuild and get back in title position again with those three wins. Morales, he’s rejuvenated his own career just lately, and he’s won the WBC [140-pound] belt. And I thought, in L.A, where the weather is warmer, maybe I could get back down to 140 again and not have to kill myself to do it. And Marcos Maidana, he said he was looking for a February opponent and I made it clear I’m available. You know, I like to test myself with fights like this. I want to fight the best. And Golden Boy can make these fights, because they always bring the best together. Maidana always brings it and I want to be in that kind of a test. So either fight; I’m interested in one or the other.
J.S: I read initially that you may be facing Morales in December, but then I read about you and Maidana possibly for February. How soon would you like to fight again? You just fought in October.
P.M: We spoke with Golden Boy, my team and I, and the Morales fight was never going to be in December; it was going to be the fight after that - Morales was going to have a fight in Mexico, and I’d fight him after that. I read how Maidana needed a February fight, and I said I was available. Like I say, both fights interest me.
J.S: If you could click your fingers and make one fight of the two happen, which would it be?
P.M: I’d maybe lean towards the Morales fight, seeing how he has the WBC title. I’m not that crazy about going back down to 140, because when I fought Khan, I was so weak after making the weight. My energy levels were so low in that fight; I was drained. But that WBC belt could tempt me, and in the warm weather in L.A - and I would also hire a nutritionist - I’d maybe take it. But to make weight the way I used to; I’ll never do that ever again! I guess I got away with it for a while, but at age 30, I have to have my strength after having made weight. There was a time when I would make weight and then just have to go back to the hotel room to sleep. And I need my legs, my stamina in a fight.
J.S: Do you feel stronger up at welterweight? It sure looks like you’ve kept your speed.
P.M: I wouldn’t say I feel stronger; but I have more energy. I used to burn out making weight. Now, I do feel more energetic in a fight.
J.S: Speaking theoretically, how would you approach either fight? Morales first.
P.M: Well, you always have a game-plan. Against a guy like Morales, the obvious thing would be to box. But my heart gets in the way at times and I can end up getting in a war. But I can also adjust to what’s in front of me; by what I see [on the night]. And both fighters make a lot of adjustments during a fight - you know, 12-rounds is a long time.
J.S: And Maidana? Is it fair to say he would be the biggest puncher you’ve ever faced?
P.M: Well, on that I guess I’ll only find out when we’re in the ring. Miguel Cotto hit very, very hard - I’m talking crazy hard! But Cotto had more skills, more technique - Maidana seems to be a more ruthless guy. He likes to out-man you in the fight. I don’t like being out-manned and it’s not so easy to out-man me. I take it as a personal challenge in a fight - to see who the better man is. And I think it would be a case of being mentally strong in there with Maidana. He’s awkward, but that does make him dangerous.
J.S: Both guys would struggle with your speed. Would speed be the key in your opinion?
P.M: My speed keeps me relevant; that and my chin. Guys know they have to worry about me because of my speed and my chin. The thing is, I don’t want to have regrets over my career. I’ve fought some of the top guys of my time and I’ve tested myself against them; but I feel I have more to offer. I want more of the big, big fights. I’ve had fun in my career and I want more. I want to be able to look back on a lot of highlights.
J.S: Well, it sure would be a highlight, seeing you in there with Morales or Maidana! Where do you think either fight would take place? In the U.S or in Mexico or Argentina?
P.M: With the Morales fight, they talked about maybe Las Vegas. For Maidana, I think that fight would be big on the east coast [of America]. I have lots of fans there, and with Sergio Martinez and other Argentine fighters boxing there, there is a pretty big Argentine following there.
J.S: It’s been great speaking with you, Champ. Best wishes in getting either fight and for your next victory. You’re heading off to the gym now?
P.M: Thanks a lot. I’m going to do a light run right now. I’ll be in Europe for three weeks, and then when I get back, I hope to have solid news on my next fight.
By James Slater: Reading today’s boxing website headlines, I came across the possibility of Paulie Malignaggi facing a soon-to-move-up-to 147 Marcos Maidana. With whispers also suggesting “The Magic Man” - now 3-0 in his 147-pound campaign - could face Erik Morales next, I called up the New Yorker to see what he had to say on matters.
I’m pleased to be able to say how 30-year-old Paulie, 30-4(6) overall, was kind enough to take the time to speak with me:
James Slater: Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with me, Paulie - it’s always great to be able to speak with you. There is quite a lot of news about you on the internet: with talk of you maybe fighting Erik Morales or Marcos Maidana next. What’s your take on this, Champ? I read you called out Maidana?
Paulie Malignaggi: I’m excited about the possibilities, I really am. I’m so happy I signed with Golden Boy. Because of them I’ve been able to rebuild and get back in title position again with those three wins. Morales, he’s rejuvenated his own career just lately, and he’s won the WBC [140-pound] belt. And I thought, in L.A, where the weather is warmer, maybe I could get back down to 140 again and not have to kill myself to do it. And Marcos Maidana, he said he was looking for a February opponent and I made it clear I’m available. You know, I like to test myself with fights like this. I want to fight the best. And Golden Boy can make these fights, because they always bring the best together. Maidana always brings it and I want to be in that kind of a test. So either fight; I’m interested in one or the other.
J.S: I read initially that you may be facing Morales in December, but then I read about you and Maidana possibly for February. How soon would you like to fight again? You just fought in October.
P.M: We spoke with Golden Boy, my team and I, and the Morales fight was never going to be in December; it was going to be the fight after that - Morales was going to have a fight in Mexico, and I’d fight him after that. I read how Maidana needed a February fight, and I said I was available. Like I say, both fights interest me.
J.S: If you could click your fingers and make one fight of the two happen, which would it be?
P.M: I’d maybe lean towards the Morales fight, seeing how he has the WBC title. I’m not that crazy about going back down to 140, because when I fought Khan, I was so weak after making the weight. My energy levels were so low in that fight; I was drained. But that WBC belt could tempt me, and in the warm weather in L.A - and I would also hire a nutritionist - I’d maybe take it. But to make weight the way I used to; I’ll never do that ever again! I guess I got away with it for a while, but at age 30, I have to have my strength after having made weight. There was a time when I would make weight and then just have to go back to the hotel room to sleep. And I need my legs, my stamina in a fight.
J.S: Do you feel stronger up at welterweight? It sure looks like you’ve kept your speed.
P.M: I wouldn’t say I feel stronger; but I have more energy. I used to burn out making weight. Now, I do feel more energetic in a fight.
J.S: Speaking theoretically, how would you approach either fight? Morales first.
P.M: Well, you always have a game-plan. Against a guy like Morales, the obvious thing would be to box. But my heart gets in the way at times and I can end up getting in a war. But I can also adjust to what’s in front of me; by what I see [on the night]. And both fighters make a lot of adjustments during a fight - you know, 12-rounds is a long time.
J.S: And Maidana? Is it fair to say he would be the biggest puncher you’ve ever faced?
P.M: Well, on that I guess I’ll only find out when we’re in the ring. Miguel Cotto hit very, very hard - I’m talking crazy hard! But Cotto had more skills, more technique - Maidana seems to be a more ruthless guy. He likes to out-man you in the fight. I don’t like being out-manned and it’s not so easy to out-man me. I take it as a personal challenge in a fight - to see who the better man is. And I think it would be a case of being mentally strong in there with Maidana. He’s awkward, but that does make him dangerous.
J.S: Both guys would struggle with your speed. Would speed be the key in your opinion?
P.M: My speed keeps me relevant; that and my chin. Guys know they have to worry about me because of my speed and my chin. The thing is, I don’t want to have regrets over my career. I’ve fought some of the top guys of my time and I’ve tested myself against them; but I feel I have more to offer. I want more of the big, big fights. I’ve had fun in my career and I want more. I want to be able to look back on a lot of highlights.
J.S: Well, it sure would be a highlight, seeing you in there with Morales or Maidana! Where do you think either fight would take place? In the U.S or in Mexico or Argentina?
P.M: With the Morales fight, they talked about maybe Las Vegas. For Maidana, I think that fight would be big on the east coast [of America]. I have lots of fans there, and with Sergio Martinez and other Argentine fighters boxing there, there is a pretty big Argentine following there.
J.S: It’s been great speaking with you, Champ. Best wishes in getting either fight and for your next victory. You’re heading off to the gym now?
P.M: Thanks a lot. I’m going to do a light run right now. I’ll be in Europe for three weeks, and then when I get back, I hope to have solid news on my next fight.
Peter Quillin: “I’m just looking to beat Craig McEwan really bad
by Geoffrey Ciani (Exclusive Interview by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani, Photo by Erik Killin) - This week’s 148th edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio (brought to you by CWH Promotions) featured an exclusive interview with undefeated middleweight contender Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (25-0, 19 KOs) who is scheduled to face Craig McEwan (19-1, 10 KOs) this Saturday night in a bout that will be televised by HBO Boxing After Dark. Quillin spoke about his upcoming fight and also touched on various other topics including Freddie Roach, the Super Six Final, Sergio Martinez’s 11th round knockout against Darren Barker, the prospect of Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Junior meeting Sergio Martinez at a catch weight, Andy Lee’s revenge win against Brian Vera, his future plans, and more! Here is a complete transcript from that interview:
JENNA J: Let’s move things over to our first guest of this week’s show, and he’s a returning one making his fifth appearance to On the Ropes Boxing Radio. We’re joined by rising middleweight contender Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin. How’s everything going today, Peter?
PETER QUILLIN: I’m doing just fine. I want to thank you guys for having me on.
JENNA: It’s a pleasure as always, and you have a pretty big fight coming up. You know it’s a fight between you and Craig McEwan. People are saying it’s going to be the toughest fight so far in your career. Do you think it will be?
QUILLIN: I think every fight is tough. It’s all about the mental aspect of your preparations leading up to the fight, and I think I had the best going into this fight. You know I’m working very hard like always, and I know I’m exactly where I’m headed at.
JENNA: Okay well Pete, I mentioned the fight you have upcoming this weekend but I haven’t really talked about the opponent yet. What do you think about Craig McEwan?
QUILLIN: What do I think about him? You know, he’s looking to shock the eyes of the spectators. Here I am, I’m undefeated, and he wants to give my first loss but that’s not something I didn’t hear before. I’ve heard that many times where guys told me they were going to give me my first loss and it never happened. I’m questioning his work ethic. You know he said he’s working hard, but if he didn’t work hard leading up to the fight with Andy Lee then what did he do to prepare for me? He hired on Gary Young, who’s really young by all means. He doesn’t have the experience at this level, and with the magnitude of this fight Craig has to be focused and his trainer is going on how he wants to get back in the ring and fight himself. I mean so who is he really looking to fight? Is he looking for you to fight? Or Craig? So by all means I’m ready.
JENNA: Alright now I’m sure you probably got a chance to view Craig’s last fight against Andy Lee. What mistakes do you think he made in that bout that caused him to lose?
QUILLIN: Maybe he didn’t prepare the right way or didn’t have the right kind of game plan. I don’t even know. Once you’re throwing 100 punches per round, he should be able to punch like that the whole fight. It seemed like he had no game plan for the fight at all. I know the guy that was in his corner who usually worked with some of the top fighters like Joel Cassamayor at the time. He worked with a lot of good fighters, and by all means I think he just went in there with the wrong game plan. There is no game plan to beat me! I haven’t really given much for guys to have a blueprint to beat me. His trainer said that he watched over 200 rounds. I don’t have 200 rounds floating around there, unless you keep watching the same rounds over and over again. You know what I’m saying? So by all means these guys are crazy thinking that they could come up with a game plan, but I guess it sells the fight. I know exactly what I want to do and I’m not telling you something I don’t believe in.
JENNA: Okay Peter, Craig McEwan used to be trained by Freddie Roach and you’re obviously trained by Freddie now. What kind of insight is Freddie giving you into Craig McEwan that you believe is going to help you in this match?
QUILLIN: What we’re doing in this fight to get him out of there. We’re working on the things that he would like to see me do to beat Craig. So he said I’m in good shape, I’m ready, I’m focused, and I feel the same way. You know I’m glad to have a trainer in Freddie Roach who’s worked hard with me for this camp to lead me to victory on November 5.
JENNA: Okay now what do you think is your biggest advantage going into your fight against Craig McEwan?
QUILLIN: I got power, I got athleticism, I worked very hard for this camp to lead me to victory, and I think all of those things are going to come into play. He’s looking for me to fight one way. I don’t fight one way. I got many ways that I can fight. I can be a boxer, I can be a puncher, I can be a brawler—I can be whatever I need to be to win the fight, as long as I’m not hitting somebody below the belt.
JENNA: Okay well Peter, we’re also on the line with my Co-Host Geoff Ciani.
GEOFFREY CIANI: Hi Pete. It’s a pleasure to have you back on the show.
QUILLIN: Geoff, you know it’s always a pleasure speaking to you guys over there, or you guys and girls.
CIANI: Pete I wanted to ask you, McEwan is coming off of the first loss of his career. Do you think that he’s maybe rushing into a fight with you too soon and possibly underestimating you?
QUILLIN: I mean I talked to him on the phone when we did the conference call yesterday, and the way he was talking he didn’t seem to confident. He was saying I think, and when somebody is saying “I think”, that’s somebody who’s not sure. I’m sure! I’m going to beat you! That’s what I think because I’m confident! If I die trying to do that, then I put my best effort forth but I’m not going to have “thinking” or “doubting” or any of that. Those are not words in my vocabulary when I’m talking about the biggest fight in my career.
CIANI: Since the Zuniga fight back in February 2010 you’ve been looking much better, and you’ve been looking better against higher caliber competition. What do you attribute that to?
QUILLIN: Being in the gym and having my mind structured around boxing. Before my last trainer used to tell me this and tell me that, and it’s just like I wasn’t feeling confident in most parts. But I feel totally confident with what they got going at The Wild Card. The hard work became automatic for me, so it’s like nobody needs to tell me to be in the gym. I’m in there without anybody telling me. I’m there on time and I’m working hard once I’m in there, and I’m trying to always improve every aspect of my game. You know and talking with you guys must be some kind of good luck, because I was playing a video game and I just completed and beat the board. So I want to thank you guys over there, but other than that I just believe in myself man for the most part. I know exactly where I come from, from the mean streets of Grand Rapids, Michigan. I moved to New York and had a tough life there. You know and I’m not using the “tough” thing as saying that’s my story. You should all read about a black guy having a tough story. I just wanted to say that I really wanted to get away from all that stuff and I wanted to have better in my life, and boxing has provided that for me.
CIANI: Now Pete I wanted to get your opinion on a couple of other middleweight fights that took place fairly recently. One of them is with a guy who beat Craig McEwan. In his last fight Andy Lee avenged his only career loss against Brian Vera. What did you think of Andy Lee’s performance that night?
QUILLIN: I honestly think that Andy did a good job. He stuck to the game plan, and that’s what being at this level means—sticking to the game plan. You know he showed why he should have beat him the first time, and he made Brian look like a guy that didn’t belong in there with him. So I applaud him for his performance as far avenging his loss. A lot of guys don’t get to do that, so by all means I don’t want to take anything away from Andy. He’s a good fighter. By all means, I’m a middleweight, he’s a middleweight. Maybe we lace up and touch gloves. But at this level right now, it’s all about me just getting to the world championship. So whoever it takes for me to get there I would be willing to fight.
CIANI: Now speaking about the middleweight world championship, Sergio Martinez also fought that night when he stopped Darren Barker in the later rounds. A lot of people were critical of his performance that night. What did you think of Sergio’s performance?
QUILLIN: Well he gave the people a knockout! People always like to see a knockout, so by all means he gave the people what they wanted. But he showed a lot of things that could give another fighter a blueprint for beating him. I just think that they make Sergio out to be a Superman, and he’s not really a Superman. He might be the best pound-for-pound in the world, but he’s not Superman. Any time you can be dethroned. So you know it’s all about who has the right game plan and the right strategy to take him out. Hopefully I get closer to get to that challenge, and I’m just going to pray on it and just keep my focus and be mentally prepared if that opportunity does come along.
JENNA: Now Pete speaking of Sergio Martinez, you get a lot of people out there that want to see smaller fighters come up in weight to fight him. They have interest in that fight. They want to see Manny Pacquiao versus him. They want to see Floyd Mayweather Junior versus him, and I’m wondering do you think the smaller fighters should really go up and take that risk against Sergio?
QUILLIN: Alright. Now tell me when I’m wrong, and I will honestly take your opinion and I’ll be happy with that. But I want to ask ya’ll a question. Okay! Sergio Martinez calling out Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, which could barely make the 150 pound limit, right? Why won’t we want to see Sergio Martinez fight Lucian Bute?
JENNA: There is no reason why we wouldn’t want to see it. I’d actually love to see that fight.
QUILLIN: What’s the difference, though? Like if he’s calling out little guys, if he would accept a challenge from a little guy to move up, why would he not be a little guy to move up to another weight class? Even though he started off as a 147 pounder, why not just go back down to 147 pounds to get the fight then?
JENNA: Well Pete, Sergio contends that because he weighed 165 on fight night that he’s actually too small to go up and face 168 pound fighters.
QUILLIN: Then why would they want me to fight Lucian Bute when I walk around as a super middleweight? You know what I’m saying? It’s just this stuff is all messed up. The night of the fight I’m 160 pounds, and by the end of the next day I’m 165/166. So it’s just the same thing! Then maybe he should stick to 160 pounds and just get the guys there and stop looking to just call out the little guys. Unless the little guys want to take the fight, I’m going to go with the little guys just because I hate to see bullies picking on the smaller schoolyard kids.
JENNA: So Pete are you suggesting that it would be easier for you to make 154 than it would be to make 168?
QUILLIN: I make 160 pounds! My next fight is going to be at 160 pounds. My last fight was at 161 pounds. I don’t have a problem making the middleweight limit.
JENNA: Okay well Pete, everything being the way that it is, if Sergio Martinez can even make 150 pounds do you think he would earn a fight with either Pacquiao or Mayweather?
QUILLIN: Well Pacquiao did say he’s not taking the fight over 150 pounds, so maybe the fight can be made and the boxing fans can get what they want as far as seeing Manny Pacquiao versus Sergio Martinez.
JENNA: What about Mayweather? How do you think he would do? They have had rumors about that fight.
QUILLIN: I mean Mayweather writes the checks. He pays his people who he wants to fight, so if it’s a fight he thinks he can generate money from, why not?
CIANI: Pete you mentioned 168. What are your early thoughts on the Super Six Final coming up. Andre Ward, Carl Froch, it’s a fight that a lot of people are excited about. Who are you taking?
QUILLIN: You know Carl Froch, I sparred him. He’s very awkward. Andre Ward is a pretty good boxer, so by all means I’m going to have to go with the boxer. A lot of people are writing Carl off. I would never write a fighter off and say that he doesn’t have a chance. I just think going in there against a boxer, one of the purest boxers out there in Andre Ward, I think he’s going to be able to come out with the victory. I’m only just being honest. I sparred Carl Froch and they called me to spar him after leaving from Colorado Springs when I was helping the Olympic team. That’s why I went straight back to New York is to help Carl with some sparring.
CIANI: Now Pete we mentioned some other middleweights before, Andy Lee, Sergio Martinez, and some other guys. If you’re successful in your fight against Craig McEwan and you’re able to make a statement, what do you want to do to kick off 2012 and what are you looking to accomplish in 2012 if you can springboard into that year with a big victory over McEwan?
QUILLIN: If it was Peter Quillin’s Promotion, or Bang Out Entertainment, or Bang Out Promotion, I would have a lot more to say. But since Golden Boy handles all of that and my manager John Seip is hard working to get me the best opportunities out there, I would just say I’m willing to sign on any dotted line against anybody as long as they think it’s a good opportunity to make me some money, get some exposure, and make sure that everything is going to be a good fight for the fans. I’m always willing to give back. Whoever it is I don’t mind. I’m just going to think like a fighter, always be ready, and being tuned into boxing. That’s what I’m here to do. I think Golden Boy is going to handle me as far as getting me the best opportunities out there that fight fans would love to see.
JENNA: Alright well Peter we just have a couple of more questions before we let you off the line. Back to the fight with Craig McEwan, what is your official prediction? How do you see that fight playing out from the opening bell to the finish?
QUILLIN: You know I’m just going to go in there and be “Kid Chocolate”, be the guy that you’ve all been seeing. I’m going to show ya’ll I got better—a lot better. Setting up punches, I’m going to go up in there and put a lot of pressure on Craig and see if it folds him. If it folds him, then we’ll get him out of there. If not, then I’m just going to beat him bad.
JENNA: Alright now do you think you will be personally disappointed if you do not knock him out being that top contender Andy Lee did it in his last fight?
QUILLIN: Well you know, let me tell you something Jenna. When you got a person who goes back and forth, at that point Andy Lee was very desperate and he had to take a little more risk of going in there and maybe getting beaten. By all means if you look at all my fights, a lot of my fights are unanimously won. I shutout guys, so a guy hardly gets into a rhythm to try and beat me. So I’m not going to have the pressure to go in there and knock him out. I’m not going to be disappointed. I would be disappointed if I lose. I would be disappointed if I lose with all of the hard work I put into this camp. You know what I mean? So if the knockout is going to come, it’s going to come. I’m just looking to beat Craig McEwan really bad. If the knockout comes I’ll be happy with it. If not then I’m going to go into the next fight taking whatever I need from this fight to get even better.
JENNA: Okay Peter, well I have one final question. For all the “Kid Chocolate” fans out there, is there anything you want to say to them and how can they keep up with you?
QUILLIN: I want to thank ya’ll for covering the latest and greatest on me and getting it out to all your people that listen to the show and asking great questions. By all means you don’t ask me dumb questions. You know what I’m saying? I often get interviewed by people that don’t know really much about boxing. They ask really dumb questions, but every time I come on with you guys, you always keep it fun. You keep it energetic. I love being on the line with you guys! I want to thank you guys! First and foremost I want to thank God for just giving me the body that he gave me, meaning I can go into training and I train very hard and he gave me the mind to be focused. I want to thank everybody who helped me for this camp: Freddie Roach, Eric Brown, my promotion team Golden Boy. I want to thank my manager John Seip and Jimmy McDevitt, who’s been trying to get me the best opportunities out there. I want to thank my Mom who actually came into boxing camp with me this time and did all the cooking, and just being a mother nourishing her kid. I thank my best friend who came. The list can go on and on. I’m just happy I can share what I have with other people.
JENNA: Alright well Peter, we thank you for the compliments about the show and it’s an absolute pleasure having you back. We do wish you the best of luck this coming Saturday night.
QUILLIN: I’ll definitely come on and on top of that, how about this—they can log onto my website at kidchocolate.com and always catch me there and see exactly what I’m doing at all times, or follow me on Twitter @Kid Chocolate. But thanks again guys for having me on.
CIANI: Thanks Pete. Best of luck in your fight this weekend.
QUILLIN: Thank you!
by Geoffrey Ciani (Exclusive Interview by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani, Photo by Erik Killin) - This week’s 148th edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio (brought to you by CWH Promotions) featured an exclusive interview with undefeated middleweight contender Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (25-0, 19 KOs) who is scheduled to face Craig McEwan (19-1, 10 KOs) this Saturday night in a bout that will be televised by HBO Boxing After Dark. Quillin spoke about his upcoming fight and also touched on various other topics including Freddie Roach, the Super Six Final, Sergio Martinez’s 11th round knockout against Darren Barker, the prospect of Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Junior meeting Sergio Martinez at a catch weight, Andy Lee’s revenge win against Brian Vera, his future plans, and more! Here is a complete transcript from that interview:
JENNA J: Let’s move things over to our first guest of this week’s show, and he’s a returning one making his fifth appearance to On the Ropes Boxing Radio. We’re joined by rising middleweight contender Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin. How’s everything going today, Peter?
PETER QUILLIN: I’m doing just fine. I want to thank you guys for having me on.
JENNA: It’s a pleasure as always, and you have a pretty big fight coming up. You know it’s a fight between you and Craig McEwan. People are saying it’s going to be the toughest fight so far in your career. Do you think it will be?
QUILLIN: I think every fight is tough. It’s all about the mental aspect of your preparations leading up to the fight, and I think I had the best going into this fight. You know I’m working very hard like always, and I know I’m exactly where I’m headed at.
JENNA: Okay well Pete, I mentioned the fight you have upcoming this weekend but I haven’t really talked about the opponent yet. What do you think about Craig McEwan?
QUILLIN: What do I think about him? You know, he’s looking to shock the eyes of the spectators. Here I am, I’m undefeated, and he wants to give my first loss but that’s not something I didn’t hear before. I’ve heard that many times where guys told me they were going to give me my first loss and it never happened. I’m questioning his work ethic. You know he said he’s working hard, but if he didn’t work hard leading up to the fight with Andy Lee then what did he do to prepare for me? He hired on Gary Young, who’s really young by all means. He doesn’t have the experience at this level, and with the magnitude of this fight Craig has to be focused and his trainer is going on how he wants to get back in the ring and fight himself. I mean so who is he really looking to fight? Is he looking for you to fight? Or Craig? So by all means I’m ready.
JENNA: Alright now I’m sure you probably got a chance to view Craig’s last fight against Andy Lee. What mistakes do you think he made in that bout that caused him to lose?
QUILLIN: Maybe he didn’t prepare the right way or didn’t have the right kind of game plan. I don’t even know. Once you’re throwing 100 punches per round, he should be able to punch like that the whole fight. It seemed like he had no game plan for the fight at all. I know the guy that was in his corner who usually worked with some of the top fighters like Joel Cassamayor at the time. He worked with a lot of good fighters, and by all means I think he just went in there with the wrong game plan. There is no game plan to beat me! I haven’t really given much for guys to have a blueprint to beat me. His trainer said that he watched over 200 rounds. I don’t have 200 rounds floating around there, unless you keep watching the same rounds over and over again. You know what I’m saying? So by all means these guys are crazy thinking that they could come up with a game plan, but I guess it sells the fight. I know exactly what I want to do and I’m not telling you something I don’t believe in.
JENNA: Okay Peter, Craig McEwan used to be trained by Freddie Roach and you’re obviously trained by Freddie now. What kind of insight is Freddie giving you into Craig McEwan that you believe is going to help you in this match?
QUILLIN: What we’re doing in this fight to get him out of there. We’re working on the things that he would like to see me do to beat Craig. So he said I’m in good shape, I’m ready, I’m focused, and I feel the same way. You know I’m glad to have a trainer in Freddie Roach who’s worked hard with me for this camp to lead me to victory on November 5.
JENNA: Okay now what do you think is your biggest advantage going into your fight against Craig McEwan?
QUILLIN: I got power, I got athleticism, I worked very hard for this camp to lead me to victory, and I think all of those things are going to come into play. He’s looking for me to fight one way. I don’t fight one way. I got many ways that I can fight. I can be a boxer, I can be a puncher, I can be a brawler—I can be whatever I need to be to win the fight, as long as I’m not hitting somebody below the belt.
JENNA: Okay well Peter, we’re also on the line with my Co-Host Geoff Ciani.
GEOFFREY CIANI: Hi Pete. It’s a pleasure to have you back on the show.
QUILLIN: Geoff, you know it’s always a pleasure speaking to you guys over there, or you guys and girls.
CIANI: Pete I wanted to ask you, McEwan is coming off of the first loss of his career. Do you think that he’s maybe rushing into a fight with you too soon and possibly underestimating you?
QUILLIN: I mean I talked to him on the phone when we did the conference call yesterday, and the way he was talking he didn’t seem to confident. He was saying I think, and when somebody is saying “I think”, that’s somebody who’s not sure. I’m sure! I’m going to beat you! That’s what I think because I’m confident! If I die trying to do that, then I put my best effort forth but I’m not going to have “thinking” or “doubting” or any of that. Those are not words in my vocabulary when I’m talking about the biggest fight in my career.
CIANI: Since the Zuniga fight back in February 2010 you’ve been looking much better, and you’ve been looking better against higher caliber competition. What do you attribute that to?
QUILLIN: Being in the gym and having my mind structured around boxing. Before my last trainer used to tell me this and tell me that, and it’s just like I wasn’t feeling confident in most parts. But I feel totally confident with what they got going at The Wild Card. The hard work became automatic for me, so it’s like nobody needs to tell me to be in the gym. I’m in there without anybody telling me. I’m there on time and I’m working hard once I’m in there, and I’m trying to always improve every aspect of my game. You know and talking with you guys must be some kind of good luck, because I was playing a video game and I just completed and beat the board. So I want to thank you guys over there, but other than that I just believe in myself man for the most part. I know exactly where I come from, from the mean streets of Grand Rapids, Michigan. I moved to New York and had a tough life there. You know and I’m not using the “tough” thing as saying that’s my story. You should all read about a black guy having a tough story. I just wanted to say that I really wanted to get away from all that stuff and I wanted to have better in my life, and boxing has provided that for me.
CIANI: Now Pete I wanted to get your opinion on a couple of other middleweight fights that took place fairly recently. One of them is with a guy who beat Craig McEwan. In his last fight Andy Lee avenged his only career loss against Brian Vera. What did you think of Andy Lee’s performance that night?
QUILLIN: I honestly think that Andy did a good job. He stuck to the game plan, and that’s what being at this level means—sticking to the game plan. You know he showed why he should have beat him the first time, and he made Brian look like a guy that didn’t belong in there with him. So I applaud him for his performance as far avenging his loss. A lot of guys don’t get to do that, so by all means I don’t want to take anything away from Andy. He’s a good fighter. By all means, I’m a middleweight, he’s a middleweight. Maybe we lace up and touch gloves. But at this level right now, it’s all about me just getting to the world championship. So whoever it takes for me to get there I would be willing to fight.
CIANI: Now speaking about the middleweight world championship, Sergio Martinez also fought that night when he stopped Darren Barker in the later rounds. A lot of people were critical of his performance that night. What did you think of Sergio’s performance?
QUILLIN: Well he gave the people a knockout! People always like to see a knockout, so by all means he gave the people what they wanted. But he showed a lot of things that could give another fighter a blueprint for beating him. I just think that they make Sergio out to be a Superman, and he’s not really a Superman. He might be the best pound-for-pound in the world, but he’s not Superman. Any time you can be dethroned. So you know it’s all about who has the right game plan and the right strategy to take him out. Hopefully I get closer to get to that challenge, and I’m just going to pray on it and just keep my focus and be mentally prepared if that opportunity does come along.
JENNA: Now Pete speaking of Sergio Martinez, you get a lot of people out there that want to see smaller fighters come up in weight to fight him. They have interest in that fight. They want to see Manny Pacquiao versus him. They want to see Floyd Mayweather Junior versus him, and I’m wondering do you think the smaller fighters should really go up and take that risk against Sergio?
QUILLIN: Alright. Now tell me when I’m wrong, and I will honestly take your opinion and I’ll be happy with that. But I want to ask ya’ll a question. Okay! Sergio Martinez calling out Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, which could barely make the 150 pound limit, right? Why won’t we want to see Sergio Martinez fight Lucian Bute?
JENNA: There is no reason why we wouldn’t want to see it. I’d actually love to see that fight.
QUILLIN: What’s the difference, though? Like if he’s calling out little guys, if he would accept a challenge from a little guy to move up, why would he not be a little guy to move up to another weight class? Even though he started off as a 147 pounder, why not just go back down to 147 pounds to get the fight then?
JENNA: Well Pete, Sergio contends that because he weighed 165 on fight night that he’s actually too small to go up and face 168 pound fighters.
QUILLIN: Then why would they want me to fight Lucian Bute when I walk around as a super middleweight? You know what I’m saying? It’s just this stuff is all messed up. The night of the fight I’m 160 pounds, and by the end of the next day I’m 165/166. So it’s just the same thing! Then maybe he should stick to 160 pounds and just get the guys there and stop looking to just call out the little guys. Unless the little guys want to take the fight, I’m going to go with the little guys just because I hate to see bullies picking on the smaller schoolyard kids.
JENNA: So Pete are you suggesting that it would be easier for you to make 154 than it would be to make 168?
QUILLIN: I make 160 pounds! My next fight is going to be at 160 pounds. My last fight was at 161 pounds. I don’t have a problem making the middleweight limit.
JENNA: Okay well Pete, everything being the way that it is, if Sergio Martinez can even make 150 pounds do you think he would earn a fight with either Pacquiao or Mayweather?
QUILLIN: Well Pacquiao did say he’s not taking the fight over 150 pounds, so maybe the fight can be made and the boxing fans can get what they want as far as seeing Manny Pacquiao versus Sergio Martinez.
JENNA: What about Mayweather? How do you think he would do? They have had rumors about that fight.
QUILLIN: I mean Mayweather writes the checks. He pays his people who he wants to fight, so if it’s a fight he thinks he can generate money from, why not?
CIANI: Pete you mentioned 168. What are your early thoughts on the Super Six Final coming up. Andre Ward, Carl Froch, it’s a fight that a lot of people are excited about. Who are you taking?
QUILLIN: You know Carl Froch, I sparred him. He’s very awkward. Andre Ward is a pretty good boxer, so by all means I’m going to have to go with the boxer. A lot of people are writing Carl off. I would never write a fighter off and say that he doesn’t have a chance. I just think going in there against a boxer, one of the purest boxers out there in Andre Ward, I think he’s going to be able to come out with the victory. I’m only just being honest. I sparred Carl Froch and they called me to spar him after leaving from Colorado Springs when I was helping the Olympic team. That’s why I went straight back to New York is to help Carl with some sparring.
CIANI: Now Pete we mentioned some other middleweights before, Andy Lee, Sergio Martinez, and some other guys. If you’re successful in your fight against Craig McEwan and you’re able to make a statement, what do you want to do to kick off 2012 and what are you looking to accomplish in 2012 if you can springboard into that year with a big victory over McEwan?
QUILLIN: If it was Peter Quillin’s Promotion, or Bang Out Entertainment, or Bang Out Promotion, I would have a lot more to say. But since Golden Boy handles all of that and my manager John Seip is hard working to get me the best opportunities out there, I would just say I’m willing to sign on any dotted line against anybody as long as they think it’s a good opportunity to make me some money, get some exposure, and make sure that everything is going to be a good fight for the fans. I’m always willing to give back. Whoever it is I don’t mind. I’m just going to think like a fighter, always be ready, and being tuned into boxing. That’s what I’m here to do. I think Golden Boy is going to handle me as far as getting me the best opportunities out there that fight fans would love to see.
JENNA: Alright well Peter we just have a couple of more questions before we let you off the line. Back to the fight with Craig McEwan, what is your official prediction? How do you see that fight playing out from the opening bell to the finish?
QUILLIN: You know I’m just going to go in there and be “Kid Chocolate”, be the guy that you’ve all been seeing. I’m going to show ya’ll I got better—a lot better. Setting up punches, I’m going to go up in there and put a lot of pressure on Craig and see if it folds him. If it folds him, then we’ll get him out of there. If not, then I’m just going to beat him bad.
JENNA: Alright now do you think you will be personally disappointed if you do not knock him out being that top contender Andy Lee did it in his last fight?
QUILLIN: Well you know, let me tell you something Jenna. When you got a person who goes back and forth, at that point Andy Lee was very desperate and he had to take a little more risk of going in there and maybe getting beaten. By all means if you look at all my fights, a lot of my fights are unanimously won. I shutout guys, so a guy hardly gets into a rhythm to try and beat me. So I’m not going to have the pressure to go in there and knock him out. I’m not going to be disappointed. I would be disappointed if I lose. I would be disappointed if I lose with all of the hard work I put into this camp. You know what I mean? So if the knockout is going to come, it’s going to come. I’m just looking to beat Craig McEwan really bad. If the knockout comes I’ll be happy with it. If not then I’m going to go into the next fight taking whatever I need from this fight to get even better.
JENNA: Okay Peter, well I have one final question. For all the “Kid Chocolate” fans out there, is there anything you want to say to them and how can they keep up with you?
QUILLIN: I want to thank ya’ll for covering the latest and greatest on me and getting it out to all your people that listen to the show and asking great questions. By all means you don’t ask me dumb questions. You know what I’m saying? I often get interviewed by people that don’t know really much about boxing. They ask really dumb questions, but every time I come on with you guys, you always keep it fun. You keep it energetic. I love being on the line with you guys! I want to thank you guys! First and foremost I want to thank God for just giving me the body that he gave me, meaning I can go into training and I train very hard and he gave me the mind to be focused. I want to thank everybody who helped me for this camp: Freddie Roach, Eric Brown, my promotion team Golden Boy. I want to thank my manager John Seip and Jimmy McDevitt, who’s been trying to get me the best opportunities out there. I want to thank my Mom who actually came into boxing camp with me this time and did all the cooking, and just being a mother nourishing her kid. I thank my best friend who came. The list can go on and on. I’m just happy I can share what I have with other people.
JENNA: Alright well Peter, we thank you for the compliments about the show and it’s an absolute pleasure having you back. We do wish you the best of luck this coming Saturday night.
QUILLIN: I’ll definitely come on and on top of that, how about this—they can log onto my website at kidchocolate.com and always catch me there and see exactly what I’m doing at all times, or follow me on Twitter @Kid Chocolate. But thanks again guys for having me on.
CIANI: Thanks Pete. Best of luck in your fight this weekend.
QUILLIN: Thank you!
about time
HBO to begin a weekly Boxing news/info show in 2012
from fat dans chat.
Anthony (Bronx, NY)
HBO needs to make a weekly boxing news/info show like the NFL has. It could have Jim Lampley hosting, Kellerman, Emmanuel, Merchant and of course Dan Rafa with the inside scoop.
Dan Rafael (12:57 PM)
Glad you mentioned that. I will drop a scoop right here to the Fight Freaks. Lampley WILL be hosting a boxing news/talk/analysis show on HBO beginning in 2012. Exact date TBA. It will start as quarterly and could expand if it's a success. How's that for some good news?
HBO to begin a weekly Boxing news/info show in 2012
from fat dans chat.
Anthony (Bronx, NY)
HBO needs to make a weekly boxing news/info show like the NFL has. It could have Jim Lampley hosting, Kellerman, Emmanuel, Merchant and of course Dan Rafa with the inside scoop.
Dan Rafael (12:57 PM)
Glad you mentioned that. I will drop a scoop right here to the Fight Freaks. Lampley WILL be hosting a boxing news/talk/analysis show on HBO beginning in 2012. Exact date TBA. It will start as quarterly and could expand if it's a success. How's that for some good news?
Lebedev defeats Toney by lopsided decision
By Jim Dower: No.2 ranked WBO cruiserweight contender Denis Lebedev (23-1, 17 KO’s) made it look embarrassingly easy in defeating 43-yer-old shot-looking James Toney (73-7-3, 44 KO’s) by a one-sided 12 round unanimous decision on Friday night to capture the interim World Boxing Association (WBA) cruiserweight title at the Khodynka Ice Palace in Moscow, Russia. The judges scored it 120-108, 120-108 and 120-107.
The scores fail to really show badly the faded Toney looked, however, as this fight should have been stopped early due to the amount of one-way punishment that Toney was absorbing at the hands of the hard hitting southpaw Lebedev. This fight had mismatch written all over it the moment it was signed, but it was much worse than I imagined it would be.
A slender looking Toney had no power and looked both old and badly weight drained from having dropped 50+ pounds to make the 200 pound cruiserweight limit on Thursday’s weigh-in. Without speed, power or the ability to move his feet, Toney was more of a punching bag than a competitor in this fight. Toney tried to get out of the way of the constantly forward moving Lebedev’s punches, but was hit quite often with some really devastating shots. Lebedev hurt Toney in the 8th and 9th rounds with scorching straight left hands and right hooks.
Toney, to his credit, showed good recuperative powers if nothing else. But none of Toney’s defensive tricks, such as the shoulder roll and bending at the waist, helped him avoid the searing shots from Lebedev. It looked like an old man facing a prime fighter and it was painful to watch. The last rounds were brutal with Toney taking punch after punch to the head and offering nothing back. Even the Russian audience, which was rooting for Lebedev, seemed to lose interest in the fight. It was no longer a sporting event and more like a slaughter.
After the bout ended, Toney, sounding out of touch with reality, said “I’ll see him [Lebedev] again, I promise.”
Toney may see Lebedev again on television, but that’s about the only way he’ll see him. Lebedev will never fight Toney again after this one-sided bout. Toney needs to think seriously about retiring from boxing because he just isn’t the same fighter he once was and taking beatings like the one he absorbed tonight could affect him long term. We don’t want to see Toney slurring his speech in his old age or suffering other kinds of neurological problems.
In other action on the card:
Alexander Bakhtin UD 10 Luis Melendez
Ismayl Sillakh TKO 4 Ali Ismailov
Vyacheslav Glazkov RTD 5 Daniil Peretyatko
By Jim Dower: No.2 ranked WBO cruiserweight contender Denis Lebedev (23-1, 17 KO’s) made it look embarrassingly easy in defeating 43-yer-old shot-looking James Toney (73-7-3, 44 KO’s) by a one-sided 12 round unanimous decision on Friday night to capture the interim World Boxing Association (WBA) cruiserweight title at the Khodynka Ice Palace in Moscow, Russia. The judges scored it 120-108, 120-108 and 120-107.
The scores fail to really show badly the faded Toney looked, however, as this fight should have been stopped early due to the amount of one-way punishment that Toney was absorbing at the hands of the hard hitting southpaw Lebedev. This fight had mismatch written all over it the moment it was signed, but it was much worse than I imagined it would be.
A slender looking Toney had no power and looked both old and badly weight drained from having dropped 50+ pounds to make the 200 pound cruiserweight limit on Thursday’s weigh-in. Without speed, power or the ability to move his feet, Toney was more of a punching bag than a competitor in this fight. Toney tried to get out of the way of the constantly forward moving Lebedev’s punches, but was hit quite often with some really devastating shots. Lebedev hurt Toney in the 8th and 9th rounds with scorching straight left hands and right hooks.
Toney, to his credit, showed good recuperative powers if nothing else. But none of Toney’s defensive tricks, such as the shoulder roll and bending at the waist, helped him avoid the searing shots from Lebedev. It looked like an old man facing a prime fighter and it was painful to watch. The last rounds were brutal with Toney taking punch after punch to the head and offering nothing back. Even the Russian audience, which was rooting for Lebedev, seemed to lose interest in the fight. It was no longer a sporting event and more like a slaughter.
After the bout ended, Toney, sounding out of touch with reality, said “I’ll see him [Lebedev] again, I promise.”
Toney may see Lebedev again on television, but that’s about the only way he’ll see him. Lebedev will never fight Toney again after this one-sided bout. Toney needs to think seriously about retiring from boxing because he just isn’t the same fighter he once was and taking beatings like the one he absorbed tonight could affect him long term. We don’t want to see Toney slurring his speech in his old age or suffering other kinds of neurological problems.
In other action on the card:
Alexander Bakhtin UD 10 Luis Melendez
Ismayl Sillakh TKO 4 Ali Ismailov
Vyacheslav Glazkov RTD 5 Daniil Peretyatko
Pacquiao-Mayweather: Seriously, what’s Bob Arum’s problem? A MUST read!
By Marquise Bullock: Well it’s known now that World Boxing Council (WBC) Welter Weight Champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0-26 KOs) is set to fight at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, on May 5th 2012.
Team Mayweather made the announcement two weeks prior to the Pacquiao-Marquez III fight scheduled for November 12th in Las Vegas. Is it surprising? No, Floyd usually does this before Pacquiao fights for promotional reasons. Because Floyd knows, just like himself, Pacquiao draws a worldwide attraction to the sport. Which by the way…is great for Boxing.
But the announcement didn’t sit to well with Top Ranks CEO Bob Arum. Here’s what Arum had to say about Team Mayweather’s announcement on Mason & Ireland radio ESPN: “Listen, we’re not going to consider anything until after the Marquez fight,” Arum said. “The way they are going about it seems like a bizarre way to go about it. If you want to put it together, you meet, you talk. You don’t just come out and say, ‘The fight is May 5 at the MGM.’ What kind of negotiation is that? So I don’t take what they said seriously.”
“When they want to do some serious negotiating somebody will call me or (Top Rank president) Todd (DuBoef) and we will sit down and talk. It’s obviously a fight we want to make,” Arum said“.
“Olympic testing is OK for this fight, blood and urine, random testing, no problem,” Arum said.” He also went on to say why book the world famous MGM Grand, when Jerry Jones of the Cowboy Stadium in Texas and other major players will put up millions for the fight?
But here’s my thing, as far as random blood testing goes aka OSRBT. Bob Arum, Freddy Roach, and Pacquiao ONLY say they’ll do the testing with no problem, and are not being specific. So pretty much that’s all they say. Mayweather and some of his team isn’t sure or not whether Manny has been using PEDs, and want testing all the way up to the fight. Randomly, not everyday like some people think. So maybe three random times throughout Manny’s training, for a little teaspoon of blood and some urine.
“Pac’s” fans cry out Pacquiao agreed to testing. And he has, verbally. But no specifics. Ah…but what’s this? Advisor Michael Koncz has all the specifics he said out of his own mouth on two separate occasions that Pacquiao will only test up to 14 or seven days before the fight.
Personally I don’t care about the testing. But I’m not the one fighting, Floyd is and he wants the testing all the way up to the fight. Alex Ariza was on video even saying why do we have to give in to his [Mayweather] demands. As in he doesn’t even want the testing done. Roger Mayweather said that’s the behind the scenes reason the fight wont happen.
It’s bad enough Floyd doesn’t want to put a dime in Arums pockets, which I believe if it wasn’t for Arum the fight would’ve happened already. Arum in my opinion doesn’t want the fight. I believe it’s not Floyd or Pac, it’s Arum. He knows win or lose his cash cow will step away from the sport, and ride off into the sunset. He’s going to milk that cow dry. I guarantee come May 5th, there will be no Mayweather-Pacquiao fight.
Another thing I find crazy is how in the world can Arum say Mayweather’s announcement is a joke for Pacquiao being just a POSSIBLE opponent on may 5th, when Arum once gave Mayweather like a two week deadline. Really? May 5th is seven months away that’s plenty of time to negotiate. Pacquiao is a wonderful athlete but he needs to speak up about what he wants. What’s your thoughts fight fans?
By Marquise Bullock: Well it’s known now that World Boxing Council (WBC) Welter Weight Champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0-26 KOs) is set to fight at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, on May 5th 2012.
Team Mayweather made the announcement two weeks prior to the Pacquiao-Marquez III fight scheduled for November 12th in Las Vegas. Is it surprising? No, Floyd usually does this before Pacquiao fights for promotional reasons. Because Floyd knows, just like himself, Pacquiao draws a worldwide attraction to the sport. Which by the way…is great for Boxing.
But the announcement didn’t sit to well with Top Ranks CEO Bob Arum. Here’s what Arum had to say about Team Mayweather’s announcement on Mason & Ireland radio ESPN: “Listen, we’re not going to consider anything until after the Marquez fight,” Arum said. “The way they are going about it seems like a bizarre way to go about it. If you want to put it together, you meet, you talk. You don’t just come out and say, ‘The fight is May 5 at the MGM.’ What kind of negotiation is that? So I don’t take what they said seriously.”
“When they want to do some serious negotiating somebody will call me or (Top Rank president) Todd (DuBoef) and we will sit down and talk. It’s obviously a fight we want to make,” Arum said“.
“Olympic testing is OK for this fight, blood and urine, random testing, no problem,” Arum said.” He also went on to say why book the world famous MGM Grand, when Jerry Jones of the Cowboy Stadium in Texas and other major players will put up millions for the fight?
But here’s my thing, as far as random blood testing goes aka OSRBT. Bob Arum, Freddy Roach, and Pacquiao ONLY say they’ll do the testing with no problem, and are not being specific. So pretty much that’s all they say. Mayweather and some of his team isn’t sure or not whether Manny has been using PEDs, and want testing all the way up to the fight. Randomly, not everyday like some people think. So maybe three random times throughout Manny’s training, for a little teaspoon of blood and some urine.
“Pac’s” fans cry out Pacquiao agreed to testing. And he has, verbally. But no specifics. Ah…but what’s this? Advisor Michael Koncz has all the specifics he said out of his own mouth on two separate occasions that Pacquiao will only test up to 14 or seven days before the fight.
Personally I don’t care about the testing. But I’m not the one fighting, Floyd is and he wants the testing all the way up to the fight. Alex Ariza was on video even saying why do we have to give in to his [Mayweather] demands. As in he doesn’t even want the testing done. Roger Mayweather said that’s the behind the scenes reason the fight wont happen.
It’s bad enough Floyd doesn’t want to put a dime in Arums pockets, which I believe if it wasn’t for Arum the fight would’ve happened already. Arum in my opinion doesn’t want the fight. I believe it’s not Floyd or Pac, it’s Arum. He knows win or lose his cash cow will step away from the sport, and ride off into the sunset. He’s going to milk that cow dry. I guarantee come May 5th, there will be no Mayweather-Pacquiao fight.
Another thing I find crazy is how in the world can Arum say Mayweather’s announcement is a joke for Pacquiao being just a POSSIBLE opponent on may 5th, when Arum once gave Mayweather like a two week deadline. Really? May 5th is seven months away that’s plenty of time to negotiate. Pacquiao is a wonderful athlete but he needs to speak up about what he wants. What’s your thoughts fight fans?
^^can't point the finger entirely at arum when the big beef is between arum AND al haymon. Those two guys are the problem when it comes to dealing with eachother (they don't).
That's why I think when they do negotiate it's gotta be Top Rank's Todd DuBoef (who handles most of the shit now anyway), Richard Schaefer and floyd & pac can have whoever else in there, just as long as Bob & Al haymon are not in the same room they should be able to negotiate fine.
Schaefer is the one who runs Golden Boy and more and more it's Todd DuBoef who runs Top Rank.
That's why I think when they do negotiate it's gotta be Top Rank's Todd DuBoef (who handles most of the shit now anyway), Richard Schaefer and floyd & pac can have whoever else in there, just as long as Bob & Al haymon are not in the same room they should be able to negotiate fine.
Schaefer is the one who runs Golden Boy and more and more it's Todd DuBoef who runs Top Rank.
nothing is official yet. If it goes down supposedly Devon Alexander vs Paulie M on the undercard as well.
If there is additional drug testing it would certainly come from berto's camp....I remember after the fight he tweeted some PED suspicion remarks about Ortiz (and got a pretty big backlash over it). And now Berto's working with Victor Conte.
If there is additional drug testing it would certainly come from berto's camp....I remember after the fight he tweeted some PED suspicion remarks about Ortiz (and got a pretty big backlash over it). And now Berto's working with Victor Conte.
oh, and just to point out yet again how retarded the WBC is, they have Alexander rated #1 at welterweight. Despite never fighting at Welterweight. And despite basically losing his last three fights in a row (without the hometown robberies of course).
Don King's influence over the WBC still exists I see.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Boxing_Council#The_WBC_and_Don_King
Don King's influence over the WBC still exists I see.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Boxing_Council#The_WBC_and_Don_King