[BOXING]Big September fights!!
- Thread starter 2-0-Sixx
- Start date
woah, add another fight for this month. I don't know who this opponent is but that's pretty crazy. Paul Williams will fight at 160 in september then defend his 147 welterweight belt in November!
Paul Williams-Andy Kolle on Sept. 25 at 160-Pounds
By Mark Vester
WBO welterweight champion Paul Williams (34-1, 25 KOs) is looking to make good on his promise to fight anyone at any time. He was unable to find a solid opponent at welterweight and unable to come to terms for a fight with WBC/WBO middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik. Instead, he will still re-test the waters at middleweight by moving up to fight Andy Kolle (17-1, 12 KOs) in a ten-round middleweight contest on Sept. 25 at the Soboba Casino in San Jacinto, California. Williams fought some early career bouts at 160 before moving down to 147. The fight will air on the Versus network.
Kolle's only loss was by sixth-round TKO to Andre Ward in 2006. He's 8-0 since the Ward defeat. The co-feature will be heavyweight Cristobal Arreola (24-0, 21 KOs) against Israel Garcia (19-1, 11 KOs). Goossen told Dan Rafael that Williams will move back down to welterweight for a title defense on November 29. Arreola will also be in the co-feature of that card, with HBO televising both fights.
"Anyone willing to get in the ring with Paul from 147 to 168, he's willing to fight," Goossen said. "Believe me, there are very few takers. This opportunity presented itself with Versus for him to go out there and show the world what he has in the middleweight division. This is a good fight to gauge it on. He'll look forward to going back to defend his welterweight title in November after a victory."
Williams has also been chasing a rematch with Antonio Margarito, the WBA champion. Goossen offered a guarantee of $4 million dollars to make the fight happen, but Margarito's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, was not interested, citing a personal issue with Williams' advisor, Al Haymon, as the reason.
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ [email protected]
Paul Williams-Andy Kolle on Sept. 25 at 160-Pounds
By Mark Vester
WBO welterweight champion Paul Williams (34-1, 25 KOs) is looking to make good on his promise to fight anyone at any time. He was unable to find a solid opponent at welterweight and unable to come to terms for a fight with WBC/WBO middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik. Instead, he will still re-test the waters at middleweight by moving up to fight Andy Kolle (17-1, 12 KOs) in a ten-round middleweight contest on Sept. 25 at the Soboba Casino in San Jacinto, California. Williams fought some early career bouts at 160 before moving down to 147. The fight will air on the Versus network.
Kolle's only loss was by sixth-round TKO to Andre Ward in 2006. He's 8-0 since the Ward defeat. The co-feature will be heavyweight Cristobal Arreola (24-0, 21 KOs) against Israel Garcia (19-1, 11 KOs). Goossen told Dan Rafael that Williams will move back down to welterweight for a title defense on November 29. Arreola will also be in the co-feature of that card, with HBO televising both fights.
"Anyone willing to get in the ring with Paul from 147 to 168, he's willing to fight," Goossen said. "Believe me, there are very few takers. This opportunity presented itself with Versus for him to go out there and show the world what he has in the middleweight division. This is a good fight to gauge it on. He'll look forward to going back to defend his welterweight title in November after a victory."
Williams has also been chasing a rematch with Antonio Margarito, the WBA champion. Goossen offered a guarantee of $4 million dollars to make the fight happen, but Margarito's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, was not interested, citing a personal issue with Williams' advisor, Al Haymon, as the reason.
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ [email protected]
Good article on ESPN
Hard-charging lightweights Diaz, Katsidis sure to deliver on Saturday
Losing to Joel Casamayor only enhanced Michael Katsidis' reputation as a gutsy gunslinger.
Every so often a fight comes along when excitement is guaranteed, where the blend of styles falls into place so perfectly that the contest cannot fail to be a crowd-pleaser.
The lightweight 12-rounder between former champions Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis in Houston on Saturday is such a fight.
Each man is known for his high punch volume. Neither likes to give ground. The crowd at the Toyota Center and watching on TV are likely to witness something special.
"It's a great fight for the sport and for the fans," Diaz told ESPN.com from his home in Houston. "I've seen Katsidis fight and I know he's a very strong and aggressive fighter and I'm expecting him to come forward and throw a lot of punches, because that's what he does best."
It is difficult to envisage either man doing much backing up. Diaz has been working on mixing in some smart boxing with his characteristic full-bore aggression but nothing is likely to change too much where Houston's Baby Bull is concerned.
"You know, what I do best is come forward, dig the body and throw a lot of punches and that's exactly what my game plan's going to be, right from the get-go," he said.
Diaz agrees that from outside the ring it looks as if Katsidis is easy to hit and throws wide punches, but he pointed out that inside the ropes things could be a little different. His attitude, he says, is to fight hard but not be surprised by anything that the other man might do.
It will be a surprise to most people, though, if Katsidis strays too far from his usual power and pressure style. The Australian fighter did use evasive movement in the last two rounds (to the crowd's displeasure) in his fight with Filipino Czar Amonsot, but he was suffering from cuts and knew he was well ahead on points.
As a rule, one sees Katsidis plowing straight ahead and seeking to do damage.
This isn't to say that Katsidis is simply a slugger. There is always a possibility that he might seek to surprise Diaz and start out by boxing and countering Saturday. If he does, though, it might not be for more than a round or two. A fighter such as Katsidis, who wears a Greek warrior's garb into the ring in honor of his Hellenic heritage, isn't going to turn into a stylist overnight.
The fan-friendly style of the two is so appealing that they top the bill even though they were last-fight losers. This is almost like the old days in boxing, when in the overall scheme of things, a defeat didn't matter too much as long as the fighter had acquitted himself well.
Although Diaz was outpointed by Nate Campbell in March, there were well-documented distractions. The fighter's manager, Willie Savannah, was locked in a bitter dispute with Don King, Diaz's promoter at the time. The animosity that surrounded the fight was clearly not helpful to Diaz -- and he found himself facing a fighter who was at the absolute top of his form. The closing rounds were an ordeal for Diaz, who was cut and battered. He stuck it out to the bitter end, however.
"In that fight I knew that I did not want to give up because I am a fighter and that's what I do best, I love to fight," he said. "And the only concern for me at that point was that I did not want to get knocked out or stopped, so I kept hanging in there, throwing punches as best I could."
Katsidis, meanwhile, looked poised for victory in his last fight until running into a big left hand from seasoned southpaw Joel Casamayor in the 10th round. Although down twice in the opening round, Katsidis had rallied with such ferocity that the fight turned in his favor -- he even sent Casamayor through the ropes for an eight count. The fight was so dramatic that Katsidis came out a winner in defeat because, as with the always-gritty Arturo Gatti, fans were eager to see him again.
On Saturday, the fight is likely to be in the tradition of the thrillers that Gatti provided for HBO viewers.
Diaz, 24, believes this will be a much better performance than the one he gave against Campbell because he isn't at the center of a manager-promoter conflict this time. Diaz does have his studies, of course -- he expects to graduate from the University of Houston with a bachelor's degree in political science in May 2009 -- but doesn't see that as a distraction.
"It's not a problem for me because I've been doing this for so long, I kept going to school even when I turned pro," Diaz said.
"Psychologically it's a big difference for this fight. I'm very focused on the fight, I'm not worried about outside disturbances. This fight is more like the other fights I've had in the past where I didn't have to worry about anything outside the ring, just worry about the opponent in front of me. I'm physically and mentally ready. When the bell rings I'm just going to go out there and do what I've always done, to do my best and give the people a good fight."
A good fight is what this surely will be, and the winner will likely be the boxer can show an extra dimension and perhaps a better defense.
In terms of toughness and fighting heart, the two men are very well-matched, but Diaz can be quite hard to hit cleanly with his constant motion, and head-bobbing style. Katsidis -- and there is no getting around it -- simply seems more of an inviting target.
Also, Diaz has an underrated left jab. If the hooks, right hands and uppercuts are flying on both sides, Diaz's jab could be a key weapon. "I think people do underestimate my jab because a lot of the time I use it when I'm throwing a lot of punches, so it's not a punch that stands out," Diaz said.
Diaz has used the jab to good effect in some of his best wins. It's a punch that seems to catch the other man by surprise because Diaz mixes it in with his combinations, and these left-hand jolts could disrupt Katsidis' attacks and cause him a degree of consternation.
Katsidis is considered the heavier hitter with one punch. But Diaz seems the more talented, and although he's the younger man by four years, he has been in more big fights than the Australian.
Hometown support is also likely to help Diaz.
"When you hear the crowd cheering for you, it makes you fight harder and not want to lose," Diaz said.
Diaz seems able to do a little more and be a bit more diversified than his rugged rival. The pick, then, goes to Diaz, possibly on a very late stoppage from accumulated punishment. But the biggest winners are likely to be the fans and the sport of boxing itself.
Hard-charging lightweights Diaz, Katsidis sure to deliver on Saturday
Losing to Joel Casamayor only enhanced Michael Katsidis' reputation as a gutsy gunslinger.
Every so often a fight comes along when excitement is guaranteed, where the blend of styles falls into place so perfectly that the contest cannot fail to be a crowd-pleaser.
The lightweight 12-rounder between former champions Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis in Houston on Saturday is such a fight.
Each man is known for his high punch volume. Neither likes to give ground. The crowd at the Toyota Center and watching on TV are likely to witness something special.
"It's a great fight for the sport and for the fans," Diaz told ESPN.com from his home in Houston. "I've seen Katsidis fight and I know he's a very strong and aggressive fighter and I'm expecting him to come forward and throw a lot of punches, because that's what he does best."
It is difficult to envisage either man doing much backing up. Diaz has been working on mixing in some smart boxing with his characteristic full-bore aggression but nothing is likely to change too much where Houston's Baby Bull is concerned.
"You know, what I do best is come forward, dig the body and throw a lot of punches and that's exactly what my game plan's going to be, right from the get-go," he said.
Diaz agrees that from outside the ring it looks as if Katsidis is easy to hit and throws wide punches, but he pointed out that inside the ropes things could be a little different. His attitude, he says, is to fight hard but not be surprised by anything that the other man might do.
It will be a surprise to most people, though, if Katsidis strays too far from his usual power and pressure style. The Australian fighter did use evasive movement in the last two rounds (to the crowd's displeasure) in his fight with Filipino Czar Amonsot, but he was suffering from cuts and knew he was well ahead on points.
As a rule, one sees Katsidis plowing straight ahead and seeking to do damage.
This isn't to say that Katsidis is simply a slugger. There is always a possibility that he might seek to surprise Diaz and start out by boxing and countering Saturday. If he does, though, it might not be for more than a round or two. A fighter such as Katsidis, who wears a Greek warrior's garb into the ring in honor of his Hellenic heritage, isn't going to turn into a stylist overnight.
The fan-friendly style of the two is so appealing that they top the bill even though they were last-fight losers. This is almost like the old days in boxing, when in the overall scheme of things, a defeat didn't matter too much as long as the fighter had acquitted himself well.
Although Diaz was outpointed by Nate Campbell in March, there were well-documented distractions. The fighter's manager, Willie Savannah, was locked in a bitter dispute with Don King, Diaz's promoter at the time. The animosity that surrounded the fight was clearly not helpful to Diaz -- and he found himself facing a fighter who was at the absolute top of his form. The closing rounds were an ordeal for Diaz, who was cut and battered. He stuck it out to the bitter end, however.
"In that fight I knew that I did not want to give up because I am a fighter and that's what I do best, I love to fight," he said. "And the only concern for me at that point was that I did not want to get knocked out or stopped, so I kept hanging in there, throwing punches as best I could."
Katsidis, meanwhile, looked poised for victory in his last fight until running into a big left hand from seasoned southpaw Joel Casamayor in the 10th round. Although down twice in the opening round, Katsidis had rallied with such ferocity that the fight turned in his favor -- he even sent Casamayor through the ropes for an eight count. The fight was so dramatic that Katsidis came out a winner in defeat because, as with the always-gritty Arturo Gatti, fans were eager to see him again.
On Saturday, the fight is likely to be in the tradition of the thrillers that Gatti provided for HBO viewers.
Diaz, 24, believes this will be a much better performance than the one he gave against Campbell because he isn't at the center of a manager-promoter conflict this time. Diaz does have his studies, of course -- he expects to graduate from the University of Houston with a bachelor's degree in political science in May 2009 -- but doesn't see that as a distraction.
"It's not a problem for me because I've been doing this for so long, I kept going to school even when I turned pro," Diaz said.
"Psychologically it's a big difference for this fight. I'm very focused on the fight, I'm not worried about outside disturbances. This fight is more like the other fights I've had in the past where I didn't have to worry about anything outside the ring, just worry about the opponent in front of me. I'm physically and mentally ready. When the bell rings I'm just going to go out there and do what I've always done, to do my best and give the people a good fight."
A good fight is what this surely will be, and the winner will likely be the boxer can show an extra dimension and perhaps a better defense.
In terms of toughness and fighting heart, the two men are very well-matched, but Diaz can be quite hard to hit cleanly with his constant motion, and head-bobbing style. Katsidis -- and there is no getting around it -- simply seems more of an inviting target.
Also, Diaz has an underrated left jab. If the hooks, right hands and uppercuts are flying on both sides, Diaz's jab could be a key weapon. "I think people do underestimate my jab because a lot of the time I use it when I'm throwing a lot of punches, so it's not a punch that stands out," Diaz said.
Diaz has used the jab to good effect in some of his best wins. It's a punch that seems to catch the other man by surprise because Diaz mixes it in with his combinations, and these left-hand jolts could disrupt Katsidis' attacks and cause him a degree of consternation.
Katsidis is considered the heavier hitter with one punch. But Diaz seems the more talented, and although he's the younger man by four years, he has been in more big fights than the Australian.
Hometown support is also likely to help Diaz.
"When you hear the crowd cheering for you, it makes you fight harder and not want to lose," Diaz said.
Diaz seems able to do a little more and be a bit more diversified than his rugged rival. The pick, then, goes to Diaz, possibly on a very late stoppage from accumulated punishment. But the biggest winners are likely to be the fans and the sport of boxing itself.
Nothing huge but tensions heating up at Casamayor/Marquez presser, small scuffle:
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v15863383httZRhHp?autoWatch=true
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v15863383httZRhHp?autoWatch=true
Lightweight boxers Joel Casamayor (L), of Cuba, and Juan Manuel Marquez, of Mexico, pose with flags during a news conference at the MGM Grand hotel-casino in Las Vegas, Nevada September 10, 2008. The boxers meet for a 12-round fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 13. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus (UNITED STATES)
#################################################
Campbell-Guzman Presser!
Experts feel IBF/WBA/WBO lightweight champion Nate “Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell (39-5-1, 25 KOs) is in serious danger of losing his crowns against undefeated former two-time WBO champion Joan “Sycuan Warrior” Guzman (28-0, 17 KOs) when they meet Saturday night at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.
anny Sheridan of USA Today has Joan Guzman as a 2 to 1 favorite over Nate Campbell, while the MGM/Mirage Sports Book has Guzman as the favorite at -220 with Campbell the underdog at +180.
“What’s strange about this fight is that I have three belts and I still don’t get any respect," said Campbell at today's press conference. "All the other guys get the praises and respect, but I’m always the underdog. I’ve come to relish that role because I know what I’m capable of. If you think I’m going to give up my belts to Joan Guzman, you’re crazy. I have nothing against Joan Guzman, but he isn’t getting my belts. If he wants them, he better bring it on Saturday night!"
Campbell's trainer John David Jackson added, “We respect Guzman’s talent, but on Saturday he’s going to find out what it means to be a real fighter. He’s going to get a beating and a lesson in what it takes to be a real fighter. He’s not going to know what happened until he looks at the tape.”
Guzman stated, "We’re ready for whatever Nate is going to bring. We’ve prepared well, we’ve prepared hard and we came here for the victory....fight fans know that this lightweight fight is the fight to watch on Saturday. History will be made. You’ll see Joan Guzman become the first Dominican-born boxer to win titles in three weight classes.”
Guzman's trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr. commented "If Guzman fights the way he’s suppose to fight, he’s going to put a whopping on Campbell. It’s as simple as that. There’s nothing left to say. Guzman will become a three-division champion on Saturday.”
