Boxing News Thread

[heyzel]

Joshua Clottey: "Miguel Cotto is No Easy Fight"

Mark Vester

Former welterweight champion Joshua Clottey is expecting the fight of his life when he steps in the ring with WBO champion Miguel Cotto on June 13 at New York's Madison Square Garden. Clottey wants to be regarded as one of the best fighters in the world and in order to get there - he must get past Cotto.

"When people talk about me, I want them to say that I'm one of the best in the world. To achieve that, I have to fight the best and Cotto falls into that category. Certainly, Cotto is one of the best. I can't deny that, but if I win the fight, then you have to say that I am one of the best," Clottey told Primera Hora.

Clottey was going to put up his IBF title, but the sanctioning body forced him to vacate the belt when the Cotto fight was officially signed. The IBF wanted him to make a mandatory defense.

"It frustrates me a lot because they didn't allow me to make a title unification. That has been one of my dreams and it wasn't achieved. But the IBF made a decision and we have to accept it," Clottey said.

He sees a tough fight ahead and the training has been very tough. Clottey will not allow himself to be denied in the contest.

"It will not be easy for either of us. Both of us are going to climb into the ring that night and look for the victory and I hope that I'm the one who wins. I am going to fight and Miguel knows it. My training has been perfect. I'm ready to win," Clottey said

 

[heyzel]

Haye is Going For The Quick Knockout With Klitschko

By Mark Vester

David Haye is planning to go for the knockout in the very first round when he steps in the ring with WBO/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko on June 20 in Germany. The British fighter does not trust the judges and really believes that anything less than a knockout will result in a decision loss.

"The whole plan is to knock him out as quick as possible," Haye said to PA Sport. "I don't want this fight to go to points because they'll rip me off. It's not a secret that you have to knock out someone in Germany in some cases so I can't afford for this one to go to points.

"If I knock him down in every round they'll find a way for Wladimir to walk away with a victory so I'll have to knock him down for 15 seconds and not 10 because I wouldn't be surprised if they bring in a big pal of theirs and he ends up giving him a real slow count."

Haye wants to end the era of the Klitschko brothers in order to save the heavyweight division. He believes the two brothers are destroying the weight division.

"The heavyweight division has been a disappointment for a while now since Wladimir has been fighting all these anonymous nobodies that nobody cares about," said Haye. "It is killing boxing. It makes me sick watching them fight, it distresses me. I saw Wladimir fight Sultan Ibragimov in a bar in Miami when and I was just disgusted with what I saw.

"There must have been 200 people in this bar that had come out to watch the heavyweight champion of the world and they were walking out and shaking their heads at the fight. Heavyweight boxing should have you on the edge of your seat somehow he's turned it into a whole other sport."

After fighting Wladimir, and then big brother Vitali, he plans to capture any of the other remaining title belts.

"Normally you can judge how good an era was by the heavyweight champion at the time," Haye continued. "Muhammad Ali was a great during his era, then there was Tyson in the 80s and then Lennox. But since then there has been a lull in the division so heavyweight boxing needs me to win this fight and win it excitingly."

 

[heyzel]

David Haye - "Ricky Hatton vs. Amir Khan Must Happen"

By Mark Vester

According to former undisputed cruiserweight champion David Haye - Ricky Hatton vs. Amir Khan is a natural fight to be made and the two boxers should put their friendship aside and get in the ring to prove which of them is the better fighter. He says Hatton should go after the Khan fight next.

"If I was in Ricky Hatton's shoes the fight I would most probably go for is Amir Khan. That is a natural fight. Fingers crossed that Khan beats Andreas Kotelnik [the WBA light-welterweight champion] the week after my fight," Haye told The Guardian.

"Yes, sure, Khan looks up to Hatton, but I still think it is a fight that should happen. I idolise [Evander] Holyfield, but if he was in his peak that is the guy I would be gunning after. If you want to fight the best do it even if they are a mate. It is like having a pal who is a great footballer you would still want to beat him. It is not personal. You could play someone in ping pong it isn't personal, but you still try your hardest to beat them."

"The only difference in boxing is the consequences of beating them, but that is something you deal with after the fight. I'm sure they are really good pals, but it is a great fight for both of them. Sportsmen want to prove that they are the best - people forget that boxing is a sport."

As far as who wins, Haye says there are a lot of factors that have be examined. He sees Hatton's experience vs. the youth of Khan, but also says Hatton took a lot more punishment than Khan.

"Who wins? It all depends on how Khan does against Kotelnik. After that fight I will be able to get a better judgement. Ricky has had twice as many fights and experience, but has had twice as much damage done. He had a lot more gruelling fights," Haye said.

"Khan is pretty much brand new. The one loss he had, he didn't take any punishment continually. He didn't take the kind of punishment Hatton had against Mayweather or even the fight he had against Kostya Tszyu. They are the fights that slow you up and put miles on the clock. Khan hasn't got miles on the clock and is fresh in boxing terms while Hatton isn't. Hatton is a wily old pro. Been there, done it and the only people to beat him are two of the best fighters of our generation."

"He has been there and done it. He struggled, has been knocked down and come back. Fingers crossed that fight can happen, but I'm not sure what relationship Hatton has with Warren."

 

[heyzel]

Suspicious Substance Found in Miranda's Corner

By Mark Vester

In what is turning out to be a big story from Saturday's fight, the California State Athletic Commission confiscated a suspicious substance from the corner of Edison Miranda during his decision loss to Andre Ward at the Oracle Arena in Oakland.

According to trainer Virgil Hunter, the substance was in a brown bottle resembling a Vaseline tub and was apparently hidden in a bag in Miranda's corner. Ward's promoter, Dan Goossen, said Miranda's cornermen were spotted taking the substance out of the bag around the fourth or fifth rounds of the fight, it was seized before officials actually saw it given to Miranda.

Goossen said the athletic commission will test the substance and we may have results by this week.

"I don't want to jump to any conclusions right now," Goossen said. "That's why I didn't say anything [on Saturday]. There's nothing worse than taking away from a good victory by putting the focus on something else

 

[heyzel]

Mayweather Jr, Mayweather Sr Reunite For Marquez Fight

By Mark Vester

The father/son combination of unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. and well-known trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. - is back. The two have been feuding for several years but managed to make peace in the last few months. Mayweather Sr. taught his son the sport but after a falling out which took place nearly a decade ago, he began training other fighters like Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Chad Dawson. Uncle Roger Mayeather is the head trainer for Floyd Jr.

Speaking with the Los Angeles Times, FLoyd Jr. revealed that his father has been helping him in camp since the May 2 bout between Pacquiao and Hatton. Floyd Jr. wants to give his dad plenty of support during a very tough time. The elder Mayweather lost between 25 to 30 pounds due to sarcoidosis, a disease that limits lung capacity.

"My dad's been working with me every day since the Hatton fight," Mayweather Jr. said. "We chill out, shoot pool, talk about different fighters."

As far as the Hatton loss, Floyd Jr. says the Manchester fighter did not listen to his father.

"I know what my father teaches," Mayweather Jr. said of the Hatton debacle. "That's not how my father trains a fighter. He'll say, 'Use the . . . jab, man.' I guess a fighter can't be taught new things. Hatton rushes in, he didn't follow the game plan."

 

[heyzel]

Roy Jones vs. Jeff Lacy is Close To Done For August

By Mark Vester

According to former super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy, a fight with light heavyweight Roy Jones Jr. is "90% done" and he expects the deal to be finalized in a few days. The fight would take place in August and likely at a weight closer to 175-pounds. It's a natural for the two Florida-based boxers to stage the fight in their common hometown.

"I think we're a couple days away," Lacy told the Tampa Tribune. "Probably by Monday or Tuesday we'll have everything settled and tacked down."

Neither guy has looked "fresh" in the last year, but Jones has fought the better quality of opponents and looker fresher even though he is 40, and Lacy is closer to 30. Lacy, who broke away from Golden Boy Promotions last year, will use his own company to co-promote the event with Jones.

"The most exciting thing is I'm able to do this under Left Hook Promotions and with Square Ring Promotions at the same time," said Lacy. "It's my second promotional fight and to land this kind of fight, that's the most exciting thing for me. I'm looking to take this company huge. I'm looking at lots of things as far as signing fighters and giving fighters what they're fighting for. I've been there and done that so I wouldn't [mistreat] anybody else."

 

[408mobsta]

All boxing, all the time for Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero

3:58 PM
By Josh Koehn





Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, seen in a recent workout at his gym in Gilroy, has been training in Los Angeles the last few weeks for his June 12 bout, which will take place in San Jose and be televised on ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights." Sources in Guerrero's camp say he is tentatively scheduled to fight Johnnie Edwards at HP Pavilion.
Photo by: Dispatch file photo



LOS ANGELES - Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero has seen so many different fighters in the ring the past few weeks, he can't keep track of who's who anymore.
"To tell you the truth, they got some weird names," Guerrero said.

Training in Los Angeles for his June 12 bout, which will take place in San Jose and be televised on ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights," Guerrero (23-1-1, 16 KOs) has been sparring with just about anyone his cut man, Ruben Gomez, a Los Angeles local, can put in front of the Gilroy native.

"[Gomez] brings a lot to the corner," Guerrero said. "This is his area out here and he knows all the good gyms in and out."

With no venue or opponent officially announced yet - sources in Guerrero's camp say he is tentatively scheduled to fight Johnnie Edwards (15-4-1, 8 KOs) at HP Pavilion - Guerrero is taking everything in stride.

"Being out here in Los Angeles, there's so much sparring out here, there's so many different looks, so many different styles that you're prepared for everything," Guerrero said. "When you know who you're fighting, you got film on the guy, you're able to break him down and see what he's doing wrong. But if you're going in blind you gotta prepare for everything."

In addition to training, Guerrero still has other peripheral matters at hand.

A dispute with his former promoter, Dan Goossen, has been resurrected after Goossen filed an appeal earlier this month to the arbitration ruling in December 2008 that cleared the way for Guerrero to sign with Golden Boy Promotions.

"Right now, I don't even worry about that," Guerrero said. "Whatever [Goossen] says, he says. Basically, I have no comment about it and I'm focusing on what I gotta do to get ready for the ring."

There is also lingering criticism in regards to the fans and media who said Guerrero quit in his March 7 bout against Daud Yordan (23-0, 17 KOs) - the fight with was stopped by a ring-side doctor and ruled a no contest after Guerrero suffered a deep cut over his right eye in the second round - the former two-time IBF featherweight champ says it comes with the territory.

"You're gonna get people talking no matter what," Guerrero said. "My job is to get out there and fight and make it happen."

On top of his daily physical demands in training, Guerrero has also taken on a greater load in marketing himself. He will be featured in the EA Sports video game "Fight Night Round 4," which will be released this summer. During his first week in Los Angeles, Guerrero went to an EA studio and conducted interviews, took photos from all angles to ensure his character resembles him in the game, and shadowboxed so programmers can mimic his movements in the ring.

"It's gonna be cool," Guerrero said. "I played boxing video games all the time. Now being on the game, it's exciting."

Staying in Los Angeles until the week of his fight, Guerrero said being away from his wife and two children has been the most difficult part of the six-week camp. He calls home three to four times per day to check in and see how his family is doing.

"They get excited when I call and it makes me excited, it makes me work hard," he said.

While the June 12 bout, whether it's against Edwards or someone else, is unlikely to offer Guerrero a significant challenge, a larger card is being aligned for Aug. 22 in Houston. An impressive victory could secure Guerrero a place on that card, which would go a long way in furthering his progress to reclaim a title after relinquishing his IBF belt to move up to the junior lightweight division.

Until then, Guerrero said he'll keep his head down through the rest of camp.

"When all you've been doing is boxing, you're 100 percent ready," he said.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Josh Koehn
Josh Koehn is the sports editor for the Gilroy Dispatch. He can be reached at (408) 842-1694 or at [email protected].

cant wait 4 his return after that cut in march..shit sucked all be at this supporting ghost

 

[naner12]

^~~ Agree. I'd rather him rematch Yordan though just to see how it would've played out. I hadn't seen Yordan fight up until that point and he looked to have legit skills until the cut happened.

 

[408mobsta]

^~~ Agree. I'd rather him rematch Yordan though just to see how it would've played out. I hadn't seen Yordan fight up until that point and he looked to have legit skills until the cut happened.

yup yordan did look good tho..ghost is fam 2 me so we talk often he told me that dude didnt want a rematch that his was team was going in another direction.. but ghost is a big name 4 him i dont get it...but yeah i would love 2 c a rematch tho..

 

[naner12]

yup yordan did look good tho..ghost is fam 2 me so we talk often he told me that dude didnt want a rematch that his was team was going in another direction.. but ghost is a big name 4 him i dont get it...but yeah i would love 2 c a rematch tho..

That is retarded. What direction are they trying to go .. fighting randoms in Indonesia? I guess I could understand if he's a draw out there .. gotta go where the money is at.

 

[408mobsta]

That is retarded. What direction are they trying to go .. fighting randoms in Indonesia? I guess I could understand if he's a draw out there .. gotta go where the money is at.

yup i dont get it either cuz i knw theres hella people out there wanna see it but o well maybe another time...actually he should be the 1 demanding a rematch for the expozure and all...

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Ugghh this came from left field, but dope fight nonetheless!!

From fight news:

Bradley-Guzman August 1st!

By Lee Bates

Sources close to situation have confirmed promoter Gary Shaw has made a verbal offer to Jose Nunez manager of two-division world champion Joan Guzman (29-0, 17 KOs) to fight WBO junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (24-0, 11 KOs) on Saturday August 1st. Nunez has accepted the offer on behalf of Guzman. SHOWTIME Championship Boxing is the likely to broadcast the event. No venue for the fight has been named as of yet.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

haha, Juan Diaz rejected a fight with Guzman for rolando reyes. too bad would have been sick to have that on the Marquez/Mayweather fight. But I guess Diaz doesn't want to lose two times in a row...

 

[naner12]

haha, Juan Diaz rejected a fight with Guzman for rolando reyes. too bad would have been sick to have that on the Marquez/Mayweather fight. But I guess Diaz doesn't want to lose two times in a row...

Was the fight going to be at LW or JWW? There's no reason for Diaz to go up in weight after a loss to fight Guzman who's largely unknown.

.. I see Guzman getting handled by Bradley.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

it would have been at 135. Bradley fight is at 140.

you really think bradley is good enough to beat guzman?

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Reyes is a decent fight, I dont mind seeing it at all. The both go right at it.

I think it all worked out because now we can see Guzman fight Bradley which is much more exciting to me.

 

[naner12]

you really think bradley is good enough to beat guzman?

Yea I like Bradley in this fight. He's slick, has good speed and is accustomed to fighting at 140.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Yea I like Bradley in this fight. He's slick, has good speed and is accustomed to fighting at 140.

Guzman typically weighs in around 150 pounds when he fights, so I don't think 140 is an issue.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

well fuck...

Bradley-Guzman Won't Happen, Rejected By The WBO
By Rick Reeno

BoxingScene.com has just learned that the WBO rejected a proposed August fight between junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley and unbeaten challenger Joan Guzman. There were discussions between both sides and a verbal deal was reached. The fight was sent to the WBO for approval, and the sanctioning body rejected the fight.

The rejection is not surprising when considering the obvious. Guzman is not ranked in the top-fifteen by the WBO - at 140-pounds. He does have a WBO ranking at number eleven - at 135-pounds.


Copyright © 2003-2009 BoxingScene LLC. All rights reserved.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

Lara looked impressive as usual, I think he's going to be a beast. Guillermo Rigondeaux up next...